FF Chapter 34

The enraged Lee Hyunjun raised his bloodied hand towards Ji Yeonwoo, who tightly shut his eyes, bracing for the hit.

Then it happened.

Bang!

With an immense crash, the front door shook violently. It sounded like someone had kicked it hard.

Hearing the sound of what seemed like the door breaking, Lee Hyunjun stopped and turned to look at it.

“Who the hell…!”

“Open the door.”

“…!”

A deeply restrained male voice filtered into the house.

“Before I break it down.”

Ji Yeonwoo knew that voice better than anyone. It was unmistakably Choi Muhyeok’s voice.

The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Ji Yeonwoo, locking eyes with Lee Hyunjun, quickly glanced towards the door. ‘M-Muhyeok?’ Ji Yeonwoo muttered, and Lee Hyunjun’s face twisted at the sound of that name.

“What? Choi Muhyeok?”

Lee Hyunjun staggered back in confusion.

It was just after 8:30 PM. How could someone who was supposed to be elsewhere… be here?

“If you open that door, I’ll kill you myself.”

While he hesitated, another loud bang hit the door, accompanied by a growling voice. It sounded like his anger had reached its limit.

“How…?”

Lee Hyunjun muttered, as if denying reality.

“No, no way. He should be at the hotel by now… How did he get in? There’s no way the guys outside would just let him…!”

Gripped by doubts and anxiety, Lee Hyunjun quickly pulled out his phone. After a few rings, someone answered, but all he could hear through the phone were painful groans. No proper words.

In fact, outside the apartment, Jung Doowon and several other bodyguards were stationed. Although it was known that Choi Muhyeok wouldn’t be able to come due to personal business, they were on guard just in case of an ambush. However, the fact that none of them answered properly meant that Choi Muhyeok had already dealt with all of them and made his way up. As he stood there in disbelief, Lee Hyunjun let out a stunned sigh.

“Damn useless idiots… Can’t even stop one thug… Haah.”

Unable to understand the situation, he cursed under his breath. Frustrated, he pounded the wall in a fit of anger as everything spiraled out of control.

The tables had turned. The question had been how to get Ji Yeonwoo out, but now it was how to escape himself.

He was trapped. There was no way Choi Muhyeok, waiting outside, would let him go. And opening the door would only mean a punch in the face.

Nervously hesitating, Lee Hyunjun’s gaze fell on Ji Yeonwoo. With his mental state shattered, Ji Yeonwoo was sitting on the floor, tears welling up in his eyes. Seeing this, an idea seemed to flash in Lee Hyunjun’s mind, and his expression suddenly shifted.

“You, come here.”

“…!”

When Lee Hyunjun grabbed him, Ji Yeonwoo instinctively shook his arm and kicked in resistance. But the more he resisted, the tighter Lee Hyunjun gripped his arm.

Like using a shield, Lee Hyunjun positioned Ji Yeonwoo in front of him, binding his arms so he couldn’t move. Ji Yeonwoo twisted his body, trying to escape, but Lee Hyunjun grabbed his chin, forcing him to face him.

“Stay still. Unless you want your boyfriend to see you suffer.”

Hearing the sickening whisper, Ji Yeonwoo glared at him. Smirking, Lee Hyunjun reached out and unlocked the door.

Beep beep. As soon as the lock disengaged, the door swung open.

“…!”

Choi Muhyeok, with his fist clenched, stepped in but immediately stopped when he saw Ji Yeonwoo standing right in front of him.

Ji Yeonwoo looked as if he was about to collapse at any moment. Seeing him like that made Choi Muhyeok pause. Seizing the moment, Lee Hyunjun shoved Ji Yeonwoo towards Choi Muhyeok.

As Ji Yeonwoo stumbled forward, Choi Muhyeok, startled, bent down to catch him. With his stance now unsteady, Lee Hyunjun, who had been waiting for this, made a dash to escape.

But Choi Muhyeok wasn’t someone to just let that slide. He quickly regained his balance while holding Ji Yeonwoo, and as soon as he spotted Lee Hyunjun trying to flee through the half-open door, he reached out and grabbed him by the back of his neck.

“Ugh!”

Caught off guard by the pull from behind, Lee Hyunjun lost his balance and staggered. Without hesitation, Choi Muhyeok dragged him back inside and threw him to the floor. Though not a small man himself, Lee Hyunjun was tossed around like a rag doll, tumbling across the floor.

“Agh! Ow… damn it…”

Crashing into the edge of the shoe rack, Lee Hyunjun rolled on the floor, clutching his waist in pain. As he writhed in agony, he froze when he saw a pair of shoes approaching.

His gaze trailed up from the black shoes, along the long legs, until his eyes met Choi Muhyeok’s.

“No, wait, that’s not…”

Choi Muhyeok’s knuckles were already bloodied, as if he’d been in several fights.

“W-wait…!”

