WGD Ch 4

“Strange.”

“What’s strange is you being here. Now move.”

The moment Siheon reached out to push Cha Wonwoo’s shoulder, Cha Wonwoo caught his hand and pressed his thumb firmly against Siheon’s pulse point.

“It’s beating incredibly fast, isn’t it?”

His statement wasn’t a question, but a confirmation. Pulling Siheon closer by the waist with his other hand, he buried his nose near Siheon’s ear, where the pheromone glands were located. After a few seconds that felt like hours, he pulled back and said, “No matter how good an actor you are, your pheromones don’t lie, hyung.”

The skin where Cha Wonwoo’s fingers had touched felt hot, like a burning brand.

“You don’t want to tell me what the doctor said, or what you just remembered, do you?”

“…….”

Reading the answer in Siheon’s silence, Cha Wonwoo released his hand.

“I won’t force you to tell me. But if it’s something I’ll find out eventually,”

“…….”

“Tell me before it’s too late.”

His words, poised between a request and a warning, as if he suspected countless secrets, made Siheon’s heart sink. He stiffly pulled his hand away from Cha Wonwoo.

“What are you talking about? Anyway, why are you really here?”

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no reason for Cha Wonwoo to be here. CEO Huh had jokingly said that CH would start an entertainment business if he kept bothering him; he couldn’t be seriously considering an acquisition, could he? Just as that plausible suspicion began to spread, Cha Wonwoo spoke.

“Business.”

At the concise answer, Siheon blurted out without thinking, “If CH takes over this place, I’ll pay the penalty and move to another company.”

Cha Wonwoo chuckled at the determined declaration and looked at Siheon with an ambiguous expression. “Don’t worry. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“What other business could there be?”

“There is.”

“So, what is it?”

“Want to know?”

As soon as Siheon nodded hesitantly, Cha Wonwoo closed the distance between them, leaving no room to retreat, instead of answering. Trapping Siheon between the wall and his body, he tilted his head.

“Creating coincidental encounters with you, hyung. It’s the most important item on my business agenda.”

Despite his shameless words, his gaze, scanning Siheon’s face beneath the hat, was careful and cautious, as if gauging his limits.

Siheon responded with a hardened expression. “Why not just announce that you’re investigating me and having me followed?”

He was aware of it to some extent. He knew that for safety reasons, someone had been stationed near his home since the early days of his divorce, and that someone, whether it was Lee Kang San or CEO Huh, was sharing his schedule through his staff.

But he hadn’t expected such blatant openness. Noticing Siheon’s displeased expression hidden under his hat, Cha Wonwoo took a step back and asked hesitantly, “Is that… not allowed?”

“…….”

“Should I stop running into you like this?”

Seeing him ask with fluttering eyelashes, Siheon swallowed a sigh. How busy Cha Wonwoo was. Even when they were dating, he had squeezed out every spare moment for Siheon. So, seeing him act like he had so much free time was worrisome. He must be working himself to the bone at other times.

And even if he said otherwise, he must have discussed something with CEO Huh. Neither of them would reveal what it was, though.

As an awkward silence hung between them, the elevator, which had gone down and come back up, opened with a cheerful ding, and Kang San stepped out.

“Oh? Hyungnim, why haven’t you gone in yet… Oh, Director Cha is here too.”

Kang San, who had been carefully clutching a takeout carrier filled with drinks to his chest, stopped in his tracks. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, he cautiously moved to stand beside Siheon, as if to protect him.

Cha Wonwoo’s gaze cooled as he observed Kang San fulfilling his duties as a manager. Kang San pretended not to notice and cleared his throat, dropping a hint in a deliberately awkward tone. “Hyungnim, you need to go in and rest early for the print ad shoot the day after tomorrow. You’ll be tired if the meeting runs late.”

It was a transparent ploy, but Cha Wonwoo conceded, gesturing towards the CEO’s office. “Hyung shouldn’t be tired. Go on in.”

With Kang San’s assist, Siheon seized the opportunity to say goodbye. “Yeah, you shouldn’t be tired either, so you should go too.”

And without giving him a chance to reply, he turned and walked away. Kang San also hurried into the CEO’s office, as if afraid Director Cha might stop him. The back of his head tingled, but he didn’t look back.

“How much did you get?” Siheon asked CEO Huh as soon as he entered the office. CEO Huh, who had been looking over documents at his desk, stood up.

“For what?”

“How much did you get for selling my schedule?”

“I’m hurt, Kang Siheon. How was your appointment, by the way?”

CEO Huh sat in the visitor’s chair and conspicuously changed the subject, rummaging through the candy basket on the table. Siheon, sitting across from him with Kang San, responded indifferently, “Did you plan this with that guy who just left? With so many people curious about my appointment, I might as well livestream it next time.”

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that. Plan what? Director Cha and I have a strictly business relationship. Give and take.”

“I’m really curious about what you two are giving and taking.”

“No, Kang Siheon. We’ve known each other for so long, don’t you have any faith in me? No, no, don’t bother answering.”

As soon as Siheon opened his mouth, CEO Huh waved his hand dismissively, as if he already knew the answer, and changed the subject to the meeting.

A brief meeting followed, but the content was rather insignificant. Siheon suspected that the meeting itself might have been arranged for him to run into Cha Wonwoo.

“You have a shoot the day after tomorrow, so go home and get some rest. Go to the dermatologist tomorrow and get some treatments.”

Seeing Siheon’s exhaustion, CEO Huh concluded the meeting and dismissed them. See? It’s strange. The suspicion of a connection between Cha Wonwoo and CEO Huh lingered until he got into the car.

“You’re not even someone who wanted me and Cha Wonwoo to work out.”

He muttered as he fastened his seatbelt. Kang San, who was starting the car, turned his head.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing. Drive.”

