Chapter 43: RELATIONSHIP DEFINITION

"HELLO, Garam-ssi. I’m Seong Kyungmin, Song Sihyuk’s friend and doctor." To be honest, Garam felt a little awkward meeting his contract husband’s friend without the man himself. Sihyuk Hyung is still in the bathroom while, uh, taking care of his business... That horny dog couldn’t calm down his erection by thinking of wholesome thoughts like Garam would whenever he was suddenly hit by a random boner. It’s because Sihyuk Hyung doesn’t have wholesome thoughts at all. "Hello, Dr. Seong," Garam greeted Song Sihyuk’s friend politely while bowing. This man was a doctor and the same age as his contract husband. So, of course, he had to mind his manners even though only the two of them were in the VIP Room. "I’m Lim Garam. Sihyuk Hyung told me you already know about our marriage, sir." "Yes, and that’s why I feel awful now that I’ve met you in person," Seong Kyungmin said, sighing while shaking his head. "Garam-ssi, I’m sorry. I failed to stop Song Sihyuk from going after you five years ago. And, admittedly, I could have helped you if I really wanted to. But I was a self-centered bastard who only cared about surviving med school at the time. So, every time I berate Song Sihyuk, I actually do it for the two of us. After all, I’m as much responsible as he was for ruining your future." Huh? To be honest, Garam was quite overwhelmed by Seong Kyungmin’s long ’speech.’ And I didn’t expect that he’s the type to talk this much. After all, at one glance, the doctor looked like the cold type. Seong Kyungmin was tall and handsome, and the doctor had this aura that reminded Garam of the ’nonchalant’ male leads in romance novels. So, hearing the doctor talk a lot was a surprise. But maybe this is how guilty he is for letting his friend ’ruin’ my life. Honestly, Garam found it fun. So, Sihyuk really has a friend— a good one, at that. "I’m really sorry, Garam-ssi." "You don’t have to apologize to me, Dr. Seong," Garam said while shaking his head. "My life didn’t get ruined when I married Sihyuk Hyung. And, even if it were, I have nothing to blame but my younger self for making a poor choice. I’m responsible for my own decisions, sir." "Garam-ssi, you were a child who was taken advantage of an adult in power. Never blame yourself if your marriage to Song Sihyuk causes your trouble later." Oh. For the past five years, Garam had been taking care of his younger group members as one of the hyungs. When Gong Hanseo enlisted, he became the oldest member. Hence, he was forced to be more mature. So, it feels strange that someone is treating me like a kid. Strange in a good way. "If you need anything, call me," Song Sihyuk said while handing Garam a business card. "I wrote my personal number on the back." Garam accepted the business card. "Thank you, Dr. Seong." "You can just call me ’hyung.’" "Maybe later, sir." Seong Kyungmin looked surprised by Garam’s response, but he chuckled and nodded in the end. "You really have a fierce personality, Garam-ssi. No wonder Song Sihyuk is so smitten with you." "Sihyuk Hyung is just easily entertained, Doc," Garam complained lightly. "He laughs at everything I say, even though I’m not trying to be funny." "Are we talking about the same Song Sihyuk? The one I know only laughs when he’s tormenting some poor souls." Pfft. "Yeah, that sounds like something Sihyuk Hyung would totally do." "Right?" Yep, I’ll be calling this person ’hyung’ soon. "Are you two done dissing me?" Oh. Both Garam and Seong Kyungmin turned to Song Sihyuk, who had just gotten out of the bathroom. Sihyuk looks a bit better now, but he’s obviously not okay yet. "Dr. Seong, Sihyuk Hyung is actually running a fever," Garam said, grabbing Song Sihyuk by the arm when his contract husband stood next to him. "But I don’t think it’s ordinary fever, though. Sihyuk Hyung seems to be— forgive me for the lack of a better term— hornier than usual." Song Sihyuk turned to Garam with a playful smile on his face. "I’m only like this with you, Garam-ah." Of course, Garam just ignored Song Sihyuk’s casual flirting. "It seems like Song Sihyuk hasn’t told you yet," Seong Kyungmin said, sighing while shaking his head. "That jerk is about to have his rut next month." Garam let out a gasp. "So, Sihyuk Hyung is going to be a bigger pervert soon..." He only realized that he said that out loud when Song Kyungmin suddenly laughed out loud. Oops. Song Sihyuk, on the other hand, sighed while shaking his head. "Garam-ah, I really wonder how you see me." "How else? A bad adult, of course," Song Kyungmin said, ignoring the glare that he got from Song Sihyuk in return. The doctor just focused on Garam. "Song Sihyuk is a Dominant Alpha. They’re a class higher than ordinary Alphas like me. That means they have more pheromones, which make them superior in many aspects. And, thanks to that, Song Sihyuk experiences early symptoms before he gets his rut. So, he suffers longer than the others." "Divine karma..." Once again, Seong Kyungmin laughed. Aigoo. This doctor is as easily entertained as Sihyuk Hyung— they’re really friends. "I already gave Song Sihyuk a shot to suppress his rut," Seong