Salt Society Chapter 77

Kihyun remained frozen for a moment. It was because Cho Yeonoh’s eyes glinted with a light Kihyun could not identify. They held a dangerous spark, like when he was methodically trampling Cho Yeonsin, yet they also twinkled strangely, like someone harboring expectations.

Not knowing exactly what that look meant, Kihyun replied without smoothing the fine lines creasing his brow.

“Hey, don’t think such trashy thoughts. This happened after I broke up with you.”

Because it seemed Yeonoh thought he had converted into an Omega and conceived a child with someone else while they were still dating, Kihyun’s words did not come out kindly.

While he loved Cho Yeonoh, Kihyun had also given his absolute best to him. Even if he thought about escaping every minute and second, he had never once harbored a betrayal.

At those words, Cho Yeonoh’s face suddenly contorted. It was an expression that looked painful in some way.

“You, fuck, right now that kind of…”

Suppressing his words as if enduring something even worse, Cho Yeonoh stuck out his tongue and licked his lower lip once. Then, with eyes reddened by burst capillaries, he opened his mouth again.

“Who is the father of that thing in your stomach, So Kihyun.”

It was an impatient tone. Kihyun stopped breathing. Even though he knew it was a question that was bound to come up, the ripples caused by hearing the inquiry from the person himself were different. When Kihyun hesitated, Cho Yeonoh could not stand the gap and pressed him.

“And fuck, where did that bastard go that you were there all alone.”

That was something Kihyun had not expected to hear. Flustered, Kihyun could only stare blankly as Cho Yeonoh frowned like someone in pain, unable to do anything about the anger pooled in his eyes. He wondered if the fellow had moved past worrying about him and was now angry on behalf of Kihyun, whose lot in life had become that of a single father.

Judging by the way his pheromones were running wild, he seemed significantly worked up, but it wasn’t as violent as when he was trampling Cho Yeonsin and the junior. Seeing how he was suppressing something, it seemed he was either aware that this was a hospital or it was due to Kihyun’s physical condition. That was so much like the fellow’s usual way of treating him that a sigh escaped.

“…Is it Yang Jisu, that son of a bitch?”

“What?”

In the midst of that, he heard something bizarre. Cho Yeonoh, watching Kihyun’s expression contort in absurdity, gripped the frame of the emergency room bed Kihyun was lying on so hard it seemed the metal would bend, and then stood up from his seat.

“But why hasn’t that motherfucker even followed you to the hospital to check on you.”

Kihyun, barely catching the words muttered rapidly about killing him soon, sat halfway up in surprise.

“What are you talking about? It isn’t the Captain.”

“Then. That tennis—no, just tell me.”

Cho Yeonoh looked at Kihyun as if demanding he speak immediately, then turned his head away again. As if he couldn’t bear to face Kihyun. He looked distressed, as if enduring something. The veins on the back of his hand and his neck bulged out. When he turned his head, the carotid artery was pulsing so visibly it could be seen clearly.

Wondering how high his heart rate must have climbed for it to be so visible on the outside, Kihyun grabbed Cho Yeonoh’s wrist. Cho Yeonoh quietly lowered his head and looked down at the wrist held by Kihyun.

“Why the baby’s father.”

“…Why, the baby’s father?”

As if what he had been holding back all this time had suddenly burst, Cho Yeonoh’s voice was low and wretched. Kihyun hadn’t known because the fellow wasn’t looking at him, but his eyes were red as if they would burst. His face and neck were the same color without distinction. Kihyun caught himself flinching involuntarily.

“What kind of bastard did you do what with to show up pregnant. And after vanishing like you were running away in the middle of the night… What is that bastard doing right now that he isn’t here.”

Only then did Kihyun understand those words. It seemed Cho Yeonoh thought the reason he ran away was because of the child’s biological father. …It wasn’t exactly a lie. Kihyun was pregnant with Cho Yeonoh’s child, and he had run away in a hurry for fear of being caught by Cho Gyudeok.

So that was why he was angry… Even in this situation, Kihyun found Cho Yeonoh’s tear-jerking friendship both strange and bittersweet. It felt even more so because he felt disappointed without having expected anything.

In the meantime, Cho Yeonoh’s complexion changed, and he sat slightly on the edge of the bed. An untimely tenderness lingered in the eyes looking at him. At the sudden change in expression, Kihyun furrowed his brow involuntarily. Yeonoh spoke as if he were completely soothing Kihyun. It was strange how his voice had softened.

“Just tell me. We have to take measures, don’t we? From what I heard about your tests, your pheromone levels are weak too, hm?”

His voice was gentle. Kihyun was used to Cho Yeonoh acting like this toward him, but since he suspected an ulterior motive, he pulled his body halfway back. Yeonoh, approaching again as if that didn’t matter, stroked Kihyun’s cheek.

