PUCKD Ch 27

The meal ended just like that.

Kwon Kihyuk was the first to storm out, seething. His father called for his own lawyer to review the will.

His mother, with a strangely calm face, took Junghyun to an empty reception room. After checking several times that no one was listening, she took both of Junghyun’s hands in hers.

“Junghyun. This is for the best. It’s such a relief that the Chairman took care of your share, even if it’s like this.”

“……”

“I asked the Chairman before he passed away to please take good care of my good Junghyun.”

Junghyun looked down at his mother and quietly asked back.

“……You asked him?”

“Yes. I asked him to let my Junghyun live without want, just like now, even if he couldn’t manifest as an alpha. I told him he’s a smart boy and will do his part wherever he goes. I told him every day when he was lying in the hospital.”

“……”

“The alpha pheromone shots, let’s start them again, Junghyun. Your grandfather manifested at thirty, didn’t he? Isn’t this an amazing thing?”

“……”

“And even if you don’t manifest, don’t worry too much. Your father will find you a good marriage match. You can have everything my Junghyun enjoys now.”

His mother’s face, unexpectedly, looked happy.

“What clothes you wear, what food you eat, those are the most important things in life. We were so miserable and struggled when we lived in that small, smelly room without being treated properly. But look at your mom now. I met your father and am living so well like this, aren’t I?”

It seemed that being made a laughingstock by her new son in front of the family, and occasionally collapsing from neurosis and panic, were not important to his mother at all.

The brilliant diamond ring on her finger suddenly sparkled. The beautifully styled hair and makeup for today, the beautiful jade-colored dress, suited his mother as if she had been born with them.

So Junghyun did not say it.

That he himself had never once wanted this palace-like house with over ten servants. That he was much happier when he lived alone with his mom in that small, smelly room.

When he thought about the sacrifices his mother had made to obtain those things, they were words he could never bring himself to say.

Junghyun saw his mother off and walked alone down the long corridor connected to the main building.

After Kihyuk manifested as an alpha at the age of 21, Junghyun had to leave for America at 16, as if he were being kicked out. The reason Junghyun came to Seoul after 10 years was to attend his grandfather’s funeral.

At that time, Myeongjeong was at its limit, trying to clean up the messes Kwon Kihyuk was making both inside and out.

His father wanted a very effective and permanent solution, and Kwon Kihyuk, seeing his half-brother after 10 years, had come up with an idea.

“Dear younger brother. Going home?”

Junghyun lifted his head. He could see the face of Kihyuk, leaning against the outside of the building, smoking a cigarette.

Despite their dissimilar faces, Kwon Kihyuk and Kwon Junghyun exuded a rather similar atmosphere. It was probably because of their physique and lower face, which resembled their father’s, and their similar style of dress.

“The Chairman is really something, isn’t he? Making me smoke again after I quit for three months because my wife is pregnant.”

“……”

“He always gives me these kinds of events, as if he’s worried my life as the sole heir would be too smooth. He doesn’t have to.”

Junghyun stared blankly at Kihyuk’s face as he smiled with his eyes curved. He gathered phlegm and spat it on the ground, then put the cigarette back in his mouth. Then he slowly reaches his hand out towards Junghyun.

“Dear younger brother, you should at least know this.”

His long fingers traced Junghyun’s shirt collar before sliding down to the knot of his tie.

Kihyuk stood with his legs spread and fixed Junghyun’s tie knot with both hands. A cigarette was in his mouth.

“The fact that my dear younger brother is eating well and living well, that a lowly omega woman with no roots is being called Madam, all of that…”

Kihyuk lowered his head and whispered lowly in Junghyun’s ear.

“It’s on the condition that you wipe my ass, right? Huh?”

Kwon Junghyun’s new role was to become Kwon Kihyuk’s shadow.

A shadow to take the fall for the numerous atrocities committed by Kwon Kihyuk.

On the condition of taking on that role, his father promised Junghyun that he would let his mother live as the mistress of Myeongjeong for the rest of her life.

He had never thought he wanted Myeongjeong now anyway. To be able to buy his mother’s happiness with his own useless social status was actually a gain.

“Junghyun. You are me. You’re mine, and you’re my shadow.”

Kwon Kihyuk wrapped one arm around Junghyun’s shoulder and took the cigarette from his mouth. It naturally became a pose like an embrace. Junghyun, with a blank face, only lifted his eyes to look at his half-brother.

From a distance of less than a hand’s breadth, Kihyuk smiled.

“So don’t do anything that doesn’t fit your station and make me angry.”

“……”

Kihyuk tapped Junghyun’s cheek with his finger and then left the place as if nothing had happened.

Watching Kihyuk’s retreating back, Junghyun’s fingers twitched. Then, after Kihyuk was completely out of sight, he pressed the protruding part of his knuckle hard with the nail of his other hand.

