FF chapter 18

“How do you plan to confirm it?”

“You just need to answer my questions. I don’t think that will be too difficult.”

Choi Muhyeok opened his eyes a bit wider as if seeking agreement.

“I don’t need vague answers. Yes or no will suffice.”

It sounded simple enough. But was that really all there was to it? Ji Yeonwoo, wearing a tense expression, nodded hesitantly.

Choi Muhyeok let out a long breath before speaking again.

“There are only three things I’m curious about right now.”

The tension in Ji Yeonwoo’s face grew as he waited for what would come next.

“First…”

Ji Yeonwoo swallowed nervously, the dry gulp audible as he waited. Choi Muhyeok, who had been staring straight at him, finally spoke.

“Is the person who made you lose your pheromones the same person who gave you the chrysanthemums?”

Ji Yeonwoo’s shoulders jerked involuntarily at the unexpected first question. It was completely off from what he anticipated. He had no idea what the next question would be.

“…Yes. It’s the same person. But…”

He hurried to add something in his anxious state, but—

“I’m not done asking my questions.”

Choi Muhyeok’s eyes lowered lazily as his voice deepened. The intensity of his tone made Ji Yeonwoo quickly clamp his mouth shut.

Choi Muhyeok, deep in thought while staring somewhere at the table, suddenly lifted his gaze.

“Second, after losing your pheromones, you were divorced by that person. Is that correct?”

As soon as Ji Yeonwoo heard the second question, his already pale face became even whiter.

How much does he know?

“M-Managing Director…”

Ji Yeonwoo called out to him in a trembling voice.

Choi Muhyeok, who had been rhythmically tapping the table with his finger, paused and clenched his fist tightly.

“Is that bastard Hyunjun from JT Trading?”

❀ ⋆｡˚

Ji Yeonwoo’s lips quivered, but he couldn’t say a word. Although he hadn’t directly answered the last two questions, his shaking eyes and ghostly pale face said enough.

“M-Ma, Managing Director… how did you…?”

A small, weak voice finally escaped from his lips.

When did he find out?

It became clear to Ji Yeonwoo that Choi Muhyeok was someone with sharp instincts who had pieced together various facts with keen judgment. But this went beyond mere perception. There was no way he could have deduced the divorce and Hyunjun’s involvement with the information he had.

And Ji Yeonwoo certainly hadn’t mentioned Hyunjun before…!

While lost in thought, Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes widened in realization.

‘Are you still in contact with the person who gave you those chrysanthemums?’

‘Of course not. I don’t even know where they are or how to reach them.’

He remembered the brief conversation they had when Choi Muhyeok first visited his home. Back then, it hadn’t seemed significant, but now it felt different.

So he had known all along but pretended not to?

Ji Yeonwoo quickly suppressed that thought. No, that couldn’t be right. At least the Choi Muhyeok he knew was direct and honest. If he had known from the beginning, he wouldn’t have hidden it.

“You look like you need an explanation.”

“I know it’s shameless to ask, but… could you tell me how you found out?”

Choi Muhyeok answered without hesitation.

“I overheard it at a public event. Completely by chance.”

“A public event?”

Ji Yeonwoo repeated in confusion.

“It seems Hyunjun doesn’t have a great reputation. You’d think people would be happy to see him back from the U.S., but instead, they were talking about him quite bluntly.”

Ji Yeonwoo still looked puzzled.

“They probably didn’t know I was just around the corner. If they’d known I was involved with you, they wouldn’t have been so candid.”

“……”

“Maybe the fact that I overheard it was a sign that our paths were meant to cross, not just as a fleeting connection.”

Choi Muhyeok’s voice grew thoughtful as he spoke, his eyes lifting to meet Ji Yeonwoo’s.

“Do you need further explanation?”

“No. No, that’s enough.”

Startled, Ji Yeonwoo quickly raised his voice. What more explanation could he need? Choi Muhyeok had already shown through his words and actions that he bore no ill intentions. If he had planned to use the information against him, he wouldn’t have invited him out to the parking lot for a private conversation, nor looked at him with such gentle eyes.

“The things you asked about earlier—everything you guessed was true.”

Ji Yeonwoo answered with a trembling voice.

“Then what happened today?”

“It wasn’t anything serious. He called me… I blocked his number long ago, but I didn’t expect him to use a different one.”

Choi Muhyeok, seated across from him, remained focused, urging him to continue with his gaze.

“I was… a bit shocked. Even though you can’t help overhearing news you don’t want to hear, I never thought he would change his number just to call me.”

“You said he hadn’t been in contact for a while.”

“Yes, there hasn’t been.”

“Then why did he suddenly call?”

“I don’t know either. As soon as I recognized his voice, I dropped my phone, so I couldn’t even have a proper conversation.”

“What did he say?”

“He told me that if I didn’t want to see him, I should pick up the phone.”

“What a bastard.”

Choi Muhyeok, listening to Ji Yeonwoo’s words, let out a deep breath in a low voice. His sudden curse startled Ji Yeonwoo, and his eyes widened in surprise.

“So what did you do?”

“I blocked the new number for now.”

