Chapter 62: Will You Mark Me?
by GideonDo Zion shook his head firmly.
“No betting, and no stakes, Sunbae.”
He spoke as if he knew Jubin inside and out.
“You’re really playing hardball, aren’t you?”
“Just call me whenever you crave a cigarette.”
“…To you? Why?”
What kind of solution is that?
“The first minute is the hardest. But after five minutes, the craving fades. A conversation will make those five minutes fly by.”
Cha Jubin mentally reviewed his daily smoking routine. This was a promise he knew he couldn’t keep.
He ran a hand through the back of his hair, licking his lips in frustration. “I smoke the second I wake up…”
“Perfect. Then give me a wake-up call.”
“…Huh.”
A dry laugh escaped him. It seemed Zion was taking this whole quitting-smoking thing way more seriously than he was.
“You reach for a cigarette whenever you feel pressured, senior. Whether you need to mentally prepare, you’re waiting for an appointment, or… it’s because of my pheromones.”
Zion had Jubin figured out perfectly.
And Jubin knew it too. If someone tried to force him from the outside, he’d just shut down. He hated conflict, so even a bet would be pointless. Zion’s approach—quiet, steady support—was far more likely to work.
The idea of checking in with each other every day via phone call might be a bit tedious, but the slight sense of responsibility it imposed would turn it into a daily routine. It felt like the kind of fresh motivation he actually needed.
“I’ll help you. Quit smoking.”
Since Zion was so eager to help, Jubin felt a sudden surge of motivation to actually quit this time.
Just then, CEO Moon Woo-jin called.
“I need to take this.”
Zion even turned off the radio, which he’d been keeping low, so Jubin could talk comfortably.
“Yes, CEO.”
—Jubin, where are you?
“I’m out right now.”
—A good script came in for you. I thought we could discuss it together.
Fortunately, Jubin’s schedule was clear for the day the CEO wanted to meet.
—What time works?
“Is 2:00 PM okay?”
—That works. Want to come to my office?
“Yes, I’ll be there.”
The call ended quickly. Zion, who had clearly overheard the conversation, offered a faint smile.
“Congratulations on your next project.”
“I haven’t even read the script yet.”
Though the congratulations felt premature, hearing them from him made him feel strangely good.
“CEO Moon has a keen eye for talent, doesn’t he? Especially when it comes to finding the perfect role for his actors. He’s nothing like CEO Park in that regard.”
Since CEO Moon Woo-jin had made the offer, the project was bound to be a critical success. If it also has some commercial appeal, that would be perfect, Zion found himself hoping.
“Are you in the middle of contract renewal talks?”
“Something like that. CEO Park said if we can’t agree on a renewal, he’ll at least have me serve as an inside director.”
CEO Park Ji-bun is getting desperate, Zion thought. Then again, SUB Entertainment without Do Zion was like red bean bread without the filling, a hollow nut, or a cream puff with no cream.
It would take at least ten skilled actors to fill Do Zion’s shoes just to break even. Anyone would choose Do Zion—a one-man venture company—over the rest.
“No matter how much I want to keep you, that title is still a bit much.”
“Exactly. What kind of director is my age?”
As they chatted, they arrived at the underground parking garage. Perhaps because it was an ultra-luxury apartment complex with a limited number of residents, even the parking lot felt completely sealed off from the outside world, offering absolute privacy.
“Your friend’s place is right next to yours, isn’t it?”
“Is it? Which way do I go?”
“The elevator locations are different for each unit. Let me park first.”
The layout offered such complete privacy that it even felt secure.
Zion lightly pressed a button to kill the engine.
The air trapped inside the car seemed to settle slowly. The interior grew so quiet, as if all sound had been absorbed.
Zion’s pheromones lingered faintly in the air, making the thought of stepping out feel like a waste. As the lights dimmed, Zion spoke softly.
“Sunbae.”
His voice warmed the air inside the car.
“…Will you mark me?”
My jaw dropped in shock, then snapped shut.
Don’t you know that even if partners agree to it, you can still get reported for that these days? Did you even consider your social standing, your reputation, and your honor before proposing this? I wanted to grill him with a thousand questions.
My mind raced with a million thoughts, and my effort to appear unfazed was written all over my face.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course I am. Who jokes about Marking these days? It’s a serious matter.”
“So you know it’s a serious matter.”
As he spoke, he slid his fingers between mine, interlacing them and squeezing my hand tight.
“It’s you, sunbae. No one else.”
I’d been trying to ignore the subtle signals he’d been sending the whole way here. I knew if I acknowledged them, I’d have to deal with his possessiveness. It wasn’t that I disliked the idea of Marking, but the risks involved made me cautious.
