By Zephyria 
For the next month, Hae-jin spent hectic days.
Once he had made up his mind, Ryle proceeded with the work like a bulldozer. First, the news that a new Chairperson would be coming to the Bright Foundation was naturally announced.
Unexpectedly, Ryle’s secretary hinted that everyone seemed to take it as a given. He found out later that the Bright Foundation had been operated by an ‘Acting Chairperson’ all along. This was a detail that showed Ryle had intended for the Chairperson position to be Hae-jin’s from the start.
Unfortunately, that fact didn’t ease the pressure. The only saving grace was that Hae-jin was shedding his beginner’s aura day by day.
As mentioned before, Ryle stepped down from his teaching role after covering the general overview. While listening to the advice of other experts, Hae-jin realized that the lessons Ryle had given him were very helpful.
Thinking back, what Ryle had done was closer to premature comfort. While trusting Hae-jin, he seemed to want to let him know that it was okay even if he failed.
Grateful for that sentiment, Hae-jin worked even harder.
Since Hae-jin’s birthday fell in the middle of this period, it was spent boisterously again. Perhaps wanting to encourage him as he was overwhelmed by learning various things, Ryle celebrated Hae-jin’s birthday grandly once more.
And so today, finally, the day of Hae-jin’s inauguration ceremony as Chairperson arrived.
“Phew…”
“Are you very nervous?”
Ryle asked while personally tying Hae-jin’s tie. A hint of amusement could be felt in his voice.
At the question, Hae-jin instinctively tried to touch his hair but stopped abruptly. Since his hair had been styled by a professional for today’s ceremony, he couldn’t touch it carelessly.
Instead of messing up his hair, Hae-jin looked at himself in the mirror with an awkward gaze.
Usually, Hae-jin went about with his bangs down and a natural look, but today he possessed a professional appearance. He had followed Ryle’s advice, but he wasn’t quite used to the swept-back hair or the stiff suit.
“Yes. …I’m also scared that people might criticize me.”
If it were just about himself, he probably wouldn’t have cared this much. However, he was worried about Ryle right now. He was also worried about the children associated with this foundation.
Therefore, Hae-jin worried about things he normally wouldn’t consider.
“Who would dare.”
Ryle laughed lowly, as if he had heard a funny joke, and finished knotting Hae-jin’s tie.
Did he know that this attitude of his provided a significant amount of relief?
“Chairman Bright, it is time.”
“Yes.”
Just then, Hae-jin’s newly hired secretary knocked on the door to announce the start of the event. The Beta secretary, carefully selected by Ryle, seemed to be blunt but highly capable.
Hae-jin had met them a few times, but they hadn’t become close yet.
“Shall we go then?”
Ryle, who lightly adjusted Hae-jin’s tie once more, held out his hand. Taking a deep breath, Hae-jin grabbed his hand firmly.
“Let’s go.”
It was time to take the first step toward becoming a lush green leaf.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I will make sure this donation is used well for a good cause, Chairman.”
Contrary to his worries, Hae-jin adapted well to the inauguration ceremony. He never imagined that the experience of following Ryle to parties would be this helpful.
Unlike those times, the protagonist of today was Hae-jin. Sometimes sincerely, and sometimes imitating Ryle, Hae-jin greeted the guests.
“Since it’s for the children, of course I must participate.”
The chairman of a certain company said so with a wrinkled face. It might have seemed like a hollow formality, but Hae-jin gave a sincere, faint smile.
Even if the intentions were laced with hypocrisy, the donations they provided were necessary for the foundation. They would be a great help to the children.
“…….”
As the person who had greeted him stepped back, Hae-jin swallowed a sigh and looked around the event hall.
The inauguration ceremony, held at a hotel owned by Vermouth, was incredibly lavish. However, looking at the scene, Hae-jin felt a slight sense of regret.
The thought crossed his mind that it would be better to reduce these costs and use the money for the foundation’s operations. Of course, through his studies, he had learned enough to know that these kinds of showy events were necessary to some extent.
It felt strange to him that he had naturally begun to think about matters regarding the foundation’s management. Dreaming of a better future, Hae-jin straightened his back and stood tall once more.
Just then, someone approached from a distance and called out to Ryle.
“Hyung-nim.”
It was a title that sounded quite unfamiliar to Hae-jin.
“……Alex.”
Ryle called the other man’s name with a slight frown. Hae-jin was actually surprised by Ryle’s attitude.
Although he seemed rather displeased on the surface, he felt that Ryle was treating the man with a certain level of familiarity.
“Congratulations, Chairman Bright. I am Alex Vermouth.”
“Hel… lo.”
The self-introduction that followed was indeed surprising. Alex politely extended his hand. Hearing the man’s surname, Hae-jin observed him in a daze before responding to the handshake.
He had blonde hair that was slightly duller than Ryle’s and soft green eyes. He had a handsome face, but even looking closely, he didn’t look that much like Ryle.
“This must be the first time I’ve seen my spouse.”
“Yes. You didn’t even invite me to the wedding, Hyung-nim. The photos turned out really well, though. Congratulations on your marriage as well.”
“……Thank you.”
Alex continued to hold and shake Hae-jin’s hand, speaking warmly. While responding sincerely to Ryle, he maintained steady eye contact with Hae-jin whenever he offered his congratulations.
It was a short greeting, but he didn’t seem like a bad person.
“If you’re done greeting him, let go of his hand.”
“Yes, yes.”
As the handshake dragged on slightly, Ryle immediately frowned and warned Alex.
Alex let go of Hae-jin’s hand quickly enough not to be rude. Then, he raised both hands as if surrendering, looking very playful.
At Alex’s attitude, Ryle spoke in a voice mixed with a slight sigh.
“He’s my cousin.”
“A cousin……”
“Ah! I’ll give you a business card as well.”
As if he had forgotten, Alex hurriedly searched through his inner pocket. Hae-jin once again accepted the business card he offered in a daze.
