Cozy Obsession
Author: 유성화
Chapter 53
"Sir, Dr. Hwang has arrived."
Heemin, who had been walking on the treadmill for a while, pressed the red stop button at Minseok’s notification. 3, 2, 1. The numbers on the decreasing screen, along with the gradually slowing belt speed, came to a complete halt.
Heemin took a deep breath, wiping his hands with the towel that was draped over the treadmill's handles. It had only been a few minutes of cardio after strength training, but his whole body was drenched in sweat. It definitely seemed like the weather had gotten warmer.
In a hurry, he wiped his forehead and was getting ready to step out to the living room when Dr. Hwang couldn’t wait any longer and barged into the room to see him.
"Exercising diligently since the morning? How industrious."
"Hello, Dr. Hwang. I'm sorry I fell asleep the other day without greeting you properly."
Heemin quickly stepped off the treadmill and bowed his head to Dr. Hwang. Wanting to address the issue that had been bothering him, he was about to bring it up, but Dr. Hwang responded lightly as if it wasn’t a big deal.
"No need to apologize. When you’re sick, that’s just how it goes."
"My sisters always told me to make sure I greet the elders properly, no matter what."
"Ah, is that so?"
Dr. Hwang, smiling warmly as he looked at Heemin’s face, spoke with a tone of relief.
"It seems like you’ve recovered a lot in the past two days. You look much better than before. Your complexion is a lot healthier, too."
"After eating well for lunch and dinner, and getting a good sleep, I think my condition improved a lot. I feel energized."
For the first time, Heemin had gone out for a meal, then slowly driven along the foothills to enjoy the spring evening. Last night had been the most enjoyable night since he arrived here. He hadn’t felt any longing for the real world, not even a little bit.
Furthermore, the seemingly impenetrable fortress had finally opened its door to him, making Heemin feel incredibly energetic.
Although the door had only opened a small crack—no more than a centimeter—Heemin couldn’t help but feel happy. Now, at last, the keyword change project had begun to proceed smoothly.
"Yesterday, when Chairman Cha had to leave suddenly for something urgent, I was worried you collapsed again. But now that I see you looking fine, it seems like it was just something to do with the newly acquired company."
"Ah, yes. He seems to be quite busy."
Though Heemin didn’t know the details, it seemed like Dr. Hwang and Iheon had been involved in an important meeting at the chairman’s house the day before. Heemin couldn’t admit that Iheon had been out late with him, so he pretended not to know, playing dumb.
Chairman Yoon, with his name 'Dae-ho,' was as ruthless as a wild beast. He selected his executives strictly based on merit under a hierarchical system. If anyone made the slightest mistake or posed a threat to the organization, they were mercilessly dealt with.
Since Chairman Yoon prioritized the organization’s well-being over personal matters, Heemin couldn’t afford to let this news reach his ears. He preferred to eliminate any potential threats before they could cause trouble.
"By the way, Heemin."
Fortunately, Dr. Hwang switched the topic without suspicion. Unlike the cheerful expression from earlier, he now approached Heemin with an uneasy look on his face. Suddenly, he buried his nose into Heemin's shoulder and sniffed.
Minseok’s eyes widened in shock as he watched.
"Stop, stop! That’s too close, Dr. Hwang! Let’s talk from a distance!"
"No, I was just checking your condition, why is this a big deal?"
"The boss is watching from above. Please be careful."
Minseok forcibly pulled Dr. Hwang away and pointed to the ceiling, where a surveillance camera was visible. The red light coming from the camera’s lens almost seemed to resemble Iheon’s gaze, and Dr. Hwang cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ha, ha. It’s not like there’s a ghost up there. You’re making it sound scary."
"How about examining from at least a meter away? The boss said not to let anyone get too close, whether they’re Alpha, Beta, or Omega. Even if you’re a doctor, if you get too close, the boss will get upset."
"You old doctors are good for nothing, huh? Anyway, just like Secretary Jung, you and the rest are loyal dogs to Chairman Cha."
Dr. Hwang muttered as he glanced at Minseok, as though he had lost the argument. With a resigned sigh, he took a step back, broadening his stance.
"That’s better, much better. Now, let’s continue talking."
Sighing as he watched Minseok smile in satisfaction, Dr. Hwang pulled out a small, thin, rectangular box from his bag. It was the heat cycle suppressor that Heemin had asked for.
"Here."
