AFTER a twenty-minute cold shower in the hospital staff restroom, which had a few private shower stalls and a small locker area attached, Taeyang finally stepped out of the stall. It took so long for him to shower because he’d had to take care of something embarrassing in there, something no one in their right mind would do in a shared space, but it was the only way to calm his body down. Water dripped from his hair and ran down his back as he walked over to the locker he’d been assigned. He pulled open the metal door and found the gray sweats and loose shirt that one of the program staff had left for him.
He dried himself quickly with the towel hanging around his waist, then pulled on the clothes. The fabric was soft and clean, a welcome change from the stiff, sweat-soaked clothes he’d been wearing. His dark hair was still wet, water dripping onto the collar of his shirt, but he didn’t bother drying it. He was just relieved to feel more like himself again. He wasn’t sure about his pheromone levels, but judging by how people were walking past the restroom entrance without any trouble, they were probably back to normal. Unlike earlier, when no one had dared to come anywhere near this area.
Which he was grateful for. If anyone had walked into the restroom while he was in there, they would have heard exactly what he was doing. The shower stalls had curtains for privacy, but sound still traveled. Anyone passing by would have known immediately what was happening. He wasn’t a prude, but even he would have been mortified if someone had walked in while he was jerking off.
Taeyang ran a hand through his wet hair and started walking toward the nurses’ station on that floor. The staff who had been helping him earlier should be waiting there. When he’d told the PD he needed a shower, the other had called her to assist. From what Taeyang understood, she was the same staff member who had accompanied Haneul to the hospital, so she had already been there for some time. That was probably why it hadn’t taken long for her to find him a change of clothes while the PD arranged for him to use the shower.
Just as he expected, the staff was waiting for him at the nurses’ station, seated in one of the empty chairs. She spotted him the moment he came into view and immediately got up to approach him.
"Are you ready to head back to the ship, Jung Taeyang-ssi?" she asked.
Taeyang shook his head. "I need to talk to PD Song first. Can you give him a call?"
Even though he wanted to go back to the Omega ward, he knew he couldn’t. He’d only been allowed in earlier because of a special circumstance. Unless a doctor gave permission, he wouldn’t be able to step foot in there again. So he needed the PD to come down so they could talk.
When he noticed the staff hadn’t responded and looked hesitant, he realized it might have come off like he was ordering her. So he added, "Please."
"It’s not that I don’t want to call him," she said, lowering her voice. "But the PD is actually at the police station right now. For the... Jeon Hyunsik situation." She glanced around as she said it, like she was afraid someone might overhear.
Taeyang’s eyebrow went up. "That bastard Jeon Hyunsik is at the police station now?"
The staff winced at the language. "Yes, he was brought in earlier."
Taeyang let out a dry, humorless laugh. It seemed his cousin had moved fast. It had only been a few hours since he’d asked Choi Jiyeon to pass along the request, and already Jeon Hyunsik was in custody. He was grateful for Lee Jaehyun’s speed. That was exactly why he’d told Choi Jiyeon to let his cousin handle it. JH Entertainment was Lee Jaehyun’s project, his baby. No matter how carefree he acted, he wouldn’t let anything threaten it. At least not until he got bored and decided it wasn’t worth the hassle.
That was exactly what had happened in his previous world. After a string of scandals involving the group that debuted from Boys Odyssey, Lee Jaehyun had grown tired of the constant headaches and simply let someone else take over. That was why Taeyang had made sure that in this timeline, someone else was placed as CEO of JH Entertainment from the start. Someone with actual experience and industry knowledge, someone who wouldn’t get bored and walk away at the first sign of trouble.
As long as the company kept succeeding, Lee Jaehyun would remain involved. He didn’t need to handle the day-to-day work. He just needed to see that things were going well. And as long as he was satisfied, he would make sure nothing threatened the company, no matter who or what got in his way. Thankfully, Lee Jaehyun had the kind of family that could make that happen.
Which meant that whatever protection Jeon Hyunsik had, and he definitely had some if he’d been getting away with this kind of behavior for years, it wouldn’t be enough. As long as they could prove what a piece of shit he was, he would have to answer to the law.
Taeyang couldn’t wait for that to happen. It was a shame he wouldn’t be able to see it himself, since he’d be back on the ship, but he’d still enjoy imagining it.
"Good," he said as a response to what the staff said.
The way Jung Taeyang said that made the staff glance up. She swallowed when she caught the feral glint in his eyes, as if he were already picturing something bad happening to Jeon Hyunsik. She quickly shook her head, convincing herself she must have imagined it.
She cleared her throat. "Since the PD isn’t here, are you ready to head back to the ship now?"
Jung Taeyang looked at her like she’d just suggested something absurd. "No. I’m staying here until Haneul gets discharged."
The staff opened her mouth to argue, but the look on Jung Taeyang’s face made her stop. She had a feeling it wouldn’t matter what she said. He wasn’t going to budge. She let out a quiet sigh and decided to leave it to the PD to handle.