The card listed the name of a company related to electronic products, one of Vermouth’s subsidiaries. Alex was the Vice President of that subsidiary.
Seeing this, Hae-jin was slightly surprised. Since the incident involving him, Ryle had worked hard to completely overturn the family-run management system.
Some relatives had even been reported for embezzlement or breach of trust. Therefore, among those remaining at Vermouth, people bearing the Vermouth name were quite rare.
Perhaps noticing Hae-jin’s doubt, Ryle added an explanation.
“This guy lived in England and just returned to the country.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Oh, there are people I was talking to over there, so I’ll be going now.”
“Get lost already.”
“I’ll see you again, Mr. Bright.”
As if he had only intended to say hello, Alex disappeared hurriedly. Hae-jin could see people waiting for him on one side of the party hall bursting into bright laughter.
He seemed like a person with a very good personality.
“……He’s not the type to do anything reckless. He’s quite capable, too. He was working pretty well in England, and when he said he was returning to the country with his family, I brought him in to put him to use.”
Once Alex disappeared, Ryle explained the deeper circumstances. Hae-jin focused on the story Ryle whispered into his ear in a lowered voice.
“We lived together for a short while when we were young. His noisy personality hasn’t changed since then. Anyway, you’ll run into him occasionally.”
“Ah……”
Only then did Hae-jin fully realize Ryle’s intention. And the reason why he treated Alex with a somewhat relaxed attitude.
This time, a more sparkling gaze turned toward Alex. He felt a bit curious knowing that Alex knew about Ryle’s childhood.
Hae-jin’s gaze shifted to Alex, who was laughing while surrounded by people.
Compared to Ryle… is the way he smiles a bit similar?
“Why are you observing that guy so intently?”
“Huh?”
Just then, Ryle asked Hae-jin in a voice that sounded even more grumpy than before.
His pheromones, which had been well-contained in front of the people, began to linger and approach Hae-jin.
“Alex has a family. He has children, too.”
Hae-jin’s eyes widened at Ryle suddenly listing information he hadn’t even asked for. Not knowing the reason, he quietly felt Ryle’s pheromones, and a subtle emotion was conveyed.
“Just saying.”
An emotion that felt exactly like jealousy.
Unconsciously, a giggle escaped him.
“I was looking because I wondered if he looked like you, Ryle.”
“……He doesn’t.”
At the still sullen voice, Hae-jin finally burst into loud laughter. He felt the eyes of the people around them shifting toward them, but he didn’t mind.
Instead, Hae-jin grabbed Ryle’s shoulder and gently pulled him closer. As if he had never been standing stiffly, Ryle obediently lowered his head following Hae-jin’s gesture.
Mimicking the actions Ryle often did, Hae-jin lightly pressed his lips against the curve of Ryle’s ear.
“You’re more handsome, Ryle.”
“…….”
The curve of his ear, lightly touched by the lips, grew hot. Hae-jin could feel the pheromones surrounding Ryle instantly soften and unravel.
Perhaps thanks to Ryle standing firmly by his side, Hae-jin’s inauguration ceremony ended successfully.
A month passed in the blink of an eye after the inauguration.
The fierce heat had finally subsided. It was the season when the rain that had humidly embraced Heavy Rain began to ease.
Thanks to that, Hae-jin went to work today while looking at the refreshing sky.
His daily routine changed slightly after he started working at the foundation. While Ryle still woke him up gently every morning, unlike before, they now prepared for work together.
Once Ryle dropped Hae-jin off at the foundation on his way to work, the official business began.
At first, his physical stamina was severely lacking. He quickly realized how comfortable his previous life had been—waking up to play games and occasionally idling in the greenhouse.
Seeing Hae-jin fall asleep as if fainting from exhaustion every day, Ryle told him that he didn’t necessarily need to come to the foundation every day. However, Hae-jin wanted to show a diligent side until he got the hang of the work.
Moreover, the things happening at the tip of his pen felt quite rewarding.
“Ugh……”
Hae-jin, having finished organizing the documents, stretched his arms long. After that, his gaze unconsciously landed on the towering building of the Vermouth headquarters.
From the window of the Chairman’s office, the building where Ryle worked was very visible.
“…….”
Hae-jin stared at the place where Ryle would be for a moment. Perhaps Ryle also occasionally cast his gaze out the window like this.
Although everything was still difficult, Hae-jin was adapting to the foundation’s work well enough.
[Chairman.]
“Yes.”
Just then, the intercom in the office rang. Checking the clock, it was the time the guest was scheduled to arrive.
[Vice President Alex of Vermouth Electronics has arrived.]
However, Hae-jin tilted his head at the Secretary’s following voice.
He was puzzled by the familiar name for a moment, but the memory returned as soon as he saw the person entering.
“It’s been a while.”
“Hello.”
It was Ryle’s cousin whom he had seen at the inauguration a month ago. He still requested a handshake with a genial face.
The appointment today was with the subsidiary of Vermouth that handled electronic products. Come to think of it, this was where Alex served as Vice President.
“I heard someone else was originally going to come, but I had some business at the headquarters as well. So, I decided to come personally while I was at it.”
“Ah…… please, have a seat.”
After accepting the handshake, Hae-jin offered him a seat. Tea was soon placed before the two of them, and Hae-jin’s Secretary naturally stood behind him.
“Have you been doing well? I sent an invitation to Hyung-nim to come over when you moved, but he didn’t come.”
Despite it only being their second meeting, Alex spoke sociably.
Hae-jin smiled naturally and took a sip of tea first. This was the first he had heard of the invitation Alex mentioned.
Since he had been jealous over something strange last time, it seemed he had intentionally kept it a secret.
“Did the move go well?”
For Ryle’s sake, Hae-jin pretended not to know and changed the subject.
Perhaps Alex hadn’t expected Ryle to come, as he didn’t dwell on that part. He simply chatted a bit about how the environment in Heavy Rain differed from England.
