Cherry Cake Chapter 7.1

Tap, tap.

Tap! Tap.

Seo Jihwan stared intently at the orange ball that repeatedly bounced off the wall and back into the man’s hand. The cheap ping pong ball, incongruous with the luxurious office interior, had been confiscated by Gi Taeyeon from the “kids” – they were kids to Seo Jihwan, but to others, they looked like grown men capable of dangerous acts.

Tap!

The ping pong ball, having hit the wall, fell to the floor instead of Gi Taeyeon’s hand because he had turned his chair. As the man’s sharp profile, not his dark back, turned towards him, the ping pong ball rolled towards Seo Jihwan. He bent down, picked it up, and walked towards Gi Taeyeon.

“Secretary Seo.”

“Yes, sir.”

He placed the ping pong ball on the table and clasped his hands behind his back. Gi Taeyeon leaned back in his chair and placed his right hand on the table. His index finger tapped lightly on the surface. The same rhythmic tapping sound echoed through the spacious office.

“Why didn’t you tell me I fucked Fuzz-face when I was high?”

“…”

Gi Taeyeon didn’t look particularly angry. It was obvious he had been thoroughly satisfied. The Omega pheromones were so faint they were almost undetectable, but Gi Taeyeon’s own pheromones were enough to tell that he was sated.

Seo Jihwan was used to cleaning up after him. Gi Taeyeon wasn’t the type to hide his pheromones.

However, this question was unexpected. Seo Jihwan subtly tightened his fists behind his back.

“You’ve never asked about your partners before. I intended to handle this within my purview as well.”

“How were you planning to handle it?”

It was a rhetorical question.

“I was planning to give him whatever he wanted and settle it discreetly.”

“So, the kid contacted you?”

“No. That day was the first and last time he contacted me. The day you borrowed the container from CEO Yeon.”

“Ah, that day.”

It was the day they dealt with the druggie, so there was no way Gi Taeyeon wouldn’t remember.

“And after that?”

“…”

“You kept your mouth shut because the kid didn’t say anything?”

“…Yes, sir.”

He answered immediately, but the man wasn’t one to miss the brief hesitation. Gi Taeyeon chuckled softly.

“What’s gotten into you, Secretary Seo?”

“…”

“You know that the reason I ransacked every club looking for that druggie bastard and was in a foul mood all that time was because of that day.”

“I assumed it wasn’t the case since it had never happened before.”

“Is that all?”

Seo Jihwan was silent for a moment at the following question. He couldn’t answer “yes” when asked if that was all. He knew Gi Taeyeon wouldn’t miss his lie, and more importantly, he didn’t want to lie to him.

Seo Jihwan clenched and unclenched his fists several times before answering.

“I intentionally didn’t tell you, partly.”

“So, why?”

“…You were reacting so differently than usual that I judged it was best to cut it off there.”

Gi Taeyeon just stared at him silently. Seo Jihwan finally sighed and stated the subject clearly.

“Seo Soohyun.”

It was obvious how Gi Taeyeon regained his memory. He didn’t know the exact circumstances, but considering the faint Omega pheromones, Gi Taeyeon must have slept with Seo Soohyun. He had heard from the druggie himself that his memory might return in a similar situation, so it must have resurfaced under similar circumstances.

It wasn’t a welcome situation for Seo Jihwan. It wasn’t simply because he had concealed the incident from Gi Taeyeon.

“What about him?”

“I’m concerned that you’re treating him differently from other Omegas.”

It seemed like mere interest, but considering Gi Taeyeon’s usual behavior, it wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Seo Jihwan was one of the people who had served Gi Taeyeon for a long time. That meant he knew Gi Taeyeon well.

He remembered when the man had joined forces with Yeon Woobeom, eliminated all of their boss’s subordinates, and finally killed the boss himself. The Yeonbeom gang split into two factions: one led by Gi Taeyeon, and the other by Yeon Woobeom. “Jiwoo,” who operated in the light under the guise of a security company, belonged to Yeon Woobeom, while “Seowoo,” who ran a construction company as a front for loan sharking and gang activities, belonged to Gi Taeyeon.

However, that didn’t mean there was conflict between Gi Taeyeon and Yeon Woobeom. They hadn’t killed their boss to take over the gang. They had simply wanted to become independent.

Thanks to this, there wasn’t a bloody power struggle even after the gang’s leader was eliminated. Those who wanted to leave the gang life left, and those who agreed with Gi Taeyeon joined his side, while those who agreed with Yeon Woobeom joined his.

Gi Taeyeon maintained a business partnership with Yeon Woobeom despite their contrasting personalities because they worked well together.

And Seo Jihwan was the one who coordinated between them on Gi Taeyeon’s side. He was officially the secretary, but he was practically Gi Taeyeon’s right-hand man, so it was natural for him to be sensitive to changes in his boss.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re paying him a lot of attention.”

At Gi Taeyeon’s dismissive response, Seo Jihwan listed the things he had noticed.

“You suddenly going all the way there that day, and this time, immediately going to that countryside town after a single phone call… When you carried Seo Soohyun out, I thought I was seeing things.”

Seo Jihwan couldn’t ignore Gi Taeyeon’s changes.

He didn’t think the man would neglect his work for an Omega, but he was on high alert since this was unprecedented in the ten years he had known Gi Taeyeon. He would never betray Gi Taeyeon, and Gi Taeyeon’s nature wouldn’t change, but Seo Soohyun shouldn’t become Gi Taeyeon’s weakness under any circumstances.

He had kept silent about the Seo Soohyun incident because he judged that the two shouldn’t get any closer than necessary.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“I would have told you if you had asked.”

However, if Gi Taeyeon had asked about the details of that day, he would have told the truth. If the man had even asked where he was bringing him from, he would have answered Seo Soohyun’s store.

But Gi Taeyeon hadn’t asked anything, as if it wasn’t a big deal. He had only been annoyed about losing his memory. The reason was obvious. What was important to the man wasn’t his sexual partner, but the situation he had forgotten.

Seo Jihwan knew he was a well-trained hunting dog. And a hunting dog’s duty was to be loyal to its master’s commands.

If Seo Soohyun ever became Gi Taeyeon’s weakness, he would have to eliminate him.

“Well, aside from being pissed off, I didn’t ask because I didn’t need to care about who it was.”

Gi Taeyeon stared at Seo Jihwan, who was standing with his hands behind his back, and tapped his foot playfully, swiveling his chair slightly.

He understood what Seo Jihwan was saying. He didn’t doubt that Seo Jihwan would have answered if he had asked.

He hadn’t brought this up to interrogate Seo Jihwan. He had simply been curious and asked.

‘I have been acting differently towards Fuzz-face.’

He had always lived as he pleased, and he had simply acted on his desires this time as well, but since it had never happened before, it was understandable that Seo Jihwan found it strange. However, despite his loyal subordinate’s concern, Gi Taeyeon had no intention of losing interest in Seo Soohyun.

