By Zephyria 
===
Upon arriving at the hotel where the anniversary party was being held, Cha Se-jin entered the venue with Eun-won, accompanied by security. The staff standing at the entrance checking invitations moved in perfect unison the moment they saw Cha Se-jin, clearing the way without any delay.
“Good evening, Executive Director. We will escort you inside.”
Guided by the polite staff, they stepped inside, where Kang Seo-hoo, who had been greeting other guests, spotted Cha Se-jin and approached.
“You’re here? Holy shit. That suit is killer. Where is it from?”
“Later.”
“Okay. Oh, hello. We greeted each other briefly at the wedding, do you remember? I’m Se-jin’s friend, Kang Seo-hoo.”
After greeting Cha Se-jin, Kang Seo-hoo gave a polite, upright bow to Eun-won standing beside him. Eun-won quickly followed suit and bowed his head.
“I’m Seo Eun-won. I remember you greeting me first at the wedding. Oh, and… thank you for inviting me today as well.”
“Not at all. Thank you for coming. The suit looks wonderful on you. You matched it with Se-jin, right?”
“Ah, yes… Thank you for the compliment.”
“I hope this isn’t out of line, but really, you’re just so…”
Kang Seo-hoo, about to say something, shifted his gaze toward Cha Se-jin, who was watching him silently. He then spoke as if seeking permission.
“Would it be rude to say you’re beautiful?”
“Coming from you, that’s harassment.”
“Hey, do you even know what harassment is?”
“Everyone here knows you’re a pervert, and when a pervert does it, it’s harassment.”
“Crazy, if I’m a pervert, then you’re…!”
“I’m what?”
“You’re… my friend.”
Kang Seo-hoo had plenty more he wanted to say, but seeing Cha Se-jin’s murderous glare and Eun-won’s innocent, clueless eyes, he barely managed to hold back and burst into a loud laugh.
“Thank you so much for coming all the way here today. We’ve prepared a lot of delicious food. Please eat plenty, and let me know if there’s anything lacking. And let’s set up a formal meeting to see each other properly next time.”
“Why would you see my Darling? Are you crazy?”
“You too, you come along too! Ah, seriously, you’re insane.”
Eun-won, responding with a light bow to the affably smiling Kang Seo-hoo, smiled softly as he watched the playful bickering between Cha Se-jin and Kang Seo-hoo. Having heard and seen that the two were very close, he didn’t feel particularly awkward, even though the other man was a stranger.
“I have to go say hello to some people, so I’ll see you later. I’ll see you again soon.”
After a kind farewell, Kang Seo-hoo approached someone else to shake hands. Watching his retreating back, Cha Se-jin gently wrapped his arm around Eun-won’s shoulder and headed toward the catering area, drawing many gazes along the way. He took a glass of champagne offered by a staff member and handed it to Eun-won.
“One glass is fine on a day like this. Stop if you feel like you’re getting tipsy.”
“Yes.”
Cha Se-jin, holding another glass of the same champagne, tilted his glass and lightly clinked it against Eun-won’s. A clear, pleasant sound rang out. Seeing Cha Se-jin drink, Eun-won followed and took a sip. The aroma was very sweet. While the taste wasn’t as sweet as the scent, it wasn’t too bitter or strong, so it was fine.
“You got here early.”
Just then, another friend of Cha Se-jin’s from the wedding approached and exchanged brief greetings. Eun-won quietly took and then released the hand of Do Hae-jun, who had reached out for a handshake. Do Hae-jun looked back and forth between the subtle yet blatantly matching suits of Cha Se-jin and Eun-won, then shook his head while looking at Cha Se-jin.
“I wonder how miserable Jae-hyuk must be. I wonder if he’s even sleeping properly after being dumped by someone even worse than him.”
“Do we look like a married couple?”
“It’s not just ‘looking like’ it; it looks like a wedding after-party.”
“Good. That’s why I came. To show off that I married a fucking gorgeous kid. But why are you overdressed? Did you come here for a blind date?”