After a brief exchange of small talk, Alex immediately got to the main point.
“Have you had a chance to review the materials I sent earlier?”
“Yes. After reviewing them, I think it would be good for the foundation to share the same goal, so I’d like to prepare a detailed plan.”
Vermouth Electronics was releasing a new product. It was a new model of the tablet PC that Hae-jin also used frequently, and it seemed they intended to donate a certain quantity to children in vulnerable groups as part of their social contribution activities.
The general gist was that they wanted to promote the selection of the donation recipients in connection with the Bright Foundation. Since it is problematic for a private company to find suitable donation recipients on its own, such collaborations were common.
In any case, after a thorough review, it was judged to be a good opportunity.
The foundation had already been consistently conducting joint projects with Vermouth’s subsidiaries, and it seemed to align well with the project to improve children’s academic environments that Hae-jin had been promoting.
Thus, the conversation concluded smoothly. Since the major points were quickly agreed upon, it didn’t take much time.
“Thank you for reviewing this positively. This is the first donation I’m handling since becoming Vice President, and I don’t yet know the local situation accurately.”
“We are the ones who look forward to working with you.”
As the conversation reached its end, Alex naturally stood up. However, before leaving the office, he took an envelope out of his pocket.
“Oh, and this is an invitation.”
“An invitation?”
Hae-jin asked curiously as he accepted the invitation.
The thick, luxurious paper had the name of Vermouth Electronics engraved on it.
“Yes. We’re holding a party to promote the new product and simultaneously encourage the raising of charity funds.”
“Ah……”
Since it was a familiar type of event, Hae-jin simply nodded.
Even if it were a simple new product promotion party, an invitation would have been sent to Ryle. However, since the Bright Foundation was the main partner this time, it seemed the invitation came directly to Hae-jin.
Since it wasn’t a bad event to attend, Hae-jin handed it to the Secretary.
Reading the sign of acceptance, Alex winked and added jokingly.
“If possible, I’d love for Hyung-nim to come along. I feel like he’ll just ignore it again if I send it myself.”
Although he hadn’t shown it earlier, it seemed Alex had also noticed. That Ryle was ignoring his invitations.
Still, to take Ryle’s side, Hae-jin said nothing and simply smiled.
*
The party date was two weeks later.
When Hae-jin mentioned he had received the invitation, Ryle looked displeased. However, he soon honestly confessed that Alex had invited him to his house.
Hae-jin decided to understand this generously. Even if he had been told directly, Ryle probably wouldn’t have attended anyway.
Recently, Hae-jin had been focusing on external activities as the Chairman.
The Bright Foundation’s finances were very strong, so there was no need to encourage donations from others. Still, it seemed many people associated with Vermouth Electronics who were interested in charitable work would attend this party.
As the Chairman, he thought it would be good to promote the Bright Foundation and get acquainted with key figures. Meeting many people was quite exhausting, but Hae-jin was trying to endure it.
He told Ryle that if he didn’t have time, he would go with the Secretary. At that, Ryle said he would definitely attend, even if he arrived late.
Even though Hae-jin told him it was fine if he had other schedules, Ryle seemed genuinely worried. Come to think of it, it was likely because this would be the first party Hae-jin attended without him.
In any case, on the day of the party, Hae-jin finished preparing to leave with plenty of time to spare.
“I’ve come to pick you up, Chairman.”
“Hello.”
Greeting the Secretary, who was now quite familiar, Hae-jin got into the car. Mark followed him out of the mansion to see him off.
“Please travel safely, Chairman.”
“Mark, I told you to just call me by my name.”
“Haha. Aren’t you on your way to work?”
Recently, Mark had been calmly preparing for retirement. Since he was someone who had already retired once but returned for Hae-jin and Ryle, he had already stayed with them for a long time.
Of course, not immediately; he said he planned to stay for about five more years to train a successor. He probably still felt concerned because of the previous butler.
Hae-jin worried about Mark, who looked older than when he first met him. He was the person who had shown him the kind of warmth he imagined he would feel if he had a grandfather.
“……I’ll be back.”
“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”
Leaving the receding mansion behind, Hae-jin sat in the back seat and took a calm deep breath. He already felt a bit tired thinking about the party, but he tried not to show it.
“Here is the list of party attendees. Special notes are written next to the names.”
“Thank you.”
The Secretary sitting in the passenger seat handed him a document. Along with the list, information about the attendees was written there.
“…….”
Hae-jin quickly read through the information. Some were people he had met before.
The list was short and concise, but the content within was not simple. Occasionally, critical information they were hiding was written in the remarks column.
It was a trace of Ryle’s care, wanting Hae-jin to be cautious of certain individuals. Every time this happened, Hae-jin indirectly realized the power Vermouth possessed.
It didn’t take long to arrive at the party venue. Hae-jin handed the document back to the Secretary and straightened his clothes.
This party was held at a luxury hotel in downtown Heavy Rain City. Since Hae-jin had only been to hotels affiliated with Vermouth, this was his first visit here.
Ryle said it would take another hour or so for him to arrive at the party. It might even take longer.
He felt a bit empty without a hand to hold beside him, but Hae-jin headed toward the party hall bravely.
“Chairman, you’ve come.”
As if he had received prior notice, Alex came out to greet Hae-jin.
Hae-jin smiled back at him as he offered a cheerful greeting.
“Hello. Ryle said he’ll be here soon.”
“As expected, sending the invitation to Mr. Bright was the right answer.”
Winking as he joked, Alex was as cheerful as ever today.
The more he looked, the more he realized that Alex didn’t resemble Ryle in personality or face. Except for the shape of his eyes when he smiled.
“Shall we go in together?”
“Yes.”
The banquet hall he entered was a familiar sight. Although it was a party hosted by Vermouth Electronics, there seemed to be many stakeholders. Remembering the note that some were government officials, Hae-jin paid more attention than usual.
