"Manager Jo-Pil." I heard Tae-Ming's voice calling from quite a distance. "Manager, you have to stay awake," he sounded panicked. "Don't close your eyes, please. If you close your eyes, you might actually die."
What was all the commotion of me not closing my eyes? It sounded like he was crying along with his panicked tone.
What was going on?
Ah, but if I could hear Tae-Ming, did that mean I was back in the real world? I needed to open my eyes... Open my eyes and see the familiar faces that I worked with for years.
But by the time I opened my eyes, the only thing I saw was the fancy well-lit ceiling. I squinted my eyes because of how bright it was and then closed them again.
Realization hit me fast and I knew I hadn't woken up in the real world yet.
"Hah!" I sighed and then sat up.
I found myself on a bed. A large bed in an expensive-looking room and everything around me looked expensive as well.
It was screaming millions of won in my ear. Wait, were those painted with real gold?
The chandelier, the furniture, and even the floors were all sparkling. Why in the world would people spend so much just to furnish one room?
Ugh. Rich people sure had it easy.
I would've appreciated it if the rooms at least looked like the ones in modern houses today, but I guess we were in a mansion after all.
At least there was a TV and Air conditioning so I was sure we were still in the 21st century.
Ah, what had happened in the last few minutes that I was asleep for?
No, more than that... I looked sadly at my surroundings... I did not wake up in my world so I could not be comfortable yet.
I sighed once more. It looked like it wasn't as easy as that.
And then, I noticed the coat on me. It carried Ki-hoon's smell. We had only met briefly but his scent was already engraved in my memory. Why was his coat there? Did he forget it by accident?
"I was sure I slept in the car though. How did I get here?" I asked out loud. "Did Ki-hoon get the guards to carry me here? But then," I looked at his coat. "Why was his coat on me?"
My head could not exactly think of why it was there but he definitely did it himself. Maybe he saw I was cold and sacrificed his coat? But why, though? Didn't he hate Jo-Pil?
I was thinking hard but could not think anymore and just fell back on the bed.
"Ah, screw it. I'm tired." I said. "Since things ended up like this, I guess we're not following the script. So, will Ki-hoon even get the chance to tell me his rules?"
Well, there would have to be a situation when he gets annoyed to the extent that he has no choice but to lay it out for me. But I don't think that's going to happen. After all, I have no plans of annoying him.
I closed my eyes, nodding at my brilliant plan when the door opened.
I quickly sat up and saw a group of maids coming in.
'Oh, he didn't miss the part of ordering the maids to wash me.' I thought. 'That's nice.'
"Good evening, how are you feeling?" The maid in front asked. She looked strict and cold and I could tell she was not an easy character to deal with. Nevertheless, I smiled, trying to play the friendly card.
"I'm feeling fine right now." I said. "I feel well rested and..." I caught sight of someone who wasn't a maid, leaning on the door next to the opened door.
Who was that? He was wearing a suit and had a cold look on his face but he didn't seem ordinary.
Let's try to think. Because he has black hair, I was sure he wasn't one of the male leads because the only male lead with black hair was Ki-hoon.
Then, was he a bodyguard?
But do bodyguards lean on the wall so laxed while folding their arms?
"I'm not getting paid enough for this." I was sure I heard those words mumbled from his lips.
Who was he after all? He was too handsome to be an insignificant side character, and I was certain at this point in the novel that the only ones who came in contact with Jo-Pil were Ki-hoon, the maids, and the doctor.
Wait, the Doctor? Was that him?
"Master Jo-Pil?" The maid that had been talking called and I snapped out of my thoughts.
"Ah, yes?"
"Were you listening?"
"Ah, sorry." I scratched the back of my head, smiling nervously. "My mind wandered a bit. But... Did you just call me master?"
The maids all stared at me silently in shock and I wondered if I had said anything wrong.
Their masters were the four Alpha kings so why were they calling me 'Master'? Was it because I was their breeding mate? But wasn't calling me 'Master' a bit too much?
"Master Jo-Pil, it seems you are not aware of a lot of things," the maid said. "But since there are much more important things to tend to, we will do that first." She snapped her fingers and two maids came forward to lift me from the bed.
"Huh?"
They lifted me effortlessly as though I were paper thin and then carried me towards the bathroom that had a huge bathtub that could very much contain five people.
They placed me to stand in the tub and started tearing my clothes away.
"Wait, wait, hold on." I panicked.
Gosh, they were so enthusiastic with their job, but even when I had thought it wasn't a big deal to have others bathe me and berated Jo-Pil's actions for refusing... I was starting to feel embarrassed.
Having a group of women bathe me? Where was my pride as a man?
Only, I wasn't considered a man. I mean, what real man was capable of getting pregnant?
But still... I couldn't simply swallow my pride and take it. I had to do something and it had to be something that wouldn't get on Ki-hoon's nerves.
If I did...
"Can you... Can you just give me a sec?" I asked, my body trembling in slight terror. "Just a second. I... I don't feel very comfortable."
The cold maid, who looked like she would not compromise for any reason, saw me trembling and then nodded.
"Alright, take your time."