Kyungmin explained after laughing. "His fever is just a side-effect of that. But for your safety, I suggest you sleep on a different bed tonight, Garam-ssi. Song Sihyuk’s libido increases when his body is weak, after all." Garam clenched his fist a bit tightly in a silent celebration. Nice. Song Sihyuk glared at Seong Kyungmin. "Yah. Are you sabotaging my marriage?" "Hyung, let’s listen to your doctor," Garam said cheerfully, even rubbing Song Sihyuk’s back as consolation. "Let’s go home for now— I’ll tuck you in bed." *** "YOU BOUGHT their contracts for 1.9 billion won?!" "Garam-ah, your voice is pretty even when you yell. I bet your moans will sound delicious." Aigoo. Garam took a deep breath, reminding himself that he shouldn’t smack a sick person. Yes, Song Sihyuk’s fever worsened after he tucked him in bed. And, yes again, he did that. But Garam didn’t really do much because even though the Alpha was sick, he still functioned well. The only sign that his contract husband was sick was his flushed face and slightly warmer temperature. Other than that, Hyung is still the big jerk that he is. "You’re cursing me with your eyes again, Garam-ah." "Hyung, will you die if you don’t say something lewd or vulgar for five minutes?’ "I’m sick— you should indulge me." "Isn’t that what I’m already doing? That’s exactly why I decided to stay here instead of returning to the hospital." Song Sihyuk’s face beamed. "You’re not going to the hospital?" "No, I’m not." It was a difficult decision for him to make. But my husband comes first since I’m the reason he’s sick. If Song Sihyuk hadn’t come to that club that reeked of pheromones, the early symptoms of his rut wouldn’t have been triggered. I need to take responsibility. "You’re sick because of me, so I’ll nurse you back to health," Garam said while patting Song Sihyuk’s tummy. "I already called my group members— they’ll stay with Lee Eunsang. Plus, Junho Hyung will also stay with them. Once Geon Hyung is done punishing the bastard who hit Junho Hyung, I’ll also send him to the hospital to protect the kids." Song Sihyuk frowned. "Shin Geon is your bodyguard." "I don’t need Geon Hyung’s protection since I’m with you right now." "Aww." Song Sihyuk grabbed Garam’s face gently once again. "I’m glad you know the safest place for you is next to me." "Wait, we’re getting sidetracked," Garam complained, grabbing Song Sihyuk’s wrists to stop him from squishing his face. But damn. Even the Alpha’s wrists were thick compared to his. "You paid 1.9 billion won?" "That club is owned by a gangster deeply tied to chaebols and other important figures in the country," Song Sihyuk explained. "That gangster is actually a notorious loan shark before he started doing legitimate business. Even so, he still does sketchy stuff— like making his debtors work for his club as the rich’s playthings when they can’t pay their debt anymore." "Oh. Some of those kids are rookie celebrities that I’ve met before. So, they owe money to that loan shark?" "Yes, but most of them were just sold to the club by their sketchy companies." To be honest, Garam wasn’t surprised. Sadly, it was a common story in the entertainment world. Most small companies are sketchy and still resort to prostitution in order to make money... "The others were sold by their own family members to pay off their debts." Garam flinched when he remembered that it happened to him as well. I’m just lucky that Sihyuk Hyung became my sponsor since he doesn’t force me to do things I don’t want to do. And, now, he was in the position to help others. "The club won’t let their debtors free until their debts are paid off, so I bought the kids’ contracts." "Hyung, I’ll pay you back." Working as a successful idol for the past four years had made his bank account fat. I’m not as rich as Sihyuk Hyung, and losing 1.9 billion won will hurt my wallet to the point it might take me a while to recover financially, but I can’t let him pay for something that I asked him to do. "Instead of paying me back with money, I want you to help me get a return on investment by helping those kids succeed in our company." "Huh?" "Those kids are good-looking, so I’ll sign them to your agency," Song Sihyuk explained. "Some of them are actors, and some are failed idols. Train them to be the next boy group in your company." Oh. I mean, it’s normal for companies to debut another group when the senior group has already reached success. But... "Is this what they call a ’generational change?’" Garam asked nervously. "Our group only has one year left on our contract, yes. But are you not going to renew our contract, Hyung?" He was actually expecting a contract renewal since their group was still doing fine. Hanseo Hyung is in the military, but we still wish to promote as a group once he’s discharged. "You don’t need to work anymore," Song Sihyuk said, grabbing Garam’s face again. This time, the way the Alpha grabbed his face was quite rough. "Garam-ah, since I’m already back, why don’t you just stay at home and play family with me?" *** Please ADD <SECRETLY MARRIED TO A CHAEBOL ALPHA> to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :>