Chapter 17: Hidden Feelings and Unexpected Guests

“W-what are you saying? Hyung and I… we’re… brothers. Real brothers.”

“…….”

Hyunjin lowered his gaze in embarrassment.

He should have acted nonchalant, but his heart kept pounding.

How does Seunghyuk know?

Hyunjin had never done anything that might hint at his feelings.

Of course, Hyunwoo wouldn’t suspect anything, and even someone close wouldn’t see Hyunjin as more than a normal sibling.

But Seunghyuk didn’t just know—he seemed absolutely certain.

He curled his lips as if scoffing at Hyunjin’s words.

Hyunjin clenched his hands on the table, grinding his teeth.

“Whether you’re real brothers or not, if Hyunwoo hyung knows, he definitely won’t treat you like before. He won’t see you as just a brother anymore.”

“……!”

At those words, Hyunjin’s hands trembled.

It was frustrating, but it was true.

He had already experienced Hyunwoo’s cold attitude once.

He could still vividly remember when Hyunwoo found out about the secret of his birth and pushed him away irritably.

‘Hyung…’

‘Don’t touch me!’

‘……!’

Those memories swept through Hyunjin’s mind.

A face contorted as if seeing a bug, eyes twisted in hurt.

Even recalling that image made Hyunjin tremble all over.

No. He had fixed things already—he couldn’t go back to that moment.

Sweating nervously, Hyunjin desperately tried to think of a way out.

Hyunwoo, who had once pushed him away so coldly, suddenly came back as if nothing had happened.

It was as if that incident had been forgotten, as if they were still ordinary brothers, laughing and chatting.

Hyunjin was grateful just to be able to smile and talk with Hyunwoo like before.

But if hyung found out about his feelings… if he realized Hyunjin hadn’t seen him as a brother for a long time… would hyung still smile at him?

“…….”

No way.

Hyunjin knew Hyunwoo well.

There would never be a second chance.

“I….”

“Why haven’t you eaten yet?”

“……!”

Startled by the sudden voice, Hyunjin turned his head.

He saw Hyunwoo standing there with a curious expression.

“What are you doing just standing there?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Hyunjin quickly sat down.

His heart was still racing.

Had Hyunwoo overheard the conversation with Seunghyuk?

Nervously glancing at Hyunwoo beside him, he saw him speak with a serious expression.

“Let’s… eat first and then talk.”

“…….”

“…….”

“Okay?”

Hyunjin and Seunghyuk both nodded in agreement.

“Ha… finally some relief.”

After finishing the meal, Hyunwoo rubbed his full stomach.

During the meal, Hyunjin had fussed endlessly, trying to serve side dishes for him.

Hyunwoo finally had to frown and tell him to stop before Hyunjin settled down.

“Hmm….”

But Hyunjin hadn’t looked well during the meal.

He seemed overly conscious of Hyunwoo, and Seunghyuk kept glancing as well… it was unnerving.

‘He must be worried about me and Seunghyuk.’

He liked the man Hyunwoo had a crush on, yet Seunghyuk was talking nonsense about marriage, making Hyunjin anxious.

Hyunwoo suddenly became the shameless villain deceiving the protagonist’s love interest.

And it was all because of the unpredictable protagonist.

Hyunwoo glanced at Seunghyuk, casually seated across the sofa.

“You’re really going to stay here until Hyunjin leaves?”

“Yes.”

“Your school is quite far from here.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“…….”

Seunghyuk was diligent, taking his studies seriously even during college.

He never missed a lecture, even when he had a fever.

Even traveling an hour by car didn’t deter him.

Love truly is extraordinary.

Only for Hyunjin, he endured such trouble.

Hyunwoo finally surrendered, raising his hands.

“Fine… do as you wish.”

“I have to drop you off at work in the morning anyway, so it’s easier for me this way.”

“What? Not going to school with Hyunjin?”

“Why would I go with him?”

“…….”

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened at the blunt statement.

He had thought the cohabitation was to get closer to Hyunjin.

Usually, going to school together would strengthen their bond.

Hyunwoo furrowed his brows.

“Hyung, have some fruit.”

“Ah, thanks.”

