Flower Fiancé Chapter 44

“Yes, we have it. What style would you like?”

[You have ranunculus? Oh, what a relief. I’ve called three flower shops already, and they all said they didn’t have any.]

At the relieved voice of the customer from the other side of the phone, strangely, Ji Yeonwoo felt his own mood soften as well.

“Recently, more people have been looking for ranunculus, so I brought some in. What’s the bouquet for?”

[It’s for a friend’s birthday—I want to give it along with a gift. My friend really likes ranunculus.]

“Is it for a woman?”

[Yes.]

Ji Yeonwoo rose from his seat, looked at the light pink ranunculus in the flower showcase, and continued speaking. The light pink ranunculus was also a flower he’d managed to bring in with difficulty, having asked the flower farm owner for it along with pink calla lilies.

“Hmm, since you said it’s a birthday bouquet for your friend, I think it would be pretty if I made it simple with five light pink ranunculus and added accents with some subtle flowers. How does that sound?”

[Yes, please do that.]

“Could you tell me what time you’ll be coming tomorrow? I’ll have it prepared in advance. I apologize, but due to the nature of the work, I don’t make it ahead of time—I prepare the materials and make it right in front of you when you arrive.”

[Then I’ll come pick it up around 1 PM.]

“Alright. Then I’ll see you at 1 o’clock.”

Ji Yeonwoo finished the call with a polite goodbye and let out a small breath as he looked at the disconnected phone. It was good that while talking about flowers, not a single complicated thought crossed his mind, but it bothered him that a single unfamiliar call had made him feel so uneasy.

He’d thought he was getting better, but he realized just how great an impact one phone call from Lee Hyunjoon had caused.

Above all, the only one who could calm this anxiety was Choi Moohyuk, but still, no reply was coming from him.

∞ ∞ ∞

Ji Yeonwoo opened the door and entered a meat restaurant near Seoul. Seo Eungyeom, who had already taken a seat and was eating inside, spotted Ji Yeonwoo entering and waved happily. Next to Seo Eungyeom sat his uncle, Yoo Seonho.

“You found your way here okay? I was worried you might get lost.”

Seo Eungyeom joked as soon as he saw Ji Yeonwoo. There were already two empty soju bottles in front of Seo Eungyeom.

“I’m not bad with directions, you know?”

Ji Yeonwoo took off his outerwear and hung it on the chair, joking back as he greeted Seo Eungyeom, then looked at Yoo Seonho sitting beside him.

“Thank you for always looking out for me, Mister.”

“Don’t mention it. But make sure you eat dinner while you work. Doesn’t your partner say anything?”

Yoo Seonho placed a few pieces of perfectly grilled meat on the small plate in front of Ji Yeonwoo as he spoke. Partner? Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes went wide as he looked at Seo Eungyeom.

“I told him. That you’ve got a partner now.”

“Hey, you…”

As Ji Yeonwoo shot him a look asking why he’d already said it, Seo Eungyeom looked at Yoo Seonho, who was grilling meat in his suit, and asked for help.

“Good news should be shared, right? Right? Am I right?”

Yoo Seonho looked at Seo Eungyeom with an expression that wasn’t quite annoyed and pinched his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

“No matter what, you can’t just go around saying things without getting permission from the person involved. That’s your mistake.”

At Yoo Seonho’s firm words, Seo Eungyeom pouted his lips. Watching the two of them alternately, Ji Yeonwoo let out a snicker.

Just as he was about to finish up at the shop, Ji Yeonwoo received a call from Seo Eungyeom. After some casual conversation, when Seo Eungyeom heard that Ji Yeonwoo hadn’t eaten dinner yet, his uncle Yoo Seonho suggested he come over and eat together. Coincidentally, Seo Eungyeom and Yoo Seonho were also having a late dinner.

He normally wouldn’t have intruded on a couple’s date, but it felt awkward to refuse since they always looked out for him, and with so many things on his mind today, he’d come straight here right after closing the shop.

“You must be hungry—hurry up and eat.”

“Okay.”

Ji Yeonwoo placed meat on a lettuce leaf, wrapped it up, and put it in his mouth. Watching Ji Yeonwoo chew with his cheeks puffed out, Yoo Seonho placed a few more pieces of the grilled meat onto Ji Yeonwoo’s plate.

“How have you been lately? Any new symptoms?”

