AOA 68

Jeong Minchae’s voice was soft, but rang out clearly. He looked genuinely sorry.

Receiving an apology like this didn’t feel pleasant.

They had agreed not to care about each other’s affairs. But had Jeong Minchae really caused enough trouble to warrant apologizing so submissively? That didn’t seem right either. Legally, they were spouses. And since Choi Jaeha knew both of them, it was only natural for him to call Baek Mugyeong as the guardian.

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“What?”

“I came because I could.”

“…Alright.”

Silence settled over them again. Traffic remained jammed. Normally, Baek Mugyeong wouldn’t have minded, but Jeong Minchae kept glancing at him, as if he had something to say.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Go ahead.”

“Um… first, it’s totally okay to say no. I just thought you should be aware of this. My father’s sixtieth birthday is coming up soon. So the Saturday after next, there’ll be a gathering with close relatives. They asked if you could attend. I told them I’d check with you since I didn’t know your schedule. Should I say you can’t make it?”

Baek Mugyeong didn’t answer right away. He barely remembered what had happened in today’s accident. But he clearly remembered not attending Jeong Suchan’s sixtieth birthday celebration in the past.

He had no intention of mingling with someone who sold off his son for a high price and tried to boost his own image by using his son-in-law’s name. But because of that, Baek Jinseok had given him an earful. It wasn’t just any birthday, he’d said, it was a sixtieth, and it was wrong not to consider the in-laws’ reputation. ¹60-Year Cycle Completion: In the traditional lunar calendar and sexagenary cycle (간지, ganji) system, one full cycle of 60 years is considered the completion of a life cycle. The person is said to have returned to the same zodiac and element combination they were born with. It symbolizes rebirth or a new beginning.

Frankly, Baek Mugyeong still had no desire to see Jeong Suchan. He figured he could just let Baek Jinseok nag him again and be done with it.

But he couldn’t bring himself to casually say he was busy that day. It was obvious how Jeong Minchae would be treated at Jeong Suchan’s sixtieth birthday. It should’ve been easy to ignore, but it stuck with him, like a tiny thorn lodged in his chest.

He couldn’t remember the details, but before the regression, Jeong Minchae had come back from that very birthday celebration seriously ill. They thought it was just a cold, but it developed into near-pneumonia and led to hospitalization.

He had never looked into what happened there. But it was clear Minchae had been bullied. Most likely because Baek Mugyeong hadn’t shown up.

Clicking his tongue internally, Baek Mugyeong made up his mind.

“I don’t have any other plans that day. I’ll attend.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

Even without looking, he could tell that Jeong Minchae, seated next to him, had widened his eyes in surprise. It was understandable.

They had only seen each other a handful of times since their last sexual encounter more than two months ago. Baek Mugyeong had been more actively avoiding him than ever. Their only interactions were greetings, and they only exchanged messages about their heat and rut periods.

So of course it was surprising that he suddenly agreed to attend Jeong Suchan’s birthday, a man he had no ties with anymore.

“If you come… my father’s probably going to bug you a lot.”

“That’s fine.”

“Alright, then.”

Baek Mugyeong glanced sideways at Jeong Minchae, then focused back on driving.

The results of his mild rebellion against Baek Jinseok during the last Lunar New Year were mixed.

Baek Jinseok was a tyrant who didn’t tolerate being disobeyed. But he also didn’t like being treated like a puppet master. What he liked, really, was someone with enough ego to push back a little, but ultimately still follow his wishes.

Saying that DS Motors wasn’t an appealing trade item had been a calculated move to buy time. If rumors spread that Baek Jinseok had handed over DS Motors in exchange for an alpha great-grandson, he might’ve ended up run over by a truck again like before the regression. Emphasizing the danger, that his uncle wouldn’t sit quietly, had worked well.

Baek Jinseok hadn’t told anyone about their conversation. Instead, he sent herbal medicine to Jeong Minchae. A very honest form of pressure. But to outsiders, it would look like he was being very generous to his grandson-in-law.

Now that Jeong Minchae’s value had increased, it was obvious how Jeong Suchan would act. Dealing with him was going to be a pain, but even so, Baek Mugyeong couldn’t send Minchae alone.

“Um… Jaeha told me… Did you really introduce Jaeha to a boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

“Was it… because of what I said?”

“It was.”

Baek Mugyeong introduced a handsome man to Choi Jaeha, just as Jeong Minchae, who had been hospitalized earlier in the year, had advised. A handsome Alpha man who came from a decent family, had a reasonably good personality, and had once worked as a model for a well-known international brand, just Choi Jaeha’s type.

He gave it a try just in case, and Choi Jaeha fell for him. After actively making moves, the two ended up dating.

Choi Jaeha declared that since he now had a lover, he wouldn’t fool around anymore, and then he stopped contacting Baek Mugyeong. For Baek Mugyeong, this was good news.

