DOTH Volume 3 Chapter 10.8

Jung Heeyeon’s gaze drifted from the spot where Kang Seoui had been sitting a moment earlier to Lee Haejin. Director Yeon didn’t miss it.

“Heeyeon. Why do you keep staring at other people like that? You’re going to make this director feel neglected.”

“Pardon? Oh, it’s not like that.”

Director Yeon narrowed his eyes slightly and looked down at the fidgeting hands. Whenever Jung Heeyeon had something to say, his hands would always fidget like that.

“I was just curious, that’s all.”

“Curious? Heeyeon, you should be clear. What are you curious about?”

“That drink.”

The amber liquid shimmered under the lights.

“Hmm, that caught your attention?”

“Yes. I just thought the color was pretty.”

“Do you want to try it?”

“Can I? I don’t think I can finish it… Then I’ll just have what you are drinking, Director.”

“Not like this. I’ll put some ice in it for you.”

Without hesitation, Director Yeon pulled the ice bucket closer and dropped a few cubes into his own glass. Knowing the man’s taste in whiskey, Lee Haejin made a baffled face. Director Yeon was someone who would never drink watered-down whiskey. He knew Director Yeon was adding the ice because Jung Heeyeon would be the one drinking it, but still couldn’t understand why he would bother putting ice into his own glass instead of just pouring a fresh one.

As he stared in disbelief, the door suddenly burst open again.

“Sweetheart, long time no see.”

Nam Soohyun entered the room, sweeping her long hair back.

“Hello, Chief Nam Soohyun.”

It wasn’t the first time she’d called him ‘sweetheart’, and Jung Heeyeon bowed politely in response.

“It’s been a while.”

Nam Soohyun casually shrugged off her coat and dropped onto the sofa beside Lee Haejin with a thud. A gust of cold air clung to the coat draped loosely over the cushions. It seemed her meeting with Kim Chulwoo had gone long.

“What about Kim Chulwoo?”

“Not even a hello now?”

Instead of greeting Nam Soohyun, the man who handed the crystal glass to Jung Heeyeon asked for Kim Chulwoo first.

As Jung Heeyeon listened to their exchange, he looked down at the glass of whiskey. The color was nothing like the alcohol he’d drunk before. If it needed to be diluted with ice, it must be pretty strong, but his curiosity was irresistible. The golden liquid slowly touched his lips.

“Mmph.”

His fair face scrunched up immediately. He hadn’t expected it to be sweet like the beer he’d tried before, but it was far stronger than he imagined. The scent had been nice on his smelling sense, but the moment it hit his tongue, the bitter sting overwhelmed him.

Why would the director drink this kind of stuff? As he gave a small cough, Director Yeon chuckled softly and handed him a glass of water. The gentle warmth playing at the corner of his lips carried a hint of teasing, as if he’d expected exactly this reaction.

“Haejin, is this bastard really Director Yeon?”

Nam Soohyun widened her eyes and made a dramatic fuss. She, too, was well aware of how obsessed Director Yeon had become with Jung Heeyeon. Even early on when they’d first met, he’d already been acting like that. If anything, she had expected it to have gotten worse, but she hadn’t imagined the man would go so far as to pause a business conversation just to take care of the omega.

It was only then that Nam Soohyun noticed the discordant presence of pheromones in the air. Just a moment ago she had been wondering why the man was letting his pheromones out, which was rare, but now she realized it wasn’t being released at the moment. What lingered in the air was the residue of pheromones he had poured over Jung Heeyeon. That explained the faintly sweet undertone.

Did they sleep together? Nam Soohyun tilted her chin with interest. Her sharp gaze took on a mischievous gleam.

“Isn’t that guy just a full-on thief? He had always looked at me with disgust for meeting younger kids, but now, look at him. He‘s worse than me.”

At her jab, Director Yeon made a face of annoyance, as if wondering which dog was barking now. The one caught off guard by the blunt accusation was Jung Heeyeon.

“Sweetheart, you shouldn’t be dating such a shady thief. He’s more than ten years older than you. You should find a fresh, young alpha.”

If was rich, coming from Nam Soohyun, who herself only dated young, fresh omegas. Sensing this golden opportunity to repay all the times she’d been on the receiving end of the man’s sharp tongue, she slyly jabbed at Director Yeon’s conscience. Sitting beside her, Lee Haejin sighed and wore a tired expression. At this point, the only thing he could do was sip the liquor in front of him.

“…Please don’t say bad things about the director.”

Jung Heeyeon, who had been quietly listening, frowned slightly and parted his lips to speak. Even under Nam Soohyun’s criticism, Director Yeon showed no trace of guilt. He simply lowered his gaze to study the omega’s pale face beside him. It looked like Jung Heeyeon had been biting his lips, one cheek was puffing out.

“Director Yeon is a good person… You’d feel bad too if someone talked badly about the person you like, wouldn’t you, Chief Nam?”

Though Jung Heeyeon said it in a serious tone, to Nam Soohyun, who had lived through many rough edges of the world, it only came off as adorable. Like a little puppy barking and tugging at her sleeve, thinking it could be threatening. She burst into laughter and teased him with a sly question.

“Why are you the one who’s upset, sweetheart.”