‘Why should I?’

He had felt a surge of elation when he realized that the bastard who took Seo Soohyun’s virginity was him.

Gi Taeyeon recalled the moment he first saw Soohyun’s heated body. All that had been visible outside the blanket was his fair nape, his sweat-drenched hair, and his moaning lips, but his flushed face had been enough to trigger the hidden memory.

And the moment the memory clicked into place, Gi Taeyeon smirked. He didn’t feel any guilt, just as he hadn’t felt bad about wasting his energy searching for the Alpha who took Seo Soohyun’s virginity.

He had simply been amused.

Seo Soohyun’s reactions had also contributed to his amusement. His crying, his sensitivity – everything was satisfying. He especially liked that Soohyun wasn’t clingy after sex.

His honesty about enjoying sex was also quite cute.

“Director.”

Gi Taeyeon glanced at Seo Jihwan.

“Since Seo Soohyun is staying at your house, I need to clarify my position… I’ll make sure the others don’t act disrespectfully.”

Seo Jihwan continued hesitantly after Gi Taeyeon raised an eyebrow, as if urging him to continue.

“What exactly is your relationship with Seo Soohyun…?”

“What relationship? What kind of question is that?”

Gi Taeyeon scoffed as if it was a strange question.

“We fuck when we’re both horny.”

His tone was casual, as if it was nothing special.

🍑

Seo Soohyun changed direction after a moment of contemplation. He entered a new destination into the navigation system, and the friendly voice started giving him directions.

“I should call him when I get there.”

He had been about to go home after visiting Bokshil and chatting with him. He suddenly felt like it would be boring to go straight home, so he changed his destination. It was none other than Gi Taeyeon’s office.

His recent days had been too leisurely. Calling and chatting with the grandmothers was fun for a while, but without his garden, he had nothing to do. The only things he did were go to the supermarket or buy desserts from bakeries and cafes near his house. Today, perhaps because of the nice weather, he felt a strong urge to go out.

It wasn’t that he wanted to wander around outside. There were too many people in Seoul. The area near the man’s house was quiet since it was a residential area, but it was crowded as soon as he left the neighborhood, making him feel drained. But since he wanted to go out, the man’s office was the only option.

‘He told me to visit, so it should be okay.’

If Gi Taeyeon wasn’t there or he couldn’t enter, he planned to at least look around the building.

Seo Soohyun stopped the car at a red light and checked the remaining time. He would arrive in about twenty minutes.

“It’s a good thing I borrowed an expensive car from the Director.”

He didn’t know the exact model, but the car, which was definitely expensive and had dark tinted windows, rarely attracted trouble. He was a careful driver, so there was no reason for anyone to pick a fight with him, but even when he stopped at a yellow light like this, no one honked at him. Last time, he had been startled when a car in the next lane honked at him for not going fast enough at a yellow light.

“By the way, I should probably buy something.”

He remembered his grandmother’s teaching that he shouldn’t visit empty-handed. But he wasn’t sure what to buy. He didn’t know how many employees there were, and he doubted he could cater to their tastes. They had enjoyed the hotteok last time, so he figured they would eat anything without complaint, but bread could be a hit or miss depending on the type.

I’ll just go.

Seo Soohyun decided to keep it simple and drove off as the light turned green.

“Wow.”

Is this really the right place? Soohyun looked at the building as he entered the parking lot. Whenever the grandmothers talked about the man, they always used the word “gangster,” so he had imagined a gloomy, run-down building, but the building standing tall before him was completely different.

The building, so tall he couldn’t see the top from the driver’s seat, was gleaming in the sunlight. The blue glass windows surrounding the building were all clean.

After briefly admiring the building, Seo Soohyun focused on driving again. As he smoothly entered the parking lot, he saw a barrier gate. There’s a barrier gate here too. I guess I have to pay when I leave. Then he noticed a small building that looked like a security office.

“Uh…”

He belatedly realized that parking might be restricted to building occupants only.

I should have told the Director beforehand. He was slowly approaching the gate since it was difficult to reverse now, but the barrier gate smoothly lifted. At the same time, the car’s license plate number appeared on the display. It seemed to be registered because it was Gi Taeyeon’s car.

“That’s a relief.”

Seo Soohyun felt slightly relieved and drove in.

The parking lot was packed with cars, but for some reason, an entire row was empty, so he parked there. He didn’t know why it was empty, but it wasn’t a handicapped parking space, so it seemed okay to park there. He checked the security office in the rearview mirror, but no one came out to say anything.

“It should be fine.”

He muttered to himself and got out of the car.

He got on the elevator with only his phone in his hand, but there was only one button visible – the button for the first floor. He figured he had to enter the building and then go up. Seo Soohyun pressed the button for the first floor. It took only a few seconds for the elevator to arrive.

It’s huge… Soohyun was involuntarily impressed as he stepped out. He had guessed the scale of the building from the outside, but it felt much larger inside. The open space, which seemed to be used as a lobby, made it look even bigger.

There was an entrance that looked similar to a subway turnstile, and beyond it were elevators on both sides. It was smaller than the department store he had visited with the man, but it was still surprisingly large for an office.

I should call the Director first. Seo Soohyun moved out of the way and made the call. He soon heard the familiar voice.

— What. Should I buy you something on my way in?

He had asked the man to buy him something on his way home from work before, so the man often asked him this question whenever he called. The man’s teasing tone implied that Soohyun, a mere kid, was making an adult run errands for him.

“It’s not that. I came to visit the office.”

— Now?

“Yes.”

— Which office?

Are there two offices? He wondered if he had come to the wrong place and looked around.

“Seowoo Construction.”

Then, an employee in a suit approached him.

“Student, how did you get here? You’re not allowed to just enter.”

— Who’s next to you?

He was confused by the voices from both sides. Seo Soohyun answered Gi Taeyeon first.

“I think he’s an employee here.”

— Let me talk to him.

He handed the phone to the employee at the man’s languid words. The employee tilted his head and answered the phone.

“I’ve put him on the line. …Ah, Director!”

It seems the Director is explaining. Seo Soohyun looked around the first floor again instead of watching the employee on the phone. When he had overheard the grandmothers talking, he had thought the construction business was just a front. But judging by the faces and attire of the people around him, it didn’t seem to be the case.

The uncles who visited his neighborhood were all Alphas with rough appearances and bulky builds, but the people here looked like ordinary office workers with average builds and neat attire.

It doesn’t seem like a simple gang… He belatedly realized that all he knew about gangs was from movies. That’s why he had mentioned things like loyalty, but now he felt slightly awkward, wondering if it was just movie exaggeration.

“Um, Mr. Soohyun…?”

“Yes?”

The employee returned his phone and called his name.

“Please follow me.”

