Pig Government Official

-19-

Jeonggwan finally exhaled with a “Phew-” and leaned his upper body on the bar to support his weakening legs. Jihoon also collapsed, clutching his heart.

“Hey… What are we going to do with your guts…?”

“But I’m right, aren’t I…? It’s certain, right?”

“…Yeah. I think you’re right… I really think he’s trying to kill you…”

Did you see? That guy’s expression turned downright murderous. Wow- this fatty really knows how to play with people. Jihoon muttered, both admiring and looking at Jeonggwan as if he were crazy.

“Here’s your cafe latte and Americano.”

The cafe’s resident barista handed over the coffee with a service smile, his eyes full of “What are these guys doing?”

“Hey, take this coffee to your hyung.”

“What do you mean, you said you’d take it earlier.”

“I need to clean up in the back. I ordered the cafe latte for you to drink.”

As if his business was finished, Jeonggwan zipped into the kitchen without looking back once.

Jihoon decided to retract his thought about pitying Jeonggwan for potentially getting hurt by falling for Won Junjae. Kim Jeonggwan wasn’t someone who would be easily played. Jihoon shook his head.

* * *

The smartphone design set to launch in two years would be finalized with Won Junjae’s approval. And that decision, whether approval or rejection, usually came within 5 minutes.

However, Won Junjae, sitting in the meeting room, wasn’t showing any reaction. Everyone swallowed hard. They had thought among themselves that the design was well done and would surely be approved, but was he seeing two steps ahead? Everyone was extremely tense as Won Junjae continued to stare at the tablet screen.

“…”

When it came to work, the director was known for giving clear “yes” or “no” answers. But today, would he fire the entire design team for falling short? Everyone’s hands and feet were cold from Won Junjae’s even colder than usual expression.

“Um… Director.”

Breaking the suffocating hellish silence, someone addressed Won Junjae.

“Should we reject the design?”

It was Secretary Oh, Won Junjae’s executive secretary.

“…Ah.”

Ah? At Won Junjae’s voice that seemed to say “Ah- right,” everyone’s heads were filled with question marks. Ah? So he had been thinking about something else all this time? People couldn’t voice it out loud, but they exchanged glances. What’s going on?

Secretary Oh, quietly observing the employees from behind Won Junjae, was equally perplexed. His boss had never been distracted during work, especially not during such crucial decisions. At first, even Oh hadn’t realized his boss was thinking about something else.

But as the decision dragged on, he casually observed his boss’s expression and noticed his gaze was oddly fixed somewhere other than the tablet. He really was thinking about something else…

However, Oh couldn’t urge his boss to make a decision quickly. So he naturally asked if they should reject the design. It was a kind of hint. His boss should have realized he was distracted and either naturally rejected or approved the design, or added some other comment without showing his surprise.

But Won Junjae’s response was just “Ah-.” It was as if he hadn’t even realized he was lost in thought.

Secretary Oh had a hunch about what might be distracting his boss so much, but he couldn’t believe it.

No way. Surely… it couldn’t be because of that man on the first floor…?

But it was.

‘Hyung, please sit over there. I’ll bring your coffee.’

Won Junjae was furious. That pig had the audacity to point at his designated seat in front of him and tell Won Sejin to sit there. This was clearly a provocative act. Instead of being grateful for his attention, that pig was blatantly caring for another alpha right in front of him. It was ridiculous.

He seemed to think Won Junjae actually had genuine interest in him, but he was only visiting the cafe out of obligation to treat his pheromone addiction.

He really didn’t want to see or go there. Fearing others might think he came every day because he wanted to see that pig, he tried his best not to look at or speak to him. It was already a blow to his pride to visit such a pig, which is why he had gone to the trouble and expense of having the cafe opened.

But while a normal omega would be eager to talk to him and keep glancing at him, this damn pig just kept making bread as if he didn’t care that Won Junjae was there. Just making bread or cleaning up. That was really all. He didn’t try to talk or even look much. Just occasional glances…

Damn it.

And earlier, he just nodded slightly, averted his eyes, and ordered coffee for Won Sejin… He had to suppress a surge of anger. He sat in that seat every day, but not once had he been offered coffee or even spoken to. I’m the one who made it possible for this cafe to open. Not recognizing the person he should be trying to impress. He couldn’t calm his indignation.

That pig doesn’t know his place. Forget pheromone addiction, let’s see if I ever visit that pig again.

“Proceed with the design as it is,” Won Junjae spat out irritably.

