Chapter 162: When 1 + 1 Equals 3

“Still no reply from Company XX.”

“This is urgent, so try calling them.”

“Who’s in charge of the Company XX case here.”

The inside of the company was no different from a marketplace.

Ring ring, ring ring, the phone kept ringing nonstop, and people shouting could be heard everywhere.

Even inside the director’s office where Hyunwoo was, the noise carried through.

“…Nothing’s changed here.”

Hyunwoo muttered quietly as he tapped the tablet Jung-hoon handed him with his finger.

The headquarters he had returned to was still busy, chaotic, and overflowing with work.

Hyunwoo let out a deep sigh.

“You’ve returned after a long break, so now you’ll have to work hard.”

“Ha ha….”

After secretly giving birth to the baby in the U.S., Hyunwoo rested for a few more months to recover his body.

To everyone else, it just looked like Hyunwoo had gone to America to enjoy himself.

But he had given Jung-hoon a quiet heads-up.

As his secretary, Jung-hoon needed to know why he had taken such a long leave.

The expression Jung-hoon had made back then.

Hyunwoo chuckled softly and turned his gaze back to the tablet screen.

“Company XX is still a headache.”

“With communication this bad….”

“It seems they’ve been having a lot of issues lately as well.”

“Do you think it’ll affect us.”

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

“Hm….”

Whether they should change partners now or keep watching for the time being.

Although Hyunwoo had kept in steady contact with Jung-hoon and other employees through emails, he had still been away from the front lines for quite some time.

Because of that, there were many things he hadn’t fully grasped.

“For now, let’s keep watching.”

“There’s still some room for possibility.”

“Yes, I’ll look into it thoroughly.”

“Alright.”

Jung-hoon, who looked sturdier in both body and face than the last time they met, nodded firmly.

Hyunwoo looked at him with satisfaction, then lowered his gaze.

“Um, but….”

“Yes.”

Even after finishing his report, Jung-hoon lingered instead of leaving the office.

Hyunwoo tilted his head, not understanding why.

“Well… could you maybe… show me a photo.”

“A photo.”

“Yes, Min-ah’s photo.”

“Ah.”

So that was it.

He must have wanted to see Min-ah’s photo again after getting a brief glimpse last time.

Hyunwoo, who had been secretly tense, smiled and took out his phone.

Joo Min-ah.

She was the daughter born between Hyunwoo and Seunghyuk.

Seunghyuk kept calling her by the prenatal nickname “Tiny.”

Just like that name, she was born small and adorably petite.

Min-ah, who looked exactly like Seunghyuk and was unbelievably pretty, had recently become Hyunwoo’s biggest worry.

She was a girl, yet she had taken after Seunghyuk’s looks of all things.

The only consolation was that she would likely manifest as an alpha like him.

“Wow, she’s really cute.”

“Min-ah is the prettiest baby I’ve ever seen.”

“Really.”

“Yes, she’s not even my baby, but I want to use her as my profile picture.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

Jung-hoon was completely absorbed in the photo and couldn’t come to his senses.

Hyunwoo felt extremely proud but cleared his throat to hide it.

When Min-ah was born, Hyunwoo had really thought he was going to die.

Although receiving Seunghyuk’s pheromones daily had stabilized his condition, the sudden change in traits from alpha to omega had been overwhelming.

On top of that, he became pregnant immediately, leaving many unsettling factors.

If he hadn’t had resident medical staff while hiding in the U.S., no one knew what might have happened.

Money really is the best.

Hyunwoo laughed softly at the random thought.

“You must want to go home early.”

“Well, there are people at home taking care of things.”

“Right, is that why Mr. Seunghyuk leaves work early.”

“He does that even though I tell him he doesn’t have to.”

Hyunwoo shook his head.

After returning to Korea, Hyunwoo went back to work.

Seunghyuk also finally joined the company after putting it off.

Since Seunghyuk worked at the technology research institute, they were in different departments.

Because of that, they rarely ran into each other at work.

Even so, despite being a new employee, Seunghyuk adjusted his schedule to leave work early.

It was all to take care of Min-ah.

They said a baby needed the mother’s pheromones most.

But Hyunwoo had one problem.

Min-ah found Hyunwoo’s pheromones overwhelming.

It was probably because some alpha pheromones still remained in him.

That was why Hyunwoo returned to work sooner than expected.

His body recovered surprisingly quickly.

Since he didn’t need to stay right beside the baby, going to work became easier.

There were plenty of people around to care for Min-ah.

So he didn’t need to worry too much.

“Mr. Seunghyuk must find the baby so cute that he can’t help himself.”

