Hakyung’s face flushed a rosy pink at the kiss that rained down like a gentle spring drizzle.
To think he went straight in for a kiss right after saying, “Let’s date”… He’s like one of those sleazy bosses!
Still… It felt amazing.
As the long, lingering kiss paused for a moment, Hakyung narrowed his eyes and asked,
“Boss, you’re way too natural at this lip-bumping business…”
He liked it—but he didn’t.
With a conflicted expression, Hakyung pouted.
The truth was, the one who had wanted to hold hands and kiss first was none other than Kang Hakyung. His first and only.
“…Something’s fishy.”
Looking at Kang Dolphin with narrower eyes than before, he leaned in again and pressed his lips to the corner of his eyes.
At the ticklish sensation, Hakyung shivered slightly and the corners of his mouth began to curl up.
“…But I still liked it.”
“So cute.”
Muheon, smiling deeper than before, gently stroked Hakyung’s back.
How could someone talk this adorably and lovingly…?
If he said he wanted to kiss somewhere other than his face—would that make him a pervert?
While Muheon was lost in that rather bold impulse, the doorbell rang.
Startled, Hakyung, who had been fidgeting in Muheon’s arms, looked toward the door in surprise.
Muheon also raised one eyebrow.
He hadn’t called anyone or ordered anything…
“I’ll go check it out.”
Hakyung quickly moved from Muheon’s lap to the sofa, his cheeks puffing out in a pout.
He looked like a baby pufferfish—too cute not to touch.
As he walked to the door, Muheon turned back to poke Hakyung’s cheek.
It was even softer than a rice cake.
He liked it more than he expected.
Hakyung blinked rapidly at the sudden poke.
Seriously… I really, really like the boss.
Letting out a muted scream, he stomped his feet like a flustered schoolboy.
Leaving behind Hakyung’s fiery reaction, Muheon opened the door to find a hotel staff member with a calm and pleasant expression.
“Good evening. Apologies for the interruption. President Hwang Lin has sent a gift for Mr. Lee Muheon.”
Bowing politely, the employee presented a long box.
It was a limited-edition whiskey, only a few hundred bottles produced worldwide.
Once Muheon nodded, the staff quickly set the whiskey and some snacks on the minibar and left.
“Who was it?”
Hakyung peeked out from the living room, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.
Muheon gestured for him to come closer.
“Huh? Whoa, what’s this?”
“Hwang Lin sent it. Want to try?”
“Is it alcohol? The bottle is so pretty! Is this kind of liquor expensive?”
Hakyung’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the amber liquid.
He’d only ever seen beers, soju, makgeolli, Baekseju, and bokbunja—cheap stuff from the supermarket.
So the appearance of such high-end whiskey stirred massive curiosity.
He figured the curiosity wouldn’t go away until he tried a sip.
Muheon opened the several-million-won whiskey without hesitation and poured a small amount into a glass full of ice.
The color was so clear and pretty, it looked like liquid gold.
“Whoa!” Hakyung exclaimed and reached out.
His body, trained by years of drinking makgeolli, showed no fear toward new liquor.
“This stuff’s strong.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Have you had whiskey before?”
“Nope. But I’ll be fine. Can I just have a sip and then talk?”
Hakyung swallowed hard, his fingers wiggling with anticipation.
Despite his suspicion, Muheon handed him the glass.
There was no reason to stop Hakyung if he wanted to try it.
Thus, with his very first taste of whiskey, Hakyung finally understood what it meant for something to burn going down—and why people went crazy over whiskey.
Unlike the sweet finish of makgeolli, the crisp, clean flavor was its charm.
And the aroma?
It was so good, he felt like he could live with his nose stuck in a whiskey glass forever.
Just one sip, and Hakyung was hooked.
He kept taking small sips, utterly captivated.
Though he knew from the icy burn that the liquor was strong, he couldn’t stop himself from drinking more.
“Kang Hakyung, are you okay?”
“I’m fine!”
Aside from a slight flush to his cheeks, his pronunciation was clear, and his movements were sharp.
So Muheon relaxed and let him be.
Muheon himself had a strong alcohol tolerance, and the two of them—like fish in water—enthusiastically emptied the bottle.
The problem came after.