The Secretary intentionally did not accompany him. He judged that it would be better for the participants to interact directly, given the nature of the party.
While naturally utilizing the things he had learned from Ryle, Hae-jin felt fatigue. Still, if his activities could help more children, it was worth the effort.
As soon as he entered, Hae-jin was quite busy. He exchanged greetings with those he already knew, and as they introduced him to others, the conversations flowed naturally.
By the time he had exchanged names with more than ten people, Alex spoke to him from the side.
“Aren’t you tired? I’ve prepared a place for you to sit over there.”
“Ah, thank you.”
His legs were just starting to ache. While expressing gratitude for Alex’s consideration, Hae-jin looked at him with a slightly peculiar gaze.
This was because Alex had been hovering around Hae-jin the entire time he moved through the party.
Had he received some hint from Ryle? If not, as one of the party hosts, he couldn’t possibly be this idle, just staying by his side.
So, Hae-jin calmly suggested to Alex.
“I’m fine, so you can go elsewhere.”
“That’s……”
Alex’s face immediately became troubled. Seeing that, Hae-jin could be certain.
“Did Ryle ask you to do this?”
“Ahem, Hyung-nim just nagged me so much.”
When they first met, Hae-jin had observed Alex closely because he was told they were relatives, and since then, Ryle had been considerably wary of Alex. From Hae-jin’s perspective, it was a wariness for reasons unknown.
Regardless, despite hating Alex so much, it seemed Alex was someone trustworthy in times like this.
Hae-jin thought that the next time he saw him, he should casually ask Alex about Ryle’s childhood.
“It’s alright. If you rest over there for a bit, Ryle will be here soon.”
In fact, the time Ryle had promised to arrive was approaching. It had already been about an hour since they arrived at the party.
Hae-jin was slightly worried whether he had conducted himself well as the Chairman of the Bright Foundation, having been swept up in frantic conversations with people. He hadn’t expected so many people to approach him the moment he arrived at the party.
He felt a bit dazed, but it wasn’t a bad thing. To ensure he didn’t forget the conversations he had today, Hae-jin calmly organized his thoughts.
“Thank you. Then, um, please rest here for a moment. I’ll bring you a drink.”
“Yes. Thank you, Alex.”
Alex kept glancing at Hae-jin’s legs as if they were weighing on his mind. He had likely been given strict instructions by Ryle.
In truth, he didn’t need a drink, but Hae-jin readily expressed his gratitude. He felt that this would put Alex’s mind at ease.
Alex headed straight for the drinks table set up to one side. Watching his back, Hae-jin slowly made his way toward a sofa in the corner.
Since the party also served as a new product launch, a vast number of people had gathered. Occasionally, people who appeared to be reporters were visible, but for some reason, although they seemed to recognize Hae-jin, they did not approach him rashly.
Thanks to that, Hae-jin reached the sofa without obstruction and slowly sat down. Perhaps because he had been tense, fatigue washed over him the moment he leaned his back against the chair.
Should I go back a little early?
“Well, if it isn’t Chairman Bright? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Just then, two people approached the resting Hae-jin.
They were faces he was meeting for the first time. Holding drinks leisurely in one hand, they greeted Hae-jin.
Since it was common to exchange small talk while seated like this, Hae-jin returned the greetings without any suspicion.
“Hello.”
“I’ve wanted to have a conversation with you at least once; it’s a pleasure that we’ve finally crossed paths. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you as well.”
Hae-jin skillfully continued the conversation while quickly searching his memory.
They were people who had been on the list the Secretary had compiled earlier. They were entrepreneurs running major conglomerates and were also participating in this charity project.
One was a woman and one was a man; both seemed to be Betas.
“I heard you established the foundation with a noble purpose. It would be wonderful if we could form a cooperative relationship in the future.”
“We feel the same. Even when we want to donate, we often worry whether the money is truly being used where it is most needed.”
“I appreciate your kind words. If you contact the Secretary’s office for details, we will send you the relevant materials.”
The calmly proceeding conversation felt like a genuine achievement. The two continued to speak with Hae-jin in a consistently polite tone.
However, the malice of these two people, who wore such benevolent faces, overwhelmed Hae-jin in an instant.
“By the way, I heard you’re an inferior gene. What have you decided to do about Vermouth’s heir?”
The woman asked quite abruptly. Her voice remained as flat as it had been until now.
No, it had even become tender, as if it contained ‘concern.’ Because of that, Hae-jin didn’t immediately grasp the meaning of her words.
“The Chairman must be quite worried. To have an inferior gene as a partner.”
“…….”
But Hae-jin soon realized the intent.
Because, contrary to the tone, it was incredibly rude.
He could feel the attention of the people nearby gradually shifting toward them. Some with interest, some with frowned brows.
Naturally, bringing up another person’s trait so abruptly was a grave discourtesy. Calling someone an ‘inferior gene,’ or daring to ask about another’s plans for children upon a first meeting.
Thus, Hae-jin’s expression calmly hardened.
No wonder the conversation had been going so well with the people he thought would be the hardest to open up to.
“…….”
Hae-jin barely swallowed a sigh. It had been proven that they weren’t opponents worth being polite to, but there was no need to stoop to their level.
It was truly exhausting. To face such malice simply because Ryle wasn’t by his side.
Of course, facing that subtly hidden ridicule, Hae-jin was a bit surprised. Not surprised at the person spitting out such low-class remarks, but at himself.
It was strangely unremarkable. As if such contempt couldn’t even leave a scratch on him.
However, responding to such a provocation was truly tedious and worthless. Having judged quickly, Hae-jin stood up with the intention of simply ignoring them.
Wiping away the faint smile he had maintained out of politeness.
Interpreting that action in some way, the man spoke this time.
