Chapter 53: I have to feed the baby

“I will try my best…”

He would have to do it one way or another. His core was too damaged right now—to the point he couldn’t even muster out his energy. If he continued to let his anger out, he’d be harming himself more than anyone else. That was why Cheon Areum willingly tapped out from the search for the new awakener. He wasn’t needed now anyway; his face was already posted everywhere as a wanted man. They could find him even without his help—and although he still had some grudges against Kihyun, it was indeed better to just stay away for once, unless he wanted to invite trouble again.

The one he had found yesterday—the one he had jumped out to catch through the window, which was now patched up as good as new—had been the new awakener, Kihyun, which was surprisingly his real legal name. But the one who had entered the gate with him wasn’t. It was either an illusion created by another awakener disguising himself as Kihyun, or, as Cheon Areum guessed, this new awakener had a skill that let him copy a version of himself—just not one as strong as the original.

“That shitface…”

Shamelessly running his hand over Yoon Seoyul’s body through his clothes, he muttered it out while sitting sideways on his lap. Yoon Seoyul held him by the waist with his left arm. It angered him just to think about how Kihyun was wasting his skills on unpromising nonsense. Nothing was as useless as betting on winning against him in terms of power. From the moment Cheon Areum had reawakened, he had always been thinking about how he could get stronger and stronger. Just how did this new awakener think? Maybe the fact that he was an omega and pregnant had given him the audacity to try flying too, for once.

“Who?”

Yoon Seoyul asked a moment later.

“I don’t want to talk about him.”

He didn’t want to waste words on insignificant people. If he was going to talk, he’d rather tell Yoon Seoyul tales of love.

Cheon Areum stayed in the office with Yoon Seoyul until lunchtime. When his stomach grumbled, he rubbed his cheek against Yoon Seoyul’s, eyes closed, quite passionate in doing so. Yoon Seoyul could barely see the documents on his desk as Cheon Areum blocked his view—standing on his knees at the corners of the chair, gripping his shoulders, instinctively clinging to him.

“My hard-working husband, please let me go and feed the baby. I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat? I can have Joon grab it for you.”

“Why keep him captive when there’s a cafeteria just downstairs? Joon, go enjoy your lunch break—unless you want to hear my moans.”

Being considerate of others, Cheon Areum spoke in Joon’s favor. Joon was always complaining about indecent behavior during work hours and begging them to spare his ears. The tone Cheon Areum used was soft enough to sound serious. Even Yoon Seoyul grabbed him and stared as if Cheon Areum really was about to start moaning right then and there.

“I was just kidding…”

Cheon Areum reassured him, staring back into Yoon Seoyul’s eyes.

“Uncuff me. I want to eat in the cafeteria today with everyone.”

“Don’t run away anywhere. I can see you leave the building through the security cameras.”

Since Cheon Areum wouldn’t use his energy—his core being on the brink of cracking down from the recent ups and downs—it was already a miracle he could still generate any at all. Yoon Seoyul was sure he wouldn’t use it to escape, and if he did go out, it would definitely show up on the cameras.

“I won’t. You’ll let me go now, right?”

Unbearably clingy, Cheon Areum began rubbing all over Yoon Seoyul’s body, to the point that he smelled like vanilla even from a distance. Yoon Seoyul grabbed his face to stop him and kissed him on the lips, then pulled out the key and uncuffed him. It took a while for Cheon Areum to walk away from him out the office, as Yoon Seoyul kept pressing kisses to his face, as if he were his lunch. Only after getting his fill of daily kisses was he content enough to let him go.

Walking out of the office, Cheon Areum noticed Joon’s desk was empty. So he had been listening after all—complaining, yet still eavesdropping. Typical. Maybe he should start by breaking Yoon Seoyul’s habit of issuing orders from inside his office before telling Joon to stuff his ears with cotton. At the very least, it would save everyone the trouble.

By the time Cheon Areum stepped into the elevator, half of the lunch break was already gone. He pressed the button for the cafeteria floor and stepped back as the doors slid shut.

The elevator descended smoothly—then stopped.

The doors opened on a higher floor, revealing an intern frozen mid-step. The intern paused the moment his eyes landed on Cheon Areum standing inside.

Cheon Areum turned slightly, glancing behind himself. For a moment, he assumed it was because his wings were taking up space—but there was still more than enough room for a few people to fit comfortably. So that wasn’t it. He looked back at the intern and waited.

Pressing the button to keep the doors open, Cheon Areum motioned for the omega to step inside.

For some reason, the guild always seemed to attract soft, plush-looking omegas—and Cheon Areum had never bothered hiding how much he enjoyed being around them. He didn’t retreat or give space, his presence almost forceful in the narrow elevator, until the omega—clutching his phone to his chest with both hands—finally gave in and stepped inside.

The doors slid shut with a quiet chime.

The omega stood beside him stiffly, shoulders tight, eyes fixed on the glowing panel above the doors. The hum of the elevator filled the silence, stretching it thin. He swallowed, gathered what little courage he had, and finally spoke—his voice low and careful, as if afraid even sound might provoke him.

“Mr. Cheon Areum… can I get a selfie with you? I want to post it, if you don’t mind…”

“Or, if you want, I can keep it for myself too!”

Fearing rejection, the omega added quickly. Cheon Areum smiled. This new intern clearly wasn’t aware of his reputation yet. Almost everyone in the guild knew to keep their distance from him, given his habit of damaging their standing in the guild master’s eyes.

“Does it have to be a selfie? Take a video of me—with the back camera, preferably.”

“Oh—yes. Thank you. Just a moment.”

Cheon Areum turned to face the omega, who had his back pressed against the elevator wall, phone already raised. The back camera lit up, recording Cheon Areum’s reflection. The omega was just about to flip the phone around to frame both of them—

When Cheon Areum slammed an arm beside his head.

The sharp thud echoed inside the elevator as Cheon Areum leaned in, cutting off the omega’s movement entirely. The phone froze mid-motion, the recording still running—capturing only Cheon Areum’s smiling expression at close range.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep