Chapter 17: Unexpected Interventions and a Farcical Date

Of course, Yoon Tae-yeol noticed that as well. Consequently, before the door fully closed, he found himself compelled to speak.

“Sunbae.”

“Hmm?”

“If you have any air freshener in your car, you might want to spray some.”

Although he had considered saying a few more things, he ultimately swallowed his words. Suggesting that Jung-hyun do something about the pheromones he emitted when in a good mood might have been an overstepping remark.

“Oh, thanks.”

In truth, asking someone to spray air freshener wasn’t something easily said to just anyone. Fortunately, Jung-hyun accepted it readily and cheerfully, understanding Yoon Tae-yeol’s heightened sensitivity compared to others.

Perhaps it was due to that. A sense of satisfaction washed over him, realizing that his meddling, after such a long time, hadn’t been in vain.

With a contented expression that mirrored his improved mood, Yoon Tae-yeol leaned back comfortably against the seat.

***

Jung-hyun rarely stayed home on weekends. His personality simply wouldn’t allow him to remain idle indoors, and invitations to grab a drink often poured in from all directions, as if everyone shared his adventurous spirit.

Unless he was gravely ill, Jung-hyun would enthusiastically exclaim, “Okay!” and head out. Today, however, his purpose for going out was slightly different from usual.

Standing before the full-length mirror beside his wardrobe, he observed his reflection. His hair was styled more neatly than usual, his piercings subtly changed to be less conspicuous, and he wore a summer suit reserved only for special occasions.

He felt a strange unfamiliarity with his own appearance.

‘This actually makes me look pretty good. Well, the original canvas was already excellent, after all.’

Chae Song-hwa would undoubtedly burst into laughter and call him crazy if she heard that, but since it was just a thought to himself, it didn’t matter. After one last check of his attire, Jung-hyun grabbed his car keys and left the house.

Today was the day of his very first blind date, arranged by the marriage information agency. He had initially found the idea bothersome, postponing it several times after receiving the initial text message.

Eventually, the agency started calling him directly, and he reluctantly agreed a few days prior.

It had certainly been an annoyance.

Yet, as the appointed time drew nearer, a subtle sense of anticipation began to stir within him. In his mind, he revisited the specifications of his date, which he had cursorily glanced over before.

‘Male Alpha, mid-thirties, profession was an accountant or a tax accountant?’

Such details were, in fact, secondary. More than anything, Jung-hyun hoped for someone with whom he could converse easily. As always, he hummed a tune as he drove to the meeting place.

…So, how did the blind date go?

It was not good. Far from it.

His date’s receding hairline, shaped like an ‘M’ and seemingly revealing his entire future at a glance, immediately captured Jung-hyun’s attention.

Yet, Jung-hyun managed to maintain a polite demeanor and offered a courteous greeting, knowing that hair loss was largely genetic, and besides, baldness was a dominant trait.

His date’s attitude, however, was quite different. A slight frown, even though Jung-hyun had made an effort to appear neat, caught his eye. This was followed by a barrage of questions, self-praise, and an endless stream of utterly uninteresting information.

‘Wow, really? That’s amazing.’

‘You know so much.’

Despite it all, Jung-hyun navigated the entire ordeal splendidly. Having dealt with countless difficult customers during his time in the shopping mall business, he had become a master of empathy and reactions.

The outcome, however, unfolded in a rather absurd direction. The initial look of disapproval on his date’s face gradually vanished, replaced by an increasingly bright expression.

Ultimately, Jung-hyun even received a request for a second date, accompanied by a boastful declaration that he wasn’t one to do this for just anyone.

Jung-hyun, of course, politely declined, feigning a look of regret.

“Ha, I’m exhausted.”

Jung-hyun cracked his neck, a profound weariness etched across his face.

He truly was tired. Having spent so long only socializing with like-minded individuals, he hadn’t realized how agonizing it was to unilaterally listen to stories he neither wanted nor cared to hear.

He wanted to lavishly praise himself just for not storming out.

Meanwhile, evening was approaching. Seated in his car, Jung-hyun pondered. Should he eat out? There probably wasn’t anything to eat at home.

He switched on his phone, which he had forcibly kept sealed away during the date. It was the weekend, so he would typically have received messages, but today, there wasn’t even a single text.

‘Someone who might be home right now… Ah, I know.’

Without a moment’s hesitation, one person came to mind. Jung-hyun immediately sent Yoon Tae-yeol a text message.

[What are you doing? Are you home?]

