Contract Marriage with Memory Loss on Top - Chapter 4
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As Yeon-woo’s eyes scanned the contract clause, countless emotions flashed across them. The clause had a charm that made him want to extend the contract. To the point where he didn’t want to give up on the extension if his heart had its way. Was this really just because of the money? For a brief moment, that passing question froze Yeon-woo’s fingertips.
‘I shouldn’t be greedy.’
Unlike him, Kwon Ki-won was born into different circumstances. Even putting aside the fact that he was essentially a debtor, there was no reason for someone like Kwon Ki-won to seriously date him. Yeon-woo moistened his bitter mouth. He shouldn’t get his feelings mixed up just because Kwon Ki-won treated him well during the contract period. Their relationship was merely based on a contract. It seemed like the best way was to distance himself from Ki-won before developing any misguided feelings.
With a dazed look, Yeon-woo picked up the calendar on the desk. He calculated the remaining days until their divorce based on the contract.
“Not much time left, huh…?”
The contract termination date was in three weeks. If he didn’t extend their married life, he could pay off the debt of 130 million won all at once without having to work part-time jobs. A faint light shone on his previously gloomy face. Of course, he could earn even more by extending the contract, but it was difficult to wait until then.
As relieved as he felt about being freed from the loan sharks, he also felt a tinge of regret. If the contract expired and they divorced, he would no longer encounter Kwon Ki-won. Knowing how kind and good his fake spouse was, the thought of parting ways didn’t sit well with him.
Pushing aside his wistfulness, Yeon-woo grabbed a nearby pen and drew a large circle around the 28th. Since the 28th was the contract expiration date, he kept reminding himself to express his intention to terminate the contract before then. While his head seemed to have made up its mind, his body was filled with lingering attachment. Yeon-woo tightened his grip on the calendar he was holding for no particular reason.
‘I should probably go to the pharmacy soon.’
After putting down the calendar, Yeon-woo headed to the closet to grab his outdoor clothes. Although one of his worries had been lifted, he didn’t feel particularly refreshed for some reason. Yeon-woo moistened his bitter mouth again.
Until he took the elevator down, Yeon-woo failed to realize what he had overlooked. With the strong wind blowing, his hot breath rose up. As Yeon-woo hurried along shivering, he kept feeling people’s gazes on him.
At first, he thought it was a mistake, but when he turned his head, he made eye contact with people passing by. They were all strangers. Strange, he thought as he brushed it off and continued walking, only to meet eyes with someone else again. The more he walked, the more frequent the side glances became. Some people even wrinkled their noses and furrowed their brows.
“Ah…”
Only then did Yeon-woo realize what he had been missing. Even if his heat cycle hadn’t fully started, his pheromones were leaking out. Those sensitive to pheromones must have noticed the scent emanating from Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo let out an awkward laugh at his own foolishness. Even if it was his first heat cycle in a long time, he should have been more prepared.
Yeon-woo turned around and headed back the way he came, patting his head. Fortunately, he hadn’t gone too far, so it didn’t take long to get back to the apartment.
‘What should I do… Should I ask hyung to get some for me?’
He had never asked for suppressants before, so he felt a bit embarrassed. But with no other choice, Yeon-woo reluctantly picked up his phone.
“Hello… Hyung?”
Although they had communicated often, he didn’t recall ever initiating a call first. Yeon-woo hesitated, overcome by an unfamiliar awkwardness.
– “Yes, Yeon-woo.”
Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he had called at a bad time. There was no background noise, and the man’s calm response put Yeon-woo at ease.
“Will you be leaving work on time today? You’re not working overtime or leaving early, are you?”
Yeon-woo beat around the bush for a while, unable to directly ask Ki-won to buy him suppressants. Picking up on Yeon-woo’s hesitation, Ki-won didn’t provide an answer but asked a question instead.
– “Why, what’s going on?”
‘He’s sharp as a tack.’ Yeon-woo quietly marveled, unaware that his embarrassment was evident in his voice.
“Well, it seems like my heat cycle has started.”
– “Heat cycle? What about suppressants?”
Yeon-woo, who had just exited the elevator, walked straight down the hallway.
“Actually, I don’t have any suppressants… Oh, wait a moment.”
Standing in front of the entrance, Yeon-woo stopped the conversation and patted his pockets. He tried to unlock the door with his key but realized he wasn’t holding anything in his hands. He must have left his keys inside in his hurry to go out.
Beep, beep, beep. With no choice, he started punching in the passcode one digit at a time to get inside. Ki-won, who had been silently waiting, spoke in an unusually stern tone.
– “What do you mean? You went out?”
“I was trying to go buy some medicine but ended up coming back.”
– “You said your heat cycle seems to have started… and you still went out?”
His tone had an rare variation in pitch. Was he angry…? Yeon-woo, who was entering the house, rolled his wide-open eyes around. He was quite taken aback by the unfamiliar tone he had never heard before. When Yeon-woo failed to respond, Ki-won spoke again.
