Chapter 19 Part 1

Chapter 18.

‘Well, he must be more sensitive than me.’

Lee Jun, ever since his manifestation, had become acutely aware of whether others could smell his pheromones, and as a result, he had also become quite good at detecting others’ pheromones. Chaeheon, however, was different. He was born with a dominant Secondary Gender, so he said he felt things more intensely than others. There was no way he couldn’t detect another Alpha’s pheromones.

‘But how did he smell a baby?’

That wasn’t even a pheromone.

It was also strange that an unmarried university student could so sensitively distinguish the smell of a baby.

“So the owner was the boss.”

As if he didn’t hear Chaeheon’s mumble, Lee Jun tilted his head and looked at his glass. He felt the alcohol clearly rising, more so than with wine. Perhaps because of that, his body felt more relaxed and his mood more mellow.

“Still, you ate well thanks to me, didn’t you?”

“…Yes. Thank you for looking after me.”

“I’m the one who knows your situation best, Senior.”

When Chaeheon forcefully dragged Lee Jun around to eat, Lee Jun complained, but in the end, he did feel lighter.

“So, it would be good to keep going around with me.”

“You’re still foolish.”

There’s nothing in it for him, so why does he care for me like that? Lee Jun let out a hollow laugh and tilted his soju glass. He watched the clear stream of liquid trickle down his fingers, then mumbled whatever came to mind.

“We had a passionate romance and a cold breakup in secret, and now seeing you rekindle the embers by getting back together, it’s frustrating, but it’s also hard to refuse you because it’s you.”

“Affection is a scary thing, isn’t it? Your affection for me still remains, Senior.”

Chaeheon gently prodded Lee Jun, as if encouraging him to speak his mind openly.

“And you shamelessly asked to get back together…”

“Ah, I wanted to satisfy my desires and be able to properly smell your scent, Senior.”

“And you boldly bother someone who said no…”

“Still, isn’t it nice to spend time together like this?”

“And you’re still shameless.”

“Because that’s how I can stick to you, Senior.”

Lee Jun glared at Chaeheon. Looking at this annoying guy who truly wouldn’t lose an argument, Lee Jun was so dumbfounded he could only laugh.

“See, you laughed.”

Chaeheon refilled Lee Jun’s empty soju glass. As if he was the only one who could fill the Senior’s lacking parts. Chaeheon made no attempt to hide his amusement.

Lee Jun downed another shot of soju and toyed with the empty glass. He hadn’t originally intended to ask about Chaeheon. He hadn’t, but given how things were, he wanted to know at least one thing.

“Why did you go to the Club IN that day?”

Chaeheon had half-expected the question, but it wasn’t a comfortable topic, as evidenced by his bitter smile.

“Uncle.”

Lee Jun looked at him as if asking what he meant. At that spot, Chaeheon had been bossing around some rough-looking men. Besides them, there was only one person being held captive. Did he mean that was his uncle?

As if in return for Lee Jun’s honesty, Chaeheon spoke freely about what happened that day.

“My uncle ran off with the contract.”

A bitter expression crossed Chaeheon’s face. It seemed like something that wouldn’t happen between an ordinary family, but Chaeheon must have had his reasons. Lee Jun realized he had judged too quickly based on appearances.

“I’m sorry I interfered.”

When Lee Jun honestly apologized, Chaeheon let out a chuckle.

“Your appearance there was unexpected, Senior, but it was my fault for letting him get away. It doesn’t matter now.”

As Chaeheon acted as if it no longer mattered, Lee Jun fell silent. Having already finished one bottle of soju, Chaeheon ordered a new one.

Lee Jun leaned back comfortably in his chair and watched the cold odeng soup.

“It’s dangerous to space out like that, you know?”

Lee Jun’s eyes refocused.

“I’m not just a Junior.”

Chaeheon smiled brightly, pointing out an important fact that Lee Jun might have forgotten.

“I’m the Junior who kisses you, Senior. If you have such a relaxed expression, I might just devour you at any moment.”

“Does it have to be me?”

“Yes.”

Chaeheon answered simply yet firmly.

“Your lips taste the best, Senior.”

“…Crazy bastard.”

At the implication that he should remain moderately on guard, Lee Jun neither affirmed nor denied and simply drank his soju.

Now, their relationship had become irreversible. Chaeheon would never treat Lee Jun like a stranger.

Letting go of everything and accepting this time with Chaeheon, he felt utterly comfortable.

“Is that how you normally talk?”

“Everyone puts on a certain degree of a facade, don’t they? I just used it because I wanted to appear very kind to you, Senior.”

“That’s right. You were really kind.”

He was the only light for him. Chaeheon’s smile was warm like a spring day, and his hands that touched him were hot like summer. When he saw his bright smile, it felt as if only he was bathed in warm sunlight…

“But your true self is…”

It was to the extent that Lee Jun wondered if Chaeheon even had such an expression before. Perhaps that’s why the conversation they had at the Club IN and Chaeheon’s face in front of him were still so vivid in his mind.

“Neither of us revealed everything, that’s all.”

“Is that so.”

Lee Jun nodded, agreeing with Chaeheon’s words. When the atmosphere seemed to have mellowed sufficiently, Chaeheon subtly broached a topic.

“So, you got pregnant…”

At that instant, Lee Jun dropped the soju bottle, and a loud sound echoed across the table. The neck of the soju bottle hit the odeng soup bowl, creating a sharp clang, and by rebound, other cups toppled like dominoes.

“…”

“…”

Neither Lee Jun nor Chaeheon could say anything.

Such a mess was tantamount to an admission.

Lee Jun, who had made a mess of the table, cooled his flushed face with the back of his hand out of embarrassment. Chaeheon, seeing Lee Jun’s wide eyes, let out a ‘hmm’ through his nose.

“What could this be?”

“It’s nothing.”

Lee Jun shook his head, and as if that wasn’t enough, he quickly grabbed a water glass instead of the overturned soju glass and poured soju into it, drinking it. He felt that this was the only way to calm his flustered heart.

“Drink slowly, just in case. You know it’ll only be your loss if you black out, Senior?”

He had already started on the second bottle of soju. It seemed like he was drinking more than he had with the wine…

“What will you do if you drink like that and can’t answer what I’m actually asking…”