Chapter 59: The Call You Shouldn’t Answer

[Cha Kwon-oh]

“Why is he calling…?”

Hyunwoo murmured in confusion.

He had exchanged contact info with Cha Kwon-oh before due to work and spoken with him a few times.

But he had never once had a private call with him.

And today was a holiday.

Hyunwoo stared at the dark phone screen where Kwon-oh’s name was displayed.

He remembered the time he was forced to drink that disgusting alcohol laced with Kwon-oh’s pheromones.

Just thinking about it made his blood boil.

But he couldn’t simply ignore the call.

It could be work-related.

He frowned and reluctantly answered.

“Yes, this is Joo Hyunwoo.”

• Been a while, Director Joo.

“What business do you have on a holiday?”

Hyunwoo couldn’t hide the irritation in his voice.

Kwon-oh seemed to notice, and chuckled lowly.

• Seems you’re quite busy today.

“Yes, I am. So please get to the point.”

• Busy? At the hotel?

“…!”

Hyunwoo stiffened.

How did he know he was going to the hotel?

Was he guessing?

Testing?

Hyunwoo held his breath instead of answering.

• Or rather… the hotel where Lee Seunghyuk is?

“What…!”

It was certain.

Cha Kwon-oh knew what happened last night.

A chill ran down Hyunwoo’s spine.

Was he having Seunghyuk followed?

That level of obsession was beyond extreme.

Or maybe this was his true nature.

Before the regression, Seunghyuk was too easy to manipulate, so Kwon-oh never had to show his real colors.

Hyunwoo recalled something his younger sibling—the original author—once said.

Cha Kwon-oh wasn’t just a second male lead.

He was closer to a villain.

Hyunwoo’s expression darkened.

• Director Joo, I didn’t think you’d fall this low. Is it that satisfying to solve things with your body?

“What did you say?”

• Does being with another alpha even work for you?

“…”

Why was he even listening to this garbage?

Hyunwoo inhaled slowly, calming the sudden anger.

“I’ll hang up if this is just pointless provocation.”

• I’m not sure your family’s chairman would consider it pointless.

“…”

He had the nerve to bring up Chairman Joo Munhyeok?

Hyunwoo almost hung up on instinct.

But paused.

If the chairman found out Hyunwoo had gone to a hotel with another alpha—especially one who was soon to become a company intern—it could cause trouble.

The chairman would blow up.

But that was all.

Before regression, the chairman couldn’t even stop Hyunwoo from marrying Seunghyuk.

Hyunwoo exhaled sharply.

“Say what you want. He may or may not believe you.”

• What?

“He’s extremely antagonistic toward outsiders.”

If there was no proof, it could be dismissed as slander.

And if there was proof, he could just say it was fabricated.

Even if the chairman really found out—it didn’t matter.

He might get angry.

But he couldn’t do anything to Hyunwoo.

That was the privilege of being an only successor.

If he disowned him, the company would fall to Hyunseok.

And the chairman would rather die.

In the original story, Hyunwoo’s downfall only came from tormenting Hyunjin and interfering with his relationship with Seunghyuk.

But this Hyunwoo maintained a good relationship with Hyunjin.

So he would not be punished in that way.

Which meant—

Cha Kwon-oh’s threats meant nothing.

• So you’re fine even if a scandal breaks?

“If you start it, be ready to deal with everything that follows.”

• …

It was indeed a juicy rumor.

The successor of Moonseong being romantically involved with another alpha—who was also an intern.

But spreading it would turn all of Moonseong into an enemy.

So Hyunwoo was not afraid.

Only someone above him could scare him.

And Cha Kwon-oh was nowhere near that level.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’m busy.”

• Wait…!

Hyunwoo hung up coldly.

There was no need to listen to another second of nonsense.

And more importantly—

He hated Cha Kwon-oh.

Feeling clearer, Hyunwoo exhaled and started the car.

Strangely, he wasn’t hungry anymore.

He could go get Seunghyuk now.

Without hesitation, he stepped on the accelerator.

“…”

Standing in front of the hotel room door, Hyunwoo hesitated.

Because of being caught up in Seunghyuk’s rut, his memories from last night were fragmented.

But now that he was here, everything was returning vividly.

It was uncomfortable.

Facing Seunghyuk again felt… complicated.

Maybe he should just leave the clothes and go.

But there were no staff around.

This floor was reserved for people whose pheromones were unstable—so minimal personnel worked here.

And checkout time was approaching.

Hyunwoo sighed.

He raised the visitor card the hotel provided for accompanying guardians.

He had returned it yesterday thinking he wouldn’t come back.

But somehow he remembered to pick it up.

He pushed the memory away and tapped the card on the lock.

Beep.

The door opened.

He stepped inside.

“…Ugh.”

The room was still filled with Seunghyuk’s pheromones.

Was his rut really over?

It felt stronger than yesterday.

Hyunwoo walked forward cautiously.

“Lee Seunghyuk?”

No sign of him in the bedroom.

The room was mostly unchanged.

Sheets slightly rumpled from when Seunghyuk had collapsed there last night.

Otherwise pristine.

Except for the scent.

The overwhelming scent.

Shhhh…

“…Ah.”

The shower.

He was inside.

Good.
Perfect time to just drop the clothes and leave.

Hyunwoo placed the shopping bag on the bed.

Click.

“…!”

Bad timing.

Seunghyuk walked out of the bathroom.

Hyunwoo jerked his head away.

“You— at least wear a robe!”

“…?”

Seunghyuk looked at him blankly, wearing only a towel loosely around his hips.

“I don’t like wearing clothes someone else wore.”

“That towel is used by someone else.”

“That’s not the same.”

“…”

How was that any different?

Hyunwoo threw the shopping bag at him.

“Just put something on!”

Rustling.

Seunghyuk pulled out the shirt and stared at it.

“Is this yours?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t go to your room because Hyunjin was home. Just wear that until we get back.”

“…”

Right, he said he didn’t like wearing clothes other people wore.

So maybe he didn’t want to wear it.

Hyunwoo sighed.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll just go buy you a new one.”

“No.”

“Huh?”

“This is fine.”

“…?”

Before Hyunwoo could react, Seunghyuk slipped it on smoothly.

And then found pants and put those on too.

Hyunwoo glanced.

It fit surprisingly well.

“Wash my shirt and return it later. Or just throw it away.”

“No need to return it.”

“What?”

“I’m not returning yours either.”

“…”

What did you just say?

Hyunwoo stared.

Was he seriously stealing his shirt with a straight face?

The shirt Seunghyuk originally wore was branded.

The one he just put on was a cheap, plain shirt Hyunwoo bought without thinking.

And yet he was acting like he preferred it.

Had the rut melted his brain?

Hyunwoo looked at him with genuine pity.