Why is he calling me “Mr.”? He had heard that companies these days used honorifics after names instead of job titles, so he wondered if that was the reason. It was a bit surprising that a construction company used such a horizontal naming system, but Seo Soohyun followed the man without a word.

He followed the employee through the turnstile-like machine and got on the elevator. The employee pressed a button. Perhaps each elevator stopped at different floors or had a specific purpose, because even though there were quite a few employees around since it was almost lunchtime, he and the employee were the only ones on the elevator.

“I just spoke with the Director, and he said he has some work to do in his office, so please wait in the break room for a bit.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll show you the way.”

The employee smiled kindly and led him to the break room.

“Is there anything you’d like to drink? We have juice and sparkling water.”

Why is the break room empty? He was wondering this when the employee asked him an unexpected question. He didn’t particularly want anything to drink, but since it was awkward to refuse, Seo Soohyun gave the most neutral answer.

“Water would be fine.”

He sat on the sofa as the employee gestured, and the employee brought him a bottle of water. Then, with his usual kind expression, he said,

“I have to go back to work. The Director said he would send someone, so please wait here for a bit.”

“Okay, thank you.”

He slightly lifted his hips and bowed his head, and the employee waved his hand dismissively.

“No problem. Please make yourself comfortable.”

Then he quickly disappeared towards the elevators. He seemed busy.

He’s so kind, even though he went out of his way to bring me here… Seo Soohyun opened the bottle of water and took a sip, looking around. As befitting a break room, it was furnished with comfortable sofas and various snacks, but it was strange that he was the only one there.

After a brief look around, he fidgeted with his feet instead of looking at his phone, staring out the window. Perhaps because it was a high floor, the unfamiliar scenery was captivating.

He still missed the quiet and peaceful neighborhood more than the crowded Seoul, but the cars moving busily below reminded him of ants, which had a calming effect.

He was staring out the window when he sensed someone approaching and stood up.

“Hello, Mr. Soohyun!”

He awkwardly bowed his head in response to the person bowing deeply to him.

“The Director asked me to bring you to him.”

The man who straightened up had a familiar face.

“Please follow me.”

Seo Soohyun, though flustered, couldn’t bring himself to ask, “Why are you bowing?” and followed the man. He got on the elevator and glanced sideways, finally remembering where he had seen the man before. He was the uncle who had said it would be better to set the earthenware jars on a cemented surface and offered to find a contractor.

‘Thanks to him, the jars are in good condition.’

When he visited the detached house a few days ago, the earthenware jars were neatly arranged on the well-maintained ground in the backyard. He recalled thinking it would be perfect to create a garden next to it as he checked the contents of the jars.

“Please go in.”

He was wondering if he should thank the man when they stopped walking. The large man knocked and immediately opened the door, and Soohyun was pushed inside. The door closed before he could thank him.

“A surprise present? What brings you here?”

He hesitated, not seeing the owner of the room, when a teasing voice came from the side. Seo Soohyun turned his head. Gi Taeyeon was walking out, drying his hair with a towel, as if he had just showered.

“I remembered you said I could visit, Director. I was going to go home after seeing Bokshil, but I thought it would be boring. It felt like a waste to go home on such a nice day… But I didn’t want to wander around outside because it’s too crowded. So, I came here. By the way, why did you shower?”

He wondered why the man would suddenly shower at the office.

It was strange enough that there was a shower in the office, not his house, but seeing how comfortable he looked, it seemed he showered here often. But he couldn’t figure out the reason.

“I showered because I got dirty.”

The man, approaching him, replied casually and nuzzled his face against Soohyun’s neck. Seo Soohyun shivered but readily accepted the explanation about showering because he got dirty. He figured the man must have visited a construction site or something.

“Have you had lunch?”

“Not yet. Did you eat out, Director?”

Soohyun rubbed the nape of his neck where the man’s nose had touched, feeling a ticklish sensation. He followed Gi Taeyeon when the man patted his buttocks as if urging him to come closer.

“Where would I have gone?”

Why did he shower if he didn’t go anywhere? Seo Soohyun wondered but obediently sat on the sofa. He looked around the room, and the gleaming marble floor caught his eye. It looked freshly mopped.

“I haven’t eaten either. Anything you want to eat?”

“I haven’t thought about it.”

“Want to eat what the guys eat?”

“Is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

The man tossed the towel onto the sofa and went to his desk, picking up the phone.

“Bring one of what the guys eat. For the kid.”

Seo Soohyun always felt strange when Gi Taeyeon referred to his uncles as “guys.” If those bulky, rough-looking men were considered “guys,” then he must really feel like a baby. It was similar to how the grandmothers called him “baby” or “puppy” even though he was grown up.

The man hung up the phone and came closer, sitting down heavily next to Soohyun. A knock followed immediately, and the door opened. It was incredibly fast.

“Director, I brought what you asked for.”

“Leave it.”

Seo Soohyun instinctively looked towards the door. The uncle he had just seen grinned at him and placed a container on the table. Judging by the large portion, it wasn’t a single serving but at least a medium size. There were two sets of spoons and chopsticks, and two containers that seemed to contain rice, implying it was for him to share with the man.

“What is it?”

“Malatang.”

He didn’t know for sure, but it seemed to be a type of soup from another country.

“Enjoy your meal.”

The crew-cut uncle bowed his head and left.

Seo Soohyun opened the container without hesitation despite the unfamiliar name. Bright red broth appeared. It looked appetizing with meat and plenty of yellow and green vegetables, but strangely, the smell was off-putting.

“Aren’t you eating, Director?”

“You eat first, baby.”

The elder should eat first… Seo Soohyun thought so, but he still opened the plastic wrap of the spoon. The man was looking at his phone, so he figured Gi Taeyeon was working and it was okay for him to eat first.

He scooped up the bright red broth with the plastic spoon and put it in his mouth. Seo Soohyun immediately grimaced and made a gagging sound.

“What, you don’t like it?”

Gi Taeyeon, noticing his expression or hearing the sound, chuckled and cupped his cheeks, making him look up. Seo Soohyun stuck out his tongue with a grimace.

“I don’t like it.”

The smell was strange, and it tasted like expired cosmetics.

“Can I stop eating?”

Korean food was the best after all.

In the end, they ate a Korean set meal for lunch. Seo Soohyun licked the soft serve ice cream Gi Taeyeon bought him and wrinkled his nose. He had enjoyed the set meal with braised mackerel and various side dishes, and now he was eating the soft, sweet ice cream, but his tongue felt strangely coated with the peculiar flavor of the malatang.

“Look at your face.”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled and rubbed his brow with his thumb, amused by Soohyun grimacing while eating ice cream. The sunlight that had been blocked by the man’s tall figure poured down on him, making his face wrinkle even more.

“Do you like that too, Director? Maritang? Malatang?”

