DOTH Volume 1 Chapter 2.7

“What is this sauce?”

“It’s for dipping the fries.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you for letting me know.”

When Kim Jiwon sprinkled seasoning over the fries, Jung Heeyeon began dipping them in the sauce and eating. His fair cheeks puffed out as he chewed. Kim Jiwon glanced at Jung Heeyeon’s plate and noticed that half the tteokbokki was still untouched. While he didn’t mind Jung Heeyeon eating slowly, the omega’s small appetite seemed at odds with his fondness for snacks.

Was it okay for him to eat so little? Kim Jiwon’s professional instincts kicked in, prompting him to carefully observe Jung Heeyeon’s face.

“Ah, Doctor.”

Hearing Jung Heeyeon call him, Kim Jiwon barely suppressed a wide grin. He couldn’t help but find it adorable that Jung Heeyeon always addressed him as ‘Doctor’. Kim Jiwon mentally contrasted Jung Heeyeon’s soft voice with the gruff tones of the alphas who usually sought him out, shaking his head at the stark difference.

“Yes? Do you have a question?”

“Why doesn’t Director Yeon’s pheromone scent come through?”

“The director?”

“Yes.”

“He has an obsessive dislike of emitting pheromones.”

Jung Heeyeon quietly listened as he dipped a fry into the sauce. An obsessive dislike of emitting pheromones. The thought of his own obliviousness to his leaking omega pheromones came to mind.

I must have made the Director uncomfortable without realizing it. He recalled being asked once if he wasn’t aware of his pheromones leaking. It must have bothered Director Yeon. Feeling slightly upset, Jung Heeyeon tried to push the emotion down.

“You know Director Yeon’s connection to the dog dealer, right?”

“Dog dealer?”

“Oh, I mean Chairman Jung.”

The mention of Chairman Jung immediately brought back the memory of his grandfather, who had always called him a mutt. Since he was called a dog and planned to be sold off, maybe Chairman Jung really was a dog dealer.

“I had a feeling the Director knew about him.”

“The alphas raised by that man are highly skilled at controlling their pheromones. They have to be, to fetch a high price.”

“Ah…”

“You know the alphas working here… Those team leaders were brought in by the representative.”

Jung Heeyeon nodded.

“They mostly share similar pasts. Even Secretary Kim Chulwoo is the same. That’s why they’re so highly valued for security work. Oh, come to think of it…”

Kim Jiwon trailed off, the word rut almost slipping out. Despite his expression suddenly turning serious, Jung Heeyeon didn’t mirror his concern. Instead, he simply chewed on the rice cake in his mouth. Since he didn’t know anything about ruts, it was only natural that he couldn’t understand Kim Jiwon’s worry.

“Well, that’s a very personal matter, so I’m sure he’s managing it on his own.”

“Yes.”

Kim Jiwon briefly considered whether it was dangerous for Jung Heeyeon to be around him but quickly dismissed the thought. The director wasn’t the kind of man to let pheromones drive him into trouble.

“Anyway, eat plenty.”

“Yes. Please eat a lot too, Doctor.”

As they chatted about trivial things, their lunch was nearly finished when the office door swung open without a knock. Only one person would enter Kim Jiwon’s office that way.

“Director.”

Jung Heeyeon greeted Director Yeon with a faint smile.

“What did you eat?”

“Tteokbokki.”

At the mention of tteokbokki, loaded with seasoning and additives, Director Yeon frowned slightly. The expression was so subtle that Jung Heeyeon didn’t notice. Approaching the table, the man’s gaze fell on the still half-full plate of tteokbokki.

“Heeyeon-ssi said it was delicious, right?” 

Kim Jiwon quickly explained, trying to gain Jung Heeyeon’s approval and avoiding eye contact.

“Yes, it was delicious. The tteokbokki I had before was too spicy, but this one wasn’t.”

“It wasn’t spicy?”

“No, it’s sweet.”

Director Yeon lightly tapped Jung Heeyeon’s cheek and placed a white box on the table. He then handed a coffee from the carrier to Kim Jiwon.

“This is for Doctor Kim Jiwon.”

“Oh, thank you so much.”

With a nod, Director Yeon gestured toward the box, signaling for Jung Heeyeon to open it. Without hesitation, Jung Heeyeon opened the white box, revealing a slice of cake inside—a fresh cream cake filled with strawberries.

“You can eat it now.”

“Then I will. Thank you for the treat.”

Without refusal, Jung Heeyeon stabbed the cake with a fork. The soft, fluffy texture transmitted through the fork as he cut a piece. Meanwhile, Director Yeon eyed the amount of tteokbokki Heeyeon had eaten and casually remarked to Kim Jiwon.

“He’s eating too little.”

“I thought the same, but… everyone has their own appetite.”

Director Yeon glanced toward Jung Heeyeon, who was occupied with the cake. He seemed genuinely engrossed in it, not forcing himself to eat despite being full.

“Heeyeon.”

“Yes?”

“Are you full?”

“Yes.”