“Mm….”

Maybe that was true.

Hyunwoo recalled the sight of Seunghyuk taking care of Min-ah.

When Min-ah was first born, Seunghyuk had naturally been happy.

Hyunwoo, on the other hand, had felt oddly calm when he first saw her.

Seunghyuk, however, had cried streams of tears.

Hyunwoo had been quite surprised by that.

After shedding those tears of emotion, Seunghyuk took meticulous care of Min-ah.

Even though several people had been hired, he involved himself in everything.

From what Min-ah ate and wore.

To every single toy she played with.

“She’s cute, but more than that, he basically has a personality that wants to control what’s his.”

The word “control” sounded a bit scary.

So to put it more gently, he was someone who took very good care of those around him.

He was endlessly cold to people who didn’t matter to him.

But for those who did, he was devoted enough to give even his bones.

Having once been considered part of Seunghyuk’s inner circle, Hyunwoo knew his personality well.

Now, even the events before the regression felt like a very distant past.

Hyunwoo smiled casually as he looked at Jung-hoon.

“I guess so.”

“Ha ha… the director will probably be very busy for a while….”

“It can’t be helped.”

He would have to leave matters concerning Min-ah to Seunghyuk and the others.

For the time being, he would focus on company work.

Hyunwoo was also due for a promotion to managing director soon.

Because he had suddenly left for the U.S. and then taken a long leave, the gap had been long.

Some executives were not pleased about his promotion.

If he wanted to satisfy them, he had to work hard starting now.

Hyunwoo rubbed his already tired eyes with his hand.

“Phew….”

By the time Hyunwoo got off work, it was almost completely night.

After roughly resolving the Company XX issue that had troubled him all day, meetings followed one after another.

As a result, he worked overtime on his very first day back.

Only then did Hyunwoo take out his phone.

Pretty One

When are you coming home.

It was a message from Seunghyuk.

Hyunwoo realized too late that he had missed it.

Feeling flustered, he called him.

– Hyung, are you done now.

“Yeah, sorry.”

“I just saw your message.”

– It’s okay if you’re busy.

“Are you home.”

– Yes, Min-ah just fell asleep.

“I see….”

It was late, so of course Min-ah was already asleep.

If he went now, he’d probably only be able to secretly look at her sleeping face.

Hyunwoo smiled bitterly.

He said he’d be home soon and hung up.

Beep beep beep beep, beep.

Click.

When Hyunwoo arrived home, he unlocked the door and stepped inside.

Walking past the entrance, he saw an empty living room.

The people who watched Min-ah during the day had already gone home.

“You’re back.”

“Yeah, I’m back.”

“You must be tired, so wash up and go to sleep quickly.”

“I’ve already filled the bath.”

“Thanks.”

Seunghyuk came over naturally and took Hyunwoo’s suit jacket.

Hyunwoo loosened the tie that had been choking him.

“Did you eat.”

“I ate a little.”

“A little.”

“…….”

Seunghyuk’s eyes sharpened instantly.

One of the things he hated most was Hyunwoo skipping meals.

From the day Hyunwoo returned to work, Seunghyuk had offered to make juice like before.

But Hyunwoo didn’t want to burden him.

So he promised to take care of his meals himself.

And yet he said “a little.”

It was clearly his mistake.

“We agreed you’d eat properly.”

“Sorry….”

“Ha….”

Seunghyuk sighed and shook his head.

Hyunwoo hunched his shoulders like a guilty person.

“Should I contact Jung-hoon.”

“No, don’t.”

“I’ll eat properly.”

“You always break your promises.”

“…….”

After scolding him, Seunghyuk stared at Hyunwoo.

Then he shook his head and pulled him into an embrace.

“I’m worried.”

“What if you collapse.”

“Your body still isn’t fully recovered.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Today was really busy.”

“If you don’t eat again, I’ll follow you around and feed you myself.”

“Ha ha….”

That sounded frighteningly possible coming from Seunghyuk.

Hyunwoo laughed awkwardly and hugged him back.

“Aren’t you tired.”

“Did Min-ah cry a lot today.”

“No, she’s usually pretty quiet.”

“Mm… though when she cries, she really cries.”

Min-ah was fairly easygoing for a baby.

Either that, or she simply liked sleeping.

She wasn’t very active.

She spent most of the day dozing.

But once she fully woke up, she cried so loudly it became a problem.

At times like that, it was hard to calm her down no matter who tried.

Hyunwoo clicked his tongue, recalling Min-ah’s powerful cries.

That was when it happened.

“Waaahhh!”

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