Dr. Hwang carefully held the box by the edge to avoid their fingers brushing, extending it toward Heemin. Heemin, trying to suppress the laughter that almost escaped him, managed to thank him with sincerity.
"Thank you, Dr. Hwang. I’m sorry for making you work hard for me this morning."
"If I'm not your attending doctor, who else is going to take care of you, Heemin? Your pheromones are leaking more than before, so after you eat, make sure to take a pill."
"More pheromones are leaking?"
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Heemin, startled, brought his arm up to his nose to smell himself. As expected, there was only the sour sweat smell, nothing else.
He was overly sensitive to Alpha pheromones, especially Iheon’s, yet when it came to his own, he was completely oblivious. It was truly ironic. If he could smell his pheromones 24/7, 365 days a year, it would be torturous, though.
"Was your expected date the 15th?"
"Yes. May 15th, Teacher’s Day."
"That’s odd. It seems like it’s right before your heat would hit."
Despite Dr. Hwang's concerns, Heemin didn’t feel any symptoms or signs of his cycle approaching. In fact, he felt so light and energized that he could have easily endured intense physical contact with Iheon without issue.
"Could it be mixing with the sweat smell?"
Normally, when you sweat, your body odor becomes stronger. The pheromones, not properly contained, might have mixed with his natural scent and made it feel stronger than usual. After a good shower, it would probably be fine.
"Is your cycle usually this precise?"
"Not exactly... but I’m sure it’ll be the 15th."
"Sure, huh?"
"Yes. I’m certain. Trust me."
From the way Kwak Yoonseong was trying every trick to get Iheon out of the company, and Do Junyoung’s inability to let go of Heemin, it was clear that even though the plot might shift, the character setups would remain unchanged.
In that case, to maximize the genre-specific nature of the "tragic" Silent type of story, Heemin was sure his heat cycle would come exactly on May 15th, Teacher’s Day, just like in the original.
There were mountains of tasks to be done. Even just thinking about stealing Kwak Yoonseong’s ledger was overwhelming, and Heemin didn’t want to waste any unnecessary energy thinking about his heat, which wouldn’t arrive for another ten days.
‘Knowing the future is really convenient.’
There was no need to anxiously wait for symptoms that ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) could come at any time. This convenience made everything easier. When Heemin spoke with complete confidence, Dr. Hwang hesitated before responding with a worried expression.
"If that’s the case, then fine... but if you start feeling even the slightest bit off, make sure to take the medication. You’re living in the same house as a Prime Alpha, so be extra cautious."
Dr. Hwang had said that overcoming trauma required mutual trust above all else. If Heemin were to lose his composure and end up sleeping with Iheon due to his heat, all the progress they had made would be ruined in an instant. He seemed to be warning Heemin to be extra careful.
"Yes. I will."
He nodded slowly, as if understanding his concerns. Only then did Dr. Hwang seem to relax, his expression softening.
"I have to go now, I have some things to take care of. Since I told you to stay at least a meter away, don’t come out, just stay here."
Dr. Hwang, who didn’t seem too fond of the way Minseok was continuously on guard, made a sarcastic remark and quickly turned to leave. He had come all this way to bring the suppressant, but after being treated like a threat, he seemed rather upset.
Minseok’s vigilance made sense, as he was devoted to Iheon, but Heemin couldn’t help but feel a little sorry. He waved at Dr. Hwang loudly.
"Thank you, Dr. Hwang. I’ll see you again!"
"What’s there to see? It’s better if I don’t come here. Just don’t get sick."
Dr. Hwang waved his hand dismissively without turning back. Though his tone was gruff, the genuine concern behind it made Heemin feel grateful.
"Go on in."
"Okay."
Minseok gave Heemin a nod as if to say he would only escort him to the door. Heemin nodded quietly in acknowledgment, and Minseok playfully stuck out his tongue, imitating Dr. Hwang’s grumbling.
Heemin thought they would get along just fine since they seemed to have similar personalities, but it was surprising that they didn’t. It was a shame they couldn’t bond more due to the age gap and their positions.
Heemin, sitting on a bench, slipped off his sneakers and casually checked the surveillance camera. Having followed his usual routine—waking up early, seeing Iheon off, and exercising—he hadn’t raised any suspicions.
Now, it was time to clean up his sweat-drenched body, take a shower, and either paint or read like usual. But today, he had something more unusual planned.
