Cherry Cake Chapter 4.2

“Cough!”

After a seemingly endless coughing fit, his survival instincts kicked in, and his mind began to process the situation.

Why am I like this? He’d been selling drugs at Hash, as usual, and then…

His train of thought was abruptly interrupted when a black shoe, a stark contrast to the bright red sports car, entered his field of vision, followed by a sharp tug on his hair. Despite his numb body from the icy water, the grip was so strong he felt like his scalp was being ripped off.

“S-s-save… m-me…”

“He’s asking to be saved,” Gi Taeyeon said mockingly, a hint of amusement in his voice. The large men standing nearby chuckled.

“Did I say I was going to kill him?”

Taeyeon sneered at the man, drenched in seawater. He’d brought him here for a bit of intimidation, not to actually kill him. Though, judging by the man’s shivering, he’d probably freeze to death if he didn’t get to a hospital soon.

“W-why… are you… sob…”

“I hear you’re selling aphrodisiacs at the club.”

“W-what?”

Jihwan Seo, at a casual wave of Taeyeon’s hand, approached and pulled a small ziplock bag from his coat pocket. Inside was a single pill capsule, a common sight anywhere.

Taeyeon, squatting in front of the helpless man, his legs spread wide like a thug, took the bag and dangled it in front of him. The man, his eyes bloodshot from the saltwater, seemed to recognize the pill and his face paled instantly.

“Your customers have been telling me how effective it is.”

“S-s-sorry…”

“Sorry my ass. Answer my questions before I shove this down your throat.”

Gi Taeyeon’s already short temper had been getting even shorter lately.

He attributed it to a vague sense of unease that had been plaguing him. He felt increasingly irritable as time went on. He usually dealt with negative emotions swiftly, indulging in violence or sex, so it was unusual for him to feel this way for so long. But lately, he’d been in a perpetually foul mood.

Looking back, it had all started that day, the day he realized he’d been drugged at the golf course.

So, he figured roughing up this drug dealer might make him feel better. Though, judging by his persistent irritation, it seemed unlikely.

“They were… s-satisfied… sob… is there… a p-problem…?”

The man, gauging Taeyeon’s mood, made eye contact, only to flinch and lower his head immediately. He knew he was screwed. The moment he saw the sanpakgan, one of the facial features to avoid, he realized who he was dealing with. A man driving around a shady port like this with a bunch of large Alphas was likely a gangster or something similar, and the only person he knew with those eyes was Gi Taeyeon.

He trembled, his seawater-soaked clothes dripping even more. The stench of urine mingled with the fishy smell.

“Is that so?”

Despite the unpleasant odor, Gi Taeyeon’s expression remained unchanged. He’d seen too many people piss themselves in front of him to be fazed by it.

Unfazed by the drug dealer’s soiled pants, he reached out and grabbed the man’s cheek, a mixture of tears, snot, and seawater clinging to it. He felt the man’s teeth chattering against his fingers, whether from the cold or fear.

“Then try selling it to me.”

“What?”

“You have a potential customer right here. Give me your sales pitch.”

He’d experienced the drug’s effects firsthand, but there was no harm in getting more information. More importantly, Gi Taeyeon desperately wanted to know what had happened to him that night. He remembered playing golf, but everything after that was hazy. He could barely recall getting into his car.

“Well… that is… sob…”

Seeing Taeyeon’s openly bored expression, the man continued, his body trembling,

“It disrupts… the pheromone system… sob… inducing a state similar to… a heat cycle… sniff…”

“Do you usually cry while making a sale? Your pronunciation is all messed up.”

“N-no! No, sir!”

The man, no longer slumped over, forced his stiff body to kneel. He was bothered by the hand still gripping his cheek but didn’t dare pull away.

“About an hour after taking the drug… sniff… the effects start to kick in… It doesn’t induce a rut immediately… but you become disoriented… sniff… and gradually lose touch with reality… like… like right after being put under anesthesia.”

In other words, it was a drug designed solely for taking advantage of Alphas or Omegas.

“And then… you enter a state similar to a rut… The… the main selling point is… that it erases your memory. Since the other person doesn’t remember… there’s nothing to worry about… T-that’s why it’s so popular…”

“This bastard…”

Gi Taeyeon smirked and released the man’s cheek, then slapped him lightly with the same hand.

Slap, slap. The slaps were light, but perhaps because of the seawater, they sounded louder than they were. The trembling man chuckled obsequiously, even as he was being hit.

“You’re in this situation because you sell that kind of shit.”

“He… he… what?”

“Is it because you don’t remember? It’s putting me in a very bad mood.”

“…What?”

Gi Taeyeon stared at the man’s bewildered face and slowly stood up. One of his men approached and opened a water bottle, offering it to him. He rinsed his hands and then took a handkerchief, carefully wiping them dry. He wasn’t particularly squeamish, but there was no need to walk around with dirty hands.

But unlike the grime washing away from his hands, the unpleasant feeling clinging to him wouldn’t disappear.

“This is why I don’t do drugs.”

It didn’t matter who he’d slept with that night. What mattered was that he didn’t remember.

He’d already identified the person who drugged him and the person behind it. As expected, it wasn’t just about the hotel construction; they needed a stud. And the mastermind, as he’d suspected, was Gukheon Yoo, who had eagerly accepted his golf invitation.

Since Yoo’s plan to have Taeyeon sleep with his son’s Omega had failed, the person he’d actually slept with likely hadn’t approached him with any ulterior motives. No one had come to his company demanding payment for sex, so he probably slept with someone he already knew, or just a random Omega in heat.

That meant the chances of something troublesome happening, something that would require Jihwan Seo to clean up, were extremely low. But the thought of someone having a memory he didn’t infuriated him. The fact that someone else possessed a memory he couldn’t access was incredibly irritating. If he couldn’t utilize the memory, then neither should anyone else.

‘I guess this will continue until I remember…’

Gi Taeyeon nudged the man’s knee with the tip of his shoe.

“So the memory never comes back?”

“It… it doesn’t cause permanent damage! Usually, people don’t even realize they were drugged, so they think they just woke up from a nap and don’t think much of it… But if they’re in a similar situation, maybe…”

The man’s frantic voice trailed off, but he’d implied there was a chance the memory could return.

Still, it pissed him off.

As he contemplated what to do with the druggie kneeling before him, Jihwan Seo’s phone rang.

“Hello,” Jihwan Seo answered the call after a nod from Taeyeon.

Taeyeon’s sharp hearing picked up a familiar voice from the other end of the line. Frowning, he approached Jihwan Seo and snatched the phone without warning.

“Why is our Fuzz-face calling Secretary Seo instead of me?”

— …Is that Director?

He heard Seo Soohyun’s voice, along with a sniffle.

“What the fuck…”

Gi Taeyeon, who had been walking through the store and into the living room as if he owned the place, stopped abruptly, his face twisting in disgust. He saw uncleaned bloodstains.

He’d rushed here after hearing that Soohyun couldn’t sell the land. The distance was considerable, so even though he’d left before dawn, the sun was already high in the sky.

He’d driven as fast as he could, believing it was better to discuss this in person rather than over the phone. But the landowner was nowhere to be seen, and all he found were bloodstains that shouldn’t be in a rural house like this.

“Seo Soohyun.”

Taeyeon went looking for Soohyun. He’d called, the store was open, nothing seemed amiss… yet, the familiar pale face that usually greeted him at the door was absent, and irritation gnawed at him. He reached the bedroom in a few strides and flung the door open without hesitation.

“…”

The dog, curled up on the comforter, startled awake, blinked, and then rested its small head on Soohyun’s thigh, breathing softly.

Where’s the owner if the dog’s here? Anxious, although he wouldn’t admit it, Taeyeon turned to leave. He was about to open another door, as if he lived there, when—

“Oh, Director.”

Seo Soohyun entered through the back door, sniffing, a wide-brimmed floral hat pulled low over his face. The wide brim, tied under his chin, covered his cheeks completely.

“What’s with the blood?”

Taeyeon grabbed Soohyun’s slender wrist, dangling near his thigh, and looked him over. The loose work clothes concealed his body, leaving only his hands exposed, but he didn’t seem injured. Just in case, Taeyeon lifted his winter shirt, revealing peach-colored thermal underwear, not his bare stomach.

What kind of underwear… He was bundled up so tightly the underwear was tucked into his sweatpants. Taeyeon was about to reach under the underwear to check his skin when Soohyun stepped back. Taeyeon’s jaw tightened involuntarily.

“It’s not my blood. You don’t have to lift my clothes like that… Just so you know, Director, lifting someone’s clothes without permission is sexual harassment. I know you’re concerned, but please don’t do that again.”

“Sexual harassment, my foot.”

His cheeks felt hot, probably from coming inside from the cold. Wait, there were bloodstains? Where? While Taeyeon dismissed his words, Soohyun was busy scanning the floor for bloodstains. He must have missed a spot while cleaning.

“Whose blood is it?”

Soohyun finally looked up at Taeyeon. The wide brim of his hat obscured most of the man’s face, but he could still see his nose and lips.

“My legal guardian’s.”

He didn’t want to say “father,” so he used the equivalent term.

“Legal guardian?”

“Yes. Anyway, that’s why I don’t think I can sell the land right away. I’m the owner, so I don’t have to apologize, but I thought I should let you know. But I called Secretary Seo. Why did you answer?”

“Should you be calling me or Secretary Seo?”

Soohyun expected him to ask about the land first, not why he’d called someone else. He frowned slightly and replied,

“I called Director first, but you didn’t answer, so I called Secretary Seo.”

Even though Soohyun seemed clueless, he at least knew that Taeyeon was in charge of the business.

After cleaning up the mess and gathering his thoughts, Soohyun had retrieved Taeyeon’s business card from the store’s safe. Since it wasn’t during office hours, he called the mobile number, but there was no answer. So, he called the number on Jihwan Seo’s card.

“You called me first?”

Taeyeon narrowed his eyes, clearly disbelieving him. How could someone so distrustful run a business? Soohyun, silently criticizing Taeyeon, nodded.

“I called the number on your business card. You didn’t answer, so I called Secretary Seo. I thought it was best to let you know quickly.”

“Business card? …Oh, that’s my work number.”

Taeyeon clicked his tongue. Soohyun wondered why that mattered, but he decided to steer the conversation back on track. Just as he was about to mention the land again, Taeyeon spoke first, looking around the living room.

“What happened here? Did you get robbed?”

“It seems my legal guardian tried to steal something.”

“And the blood?”

“I hit him over the head with a soju bottle.”

Soohyun’s gaze shifted. Taeyeon slowly turned his head to follow his line of sight. He saw a bundle wrapped in newspaper. It probably contained the broken soju bottle.

“Good job.”

Using a weapon to crack someone’s skull was better than fighting barehanded. Taeyeon praised him, reaching out to pat Soohyun’s head. He felt the stiff fabric of the hat, not soft hair.

“So your legal guardian tried to rob you, got his head cracked open with a soju bottle, and still managed to steal something and run away?”

“Yes.”

Seo Soohyun mentally replayed the events of last night.

