NLFSD Chapter 20

Chapter 20

 

Inside the department head’s car, on the way home, Lee Jiwoon looked like a complete wreck. His complexion was pallid, and his gaze was vacant. He occasionally glanced at Seo Taecheon and thought,

Flirting with another omega right in front of me. That’s one thing I absolutely can’t stand. But how am I supposed to get in the way of Omega No. 3 and BBG?

He fell into serious contemplation, then suddenly snapped out of it.

Wait, why am I acting like an omega trying to rein in a cheating alpha?

This is weird. So weird. Just a month and a half ago, I was loudly declaring I’d divorce and return to being fabulously single. How did I end up this pathetic, panicking at the thought of this guy going to another omega?

Still, I’m really pissed off right now. This is clearly cheating. And what is cheating?! It’s an immoral act. So as his legal spouse, I’m fully entitled to criticize him this much!

As his anger surged, Lee Jiwoon grabbed a fan within reach and began fanning himself furiously. Seo Taecheon asked,

“Is it very hot?”

“Ah, no.”

“You’ve been restless for a while now, and now you’re even fanning yourself. I’ll turn the air conditioning down a bit.”

“Ah… okay. Thank you.”

Did I give myself away? Lee Jiwoon awkwardly stopped fanning and pretended to focus elsewhere.

“By the way, what do you feel like eating most today?”

Today was the day to update their shared meal photo in the reflection journal. Since Seo Taecheon was on cooking duty, Jiwoon had the right to choose the menu.

Then I’ll torment him with something complicated.

“The world’s best risotto! The rice should be savory, the cheese mild, and don’t overseason it! Also, grill a steak—make it a thick tenderloin. Oh, and try recreating that cheese salad we had in Jeju last time.”

“Alright. Sounds good.”

Seo Taecheon gave a brief answer and then actually whipped up all those dishes in no time. The table was so extravagantly set it looked like it might collapse, and Lee Jiwoon’s appetite came roaring back to life.

Wow, I’ll admit it—his cooking is seriously amazing. He’s annoying, but credit where it’s due.

With a prim look, Jiwoon picked up his fork. The risotto was perfectly balanced—light yet savory.

“This is so good.”

While he was shoveling spoonfuls into his mouth, Seo Taecheon’s face broke into a faint smile. Jiwoon’s eyes widened instantly.

Eureka! I saw him smile!

Wait a minute. Come to think of it, the last time he smiled in Jeju was also while we were eating. At that rooftop restaurant, when we ordered pasta, steak, and all sorts of stuff, right?

…Then this isn’t a coincidence.

Jiwoon felt as though he’d had a revelation.

Well, well. Looks like this guy smiles whenever I eat. I’ve figured you out now.

“Did you finish eating?”

“Yes. I’ll clear the dishes.”

“Did you take the photo for the reflection journal?”

“Ah! No. What do I do?”

Actually, he knew that as long as the content was well written, attaching a photo didn’t lead to point deductions. But even so, Jiwoon was hesitant to submit the journal without one. Writing for five consecutive days earned bonus points. On the flip side, failing to submit for more than five days in a row would get you classified as a negligent participant and docked points without mercy.

“We probably don’t need a photo.”

“That’s true.”

Hearing Seo Taecheon point out the facts so matter-of-factly oddly rubbed Jiwoon the wrong way.

…I kinda want to get penalized.

He pretended to type something into the app and then deleted the journal entry altogether.

After the meal, Jiwoon secretly took a packet of herbal medicine out of sight from Seo Taecheon. For some reason, whenever he took this, he slept well and woke up feeling refreshed.

His mother had stressed how good it was for his health, and it certainly did seem effective. But it also seemed to raise his body temperature and improve his circulation a little too well.

It was early September, but Jiwoon felt unusually hot today. Fanning himself, he stared at his monitor. He had Excel open but secretly pulled up an internet window and was browsing for office fans.

Hmm. This one’s too expensive…

Oh, they’ve got models with remotes? And it looks like they’ve got good after-service too… Which one should I get?

While he was deeply engrossed in his shopping, his phone vibrated noisily on the desk.

What the—?

The screen showed an unknown number. Jiwoon usually ignored calls from numbers he didn’t recognize, since they were often spam or insurance solicitations.

He dismissed the call and turned his attention back to the monitor.

“White or black… I prefer white.”

