Correction Chapter 77

While Youngmin was inside for the test, Jungmin sat in the hallway with Shinwoo, anxiously awaiting the results. He could especially feel Shinwoo’s hands trembling, so Jungmin tried his best to calm him down by making idle chatter.

“How are Youngmin’s kids?”

The man who had only been responding passively until a moment ago now asked a question. Even that was related to Youngmin.

“Their dad is raising them now. I hear he sees them once a month…. It doesn’t seem like Youngmin has any lingering attachment to the kids.”

“Why? He wanted them… so badly.”

“Well…. I don’t know either. But he seemed to be struggling a lot. I guess it wasn’t as easy as he thought once he actually had them.”

“I see.”

In a way, it was all for nothing. He had broken off his engagement with Yoo Shinwoo because he wanted children.

“Why don’t you go have a meal?”

Kim Joohwan, who had been away for a moment, approached with a few researchers. The time was already nearing lunch. It had been over an hour since Youngmin went in.

“What kind of test takes this long?”

“It’s a detailed diagnosis. We have to examine it meticulously at the nano-level. Especially since Yoo Shinwoo sunbae’s life is on the line.”

That was true, but…. Since it was taking several times longer than a typical pheromone matching, he grew more anxious, and only negative thoughts came to mind.

“Jungmin, I’m fine, so go eat.”

“No, I’m not that hungry. Ah, but I would like some coffee. I’ll go get some. Do you want any, hyung?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

Remembering there was a café on the first floor of the research lab, he got on the elevator. And Kim Joohwan got on with him.

“What? You.”

“I wanted some coffee too. Shall I buy you some too, sunbae?”

Hah, I should have just sent this bastard…. Jungmin sighed and stared only at the elevator’s display panel. It was already going down, too late to get off.

“Sunbae, would you like to take a pheromone matching test too?”

“What? Why would I? I’m an alpha.”

“Even an alpha could be a match, right? Of course, the probability is 0.0001%.”

“You mean it’s practically zero.”

“It means a miracle could happen.”

“There are no miracles in this world.”

“You’re so cold for a doctor.”

“It’s because I’m a doctor that I know better that there are no miracles.”

Because you can never treat a patient by relying on miracles.

The elevator arrived on the first floor, and he walked straight to the coffee shop in front of him. Since Kim Joohwan said he would buy, Jungmin didn’t stop him and just stood back a step, waiting for him to order. Soon, he handed Jungmin an iced vanilla latte. Wait, did I tell him my order?

“When you’re deep in thought, sunbae, this is all you drink. Am I wrong?”

“…Right, thanks.”

He’s a truly frightening guy. No, should I say he’s very observant? A guy like this should be a doctor. No. It’s a good thing a guy like this didn’t aspire to be a doctor. What did the patients who would be treated under him do to deserve that?

“Anyway, if you feel like it later, get tested. I’ll put in a word for you. The test fee is expensive, but since you’re my sunbae, I’ll make sure you can get it for free.”

“Haah… yeah, yeah. Thank you so much.”

What good would that test do? If Youngmin’s pheromone match comes out high today, his own pheromones would be utterly useless.

Jungmin’s hand holding the coffee cup tightened. As the elevator went back up and reached its destination, he swallowed hard involuntarily.

Had the results come out? They have to be good…. Please, I don’t care if it’s Youngmin, just let Shinwoo hyung be saved, he thought. Yes…. Although he was desperately wishing for only that, why did a corner of his heart feel so dark? At this rate, wasn’t he the one who was unqualified to be a doctor? Jungmin shook his head and got out of the elevator.

“Ah, there they are.”

A group of lab staff were gathered. In the middle of them, he could see Shinwoo hyung clutching his head, his face buried low.

Did something happen? Jungmin’s heart pounded with anxiety, and his hand lost its strength. Thanks to that, he dropped the coffee he was holding. Paying no mind to the coffee he hadn’t even had a sip of tumbling onto the floor, Jungmin ran to Shinwoo.

“What’s wrong? Shinwoo hyung, are you okay?”

As Jungmin knelt in front of Shinwoo, he slowly raised his head. His face was completely flushed.

“Jungmin…”

“Yeah, hyung. I’m here. Are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere?”

“No, it’s not that. Youngmin… Youngmin….”

“What about Youngmin?”

“They said my matching rate with him is high. 94%.”

