By Zephyria 
Perhaps because he was going to a place he didn’t want to visit, his footsteps felt like lead. He really shouldn’t have followed.
The pitch-black sedan sent by Kim Ju-hwan had insistently brought Jeong-min to the hotel. Upon his arrival, he was attended to by people who had been waiting for him, and in the room he was led to, a suit was hanging.
“What is this?”
“It is a gift from Mr. Kim Ju-hwan for the guests attending today.”
“This outfit?”
“Yes.”
He’s truly a lunatic. What on earth is he thinking?
“I don’t need it.”
Since he planned to just show his face and leave, he had no intention of dressing up this much, nor did he want to receive anything from Kim Ju-hwan.
“If you speak so firmly, the person who prepared it will be hurt, Sunbae.”
With a knock, the door opened to reveal Kim Ju-hwan leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. At his signal, the staff simultaneously left the room and closed the door.
He really hated it. Being alone with this guy.
“I’m hurt just looking at that unpleasant expression.”
“This is the only expression I have when I see you. I’ve shown my face, so that’s enough, right? Can I go?”
“Why didn’t Sunbae Yeong-min come?”
Is he changing the subject?
“Was Yeong-min your goal? You should have just said so.”
“Hardly. Can’t you see my efforts to try and talk to you, Sunbae?”
Just talking to you is exhausting.
“Yeong-min couldn’t come today because he’s sick.”
“Hmm, then I’ll send Sunbae Yeong-min’s gift to his house. As for you…”
Kim Ju-hwan scanned Jeong-min from head to toe and smiled. It was understandable. No matter who looked at him, Jeong-min’s attire was not that of someone attending a party. He was wearing a suit, but it was a basic one, and his hair was only simply blow-dried. It felt more like a slightly more polite version of Shin Jeong-min at school.
“Get your hair and makeup done. I’ll have someone assist you.”
“Kim Ju-hwan. Happy, happy birthday. So, I’d like to leave now.”
“What about my birthday present?”
He held out his hand. Jeong-min was momentarily flustered.
“I didn’t expect one. So, consider this as giving me a birthday present: stay for one hour. Just one hour, and then you can leave. I won’t stop you. Still, the people invited today are no ordinary people… For the sake of your future, it would be good to exchange greetings. There are high-bloodline Omegas, of course.”
“Don’t describe people in that way.”
“What for? They only see me as a stud anyway.”
“What?”
“Anyway, one hour.”
Kim Ju-hwan tapped his glittering wristwatch and left the room. Soon, staff entered to help with Jeong-min’s hair styling and makeup, and after about 20 minutes of tedious grooming, all preparations were complete.
Standing before the full-length mirror, Jeong-min realized once again how much he had changed from a few months ago. Now, he looked like an Alpha from every angle.
“Is the clothing uncomfortable?”
At the staff’s question, Jeong-min nodded. The suit fit his body with an almost unpleasant precision. It was even more comfortable than a custom-made suit. Did Kim Ju-hwan pick this out himself? Ha… that was unpleasant in its own way. I’ll definitely throw this away before I go home.
Jeong-min thanked the staff and followed the guide toward the private room. The room on the 72nd floor could only be accessed via the guide’s fingerprint, and that floor wasn’t even indicated in the elevator. He had heard the security was so thorough that he wondered if it was an underground bunker.
“Ah…”
As soon as the elevator opened, he was momentarily breathless from the dozens of gazes and the scent of pheromones pouring out. He wanted to cover his nose, but knowing how rude that would be, Jeong-min clenched his fists and endured.
“Sunbae Shin Jeong-min.”
As if to make sure everyone in the hall heard, Kim Ju-hwan approached with a smile, pronouncing his name clearly, syllable by syllable.
Everyone in the hall was dressed to the nines to show off, each sparkling in their own way, but the protagonist of the day was indeed the protagonist. Despite only wearing a navy striped suit and slicking back his hair, he seemed to shine brighter than anyone else in the hall.
