MM 67

“…Team Leader?”

Yu-young lifted his innocent gaze toward the door of the meeting room. However, Do-won, who opened the door without hesitation and walked in, looked angry for some reason.

Despite being flustered by Do-won’s cold expression, Yoon-seok lowered his head and greeted him.

“Hello, Team Leader!”

“I asked what you two are doing.”

But all he received in return was a chilling cold response. As Yoon-seok stammered in confusion, Yu-young looked up at him with a questioning expression, wondering what was going on.

“Uh… nothing’s wrong. We were just exchanging greetings. Yoon-seok just returned after a long time, so… but, Team Leader, why…?”

“Me too. I came in because I was concerned about Yoon-seok’s health.”

As he spoke, Do-won’s cold gaze looked down at Yoon-seok. His expression was more like that of a grim reaper come to take someone away rather than someone concerned about health. With Do-won’s fierce presence, Yoon-seok nervously shrank back, glancing around.

It was just like a mouse standing before a wolf. Yu-young couldn’t help but feel sorry for Yoon-seok. He had no idea why Do-won was acting this way, but he needed to diffuse the tense atmosphere first. Yu-young decided to take action and gently grabbed Do-won’s arm.

“Team Leader, Yoon-seok says he’s fine. So for now…”

Unconsciously, Yu-young had casually wrapped his arm around Do-won’s, but he quickly realized and let go of it. At this point, the physical contact with Do-won had become so natural that he was almost taken aback by how easily he had done it, even in front of others. It was as if he was unintentionally advertising to everyone that he and the Team Leader were doing this and that.

Yet, when Yu-young touched Do-won’s arm, the tense pheromones around him softened slightly. His expression also softened, and seeing his eyes ease up a little, Yu-young became even more puzzled.

Yoon-seok was equally bewildered by the situation. His wide eyes darted back and forth between Yu-young and Do-won, his back drenched in cold sweat. Yu-young, trying to lighten the mood, smiled and gently nudged both of them out of the meeting room.

“Haha… Let’s get ready for work! Before that, how about a cup of coffee?”

“I’m fine.”

Do-won immediately rejected the offer, but Yoon-seok, smiling like a puppy, responded eagerly.

“I’ll have one! Should we go to the break room together?”

“Shall we?”

Yu-young couldn’t help but think that Yoon-seok was much more polite and cooperative than Do-won, who never acknowledged others’ suggestions. He sneaked a glance at Do-won, who was still in a bad mood.

Just as they were about to head to the break room with Yoon-seok cheerfully following behind him like an excited puppy, a stern voice interrupted them from behind.

“Not coffee, I want tea. Peppermint tea.”

The cold voice gripped both of their necks at once. Yu-young, momentarily frozen, slowly turned his head.

“…Ah, yes. Should I get you a cup of peppermint tea, then?”

“That’s right. I’d prefer if Assistant Manager Han brought it to my office. Right now.”

It felt like he was emphasizing every syllable, something Yu-young found quite odd. Do-won, with a cold, commanding expression, quickly turned his back. It was so unexpected, especially considering that Do-won, who never asked anyone to run errands, was now giving this kind of order.

“…Why is Team Leader acting like this? He never asks for such things…”

Yoon-seok, sensing the dangerous energy radiating from Do-won, whispered as he and Yu-young walked together toward the break room. Since Yu-young didn’t know what was going on either, he could only awkwardly smile and say, “Yeah, I guess so.”

Yu-young had hoped to take his time with coffee and talk more with Yoon-seok, but now that this had happened, there was no other choice. He figured they could talk later over lunch, as it wasn’t an urgent matter. With both his coffee and Do-won’s peppermint tea ready, Yu-young said, “I’ll see you later,” and headed toward the Team Leader’s office.

He knocked on the door, and a businesslike voice responded from inside.

-Come in.

Yu-young carefully closed the door behind him and stepped inside. Do-won, who had been focused on his monitor, briefly glanced up at him. He then arrogantly gestured to the area in front of his desk.

“Put it there.”

“…Yes.”

Watching Do-won’s cold, businesslike attitude, Yu-young couldn’t help but feel a slight surge of frustration inside him. It had been a long time since he had felt this way with Do-won. Yu-young narrowed his eyes and intentionally placed the mug on the desk with a loud thud.

“Here it is… Ah!”

