By Zephyria “Wow!”
Min-young let out an exclamation without realizing it.
“It’s the ocean!”
It was absolutely perfect weather. The sky was high and blue, while the ocean that had absorbed all the sunlight sparkled beautifully. At the scenery that naturally lifted one’s spirits just by looking at it, Min-young’s face brightened considerably.
Yeo Min-young, 20 years old, beta, prospective repeat student. Min-young was facing the start of cram school in two weeks. She was also the one responsible for the cruise party planned at the family meeting being postponed until today. They had rushed into marriage just to have this cruise party, but it was postponed indefinitely because Min-young’s college entrance exam wasn’t far away, then when the exam was over and Yi-jin was about to return to Korea, they tried to finally depart, but Min-young spectacularly failed her exam, leading to indefinite postponement again, and now they had finally arrived.
“In-law, would you like another beer?”
“Sounds great!”
“When do the dolphins come out?”
“Mom! Take my picture! Take my picture!”
The long-dreamed-of cruise party had finally begun. Unlike Korea where cold waves were hitting, Australia here boasted refreshing summer skies, so both Seo-woon’s and Yi-jin’s families were all excited. Though it was intentional, the schedule perfectly aligned with Australia Day, the country’s biggest national holiday, so there was a festive atmosphere both inside and outside the cruise.
“Oppa, will you take my picture too?”
“I’m fine.”
“How about brother-in-law?”
“I’m fine too.”
“Ah…”
“……”
“……”
It was definitely a festive atmosphere, but… Min-young’s expression looking at the two couldn’t match it. Seo-woon, conscious of Min-young, tactfully said in a bright voice.
“Yi-jin-ssi, you don’t have any photos with Min-young, right? Shall I take one of you two together?”
“If Seo-woon-ssi wants…”
“…Whatever’s comfortable for Yi-jin-ssi…”
The two thoroughly read each other’s moods. It had been like this since the airplane. Something must have happened with this newlywed couple.
“What, you two still use formal speech?”
“…Somehow it ended up that way…”
“You could drop it now!”
I guess I have no choice but to step in! As if trying to lighten the mood, Min-young actively volunteered to be a bridge.
“Seo-woon-ssi is my senior, so I can’t just speak casually…”
“…How much of an age gap do we even have? If you want to drop the formalities, do it. I don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind either. Do whatever Seo-woon-ssi prefers.”
Looking at this, it doesn’t seem like they just fought. Min-young found it puzzling but faithfully carried out her role.
“Then couldn’t you at least change how you address each other?”
“Forms of address?”
“Yeah! Right now it’s too stiff.”
“…It could certainly sound that way.”
At Min-young’s words, Yi-jin’s face became quite serious. Meanwhile, Seo-woon, who felt no discomfort with the current honorifics and formal speech, just watched Yi-jin’s reaction without any particular response.
“Seo-woon hyung…?”
“…Ugh.”
Cancel, cancel everything I just said. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel discomfort—the current forms of address and formal speech were much better. Incomparably better. When Seo-woon unconsciously frowned, Yi-jin immediately corrected the form of address.
“Seo-woon hyung-nim…?”
“Young sir, please stop.”
Thanks to that, the atmosphere only got worse. “Ah, what!” With clear sunglasses marks on her nose bridge, Min-young shouted as if frustrated.
“So when are you going to make up?”
“…We didn’t really fight…”
“We won’t. We didn’t fight in the first place.”
Yi-jin, who was good at answering, quickly refuted on Seo-woon’s behalf.
“Above all, fighting is impossible for us.”
“Huh? What does that mean?”
Seo-woon also agreed they hadn’t fought, but what was that supposed to mean? Looking alternately at Seo-woon and Min-young who were waiting for his answer, Yi-jin opened his mouth dramatically as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
“We boast a 96.72% pheromone matching rate. Considering that the average pheromone matching rate for typical alpha-omega couples is about 77%, our number is close to miraculous. How is it? What are your thoughts on directly witnessing with your own eyes an alpha and omega with a pheromone matching rate of as much as 96.72%?”
I’ll say it again—Min-young is a beta. No matter how much they babble about alphas and pheromones all day long, she can’t relate to it one bit. Seo-woon, who knew the numbers, silently buried his face in his palms.
“Isn’t it amazing? A pheromone matching rate of 96.72% is a very exceptional case, and at the academic conference dealing with the correlation between alpha-omega pheromone matching rates and sexual satisfaction scheduled for the third quarter of this year…”
“Yes, yes. Have a happy love life.”
“Thank you. It’s scheduled to be presented… Min-young-ssi, where are you going? Min-young-ssi?”
What a pointless worry that was. Min-young, who had pulled her sunglasses down decisively, turned her back on the two without any regrets.
“…Stop that and come here.”
“But the story isn’t finished yet…”
“Come here.”
“Yes, understood.”
Seo-woon caught Yi-jin, who was trying to chase after her, and made him sit down next to him. This guy really has no sense of shame. Seo-woon, who had lowered his voice considerably, scolded Yi-jin with a reddened face.
“Can’t you stop talking about that? At this rate you’ll end up telling Young-min too.”
“I just delivered the news to Min-young-ssi as well, so now I only need to talk to Young-min.”
“Just try talking about sex life in front of an 11-year-old.”
“If I just leave out that part and talk about it…”
“……”
“…Yes, understood.”
Yi-jin obediently nodded his head. Thus, the one-sided disclosure that Seo-woon had no chance to stop came to an end with protecting the only minor, Yeo Young-min.
Once the situation was sorted out, an awkward atmosphere lingered again. The two shut their mouths simultaneously as if they had made a promise. From somewhere, a cool breeze resembling a refreshing mint scent blew. The sky was still refreshing and pleasant, but the two were silent. On this luxurious cruise that seemed to have transported an entire resort, only the two of them were quiet, and despite that, they were sitting closely together. They were just not speaking while needlessly reading each other’s moods.
So all of this goes back to before the cruise party. It was the day that marked six weeks since Yi-jin returned from his long business trip and the two began their newlywed life in earnest.
**Meteor shower on the cruise!**
Not long after Yi-jin returned from his business trip, the year changed and a new year began. Seo-woon had aged another year without doing anything, and just when he thought he might finally enjoy some newlywed life, it was already their second year of marriage. This is why the Korean age calculation system gets criticized.
Of course, that was just talk—the two were sticking together more diligently than anyone. It was true newlywed life.
“…Wait!”
“Yes, Seo-woon-ssi.”
The two closely attached bodies forcibly created space and separated. Seo-woon, who had barely managed to detach Yi-jin, asked awkwardly.
“Are you planning to do it today too?”
“Do what?”
At the sentence with an unclear object, Yi-jin immediately expressed confusion. Yet his hands were slyly groping inside Seo-woon’s pants, searching for their original destination. At this point, Seo-woon was confused about whether he really didn’t know or was pretending not to know. Seo-woon firmly pulled out Yi-jin’s hand.
“What you’re trying to do right now.”
“Are you tired today?”
“…We have our checkup next week.”
“…Ah.”
As the pheromone test scheduled for six weeks later approached, the two’s fiery newlywed life hit the brakes. Not only would their pheromone matching rate results be checked, but simple numerical confirmation would also take place, so excessive sexual activity that could affect each other’s pheromones was forbidden.
“At least two weeks…”
“…Wasn’t it originally one week?”
Yi-jin sharply pointed out Seo-woon’s error. What a keen guy. One fortunate thing was that he had somewhat expected this, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.
“That’s true, but just in case…”
“Hahaha! At first I thought little Zini had come! The mint scent was really vibrating through the air!”
The medical director’s voice, who had such good projection and laughed so loudly while saying that, was unforgettable. At the embarrassing memory that came up again, Seo-woon mumbled his answer vaguely.
“…Is that so.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Two weeks…”
“Yeah…”
“…Two weeks…”
“……”
Of course, it would be fine if it was within limits that didn’t affect each other’s pheromones, but the two were an alpha and omega boasting a pheromone matching rate of 96.72%, already showing fantastic compatibility even before the results came out. There was no way such a pair could be moderate when they were happily going at it.
Therefore, the two amicably practiced abstinence. Since it’s human psychology to want something more when you think you can’t have it, they also refrained from light skinship as much as possible.
“Seo-woon-ssi, five days left.”
“Oh, time flies…”
“…Five more days…”
But this seems a bit scary…? It’s not like they’re holding an ancestral rite, yet Yi-jin has been staring intently at Seo-woon, who’s been lying on the living room sofa. …His eyes look kind of dangerous right now. Seo-woon, who had been playing well by himself while lying on the sofa, hesitantly got up. Yi-jin’s gaze followed Seo-woon directly.
“Ah, that’s right. Yi-jin-ssi.”
“Yes, Seo-woon-ssi. Please speak.”
“I’m thinking of exchanging money when I go to Australia, but aren’t you going to exchange money, Yi-jin-ssi?”
How much time had it taken for the cruise party with both families to be realized? The two would soon leave for Australia. Since many people were attending, it took a long time to set the schedule, but the key was unexpectedly Min-young. Thanks to this, the two would just hear their results on the day of the test and immediately board a flight to Australia.
