Chapter 49: An Unwelcome Invitation

“I also read travel books often.
When I see someone doing something I can’t do myself, I feel a sort of vicarious satisfaction.”

“I see.”

Hyun-woo hadn’t chosen the travel book for that reason, but he nodded seriously in response.

Even if he didn’t like what Do-kyung said, he couldn’t show it outwardly.

In the original story, Hyun-jin kept getting entangled with other sub-leads until the end.

Even after this semester, he would likely take Do-kyung’s class again during the summer term, maybe even in the second semester.

Unless the professor wasn’t in his major, that would normally be unlikely… but that was the power of the original story.

For Hyun-jin’s sake, Hyun-woo forced himself to continue the conversation.

“Do you want to travel to the country shown in that book?”

“Ah… no, not really.”

At Do-kyung’s question, Hyun-woo lowered his gaze and glanced at the cover.

He had picked it up because the cover photo was pretty, but he had no real desire to go there.

The country in the cover photo was Costa Rica.

The photos taken by the author were beautiful, so others might want to visit, but it wasn’t a well-known travel destination domestically.

The author even clearly warned early in the book that the security situation was poor and travelers needed to be cautious.

There was no need to go somewhere difficult and suffer.

People say you should suffer while you’re young, but his situation was different.

Even if he had suddenly become five years younger again.

“Most people who read travel books are looking to escape reality.
I thought your brother might be like that… but is he not?”

“Not particularly.”

“Ah… I see.”

“……”

Do-kyung’s voice was full of confusion, as if disappointed by the answer.

So now he was wondering why Hyun-woo chose a travel book.

Why was he trying to assign so much meaning to someone else’s reading choice?

Or did he just dislike accepting things that didn’t match his assumptions?

Feeling uncomfortable, Hyun-woo put the book back on the shelf.

Do-kyung’s gaze followed him—observing, studying.

How annoying.

Hyun-woo clicked his tongue inwardly.

“By the way, did you come here alone?”

“Yes, I did….”

Hyun-woo answered without thinking but then noticed Do-kyung’s eyes scanning around him.

So he was wondering whether Hyun-jin was here.

If this were a scene from the original storyline, this would have been the perfect chance for him to run into Hyun-jin and go on a date.

But unfortunately, Hyun-jin wasn’t here.

And Hyun-woo would never leave him alone with someone like this.

He should have looked into Hwang Do-kyung more carefully in the past life, but he had been blinded by love and carelessly allowed things to progress.

This time, he had to handle it properly.

Hyun-woo steadied himself and looked at Do-kyung.

“Hyun-jin is at home resting. It’s his day off.”

“I see.
You should rest on your day off.”

“……”

The response was so breezy, with no attachment at all, that Hyun-woo briefly lost his words.

It was spoken in such a detached tone that it almost made Hyun-woo doubt whether Do-kyung even had interest in Hyun-jin.

This one is dangerous too.

If he didn’t know the original story, he would have been fooled.

“I thought you’d be disappointed not to see him.”

“Me?”

Do-kyung tilted his head, expression innocent.

As if he didn’t understand why the topic came back to Hyun-jin.

If he didn’t know the story, Hyun-woo would never have realized what was underneath.

He swallowed down a bitter sigh.

“Yes, didn’t you look around to see if I came with him?”

“Ah, haha… that wasn’t the case.”

Do-kyung feigned ignorance smoothly.

Hyun-woo realized pushing further would only look suspicious, so he let the matter go.

“We see each other often at school anyway.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“……”

Hyun-woo nodded, but Do-kyung’s gaze again turned strange.

He stared at Hyun-woo—observing—again.

“Do you have any plans later?
A meeting, or someone to meet?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“……?”

Why was he asking that?

Hyun-woo couldn’t figure it out, but he answered honestly.

“I don’t have any particular plans….”

“Then would you like to have a meal with me?”

“……?”

Hyun-woo blinked.

He was alone—not with Hyun-jin—yet Do-kyung was asking him to eat together?

He couldn’t understand the intention at all.

Was this him trying to get closer to the older brother because Hyun-woo and Hyun-jin looked close?

Trying to score points to get nearer to Hyun-jin?

If this were before he returned, that might have worked.

But now, Hyun-woo had no intention of helping Do-kyung and Hyun-jin get together.

No amount of interaction with him would matter now.

“Um, well… I don’t think I can….”

“But you just said you had no plans.”

“That’s true, but….”

He had already said he was free.

He needed to change his story.

“I actually just ate….”

“Then we can spend time somewhere else first and eat later.”

“…Excuse me?”

Do-kyung clearly had no intention of backing off.

Hyun-woo stared at him, bewildered.

The smile on his face felt suffocating.

“Ah, and may I call you Hyun-woo?”

“……?”

“You can call me by my name too.”

Why was he approaching like this?

Hyun-woo involuntarily stepped back—

but Do-kyung stepped closer.

“Was I too forward?”

“No, um… it’s just….”

This behavior—no matter how he viewed it—looked like someone showing interest in him.

Not just trying to look good to a relative of the person he liked.

If Hyun-woo were a pretty omega like Hyun-jin, he could understand.

But he wasn’t—and that only made things more confusing.

“Hyung!”

“……!”

Just then—another voice cut sharply between them.

Hyun-woo flinched and turned.

“…Seung-hyuk?”

“Hyung, you didn’t come at the time we agreed, so I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“……?”

“What are you doing here?”

A promise?

He had been looking for him?

For a moment, even Hyun-woo almost believed it.

He hadn’t planned on seeing Seung-hyuk again today at all.

“If you get so absorbed in books that you forget our plans, what am I supposed to do?

I’ve been waiting for a while.”

“Ah… I see.”

But now, Hyun-woo chose to go along with the lie.

It was better than being stuck with Do-kyung.

He turned to Do-kyung, apologetic.

“Sorry.
I forgot I had plans.”

“I see.
That’s unfortunate.”

“Haha….”

“Next time, please spend time with me, Hyun-woo.”

“…….”

Do-kyung glanced once at Seung-hyuk’s icy face and then smiled faintly—before walking away.

“…Whew.”

Hyun-woo let out a long breath.

After his return, the one who confused him most had been Seung-hyuk—
but now it seemed Do-kyung was no less of a threat.

In the original, Do-kyung was gentle support for Hyun-jin—someone who gave him comfort and stability.

He was well-liked, even popular among students.

If he had been a senior instead of a professor, his popularity among readers would have been even greater—his sibling used to complain about that often.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.
Thanks for stepping in.”

But he was only the tree who gave his shade to the main character—
cold and uninterested in others by default.

Trying to believe this was just him wanting to look good for Hyun-jin… felt too forced.

Maybe Hyun-woo had misunderstood Hwang Do-kyung from the start.

The thought unsettled him.

“Hyung, what’s wrong?
What did that professor say to you?”

“Ah… no, it’s nothing like that.”

“……”

Seeing Hyun-woo’s troubled expression, Seung-hyuk frowned—clearly displeased.

“We just met by chance, and he suddenly asked me to eat with him.
It was so uncomfortable.”

“…The professor did that?”

“Yeah.”

“……”

Seung-hyuk’s expression twisted further.

Hyun-woo blinked, puzzled, then continued.