‣ staff room

@☁︎┊lan sehun ᵃ Kang had been so focused on the mess on his jacket that he hadn’t paid much attention to the person standing nearby. His mind was preoccupied with the frustration of the stubborn stain that refused to budge. When the other spoke again, his voice casual yet slightly hesitant, Kang glanced up. Recognition flickered in his eyes as he took in the features of the man before him. It took a moment, but then it clicked. He had seen this person before, though only in passing. They had never interacted much, if at all. Their times at the Cloud Recesses had only overlapped briefly, back when Kang was just settling in and the other seemed on his way out.

Kang’s lips quirked up slightly, his demeanor softening as he registered the offer. “Professor Sehun, Right?” he asked, tilting his head, a flicker of amusement in his tone. “You left the Cloud Recesses around the time I got there. Never really got the chance to talk.” Kang added with a soft smile, a subtle warmth in his expression. Meeting someone from the same pack always carried a comforting familiarity, even if their paths had barely crossed before. “Funny how it took a mess like this to get us talking.”

He glanced down at his jacket as the other pointed to the stain, a faint chuckle escaping him. “Yeah, it’s quite the situation, isn’t it? Looks like a work of abstract art at this point.” His gaze shifted back to Sehun, the faint humor in his voice masking his mild exasperation.

“You’ve got tricks for stains, huh?” Kang raised an eyebrow, considering the offer. “I might just take you up on that. I’ve tried everything short of setting it on fire.” He handed over the jacket with a small shrug, his expression calm but curious.

@☁︎┊lan kang ᵃ () of course ! yay!

sehun let out a sheepish laugh, his hand instinctively reaching up to rub the back of his neck in a gesture of awkward surrender. he’d been caught red-handed, and the flush of embarrassment creeping up his neck only added to the awkwardness. when the other bent down to pick up the chocolate bar sehun had so carelessly dropped, he managed a soft, ' thanks, ' his voice low and unsure. he cleared his throat, the guilt of swiping his boyfriend’s stash gnawing at him.

stealing wasn’t exactly in his nature - it went against everything his lan upbringing had instilled in him. but he knew luhan wouldn’t mind. probably. still, the thought of it made the chocolate bar feel heavier in his hand. he shoved it into his pocket without a second glance, deciding sweets didn’t seem that appetizing anymore.

as sehun fidgeted with his thoughts, his gaze drifted to the other’s jacket. a noticeable stain marred the fabric, and his inner clean freak couldn’t help but zero in on it. it was as if the universe was conspiring to give him something to fuss over and distract him from his own awkwardness.

' uh, professor kang? ' he ventured, the words coming out more casually than he’d intended. he winced slightly - so much for formality. but then again, they were the same age, both from the same pack. sehun had seen him around cloud recesses before, though their paths had never really crossed until now. and of all the ways to meet, this had to be the most humiliating.

his fingers fidgeted slightly as he gestured toward the stain. ' you, uh… got a bit of a situation there.' he paused, debating whether to offer his help. ' I know a few tricks for stuff like that. stains, I mean. if you want.' his voice trailed off, unsure if the offer would be taken as helpful or as an intrusion. still, it was better than standing there in the thick silence of his guilt and embarrassment.

@☁︎┊lan sehun ᵃ [] Hope you dont mind me taking this open plot of yours. Thank you.

Kang entered the staff room with his focus entirely on the stubborn stains ruining his jacket. His hands worked at the fabric with a clean cloth, but the bright splashes of paint refused to yield. “Damn it.” he muttered under his breath, frustration etched into his features. “It’s not coming off.” It was only then that he noticed he wasn’t alone.

Blinking, Kang paused mid scrub as his gaze landed on the other figure in the room, a tall, slightly flustered man frozen by the cabinet, his hand awkwardly hovering mid air as if caught red handed. Kang’s eyes flickered to the chocolate bar now lying on the floor, and the situation quickly clicked into place.

A faint smile tugged at Kang’s lips as he straightened up, shaking his head slightly. “Don’t mind me. Carry on.” he said, his tone casual and nonchalant, as though he hadn’t just walked in on someone raiding another professor’s snack stash. Bending down, he retrieved the fallen chocolate bar, dusted it off lightly, and handed it back to the other man.

With a soft sigh, he returned his attention to his jacket, muttering something about stubborn stains under his breath. It seemed the chaos of the day wasn’t quite ready to let him rest.