This sounds like it would be very tiring, but the burden was less than expected. That’s because their mode of transportation was a private jet. And Seo-woon asked Yi-jin, who owned a private jet, whether he was going to exchange money. As if he hadn’t thought about it at all, Yi-jin asked back with a puzzled voice.
“You mean currency exchange?”
“Yeah. We’ll need cash and I should buy gifts for the kids…”
“Ah, I understand. If you tell me the amount you need, I’ll prepare it all in cash…”
“No, no. I’ll just prepare this much myself. I was just asking in case, so don’t worry about it.”
He had thought so, but as expected, he wasn’t even thinking about currency exchange. Right, I asked something unnecessary. Even though he knew, he asked out of simple curiosity. A very trivial question about how people like this prepare for travel.
They were scheduled to cross continents in a private jet in five days and have a cruise party at sea. With this grand trip ahead and it becoming natural for Yi-jin’s side to bear the costs, Seo-woon was preparing to go to the bank by himself. Even as empty words, he couldn’t share the cost burden, so he was thinking of showing his sincerity in his own way.
“Then do you need to go to the bank?”
“Yeah. The airport would probably be too hectic.”
These days, mobile currency exchange applications are so convenient. Seo-woon plans to exchange the desired amount at a nearby branch in advance. To be precise, he just needs to go to the bank and pick up the money he already applied for. That way is much more convenient.
“If it’s alright with you, I’ll recommend the bank I deal with.”
It’s not easy for someone’s goodwill to feel this burdensome. “No! It’s fine.” Seo-woon flatly rejected Yi-jin’s offer of kindness.
“It’s not even a large amount. Never mind.”
“If you go to the bank I deal with, you won’t have to wait.”
“I just need to pick up the money anyway, so it won’t take long.”
“…Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“…What exchange rate preferential treatment do you receive?”
“Huh?”
“Whatever amount you receive, I guarantee I can do better than that.”
“…Oh.”
He was a bit tempted here. Noticing this, Yi-jin eagerly pressed Seo-woon.
“Would you like to go together?”
“Are you going too, Yi-jin?”
“You’re stating the obvious. I’ll guide you there.”
“Alright, then.”
He should have said that from the start. When Seo-woon readily changed his mind, Yi-jin immediately reacted. The corners of his mouth curling up smoothly at Seo-woon’s single word were lovely. How cute—Seo-woon naturally approached to kiss him but stopped right there.
“Why are you doing that? Please continue.”
“Mm, next time.”
“If it’s because the angle doesn’t match…”
“No, I’ll do it in 6 days.”
“It’s 5 days!”
“…Oh, right. Yes.”
Those eyes are indeed a bit dangerous. Instinctively sensing danger, Seo-woon quickly escaped the danger zone. In many ways, Seo-woon was really good at taking care of herself.
Although there was this sudden crisis of abstinence, the two were able to spend the remaining 5 days without any problems. The trouble began on the day of travel, starting when Seo-woon woke up earlier than the scheduled meeting time with Yi-jin and was unnecessarily diligent.
He never thought he’d end up at the bank’s headquarters like this. Like anyone else, Seo-woon once dreamed of winning the lottery. (Though he never actually bought a ticket.) Although he arrived earlier than the promised time, he needed to adjust to the time difference anyway, so tiring his body out in advance would probably help. As Seo-woon was casually looking around to kill time, he was swept along by people rushing urgently out of the bank and ended up being moved to the VVIP exclusive reception room.
“Hello. I’m Song Myeong-ho, president of ZZ Bank.”
A dignified middle-aged gentleman who had been there early and looked like he’d hold an important position somewhere greeted Seo-woon. Unlike his kind and weighty voice, his inscrutable eyes busily scanned Seo-woon up and down. So this was just like an instinct.
The omega that Yi-jin was originally supposed to meet on a blind date was some bank president’s child. Ominous premonitions never fail to come true.
“I received contact from the executive managing director. He said he’s coming separately.”
“Yes. Because I was in such a hurry, he’ll come a little later…”
“Oh my…”
The bank president looked at Seo-woon with a very pitiful and sympathetic face.
“Yes, I suppose that would be the case. While you can manage to dress up your appearance adequately, hiding your true substance is the most difficult thing.”
He comforted Seo-woon while saying incomprehensible things.
“Can you call yourself a mated omega when your newlywed pheromones are like that?”
“…Excuse me?”
“As a parent who also has an omega child, my feelings aren’t entirely pleasant.”
“What are you saying right now…”
“But what can we do? There’s a reason for the saying about being penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
The bank president cut off Seo-woon’s words again. No, it seemed like he had no intention of listening to Seo-woon’s words from the beginning. He smiled kindly and said:
“If there’s something to gain, there’s also something to lose. Should you hope for love as well? Dreams that don’t match your station are nothing but poison, so I hope you’ll achieve exactly what you want in that position, just like now.”
Living life, even situations like this happen. It was a scene you’d only see in dramas. Seo-woon was purely amazed by this situation and simultaneously pissed off. What on earth did that bastard Ahn Yi-jin tell the bank president? Even if Seo-woon tried to argue back here, the bank president probably had no intention of listening from the start. That fact made Seo-woon even more furious.
What should I do, what should I do? Seo-woon looked at the bank president silently and smiled politely. Inside he was boiling with rage, but outwardly he maintained composure as much as possible. If you get emotional, you lose—you lose.
While Seo-woon was calming his seething insides, someone came up and announced Yi-jin’s visit. It was a visit 12 minutes earlier than scheduled. The bank president seemed inwardly surprised by this, but maintained his kind smiling face to the end, conscious of Seo-woon.
As the old saying goes, seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. There was no need for Seo-woon to step forward and chatter on painfully about this and that. When Yi-jin appeared, the bank president’s face began to gradually sour. Showing it directly was so convenient! Yi-jin’s transformation, which was daily life for Seo-woon, still seemed to be shocking to others.
Thanks to this, Seo-woon was able to leave the bank with a much lighter heart. The small currency exchange was also completed safely. Now he’s leisurely having lunch with Yi-jin while waiting for his medical examination.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing. This place is delicious.”
Should I have done something more after all? Seo-woon felt regretful belatedly. Even though he tried to get over it gracefully, he kept thinking of the bank president’s face as he smiled kindly while putting him down. They say educated people are more vulgar—he learned a lesson from the bank president.
He still doesn’t quite remember which bank Yi-jin’s original partner was from, but there’s no need to ask specifically. Obviously it would be that bank. Thinking about it again makes him angry, but on the other hand, he can understand the bank president a little. Not only did his child get stood up, but right after that Yi-jin delivered the news of his marriage, so it would seem like I stole everything. Moreover, if that partner was someone like me…
“Yi-jin.”
When his thoughts reached that point, Seo-woon found himself calling Yi-jin without realizing it.
“If it hadn’t been for that blind date, would we have had any chance to meet?”
Although I don’t particularly like hypothetical scenarios, I can’t help but want to ask. “You’re talking about probability.” Then Yi-jin put down his fork and pondered seriously with the most earnest expression in the world. Yi-jin’s conclusion was as follows:
“Probabilistically, I think it would be difficult. Considering Seo-woon-ssi’s and my lifestyle patterns and living radius, I think the possibility of us accidentally encountering each other would be practically nonexistent.”
The executive says it’s nonexistent. …Somehow that’s irritating. Seo-woon silently chewed and swallowed his meat.
“Of course, there’s a slight possibility. According to Stanley Milgram’s six degrees of separation theory, you can connect to the entire world through just six people. If we compare your and my acquaintances, we could calculate the probability of us meeting even by chance…”
“Ah.”
How nice of him to mention a slight possibility. Unable to listen anymore, Seo-woon blocked Yi-jin’s mouth with meat. Since something was thrust in front of his lips, he reflexively accepted and ate it, but while eating, he seemed quite flustered by this action.
Right, there’s no way someone like that would go around talking about his spouse properly outside. Rather, maybe he causes people’s misunderstandings by talking about it too little. Yi-jin, who had no idea what Seo-woon was thinking, stopped chewing his meat and quickly served a piece of his own meat onto Seo-woon’s plate. It was a modern version of mutual help.
Acting like he’s some grateful magpie or something. The husband who not only talked about a “slight possibility” in front of his spouse but didn’t even think to feed him was absurd, yet seeing him naturally give over the biggest piece made him chuckle involuntarily.
“Is there something pleasant happening?”
“No, not at all.”
Still, there was a long way to go. What slight possibility—he shouldn’t have asked. Seo-woon silently cut the steak Yi-jin had served him. He cut it diligently as if trying to cut out the bank president’s nonsense remaining in his head.
“Isn’t it absolutely incredible!”
Yi-jin shouted in an excited voice. The two were on their way out after finishing their last schedule before departure. Yi-jin’s mood, which had seemed particularly good today, looked several times better after learning that their pheromone matching rate was a whopping 96.72%. On their way down to the lobby after finishing all consultations and tests, Seo-woon quietly replied in the elevator where sound echoed in the enclosed space.
“…I suppose so.”
Somehow it was annoyingly good. He couldn’t lift his head from embarrassment. He knew the matching rate would be good, but he didn’t expect it to be this high. The probability of poor sexual compatibility was only 3.28%—it wasn’t bad, but it was just as embarrassing.
