JD 87

The obnoxiously sweet display of affection from the couple was amusing—but also irritating.

Right here sat someone who’d been single since birth, and yet those two wouldn’t step out of their lovey-dovey little world.

With a crooked smile lifting one side of her lips, Huang Ying tapped the table. Noticing her signal, Hakyung finally straightened up from where he’d been leaning toward Muheon.

“Okay, okay, I get that you two are soulmates in some eternal love story. Now hurry up and choose already. I haven’t been to Korea in ages, and I’ve got things to do.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Replying briskly, Hakyung began examining the gemstones one by one—from perfectly round ones to sharp geometric shapes. They were all so unique and beautiful that picking just one felt impossible.

On top of that, each stone supposedly had its own special ability, making the decision even harder.

Meanwhile, Muheon had already chosen without hesitation—a pink stone, of course, one that matched Hakyung’s hair.

When he held out the tiny gem—smaller than his pinky nail—Huang Ying burst into laughter. The contrast of someone as dark inside and out as Muheon handing over a pastel pink stone was hilarious to her.

That gem is so pretty… wow, my hubby really has great taste…

Still, even with how close they were, Hakyung felt her laugh was just a bit too over-the-top. He pouted, not liking that someone was mocking his husband’s sense of style.

While the river dolphin sulked over his partner being mocked, Muheon, the one being laughed at, couldn’t have cared less. Whether Huang Ying cackled or sobbed, it meant nothing to him.

Far more productive was cheering up his pouting Hakyung.

“She’s just emotionally stunted.”

“B-But still…”

Muheon tapped Hakyung’s jutting lips with his finger. Huang Ying, who was being insulted to her face, looked baffled, but Muheon didn’t stop.

He even went as far as to say she’d never dated anyone in her life and had spent all her time hoarding shiny things, leaving her socially inept.

Feeling her nonexistent blood pressure rising, Huang Ying bit her lip in frustration. As silence finally returned to the office, Muheon continued fussing over Hakyung, eventually coaxing his lips back into place.

After quite a bit of time mulling over the gems, Hakyung finally picked one. It gleamed black in his hand, shining with a subtle brilliance.

“I like this one.”

“Figures. You two really are a pair. Wow, you both picked stones that absolutely don’t suit you.”

The black gem Hakyung chose shimmered with a faint red glow in the light. It didn’t match his bright, bubbly image at all. The same went for Muheon, who had picked a light pink stone. Clearly, they had chosen stones that resembled each other, not themselves.

Letting out a deep sigh, Huang Ying switched the stones in their hands.

“Here. This makes more sense. I know I’m supposed to give clients what they want, but I refuse to force something that clearly doesn’t suit them.”

“Oh… okay. I don’t mind the pink one. My husband picked it for me, after all!”

“Fine, we’ll go with that.”

As Hakyung agreed with a cheerful tone, Muheon nodded right away. Huang Ying gave him a dead-eyed stare.

Lee Muheon, you’re a complete sap now.

Grumbling silently, Huang Ying got to her feet. It had been amusing, sure, but she didn’t need to witness any more of this sugar overload.

“I’ll send the finished rings in time for your wedding. Now, hand them over.”

“Please take care of them.”

“Will do. And Hakyung—let’s meet again sometime soon. Just sing for me once, okay?”

After reminding him about the thing she hadn’t forgotten—his singing—Huang Ying finally left. Hakyung, who had been unconsciously clutching his throat, let out a sigh of relief.

She didn’t look like the terrifying sea witch from The Little Mermaid, but her eyes had the same frightening gleam—like she really might steal his voice.

Shuddering once, Hakyung leaned against Muheon’s shoulder.

“Your friend is really scary.”

“Well… the kids these days call her a ‘stan,’ right? Something like that.”

“Yeah, I get it. That madness in her eyes—I recognize it. Because I’m a Lee Muheon stan.”

At the dolphin’s otherworldly flirting, Muheon let out a short laugh. Hakyung, encouraged, lifted his chin and bumped his lips playfully against Muheon’s.

Those tiny lips were swallowed up by Muheon’s in an instant.

***

Starting with Huang Ying, more and more of Muheon’s guests began arriving in Korea.

They weren’t public figures, but they were important enough that governments across East Asia—including Korea—were on edge.