“I wonder if they can even have children? Especially as a male inferior gene……”
Unlike the woman, his act of lowering his voice significantly was truly despicable. Seeing his sneering expression, it seemed he thought Hae-jin was retreating powerlessly.
However, whether it was bad luck or not, Alex, who was bringing the drink, witnessed the scene exactly at that moment.
“What on earth are you talking about? How could you say such rude things……”
Alex shouted loudly at the man, appalled.
Amusingly, they quickly exchanged glances at Alex’s appearance. Seeing this, Hae-jin realized they had truly targeted the moment he was alone.
“We were just speaking out of concern.”
“Yes. Our expression may have been somewhat direct, but it was all because we were worried about Vermouth’s future. Everyone here is connected to Vermouth in some way, are they not?”
The two were quick to judge. They donned benevolent faces once again and tried to soothe Alex.
In reality, not many people had heard the man’s words. Therefore, if they made the excuse that they did it out of genuine concern for Vermouth, making a big deal out of it could actually become a problem.
It was a filthy situation all around. Knowing this, Alex flared up and tried to step forward.
At that moment, Hae-jin quietly raised his hand in front of him.
Suddenly, he felt that this was something he had to resolve himself.
“Was that truly concern?”
Alex flinched at Hae-jin’s gesture and shut his mouth. Then, he quietly stepped back a pace.
He could feel Alex’s gaze tentatively checking his reaction from behind, which felt ticklish. However, Hae-jin looked down at the two with a somewhat bored expression.
Though it was a nuisance, Hae-jin instinctively knew he shouldn’t just avoid it. While working as the Chairman, he had learned how to deal with these kinds of issues.
Whatever they had hoped for, they apparently hadn’t expected Hae-jin to act this way. Hae-jin calmly met the two pairs of eyes that looked somewhat bewildered.
Then, after confirming that enough surrounding attention had gathered, he simply asked in a low voice.
“Asking whether a male inferior gene can have children—was that truly concern?”
“Ahem……”
“Um……”
Simply by reciting what they had said, the atmosphere around them changed. A few people clicked their tongues.
He could feel Alex’s utter bewilderment. Perhaps he, too, hadn’t expected Hae-jin to use such direct expressions. Just as they hadn’t.
However, Hae-jin simply didn’t consider these things to be his weakness. They were merely facts printed on a document.
Therefore, he felt no shame in revisiting them in a public place. The warm protective shield surrounding him was too solid to be scratched by this kind of insult.
“To say such things, they must be out of their minds.”
“……How do they intend to handle the Chairman’s wrath?”
“The Chairman is one thing, but such language toward the Chairman of the Bright Foundation. Tsk.”
Perhaps sensing that the stirring air was unfavorable, the two people’s complexions worsened.
Watching that change indifferently, Hae-jin calmly informed them. As if teaching a child who still didn’t know what manners were.
“That isn’t concern; it’s rudeness.”
“…….”
“…….”
Having pushed them this far, Hae-jin felt they were no longer worth dealing with. So, just as he was quietly turning to leave.
The man, who had been silent, suddenly gnashed his teeth and threatened him.
“The donation proposal I mentioned earlier is real. It will be troublesome for you if you don’t have it. Since the foundation has only just started operating, you must not know how scary rumors can be.”
However, the voice, which was cowardly lowered as before, was not threatening at all.
And now, he was genuinely puzzled.
Just a moment ago, they had tried to pressure Hae-jin using Vermouth’s name while mentioning the heir. And now, it was truly laughable how they thought of Hae-jin and Vermouth as separate entities.
“I wonder.”
In the end, Hae-jin let out a chuckle at the irony provided by that discrepancy.
“Does Vermouth need to worry about such things?”
“…….”
“…….”
This meant that Hae-jin was Vermouth. As quickly as they were cowardly, the two, who had swiftly realized the power structure, had their expressions freeze completely this time.
Hae-jin didn’t usually choose words to overbearingly remind others of his position. It was the same while running the foundation. He wanted to achieve things with his own hands if possible.
However, he had no intention of clinging to that stubbornness in a situation like this. Now that they had become family, doing so would only end up harming Ryle.
Hae-jin passed the two indifferently. Alex, who had been frozen in bewilderment, quickly glared at the faces of those who had insulted Hae-jin as if memorizing them.
Footsteps were heard from all directions. It was the sound of people from Vermouth Electronics and party officials, who had finally grasped the situation, rushing toward Hae-jin.
Giving brief responses to those who were repeatedly bowing their heads, Hae-jin left the party venue. Though he couldn’t be certain, he likely wouldn’t encounter those people again.
“…….”
Greeting the driver who had quickly brought the car, Hae-jin got in.
As he stared blankly out the window, a strange emotion slowly surfaced.
An heir.
He wasn’t hurt by their mockery. He had simply realized one fact anew.
Though the words were grand, it ultimately meant: what will you do about the child between Ryle and yourself? The moment he slowly retraced that fact, Hae-jin’s face went blank.
Right. Since we’re married, I should think about the issue of children.
Realizing this belatedly, Hae-jin’s face remained hazy, as if he were dreaming.
Ryle, who heard about what happened at the party, was furious.
Because his schedule had dragged on longer than expected, he was late in joining Hae-jin. Throughout the time he heard about what had happened to Hae-jin in that short interval, Ryle suffered because he couldn’t control his emotions.
When Hae-jin first attended a party together, similar dog-like incidents had occurred. Fortunately, Hae-jin hadn’t heard those insults directly at the time.
But to think that this time, the malice of those bastards had actually reached Hae-jin’s ears. He thought he had been visibly retaliating against those who ignored Hae-jin, but was even that not enough?
Alex had quickly contacted Ryle and confessed that there had been a problem. He had entrusted him because he was relatively trustworthy, yet he had let such a thing happen.
In his heart, he wanted to send him back to England, but he liked the follow-up handling. Seeing how he clearly reported who had been rude to Hae-jin, it seemed that the shrewd personality he’d had since childhood was still intact.