“This is my first time being included in a paper as part of research subjects!”
“…Good thing it’s the first time.”
“Moreover, it’s about 18% higher than average! Even considering the margin of error, it’s definitely an enormous gap!”
This guy really has no shame. Even though they weren’t the only ones in the elevator, he seemed to pay no attention to the security guard. Seo-woon gathered up Yi-jin and got off the elevator.
“This is all thanks to Seo-woon-ssi.”
“Why me again…”
“If Seo-woon-ssi weren’t here, I could never have achieved this alone.”
Of course. A matching rate isn’t called a matching rate for nothing. Whether alpha or omega, matching is impossible alone. Seo-woon took care of Yi-jin, who was spouting obvious nonsense, and followed the security guard through the restricted access area for civilians.
Before departure, they needed to stop by the convenience store to complete the quest Min-young had given them. University hospital convenience stores inevitably have good selections, so they stock limited edition products that are hard to find in the market. Here, they might have the limited edition jelly from a certain brand that Min-young had been desperately searching for recently.
“To think we’d participate in alpha-omega research. It’s an honor to contribute to human development as well as our descendants. This is all thanks to Seo-woon-ssi!”
“Yes, yes. How many times are you going to say…”
…Bang! It happened in an instant. His body reacted before his head. Even Yi-jin, who had been repeating the same words like a broken machine, stopped talking and looked at Seo-woon. The security guards, who had maintained expressionless faces no matter what Yi-jin said, all turned to look at Seo-woon with surprised faces.
“…There was a… b-bug… haha. There was a bug…”
Seo-woon, who had successfully blockaded the entrance by throwing his body as soon as the security guard opened the door, smiled awkwardly. Yi-jin rolled up his shirt sleeves and said dramatically.
“Seo-woon-ssi, I’ll catch it for you. Please wait a moment.”
“Still, murder is…”
“Pardon?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Fate must be fate. What was his ex-boyfriend, who was worse than a bug, doing in front of the door? Seo-woon was genuinely surprised. He knew they went to the same hospital, but he never dreamed they’d reunite like this. Thanks to that, it seemed like the most surprising thing this year. Of course, that bastard was the one at fault, but still, there’s no beating being surprised.
Right, I didn’t do anything wrong, so what’s the big deal! Seo-woon calmly composed himself. Last time, his appearance hadn’t been dignified in various ways, but not now. Honestly speaking, though he really didn’t want to admit it, he had prepared intensively since morning just in case. Moreover, Seo-woon wasn’t alone now.
Seo-woon confidently faced the entrance. “The bug…?”, “It’s okay. It seems to be dead.”, “I see.” Yi-jin also stood next to Seo-woon. When the door finally opened and Seo-woon stepped forward:
“…Huh?”
No one was there. His ex-boyfriend was nowhere to be seen. …Did I see wrong? Seo-woon felt a bit embarrassed and turned toward where the convenience store was visible. And he encountered him. More properly than ever, face to face.
Crash! Various drinks and puddings that the man had been holding scattered on the floor. He, who was probably more surprised than Seo-woon, began frantically picking up the contents from the floor.
Roll roll, one drink rolled toward Seo-woon’s feet. Seo-woon quietly looked down at the drink at his feet. He still drinks this, he might have thought unconsciously.
The man, who had looked alternately at the drink and Seo-woon, seemed to make up his mind and slowly approached Seo-woon. If he had any conscience and common sense, he wouldn’t speak up in this situation, but the narrowing distance was unpleasant. Then something large blocked Seo-woon’s view.
“…Ah, thank you…”
A security guard picked up the drink instead and blocked Seo-woon’s front. Thanks to this, the man had to awkwardly retreat after approaching Seo-woon. Even while receiving the drink, the man kept glancing at Seo-woon until the end. Well, meeting Seo-woon would be surprising enough, but on the other hand, Seo-woon might look suspicious. Not only did he emerge from a restricted area, but he also had security guards with him.
“Seo-woon-ssi.”
Startled, the man was more surprised than Seo-woon at the voice calling Seo-woon. There probably couldn’t be a more definitive confirmation kill than this. “Min-young-ssi contacted us.” Yi-jin said while looking at his phone.
“She says she’s arrived at the airport.”
“Already?”
“That’s right. It seems they contacted me separately because they couldn’t reach you, Seo-woon. Since you’ve already arrived, I’ll contact the airport to have the gate opened.”
At Yi-jin’s words, Seo-woon belatedly checked his phone and found a bunch of messages from Min-young. She sure sent a lot, Seo-woon thought dismissively and put his phone back in his pants pocket. Then Yi-jin made a strange sound from in front.
“Why are you reading and ignoring them?”
“What?”
“That’s what Min-young is saying. Oh, she just sent another one. She’s telling you not to ghost her.”
Yi-jin spoke so seriously that for a moment Seo-woon wondered what he was talking about. Ghost, ghost… As Seo-woon muttered quietly to himself, a man who had finished picking up his drink but was still glancing at Seo-woon got startled and stepped back.
Cowardly bastard. If his family had opposed the marriage, if they hadn’t liked Seo-woon, it would have been better if he had just said so. After meeting his family, the man cleanly vanished. He wouldn’t answer calls and wouldn’t read messages. Wondering if he might have been hospitalized or something, he even considered acting crazy and calling his company. Even thinking about it again, it’s a truly horrible memory.
“Ghost my ass, I don’t do such trashy things.”
Being with you was fucking awful and let’s never meet again! Seo-woon gritted his teeth as those memories came flooding back.
“…Are you perhaps angry?”
Thanks to that, only Yi-jin was startled. “…It’s not like that.” Though he said it wasn’t, Yi-jin didn’t seem to believe him. It really isn’t, Seo-woon thought while not forgetting to give a warning.
“If all ten of your fingers break, ask someone else to contact me. Absolutely no ghosting.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
He must have been surprised because his response was quite tense. One of the bodyguards who had been silently watching the two suddenly spoke to Yi-jin.
“Executive Director, sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I have something to tell you briefly.”
Yi-jin moved away from Seo-woon’s sight with the bodyguard. Should I go to the convenience store first while they’re talking? It wasn’t that he didn’t think about it, but the bodyguards were surrounding Seo-woon, making it difficult to move freely. …What is this, I feel like I’ve seen this scene before. Like déjà vu, Seo-woon was surrounded by bodyguards in the middle of the hospital lobby.
“Is jelly all you need?”
Having heard some story, Yi-jin returned with a serious face.
“Mm, for now?”
“If you tell me the exact product name, I’ll send someone separately so you can receive it at the airport. Let’s head to the airport first.”
“…Is something wrong?”
“I’ll tell you while we’re moving.”
Something must have happened—the atmosphere is quite serious. Seo-woon didn’t ask any more questions and obediently followed Yi-jin to the parking lot. With the bodyguard there, it feels like filming a spy movie. The car carrying the two urgently left the hospital when Yi-jin received a phone call.
“How did it go?”
Yi-jin, who was driving, connected the call via Bluetooth. Thanks to that, Seo-woon could hear the entire conversation. Very clearly.
– “We’ve confirmed the identity. There’s no problem, so you can rest assured.”
“What’s the basis?”
– “Well…”
“Speak up,” Yi-jin pressed the hesitating bodyguard. Until then, Seo-woon didn’t even know that Yi-jin’s call partner was that bodyguard from earlier.
– He was someone who dated Seo-woon in the past, and after accidentally running into him, he kept staring at Seo-woon out of surprise. He admitted it himself.
What? Fuck? Silence filled the car. Neither Seo-woon, nor Yi-jin, nor even the bodyguard said anything. Seo-woon found himself at the scene where his past was being broadcast live via Bluetooth. Starring Jung Seo-woon, with the sole audience being Ahn Yi-jin, his current husband. Yi-jin was the first to break the silence.
“Is there evidence that the two dated?”
– “It’s just speculation, but… there is some.”
“Tell me.”
– “His pregnant wife came in the middle… and she resembles Seo-woon.”
“……”
“……”
Ah… This silence was particularly heavy. What the hell is this situation? Seo-woon couldn’t believe this situation even hearing it with his own ears. It’s not even DisX*tch, but a tabloid cleverly mixing facts and speculation is being played in front of the person involved.
– “I thought maybe I was the only one who thought so, so we took a vote among ourselves.”
“…What were the results?”
– “According to the vote results, everyone except one person agreed that she resembled Seo-woon.”
This must be how celebrities feel when scandals break—once again, his body moved before his head. “Rather than each facial feature resembling him individually, the feeling when Seo-woon isn’t smiling is very similar…” Seo-woon instantly hung up the phone.
“Is what the guard said true?”
Yi-jin, who was driving, asked while looking ahead. There was no mention of Seo-woon unilaterally hanging up the phone. Not only his expression but even his tone and voice were no different from usual. Seo-woon thought for a moment, but the conclusion came faster than expected.
“…Yeah, it’s true.”
Seo-woon answered honestly. It’s not like I did anything wrong, and everyone has a past, so hiding it at times like this would make the situation even weirder. The problem is Yi-jin’s reaction.