“Exactly. I overdressed because I heard Lee Yu-ju was coming today. Is it okay? I heard Lee Yu-ju likes this style.”
“Ah, Lee Yu-ju is advertising here.”
While Cha Se-jin and Do Hae-jun talked, Eun-won sipped his champagne. Following the announcer’s guidance that the anniversary event was starting, he went to the seat with his name tag and sat down next to Cha Se-jin. Throughout the event, Do Hae-jun, sitting at the same table, continued to whisper things to Cha Se-jin.
The event proceeded briefly and intensely according to the program. The Chairman concluded by saying that since no one listens if it goes on too long, they had drastically shortened the process, and now everyone should enjoy themselves to their heart’s content. Applause erupted, and the lights in the hall brightened.
From then on, people gathered in groups to network and enjoy wine and champagne. Cha Se-jin didn’t approach anyone first. There was no need. Even while sitting still, numerous people came to his table first to shake hands and ask how he was doing.
“Executive Director Cha, have you been well? I heard the news about your marriage. There’s a huge stir that you made a very bold decision for the sake of the resort business. That’s not an easy thing to do.”
“Hello, Chairman Seo. Ah, is that how the rumor spread? That I made a bold decision because of the resort business? That’s strange. Not at all.”
Cha Se-jin, wrapping his arm around Eun-won’s back, smiled brightly at the elderly Chairman. Chairman Seo, leaning on his cane, turned his head to look at Eun-won standing beside Cha Se-jin, then shifted his gaze back to Cha Se-jin. It was only for a moment, but desire flickered in those dark eyes.
“The rumors said it was a magnificent wedding, and now I see why. You chose very well.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m not from the older generation, but saying ‘you chose well’ sounds a bit vulgar, doesn’t it?”
“What?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I just can’t hide it when I feel something isn’t right.”
“Y-you insolent…!”
“Then I’ll see you next time, Chairman.”
Responding to rudeness with even greater rudeness—or rather, the ultimate fit of temper—Cha Se-jin smiled and gave a very slight nod of his head to the stiff-faced Chairman and his son. To others, it might have looked appropriate, but to those two, it was an insultingly casual greeting.
Holding Eun-won close, Cha Se-jin loftily turned away from the enraged Chairman and headed toward the catering. He picked up a plate and began placing things he thought Eun-won would like.
“Don’t mind that old man. He’s famous for liking to line up several omegas and pick through them. Fuck, it’s always the same kind of things those eyes see.”
Cha Se-jin picked up a piece of fig bruschetta—toasted baguette topped with cream cheese, fresh figs, and honey—and placed it on the plate. He then neatly added salmon rolls and a well-grilled lobster tail beside it. Everything was sweet or soft, things Eun-won could eat easily.
Finally, he picked up a cup containing green grapes, Greek yogurt, nuts, and honey, placed it in the remaining space, and sat down at an empty table with Eun-won, handing him a fork.
“You must be hungry. Eat.”
“Aren’t you eating, Executive Director?”
“I can’t really eat much when I come to places like this.”
Using the small spoon in the yogurt cup, Cha Se-jin scooped up some grapes and yogurt and brought it to Eun-won’s lips, gesturing for him to open his mouth. Seeing this, Eun-won unconsciously opened his mouth and took the spoon. The yogurt was tart, sweet, and smooth—absolutely delicious.
Even at that moment, many eyes were fixed on them. It was surprising enough that Cha Se-jin, who had never been rumored to be dating anyone despite various scandals and tabloids, had obediently entered an arranged marriage. But to attend a party in matching clothes, unable to take his eyes off his partner and tenderly taking care of him—it was bound to become a major topic in social circles.
“Mind if I join you?”
Just as Eun-won put a small, bite-sized salmon roll into his mouth, a plate was placed in the empty seat. Looking up, he saw a man in a green suit who couldn’t help but stand out among the crowd. Eun-won knew exactly who he was the moment he saw him.
