NLFSD Chapter 31

Chapter 31

“Well then… shall we go in?”

“Ah, yes… yes!”

Lee Jiwoon snapped out of his daze and quickly swallowed hard, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

Stay calm. If I’m going to pull this off, I need to keep my head on straight.

Since he had already taken down some light luggage from the car, like clothes and suppressants, it was easy to head into the room. Jiwoon was the first to slip off his shoes on the porch and opened the door to the room he had been assigned.

It’s so small…!

The room was even smaller than the cliché sets shown in TV dramas. Despite lacking any furniture, it was more compact than the studio apartment Jiwoon had once lived in alone. In one corner, there was a single door, presumably to the bathroom.

On the floor lay bedding just big enough for two people to barely stretch out on, with a pair of pillows and a silk blanket boldly embroidered with roses. Anyone could tell this setup was like being marooned on an island and told to go write history.

Yes. This is exactly it. Perfect!

Flooded with waves of exhilaration, Jiwoon screamed inside. In a space this cramped, the atmosphere would naturally be more intimate and suggestive than in a large room. He even kind of liked the loud pattern on the blanket.

“Why aren’t you coming in?”

“Oh, I was just checking out the room.”

“It’s cozy and nice. Let’s go in.”

Seo Taecheon followed Jiwoon into the room. Because he was so tall, it almost looked as if his head might graze the ceiling—though that was a slight exaggeration.

“There’s really nothing in here.”

“Yeah, just the bedding…”

Should I try lying down? Maybe I can say I’m tired and suggest taking a nap?

Jiwoon began calculating how to naturally end up lying on that blanket with Taecheon.

Deciding to just go for it, Jiwoon strode toward the bedding. But then he tripped over his own bag and fell forward with a thud.

“Whoa!”

“Assistant Manager Lee!”

Seo Taecheon reached out to catch Jiwoon’s body, but his timing was a bit off. As Jiwoon fell faster than expected, Taecheon wrapped his arms around him and dropped to the floor in a practiced breakfall.

Seo Taecheon hit the floor first, with Jiwoon landing squarely on top of him.

“Gasp!”

This looks like I’m pouncing on him like some kind of beast… So embarrassing.

Flustered, Jiwoon tried to lift himself, but their arms and legs were tangled, and the overwhelming awkwardness made his body refuse to move.

“S-sorry.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Taecheon cupped Jiwoon’s cheek and lifted his face to check. Their faces were almost absurdly close. Taecheon smelled of a masculine cologne, and his body felt unbelievably solid.

Ah… this must be heaven.

He had never felt something so firm and unshakable before. It was more euphoric than any luxury bed.

Though they had shared a bed nearly every day since becoming a married couple, they had only ever lain side by side and never actually embraced. This moment was the most intense and intimate physical contact they had ever had.

Of course, Jiwoon didn’t remember, but they had already shared a kiss on the night of the workshop.

Almost without realizing it, Jiwoon’s hand started roaming, feeling Taecheon’s firm chest and rock-hard abs. Every breath brought in an intoxicating, heavy scent, like losing your way deep in a forest—leaving behind a deadly impression.

It was a scent unique to dominant Alphas, fundamentally heavy yet with a hint of coolness—one that only a top-class Alpha could possess.

As Jiwoon closed his eyes and savored the scent and sensation, his head moved closer to Taecheon’s neck.

“…Assistant Manager Lee.”

Lost in his own focus, Jiwoon didn’t even hear Taecheon calling his name. Taecheon looked down at him quietly and then tightened the arms that were wrapped around Jiwoon’s waist and back.

Just that alone brought their bodies even closer together, and Jiwoon let out an involuntary, soft moan.

“…Ah,”

Jiwoon opened his eyes. His long, thick brown eyelashes trembled faintly.

Their eyes met. Jiwoon held his breath and stared into Taecheon’s dark gaze. Up close, Taecheon’s pupils gave off an intense energy, as if pulling Jiwoon in.

The man in front of Jiwoon right now was not the robotic husband he knew, but a wild male, exuding ripe pheromones to seduce him. And in that man’s eyes flickered a heat that had never been there before.

If we just get a little closer… I think we could kiss.

