No Alphas Allowed - C108

#108

Seeing the front door open, Secretary Lee Jinhyuk hurriedly entered. Wondering if Taeyun had left with the door open or if something had happened, he looked around the house while taking out his phone from his pocket.

“What is this…”

Secretary Lee Jinhyuk, who was about to call the nearby security guard, let out a sigh as soon as he saw Taeyun sprawled on the sofa.

“Why are you like this?”

Taeyun lay limp with his arm over his forehead. Was it due to the shock of not finding Suho? Secretary Lee Jinhyuk spoke.

“If it’s about Suho-kun, we’re searching in various ways, so we should hear news soon.”

“That’s enough about that.”

As Taeyun acted as if he didn’t need to say more, doubt and a glimmer of hope passed across Secretary Lee Jinhyuk’s face in succession.

“Did you hear from Suho-kun?”

“Not that, but I found out where he is.”

“How?”

When asked if he had learned through a separate channel, Taeyun answered indifferently as if it was nothing.

“He came by.”

“Then…”

Secretary Lee Jinhyuk, who was carefully broaching the subject while looking at Taeyun’s expression, discovered documents scattered messily on the table.

“This is…”

It was the Michon business plan received through the team leader. Secretary Lee Jinhyuk looked to see if there was anything else, but it was exactly the same content as what he had received before. Just as he was wondering why this was strewn about here, Taeyun’s instructions came down.

“Proceed as is.”

“With Michon?”

To postpone the originally decided place and go with Michon.

Michon had matched all conditions from the beginning anyway. There wouldn’t be a problem if they changed to them, but if they did, it would be no different from giving wings to Michon’s president rather than bringing him down.

“We’ve decided to do that, so just implement it right away.”

“But…”

“The project won’t fail anyway, so there’s no problem for my career. As for Michon, well. The trap set to bring down Michon’s president has become a golden egg-laying pit, but it can’t be helped.”

It was beyond his expectations that they would make a deal using Suho at the last minute. It’s his fault for not protecting Suho a little more. Despite Taeyun’s light response, Secretary Lee Jinhyuk couldn’t easily put down the documents. With this matter, Taeyun was giving up the one thing he had wanted to gain.

“If you give me time, I’ll think of a way.”

“It’s fine.”

“But please reconsider.”

“I’ve already decided. Rather than that, what was it you just brought?”

As Secretary Lee Jinhyuk still couldn’t let go of his regrets, Taeyun changed the subject. He had already given a definitive answer to Michon’s president. He prevented Secretary Lee Jinhyuk from touching it, lest he lose Suho while racking his brains to come up with another method.

At Taeyun’s question, Secretary Lee Jinhyuk reluctantly approached with the envelope of documents he had brought.

“It’s from the research lab.”

For Taeyun, whose attention was entirely focused on Suho right now, it was just an annoyance. Even while seeing Taeyun’s expression that seemed to regret asking, Secretary Lee Jinhyuk handed it to him. He did so because he felt Taeyun wouldn’t open it if he just set it aside. When receiving these documents, there had been an earnest request for Taeyun to see them.

Seeing Secretary Lee Jinhyuk’s reaction of continuing to hold out the envelope instead of setting it aside, Taeyun reluctantly reached out his hand. Even as he took the envelope from the manager, he didn’t feel like opening it at all, but just before putting it down, he changed his mind.

Sighing again in annoyance at the thickness of the paper stack inside, Taeyun carelessly pulled his hand away. Although the paper crumpled as it was dragged along, unable to resist the force, fortunately it didn’t tear.

“They could just call or send an email, why do such a bothersome thing?”

Taeyun, who had been granted authority to access experimental results whenever needed, muttered meaningless words as he lowered his gaze. Intending to just skim through it, Taeyun’s gaze stopped as if entranced after stealing a glance at the first sentence. As Taeyun’s eyes reading the paper showed agitation, Secretary Lee Jinhyuk tactfully stepped back.

Soon, Taeyun began to seriously flip through the pages one by one.

***

“I should get up now. Taeyun will be waiting.”

Suho, whose meeting with Hyun Yusoo had been meaningful, stood up with a face half-regretful and half-relieved. Though he felt sorry towards Taeyun, he had really wanted to meet his father if given the chance. However, having seen how his omega father was practically oppressed of his freedom even while living together, he couldn’t think of a way to meet. He had also received a large sum of money on the condition that he would never seek out his father for life.

“Suho.”

Hyun Yusoo couldn’t erase the look in his eyes that said he wanted to stay with him longer. While Suho hesitated for a moment, Hyun Yusoo approached and took Suho’s hand. Then, holding that hand tightly for a moment, he spoke with resignation.

“Forget everything I said today.”