Ryle, who hurriedly turned the car around and returned to the mansion, immediately looked for Hae-jin. His heart sank when he heard Hae-jin was in the greenhouse.
When he rushed to the greenhouse, Hae-jin was, for some reason, staring at a patch of ground in one corner.
It was very strange. There were no plants there that had been carefully planted. There were just a few weeds.
Seeing this, Ryle’s mouth went dry.
“Hae-jin.”
“Ah, Ryle. You’re back early.”
When he cautiously called Hae-jin, he turned around a step late.
His face was calmer than Ryle had expected. However, that serene expression actually made Ryle feel afraid.
“Are you alright? Hae-jin, because I failed to weed out such people in advance……”
Ryle spoke urgently at first. However, he paused before he could finish the sentence.
It was the same comfort as usual. But strangely, the words caught on the tip of his tongue.
Suddenly, he felt that this way of handling things was somehow not an attitude of respecting Hae-jin.
Why?
Regardless, Ryle paced around him anxiously, fiddling with the corner of his mouth. Thinking about the things those bastards had babbled to Hae-jin, he was naturally worried. He was also worried that the name ‘Vermouth’ might have placed another pressure on Hae-jin.
So, while he was hesitating and reading the room.
“I’m fine.”
Hae-jin said with a faint smile.
Ryle watched that white face without even breathing. Fortunately, Hae-jin really seemed to be okay. His face wasn’t darkened with sorrow.
However, the white face he saw every day felt somehow unfamiliar to Ryle. Was it because he couldn’t fully read the emotions contained within?
What is Hae-jin thinking right now?
“It’s not like I just took it lying down, and I don’t particularly want to pay attention to such talk.”
“…….”
Hae-jin’s words were correct. From what he heard, Hae-jin had very coolly shut those bastards’ mouths. Thanks to that, Ryle felt something vaguely.
That while working at the foundation, Hae-jin was gradually moving forward.
And that the time when he provided unconditional protection without asking for his opinion was slowly coming to an end.
“I just, I’m not sure.”
However, Hae-jin’s following words lit a fire in Ryle’s anxiety.
“…….”
Not sure about what?
What on earth was he not sure about? The only thing that immediately crossed his mind was the matter of the heir that those bastards had mentioned.
Ryle’s mouth went dry again. His thoughts spiraled toward the negative.
Would Hae-jin perhaps regret marrying him?
Naturally, his anger shifted toward a justified target. Recalling the list Alex had given him, Ryle gnashed his teeth inwardly.
“For now, I’m tired and want to sleep.”
“……Alright.”
Hae-jin stretched out both arms toward Ryle as if acting spoiled.
Only then did Ryle snap out of it and hurriedly bend his waist to lift Hae-jin up. His legs must be aching; to have let him stand for so long.
Reflecting inwardly, Ryle slowly headed toward the bedroom. As he did, he continuously checked the complexion of Hae-jin, who was leaning deeply against his shoulder.
“……Whenever you’re upset about something, please be sure to tell me.”
“I will.”
The claim of being tired seemed true, as there was no strength in Hae-jin’s head leaning on him. Ryle wondered if that fact from earlier was indeed weighing on his mind a bit.
It was only natural. Since the time he had collapsed due to his rut, the two had not had such a conversation.
However, Ryle judged so based on his guess. To Hae-jin, who had only just regained stability, the issue of children would be nothing short of a burdensome adventure.
Furthermore, one thing.
“……Let’s just rest for now.”
The thought suddenly crossed his mind that he himself didn’t seem ready for the issue of children yet.
The next day.
“…….”
Hae-jin went to work at the foundation as usual. Ryle suggested he rest a bit, but since his body wasn’t tired, he chose to go out.
The life of commuting to and from a place seemed to suit his aptitude more than he thought. Except for the times his physical strength didn’t keep up, the work itself felt rewarding.
However, today he found himself frequently lost in thought. To the point that even the blunt Secretary cautiously suggested he go home early.
But Hae-jin was truly fine.
It was just that the topic of ‘children’ kept floating around in his mind.
There were only a few times Hae-jin had recognized the possibility of having a child. The first was when life had been too burdensome for him, and the second was around the time Ryle’s rut issue erupted.
Since then, Hae-jin had surprisingly not considered this direction. It was because he often forgot his identity as an Omega due to his late manifestation. Honestly, until now, just understanding pheromones by Ryle’s side had been overwhelming.
Even during Ryle’s rut, his deliberation hadn’t been long. Just as Ryle had worried at the time, focusing on surviving was the best thing for him.
But, how about now?
Why does he keep wanting to contemplate this issue?
The more he agonized over it, the more Hae-jin noticed one thing: the people around him had never brought up this topic.
In fact, it was almost unnatural. Since they were married, it was only natural to discuss family planning.
He wasn’t unaware that this was all to protect him. He knew that everyone was simply pretending not to know, keeping the matter buried for now.
So, should he also just keep it buried and look away?
“Ah.”
His drifting thoughts suddenly hit a wall.
It felt as if a quietly flowing river had suddenly curved, creating a whirlpool. The rushing current surged in the air, splashing droplets onto the nearby forest.
Did he really need to keep it buried? Now, wouldn’t it be okay to think about it calmly?
Of course, it wasn’t that he had suddenly gained confidence. He simply wanted to be consciously aware of it.
He had finally become family with Ryle. There were many forms of family, and for him, having a child was one of the options.
Although the process of realizing this fact had been unpleasant, it was no longer a problem that mattered.
“Sigh…”
Having thought this far, Hae-jin soon made up his mind. When he got off work today, he would try talking to Ryle.
I wonder what Ryle thinks?
“I’m home.”
“You’re here.”
“Mark, where is Ryle?”
After finishing work, Hae-jin hurried home.
Perhaps because he was feeling anxious today, he couldn’t focus on his work. Thus, Hae-jin left the office a bit earlier than usual.