Jung Heeyeon answered obediently while sliding another bite of the white cream cake between his lips. Director Yeon scrutinized him closely. A single slice of cake shouldn’t be a problem to eat, even if he were full, but something felt off. The issue was Jung Heeyeon didn’t seem full at all.

“You’re eating way too little.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“But this is just the usual amount I eat….”

The usual amount? Director Yeon found the combination of words strange. He found himself doubting whether Jung Heeyeon truly understood the concept of being full.

“Heeyeon, are you sure you’re full?”

“Pardon? Yes.”

Jung Heeyeon replied while chewing on another bite of cake.

“Is this why he’s so frail?”

“He isn’t particularly strong.”

Kim Jiwon replied.

Jung Heeyeon’s body was on the weaker side. He wasn’t severely unhealthy, but not strong either. His overall frailness gave the impression that he wouldn’t be able to run away quickly if someone were chasing him.

“Aren’t omegas supposed to be frail anyway?”

The omega, who had been quietly eating cake, suddenly joined in on the alphas’ conversation. Director Yeon let out a low sigh, knowing exactly who might have said such a thing.

“Someone said omegas are supposed to be frail?”

“Yes.”

The earlier comment about eating ’the usual amount’ was now tied to the idea that ‘omegas are supposed to be frail’. It became evident that Jung Heeyeon’s eating habits had been deliberately restricted—to maintain a slim body and ensure his frailness. Director Yeon had initially thought he just had a small appetite, but it turned out different. From the beginning, Jung Heeyeon had been conditioned to eat minimally, so he likely believed his small portions were normal.

After a brief silence, Director Yeon finally spoke in a slow tone.

“Shim Soocheon was looking for you.”

“Oh, I had an appointment for a consultation. Time really flew by. Thank you for the coffee, Director.”

Sensing the discomfort in Director Yeon’s mood, Kim Jiwon quickly cleared up the dishes. With a plastic bag in one hand and coffee in the other, he swiftly exited the office.

“Heeyeon, why do you think omegas are supposed to be frail?”

“Oh, it wasn’t said directly to me….”

At the question, Jung Heeyeon, who had been about to bid farewell to Kim Jiwon, paused and looked at Director Yeon.

“It wasn’t said to you directly? Then where did you hear it?”

“I was lying down because it hurt after getting an injection, then I overheard the butler and the family doctor talking about it.”

Director Yeon leaned his body lazily on the sofa as he recalled the pheromone injections Jung Heeyeon mentioned before. Resting one arm on the back of the sofa, he tilted his head slightly and spoke in a low, drawn-out voice.

“What exactly did those bastards say?”

“They said omegas have to be weak so they can’t run away.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes.”

Director Yeon picked up the fork that Jung Heeyeon had set down and sliced into the strawberry cake. Unlike the slightly squashed state it had been in before, the cake was now neatly cut under his hand. Each layer of cream and strawberry remained perfectly intact, sitting cleanly on the fork.

“Ah.”

He uttered a single syllable, signaling the other to open up. When Jung Heeyeon blinked in confusion, not catching on, Director Yeon reached out and gently parted those soft lips. Then, he slipped the cake into Jung Heeyeon’s mouth, whispering softly.

“Heeyeon.”

The omega’s lips moved slightly, as if wanting to reply, but his mouth was too full of cake to speak.

“Oh, I forgot how small Heeyeon’s mouth is.”

Director Yeon chuckled quietly, a deep, warm sound.

“Forget what those bastards said.”

His kind voice made Jung Heeyeon nod in response, though he couldn’t speak. A small bit of cream had smeared onto the edge of his lips. Director Yeon reached out and touched his own lips with his finger, laughing softly.

This time, Jung Heeyeon understood what the gesture meant. He stuck out his tongue and licked the cream off his lips, the sweet flavor spreading through his mouth.

“From now on, Heeyeon…”

Director Yeon used his own hand to wipe away the remaining cream as he spoke in a quiet murmur.

“…just listens to this Director’s words.”

Tap.

His cream-covered finger pressed gently against the omega’s lips. Jung Heeyeon reflexively stuck out his tongue to lick the cream from the man’s finger.

Realizing belatedly that he didn’t know if it was alright to lick someone else’s finger, Jung Heeyeon glanced up nervously. His gaze met Director Yeon’s, who seemed pleased.

“Alright?”

Director Yeon’s eyes crinkled as if he were smiling. His finger, once covered in cream, brushed lightly against Jung Heeyeon’s lips, which had been savoring the cake moments before.

“Yes.”

Feeling a strange sense of embarrassment, Jung Heeyeon fidgeted with his fingers for no reason.

“Ah.”

Director Yeon once again brought the fork close to Jung Heeyeon’s lips and let out a short syllable. Reflexively, Jung Heeyeon opened his mouth, and a bite of tart strawberry paired with soft cream filled his senses.

“Heeyeon, is it good?”

Jung Heeyeon nodded.

It was the same cake, but for some reason, it tasted even sweeter than before.

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