Whether it was bruised pride or emboldened by Bokshil in his arms, Seo Jeonggyun, instead of leaving quietly, had lashed out. Perhaps he’d lost his temper after being hit over the head with a soju bottle by his own son.

Soohyun, crouched protectively over Bokshil, had been knocked over by the blow. He thought he’d simply fallen, but when he opened his eyes, Bokshil was whimpering and licking his face, and the house was a mess. Thankfully, he wasn’t dizzy; he hadn’t hit his head directly on the floor.

Bokshil, are you okay?

Ignoring the lump forming on the back of his head, Soohyun checked on Bokshil first. He gently squeezed the dog’s small paws, felt his belly, and stroked his head, worried that Bokshil might have been crushed under him when he fell.

‘Woof!’

Bokshil seemed fine, thankfully. But he could have internal injuries despite appearing unharmed.

Soohyun watched Bokshil eat and drink for a while, making sure he was okay, before surveying the damage. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the mess was confined to the living room and bedroom, as if Seo Jeonggyun had found what he was looking for in the bedroom.

Bokshil, stay here while I clean up the glass.

Cleaning up the broken soju bottle was the priority.

He left Bokshil in the bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar, and began picking up the shards of green glass scattered everywhere.

It’s a good thing I’d left it on the counter.

He’d finished the sesame oil while making dinner and had left the empty bottle out to throw away, never imagining it would come in handy like this.

Seo Soohyun didn’t regret hitting the man. His only regret was not hitting him again.

Could I be sued for assault or attempted murder? I should have hit him one more time before getting sued. I doubt he’ll report me since he was trying to rob me…

As he squatted there, picking up the glass shards, he worried about the land his grandmother had worked so hard to protect. But worrying wouldn’t solve anything, so he focused on what he could do.

I should tell Director first… and then ask my grandmother in Seoul for help.

He figured Gi Taeyeon might be able to help locate the man.

After cleaning up the glass, vacuuming, and mopping, he called Jihwan Seo. He was told that Taeyeon himself would come, so he ate breakfast, went to the field, and was weeding when—

“So, what are you going to do?”

“About what?”

“About your legal guardian, or whatever he is, trying to steal your land.”

“Director should take care of it,” Soohyun said boldly.

“Seriously?” Taeyeon scoffed, clearly taken aback by his audacity.

“Even though it’s my property, Director is the one who needs the land right now. So, I think you should find him, or something…”

“And what if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll ask my grandmother in Seoul. She knows a lot of people.”

“And what if she can’t find him? It’s your money on the line, Fuzz-face, not mine.”

Contrary to Soohyun’s assumption that Taeyeon was annoyed, the man seemed oddly pleased. A strange thrill coursed through him whenever those plump lips asked for his help.

Taeyeon, who usually only thought about how to profit from someone’s request for help, prompted Soohyun again.

“Then…?”

You should beg me.

He waited for those lips to form the words, but Soohyun said something completely unexpected.

“I’ll live with my grandmother in Seoul for now.”

“What?” Taeyeon frowned.

“She asked me to live with her. It’s a bit much to ask, but Yiseon Hyung is a good person, and so is Grandma, so I’ll impose on them for a few months.”

Taeyeon stared at Soohyun, dumbfounded. Why would he rely on others when the person who could help him was standing right in front of him? Something in his peripheral vision caught his attention, something that grated on his nerves. He reached out and slipped his fingers under the ribbon dangling below Soohyun’s chin.

Soohyun flinched, startled by the sudden contact. The clear sign of rejection instantly irritated Taeyeon, his cheek twitching.

“So picky, Boss. Avoiding me because you don’t want to be touched by another Alpha?”

He’d been reminded of Soohyun’s words: Don’t touch me because I slept with another Alpha.

Instead of letting go, he tightened his grip, tilting Soohyun’s face upward, and with his other hand, he untied the ribbon. He’d thought it looked swollen, and he was right. Soohyun’s right cheek was bruised dark purple.

“Fucking hell, who dared to touch my Fuzz-face…”

“It doesn’t really hu…”

“Stop mumbling so I can see.”

As Taeyeon bent down for a closer look, he froze.

‘…Alpha scent.’

He faintly detected an unfamiliar scent on Soohyun’s neck.

“Ah.”

He tightened his grip, eliciting a soft whimper from Soohyun. But Taeyeon was too consumed by a wave of fury, far stronger than anything he’d felt before, to pay attention to the sound. His eyes burned with rage.

🍑

Gi Taeyeon reached out and poked the back of the head of the person sitting next to him, eating ice cream. His fingers brushed against a round lump hidden beneath the hair. It was quite large, likely painful to the touch, but Seo Soohyun seemed oblivious, diligently eating his ice cream.

“This is turning into unexpected childcare…”

He muttered to himself, and Soohyun, thinking he was being addressed, turned his head. The lump disappeared from Taeyeon’s reach, replaced by soft hair tickling his hand.

“Did you say something to me?”

“Are you still sulking?”

“I’m not sulking…”

“Yes, you are. That’s why you’re stuffing your face with ice cream.”

Seo Soohyun seemed to want to say something, his lips moving soundlessly. But perhaps realizing he was sulking, he changed the subject.

“Do you want some, Director? It’s good. I’ve never had such expensive ice cream before. This one’s Peanut Butter Crunch, and this one’s Vanilla Caramel Brownie.”

“Eat up, kid.”

“I don’t like sweets just because I’m young. There were lots of adults at the store…”

He’d practically forced Soohyun into his car and taken him to the hospital. There were no big hospitals in this rural town, so they had to drive for hours.

‘It’s just a bump. It’ll go away on its own.’

‘Are you trying to get a concussion?’