– “I’ll go buy the medicine. What kind should I get?”
Had his assumption of Ki-won being angry been a simple mistake? The familiar gentle voice flowed out of the speaker again. Come to think of it, Ki-won had no reason to be angry at him. Yeon-woo quickly brushed off his befuddlement and mentioned the name of the suppressant for strong omegas.
“Get me Green-N. Most suppressants work for strong omegas, so if that’s not available, any other kind is fine.”
– “Got it. It’ll take about an hour.”
An hour meant he was going to buy the medicine and come right away. Yeon-woo, who had been nodding, tilted his chin slightly.
“You’re coming right away… but you still have a while until your usual quitting time, right?”
That was essentially leaving work right after clocking in. Just as Yeon-woo was about to say Ki-won could take his time, the latter beat him to it.
– “What does the quitting time matter?”
“But… you must be busy…”
– “It’s fine, so don’t worry about it.”
Yeon-woo couldn’t tell if he was just trying to reassure him or if it really was fine. For him, getting the medicine quickly would also ease his mental burden, so he had no reason to refuse.
– “Don’t open the door for anyone who knocks.”
“I’m not that foolish, you know.”
– “You have to answer.”
“…Understood.”
Yeon-woo ended the call with pursed lips. It was clear that Ki-won still saw him as quite naive.
Could that be why he had been cooking meals and waking Yeon-woo up all this time? A reasonable suspicion flashed through his mind.
Well, I guess it’s for the best.
As soon as Yeon-woo entered the bedroom and took off his coat, he jumped onto the bed. Since the initial symptoms had only just appeared, his full-blown heat cycle would normally start tomorrow. However, the sensations of his limbs feeling damp and limp, and the rising heat didn’t seem ordinary at all.
“Was it always this painful…?”
It was a good thing he hadn’t tried to go outside in this state. Yeon-woo tucked his aching body into the soft blanket. Lying on his side seemed to slightly alleviate the stinging sensation on his skin.
“Ugh…”
Yeon-woo buried his face deep into the pillow. He didn’t understand why he was shivering so much. Was it because his heat cycle had been so long overdue? Yeon-woo clenched his teeth to endure the unfamiliar pain.
Yeon-woo slowly opened and closed his heavy eyelids. It seemed better to take a nap rather than tremble and wait.
Bzz-. Bzz-.
Amidst his fading consciousness, he heard vibrations. It sounded like a call was coming in, but he lacked the strength to reach out. It felt like being weighed down by a heavy boulder.
‘I’ll need to check it later…’
His fingertips twitched slightly before becoming still. As his movements ceased, the vibration sound seemed to grow more distant. Yeon-woo made no effort to cling to his waning consciousness.
***
Before the call came in, Ki-won had been reviewing a business proposal that had arrived in the morning. It included matters like renewing contracts with partners and promotional meetings. With the important tasks completed the previous week, his schedule was relatively open.
While entertaining the casual thought of going out for a meal with Yeon-woo, Ki-won received some unexpected news.
Yeon-woo’s heat cycle had started. Although momentarily taken aback by this first-time experience of cohabiting during his heat, what followed next made Ki-won’s brow furrow deeply.
‘His heat cycle started, and he went out?’
Replaying the conversation in his mind, the anger that had briefly subsided came crashing back down on Ki-won’s head. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, causing the veins on his hand to bulge. How reckless could he be?
What if something had happened to him while he was vulnerable? Nothing did happen, but the unsettling thought gnawed at Ki-won’s insides.
He needed to hurry before Yeon-woo did anything foolish again. After swiftly purchasing the suppressants from the pharmacy, Ki-won drove his car at top speed toward home. The familiar scenery came into view after a while. Ki-won entered the apartment parking lot and parked in a suitable spot. From exiting the car to taking the elevator and arriving at the front door, his urgency was palpable.
“Yeon-woo.”
Krrt-. After closing the front door behind him, Ki-won called out as he stepped into the living room. Unlike usual when Yeon-woo would come running at his summons, he was nowhere to be seen. Ki-won scanned the area and called out again.
“Seo Yeon-woo.”
The stiff-shouldered Ki-won headed toward the bedroom when he detected a faint but distinct pheromone scent seeping out from behind the door. Similar to Yeon-woo’s usual scent, but more pungent and alluring, the aroma clung to his breath. An indescribably sweet fragrance permeated Ki-won’s lungs.
‘So this is it.’
It resembled the fleeting scent from this morning. He hadn’t noticed it then, but now he realized his grave oversight. With a sigh, Ki-won opened the tightly shut bedroom door. He had expected the pheromone scent not to be overpowering since Yeon-woo was a strong omega, but this was a grave miscalculation.
The pheromones saturating the air mercilessly prodded at Ki-won’s rationality. He exhaled slowly to avoid deeply inhaling the potent fragrance.
Ko-fi goal reached bonus 1 extra chapter! thank you to all who donated.