At the gentle inquiry, Ji Yeonwoo, who had just put meat in his mouth, slowly stopped chewing. Like a doctor, Yoo Seonho was more concerned than anyone about Ji Yeonwoo’s pheromone deficiency. Of course, his field was different, but he was also looking through papers and attending various seminars to find ways to treat Ji Yeonwoo’s pheromone deficiency.

“No symptoms still. I guess I just have to live like this.”

Ji Yeonwoo smiled bitterly and looked at Seo Eungyeom and Yoo Seonho sitting across from him. Perhaps because Ji Yeonwoo’s expression didn’t look good, they didn’t add anything more.

“We haven’t seen each other in a while—why is the mood so down? Come on, let’s have a drink.”

Unable to bear the heavy, damp atmosphere like rainy season weather, Seo Eungyeom filled a glass and raised it. Watching Seo Eungyeom, Ji Yeonwoo laughed as if he couldn’t help it and clinked glasses.

After emptying his glass, Seo Eungyeom’s gaze turned to Ji Yeonwoo’s phone, which was lying on the table.

“Huh? Yeonwoo, what happened to your phone?”

Hearing the question filled with bewilderment, Ji Yeonwoo absentmindedly turned his eyes to the phone. Only then did he see the terribly cracked phone.

“Ah, this…”

Ji Yeonwoo hesitated, reluctant to speak. He didn’t want to mention that Lee Hyunjoon had called. It would have been fine with Seo Eungyeom, since they shared even trivial things without reservation, but he didn’t want to air his dirty laundry in front of his uncle.

“I just dropped it.”

“No, how did you drop it to end up like that? Did it fall on a corner?”

“Mm-hmm. Something like that.”

Seo Eungyeom asked again as if he couldn’t understand, and Ji Yeonwoo smiled awkwardly and brought his glass to his lips.

How much time had passed like that?

Ji Yeonwoo’s phone on the table vibrated. Picking up the phone absently while continuing the conversation, Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes went wide.

It was a call from Choi Moohyuk.

Overjoyed, Ji Yeonwoo didn’t even think about stepping away and answered right there.

“Hello? Managing Director.”

[…You called earlier.]

Choi Moohyuk’s voice from the other side of the phone was very low. He sounded tired, and he didn’t sound like he was in a good mood either. Ji Yeonwoo sensed that but didn’t bring it up.

“Yes, I did call. A full eight hours ago, in fact.”

In a slightly sulky tone, Ji Yeonwoo expressed that he’d been waiting all day for Choi Moohyuk’s contact. It wasn’t a tone he would have used normally, but alcohol made people more honest.

Perhaps sensing that something was different, there was a brief silence from the other side of the phone. The faint sound of traffic suggested he was outside.

[There were some matters to attend to.]

With a faint sigh, the end of Choi Moohyuk’s voice cracked. Ji Yeonwoo, about to say something, paused and glanced at the phone. Choi Moohyuk’s voice sounded a little strange.

[When I’m at the main house, it’s difficult to answer calls due to circumstances.]

He’d gone to the main house? Come to think of it, he didn’t remember ever hearing Choi Moohyuk bring up the main house. Only then did Ji Yeonwoo realize that something had really happened to Choi Moohyuk. And he regretted having spoken so sulkily just a moment ago.

[Have you eaten dinner?]

“I’m eating right now. Eungyeom’s uncle offered to buy me a meal.”

Ji Yeonwoo switched the phone to his other ear and met eyes with Yoo Seonho sitting across from him. In that instant, a cold feeling accompanied by silence came from the other side of the phone.

“Managing Director?”

Just then, Choi Moohyuk’s low voice came through the phone.

[I believe I told you not to meet other alphas when I’m not around. Did you forget that already?]

Flustered, Ji Yeonwoo clutched the phone with both hands and hurriedly made an excuse.

“Ah, that’s… I’m not alone—I’m with Eungyeom. He invited me because he knew I hadn’t eaten dinner yet.”

A faint sigh came from the other side of the phone. It sounded like he was forcing himself to calm down.

[I know what you mean. But… Hah. Where is that place?]

At Choi Moohyuk’s following voice, Ji Yeonwoo obediently told him where he was.

After the call ended, Seo Eungyeom, sensing something was off, grabbed Ji Yeonwoo’s arm and asked.

“He’s coming here now?”