Because of that, it seemed Ryle hadn’t returned home yet. His off-work hours were irregular, but he usually tried his best to have dinner with Hae-jin. So, he would probably be back if he waited a little longer.
Judging it as such, Hae-jin moved busily. First, he took off his suit and, while washing up, pondered how he should bring up the subject.
However, the more he thought about it, the stranger he felt. Why was it so difficult just to start this conversation?
Still, thinking of Ryle’s reaction, Hae-jin cheered himself up. Ryle might actually love the fact that they were having this discussion.
He didn’t yet know clearly what choice he wanted to make. However, Hae-jin blankly imagined a child who resembled Ryle for a moment.
“….”
The feeling was quite ticklish.
Of course, even if they planned for children, he was an inferior gene. He knew well that pregnancy would be difficult. It might end up being nothing more than harboring vain hopes.
Even so, wouldn’t it be meaningful?
While he was calmly organizing his thoughts, he heard that Ryle had arrived. Usually, Hae-jin would wait for Ryle in the bedroom or the drawing room, but today, he headed to the entrance to greet him.
“Ryle.”
“Hae-jin?”
When Hae-jin went out to meet him, Ryle looked surprised for a moment. Then, he soon beamed with a joyful expression.
“You could have waited in the room.”
“I just felt like it.”
From Ryle, who came to kiss his cheek, a scent of happy pheromones wafted strongly. While quietly hugging him, Hae-jin hid his awkwardness.
If I knew he’d be this happy, I should have come to greet him more often.
Though it was a bit late, the two of them had dinner together immediately. Ryle had messaged him to eat first, but Hae-jin wanted to eat with him.
Dinner was excellent, as usual.
After intentionally emptying his plate, Hae-jin quietly observed Ryle’s mood.
“Ryle.”
“Yes.”
“There’s something I want to tell you.”
He started tentatively, trying to lightly draw his attention.
Unexpectedly, however, Ryle’s hand holding the fork stopped abruptly. His pheromones suddenly tightened with tension.
“…Did something happen?”
Seeing him so startled, Hae-jin’s eyes widened.
It seemed his meaning had been misinterpreted. Before Ryle could get more alarmed, Hae-jin decided to hurry to the main point.
“How about we discuss the matter of having a child?”
He believed that upon hearing this, Ryle would surely relax. He even imagined that Ryle might be slightly surprised and then happy.
However, unexpectedly, Ryle’s reaction was somewhat strange.
“The matter of a child…”
For some reason, his face grew darker.
He had expected various reactions, but he had never considered Ryle’s face hardening like this. Thus, Hae-jin looked up at him with a slightly bewildered expression.
Ryle seemed greatly shaken, repeatedly touching the area around his mouth. As Ryle’s blue eyes wandered over the table, Hae-jin naturally became tense as well.
“Hae-jin. If this is because of the nonsense those bastards said…”
“It’s true that I started thinking about it because of yesterday. But I’m not bringing this up because those words are bothering me.”
“I see…”
Feeling that Ryle was misunderstanding something, Hae-jin quickly began to explain. However, Ryle’s expression remained grim.
Feeling a sense of helplessness in a corner of his heart, Hae-jin spoke with lost confidence.
“I just… feel like it’s time for us to discuss it…”
However, the more Hae-jin spoke, the more he realized. The emotions he had felt only vaguely were becoming clearer.
Even now, the family photo in his pocket flickered before his eyes.
But contrary to Hae-jin’s hopes, Ryle soon lowered his gaze to the floor and answered.
“…I don’t think I’m ready yet.”
“…Ready?”
With every syllable he uttered, Ryle felt as if his throat were cracking. Hae-jin’s disappointed voice seemed to pierce his chest.
There were ways to avoid this moment. He could have listened to what Hae-jin wanted first and then evaded his own answer.
But Ryle simply could not lie at this moment.
Because he did not dare believe he was qualified to discuss such a topic, he could not deceive Hae-jin. The moment he saw Hae-jin’s steady gaze, Ryle ironically realized this.
“Right.”
Since the incident yesterday, he had been worried all day that Hae-jin might be heartbroken. He feared that it might become a tiny crack, and that one day Hae-jin might regret even marrying him.
‘I don’t regret it.’
Ryle tried his best to suppress this habitual anxiety. He believed in the trust and promises Hae-jin had shown him.
But situations could change at any time. Ryle was afraid of that.
‘How about we discuss the matter of having a child?’
Yet, despite his worries, Hae-jin was painting a future in a completely different direction. He could tell by Hae-jin’s flushed cheeks that he wasn’t saying this simply because he was pushed by the verbal abuse he heard yesterday.
While he was deeply grateful for that, no—as much as he was grateful, Ryle had no choice but to squeeze out an answer that sounded like a sigh.
“I am… a human too early to have a child.”
“Why?”
He wanted to comfort the black pupils that were shaking with anxiety.
Looking at Hae-jin’s face, which had grown clouded compared to before, he almost wanted to strangle himself.
“…Because I…”
A child with Hae-jin.
It wasn’t that Ryle hadn’t thought about it. Looking at Hae-jin’s stomach full from knotting, he had once desired something instinctive and base.
That desire expanded, and before he knew it, he had imagined a child who resembled Hae-jin. He had even dared to imagine how truly happy he would be if such a child were in his arms.
He finally realized how deceptive it had been to worry only about Hae-jin even while his rut came and he swallowed his first contraceptives.
In the end, he was the one who hadn’t grown since then.
“…Because I didn’t grow up properly.”
‘This child will be a Dominant like me.’
Unlike Hae-jin, he had grown up without knowing anything like familial affection. If he hadn’t met Hae-jin, he would still be living that way.
The ‘child’ he superficially dreamed of was merely a meaning similar to a clone of Hae-jin. Could he, who couldn’t even imagine anything beyond that, truly raise a child properly?
He, who had grown up under such parents?