– ❛ ғʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡɪɴɢ. ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴʏ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴍᴜsᴇs, ɪ ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜʀᴀɢᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴɪsʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғɪʀsᴛ. ᴏɴᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ᴘᴇʀ ᴍᴜɴ.

sehun had always prided himself on his precision, his calm composure - traits that made him feel as though he could have easily belonged to the lan family, the epitome of perfection. but that was before. before his time away, before he had walked a path full of unpredictable twists that had left its mark on him.

now, as he walked down the stairs to the staff room, the echoes of his past ambitions were just that - echoes. he was far from the poised figure he once imagined himself to be. life had transformed him, making him more... human, and not in a way he was particularly proud of. clumsy. forgetful. his father would likely be spinning in his grave at the sight of this version of sehun, the version that could no longer live up to his once-idealized standards. It embarrassed him, but there was little he could do about it now.

shaking the thoughts from his head, he reached the staff room door. he hadn’t entered it in ages - he wasn’t the type to mingle with staff, preferring to keep to his own space. yet, today, he felt a bit of a pull. maybe it was the sense of guilt weighing on him after two... eventful accidents with baekhyun and chanyeol. neither had been bad.

the staff room was empty, and sehun couldn't shake the feeling that he was sneaking around. he tiptoed toward the kitchen, where he knew luhan had hidden the sweets. that was one thing sehun had come to appreciate about his lover - luhan's extensive stash of chocolates, snacks, and pastries.

opening the cabinet carefully, sehun scanned the shelves, smiling slightly at the sight of the neatly arranged treats. he could almost taste the chocolate already, the rich sweetness melting on his tongue. but just as he reached for a bar, he heard a voice.

' goodness gracious! ' the shock made his hand jerk, sending the bar tumbling from his fingers. it hit the floor with a soft thud. sehun stood frozen for a moment, wide-eyed and slightly flustered. there was no denying it - he’d been caught in the act.

@❀┊jiang jia ᵒ minghao's eyes lingered on the female for a moment. his posture was composed but there was a subtle tension on his shoulders. "balance — it's a concept people like to overlooked but you know that balance isn't always peaceful. sometimes it can be a survival — trying to keep things up." he hummed softly. "structure or chaos? i think neither of them has ever promised peace. and i am not sure i trusts either of them enough to believe they could. "

he noticed the subtle grace in the way jia moved, the elegant way she speaks and gestures, but it's only made him more anxious. people who moved such way often carried something beneath and it's probably something he wasn't sure he want to uncover — it's dangerous.

this woman is dangerous.

minghao managed to smiles at her remarks. "ah well, that sounds simple, but knowing when to do either, that takes something most people don't have — which is trusts." he paused as he gazes briefly to her hand as she broke the mochi and eat them. "for me, trust isn't easy to come by and most people aren't just willing to pay for the price. and you're right about that. " minghao found himsef glancing again at her hair, his jaw tightened slightly as he looked away, turning back his attention to his tea. just like what he thought.

this woman is dangerous.

"I don't only do this for peace though. i do this because it's the only thing that makes sense to me. structure, ritual and discipline. they don't betray you." his gaze returned to hers, steady and firm. "that's pretty cool, unplanned things might be exciting. they might even be beautiful but they are pretty unreliable, right? " he reached for his cup, taking a slow sip before setting it down carefully. "but maybe that's just me. not everyone have the same opinions as mine, and i respect that."

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ That one really got to her. Though she did her best to not show him, it was almost insulting. For a moment making her wonder why did she bother with trying to remain by his side. Clearly he had so many other friends and whatnot. Why should she bother?

She held his gaze, studying his eyes carefully while she tried to get a read on him, why was he saying all those things? Slowly, she looked away again, lifting the tea cup to take another slow sip, the liquid having somewhat of a calming affect. "Right. Too late for regrets, I suppose.. My studies? They're okay. I try to put focus into them but you know me.. Always wandering off and looking at other things. Do you teach classes now, or?"

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ Jia let the words linger in the air for a moment, her gaze steady on him as though she were carefully weighing his thoughts. Her fingers curled lightly around the teacup and with deliberate grace, she brought it to her glossy tiers, taking a small sip. The warmth of the tea lingered on her tongue and as she lowered the cup, she tilted her head slightly, her hair slipping from her shoulder in a soft, fluid wave.