‘I’m not dizzy. And I have to weed the field today.’

‘Why bother weeding a field that’s not going to be yours?’

‘…I don’t want to talk to you.’

‘While we’re at it, take that dog to the vet for a checkup.’

‘Bokshil?’

‘Yes, your Bokshil. You said you were worried he might have internal injuries.’

Only then did Soohyun seem to consider it.

Gi Taeyeon stared at Soohyun’s neck, where the irritating Alpha scent lingered, and slipped a finger inside his collar. Soohyun flinched slightly. He wasn’t outright avoiding him like before, which Taeyeon appreciated, but the other Alpha’s pheromones were still incredibly annoying.

‘Go change your clothes.’

That might mask the disgusting smell.

‘Why? I’m not embarrassed to wear work clothes. It’s not like we’re going anywhere fancy. Isn’t it fine as long as I’m not naked? And I think people go to the ER naked sometimes… Oh, I’m not going to the ER, am I?’

He’d been quiet before, but now he was chattering again, saying things Taeyeon didn’t want to hear.

‘And like I said, I don’t need to go to the hospital just for a bump. I’ll put a warm compress on it and some ointment, and it’ll be fine.’

He spoke like an old man despite being so young.

‘But I’ll go to the hospital since you’re worried about Bokshil. He should get checked out. And I can get checked out while he’s being examined. But I guarantee I don’t have a concussion. It’s just a bump from falling…’

Taeyeon only got into the car after Soohyun had changed his clothes and put the dog in a carrier.

After driving for hours, he took Soohyun to the hospital for a concussion test. The doctor found nothing wrong, so he bought Soohyun ice cream. Soohyun’s pouting lips, ready to say, “I told you it was just a bump,” finally relaxed.

“Turn your head. Let me feel it.”

“Do you enjoy touching my bump?”

“Yes, it’s incredibly enjoyable.”

He’s so strange, Soohyun thought, turning his head. He felt thick fingers probing the area around the bump. He felt a slight throb in his head and a ticklish sensation on the back of his neck where Taeyeon’s palm rested, but the sweetness of the ice cream overshadowed any discomfort.

And they said Bokshil’s fine too.

He’d been more worried about Bokshil than himself, so he was relieved.

Soohyun scooped up a large spoonful of the rich peanut butter ice cream and savored it. The smooth ice cream quickly melted in his mouth. His annoyance at Taeyeon’s comment about weeding a field that wouldn’t be his softened along with the ice cream.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

He’d been feeling frustrated because of last night’s events and his shameless father. He wanted to thank Taeyeon for cheering him up, but the hand now cupping the back of his head forced him to look straight ahead as he expressed his gratitude.

He lowered his gaze, deciding it was better to look at his ice cream than the back of the driver’s head. He saw Bokshil curled up on his lap, purring softly. He’d been a little worried since this was Bokshil’s longest car ride, but the dog didn’t seem carsick.

“For taking Bokshil and me to the hospital.”

“And you were sulking because you thought I was wasting your time.”

“I wasn’t upset about that… Anyway, thank you for looking out for us. And for the ice cream.”

He knew Taeyeon had no obligation to take him to the hospital. He hadn’t even intended to go until Taeyeon suggested it. He’d thought he’d simply fainted from the fall, not realizing how dangerous it could have been.

“So now you’re letting me touch you?”

“I’m letting you because you said you enjoyed it… I touched it this morning too. It’s round, so I kind of want to keep touching it.”

Seo Soohyun thought Gi Taeyeon was angry.

Initially, he’d assumed Taeyeon wasn’t angry, because he’d asked about what happened before asking about the land. His expression and tone were the same as usual. But then, he’d seemed displeased when he grabbed Soohyun’s face, and after that, his expression had been openly hostile. He was probably upset about the setback to his business. It would take time to find the man who stole the seal and renegotiate the land price.

He has a right to be angry, but he shouldn’t be angry at me. I didn’t do anything wrong… Just as he was thinking this, Taeyeon, after muttering a curse under his breath, suddenly mentioned the hospital.

So, he’d gone to the hospital with the man. Judging by Taeyeon’s concern for him and Bokshil, he couldn’t be that angry.

“You’d spread your legs for me if I said I enjoyed it.”

Just as Soohyun was feeling relieved, Taeyeon added a sarcastic remark.

“What do you mean by that?”

Sensing it was something unpleasant, he narrowed his eyes and glared at the man, who was looking back with a thin smile. The fingers that had been toying with his bump retreated, followed by the palm that had been resting on the back of his neck. Soohyun, although slightly disappointed by the loss of contact, kept his eyes fixed on Taeyeon.

“Just eat your ice cream.”

He was already doing that.

He finished his peanut butter ice cream and scooped up a spoonful of the other flavor. A chunk of something that looked like chocolate came along with it. He stuffed the large spoonful into his mouth, savoring the rich caramel and the dense brownie.

So this is what expensive tastes like. He’d readily agreed when Taeyeon offered to buy him ice cream, but he’d hesitated at the high price. It was definitely worth it, though.

He planned to share the ice cream cake Taeyeon had bought separately with Yiseon.

“We’re here. Get out.”

The car had stopped in front of his store. Soohyun carefully placed the ice cream cup on the seat, secured Bokshil in his arms, and opened the door. He stepped out, grabbed the ice cream, and said goodbye to Taeyeon.

“Have a good day.”

Since Taeyeon wasn’t getting out, he figured the man had somewhere to be.

“Seo Soohyun.”

“Yes?”

Soohyun, watching Taeyeon carry the ice cream cake into the store, instinctively bowed at the sound of his name. Their eyes met.

“Stay home.”

