By Zephyria 
After the grand party ended, the family members all called Jeong-min in and asked what he thought of Ms. Ji Su-eun. Jeong-min simply replied that he liked her.
With that one word from Jeong-min, everything proceeded rapidly. The engagement between the two families was decided, and Jeong-min resolved to try and love her. He began researching her information and hobbies, putting in the effort to build a favorable impression.
To do that, meeting her was important, but hearing information about her from her family was equally crucial. From that day on, he met with Ji Su-han whenever they had time and asked about Ji Su-eun. Ji Su-han happily told him various stories about his sister and shared the things she liked.
“I heard you’re meeting Su-eun this weekend.”
He was set to meet her again three weeks after their first encounter. Ji Su-eun had initially been reluctant and hesitant to contact Jeong-min, but perhaps his sincerity had reached the heavens, as she had contacted him a couple of days ago.
“Yes. The things Dr. Su-han told me about… it’s finally time for them to pay off.”
“I see.”
Ji Su-han, who was eating soft tofu stew for lunch at the hospital cafeteria, fell silent after that remark. His face had stiffened. It was an expression Jeong-min had seen frequently lately. It was impossible for Jeong-min not to notice that while Ji Su-han kindly provided information whenever he asked about Ji Su-eun, his expression gradually grew heavy.
“Do you still not like me?”
Jeong-min asked casually. Ji Su-han’s hand, holding a spoon, stopped.
“Why do you think that?”
“Just… you seemed a bit reluctant, both then and at the first meeting where I was introduced to Ms. Su-eun.”
“…I see. Dr. Shin Jeong-min is quite observant. But that’s not it. It’s actually the opposite. It’s because Dr. Shin is such a good person… that I’m worried.”
“Worried?”
Worried about him? Why? It was such an unexpected answer that Jeong-min put down his spoon.
“Yes… I am more worried about Dr. Shin than I am about Su-eun.”
“…Why is that?”
“…Well. I wonder why.”
No matter how much he asked, Ji Su-han did not answer. He only told him to take good care of Su-eun when they met. At this point, Jeong-min began to wonder if something was going on between Ji Su-han and Ji Su-eun. He wondered if they didn’t get along or if there was some complicated family history, but he soon dismissed it as useless thinking and prepared to meet Ji Su-eun.
And then came the weekend; he met Ji Su-eun at the H Hotel restaurant, their appointed meeting place.
“Hello, Mr. Shin Jeong-min.”
“Hello. Thank you for coming out to meet me.”
Jeong-min greeted her while pulling out her chair. She was dressed more modestly than during their first meeting, but she was a beautiful Omega. She would be even more beautiful if she smiled… but there was no smile on the face she presented to Jeong-min; instead, it was filled with dark shadows.
And those shadows weighed heavily on Jeong-min’s heart.
“Is the food not to your liking?”
“Ah…”
A high-end restaurant, a prime seat in a sky lounge with a view of the night cityscape. Even though the finest courses of pre-ordered food came out one after another on schedule, they only piled up; she didn’t even take a bite.
This was because Ji Su-eun just kept her head lowered, not even drinking a glass of water.
Jeong-min encouraged her to eat several times, but she didn’t budge. At this point, it was a rejection. She had no intention of getting engaged to Jeong-min. Jeong-min sighed and blamed himself. He realized too late that he might have been using her for his own happiness. He should have asked for Ji Su-eun’s opinion from the start.
Because he was the one who had pushed things forward and let them proceed as they did, a wave of apology washed over him, and he could only sit there in silence. However, there was a limit to the time. It wasn’t as if they had rented out the entire restaurant.
“I understand your intentions, Ms. Su-eun. I will speak to both families properly. So please, do not worry.”
Jeong-min spoke softly, so as not to hurt her. In a way, he was the one being dumped, but at the moment the topic was brought up, he had no choice but to be the “bad guy.”
And he was more than willing to endure that. It would be easier to persuade the family members if the man stepped forward rather than the woman.
“My brother…”
Just as he was about to suggest they leave, her voice reached him. Jeong-min stopped his movements to tidy up and listened closely to her voice.
“My brother said Mr. Jeong-min is a really good person… I think I understand what he meant.”
Was there really some kind of story behind this pair of siblings? Feeling a stray thought return, Jeong-min shook his head. It couldn’t be that. Absolutely not.
No matter if they were Alpha and Omega, those of the same bloodline do not affect each other in that way; if anything, it only creates a sense of repulsion.
“I’m sorry. It’s not Mr. Jeong-min’s fault. It’s my problem. My…”
“Ms. Su-eun.”
“…Because I know it’s my problem, I feel really sorry for saying this to you. I cannot get engaged to you. There is someone I love.”
“Ah… I see.”
He wasn’t that surprised. The reason she would reject Jeong-min would either be that she didn’t like him or that she had someone she loved.
“I apologize.”
When Jeong-min apologized politely, Ji Su-eun, who had been looking down, raised her head in surprise.
“For making you come to such a difficult meeting.”
“N-no, it’s not that. I…”
“I hope you find happiness with that person.”
He had no desire, nor the ability, to persuade a woman who already had someone she loved.
“U-um, Mr. Jeong-min, wait—”
For the first time, she looked up. Her face was filled with tears.
“I have a favor to ask. I know I shouldn’t, but… I am truly begging you.”
She lowered her head again. Jeong-min was flustered. He didn’t know how to react. However, he soon calmly offered her his handkerchief.
“Please, tell me.”
“…Could you… could you please maintain the engagement with me?”
“Pardon…?”
An unexpected proposal.
“I know it’s a terrible thing to ask. I know it’s selfish. But for just half a year… please, just for half a year.”
“You just said you have someone you love…”
“That person… I will be leaving Korea with that person in half a year. Until then… my parents must not know about their existence. After that, I will handle things so that the engagement is broken off because of me. I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you… please.”
“Ms. Su-eun.”
Jeong-min let out a deep sigh. This was a direction he hadn’t considered at all.
“Introducing that person to your parents…”
“I can’t… if I could, I would have done it already. That person is…”
Is the difference in family status that great…? That could be it.
But for that to be the reason, she seemed far too anxious. She opened and closed her mouth several times before finally forcing the words out as if she had made a decision.
“They are an Omega…”
It felt as if a massive bell had been struck against his head. Jeong-min was so shocked that he felt as if he were experiencing tinnitus. He probably looked foolish, but he stared at her with his mouth slightly agape.
Su-eun could not continue, simply letting tears fall. There was so much hardship and sorrow in her tears that Jeong-min could not offer any words of comfort.
Instead, he carefully sent a text to Ji Su-han. He felt that what she needed right now was not him, but her brother, who understood her entire situation. As soon as Ji Su-han received the message, he hung up the phone, saying he would be there immediately.
“Dr. Ji Su-han is coming.”
At Jeong-min’s kind words, she nodded and gripped her clothes tightly.
“Thank… you. I’m sorry.”
Why was she saying she was sorry? You are simply in love.
“Su-eun!”
Just then, Dr. Ji Su-han appeared, accompanied by the sound of heavy breathing. He comforted the weeping Ji Su-eun and repeatedly apologized to Jeong-min. From the moment he spoke to the family secretary who had come with him to help Ji Su-eun up and send her away, Jeong-min simply watched in silence. As the image of her crying vanished like an afterimage, Jeong-min snapped back to his senses, but the seat across from him was already empty.
Ji Su-han approached Jeong-min with an apologetic face.
“Would you… like a drink?”
He offered with a face that seemed to crave alcohol even more than Jeong-min did. Seeing that exhausted gaze, Jeong-min accepted.