“I see… I understand.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“…That’s it?”
“Should there be something more?”
Yi-jin shows no reaction. Surprisingly—no, unbelievably—he shows absolutely no reaction at all.
“It’s… not that…”
“Yes.”
“…It’s not like that, but…”
“Yes.”
Still, isn’t he being too uninterested? It’s not that he wanted a commotion over such a trivial matter, but now that there’s really no reaction at all, this feels strange in its own way.
“Then could you tell me the product name of the jelly you want to purchase?”
“Huh? Oh, the name is… wait a moment.”
“You can tell me slowly.”
Yi-jin said leisurely. This was in stark contrast to Seo-woon, who was frantically searching the internet because he couldn’t remember the name of the jelly. That appearance was so unfamiliar that Seo-woon didn’t bring up this topic anymore. Given the subject matter, it would be somewhat difficult for Seo-woon to take the initiative to discuss it unless Yi-jin asked first.
It was good that he didn’t need to waste unnecessary emotional energy on something from the past that was all over, but what was this complete lack of reaction about? Was it that he didn’t care because it was all over anyway, or was it because he thought that no matter who Seo-woon met, they couldn’t compare to him? Both weren’t wrong, but perhaps because of what he’d heard in the morning, he felt unnecessarily spiteful.
After that, Yi-jin didn’t particularly try to make conversation either, so the two maintained an awkward silence until they arrived at the airport. Since Yi-jin originally didn’t do other things while driving (conversation also fell into the category of other things), even this wasn’t different from usual.
After arriving at the airport and meeting the family members who had come first, the trip finally felt real. When Yi-jin’s family joined and the number of people doubled, the atmosphere became even more boisterous. In the lively atmosphere like a group package tour, Seo-woon suddenly realized one fact. This trip was a family trip, and except for late at night, there would be virtually no time alone for just Seo-woon and Yi-jin. The cruise party with both families had already begun.
“…Nice weather.”
And now was that time. Seo-woon muttered while blankly looking up at the sky. The seagull sounds were a bit noisy, but even this was nice because it was exotic. Australian seagulls were particularly large and had good voices. They seemed to look a bit like pelicans too.
“Indeed. The humidity is low and there’s a moderate breeze, so it’s pleasant weather in many ways.”
“Oh, really. ‘Pleasant’ seems like the perfect word.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“……”
“……”
Strange. As Yi-jin said, they hadn’t fought, but the atmosphere was awkward for no reason. Should he say the conversation wasn’t flowing well? Maybe it felt that way more because Yi-jin had been concentrating on his phone since earlier.
“Are you busy right now? Are you working?”
“No, that’s not the case.”
Yi-jin cut down Seo-woon’s question with one stroke.
“Aren’t you tired?”
Then he suddenly changed the subject.
“I slept well yesterday, so I’m fine. How about you, Yi-jin-ssi?”
Seo-woon, who had gotten up unnecessarily early, fell asleep like fainting as soon as he arrived at the hotel. Thanks to that, he finished adjusting to the time difference in one day, but he had no memory of when Yi-jin went to sleep.
“I’m fine too.”
“Ah, did you go to sleep right away too, Yi-jin-ssi?”
“No, that’s not the case.”
“Really? What did you do without sleeping?”
“……”
“…Yi-jin-ssi?”
“…If you’re okay with it, would you like to go get a massage?”
…Suddenly, what massage? He said the nonsense so naturally that Seo-woon thought his ears were wrong. The protagonist of the nonsense was, as always, glancing at his phone.
“Right now?”
“Yes, we need to go now.”
Was there some signal he didn’t know about? A massage was always welcome, but this was too sudden. Even while thinking this, Seo-woon obediently got up from his seat. To have a proper conversation, a massage room where they could be alone would be much better than the deck that was exposed on all sides. As for why there would be a massage room on a cruise, there was everything from swimming pools to movie theaters. A massage room was modest in comparison.
What made him have such a clever thought for once? Seo-woon arrived at the massage room under Yi-jin’s guidance. He was a bit flustered because the staff was a foreigner, but Yi-jin took care of the translation.
“Then have a pleasant time.”
“…Weren’t we getting massages together?”
“No, we’re not.”
So that’s why things were going too smoothly. What kind of thing is that? When Seo-woon looked at him in bewilderment, Yi-jin unnaturally avoided his gaze.
“Since it would be difficult to check your phone during the massage anyway, wouldn’t it be better to leave it behind?”
Mind your own business. Yet he didn’t spare advice for Seo-woon. That behavior was quite suspicious—no, so blatantly suspicious that he didn’t know where to start or how to take issue with it. “…I suppose so.” Seo-woon pretended to obediently listen to Yi-jin for now. After throwing his phone into a locker and trying to change clothes, Yi-jin hurriedly left the changing room, telling him to rest.
…Was it okay to be so blatantly suspicious? Instead of changing clothes, Seo-woon conveyed his intention to the massage therapist. Sorry, I don’t want to get a massage. The massage therapist said something in response, but he couldn’t understand it all because the Australian accent was unfamiliar. From the reaction, it seemed like they were rather happy about it. Right, it’s good not to work. Seo-woon took his phone and slipped out of the massage room.
Now it was time to track down the suspicious husband.
* * *
Finding Yi-jin wasn’t easy. First, the cruise was fucking huge, and also fucking huge. Eventually, Seo-woon had to use the Min-young lifeline.
[Brother-in-law is on the 3rd floor right now]
[I didn’t ask more because it might be too obvious]
[Then ttyl]
The 3rd floor, huh. Still, it was fortunate that the options were significantly reduced. Seo-woon carefully went down the stairs. Since he probably wouldn’t be in an open place like a swimming pool, he needed to look for relatively enclosed spaces. Why Yi-jin was acting like this was a matter for after finding him.
Surely he wasn’t having an affair or something. Thinking of Yi-jin, who had been glued to his phone since arriving in Australia and suddenly recommended a massage out of nowhere, made him think all sorts of things. What if that’s why he had no impact from encountering Seo-woon’s ex-boyfriend? What if the bank president knew this fact and genuinely pitied Seo-woon?
…Should I kill him? Seo-woon felt genuine murderous intent. Just imagining it made his blood boil backwards. Seo-woon’s footsteps quickened as he wandered looking for Yi-jin. Since he had no particular intention of hiding now, Seo-woon opened cabin doors freely while searching for Yi-jin. Did he go to another floor in the meantime? He briefly thought so, but since there was only one staircase on the cruise, he was bound to catch Seo-woon’s eye somehow. Seo-woon patiently checked the remaining cabins.
Then he finally found Yi-jin. Yi-jin was in the movie theater, where he had no expectations since he thought there was no way he’d be there. The movie theater was structured by connecting the 2nd and 3rd floors, and since it connected two floors, it gave the feeling of being large and grand like an actual movie theater. It must have been built recently because it had a refreshing, cool, pleasant scent.
Yi-jin was in the center of it. Yi-jin was talking to someone on the phone while looking at the screen. This scene, which would look like he was conducting business to anyone watching, would have its truth revealed when Seo-woon checked the screen. On the screen was a photo of Seo-woon’s ex-boyfriend.
…Am I seeing things right now? Seo-woon entered the movie theater as if entranced. No matter how many times Seo-woon blinked, the screen remained the same. If anything, it was clearly visible. With the theater’s characteristic acoustics added, Yi-jin’s voice sounded particularly vivid.
“I see. Understood. You can organize the call records as I mentioned and email them to me. Same for the hospital visit records. Yes, good. When can you deliver the card statements?”
He looked suspicious and he was actually doing suspicious things. Seo-woon slowly climbed the stairs. Yi-jin, sitting right in the center, seemed not to have noticed Seo-woon yet. Thanks to that, Seo-woon could openly eavesdrop on Yi-jin’s phone conversation.
“Please contact me at this time tomorrow as well. I’ll keep the time free. Yes, understood. For the period, please make it on a yearly basis…”
“……”
“…ni…”
“……”
“……”
“Yi-jin.”
“…Yes, did you call me?”
Yi-jin answered demurely. “…Hello? Hello?” Having lost its conversation partner, the phone cried out lonely somewhere on Korean soil. When Seo-woon glanced at the phone, Yi-jin quickly hung up.
Call records, hospital visit records, and even card statements. Without asking, he could guess what Yi-jin was up to.
“…What the hell is this…”
When did he act like nothing was wrong, and why now? His head suddenly started to hurt. “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” When Seo-woon held his head, Yi-jin reacted faster than anyone. Seo-woon casually shook his head and held out his hand to Yi-jin. Yi-jin offered his hand as if he’d been waiting.
“No, not that.”
Give me your phone. When Seo-woon spoke firmly, Yi-jin quickly handed over his phone. On the screen of the phone that had been unilaterally hung up, there was a call record with “○○ Detective Agency.”
“…Don’t tell me you had me investigated?”
“No!”
Yi-jin strongly objected. Even so, it wasn’t convincing.
“The most important thing between spouses is trust, and I haven’t done anything that would harm our trust relationship. I swear.”
“Then what’s this detective agency about?”
“…I had something to confirm separately about someone other than you, Seo-woon.”