The man spoke in a commanding tone.

“And don’t meet any strange men.”

“About the call…”

“Nothing yet.”

Gi Taeyeon tapped his foot lightly, his eyes scanning the document. His gaze lingered on the name “Seo Jeonggyun.”

“If he has a brain, he’d have contacted me by now.”

“He might not be in the right state of mind yet. We’re trying to locate him.”

“Check the nearby hospitals. If his head’s cracked open, he’d have gone to get stitches.”

“Yes. We’re checking emergency rooms.”

Gi Taeyeon flicked his finger. The paper fluttered, landing back on the name “Seo Jeonggyun.”

“This is why I wanted to handle it cleanly.”

He knew that Seo Soohyun’s house and the land owned by his maternal grandmother weren’t solely in Soohyun’s name. He hadn’t mentioned it to Soohyun or looked for Seo Jeonggyun because he’d planned to handle everything discreetly.

“This could get complicated.”

Of course, “cleanly” was from his perspective. If Seo Jeonggyun hadn’t interfered, the land would have gone to Gi Taeyeon, and the money to Seo Soohyun.

Falsifying documents wasn’t difficult for him, especially if one of the co-inheritors didn’t live nearby and was difficult to locate.

“Seo Soohyun said he’s a businessman, so if he has any sense, he’ll show up soon.”

The problem, if you could call it that, was that many others were eyeing this deal. However, with most of the land already in Gi Taeyeon’s hands, they had to know selling to him was their best bet for a good price.

“Find him and keep tabs on him. If he doesn’t come to us, we’ll have to go to him. What else is there?”

“I have the information prepared on the tablet.”

Gi Taeyeon finally picked up the tablet. The file displayed details about the Alphas living near Seo Soohyun’s town, as well as their backgrounds. The number was strikingly low.

It has to be one of these. It was highly unlikely Seo Soohyun had met an Alpha through an app or something; it had to be someone local. Taeyeon frowned slightly, scrolling slowly.

“Fucking hell, it’s a retirement home, not a town.”

Most of the few Alphas on the list were old men who couldn’t get it up even with Viagra.

He scoffed, recalling the unfamiliar Alpha scent he’d detected at the store a few hours ago.

‘He wasn’t a Dominant.’

Despite his foul mood, he’d registered that much. That meant the Alpha was either a Neutral or a Recessive, which was even more annoying.

His scrolling stopped abruptly. He’d reached the last page.

Jihwan Seo’s data included not only the Alphas’ backgrounds but also their recent whereabouts. And all the younger Alphas registered in or near Seo Soohyun’s town were in the city, even on weekends. It was only natural, considering they were in high school or college.

That meant, excluding the absent youngsters and the geriatric cases, there was only one suspect left. His sharp eyes scanned the man’s details.

“And he’s old enough to know better.”

The only remotely viable candidate was in his forties. Gi Taeyeon sneered at the man’s age.

“Secretary Seo.”

“Yes.”

“Turn the car around.”

Jihwan Seo, sitting in the passenger seat, calmly asked, “Where to?”

“Here.”

Gi Taeyeon handed him the tablet.

“Let’s take out the trash.”

The photo showed the side profile of an Alpha entering the store.

“Director, this guy is seriously irredeemable trash.”

“Seems that way,” Gi Taeyeon replied nonchalantly, looking down at the man dressed only in underwear and a sleeveless shirt. Mr. Choi, his arms wrapped around himself, was shivering in the cold. A black electronic device was strapped to his ankle like a shackle.

“Secretary Seo, that thing prevents erections, right?”

“Yes. While it’s not physical castration, it has a device that controls pheromones, making erections impossible. I’ve heard it even prevents masturbation.”

“Bring me his clothes.”

At his command, one of the large men quickly retrieved the clothes and handed them to Taeyeon. He buried his face in the fabric without hesitation, inhaling deeply. He detected a faint pheromone scent. It was the same irritating scent he’d smelled on Seo Soohyun this morning.

“Get him up.”

“Yes.”

“Ugh!”

Mr. Choi, who had been kneeling, was yanked up by arms grabbing him under his armpits. His legs seemed to give way, and he dangled between the men holding him up, rather than standing on his own.

Gi Taeyeon instantly assessed the man’s height and weight.

“You know Seo Soohyun, right?”

“What?”

“The kid who runs the store.”

“Y-yes, yes.”

“Why is he wearing your clothes?”

Gi Taeyeon had realized, after burying his face in Soohyun’s neck again after he’d changed, that the pheromones he’d smelled were on the clothes Soohyun had been wearing. But the fact that the scent was on the clothes, not Soohyun’s skin, didn’t make it any less disgusting. He was annoyed with Soohyun for picking up and wearing an Alpha’s clothes, but he was even more curious about the Alpha’s intentions.

Did he actually sleep with him? He dismissed the improbable thought and looked away.

“He wouldn’t even look at you.”

As an Alpha, Mr. Choi was better looking than the average Beta, but to Taeyeon, he was far from handsome. His shabby underwear and undershirt, looking like something a widower would wear, were even worse.

His gaze moved down to the man’s underwear. His genitals, incapable of erection, looked small. He probably resorts to rape because he can’t get it up any other way.

The ankle monitor severely restricted pheromone production, hence the inability to achieve an erection.

It also made pheromone control nearly impossible. With pheromones suppressed, there was no need for control, and over time, the ability to control them was lost. The residual pheromones would then cling to clothing and frequented spaces. Seo Soohyun must have worn those clothes.

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

Mr. Choi, trembling, finally spoke after one of the men holding him slapped him on the head.

“I… I gave them to him to use as… w-work clothes…”

“Work clothes?”

