Chapter 73: The Scent He Shouldn’t Have

When Hyunwoo collapsed, Hyunjin, who stayed by his side and watched over him all night, also learned the reason he collapsed.

It was because a man named Director Cha Kwon-oh had threatened Hyunwoo using pheromones.

Apparently, that man had a long history of bad blood with Hyunwoo.

Hyunjin didn’t know much about Hyunwoo’s work life.

Hyunwoo never talked about work first, and Hyunjin had never been particularly curious.

He simply assumed that Hyunwoo, being older, would handle everything well on his own.

And as someone who wasn’t Chairman Joo Moonhyuk’s biological child, if he showed too much interest in corporate matters, it could easily be misunderstood.

So he had intentionally chosen to stay ignorant.

But as a result of that avoidance, Hyunwoo ended up collapsing.

So now, he needed to know.

He needed to know who this person was—the one tormenting Hyunwoo.

“…I really don’t know.”

Seunghyuk looked away as he spoke.

He usually had a perfect poker face, making him seem good at lying, but in reality, he was terrible at it.

Hyunjin’s eyes narrowed as he stared at him.

“Don’t lie. I know he used to give lectures at our university.”

Hyunjin had skipped those lectures because he wasn’t interested, but Seunghyuk definitely would have attended.

And someone like Seunghyuk, who had won multiple awards in university competitions, would certainly have been noticed by a major company like L&S.

Hyunjin, quick to pick up on things, instantly realized that Seunghyuk and Director Cha Kwon-oh were acquainted.

“Mm….”

This is troublesome.

Seunghyuk muttered inwardly, turning his head.

Hyunwoo definitely would not want Hyunjin to know about Director Cha.

He didn’t know the exact reason, but he had felt something in Hyunwoo’s behavior.

A sense that, for some reason, Hyunwoo did not want Hyunjin involved with that man.

“It’s the truth. I’m not even an intern yet. Why would I have any personal connection to a corporate director?”

“…….”

It was a fairly convincing answer.

Someone who didn’t know him well would have been fooled.

Hyunjin turned back toward Hyunwoo, who was still asleep.

Seunghyuk was clearly lying to avoid talking about Director Cha.

Hyunwoo would definitely hide it too.

For some reason, both of them didn’t want him to learn who Director Cha was.

‘Because he could hurt me?’

Hyunjin, who had always been sensitive to people’s intentions since childhood, immediately understood.

He frowned.

Why exactly was this man hurting Hyunwoo and the people around him?

It seemed like more than just a personal grudge.

The uneasy feeling continued to linger, but there was nothing Hyunjin could do right now.

Even if he found out more, it was likely he would be helpless anyway.

Hyunjin bit his lip and lowered his head.

“Ugh….”

“……!”

Just then, Hyunwoo, who had been asleep, let out a faint groan.

His eyebrows twitched slightly, and his eyelids trembled as if he were about to wake up.

“Hyung, are you waking up?”

“…Hyunjin?”

Hyunwoo opened his eyes with a dazed expression.

Hyunjin nodded and asked again.

“Yeah, it’s me. How do you feel? Think you can sit up?”

“…Hyunjin.”

“Yeah?”

But something about Hyunwoo seemed off.

His eyes were slow to blink, unfocused.

“Hyunjin… I’m sorry.”

“Hyung?”

“I’m really… sorry.”

“…….”

He repeated the same words over and over like someone drunk.

The medication hadn’t worn off yet.

Hyunjin stared down at him and let out a small laugh.

If he keeps apologizing like this, he can’t even stay mad.

Feeling the resentment fade away as if melting, Hyunjin spoke softly.

“If you’re sorry, then hurry up and get better. We need to go home so you can rest.”

“No… I have work… I need to go to the office…”

“…Ha.”

Even now, he brings up work.

Honestly, the man is hopeless.

He really does mean it when it comes to work, Hyunjin thought, shaking his head.

“Anyway, we can’t stay here. Since you’re awake, let’s go home.”

“…Okay?”

“Did you bring your car?”

“No… I came by taxi…”

When Hyunjin got the call, it was already late at night, and he had rushed out without thinking. So he had taken a taxi.

Seunghyuk nodded and stepped out to call one.

“Come on, hyung. Let’s go home.”

“Mm… Hyunjin…”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve got you.”

Hyunjin helped him up like he was dealing with a child.

As he slid an arm around Hyunwoo’s waist and shoulders, a faint sweet scent brushed past his nose.

“…Huh?”

Was that Hyunwoo’s pheromone?

But it was… strangely sweet.

Pheromones from an Alpha shouldn’t smell like that.

Hyunjin rarely had a chance to smell Hyunwoo’s pheromones.

Back when they were young, their relationship had been bad.

And as adults, Hyunwoo had excellent control and rarely released pheromones at all.

Still, Hyunjin remembered Hyunwoo’s scent.

A sharp, cool mint.

“…Must be my imagination.”

Hyunjin sniffed again, but the sweet scent was gone.

He shrugged it off.

There was no way an Alpha would have a sweet pheromone scent.

He dismissed it and helped Hyunwoo stand.

“Just a little more. We’re going home soon.”

“Mm…”

The hospital room door clicked shut.

The room fell silent.

* * *

When Hyunwoo fully regained consciousness, the sky outside had already grown dark.

He blinked in surprise.

“Ugh…”

He sat up too quickly and swayed, dizzy.

He had slept too deeply.

They had given him a sedative for his brain scan, but he hadn’t expected to sleep like this.

He sighed and looked around.

His phone sat on the bedside table.

He reached for it and saw a few missed messages.

Most noticeably, a text from Junghoon telling him to rest.

Someone must have informed him about what happened.

Hyunwoo exhaled with relief and called him.

• Yes, Director.

“Sorry. I fell asleep during testing and couldn’t come to work.”

• It’s okay. Fortunately, nothing urgent came up today.

“That’s good.”

Since the recent project ended, things had been relatively slow.

In a way, it was lucky this happened now.

Hyunwoo gave a small bitter smile.

“Any movement from Director Cha’s side?”

• None yet.

“Alright. I’ll handle that when I return tomorrow.”

• Understood.

“Go home soon and rest.”

• You too, Director.

Ending the call, Hyunwoo stood up.

His entire body felt stiff.

He wondered if he would even be able to sleep again tonight.

He stepped out of the room—

“……!”

He froze.

On the living room sofa sat Hyunjin and Seunghyuk.

But the atmosphere was… icy.

They were sitting at opposite ends, silent, with tension thick enough to taste.

Why does it feel like a funeral in here?

Hyunwoo blinked.

“Hyung, you’re awake?”

“How are you feeling?”

“Uh…”

They both stood and hurried over, their mood instantly shifting.

Hyunwoo was thrown off balance by the sudden change.

“Yeah… after sleeping a lot, I feel better.”

“Any dizziness? How’s your stomach?”

“It was a little earlier, but I’m okay now.”

“You must be hungry. I bought you porridge.”

“Oh…”

Hyunjin pulled him toward the dining table, where the porridge still sat in its container.

“Wait. I’ll heat it.”

“It’s okay. I can just eat it as is.”

“It’ll taste bad cold…”

“It’s not like it sat overnight.”

He touched the container—still faintly warm.

He set the food out.

“Thanks, Hyunjin. I’ll eat well.”

“Take your time.”

Hyunjin smiled softly and sat across from him.

Hyunwoo smiled proudly at how considerate he was.

Then he looked up—and met Seunghyuk’s eyes as he entered the dining area.