By Zephyria Tae-jun’s erection rubbed against Yumin’s soft flesh. Yumin was startled but had no intention of resisting, so he let himself go with the flow.
“Hngh…, mmm.”
Intermittent moans escaped him.
“Tae-jun, Tae-jun, haa….”
Yumin’s own temperature rose in response. He lifted his hips, pressing himself tighter against the firm body.
Without an inch of space between them, he felt Tae-jun’s muscles, his aroused lower body.
Was it because it felt too good? Yumin began to feel like he was lacking oxygen in his blood. His head spun, and he felt languid. He couldn’t think rationally.
It was too much, and Yumin tried to take a breath. But suddenly, his breath was cut off.
“Yumin… Yumin? Breathe.”
His body went limp, and Yumin fainted on the spot. Excessive drinking, stress, tension, and sexual arousal combined, and he went limp, falling backward. It was a wildcat’s shame.
“Mmm… what time is it?”
Yumin rubbed his eyes and woke up. No one was in the dark house.
“Oh, this isn’t the dorm? Ah… this is Tae-jun’s place.”
He sat up and looked around the room. Tae-jun wasn’t in the room, nor in the living room or kitchen. He hadn’t left a note saying where he was going.
Yumin’s shoulders slumped.
I guess Tae-jun was disappointed because I fainted like an idiot.
After all, how ridiculous must I have looked? I must have seemed so clumsy, unable to even properly engage in skinship…
“Go Yumin, why are you so stupid?”
Yumin tore at his hair.
He couldn’t bear the self-resentment for kicking away a heaven-sent opportunity.
But it was already in the past. There was nothing Yumin could do to change it.
“It’s really over now. I ruined everything myself.”
Yumin despaired, believing that mating with Tae-jun was now impossible. He threw the bucket hat on the side table and ran out of the apartment.
A short while later, Tae-jun returned home with food, only to be stunned by the empty house.
He had only gone out to buy bread because he thought Yumin might be hungry when he woke up, but Yumin had vanished without a trace. He hadn’t left a note or a message on his phone.
“What’s going on? Was he in a bad mood yesterday? What was he unhappy about?”
Tae-jun placed his hands on his hips and fell into deep thought.
Throughout his life, Tae-jun had never actively seduced anyone. More precisely, he never had to. People had always noticed him and flirted with him first, even if he just stayed put. So, Tae-jun was at a loss on how to handle Yumin. He looked like a simple guy, yet he couldn’t even win over Go Yumin, which was infuriating.
Honestly, it was rash. He thought he could sleep with Go Yumin as soon as he decided to. But all he had managed so far was a single kiss.
It had been fatally sweet, though. Yumin’s clumsy breathing, his small tongue, his trembling hands – they were all cute.
“And then he runs away? What kind of person is he!”
Tae-jun threw the bag of bread and roughly ran his hand through his hair. Just as he was repeatedly washing his face, trying to calm his arousal, his phone rang.
“Is it Go Yumin?”
He quickly picked up his phone. But the caller ID showed his mother. Tae-jun sighed involuntarily and answered.
“Tae-jun, you’re coming to the family gathering this month, right?”
“Why?”
“Why? Because it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. You know it’s Grandfather’s birthday this month, right? He specifically told me to make sure you attend.”
“Won’t I just get nagged again if I go?”
“Even if you don’t want to hear it, come this time. Be a proper person.”
“…Alright.”
The Beom family held a regular monthly gathering. Because it was unusual for all the relatives to gather, Tae-jun didn’t particularly like the meetings.
As soon as he became an adult, he moved out, establishing his own household, as Tae-jun was a thorough individualist. Therefore, he often clashed with the elders who harped on about marriage and children at every gathering.
Today was no different. As soon as his grandfather saw his grandson, he brought up marriage before even greeting him.
“Our grandson, when will you get married?”
“Grandfather. I told you I have no intention of getting married. And that hasn’t changed.”