More than that, he realized that Jeong Minchae was now calling Choi Jaeha by name.

Jeong Minchae was highly cautious of people. He always kept a distance, trying not to get emotionally close. But come to think of it, he’d shown friendliness to Choi Jaeha from the very beginning, even when Choi Jaeha had spilled a café latte on him in a crowded hotel lobby.

Choi Jaeha was the only person Jeong Minchae ever referred to as a friend. Realizing that much left Baek Mugyeong with a strange feeling. There was no issue with the two getting close. But for some reason, it bothered him.

“You really did it. I didn’t think you would.”

“Didn’t you advise me to do it, Mr. Jeong Minchae?”

“That’s true.”

“It worked out well.”

“Yeah.”

The conversation broke off again. The road was still congested, but the car crept forward slowly.

Baek Mugyeong was the type to value efficiency. But living as he did, he knew there were times when one made decisions not with logic, but with emotion.

By the time they arrived at home and were about to get out of the car, he understood why Jeong Minchae had looked so grim.

“Um… please just hold my hand. I’ll-I’ll walk.”

Baek Mugyeong looked at Jeong Minchae, whose face had turned bright red as he held out his hand. His expression was taut with determination, filled with the will to walk on his own feet. He must have been deeply embarrassed to be carried through the ER like that earlier.

Baek Mugyeong understood, but he had no intention of complicating matters.

“It will take a long time.”

“But still-”

“If you’re embarrassed, just close your eyes.”

“No, that’s not… Then I’ll just walk by myself.”

Seeing Jeong Minchae’s stubborn expression, Baek Mugyeong figured it wouldn’t be easy to change his mind. In times like this, pushing harder wasn’t the answer.

“Then I’ll carry you on my back.”

“Ah, thank you.”

If being carried in his arms was embarrassing, being given a piggyback would let him hide his face. As expected, the sullen look on Jeong Minchae’s face cleared up in an instant.

Baek Mugyeong carried him on his back and headed toward the house. He had thought it before, but Jeong Minchae was too light for an adult man.

Not considering that his own build was relatively large, Baek Mugyeong strode forward easily with Jeong Minchae on his back. The soft breath that brushed the back of his neck brought him suddenly to his senses.

Because it was Saturday, the weekend housekeeper was there instead of Kim Juhyun. The housekeeper, who had been cleaning, was startled to see Jeong Minchae on Baek Mugyeong’s back. Baek Mugyeong simply told her that Jeong Minchae had twisted his ankle, then went up to the second floor.

“Um… please go straight to the bathroom. My clothes are filthy.”

As they were going up the stairs, Jeong Minchae whispered very quietly. Baek Mugyeong followed his request and headed straight to the en suite bathroom. After seating Jeong Minchae on the edge of the tub, he didn’t immediately turn to leave but said,

“I’ll help you.”

“No, it’s okay. I really can do it myself.”

“I know. But with help, it’ll be faster.”

“Why do you keep doing this?”

“It’s hard to balance on one leg. I won’t lay a finger on you, so don’t expect anything.”

He said that last part on purpose. Knowing Jeong Minchae’s personality, it would make him bristle. As expected, Jeong Minchae, already red with embarrassment, scrunched up his face.

“What exactly am I supposed to be expecting?”

“I’ll only help you take off your clothes.”

“Do as you please.”

With a look in his eyes that practically dared Baek Mugyeong to try, Jeong Minchae glared at him. Baek Mugyeong swallowed his laughter.

Jeong Minchae was cautious and quick-witted. The type to stay silent in the background rather than step forward.

But once in a while, he reacted like this, impulsive and flustered. It was such a typically early-twenties reaction that it felt oddly amusing.

Baek Mugyeong didn’t show his emotions, like a proper adult. Instead, he calmly began undressing Jeong Minchae.

It seemed he’d rolled on the ground and gotten caught on something; not only were his jacket and shirt filthy, but the left sleeve was even torn. Especially the outer side of the left arm, it had abrasions. The clothes hadn’t done their job.

He undressed him layer by layer—jacket, knit sweater, undershirt—until he reached the pants. When he gripped the waistband to pull them down, his bare skin brushed against Jeong Minchae’s. And the Jeong Minchae who had acted like it was nothing just moments ago suddenly jolted.

“It’s just… it tickled when you touched my bare skin…”

Twisting his body awkwardly, Jeong Minchae mumbled in a voice that barely escaped his throat. His cheeks flushed red as he averted his gaze.

Baek Mugyeong said nothing. As he pulled down the pants, he silently clicked his tongue.

This was starting to feel strange.

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  60-Year Cycle Completion: In the traditional lunar calendar and sexagenary cycle (간지, ganji) system, one full cycle of 60 years is considered the completion of a life cycle. The person is said to have returned to the same zodiac and element combination they were born with. It symbolizes rebirth or a new beginning.