Before Lee Hyunjun could finish his plea, a fist flew at his face. With a loud thud, his head snapped to the side, and as he started to fall, Choi Muhyeok grabbed him by the collar and unleashed punch after punch without pause.

“Ji Yeonwoo, I told you I wouldn’t let it go if you were touched.”

Thud, thud. The dull, heavy sounds echoed through the house.

Though Lee Hyunjun’s face was battered, blood pooling at his mouth, Choi Muhyeok didn’t stop.

Ji Yeonwoo stood near the entrance, his eyes shaking as he watched. If he left it alone, Lee Hyunjun might not survive. As much as he deserved what was happening, Yeonwoo didn’t want to see him die at Choi Muhyeok’s hands.

Just as Ji Yeonwoo hesitated, wondering if he should intervene, dizziness overwhelmed him. His legs wobbled, and he grabbed the shoe cabinet for support. Nausea churned within him. He hadn’t eaten much, but his stomach was turning as if he might throw up.

“You son of a bitch, hooking up with an omega and acting tough…”

Ji Yeonwoo lifted his head at the sound of Lee Hyunjun’s voice.

“What did you just say?”

Choi Muhyeok froze, his fist raised midair. Lee Hyunjun, blood spilling from his mouth, sneered mockingly.

“You should deal with the omega pheromones stuck all over your body first. It’s disgusting.”

Choi Muhyeok gripped Lee Hyunjun’s collar even tighter, glaring at him. Lee Hyunjun took a few labored breaths, blood oozing out, and spat on the floor.

“I told him everything. Figured you wouldn’t.”

“What are you scheming now?”

“Don’t play dumb. You were out seeing someone else behind his back.”

“What?”

For a brief moment, Choi Muhyeok’s eyes wavered. Noticing the change, Lee Hyunjun smirked.

“Who’s the one scheming? I told him everything. Where you went, who you were with.”

As Lee Hyunjun distracted him, his hand grasped at some dirt on the ground, from a potted plant that had broken during the fight earlier.

“At least you’re not denying it, huh?”

“You—”

Choi Muhyeok raised his fist, tightening his grip on Lee Hyunjun’s collar.

“You think Ji Yeonwoo won’t be shaken? He looked pretty rattled earlier.”

“……!”

Before Choi Muhyeok could react, Lee Hyunjun flung the handful of dirt into his face. Surprised, Muhyeok raised his arm to shield himself, but it was too late.

Lee Hyunjun shoved him hard and darted for the door. The sound of his footsteps echoed faintly down the hall as the door slowly closed behind him.

“Argh!”

Choi Muhyeok, his eyes stinging from the dirt, turned toward the door. His bloodshot eyes glared with rage as he flung the door open.

He wasn’t ready to let it go. He knew Lee Hyunjun was capable of vile acts, but to stoop to this level…

Just as he was about to charge out and chase after him, a sound stopped him. The sound of dry heaving came from behind the closed bathroom door.

Realizing Ji Yeonwoo was no longer in his sight, Choi Muhyeok’s anger subsided, replaced with concern.

He listened to the persistent retching sounds and felt something was wrong. Abandoning the chase, he stepped back inside the apartment.

He flicked on the living room lights, revealing the chaos around him. The place was a mess. Broken plant pots, scattered dirt, signs of a struggle everywhere. His frown deepened.

The bathroom door creaked open, and Choi Muhyeok turned quickly. Ji Yeonwoo emerged, wiping his mouth with a dry towel, walking unsteadily.

Muhyeok hurried to his side.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice urgent.

Ji Yeonwoo, still covering his mouth with the towel, shook his head.

“It’s nothing serious. Just feeling a bit nauseous.”

“It might be the stress.”

“…….”

“Where’s your phone? I kept calling you, but you weren’t answering…”

“I don’t know. Lee Hyunjun threw it somewhere.”

Ji Yeonwoo, after wiping the moisture from his face and lips, let the towel fall. In the bright light, Choi Muhyeok’s expression darkened.

“What happened to your face?”

Muhyeok grabbed Yeonwoo’s shoulders, bringing his face closer. One of his once flawless cheeks was red and swollen, with a dried cut forming on the edge of his lip. It was clear someone had struck him.

“What is this? Did that bastard Lee Hyunjun hit you? Is that what happened?”

Alarmed by the sight of Ji Yeonwoo’s injuries, Muhyeok reached out but hesitated, unable to touch the bruises. As he stood there, unsure of what to do, Ji Yeonwoo moved closer, resting his undamaged cheek against Muhyeok’s shoulder.

“It hurts a bit, but I’m fine. You already made him pay for it.”

Choi Muhyeok wrapped his arms around Ji Yeonwoo, pulling him in tightly.

“How can you say that? Your face is a mess, how can you say you’re fine?”

His words were laced with frustration, anger, and tenderness all at once. His large hand ran over Yeonwoo’s back, alternating between soothing strokes and tight embraces. Ji Yeonwoo felt the warmth and slowly pushed away.