People call that a background investigation. Regardless, Yi-jin stubbornly continued his defense.
“I trust you, Seo-woon, but I can’t trust other people.”
“I see.”
“Just as a precaution…”
“Mm-hmm.”
“…confirming a few things…”
“……”
“As they say, know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll win every battle…”
The more he listened, the more it sounded like a premeditated crime. The motive was too specific to say he’d impulsively visited a detective agency.
“First… take that photo down. I hate even looking at it.”
“Yes, understood.”
Yi-jin, who was good at following instructions, immediately called somewhere. There must have been someone in the projection room because the photo was taken down right away. The movie theater with the screen off was even darker and more silent. Now it really felt like they’d come to watch a movie.
“So, did the investigation go well?”
“I haven’t finished it all yet.”
Yi-jin confidently reported the facts. Mm, right. His confident attitude was very nice to see. Seo-woon asked more directly.
“What are you curious about?”
“I’m not curious. I just need confirmation. I needed to confirm what kind of person you’re attracted to, what your alpha preferences are, and what I’m lacking.”
“……”
“In other words, it could be seen as part of learning materials. There are no other reasons.”
So you had me investigated? It was quite a plausible packaging. His voice was so confident he almost fell for it.
“Then why did you look into call records and card statements?”
“…Looking at the hospital visit records, it wasn’t the first time you two had met.”
That’s correct. The ex-boyfriend probably doesn’t know, but as of yesterday, Seo-woon had encountered his ex-boyfriend twice. Who would have thought Yi-jin knew something even the person involved didn’t know, the circumstances of how he found out are obvious without asking. Having said that much, Yi-jin hardened his face and said:
“Why didn’t you tell me you go to the same hospital? Were you planning to keep running into each other by coincidence?”
“What?”
“Why did he drop his drink? Is it some kind of signal only you two know?”
What are you saying…! Even with Seo-woon’s fierce opposition, Yi-jin didn’t stop his questions. Far from ending, it seemed like it was just beginning.
“Why do you keep carrying your phone around? Is there somewhere you’re expecting a call from? Or are you waiting for some particular contact?”
That’s you! Seo-woon was genuinely wronged. He felt wronged, but Yi-jin didn’t give him a chance to feel wronged.
“So is that why you’ve been avoiding sex? The hospital-recommended period for refraining from sexual activity is one week.”
“What do you mean avoiding! We only haven’t done it for barely two weeks!”
“Two weeks have already passed. Today makes exactly 16 days.”
This bastard, really—even in the dark movie theater, Yi-jin’s nose bridge was clearly visible and particularly annoying. He acted like nothing was wrong even after encountering Seo-woon’s ex-boyfriend, but behind the scenes he was busy filming a makjang drama.
“You said you trust me.”
Do I have so little credibility? Without realizing it, Seo-woon had become the protagonist of a makjang drama. It wouldn’t be so unfair if he at least got paid, it’s even unpaid.
“That’s right. I trust you, Seo-woon.”
“…This is it?”
If this is trusting, it would have been terrible if he didn’t trust her. Seo-woon felt a bit chilled.
“If there’s insufficient trust in one’s partner, crisis comes to the marriage. I trust you more than anyone, Seo-woon. I just don’t trust the people around you. May I ask one more thing?”
“What now? Let’s hear it.”
“Do you perhaps prefer someone with a belly?”
Me? It was nonsense bordering on slander. Since I can’t make myself shorter… Yi-jin made terrible noises without getting tired.
What should I do with this one? Seo-woon hesitated. How Seo-woon acts here will determine his future. To put it grandly, their future depends on it.
“…Actually, I saw it last time I went for a checkup too.”
Whoa! When Seo-woon answered honestly, Yi-jin was noticeably shaken. If we both get emotional here, it’ll just turn into a huge fight. Seo-woon calmly continued what he was saying.
Back then, I saw it by chance and didn’t think I’d ever meet you again.
“……”
I didn’t tell Yi-jin anything because… no matter how many times we see each other from now on, we’ll be strangers, so I didn’t think there was any need to say anything. Actually, I forgot it quickly too. We had a lot going on that day, didn’t we?
It was the first time Seo-woon had seen a helicopter up close like that. I just hope it doesn’t happen twice, if possible. Yi-jin was silent for a moment. He seemed to be mulling over Seo-woon’s words. Yi-jin finally spoke after a long pause.
Then why were you surprised when you saw him?
“Of course I’m surprised, why wouldn’t I be?”
Was dropping the drink in front of Seo-woon-ssi simply a mistake?
He must have been surprised too.
Why do you keep carrying your phone around?
You should mind your own business, or rather, you always were like that!
“……”
If you don’t believe me, you can investigate mine too.
“…No, it’s not.” I trust Seo-woon-ssi.
It doesn’t look like it. Finally, I’d like to ask a few more questions. Having barely swallowed the piece of distrust, Yi-jin asked solemnly.
Why have you been avoiding sex for two weeks? Did you have a reason for it being a fortnight instead of a week?
Yeah, I knew it wouldn’t be. Yi-jin didn’t trust Seo-woon as much as Seo-woon thought, or even as much as Yi-jin thought he did. Although Yi-jin might not agree, it seemed the shock of running into Seo-woon’s ex-girlfriend was quite significant. Seo-woon only found out about that fact just now.
Seo-woon glanced around. Of course, there were only two people in the movie theater, and I can only hope there’s no one in the projection room… Even if they’re there, they’ll probably leave on their own, so I decided to go ahead and be disappointed.
Seo-woon called out the name of the one person he always wanted to call, even when he was already calling.
“Yi-jin-ssi.”
Please speak.
Jini.
“……”
“Yi-jin-ah.”
“……”
Yi-jin, you need to answer.
Yes, yes!
Flustered, Yi-jin stammered and replied. It’s not even a scolding, but the discipline is incredibly tight. Seo-woon stood up and faced Yi-jin. Sitting in the movie theater seat, Yi-jin looked up at Seo-woon without moving. Seo-woon whispered as he sat on Yi-jin’s thigh.
Honey, don’t you trust me?
“Believe, believe, believe!”
What’s this about now? There was a slight sign of malfunction for a moment, but it doesn’t seem to be a serious error. Seo-woon moved his hips, pressing his body closer to Yi-jin. Yi-jin was staring blankly at that disappointment.
From now on, I’ll do better so that Yi-jin won’t be anxious.
Seo-woon-ssi is already being very kind to me.
I’ll do better. Don’t worry about the past.
I didn’t care…
Don’t worry about it.
“Seo, Seo-woon-ssi…”
“…open your mouth.”
“……”
Hurry, yeah…
“…sigh…”
It had been about 16 days since their last kiss. Seo-woon lightly bit Yi-jin’s lip and gently inserted his tongue. The tips of their tongues brushed against each other, just barely. Seo-woon brought Yi-jin’s tongue to his mouth and lightly sucked on the tip. Smooch… the sound was unnecessarily loud for the action. In the darkened movie theater, the sound of two people kissing echoed exaggeratedly. Yi-jin had been fidgeting his lower body since earlier. He repeatedly grabbed Seo-woon’s waist, stroked Seo-woon’s thighs, and then gripped the back of Seo-woon’s neck.
“Last time… yeah… my primary care physician, the doctor, told me to be careful about pheromones…”
“Ugh… yes…”
“I took it easy, and… oh.”
I felt a strong grip around my waist. Yi-jin was gripping Seo-woon’s waist so tightly it looked like it hurt. “Yi-jin-ssi, my hand…” His waist, which had been grabbed, hurt, so Seo-woon frowned and pulled Yi-jin’s hand away.
“Were you in pain? I’m sorry.”
Yi-jin looked up at Seo-woon, who was sitting on his thigh, and immediately apologized. It’s been a long time since Seo-woon has looked down at Yi-jin from above, and it makes his heart flutter for no reason.
…Since it’s just us anyway, wouldn’t this be okay? By the time I thought that, my body had already moved on its own. Seo-woon got off Yi-jin’s lap and stood straight on the ground.
“Seo-woon-ssi? Where are you going… Seo-woon-ssi…?”
“Yeah.”
“…Suddenly, if you do this…”
Poetry? Hardy, right?
You don’t like it? Should I not do it? Without hesitation, Seo-woon burrowed between Yi-jin’s legs and pulled out his penis at lightning speed. With the glans in his mouth, he asked. As I moved my tongue to speak, Yi-jin’s thigh couldn’t stay still and bounced up and down.
“Oh, no. It’s not that I don’t like it…”
“……”
“No, I… uh…”
“……”
“Hah, ugh…”
I haven’t even done much, but I’m already letting out suppressed groans around Yi-jin. Well, considering what he’s done, two weeks isn’t that long. Even so, I never thought they’d misunderstand like that. Seo-woon, as if in repentance, slowly stuck out his tongue and licked the opening of the urethra. As he licked and nibbled at the hole, Yi-jin’s thigh muscles repeatedly swelled taut and then relaxed. The reaction is amazing. Encouraged by Yi-jin’s reaction, Seo-woon swallowed his penis deep into his throat.
“Ah…!”
