Chapter 25: Rivalry and Unseen Threats

“Isn’t that our great Director Joo Hyunwoo?”

“…It’s been a while, Director Cha Kwon-oh.”

He was Cha Kwon-oh, the director of L&S, and a rival of Munseong.

Hyunwoo’s face hardened at the sight of him.

He hadn’t wanted to run into this man—truly the worst.

Hyunwoo barely restrained the grimace twisting his face.

“Haha, indeed. It’s been a long time, Director Joo. Who would’ve thought we’d meet here.”

“…I see.”

It would have been nice to pass quietly, but, of course, Kwon-oh didn’t.

He stood directly in Hyunwoo’s path.

A strong pheromone scent emanated from him as he approached.

Though both were alphas, Kwon-oh was larger and taller than Hyunwoo.

Probably because he had been given abundant abilities as a sub-character.

Hyunwoo suppressed his irritation and quietly looked up at the approaching Kwon-oh.

At that moment, Kwon-oh’s eyebrows lifted as he glanced somewhere.

“What’s this? Where did you get hurt again?”

“…Let’s not worry about it.”

“Hmm.”

Kwon-oh noticed the bandage on Hyunwoo’s left arm and raised an eyebrow.

It was a habit he had whenever something displeased him.

Hyunwoo irritably pulled his arm back.

An arrogant, rude man—this was Cha Kwon-oh in Hyunwoo’s view.

That was why, when choosing a sub-character to pair with Hyunjin instead of Seunghyuk, he had immediately eliminated him.

Looking back, he was sure his choice had been correct.

A guy like him would never match with someone as delicate as Hyunjin.

“Ha… How carefully did that old man hide things for me not to notice the director got hurt? My pride feels bruised.”

“You take pride in everything, don’t you?”

Hyunwoo scoffed, and Kwon-oh’s smile turned sharp and cold.

His eyes were like a snake eyeing its prey.

‘A truly irritating guy.’

Though he hadn’t read the novel, Hyunwoo was certain that the relationship between Kwon-oh and the real Joo Hyunwoo was terrible.

As Munseong’s greatest rival and L&S director, Kwon-oh was supposedly perfect.

But in reality, he wasn’t.

And he disliked Hyunwoo.

‘Didn’t this guy have a complex from birth?’

Not a fact he cared to know.

Working long in this industry, he had inevitably overheard it.

Unlike Joo Hyunwoo, the legitimate son of Chairman Munseong’s first wife, Kwon-oh was illegitimate.

This had caused debate when he first joined L&S headquarters.

Nevertheless, he was highly capable and quickly outperformed the legitimate children, climbing the ranks to director.

Despite being similar in age, Hyunwoo remained a director while Kwon-oh had skyrocketed in promotions.

Yet he nurtured a competitive spirit and inferiority complex, viewing Hyunwoo as a rival and always causing trouble.

Hyunwoo remembered how, before regression, Kwon-oh’s interference had repeatedly ruined his business ventures.

“By the way…”

“…Yes?”

“There was an egg I was investing a lot in. I thought it might be taken before hatching.”

“…Egg?”

“Yes. I heard you’re taking an intern this time, right, Director?”

“…!”

Hyunwoo finally realized who Kwon-oh was referring to.

It was Seunghyuk.

Hyunwoo glared at Kwon-oh, swallowing dryly.

Even before regression, Kwon-oh had obsessively considered Hyunwoo his rival.

In the original story, Kwon-oh’s interest in Hyunjin stemmed solely from him being Joo Hyunwoo’s sibling.

Before regression, Hyunwoo had worked hard to hide Hyunjin from Kwon-oh’s view.

Now, a completely different target caught Kwon-oh’s attention—Seunghyuk, whom Hyunwoo had been obsessively protecting.

The skilled director had noticed Seunghyuk and, naturally, Hyunwoo’s interference made him more interested.

Seunghyuk, dissatisfied with Hyunwoo, had joined L&S instead of Munseong and brought immense wealth and prestige to the company with his program.

It had been one of Hyunwoo’s worst moments.