Sinking deep into his seat, Siheon exhaled, relishing the rest that came at the end of a long day. The sudden chip implantation, the resurfacing memory, and that guy who came to meet him under the guise of coincidence. Recalling the day’s events in order, he let out a deep sigh, but the tightness in his chest remained.

“Kang San, do you have any cigarettes?”

“Cigarettes?”

They said young debuting celebrities were prone to breakdowns, both mentally and in their lifestyle, but Siheon, apart from the scandal with Cha Wonwoo, had maintained a clean record throughout his career. Thanks to his passion for acting and his caution in only drinking with a select few who knew his secondary gender, lest he say something foolish while drunk, he had avoided trouble. He hadn’t smoked for similar reasons, but he had picked it up briefly for a role while filming “Man to Man” with Byeon Haewon, only quitting after meeting Cha Wonwoo.

“You quit while you were dating, hyungnim. You haven’t smoked once since then.”

“Dating? The marriage is over. I’m a divorced man now.”

“Ah, they say you crave alcohol and cigarettes after a divorce. But I don’t have any cigarettes either.”

As if anticipating that Siheon might dwell on the topic of cigarettes, Kang San quickly started the car.

“Departing vehicle~”

Siheon, taking off his hat and placing it on his lap, brushed his hair back, suppressing the rising urge to smoke.

They were exiting the alley, signaling and merging onto the main road, gradually picking up speed, when it happened. Screech! A car suddenly cut in front of them, forcing Kang San to slam on the brakes. Siheon’s body lurched forward as the heavy vehicle came to a sudden stop. He quickly braced himself with his feet and grabbed the armrest. The seatbelt tightened across his chest.

“Hyungnim! Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. You?”

“I’m fine, of course. How do these people even get their licenses? They should all be revoked.”

Glowering at the car that had cut them off dangerously without signaling, Kang San muttered and drove more cautiously.

Bending down to pick up his hat that had fallen on the floor, Siheon saw something fall out of his pocket and roll away. Candy? It was one of the candies from the rattan basket in the CEO’s office. Green grape flavor. He hadn’t taken any candy.

“Seriously… when did he put this in here?”

Amidst the rustling sound of the candy wrapper, Cha Wonwoo’s voice echoed in his mind.

‘Don’t you think I know you?’

That sly guy. He must have slipped it in during that brief encounter in front of the CEO’s office. Probably when he pulled him close to check his pheromone glands. He seemed to know everything through pheromones, even that Siheon wanted a cigarette. And that he wouldn’t be able to smoke because he didn’t have any.

That uncanny guy.

Siheon put the candy back in his pocket.

＊＊＊＊＊

“By the way, hyungnim, is the counseling helping? The CEO told me to check on you when I came out earlier.”

“I don’t know about the effects. He said it’s like building mental muscle, so I have to be consistent and not skip sessions even if I get busy.”

“Ah, right. Muscle loss. That’s scary.”

While stopped at a red light, Kang San suddenly showed off his bulging biceps and triceps between the driver’s and passenger seats.

“You’ll become healthy like this too, hyungnim.”

“…If I get like that, it won’t just be a problem with playing Omega roles, I just won’t get cast at all.”

“Hey, I mean mentally. Mentally. You’ll develop biceps and triceps in your mind, hyungnim.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Try to get some sleep while we’re on the road.”

Siheon closed his eyes, recalling Cha Wonwoo’s pheromones from their encounter in front of the CEO’s office. Just that brief contact and the scent of his pheromones made him feel languid. Cha Wonwoo’s pheromones definitely had a direct effect on him.

Leaning back in his seat and drifting into a light sleep, he thought, at this point, isn’t this a disease?

＊＊＊＊＊

“I’ll be your light.”

Eight years ago, the cosmetics brand Lumière, meaning “light,” was launched.

Siheon was twenty-two at the time, and everything he wore, ate, did, and owned was instantly sold out.

Lumière, a newly launched brand, invested a significant sum to sign Siheon as their advertising model.

The various concepts expressing a spectrum of light, and Siheon’s voice saying, “I’ll be your light,” became a hot topic online, and Lumière leveraged his popularity to instantly disrupt the saturated cosmetics market.

Grateful for his contribution, they sent him large bouquets and gifts not only on his birthday but also whenever he received awards, big or small, demonstrating their loyalty. Siheon also held a special affection for the brand, having been with them from the beginning.

But then…

“What do you mean? The shoot has been canceled?”

Kang San’s pectoral muscles twitched. The advertising agency employee’s pupils trembled in sync.

“No, it’s not exactly canceled…”

“Not canceled?”

He repeated the words, prompting the employee to finish. The employee’s face stiffened in embarrassment.

There was a reason for Kang San’s agitation.

On the day of the Lumière print ad shoot, they arrived at the designated location to find another actor already in the middle of filming.

Thinking there might have been a scheduling conflict for the studio, Kang San sent Siheon back to the car and stayed behind to find out what was going on. That’s when he heard the devastating news.

“It seems like… uh… there was a miscommunication between us and the actor and his manager.”

“What kind of miscommunication?”

Kang San wanted to beat his chest in frustration, but he restrained himself and raised his eyebrows instead. It was merely an expression reflecting his change in emotions, not an attempt to threaten or intimidate, but the employee, sensing the shift, hurriedly offered an explanation.

“The contract renewal with Lumière and actor Kang fell through. Starting this season. We are still running the ad campaign, but the final decision on the model rests with the client, and the contract matters are handled internally by Lumière’s advertising team. I don’t know the details, but I heard everything was settled with Sori Entertainment.”

Kang San, who had been listening with his mouth agape since the employee’s first words, exclaimed in shock, “The contract renewal fell through? With our hyungnim?”

Unaware that his “hyungnim” tone in this state was enough to make anyone’s heart pound, Kang San even snorted.

“Why our hyungnim?”

“Huh?”

“Why did the contract renewal fall through?”

“Uh… we don’t really know…”

Kang San cut the employee off and asked sharply, “Is it because of the divorce?”

