Chapter 24: Suspicion and Reunion

After parking the car in Hwang Do-kyung’s mansion basement, Hyunwoo went upstairs with Seunghyuk.

Since they had been here once yesterday, finding the way was easy.

This was the house of a side character they would never have visited before the regression.

Yet, somehow, they had ended up coming twice, which felt strange.

Come to think of it, Do-kyung, though a university professor, was a part-time lecturer, so his earnings weren’t great.

Yet he lived in such a high-end mansion.

Hyunwoo recalled that, before regression, investigations had said he was born into an ordinary family.

Now he felt a twinge of confusion and tilted his head.

Beep.

Lost in thought, they arrived quickly.

Do-kyung’s house was on the top floor of the mansion.

The top floor of such a luxurious place.

No way a common person could afford it.

A strange feeling lingered.

Should he investigate Do-kyung again?

But since he wouldn’t involve Hyunjin anymore, was it really necessary?

Hyunwoo pondered for a moment.

“Hyung, we’re here.”

“…Ah, okay.”

They had reached Do-kyung’s door.

Hyunwoo lifted his hand and entered the door lock code Do-kyung had given yesterday.

Beep beep beep, beep.

Click.

Do-kyung had said he could change the code later, yet the door opened, surprising Hyunwoo slightly.

He thought Do-kyung wasn’t the type to lie, so maybe it was safe to trust him.

“Oh, did you come to pick up Hyunjin?”

“…….”

This guy.

Hyunwoo glared at Do-kyung near the door, disbelief written across his face.

What? He couldn’t come home on weekends? So he suggested leaving Hyunjin safely, yet shamelessly stayed at home?

Seeing Hyunwoo’s harsh expression, Do-kyung hurriedly waved his hands.

“I just came in to grab something I forgot. I’ll be leaving again now.”

“And why should I believe that?”

“Well… the timing isn’t ideal, I suppose.”

Do-kyung gave an awkward smile, scratching his head, then spread his arms toward Hyunwoo.

“Then shall we check if any pheromones from me lingered? I didn’t go near Hyunjin’s room.”

“Hmm….”

As a beta, Do-kyung wouldn’t exude pheromones, but if he had entered Hyunjin’s room, he might have picked some up.

Though a pheromone remover could have been used, his home as a beta likely lacked one.

Hyunwoo thought for a moment, then decided to approach Do-kyung and sniff for any pheromones.

“Hyung, I’ll do it.”

“Huh?”

Seunghyuk, standing behind, stepped forward.

Hyunwoo nodded reluctantly.

Of course, Seunghyuk, being an alpha, would detect pheromones better.

Hyunwoo watched from a distance as Seunghyuk examined Do-kyung.

“…I don’t smell anything.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Only after Seunghyuk’s confirmation did Hyunwoo release his suspicion.

Still, the one causing suspicion was at fault.

Hyunwoo’s resentment surged as he stared at Do-kyung.

“Sorry for the misunderstanding. Since my sibling is an omega, I’ve always worried.”

“No, that’s normal. Your relationship seems close; I envy it.”

“Well… we are.”

If he were the real Joo Hyunwoo, he might have frowned at Do-kyung’s words, but he wasn’t.

It felt pleasant for others to see him and Hyunjin as close siblings.

Do-kyung looked at Hyunwoo, then glanced at Seunghyuk.

“So, you were fine in Hyunjin’s room yesterday? I’ve heard that even strong alphas can’t handle pheromones from an omega in heat.”

“…….”

“Quite a brotherly bond you have.”

Was he mocking them?

Hyunwoo frowned instinctively.

Of course, familial affection between alpha and omega can be shallow.

At home, when Hyunjin manifested as an omega, the real Joo Hyunwoo had deliberately avoided him after discovering the birth secret.

But still, there was no reason for a stranger to mock them.

Hyunwoo’s expression hardened.

“What’s that got to do with you? Speak with some manners.”

“Haha, I wasn’t mocking. Maybe it came out wrong.”

Do-kyung smiled shamelessly, glancing at his wristwatch as he passed by.

“Just… I felt my advice was wasted.”

“What…”

“I really have to go now… See you next time, Hyunjin hyung.”