He was obnoxious, but a natural was a natural. Not only Omegas, but Alphas would likely be captivated by Kim Ju-hwan. That was how much he embodied the essence of an ‘Alpha.’
“It suits you well, as expected.”
He smiled, looking satisfied with Jeong-min’s attire.
“Giving clothes as gifts to everyone here? That’s quite impressive.”
“Hmm? No way. Why would I give gifts when I should be the one receiving them?”
“What? A staff member told me earlier that you gave gifts to all the guests.”
“Ah… those were just return favors. I prepared yours personally. Today is a precious occasion, after all.”
“A precious occasion?”
He wore a meaningful smile. What on earth did he mean by a precious occasion?
“For now, go say your greetings. I’ll come back later.”
“I’m staying for just one hour.”
“Wow, Sunbae, how kind of you? To not count the time spent dressing up.”
Ah, there was that method. Jeong-min was speechless at how foolish he had been, but he didn’t let it show. Of course, Kim Ju-hwan noticed that Jeong-min was flustered, but he ignored it, said his goodbyes, and left.
As soon as he was left alone, Omegas and Alphas began to swarm around Jeong-min as if they had been waiting. Now, no matter where one looked, Jeong-min looked exactly like an Alpha.
His height had increased, making him nearly equal to others, and his clean-cut face had lost the sharpness and slenderness it had before manifestation. His thick lips and deep-set eyes were more than enough to make the Omegas’ hearts flutter.
For example, until he appeared, all eyes had been on Ju-hwan, but now half of the attention was focused on Jeong-min. His cool pheromones, blending with his character—which was uniquely cold yet surprisingly kind—added to his charm.
At the same time, the Alphas were wary of and jealous of Jeong-min. Strangely, however, Ju-hwan felt no jealousy toward him. He felt no inferiority, no wariness, and no sense of rivalry. When he thought about why, he guessed it was partly because he was an extreme dominance Alpha, but perhaps also because he knew Jeong-min’s only weakness.
An Alpha who wants to be an Omega. Knowing that shameful nature, Ju-hwan instead egged Jeong-min on. It was amusing, and he was curious about his fate.
He was also curious about how he could involve himself in that fate. For a fleeting moment, he thought it would be nice if he could be involved in everything—his entire future life—but the feeling, instinct, and thought passed so quickly that even he didn’t fully realize it.
✽✽✽
“20 minutes…”
Why was time passing so slowly? There were still 20 minutes left. In truth, he didn’t need to stick to the time exactly, but Jeong-min endured it, not wanting to leave any room for Kim Ju-hwan to find fault with him.
If there was one positive takeaway, it was that the people attending this event were indeed not ordinary figures, just as he had boasted.
Promising future figures from political and financial circles, as well as second-generation heirs of domestic and international corporations, had all gathered. In a way, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that everyone here would lead all the companies on Earth for the next 20 years. Which meant… Kim Ju-hwan was also no ordinary person. It was true that he was someone who should not be made an enemy if possible.
‘Since it’s come to this. Experience knotting too, Sunbae.’
‘Don’t! No!! I hate it!’
Jeong-min gripped the wine glass in his hand tightly due to the sudden memory of that day. He laughed at how pathetic he was.
Whether it was trauma from his first experience or something else, that day occasionally appeared in his dreams. Every time it did, he felt a sense of self-loathing. However, Jeong-min did not blame Kim Ju-hwan for what happened that day. Although he had forced it, in the end, it was what he had wanted. He was the reason things had progressed to that situation. That was why he tried not to think about it. He told himself it never happened, but occasionally, it would come back to him so abruptly. Almost as if he had been imprinted.
“What are you doing here?”
A glass of wine and a small plate of appetizers were held out to Jeong-min. Looking up, a beautiful Omega with a sweet scent was giving him a cute smile.
It was the Omega he had greeted earlier. The second son of Seron Electronics, who was the same age as Jeong-min.
“Mr. Choi Yeon-woo.”
“I’m honored that you remember my name.”
“We just greeted each other, so of course I do.”
“I’m glad. Here, try some of this. It’s delicious.”
He offered a glass of champagne.