“…….”

The employee hesitated before shaking his head, but that was enough of an answer.

Kang San sighed deeply. It wasn’t the advertising agency employee’s fault. It was Lumière who had dropped his hyungnim. He bowed to the employee, who looked apologetic and embarrassed. “I apologize for the commotion. I wasn’t trying to argue, I was just surprised.”

“Oh, I understand. I was also surprised when the actor arrived. It’s understandable. So… actor Kang Siheon is completely unaware of this situation?”

“Yes.”

Hiding his dejection, Kang San pointed towards the closed studio doors. “Is the actor who was just filming the new model? Actor Yeo Junghyun, right?”

“Yes.”

“…I understand. Good work!”

Bowing slightly again, Kang San left a polite farewell and ran towards the car where Siheon was waiting.

“Hyungnim!”

Kang San flung open the driver’s side door and practically jumped into the seat like a football player. Startled by the sight of him clenching his fists and slamming the steering wheel, Siheon sat up straight.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Kang San turned sharply to face the back seat and shouted angrily, “What kind of absurd thing is this in this day and age!”

“What is it? Did the shoot get canceled without them telling us?”

“No! That Remy-something company renewed their contract with some other guy instead of hyungnim! Those bastards!”

“Oh…”

Siheon frowned. He grasped the situation immediately. It wasn’t as if he could blame them, as contracts were at the client’s discretion. Such things were common in the industry. If someone’s contract falls through, someone else gets a new one. It was just the timing that was unfortunate.

“Hyungnim, I’ll scour every cosmetics company in Korea and get you a contract with a company way better than that Remy-whatever! Trust me!”

Kang San pounded his broad chest and declared, roaring like an angry grizzly bear. Siheon nodded halfheartedly.

“Yeah, thanks.”

With his manager getting so angry on his behalf, he didn’t need to get worked up himself. Still, it was bitter. He had a history and affection for the brand, so this treatment wasn’t pleasant.

When replacing a long-term model, the industry norm was to at least send a thank-you card and flowers, acknowledging the past relationship. He was also displeased about finding out this way due to a communication error. Moreover, if the reason for the non-renewal was his divorce, there was a high chance that other advertising contracts would also fall through, one by one. Brand image was everything.

Stellan’s, who remained loyal, was truly remarkable. Perhaps because they were a foreign company, they didn’t consider the divorce a big issue. Or perhaps Cha Wonwoo had intervened.

“Hyungnim?”

“It’s nothing. I guess a divorced man can’t be a light. What can you do? Let’s go.”

Seeing Siheon accept the situation calmly, Kang San felt even more frustrated.

“Kang San, let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Of course, he became meek when his actor was serious.

“Put on your seatbelt, hyungnim.”

Kang San waited for Siheon to fasten his seatbelt before starting the car. Just as he was about to pull away, the closed metal gate of the studio opened.

A man who undeniably looked like a celebrity emerged and looked around. A stylist approached him with an iced coffee and pointed in the direction of Siheon’s car. The man, after spotting the van, walked briskly towards them.

“Hyungnim, Yeo Junghyun seems to be coming this way.”

Under the bright sunlight, his glitter-sprinkled, baby perm, blond hair shimmered beautifully. He had gorgeous features and fair skin, like an angel stepping out of a religious painting. Despite his beauty, which would make anyone turn their head, Siheon, who knew how dark the man’s inner self was, remained seated until he approached and knocked on the window.

Knock, knock, knock.

A polite knocking sound reached him.

Letting out a short sigh, Siheon opened the backseat door. The man, Yeo Junghyun, grinned as soon as their eyes met, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

He was an actor who, in an industry where Omegas were reluctant to reveal their secondary gender, had debuted by openly embracing his Dominant Omega status.

Since high school, he had been famous for his beautiful face. Stories circulated about Alphas from other schools lining up at the school gates to see him, and Alphas from his own school constantly fighting to protect him.

Of course, these stories weren’t rumors or online testimonials, but anecdotes Yeo Junghyun himself had repeated countless times on television.

“Sunbaenim!”

＊＊＊＊＊

As if wearing pheromones like perfume, an unpleasant scent wafted over as soon as the door opened. If he invited him inside the van, the entire space would be saturated with his scent, which would be unbearable. Siheon had no choice but to step out of the car, slam the door shut to keep the smell out, and lean against the van.

“Sunbaenim, I missed you so much!”

Me? Siheon first met Yeo Junghyun when he appeared as a supporting actor in one of his films early in his career.

At the time, Yeo Junghyun didn’t have many scenes, and even those he did have rarely involved Siheon. Afterwards, their active periods didn’t overlap due to Siheon’s marriage.

That’s why Siheon had encountered him more frequently at parties accompanied by Cha Wonwoo than on set. But even then, Yeo Junghyun hadn’t been particularly friendly towards him at these parties.

Every time they met, Yeo Junghyun was busy fawning over Alphas. He was incredibly good at flattering and acting cute.

Siheon hated this expression, but there was no better way to describe him. ‘A Dominant Omega acting like an Omega’. Someone who reinforced people’s prejudices and stereotypes.

Hiding his displeasure, Siheon gave a casual nod to his much younger junior. “Yeah, it’s been a while.”

“Right? I almost forgot what you looked like, sunbaenim.”

Forgot what he looked like? Even though he hadn’t filmed any projects since his marriage, Siheon’s commercials were constantly on TV. His name hadn’t budged from the top spot in brand reputation rankings for advertising models. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the low-level provocation.

Kang San, sensing something was up, got out of the car and started observing them from a distance, keeping a protective eye on his actor.

Yeo Junghyun acknowledged Kang San. “You’re the Beta manager, right? I’ve seen you before.” He didn’t even know his name. Despite his rude categorization of people by secondary gender, he shamelessly offered the coffee he was holding.

“I brought this for you, sunbaenim.”

