* * *
Since he couldn’t just leave the drunken Choi Siwon alone, Wookyung sat with his phone in hand, waiting for a response.
How much time had passed?
Thud.
A large hand landed on his shoulder, startling him into turning around quickly.
“Are you all right, Assistant Manager Wookyung?”
Director Choi’s gaze swept over his face as he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine…”
Wookyung, who had never been told he couldn’t handle alcohol, nodded.
Honestly, he still couldn’t believe Choi Siwon was like that.
Most alphas he knew could hold their liquor well.
Then again, what about Director Choi? His thoughts naturally drifted toward the man.
“Here, drink this.”
A small bottle suddenly appeared in his view.
Looking closely, he saw that it was a well-known hangover cure from a pharmaceutical company.
“This is…?”
“I brought it just in case. Since Choi Siwon was completely out of it, I wasn’t sure how you were doing.”
“Thank you.”
He brought it for me?
Feeling grateful, Wookyung nodded and opened the bottle.
A subtle pine scent wafted up.
…Wait a minute.
Did he just subtly change the way he addressed me?
‘No, I must’ve misheard.’
Surely not.
He had already given him a look to stop doing that!
Maybe Director Choi was sneakier than he seemed—handling things the way he wanted with ease.
“Let’s go.”
After taking the empty bottle, Director Choi naturally grabbed Wookyung’s elbow and helped him up.
“Huh? Um… I’m not the drunk one, he is…”
“I know. Someone else will take care of Choi Siwon.”
“Someone else?”
Only then did Wookyung notice the man standing behind Director Choi—a large figure in a suit, looking like a bodyguard.
He wasn’t sure where he was from, but it was clear Director Choi had brought him.
That was enough.
“I can walk on my own.”
“I’ll help.”
“I’m fine!”
Why was he insisting on this?
Did he not care about people staring?
Wookyung quickly stood up from his chair.
That was when he realized—because of Director Choi’s overwhelming presence, all eyes in the bar were on them.
As he took a step forward, his knee buckled, and he nearly fell.
“Whoa—”
He tried to steady himself, but before he could, his forehead and nose pressed into a firm chest.
A cool yet slightly minty scent filled his senses.
Somehow, it suited Director Choi.
Did he usually wear cologne?
Then again, they weren’t close enough for him to know that.
Suddenly, he remembered—the hangover cure he drank earlier had the same scent.
Was it the alcohol?
Why was he thinking about this…?
“Are you okay, Wookyung?”
His thoughts were abruptly cut off by the voice near his ear.
“Yes…”
Flustered, he quickly nodded. But he couldn’t bring himself to lift his face.
He didn’t need a mirror to know how red his cheeks must be.
“Lean on me.”
As if ignoring his embarrassment, Director Choi showed unnecessary kindness.
A long arm wrapped around his waist, and his shoulder was drawn in.
To anyone watching, it would seem like he was simply helping a drunk person.
He could feel the weight of people’s stares but chose to ignore them.
At this point, even if he insisted he was fine, he doubted Director Choi would believe him.
And to be honest… this position was kind of comfortable.
“Choi Siwon can’t even drink, so why did he push himself?”
Director Choi clicked his tongue in disapproval and pulled Wookyung closer.
“Choi Siwon?”
That was new.
Wasn’t he an alpha?
Alphas usually didn’t get drunk, right?
Then again, maybe that was just a stereotype.
A guy that big, with that face, couldn’t handle alcohol?
“The whole family is like that. Even Vice President Choi rarely drinks.”
“Oh, now that you mention it…”
That was true.
Vice President Choi wasn’t one to enjoy drinking.
It seemed like that trait had been passed down to Choi Siwon.
“No wonder he made such a mistake…”
“Mistake?”
“He reeks of something awful. You really didn’t notice?”
Director Choi glanced down at him, then let out a small chuckle before averting his gaze from Wookyung’s flushed face.
“If you didn’t notice, then never mind.”
What smell?
Why was he acting like he knew something and refusing to share?
Wookyung exhaled sharply in frustration.
