By Zephyria 
The next day, Seo Yi-kyung came down from the second floor and changed his clothes. He fastened the buttons of his shirt while looking at his reflection in the full-length mirror. His stomach was slightly swollen. However, perhaps because he lacked overall body fat, the fact that he was carrying a child wasn’t very apparent unless one looked closely while he was dressed.
And his complexion was better than the day before. He could feel a fair amount of vitality returning to his body. Yesterday, after finishing his shower in the bathroom, Han Seung-jae had clicked his tongue softly while looking at the bowl Yi-kyung hadn’t finished. He then sat on the edge of the bed and waited until Yi-kyung finished his porridge before heading to the study.
The reason Yi-kyung couldn’t finish the porridge wasn’t because he lacked pheromones. It was simply that he felt confused about the relationship between Han Seung-jae and Min Ra-hyeon in the original work he had read. Hadn’t Butler Do also mentioned that the two didn’t seem to get along very well?
That was different from what Yi-kyung knew. However, Butler Do was merely speaking based on intuition. Even Yi-kyung had no way of knowing Han Seung-jae’s true inner thoughts.
…Standing before the mirror in the dressing room, Seo Yi-kyung remained still even after fastening all the buttons of his shirt. He looked lost in thought for a moment before turning around, walking into the living room, and taking a seat.
Around the time he was drinking a cup of tea, Jin Seon-yu, who had been waiting, appeared. As Yi-kyung rose from the sofa and approached him, Jin Seon-yu showed the shopping bag he was holding. Inside were spring clothes that would be suitable for a child. However, perhaps because the gender was unknown, some dresses were mixed in.
“They said you can just dress them in a set like this, including the shoes.”
“You can just come as you are next time.”
Yi-kyung was already receiving a great deal of help from Jin Seon-yu. Despite that, he felt he was receiving more from Seon-yu than he was giving.
Yi-kyung took the shopping bag. He then requested Butler Do to bring the tea to the painting studio. It was as the two were walking side by side. The closed door opened, and Min Ra-hyeon stepped out.
Their gazes locked in mid-air. Perhaps because he had drunk too much the previous day, Min Ra-hyeon hadn’t shown up at the breakfast table. Because of that, Yi-kyung had eaten breakfast alone with Han Seung-jae.
Yi-kyung tried to brush past him as if he hadn’t seen him. However, Min Ra-hyeon spoke up with a welcoming expression, as if grabbing hold of Yi-kyung.
“Yi-kyung, congratulations. I heard the baby in your womb is a boy?”
Yi-kyung stopped in his tracks. Simultaneously, Jin Seon-yu looked in the same direction.
“Did Seung-jae say so?”
As he asked, Yi-kyung gripped the shopping bag tightly. Min Ra-hyeon’s cheek seemed to twitch slightly before a thick, nonchalant smile gathered at the corners of his mouth.
“Then who else would I have heard it from? I heard it from Seung-jae.”
Min Ra-hyeon walked right past Yi-kyung. He told Butler Do, who was passing by with teacups, to prepare a late lunch, while clutching his aching stomach.
Click, Yi-kyung entered the painting studio. Butler Do set down the teacups and left. Jin Seon-yu took the shopping bag Yi-kyung was holding and leaned over to place it on the work table.
“Congratulations, Yi-kyung. From now on, I only need to buy boys’ clothes.”
Yi-kyung turned his head to look at Jin Seon-yu. However, the image of Jin Seon-yu taking off his outer garment appeared blurry. The words the primary physician had said brushed past Yi-kyung’s ears.
—It’s a boy. You must refrain from any actions that might put a strain on your body, and although it may be difficult to eat, you should try to eat well.
Yi-kyung assumed that Han Seung-jae would already know what the physician had said. And it seemed his assumption was exactly correct. Seeing as Min Ra-hyeon had heard it from him and come to say it…
“Yi-kyung?”
Jin Seon-yu, who approached the somewhat dazed Yi-kyung, tilted his head. Yi-kyung belatedly snapped out of it, picked up an apron, and held it out to him.
At Jin Seon-yu’s behavior, which seemed to be excessively scrutinizing his complexion, Yi-kyung forced a smile.
“What you bought me last time is already enough. It’ll still take some more time before the baby can even wear these clothes.”
As if trying to change the subject, Yi-kyung pointed to the baby items filling the shelves of the painting studio. Things that Jin Seon-yu had bought and filled the space with were scattered everywhere. Jin Seon-yu scanned the same area. He put on the apron and opened a bag on the work table.
“Right. I think I can work late today.”
Yi-kyung stared at him with questioning eyes. Jin Seon-yu took out one of the polished brushes Yi-kyung had prepared and waved it.
“The Hyungs have a New Year’s gathering at the Ivory Pavilion today.”