Soon, the back of his hand turned red. It was because he often injured it, and the skin had become weak.

His grandfather did not believe that Kwon Junghyun would manifest as an alpha.

He intended to completely erase his grandson, who could not become an alpha, from Myeongjeong.

By sending him to another family as a live-in son-in-law.

Junghyun laughed with a sound like air escaping.

He was sick and tired of it.

This palace-like mansion, the dreadful alpha worship of the people of this mansion.

Junghyun fumbled inside his jacket and took out a pack of cigarettes. He lit one with a hasty hand and inhaled the smoke. Only after feeling the acrid smoke seep down his esophagus and into his stomach did something finally settle.

One year.

Contrary to his mother’s hopes, Junghyun did not think he would manifest as an alpha within that time.

In a year, his name would be erased from Myeongjeong. What then? Would he be given a new role by a new family? A demure husband and a perfect show-window couple, something like that.

Junghyun exhaled the smoke into the air. He now saw that white buds had formed on the magnolia tree in the garden.

For the day he was born, it was a rather beautiful season.

Suddenly, a very random thought occurred to him. That this one year might be his last chance.

The last chance to live as he pleased.

“……”

The face that came to mind at that moment was someone he had longed for alone for a long time.

He wanted to see him.

He wanted to see him up close, talk to him.

He wanted to convey his words of support directly.

He wanted to drink with him like old friends or buy him clothes.

And he wanted to touch him.

What naturally came to Junghyun’s mind was the news article he had seen a while ago about the disbandment of the Blue Wolves.

He inadvertently raised the corners of his mouth.

It seemed that if a person suppressed what they wanted for too long, they went a little crazy.

That was the only way Junghyun could think of that decision at the time.

Shin Hojae, seeing the crosswalk signal turn green, took a reluctant step forward.

It was the day to fulfill his contract with Kwon Junghyun. He had called Hojae to a shop behind the Sogong-dong hotel. Shin Hojae looked up at the sign that read “Tailor Shop” and opened the door.

With a jingle, the interior revealed itself. Dozens of fabrics were folded on shelves made of dark wood, and there was a workbench made of the same wood, along with a torso dressed in a suit.

“You must be Shin Hojae-nim? I have been waiting for you.”

Soon, an elderly gentleman with neatly combed-back hair appeared from inside. Hojae, caught off guard, bowed his head in greeting and stuffed the cap he was wearing into the back pocket of his pants. He should have taken off his cap before greeting him, he had forgotten again.

“Kwon Junghyun-daepyonim said he would be about 15 minutes late. I will bring you some tea, so please wait here comfortably.”

He was about to say he didn’t need any tea, but when he turned his head, the owner was already gone. Hojae sighed softly and sat down on the sofa he had indicated.

It was a reception area with a low table and a vintage sofa. On one side, he could see a round curtain partition that seemed to be used as a fitting room.

Hojae slowly took in all of it before looking down, as if uninterested.

It was only 15 minutes, but he was relieved that he didn’t have to see Kwon Junghyun right away. It was only natural, as he had been reluctant to even come here today and had hesitated continuously.

“……”

Shin Hojae crushed the brim of the cap in his hand.

It was all because of that damn kiss.

Just when he thought he had forgotten, the lips and tongue that had touched him then would come to mind. Even the masturbation he had frantically engaged in while hiding in the restroom.

Hojae irritably ran his hand through his bangs. Anyone would have become like that if they had kissed a man who was so accustomed to seducing others so stickily.

“Is green tea okay? Since this isn’t a place young people come to, this is all I have.”

Startled back to his senses by the owner’s words, Hojae reflexively replied that it was fine.

The elderly gentleman smiled faintly and placed a steaming teacup in front of Hojae. A delicate green-colored tea was poured into a delicate teacup with a blue floral pattern.

Hojae awkwardly held the handle of the teacup. It was a teacup so small and thin that it felt like it would break with just a little force.

He hesitated at the first scent, which felt unfamiliar for green tea, but soon couldn’t overcome his curiosity and lightly touched his lips to the teacup.

“……”

It’s delicious. It was green tea, but it was a tea that also had a berry flavor. Hojae finished the cup in two sips.

The owner, who had been away for a moment, returned with a small plate with three cookies on it. Seeing the empty cup, he smiled slightly.

“It’s a tea leaf I always stock because Junghyun likes it, so I’m glad it suited your taste.”

“……”

At those words, Hojae narrowed his brow and glared at the completely empty teacup.

“Would you like more?”

“No. It’s fine.”

“Then please have some cookies while you wait.”

Shin Hojae, who had received the plate with both hands and set it down, let out a small, dry cough.

“…It seems you already know the CEO.”

“Pardon?”

“You called him Junghyun by name earlier.”