TRIPLE 32

“That could also be one of the options.”

Beom Yisu retorted indifferently. In the first place, a surrogate mother itself was not a weakness. It was a natural sequence for an Alpha couple to need a successor, and it was a method that had already become solidified as a custom within chaebol families.

The problem was Beom Yisu’s Omega aversion. The moment that fact leaked out, cracks would form in the shell he had maintained perfectly until now. A perfect Dominant Alpha and the successor to Beomyeong. He could not be caught for the flaw hidden behind all those terms.

The moment an owner risk arose for Beom Yisu, there was a sufficient possibility that the atmosphere inside the construction firm would tilt toward Director Yoon. The share structure was barely maintaining its balance even now. If only a few executives turned their backs, the flow could change in an instant.

After quickly organizing that calculation in his head, Beom Yisu deliberately spoke lightly.

“For now, we should enjoy our honeymoon.”

It was a relaxed answer not like him. Fortunately, Director Yoon did not seem to have noticed yet just how dangerous a variable the existence of Hong Siyeon was. If he had known, it wouldn’t have ended at the level of testing him like this.

“Well, that’s good too. You’re still young.”

He straightened his tie as if pretending to retreat obediently. Then, he slowly raised his body from the seat.

“But you know, Yisu. At your position, gossip attaches itself to even a single action. Like reporters.”

“It sounds like you intend to attach a reporter to me, Uncle.”

“Of course not. I just meant it would be troublesome if you go around digging into this and that for no reason, and things you don’t want are dragged out.”

He, who had been heading toward the door, stopped his steps. And after hesitating for a very short moment, he added in a voice mixed with laughter.

“Whether it’s family business or the Nagwon-dong matter, it means I can shoulder it with you anytime if it’s too much for you, so don’t get sick by holding it in alone for no reason.”

As Director Yoon left, Beom Yisu rubbed his throbbing forehead. He felt down because he seemed to have consumed useless energy ahead of the afternoon meeting.

In the midst of that, what first came to mind in his head were matters concerning Hong Siyeon. He needed to accurately confirm where the information related to Hong Siyeon had leaked out and how much Director Yoon knew.

“Secretary Han.”

At Beom Yisu’s call, Secretary Han, who had been waiting, entered immediately.

“Let’s re-examine the mansion personnel.”

“To what extent should I set the scope?”

At Secretary Han’s question, Beom Yisu thought for a moment before opening his mouth.

“All of them, without omission.”

Of course, it didn’t take long for that instruction to reach the mansion.

∞ ∞ ∞

“CEO, are you going to be late again today?”

“It is a situation where it is difficult to convey the schedule clearly.”

“Then, are you going to do it before going to work again today?”

“That would be better.”

A week had already passed since Siyeon first exchanged pheromones with Beom Yisu. After breaking the ice, they had decided to continue pheromone exchanges every day for adaptation, but… for some reason, Beom Yisu had seemed busier since that day.

As it didn’t seem to be a problem that could be solved in a short time, he had been taking time before work to continue the pheromone exchange for the past few days. He couldn’t keep skipping work just because he was busy. Honestly, receiving pheromones from him also seemed to naturally suppress the side effects of his un-heat.

‘If I had known it would be helpful, couldn’t I have just received it from Chae Yoonoh?’

Such a thought suddenly occurred, but it was questionable how much of a matching rate he would have with Chae Yoonoh. Of course, since he was one of the main characters, there was no way the chemistry would be bad, but since there were already many variables from the un-heat, it didn’t seem bad to be careful.

Whoosh.

While he was distracted by various thoughts, cool pheromones poured out unexpectedly.

“Ugh… ugh.”

Siyeon glanced at Beom Yisu standing in front of him without any change in expression.

‘Damn it, you could’ve warned me.’

After receiving them a few times, he knew. It was the fascinating fact that the pheromones felt slightly different depending on his condition.

One day it was like a cozy winter night with falling snow, and other days, it was like being thrown onto an icy plain, making him wake up instantly. But today, his condition didn’t seem too bad. He was just starting to get used to it, surrounded by his pleasantly cool pheromones.

“Come closer.”

“…Why?”

When he asked back at the out-of-the-blue suggestion, Beom Yisu looked down at Siyeon steadily as if he had something to say. After a moment of silence, he spoke in a low voice.

“Let me hug you once.”