“I’m not picky, but I don’t particularly like it.”

“If you don’t like it, don’t ask me to make it. I think I can make it if I have the ingredients, but it tastes really weird. It’s like eating scented cosmetics.”

“There are foods Fuzz-face doesn’t like too.”

“I just found out.”

He felt a bit better after eating the ice cream for a while.

“I’m really not a picky eater. I eat all kinds of vegetables, meat, fish, even raw food, but I was really surprised just now. I guess I don’t like strong spices. If it were pasta or something greasy, I would have finished it, but I don’t even know what it tastes like, and it’s just weird. Korean food is the best.”

Seo Soohyun wondered for the first time if the reason he had never been a picky eater was because he hadn’t tried a variety of foods.

But he figured it was okay to be picky about that kind of food. It looked decent with plenty of meat and vegetables, but the broth was too red, and the taste was strange, so it probably wasn’t healthy. If his grandmother had been there, she would have scolded him for wasting money on such weird food.

“Young people these days are crazy about it.”

“I’m not a kid.”

“Well, our Fuzz-face has an old man’s palate.”

“Then you have an old man’s palate too, Director… You eat everything I make.”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled and ate his ice cream at Soohyun’s slightly sullen reply. He had only eaten a single piece of cherry cake a long time ago, and last time, he had only bought ice cream for Soohyun, so he had thought the man didn’t eat sweets at all, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. He hadn’t even expected Gi Taeyeon to eat soft serve in a cone.

“Why.”

“I didn’t know you ate ice cream.”

“Oh, are you the only one with a mouth?”

“You didn’t eat it last time.”

“I’m catering to a baby’s taste right now.”

You don’t have to… Soohyun grumbled inwardly but licked his ice cream. He figured the man felt bad about making him try that strange soup.

“Right. Who was the person who brought me to your office, Director?”

“Jipil? Why.”

“I wanted to thank him, but he was so quick that I didn’t get a chance. He was the one who took care of the earthenware jars that day. And he brought me here today. I’m grateful for everything.”

Unlike Seo Soohyun, who was licking his ice cream bit by bit, the man took a large bite of his and narrowed his eyes. Seo Soohyun blinked, not understanding Gi Taeyeon’s expression.

🍑

“They sell it in Seoul too.”

“Do you know where I can buy it?”

“Hmm, let’s see…”

Soohyun glanced at the screen Kim Jipil was looking at. He hadn’t known what to search for, but it was much easier with someone who knew Seoul well.

“They seem to sell it here too.”

“Wait a moment. I’ll write it down.”

“Take your time.”

Kim Jipil was the uncle Gi Taeyeon assigned to him a few days ago.

‘Why, when I barely go out?’

‘You said you were bored.’

‘I meant I was restless, not that I was bored being alone…’

‘Still, take him with you when you go out alone. Everyone will notice I’m keeping you, so it’s better to be careful.’

Seo Soohyun thought for a moment at the man’s words and asked,

“Should I be careful even though I’m not your lover, Director?”

He had often seen movies where the protagonist was threatened through their spouse or lover. It was unlikely to happen to an ordinary person, but since the man was a gangster, he didn’t know if such misfortunes could occur in real life. However, Seo Soohyun wasn’t his lover; he was just an employee living with and working for him. Therefore, he found it difficult to understand what Gi Taeyeon meant.

He had asked out of genuine curiosity, but Gi Taeyeon just smirked and touched his exposed nape.

“Baby.”

“Ugh.”

“If my pheromones are all over you, what do you think people will assume?”

Goosebumps rose on his skin at the man’s touch.

I guess some people might think that way. Seo Soohyun then recalled that most movies were made from a Beta’s perspective. Unlike Betas, Alphas and Omegas had pheromones, so people would likely misunderstand if the man’s pheromones were on him. He now understood why Gi Taeyeon had assigned someone to him.

“Right, they sell flowers there too.”

“Flowers?”

“Yes. I haven’t been there myself, so I don’t know for sure, but they sell flower pots, not just seedlings. Or is it originally a flower market?”

And a few days later, Gi Taeyeon assigned Kim Jipil to him.

Kim Jipil, who had spent his childhood in the countryside, surprisingly clicked well with Seo Soohyun. Perhaps because he was familiar with rural life, they could easily chat for hours. Moreover, since Kim Jipil had lived in Seoul since high school, he was practically a Seoul native now, so it was convenient to ask him about things.

“Thank you for letting me know. I should look around since I have to buy seedlings anyway.”

He planned to buy some seedlings tomorrow.

Seo Soohyun was realizing the truth in the elders’ words about being bored without something to do. He had heard them say that often when he told them to rest, since they worked in the fields during the day and did other chores in the evening. Back then, he had wondered why they kept working so hard, but now he understood completely.

“What are you buying?”

“I’ll look around first.”

The man didn’t seem particularly interested, but he didn’t seem bothered either. He had said it was fine for Soohyun to go with Kim Jipil, but he had also taken out his car keys, saying why would Soohyun go with someone else when he could go with him, so he clearly wasn’t annoyed.

“You must have something in mind.”

“I’m not sure yet since it’s my first time growing plants indoors. I’ll buy something that looks suitable.”

He was at the flower market with Gi Taeyeon. Although they mainly sold flowers, he had heard they also had various seedlings, so he had come to look around and buy something if he found anything he liked.

He had been feeling stiff lately, perhaps from not working with soil. He would have limitations since he had to choose seedlings for his balcony, not his garden, but he was satisfied with being able to bring in soil, even if it was just for pots.

“What about the ones you’re growing in water?”

“I’ll keep growing those too.”

Soohyun answered as he got out of the car. The black car, out of place in the flower market, occupied a corner of the parking lot, but neither Gi Taeyeon nor Seo Soohyun, nor anyone else, seemed to mind.

“Are you already tired of those?”

“Not tired, but it’s not as satisfying since I don’t have much to do.”

“Satisfying?”

“It’s true. You’ve never grown plants before, Director, so you don’t understand.”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled at Soohyun’s slightly irritated tone.

“Yes, yes, Fuzz-face, grow a lot.”

There’s a big difference between putting effort into growing something and not… He wanted to emphasize it again, but he figured the man wouldn’t understand, so he decided to drop it.

He had bought a hydroponic system a few weeks ago after hearing about it. At first, it had been fun to adjust the water levels and add nutrients, but that novelty wore off quickly. He still had to tend to the plants occasionally since the machine couldn’t control everything perfectly, but without soil, or perhaps because the vegetables grew effortlessly, it wasn’t as satisfying.

In the end, Seo Soohyun, after much deliberation, had asked if he could create a small garden on the balcony. He added that food tasted better when made with homegrown vegetables.

“You were whining like a puppy looking for its mother’s milk since morning just to ask that?”

He had asked after much contemplation since it involved bringing soil into the house, but the man just scoffed as if it was ridiculous that he even needed permission.