The Korean government in particular grew especially sensitive, worried the foreign imugis or beastmen might cause some kind of international incident on Korean soil.

Under the guise of “state protocol,” they assigned civil servants to follow Muheon’s guests everywhere.

As a result, the company was suddenly full of unfamiliar faces. For Hakyung—who’d been working cheerfully with twenty-something familiar hyungs—it was naturally nerve-wracking.

Even when he was cleaning the stairs, he could feel the stares from strangers. Even during paperwork, he could feel their eyes on the back of his neck.

So much attention being placed on “the West Sea Imugi’s husband” made Hakyung’s stomach twist with nerves.

For the first time in his life, he began to experience actual stomach pains. His complexion grew paler by the day.

Meanwhile, Muheon had his hands full entertaining guests who had come to celebrate the wedding. He hadn’t sent out a single invitation himself, so it was obvious—this was all Huang Lin’s doing.

What made it worse was that the one responsible hadn’t even shown his face.

Rubbing his aching temple, Muheon cursed Huang Lin under his breath.

“150 years ago, I turned back the moment I heard you were asleep. And now you suddenly say you’re getting married? The sun must be rising in the west—of course I had to come running!”

“Ah, I see. Thanks.”

Compared to the other person’s lengthy explanation, Muheon’s response was so brief it almost felt hollow.

But the other person continued chatting about their life as if unfazed. The problem was that their updates spanned 150 years.

No matter how annoyed he was, this guest had come all the way from the Middle East to celebrate him. Muheon resolved to endure exactly three more minutes before kicking them out—when suddenly:

Bang, bang! Urgent knocks hit the door, followed by the CEO’s office bursting open. The one who entered was Gisang-oh.

“Mr. Muheon! Mr. Hakyung—!”

“What happened?”

Muheon shot to his feet at the sight of Gisang-oh’s grim expression. Without further explanation, Gisang-oh rushed ahead, and Muheon followed close behind, his face turning stony.

They practically flew down the hall to the bathroom—where, in the very last stall, they found Hakyung crouched in front of a toilet.

“Kang Hakyung!”

Muheon shouted and wrapped his arms around Hakyung’s shoulders. Hakyung was trembling, his face deathly pale.

“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt? Huh?”

“M-my stomach hurts…”

His quivering lashes were wet with tears. As Hakyung spoke, Muheon gently wiped his tear-stained cheeks. Hakyung leaned his forehead against Muheon’s cool palm.

Breakfast must have hit him hard—sharp pain stabbed at his solar plexus, and his entire abdomen felt like it was being twisted tight.

“I think I… have indigestion…”

“Okay. Is it really bad? Let’s go to the hospital. Gisang-oh, contact the hospital.”

“Yes, Mr. Muheon.”

Outside the bathroom, a crowd of company staff had gathered, hesitating to step inside. Their faces were filled with concern for Hakyung.

From the moment he ran for the restroom, clutching his stomach, the worried gazes of the hyungs had followed him. Hakyung tried to say he was fine—but all he could manage was a low groan. Even as a polite lie, he wasn’t fine at all.

He had never felt pain like this in his life, and his whole body trembled. Even after throwing up everything in his stomach, the nausea didn’t subside.

Only now did he understand why elders always said sudden indigestion was the most frightening thing.

“Ugh…”

Hakyung slapped a hand over his mouth as another wave of nausea surged. Seeing his teary eyes again, Muheon gently cupped his hand under Hakyung’s chin.

“If you need to throw up, do it. Don’t hold it in, okay?”

But Hakyung only shook his head. No matter how sick he felt, throwing up into someone’s hand was unthinkable. He tried to ask Muheon to set him down so he could make it to a restroom—but they were already at the car.

Helpless in Muheon’s arms, Hakyung was rushed to the hospital. Thankfully, he managed not to vomit into Muheon’s hand or in the car.

But the pain made it impossible to feel any sense of relief.

“Ugh…”

Each groan from Hakyung deepened the crease between Muheon’s brows. If he could take the pain in Hakyung’s place, he would—but it was beyond his power.

“Just a little longer, okay? We’re almost there.”

Muheon whispered close to Hakyung’s ear. Seeing him dripping in cold sweat and still trying to nod at his words broke Muheon’s heart.

All he could do now was wait desperately for Hakyung’s examination to end.