Jin Seon-yu’s meaning was likely that since Han Seung-jae would be attending, Yi-kyung could paint a bit more.
Jin Seon-yu stepped toward the canvas. However, Yi-kyung stood in place for a long time. His face sank. He looked down at his wrist and fiddled with his bracelet.
* * *
Late at night, the Ivory Pavilion, lit by red lanterns, was boisterous with the crowd of people. Starting with a rough toast from Head of Department Jin Seok-young, a lavish drinking party ensued. The manager and staff moved incessantly, diligently setting down alcohol and appetizers.
Executive Director Jin Tae-won put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. White smoke swirled thickly around him. He looked at Han Seung-jae’s empty seat. He had received notice of his absence. Nevertheless, a seat had been prepared for Han Seung-jae.
Since there had been times in the past when he notified them he wouldn’t attend but then changed his mind and came to drink, a seat was always provided for Han Seung-jae whenever there was a gathering. However, looking at how Han Seung-jae had been behaving since getting married, there was a high probability he really wouldn’t come today.
Holding the cigarette between his fingertips, Jin Tae-won tilted the glass in front of him and drank it in one gulp.
Similarly, Kwon Gwi-jun, who had been drinking, took his phone out of his inner pocket and checked several messages that had come in a row from Jin Seon-yu.
[I have a prior engagement with Yi-kyung, so I can’t have lunch together.]
[No need for a return gift, we’re friends.]
[Happy New Year.]
The person sitting opposite filled Kwon Gwi-jun’s empty glass.
“Hey, why are you drinking alone? Is it because Gyu-ho isn’t here?”
Kwon Gwi-jun raised the glass to his lips. It wasn’t worth answering. Just as he was about to drink, a familiar face entered through the sliding door where the staff member had just come in. However, his appearance was pitiful.
“What the, Dong-hu Hyung?”
Seo Dong-hu opened his parched mouth while looking at the noisy interior. At last year’s year-end gathering, Seo Dong-hu had said he couldn’t attend due to family matters.
“Where is Director Han?”
Seo Dong-hu’s face, clad in a suit, was haggard. His bloodshot eyes were red, as if he hadn’t slept well. He looked at Executive Director Jin Tae-won and then confirmed the empty seat to his right.
“I heard Seung-jae Hyung said he couldn’t attend today.”
“He came last time and just left immediately anyway.”
Among the Alpha gathering, Seo Dong-hu was the second oldest after Executive Director Jin Tae-won. Regardless of Woorim Construction’s position in the outside world, he was Han Seung-jae’s in-law. That was an undeniable fact. Therefore, in this place, people treated him as an elder.
However, that was only in title; remarks that seemed to ignore him were embedded everywhere. See. I told you he’d attend this time. He’s not the type of person to miss a drinking party like this. You’ll be heard, you bastard. So what if they hear?
Seo Dong-hu sat in the empty seat. A staff member moved quickly to place a glass in front of him and fill it. Seo Dong-hu downed it in one breath.
Just then, Min Seon-woong snatched the liquor bottle from the staff member and spoke.
“I’ll do it, so you can attend to other things.”
Min Seon-woong showed a kind smile. Consequently, the staff member’s face brightened noticeably. Min Seon-woong sat next to Seo Dong-hu and poured alcohol into his glass.
Seo Dong-hu’s red eyes seemed to observe Min Seon-woong for a moment before shifting back to the glass without hesitation. He had come here today to see Han Seung-jae. Therefore, there was no need to get worked up over someone else.
Seo Dong-hu raised the glass and gulped down the alcohol repeatedly. And as Min Seon-woong filled the rapidly emptying glass, he spoke suggestively.
“Dong-hu Hyung, shall I help you a bit?”
Seo Dong-hu, who had been raising his glass, turned his head to the side. He had thought this place was crawling only with cunning snake-like bastards, but it seemed there was a loach-like bastard here as well. A sneer played on Seo Dong-hu’s lips.
“Fuck, just worry about yourself.”
Seo Dong-hu had attended the Alpha gatherings almost without fail. No one here approached Min Seon-woong. That meant his family was just as insignificant in the outside world as Woorim Construction.
“What the hell is a piece of shit like you doing trying to help someone?”
However, Min Seon-woong did not lose his composure. As Seo Dong-hu expected, he was being treated poorly here. It was true that he had entered this circle with the help of Executive Director Jin Tae-won, but that was as far as it went. Including Executive Director Jin Tae-won, no one cared whether Min Seon-woong came or went.
Min Seon-woong straightened the glass that Seo Dong-hu had practically knocked over and filled it with clear liquor. Then, he raised his own glass and clinked it. The two glasses met with a crystalline sound.
After drinking, Min Seon-woong spoke meaningfully.
“I think I can let you see your brother. I wonder if you know your nephew is a boy? It would be great if he’s an Alpha.”