“Director Yeon is my lover. So please don’t insult him.”

His bold declaration made her freeze for a moment, wide-eyed and lost her breath. Next to him, Lee Haejin let out a choking cough.

“My lover said not to talk bad about me, Chief Nam.”

In the thick silence that followed, the only sound was Director Yeon’s low, amused laughter.

A low, satisfied hum rumbled from deep in Director Yeon’s throat, like a predator basking after a full meal. Nam Soohyun’s eyes flicked back and forth as she processed the situation. They said people would freeze when they’re too stunned—and that was exactly what was happening to her. Her gaze first landed on Director Yeon, then shifted to the omega sitting beside him.

When their eyes met, Jung Heeyeon subtly leaned forward, angling his upper body toward Director Yeon. It was like watching a tiny puppy yapping protectively in front of a lounging, big-sized tiger.

“Huhhh”

Nam Soohyun let out a short laugh, then knocked back the whiskey in front of her.

Clink!

The rough sound of the crystal glass hitting the table followed as she glared at Director Yeon. Do you even have a conscience, you bastard?

The man, who had been lounging comfortably against the back of the sofa, met her gaze and calmly slid an arm around Jung Heeyeon’s waist. Then, with calculated ease, he rested his chin on the omega’s shoulder. It was a blatant show of possessiveness and ownership. That crazy bastard. Nam Soohyun bit back a curse along with another hollow laugh.

That arrogant, effortless composure that only the powerful possessed. It only stoked the flames of her defiance.

“Sweetheart, that guy’s a shit. He’s not a good person.”

Sitting nearby, Lee Haejin tried to intervene. ‘Chief Nam, it won’t work. Let’s stop this.’ But Nam Soohyun was too riled up to hear him.

“Sweetheart, you don’t remember the first day you met him? In that container? That was an illegally smuggled container.”

“Pardon? Yes, I know. But Chief Nam, you’re the one who put me in there. Director Yeon was the one who got me out…”

Like Director Yeon, Nam Soohyun also dabbled in slight illegal activities, so she suddenly found herself speechless.

“Still, I don’t think you’re a bad person, Chief Nam. Whether someone’s good or bad is all relative, really.”

How does he talk like that, so sweetly? Nam Soohyun stared at the omega, who spoke calmly, without any change in expression. She couldn’t help but wonder how Yeon Woobeom had managed to win over an omega who only ever spoke in such sweet, gentle tones.

“That’s why the director is a good person to me. Please don’t insult my lover.”

Jung Heeyeon spoke to her in a composed tone. He worried briefly whether he sounded rude, but hearing insults about Director Yeon hurt him more than being insulted himself.

The hand wrapped around his waist slid upward, pressing gently against his cheek and tilting his head back.

“Heeyeon.”

Director Yeon softly called Jung Heeyeon’s name as he looked into the face drawn close to his.

“Go ahead and insult Chief Nam. She badmouthed your lover.”

“Pardon? No, I can’t badmouth someone…”

As the omega’s round, gentle eyes grew wider, Director Yeon let out a quiet laugh. What was he supposed to do with someone this sweet? He was going to be away for a few days, and it was already unbearable to think of being apart.

Director Yeon, unfazed by Nam Soohyun’s incredulous side-eye, lightly pressed a kiss to the upturned corner of Jung Heeyeon’s lips.

“Really, has he lost his mind? Is that really Yeon Woobeom? Lee Haejin, did you know about this?”

Nam Soohyun, dumbfounded, nudged Lee Haejin who was sitting beside her. Lee Haejin said nothing, simply sipping his whiskey in silence. Having known him for a long time, she could tell from his expression alone. He was craving soju now. Judging by Lee Haejin’s reaction, it seemed she was the only one who hadn’t known about Yeon Woobeom’s antics.

“I never thought I’d live to see Yeon Woobeom act like this. Seriously, the longer you live, the more you see.”

Snatching the drink Lee Haejin had been about to take, she downed the strong undiluted whiskey, and glared at Director Yeon again. All that talk about shared kinship, and now here he was, obviously head over heels for his young lover. She used to think he might one day put a bullet in his own head once the whole Chairman Jung situation was over, but seeing him now, that no longer seemed like a possibility.

“Don’t glare at Director Yeon.”

Wiggling in the man’s hold, Jung Heeyeon covered the man’s eyes. Beneath the small palm, the corners of the alpha’s lips still could be seen curving upward in amusement.

“Haaa…”

Nam Soohyun let out a sigh. Glaring, really? From her perspective, she’d simply been looking at him with concern. But apparently, insulting his lover had earned her Jung Heeyeon’s wary gaze.

Still, Nam Soohyun had always lived by her own rules. With one leg crossed over the other, she tilted her head, smiling playfully.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you come over to me instead? I’ll treat you even better.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I only like Director Yeon.”

“How on earth did Yeon Woobeom manage to seduce someone like you, really?”

“Pardon? But Director Yeon didn’t seduce me…”

The omega, who had been answering obediently all along, suddenly furrowed his brows in confusion.

“Then what?”

Those soft lips moved in seriousness.

“I was the one who seduced Director Yeon… and he fell for me.”

Nam Soohyun was utterly defeated.

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