“I was planning to find you, but you came to me first. Thank you for saving me the trouble, Chairman.”
“Hmm? I didn’t know you were waiting for me so much. Introduce me, Executive Director Cha. This is my spouse.”
Cha Se-jin smiled as Hwang Pil-du of Taeryung Marine, who had harassed Eun-won at the wedding, had essentially walked right into his own demise. He looked at the omega sitting next to him, introduced as a ‘spouse.’ A sixth remarriage with an omega who looked more like a grandson than a son. Setting Hwang Pil-du aside, he wondered about the appetite and ambition of the nameless omega.
“Hello. I’m Jung Jae-on. Executive Director Cha, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
The gaze directed at him was not normal. With one look, it was easy to tell what kind of person he was. Seeing him unable to take his eyes off Eun-won’s face, Cha Se-jin’s disgust surged twofold. This was exactly why he couldn’t eat at such events.
“My, you’ve become even more stunning than back then. Executive Director Cha must cherish you a lot. Like I said then, I don’t know how much I regretted it. If only I had waited a bit longer. Then a chance might have come to me too. Ah, though perhaps Executive Director Cha would have snatched you away before you even got to me?”
“I don’t think that would have mattered. Would Eun-won have married you just because I wasn’t around? Face, age, height, intellectual level, vocabulary, and fuck, I’m almost sorry to call it a ‘style’—the way you dress. Not a single thing about you, including the level of your eyes that buy things with money, fits Eun-won’s taste, fuck.”
Hwang Pil-du’s face stiffened as Cha Se-jin spoke words that were not elegant at all, in an elegant manner. Regardless, Cha Se-jin took a glass of champagne from a passing staff member, drank it, crossed his legs, and swung his foot back and forth provocatively.
“Your words seem a bit harsh.”
“Me? How? I’m just stating the facts, so I don’t know why that sounds harsh. Ah, maybe it’s because it’s too much of a fact.”
“Even so, I am an elder compared to you, Executive Director…!”
“Ah, an elder. Must be nice. Being so fucking old.”
“Executive Director Cha!”
Unable to contain his anger, Hwang Pil-du slammed the table. The surrounding area fell silent, and all eyes converged on them. Ignoring the attention, Cha Se-jin looked at Hwang Pil-du with a serious, disgusted expression and warned him.
“If you want to be treated like an elder, act like one. Stop wagging your filthy tongue. If you utter that kind of dirty bullshit to Eun-won one more time—no, if I even hear a whisper that you mentioned him anywhere—then, I’ll rip that tongue out. I’ll rip it out and shove it down your sixth throat.”
Cha Se-jin sneered at Jung Jae-on, who was openly scowling, and curled his lips as he looked at Hwang Pil-du, who was trembling with rage.
“Ah, I wonder if the seventh one will be by your side then.”
“H-how dare you say such things…!”
“It might be a meager business, but you should still protect it, Chairman. If you open your mouth one more time, I don’t think it’ll end with a threat; I think I’ll just blow the whole thing away.”
Hwang Pil-du opened and closed his mouth, but eventually fell silent. He knew that Cha Se-jin was a lunatic capable of destroying his company, and he knew all too well that he had more than enough power to do so.
Though he knew the man would shut up, Cha Se-jin clicked his tongue loudly at the sight of Hwang Pil-du, who looked as if he had never spoken a word in his life. Cha Se-jin stood up and reached out his hand to Eun-won. Without a moment’s hesitation, Eun-won’s hand was placed upon it.
“My Darling’s appetite must have vanished. Let’s go, Darling. Let’s go out and eat something delicious separately.”
Holding the warm, small hand tightly, Cha Se-jin crossed the hall under the gaze of the crowd. Among those stares was that of Kang Seo-hoo, whose eyes seemed to curse him for causing a scene. Cha Se-jin gave his friend a smirk as if to say ‘this much is fine,’ and walked out of the banquet hall with light steps. It had been a quite enjoyable party, where everything he wanted had been swiftly achieved.