Chapter 80: A Suspicious Distance

“I don’t really have anything I’d call a serious concern.”

It was just that every day of his life felt chaotic.

Hyunwoo muttered to himself with a hint of self-mockery.

“If you do have worries, I’d like to listen to them as well.”

“…I appreciate the sentiment.”

He knew the reason Dokyung kept flirting with him was because of Hyunjin, but the more it continued, the more uncomfortable he felt.

Hyunwoo tried hard not to frown and instead smiled.

A purely business-like smile.

“By the way, isn’t this place quite far from your house, professor?”

“It’s not too bad if I come by car.”

“Haha… I mean, I’m sure there are plenty of good cafés near your home too.”

“I just prefer the taste of the coffee Hyunjin makes.”

“…….”

Those words were exactly the same as in the original novel.

When Hyunjin had asked Dokyung why he came to the café so often, Dokyung said exactly that.

That he really liked the coffee Hyunjin made.

It was one of the ways the love interests would constantly flirt with Hyunjin in the story.

Hyunwoo never expected to hear it directed at him in person.

He tried to suppress the twitch in his lips.

Of course, that didn’t mean Hyunjin’s skills were lacking.

Hyunwoo had drunk Hyunjin’s coffee countless times, and it was always excellent.

And since Dokyung was known to have a more refined palate than the other love interests, he probably meant it sincerely.

Even so, it pisses me off.

Regardless of sincerity, the reason he came here was impure.

Just imagining Hyunjin smiling in innocent happiness after hearing that compliment made Hyunwoo’s stomach twist.

I can’t let him get close to Hyunjin.

Hyunwoo decided to slightly change his plans for the evening.

He had originally planned to send Dokyung back early and return home with Hyunjin, but that wouldn’t do now.

Hyunwoo smiled as he opened his mouth.

“By the way, you mentioned you know a good restaurant nearby.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Would you mind telling me what kind of place it is?”

“Ah…”

Dokyung was briefly flustered by the change in tone, but then he smiled and began to explain the place he knew.

Hyunwoo listened with half interest, responding only enough to keep the conversation going.

“I see.

Sounds delicious.”

“I promise, if we go, you won’t regret it.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

“Yes.”

Dokyung’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo pretended to hesitate.

Dokyung likely assumed that if he invited Hyunwoo, Hyunjin would come along too.

But Hyunwoo had no intention of letting that happen.

He lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.

“I like that food quite a bit, but Hyunjin doesn’t.”

“Hyunjin doesn’t?”

“Yes, so if we go, it would have to be just me…”

“…….”

Maybe he shouldn’t have said that.

Maybe Dokyung would leave disappointed.

But then again, that wouldn’t be so bad either.

If Dokyung stopped coming by the café so frequently, Hyunjin wouldn’t run into him anymore.

That would work out nicely.

Just as Hyunwoo was feeling pleased with himself—

“I was suggesting it to you from the beginning.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t know Hyunjin couldn’t eat that, but I wasn’t inviting him anyway.”

“…….”

Dokyung spoke lightly and confidently.

Hyunwoo blinked in confusion.

So he hadn’t planned to bring Hyunjin from the start?

Only him?

Why?

He said something like that at the bookstore too…

When he approached Hyunwoo at the bookstore, Hyunwoo thought Dokyung was looking for Hyunjin.

But instead he denied it—and even invited Hyunwoo to eat with him back then.

Hyunwoo’s eyes wavered.

Maybe Dokyung really wasn’t interested in Hyunjin at all.

But then again, maybe this was all just a grand act.

A strategy to avoid suspicion.

If Hyunwoo let his guard down, Dokyung could approach Hyunjin later without obstacles.

I can’t fall for it.

Hyunwoo steadied his gaze again.

“It wouldn’t be fun with just the two of us.”

“On the contrary.

I think it would be quite enjoyable.”

“Haha…”

“In my opinion… we’d get along rather well.”

“…….”

Dokyung reached out his hand.

His hand approached Hyunwoo’s resting hand on the table.

Hyunwoo, caught off guard, could only watch.

“Hyung! I’m done!”

“……!”

Hyunjin ran over and shouted.

Hyunwoo flinched and pulled his hand back, and Dokyung withdrew his with a strained smile.

“Uh… what were you two talking about?”

“Well…”

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Hyunjin moved closer.

Hyunwoo cleared his throat and looked away.

That gesture from Dokyung—there was no way to misunderstand it.

Anyone would know what it meant.

A chill ran up Hyunwoo’s spine.

“The professor asked if… we should go eat together.”

“Eat?”

“Yeah.”

Hyunwoo clenched his teeth and maintained a neutral tone.

Hyunjin looked between the two.

“Why would the professor…”

Hyunjin’s eyes sharpened, staring at Dokyung.

But no one was more confused than Hyunwoo.

“I thought it looked good, so I suggested it.

But I remembered you couldn’t eat that.

So I figured I’d just head back.”

“…….”

“Huh?”

The mood shifted.

Even though Dokyung was a beta and couldn’t sense pheromones, he couldn’t miss how dark Hyunjin’s expression had become.

Hyunjin rarely looked this severe.

Not even when arguing with Sunghyuk.

Hyunwoo, flustered, couldn’t say anything else.

“Professor.

Do you… have feelings for my brother?”

“……!”

Hyunjin spoke without hesitation.

Dokyung remained relaxed.

“And if I do?”

“Huh?”

Hyunwoo was even more shocked than Hyunjin.

He had suspected it—but hearing it outright stunned him.

His face went pale.

“…Even the professor now…”

“Hyunjin, what?”

“…Nothing.”

Hyunjin muttered under his breath and clenched his jaw.

Hyunwoo stared in confusion, then looked at Dokyung.

“That’s a bit much for a joke.”

“Shame you took it as one.”

“Ha…”

What was Dokyung doing.

First the protagonist, now even the second male lead was acting strange.

The problem was—Hyunwoo couldn’t tell whether Dokyung was serious or not.

Was he playing some advanced jealousy game?

Trying to provoke Hyunjin?

No way…

Hyunjin wasn’t the type to fall for something like that.

If anything, he would cut all ties.

So then… was he actually interested in Hyunwoo?

No.

Impossible.

Hyunwoo wasn’t some delicate omega or an attractive beta.

He was a tall, sturdy alpha.

Why—

“Seems I startled you.

I’ll head out for today.”

“Ah, no, I—”

“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

With a polite farewell, Dokyung walked out.

Hyunwoo watched his back, speechless.

Hwang Dokyung.

In the original story, the intelligent, mature, gentle second male lead.

And before the regression, he had actually become Hyunjin’s boyfriend.

But now…

Hyunwoo didn’t know what to call him.

He stared at the closed café door, then slowly turned.

“That professor is… quite unique.”

“…….”

“I mean, does he joke like that often at school? Hahaha…”

Hyunwoo tried to treat it as a joke.

But Hyunjin didn’t move.

He seemed genuinely shaken.

Given how things had been with Sunghyuk lately, and how Dokyung had seemed comforting…

To suddenly behave like that—it was a shock.

“…Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

Hyunjin lifted his head.

Their eyes met.

Hyunwoo swallowed hard under the weight of that serious gaze.

“Don’t come to the café anymore.”

“…What?”

“I said, don’t come here again.”

“……!”

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened in shock at the sudden banishment.