There was no point in asking—Director Choi wouldn’t tell him anyway.
So, he tried not to care.
In the meantime, they had made their way onto the road.
Two cars were parked ahead with their hazard lights on.
One was a white SUV, the other a large black sedan.
“Why are there two?”
He muttered absentmindedly.
“That one is for Choi Siwon. Wookyung, this way.”
Apparently, the Director Choi had heard him, as he answered and then walked toward the white car.
Wookyung, who had been leaning on him for support, naturally followed.
“Is this your car, sir?”
“Yes.”
Even through his hazy, intoxicated vision, the car looked expensive.
Probably a foreign luxury model worth at least hundreds of millions of won.
But then why did he take the subway on his first day?
“That’s because… it’s… more…”
“Sorry?”
He seemed to have said something just now, but his voice was so quiet that Wookyung couldn’t make it out.
He leaned in, trying to hear better, but all he got in return was a long, pointed stare.
“Sigh… I knew you were slow, but be careful. If an Alpha keeps releasing pheromones like that right next to you—”
“Pheromones? Who?”
Wookyung sniffed the air.
It did smell nice—cool, fresh, and soothing.
But the scent was so faint that it felt like it had just drifted in on the wind.
“If you stay next to a drunk who can’t even control his own pheromones properly, you might end up in an awkward situation.”
It was only after hearing that remark that Wookyung realized the Director Choi was talking about Choi Siwon.
“Oh…”
Siwon must have lost control after drinking too much.
Suddenly, Wookyung recalled something the server had said earlier, albeit hazily.
Something about Alphas and pheromones.
Back then, he hadn’t understood a word of it.
So, this was what they meant.
But what was he supposed to do about it?
‘It’s not like I can even feel it, no matter how much he lets out.’
Thinking that, Wookyung tilted his head in mild curiosity.
“Then why two cars…?”
“That’s part of it. But also, you and Choi Siwon live in different neighborhoods. You couldn’t go together.”
At some point, the car door had opened.
The Director Choi gave him a slight push, and Wookyung awkwardly climbed into the passenger seat.
The door shut, sealing him off from the outside.
He blinked blankly at the man before him.
Then, the Director Choi got into the driver’s seat with practiced ease, making everything feel seamless, almost automatic.
“Buckle up.”
“Huh?”
Still dazed, Wookyung didn’t immediately process what had been said. He turned his head—
“Whoa!”
When had he gotten this close?
And why was his arm reaching out like that?
What was he trying to do?!
Wookyung recoiled in surprise, holding his breath.
Click.
A soft locking sound.
Looking down, he saw the seatbelt strapped securely across his chest.
“Let’s go.”
The Director Choi sat back as if nothing had happened.
Wookyung just blinked.
‘So… that just now was… him fastening my seatbelt… and I completely misunderstood?’
‘Ah, shit.’
Embarrassing.
So, so embarrassing.
‘What the hell was I thinking?’
His face flushed hot, the heat spreading all the way to his ears.
He didn’t even need a mirror to know how red he must look.
He turned his head toward the window, making a firm vow.
‘I’m not looking at the driver’s seat for the entire ride.’
There was no way he was going to let the Director Choi see him blushing.
“Wookyung.”
Don’t.
He didn’t hear anything.
Why was he calling him?
Just drive!
Wookyung clenched his lips and squeezed his eyes shut.
It was something he sometimes did on the subway—pretending to be asleep, even when he wasn’t.
Letting his head droop forward to avoid making eye contact with anyone.
It was a trick to get through awkward moments and to avoid having to stand up when he didn’t want to.
And right now, he hoped it would keep the Director Choi from talking to him until they arrived.
“Hmm…”
The Director Choi made a small noise.
Why wasn’t he driving?
‘Just go! Hurry up!’
He wasn’t the only one who felt awkward and uncomfortable in this situation, right?
It was late, so he should just drop him off and head home to rest!
“Wookyung, are you asleep?”
Yes. Sleeping. So don’t talk to me.
“…This is tricky. I don’t know your address. Should I just take you to my place?”
Wookyung’s eyes snapped open at that.
* * *
