Snake Venom Ch 43

Chapter 43

“What did I do?”

What could have happened? Judging by the fact that he wasn’t afraid of me, I must not have done anything too extreme. What kind of person was I in those severed memories for Lee Yeonwoo to trust in my abilities so naturally and act with such devotion?

On top of that, there was the matter of the pheromones I hadn’t even known I possessed. Just when had I started emitting them? Had I let them leak rudely like a half-blood marking their territory? Had I disgusted him without lifting a finger, like that pureblood yesterday? Cheon Wooshin had never done anything like that, nor did he know how. Even as he speculated, Lee Yeonwoo only fumbled awkwardly.

“Uh… well…”

As he hesitated with strange interjections, Wooshin’s curiosity only grew.

“Um… hmm.”

Cheon Wooshin fixed his gaze on Lee Yeonwoo, as if determined to get an answer.

Facing that gaze, perhaps making some kind of resolution, Lee Yeonwoo dragged his chair forward. Cheon Wooshin’s nostrils twitched faintly. His gaze unconsciously followed the scent. Just beneath the earlobe—where the pheromone was most potent.

Suddenly, a curse surged up inside. He was reacting as if he were really a half-blood. How was he supposed to process this strange sense of discord?

At that moment, Lee Yeonwoo’s cautious voice flowed past his ear.

“It’s your scent, Team Leader.”

This unknown substance, unfamiliar and even repulsive to Cheon Wooshin, was something Lee Yeonwoo referred to as “scent.” At the same time, through Cheon Wooshin’s dry vision, he caught sight of the bandage on Lee Yeonwoo’s neck—something he hadn’t noticed before due to the collar.

“You were extremely sexy.”

“…….”

Cheon Wooshin tilted his head, disbelieving his ears. The absurdity of the statement overshadowed his earlier curiosity about the bandage that hadn’t been there the night before.

“Extremely.”

As if repetition would offer some sort of comfort, Lee Yeonwoo emphasized the word again, brimming with conviction. Cheon Wooshin looked at his eyes—so close now—with a sense of wonder that all this was to say that one ridiculous thing.

“That’s really it. That’s why. If your scent gets unusually strong, I’ll let you know.”

Once again substituting the word “scent” for “pheromone,” Lee Yeonwoo spoke with complete confidence. His expression implied he didn’t care at all about the fact that Cheon Wooshin wasn’t some half-blood but something far more dangerous.

“You know best, Team Leader. You said yourself it’s a sudden spike. I can pick up on that much easily. If I get used to your scent and stay close, I’ll be able to detect it faster and more accurately.”

Lee Yeonwoo tapped his own nostrils. Just like Cheon Wooshin had done when trying to persuade him. Their roles were reversed now.

“So let’s give it a try, shall we?”

His eyes were clear.

So much so that the feeling of trudging through a sewer momentarily evaporated.

Lee Yeonwoo was finally able to lie in bed only after the sun had risen. He woke up when it was high in the sky. Though he’d gone to sleep worrying whether he’d be able to wake up in time, as soon as the alarm rang—set an hour early—he sprang up immediately.

That didn’t mean he was fully awake. Rather than forcing his heavy eyelids open, he kept them closed as he tidied the bedding. He knew the room’s layout so well that even in a drowsy stupor he could find the bathroom with ease. He was still half-asleep as he undressed, but the warm water jolted him fully awake.

The strong, clear stream cascaded over him—over the nape of his neck where Cheon Wooshin had bitten him, over the arm with the handprint, over the ankle marked by the shackle. The warmth wrapped those places tenderly. As his stiff body relaxed, a peaceful sigh escaped his parted lips.

“Baths are the best.”

He tilted his head back and let the water rain down.

Thanks to the early alarm, he had plenty of time. Emerging from the steamy shower stall, he stood in front of the mirror. He wiped the fogged surface with his palm, revealing his flushed reflection. Grinning foolishly at his blushing face, he applied his usual lotion carefully.

After completely drying his hair with a dryer, he fiddled with his bangs in a half-hearted attempt to style them but soon gave up. He had wanted to style it like Cheon Wooshin’s, but the unfamiliar act seemed like a waste of time.

Running his fingers through his thick, soft hair, he decided on his favorite khaki hoodie. Before putting it on, he twisted his neck this way and that and carefully applied a bandage so the bite mark wouldn’t show.

His grandmother had once said: lying is wrong, but sometimes, life calls for such wrongs. At the time, he hadn’t understood her words, but now, Lee Yeonwoo was actively engaging in that necessary wrong. Because he needed to.

“…….”