I should have just asked without worrying. He slightly regretted it, but then thought it was good timing since it was almost April and new seedlings were coming out. There was definitely a wider variety of crops in April than in March.

“Isn’t that it?”

“That’s a flower. Seedlings are sold in this size.”

Seo Soohyun looked at the small brown plastic pot Gi Taeyeon was pointing at and shook his head. He wasn’t here to buy flowers, so he planned to pass them by.

As they went further inside, they found what he was looking for. Unlike other stalls, this one wasn’t filled with vibrant colors but with shades of green and brownish-red. Seedling trays were stacked like stairs on the floor and shelves.

“Director, it’s over there.”

He grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him along, and Gi Taeyeon followed without complaint.

“Wow, there are more varieties than I thought.”

Soohyun squatted down and looked at the rows of seedlings. He could recognize most of them just by looking at them, and even the unfamiliar ones had labels, so it wasn’t difficult to distinguish them. The labels, written in large black letters on rectangular pieces of cardboard, were easy to read.

“Strawberries…”

Should I grow some? Gi Taeyeon, perhaps hearing his mutter, squatted down behind him and leaned over, casting a shadow over him. Seo Soohyun tilted his head back slightly at the sudden coolness on his head.

“I’ll buy them for you, so buy whatever you want.”

“I should only buy what I can grow. It would be a waste if they die.”

Seo Soohyun thought for a moment and shook his head. No matter how well he cared for them and how large the pots were, growing plants in a limited space was completely different from growing them in the ground. Besides, he had never grown strawberries before. He wasn’t even sure if he could grow them in his garden, let alone indoors.

“I think it’s better to just buy strawberries. Cherry tomatoes are a bit tricky too…”

He figured it was best to buy vegetables he could grow easily and ate often.

Seo Soohyun looked around the seedlings and stood up. He had been squatting for a long time, but it was a familiar position, and the man behind him pulled him up, so it wasn’t difficult.

“Boss!”

He called out loudly since he didn’t see the owner, and a “Mister” came running from another direction.

“What are you buying?”

The man hesitated when he saw Gi Taeyeon, then smiled affably at Seo Soohyun, as if deciding to focus on him, and tore off a plastic bag from a roll attached to a pillar.

“I’d like to buy some lettuce, chives, and crown daisy.”

“How many trays?”

They usually asked for the number of pots, not trays, but he must have looked like he was going to buy a lot. Each tray held eight small plastic pots — they were barely big enough to be called pots — attached in a row, and they could be easily cut apart with scissors.

“One tray of each, please. And Boss, are strawberries and cherry tomatoes difficult to grow at home?”

“Home? In a garden?”

“No, indoors.”

“Yeah, they’re difficult. They need fertilizer and such. No.”

“I knew it… Then just give me the ones I mentioned. What kind of seeds do you have besides seedlings?”

He was a bit disappointed, but it couldn’t be helped.

Seo Soohyun turned his head and looked at the seeds the rough finger was pointing at. Thanks to the quick-handed Boss, the seedlings were placed one tray at a time into the plastic bags lined with cardboard boxes.

“How much is it for all of this?”

“Let’s see, these are three thousand won for two… It’s thirty-eight thousand won in total.”

“He says it’s thirty-eight thousand won.”

“Is that all you bought?”

“I bought a lot.”

The man took out his wallet from his back pocket and handed over a fifty-thousand won bill.

“Oh, I’m out of change. Please wait a moment.”

The Mister who received the money checked the pouch around his waist and quickly ran off to the right. Soohyun, watching him, suddenly craned his neck and looked at Gi Taeyeon.

“Director, please wait here for a moment since you have to get change.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be right back.”

He didn’t quite like how distracted the man seemed, but Gi Taeyeon let Seo Soohyun go. Soohyun’s dark hair, gleaming even in the sunlight, swayed as he ran off.

“Huff, huff. Here’s your change.”

Gi Taeyeon, who had been scrolling through work messages on his phone, looked up at the sound of heavy breathing. The store owner was panting and holding out the change. He took the money, hooked the plastic bags on his finger, and started walking leisurely, looking for Seo Soohyun.

He should be able to find him easily since they hadn’t been apart for long, and Soohyun’s face stood out wherever he went.

“Director!”

The voice came from an unexpected direction. Gi Taeyeon slowly turned towards the hand grabbing his arm. His well-defined eyebrows rose slightly.

“When did you buy a vase?”

“Oh, right. You don’t have a vase. I should buy one on the way. But I didn’t buy this to put in a vase. It’s a present for you, Director.”

“This?”

Gi Taeyeon frowned at the unexpected gift.

“Yes. I suddenly wanted to give it to you, so I bought it with my own money.”

“Why did you suddenly want to give it to me?”

Seo Soohyun, smiling brightly, was holding a large bouquet of flowers. They were white lilies, emitting a strong fragrance.

Actually, Seo Soohyun wasn’t particularly fond of lilies. He didn’t have any strong preferences when it came to flowers, so “dislike” might not be the right word, but he didn’t particularly like them. They were beautiful, but their strong fragrance made him feel suffocated when he buried his face in them.

“Should I get my eyes checked?”

Instead of accepting the bouquet, Gi Taeyeon grabbed Seo Soohyun’s face with one hand and pulled down the corner of his eye with his thumb, slightly distorting the mole between his eye and cheek.

“I have good eyesight. I don’t use computers or phones much.”

“Is there one on your eye too, Fuzz-face, not just your cheek?”

“Why are you saying such strange things?”

“You’re the one saying strange things, Fuzz-face. This looks like me?”

Seo Soohyun finally understood what Gi Taeyeon meant by getting his eyes checked. He looked back and forth between the white lilies in his arms and the man who was a head taller than him.

“Is it because of your shirt, Director?”

Gi Taeyeon’s navy blue shirt had white lilies embroidered on it. He wondered if the sight of his shirt had reminded him of the man when he saw the lilies, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized it wasn’t because of the shirt.

“Are you making fun of me now?”

“It’s not that… Ah, I know. It’s because of the scent.”

“My pheromones don’t smell like lilies.”

“I know that too, but lilies have a particularly strong fragrance. So, it reminded me of you, Director. Anyway, please accept it. It’s a present from me. I’ll carry the seedlings.”

He thrust the lilies, roughly wrapped in newspaper since they were bought from a flower market, not a flower shop, into Gi Taeyeon’s arms and quickly took the plastic bag from the man’s finger. It wasn’t heavy even though there were a lot of seedlings.

“This is the first time I’ve received a bouquet. From a kid, no less.”

Gi Taeyeon seemed incredulous, but he chuckled, not seeming displeased, and started walking with the bouquet in one hand. Seo Soohyun looked at the newspaper-wrapped bouquet dangling from the man’s large hand. It had seemed like a massive amount when he was holding it, but now it looked like an ordinary bouquet in the man’s hand.