Hyun Yusoo’s expression showed that while he felt relieved recalling the conversation he had with Suho, on the other hand he was still bothered by not being able to hide everything until the end. He was worried that his father, whom Suho had thought had no affection for him until now, belatedly expressing his true feelings might make Suho uncomfortable.

Seeing this, Suho suddenly became curious about his father’s feelings. He was certain that when he was pregnant with Suho, he hated the alpha father, but now he couldn’t be sure how he felt. Especially since he was someone who had hidden even his feelings for Suho, Suho wanted to know if any small affection had built up during the time spent with the alpha father.

“Father…”

Just as Suho was about to ask that question, the sound of a door opening with a mechanical noise was heard. As footsteps walking down the corridor-style passageway were heard, Hyun Yusoo quickly let go of Suho’s hand and stepped back.

The space froze over at Jeong Sehun’s appearance. As soon as Hyun Yusoo saw Jeong Sehun’s face, he looked around with a pale face. At this instinctive movement as if looking for a place to hide right away, Suho inevitably clenched his fists. The question he was about to ask earlier disappeared without a trace. His father was still afraid of Jeong Sehun.

“How does it feel to see the son you cast away again?”

Jeong Sehun walked in leisurely and spoke to Hyun Yusoo with a smirk, as if greeting him. Hyun Yusoo couldn’t meet Jeong Sehun’s eyes and lowered his head.

“Was this all you forcibly brought me out for?”

“All, you say…”

Jeong Sehun plopped down in a chair and pulled down his tie that was choking his neck. As he let out a long breath, his face was dotted with relief and refreshment, looking quite pleased. Suho and Hyun Yusoo had to feel the uncomfortable air as Jeong Sehun tilted his head back, resting it on the sofa and looking at the ceiling.

He barged in as he pleased and took control of the atmosphere. At his inconsiderate, forceful behavior, Hyun Yusoo turned so pale it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed right away, and Suho felt like he had returned to the past, caught between Hyun Yusoo and Jeong Sehun. Until Jeong Sehun appeared, he had planned to say goodbye to his father and leave, but now his feet wouldn’t move. He couldn’t bear to leave his omega father alone with Jeong Sehun.

As Suho silently stared at Jeong Sehun, he slowly lowered his head and opened his mouth.

“He’s our precious son, you know.”

Precious son?

At this nonsensical gibberish, Hyun Yusoo and Suho’s faces crumpled. If Suho hadn’t heard the circumstances, he would have thought Jeong Sehun had gone mad. Hyun Yusoo was about to tell Jeong Sehun to leave. However, as Hyun Yusoo moved, Suho grabbed his wrist.

Hyun Yusoo turned to look at Suho, unable to even think of removing his hand. Why did he suddenly grab his wrist… Moreover, he had told him to forget the conversation they just had. As a complex worry appeared on Hyun Yusoo’s face, Suho cut it off appropriately.

“He says I’m a precious son.”

Quoting Jeong Sehun’s words, Suho held Hyun Yusoo back from leaving. Perhaps surprised that Suho, who had never even raised his head in front of Jeong Sehun, was now speaking his mind, Hyun Yusoo could only gape without saying a word.

Meanwhile, Jeong Sehun, who had been alternately staring at Hyun Yusoo and Suho, soon laughed so loudly that his stomach shook.

“That’s right. You’re my precious second son.”

“Tell me now. The reason you brought me here. What were you thinking when you said you’d let me meet my father?”

“Well…”

Jeong Sehun wrinkled his nose as if he had received a not very difficult question. It wasn’t hard to tell, but he didn’t want to answer readily, you could say?

“There came a time when you could be useful to me.”

“…Did you meet Taeyun?”

“Yes. He was a very expensive person who couldn’t be reached, but he helplessly opened the door with just your name.”

As his expectation wasn’t off, Suho bit his lip.

“What did you say?”

“You don’t need to know that. Now go. From now on, answer properly when I call.”

Jeong Sehun dismissed Suho as if he wouldn’t listen to anything else. Judging by his still self-centered attitude, if he decided not to speak, he absolutely wouldn’t open his mouth. When Suho raised his head to confront Jeong Sehun, he turned around at the feeling of his hand being pulled.

Hyun Yusoo shook his head slightly while maintaining eye contact with Suho. It meant not to interfere anymore and leave, but Suho didn’t want to leave his omega father here alone. He had escaped from Jeong Sehun again, but his omega father…

“You have to leave what’s mine behind.”

While Suho was sending a look to Hyun Yusoo asking him to come along, Jeong Sehun’s voice cut off their connection. Fearing to upset Jeong Sehun, Hyun Yusoo removed Suho’s hand holding his wrist.

‘Go.’

Hyun Yusoo sent Suho a look telling him to leave quickly and slowly turned around. Jeong Sehun mocked Suho while embracing Hyun Yusoo’s waist. As if to say there was nothing Suho could do.