Choi Muhyeok nodded in approval, but his stern expression didn’t soften. He furrowed his brows deeply and stretched his neck from side to side, bones cracking audibly.

Although he tried to hide it, Choi Muhyeok was visibly furious. The atmosphere made it seem like he could tear Hyunjun apart at any moment. Ji Yeonwoo began to worry that something might happen. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of him, especially not Choi Muhyeok. Just as he was pondering what to do—

“Do you remember what I said?”

What Managing Director said? Ji Yeonwoo’s mind, blank from the sudden question, was quickly filled with one particular memory. He had once said he could gouge out his eyes, break the wrist that gave him the chrysanthemums, or cripple him so he could never walk again. Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes darted toward Choi Muhyeok.

“What do you want me to do?”

Ji Yeonwoo, caught off guard and hesitant, looked up in surprise.

“Tell me. I’ll do as you say.”

“…….”

“I’d rather you not avoid the question.”

Choi Muhyeok’s additional words carried a warning, and Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes wavered, unable to focus.

He had thought of those words as a joke back then, but now it was clear. Choi Muhyeok was serious, and he was the kind of person who could follow through on his words.

Ji Yeonwoo knew Hyunjun better than anyone. He was someone who easily gained interest and just as easily lost it. It had puzzled people around him that Hyunjun kept Ji Yeonwoo by his side for four years. Whether it was due to losing his pheromones or some other reason, Hyunjun had let him go largely because he had lost interest.

Even now, Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t figure out Hyunjun’s reason for calling. But if he continued to ignore him, wouldn’t Hyunjun eventually lose interest again? If avoiding him could resolve the situation, provoking Hyunjun didn’t seem like a good idea.

Above all, Ji Yeonwoo didn’t want to share the burden of this problem with Choi Muhyeok.

“Managing Director, I… I can’t ask you to take revenge for me or make him disappear.”

Choi Muhyeok’s brow furrowed even deeper.

“…….”

“How could I shamelessly ask such things from someone who’s already been so understanding?”

Choi Muhyeok opened his mouth to say something, but Ji Yeonwoo spoke first.

“I’m really grateful and sorry for your concern, but this is my issue, and I think it’s only right for me to handle it.”

Choi Muhyeok, listening, frowned.

“So you’re saying you don’t want me to get involved, Ji Yeonwoo?”

Ji Yeonwoo answered in a small voice, lowering his head.

“…I’m sorry, Managing Director.”

“Can you handle it? You were so anxious over just one phone call.”

“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t anxious, but it was my first time, and I was more shocked than anything. But I don’t think confronting the situation head-on is the best solution. After all, he hasn’t directly harmed me, has he?”

“That’s true, but you never know when this could become a bigger threat.”

“…….”

“It’s best to extinguish a smoldering fire before it becomes a problem.”

Ji Yeonwoo, listening quietly, shook his head.

“I know him better. If he had any lingering feelings, he would’ve contacted me right after we separated. The fact that he’s calling after two years likely means it’s just a passing interest.”

“…….”

“So if we leave things alone, won’t he forget soon enough? Right now, it’s best not to provoke him in any way.”

Ji Yeonwoo spoke calmly, trying to reason with Choi Muhyeok. Though he was clearly still angry, Choi Muhyeok exhaled and turned his head, trying to rein in his temper in front of Ji Yeonwoo.

“I guess I misinterpreted things. I thought you were holding onto me because you wanted my help.”

“The reason I reached out to you, Managing Director, was because I genuinely wanted to be with you. You may not know this, but when you first came to my house… that day felt so warm and comforting.”

“Ah, so you’re saying you want to treat me as a human heater?”

“…Pardon?”

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been carefully watching for any signs of displeasure, widened his eyes in surprise. The sudden shift in tone left him confused, and he looked at Choi Muhyeok’s face, sensing something odd in the conversation.

Choi Muhyeok let out another breath, wearing an expression that seemed both frustrated and somewhat softened.

“Come here for a moment?”

He extended his hand toward Ji Yeonwoo. As if drawn by a magnet, Ji Yeonwoo pushed his chair back and stood up, moving toward him. As soon as Ji Yeonwoo took his hand, he was pulled in.

Feeling his body lurch forward, Ji Yeonwoo tightly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was sitting on Choi Muhyeok’s thigh.

Now sitting face-to-face, Ji Yeonwoo was startled, gazing at Choi Muhyeok. There was about a head’s height difference between them, but being seated on his thigh made Ji Yeonwoo look down slightly.

Seeing the deep crease between Choi Muhyeok’s brows, Ji Yeonwoo felt guilty.

“Managing Director, are you mad?”

“Yes, I’m mad. Someone’s not listening to me.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It seems like you’re just saying sorry without any intention of changing your mind.”

Hearing his gruff response, Ji Yeonwoo made a dejected face, his eyes drooping, and reached up to gently press down the crease between Choi Muhyeok’s brows.

“Tch, you’re not even trying to be cute.”

Choi Muhyeok grabbed Ji Yeonwoo’s hand as it pressed on his forehead, lightly biting one of his slim fingers. Ji Yeonwoo flinched, his eyes widening.

“Ji Yeonwoo.”

