Chapter 113: A Secret Signal Under the Table
by GideonKim Do-won pointed his chopsticks at Zion in sheer disbelief. His silent wish that Zion wouldn’t show up had been cruelly ignored.
“Sorry I’m late,” Zion said, casually greeting the nearby staff members before slipping into the inner circle.
Jubin’s eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t fathom why Zion had dragged himself all the way here without any sleep.
“What are you doing here? Aren’t you exhausted?” Do-won asked the question everyone else was thinking.
“I slept a bit. In the car,” Zion replied.
He dragged an empty chair from the corner and sat down right next to Jubin. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he took the meat tongs from Jubin’s hand and blended into the table as if he’d been there all along.
“We never thought you’d actually show up. I can’t believe you’re at a company dinner at a BBQ place. Want a drink to celebrate?”
“No, I drove.”
“Just call a designated driver.”
“I don’t like other people driving my car.”
“Seriously, you won’t even touch a drop. It’s a miracle you even showed up. A total miracle!”
“We can just drink together next time.”
He’s only had a few hours of sleep, Zion thought. If he’d said he wanted to drink, I would’ve stopped him by any means necessary.
Thank god he’s so disciplined.
Zion’s gaze naturally drifted to Jubin.
“Have you had much to drink?”
He checked Jubin’s face while grilling the meat.
“No, just a few glasses.”
“Good boy.”
“Have you eaten anything?”
Jubin naturally picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks.
Zion opened his mouth, waiting to be fed.
After popping the meat into his mouth, he nodded in approval.
“You grilled this, right? It’s delicious.”
“You must have been starving. Want more?”
Jubin felt a pang of sympathy for Zion, who had been surviving on naps and skipped meals through back-to-back all-night shoots. He diligently wrapped a ssam and fed it to him.
Zion kept grilling the meat while happily accepting the bites. There was something oddly cute about the way he chewed slowly and quietly, as if savoring every morsel. When Jubin wrapped another one and held it out, Zion ate it immediately, as if he’d been waiting for it.
Just as the timing of his bites seemed to be getting faster and faster…
“Bini-Bini.”
Do-won tapped Jubin on the shoulder to get his attention.
“Yes?”
As Jubin reflexively turned his head, Do-won suddenly wore a mischievous grin.
“My turn. Say ahh~”
He exaggeratedly opened his mouth wide, leaning in for the wrap Jubin had prepared.
If I don’t give it to him, it’ll look weird, I thought.
Just as I was about to calmly hand it over, Zion’s hand shot out.
“Do-won hyung, here’s your wrap.”
With lightning speed, Zion stuffed a lettuce leaf into Do-won’s mouth. Then, using his tongs, he crammed several pieces of scorching-hot meat inside.
“Ow! Hot!”
Do-won couldn’t even spit out the food as he scrambled to gulp down his beer.
“Hey! I burned the roof of my mouth!”
“Oops, I forgot to blow on it. My bad.”
That is not an apologetic face.
Do Zion is evil. Not just one, but several pieces of piping-hot meat…
Unable to hold back, Do-won shrieked, “I wanted BiniBini’s wrap!”
Zion deliberately swallowed the wrap Jubin had been holding, then drew a line.
“Sunbae, I’ve had plenty. You eat it.”
It was a silent refusal, a clear signal that he didn’t need any more wraps made for him.
Even so, he blew on the meat he placed on Jubin’s plate a few times, as if worried it might be too hot. Isn’t this practically announcing to everyone that we’re dating?
Their standards for what constituted a boundary were clearly worlds apart.
If I get the chance, Jubin thought, I need to have a serious talk with Zion about this.
As time passed, the company dinner grew even more lively. They filled each other’s glasses, exchanging sincere words of encouragement for their hard work. Laughter erupted from all corners of the table as they cheered each other on to keep it up for the rest of the shoot.
“Do Zion! Stop playing over there and get over here!”
The audio director, who had been tucked away in a corner, shouted out, his voice booming with the joy of seeing Zion—who rarely showed up to these company dinners—finally join them. He was clearly well-drunk.
“Sunbae, I’ll be right back.”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
Zion whispered into Jubin’s ear before heading off.
Jubin had eaten his fill, feeling full for the first time in a while thanks to Zion grilling so much meat for him.
Whenever they had a company dinner, Zion always took charge of the tongs. No one ever asked him to, but he just preferred it that way. He’d often end up going home a little hungry after spending the whole time grilling for everyone else.
Today, however, Zion’s attentive care felt strangely good, and Jubin’s heart softened with a warm, fluffy feeling.
