By Zephyria 
As the hall filled with an air of excitement, Jeong-min’s older brothers and sisters-in-law laughed joyfully. Since he was a younger brother who lacked nothing regardless of where he was placed, everyone hoped that this time, Jeong-min would meet a good Omega.
However, even as the ceremony proceeded and the banquet began after the ceremony, the Omegas could not easily approach Jeong-min. The reason was Young-min. With a face full of irritation, Young-min was clinging to Jeong-min’s side, taking care of a whining child.
“So annoying. That man isn’t answering! What on earth is he doing on such an important day!”
“He’s working.”
“Still, this isn’t right! Hae-hoon, stop crying already!!”
Jeong-min couldn’t understand why Young-min was scolding a child who was barely six months old for crying, and doing so with such irritation.
“Hae-ji! Ugh! Where did the child go now!”
In the brief moment he looked away, the first child had disappeared. He was surely still in the hall, but Young-min went to find the first child, and Jeong-min asked the people providing security for the two of them to help search.
Meanwhile, Jeong-min was somewhat flustered by the second child, who was wailing loudly because his mother wasn’t there. Seeing this as an opportunity, Omegas tried to approach. However, Jeong-min skillfully picked up the second child and comforted him by patting his back.
That sight looked so comfortable and even beautiful that the Omegas gaped. He didn’t mind the child’s drool on his shoulder; he even took out his own handkerchief to wipe the drool and called the child’s name affectionately with a smile.
“Hae-hoon…. Don’t cry. Daddy will be here soon.”
At that, the child stopped crying and beamed a bright smile.
It was a pity that such a smiling child had been crying until his voice went hoarse.
“You’re going to block your own marriage prospects. Put him down.”
“Ah.”
Unable to watch any longer, Jeong-min’s eldest brother and sister-in-law, who were much older than him, approached. The sister-in-law took the child from Jeong-min, and Jeong-min greeted his eldest brother.
“Congratulations on becoming the king.”
“Don’t say things like that. It’s embarrassing.”
“Haha.”
“There is someone I want to introduce to you.”
Ah, as expected—he’d eventually say something like that. Though it was called a ‘selection’ event, the partner was always predetermined. Jeong-min nodded and followed his brother.
“Director Ji.”
The person Jeong-min’s eldest brother introduced was none other than Director Ji Jae-gyun, a key figure in the electronics division. Since Jeong-min had seen him a few times at the Chairman’s events, he bowed his head in greeting. Then, his gaze shifted to the two people standing behind Director Ji, who had a full head of white hair.
One was a beautiful Omega woman, and the other was a handsome Alpha. He didn’t know the woman’s name, but he knew the man’s.
Ji Su-han.
He was an Alpha Department doctor at the hospital where Jeong-min worked.
“It’s been a while, Jeong-min.”
“Yes, it has been a long time, Director Ji. I apologize for not greeting you more often.”
“No, no. I think we’ll be seeing each other often now.”
Director Ji smiled. It seemed the partner chosen for Jeong-min was the Omega woman standing behind him. Since it was an inevitable path, Jeong-min stepped forward on his own to greet her.
“Hello. I am Shin Jeong-min.”
“Hello… I am Ji Su-eun.”
With her long straight hair, modest dress, and soft manner of speaking, she looked perfectly suited to be the youngest daughter-in-law of a prestigious family. That was likely why she was being introduced to him.
Jeong-min nodded to her once more and then greeted the man standing beside her.
“I see you here, Dr. Ji Su-han.”
“Indeed.”
“Ah, come to think of it, do you two work at the same hospital?”
It was obvious that Director Ji remembered they shared a workplace and was trying to create a point of connection. Jeong-min smiled and played along with Director Ji’s lead.
“Yes, Dr. Ji Su-han is my Sunbae. I’ve received a lot of help from him.”
“I’m glad this fellow is of help to you, Jeong-min. He’s practically the black sheep of our family.”
“Father, saying that makes me lose face in front of my Hubae.”
“Be quiet, you brat. More importantly, Su-eun is also planning to enter the hospital where Jeong-min works soon. As an Omega Department resident.”
“Ah. I see.”
Jeong-min approached her with a bright smile. Since his brother had provided this link and conversation starter, he had to maintain it well. Jeong-min asked if she was in the Omega Department and if it wasn’t too difficult there, and Su-eun continued the conversation, saying she was fine.