Why do my uneasy feelings never miss the mark? Even though it was news he should be happy about, the word “congratulations” didn’t come out right away. Instead, Jungmin hugged Shinwoo.

“Thank goodness. Thank goodness, hyung.”

Shinwoo also hugged Jungmin back and shed tears. As expected, Shinwoo and he could never be together. When God had already decided on a partner for him like this, how could he have dared to make things difficult for him? Jungmin blamed and reflected on himself.

“Then where is Shin Youngmin now?”

Kim Joohwan asked the lab staff.

“Ah, yes. Director. Mr. Shin Youngmin has finished his tests and is now receiving an explanation about the future procedures. I think it would be best to go now. There are things his family should hear as well, and we need to do one more matching test with Mr. Yoo Shinwoo.”

“Did you hear that? Sunbaes.”

Kim Joohwan approached and placed a hand on the shoulder of Jungmin, who was still hugging Shinwoo.

“Let’s get a move on. It’s not too late for a celebratory hug then.”

“Ah, okay.”

Jungmin nodded and helped Shinwoo to his feet.

“Youngmin… Youngmin….”

Shinwoo kept calling Youngmin’s name, as if he couldn’t believe it. Looking at Shinwoo like that, Jungmin smiled.

‘Yes… thank goodness. Thank goodness, hyung…. That at least you can be happy. I hope only happiness fills your days from now on. Please.’

✽✽✽

They arrived at the place where Youngmin was. But the atmosphere was strange. The lab staff and doctors who were talking with Youngmin were sighing, and Youngmin’s expression was indifferent.

“Is something wrong?”

The researcher who had just led Shinwoo’s group over with hope asked, bewildered. Youngmin looked toward the door and waved.

“Shinwoo hyung! Did you hear? They said my match with you is 94%! They said it could get even higher with more detailed tests.”

As Youngmin spoke with a bright smile, Shinwoo also felt a sense of relief. His worry about what he would do if Youngmin was against it was proven baseless by how happy Youngmin looked. But Jungmin felt something was off. It was because the faces of the lab staff were not good at all.

“A problem has arisen.”

The researcher who had come in with them also seemed to have heard something, and with a darkened face, he approached Kim Joohwan and whispered to him. The expression on Kim Joohwan’s face vanished as well.

Soon, Shinwoo, who read the atmosphere, was also hesitant to approach Youngmin. Jungmin was getting frustrated. What on earth is going on? Shin Youngmin must have done something.

“Shin Youngmin, what’s going on?”

Unable to hold back any longer, Jungmin went up to him and asked. Youngmin was still all smiles.

“What is?”

“No, what did you hear? And what did you say in response?”

“What story? Ah, right. They said I have to imprint with Shinwoo hyung.”

“And?”

“I said I can’t.”

Youngmin’s reply was so casual, as if it were nothing, for a moment making the surroundings feel refreshingly bright, but the content of that reply was by no means light.

Jungmin couldn’t bring himself to look back. He just clenched his fists tightly and calmly asked Youngmin again.

“You said… you can’t imprint?”

“Yeah.”

“Didn’t you hear the explanation that you have to imprint? Didn’t Kim Joohwan tell you?”

“He did. But honestly, I didn’t know the match would come out this high either, it’s pretty amazing. There was a reason Shinwoo hyung and I got along so well, after all.”

“Then…. Then couldn’t you at least think about it?”

“No way~ Phew… actually, I’m dating an alpha right now. I’m thinking about marrying him…. We decided to imprint during my next heat cycle. I’m going to tell my mom before then and have him meet her.”

“What?”

“Why, the alpha I went to Europe with this time. He turned out to be a better guy than I thought. So my heart just went to him, you know~ Haha.”

The current situation was so horrible that Jungmin wanted to disappear from this spot immediately. He barely held back the urge to beat up this immature younger brother of his.

“So, Shinwoo hyung! I’m sorry. I don’t think I can imprint with you. I’m sure someone better than me will come along. I wanted to help but I couldn’t, so I’m disappointed too…. I’m really sorry.”

Jungmin clenched his teeth and slowly turned around. Shinwoo, with empty eyes, laughed hollowly.

“Right. This is who you were.”

Speaking so weakly, he turned and trudged out of the room. Jungmin couldn’t bring himself to follow him. What right did he have to follow him?