“Thanks, but I don’t drink coffee.”

Even though he drank coffee like water, he would decline anything offered by Yeo Junghyun. When Siheon politely refused, Yeo Junghyun’s eyebrows twitched.

“I’m sorry. I came because I thought you might need some coffee since you’re having a hard time these days, sunbaenim.”

“Am I having a hard time?”

“Huh?”

“Who told you that? Kang San, was it you?”

He deliberately asked Kang San, who shook his head. “Our hyungnim isn’t having a hard time? What are you talking about?” He even added a convincing line, unprompted. Siheon chuckled and looked ahead.

“I’ll just accept the coffee in spirit.”

Since there was no sincerity behind it, it was the same as not accepting anything. The tips of Yeo Junghyun’s fingers, holding the coffee, turned white.

“Oh, okay. Then I have no choice. I’ll take the coffee back then.”

Take the ‘coffee’ back? He was implying that the Lumière advertisement had been transferred to him. Siheon crossed his arms and shrugged.

“Yeah, take as much as you can while you can. It doesn’t seem like you’ll be able to take much.”

At Siheon’s unfazed reply, Yeo Junghyun changed the subject. “I’m glad you’re not having a hard time, sunbaenim. I was worried. Dating a Dominant Alpha isn’t easy, is it? Both you and Mr. Cha Wonwoo are good people… but it seems like it wasn’t meant to be.”

Siheon was too tired to even get angry at the condescending consolation.

Yeo Junghyun was obsessed with Alphas with wealth and power. Cha Wonwoo was a prime example. Of course, it hadn’t worked with Cha Wonwoo, and he had only embarrassed himself, but still. He hadn’t even had a proper conversation with him, yet he was calling him a ‘good person’.

He was subtly trying to provoke Siheon by insinuating some kind of connection with Cha Wonwoo, but it wasn’t working.

“You worry too much, our hoobae.”

“Not at all. Don’t worry too much. You’ll both find someone good soon enough.”

“Thanks. Are you still seeing that person?”

“That person?”

“Oh, not a lover, a sponsor, was it? My memory is a little fuzzy. You date so many people.”

Yeo Junghyun’s face flushed crimson. He should have known better than to push it this far, but unwilling to back down, he smiled even wider, ignoring his trembling lips.

“I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. Oh, will you introduce me to someone, sunbaenim? You’ve been there, done that. With your connections, you must know a lot of decent Alphas. I don’t have any conditions, as long as they’re an Alpha. Divorced is fine too.”

“Divorced?”

“Yes, like Mr. Cha Wonwoo?”

At the mention of that incomprehensible name, Kang San, who was standing nearby, flinched. Siheon glanced at him and signaled him to stay back, then looked directly at Yeo Junghyun.

“I’d love to introduce you to someone good, hoobae.”

“…….”

“But good people want to be introduced to other good people.”

Flustered by Siheon’s words, Yeo Junghyun could only open and close his mouth without saying anything.

Seriously. Why pick a fight he couldn’t win? The person whose contract was actually terminated was staying quiet.

Regaining his composure, Yeo Junghyun forced a smile. “I guess my reputation isn’t very good.”

He wasn’t a bad person, just had a bad reputation? Siheon shook his head. Yet, Yeo Junghyun continued undeterred, “But rumors are like that. Sunbaenim, there were rumors that you and Mr. Cha Wonwoo were in a sponsorship relationship, but that wasn’t true, was it?”

This guy really has no sense of boundaries. Was he obsessed with Cha Wonwoo, or obsessed with the fact that Siheon had been married to him? Thankfully, Cha Wonwoo wasn’t here. If he were… Siheon didn’t even want to imagine it.

“I heard the Lumière manager is a handsome Alpha. You had a long contract with them, sunbaenim. Did you meet him? I was hoping to see him at the shoot, but he didn’t come. I was a little disappointed. If he had come, who knows? Maybe I could have gotten his business card and formed a good relationship, like you, sunbaenim.”

A business card implying sponsorship. Like Siheon. A good relationship. Yeo Junghyun’s words became increasingly sharp, all aimed at Siheon.

It wasn’t just his words. Whether intentional or not, Yeo Junghyun’s pheromones were also making Siheon uncomfortable. Confronted head-on by the disgusting pheromones of a fellow Omega, a sudden, blinding pain twisted his insides, turning his vision white.

An actor who couldn’t even control his emotions and resorted to using pheromones like this.

One thing was for sure: Yeo Junghyun was someone he didn’t want to deal with, as a person, an actor, or even as a fellow secondary gendered individual.

Gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, Siheon spoke. “Junghyun, you should be grateful the Lumière manager didn’t come today.”

“What do you mean?”

“If he had seen us together today, he would have regretted changing models, wouldn’t he?”

“……!”

“And about the business card. Even if he had given one out, it would have been to me, not you.”

The iced coffee slipped from Yeo Junghyun’s hand. It hit the ground with a thud, splattering everywhere. With nothing left to hold, Yeo Junghyun clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. Aggressive pheromones erupted from the trembling man.

Kang San, being a Beta, wouldn’t know, but right now, Siheon was being unilaterally assaulted by Yeo Junghyun’s aggressive pheromones.

Moreover, one was a Dominant, the other a Recessive.

Yeo Junghyun must be doing this thinking Siheon was a typical Omega, just trying to put him in his place, but for a Recessive like Siheon, it was violent and threatening.

“If you’re done talking, go inside. Don’t just stand there.”

“You seem really fine, sunbaenim. They say people are usually devastated after a divorce. But you seem perfectly normal. Confident, even.”

Before turning to get back into the van, Siheon suppressed his nausea and smiled leisurely.

“Exactly.”

“…….”

“Even after getting divorced, I’m still better than you. Junghyun.”

“…….”

“Getting caught up in sponsorships can ruin you in an instant. Don’t do anything that could make you vulnerable. Focus on your acting.”