“What kind of presents do you usually receive?”

He still didn’t know the exact reason why he had thought of Gi Taeyeon when he saw the lilies, but he felt good seeing the man carrying his present. Seo Soohyun swung the plastic bag containing the seedlings and asked.

“Cash. Dollars. Gold. Anything else?”

“Isn’t that a bribe?”

“Bribe or present, it’s the same thing.”

Aren’t they different?

As he briefly pondered the difference, he realized no one would probably give the man a present, not a bribe. Presents were usually given by family or friends, and the man didn’t seem to have any.

Or does he? He suddenly realized he knew nothing about Gi Taeyeon’s relationships. But if he asked now, his intention would be obvious, so Seo Soohyun kept his mouth shut.

“It’s a bit different.”

“How is it different?”

“It’s different. If you can’t tell the difference, just think of what I give you as a present.”

He couldn’t give the man anything expensive, but he could give small gifts like this bouquet. He preferred spending money on things like this than saving up a few tens of thousands of won. It made him happy to see the people around him happy to receive small gifts.

“Save your allowance. Don’t waste it on unnecessary things.”

“I don’t have anything to spend money on. But I’ll only give presents to you, Director.”

He had a steady income but no expenses. He used the man’s card for groceries and snacks, and even when they went out like this, Gi Taeyeon always took out his wallet first, so Seo Soohyun had no reason to spend money.

So, giving him a present wasn’t difficult at all.

“Alright then.”

The man stared down at him, then pulled his lips into a smile. Seo Soohyun chuckled, feeling pleased. The early blooming lilies emitted a fragrance that didn’t suit the man at all.

🍑

“Ha, fuck, it’s even more annoying since it’s been a while.”

“Director! Are you alright?”

Gi Taeyeon casually covered his bleeding abdomen with one hand and waved his other hand dismissively. Seo Jihwan hurriedly went to the passenger seat, opened the glove compartment, took out a white towel, and pressed it against Gi Taeyeon’s abdomen. Gi Taeyeon leaned against the car and jerked his chin towards the lump sprawled on the ground.

“He looks like one of Haesi’s guys. That means he’s one of Yusang’s lackeys. Keep him alive and bring him to the workshop.”

“The guys will be down soon. Should I call Dr. Lee?”

“Hospital.”

“Sir?”

Despite Seo Jihwan’s surprised reaction, Gi Taeyeon pushed him aside and opened the backseat door himself. Seo Jihwan got into the driver’s seat without hesitation as the man got in and immediately closed the door. The man’s capricious behavior wasn’t anything new, and this wasn’t even surprising.

“Did you get stabbed on purpose, sir?”

“Do you think I would have gotten stabbed if I was just standing there stupidly? I’m not dead yet, Jihwan.”

Seo Jihwan started the car without delay and checked the side mirror. He saw the employees carrying the lump and putting it in the trunk. It seemed the other guy was bleeding more, even though Gi Taeyeon was the one who got stabbed.

He looked away and checked the rearview mirror. The man, his abdomen carelessly covered, rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a cigarette. Seo Jihwan quickly searched his jacket and handed him a lighter.

“Thanks.”

The man took the lighter, lit his cigarette, and started smoking. It was a bizarre act for someone who was on their way to the hospital after being stabbed in the abdomen, but Seo Jihwan was used to it.

“The guys will contact the hospital since they saw us leave.”

“What about the police?”

“The doctor usually reports it after checking the condition, so they’ll probably come after treatment. There are ways to handle it discreetly. What do you want to do, sir?”

He added this since he didn’t know if Gi Taeyeon was going to the hospital to make it official or just on a whim. The man replied with a languid sigh,

“Handle it discreetly for now.”

“Then it would be better to call Dr. Lee to our place…”

“I have to at least make it look like I went to the hospital.”

It seemed the man planned to send a message to the one who sent the lump, asking them to visit him at the hospital.

Seo Jihwan drove quickly. Judging by the location and the amount of blood, it didn’t seem like a serious injury, but it was best to get it treated quickly.

“Ah.”

Gi Taeyeon, who had been smoking, suddenly frowned. The lilies he had tossed on the backseat were stained with bright red blood, either from his clothes or his hand.

“The kid’s going to nag me again.”

The reason the lilies, which should have been in a vase, were in the backseat was simple. Gi Taeyeon had put them there after receiving them, saying he should show off his present. It had been half a joke to tease the kid, but seeing Seo Soohyun’s eyes sparkle at his words, he had felt awkward about taking them inside, so he had left them in the car yesterday. He had brought them to the office today to show them off.

‘You’ve arrived… What’s this?’

‘Isn’t it obvious? It’s a bouquet, Secretary Seo.’

‘…Are you giving it as a present? Flowers?’

‘I’m not giving it, I received it.’

‘You received it? …Lilies, no less.’

‘He said I look like them. What do you think?’

‘…’

And he had chuckled a few hours ago, looking at Seo Jihwan’s speechless face. He had been about to put the bouquet back in the car when someone attacked him from behind a few minutes ago.

He could have easily dodged it, but Gi Taeyeon hadn’t bothered to avoid the knife. He didn’t want to get stabbed deeply, so he had moved just enough for the blade to graze his skin, then grabbed the attacker and slammed him to the ground.

He had to make it look convincing since he got injured on purpose.

It will take some time to stop by the hospital.

Gi Taeyeon stubbed out his cigarette in a portable ashtray and picked up his phone. He had to call Seo Soohyun instead of texting, since the kid didn’t check his phone often.

“Are you hurt badly?”

Soohyun, who had been waiting for Gi Taeyeon on the sofa, rushed to the entrance at the sound of the door opening. The man, dressed in the same clothes as when he left for work, strolled in. Seo Soohyun didn’t even bother to look at his face and just fumbled with the man’s arm.

“Touching me so carelessly?”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Here.”

Soohyun followed the man’s gesture towards his abdomen and widened his eyes. He hadn’t noticed because of the man’s dark shirt, but there were bloodstains here and there. He could see something white between the torn fabric.

“Look.”

Seo Soohyun reached out without hesitation and pulled out the shirt tucked into the man’s pants. White gauze was plastered on the left side of his abdomen.

“How did you get hurt?”

The wound didn’t seem too serious, so instead of making a fuss, Soohyun looked up at Gi Taeyeon and asked. The man, who had been stopped at the entrance, shrugged casually as if it was nothing.

“I got stabbed.”

“Gasp, stabbed?”

“Yes, stabbed.”

It was his first time hearing such a violent thing. Seo Soohyun barely managed to calm his pounding heart. It was something he would hear on the news, but since the man did dangerous work, it might be a common occurrence. Then he shouldn’t be too surprised.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Do you think it wouldn’t hurt?”