Like a slow-motion scene, Jiwoon inched his face toward Taecheon. Taecheon kept his burning gaze fixed on Jiwoon, not looking away for even a second. Encouraged by that, Jiwoon lowered his head a little more. Their lips were getting dangerously close.

Just when Jiwoon’s hidden desires were about to be fulfilled, the old, rickety door suddenly burst open without warning.

“Ah!”

Jiwoon sprang up. Seo Taecheon followed a beat later, lifting his torso and turning his head toward the door.

“Who is it?”

Jiwoon blurted out loudly in surprise. His voice cracked.

“It’s me.”

“G-grandma?”

It was the landlady who had entered. She was holding a dinner tray, probably having come to deliver their evening meal.

“Oh…! I shouldn’t have barged in like this!”

She barely had time to put the tray down before throwing her hands over her eyes.

“Oh dear, I’ve really intruded. Don’t worry, I didn’t see a thing! Just carry on with what you were doing!”

“It’s not… not like that, ma’am.”

Jiwoon’s face burned hot. The old woman had clearly misunderstood, assuming they were already rolling around on the blanket early in the evening.

“I’ve run a guesthouse for thirty years, but this really wasn’t like me. Young people move fast these days… I’m so sorry!”

Without waiting for any explanation, she quickly darted out.

“Ma’am… it’s not what you think…!”

Jiwoon called after her wistfully, but she had already disappeared.

“That’s dinner.”

Seo Taecheon shut the door and came back. Sitting down a little distance away from Jiwoon, he cleared his throat and adjusted his disheveled clothes.

Ugh… it’s all ruined. We were just one step away from a kiss, and now the mood’s completely gone.

Embarrassed and disappointed, Jiwoon was filled with regret. Just one more step, and he could have shared some intimacy with Taecheon…! He felt like screaming.

But the moment was already shattered, and there was no one to blame.

Still, that smell is incredible.

The tray left by the door was releasing the mouthwatering aroma of food.

“Director… um.”

“Let’s eat. You must be hungry, Assistant Manager Lee.”

“How did you know?”

“You’re staring at the tray like you’re about to devour it.”

“Ah… right.”

Scratching the back of his head sheepishly, Jiwoon watched as Taecheon went to the door, picked up the tray, and set it in the empty space next to the bedding. The meal was incredibly generous—braised fish, bulgogi, assorted vegetables, and nearly ten side dishes.

“Wow. That’s a lot of side dishes.”

“It is.”

“The bulgogi looks amazing!”

As if he had already forgotten the previous situation, Jiwoon eagerly grabbed his spoon and began eating. Taecheon subtly slid the meat dishes toward Jiwoon and moved the blander side dishes to his own side.

Although he was genuinely hungry, Jiwoon still felt extremely awkward and tense. He kept his head down and shoveled food into his mouth quickly, deliberately avoiding Taecheon’s gaze.

After finishing dinner, he announced he’d wash up and disappeared into the bathroom, wasting time inside. He had already brushed his teeth and showered, but stepping out felt unusually nerve-racking.

Once I go out, we’ll have to sleep. Can I bring the mood back? Doesn’t seem likely…

Honestly, I wish I could just release my pheromones and be done with it, but I already took suppressants, and as a recessive Omega, I can’t control my scent easily. The only time I could seduce an Alpha with pheromones would be during a heat cycle.

What do I do? What should I do!

Drying his hair with a hairdryer, Jiwoon paused halfway through and clutched his silky strands in frustration.

“Director, the bathroom’s all yours.”

“Alright.”

After Taecheon went in, Jiwoon didn’t immediately lie down but instead paced around the room. If only I had learned judo when I was younger. Then I could just throw him onto the blanket and pin him down!

Letting out a long sigh and feeling choked with frustration, Jiwoon involuntarily pounded his chest.

“Ow.”

But his chest hurt more than expected. Not exactly the heart, but around the stomach area—it felt like someone was jabbing and clamping down tightly.

“Uh…? Why does it hurt?”

He pressed his abdomen, and this time the pain was sharp enough to make his eyes pop.

Did I get indigestion? From being stressed out?

He tried patting his chest and drinking water, but the discomfort wouldn’t go away. This was no mild case.

“Ugh… I think I’ve really got indigestion.”