Yi-jin clutched the armrest with a single groan. I tensed my body so much that the veins in my fingers stood out prominently. Seo-woon raised one hand and gently stroked Yi-jin’s hand. The bulging veins were pulsing rapidly like a heart. The sensation, always pleasant to the touch, made Seo-woon suck his penis powerfully.
“Ugh…”
The response came immediately. Rough, panting breaths are coming from right above Seo-woon’s head. The intense pleasure surging from below caused Yi-jin’s waist to arch forward repeatedly. Huff, huff… Seo-woon pressed his penis in time with Yi-jin’s breathing. He would clench his lips tightly, squeezing the pillar, and then take a deep breath, applying pressure to his entire penis. Yi-jin’s penis quickly ejaculated pre-cum. In the movie theater, I don’t know if it was because of the smell, but the pungent mint scent was stronger than the fishy taste.
“…Seo-woon-ssi, please stop.”
Why? After sucking on his penis for a while, Seo-woon looked up at Yi-jin, his eyes the only part of his face visible. Twitching, as their eyes met, Yi-jin’s penis grew in size once more. Feeling like his throat was about to be stabbed, Seo-woon reflexively spat out the penis.
Finally escaping from Seo-woon’s mouth, his penis eagerly finds its way back to its place. The penis, tightly pressed against the lower abdomen, glistens with saliva and pre-cum, giving the impression that it might taste somehow delicious. Perhaps it’s because of the lingering minty flavor in my mouth. Seo-woon stared blankly at Yi-jin’s genitals.
“I think I will.”
Already? I was surprised for a moment, but seeing Yi-jin’s condition, I can understand it a little. Yi-jin was panting heavily, his eyes completely glazed over, as he contorted his large body. Cute, my ass. Feeling dejected, Seo-woon buried his face in Yi-jin’s lower body again with a blank mind. Oh my goodness…! Suddenly, his penis hardened, and Yi-jin let out a sound that was neither a groan nor a scream, grabbing Seo-woon’s head.
As if responding to the touch of the large hand covering the back of his head, Seo-woon deeply thrust his penis in. When a hard, large chunk of flesh is forced into my mouth, I naturally feel nauseous. I knew it would end up like this. Yi-jin’s rock-hard erection pierced Seo-woon’s throat. Cough, cough! When Seo-woon coughed softly, Yi-jin quickly pulled his face away from Seo-woon’s.
“It’s okay. I’ll do a little more for you.”
“No, you don’t have to.”
“I want to do it for you…”
“I want to cum in Seo-woon’s hole, not his mouth.”
“……”
“Please grant permission.”
Facing Seo-woon, his penis, wet with saliva and glistening, stood erect. …Huh? Seo-woon’s face visibly flushed as he belatedly understood the meaning of Yi-jin’s words. It was fortunate that the inside of the movie theater was dark.
“Hey, here?”
“Anywhere is fine.”
“…Then, for now, just go out…”
“Is this something I shouldn’t be doing right now?”
Rarely, Yi-jin was pestering Seo-woon. Now? Right away? As if in answer to Seo-woon’s question, Yi-jin’s penis bobbed up and down. It felt like it could burst at any moment.
“If someone comes in…”
“The projection room staff have already been sent out.”
“When you come in to clean…”
“They’ll know I’m here, so they won’t just barge in. First of all, it was Mr. Seo who took off his pants.”
“That was true.” When Seo-woon fell silent in the face of undeniable facts, Yi-jin looked at him anxiously.
“Seo-woon-ssi, I want to do it.”
I’m so disappointed, my heart is overflowing with sadness. Without even a moment to think further, Yi-jin, feeling hurt, lifted Seo-woon and sat him back on his lap.
“Seo-woon-ssi.”
“……”
“Seo-woon-ssi, Seo-woon-ssi…”
Yi-jin desperately called out Seo-woon’s name and rubbed his face against the back of his neck. The breath on the back of my neck from Yi-jin was hot.
“…it feels like it’s going to burst.”
“……”
I’m going crazy…
Huff, huff… Yi-jin’s breathing became increasingly rough. The hand gripping Seo-woon’s waist betrayed a hint of impatience. And somewhere, there’s a persistent scent of mint. And it’s close by, a clear minty scent is coming from very close to Seo-woon.
…I thought it was the smell in the movie theater. Seo-woon, with a hazy head, belatedly sensed the strange reaction. This doesn’t smell like a movie theater. It’s a pheromone. Pheromones were slowly leaking from Yi-jin.
Seo-woon’s heat cycle has been brought forward due to frequent pheromone sharing with Alpha. Since the sharing was done by two people, there’s no way Yi-jin’s cycle would be normal just because he was one of them. The test results also showed that Yi-jin’s estrous cycle had been significantly advanced. Just before the cruise party, and unfortunately, Yi-jin had already been prescribed suppressants to prepare for his rut. That was just a day ago.
“Yi-jin-ssi, did you forget to take your medicine?”
“I ate.”
“I’ve eaten it a few times.”
“Once…”
“Once?”
Yi-jin nodded his head with difficulty. The next medication is in 2 hours and 15 minutes… Heat suddenly surged from the blurred end of his sentence. The rutting cycle was earlier than usual, and the period of abstinence was relatively long. Although he was prescribed an inhibitor, Yijin has only taken one day’s worth so far. Seo-woon climbed on top of Yi-jin, who was in that state, and willingly performed fellatio.
…I started the fire. I made a mountain out of a molehill. Seo-woon-ssi… While Seo-woon was reflecting on himself, Yi-jin suddenly thrust his face toward Seo-woon. Because the angle was off, Yi-jin’s lips landed on Seo-woon’s nose, cheeks, and eyelids. Skillfully avoiding the lips is a skill in itself.
Childlike kisses are pouring down. Yi-jin couldn’t even open his eyes properly and kept pressing his lips against Seo-woon’s.
“…I was the one who did it…”
“What…?”
“I, I married Seo-woon-ssi.”
Is this how all alphas are when they’re in rut? Seo-woon, at a loss, looked down at Yi-jin burrowing into his arms and thought that. He definitely can’t control his strength, but that’s the same as usual, so it’s not that surprising. What surprised Seo-woon was that Yi-jin, who was in rut, was more honest than usual. It’s not just a difference in how they express themselves; it feels like they’re much more honest about their emotions and desires.
“I want to touch Seo-woon-ssi.”
Yi-jin pressed close to Seo-woon and rubbed his lower body against him. Through his thin summer clothes, I could feel Yi-jin’s penis swelling as if it were about to burst. It was hot.
I want to touch Seo-woon-ssi’s butt. I want to rub Seo-woon-ssi’s hips until my hands are full, and with my other hand, I want to touch Seo-woon-ssi’s chest. I want to put the erect nipple in my mouth and bite it. I want to suck it.
“That’s what I’m saying,” Yi-jin said, burying his face in Seo-woon’s chest. Startled, Seo-woon’s nipples stiffened as he felt hot breath through the fabric. Yi-jin traced Seo-woon’s chest with his finger and said,
“Stop, saying things like…”
“I want more. I want to eat it every single day. This isn’t enough.”
Yi-jin spoke with a hazy expression, as if he were dreaming. Squelch, squelch—a wet sound echoed every time Yi-jin’s hand stirred inside him.
“…Have you tasted someone else’s before me?”
“Ah…!”
It happened in an instant. Yi-jin asked as he shoved four fingers deep into Seo-woon’s heat in one go. The recoil sent sticky lubrication splashing up to Yi-jin’s wrist.
“Has someone else tasted your fluids, Seo-woon?”
“Wha—! Ah!”
“Did that person taste it too? Was it only that person? Or did others taste it as well?”
Yi-jin’s voice grew lower. *Thump, thump!* Below, a rough thrusting continued, as if he were driving a penis inside.
“Ah, ngh! Wait, ah! Yi-jin, ah!”
“Seo-woon, please answer me. Was that really the case?”
Looking at the question alone, it wasn’t even worth answering. However, the biggest problem was that while he kept asking, he gave no room to actually answer. As rough fingers forced the inner walls open, moans continued to leak through the gaps in Seo-woon’s teeth.
“…Haa….”
Whether he found the silence frustrating or not, Yi-jin let out an irritated sigh. The deeply furrowed brow was unfamiliar and awkward. Yi-jin’s pheromones were flickering erratically.
“…This is unfair,” Yi-jin said irritably. Despite his words, there was no hesitation in the way his hand hammered into Seo-woon’s depths.
“This is so unfair….”
“Since a while ago, why are you—ah!”
Though smaller than a penis, the fingers—capable of far more precise stimulation—rubbed against the inner walls rapidly. At this rate, he might actually ejaculate from just fingers.
“Yi-jin, I’m just…!”
Seo-woon arched his back, trying to escape the surging sensation of climax.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah!”
*Thump!* Yi-jin grabbed the fleeing Seo-woon by the shoulder and slammed him back down.
“Are you going to that person?”
“Hng, ugh, ah, aaah…!”
He could no longer hear what Yi-jin was saying. He couldn’t think of anything else. Seo-woon let out a beast-like sound, his entire body trembling. His fully erect penis helplessly spurted semen.
“Did you already come?”
“…Hng, ugh….”