He was going to convince Iheon to let him go to the company.
Heemin, who had been walking on the treadmill for a while, pressed the red stop button at Minseok’s notification. 3, 2, 1. The numbers on the decreasing screen, along with the gradually slowing belt speed, came to a complete halt.
Heemin took a deep breath, wiping his hands with the towel that was draped over the treadmill's handles. It had only been a few minutes of cardio after strength training, but his whole body was drenched in sweat. It definitely seemed like the weather had gotten warmer.
In a hurry, he wiped his forehead and was getting ready to step out to the living room when Dr. Hwang couldn’t wait any longer and barged into the room to see him.
"Exercising diligently since the morning? How industrious."
"Hello, Dr. Hwang. I'm sorry I fell asleep the other day without greeting you properly."
Heemin quickly stepped off the treadmill and bowed his head to Dr. Hwang. Wanting to address the issue that had been bothering him, he was about to bring it up, but Dr. Hwang responded lightly as if it wasn’t a big deal.
"No need to apologize. When you’re sick, that’s just how it goes."
"My sisters always told me to make sure I greet the elders properly, no matter what."
"Ah, is that so?"
Dr. Hwang, smiling warmly as he looked at Heemin’s face, spoke with a tone of relief.
"It seems like you’ve recovered a lot in the past two days. You look much better than before. Your complexion is a lot healthier, too."
"After eating well for lunch and dinner, and getting a good sleep, I think my condition improved a lot. I feel energized."
For the first time, Heemin had gone out for a meal, then slowly driven along the foothills to enjoy the spring evening. Last night had been the most enjoyable night since he arrived here. He hadn’t felt any longing for the real world, not even a little bit.
Furthermore, the seemingly impenetrable fortress had finally opened its door to him, making Heemin feel incredibly energetic.
Although the door had only opened a small crack—no more than a centimeter—Heemin couldn’t help but feel happy. Now, at last, the keyword change project had begun to proceed smoothly.
"Yesterday, when Chairman Cha had to leave suddenly for something urgent, I was worried you collapsed again. But now that I see you looking fine, it seems like it was just something to do with the newly acquired company."
"Ah, yes. He seems to be quite busy."
Though Heemin didn’t know the details, it seemed like Dr. Hwang and Iheon had been involved in an important meeting at the chairman’s house the day before. Heemin couldn’t admit that Iheon had been out late with him, so he pretended not to know, playing dumb.
Chairman Yoon, with his name 'Dae-ho,' was as ruthless as a wild beast. He selected his executives strictly based on merit under a hierarchical system. If anyone made the slightest mistake or posed a threat to the organization, they were mercilessly dealt with.
Since Chairman Yoon prioritized the organization’s well-being over personal matters, Heemin couldn’t afford to let this news reach his ears. He preferred to eliminate any potential threats before they could cause trouble.
"By the way, Heemin."
Fortunately, Dr. Hwang switched the topic without suspicion. Unlike the cheerful expression from earlier, he now approached Heemin with an uneasy look on his face. Suddenly, he buried his nose into Heemin's shoulder and sniffed.
Minseok’s eyes widened in shock as he watched.
"Stop, stop! That’s too close, Dr. Hwang! Let’s talk from a distance!"
"No, I was just checking your condition, why is this a big deal?"
"The boss is watching from above. Please be careful."
Minseok forcibly pulled Dr. Hwang away and pointed to the ceiling, where a surveillance camera was visible. The red light coming from the camera’s lens almost seemed to resemble Iheon’s gaze, and Dr. Hwang cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ha, ha. It’s not like there’s a ghost up there. You’re making it sound scary."
"How about examining from at least a meter away? The boss said not to let anyone get too close, whether they’re Alpha, Beta, or Omega. Even if you’re a doctor, if you get too close, the boss will get upset."
"You old doctors are good for nothing, huh? Anyway, just like Secretary Jung, you and the rest are loyal dogs to Chairman Cha."
Dr. Hwang muttered as he glanced at Minseok, as though he had lost the argument. With a resigned sigh, he took a step back, broadening his stance.
"That’s better, much better. Now, let’s continue talking."
Sighing as he watched Minseok smile in satisfaction, Dr. Hwang pulled out a small, thin, rectangular box from his bag. It was the heat cycle suppressor that Heemin had asked for.
"Here."