“Ryle…”
Despite the suddenness of his story, Hae-jin immediately gave him a worried look. He could have criticized him for saying such strange things.
Even in this state, while greedily swallowing that worried gaze, Ryle spoke with difficulty.
Hae-jin had summoned the courage after a long time; he couldn’t just avoid it.
“I told you that my parents died together on my birthday.”
“…Yes.”
It was unnatural for parents to die on the same day, and on their child’s birthday at that. So Ryle had vaguely explained the inner workings of it to Hae-jin before.
But what he was saying now was deeper. It wasn’t just about the fact that his parents died that way, but about what scars that fact had left on him.
“My mother wanted to imprint on my father. Naturally, it didn’t work, and that obsession shifted to the fact that she had created a magnificent ‘Dominant’.”
“….”
“I don’t know if my father was sick of that fact or if he was just a damn human like that to begin with, but he fell for a mistress.”
Ryle poured everything out to Hae-jin as calmly as possible. People only shared the ‘tragedy’ of the Vermouth family in whispers; they didn’t know the deep circumstances like this. They only focused on the provocative content that the previous generation died dishonorably, entangled in a love affair.
This was the first time Ryle had spoken his position out loud.
“…That’s why. I’m not yet qualified to raise a child.”
As he finished the explanation, his gaze dropped to the floor. He had never thought this past was shameful, but he was afraid to face Hae-jin’s face.
“Ryle.”
He swallowed hard at the sound of Hae-jin’s voice calling his name softly. When he finally looked up, Hae-jin had a very mysterious expression for some reason.
What did it mean?
“Um… the thing is.”
His heart beat violently. It felt as if his throat were being squeezed, making it hard to breathe.
However, the warmth of Hae-jin’s hand quietly holding his allowed Ryle to breathe a little easier.
“I didn’t ask meaning that we should have a child right away.”
“…That’s…”
Ryle’s face went blank for a moment at Hae-jin’s words.
Come to think of it, Hae-jin had only said they should discuss it.
“You want to have a child, right?”
“….”
Hae-jin asked gently, his voice sounding somewhat amused. Ryle felt an impulse to hide his foolish appearance.
But funnily enough, Ryle realized one more thing at this moment. The desire that was truly hiding behind the excuse of not being ready.
He wanted to hold a child who resembled Hae-jin in his arms.
He didn’t want to give up the belief that one day he, too, would become qualified.
“I…”
But Ryle couldn’t bring himself to put that greed into words. As he hesitated, Hae-jin overlapped his other hand on top.
There was quite a bit of strength in that touch, and for some reason, Ryle’s chest felt tight and overwhelmed.
“I want to have a child.”
“Hae-jin…”
“Actually, until I brought it up to you, I didn’t know for sure either. I don’t know if I’m ready.”
Hae-jin looked calmly into Ryle’s blue eyes. The more he organized his thoughts, the more Hae-jin was certain.
That if he were with a Ryle like this, he wanted to have a child.
Our child wouldn’t have to wish to Santa for a family. They would be able to celebrate the day they were actually born without any shadows for their entire life.
Like his own mother, Hae-jin was confident he could love a child. And by his side, there would always be a reliable Ryle, like his father.
“Let’s make a bigger family.”
“….”
“If I’m with Ryle, I think I can do it.”
“…Hae-jin.”
Ryle barely opened his mouth with a somewhat choked voice.
While quietly reading the anxiety that still remained in his pupils, Hae-jin told him a fact that he didn’t seem to know.
“Ryle, you’ve already changed.”
“….”
“For me.”
Feeling him quietly hold his breath, Hae-jin tightened his grip on the hand he was holding.
Suddenly, he remembered the moment on their honeymoon when he trusted Ryle and jumped into the sea. He hoped Ryle would trust him and jump in too.
“Can I really… do it?”
“Of course.”
Ryle barely spoke with shaking pupils. The words that followed were so small they were almost inaudible.
So Hae-jin answered lightly, with a voice that was intentionally more amused.
“Right now, even before discussing it with me, you’re already worrying about our future child.”
“….”
“Ryle, you’ll be a good parent.”
He knew what Ryle was worried about. Because he had caught a glimpse of the agony Ryle had harbored for a long time.
But that was why Hae-jin believed he would do well. It meant he knew exactly what he lacked.
Just as he had always worked hard for Hae-jin.
“Of course, since I’m an inferior gene, it might be hard for a child to come to us.”
“Hae-jin, saying things like that…”
“But that’s okay.”
Hae-jin ended the sentence with a definitive tone on purpose. In truth, although he brought it up, it was a matter with slim possibilities.
But still, it would be a rewarding endeavor.
“Why don’t we try?”
At that suggestion, Ryle slowly lowered his head.
However, it wasn’t to avoid his gaze like before. It seemed to be because the emotions overwhelming him were heavy.
After continuing his rough breathing for a long time, Ryle raised his head.
The rims of his eyes were very red.
“If it seems dangerous, you are always the priority.”
The words he spoke were almost solemn. He was so serious, it was wonder how far he had agonized in that short moment.
“I cannot compromise on this.”
As Hae-jin just watched him, Ryle pulled the small hand toward himself. He looked up with a very serious gaze while placing Hae-jin’s hand on his cheek.
Hae-jin had only thought about the difficulty; it was a matter he hadn’t dared to consider. Since he was an inferior gene, the process of giving birth could indeed be dangerous.
“Promise me you will.”
Once again, Ryle put Hae-jin first. Seeing his still-red eyes, Hae-jin’s heart felt ticklish.
“Promise that you won’t leave me alone here.”
At that desperate plea, Hae-jin quickly parted his lips.
He felt certain once again that he would not regret any of these choices in the future.
“I understand.”
Together with him, he would form a bigger family.
So that the warm family who had come to him could always be at peace up there. So that he could tell them to be at ease because a family as shining as they were was by his side.