Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 69

Winston’s expression changed. Yujin flinched, shoulders tensing as he cautiously searched the other’s face. Is he about to blame me? Or... maybe laugh it off and call me a liar?

If that happens, then—

Then what am I supposed to do?

Yujin’s face went pale and rigid, frozen in dread. Winston gave a small smile and pulled him into a firm embrace again. As if to reassure him, he kissed Yujin’s forehead with an audible peck and finally spoke.

“Want to tell me exactly what happened? What did Father do, and how?”

When Yujin glanced up with trembling eyes, he saw Winston smiling gently. He swallowed dryly with a faint gulp and hesitantly began.

“Well, um... it started not long after I manifested... Before that, it wasn’t like this. We just talked sometimes, maybe shared things we read... that was it...”

Winston said nothing, quietly listening through the hesitant, rambling words. As if showing he was willing to wait, no matter how long it took. Encouraged by that patient silence, Yujin finally got to the heart of it.

“He kept... asking me to take my clothes off... and... he’d smell me.”

“Smell you?”

Yujin nodded. “He said I gave off a pheromone scent. But you’re not supposed to until your heat cycle starts...”

Yujin’s face was taut with unease. Watching his distress, Winston spoke softly.

“It’s not strong. Really faint. You’d only catch it from this close.”

As he leaned in and deliberately brought his nose near Yujin’s skin, the other flinched violently. From that reaction, Winston immediately understood: his father had done the same.

“Did you hate it?”

He brushed a hand gently across Yujin’s cheek as he asked. Yujin hesitated, then gave a small nod.

“I told him to stop... but Harold got angry. So I just... I had to keep letting it happen...”

Tears welled up in Yujin’s eyes again. He sniffled and rubbed them away with the back of his hand. Over his head, Winston exhaled deeply, and Yujin flinched at the sound, terrified, eyes wide. Seeing his face, Winston smiled again and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. It gave Yujin a bit of relief—but the anxiety still clung to him.

“You... you believe me?”

“I do.”

Winston nodded. Yujin’s face lit up, stunned by the response he hadn’t even dared hope for.

“Really? You do? You believe me?”

“Yes, Yujin. I believe you.”

Winston’s voice was steady. All the tension drained from Yujin’s body, and his eyes shimmered again.

“Thank God...”

Maybe it was the relief. But the tears fell again, silently sliding down his cheeks. He tried to wipe them away with his palm. Winston gently stroked his hair and said,

“We should go back in. This might take a while.”

“...Is that okay?”

Yujin asked in surprise. Winston gave a lopsided smile and rubbed his nose against Yujin’s.

“We should’ve talked first, like you said. I kissed you way too much.”

His tone was rueful. Yujin rushed to answer.

“I-I liked it too...”

Trying so hard to ease Winston’s guilt rather than rebuke him—Winston’s heart twisted at the sight. If they went back inside now, he might just lose control again. After a short pause, he made a decision.

Without warning, Winston scooped Yujin up in his arms. Startled, Yujin clung to his neck, and Winston strode toward the front steps, taking a seat on the top stair.

“Alright. Tell me.”

“...Here?”

Yujin looked confused, but Winston nodded. It was the only way he could keep his head clear and stay focused on the conversation. Still wearing a puzzled look, Yujin didn’t resist. Winston couldn’t help himself—he kissed him again. Their lips met, tongues parting and tangling with practiced ease. Breath hitched. Heat swelled low in their bodies. But before he could forget why they were here, Winston pulled back, breathing heavily. They stared at each other, flushed and warm. Winston looked into Yujin’s eyes and placed one last soft kiss.

“Tell me everything. From the beginning.”

“...Okay.”

Yujin nodded with a dazed expression and began to speak, piece by piece. As his words poured out, Winston sometimes smiled, sometimes laced their fingers and kissed them, but never interrupted. Yujin had never had anyone listen to him like this—so earnestly, so seriously. That trust swelled in his chest and gave him the strength to share it all, nothing held back.

