JD 105

“You can just speak freely.”

Hakyung forced a smile toward the doctor, who looked more anxious than he was. The doctor’s expression was so grave it was almost pitiful, but standing behind Hakyung, Muheon’s razor-sharp stare left no room for hesitation. The doctor’s tongue moved before he could stop himself.

“If you look here, this section confirms the request… Yes, it’s as suspected.”

“Ah…”

Hakyung’s head spun. Something really had formed inside him. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again—but nothing had changed. His fingertips turned cold.

Among beastmen, there were species with both reproductive traits, and some where males could get pregnant. But not river dolphins.

“Then… does this mean I need surgery?”

“Well… first, we need to determine whether it’s actually functioning, if it’s adhered to other organs, that sort of thing. We’ll need a detailed examination. I can’t give a definitive answer yet.”

“O-Okay… thank you.”

Hakyung bowed his head. His body went slack like all the strength had drained from him. Muheon, firm and steady behind him, kept a hand on his shoulder as he stared down the doctor in silence.

It was a chilly gaze—but one filled with unmistakable anger.

The doctor felt like a mouse caught under a snake’s gaze. He hadn’t done anything to cause Kang Hakyung’s condition, yet he felt as if he ought to fall to his knees and apologize.

To escape that suffocating stare, he turned his attention back to Hakyung.

“From what we see now, there doesn’t appear to be anything abnormal. Are you experiencing any pain?”

“No… none. Honestly, this was all just by chance…”

“Well, it’s good that you found out early. I recommend coming back next week to see some specialists from other departments.”

As a gastroenterologist, this was as far as his expertise went. They’d need further consultation. Hakyung agreed to the suggestion.

Since he had no symptoms, there was no need for medication. Despite the battery of tests, the consultation ended rather quickly. Hakyung offered one last polite bow and left the room.

Muheon followed, gently rubbing Hakyung’s shoulder the whole time. He didn’t speak, but it was clear he was upset too.

Why did this have to happen right after they got married…? Their honeymoon phase should have been nothing but joy and sweetness. Yet now, something utterly bewildering had crept into their lives. More than anything else, Hakyung was overwhelmed by shock.

“Hyung!”

Unable to enter the room earlier, Hajo had been waiting anxiously in the hallway and now came running. His face was filled with worry as he scanned his brother’s face.

Already on edge, Hakyung’s lips began to quiver at the sight of his brother. That reaction alone told Hajo that what they feared from the clinic had been confirmed. He pulled Hakyung into a hug.

Still shaken and unable to compose himself, Hakyung sniffled quietly in his younger brother’s arms.

The realization that something abnormal had appeared in his body—it was terrifying. Once Hakyung started to cry, Hajo joined in, tears falling in fat drops.

There in the empty hallway, the river dolphin brothers sobbed for a long time.

While they cried, Muheon stood off to the side, silently making a phone call—Hakyung’s wedding ring gripped tightly in his large palm.

The next morning, Hakyung showed up to work with wide, dazed eyes. His coworkers took one look at his puffy face and exchanged alarmed glances between him and the office.

Did the newlyweds fight?

Did Muheon make Hakyung’s little brother cry?

Did something big happen over the weekend?

Rumors began to swirl chaotically among the staff—until someone unexpected stormed in.

“Muheon! Get your ass out here right now!”

The voice was sharp with fury.

It belonged to Huang Ying, a small-statured imugi with blazing red hair who barely reached Hakyung’s shoulder. Her arrival took everyone by surprise—Hakyung included.

Even in the crowd of gloomy-looking coworkers, she briefly softened when she spotted the only one who seemed to glow—Hakyung. But it was a fleeting softness, too subtle for anyone to notice.

The office doors flew open at her shout, revealing Muheon, whose presence was just as formidable as hers.

He jerked his chin in her direction, signaling her to come in. Huang Ying let out a sharp scoff and stomped her way into the office.

As she passed, Muheon paused to glance at Hakyung.

“Kang Hakyung. Come in, too.”

His voice was low, unreadable. The staff couldn’t tell whether he was calm or seething. Nor could they tell if Huang Ying was part of whatever fight the couple might’ve had.

With all eyes on him, Hakyung slowly stood from his seat. His face was still puffy and far from composed.

The senior staff members shifted nervously. What would happen if they all sat down together in that room? They were genuinely worried about their poor river dolphin caught between two imugi.

Contrary to everyone’s worries, Hakyung had been comforted thoroughly by Muheon all through the night. It had been so gentle and tender that he’d ended up bawling again—hence the puffy, goldfish-like face. But since he’d cried so much, the office was now swimming in wild misunderstandings.

Dragging his tired steps into the CEO’s office, Hakyung greeted Huang Ying with a polite nod. Even after his world had turned upside down, his manners were impeccable.

Huang Ying, in turn, waved her hand in response. When it came to someone with a voice as sweet as Hakyung’s, she wanted to show her best side.

Muheon, however, irritably swatted her hand away and sat Hakyung firmly beside him—jealous even over a greeting. Huang Ying growled at the childish display, while Hakyung, stuck between them, simply rolled his eyes in confusion.

A long, silent war of glares passed between Muheon and Huang Ying before they finally got to the point. Muheon tossed Hakyung’s ring onto the table in front of her.

“Oh—my ring!”

Only then did Hakyung realize he hadn’t put it back on after the hospital visit. He’d made Muheon promise never to take it off, and now he’d forgotten himself. Embarrassed, he reached out to grab it, but Muheon gently stopped his hand.

“The effect. Say it again.”

His cold voice made Huang Ying’s brow twitch. You dragged me out here to talk about a ring? Ridiculous.

Arms crossed, she snorted.

“Really? You called me—twice, no less—for a damn A/S consultation? I was in the middle of a damn auction! You gonna buy what I lost, huh?”

Her tone was rough, like a gangster’s, as she lashed out at Muheon. The air in the room dropped ten degrees again. Hakyung, still holding Muheon’s hand, gently stepped in.

“My ring… was said to heighten your affection for your lover and help you bear the fruit of that love.”

He recited the line like a textbook answer, yet even that sounded like a lullaby in his voice. Huang Ying was so charmed by his tone she nearly missed the meaning of his words.

But then a chill ran down her spine.

“…Hey. Wait. No way.”

She stared at Hakyung, her crimson eyes narrowing. It would’ve been a lie to say he wasn’t scared. Pressing back into Muheon’s thigh, Hakyung instinctively leaned away.

Despite his retreat, Huang Ying continued to stare, as if she could drill a hole through him with her gaze. Just as Hakyung was about to beg her to stop staring, Muheon shoved her face back with one large hand.

“Augh!”

Huang Ying cried out, caught off guard. Even Hakyung gasped—he hadn’t expected such a blunt reaction, even between fellow imugis.

“Don’t come closer. Just answer from there.”

“Oh wow. So something did happen to your little husband?”

She looked entertained. Her glee only deepened Muheon’s scowl. If not for Hakyung, he would’ve tossed her straight out the window.

Reading the warning signs, Huang Ying raised her hands with a shrug.

“If there’s really a change in his body, then yeah. It’s probably because of that ring. Holy crap—can I use this in my marketing campaign?”

“Shut it. Are there any side effects?”

As their conversation went on, Hakyung only felt more and more lost—like he’d wandered into the heart of a labyrinth.