"Balance," she echoed softly, her tone thoughtful yet carrying a faint trace of intrigue. "It's a nice idea. But I wonder… do you think peace has to come from one or the other? Structure or chaos?"

Her fingers grazed the edge of her skirt almost absentmindedly, tugging it down just slightly as she shifted her position on the floor. The motion was subtle, almost unintentional, yet it drew attention to her composed elegance.

"For me, peace isn't about where you find it. It's about knowing when to let go and when to hold on." A small, knowing smile curved her lips, not teasing but contemplative as though she were quietly challenging the alpha male to consider her perspective. "Some days, you need the discipline of a ritual to keep yourself grounded. Other days, the only way to stay sane is to embrace the chaos and ride the wave."

Jia's gaze dipped briefly to his hands as he adjusted the cups, her eyes catching the faint tension in the way his fingers moved. The sight made her pause, her expression softening slightly before she added, "Though I'll admit, there's something admirable about what you do here. It takes a lot to create something like this— something with care and purpose."

Her words hung in the air as she tilted her head, her attention flicking briefly to the tea. With an almost absentminded grace, her fingers brushed through her hair, gathering a strand and letting it glide smoothly through her dainty digits, a soft hum escaping her lips.

After a pause, she reached for a piece of mochi, her fingers delicate as she broke off a small bite. "You might be right, though," she said lightly, turning her gaze back to meet his. "I don't think I'd last long with something this structured. I've always been more drawn to things that are… unplanned."

She took a small bite, chewing thoughtfully before continuing. "Mmm still, I can see why this brings you peace. It suits you well, Mister Nie." Her tone softened on the last words, carrying a quiet sincerity as she let her gaze linger briefly before returning to take another small sip of her tea.

@☘︎┊nie yuqi ᵇ minghao turned to look at the female next to him after she sipped her tea, his expression remaining composed even though he was trying his best not to laugh at her face. "pft. why are you so mad about being my second choice? actually, it’s three. your professor joined me earlier too. you’re basically my last choice."

— ' and the last one i’d ever fall in love with. ' —

he looked back, meeting her gaze, knowing he could drown in them, but held himself back as he scoffed. "whatever then, yu. you’re here anyway. too late to regret it now. how’s your study going?"

@❀┊jiang jia ᵒ his gaze lingered on the female's movement longer than he intended. the way her fingers brushed against the jacket, putting it on her side saying she wasn't that cold, makes minghao's breath hitched. not until her hair fell in smooth waves, where she casually swept it over one side to reveal the curve of her neck, minghao could feels his throat tightened. he forced himself to focus on the tea in his hands, as his fingers curling tightly around the cup, a firm reminder to maintain his control.

minghao was disciplined, trained to keep his emotions in check, but somehow it's getting hard to ignore than he'd anticipated. still, he managed. he let out a quiet breath, steadying himself before finally lifting his gaze to her again. he realized she was looking at him. "oh well, patience and skills. maybe? but rituals like this aren't just about the process, miss jiang. it's more about the balance. i think doing this everyday has a way of quieting the mind, even when everything around you is pretty messed up."

he sets his cup down carefully, his gaze steady now as it met hers. "but i know it's not for everyone. i think someone like you might find peace in other ways. something.. less structured, perhaps?"

for a moment, he held her gaze, the air between them subtly charged before he finally looked away, his eyes falling to the tea tray. his hands moved to adjust the cups, a gesture that seemed casual but was really meant to occupy himself. "well, peace is something we need to keep ourselves sane. for some, it’s in rituals like this, and for others, it’s in movement, in chaos."

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ She'd never admit it but the nickname did stir something in her heart, it was nice to hear it but it was something she'd never say out loud. Her eyes stayed averted from Minghao as he kept talking, and part of her wondered if maybe he was trying to purposely make her annoyed or jealous. Another thing she wouldn't say out loud, of course. She couldn't let him know what was in her head.

"Mmh.." She took the tea cup once he'd finished pouring it, tapping her nail against the edge of the porcelain. Finally she spoke again after taking the longest slowest sip, "So i'm a consolation prize then huh? if i had of known I was second choice I might not of given in to your demands, Hao," Finally she turned her eyes on him, raising her brows as he gave him a dissatisfied look.

