By Zephyria 
“Oh my god… isn’t that person Kim Ju-hwan?”
“What? No way, the one from Cal Front?”
As expected, once inside the venue, all eyes were on Kim Ju-hwan. It was natural, given his striking appearance, his status as an Extreme Alpha, and his position as the heir to a conglomerate.
The other Omegas, who hadn’t been chosen by Jeong-min, whispered and stole glances at Kim Ju-hwan, while the more proactive ones already approached him to express their interest.
Of course, the elders didn’t leave Ju-hwan alone either. As soon as they saw him, not only Jeong-min’s family but also people from the affiliated companies flocked to Kim Ju-hwan to greet him.
Cal Front, which Kim Ju-hwan was set to inherit, researched and supplied almost all trait-related drugs worldwide. Moreover, it was a group so influential that some said the world wouldn’t turn without the medical devices they developed. Its company value was the highest among domestic firms. It was no wonder there was such a stir now that the next owner of such a company had appeared. This was especially true because Kim Ju-hwan had mostly worked silently in the shadow of his father, the current head of Cal Front, and had rarely appeared in official public settings.
“It’s been a long time, Ju-hwan.”
Jeong-min’s father welcomed Ju-hwan.
“It has been a long time, Chairman. And congratulations on your inauguration as Chairman, Chairman Shin.”
“Thank you. I am honored.”
Kim Ju-hwan greeted Jeong-min’s half-brother, who had been inaugurated as Chairman, with utmost politeness. The brother, looking pleased, smiled broadly and greeted Kim Ju-hwan intimately for all to see.
And that was the beginning. Jeong-min shrugged as he saw people swarming around Kim Ju-hwan. From this moment on, the protagonist of the day was Kim Ju-hwan. Though Ju-hwan himself looked annoyed by it, it had nothing to do with Jeong-min—nothing at all. Lightly ignoring Kim Ju-hwan’s gaze, Jeong-min headed toward the food to fill his hungry stomach.
“Dr. Shin Jeong-min.”
Jeong-min turned his head at the sound of a pleasant, resonant voice calling his name.
“Ah. Dr. Ji Su-han.”
“May I excuse myself to join you?”
“Of course.”
Compared to Kim Ju-hwan, he was an incomparably welcome guest.
“Here.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Ji Su-han approached Jeong-min and handed him a glass of wine. He had been feeling a bit thirsty after eating only dry bread, so he was grateful.
“Isn’t it interesting how human connections work?”
“Pardon?”
Ji Su-han asked with a smile. Jeong-min looked at him with a puzzled expression. Su-han wore a meaningful smile.
“I never dreamed that Dr. Shin would become my sister’s fiancé…”
“…I feel the same way….”
Jeong-min trailed off slightly. At that, Ji Su-han’s smile vanished.
“Is there a problem?”
“Ah, no. It’s just that Ms. Su-eun doesn’t seem to be fond of me.”
“Ah.”
He nodded as if he understood.
“What about you, Dr. Shin? Do you like my sister?”
“To be honest, I don’t know yet. We only met for the first time today and spoke a few words; I think it would be rude to Ms. Su-eun to evaluate a lifelong partner based on that.”
“I see.”
“Furthermore, I haven’t even heard from our parents yet that the two of us are to be engaged.”
“Well, that has already been decided. Following the usual process, another meeting will likely be arranged soon.”
Ji Su-han continued as he finished his glass of wine. He then swirled the empty glass, appearing to be deep in thought. He was unpredictable. The face that had been smiling so well earlier was now stiff, as if something was displeasing him.
“Do you not like me?”
Jeong-min asked.
“Pardon?”
“It’s better to be honest. That way, not only for me, but for Dr. Ji’s sister, it won’t be as difficult. Shouldn’t we at least avoid situations that would be embarrassing for both parties?”
“…I’ll give you the same answer you gave me. It would be rude to Dr. Shin to judge a person based on a few conversations.”
Jeong-min was surprised. To pay him back with such a serious gaze. For some reason, it reminded him of someone, and Jeong-min shook his head.
“Hmm… even I think that was a perfect answer.”
“Haha.”
Ji Su-han laughed heartily. The laugh was so loud that the attention of the people surrounding Ju-hwan momentarily shifted to Jeong-min and Su-han. Naturally, Ju-hwan’s gaze also shifted toward them, though they didn’t notice.
“Oh my, that combination of the two is quite surprising.”
“It makes sense now. Aren’t their families about to be linked?”
People who loved gossip exchanged interested comments. Kim Ju-hwan, listening quietly to the conversation, maintained a gentle smile for those approaching him.
