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Join the ServerLee Seunghyuk was clearly out of his mind.
Who on earth gives a dog collar as a birthday present?
The fact that such a person existed in front of him filled Hyunwoo with frustration and disbelief.
Letting out a deep sigh, Hyunwoo asked:
“Ha… what exactly is inside your head, seriously?”
One day, he truly wanted to dissect that machine-like brain.
Strange parts might spill out.
Hyunwoo shuddered unconsciously.
“Why?”
“You’re asking because you don’t know?”
He had no desire to know what kind of thought process produced such a gift.
Hyunwoo tightened his grip on the collar in his hand.
He wanted to throw it at Seunghyuk’s face, but even though this area was quiet, it wasn’t completely empty, so he held back.
“It’s just symbolic.”
“Symbolic?”
“Yes.
It means… you can treat me like a dog until your anger cools.”
“…What?”
Treat a person like a dog?
He had no idea what that was supposed to mean.
Hyunwoo frowned sharply.
“I’m serious.
If you want, you can shut me in a room and scold me.
I’ll accept all of it.”
“…What do you think I am?”
“…….”
Hyunwoo asked, utterly baffled.
No matter how angry he got, he would never do something like that.
Sure, when he first transmigrated he had acted erratically toward Seunghyuk, but even then he hadn’t gone that far.
“I just… thought you wouldn’t believe me if I apologized with words alone….”
“Ha….”
So that was why he brought a dog collar.
Hearing the explanation, Hyunwoo understood—but he absolutely did not agree.
He wrapped the ugly collar back in the gift packaging.
“Alright.
I’ll accept the sentiment.
But don’t ever give me something like this again.”
“You don’t like it?”
“It’s not about liking it or not.
You idiot.”
Talking to Seunghyuk sometimes felt impossible.
Hyunwoo shook his head and shoved the wrapped collar back into Seunghyuk’s hands.
What was ridiculous was that Seunghyuk’s face fell sadly when he received it back.
“I’m sorry.
I’ll give you another present later.”
“Good.
I trust that anything would be better than a collar.”
“…….”
Watching him still look regretful, Hyunwoo clicked his tongue.
He turned to head back toward the parking lot—
Buzz, buzz.
“……?”
His phone vibrated.
Hyunwoo pulled it out and checked the screen.
It was a call from Hyunjin.
“Yeah, Hyunjin.”
— Hyung….
“Where are you?
Did you get here?”
— No… I just got into an accident….
“What?”
Hyunwoo’s eyes widened.
An accident?
“What happened?
Where are you now?”
— I’m at the hospital… it’s not bad.
I fell while trying to avoid a motorcycle….
“Ha… I’m coming now.
Tell me the hospital.”
Hyunwoo hung up after receiving the address.
He immediately quickened his steps back to the parking lot.
“Did Joo Hyunjin get into an accident?”
“Yeah.
I have to go to the hospital.”
“Is he hurt badly?”
“He says it’s not too bad, but….”
“If he can call, then it must not be serious.”
“…….”
For some reason, the casual tone irritated him.
Even if he knew Seunghyuk hadn’t liked Hyunjin in the previous timeline, saying something like that in front of a worried brother wasn’t pleasant.
“Just shut up and follow me.”
“Yes.”
“Good grief….”
Reading the atmosphere, Seunghyuk nodded immediately.
Hyunwoo hurried toward the car.
“Hyunjin!”
“Hyung….”
“……!”
Hyunwoo’s eyes widened when he saw him.
Despite saying he wasn’t seriously hurt, Hyunjin’s foot was wrapped in bandages and secured with a brace.
“You call this ‘not much’? Huh?”
“It isn’t much… it just looks dramatic because of the brace….”
“Honestly….”
A moment later, Hyunwoo met the doctor who treated Hyunjin.
He also heard the details from both the doctor and the motorcycle rider.
Hyunjin had hurried out after class ended late, and while trying to catch his bus, he failed to notice a motorcycle approaching from behind.
Startled when he finally spotted it, he stepped back and twisted his ankle as he fell.
The motorcyclist was just as shocked and had left after giving his card, but further details would require speaking with a lawyer later.
Hyunwoo frowned at Hyunjin.
“What if you had gotten seriously hurt?
What then?”
“I’m sorry…
And today’s your birthday too….”
“That’s not the point.”
Hyunwoo exhaled slowly as his heart finally began to settle.
“Excuse me… are you Hyunwoo’s guardian?”
“Yes?”
It was the doctor who had treated Hyunjin—and also the one who had previously handled Hyunwoo’s pheromone tests.
“Professor Jung said you have a test result you need to check.”
“Oh….”
Right—he had come here for pheromone irregularities before.
He had completely forgotten about it.
“We’ve tried contacting you several times since the result came out.”
“Aha… I’ve been busy lately.”
Hyunwoo rubbed his neck awkwardly.
“Please come hear the results now.”
“But….”
“Hyung, I’m fine.
I’ll wait right here.”
“…Alright.”
Hyunwoo hesitated but decided to hear the results since he was already here.
“…Why are you coming along?”
“Can’t I?”
“Mm….”
Seunghyuk followed naturally, as if he were also a guardian.
Leaving him alone with Hyunjin felt even more awkward, so Hyunwoo let him come.
They headed to the pheromone department.
“Are you Joo Hyunwoo?”
“Yes.”
“You can go right in.”
The doctor had clearly expected him.
Seunghyuk followed silently behind him.
“Hello.”
“Welcome.
Hmm….”
The doctor, whom he’d met briefly once before, stared at the screen with a serious expression.
The tense atmosphere made Hyunwoo swallow nervously.
Then the doctor spoke.
“Have you been feeling heavy, fatigued, or unwell recently?”
“Ah… yes, recently a little….”
“Recently?
But this test was done quite a while ago.”
“Yes, well….”
Hyunwoo couldn’t explain without mentioning the club incident, and he did NOT want to bring that up.
After observing Hyunwoo’s hesitation, the doctor continued.
“To be honest, we still don’t know exactly what changes are occurring in your body.”
“…What?”
“During your test, your pheromone levels had dropped significantly—below the average threshold for an alpha.
You were nearly classified as a recessive alpha.”
“I was?”
“And based on what you’re describing, your levels may have dropped further.”
“Oh….”
“Is the person next to you a dominant alpha?”
“……?”
The doctor looked at Seunghyuk.
Seunghyuk nodded.
“Do you two live together?”
“Yes.
Is there a problem…?”
“And you are also… intimate?”
“…….”
The blunt question froze Hyunwoo.
He didn’t answer aloud, but his reaction was enough.
The doctor nodded as if everything made sense now.
“It’s uncommon, but this does sometimes occur between alpha couples—especially bonded or cohabiting ones.”
“It… happens sometimes?”
“Yes.
If one alpha’s pheromones are extremely strong or extremely weak, it can push the other’s levels toward an extreme as well.”
“So my pheromone drop is because of that?”
“That’s the most likely explanation.”
Hyunwoo felt dizzy and pressed his fingers to his forehead.
“Is it serious?”
“Your levels at the time of testing were concerning, but… I can’t give a definitive answer about your current condition.”
“In the end, isn’t it just becoming a recessive alpha?”
“…….”
Hyunwoo didn’t see the problem.
But the doctor spoke again—this time carefully.
“When an alpha’s pheromone levels weaken because of another’s influence…
A very small percentage—extremely rare—experience trait alteration.”
“…What?”
Hyunwoo’s eyes widened as his expression stiffened.
The excitement doesn't stop here! If you enjoyed this, you’ll adore Looking For My Child's Father. Start reading now!
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