DOTH Volume 1 Chapter 1.10

“Cough.”

 

A soft cough from across the table brought him out of his thoughts. He noticed the Omega’s pale face, flushed with a bit of red. The corners of his eyes looked slightly wet, as if tears had gathered.

 

Seeing him like that, Director Yeon let out a quiet chuckle. He had told him not to act so adorably, yet here he was, doing it again.

 

“Heeyeon.”

 

He coughed again and asked, “Yes?”

 

“Is it too spicy?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The lid of the cup noodles had “mild” written on it. But judging from how he hadn’t even eaten half of the cup, it seemed to be too spicy for him.

 

“You’re really a baby.”

 

Director Yeon peeled open the wrapper of a triangular kimbap he’d bought alongside the noodles, muttering to himself. Jung Heeyeon’s gaze followed the man’s hands. He should be asking for water, but his gaze was nothing short of blind faith. It was clear he completely trusted that Director Yeon would help him.

 

“Thank you.”

 

He accepted the kimbap Director Yeon handed him and took a bite. He seemed to think he was eating a big mouthful, but Director Yeon figured he’d need at least ten bites to finish it.

 

“Tasty?”

 

“Yes.”

 

As he watched Jung Heeyeon’s cheeks chewing on food, Director Yeon’s phone rang. It was Kim Chulwoo.

 

“Yeah?”

 

– Director, we’ve located the item. It appears to be held in Incheon, just as Chief Nam mentioned.

 

The ‘item’ Kim Chulwoo referred to was a cache of firearms that should have been in the container instead of Jung Heeyeon. They were also meant to be laundered by Chief Nam. Director Yeon had given orders to check on them when he made a stop at the company, and it seemed they just finished the inspection.

 

It had been a long time since Director Yeon started doing business with Chief Nam, but he wasn’t foolish enough to trust her completely. Although they’d grown up in the same hutch, and were now in an agreement, Director Yeon was not someone who trusted others easily.

 

“Did you say appears to be’?”

 

He reiterated Kim Chulwoo’s words in a questioning tone. 

 

“I thought I asked for certainty, Secretary Kim Chulwoo.” 

 

At the sound of his low tone, Jung Heeyeon glanced at Director Yeon’s expression. His voice was kind, and his words were soft, but it was easy to sense the irritation beneath them.

 

– My apologies. I’ll verify it again.

 

“Look into it properly.”

 

– Yes, sir.

 

Director Yeon thought of the goods from Serbia. They were of great importance to him.

 

“It would be troublesome if this deal shipment through.”

 

– Shall I arrange a meeting with Chief Nam?

 

“No. Wait for her to contact us. She should reach out first, not me.”

 

– Understood.

 

He had no intention of meeting Chief Nam immediately. Meeting her now would only lead to her nagging about what he planned to do with Chairman Jung. The priority was to ensure the goods arrive safely.

 

– Also, they’ve initiated contact on their end.

 

At this, Director Yeon’s gaze shifted to Jung Heeyeon. 

 

By now, he’d finished his noodles and was opening the blue-wrapped jelly. He remembered the moment when Jung Heeyeon had almost returned it to the shelf, as he said it was for babies. Director Yeon smiled. Although he hadn’t openly shown any dislike, it seemed that being called a baby had started to bother him.

 

After hearing from the part-time clerk that adults also bought the jelly often, Jung Heeyeon had hesitated, then placed it back on the counter along with a cup of noodles, a triangular kimbap, and a snack.

 

The omega’s gaze had been on the jelly even while savoring the triangular kimbap, he must be thinking to eat it now.

 

As he began to nibble on the jelly, Director Yeon allowed him to enjoy his treat and focused back on the conversation. It wasn’t hard to deduce who ‘they’ referred to. They, too, likely intended to use Jung Heeyeon—just as Director Yeon himself did.

 

“What did they say?”

 

– I told them you were away and couldn’t give a definite answer at the moment.

 

“Well done.”

 

Director Yeon had a habit of making people wait—it was one of his business tactics to keep control.

 

– Um, Director?

 

“Yeah?”

 

– Is it alright if I stop by briefly?

 

“Why? Are you worried I might be up to something?”

 

– Oh, not at all, sir!

 

At the lighthearted joke, Kim Chulwoo flinched and denied it immediately.

 

“I’m not desperate enough to mess with a child, Secretary Kim.”

 

– Pardon? Oh, no, that’s not what I meant at all!

 

If he didn’t react so excessively, Director Yeon wouldn’t tease him so often, but Kim Chulwoo always reacted this way.

 

“Alright, then.”

 

– I’ll stop by after work, then.

 

It seemed Kim Chulwoo wasn’t going to end the call first. He was likely waiting for Director Yeon to hang up first. Just as he was about to end the call, something crossed his mind, and he glanced at Jung Heeyeon. A playful smile spread across his lips.

 

“Bring a hamburger when you come.”