“Your face is swollen, too. So let’s find that bastard first. Tell me exactly who the hell he is.”

“…”

When Kihyun did not answer, Cho Yeonoh smirked and asked again.

“You don’t know? …Where did you meet him. A club?”

It was almost fascinating how Cho Yeonoh’s pheromones spiked heavily and then sank rapidly the moment he asked if it was a club, despite having been gentle just seconds ago.

Kihyun did not answer a single word. Aside from his attitude, the Cho Yeonoh whose eyes were glistening with unknowable things was unfamiliar. It was a light mixed with so many impurities that it was on a different level from when he was hitting Cho Yeonsin. After a brief hesitation, he answered.

“What are you going to do if you find out.”

“What am I going to do, fuck, ha…”

He repeated Kihyun’s words and then immediately spat out a curse. Kihyun involuntarily lowered his gaze slightly and stared at the veins rising on Cho Yeonoh’s neck. Even his bulging masseter muscle was completely at odds with his soft manner.

“I need to know so I can take measures. Kihyun, are you stupid? I’m asking why you are here all alone doing this, hm?”

It was the kind of voice used to soothe a child while thinking, “I’m angry at this child who did something wrong, but let’s check the facts first.”

Only then did Kihyun realize that Cho Yeonoh was treating him like a young single father who got pregnant without knowing anything. Kihyun, clicking his tongue in disbelief, showed his annoyance.

“It was done with consent, and I didn’t mind being pregnant. You know I like kids.”

“…What?”

At those words, Cho Yeonoh stopped dead. Like a human preserved in a state of shock, he froze just as he was, without even blinking. Kihyun, unable to understand, spoke again.

“I told you this happened after we broke up. …Even if it was on a whim, I don’t care. Rather—”

A hand reached out abruptly and suddenly muffled Kihyun’s mouth. Since he was also clutching the jaw, the cheek felt painful as if it would be crushed by the grip strength. Before he could even let out a muffled “Mmph,” he met eyes that were shining brilliantly in a bloodshot state. Cho Yeonoh spat out the words as if chewing them.

“How can you prattle on so proudly when you’ve come back carrying the child of some bastard you don’t even know. Are you an idiot?”

Kihyun’s brow furrowed automatically. Even though he grabbed Cho Yeonoh’s wrist with both hands to pull it away, it did not budge. His protesting words were nothing more than muffled groans.

“So you’re proud of getting pregnant as soon as you became an Omega? I didn’t know you would spread them so well, it’s a surprise, Kihyun.”

With bloodshot eyes, Cho Yeonoh cast aside the blanket covering Kihyun’s lower body and fumbled underneath. Surprised by the touch reaching his crotch, Kihyun resisted even more violently.

Even though it was an emergency room, the surroundings were noisy and because the curtains were drawn around the bed, it seemed no one came to check despite the rattling sounds. Kihyun found it strange that he had no strength. It felt as if Cho Yeonoh’s pheromones were slithering and squeezing Kihyun.

The hand of the Alpha, whose eyes still held an unknowable sign, touched Kihyun’s lower abdomen. With his palm pressed there, Kihyun shook his head in shock at the heavily rising pheromones. To Kihyun’s common sense as someone who had just recently converted traits, it felt as if something impossible was about to happen. A sharp intuition poked at the back of Kihyun’s head. He felt that if he stayed like this, it would be dangerous.

“…Why. Are you afraid I’ll kill your brat?”

Startled, Kihyun opened his eyes wide. His pupils seemed to tremble on their own. Even his resisting movements stopped. That was the heaviest fear Kihyun had experienced in his life. No, his muffled mouth twitched. Cho Yeonoh narrowed his eyes and watched Kihyun’s involuntary plea.

Letting out a hollow “Ha,” Cho Yeonoh removed his palm. Only then could Kihyun gasp for breath. His spine was clammy, soaked in sweat.

A cold voice fell upon the crown of Kihyun’s head.

“I told you to sleep only with the guys I set you up with. I told you to do it with Omegas. Why don’t you listen and go around spreading for just anyone. Did I have to take care of the order for opening your crotch too?”

He couldn’t listen to any more. Releasing the arm that had been trying to pull the wrist away, he swung and struck Cho Yeonoh’s cheek. A blunt “Thwack” echoed heavily. The fellow’s head snapped to the other side. Thanks to the fellow’s hand falling away from the recoil, Kihyun, who now had room to breathe, gasped for air.

“…”

“…”

Even while Kihyun was calming his ragged breathing, Cho Yeonoh’s gaze was still fixed on Kihyun. The glaring look felt indescribable.

Pheromones similar to what he felt from the palm touching his lower abdomen settled heavily on his shoulders. It was to the point where he thought that the person trying to kill him in a hospital that saves lives might be Cho Yeonoh.

“Ugh, ha…”

“…”