“I want to do it.”
What am I going to do with him? A soft, sigh-like laugh escaped my lips.
“You trust me way too much.”
“Who else would I trust, sunbae?”
“Have you ever even done it before?”
“Who else would I have done it with? I’m going to learn from you.”
Now he was being bold about it.
Marking was a complicated affair that could easily lead to a permanent Imprint.
Even now, I can’t stop thinking about Zion. If we were to imprint, I’m not sure I’d even be able to function in my daily life.
Thankfully, the period similar to my heat cycle had passed, and my pheromones had stabilized. But no matter how low the probability, the risk of imprinting was something I couldn’t easily ignore.
I didn’t know how to explain this anxiety. My mind screamed that it was too dangerous and that I shouldn’t accept him, but my heart seemed to be foolishly relaxing, thinking, But if it’s Zion, wouldn’t it be okay?
If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even dream of this. But perhaps because of the sense of stability and responsibility he always showed, my realistic fears were significantly diminished.
Jubin let out a sigh that was almost a laugh.
“…Are you sure no one ever comes here?”
“They can’t. No one can.”
There was a big difference between not coming and not being able to come.
Not coming meant people could come and go at any time. But not being able to come meant you needed special permission.
Jubin swallowed hard and asked again.
“…Your manager too?”
Zion nodded, his grip tightening on Jubin’s hand.
Jubin glanced at Zion in the driver’s seat, then turned his head slightly and suggested, “…Do you want to move to the back?”
As if to say What’s the point of moving to the back?, Zion climbed over into the passenger seat.
“Hey, it’s too cramped if you’re here…”
Jubin tried to push Zion’s chest with his hand, but it was too late. Zion’s large frame filled the passenger seat to the point of bursting.
“W-wait a second…”
Jubin hurriedly fumbled for the lever and slid the passenger seat as far back as it would go, creating a decent amount of space.
At least it’s a good thing this car is pretty big.
Of course, it still feels woefully insufficient for two people to be all tangled up like this…
Just then, Zion suddenly slammed the seatback down.
“Ah…!”
Startled, Jubin scrambled to wrap his arms tightly around Zion’s neck. A low, satisfied chuckle vibrated against his ear.
“You… you scared me…”
“Just a little mischief,” Zion murmured.
Jubin suddenly remembered something Zion had said—how he might just melt if Jubin kissed him first, no matter what trouble he’d caused.
Settling back comfortably, Jubin cupped Zion’s cheeks.
“Zion.”
Zion looked down at him, his eyes wide with anticipation. Jubin slowly leaned in, his hands still cradling the younger man’s soft face.
“I love you.”
For a moment, Zion’s gaze went completely blank. Seizing the opportunity, Jubin smiled and pecked his lips lightly, over and over.
“So stop worrying and just relax.”
“Huh?” Zion asked, his voice a breathy question. Then, as if he couldn’t hold back any longer, he devoured Jubin’s lips.
The wet, heavy sound of their mouths meeting echoed through the car. Jubin wrapped his arms around Zion’s neck, pulling him as close as he could.
There was no longer any need to hold back his lust for Zion. Jubin delved deeper into his mouth.
He wanted to find even the faintest trace of pheromones lingering inside, so he probed and searched, his tongue sweeping every corner. His withdrawal symptoms had left him with a desperate thirst for pheromones. He’d felt it before—kissing Zion always cleared his mind, leaving him unable to think.
With his eyes closed, Jubin focused entirely on him. His heart hammered harder, their breaths mingling, making the brief moment feel incredibly long.
He could tell, even without words, that Zion cherished the act of kissing. Despite having had countless partners and engaging in every kind of depraved act imaginable, Zion’s kiss felt more erotic than all those lewd encounters combined. Every touch from Zion felt more sensitive and electrifying than ever before.
I’m already so wet down there, it’s embarrassing. What am I going to do? My body must have recognized who he was the moment we touched.
They poured all their focus and nerves into the kiss, their tongues tangling so deeply it almost ached.
Zion’s lips naturally traced a path from Jubin’s chin down to the nape of his neck.
“Hah!”
Jubin gasped, tilting his head to the side. Zion’s breath tickled his skin, sending a wave of anticipation through him.
Soon, Jubin shuddered as Zion’s hot, wet tongue licked his skin.
“Have you ever marked anyone else before?”
“…No.”
Jubin shook his head, swallowing a ragged breath.
Zion gently sucked on the skin of his neck. “Why?” he asked.
“Because… that’s something you only do with someone you love.”
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