Patting Yeo Junghyun’s shoulder, pushing through the invisible waves of pheromones, Siheon got into the car without hesitation and closed the door.

“……!”

He couldn’t hold on any longer. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the seat. His body trembled from the shock. Clutching his chest, he struggled to breathe.

＊＊＊＊＊

Siheon’s head pounded as if his heart had escaped and lodged itself in his brain.

Through the ringing in his ears, the doctor’s words came in fragments.

‘However, Siheon, you also need to be extremely careful not to be exposed to the pheromones of other differentiated individuals. This includes other omegas. Especially aggressive pheromones. There’s no telling how your body will react if stimulated.’

Siheon coughed, his eyes bloodshot from the lack of air. Saliva dribbled down the corners of his mouth as he struggled to breathe. The hand not clutching his chest gripped the sheet as if to tear it.

Click. The door opened, and Kang San got into the driver’s seat.

“What a crazy bastard,” Kang San clicked his tongue, watching Yeo Jeonghyeon stomp back to the set in a fit of rage.

“What’s his problem? Guys like him need a serious attitude adjustment. Though, I doubt they’d learn their lesson even then. Right, hyungnim?”

“…….”

“Hyungnim?”

The lack of response sent a chill down Kang San’s spine. He swiveled around, a strange feeling washing over him, and his blood ran cold when he saw Siheon’s pale face.

“Hyungnim!”

He scrambled out of the driver’s seat, not even bothering to open the door, and tumbled into the back, grabbing Siheon’s shoulders.

“Hyungnim! Wake up!”

Kang San’s face also began to lose color as he gently shook Siheon’s shoulders, careful not to use too much force.

“Haah…….”

Siheon gasped, his blurry vision slowly focusing.

“Next schedule… canceled, right?”

A raspy voice squeezed through his labored breaths.

“Yes! It’s canceled.”

“Then… hospital….”

“Yes, yes! I’ll take you to the hospital! Where does it hurt? What happened suddenly… did that Yeo Jeonghyeon do something to you, hyungnim?”

Come to think of it, Yeo Jeonghyeon was a well-known dominant omega, and Siheon was a recessive omega. As a beta, the thought that Yeo Jeonghyeon might have done something to Siheon without his knowledge made Kang San’s heart sink.

His hyungnim was in pain right in front of him, and he hadn’t even noticed.

But now wasn’t the time to berate himself for being a terrible manager.

“Hyungnim, please don’t fall asleep. Okay?”

Contrary to Kang San’s desperate plea, something else came out of Siheon’s mouth. A gush of bright red blood.

“Hyungnim!”

Everything seemed to be stained red. Siheon gasped, forcing out a strangled voice.

“CH Hospital… No…”

“Huh?”

Kang San leaned closer, trying to catch Siheon’s fading words. He pieced together the barely audible phrases, figuring it meant something like, ‘Not CH Foundation Hospital.’

“Okay. Hyungnim, don’t worry, just hang in there. Okay?”

Kang San scrambled back to the driver’s seat. The only place that came to mind was the hospital where Siheon had recently been receiving counseling.

With a destination in mind, there was no reason to hesitate. Gritting his teeth, Kang San slammed on the accelerator.

＊＊＊＊＊

Siheon’s consciousness drifted, replaying memories from around the time he’d brought up the divorce.

‘Will this happen again? We got through this time, but what about next time? And the time after that?’

That wasn’t how he’d meant to say it, accusingly. It wasn’t Wonwoo’s fault. Why are you crying like that, it makes me feel worse. Wonwoo. He reached out to comfort the lonely figure, but his hand couldn’t connect. Wonwoo… Cha Wonwoo….

“……nim… Hyungnim!”

Someone was calling him. The voice was muffled, as if coming from behind a curtain. Siheon strained to hear it.

“Hyungnim!”

Siheon’s eyes flew open, and Kang San frantically pressed the call button beside the bed.

“Hyungnim! Are you awake?”

Siheon’s eyes were open, but he clutched his throat, gasping for air like someone pulled from deep water. He kept inhaling, but it felt like he couldn’t get enough oxygen. He’d been breathing fine when he was unconscious.

“Hyungnim!”

As Kang San paced anxiously, Director Yoo Yeono and the medical team rushed into the room.

“Mr. Kang Siheon.”

Siheon “saw” Director Yoo Yeono approach with a grim expression and explain something. He couldn’t hear anything. All he could do was shake his head.

Director Yoo Yeono sighed and injected something through the IV. Siheon wasn’t even sure if he actually saw that.

He was already being sucked into an endless darkness.

Once again, everything went black.

When he woke up again, half a day had passed. This time, he wasn’t gasping for breath, just a little dazed. He slowly turned his head and saw Kang San huddled on the hospital room sofa.

“Ahem.”

Siheon cleared his throat, and the on-edge Kang San’s eyes snapped open. He scrambled to the bed.

“Hyungnim, oh, your throat must be sore. It’s a bit swollen. Don’t talk. Have some lukewarm water first. Yes, drink it all.”

Siheon sipped the water, piecing together the events before he collapsed. Losing the commercial gig, meeting Yeo Jeonghyeon, being exposed to the aggressive dominant omega’s pheromones. He seemed to have coughed up some blood, too….

“You must have been worried,” Siheon said, returning the cup. His voice was rough, as if he’d scraped his vocal cords on asphalt. Kang San looked at him with concern, clutching the cup tightly.

“Of course! I was terrified!”

Siheon lay back down, asking the most pressing question.

“Did anyone else see me besides you, Kang San?”

“No.”

“Any news articles?”

“Nothing went out.”

“Did you suppress it?”

“No. The reporters don’t know. You collapsed in the car. I drove straight here after that. Oh, and I reported to CEO Heo right away. He came, but he just left because of some urgent business. And hyungnim…”

Kang San hesitated, then bowed his head in apology. He blamed himself for not assessing the situation properly. Siheon waved him off, telling him it wasn’t his fault.