“It’s a small town… so people… share old clothes… instead of buying new work clothes…”

“Who gave them to him?”

“…”

“Speak clearly.”

Gi Taeyeon dropped the clothes onto the dirt floor, his tone deceptively gentle. The photo showed the man walking toward the store carrying a paper bag with a shirt sticking out.

Sensing the danger in Taeyeon’s smile, Mr. Choi quickly changed his story.

“Actually… I… offered to give them to him… because it was a waste to throw them away…”

“Is Seo Soohyun a beggar?”

“What?”

“Why would you give your clothes to a kid?”

He took a slow step toward the man. Mr. Choi flinched as Taeyeon’s shadow fell over him.

“You knew he was an Omega, right?”

“I… I didn’t…”

Taeyeon slapped him across his chapped cheek.

“You really didn’t know?”

“N-no… I-I mean, yes! Yes, I knew.”

“Of course you did.”

Gi Taeyeon smirked. Seo Soohyun’s pheromones were so faint even he hadn’t been sure at first. So, it was unlikely Mr. Choi had noticed he was an Omega by his scent. However, Taeyeon knew how gossip spread like wildfire in small towns. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, would know who was an Alpha, Beta, or Omega. And since Soohyun would have had his designation tested at school, there was no way Mr. Choi wouldn’t have known.

An Alpha giving his pheromone-laced clothes to an Omega, knowing full well what he was, meant he had ulterior motives. He must have had some dirty thoughts.

“So, did you get off on imagining him wearing your clothes?”

“N-no… it’s not like that…”

“Bullshit.”

He knew what Alphas were like. Disgusted, Taeyeon looked Mr. Choi over again.

“He wouldn’t look at you even if you begged him to.”

If Seo Soohyun had any taste, he wouldn’t even consider sleeping with this guy.

Even though he knew Mr. Choi was physically incapable of getting an erection, Taeyeon continued to find fault with him. Or rather, there was no need to find faults. The man had nothing to offer an Omega. His face was average, his body unimpressive, his finances unremarkable, and his dick was small.

Who the hell did he sleep with?

Maybe he should look into the younger Alphas who were away in the city.

Even after confirming that the scent on Seo Soohyun wasn’t just residual pheromones from a shower, and that Soohyun hadn’t worn those clothes intentionally, he couldn’t shake off his foul mood.

Of course he couldn’t. It was infuriating that trash like this was lurking around an innocent kid.

What to do… He tilted his head in mock contemplation and spoke, still looking down at Mr. Choi.

“Anyone have gloves?”

Mr. Choi blinked, his bruised cheek throbbing, clearly confused. But the other Alphas, seemingly used to Taeyeon’s strange requests, reacted quickly.

“Director, if you don’t mind using mine…”

One of them offered Taeyeon a pair of black leather gloves that looked quite stylish with a long coat. Taeyeon took the gloves without a word and put them on. They were a bit small, but he could move his fingers just fine.

“This is the problem with our laws.”

He took a step closer to Mr. Choi and slowly extended his hand, grabbing the man’s testicles without hesitation.

“W-what are you…!”

“Why waste taxpayer money on these kinds of people? Just cut them off.”

Mr. Choi’s face paled as he realized Taeyeon’s intentions and began to struggle.

“Please be quiet, sir,” Gi Taeyeon said, annoyed, tightening his grip.

“I don’t particularly enjoy grabbing another man’s balls.”

“Mmm! Mmm!”

“I don’t even touch Omega dicks, so this is really…”

He wasn’t squeamish about getting his hands dirty, but he’d specifically asked for gloves for this. Blood, tears, even saliva were fine, but dicks were a different story. He didn’t even touch an Omega’s genitals during sex.

‘I did touch Fuzz-face’s virgin hole, though.’

It had been pseudo-sex without penetration, so he’d touched him a bit, but otherwise, he wouldn’t have.

“Consider yourself honored.”

Gi Taeyeon grinned, his eyes crinkling, and squeezed.

A strangled scream echoed through the empty space.

🍑

“What’s the situation?” Gi Taeyeon asked casually, leaning back in his worn office chair. The old leather creaked ominously.

“We reached a settlement. He’ll keep quiet in exchange for a reasonable sum.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought he’d try to use this to leverage a higher price for the land, or incite the villagers or something.”

The man, his feet propped up on an equally worn table, chuckled as if he’d just witnessed an amusing spectacle. The surprisingly clean resolution was a relief; he’d been worried about a messy aftermath, given the emotionally charged nature of the incident.

“It seems the villagers didn’t know he moved here after committing a sex crime.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Since everyone wears long sleeves and pants while working, even in the summer, no one suspected anything.”

Indeed, even in the sweltering heat, few people in this town wore shorts. There were no big schools or kindergartens nearby, and in a small town like this, people mostly stayed within a limited area, so no one would have found it strange that he mostly kept to himself.

“He probably wouldn’t admit to another Alpha that he got his balls busted by one, either.”

Jihwan Seo’s light chuckle sounded almost cheerful, but he knew Gi Taeyeon was still in a foul mood. That was why he’d handled everything as discreetly as possible.

“What about Seo Jeonggyun?”

“It seems he didn’t go to any nearby hospitals. We haven’t received any reports. However, we found something interesting.”

Gi Taeyeon nodded, urging him to continue.

“There are records of him borrowing money from Sunjae Finance.”

“Ah, one of my clients?”

“Yes.”

Gi Taeyeon had installed a puppet CEO at Seowoo Construction not only to avoid dealing with tedious matters but also to manage his other businesses, one of which was Sunjae Capital.