Dr. Hwang carefully held the box by the edge to avoid their fingers brushing, extending it toward Heemin. Heemin, trying to suppress the laughter that almost escaped him, managed to thank him with sincerity.
"Thank you, Dr. Hwang. I’m sorry for making you work hard for me this morning."
"If I'm not your attending doctor, who else is going to take care of you, Heemin? Your pheromones are leaking more than before, so after you eat, make sure to take a pill."
"More pheromones are leaking?"
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Heemin, startled, brought his arm up to his nose to smell himself. As expected, there was only the sour sweat smell, nothing else.
He was overly sensitive to Alpha pheromones, especially Iheon’s, yet when it came to his own, he was completely oblivious. It was truly ironic. If he could smell his pheromones 24/7, 365 days a year, it would be torturous, though.
"Was your expected date the 15th?"
"Yes. May 15th, Teacher’s Day."
"That’s odd. It seems like it’s right before your heat would hit."
Despite Dr. Hwang's concerns, Heemin didn’t feel any symptoms or signs of his cycle approaching. In fact, he felt so light and energized that he could have easily endured intense physical contact with Iheon without issue.
"Could it be mixing with the sweat smell?"
Normally, when you sweat, your body odor becomes stronger. The pheromones, not properly contained, might have mixed with his natural scent and made it feel stronger than usual. After a good shower, it would probably be fine.
"Is your cycle usually this precise?"
"Not exactly... but I’m sure it’ll be the 15th."
"Sure, huh?"
"Yes. I’m certain. Trust me."
From the way Kwak Yoonseong was trying every trick to get Iheon out of the company, and Do Junyoung’s inability to let go of Heemin, it was clear that even though the plot might shift, the character setups would remain unchanged.
In that case, to maximize the genre-specific nature of the "tragic" Silent type of story, Heemin was sure his heat cycle would come exactly on May 15th, Teacher’s Day, just like in the original.
There were mountains of tasks to be done. Even just thinking about stealing Kwak Yoonseong’s ledger was overwhelming, and Heemin didn’t want to waste any unnecessary energy thinking about his heat, which wouldn’t arrive for another ten days.
‘Knowing the future is really convenient.’
There was no need to anxiously wait for symptoms that ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) could come at any time. This convenience made everything easier. When Heemin spoke with complete confidence, Dr. Hwang hesitated before responding with a worried expression.
"If that’s the case, then fine... but if you start feeling even the slightest bit off, make sure to take the medication. You’re living in the same house as a Prime Alpha, so be extra cautious."
Dr. Hwang had said that overcoming trauma required mutual trust above all else. If Heemin were to lose his composure and end up sleeping with Iheon due to his heat, all the progress they had made would be ruined in an instant. He seemed to be warning Heemin to be extra careful.
"Yes. I will."
He nodded slowly, as if understanding his concerns. Only then did Dr. Hwang seem to relax, his expression softening.
"I have to go now, I have some things to take care of. Since I told you to stay at least a meter away, don’t come out, just stay here."
Dr. Hwang, who didn’t seem too fond of the way Minseok was continuously on guard, made a sarcastic remark and quickly turned to leave. He had come all this way to bring the suppressant, but after being treated like a threat, he seemed rather upset.
Minseok’s vigilance made sense, as he was devoted to Iheon, but Heemin couldn’t help but feel a little sorry. He waved at Dr. Hwang loudly.
"Thank you, Dr. Hwang. I’ll see you again!"
"What’s there to see? It’s better if I don’t come here. Just don’t get sick."
Dr. Hwang waved his hand dismissively without turning back. Though his tone was gruff, the genuine concern behind it made Heemin feel grateful.
"Go on in."
"Okay."
Minseok gave Heemin a nod as if to say he would only escort him to the door. Heemin nodded quietly in acknowledgment, and Minseok playfully stuck out his tongue, imitating Dr. Hwang’s grumbling.
Heemin thought they would get along just fine since they seemed to have similar personalities, but it was surprising that they didn’t. It was a shame they couldn’t bond more due to the age gap and their positions.
Heemin, sitting on a bench, slipped off his sneakers and casually checked the surveillance camera. Having followed his usual routine—waking up early, seeing Iheon off, and exercising—he hadn’t raised any suspicions.
Now, it was time to clean up his sweat-drenched body, take a shower, and either paint or read like usual. But today, he had something more unusual planned.
He was going to convince Iheon to let him go to the company.