“It wasn’t your fault, so don’t beat yourself up about it.”

“Okay… Also, CEO Heo was furious that you hadn’t received the contract renewal notice. The person in charge recently resigned, and it seems the handover wasn’t done properly. He said he’ll deal with the relevant department head according to company regulations.”

“Alright. First, let CEO Heo know I’m awake, so he doesn’t worry.”

“Yes, sir….”

Kang San’s shoulders slumped as he left to tell the nurse Siheon was awake. He must have been really shaken up.

Siheon swallowed with difficulty, his throat swollen, and looked around the empty hospital room.

The hospital wasn’t very large, so the room was small, but it had everything a single room should. He was satisfied just not being at the CH Group Foundation Hospital.

“Mr. Kang Siheon, I’m coming in.”

Director Yoo Yeono, who had rushed over after hearing Siheon was awake, didn’t look happy. Feeling guilty, Siheon sat up and avoided his gaze. A doctor’s interrogation was scarier than any injection.

He mumbled that he’d been careful but it happened anyway. Director Yoo cut him off.

“It couldn’t be helped. The other party was the one being unreasonable.”

What if he had ignored Yeo Jeonghyeon’s taunts or ended the conversation sooner? Dwelling on the past was useless, but he couldn’t help but feel regret.

“Siheon, you’ll experience some emotional fluctuations for a while. It’s because of the pheromone effects, so try to clear your mind and focus on what’s ahead, okay?”

Director Yoo Yeono pulled up a chair beside Siheon’s bed and showed him a tablet.

“I’ll explain your condition again, Siheon. While you were married, your pheromones were stabilized by mixing with your husband’s pheromones. When that suddenly stopped, your pheromones became unstable. After you started taking the medication to reduce pheromone sensitivity, the levels worsened further. See here?”

The graph the director pointed to was erratic. The pheromone imbalance was clear.

“Now, this is your pheromone level recorded after the chip implantation. As you can see, although it was unstable, it was within a safe range until now. But now it’s completely out of range, right? It’s fluctuating between extremes.”

In other words, Siheon’s body was repeatedly switching between a beta state with no pheromones and an omega state releasing a massive amount of pheromones to protect itself.

＊＊＊＊＊

Director Yoo Yeono explained that Siheon wasn’t feeling pain because of the narcotic analgesics. He warned that excruciating pain would follow once the medication wore off.

“But continuously blocking the pain with analgesics isn’t a cure. Ultimately, we need to stabilize your pheromones. The best way to do that right now is to use your ex-husband’s alpha pheromones to help regulate yours.”

Before the director could finish, Siheon asked urgently, “What about someone else? Isn’t there another way?”

Director Yoo Yeono shook his head.

“Your body is extremely vulnerable to external pheromones right now. Trying with another alpha’s pheromones could be irreversible.”

“But we could try.”

“No. I don’t recommend it. There are already pheromones your body can safely accept, so there’s no need to take such risks.”

“What about waiting for my body to recover on its own?”

Director Yoo Yeono described the intensity of the pain that would entail, almost as a warning. He said that even as the current analgesics wore off, sitting would become impossible, and even breathing would be difficult. He insisted it was no different from having no other options.

“I understand how uncomfortable this is for you, Siheon.”

Because it’s your divorced ex-husband. Director Yoo Yeono continued, as if understanding his predicament.

“The important thing is to get your pheromone levels back within a safe range. We need to raise it to at least the level it was before you collapsed, so we can proceed.”

Even in his dazed state, Siheon could foresee all sorts of headaches. He was about to ask for some time to think, to see if he could endure it for a few days when the door burst open.

“Kang Siheon!”

Cha Wonwoo. He burst in, his face contorted.

“Haah… Kang… Si…heon.”

His face and the exposed skin above his shirt collar were flushed, as if he had been sprinting. As he approached, Siheon could see his sweat-drenched forehead. His usually neatly styled hair was disheveled, and the hem of his shirt was untucked, a far cry from his usual composed appearance.

Upon seeing Siheon, his strength seemed to drain away. He leaned against the wall, catching his breath.

“…….”

“…….”

Only Cha Wonwoo’s panting filled the silent room. He regained his composure, then walked towards the bed with stiff steps.

Siheon braced himself for an embrace, but Cha Wonwoo just examined him from head to toe, his trembling hand briefly brushing against Siheon’s hair before quickly retracting.

Siheon caught the retreating hand. Normally, Cha Wonwoo would have blushed with pleasure, but now he flinched, desperately trying to pull his hand away.

“Cha Wonwoo.”

Though his body was weak, Siheon held on tight with both hands, preventing Cha Wonwoo from escaping.

“Cha Wonwoo.”

Cha Wonwoo’s face was as white as the hospital walls. Who was the patient again? Siheon gently stroked Cha Wonwoo’s cold hand as he called his name.

“Wonwoo.”

Warmly.

“I’m okay.”

Gently.

“I’m fine.”

Reassuringly.

“Can I hug you?”

Soothingly.

“…….”

“…….”

Cha Wonwoo’s wandering eyes finally focused on Siheon. The moment someone’s image was captured in those dark eyes was always mesmerizing.

Instead of asking how he found him, Siheon instinctively comforted him. Fortunately, Cha Wonwoo stopped struggling and relaxed in the warmth and gaze. How much time passed? As soon as Siheon loosened his grip, Cha Wonwoo reached out and hugged him tightly, as if afraid to lose him. Very tightly.

Siheon, held so tightly it hurt, carefully placed his hand on Cha Wonwoo’s back. He patted him gently. Under his soothing touch, Cha Wonwoo’s breathing gradually steadied.

“…….”

“…….”

Only when Cha Wonwoo’s breathing calmed did Siheon finally breathe a sigh of relief.

After a brief silence, Cha Wonwoo spoke through gritted teeth, “Was it those bastards?”