He’d named it Sunjae Finance as a joke, saying, “The borrowers should be making offers, not me.” He occasionally visited the office, like today. As a legitimate business, it was located in a respectable building, though not as grand as the one Seowoo Construction occupied.

“What did he borrow money for?”

Jihwan Seo approached and handed him a file. Taeyeon glanced at the contract.

“He claims it’s for business, but it seems like gambling.”

“If he were running a legitimate business, he wouldn’t be borrowing money from me.”

Gi Taeyeon smirked again, lowering his feet from the table and crossing his legs. The chair swiveled slightly, facing Jihwan Seo.

“I didn’t realize he was such a valuable client. There haven’t been any issues, so it seems he’s been making his payments regularly.”

“Yes. He seems to have saved up a considerable amount from his previous business ventures and has been quite lucky.”

Well, his luck was about to run out. He’d be crawling back to Taeyeon soon enough.

“Director.”

Jihwan Seo, who had been checking his phone, addressed him respectfully and offered him the device. Taeyeon reached out and took the phone. He usually just glanced at the screen, but this time he took the phone, making Jihwan Seo hesitate momentarily. He dismissed it as a whim.

Found Seo Jeonggyun. He seems to have entered the Sunjae building.

After reading the message, Taeyeon spoke,

“Jihwan, get ready to receive a guest.”

His tone was mocking, like a third-rate gangster.

Gi Taeyeon leisurely observed his guest. The man, sitting on the plush sofa sipping tea from a paper cup, didn’t seem particularly nervous.

‘He used to be a big-shot businessman.’

He was different from the usual small-time borrowers. He had to be scared, coming to a place like this, a third-tier financial institution, to meet Gi Taeyeon, but he was good at hiding it.

Nothing special, really.

Most of the people who borrowed money directly from him were, or had been, high-rollers in the business world, so they were good at putting on a brave face.

Or perhaps it was the gambler’s demeanor.

Whatever he gambled on, controlling one’s expression was a fundamental skill for a gambler.

“It’s rare for me to greet guests personally. You asked for me?”

Gi Taeyeon greeted the man mockingly and sat down heavily on the sofa, his gaze meeting Seo Jeonggyun’s.

‘They don’t look much alike.’

Upon closer inspection, there were some similarities, but Seo Soohyun seemed to take after his mother. They looked so different that you’d only know they were related if someone told you.

“Yes. Should I call you Director or Boss?”

Seo Jeonggyun chuckled affably and set down his paper cup.

Look at this guy. Taeyeon leaned back against the sofa and crossed his legs, a casual posture he reserved for those he didn’t respect.

“Call me whatever you like, Boss.”

“Oh, please. I’ll call you Director.”

“Suit yourself.”

Seo Jeonggyun cleared his throat and pulled a transparent file from his briefcase, offering it to Taeyeon. Taeyeon glanced at it and then looked at the man expectantly, as if asking what it was, even though he knew it contained documents related to the land.

“I heard Seowoo Construction is taking over the hotel project. It’s a huge undertaking, with a casino and everything.”

“And?”

“I happen to own some land that Seowoo is acquiring.”

“Hmm.”

Gi Taeyeon leaned forward casually and took the file, pulling out the papers as if they were a nuisance. He flipped through them slowly, saying,

“I thought your contract was finalized. Did my men miss something?”

“Well, it’s land I co-inherited with my son.”

“That’s inconvenient.”

“As you know, Director, shared property can’t be sold if one of the owners objects.”

He knew that very well. That was why he’d planned to deal with Seo Soohyun’s land last.

He hadn’t intended to find Seo Jeonggyun through legal means. While both the construction company and the loan business were his, they were completely separate entities, and he hadn’t known Seo Jeonggyun was one of his clients.

He’d originally planned to transfer the co-inherited land to Seo Soohyun through somewhat illegal channels and then purchase it from him.

“So, are you here to say you won’t sell?” Gi Taeyeon asked, narrowing his eyes, feigning ignorance of the man’s intentions. His tone was playful, but his naturally cold eyes made it sound subtly threatening.

“Of course not!” Seo Jeonggyun quickly waved his hands.

“As you can see from the documents, my son has consented to the sale.”

“Then you should be talking to Seowoo Construction, not me. Let’s reschedule.”

Gi Taeyeon examined the documents. They seemed to be in order. Seo Soohyun had said his seal was stolen; it must have been his registered seal.

“You’re right, Director… but I’m in urgent need of money.”

“You want to use this as collateral?”

He dangled the papers in the air, and Seo Jeonggyun nodded eagerly.

“It’s quite urgent. And since you’re running Seowoo Construction…”

“So you’re essentially asking to use my land as collateral. You’re going to sell it to me anyway. You know the price, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

Gi Taeyeon leaned his head back against the sofa and scanned the documents again.

There was no problem with granting Seo Jeonggyun’s request. It was land he needed and money he had to pay anyway. If Seo Jeonggyun repaid the loan on time, Taeyeon would earn interest. If he didn’t, he’d get the land. It was a win-win situation for him. Even if Seo Jeonggyun paid off the loan, he’d still have to sell the land to Taeyeon eventually.

The problem is, Seo Soohyun will be left with nothing…

He remembered Soohyun’s lips moving as he’d asked Taeyeon to find his father. Knowing Soohyun, he would have intended to keep his share of the inheritance. Or perhaps he was planning to spite his suddenly reappearing father by refusing to hand over the land.

Until then, Taeyeon had intended to find Seo Jeonggyun and deliver him to Soohyun. As Soohyun had said, he was the one in a hurry.

But now that Seo Jeonggyun had come to him, asking for a loan, things were different.