“Don’t obsess over an egg without an owner. It’s a waste of time.”

“Haha… interesting.”

Kwon-oh smiled broadly at Hyunwoo’s calm words.

Though his mouth grinned widely, his eyes remained icy, a chilling smile.

Hyunwoo looked up at him, tense.

“Then I’ll snatch it before it gets an owner. You can look forward to it.”

“….”

Hyunwoo stared at Kwon-oh’s confident tone, choosing not to respond.

Kwon-oh tapped his shoulder and passed by.

“…That bastard.”

Hyunwoo muttered under his breath, watching Kwon-oh’s imposing back.

Hopefully, this psycho wouldn’t turn his attention to Hyunjin.

No, since he seemed focused on Seunghyuk, Hyunjin might be safe.

For now, Seunghyuk was the more worrying side.

But unlike before regression, Seunghyuk had applied for an internship at Munseong, so the future might change.

“Phew…”

Still, he couldn’t let his guard down.

Kwon-oh was cunning like a snake.

No one could predict what dirty methods he’d use to claim Seunghyuk.

Even as a sub-character, he would have done more vicious things than the villains in the novel.

Hyunwoo muttered curses at Kwon-oh under his breath while heading to the meeting.

“See you next time, Director.”

“Yes, take care.”

After the meeting, the surroundings had darkened.

Hyunwoo glanced at the sky tinged red with sunset, then turned away.

He had to return to the office but hadn’t even called a taxi.

He planned to ask Inception to book one, returning to the hotel.

“Ugh…”

But the headache from earlier surged again.

Hyunwoo staggered.

“Hyung!”

“…Seunghyuk?”

Startled, he saw Seunghyuk had appeared and grabbed him.

Why was he here?

Hyunwoo, dumbfounded, asked.

“I called the company since you didn’t answer your phone.”

“What? Called where?”

“The company.”

“….”

Was he sane? Contacting the company because Hyunwoo didn’t answer?

Hyunwoo’s face turned pale.

“Why come here alone?”

“Just… took a taxi.”

“If you were calling a taxi, you could’ve called me.”

“You were at school.”

“I skipped class for this.”

“…What?”

Seunghyuk skipped class? The diligent one?

Hyunwoo eyed him suspiciously.

“Why?”

“You really… need a hospital consultation, don’t you?”

“Suddenly?”

Seunghyuk tilted his head, seeming serious, though Hyunwoo suspected he thought it a joke.

Hyunwoo sighed and straightened.

Though unexpected, it was better than a taxi.

Seunghyuk drove well.

“Did you bring my car?”

“Yes, parked in the lot.”

“Then let’s go now. But the company… ugh.”

“Hyung!”

The headache hit again.

Hyunwoo groaned and lowered his head.

His body trembled.

The morning stress headache had worsened into something sharper.

“Ugh…”

“Hyung, are you okay?”

“Ha…”

“First, let’s go to the hospital.”

“No… don’t go to the hospital.”

“Why… ah.”

Seunghyuk frowned, then realized something.

Hyunwoo’s pheromones surged violently.

The usually subtle mint scent had intensified sharply.

It was a rut.

The due date was still far off, yet the rut had already occurred.

This was the first time it happened since he inhabited Joo Hyunwoo’s body.

‘Could it be because of Hyunjin…?’

The only recent change affecting his body was Hyunjin’s heat.

Hyunwoo gritted his teeth.

He had to leave immediately.

Suppressing the explosive heat in his mind, he barely spoke.

“Leave me here at the hotel… you go get… my suppressants.”

“Got it.”

Seunghyuk nodded and led him into the hotel.

As a VVIP, Hyunwoo quickly got a room.

“Ugh… uh…”

“Hyung, are you okay alone?”

Hyunwoo collapsed into the room.

Seunghyuk’s concerned voice sounded from above as he approached.

“Quick… uh, bring your medicine.”

“…Yes, wait a moment.”

Seunghyuk turned away with a stiff expression, gradually fading from view.

Hyunwoo inhaled deeply as darkness consumed his vision.