Seo-woon answered with sobbing moans. The sudden ejaculation made rational thought impossible.
“…This isn’t a matter of probability.”
Yi-jin reached out to the semen staining his shirt.
“I see. Probability isn’t the issue.”
As if finally realizing something, he muttered as if possessed, stretching Seo-woon’s semen long with his finger.
“If we talk about probability, the chance of us meeting would have been nonexistent….”
“…Ah…!”
Yi-jin withdrew his fingers from Seo-woon’s inner walls. Only after Seo-woon had ejaculated did Yi-jin finally pull out his hand, which had naturally remained inside.
“It’s disadvantageous for me. Absolutely disadvantageous.”
Sticky lubrication clung to every joint of Yi-jin’s fingers.
“Why did I have to meet you so late, Seo-woon?”
Yi-jin murmured lowly, meticulously spreading the fluids from his fingers over his own penis.
“If only I had known you a little sooner, if only….”
“…….”
“…I would have been the first… somehow….”
“…….”
“No matter what I had to do….”
Yi-jin repeated the same words several times. It was as if he were speaking to himself.
“Seo-woon….”
Yi-jin’s hand shoved roughly inside Seo-woon’s t-shirt. He caressed Seo-woon’s bare back, stroked his flat lower abdomen, and then pinched the peak of his chest.
As if he didn’t want to think anymore, Yi-jin took Seo-woon’s nipple into his mouth and began to suck. Suck, slurp, suck… He flicked it with his tongue before applying pressure with his lips to pull the nipple up. He even nipped it lightly with his teeth.
“Uh…!”
“…….”
“Uh, ngh…!”
Below, insertion was happening naturally. The penis, coated in lubrication, forced its way through the wet entrance and pushed deep into the inner walls.
Because they were inserting while in a seated position from the start, Seo-woon let out a pained groan, as if it were too much to bear. Sliiiide, sliiiide… The sensation of the entrance stretching tight sent goosebumps across Seo-woon’s bare skin.
“Seo-woon….”
“Ngh, yes….”
“It’s too, too hot….”
Come to think of it, they weren’t using a condom. Yi-jin’s penis was entering Seo-woon raw.
“Ah, ngh, slow, ly… Yi-jin, slowly….”
Seo-woon leaned on Yi-jin’s shoulders, his body trembling violently. An Alpha’s penis, still carrying the energy of a rut, was far larger and harder than usual, making it feel as though he were being split apart.
“Slowly, ha… slow, ly….”
Yi-jin mimicked Seo-woon’s words, slowly pushing his penis in. The sensation of the inner wall’s ridges clinging to the penis and hindering the entry was vivid. At the feeling of the penis sliding in slowly, just as he asked, Seo-woon involuntarily shuddered. Every sense in his body was concentrated below.
“Ah…!”
“Haa….”
Once it passed a certain point, the penis was sucked deep into the inner walls. A moan escaped both of them simultaneously. Yi-jin looked at Seo-woon with unguarded, unfocused eyes. Receiving Yi-jin’s gaze with familiarity, Seo-woon gradually relaxed his body. Noticing the Omega’s effort to accept him, Yi-jin’s breathing grew faster.
“May I move…?”
“…In a little bit….”
“…I can’t stand it….”
As if those words weren’t a lie, Yi-jin seemed restless, repeatedly gripping and releasing Seo-woon’s waist.
The Alpha’s pheromones flickered anxiously. Yi-jin had been unable to control his pheromones for a while now. Judging by the things he was rambling, he was already out of his mind, yet he was asking for a permission that was barely a permission. After making Seo-woon lose his mind as well, he was only now asking. Without a word, Seo-woon guided Yi-jin’s hand back to his buttocks.
“Ah!”
Before Seo-woon’s hand could even leave Yi-jin’s, Yi-jin immediately slammed his penis into the wet inner walls. Perhaps thinking that Seo-woon had accepted him, his hip movements were incredibly rough from the start.
“Uh, uhhh! Wait! Ah!”
Seo-woon’s high-pitched moans echoed through the cinema. Perhaps because the sound system was so good, Seo-woon’s voice echoed endlessly.
Even though he knew it wasn’t a real cinema, he felt as if someone would walk in at any moment and scream upon seeing them. A startled Seo-woon covered his own mouth, but there was no way Yi-jin hadn’t heard. Yi-jin listened intently and hammered his hips as if to show off.
“The sound, huu… please make more sound….”
“Ah, at! Ah!”
“More, more….”
“Ha, ah, hagh…!”
Seo-woon’s moans fell into rhythm with Yi-jin’s thrusts. Startled by the sounds he was making, Seo-woon’s inner walls contracted strongly. At the sensation of the walls tightening as if to burst the penis, Yi-jin grit his teeth and thrust upward. Seo-woon’s body, perched atop Yi-jin, shook helplessly.
“…Why…?”
Then, he suddenly stopped. Huff, huff, huff… Yi-jin took deep breaths as if trying to calm his excitement.
“There are no condoms.”
“…….”
“In the room… they’re in the room….”
Had his sanity finally returned? Yi-jin, who had been acting unlike himself, finally returned to the version Seo-woon knew.
Even for Yi-jin, he probably hadn’t expected to have sex on a cruise. Considering how stubbornly Yi-jin had adhered to using condoms, this was highly unusual. Moreover, the fact that he realized this in the middle of the act suggested that even a partial rut was still a rut.
“Just… do it….”
“…But….”
“I want to, hurry….”
Thanks to that, Seo-woon was also completely aroused. Seo-woon shifted his hips anxiously.
“…Are you sure about that?”
“Huh?”
“I asked if you can take responsibility.”
At Seo-woon’s urging, Yi-jin suddenly turned serious and spoke of responsibility. As Seo-woon blinked with a confused expression, Yi-jin gripped his waist firmly.
“I want Seo-woon to have a baby.”
This was the first time the topic of children had come up between them since their marriage. Though it had been two years by the calendar, for a newlywed couple who had been married for less than six months, they hadn’t really had any plans for children. If they did, it was only the conversation they had during their first meeting.
“I want to see you with a baby. I want you to have our baby and be surrounded by my pheromones.”
As if he had been thinking about it for a long time, Yi-jin revealed his inner thoughts without hesitation. Simultaneously, Yi-jin’s penis, filling Seo-woon’s inner walls, began to swell slightly.
“I want everyone to know that this Omega has a mate.”
“…Yi-jin, this is….”
“So please tell me when you are ready. I am ready at any time.”
“Uh, uhhh…!”
“I’ve studied a lot in the meantime. Knotting, ha… imprinting, pregnancy… if only you’re okay with it, Seo-woon….”
Twitch, twitch—Yi-jin’s penis swelled inside Seo-woon as if it were about to burst. From above, Seo-woon’s lower abdomen began to bulge outward.
For an Alpha, knotting is an extremely instinctive act. Since it is an act that escapes individual reason and control, no one knows exactly how knotting occurs unless they experience it themselves. Because it differs from person to person, it is difficult to even speak of an average.
Because of this, the two had avoided knotting until now. Not knowing how his own knotting would manifest, Yi-jin had restrained himself as much as possible.
However, if the pheromone matching rate was 96.72%, the story changed. Regardless of the Alpha’s disposition, they were bound to be compatible. This was why Yi-jin had been happier than anyone about the test results. Finally, they were recognized. Medically, objectively, numerically, and scientifically, their bond was validated. Realizing this fact once more, the Alpha’s penis began to swell.
“Yi-jin, Yi-jin! This…! Uh!”
“…….”
“Ah, ngh, strange, this is strange…!”
“Haa….”
“At! Ah! Aaaah!”
*Thump! Thump!* Yi-jin lifted Seo-woon up and slammed him down. The penis, swollen enormously in anticipation of the knot, ruthlessly crushed the tender inner walls. *Boom! Boom!* Every time Seo-woon’s body jolted, Yi-jin held his shoulders down and accelerated the thrusting. The half-removed pants and underwear caught around Seo-woon’s ankles fluttered helplessly.
“Seo-woon, Seo-woon….”
“Ngh, ngh…!”
“Ha, my brain… feels like it’s melting….”
*Thump!* Pierced by the penis once more, Seo-woon’s entire body trembled. Yi-jin, who had been sitting in the chair at first, was now thrusting while half-risen. Seo-woon’s back hit the backrest of the front seat. While it still wasn’t stable, having something to lean his back against made him feel much more secure. As if Yi-jin felt the same, he hooked Seo-woon’s legs over his shoulders and began to hammer his hips in earnest.
*Thump! Thump! Splash!* A loud noise erupted as flesh clashed and lubrication splashed. The vulgar sounds echoing in the cinema gradually eroded Seo-woon’s reason. Yi-jin’s pheromones, pouring solely toward him, also played a part.
“Wait, wait! Just a moment! Let go! Let go…!”
“I’m not letting go….”
“I feel like I’m going to…!”
“You’re gripping me so tight, huu… how could I let go….”
“At…!”
“I’ll never let go. I can’t let go…!”
Before the hole could even close, his penis was thrusting madly against the inner wall. Seo-woon was floating half in the air, his gaze piercing downwards. The only person I can rely on is Yi-jin. Seo-woon swayed frantically as Yi-jin struck. I feel like my brain is going to shake along with this.
