Chapter 167: Under the Same Night Sky

“Why do you keep smiling?”

“Just because it’s funny.”

“……”

Either way, he was definitely the Seunghyuk he knew.

The Seunghyuk who was devoted to him, and the Seunghyuk who could suddenly turn feral like a beast.

Thinking that, Hyunwoo turned his head away.

“I’ve finally warmed up, want to go one more round?”

“Just sleep.”

“Huh? Are you really okay with that?”

“……”

When he shifted his body slightly, the loosely worn robe easily revealed his bare skin.

Seunghyuk’s gaze landed on the red marks left on his thigh.

Hyunwoo didn’t miss the way the corners of his eyes flushed red.

But Seunghyuk quickly looked away and spoke firmly.

“I said just sleep.”

“Tch.”

“I’ll turn off the light.”

“……”

After saying that, Seunghyuk really did turn off the light.

Then he climbed onto the bed and pulled Hyunwoo tightly into his arms.

“Now that it’s over, you’re going into that uptight scholar mode again?”

“Hah… what does that even mean?”

“You. Right now. You.”

“……”

Seunghyuk frowned as he looked at Hyunwoo, who was saying incomprehensible things.

But it was driving him crazy that even this side of Hyunwoo looked cute.

“Hyung, stop before you really regret it.”

“Alright, alright.”

Before his waist truly got wrecked, Hyunwoo finally backed down.

He obediently buried his nose into Seunghyuk’s chest and hugged his warm body.

The familiar scent of pheromones filled his lungs.

Soon, Hyunwoo helplessly drifted into sleep.

“Congratulations, Deputy Manager!”

“Congratulations!”

Using lunchtime, Hyunwoo arranged a small gathering to celebrate Deputy Manager Oh’s pregnancy.

Since it was a busy season and dinner gatherings would be difficult for a while, they chose to meet during lunch instead.

The employees’ reactions turned out to be quite good.

“…Thank you. I keep wondering if it’s really okay for me to receive this kind of congratulations….”

“No, what are you saying? Of course you should be congratulated!”

Deputy Manager Oh reacted timidly, shrinking her shoulders just like she had in front of Hyunwoo before.

Then an employee sitting beside her raised their voice in support.

They were someone who usually followed Deputy Manager Oh closely.

“That’s right. We’re really fine, Deputy Manager.”

“We’ll hold down the fort until you come back.”

Other employees nodded and added their words as well.

Deputy Manager Oh looked at them with a deeply moved expression.

“Everyone… thank you. But I’m planning to keep coming in until I’m full-term.”

“What? Will you be okay?”

“Mmm.”

“Well, it’s good for us, but….”

“Please don’t overdo it!”

“Thank you.”

Thankfully, the meal didn’t turn awkward.

Overall, the atmosphere was one of genuine congratulations for Deputy Manager Oh’s pregnancy.

Of course, a few people quietly ate without joining the conversation, their expressions dark.

They were probably worried that her absence would mean even more work for them.

Things were already busy as it was, and without a capable Deputy Manager Oh, it would only get harder.

Looks like I’ll have to push Hyunseok harder.

And I’ll need to redistribute the workload properly so things can still run smoothly without her.

Hyunwoo reaffirmed his resolve inwardly.

“Alright, Director, why don’t you say a few words too?”

“…Me?”

“Yes. Were you planning not to offer a single congratulatory remark at a gathering like this?”

“Uh….”

Jeonghun spoke playfully and grabbed Hyunwoo, pulling him along.

Hyunwoo was dragged to his feet.

Immediately, countless eyes focused on him.

Even now, speaking in front of people like he was someone important still felt unfamiliar.

That was probably because he had lived so comfortably in the US for so long.

But he had to get used to it.

If he was going to become chairman someday, this much confidence was necessary.

“First of all, I’d also like to sincerely congratulate Deputy Manager Oh.”

Since this wasn’t a drinking party, there was no need to go on and on.

Hyunwoo decided to keep his words short and say only what needed to be said.

“And going forward, even if there are things that feel difficult to talk about, I hope you won’t hesitate.

The company that employs you exists precisely for that reason.”

“……”

“Now then, please enjoy the rest of your meal.”

“……”

Hyunwoo spoke quickly and sat back down.

But the area around him fell into silence.

Seeing the employees staring at him without saying a word, Hyunwoo tilted his head in confusion.

“Kgh, as expected, you’re amazing, Director!”

“I’ll follow you for the rest of my life!”

“Long live the Strategic Planning Team!”

“……?”

Suddenly, the excited employees began shouting one after another.

Hyunwoo was even more confused.

Behind him, only Jeonghun chuckled softly and shook his head.

