IRLPLBIO Chapter 14 Part 2

Traces of powdered blood fell from Jae-gu’s face, where dried bloodstains were stark, whenever he smiled. His split lip seemed irritated, turning red whenever he laughed and spoke.

Yet, Jae-gu ignored his own pain and spoke to Kwang-cheol.

“My Kwang-cheol, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you stand in the highest place.”

An indescribable power resonated in Jae-gu’s voice. It was as if he regretted something, yet also made a new resolution.

Kwang-cheol unconsciously placed his hand on the back of Jae-gu’s slightly bowed, round head. Everything was precious to him: the head that fit in his hand, the soft hair, and even the tender earlobe that briefly touched his fingertips.

The urge to immediately kiss, bite, and suck on him was pure instinct. Thoughts of leaving his mark on every part of Jae-gu so that no one else’s gaze could even reach him, and of holding him close to protect him from external pressures, arose simultaneously.

It wasn’t because Kwang-cheol was an Alpha that he harbored protective instincts for an Omega. Long before his manifestation, Jae-gu had been etched into Kwang-cheol’s heart.

Kwang-cheol could do anything for Jae-gu. He desired the prestige of the Dae-yeong Group because he needed it to get closest to Jae-gu, but if he had to abandon Dae-yeong for Jae-gu, Kwang-cheol would gladly hide his own lineage.

“Aunt, you should rise high too.”

Jae-gu mumbled. He was excessively calm, considering he had just learned the situation from overhearing Han Yun-cheol and Han Ga-yeon’s conversation. It was as if he had known all along.

Come to think of it, Jae-gu had also accepted, without batting an eye, the fact that this chain of events started with Han Seong-cheol and led to Han Yun-cheol, Han Ga-yeon, and even the Dae-yeong Group.

Had he ever told his brother that his mother was from the Dae-yeong Group?

He felt puzzled for a moment, but then Jae-gu released his hand and walked towards Han Yun-cheol, interrupting Kwang-cheol’s thoughts.

“If you’re going to see Han Seong-cheol, let’s go together.”

“Why? Brother, are you hurt somewhere?”

Had the stitches gone wrong, or was he hurting somewhere else?

Kwang-cheol, with a worried expression, held onto Jae-gu. Han Ga-yeon also looked similar.

“It’s not that, I need to go see Joo Hae-jun. His head was split open too. He’ll probably be at the same hospital, right?”

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it, he had completely forgotten that he’d promised to contact Hae-jun once Jae-gu was found. Kwang-cheol smiled awkwardly towards the unseen Hae-jun.

In the early morning, after his mother, who had been there as his guardian, had returned home, Hae-jun welcomed an unexpected guest.

“Joo Hae-jun, your brother’s here.”

Jae-gu waved playfully. It was a six-person room, but there were only two inpatients, including Hae-jun, and the other person was out, so the room felt deserted.

Hae-jun sprang up, now wide awake.

“You, you!”

Hae-jun immediately pointed a finger, then sharply lowered his voice.

“Did you sneak in? You’ll get in trouble if you’re caught.”

As he whispered, he noticed gauze stuck to Jae-gu’s head too. But seeing that Jae-gu was still in his regular clothes, he didn’t seem to be admitted. The thought that it wasn’t hospital visiting hours yet belatedly crossed his mind.

Jae-gu, scanning Hae-jun up and down and carefully examining him, said something unexpected.

“It’s a relief your leg isn’t broken.”

“What’s that? I got hit in the head, why would my leg be broken?”

“…Indeed.”

Jae-gu’s reply was a little delayed.

Jae-gu was recalling the Hae-jun of his past life. The Hae-jun who had suffered an “accident” because he had displeased Han Seong-cheol, leading to not just a broken leg, but a permanent disability.

Jae-gu, who had gone to Seoul, hadn’t seen Hae-jun after he completed his rehabilitation, but if Hae-jun’s personality had changed afterward, the cause would likely have been Han Seong-cheol. It was a relief that such a situation hadn’t occurred this time.

This time, Hae-jun wasn’t seriously injured. His head was just a bit split, which would heal soon, and Han Seong-cheol, who had been running wild, would quiet down after today.

Hae-jun scanned Jae-gu, whose expression had become odd with a surge of overwhelming emotion. Hae-jun wore a look that suggested, “Jae-gu got hit in the head too, so is he talking nonsense now?”

“Did you get hit badly somewhere?”

“……”

“Why did the kid suddenly become a fool?”

Hae-jun touched Jae-gu’s forehead. His face was full of bewilderment instead of worry, and Jae-gu’s eyebrows shot up.