Just as he was about to add the model he wanted to the cart and hit purchase, the phone rang again. Same number.

“What the hell, again?”

Do people usually call twice like this? Jiwoon was annoyed. He reached for the phone intending to block the number, but accidentally hit the answer button. A young woman’s voice came through the receiver.

—Hello?! Is this Lee Jiwoon?

The voice was urgent. Jiwoon, bewildered, brought the phone to his ear.

“Hello?”

—Are you Mr. Seo Taecheon’s spouse?

At first, Jiwoon didn’t register what she meant. He was, indeed, Seo Taecheon’s spouse, but it was almost the first time someone else had said that to him aloud. Still, what was the point of asking if I’m his spouse?

“That’s right. Why do you ask?”

—This is the emergency room at Gangnam OO University Hospital. Mr. Seo Taecheon is here now.

“What?!”

Jiwoon shouted, and nearby teammates turned to look at him.

—There was a major rear-end collision near Gangnam Station, and he was rushed here. We need a family member to come, so we’re informing you.

“At Gangnam Station? No way…”

—Please come as soon as you can.

“A-Alright. I’ll go right now.”

Jiwoon’s hand trembled as he hung up. Deputy Manager Min Hyekyung, seeing his blank expression, asked,

“Chief Lee, what’s going on?”

“S-Someone… there was an accident. I need to go. I have to go.”

“Really? I’ll report to the manager when they arrive. Just go. I’ll take care of your early leave—don’t worry too much.”

The team leader, seeing Jiwoon pale and shaking, spoke up. Jiwoon stood up in a daze, knocking over his wireless mouse and a stack of papers. He was clearly out of it.

“I’ll get those. Stay calm, Chief Lee.”

Min Hyekyung patted him on the shoulder. Jiwoon nodded, his face deathly pale.

As Jiwoon rushed out of the office, Hyekyung let out a light sigh. Who could’ve gotten hurt for him to be so shocked?

But moments later, the opposite side of the office began to buzz. Team Leaders 1 and 2 were talking, and someone shouted,

“The department head was in an accident!”

“What?”

“There was a huge rear-end collision near Gangnam Station earlier. Looks like he was caught in it.”

“Oh my god!”

Min Hyekyung was startled.

“How did that happen… Oh. Is this the same accident Chief Lee’s acquaintance was in?”

Rushing out of the company, Jiwoon initially headed for the subway but changed direction immediately. He couldn’t imagine calmly navigating public transit in the right direction—taking a taxi seemed like the better option.

But the heavens weren’t on his side. Heavy rain was pouring down, seemingly out of nowhere, and taxis were nowhere to be seen.

“Taxi!”

He called out desperately, but only cabs already carrying passengers splashed past him.

“Please, please.”

After nearly ten minutes of waiting, Jiwoon finally managed to catch a cab.

“To OO University Hospital, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

Whether due to the accident’s aftermath or the rain, the traffic was atrocious. The delay was worse than Jiwoon had anticipated, and time dragged by slowly.

In the backseat, he clasped his hands and prayed. Even if he was only a husband in name, he didn’t want the man to be hurt. Please don’t let him be badly injured. Please let him come home safe and sound.

But the nurse had said to come to the emergency room. That made him feel strangely uneasy. Jiwoon anxiously bit his nails and endured what felt like an eternity during the twenty-minute ride. When they finally arrived at the hospital, he sprang out of the cab.

It wasn’t easy to find the way in the unfamiliar hospital, which was a large university hospital. He frantically looked around in all directions, searching desperately for the emergency room.

After several missteps, he finally located the emergency room on the first floor of the hospital.

“Haah, haah. I’m Seo Taecheon’s guardian.”

“You’ve arrived. Mr. Seo Taecheon has finished his treatment and has been admitted. He’s been moved to a hospital room.”

The nurse hurriedly made an internal call and then spoke to Lee Jiwoon a moment later.

“Take this name tag and go to room 609.”

According to the nurse’s directions, the inpatient ward was in a separate location. Lee Jiwoon rushed out of the building and went up to the sixth floor of the inpatient ward.

Standing in front of room 609, his face looked like he was about to cry.

What kind of state would Seo Taecheon be in inside? Unconscious? On a ventilator? Or maybe he wouldn’t even recognize him…

“No. I don’t want that.”

Lee Jiwoon’s eyes welled up with tears.