When he finally finished, silence settled between them. Yujin waited, heart pounding, for Winston’s reaction. After a long, thoughtful pause, Winston finally spoke.

“...I get it. But.”

Yujin tensed instinctively. Winston asked quietly,

“You never told anyone? Until now? I’m the only one who knows?”

Of course there wouldn’t have been anyone.

As he said it, Winston realized the answer for himself. What a dumb question. What a pathetic thing to say right now. He mentally cursed himself for it. Just then, Yujin replied in a hesitant voice.

“I... I asked Mrs. Campbell once. For help. But she only scolded me...”

He couldn’t bring himself to say she slapped him. That shame was too much to admit. Even he had a shred of pride left. As he trailed off awkwardly, Winston pulled him close again.

“It must’ve been so hard. I’m sorry. For leaving you alone all this time.”

“...Yeah.”

His nose tingled. Just having someone understand him, someone to hold him, made Yujin feel like the luckiest person alive. Like he could die tomorrow and it would be okay.

“You don’t know exactly when Father’s coming back, right?”

Winston asked. Yujin nodded obediently.

“It’s soon, I think, but the exact date... they usually tell me the morning of. When they bring the food...”

Even the thought of it made Yujin’s face twist in pain. Winston paused, then said,

“Got it. For now, get some rest. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“What?”

The words caught Yujin off guard. His eyes widened. Winston gave him a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.”

“What do you mean...?”

Yujin was nervous, but Winston didn’t say more. He stood up, lifted Yujin to his feet, and straightened his back.

“I won’t be able to come during the day. I’ll come after nine, so make sure you get plenty of rest, alright?”

“O-okay...”

Yujin nodded before he could think. Winston kissed his cheek again and whispered,

“Sleep well, Yujin. Don’t think about any of that.”

Then, this time for real, he turned around and walked briskly toward his horse. Yujin stood where he was, watching as Winston climbed up just like before. Right before riding off, Winston glanced back and waved once. Reflexively, Yujin raised a hand, then self-consciously dropped it again. Winston disappeared quickly from sight. Yujin lingered in place, then finally closed the door and went upstairs.

He couldn’t believe what had just happened. Lying in bed, he tossed and turned restlessly. Winston came back. And he said what? He’s going to deal with Harold? Does he really believe me? Is he really going to take me out of here? What is he ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) planning to do tomorrow? Winston manifested too. What does that mean? We kissed so much and I still want more—am I just super horny? But he’s just as bad, right? We’re both perverts!

His mind was racing too much to sleep. Yujin forced his eyes shut and tried to block out the thoughts. A faint trace of sweet pheromones lingered in the air. But for once, it didn’t feel like torment. It made him flutter. He fought not to smile.

Back in his room, Winston showered quickly and sat by the window in the tea chair. There was no trace left of the gentle smile he had shown before. He stared grimly into the dark, replaying Yujin’s words in his mind.

There’s not much I can do right now.

He couldn’t even pull Yujin out of the annex without raising alarms. Only after dark, moving in secret, could he even sneak him out—and even then, he had to return before dawn. Even that was a huge risk on Winston’s part.

He knew exactly what Yujin meant to Harold. The only child left by his first love. And now, manifesting, no less.

If Harold found out he’d been meeting with him in secret, his rage would be unimaginable. Winston should’ve seen this coming. He should’ve prepared. Had he really believed that Harold would just... protect him because he was his first love’s child? How foolish. The man who brought Yujin all the way back here, only to lock him up in the annex—what had he expected?

Until he had full control of the family, he had to lay low. That was a lesson driven deep into him during his time in England. When that day came, he could take everything he wanted. Including Yujin.

But could he protect him until then?

It would take years, at the very least. And at any time, Harold might uncover what they were doing.

...There’s only one way, isn’t there.

Winston sat still in the dark, eyes fixed ahead, lost in thought.