* * *

Understanding Jungjin’s unspoken intent, Beomhyeon’s taut jaw clenched ever so slightly.

While the faint clash of pheromones from the four Alphas filled the room, completely unnoticed by Jungin, he relaxed his previously tense shoulders and greeted them warmly.

“Thanks, hyung.”

“Sure.”

Jungjin lightly brushed Jungin’s now softened cheek and ruffled his hair.

When Jungin reached for his cold tea, Jungjin stopped him gently, poured the remaining tea into his own cup, and served him fresh, steaming tea instead.

“But, kiddo.”

“Hmm?”

Jungin, nibbling on the sweet macarons Jungjin had offered him, raised his head while sipping his tea.

“Do you think you’re ready to go back to school?”

Jungjin’s fists tightened beneath the table as he observed Jungin’s reaction, recalling the disgraceful incident at school.

Though disciplinary action had been taken against the bullies, with some even expelled, there was no guarantee that such an event wouldn’t happen again.

Moreover, the reason behind the teacher’s malicious behavior toward Jungin was still unclear.

If it turned out to be connected to his mother, Jungjin would need to investigate more thoroughly.

“Kiddo, you don’t have to force yourself to continue studying in Korea. If you’d prefer, you could study abroad in the U.S. Or, if you’d rather follow the current trend, I could help you open a café.”

If Jungin chose to study abroad, Jungjin was willing to wrap up his current projects and leave with him.

Alternatively, starting a café—popular among the fourth-generation chaebol—would be fine too.

All he wanted was for Jungin to grow up happy, with that bright smile intact.

“No, I want to go to university.”

After days of deliberation, Jungin decided to return to school.

The effort he’d put into his studies would have felt wasted otherwise, and above all, he hated the idea of being the victim and yet having to bear the loss.

“Do I still meet the attendance requirements? I can’t afford to repeat the year.”

Jungin’s brow furrowed as he recalled the many days he’d missed due to hospital stays and other incidents.

Anxiety crept in as he voiced his concern.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Hearing Beomhyeon’s voice, Jungin turned toward him, briefly puzzled by how he knew such details.

But he quickly remembered the school was under the Yeonhwa Group’s foundation and nodded in understanding.

“By the way, shouldn’t you guys be leaving soon? It’s already past 11.”

“Might as well stay for lunch before we go. That okay?”

“Do you think the Yeonhwa Group would kick us out without a meal?”

Jungseo and Jungwoo, who had been reluctant to leave, reacted with mild indignation, adding their own comments to Jungin’s question.

“Or we could eat out.”

“I’ll arrange for lunch to be served here.”

Beomhyeon, who had been hoping for some quiet time alone with Jungin, clenched his teeth as the situation drifted further from his plans.

The hours passed in quiet tension, lingering discontent simmering beneath the surface.

It was only after lunch, well past midday, that the three brothers finally left the estate and got into their car.

“There’s an empty house in Changyeong-dong under your name, isn’t there? Why not move there right away?”

“It’s too far from Jungin’s school. Besides, it’d be better to move somewhere further from the main house.”

Eager to bring Jungin to a safer environment as soon as possible, Jungwoo pushed for a swift resolution, wearing a determined expression.

“By the way, about your engagement. Are you really going through with it? With Suna Pharmaceuticals’ eldest daughter?”

“Yes.”

Jungjin had resolved to proceed with the engagement, knowing it was the only way to divert their mother’s focus away from Jungin for the time being.

Besides, the prospective fiancée had proven unexpectedly agreeable during their recent meeting.

Drumming his fingers lightly on the steering wheel, he recalled their conversation.

“Are you… upset?”

Once the others had left, leaving only Beomhyeon and Jungin, the latter cautiously broke the silence, carefully gauging his companion’s mood.

“Who knows.”

The ambiguous reply neither confirmed nor denied his feelings.

Overwhelmed by guilt, Jungin clenched and unclenched his fists.

“I… I was going to tell you. I’m sorry.”

From Beomhyeon’s perspective, it must have felt like a unilateral decision.

Given how much he had helped him, the weight of Jungin’s guilt only deepened.

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m just wondering if this is your answer to what I said yesterday.”

“Oh…”

So that’s what he’s thinking. But it’s not like that.

Struggling to find the words to explain, Jungin fidgeted nervously with his fingers.

After a long, awkward silence, he finally spoke up, his voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere.

“It’s not what you think.”

His quiet, determined voice made Beomhyeon look up, his dark eyes locking onto Jungin’s. Flustered by the intense gaze, Jungin felt his face heat up, yet he couldn’t bring himself to look away.

Cheeks burning as red as a ripe tomato, Jungin swallowed hard and blurted out, “I don’t… dislike you either.”

Fidgeting with the ring on his finger, he summoned all his courage to admit his feelings.

Despite his countless worries—whether it was okay to like Beomhyeon while hiding the truth about his identity as Choi Jungin, or the fact that their bodies had been swapped—he couldn’t suppress his emotions any longer.

“I like you too.”

“…Jungin.”

“But right now…”

Though he couldn’t deny his feelings, he wasn’t ready to accept Beomhyeon’s.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes tightly and continued.

“Right now, I can’t accept your feelings. Not yet…”

“….”

“I know it doesn’t make sense, but… can you wait just a little longer? When I’ve sorted everything out, I’ll confess properly. So… just a bit longer…”

Tears welled up in his eyes as he bowed his head, silently conveying the words he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud: Until the day I can tell you everything honestly, please wait for me.

Jungin knew how selfish he was being, but he couldn’t let Beomhyeon misunderstand his feelings.

What if Beomhyeon stopped caring for him?

What if this was the end of their relationship?

His shoulders began to tremble with fear.

Digging his nails into his palms, he didn’t notice until blood trickled from his thumb.

Seeing this, Beomhyeon sighed deeply.

The sound sent a jolt through Jungin’s chest.

Unable to hold back his tears any longer, he sobbed, his voice cracking.

“I’m not running away from you. I like you too, but… but right now…”

Suddenly, Beomhyeon pulled Jungin into a firm embrace.

The cool scent of his pheromones enveloped him, calming his frantic thoughts.

“I get it.”

“….”

“I get it, so stop crying.”

Holding Jungin’s trembling frame, Beomhyeon gently wiped the tears from his cheeks.

For a moment, Jungin lost himself in the warmth and strength of his arms.

When he realized what he was doing, he hastily tried to pull away, but Beomhyeon’s grip on his waist didn’t waver.

“Why… do you keep…”

Although Beomhyeon always had a pleasant scent, today it felt richer, more intense—strangely so.

Holding his breath against the indescribable sensation, Jungin kept his mouth shut as Beomhyeon gently caressed his cheek.

Unlike the cautious touch, as if handling something precious and fragile, Beomhyeon’s eyes betrayed an overwhelming possessiveness as he gazed at the person within his grasp.

“Just until graduation,” he said firmly.

Jungin knew that was Beomhyeon’s response to his own words.

Graduation.

Less than a year remained until then.

“Once we graduate, live with me, Lee Jungin.”

“…Ah.”

“Don’t want to?”

As if he could ever say no.

Shaking his head softly, Beomhyeon relaxed the tension in his eyes, pulling Jungin closer and burying his face into his shoulder.

And so, they ended up in a peculiar relationship—neither dating nor not dating.

* * *