The atmosphere was awkward, but because Jeong-min was quite proactive, Director Ji and Jeong-min’s family looked on with pride at the two beautiful people. The other unmarried Omegas, watching this, had to leave with a sense of defeat.
“I hope the meal today was to your liking.”
“Yes… it was delicious.”
Strangely, however, while Ji Su-eun engaged in conversation with Jeong-min, she seemed reluctant. Jeong-min sensed her emotions through her pheromones, but he pretended not to notice and treated her even more kindly. Still, she didn’t open her heart and kept avoiding his gaze. Eventually, Jeong-min began to grow tired. He realized that an Omega’s rejection pheromones could be this exhausting.
Fortunately, before Jeong-min collapsed from fatigue, Ji Su-eun left the venue, claiming she had business to attend to.
“Please get home safely. I’ll see you again.”
“Thank you for escorting me.”
Feeling it was only polite to see her off, Jeong-min accompanied her to the front of the hotel and only after seeing her get into her car did he finally loosen his suffocating tie. He wanted to go home right then and there, but he knew he couldn’t.
“Sunbae.”
As he entered the lobby and waited for the elevator, he turned his head at the sound of a chillingly unpleasant, familiar voice. It was Kim Ju-hwan.
A sigh escaped him the moment he saw him. Right. There was no way that bastard wouldn’t be here; why hadn’t he thought of that?
“It’s been a while.”
If possible, he wished they would never meet for the rest of their lives. Kim Ju-hwan scanned Jeong-min from head to toe. Disgusted by that gaze, Jeong-min scanned Kim Ju-hwan back.
Setting aside how obnoxious he was, how did this guy get more handsome as he aged? He was draped in luxury brands, but his looks were so striking that the designer clothes seemed like mere accessories; he could easily put most celebrities to shame.
Furthermore, his characteristic sharp and heavy Extreme Alpha pheromones were enough to make another Alpha feel a sense of defeat.
Striding forward with long legs, he stopped in front of Jeong-min. Though there wasn’t much of a height difference, Ju-hwan’s far superior proportions made him seem taller.
“You’re late.”
“I know. But I came to see you, Sunbae. I thought you’d be bored and leave by now.”
“Wrong. As you can see, I’m heading back in. I’m the real protagonist today.”
“The real protagonist?”
“It seems my family is finally thinking of sending me off.”
Having intuitively grasped what Jeong-min meant, Ju-hwan frowned slightly and then laughed. The sound of that laughter was irritating, so Jeong-min glared at him once before stepping into the elevator, with Ju-hwan following behind.
The two Alphas stood side by side in the luxurious, gold-plated hotel elevator.
“Sunbae getting married. Is it that time for us? To reach that age?”
“Isn’t it? Young-min already has two kids.”
“So, who is the chosen one?”
Jeong-min looked at Ju-hwan. Ju-hwan shrugged.
“Don’t tell me there isn’t a chosen one. Given what kind of family your family is.”
“Even if there is, I won’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“I just feel like it. Regarding you.”
“Hmm….”
At Jeong-min’s words, Ju-hwan stroked his chin, looking at Jeong-min with interested eyes.
“Just say your greetings and go.”
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. At that moment, Ju-hwan grabbed Jeong-min’s wrist.
“It’s been a while; I want to talk more, just the two of us.”
“I’m tired. Let’s set a separate date to talk next time.”
Of course, that was just a polite formality. Was he crazy enough to meet Kim Ju-hwan alone?
“What’s with the person who ignores my texts?”
If you know that, then stop sending them.
“It’s hard to meet you, Sunbae. So let’s talk today.”
There it is again. The habit of dropping honorifics whenever something doesn’t go his way. Obnoxious bastard.
Jeong-min also knew that if he didn’t play along, Ju-hwan would continue to be a nuisance. If he wasn’t careful, he might actually end up having to meet him separately. That would be the absolute worst bad ending. Jeong-min sighed and looked toward the crowded venue in the distance.
“I can’t leave the venue. I have to stay here.”
Since he had come officially to pay his respects, he couldn’t leave his post.
“Let’s talk inside.”
Ju-hwan still looked dissatisfied. He seemed to have more to say, but he stepped out of the elevator for now. Fearing someone might see, Jeong-min quickly pulled his wrist from Ju-hwan’s grip. Then, as if nothing had happened, he straightened his tie and entered the venue.