It seemed like he hadn’t controlled his strength as well as he thought. Trying to contain his frustration while being careful not to spill the hot liquid, the tea splashed out and hit the back of his hand. Surprised for a moment, Yu-young quickly pulled his hand away from the mug and wrapped it with his other hand.

“Ah…”

“What’s going on?”

At the sound of Yu-young’s groan, Do-won immediately turned his head and stood up from his seat. Seeing him walk toward him with a startled expression, Yu-young instinctively shrank back. The way Do-won approached him, large and urgent, made Yu-young feel threatened.

Do-won stepped up right in front of Yu-young and grabbed his hand. He scowled at the reddened back of his hand.

“This…”

“Ah… I’m fine.”

Yu-young awkwardly smiled and tried to pull his hand away. Honestly, it was his own fault for acting out and getting burned, and since the tea wasn’t hot enough to cause blisters, he thought he could handle it quietly on his own without causing a fuss. But Do-won’s face darkened as he tightened his grip on Yu-young’s wrist.

“Quick, dip your hand in cold water.”

“Oh, I can do it myself.”

“Let’s just do it this way, alright?”

Do-won took Yu-young to the small sink in the office, adjusted the water to a cool temperature, and submerged Yu-young’s hand in it. The cold water poured over the heated area, beginning to cool it down.

‘Ugh… What is this? This is so embarrassing.’

To be honest, it felt childish—getting upset and then hurting himself. Yu-young found it awkward that Do-won was now looking at his injury with such a serious expression. He just wanted to cool his hand and leave on his own, but Do-won was standing so close, showing no signs of leaving. Feeling uncomfortable, Yu-young carefully spoke up.

“Team Leader… I’ll take care of it myself. You can just sit down and relax…”

“I’ll take care of it. After it cools down, I’ll apply some medicine. We have a first-aid kit.”

His tone was more forceful than usual today. Yu-young quietly bit his lip and didn’t argue.

The only sound filling the Team Leader’s office was the rush of water.

‘…This is awkward.’

Where had the person who used to treat him so comfortably gone? Sometimes, Yu-young remembered that Do-won wasn’t really the type to be comfortable around others all the time. Even in the meeting room earlier, it was the same. Why was he being so cold to someone who had just returned after being absent for so long?

‘Come to think of it… does he dislike Yoon-seok?’

As the water flowed over his hand, Yu-young absentmindedly pondered. It seemed like Do-won had always treated Yoon-seok that way.

But that didn’t mean he treated him unfairly or excluded him. In terms of work, he was more passionate than anyone else about mentoring him, and even if Yoon-seok made a mistake, Do-won didn’t scold him any more harshly than anyone else. No matter what anyone said, Do-won was a flawless superior to Yoon-seok. It was just when the three of them were together that a strange, uncomfortable atmosphere arose.

‘This is so weird.’

“What are you thinking about?”

“…Ah…”

For a moment, Yu-young thought about asking directly, Why are you being so cold to Yoon-seok? but he quickly suppressed the impulse. That would be overstepping. How Do-won treated Yoon-seok was their relationship, and it wasn’t his place to interfere. Besides, Do-won wasn’t bullying or unfairly treating Yoon-seok.

“…Never mind. Anyway, it’s time to start work, so my hand should be fine now…”

“You’re not listening. I said it needs to cool down fully.”

Yu-young tried to pull his wrist from the sink, but Do-won grabbed it again, forcing his hand back into the cold water. Stuck with his wrist in Do-won’s grip, Yu-young lowered his head in frustration.

After a while in silence, Do-won spoke again.

“How are you feeling? Since that day.”

“…Ah, it’s… much better now.”

“Did you go to the hospital?”

“Yes. I’ve been taking the suppressants as prescribed. The pheromone levels were just temporary, so the doctor says I’m fine now.”

Of course, Yu-young didn’t mention the doctor’s warning that such an incident could happen again at any time—he didn’t want to worry Do-won.

At that moment, Yu-young felt warm breath on his cheek. He looked up slowly in surprise to see Do-won’s neck and face right in front of him. The proximity felt almost familiar now.

Do-won tilted his head slightly and whispered, locking eyes with Yu-young.

“If it’s hard, just tell me. Don’t try to endure it alone.”

“Eh? What do you mean…?”

“You must remember.”

Do-won pressed his forehead gently against Yu-young’s.

“What’s written in the contract. I have the responsibility to care for Assistant Manager Han’s pheromones.”