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ Jia glanced down at the alpha's jacket draped over her lap, her slender fingers brushing against the fabric as though weighing her response. After a moment, she lifted it with graceful ease, folding it neatly in her hands. "Thank you, Mister Nie but I'm fine. I'm not cold." She placed the jacket beside her on the floor and tugged the hem of her dress down subtly, the motion slow and deliberate as if she wasn't bothered by the exposure but was mindful of decorum.

Reaching up, Jia unclipped the hair claw that held her dark locks in place. Her hair cascaded down in smooth waves, framing her face and shoulders. With an effortless motion, she gathered the loose strands and swept them over one shoulder, revealing the delicate curve of her neck and collarbone. It was an absentminded gesture, not meant to draw attention but the way the soft lighting caught on her skin made it almost impossible not to notice.

Her fingers found the porcelain teacup, cradling it as though it were something fragile and precious. Before taking a sip, her gaze flickered to Minghao briefly. She hadn't meant to notice but her umber orbs lingered briefly on the alpha's exposed arm, the toned muscles of his bicep shifting subtly as he adjusted his seating. It was a quiet, fleeting moment but one that left her breath catching in .

She quickly tore her eyes away and cleared , raising the teacup to her pouty lips and sipped, allowing the slightly bitter tea to coat her tongue before setting the cup back down with a quiet clink.

"You've created quite the ritual," she said, her voice calm yet warm, her gaze now focused on the tea rather than him. "It's impressive, really. I imagine it takes both patience and skill to perfect something like this. I can see why it brings you peace."

@❀┊jiang jia ᵒ minghao nodded at jia’s assurance. somehow, it made him relieved that he didn’t have to go through another job of transferring all the cups on the table this time. when the female lowered herself to sit down, minghao realized that he forgot to give her the small blanket he used to prepare for his guests who were wearing such skirts.

but being a little panicked at the sight of her exposed thighs, he didn’t know why he quickly took off his suit jacket and handed it over to cover her milky thighs, also forgetting he's wearing such a sleeveless shirt underneath. “i’m sorry. please have this on.” there was no way he would admit that those views could be a distraction for his tea ceremony. he cleared his throat softly and smiled towards the female omega.

“yeah, i often take some of my time to do this. it’s more for my peace of mind.” he lifted up the jug and poured it into the female’s cup. “you know how our students can be and with some other stuff that i need to handle as well.” he said in a soft-spoken way. putting the jug back in its place, he gestured the tea for her. “have a sip. it might be a little bitter. let me take your mochi here, so you can accompany it with your tea.”

minghao got up and sighed softly, after holding back his breath earlier for that sight. he took the mochi back and brought it to the table. “here.” taking his seat next to her, minghao didn’t dare to meet the female’s eyes.

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ Jia offered him a faint, polite smile, her expression composed yet warm as she dipped her head slightly. "Thank you, Mister Nie. The floor is perfectly fine for me," she replied evenly, her voice steady and soft, blending effortlessly with the calm atmosphere of the room.

Reaching for the lapels of her trench coat, she slid it off her shoulders, revealing a sleek dress that hugged her hourglass figure modestly. The smooth fabric whispered against her skin as she folded the coat neatly over the back of a chair. The faint scent of tea and aged wood enveloped her as she stepped toward the seating area, her movements quiet and deliberate.

Lowering herself onto the floor with practiced grace, Jia adjusted her position, the hem of her dress shifting slightly to reveal the soft curve of her thigh. She folded her legs neatly beneath her, resting her hands gently on her lap, her slender fingers lightly clasped.

A faint warmth lingered in the air and she exhaled slowly, letting the tranquility settle over her. "This is quite the setup, Mister Nie. Do you often do this every day?" she asked softly, her voice low and unobtrusive, as though not to disturb the peacefulness of the moment.

@❀┊jiang jia ᵒ after reading the message from his fellow professors, minghao walked toward the tea ceremony area where he usually held them. he preferred sitting on the floor with a short table to place the cups and the jug of tea he was brewing. taking note of jia's preferences earlier, he picked up the herbal tea leaves and added them to the jug to brew. the aroma was pleasant—of course, the professor enjoyed the smell and taste of herbal tea, though he preferred green tea even more.

while preparing the tea, a sudden angelic voice caught his attention, prompting him to look up. a brief smile graced his lips as he stood to greet the woman.

"that was thoughtful of you, miss jiang. i appreciate it. perhaps i will have them another time, but you are welcome to enjoy them later along with the tea," he said, gesturing toward his small haven and motioning for her to follow him.