“Ah, it’s cold. Why do they keep leaving the door open?”
Actor Seo shivered, her voice laced with a complaint. The shop owner had left the door open because the other patrons, flushed with alcohol, were too hot.
Of course, Jubin and Actor Seo happened to be seated right by the entrance.
“Um… Cha Jubin?”
She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her palms against her thin sleeves.
“I’m freezing. Could I… borrow your jacket?”
Her hands moved busily, trying to generate some warmth.
In truth, Jubin was so sensitive to the cold himself that he had never once played the gentleman by volunteering his coat. But seeing her tremble so visibly, he figured it was better to lend it to her.
He slipped off his jacket and held it out.
“Here, wear this.”
“Oh, thank you, Jubin.”
She hurriedly slipped into the jacket, eager to trap its lingering warmth, and zipped it all the way up.
“Thank you so much. I’ll return it to you on my way home.”
Jubin gestured toward the grill, which was still on, as if telling her not to worry about it.
“Warm your hands by the fire.”
“I wish I could. The hot water’s out in my bathroom, so I had to wash with cold water. My hands are absolutely frozen.”
She held her hands close to the grill, rubbing them together in a desperate attempt to generate heat.
As her nose brushed against the collar Jubin had lent her, she took a soft breath of its scent. Then, she pulled the inner collar up around her neck, her face flushing.
“Jubin, what perfume do you wear?”
“Oh, I don’t wear perfume.”
“That’s strange. You don’t wear any, yet you still smell so faintly pleasant.”
Living with Zion, Jubin had naturally started using the same detergent he did, and it turned out to be a scent Jubin actually liked.
“It’s probably just the fabric softener,” Jubin said.
“No… it smells like something else.”
Ah, right. She’s an Awakened. Could Zion be reacting to her pheromones?
Suddenly flustered, Jubin pulled his chair back, creating some distance between them.
“Oh, don’t misunderstand! I just wanted to say you’re incredibly clean because I can’t smell a single trace of scent even when I’m this close. I didn’t mean anything else.”
“Ah…”
What a relief. I was worried Zion might go into heat from her pheromones.
“Still, I’m glad I finally got to smell you from this close today. It’s just…”
She took another breath, letting her words trail off.
Just what?
Just as Jubin waited for her to finish her sentence, an arm naturally wrapped around his neck.
Unlike the lingering heat from the grill, a familiar warmth slowly spread across his nape and shoulders.
“Aren’t you cold?”
Zion, who had walked away, was back.
His warm pheromones heated Jubin’s body faster than any fire could. Without hesitation, Zion took off his own jacket and draped it over Jubin’s shoulders.
“You’re so sensitive to the cold. At least hold this.” He even pulled a hand warmer from his coat pocket and pressed it into Jubin’s hand.
Then, he naturally took his seat beside him.
“Ah, Ji-soo. The audio director was looking for you. You should go see him. He seems to be on a mission today.”
“Ah… really?”
She glanced reluctantly at the corner table before finally standing up.
Zion didn’t forget to offer her a gentle warning.
“Be careful out there. And don’t let them force-feed you too many drinks.”
“I know. I’ll make sure to turn them down politely. I’m off.”
After she left, Jubin slipped his arms into his coat and asked, “Did you drink?”
“No. I just walked her out after she refused a designated driver.”
“Good job. Thanks for the coat.”
Amidst the lively, friendly chatter that filled the air, a familiar warmth tapped Jubin’s fingers.
It was a secret signal sent from under the table.
Jubin feigned surprise, glancing at Actor Park and Kim Do-won sitting across from them.
“I got so anxious because the golden hour is making the shoot even more rushed, and I just started stuttering.”
“That’s because your mouth is frozen. You should’ve warmed up your tongue, lips, and throat muscles beforehand, just like I did.”
Fortunately, the two were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice. When Jubin didn’t respond to his touch, Zion pressed his palm flat against Jubin’s.
Only then did Jubin glance over, their eyes meeting. Zion seized the moment, sliding his fingers between Jubin’s as if to claim them.
Under the table, their hands locked. Zion smiled in satisfaction, seamlessly joining Actor Park and Do-won’s conversation.
Their interlaced fingers felt like a warm hand warmer. Jubin tightened his grip slightly.
Their fingers remained tightly entwined, refusing to let go as they secretly exchanged warmth.
Just then, Actor Park, swept up in Do-won’s enthusiastic reaction, swung his arm wide and knocked over a beer glass.
“Whoa—!”
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