A fleeting shadow crossed his warm face. Until right before bed, he had believed this path was the right one, but lying clearly wasn’t in his nature.

Still, Lee Yeonwoo shook his head to cast off the doubts. The bandage, clumsily applied and clearly visible, felt like a reflection of his own situation. As if to shake off his thoughts, he pulled up his hoodie to cover his neck.

He’d dawdled, and now the promised time was just around the corner. Lee Yeonwoo packed the small case Seolkyung had left and put on his smart watch. The case contained Cheon Wooshin’s extra suppressants and tranquilizers. The watch would transmit his condition in real time.

Finally, Lee Yeonwoo placed a booster suppressant—not his usual daily dose—on his tongue and stepped out. As he swallowed the pill with water in the kitchen, he heard movement from upstairs.

Cheon Wooshin appeared from the second floor. Unlike Lee Yeonwoo, he had neatly styled hair and wore a perfectly tailored suit. He looked as if a spotlight were following him. Lee Yeonwoo looked up at him with a proud expression.

‘He looks even more dashing today.’

It was a foolishly sentimental thought, but he looked like a prince out of a fairy tale. As he internally praised him, Lee Yeonwoo bowed.

“Good morning.”

Gripping the banister, Cheon Wooshin responded to the cheerful greeting.

“Yes, did you sleep well, Lee Yeonwoo?”

Straightening up, Lee Yeonwoo gave him a wide smile. This polite and kind morning greeting was the Cheon Wooshin he knew. When he answered, “Yes,” Cheon Wooshin’s lips curved faintly. It was nothing significant, yet it made Lee Yeonwoo’s chest tighten with emotion. He followed behind Cheon Wooshin, who led the way.

They were to stay together as much as possible, but Lee Yeonwoo’s sleep must be guaranteed. That was the condition under which Cheon Wooshin agreed to Seolkyung’s proposal. Even if the side effects weren’t severe, should something happen during sleep, they might not be able to respond in time, and the damage could be severe. For this reason, Cheon Wooshin’s access to the second floor was restricted—he could only enter with Seolkyung’s permission during rest hours.

Before stepping outside, Cheon Wooshin took Lee Yeonwoo’s hand and performed a few operations at the door. He was registering his fingerprint. Lee Yeonwoo silently watched him. He didn’t need to be told why the registration was being done from the inside. Still, Cheon Wooshin spoke in a calm voice.

“You can leave anytime, Lee Yeonwoo. Just in case—”

“Yes, I will. If I must, I’ll bolt out of here.”

For some reason, those painful words were ones he didn’t want Cheon Wooshin to say. Cutting him off with a playful response, Cheon Wooshin’s smile softened even more.

“And if that’s not possible, what did I say you should do?”

Cheon Wooshin’s question made Lee Yeonwoo blink. But he soon recalled his role. As Cheon Wooshin’s tracker and self-declared emergency brake, he had to do his part. He pointed a finger-gun to his temple.

“Then we’ll have to help each other.”

His playful reply was a clear sign that he understood the seriousness of the situation. With a satisfied look, Cheon Wooshin turned the doorknob.

Before heading to the office, they had a light lunch with sandwiches. The filling was generous enough that one would suffice, but Lee Yeonwoo devoured two.

Even while he hungrily chomped on the bread, he stole glances at Cheon Wooshin. Unlike the previous day, Cheon Wooshin finished his own sandwich. Relieved, Lee Yeonwoo finished every last bit, not even leaving a shred of lettuce.

The roads were quiet after rush hour. Their car cruised smoothly along. Looking out at the clean, well-maintained streets—so different from those around Peo Station where he used to live—Lee Yeonwoo let out a soft exclamation.

“Team Leader, I have a confession to make.”

“Yes.”

While he fiddled with his fingertips and tried to form a sentence, Cheon Wooshin focused quietly on driving. He was waiting in his own way.

“While you were asleep, Seolkyung told me the gist of the situation. I mean, about what happened to you. While answering her questions…”

He trailed off, implying that he had inadvertently broken the instruction to direct all inquiries to Cheon Wooshin. As he offered his excuse, Cheon Wooshin glanced at him and the corners of his mouth slackened.

“I’m disappointed. You swore you’d wait.”

“Uh… right.”

After his weak admission, Lee Yeonwoo fell silent. Cheon Wooshin checked on him again.

“You’re going to pick up a bad habit.”

Cheon Wooshin muttered and reached out. Where had he learned to make that kind of face? His expression said he didn’t know what to do, his kind eyes trembling with concern. Cheon Wooshin ruffled all of Lee Yeonwoo’s hair.