By Zephyria 
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re not Shin Jeong-min, are you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“No, because my twin brother, Shin Jeong-min, has never once called me pretty until now. But you just called me pretty. You’re not Shin Jeong-min. Who are you? Where did you put my rude brother?”
Thinking back, it was true. Due to his jealousy of Yeong-min… and being too busy looking down on him, he had never once treated him as a younger brother.
“Did I say that?”
“I’m telling you, you did!”
“But I didn’t say you were pretty. I said my niece was pretty.”
“You said she was pretty because she looks like me. That’s the same thing!”
“Think whatever you want.”
The angel continued to sleep adorably, oblivious to the fact that her immature father was talking nonsense.
“This is really strange.”
“What now?”
“You didn’t look at Ye-eun and Ye-jin with such interest. Why are you looking at me with such interest now… Is it time for you to get married?”
“You sound like an old man.”
“No, but it’s true. Jeong-min, you’re at the age where you should be marrying.”
“I’m fine even if you’re the one who doesn’t get married.”
“Look at him throwing shade.”
After things were settled with Shin-woo, Jeong-min had decided to live for himself and prepare for the future. Marriage was not part of that plan. For the time being, he felt fine being alone. The problem was… no matter what he imagined, Kim Ju-hwan was stuck to him like glue… but perhaps that was just unnecessary worry.
If Kim Ju-hwan found out that he was giving up on becoming an Omega, his utility would drop, and his interest might vanish. He probably wouldn’t bother him as much as he did now. But why did that thought make him feel somewhat gloomy? Had he grown accustomed to that foul personality without realizing it?
“By the way, are you seeing Ye-eun and Ye-jin?”
The two children were born to Yeong-min’s ex-husband. Two children born when Yeong-min had married in his immaturity. They were much more mature now compared to back then.
When Yeong-min divorced, he had handed over full custody to the husband and agreed to see them only once a month. However, the ex-husband had gradually increased the intervals between visits, claiming the children didn’t want to see him—so that the children would naturally stop seeking Yeong-min out.
“Actually, after having this little angel, I started thinking about those kids… I missed them so much. I even cried.”
Jeong-min was inwardly surprised by those words. To think that the guy who had been so indifferent to his children—to a point that seemed excessive—would say such a thing.
“So I contacted them and went to see them. It had been almost a year… They’ve grown a lot. But at the same time, they found me so unfamiliar. They didn’t approach me first and didn’t even start a conversation. Still, just seeing their faces made me happy, so I bought them delicious food and presents…”
Yeong-min gave a bittersweet smile.
“The oldest told me I didn’t need to come anymore. That Dad has a new partner, and that person is going to be their new family. They said they’ve decided to think of that person as the father who raised them, so I should just forget about them. Is that something an elementary schooler should say? But… only then did I realize that I was the one in the wrong.”
“Just so you know, I’m on Ye-eun and Ye-jin’s side. I’m not going to comfort you. It’s true that you were harsh to those children.”
“I didn’t ask you to take my side. Still, since this angel came to this flawed human, I have to do my best for this child. So I don’t repeat the same mistake. And as for Ye-eun and Ye-jin, even if we don’t meet, all I have is money. I intend to provide all the material support I can.”
“Right.”
The angel who had descended to earth began to cry. The sight of Yeong-min holding and soothing the child was certainly different from his immature days. If those children had seen this side of him, they might have felt another kind of wound. That was because Yeong-min had indeed been a devil back then.
However, seeing him say he wouldn’t make the same mistake again, Jeong-min thought that people really can change, and he patted Yeong-min on the head.
“You’re weird.”
“You’re weird too.”
For the first time in a long while, they looked at each other and laughed. In the meantime, dinner was ready, and the family feast began. His father, who had returned from work, was still healthy, though the wrinkles on his forehead had increased slightly. However, his love for their mother remained the same, and seeing them so harmoniously brought a sense of relief.
As they ate dinner and caught up on family matters, Kim Ju-hwan called incessantly. Jeong-min pressed the end-call button a few times, but as the calls continued, he had no choice but to excuse himself to the bathroom and head to the second-floor terrace. With a deep sigh, Jeong-min pressed the accept button.
─ Sunbae.