“Please excuse me for a moment.”
Kim Ju-hwan declined the people surrounding him just enough so as not to offend them and approached Jeong-min.
“Sunbae.”
A gentle voice called Jeong-min. Su-han and Jeong-min, who had been facing each other, turned their heads toward Ju-hwan. Ji Su-han also knew Ju-hwan, but since it was their first time meeting in person, he gave a small nod of greeting as their eyes met. However, the response was total ignorance. Ju-hwan looked down at him for a moment and then stepped between Jeong-min and Su-han. Jeong-min sighed and set down his wine glass.
“What about the people? Why are you coming here?”
“I came to see you, Sunbae, not them. And I’ve already greeted Chairman Shin, who was the purpose of my visit today.”
Ju-hwan had absolutely no intention of greeting Ji Su-han. Noticing this, Ji Su-han looked slightly puzzled. While Alphas might be wary of one another, this kind of hostility usually only happened when an Omega was present.
Ju-hwan was blatantly ignoring and looking down on Su-han. His pheromones felt as if they were telling him to ‘get lost.’ Feeling that if he stayed any longer, he might be swept up in those pheromones and become hostile for no reason, Ji Su-han stepped back and gave Jeong-min a nod, and Jeong-min greeted him, saying they would see each other at the hospital later.
Ju-hwan, who had his back to Su-han, glanced back at him once he had disappeared and clicked his tongue. Being an Alpha himself, Jeong-min couldn’t have missed Ju-hwan’s sharp pheromones.
“What is this rudeness?”
He asked in an irritated voice. Why on earth was he acting like this?
“It’s because pests keep clinging to you, Sunbae.”
Kim Ju-hwan leaned in and whispered something unpleasant into Jeong-min’s ear.
“What?”
“You’re not even an Omega, so why do Alphas swarm you like this? Isn’t it strange? Maybe you should get tested to see if you’re some kind of abnormal species, since Alphas go crazy for you like you’re an Omega.”
Jeong-min was speechless. He wished he could just punch Kim Ju-hwan once, but he didn’t know what would happen if he caused a scene on such a good day, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure.
“I don’t know what misunderstanding you have, but Dr. Ji Su-han isn’t like that; he’s the brother of the person who will be my fiancée. He was simply telling me to take good care of his sister. And in the first place, who in their right mind goes into heat for another Alpha?”
“You talk as if it’s someone else’s business.”
“What?”
“You go into heat for Alphas.”
“…Kim Ju-hwan.”
“Ah, right. My mistake, only for Yu Shin-woo.”
Jeong-min’s chest throbbed. A name he had tried to forget was echoing through Kim Ju-hwan’s voice. Years had passed, but that name still had a profound effect on Jeong-min. And every time that was confirmed, Jeong-min felt like he was going crazy.
The shield he thought he had organized and forgotten was crumbling again. To the point where he wanted to let everything go right there. But not in front of Kim Ju-hwan.
“Sure, sure. Think whatever you want.”
He spoke calmly, his voice devoid of emotion. After that, the two did not speak further. Soon, an announcement echoed through the venue calling for Jeong-min, and Jeong-min pushed Ju-hwan’s shoulder and left. He felt Ju-hwan’s gaze on his back but ignored it.
It was truly exhausting. Meeting Ju-hwan was tiring. He had wondered why at some point. And the conclusion he reached was this: Ju-hwan knew everything about him. He knew the absolute bottom of Jeong-min and occasionally used that to tighten the noose around Jeong-min’s neck playfully and casually. Whether Ju-hwan realized it or not, that was why meeting him had become so draining.
He hoped he would never meet Kim Ju-hwan again. He had wished so desperately for the tie to be severed, so why had they met like this again? He worried that the loosened string of their connection might become tightly entangled once more. He hoped that if there was a God, He wouldn’t be so cruel to him.
“Or maybe there is no God.”
Even so, he couldn’t avoid meeting Ju-hwan. Kim Ju-hwan’s family and Jeong-min’s family were tightly bound as business partners. As long as they were children of their respective families, they would likely have to see each other’s faces until they died of old age.
Therefore, Jeong-min believed that the only way to be less exhausted was to break free from his past. It was time to stop staring at the sky where a man named Yu Shin-woo had vanished. He had to make everything as if it had never existed—to the point where the word ‘forgotten’ didn’t even come to mind—and find something new. Now was the perfect time. To create a new future, he needed a new love, and as luck would have it, his family had provided an opportunity to meet a beautiful Omega. If he had to love someone, wouldn’t it be better if that person was also beneficial to the family? Jeong-min complied and accepted.
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