 

– …Pardon?

 

The secretary’s response was delayed, as if he thought he’d heard wrong. It was right at that moment that Jung Heeyeon’s gaze fell on him. Noting the curiosity in Jung Heeyeon’s clear eyes, Director Yeon smiled. There wasn’t a huge change in expression, but it was clear he was curious.

 

– A ham.. burger? But you don’t like that sort of food, sir.

 

“Right, I don’t like it.”

 

– Then why…?

 

“But babies like it.”

 

–

 

Jung Heeyeon, who was sitting in the living room and gazing out at the view, noticed Kim Chulwoo entering and stood up.

 

Unlike Director Yeon, who acted naturally, Kim Chulwoo hesitated, pausing in his steps. He was worried that he might sense the omega’s pheromones. But to his surprise, there was no scent coming from Jung Heeyeon. Finding it odd, Kim Chulwoo unknowingly frowned.

 

“Hello.”

 

Jung Heeyeon greeted him with a polite bow, seemingly unaffected by whatever reaction Kim Chulwoo might have.

 

“Uh…” 

 

Kim Chulwoo stammered, unsure how to respond.

 

“You should acknowledge his greeting. Secretary Kim, that’s rude of you.” 

 

“Sir!”

 

Director Yeon said, appearing suddenly and taking the paper bag from Kim Chulwoo’s hand to check its contents. He then handed the entire bag to Jung Heeyeon.

 

“Eat up.”

 

“Would you like some too, Director?” 

 

Jung Heeyeon asked, repeating the question he had asked earlier, his voice genuinely offering rather than just being polite. 

 

It seemed that his round head held firmly to the idea that food should be shared—a notion that would have been unimaginable to Director Yeon at that age.

 

Around the time he turned nineteen, Director Yeon had started to make enough money not to have to rely on convenience store food. But the idea of sharing food with someone else had never crossed his mind. To him, food had always been merely an investment for survival.

 

Though Jung Heeyeon and he had grown up in similar environments, they were not exactly the same. At least Jung Heeyeon hadn’t experienced hunger. Director Yeon concluded that Jung Heeyeon’s innocent questions were simply a result of his inherently kind nature, unlike his own.

 

“Eat plenty, Heeyeon.” 

 

Hearing the man’s gentle reply, Jung Heeyeon looked at the brown paper bag in his hand. The contents were still warm.

 

“Mister Secretary, would you like some too?” 

 

Caught off guard at the offer, Kim Chulwoo waved his hand in refusal. Finally, Jung Heeyeon sat at the table and began to take out the items in the bag. A still-warm hamburger, fries, and a cola with ice were placed on the table one by one.

 

“Secretary Kim has no sense.” 

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Why did you buy such a big one?”

 

The burger in Jung Heeyeon’s hands looked oversized. Part of it was due to his small hands, but the burger seemed almost as big as his face.

 

“I got it because it was the most popular handcrafted burger…” 

 

Kim Chulwoo muttered, casting a quick glance at Director Yeon. He had come by, worried something might have happened, but thankfully, it seemed everything was fine. Or perhaps the lack of any incident was the real issue. 

 

Bringing Chairman Jung’s grandson into his home—of all people—made it nearly impossible for Kim Chulwoo to decipher his boss’s intentions. The fact that Jung Heeyeon was an omega was one thing, but he was also an omega with issues controlling his pheromones. And on top of that, Kim Chulwoo had even gone himself to buy him a hamburger.

 

Yet his concerns seemed unwarranted as Director Yeon watched Jung Heeyeon with an indecipherable expression. His usually firm face seemed relaxed, almost amused, as if he found the situation entertaining

“Director.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

Director Yeon responded to Kim Chulwoo’s question, still observing Jung Heeyeon. 

 

The omega wrinkled his nose as he sipped the cola, and although he was frowning, he seemed to enjoy the taste, sipping through the straw. After a few sips of the soda, Jung Heeyeon looked as if he was figuring out how to tackle the large burger. His small lips slowly parted as he took a chompy bite, but he only managed to nibble a bit of the bun.

 

Watching this, Director Yeon’s lips curved into a slight smile. He thought he might need to cut it into pieces for him.

 

“Will you be coming into the office tomorrow?”

 

“No.” 

 

Director Yeon replied dismissively as he rose from his seat. Kim Chulwoo followed, trailing after the man who was walking towards Jung Heeyeon, urging him as a secretary should.

 

“This is not a good time to be absent.”

 

“I know. I have something to take care of, so bear with it for a few days.”

 

“Something to take care of?”

 

Noticing their approach, Jung Heeyeon’s gaze turned toward Director Yeon. For someone who had just taken a large bite, his lips were spotless. Director Yeon looked at his clear face and smiled slightly.

 

“To spread some rumors, I need to be seen around with Heeyeon, right?”

---

Become a member in my ko-fi to get early releases!

Make me feel happy and supported by leaving a comment!

---