Hyunjin placed some fruit in front of Hyunwoo.

They were the last of the strawberries.

Since Hyunjin liked sweet fruit more than Hyunwoo, he ate a few and gave the rest to him.

Watching Hyunjin savor the strawberries, Hyunwoo carefully spoke.

“Seunghyuk is staying here for a while too. Are you okay with that?”

“Uh… me?”

“Yes.”

“I….”

Hyunjin glanced at Seunghyuk and then, startled, lowered his head.

“I’m… okay too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“…….”

It was clear Hyunjin wasn’t happy about it, but Hyunwoo pretended not to notice.

After all, one shouldn’t meddle in someone else’s relationship.

Even if they seemed awkward now, time would fix it.

“There are many rooms, use whichever you like.”

“…Okay.”

Fortunately, the house was large with many guest rooms.

Seunghyuk could stay in one of them.

Of course, he had to have a separate room from Hyunjin.

“…….”

Hyunwoo recalled his previous married life with Seunghyuk before regressing.

It wasn’t this cold house, but a bright place decorated to Seunghyuk’s taste.

In five years, they had never entered each other’s rooms.

Hyunwoo didn’t even know how Seunghyuk’s room was decorated.

This time, they could live like a shared house.

Leaving the house occasionally, Seunghyuk and Hyunjin could handle things themselves.

Back then, Hyunwoo had easily allowed Seunghyuk’s cohabitation.

“So at L&S, this time officially… Director?”

“…Yes?”

Hyunwoo, lost in thought, was startled by a staff member’s voice.

Everyone’s gaze turned to him.

Right, it was during a meeting.

Hyunwoo cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ah, please continue.”

“Understood….”

The staff watched Hyunwoo’s pale face.

He looked even worse than usual.

‘Damn, I shouldn’t have let Seunghyuk in the house.’

Hyunwoo pressed his temples during the meeting to prevent a worsening headache.

He swallowed his sighs forcibly.

“…Let’s end today’s meeting here.”

“Yes, Director.”

Hyunwoo couldn’t concentrate and left the room.

Seunghyuk, for some reason, followed him, with Hyunjin trailing behind.

Even on the commute, he had to see Seunghyuk constantly at home, which was frustrating.

He had expected to avoid each other in separate rooms like before, but that didn’t happen.

Moreover, Hyunjin acted strangely.

Perhaps because Seunghyuk avoided him, Hyunjin clung to him even more.

Yesterday, they had almost choked trying to feed him from both sides.

Hyunwoo calmed his uneasy stomach with coffee.

“Haah….”

“Why the sigh?”

“…Joo Hyunseok.”

Hyunwoo glared at Hyunseok, who entered the director’s office without a word.

Hyunseok didn’t care and approached with a smug smile.

“I told you not to barge in like that.”

“Are you being too familiar for family?”

“Family? Ha.”

Joo Hyunseok was the son of former vice-chairman Joo Chanhyuk, and Hyunwoo’s cousin.

They were the same age, but Hyunseok’s birthday was slightly earlier, so he always tried to act like an elder.

They weren’t on bad terms, though.

“Behave properly at work.”

“If you keep that up, huh? I might just leave again.”

“…….”

Hyunseok didn’t care about company hierarchy.

His father fought with the chairman over power, but Hyunseok had no interest in it.

He worked in HR, quietly managing employees, much to his father’s frustration.

He claimed to enjoy wielding power over staff, but clearly wasn’t normal.

“Anyway, why are you here?”

“Heh, I saw you struggling, so I came to help.”

“…Help?”

Was he here to take on Hyunwoo’s work?

Hyunwoo eyed him suspiciously.

Hyunseok waved his hands.

“Really. I brought you a fresh intern.”

“…An intern? Now?”

“Not now, in summer. When college interns start.”

“Oh… right.”

It was April, so intern recruitment was ending soon.

Some were already pre-selected, including ones Hyunwoo knew.

“What kind of intern? Someone you know?”

“No, you’ll know them better.”

“…Me?”

Hyunwoo frowned, sensing something odd.

Before regression, no interns had joined this department.

Now, someone he knew was coming.

He raised his eyes in disbelief.

“…Seunghyuk?