Chapter 69: The One Who Arrived Too Late

“Do you know anything else?”

“Hmm… not really?”

Daon was surprised by how unusually interested Seunghyeok seemed.

He was the one who started the conversation, sure, but he didn’t expect Seunghyeok to be this invested in the topic of Kim Minjae.

Or had he always cared about gossip and just pretended he didn’t?

Daon looked at him suspiciously, then shook his head.

“I heard the police went to Kim Minjae’s house recently.

He didn’t have many close friends at school, right?

So I guess the rumor spread late.”

“Hm…”

The police visit was probably because of the stalking incident with Joo Hyunjin, but the Moonseong side must have covered it up thoroughly, so the story spread slowly.

And the reason had even changed — now it was that he was involved with drugs.

Kim Minjae himself didn’t matter.

But if Hyunwoo knew, there was a high chance he was investigating quietly.

He had always managed everything around Joo Hyunjin meticulously.

Seunghyeok unknowingly frowned.

“Don’t tell me he did something to you too? Huh?”

“He didn’t.”

“Then why are you so concerned?”

“It’s just unusual for something like this to happen at this school.”

“Ah, well, true.”

Daon nodded at Seunghyeok’s casual answer.

To think someone was selling drugs at Korea’s top university.

And not just doing them — selling them, as a student.

It was unheard of.

“They say there were upperclassmen who were high and did crazy stuff too.

But since Kim Minjae got caught, maybe it’ll calm down?”

“Not sure.”

Seunghyeok didn’t think Kim Minjae was the broker.

Sure, he could have bought drugs.

But for a mere student to obtain drugs and distribute them to other students?

Not impossible — but highly unlikely.

“Do you know who those upperclassmen are who were doing drugs?”

“Uh? A few names maybe… but people are just suspicious.

Nothing confirmed.”

“If you find someone confirmed, message me later.”

“Uh… sure…”

Daon nodded, a bit overwhelmed by how proactive Seunghyeok was.

When others heard this kind of rumor, they were shocked but didn’t push further.

But Seunghyeok… this was different.

Had something actually happened with him and Minjae?

Daon couldn’t tell.

“Well, I’ve got something to do.”

“Ah, yeah, see you later.”

He could say nothing else and watched Seunghyeok leave.

Seunghyeok walked with long strides, expression darkening.

Then he took out his phone and made a call.

“……”

Ring… ring… the mechanical tone repeated.

No answer.

The call ended with a voicemail message.

He stared at the screen, then called again.

Hyunwoo’s name glowed on the screen.

[Hyunwoo hyung]

But Hyunwoo wouldn’t pick up.

Seunghyeok clenched his teeth.

It wasn’t unusual for Hyunwoo to miss calls when busy.

But today — something felt off.

His expression tightened as he listened to the voicemail again.

He hung up and called once more.

On the third call, someone answered.

• “Is this Mr. Lee Seunghyeok?”

“…Who is this?”

The voice was familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

Hearing the tension in his voice, the man answered carefully.

• “I’m Park Junghoon, Director Joo Hyunwoo’s assistant. We’ve spoken before.”

“Ah…”

Hyunwoo’s secretary.

Now he remembered.

Seunghyeok narrowed his eyes.

It was nearly the end of work hours.

But if the secretary was answering Hyunwoo’s phone, then today must have been especially busy.

He asked, impatient:

“Where’s Hyunwoo hyung?”

• “Ah, well… He planned to leave right after his meeting, but it seems he left his phone here at the company.”

“He left his phone?”

• “Yes. I only just realized… I hope the meeting’s not over yet.”

Junghoon sounded hurried.

He was probably on his way to deliver the phone.

Seunghyeok spoke quickly:

“I’ll go to the company and get it.”

• “Huh? You will?”

“You’re busy. I’ll take it home.

We live together anyway.”

• “Ah. Right.”

Junghoon knew Hyunwoo lived with not only Hyunjin but also his friend Seunghyeok.

So he didn’t question it.

• “Then could I trouble you with that?”

“Of course. I’m on my way.”

Seunghyeok headed directly to the company.

He received the phone from Junghoon and asked where Hyunwoo was currently meeting.

Junghoon was puzzled, but told him.

So instead of going home — Seunghyeok headed to the hotel.

“……?”

The moment he stepped inside, he smelled something unpleasant.

Pheromones.

Hyunwoo’s.

And another Alpha’s — sharp, aggressive.

His expression twisted.

He began to run.

He found Hyunwoo — being half-supported, half-dragged by Kwon-oh.

Hyunwoo looked wrong — weakened, unfocused.

Seunghyeok’s face contorted in rage.

“Hyung!”

“……!”

Hyunwoo turned slightly, eyes unfocused.

His lips trembled.

“Why are you…”

“Hah… ha…”

Seunghyeok glared at Kwon-oh.

When their eyes met, pheromones flared — violent, instinctive.

In an instant, the hotel lobby filled with tension.

“E-excuse me, you can’t do this here…”

“…….”

The staff tried to intervene.

The lobby became chaotic — Beta workers overwhelmed by the pressure of two Alphas.

“Ugh…”

Hyunwoo forced his eyes open, but his vision blurred.

His breathing was unstable.

Kwon-oh’s pheromones alone had weakened him — and now Seunghyeok’s wild pheromones overlapped.

He couldn’t breathe.

His body gave out.

Their voices echoed like underwater:

“Hyung!”

“Director Joo!”

“……”

Hyunwoo lost consciousness.

“Ugh…”

Hyunwoo slowly opened his eyes to a white ceiling.

His head felt like it was splitting apart.

He turned his head — he was in a hospital room.

White ceiling, large bed, humidifier, IV in his arm.

He hadn’t stayed in a hospital room like this in a long time.

“Hyung, are you awake? Can you hear me?”

“Hyunjin…”

“Yeah, it’s me. Do you recognize me?”

Hyunjin sat beside the bed.

His face looked exhausted, like he had been there awhile.

Even through his pain, Hyunwoo worried first about him.

“Of course I recognize you…”

“How’s your body?”

“My head hurts a little…”

“Wait here. I’ll call the doctor.”

Hyunjin stood quickly, but Hyunwoo raised his hand to stop him.

“Before that… what happened?”

“Huh?”

“Why am I in the hospital?”

“Well… that…”

Hyunjin hesitated, unable to answer.

A bad feeling crept up Hyunwoo’s spine.

He forced himself to recall what happened.

“I was… at the hotel… Where’s Lee Seunghyeok? And Cha Kwon-oh?”

His last memory — the hotel café, the pheromones, collapsing.

He vaguely remembered Seunghyeok arriving — and then nothing.

Not seeing him now was strange.

And what happened to Kwon-oh?

“That… Hyung… Seunghyeok is at the police station right now.”

“What? The police station?”

“Yeah.”

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened.

The police station?

His Seunghyeok?

He blinked blankly, then his expression tightened.

“What did he— No. What’s the charge?”

“…Assault.”

“Assault?”

“He hit someone.”

“Who?”

“……”

But Hyunwoo already knew.

And his worst guess was correct.

“…Executive Cha Kwon-oh?”

“…Yeah.”

“He hit him. Hard enough to be arrested.”

“……”

Hyunwoo pressed his hand against his aching forehead.

A long, heavy sigh escaped his lips.