“I think it would.”

“Yeah, it hurts.”

Gi Taeyeon replied casually, his voice betraying no pain, and handed Seo Soohyun the rustling object in his arms. Seo Soohyun then realized Gi Taeyeon had been holding something. A strong fragrance wafted into his nose before he could even look closely.

“I showed them off all day, so put them in a vase nicely.”

“You brought this even though you were stabbed?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“…You’re not seriously injured, are you?”

“Want to see?”

Without giving him time to answer, Gi Taeyeon ripped off the gauze. Seo Soohyun was met with the sight of the stitched skin stained with red disinfectant. He calmly examined the wound instead of closing his eyes. Fortunately, it seemed like a graze, not a deep stab. If it had been a deep wound, he would have needed surgery, not just stitches.

“Done looking?”

The man chuckled and ripped off the rest of the gauze, then started walking as usual. Seo Soohyun let out a surprised gasp and followed Gi Taeyeon. He trailed behind him even as the man threw the disinfectant-soaked gauze in the trash can.

“Is it okay to just rip it off like that?”

“Probably not.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“I was going to take it off anyway. It’s a bother.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a smack sound echoed. Gi Taeyeon stopped walking and tilted his head slightly at the unfamiliar situation. He saw Seo Soohyun nagging him after hitting his back.

“How can you just rip it off because it’s a bother? They put it there for a reason. And you’re not even wearing a shirt, Director. What if the disinfectant gets on the sheets? Or is it okay since it’s dry…? But what if it rubs against the sheets and oozes or something? Gauze is tightly secured, but sheets and clothes aren’t, so they constantly rub against your skin, which could infect the wound.”

“…”

“Then you’ll be the one suffering, Director, not someone else. It’s a good thing it’s not a serious wound, but it’s still better for it to heal nicely without leaving a scar. It’s not difficult, so why don’t you listen to the doctor? You’re a Director, not a doctor. And just in case, I’m asking, but you’re not going to cause trouble at the hospital after doing things your way, are you? You shouldn’t.”

His small lips chattered on, as if he had a lot to say.

“And you should have been careful not to get hurt in the first place. On TV, people who are athletic or good with their bodies can dodge even if someone suddenly attacks them from behind… Anyway, even if that’s a staged situation and reality is different, you’re a dominant Alpha, Director. I heard dominants have better reflexes than regular Alphas or Betas, so how can you do gangster work if you’re not that quick?”

Gi Taeyeon stared intently at Seo Soohyun’s moving cheeks as he chattered on without pausing for breath, then grabbed his face.

“Soohyun.”

Seo Soohyun, who had been nagging, stopped talking and looked at the man’s amused expression.

“Are you my wife?”

He frowned at the unexpected word.

“You’re saying that in a strange way.”

“You were nagging so much.”

The man gave a completely unrelated answer and tightened his grip on Soohyun’s cheeks. Seo Soohyun had no choice but to tilt his head back as Gi Taeyeon chuckled and nibbled on his cheeks. A sharp pain shot through his cheek before he could even close his eyes.

“Why did you bite my cheek?”

He was dumbfounded by the man’s action, something even Bokshil wouldn’t do, and rubbed his cheek in protest, but Gi Taeyeon just looked at him shamelessly.

“Because I can.”

It seemed the man bit him because he was nagging, but he seemed strangely pleased. Why is he happy about being nagged? Seo Soohyun wondered and kept touching his cheek. He could almost feel the teeth marks on his palm.

‘Maybe it’s because he’s lonely.’

He suddenly recalled what the man had said when he offered him the job. If he was lonely enough to say he didn’t like eating alone, he might actually enjoy being nagged.

Seo Soohyun hadn’t enjoyed his grandmother’s nagging either, but he had missed it after she passed away, so the man might be feeling the same way.

It’s a good thing I didn’t ask about his family and friends when we went to buy seedlings. Seo Soohyun praised himself for being cautious and unconsciously rubbed his cheek.

“Have you had dinner?”

“Not yet.”

“What have you been doing until now? I called and said I would be late.”

“You just said you were going to the hospital because of a stomachache and hung up. I’d be worried even if it was a stranger, let alone you, Director… I wouldn’t be human if I could eat after hearing that.”

Gi Taeyeon, who ate just fine even if his subordinates were suffering from stomachaches, just said, “Is that so?”

“Did you eat on your way home, Director?”

“How could I eat in this condition?”

“Then do you want to eat now? It’s a bit late, but it’s not past nine yet, so it should be okay. You stay up late anyway, Director.”

“Is it okay for Fuzz-face to eat now?”

“It’s later than usual, but it happens sometimes.”

Seo Soohyun usually had dinner around seven. Even seven was a bit late because he adjusted to the man’s schedule. When he lived with his grandmother, he started preparing dinner at six, finished eating around six-thirty, and didn’t have any snacks after nine.

So, past eight was quite late for dinner.

“And now that I see you’re okay, Director, I’m finally feeling hungry.”

He should have been hungry around seven, but his internal clock, which had stopped after hearing the shocking news, seemed to be working again. Since the man hadn’t eaten either, he planned to eat with him if he wanted to, or just have a glass of milk and go to bed.

“Let’s eat together then.”

“Do you want to wash up first? I’ll prepare while you shower.”

“I’ll wash up after eating. What should I do?”

Seo Soohyun followed Gi Taeyeon to the kitchen.

“Just sit down. You’re a patient.”

“I’m not a patient just because of this. I’d be called a faker if I went to the hospital in this condition, Mr. Seo Soohyun.”

It didn’t seem like a minor injury to be called a faker… But since the man had probably been to hospitals more often than him, he figured it was true if Gi Taeyeon said so. Besides, as a dominant Alpha, the man’s regenerative abilities were probably better than an average person’s, so it might really be a minor injury.

“Then just dish out the side dishes. I’ll heat up the fish.”

“Alright.”

Seo Soohyun observed Gi Taeyeon to make sure he wasn’t uncomfortable, then quickly started preparing dinner. Since the man was dishing out the side dishes, he just had to heat up the fish and soup and bring them to the table.

He heated up the fried croaker he had cooked earlier, making sure the belly was cooked through by propping it up with a spatula, and transferred it to a plate. The man, who had come closer, took the plate to the dining table. He was getting better at it after doing it a few times.

Soohyun glanced at Gi Taeyeon, who was serving rice, and ladled the soup. It definitely saved time having an extra person, even if it was just for simple tasks.

“Let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

Seo Soohyun, who had been chatting with Gi Taeyeon about where to put the lilies while eating their late dinner, suddenly stopped using his chopsticks. His chopsticks hovered over the fish, not towards the white flesh of the belly, but towards the eye.

Seo Soohyun deftly plucked out the hard eye of the croaker with his chopsticks, removed the slimy bits attached to it, and placed the tiny, chickpea-like eyeball onto Gi Taeyeon’s rice.