Crazy. Was he still not fully awake? No, he woke up after a full eight hours of sleep today. Or did he hear an auditory hallucination?

It was a line Beom Yisu would never have said, so Siyeon blinked his eyes without being able to answer for a moment.

“It is to check the pheromone adaptation stage.”

It might be his imagination, but for a moment, the corners of Beom Yisu’s eyes seemed to curve slightly. Before he could even examine his expression—which was ambiguous as to whether he had smiled or not—he pulled him close immediately afterward.

“W-wait….”

In an instant, his body was half-buried in Beom Yisu’s arms. As much as the distance had narrowed, the winter scent wafting from him became suddenly thick. As a startled Siyeon instinctively tried to push him away, large hands wrapped tightly around his back.

He had felt a similar sensation when he stood close to Chae Yoonoh before, too. But Beom Yisu was different from him. If Chae Yoonoh had a long and well-proportioned physique, Beom Yisu had a feel that was more solid than that.

Is it because he’s an Alpha? Or are these two particularly special? He couldn’t be sure since he hadn’t properly experienced other Alphas yet. However, at least, it was clear that Beom Yisu and Chae Yoonoh were guys who were far from the ordinary standard.

“Stay like this for a moment. It will be over soon.”

He could feel his body temperature and breath closing in under his thin shirt. To think that two guys were hugging each other since dawn. He didn’t feel very good about it, but whether by misfortune or fortune, he was now at a stage where he felt stability rather than repulsion toward his scent.

Trying to shake off the mushy feeling caused by his good pheromone compatibility with him, Siyeon, who had swallowed his breath briefly, rolled his eyes for no reason.

As Siyeon wriggled in his arms, the arms holding him tightened ever so slightly. Perhaps because the contact area had widened, his dull heartbeat was transmitted directly across his chest.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Unlike his indifferent face, his heartbeat was rougher than expected. No way, this human. Does he perhaps have an arrhythmia?

“CEO. Do you happen to have any chronic illnesses?”

“With what intention are you asking that question?”

“Just because. Well….”

It was a comment thrown to lighten the mood, but nothing improved. Rather, the strength in his arms that had been holding Siyeon tightly even loosened as if he were drained of energy.

“That’s enough now.”

Beom Yisu pulled his body away from Siyeon as if his business were done. At the same time, very suddenly, his pheromones, which had been spread thickly, cut off abruptly. The sound of the heartbeat that had been ringing in his ears until just a moment ago was still vivid, yet Beom Yisu was calmly tidying up his shirt sleeves as if nothing had happened.

“Done?”

“Why, do you want more?”

Siyeon narrowed his eyes as if the situation were absurd.

“Want more, what?”

“You looked like you wanted it.”

“You’re quite the joker. You must have a lot of pleasant things happening lately.”

Since he was saying something ridiculous not like him, he glared at him sharply. Then, Beom Yisu lifted his eyebrows and recited an arrogant line.

“If you have a lot, life isn’t boring.”

Yeah, you’re something, you jerk. Siyeon just wrinkled his face instead of retorting. Beom Yisu looked down at such a Siyeon for a moment and then, after a brief notice, turned his body.

“I’ll contact you if I’m going to be late. Get some rest.”

He disappeared to the end of the hallway in a moment. Had that man always been this busy? It seemed better than being stuck in the house all day, though….

Perhaps because his pheromones remained all over the house even after he left, he didn’t feel his absence like before. Siyeon, watching the spot where Beom Yisu had left, tapped the band on his wrist with his fingertips. It was a habit that had formed since he had been wearing the band for two weeks already.

“Huh? Why is this….”

The sensor was emitting a faint blue light, unlike before. It was in an ambiguous state—not completely stabilized, but not soared to dangerous levels either.

They had said orange was a warning and red was danger. What is blue?

“Did the battery die?”

It makes me nervous for no reason. He wanted to try messaging Chae Yoonoh, but he stopped himself soon after. He knew for a fact that the moment he contacted him, a response of useless fussing would come back.

He was stuck in an empty house all day, so he decided to take a relaxed mind, thinking, would something really go wrong? In any case, there wasn’t much he could do right now, anyway.

Right now, there were only two things Siyeon could do inside the mansion. Learning the mansion’s structure little by little, avoiding Mrs. Park’s eyes. And searching through the materials in the study.

Siyeon naturally headed toward the underground study.