His voice was low and menacing.

Siheon’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“No. It wasn’t like that. There was a problem during a schedule.”

He tried to pull away, but Cha Wonwoo didn’t budge.

“Don’t lie.”

“No, really. The director is right there, ask him.”

Siheon passed the conversation to Director Yoo Yeono, who had quietly retreated to a corner to observe. The suddenly addressed director cleared his throat.

“Ahem.”

Sensing another presence, Cha Wonwoo instinctively pulled Siheon closer, protectively, and glared at the man. He seemed to have just realized there was someone else in the room.

A strange tension filled the air between the doctor and the protective figure.

Director Yoo Yeono, as if dealing with a wild animal, raised both hands to show he meant no harm, then explained what had happened to Siheon and his current condition. He only talked about what happened that day, omitting the counseling sessions and the post-divorce issues, which Siheon was grateful for.

“…So, the top priority is for Mr. Cha Wonwoo to provide pheromone leading to stabilize Mr. Kang Siheon’s pheromone levels.”

Cha Wonwoo, who had been sitting stiffly, immediately turned to Siheon as the explanation ended, his dry lips parting.

“Come home.”

His expression was cold, but his voice was pleading.

Siheon refused.

“No. Home? That’s your home, not mine.”

Cha Wonwoo, looking exhausted and pale, ran a hand over his face and took Siheon’s hand.

“I don’t have the energy to argue. Just come home. If you want to leave, after you get better… you can leave then.”

Cha Wonwoo looked so awful that Siheon knew any refusal would be futile. His piercing gaze was relentless. As the silence stretched, Cha Wonwoo pleaded,

“Hyung… please…”

It seemed Cha Wonwoo’s desperate plea had softened Director Yoo Yeono’s heart, rather than Siheon’s. The director, having witnessed the divorced couple’s poignant situation, intervened.

“If you two live together, it can shorten the time it takes for Siheon’s pheromone levels to stabilize. Even if one of you is out, the pheromones remain in the house, providing continuous exposure.”

He verbally encouraged cohabitation, while his eyes firmly conveyed that there was no other way.

“How about living together for two weeks to a month? We can adjust the duration based on your levels during that time.”

Siheon groaned inwardly. His heat cycle would be approaching in the next two or three months. Having divorced, Siheon no longer had an alpha to spend his cycle with, so he needed to stabilize his pheromone levels before then, so he could take suppressants. In this troublesome situation, Siheon let out a quiet moan of distress.

What would he say if the group, especially Chairman Cha Hyeoncheol, found out? It wasn’t just the chairman. What if they were photographed? The moment it became public, rumors would run rampant. Kang Siheon, unable to accept the divorce, clinging to Cha Wonwoo under the guise of pheromones, or something like that.

Cha Wonwoo, sensing his worry, gently rubbed the back of Siheon’s hand with his thumb.

“I know you don’t trust me, hyung. Just now… Anyway, I know, but I can shield you from everything for a month.”

“…….”

“Hyung.”

Siheon let out a heavy sigh and reluctantly made up his mind. At least two weeks, at most a month. He repeated that to himself.

“I don’t think we should be together all day long. We’ll just sleep together.”

As he accepted with conditions, Cha Wonwoo stared intently at him with a dissatisfied expression, then nodded. He knew Siheon wouldn’t concede any further.

“But you come to my house to sleep, hyung. That way you’ll be exposed to my pheromones more.”

As the two finally reached an agreement, Director Yoo Yeono quickly informed them of the precautions.

“I’ll give you a detailed list later, but I’ll tell you the most important thing first. Until Siheon’s levels stabilize, any major pheromone-induced stimulation is absolutely prohibited.”

He emphasized it again, as if worried the divorced couple wouldn’t understand.

“Absolutely no sexual intercourse.”

＊＊＊＊＊

They were given a day’s grace.

Siheon needed more painkillers, and he was scheduled for additional tests the next morning. Following Director Yoo Yeono’s instructions that he couldn’t be discharged yet, Siheon ended up staying overnight.

“Go home.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“How can I not worry when you’re that big and you say you’ll sleep on that sofa?”

“What about my size? It’s a perfect fit. Comfortable.”

Even though it was just one night, Cha Wonwoo insisted on staying. Siheon looked pleadingly at Director Yoo Yeono, but he seemed to think it was a good idea.

‘If you release your pheromones in the room, he’ll be able to sleep soundly even when the painkillers wear off in the early morning. Oh, but not too strongly. He shouldn’t be overstimulated. Today, don’t make direct contact, just release them so they float in the air.’

He then turned off all the lights except for a dim lamp, saying Siheon should rest, and left.

Kang San, his manager, had long since left for the day, intimidated by Cha Wonwoo’s presence, promising to return early the next morning.

Thanks to that, Cha Wonwoo was left alone with Siheon in the room, lying on the sofa, loosely covered with a pale blue hospital blanket. The single room sofa wasn’t small, but it looked cramped for his large frame.

“You have to go to work early tomorrow, too.”

“I’ll leave quietly so I don’t wake you.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. When did I ever complain about that?”

“Never. Not once during our entire marriage.”

“…Anyway, you’re going to work all day after leaving early, so why bother sleeping uncomfortably here?”

“I’m not uncomfortable.”

It was going in circles. Siheon felt bad about wasting his energy on a pointless argument. He gave up with a wry smile.

“Fine, sleep. Sleep. But remember you can leave anytime if you’re uncomfortable.”

“You should worry about yourself.”

Cha Wonwoo’s tired and weary voice made Siheon’s heart ache. He turned off the dim lamp with the control next to his bed. The only light in the room came from the window.

Night follows day, and ruin follows the storm. Their love had been no different.

“…….”

“…….”

Neither man could fall asleep easily. The hiss of the humidifier, puffing out a steady stream of moisture at regular intervals, broke the silence.