Seo Soohyun…

Taeyeon, though aware that the man across from him was sipping his tea nervously, remained silent, replaying Soohyun’s words in his mind.

‘I’ll live with my grandmother in Seoul for now. She asked me to live with her. It’s a bit much to ask, but Yiseon Hyung is a good person, and so is Grandma, so I’ll impose on them for a few months.’

Why does that bother me so much?

He could have easily ignored it, but that moment kept replaying in his mind, unbidden.

Should I keep him?

He entertained the vague thought without defining what “keep” meant.

“And, Director…”

Taeyeon slowly lifted his head at the sound of his name. Another set of legal documents landed on the table.

“If possible, I’d like to borrow a bit more.”

Taeyeon raised an eyebrow at the request for an additional loan.

“Boss, you should be grateful I’m even considering this. I’m only letting it slide because you’ve been making your payments on time. And now you want to borrow more? I’m a loan shark, so I welcome it, but why should I lend you more of my hard-earned money?”

Gi Taeyeon could easily take the land Seo Jeonggyun offered. As long as Seo Jeonggyun was his debtor, he was under Taeyeon’s control.

Even though Seo Jeonggyun was making his payments, all it would take was a bit of misfortune for him to lose the land.

Yet, he agreed to Seo Jeonggyun’s plea, driven by a vague desire to keep him close.

But lending him more money was a different matter. Lending a small amount was no big deal, but he wasn’t charitable enough to make a loss.

“There’s… such a thing as a guarantor,” Seo Jeonggyun said hesitantly. Gi Taeyeon smirked.

“The son you mentioned earlier?”

“Yes. He’s still young, and an Omega…”

Now he was certain Seo Jeonggyun didn’t know he frequented the store.

‘Come to think of it, it’s strange he didn’t act sooner.’

He must have heard about the redevelopment late because he was too engrossed in gambling, or someone had tipped him off recently.

Not that it mattered to Taeyeon.

“So what if he’s an Omega?”

“You know how high the demand is. And since he’s a Recessive, there are certain… advantages over Dominants…”

Seo Jeonggyun began listing the advantages of a Recessive Omega. It was pathetic how he’d acted like a loving father before, and now he was trying to sell his son as a concubine to an old man.

“It’s difficult for them to get pregnant, and…”

“Sounds like you’re eager to sell your son, Boss.”

“N-no! Of course not!” Seo Jeonggyun jumped at his sarcastic tone, waving his hands frantically.

“You know I’m a responsible borrower, Director. Would I do anything risky when my own son is the guarantor? I’m not trying to sell my son. I’m just… trying to reassure you, Director…”

“The documents?”

“Here.”

Seo Jeonggyun rummaged through his bag and produced another set of papers. Gi Taeyeon examined them.

He came prepared.

He’d already had the documents prepared and had then met with Seo Soohyun. Next to the name “Guarantor: Seo Soohyun,” was a neat fingerprint. Soohyun had said he’d been knocked unconscious, so it was obvious when the fingerprint had been taken.

“How much more would you like to borrow?” Gi Taeyeon asked pleasantly, his business smile firmly in place. Seo Jeonggyun finally named his price.

“F-five hundred million…”

“Five hundred million?”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled. It was a considerable amount, especially with the land price added, but not that much considering Seo Soohyun was now the guarantor.

“Alright.”

Whether Seo Jeonggyun could repay it was a different matter entirely.

He agreed readily and stood up casually, unfastening his watch. Seo Jeonggyun’s eyes followed the movement.

Securing Seo Soohyun was one thing, but he had to vent his frustration.

‘Ah, so it’s Fuzz-face I want to keep.’

Finally understanding his desire, he casually tossed the expensive watch onto the table between the sofas and walked towards Seo Jeonggyun.

Slap! Seo Jeonggyun, who had been blinking in confusion, stumbled sideways from the sudden blow.

“W…”

A ringing filled his ears, followed by the metallic taste of blood.

He belatedly brought a hand to his cheek. The pain was sharp, confirming his senses were working, but his mind felt sluggish. He couldn’t process what was happening.

“The sofa’s keeping him from passing out.”

Ignoring Seo Jeonggyun’s dazed expression, Gi Taeyeon muttered to himself. He wanted to give him a matching bump on the back of the head, like Seo Soohyun’s, but he didn’t know how to do that with his fist. I’ll just hit him a few more times.

He gestured for Seo Jeonggyun to get up.

“D-director, why… all of a sudden…”

“You’ll lose your teeth if you keep talking.”

Without further explanation, he raised his hand again and struck the man’s face, his expression as pleasant as if he were offering friendly advice.

Slap, slap, slap! Even though he was slapping with an open hand, the sound echoed through the room like punches. Seo Jeonggyun could only flail helplessly, while Taeyeon showed no signs of exertion.

“Gasp… gasp…”

Seo Jeonggyun, blood dripping from his nose and mouth, finally reached for the tissues on the table after Gi Taeyeon turned away. His hand trembled as he wiped the blood, unable to protest.

Ignoring the man’s whimpers, Taeyeon walked to the desk with the nameplate that read “CEO” and picked up the phone, looking at the stunned employee who was staring at him.

— Yes.

“Add forty million won to the amount for the client who’s just leaving.”

— What?

“It’s a gift, so don’t add any interest.”

Seo Jeonggyun’s eyes widened. His bruised and narrowed eyes couldn’t hide his delight at this unexpected windfall.

— Understood.

Gi Taeyeon hung up the phone and smiled sweetly.

“Consider it a token of my goodwill.”

“A-are you… r-really… giving it to… m-me…?”

“Ten million won per slap. Not a bad deal, right?”

It was a small price to pay for securing Seo Soohyun.