After a brief wait, he impatiently dialed. There was no reply to his text, but the call was answered immediately.

–Yes, Sunbae.

“Hello? What are you up to?”

–I’m at home.

Jung-hyun chuckled, his face showing he’d expected that answer, as it didn’t deviate from his prediction.

“Go out and get some fresh air. If you stay home all the time, your brain will grow mold.”

–Not my brain… I think it’s the wallpaper that’s going to grow mold.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

–My sister asked to see me for a bit, so I went out, but when I came back, the ceiling was all wet, as if water leaked from upstairs.

“Oh no, quickly go up to the apartment above!”

–I did, but there was no sign of anyone.

Upon hearing this, Jung-hyun realized that Yoon Tae-yeol’s voice carried a hint of vexation.

Having heard the situation, he couldn’t simply hang up, and meeting outside for a pleasant time was even less feasible, so Jung-hyun offered, “Should I come take a look? I’m already out.”

–I’d really appreciate that.

Thanks to this, Jung-hyun had a new destination. He hastily drove his car toward Yoon Tae-yeol’s apartment. As soon as he rang the doorbell, the door quickly opened, revealing a familiar face. From his shirt and jeans, it was clear he had indeed been out.

“Welcome.”

The irritation he’d felt from the boastful man seemed to melt away the moment he saw Yoon Tae-yeol. Thinking about it again, Chae Song-hwa’s words were right: a handsome face truly was a blessing.

Still, Jung-hyun managed not to forget the purpose of his visit to Yoon Tae-yeol’s place. When he asked where the water was leaking, Yoon Tae-yeol shuffled ahead in his slippers, leading the way. Their steps headed toward the bedroom.

“It’s here.”

The moment he reached out and opened the bedroom door, Jung-hyun instinctively paused, a little flustered. As the door swung open, a faint Alpha pheromone wafted out.

It hadn’t been noticeable on moving day, but it seemed to have permeated the bedroom since then.

Of course, it was only natural. No matter how perfectly one could suppress them, it was impossible to control the pheromones that naturally flowed out like breathing when one was unguarded.

Rather, it was astonishing that only this much was detectable in the space where he was most relaxed and comfortable.

His momentary hesitation was brief. The instant his gaze landed on the ceiling, Jung-hyun was utterly shocked.

“Oh my god…”

A dumbfounded sound escaped him. He had thought it was just a small leak, but it was far worse than that. A significant stain was clearly visible, and in one corner, water was even running down the wall.

“That’s really bad. Have you called the building manager?”

“Not yet. I’ll do it now.”

Realizing the manager’s existence, Yoon Tae-yeol immediately went to find his phone. About 30 minutes later, a kind-looking older man from management rushed to the apartment.

The manager was also surprised by the state of the ceiling. After asking about the situation, he offered an experienced assessment.

“It seems like the upstairs neighbor might have left the water running, but there’s also a slight possibility of a problem with the water pipes. We’ll need to check the upstairs unit first to find the cause.”

Jung-hyun, who had been listening, pointed out an important detail.

“We don’t have to fix it ourselves, do we?”

“Of course not. If the upstairs neighbor is at fault, they’ll be responsible. If it’s a facility issue, we’ll take care of it. I’ll go up to the floor above first.”

The manager hurried out, and Yoon Tae-yeol repeatedly looked up at the ceiling. His brow furrowed slightly, just as it had when he first discovered the disaster.

It wasn’t an old, dilapidated building; he had chosen a decent place, so it was frustrating that the problem happened to be in the bedroom.

However, staring at it wouldn’t change anything, so he spoke to Jung-hyun, who was also gazing seriously at the ceiling.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Oh? Uh…”

Only then did both of them return to the living room. Jung-hyun sat on the sofa, and a moment later, Yoon Tae-yeol came back with two cups. He handed one to Jung-hyun before dropping onto the seat beside him.

He took a sip of coffee, then let out a long sigh. His expression had improved somewhat.

When Jung-hyun’s call came, he had just discovered the ceiling’s devastation and was, quite literally, in a state of mental breakdown, so Jung-hyun’s offer of ‘Should I come?’ had been incredibly welcome.

As his mind settled, his perception broadened. Yoon Tae-yeol shifted his gaze to Jung-hyun, who was sipping coffee beside him.

“You had an appointment, it seems.”

“Huh?”

“Your clothes look like you made an effort.”

“Ah, yes.”

Jung-hyun glanced down at his attire and continued, “I went on a blind date. It was arranged by the marriage information agency where Tae-jeong Noona’s husband works.”