PIA 56

Jeong Han-joo’s job at the company was not much different from his peers and those in similar positions. Except that’s exactly his complaint.

It didn’t matter to him what process his brother went through to reach his current position in the company. He was filled with a vague sense of self-awareness, thinking that if he too were assigned a personal office and a subsidiary team to handle more important tasks like his brother, he might appear even better than he does now.

Since the only work he was responsible for was what his brother told him to do, it was hard and unrewarding work, so he thought there was no chance of being noticed even if he worked hard.

Jeong Han-joo was thinking like that again today, leaving his seat and wandering around the cafeteria and hallways. He didn’t even care how people would think of his  actions.

“Ji-an, what are you doing here?”

So it was only natural that he would run into Ji-an. Ji-an tried to hide his surprised expression and greeted him awkwardly.

“… Hello, Han-joo hyung.”

“What’s with the formal hello? I feel a sense of distance.”

Ji-an had been following Secretary Yoon around to tour the conference rooms, seminar rooms, and other facilities. After visiting the exhibition hall for the new brand that Jeong Hee-seo had planned and launched, he stopped by the cafeteria on his way back to the general manager’s office.

Secretary Yoon was with him, and everyone at work seemed busy, so he had been trying to relax when he happened to run into the tiger.

“What brings you to our company today? Don’t tell me it has to do with my brother again?”

Jeong Han-joo seemed just as surprised. Even Secretary Yoon flinched at his tense reaction. The two exchanged formal nods and eyed Ji-an with scrutinizing gazes.

“Ah… haha…”

Ji-an had hoped to simply exchange greetings and move on, but that was wishful thinking. Watching Jeong Han-joo follow him and pester him with questions, Ji-an stifled a sigh. Stay calm. Didn’t he expect to run into them? If it’s 100% unavoidable, then he has no choice but to face it head-on as the protagonist.

Just hide the pregnancy well. Ji-an steadied his breathing. Speak naturally, as if reciting lines.

“I applied for the youth mentoring program. I thought I could learn a few things.”

“Why would you do something like that… Did my brother recommend it? You wanted to join our team before, didn’t you? You said you were studying to apply through the open recruitment.”

“Ah, it just seemed like a good opportunity, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

Ji-an suddenly realized something in response to Jeong Han-joo’s question. Studying for a public recruitment exam was something he would have done if he still liked Jeong Han-joo.

“Do you really have something going on with my brother?”

“… No, it’s not like that.”

Ji-an was worried about Secretary Yoon, who was listening to everything next to him. Even though he was trying to explain it away, Jeong Han-joo persistently followed along.

“Did you resolve the issue from last time? You look better, at least.”

“Last time? Ah… yes, it’s all resolved. Thank you for your concern.”

“What do you mean? It was the least I could do. I’m the one who should apologize for not helping more.”

He had acted like a caged beast when they met at the hotel, but now he approached with a voice devoid of hostility, which felt quite unfamiliar. No, this demeanor was closer to how Ji-an originally knew him. Then Ji-an realized that the anger Jeong Han-joo had expressed before was directed at Jeong Hee-seo, not him.

Jeong Han-joo was a person who lived a righteous life. In the world Ji-an lived in, he left a perfect first impression as a prestigious university student and kind private tutor.

The portrayal of Jeong Han-joo in the drama by his brother wasn’t much different. Above all, he was not only the companion of the main character Seo Ji-hyuk, but also another lead character himself, and a selling point meant to captivate the audience’s hearts. So it was safe to say that he was the strongest person in terms of attractiveness within this worldview.

His upright personality, bright smile stemming from a privileged upbringing – everything about him encompassed Seo Ji-hyuk’s wounds and pain with boundless love and embrace. The portrayal crafted by Ji-an’s brother in the drama script was all drawn from reality. As the very person Ji-an had a one-sided crush on for as long as 8 years, Ji-an knew his perfection better than anyone.

Yet, from the moment Ji-an came into this world, Ji-an’s first impression of Jeong Han-joo here seemed completely different from what he knew. It was too much to simply attribute it to Ji-an’s changed mindset, as Jeong Han-joo had been odd from their very first encounter.

“…”

Ji-an sent a subtle glance towards Secretary Yoon, wanting to get away from Jeong Han-joo, but he had already retreated to a distance. Whether he thought it was better not to get involved with the owner family, or considered it Ji-an’s private matter, he…

‘You inconsiderate person, help me out here.’