“Wait…!”

Do-kyung left, opening the door.

Hyunwoo stared at the closed door in disbelief.

Was Do-kyung always like this?

He had met him only a few times before regression, but he didn’t seem this strange.

Biting his lips out of habit, Hyunwoo looked up as Hyunjin appeared.

“Hyung, we’re here?”

“Hyunjin.”

He quickly approached him.

“You’re really okay? Can you move like this?”

“Yes, I’m much better now.”

Hyunjin smiled at Hyunwoo.

He looked healthy and vibrant, unlike yesterday when he had gone through heat.

Most importantly, his pheromones were far more stable.

“Did you… run into the owner?”

“Professor Do-kyung? No, I didn’t see him at all. Did he come by?”

“Oh, just now a little…”

“Really? Thanks to him, I survived, but I couldn’t even properly thank him.”

“You’ll see him at school, anyway.”

“True.”

Hyunjin chattered as usual.

Do-kyung had acted suspiciously, but Hyunjin seemed unaware.

“Let’s go now.”

“Okay!”

Putting aside his unease, Hyunwoo left Do-kyung’s house with Hyunjin.

They would think more about Do-kyung later.

“Hyung, I’m hungry.”

“Really? Want me to get something? Anything you want to eat?”

“Hmm, not sure…”

Hyunwoo had already eaten curry with Seunghyuk and was full.

Hyunjin had been alone since yesterday and likely hadn’t eaten properly.

Hyunwoo worried, then spoke suddenly.

“Seunghyuk, you feed him.”

“…Why me?”

Seunghyuk asked in a sulky tone.

Hyunwoo was slightly taken aback.

“If he hasn’t eaten since yesterday, outside food might be too much. Your doenjang stew from this morning should still be there…”

“Then tell him to heat that up.”

“What?”

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened at Seunghyuk’s bluntness.

He probably wouldn’t act like this even with a stranger.

And this was the protagonist’s reaction toward someone starving.

Hyunwoo was speechless, blinking repeatedly.

“It’s fine, hyung. I don’t want him eating what I made either.”

“Still…”

“Let’s just grab some soup or something on the way. He has no appetite anyway.”

“Alright… let’s do that.”

Hyunwoo glanced at Seunghyuk driving with reluctance.

Even though the protagonist had been suffering since yesterday, he responded with annoyance.

Hyunwoo clicked his tongue, suppressing a sigh.

Lately, the protagonist was always like this, and even Do-kyung’s state was strange.

What on earth was the problem?

Hyunwoo pondered alone until they reached home.

“Phew….”

“Director? Are you okay?”

“Ah, I’m fine.”

Hyunwoo smiled faintly at the employee concerned about him.

But the headache was so intense that even smiling was hard.

He had forgotten his painkillers, so the pain had been building all morning.

‘I need to get those guys out of the house quickly.’

Hyunjin had returned home for the weekend.

A holiday that should have been peaceful felt like hell.

Hyunjin had promised to stay in his room, but it was only half a day.

Now he crawled out and stayed close to Hyunwoo.

Seunghyuk and Hyunjin kept bickering, doubling Hyunwoo’s stress.

Had he committed some sin in his previous life?

Maybe he was paying off karma for separating them forcibly in his past life.

“…….”

Perhaps he was overthinking.

Hyunwoo sighed and shook his head.

He looked at the employee tiredly.

“Where’s the meeting today?”

“Goguryeo Hotel, Director.”

“I’ll go, so finish reviewing what we just discussed by then.”

“Yes, understood.”

The employee bowed and left the office.

Hyunwoo got up.

Luckily, a meeting with a client today could be a slight change of pace.

He stepped outside, feeling the warmer wind and walked slowly.

The taxi ride to the hotel was smooth.

He preferred not to drive until his stitches were removed.

He wasn’t blindly following Seunghyuk’s nagging.

“Hmm hmm.”

Clearing his throat unnecessarily, Hyunwoo got off and entered the hotel.

Having visited often before regression, he easily navigated the lobby to the restaurant.

“Wait, who’s this?”

“……!”

But an entirely unexpected figure blocked his path.

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened at the large man standing before him.