Hakyung, who had seemed perfectly fine, suddenly lost focus in his eyes.
His body, too, began to sway like a jellyfish.
By the time Muheon realized something was wrong, Hakyung was already drunk out of his mind.
“Boooss~!”
Has the Kang Dolphin turned into a squid?
Hakyung clung tightly to Muheon and started rubbing his body against him.
Muheon was only momentarily flustered by the drunken behavior.
His heart, strangely enough, remained calm.
It was amazing how he wasn’t even aroused, despite Hakyung clinging and grinding up against him like this.
“Don’t do this here. Go lie down.”
“Nooo! Boss, kiss me again~~!”
Muheon let out a dry chuckle at the rustic accent that could make even a grandfather cry with envy.
Hakyung’s face, already flushed, turned even redder at the sight of the man’s smiling face.
“You’re so handsome…”
Hakyung, who kept fondling his own face and refused to let go, was picked up by Muheon and carried off to the bedroom.
Even on the way, Hakyung kept touching him so much that Muheon started to wonder if the boy was trying to reshape his face altogether.
Somehow managing to lay Hakyung down on the bed, Muheon let out a deep sigh.
He had never taken care of anyone like this before, but surprisingly, it didn’t feel too bad—though that sentiment only applied to Kang Hakyung.
Even after being tucked into bed, Hakyung pulled his hat down low and rolled around, giggling, clearly delighted by the soft mattress and luxurious bedding.
Though he was over twenty years old—an adult by beastkin standards—his actions and expressions were as innocent as a child’s.
Feeling like he was dealing with a little kid, Muheon pulled back the hand he had been about to stretch out.
He hadn’t planned anything from the moment Hakyung had kissed him right after asking to date.
And he certainly didn’t intend to do anything to a drunk kid.
Having settled Hakyung in, Muheon quietly closed the bedroom door and returned to the living room.
He figured he might as well finish the makgeolli Hakyung had bought for him.
Drinking makgeolli alongside fancy cheese and fruit was an odd scene, but it somehow suited Muheon.
As he worked through one bottle after another, a small hand crept up and took his glass without him noticing.
“So stingy.”
“When did you wake up? How’s your stomach?”
“Me? Totally fine! Why?”
His pronunciation was definitely clearer than before. Still, Muheon didn’t let his guard down—the hand holding the glass was trembling ever so slightly.
Worried that Hakyung might drop the glass at any moment, Muheon gently took it back. Hakyung’s cheeks puffed up and then deflated again.
“I want to drink too.”
“I already finished it.”
Downing the rest of the makgeolli in one go, Muheon grabbed Hakyung by the wrist and tried to guide him back to the bedroom.
But Hakyung planted his feet firmly on the floor and wouldn’t budge.
Muheon’s brows twitched slightly.
Still drunk… he thought, sighing internally, and scooped Hakyung up again.
Just like before, he intended to carry him back—but it didn’t go as planned.
A small, round butt wriggled right against his center, and it twitched mischievously, as if it had a mind of its own.
Muheon froze on the spot.
He might be a godlike being, but his body functioned just like any human’s.
He reacted to stimulation, and when it came from someone he had feelings for, the sensitivity doubled.
Muheon had been walking with steady strides but came to a dead stop.
Hakyung, giggling, buried his nose in Muheon’s neck.
“Boss, even though you’re from the sea, you smell nice.”
“Wait—Kang Hakyung, stop breathing.”
Muheon’s voice came out desperate.
Hakyung just laughed softly.
His breath, brushing against Muheon’s neck, grew heavier, more intoxicating with each puff.
Enjoying being held, he swung his legs playfully and whispered,
“Even if I’ve got a blowhole on my head, how am I supposed to live without breathing through my nose? Boss, you’re so mean!”
“I feel like I might need you to stop breathing… just for a bit…”
Muheon, half-resigned, slung Hakyung over his shoulder like a sack.
Oblivious to the adult complications, the young river dolphin giggled like it was all a game.
Annoyed by the carefree laughter echoing through the room, Muheon gave Hakyung’s cheeky butt a sharp smack.
Slap!
“Ugh…!”
At the same time, a moan escaped Hakyung’s lips, and both of them froze in place.