“You rascal, don’t be funny! Do you know how valuable it is to carry on the Beom family bloodline? Stop with the nonsense and bring a proper young lady. Let’s get married as soon as possible!”
Tae-jun’s father, instead of mediating his grandfather’s scolding, added to the conversation.
“Tae-jun. Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend? …It’s a bit ambiguous.”
For a moment, Yumin’s face flashed before his eyes. He couldn’t really call Yumin, who had disappeared after one kiss, a girlfriend. But he didn’t have anyone else he was interested in, nor anyone he was close to. Someone he kissed? Definitely not.
“What do you mean, ambiguous?”
“It’s just… like that.”
“Hmm. Then go on a blind date.”
“What? A blind date?”
“Do you remember the young lady from the Yeo family we talked about last time?”
“I remember. But why?”
“Actually, they contacted us saying they’d like to arrange a marriage.”
Tae-jun put down his spoon and became serious. He was only twenty, and a blind date felt too old-fashioned. The very idea of meeting a woman he’d never seen before felt uncomfortable.
“I refuse. It’s not like I’ll go to jail or pay a fine for not getting married, so why should I?”
“Even if you refuse, you should meet her. You can’t decide without meeting her.”
“Father, even if our family is popular, do you want to put our young son on display like this?”
“Ahem. I apologize for that. But people don’t leave the Beom family alone.”
The Beom family had a renowned reputation in the blind date market. They attracted attention due to their innate physique and healthy genes. Tae-jun’s grandfather, even in his seventies, was robust and very healthy. After quitting his beloved pipe, he could even go hiking.
Tae-jun’s female cousins across from him also had toned bodies and long limbs. They were all around 175cm tall and looked good even in tight leopard-print leggings, their legs long.
And most importantly, the men of the Beom family were famous for their fertility. It was a secret and a source of pride for the Beom family, known to those who knew. The magic gene that made conception possible with just one encounter. Families with few heirs tried their best to form alliances with the Beom family.
Especially Tae-jun, young and handsome, had an exceptional presence. It wasn’t unusual for marriage proposals to be discussed behind the scenes, with people trying to make him their son-in-law. Thus, it was not unreasonable for marriage talks to be happening with the daughter of the Yeo family, whose grandfathers were close.
“Then Father, Grandfather, if I go on this one blind date, will you leave me alone? If you promise I won’t have to go on any more blind dates, I’ll meet the Yeo daughter.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I won’t do it unless that’s the condition.”
“Hmph, that kid’s stubbornness… Alright, I agree. Just meet the Yeo daughter, and then you can do as you please.”
Tae-jun agreed to the blind date because of Yumin.
Since Yumin had suddenly disappeared a while ago, the atmosphere between them had become awkward. With several classes canceled, they didn’t run into each other at school, so they missed opportunities to talk.
What was Yumin thinking? Did he dislike me? That didn’t seem to be the case…
Tae-jun wanted to resolve the issue of Yumin, who occupied his thoughts all day, as cleanly as possible. Whether it was confessing that Yumin’s charm had stirred his desire, or ending the relationship if he truly disliked it. To do that, he needed to cut off the persistent talk of blind dates.
Yes, he would quickly get the blind date over with and then talk to Yumin. Tae-jun made what he considered a rational decision.
“You know Jimin opened an oriental medicine clinic, right? You go visit in place of Mom and Dad. Don’t forget to buy a potted plant.”
“I understand. I’ll go.”
“While you’re there, get some herbal medicine too. Health is the most important thing.”
“Of course. I will.”
After finishing the call with his mother, Yumin checked his bank balance. He still had plenty of pocket money from the clan association, more than enough to get a course of herbal medicine.
Recently, after experiencing trouble with his ears suddenly growing out, Yumin had become sensitive to health issues. Difficulty controlling his beast transformation meant something was wrong with his body, so he had already planned to go to the doctor. It was fortunate that his cousin, Jimin, had opened a clinic nearby.
