IRLPLBIO Chapter 17 Part 2

The stream of water from the shower wet his hair, and hands more attentive than Jae-gu’s usual made the shampoo foam rich. An artificial, soft floral scent wafted through the small bathroom. Park Kwang-cheol, gently but firmly massaging his scalp, was putting proper strength into his fingertips.

“Ah, that feels refreshing.”

Jae-gu, with his eyes half-closed, gradually leaned his body towards Park Kwang-cheol. Park Kwang-cheol, showing no reaction, skillfully continued to wash his hair while supporting Jae-gu’s weight. The warm stream of water and misty steam made Jae-gu feel even more languid.

“Park Kwang-cheol, you said you were an Alpha, right?”

“…That’s right. Hyung, don’t move. You’ll get all wet.”

“Mm-hmm,” Jae-gu mumbled in reply, subtly turning his head. His nose touched Park Kwang-cheol’s stomach. He chuckled to himself at the soft feel of the t-shirt, which was worn and old, yet still soft.

“Is that why? You smell good.”

It wasn’t the smell of sunlight from clothes well-washed and dried, or the scent of fabric softener. It was deeper than that, like skin or flesh… no, a scent emanating from an even deeper place.

Jae-gu rubbed his nose and cheek against Park Kwang-cheol’s lower abdomen, like a puppy. Park Kwang-cheol froze for a moment.

A moment later, Jae-gu wouldn’t have noticed Park Kwang-cheol awkwardly spreading his legs slightly.

…He didn’t know. He didn’t know that only other Alphas or Omegas could sense an Alpha’s pheromones.

He didn’t know that thinking someone’s scent was ‘good’ was proof of good compatibility, both physically and emotionally.

Without knowing anything, Jae-gu continuously provoked Park Kwang-cheol. His cheeks, flushed with languor, the corners of his lips curling into a loose smile, and even the glimpse of his chest through the stretched neckline of his t-shirt were all stimulating to Park Kwang-cheol.

With the vigorous vitality of a middle schooler, unconcerned by day or night, coupled with the desire of a Dominant Alpha, his body kept reacting despite having done little. He was almost resentful of his lower body, which refused to listen to his mind’s control.

Park Kwang-cheol sighed softly and changed the subject.

“Hyung, that person from before.”

“Huh? Who?”

“The one who came to settle…”

“Han Yun-cheol?”

The moment “Han Yun-cheol” was mentioned, Jae-gu’s eyes flashed open.

With a slight regret for having brought up someone else, Park Kwang-cheol opened his mouth. His voice couldn’t help but sound a bit sulky.

“What did you talk about with him?”

“Nothing much.”

“That’s not true. I saw you talking separately.”

Park Kwang-cheol pouted. He knew that in Jae-gu’s eyes, he appeared as a child who needed looking after. Normally, he resented being treated like a child, but in times like these, it became a useful card to play.

Sure enough, Jae-gu, his face clearly expressing “He’s only big, but he’s still a child,” reached out his hand. Park Kwang-cheol obediently presented his cheek to Jae-gu’s hand, which moved towards his face. Jae-gu’s palm, gently caressing, was slightly dry and a little warm.

“It’s really nothing. Just… well, I just told him to suffer a bit.”

“…Really?”

“Of course. There’s nothing that would cause you any trouble. Or Auntie, either.”

In other words, if it wasn’t a problem for Park Kwang-cheol or Han Ga-yeon, Jae-gu wouldn’t consider it a problem at all. Park Kwang-cheol worried that Jae-gu might be attempting something dangerous.

Seeing his dark eyebrows twitch and a frown crease his brow, Jae-gu chuckled thoughtlessly.

“It’s really fine. Nothing to worry about.”

He had no choice but to say that now. He couldn’t tell him, ‘Actually, you and I regressed from a future where we died.’

Instead, Jae-gu thought of something else.

The Big Hand of Jongno, the godmother of loan sharks, the owner of underground money, the iron-blooded woman whom National Assembly members and even VIPs had requested financial support from. The epithets attached to Madam Shin were very colorful.

It was natural that Han Yun-cheol, despite investigating through his own channels, couldn’t find the money lender. Madam Shin hadn’t appeared yet.

As Dae-yeong’s hunting dog, responsible for clean-up, Jae-gu clearly knew events from three or four years in the future. His connection with Madam Shin had also begun then.

She was a new star who had risen to organize the chaotic loan shark market after the sudden death of the previous “Big Hand.” This was the period when she was diligently consolidating other forces beneath the surface.

So, no matter how much Han Yun-cheol bought information and deployed people, he wouldn’t be able to find her. Her title probably wasn’t even ‘Madam Shin’ yet.

‘Thanks for the intel money.’

Jae-gu, smiling pleasantly, patted his stomach. Even without eating, he felt full.