Siheon turned on his side and stared at Cha Wonwoo lying on the sofa.

He traced the lines of his form in the dim light filtering through the window, slowly from head to toe.

Siheon’s neatly trimmed fingernails also traced the lines of the bedsheet under the blanket. Following his eyes, as if sketching Cha Wonwoo’s figure.

“I suddenly wondered…”

Siheon spoke, feeling like he would spend the whole night listening to Cha Wonwoo’s breathing if he didn’t say something.

“How did you know? CEO Heo? Kang San?”

Cha Wonwoo, covering his eyes with his arm, replied, his voice hoarse, “Surveillance. Location tracking. Background checks. Anything you can think of. That’s the answer.”

That figures.

“You know, I’m letting it slide, but that’s borderline stalker behavior.”

“Stalker. Someone who deliberately follows someone else, regardless of their wishes, and poses a threat to them.”

Cha Wonwoo responded without hesitation, like an answering machine or an AI.

“…You memorize stuff like that too?”

“Hyung.”

A voice even more moist than the humidifier called Siheon’s name.

“I won’t threaten you. I won’t hurt you, no matter what.”

“…….”

“So, please don’t get sick or injured anymore.”

“…….”

“Please.”

Siheon pulled the blanket up to his chin. Cha Wonwoo’s plea entered his ears and flowed into his heart. He felt cold and hurt, as if the pain had transferred. Still, he didn’t want to show it. He pretended to be nonchalant.

“Don’t you know how tough I am? You know how hard it is to have a 20-year accident-free acting career? Today was unavoidable because of Yeo Jeonghyeon. Okay? It’s not a big deal. Don’t lose sleep worrying about it. I’m bored. Want to play word chain?”

He suggested a game he didn’t want to play to change the subject. I’ll refuse any rejections. Siheon quickly added, starting the game on his own.

“I’ll go first. Prayer.”

“Don’t run away.”

“Word chain is with words. Let’s start over. Peach.”

“Don’t get sick.”

“Are you going to use a sacred word chain game as a messenger? Be serious this time. Doctor.”

Siheon bit his tongue as soon as he said it. He had casually said the word because they were in the hospital, and Director Yoo Yeono came to mind. But what words starting with ‘D’ could Cha Wonwoo possibly respond with? Even during a word chain game, all he thought about was conveying his feelings.

“Cancel, cancel. Let’s do it again. Um…”

As Siheon scrambled to recover, Cha Wonwoo suddenly said,

“Diamond.”

“Huh?”

“It starts with a ‘D’, right? Diamond.”

It does…

Siheon was dumbfounded, feeling deflated. He continued the word chain in a strange mood. Diamond. Dragon. Onset. Television. Visionary. Meaningless words strung together. Before long, Siheon won with “Joy,” but he didn’t feel joyful at all.

“We should have set a penalty. Winning doesn’t feel like winning.”

Siheon mumbled, and Cha Wonwoo immediately replied,

“This situation is already a penalty for me.”

Siheon, unable to retort, shut his mouth. Regardless of their relationship, he felt sorry for surprising Cha Wonwoo. The word chain ended awkwardly, leaving a strange and apologetic feeling.

“…….”

“…….”

Meanwhile, Cha Wonwoo’s pheromones had filled the room with warmth.

His gentle pheromones settled everywhere, dispelling the heavy darkness, the damp air, everything that disturbed Siheon’s peaceful night.

“…….”

“…….”

It was hard to tell if it was the medicine or Cha Wonwoo’s pheromones making him drowsy. As sleep began to creep in, Siheon blinked his heavy eyelids.

“You know, Kang San briefly mentioned earlier…”

“Manager.”

“Huh?”

“Manager.”

“Oh, yeah… My manager briefly mentioned that you liked my photo in the middle of the night. Someone saw it and spread the word, and now it’s all over the place.”

“I could have spread it myself.”

Oh, is that so? But there’s no reason for you to do that. His mind was hazy. He felt the familiar pheromones gently enveloping him, soothingly. Of course, as Director Yoo Yeono had instructed, there was no direct contact.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips. His speech slowed, slurring.

It felt like he was lying in their newlywed home. Like those times they lay in bed before going to sleep, talking about their day.

Like the times when the one who got sleepy first would ramble incoherently, not even aware of what they were saying, and the other would listen quietly, wishing each other a peaceful rest and sweet dreams.

“Hyung, are you asleep?”

He wasn’t fully asleep yet, but he wasn’t awake enough to answer. Somewhere between sleep and reality, he vaguely heard Cha Wonwoo’s voice.

Did you eat the candy I gave you?

No, I put it in my pocket and took it home.

He wasn’t sure if he actually heard those words or if he answered. Only a vague feeling remained, a sense of having been held in familiar arms all night long.

＊＊＊＊＊

When he woke up in the morning, the sofa where Cha Wonwoo had spent the night was neatly arranged, with no trace of him ever having been there.

Just as Siheon started to wonder if it had all been a dream, he noticed a tacky sky-blue blanket nestled in his arms. The neatly folded blanket carried a familiar scent. His own blanket was untouched, so this was definitely the one Cha Wonwoo had used.

And that wasn’t all. The room was filled with Cha Wonwoo’s pheromones, every nook and cranny. It seemed he’d saturated the room with his scent for Siheon’s sake before leaving.

“Hyungnim~ Time to wake up for breakfast… Oh, you’re awake?”

“Yeah, you really did come to work here?”

“Yes, sir! I have to come early to take care of you. You just woke up, so you might not have an appetite, but please eat at least a few bites.”

Kang San adjusted the table attached to the bed and placed the meal tray down. Siheon did feel a lack of appetite, and his diet restrictions for work made his stomach churn at the sight of food. Still, in his current state, he had to force himself to eat to recover quickly.

As Siheon picked up a spoon and was about to take a sip of the hot soup, click—! The familiar sound of a camera shutter went off.