* * *

Although it was past closing time, Jeonggwan was sitting at a bar table by the cafe window. Despite Jihoon’s vehement refusal, Jeonggwan had threatened him with “Do you want to get beaten up by a million mint choco fans?” and added a mint chocolate latte to the menu. Now he was eating the whipped cream off one while checking the clock on the wall. 12:30 AM.

“I wonder if he’s not coming…”

“I don’t think he’s coming…”

Jihoon had said that Won Junjae’s pride was so strong he definitely wouldn’t come from tomorrow, and he really didn’t. He didn’t come the next day either.

Wow… He’s tough… Jeonggwan realized that his opponent was tougher than expected and that real practice wasn’t easy. He decided to implement Plan B. Originally, Plan A was to approach Won Junjae when he came to the cafe and offer him dessert, but since he wasn’t coming, this plan was scrapped. Right. The B plan is usually more perfect anyway.

Jeonggwan made Jihoon send a text to Won Junjae asking him to stop by the cafe, but the process was so chaotic and difficult that we’ll skip the details. Jihoon insisted that Won Junjae wouldn’t come just because he asked, and refused to send the message, but Jeonggwan had a feeling he would come, so he persuaded (threatened) Jihoon until he sent the message.

[Hyung, we have a new dessert menu, and we’d like you to try it. Would you like to come…? Haha]

It was a lie, but not entirely. Hwang Jun, another dessert chef besides Jeonggwan, was indeed introducing a new basil scone. However, they hadn’t actually asked Won Junjae to try it, so it wasn’t a complete lie, right?

Jihoon kept muttering that he probably wouldn’t come, while Jeonggwan started thinking about Plan C in case this plan failed too. “How to Seduce Any Alpha” said that there are sometimes extremely proud alphas, and when dealing with them, you should always have multiple plans ready.

This was Jeonggwan’s first real attempt, so he hadn’t come up with Plan C yet, but he felt he could quickly devise a plan while drinking the world’s most perfect combination, mint chocolate.

Ding-.

He’s here! Jeonggwan quickly turned his head towards the sound of the bell from the lobby door. Jihoon also turned his head, exclaiming, “Huh. Really?”

“…”

“…?”

“Ah, you’re here.”

However, the person they encountered was very different from what they expected.

“Secretary Oh?”

* * *

They didn’t expect this petty person to send his secretary. He probably felt awkward coming himself after receiving the text message, having avoided the place for two days due to his pride. But what if I hadn’t come? The attitude of assuming he would come was a bit absurd, but still, they had taken some action, so Plan B didn’t seem like a complete failure. Honestly, he had been worried they wouldn’t come at all.

‘The director asked me to bring up the new menu item.’

Jeonggwan carefully cradled the basil scone made by Hwang Jun and followed Secretary Oh. On the way, he encountered his brother Jeongyun, whose eyes widened. Jeonggwan smiled happily, but it was amusing to see Jeongyun’s pupils shake as if he had already imagined all sorts of scenarios, with an expression that said, ‘Why are you here…?’

“Director, Secretary Oh and one guest are waiting.”

The orangish wooden door that looked very solid and heavy seemed to be the door to Director Won Junjae’s office. A bullet probably couldn’t even penetrate this… While vaguely thinking this, the male desk employee in front picked up the phone, finished reporting, and opened the door.

The door must have been very thick because as soon as it opened, the scent of strawberry jam poured out.

And beyond it, Won Junjae was standing leaning against his desk. Damn. His usual three-piece suit was already breathtaking, but seeing him in just a shirt and vest with the jacket off was so sexy it could cause a nosebleed.

Jeonggwan felt his legs weaken for a moment, but he managed to endure. I have a mission now. I can’t collapse here. He controlled his mind.

Won Junjae was clearly aware of his arrival but kept looking down at his tablet without giving even a glance in this direction. It seemed like he was expressing his annoyance, saying “I’m still not over it.” Jeonggwan decided it was time to offer a carrot.

“Hello…”

“…”

“This is the new basil scone that Hwang Jun partner is going to launch… He left work early, so…”

“How to Seduce Any Alpha” said it’s good to give carrots often to alphas with strong pride.

“But why didn’t you come for two days?”

“…”

“Were you busy?”

Finally, Won Junjae raised his head.

Jeonggwan was slightly intimidated by the very sharp gaze, but pretending to be calm, he threw the remaining carrot.

“I was waiting…”

Won Junjae’s pupils shook.