DOTH Volume 1 Chapter 1.9

“Eat this.”

 

A few hours later, Director Yeon returned, holding out something wrapped in a package. Jung Heeyeon stared at the small package in his hands. When he moved, the plastic crinkled.

 

“What is this?”

 

“A pheromone suppressant.”

 

“Pheromone…?”

 

As Jung Heeyeon furrowed his brows, clearly not understanding, Director Yeon narrowed his gaze in slight surprise.

 

“You don’t know your pheromones are leaking?”

 

“…Me?”

 

“Our Heeyeon still has so much to learn.”

 

The Alpha’s voice held a hint of amusement mixed with mild disbelief. 

 

“Good thing I bought these, just in case.”

 

Jung Heeyeon looked down again at the pheromone suppressants in his hand.

 

“They’re usually for kids. When kids are young, if their pheromones activate early, it’s hard to control them—like you.”

 

“Oh…”

 

The character drawn on the packaging seemed intended for children, which made Jung Heeyeon feel a bit self-conscious. He fidgeted with his hands as the pills rolled around in his palm.

 

“Adults sometimes take children’s fever reducers, so it should be fine. Just take two.”

 

In other words, these were pheromone suppressants for kids. Jung Heeyeon set the pills on the table, picked one up, and tried to unwrap it, but since it was his first time, it wasn’t as easy as he expected.

 

“Want some help?”

 

Director Yeon asked with a laugh, as if amused by the sight.

 

“I can do it.”

 

Surely it was made so that even children could open it, so he didn’t want to ask for help at nineteen. After fumbling a bit, he finally managed to peel off the wrapper. A small, red, square-shaped solid thing fell into his palm. Holding it gently, he felt the unfamiliar texture.

 

“Just chew it. They probably made it tasty since it’s for babies.”

 

After glancing at Director Yeon, Jung Heeyeon pressed on the solid a little. It had an interesting texture—neither too soft nor too hard. As he opened his mouth and bit into it, a sweet flavor spread across his tongue. Slowly chewing, his naturally gentle eyes softened, almost like a baby tasting candy for the first time.

 

“Heeyeon. Does it taste good?”

 

Watching this, Director Yeon asked with a slight, bemused smile.

 

“Yes, it tastes good.”

 

At his innocent response, Director Yeon squinted slightly. Though it was child-friendly and likely tasty, he himself wasn’t a fan of artificial flavors.

 

“It’s really good… Do you want to try it too, Director?”

 

Jung Heeyeon offered as he unwrapped the second suppressant, but Director Yeon just gave him another amused smirk without answering. Taking the silence as a rejection, Jung Heeyeon chewed the second pill slowly, savoring the sweetness.

 

“It’s really tasty…”

 

“I see, is that so?”

 

At the innocent childish delight, Director Yeon took Jung Heeyeon’s empty wrist and lifted it slightly. Then he leaned in and gave a light lick to the finger that had grabbed on the pill. Feeling the warm, soft sensation of the tongue, Jung Heeyeon reflexively flinched, his arm trembling. If his wrist hadn’t been held, he might have pulled his hand back on instinct.

 

“Yeah, a taste kids would enjoy.”

 

Director Yeon slightly frowned at the artificial sweetness. He’d been curious, seeing how much Jung Heeyeon had enjoyed it, but it turned out to be a flavor he didn’t have a liking towards. Even the faint sweetness lingering on his tongue felt unpleasant. As he habitually reached for a cigarette, he realized he didn’t have one on him. Planning to go out to get one for a moment, he glanced at the omega sitting quietly on the sofa and asked casually.

 

“Heeyeon. Do you want to come with me?”

 

The two waited together for the elevator.

 

“Want me to hold your hand?”

 

“Pardon? No, it’s okay.”

 

“You’ll probably get scared going down.”

 

Jung Heeyeon looked up at the man who offered a gentle warning, staring at him intently. He felt as though the man was teasing him, but it was hard to decipher his true intentions. After thinking it over quietly, he realized that descending might actually be frightening. Unlike going up, there would be a sensation of falling. In the end, he cautiously reached out toward Director Yeon’s empty hand.

 

“You really are cute.”

 

Just then, the elevator arrived. Holding tightly to the man’s large hand, Jung Heeyeon stepped into the massive metal box. Yet, nothing frightening happened. Only when they reached the first floor did he realize that, and he furrowed his brows slightly. 

 

Director Yeon noticed and let out a chuckle, seeing the slight pout.

 

Jung Heeyeon walked with the man into the convenience store. Fascinated by all the items he was seeing for the first time, he looked around in awe until he spotted the triangular kimbap he’d eaten the day before.

 

“Do you want one?” 

 

The man, who was buying cigarettes, noticed his gaze and asked.

 

“…Yes.” 

 

Jung Heeyeon replied honestly after a slight pause. For someone used to eating only healthy foods, the triangular kimbap was a delightful combination of bold, unfamiliar flavors.

 

“Pick out whatever you want, other things too.”

 

Director Yeon’s gaze followed Jung Heeyeon as he moved slowly around the store. He walked directly to the refrigerated section and returned with just a single triangular kimbap.

 

“You need to be more greedy, Heeyeon.”

 

“More?”

 

“I said you could get other things too.”

 

“Oh…”

 

After hesitating about whether it was okay, he eventually brought a few more items. Director Yeon chuckled again at the modest selection he’d gathered: a cup of instant noodles and a small bag of chips. There were bigger options for both, yet he’d inexplicably chosen the smallest ones.

 

“Heeyeon.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I told you to be more greedy.”

 

Teasing him, Director Yeon watched as Jung Heeyeon looked around and then picked an item from right in front of the counter, placing it on top of the others. The package, with a light blue background and clouds, had a cow print on it. It was a jelly, similar to marshmallows. Director Yeon gave a slight smile, and Jung Heeyeon glanced at him, hesitating before asking, 

 

“…Is this for babies?”

 

“Yeah, it’s something babies eat.”

 

It seemed like he picked out something that was just like him.

 

As he waited for the water to boil, Jung Heeyeon read the instructions on the package. It said to pour boiling water up to the line after adding the soup powder, then wait three minutes.

 

It felt strange to hold a food he’d never been allowed to eat. Sometimes, Lee Yootae and the household staff would eat instant noodles, but Jung Heeyeon had never asked for any, knowing they wouldn’t give it to him for health reasons.

 

“What’s got you staring so intently?”

 

He turned slightly toward the voice. As Director Yeon approached, a strong scent of cigarettes wafted over. He wrinkled his nose slightly, not out of displeasure but out of an instinctive curiosity at the unfamiliar scent, just like the scent of the sea yesterday.

 

Suddenly, Jung Heeyeon realized he’d never actually smelled Director Yeon’s pheromones. Holding the cup of noodles, he looked up at the man standing next to him, studying him closely.

 

Director Yeon didn’t avoid Jung Heeyeon’s gaze. Instead, he leaned back casually, his eyes leisurely tracing over the Omega staring at him. Anyone else might have felt awkward under that steady gaze and looked away, but Jung Heeyeon didn’t understand such feelings.

 

“The water seems to be boiling, Heeyeon.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Lost in thought about why he couldn’t smell any pheromones, Jung Heeyeon quickly turned around. Steam was rising from the kettle, along with the sound of boiling water.

 

He carefully poured the water, putting quite a bit of effort into making sure he hit the fill line exactly. It was his first time using a kettle, or even cooking something.

 

“Would you like some too?” 

 

Jung Heeyeon placed the noodles on the table and asked. Seeing his sincere offer, Director Yeon raised an eyebrow slightly before letting out a chuckle.

 

The cup noodles Jung Heeyeon had chosen were small; even a child wouldn’t be full from them alone. The innocent face asking if he’d like to share the little noodles seemed utterly harmless.

 

“Heeyeon, I can’t tell if you’re too kind or just naive.”

 

“Ah, it looked good, so I thought I’d share.”

 

“Eat plenty.”

 

Taking his words of rejection literally, Jung Heeyeon nodded a few times before starting to portion out the ramen. Only then did Director Yeon clarify.

 

“Heeyeon, that was a refusal. I don’t need any, so go ahead and eat all of it.”

 

“Oh… I thought you just meant you would be eating a lot. Then, I’ll enjoy the food.”

 

Seeming to commit the new phrase to memory, Jung Heeyeon blinked a few times before opening the lid and stirring the now-cooked noodles.

 

Director Yeon suppressed his urge to smoke and observed the Omega sitting across from him.

 

Truthfully, he detested the smell of instant noodles. He disliked all types of convenience store food. 

 

Of course, there was a time he’d loved this sort of food—when he first escaped Chairman Jung’s grip and was sold to someone else.

 

For a man who had grown up without proper food, those noodles were like a new world. But even the most delicious food grows tiresome when eaten every day.

 

For nearly two years after he was first sold, Director Yeon had fail to ‘earn his keep’. His pay was meager, and the only food he could afford was cheap instant noodles or triangular kimbap. The smell eventually made him nauseous, but he had no other choice.

 

Once he started ‘earning his keep’, the man no longer sought out convenience store food.

 

Now, he scoffed at himself. It seemed almost laughable that he’d grown picky after surviving on scraps. 

 

He was indeed “full”—literally and figuratively. Money was now flowing freely, and not a single existence could threaten him anymore.

 

Maybe that’s why he’d grown bored over time. Perhaps his life felt empty because of this.

 

He had nothing left to desire.

 

There was nothing that made him feel greed.

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