* * *
Worry and fear weighed heavily on Woohee’s chest as he climbed into the school vehicle.
In the morning, he had discovered a new phone replacing his old one, effectively cutting off contact with his blackmailer.
He cautiously opened the classroom door, wondering if any rumors had spread.
Na Taejoon, seated inside, immediately lit up like a loyal dog spotting his owner.
“Woohee!”
Taejoon kept chattering, but Woohee, lost in thought, barely processed his words.
Even his absentminded responses seemed to please Taejoon, who continued smiling.
It wasn’t until the professor entered the room that Taejoon finally turned away.
The professor, clad in a black suit, delivered unexpected news.
“I have unfortunate news today. A fire broke out at our department’s Kang Seongtae’s home early this morning. His funeral will be held at Gayundong Funeral Hall. If anyone wants to pay their respects, please do so after class. And remember, be cautious of fires. Now, let’s begin today’s lecture. Turn to page 42 of ‘Western Costume Culture’.”
Woohee fiddled with his new phone, feeling an inexplicable unease.
Though the lack of contact was expected due to the new phone, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was amiss.
Yeo Woohee quietly slipped out of the lecture hall in the middle of class.
Standing in the hallway, he called Yeo Jinwoo.
“Hyung, it’s Woohee.”
-Yeah.
“Well… The professor said today that someone from our department died in the fire. But since you said you’d deal with the blackmailer… I was just…”
Woohee dragged out his words, unable to get to the point.
Jinwoo, who was at work, picked up the suppressant pill bottle sitting on his desk.
Slowly rotating it in his hand, the pills clinked inside.
- Are you asking if I killed one of your classmates? Woohee, why are you trying to make me a murderer?
“I’m sorry. It’s just… the timing overlapped too coincidentally, so I got worried. What happened to the blackmailer?”
- I settled it for 50 million won. You don’t need to worry about it anymore, so stop meeting your biological mother.
“Okay… I’m sorry.”
- Alright, now you’ve got History of Folk Culture, right? Pay attention and report back during your free period.
After ending the call, Woohee sighed in relief.
He felt bad for misunderstanding Jinwoo without any evidence.
He re-entered the lecture hall through the back door, lowering his head as all the students turned to look at him.
Sliding into his seat, he opened his textbook and focused on the projector screen.
As soon as the professor left, Woohee sent a text to Jinwoo: “Class is over.”
Jinwoo would likely already know, but he would get furious if Woohee didn’t report it himself.
Na Taejoon sat on Woohee’s desk and struck up a conversation.
“Woohee, I need to talk to you. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”
“Okay.”
They left the lecture hall together.
Taejoon led Woohee up the stairs to the rooftop, as if he wanted to share a secret.
But they stopped halfway, avoiding the rooftop, which was notorious as a hangout for delinquent sports students.
“Hey, give me some suppressants. My heat’s coming up, and I forgot to bring mine. Pheromones are already starting to leak out.”
“They’re in my bag. Hold on.”
Woohee rushed back to the lecture hall and opened the bag hanging off his desk.
But the pill bottle was nowhere to be found. It was always there—how could it be missing?
His anxious expression was obvious, drawing curious looks from the students still in the lecture hall.
“What? Did something go missing?”
“Sh*t. Who stole it? Whoever took it, come out!”
“Everyone, open your bags. If Woohee’s stuff shows up, you’re getting buried alive.”
The students, determined to catch the thief, created a tense atmosphere.
Three alphas began opening their classmates’ bags one by one.
Woohee quickly waved his hands to stop the chaos.
“It’s not that. I found it.”
He suspected the first alpha who had asked what was missing, but accusing them might reveal his nature if he was wrong.
Instead, he pretended nothing was lost, pulling out a textbook to show it was just a misunderstanding.
Hugging the book to his chest, Woohee hurried out of the lecture hall.
Seeing him return empty-handed, Taejoon asked, “What about the pills?”
“They’re gone. I always keep them in my bag, but the whole bottle disappeared.”
“Sh*t. Do you at least have pills for next month’s heat?”
“No.”
Woohee replied glumly.
“Come over to my place after school. I’m skipping all my classes today anyway.”
Taejoon rubbed his stomach with a grimace and descended the stairs.
Woohee recalled that he had run out of pads that morning.
He figured he could get suppressants from Taejoon and buy pads at the drugstore attached to a large bookstore later.
He sent Jinwoo a text.
“Hyung, can I go to the bookstore with a friend to buy some books?”
“Send me a picture of your friend and one when you get to the bookstore.”
“Okay.”
When Woohee finished his last class, Kang Dohee came looking for him.
Despite knowing they could only walk to the car together, Dohee always waited for Woohee, whose lectures ended later.
Without a word, Dohee took Woohee’s bag and slung it over his own shoulder.
“It’s light today,” he remarked, surprised.
Woohee hadn’t packed any textbooks since he needed the space for the pads he planned to buy.
The chauffeur, seeing Woohee approach the parking lot, jumped out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door.
Woohee thanked Dohee for walking him to the car.
“Take care, Woohee.”
“You too.”
“Let’s study together at 8, okay?”
“TOEIC?”
“Deal.”
Woohee climbed into the car and told the chauffeur, “I need to stop by a friend’s place.”
“I’ve already been informed.”
He provided the address of Taejoon’s new officetel.
The neighborhood was old and shabby, but the building was recently constructed, making it a notable exception.
Carrying an empty bag, Woohee got out of the car and stopped by a butcher’s shop to buy three kilograms of pork belly and neck meat.
At the discount mart next door, he grabbed lettuce, perilla leaves, mushrooms, and ssamjang.
With his hands full of bags, he arrived at Taejoon’s apartment, purchased with the help of the check Jinwoo had given him.
Taejoon answered the door as soon as the bell rang.
“Why’d you buy so much? You could’ve just come empty-handed.”
“It’s for you and your grandmother.”
“Who wouldn’t know how kind Yeo Woohee is?”
Despite his sharp words, Taejoon’s face was full of smiles, making it clear he wasn’t complaining.
As he put the groceries into the fridge, he asked, “Want something to drink?”
“Taejoon, can you go out with me for a bit?”
“Sure. I took suppressants, so I’m fine. Oh, right, here’s the bottle you need.”
Taejoon handed over a bottle of suppressants with 30 pills.
Woohee stowed it in his bag and took out his wallet.
“Here’s 200,000 won.”
“Thanks, as always.”
Taejoon, who used to treat it like taking money from a bank, now expressed gratitude every time.
He had softened considerably.
“Taejoon, can I take a picture of you to send to my brother?”
“My picture? Why?”
“I told him I’d be going to a bookstore in Jongno with you to buy study guides. I need to send proof. If you’re feeling okay, could you come with me? I’ll treat you.”
“What’s with this chaebol-level need for alibis?” Taejoon exclaimed but didn’t refuse.
“Go ahead, take the photo. But give me one of you in return.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Woohee sent Jinwoo Taejoon’s photo, and Jinwoo immediately replied.
Meanwhile, Taejoon started snapping pictures of Woohee with his phone.
“Send me his personal details too.”
The personal information he provided included his friend’s traits, parents, home address, and phone number.
He diligently jotted everything down and sent it via text.
[Okay, take care.]
“Let’s go now.”
Nae Taejoon, who had been enthusiastically filming Yeo Wonhee sending the text, shook his head.
He thought to himself, ‘Are all chaebols like this? Well, I guess they do need to be cautious in case of kidnapping,’ and accepted a life he couldn’t understand.
Yeo Wonhee stepped out of the officetel with Taejoon and got into the waiting car.
* * *