The next day, Yumin went straight to the clinic. He entered the clinic holding a congratulatory potted plant and was met with a face he wasn’t particularly happy to see.
“Well, well. It’s said that enemies meet on a narrow road, and it’s Go Yumin!”
Seong-min greeted Yumin with a sharp, scolding tone.
“What brings you here?”
“What do you mean, what brings me here? This is my Hyung’s clinic, so of course I’d be here.”
“That’s true.”
“Why are you here?”
“To congratulate Jimin Hyung on his opening and to get a check-up. Do I need to wait?”
“Yes. There’s another patient right now, so you’ll have to wait a bit. But you… what about him from last time?”
Seong-min sidled closer and whispered to Yumin.
“Him? Who?”
“Who else? The handsome guy you saw at the Japanese restaurant the other day. Are you two getting along well?”
“Why are you asking about that?”
“Are you dating? How far have you gone?”
“I don’t know.”
“Look at your face. Things aren’t going well between you two lately, are they?”
“I don’t want to tell you all the details.”
“Ah, you’re not confident? Go Yumin isn’t all that. As expected, you’re just a bookworm.”
“Shut up.”
Yumin glared at Seong-min and then entered the examination room. Jimin, with his gentle face, greeted Yumin in his white coat.
“Yumin! It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Hyung. Congratulations on your opening.”
“My Yumin has grown up. I heard you came to Seoul to start a family. You’re all grown up.”
“Haha, thank you. But Hyung, my body is a bit strange…”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t think I can control my beast transformation well. About a week ago, my ears suddenly appeared in the morning, and then they disappeared after I transformed from human to wildcat. But it keeps bothering me.”
“Hmm… Let me take your pulse first.”
Jimin took Yumin’s pulse and frowned.
“Yumin, are you perhaps in Heat Cycle?”
“Yes. But it hasn’t fully started yet…”
“How are you feeling psychologically?”
“Hmm… I often think about wanting to have cubs. But that’s always been the case.”
“Yumin, from what I see, you’re likely to enter a full Heat Cycle soon. At that point, your ears or tail might pop out regardless of your will.”
“What? Then what should I do? I have to go to school.”
To the pale Yumin, Jimin offered a medicinal herb.
“I’ll make medicine with this for you, so take it once a day. It should stabilize your body.”
“Yes, I understand. But Hyung… are you also good at making herbal medicine for humans?”
“Humans? Of course. But why all of a sudden?”
“Actually, there’s someone I want to give it to.”
“Oh, who is it? I need to know their constitution to make it suitable for your purpose.”
“There’s a friend I like. I want to give him some nourishment because he’s someone I want to have my child with.”
“Wow, Go Yumin, you’ve grown up. You’re even considering the person you’ll have a child with. Alright, then I’ll make a tonic that warms the body to help nurture the fetus. It will improve blood circulation, which helps the baby grow well.”
“That sounds great. Please take good care of it.”
A short while later, Yumin left the clinic with the tonic in both hands. Honestly, he also wanted to use the gift to break the awkward atmosphere that had developed with Tae-jun.
Yumin gathered his courage and called Tae-jun. The call connected after only a few rings.
“Hello. Yumin?”
“Tae-jun, it’s me. Where are you?”
“I’m at my parents’ place for a bit. It’s Grandfather’s birthday.”
“Oh, I see. Then it’ll be hard to see you today.”
“No, that’s not the case. I’m going back to the apartment tonight.”
“Then Tae-jun, I wanted to give you a gift, so can we meet for a moment?”
“A gift? For me?”
“Yes. I’ll come to the apartment. Please make sure to accept it.”
“Okay, alright.”
After hanging up, Yumin felt relieved.
He stopped by the dorm to drop off his luggage and arrived at the appointed time, lingering in front of the entrance to Tae-jun’s apartment. Soon, Tae-jun appeared.
“Yumin.”
“Tae-jun!”
“You were outside. Shouldn’t you be inside?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“What’s that, then?”