"are you alright with sitting on the floor? if it makes you uncomfortable, we can use the higher table with chairs instead," he asked genuinely. for minghao, he preferred the traditional way, but he always took others' preferences into consideration. after all, ensuring his guests' comfort was an essential part of the tea ceremony.

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ The steady click-clack of Jia's heels echoed through the hallway, a rhythmic announcement of her presence. Her beauty radiated effortlessly, even with her hair swept into a messy bun that only seemed to enhance her graceful features. Porcelain skin, sharp feline eyes and an aura of quiet sophistication drew every eye as she passed. The subtle, intoxicating scent she carried lingered in the air, causing several students to turn their heads, some even daring to ogle. But Jia didn't spare them a glance. Her focus remained ahead, her posture composed and poised as she brushed past them without breaking stride.

At the door to his office, she paused briefly, her dainty fingers brushing over the handle before she pushed it open. Stepping inside, her sharp eyes scanned the room with practiced ease. Her gaze found Minghao silhouette almost immediately, standing by the corner with quiet precision as he prepared for his tea ceremony.

Jia lingered for a moment, letting the serene atmosphere settle over her, before announcing herself in a voice that was warm yet composed. "Mister Nie," she greeted, stepping further into the room. She moved toward his desk with fluid elegance, placing a neatly wrapped box of mochi that has been gifting by one of her student on the surface. "I brought these to complement the tea. We can share if you want to try it," she said, a faint, knowing smile playing on her glossy pink brims.

@☘︎┊nie yuqi ᵇ "please don't associate me with your not-so-functional brain, yu. we're completely different." minghao glanced at the female's reaction as he deliberately mentioned another woman. a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but he quickly masked it, maintaining his cold façade.

"oh, i wish— but she has something else to do," he said, pouring tea into the female's cup. " he leaned back slightly, feigning innocent as he
added, "i really can't hold her back just to spend some time with me here, right?" he looked up as he catch her scowling expression, and struggling to hold back his laughter. was she really that jealous?

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ Her eyes rolled playfully at the questions from Minghao, grumbling soft to herself about how he was a spoil sport and a grumpy old man, "i'm having no brain issues, sir. might be you though?" she huffed out softly when the suit was thrown over her head, pushing the material aside so she could peek up at him again, watching as he sat down on the floor.

The soft scowl that formed when he mentioned having been joined by someone else earlier was /very/ obvious, but she said nothing yet, instead slipping her arms into the jacket and moving to settle down beside the male. She bit at the inside of her cheek, trying to think of some smart comment to say back, why was she even this jealous honestly? Who cared. "in that case why didn't you invite you 'miss wheein' back to have another round, hmmm?"

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ It seemed the man before her shared more similarities to her best friend than just the surface level look of anxiety. To not have been born Wen but absorbed into the clan like that… It could be both a blessing and a curse. It did make Hyunjung a bit more hesitant as she spoke up again, not wanting to say something wrong. “Even being taken in… We don’t always have a choice. You can’t fault yourself for that. Nor should others,” she calmly stated, though the words were probably meant more for her friend from the past than the man before her.

When he finally met her stare she lifted her hands a bit as if held at gunpoint, though her expression did not change at all. “I swear upon my honor as a Lan,” she assured him hurriedly. “And even without it there is a student teacher confidentiality clause in my contract. Even if I’m more faculty than teacher,” the older added with a slight shrug of her shoulders. Her hands slowly lowered back to the table, one arm resting casually over the other before her. “I swear, no word shall leave me about anything you say here.”

The vague hint of blue in Hyunjung’s dark eyes seemed to flash as she leaned closer, lowering her voice slightly. “You are safe here.”

@☘︎┊nie yuqi ᵇ minghao sighed. of course — what does he expected from her anyways. "you probably imagining things, do you have any problems with your studies or something? is that why your brain having a concussion?" the way she wipes her hands on his sleeves got minghao grumbled in annoyance. "you should pay for my laundry after this." when she hugged his biceps — that was such a dangerous move coming from her,, minghao quick to gets up and took of his suit, and throw it over her head, .

he scoffed and gestures her to sit down on the floor where his tea ceremony location are located. "nah, you're not that special, i already invited miss wheein to join my tea ceremony earlier. we have quite a talk." said him nonchalantly. he didn't know why he got to mention that but somehow — he was curious. he knows it's wrong but he just curious at her reactions.