Choi Muhyeok called out in a low voice.

“…Yes.”

Ji Yeonwoo answered in an even quieter voice.

“I feel like you’re forgetting this, so let me remind you. For me, solving problems with money or force is one of the easiest things I can do.”

“……”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

At the subtle question, Ji Yeonwoo nodded.

“But what if you suffer losses because of it, Managing Director?”

When Ji Yeonwoo asked with a worried expression, Choi Muhyeok chuckled.

“Ji Yeonwoo, do you really think I’m just some ordinary executive?”

“Well, not exactly…”

“If you know that, why worry about useless things?”

Choi Muhyeok, still smiling, took the hand that had been smoothing his brow and placed it on his shoulder. He brushed away the hair that had fallen in front of Ji Yeonwoo’s face and touched the back of his neck, where Ji Yeonwoo had tensed up in nervousness.

Even so, the concern didn’t leave Ji Yeonwoo’s face.

“I’m not saying I’ll act impulsively. I respect your opinion and will follow your wishes. But—”

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes widened slightly, bracing himself for what would come next.

“If, by any chance, you face a bigger threat than now, I want you to stay out of it, no matter what I do. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Choi Muhyeok looked at Ji Yeonwoo, his eyes widening slightly as if asking for his agreement. His calmer tone and expression finally allowed Ji Yeonwoo to relax.

“Yes, I understand.”

A prickling sensation welled up in Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes. He felt like he had the most reliable ally in the world. Holding back tears, Ji Yeonwoo bit the inside of his cheek to avoid crying out of embarrassment.

Choi Muhyeok gently brushed back Ji Yeonwoo’s hair again with his larger hand. Ji Yeonwoo’s teary, glistening eyes wandered over Choi Muhyeok’s face.

Almost simultaneously, Choi Muhyeok’s hand, which had been brushing his bangs, moved to the back of his head, sliding into his hair.

Choi Muhyeok tilted his face slightly and leaned in. Ji Yeonwoo clenched his eyes shut and braced himself. Without hesitation, Choi Muhyeok’s lips touched his, lightly sucking on Ji Yeonwoo’s lower lip to part his lips.

Just as Ji Yeonwoo felt his breath catch in his throat from the unexpected kiss, Choi Muhyeok pulled back, lifting Ji Yeonwoo’s body off his thigh as he stood up.

Feeling weightless, Ji Yeonwoo instinctively clung to Choi Muhyeok’s neck, wrapping his arms around him.

“Man-Managing Director, I’m going to fall.”

“Then why don’t you try wrapping your legs around me? To make sure you don’t.”

As he said this, Choi Muhyeok released his hold on Ji Yeonwoo’s waist. Startled, Ji Yeonwoo let out a short yelp and quickly hooked his legs around Choi Muhyeok’s waist, clinging on like a koala.

Choi Muhyeok glanced down at Ji Yeonwoo, who was now firmly latched onto him, and carried him into the bedroom. He pressed Ji Yeonwoo against the closed door and kissed him again, lips softly pressing and releasing with small smacking sounds.

Despite just one kiss, Ji Yeonwoo’s breath came out in short gasps, his mind hazy with pleasure.

“You can’t be worn out already.”

Choi Muhyeok kissed Ji Yeonwoo’s eyelids, which blinked slowly, struggling to stay open, then planted a kiss on his flushed cheek. Moving closer, he blew gently into Ji Yeonwoo’s ear.

“Ah, M-Managing Director, that tickles.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s hypersensitive body flinched, and he hugged Choi Muhyeok even tighter.

“Does it just tickle?”

“N-no, that’s not it…”

“Ah, if that’s the case, then I can keep going, right?”

“…What!? Uh, mmph!”

At those words, Ji Yeonwoo looked up in surprise. In that moment, Choi Muhyeok tilted his face in the opposite direction and kissed him.

Unlike the teasing, fleeting kisses from earlier, this one was intense—so much so that their lips tingled. Choi Muhyeok sucked on his lips deeply, their tongues intertwining in a heated kiss.

Choi Muhyeok, who normally displayed restraint in his words and actions, was different now. His breathing came out in rough bursts through their joined lips, and his hands, slipping under Ji Yeonwoo’s shirt, urgently caressed and kneaded the soft skin beneath.

“Ah, ha… Managing Director.”

Only after his breath caught in his throat did Ji Yeonwoo hastily pull back, pressing his face into Choi Muhyeok’s shoulder, gasping for air. Finding his jacket, which had slipped halfway off his shoulders, cumbersome, Choi Muhyeok shrugged it off, one arm at a time.

In doing so, his arms, which had been supporting Ji Yeonwoo’s waist, loosened for a moment, causing Ji Yeonwoo to feel as though he was slipping down. It was only the floor beneath him, but Ji Yeonwoo panicked as if he were falling off a cliff, frantically grabbing onto anything to hold on.

“Managing Director, I’m really going to fall… ah!”

“I told you to wrap your legs tightly. Was that so hard?”

Choi Muhyeok laughed softly, pressing a brief kiss to the exposed skin of Ji Yeonwoo’s pale neck.

“Ouch, no, that’s not… ugh!”