“I want to leave here.”

“Yeah. Let’s go to the hospital first…”

“No. Anywhere is fine. Let’s just go out and talk.”

Interrupting Choi Muhyeok, which was unlike him, Ji Yeonwoo continued calmly.

“You have something to say to me, don’t you?”

His voice clearly showed signs of exhaustion and struggle. He had no energy left, but his gaze remained sharp.

In truth, he wanted to hold on to him and beg right away. He desperately wanted to ask if everything Lee Hyunjun had said was true. If only he could sense his pheromones now, he would know if Lee Hyunjun was just trying to sow discord between them or if Choi Muhyeok really carried the scent of a strange omega. Not being able to figure it out on his own made him all the more frustrated and anxious.

“Let’s go to the hospital first. Get checked to see if there’s anything else wrong. Then, I’ll tell you everything.”

Grinding his teeth so hard his jaw muscles stood out, Choi Muhyeok spoke, and as soon as he finished, he slipped an arm under Ji Yeonwoo’s neck and knees, lifting him up effortlessly.

As Ji Yeonwoo felt his body leave the ground, he instinctively grabbed onto Choi Muhyeok, his expression showing his surprise.

“Wait, put me down. I’m not hurt that badly. I can walk on my own.”

But Choi Muhyeok, without even making eye contact, walked straight toward the door.

“I’m the one who’s not okay.”

“……”

“So just stay still.”

With stubborn silence, Choi Muhyeok walked out of the house. There wasn’t the slightest hint of struggle or strain.

He stopped in front of the elevator, and the reflection of both Choi Muhyeok and Ji Yeonwoo appeared in the silver doors.

At some point, Ji Yeonwoo’s tear-filled eyes had been unable to look away from Choi Muhyeok.

˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

His parched lips barely opened. With a small sigh, his eyelids flickered. The blurry view gradually cleared, and finally, what came into focus was a stark white ceiling.

Small lights, evenly spaced, matched the white background, and a central system air conditioner was installed above. It looked similar to what he had seen in Choi Muhyeok’s home, but the surrounding decor was different.

Wooden walls, a large window letting in plenty of sunlight, and the soft, rhythmic beeping of a machine irritated his ears.

As he blinked slowly, Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze settled on something. He saw a hanging IV bag and the line running from it. His eyes followed the IV line down to his hand, which felt oddly uncomfortable. Lifting his hand, he saw it covered in bandages with the IV line connected to it.

“Ah…”

A faint sigh escaped his dry lips. Only then did he realize he was in a hospital. The luxurious surroundings made it hard to tell at first whether it was a home or something else, but the IV bag made it clear. Now that he thought about it, the setup looked like something he had seen in a drama—a VIP suite in a large hospital.

“… So, you’ll need a more detailed examination.”

“How unstable is it?”

“If this much was found in just the basic blood test, you should come back soon for a more thorough checkup. Please contact us anytime if you’d like to make a reservation.”

As his mind became clearer, the previously faint voices grew more distinct. A middle-aged doctor, surrounded by a group of nurses and doctors, was talking to a man. The man’s back looked very familiar.

He was wearing a beige knit sweater and black pants, but his broad chest, which stretched even the loose knit, and his narrow hips revealed a sturdy physique.

“There are no additional injuries, and all minor bruises have been treated. Once he wakes up…”

As Ji Yeonwoo slowly blinked and looked in their direction, his eyes met the doctor’s. The doctor, who had been speaking calmly, was briefly startled, but then his expression softened into a kind smile.

Seeing the doctor’s reaction, the man standing next to him turned around. It was Choi Muhyeok.

“Mr. Yeonwoo.”

As soon as Choi Muhyeok saw Ji Yeonwoo awake, his expression froze. His face showed a mix of surprise, relief, and other conflicting emotions.

“Are you conscious?”

As he approached the bed, the middle-aged doctor and the medical staff standing behind him all moved closer at once. The sudden rush of people into his view made Ji Yeonwoo’s head spin. He grimaced, closing his eyes and opening them repeatedly, when a familiar warmth and touch enveloped his hand.

“What’s wrong? Where do you feel unwell?”

Choi Muhyeok, holding Ji Yeonwoo’s hand, asked with a voice full of concern.

“No, it’s just… How did this happen?”

After speaking, Ji Yeonwoo noticed the middle-aged doctor’s coat, which had “Hospital Director” embroidered on the left side of the chest.

“This is Seonu General Hospital. It’s run by the Seonu Foundation, and I’m also the family doctor for Director Choi’s family. The director brought you to the emergency room, and you lost consciousness during the examination. Do you not remember?”

As the hospital director calmly explained, Ji Yeonwoo recalled Choi Muhyeok speeding through traffic with him in the passenger seat. He vaguely remembered Choi Muhyeok talking to someone on the phone while driving. But after arriving at the hospital, his memories were hazy.

‘I knew things were bad… but I didn’t realize I had fainted.’