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ Her eyes scanned over his ceremony with quiet curiosity, brows raising slightly at his offer for her to join him before she nodded her head a single time, taking another bite of the apple before crossing the room to come and settle down beside him, looking up at him,

"Cmon.. as if you want me to behave. You think I'm adorable~" She teased softly, taking enough bites to finish off the fruit before tossing it into the bin, wiping her hands playfully on Minghaos sleeve once they were free, "Are you letting me join your tea ceremony, sir~? I must be pretty lucky and special, huh?" She knew her words were technically crossing lines but, when had she ever really cared about that? Her hands hugged his bicep while she looked up at him and despite the teasing words there was a gentle kindness in her gaze.

She too.. Just wanted to see him.

@☁︎┊lan hyunjung ᵒ The comfort was nice. It was really nice. There was no malice or judgement behind the touch and he found himself wanting more of it. The support was definitely reaching him, but it made him feel a little more scared in some ways. Could he really trust her? It felt like he could, but there was always that underlying uncertainty. It wouldn't be the first time he'd been burnt.

His head shook once at her words and he cleared his throat, trying to think of where to start with it all, how much was he allowed to tell he wasn't sure. "I wasn't born a Wen.." He explained in a soft voice, finding a random spot in the room to stare at rather than looking at her, "I was born Jiang.. But.. when I was a toddler.. my village.. it burned.." He was slow as he spoke, hands rubbing nervously over his knees.

Finally he lifted his eyes to hers again, the utter fear evident behind the brown orbs, "Swear to me. Anything I say in here does not leave this room."

@☘︎┊nie yuqi ᵇ minghao was enjoying his tea ceremony when he looked up at the sudden figure standing in his doorway. with a soft sigh, he shook his head. this girl—she always knew how to test his patience. sure, he had asked for her help earlier, but honestly, it wasn’t help he was seeking.

he just wanted to see her.

it was a cowardly excuse, and he knew it. he just couldn’t admit out loud what he truly felt for her. minghao was fully aware of the boundaries between them as professor and student, and he did his best to respect them. placing his cup down on the table, he said, "come over and join me—so at least i can knock some sense into you and teach you how to behave when you're here."

@☘︎┊nie minghao ᵃ Yuqi made her way down to Minghaos office, an apple in one hand and her books in the other, her satchel bag hanging loosely on her shoulder while she wandered down the halls - humming a random tune to herself on her way. Really, she had gone to the library with every intention to study but as usual she had been so easily distracted. This time her distraction came in the form of an old friend.

Once she'd reached the office she opened the door without even knocking first, leaning up against the doorframe as she took a bite of the fruit, brows flicking up with quiet curiosity as she looked across the room to Minghao, "What did you need help with, sir~?"

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ With his permission she carefully put her hand on his shoulder. Ever so gently she squeezed it, hoping it conveyed the support she was trying to show well without putting her in any limbo of seeming too dominating. Things were finally seeming to go right. It would be typical of her to somehow stuff her foot in at a time like this, so instead she would listen.

She eventually let go when he seemed a bit more open to talk, striding across to the other side of the desk and grabbing a free chair to pull closer. With a quick swing of her leg Hyunjung straddled it, leaning her chest towards the back of the chair and folding her arms before her on the desk, doing her best to give him her full attention.

“We have no say in where we are born, no matter how much we could hope too,” she muttered quietly, giving a gentle nod in agreement. She had friends that had suffered for similar things when they were younger.

@☁︎┊lan yongsun ᵇ Kang glanced up from the papers he had been grading, his pen pausing mid note as the faint aroma of cinnamon sugar drifted through the air. It was subtle yet unmistakable. He noticed it but tucked the thought away, ensuring it was just another detail in the room rather than a distraction. “It sounds as though the universe conspired to test your patience today. Comparatively, my day feels almost uneventful, just the usual chaos of deadlines and restless students.” he responded, his voice calm and smooth, with a trace of wry humor.

He set his pen down deliberately and leaned back slightly, offering a measured smile that softened the usual reserve in his demeanor. “But I must say, it’s a rare occurrence to find you retreating to the sanctuary of the staff room. It seems even coffee is struggling to keep up with the demands of the day.” His gaze remained steady, his words polished and light.

OPEN STARTER - STAFF ONLY!