Tae-jun asked, looking at the box in Yumin’s hand.
“Actually, I got some good medicine. I wanted to give it to you as a gift.”
“Oh? This is a tonic.”
“Yes. My cousin Hyung opened an oriental medicine clinic, so I got some good medicine made.”
“What kind of medicine is it?”
“It’s just… you don’t need to know the details. It’s medicine that makes you vigorous.”
“Vigorous, you say? What does that mean?”
“When your body is warm, you naturally become healthier, and blood circulation improves.”
“That’s true.”
“Anyway, I hope you get healthier by taking this. You have to warm it up and drink one every day.”
Tae-jun accepted the box and thanked him.
“Thank you. And I’m sorry about that day.”
“No, it’s okay.”
Yumin clasped Tae-jun’s hands.
“Tae-jun, I’ll do better from now on.”
“Yumin.”
“Really. So, I hope you’ll think of me as special.”
Tae-jun couldn’t help but chuckle at Yumin, who looked up at him, a head and a half taller, and spoke so assertively.
He’s such a bold guy. So brave.
Yet, it was strange that he didn’t dislike it.
“Yes. But can I give you my answer later?”
“Of course!”
After resolving the blind date issue over the weekend, he would start dating Yumin properly. Tae-jun thought this. He preferred to focus on one thing at a time rather than handling multiple tasks at once, so his goal was to quickly get the bothersome blind date out of the way and then have fun with Yumin.
However, things took an unexpected turn.
“Hello. You’re as handsome as I heard.”
“Yes, nice to meet you. I am Beom Tae-jun.”
“Your voice is nice too. You must hear that a lot.”
As they sat opposite each other with coffee, the woman already had a smile on her lips, looking at Tae-jun with admiration. People passing by the hotel lobby couldn’t help but stare at Tae-jun. A young, tall man sitting formally opposite a woman naturally drew attention.
The woman slowly scanned Tae-jun from head to toe. His face, which exuded a subtle allure despite his young age, his exceptional height, his sturdy build – they all overwhelmed the surroundings. The conditions of a superior male were all met. The Beom family occupied the hottest position in the blind date market. And among them, the most handsome youngest son. No one could resist him. The woman’s shoulders tensed unnecessarily.
“But you’re still young, are you already looking for a bride? For reference, I’m twenty-eight.”
“My elders insisted I go, saying it was a good opportunity. To be honest, that’s why I’m here.”
“Oh my, so you’re not thinking about marriage yet?”
Tae-jun fell into thought at the woman’s words.
In truth, he had long been sick of the legal institution of marriage. People in the Beom family were unusually passionate, leading many to engage in affairs, love triangles, or quadrangles, leading to draining daily lives.
Tae-jun had seen such relatives, older brothers, and sisters since he was young and had grown tired of it. Making empty promises like them, only to later demand a divorce, was not his forte.
“Then what about children? What are your thoughts on children?”
“Children…”
“Yes. Honestly, it doesn’t make sense for the Beom family to have no descendants.”
Tae-jun imagined it in his mind. What would it be like to have a second generation resembling him? Whether it was a boy or a girl, the thought of having a miniature version of himself felt strange. He couldn’t picture himself taking good care of a child with a blunt personality and sharp eyes.
On the other hand, he thought Yumin would be good at raising children. He was so affectionate and passionate that if he had a child resembling himself, he would likely care for them diligently. It was the same for their appearance. He was sure a child resembling Yumin would be adorable.
What if Yumin and his face were mixed halfway?
Tae-jun chuckled at his imagination. It didn’t seem bad.
“You seem to like children.”
“Do I?”
Meanwhile, beyond the lounge, someone was hiding at the corner of the hallway. The one shivering and covering their mouth was Yumin.
How could you do this, leaving me behind? Sitting face to face with a woman, you’re having a grand old time. You’ll split your sides laughing, you rascal!
Yumin shuddered with a sense of betrayal.