He took the suppressant out of his small bag and lowered his head to meticulously open the packaging. "Sir, please sit down. I'll prepare this for you."
Cassian sat on the sofa furthest from him. The room was incredibly quiet, lit only by a warm wall lamp. His mind was somewhat hazy, and he found himself instinctively watching the busy Seo Eun Woo in front of him.
Seo Eun Woo was wearing loungewear in a warm tone of white. The buttons were fastened neatly to the very top, revealing only a hint of his fair, slender neck.
From his angle, Cassian could vaguely see the slight curve of Seo Eun Woo's nape as he bowed his head; another suppressant patch was stuck there, seemingly featuring a small pattern.
After finishing his preparations, Seo Eun Woo looked up at Cassian, only to find the man had been quietly watching him. He smiled bashfully, pressing a finger to his lips. "Are you ready now?"
Cassian hummed a low "Mm," but he didn't move.
Seo Eun Woo stood up and walked behind Cassian. He carried a faint, subtle scent of roses—likely some pheromones that hadn't been fully tucked away.
The house was so quiet that even with Eun Woo standing right behind him, no sound was made. Cassian asked, "What is it?"
"Hmm?" Seo Eun Woo let out a soft sound. "Just give it one more minute. I'm warming the injection for you."
Cassian turned his head to look at Seo Eun Woo, who was warming the syringe between his palms.
Seo Eun Woo blinked, his usual gentle elegance replaced by a touch of innocence. "Ah? Are you sleepy? Or do you feel unwell?"
"It's nothing," Cassian's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his eyes and asked softly, "Why are you doing this?"
Seo Eun Woo blinked and smiled. "If I inject it directly, it will be very cold and the pain will be quite severe. Warming it slightly with my palm makes it much more comfortable."
Actually, what Cassian really wanted to ask was why he was doing all this for him when they had only known each other for a day.
Was Seo Eun Woo this meticulous and gentle with everyone?
"Alright, it's ready."
Seo Eun Woo pressed his fingertips against the back of Cassian's neck. The cool touch made Cassian instinctively stiffen.
He had always disliked intimacy, and a private spot like the back of the neck had never been touched by anyone before.
Seo Eun Woo seemed to lean in close to his nape, his warm breath fanning against Cassian's skin.
Cassian's well-defined hand clenched tight, his throat moved, but he remained silent.
Seo Eun Woo said softly, "How is it? Does it hurt?"
In the silent, hazy night, his voice sounded incredibly tender and romantic.
Cassian looked down at his own fingers. After a long pause, he said, "No."
He felt a warm palm brush against his nape, followed by Seo Eun Woo's voice, which sounded like he was coaxing a child. "There, all done."
Seo Eun Woo packed up his things, putting the used syringe into his small bag. "Sir, do you have any ingredients in the house? I'll cook something for you—"
Before he could finish, Cassian interrupted him. "Call me by my name."
"..."
His voice was deep, a mature man's bass. Standing up, he was more than a head taller than Seo Eun Woo; his tall, imposing figure made Seo Eun Woo daze for a moment.
"…Cassian." He looked up at the man, the corners of his lips curving as he softly spoke the name.
"Then… shall I cook for you?"
Cassian had originally intended to refuse. Sharing a space with a newly met Omega late at night was something the Cassian of a few days ago could never have imagined.
Seo Eun Woo followed him to the kitchen and looked into the empty refrigerator. Finally, using some instant noodles, eggs, and ground chicken he managed to find, he whipped up a bowl of noodles.
While Seo Eun Woo cooked, Cassian leaned against the doorframe, watching Eun Woo arrange the brand-new, never-before-used kitchen utensils one by one.
The expensive range hood, designed during the renovation, was finally being put to use.
On this cold autumn night, the atmosphere suddenly felt quite cozy.
Seo Eun Woo found a ramen bowl, served the noodles, added a poached egg, and sprinkled some cheese on top. From behind him came Cassian's voice: "I'll take it."
With his long legs, Cassian reached the dining table in a few strides, set the bowl down, and returned to the kitchen.
Seeing that his work was done, Seo Eun Woo planned to leave. He had farmed enough favorability for the day, and he was sleepy.
He gathered his things, walked to the kitchen door, and bid Cassian goodbye. "Sir, I'm heading out now. Enjoy your meal."
"There's a dishwasher in the kitchen for when you're finished."
Cassian's hand, which had just reached for a bowl, paused. He didn't ask him to stay; he simply put the items down and walked Seo Eun Woo to the door.
"Goodbye."
Cassian nodded. "Thank you."
Seo Eun Woo tilted his head and smiled at him. "This is a return gift for your pheromones."
His tone was playful. Both of them were reminded of how Cassian had helped Seo Eun Woo in the elevator and coldly said—This is a return gift for the fish soup.
The cold hardness in Cassian's features softened slightly. "Goodbye."
Seo Eun Woo waved.
Cassian stood at the door, watching Seo Eun Woo until the elevator display showed it had stopped on the 25th floor before going back inside.
Seo Eun Woo stood at his own front door, keenly sensing that something was off. The moment he opened the door—
"Eun Woo, why are you only just getting back? And why are you wearing your loungewear outside?"
Park Yong seemed to have just returned as well. He smelled of alcohol, his eyes were a bit glazed, and he was frowning at Seo Eun Woo.
Seo Eun Woo lowered his eyes to hide his annoyance, his tone remaining gentle. "I just went to take out the trash."
"Shall I heat up some soup for your stomach?"
Park Yong's eyelids were slightly red, and his frown smoothed out. "Alright."
Seo Eun Woo immediately distanced himself from the alcohol-soaked Park Yong.
He was too lazy to make noodles like he had just done. He simply heated up the leftover fish soup. Loath to wash an extra dish, he looked around and grabbed a bowl used for feeding stray dogs. He ladled a spoonful in and handed it to Park Yong.
Anyway, this "deadbeat husband" wouldn't remember a thing the next day after being this drunk.
Park Yong held the dog bowl and drank. Perhaps because he was drunk, his conscience started to flicker; he felt guilty for cheating on his childhood sweetheart wife. "Eun Woo, I'm sorry…"
At this point, he paused instinctively, murmuring as if changing the subject, "Why does there seem to be a scent of Alpha pheromones?"
He frowned, looking confused. "On you—"
Before he could finish, Seo Eun Woo cut him off. "There isn't."
Seo Eun Woo hadn't even complained about the thick scent of Omega pheromones on him yet.
It seemed he had actually helped the two of them—his words had provoked Baek Min, which in turn gave Park Yong an opportunity.
Seo Eun Woo watched him finish the soup and then went straight to the master bedroom, ignoring Park Yong who had already fallen asleep on the sofa.
On the other side, after Cassian finished the bowl of noodles, he sat back down on the sofa. Then, he heard the beep of the door lock disengaging.
He frowned and looked toward the entrance.
A figure smelling of alcohol stumbled in, clicking on the main lights with a clack. The entire house lit up.
Cassian looked at him expressionlessly. "Baek Min?"
Baek Min froze instantly. He spoke instinctively, "Why are you here?"
Wasn't Cassian supposed to be staying at the office during this period? Why would he suddenly come back here?
Flustered and at a loss, he explained, "I… I received an invitation to a friend's gathering at the Matriarch's place, so I went to have dinner with them."
"Why… why did you come here?" Baek Min thought of what the Matriarch had told him a few days ago and suddenly remembered. "Is your Rut about to start?"
His face flushed. His marriage with Cassian was a match between equal families; in their social circle, Cassian was a "favored son of heaven" that everyone looked up to.
Even if… he had someone he liked, if Cassian wanted to… it wasn't out of the question.
He was about to step closer. "Let's do a temporary marking."
A temporary marking usually involved an exchange of bodily fluids—kissing, biting the gland, or sex.
To his surprise, Cassian said calmly, "No need."
All of Baek Min's anticipation and nervousness evaporated, and his entire body went rigid.