Yongsun sipped her coffee as she entered the staff room. She was glad to get a break away from her students for a change, especially after such a crazy day of burnt bread and a freezing cold classroom. To make matters even crazier she was in heat too, her cinnamon sugar scent couldn't be missed... but she wasn't too aware of that in the present moment due to trying to wind down from the stressful day she had. She sat down and sighed, a bit tired from the long day before she looked up to see someone who was also in the staff room.

"Hi. Has your day been as difficult as mine?" She asked with a slight smirk before sipping her coffee.

@☼┊wen wonwoo ᵃ Taeyeon made an O expression as if she doesn't know what really transpired that night.

"I think you underestimated what will happen next, uncle." She takes a few steps closer to him, "Things won't be as easy as you said, but no one knows what really happened to that boy. Not even you." Taeyeon told him, her gaze became more colder every minute he looked at him.

"When your desires were at its end, you must do what you had to do to reach for it without falling over to desperation." She quoted what Wonwoo told her before, "You told me that before and I am only just doing what is best for this pack."

"I did what I had to do to claim what is mine in the first place, uncle."

Then she stepped closer to him again without taking her eyes off to his, "You may be my uncle but I am always and always two steps ahead of you." She smirked at him. Taeyeon already planned everything what would happen next, "As I told you, I will take care of it." She added, knowing as her role as the reliable one.

She already did it before and she will do it again if any of them gets in her way.

"You wouldn't want your dearest niece to fail her duties coz of a 'rumor' you will tell to him and my father." She knew the situation of the protector if he opens his mouth, the most important person will be held accountable yet also losing a great one would hit a huge impact in their family. "Everybody loses when you say a word, let alone your role as a protector would have a flaw of not 'protecting' your own blood from it."

Then she stepped away from him and turns her heels to the door, "We're both lucky we're saving each other's neck from falling apart, call it a win-win situation." Taeyeon winked at him before she left his office.

— END —

@☼┊wen taeyeon ᵃ wonwoo throws a disgusted look at the female in front of him. leo, within him, growls in anger — but wonwoo knows better than to fight in this situation. it’s no use.

“wen taehyung.”

the name he utters should be reason enough for her to understand why he called her here. she should know better. of course, wonwoo did it on purpose. he wanted her to admit what she had been doing to the poor boy and the unborn child.

“i won’t ask why you did it to him — but if your father or jungkook finds out what you’ve been doing, you’ll be doomed, taeyeon. have you ever thought about the consequences of your actions? don’t you ever learn about morals? unbelievable.”

wonwoo smirks immediately after, his cold gaze fixed on her. “you know what i’m seeing right now?” he turns his attention to his niece, voice laced with disdain. “a woman standing in front of me who’s nothing but a scaredy-cat. you’re terrified because taehyung carried the heir of our clans. that’s why you killed it.”

he leans closer, standing mere inches away from her. “your father and jungkook will know this, so expect punishment when they find out.” turning his back to her, he adds coldly, “ah, perhaps it would have been better if you hadn’t come back after all these years you’ve been missing. i guess power really brought the death of you, huh?”

with a smirk, he takes his seat. “now leave. get out of my sight.”

@☼┊wen wonwoo ᵃ Taeyeon's brow raised as the other start to ask something from her, "So you texted me like a desperate person and now you wanted me to tell you something?" She responded before walking a few steps before stopping in the middle of the room. "How should I know what you want to know without asking something specific?" Taeyeon look at her perfectly polished nails before her gaze went to Wonwoo.

"I know, as a protector, you are responsible of 'keeping' our pack safe. You react in your instincts despite how good or bad the situation is." She said, "You do not need to worry about some other things, dear uncle." Then she placed her hand to her chest, "I will take care of it for you." Taeyeon smirked at Wonwoo. "If you have something to question, I can answer it right away- I have a meeting with the board soon." She added.

@☁︎┊lan hyunjung ᵒ There was a brief moment of panic when she locked the door to the room, for a moment he felt like he was trapped in here, but then his rational mind clicked back in and he was thankful for her thoughts - now he wouldn't have to worry about somebody barging in and hearing something they shouldn't. Or, for the person themself to barge in and hear him talk about their situation.

His head nodded once while he watched her as she came back close to him again before nodding his head again, clearing his through quietly, "Yes, it's fine." He answered softly, wetting his lips though his mouth felt dry. He cleared his throat again when her hand was on his shoulder, his gaze drifting back down to the floor again, where would he start? How much could he really say before it was the point of no return.

"I never wanted to be a Wen." Is where he chose to begin.