“What’s this?”

“Don’t you eat fish eyes?”

“You eat the eyes too?”

“They’re good for you. You’re not a picky eater, Director. Just eat it. It doesn’t taste weird.”

“What are they good for?”

It was difficult to answer when asked what they were good for. He had simply accepted that they were good for him since he often heard it from his grandmother. Seo Soohyun hesitated for a moment and reached for the eyeball on Gi Taeyeon’s rice with his chopsticks, intending to take it back.

“Giving and taking back?”

He had simply thought he would eat it himself, but the man’s chopsticks snatched the eyeball first and popped it into his mouth. Seo Soohyun looked at Gi Taeyeon.

“Don’t you not eat them?”

“I have to eat it if Soohyun gives it to me.”

Gi Taeyeon pointedly moved his jaw.

“The baby will sulk if I don’t eat what he gives me.”

“I don’t sulk over things like that.”

Seo Soohyun replied, barely suppressing the corners of his lips from twitching upwards.

He hadn’t really been about to sulk. He wasn’t a child, and he wasn’t so petty as to sulk just because someone refused something he offered out of goodwill. He had just been slightly bothered by not being able to answer the man’s question immediately, and he was just a little bit pleased that the man ate it readily.

“Oh, is that so?”

The man chuckled and neatly plucked out the other eye from the fish head with a single motion of his chopsticks. Unlike Seo Soohyun’s chopsticks, which had also picked up some of the surrounding soft tissue, the man’s technique was impeccable, extracting only the eye.

“You eat a lot of healthy things too, baby.”

“Thank you.”

Seo Soohyun looked at the fish eye on his rice, carefully put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly. He suddenly thought of his grandmother.

She was the only one who used to pick out fish eyes for him.

“Ow.”

It didn’t have much flavor, but the firm, chewy texture was interesting. He was diligently chewing the fish eye when a sudden pain shot through his tooth.

“What?”

“It’s nothing. Since you were stabbed in the stomach, Director, I’ll make you pot rice with mushrooms and jujubes tomorrow.”

Seo Soohyun changed the subject, not wanting the man to tell him to go to the dentist. His toothache was probably because of the man biting his cheek.

🍑

Why does it keep hurting?

Soohyun finished brushing his teeth and opened his mouth as wide as he could. The bathroom light was bright, so he should have been able to see inside, but perhaps because his mouth wasn’t very big, it was difficult to see clearly. It was the same even when he moved his face around and rolled his eyes.

“It doesn’t seem like a cavity…”

It couldn’t be a cavity. He had never had one before.

Seo Soohyun brushed his teeth diligently. He always brushed his teeth after meals and snacks, sometimes more than five times a day. Besides, both his mother and grandmother had strong teeth, so he should have them too.

But why does it keep hurting?

The tooth that had been aching on and off for the past few months was acting up again.

Before, it had only ached occasionally, but these days, the pain came and went frequently. Seo Soohyun finally gave up on examining his mouth and ran his tongue over his teeth, recalling his recent lifestyle.

He didn’t have to think long. As soon as he left the bathroom and went to the living room, the recent change was glaringly obvious.

‘Did I get a cavity from eating too many sweets? But it didn’t hurt when I brushed my teeth or drank cold things…’

The white paper bag on the living room table was filled with desserts. Seo Soohyun walked towards it as if possessed and rummaged inside. It wasn’t surprising that he might get a cavity even if he brushed his teeth diligently, considering he ate these desserts every day.

“I don’t want to go to the dentist…”

He knew that he should go to the hospital when he was sick, especially for dental problems.

He knew it would only get worse if he put it off, but for some reason, it was difficult to make up his mind to go to the dentist.

I’ll definitely go if it keeps hurting. He decided to cut back on snacks instead and was about to move the desserts from the paper bag to the freezer when,

“Fuzz-face.”

Seo Soohyun turned around at the voice calling him. He saw the man’s gaze on the paper bag.

“What’s that?”

“Brownies.”

“Brownies?”

“Yes. Want to see?”

Soohyun opened the bag and showed him the contents.

“They’re flourless brownies. There are so many kinds. This one has cheese, this one has apple, and this one has fig.”

He had thought brownies only came in chocolate flavor, but he recently learned that they could have various toppings.

“You bought more snacks?”

Would he get scolded for eating too many sweets? Seo Soohyun glanced at Gi Taeyeon cautiously. The man’s gaze, scanning the inside of the paper bag, seemed disapproving, so he added unnecessary words.

“There’s a separate stomach for meals and snacks.”

“Separate or not, your tooth has been hurting lately.”

“No? No, it hasn’t.”

He instinctively denied it at the unexpected question, anticipating the man telling him to go to the dentist.

“Lying through your teeth. Ah.”

A large hand grabbed his cheek. Seo Soohyun opened his mouth, thinking it would look even more suspicious if he kept it closed.

“You have a tight hole and a small mouth…”

Before he could retort that the man shouldn’t make such sexual remarks, an index finger intruded into his mouth. The rough finger pressed down on his tongue, then changed direction and started probing his neatly aligned teeth.

“Huh…”

A moan escaped his lips involuntarily. It was difficult to swallow with the finger rummaging around in his mouth, and saliva pooled under his tongue. He couldn’t bite the man’s finger, so he clenched his jaw, which made him feel breathless.

He looked up, unable to control his fluttering eyelashes, and met the man’s gaze, who had just put his finger in Soohyun’s mouth.

As their gazes met, Gi Taeyeon’s eyes crinkled at the corners, unlike his usual indifferent expression, and he pressed down with his fingertip.

“Ugh.”

The finger that had been tracing his molars finally reached the back and rubbed against the soft flesh. It had felt like something was wrong with his tooth just now, but now it didn’t hurt at all; it felt strange. Seo Soohyun fidgeted with the hem of his shirt.

The thick, calloused finger finally retreated after probing the other side of his mouth as well. Seo Soohyun bit his lip as he saw the saliva-coated finger. He felt strange again.

“It looks a bit swollen. Go to the dentist today.”

“I don’t have a cavity. And I’m going to cut back on snacks… It’s not swollen. It’s always like this.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, really. It’s not a cavity, and it’s not swollen. I, I think the inside of my mouth is naturally a bit thick… You haven’t put your finger in my mouth before, Director, so of course I know my own mouth better. It’s always been like this. And the pain isn’t real pain, it’s probably because I’ve been eating too many sweets lately. I don’t mean I have a cavity from eating sweets, but I’m going to cut back on snacks just in case. Then it will be fine.”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled silently at Soohyun’s breathless excuses.

“Cut back on snacks?”

“Yes.”

“Then ask for permission before you eat them from now on.”

“Uh…”

“You’ll get spanked if you eat them secretly.”

His laughter sounded almost irritable.