“Hey…”
─ Why aren’t you picking up?
“I was talking with my parents.”
─ You could have picked up for a second, though.
“Can’t you tell the situation by the fact that I’m hanging up?”
─ I know, I know, but I need to hear your voice to feel relieved. What do you want me to do?
“I’m not sick anymore. Can’t you tell by how energetic my voice is?”
─ You’re talking a big game for someone who was ailing until yesterday.
Let’s not. Jeong-min tapped his own forehead, thinking he was a fool for trying to argue with this guy.
─ When are you coming home? Should I pick you up?
“I think I’ll stay overnight. My mother told me to stay.”
─ Ha…
“Why the sigh?”
─ Because I feel like I won’t be able to spend tonight in peace.
For a moment, he was speechless. Why did his ears… and his chest feel so ticklish?
“Stop talking nonsense. Are you off work?”
─ No. I’m still at the office. I was waiting to pick you up once I got through to you.
“Get back to work. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
─ I’m holding you to that promise.
“Fine.”
Only after listening to a long lecture about health did Kim Ju-hwan finally hang up. Jeong-min let out a deep sigh and was about to leave the terrace when he froze, discovering Yeong-min smiling mischievously at the door.
“Who is it~?”
Looking at his face, it seemed he was under a massive misunderstanding.
“It’s not like that.”
“What’s not like that~?”
Why is he talking like that?
“It’s not something you’d be interested in.”
“What exactly am I interested in~?”
“Yeong-min…”
“Oh, tell me about your love life~ Who are you dating? Who is it? Based on the tone of that call, it’s not like it’s only been a day or two. From the looks of it, the other person likes you more. Who is it~?”
Jeong-min sighed deeply, feeling that if he didn’t speak honestly, he would be pestered for the entire duration of his stay.
“Kim Ju-hwan.”
“Eh.”
“See. It’s nothing, right?”
“Wow, that guy is still following you around? He’s a lunatic. Seriously.”
“Following me around?”
“He’s been trailing after you since the first time I met him.”
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
“You dense fool… that’s why you’re bad at dating.”
He wanted to argue that such a statement couldn’t be ignored, but since it wasn’t entirely wrong in a way, Jeong-min stayed silent. Yeong-min suggested that they shouldn’t just stand and talk, and since he wasn’t breastfeeding, he invited Jeong-min to have a beer.
The two said their goodbyes to their parents, went up to the second floor, settled on the terrace, and began drinking a glass of beer each.
“I’m telling you this now, but I thought Kim Ju-hwan was dangerous. The way he looks at you is no joke…”
“He was probably looking at you. He hit on you too.”
“I actually thought so for a moment. I wondered how he could be interested in you while ignoring me?”
Only Shin Yeong-min would think like that. Indeed.
“But even while he was with me, how should I put it… it felt like he was thinking of you while looking at me? There were a few times we almost hooked up, but even then, it felt like he was more interested in you than me. That’s probably why it always ended in a failure. I was actually worried that if you became an Omega, you’d be snatched up and imprinted by Kim Ju-hwan that very day. I was inwardly relieved when you became an Alpha… but he’s still following you. At this point, it’s pure devotion. Pure devotion.”
“I told you it’s not like that. We just met because we had things to help each other with.”
Yeong-min let out a deep sigh and finished his bottle of beer.
“Well, if that’s how you think, then I guess so. But be careful with Kim Ju-hwan. That guy is really… not because he’s an Extreme Alpha, but he’s not a normal guy. Before you know it, you might find yourself inside his mouth.”
Perhaps he was already inside that guy’s mouth. It was just a matter of whether he would be digested or not.
“Yeah, thanks. As expected, the only one who worries about me is my own blo—”
Jeong-min flinched. For a moment, he felt a sharp sting in his lower abdomen. It was the spot where he had been knotted countless times by Kim Ju-hwan during the rut period.
“What’s wrong?”
When Jeong-min couldn’t continue speaking, Yeong-min asked while drinking. Jeong-min touched his lower abdomen and set down his glass. He felt a strange, chilling sensation, but it vanished quickly. Was it just pain?
“Nothing. I think I just ate too much today.”
He continued talking with Yeong-min, but strangely, he couldn’t bring himself to take another sip of alcohol.