Ji-an clicked his tongue. He even fake-coughed loudly for Secretary Yoon to hear, but he was too busy tapping furiously on his phone to even glance Ji-an’s way.

“Ji-an, I… I’m sorry about last time.”

“Pardon?”

Ji-an’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden apology, taking a step back. But Jeong Han-joo moved closer, closing the gap again.

“I know you had feelings for me, so I’m sorry for saying such hurtful things at the hotel.”

“No… It’s okay, I’m over it now.”

Jeong Han-joo’s face contorted as he grabbed both of Ji-an’s hands.

“It’s okay, Ji-an. I know your heart too well, and even though I’m four years older than you as a brother, instead of comforting you as a younger sibling, I ended up pressuring you and saying hurtful things… I sincerely want to apologize.”

“No… you don’t have to go that far. I… I understand.”

“I know. It’s burdensome. I understand your heart. I understand what mindset made you act that way towards me.”

What does he understand? Ji-an’s face scrunched up as Jeong Han-joo’s words became increasingly incomprehensible.

“Still, Ji-an. I wouldn’t want you to make such an… undesirable choice out of impulse because of me.”

Jeong Han-joo seemed to have greatly misunderstood something. Ji-an parted his lips to clarify, but suddenly realized…

Perhaps the train of Jeong Han-joo’s thoughts wasn’t straying from the original intent after all. Of course he wouldn’t know Ji-an’s current mindset, so he must have accurately grasped the motivations behind the original ‘Seo Ji-an”s actions in this world.

Ji-an thought that’s what makes him the protagonist. Then what should he do now?

Could it be that Jeong Han-joo is trying to reciprocate the long-held one-sided crush that the original Seo Ji-an had on him? Jeong Han-joo was clutching Ji-an’s hands tightly, staring at him with moist eyes.

“I really haven’t been able to sleep thinking about you.”

“Hyung… I…”

If Jeong Han-joo was indeed being swayed by the current ‘Seo Ji-an’, it meant the storyline had drastically changed. Would that mean he would skip over his marriage to Jeong Hee-seo and the subsequent miscarriage event? Could he change that by taking his hand?

“Ji-an, if you are having a hard time right now and need help, please tell me. I don’t know what kind of hold Hee-seo has over you, but I’ll take care of it all.”

“…”

Ji-an lowered his head and closed his eyes tightly. He erased the thought that briefly popped into his head. Just imagining it made him feel worse.

“Hyung. Thank you for apologizing and…understanding my heart. But there’s something you’ve misunderstood.”

“What misunderstanding?”

“I’m not in that kind of relationship with Hee-seo, like you’re imagining. Talk of a ‘hold’ is ridiculous.”

It was almost a relief to see Jeong Han-joo showing the kind and warm side Ji-an was familiar with. Going along and maintaining a good relationship could help keep his secret in the future. But he didn’t want Jeong Han-joo to think that way about Jeong Hee-seo.

Rather, it was Jeong Hee-seo who was helping Ji-an as if he was the one being taken advantage of.

“Brother, about Hee-seo…”

“Ji-an, I…”

Their words clashed like poorly timed lines in a script. Ji-an lifted his head, and their gazes intertwined midair. In an instant, Jeong Han-joo reached out and cupped Ji-an’s cheek.

“Ugh!”

Suddenly aware of Jeong Han-joo’s pheromones he hadn’t noticed until then, Ji-an felt nauseous. He urgently covered his mouth and turned his head away. The thought of ‘oh no’ flashed through his mind, but it was too late as his body had already reacted on its own.

“…Ji-an?”

“…”

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

Oblivious to Ji-an’s adverse reaction to his pheromones, Jeong Han-joo moved a palm closer. As Ji-an hunched over, he felt a hand on his back and squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t know if this was another pregnancy symptom, but he could tell his body was having a bad reaction to Jeong Han-joo’s alpha pheromones.

“Ugh!”

Cold sweat broke out and his back arched automatically. Without realizing it, he hugged his lower abdomen with both hands. His vision swam as he struggled not to collapse.

No matter how much he tried not to let on in front of Jeong Han-joo, he couldn’t stop his body from reacting on its own. Like a herbivore encountering its natural predator, he could only cower and hunch over when a sharp smacking sound rang out.

Simultaneously, a dark shadow loomed over Ji-an’s body.

“Jeong Han-joo. What indecent behavior is this at the workplace?”