Pretty One
It’s the parking lot

At Seunghyuk’s sudden message, Hyunwoo headed down to the underground parking lot as soon as he got off work.

There, standing where the car was always parked, was Seunghyuk.

“What’s going on?”

“Hyung.”

“Where’s Mina?”

“I asked the lady who comes in the evening to stay a little longer.”

“Really?”

Hyunwoo tilted his head.

The Seunghyuk he knew was obsessively strict about his schedule.

Once he decided something, he never changed it, no matter what.

For someone like him, who had resolved to take care of Mina to support Hyunwoo, to entrust her to someone else and come looking for him like this was no small matter.

What is it….

Is he still angry about letting Hyunjin stay at the house?

Of course, it wouldn’t be something he could get over that easily, right?

Hyunwoo shrank back slightly and looked at Seunghyuk.

“You’ve been under a lot of stress lately, hyung.

Since tomorrow’s a day off, I thought we could spend tonight comfortably outside.”

“You’re saying we should stay out overnight?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Seunghyuk answered shortly and nodded.

Hyunwoo looked surprised, then hesitated for a moment.

It was sudden, but Seunghyuk was right.

Ever since returning to Korea, things had been chaotic.

Not long ago, Mina had suddenly spiked a fever, which had scared them badly.

And he had taken it out on Seunghyuk back then.

He shouldn’t have done that.

Feeling a renewed sense of guilt, Hyunwoo replied.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

“Get in.”

“Where are we going?”

“I’ll tell you on the way.”

“……?”

For some reason, Seunghyuk didn’t readily say their destination.

Hyunwoo felt a bit puzzled but got into the car without complaint.

There was no way Seunghyuk would take him somewhere strange.

“Hm, just where could we be going for you to act like this?”

“Put your seatbelt on.”

“At night, there’s only one place I can think of going.”

“……”

Speaking suggestively, Hyunwoo rubbed Seunghyuk’s thigh with his fingers.

Seunghyuk’s gaze seemed to darken.

“I said put your seatbelt on.”

“Haha, alright.”

Hyunwoo laughed and fastened his seatbelt.

Lately, he was having too much fun teasing Seunghyuk, which was becoming a real problem.

“So? You can tell me now. Where are we going?”

“Um….”

“……?”

But Seunghyuk still didn’t answer easily.

Hyunwoo tilted his head in confusion.

A hotel after all?

Was he planning to go at it seriously again?

There was no way Seunghyuk was fully satisfied yet.

Hyunwoo briefly recalled the time when he had been worn down to the bone like a dry twig.

But strangely, just thinking about it made his body start to heat up again.

Well, it can’t be helped.

Tonight, it looks like he’ll have to make the sacrifice.

Just as he was indulging in that thought with a hint of anticipation—

“You might not really like it, hyung.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“……?”

What kind of place could it be?

So it wasn’t a hotel?

On top of that, the car Seunghyuk was driving was heading somewhere increasingly suspicious.

As they left Seoul and took a narrow road that felt like a forest path, climbing upward, Hyunwoo even began to feel uneasy.

It was unlikely, but could Seunghyuk possibly….

No. That couldn’t be.

Now that he trusted Seunghyuk completely, Hyunwoo shook off the anxiety that had briefly taken over his mind and body.

“We’re here.”

“Huh….”

As he got out of the car, a massive building came into view.

Hyunwoo looked up at it.

It looked about three or four stories tall, but each floor was quite high.

On top of that, there was a round dome covering the roof.

Seeing that, Hyunwoo realized what the building was.

“An observatory?”

“Have you ever been to one?”

“No… it’s my first time.”

He knew there were observatories scattered around, but he had never gone out of his way to visit one.

When he shook his head, Seunghyuk smiled and spoke.

“I used to go often with my father when I was in the US.

He liked looking at the stars.”

“Oh.”

“So sometimes I’d come alone in Korea too.

When I have worries, looking at the stars at night helps a bit.”

“I see.”

It was something he was hearing for the first time.

So there were still things about Seunghyuk that he didn’t know.

Hyunwoo thought absentmindedly.

“You might… not like it….

I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”

“No, it’s fine.

I’m curious. I want to see it.”

“Really?”

“If I came all this way and said I didn’t like it, what would you have done?”

“Hmm, then we would’ve gone straight to a hotel.”

“Hahaha.”

At Seunghyuk’s joke, Hyunwoo shook his shoulders and laughed loudly.

Then he spoke again.

“That wouldn’t be bad either.”

“…Hyung.”

“I’m kidding.”

Winking one eye, Hyunwoo lightly tapped Seunghyuk’s shoulder.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes.”

The two of them leisurely entered the observatory together.

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