As the swollen prostate was roughly rubbed and the penis thrust in as if it would split my lower half, a sudden feeling of ejaculation surged through me. As Seo-woon writhed in the throes of passion, Yi-jin thrust his hips in even harder. Ugh…! Seo-woon’s toes curled as he vomited a cloudy ejaculate onto his stomach. It was already the second time. Seo-woon’s semen also splattered on Yi-jin’s shirt, but no one seemed to care.
As Seo-woon pleaded and his inner walls convulsed, Yi-jin stopped his thrusting. Then, as if savoring the convulsing inner wall, it begins to finely split the inside. Even after ejaculation, the regular thrusting continued, and Seo-woon, feeling disappointed, clawed at Yi-jin’s back. It felt like my brain had already melted away.
“…Uh…!”
His penis swelled up like never before, and in an instant, it became rigid. Firmly sealing the entrance and forcibly widening the shrinking inner walls, they create a path within Seo-woon’s body.
Ah, ahh…!”
Unfamiliar with the sensation, Seo-woon instinctively tried to pull away. Clasping Seo-woon’s shoulder, Yi-jin pushed Seo-woon down and thrust his penis deeper. They literally rammed it in.
Uh, uh, uh…! Uh…!”
And then it spills something out. I felt a dampness seeping inside. It’s different from the lubrication that Seo-woon produces on its own. It’s much more voluminous and feels somewhat heavy.
Huuu…, Yi-jin let out a short groan and sat back completely in his chair. Once his posture stabilized, he naturally leaned Seo-woon against himself. As Seo-woon moves, there’s a gurgling sound from his stomach. As the area below Seo-woon filled with semen, I could hear the sound of it sloshing around.
So this is what notching is. So this is what knotting is. Seo-woon couldn’t bear to look at Yi-jin and, embarrassed, lowered his head and looked down. Then, he noticed Yi-jin’s shirt and pants, which were covered in the liquid he had vomited and his own still-erect penis. I didn’t know where to look.
The interlocking joint swells seamlessly, and the penis inside the inner wall forces its way thru, trying to leave its mark. It was a strange feeling, like it was my body but not my own. As Seo-woon’s flat lower belly occasionally twitched, as if trying to signal an intruder, Yi-jin gently stroked Seo-woon’s belly as if scolding it, and said,
Seo-woon-ssi’s stomach keeps moving.
“…That’s because…”
That must be because I keep peeing.
The heat in Yi-jin’s voice indicated that the pleasure of ejaculation was lasting only briefly. The heat was nothing compared to the one Seo-woon felt after finishing.
How cheap would it have to be for us to have a baby?
Facing Yi-jin’s eyes again, his pupils were completely dilated, making him seem somewhat dangerous.
“…I, for now…”
Then when would be good for you?
Just a little longer, and then…
Okay, I understand. This year is too early for you, isn’t it?
Seo-woon nodded. The opening blocked by the penis was sore, and the penis inside, pressing against my organs, was so heavy that it was difficult to even nod my head.
I don’t want to raise a baby right now.
Yi-jin stroked Seo-woon’s throbbing lower belly with his own semen.
I just…
Yi-jin’s fingers, which had moved further down, traced the point where the two people were joined. Yeah…! When Seo-woon reacted sensitively, Yi-jin stopped fiddling with his hands and looked directly at Seo-woon, saying,
I want to get Seo-woon-ssi pregnant.
As always, this time too, Yi-jin was sincere.
That’s all.
Pure sincerity, with not a hint of falsehood, Yi-jin murmured as he traced the point where the two were joined.
“…I hope we don’t have a baby too soon.”
This must also be Yi-jin’s true feelings. Seo-woon swallowed dryly without realizing it. I could taste semen in my mouth, perhaps because it was filled up to my throat. It was the first time the two of them had ever been together.
* * *
When Seo-woon came back out onto the deck, the sky had already turned pitch black. Instead of the midday sun, the sky was now occupied by dim moonlight, and the fireworks would begin soon.
“Oh? Did you make up?”
Min-young, who spotted Seo-woon, quickly ran over. Seo-woon answered awkwardly.
“…I told you we weren’t fighting.”
It would have been better if they had actually fought. “Something definitely happened though, right?” Min-young scolded Seo-woon in a mature manner. Since it wasn’t entirely wrong, it was hard to respond.
“I talked the adults out of going to look for you and brother-in-law when they couldn’t find you.”
“…You’re the only one I have. Thank you, Min-young.”
“It’s fine as long as you made up.”
Seo-woon owed Min-young a great debt. With a bit of exaggeration, she was more like a benefactor than a younger sister.
“But why the scarf? Isn’t it hot?”
It was actually a handkerchief, not a scarf, but that wasn’t the important part.
“I, I think I’m catching a cold! I got sick!”
Seo-woon desperately announced his illness. “…Oh, right. That’s great…” Min-young didn’t spare any congratulations, as if responding to Seo-woon’s excited chatter.
“Oh, there’s brother-in-law!”
“Yes, Miss Min-young. Are you having a good time?”
Yi-jin, who had briefly stepped away, appeared. Confirming that the two were having a friendly conversation, Seo-woon collapsed onto the sunbed with a pale complexion. The sun had already set, but it was difficult to stand upright and watch the sky.
Knotting. He had experienced his first knotting not in a bed, but in a movie theater seat. If this hadn’t been Australia, if today hadn’t been Australia’s biggest national holiday, Seo-woon would have done nothing but breathe. Seo-woon groaned and struggled to change his position.
“Here you are. Please let me know if you need anything else.”
Yi-jin was holding a tray full of food. It was special food for Seo-woon, who didn’t even have the strength to stand upright. “Oh my, when did you come out?” When the newlywed couple, who had disappeared without a word, appeared again, the adults gathered around Seo-woon one by one. Whether he had been outside all day, Young-min’s face had turned dark with tan. The uncle was the same.
“You came out at just the right time. The fireworks will start soon.”
Actually, I came out to survive. Seo-woon answered inwardly while taking a big bite of his burger.
“Please have some french fries too.”
Yi-jin was assisting Seo-woon from beside him. Whether people normally change a bit after knotting, through this knotting Seo-woon was able to meet a new side of Yi-jin he had never known before. It was tough, no, it was damn tough, but on the other hand, he was also curious about what Yi-jin would be like when he was properly in rut.
“January is already almost over.”
“That’s right. I don’t know how time passes so quickly.”
The sea that darkness had found was so wide and deep that it was indistinguishable from the sky, giving off a somewhat majestic feeling. Whether it’s all human instinct, everyone seemed to have made a pact to spend time reflecting on the past.
“While we wait for the fireworks, shall we all share our New Year’s plans?”
Having looked back at the past, it was now time to talk about the future. The audience’s reaction was very positive.
“Sounds good!”
“Who should go first?”
“I’ll go first.”
Min-young came forward with determination. Everyone knew Min-young’s New Year’s plan, but they didn’t pretend to know.
“There’s no third attempt at the college entrance exam in my life!”
Clap clap clap. Everyone solemnly applauded the expected response. As if her anger wasn’t relieved even after shouting, Min-young huffed for a while before returning to her seat.
“Who should go next?”
“Min-young, will you choose?”
“Then next is… brother-in-law!”
By Min-young’s designation, Yi-jin became the second batter. Yi-jin, who had been attending to Seo-woon eating his burger beside him, leisurely stood up from his seat. Dozens of eyes turned toward Yi-jin. Yi-jin, who was accustomed to standing in front of people, spoke in his characteristic calm voice.
“Our New Year’s plan is.”
“Ours?”
“Oh, I guess he’s talking together with Wooni.”
Additional explanations followed from various places. Seo-woon hadn’t been thinking much until then. No, to be honest, he hadn’t been listening at all from the beginning. The physical exhaustion had been so great that the handmade burger in front of his was more precious at the moment.
“This year, we plan not to get pregnant.”
“…Oh my.”
“Cough!”
“…Whoa.”
The french fry in Seo-woon’s hand dropped helplessly to the floor. Squawk, squawk! Above, seagulls cried loudly without getting tired.
“You crazy…”
…bastard. Seo-woon thought. Whether Yi-jin, who had blurted out embarrassing nonsense in front of everyone, was more problematic, or whether he, who had cursed in front of the adults, was more problematic. What was certain was that both weren’t without problems. Married couples really do become alike.
Bang! Boom! In the awkward silence, the grand fireworks celebrating Australia Day, Australia’s biggest national holiday, began. The fireworks that brilliantly embroidered the night sky looked like a meteor shower. It was perfect timing.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky in unison. Watching everyone’s backs as they looked up at the sky together naturally reminded him of meerkats. It looked even more so because everyone was of different heights.
Yes, it was like that day too. Seo-woon recalled the Hawaiian night sky he had gazed at for a long time while holding hands with Yi-jin. Even though only a few months had passed, it felt like something that happened a very long time ago.
“Seo-woon.”
Yi-jin, who had been looking at the sky together, turned his head to look at Seo-woon. While everyone was looking ahead, only Yi-jin was looking at Seo-woon.
Behind Yi-jin’s back, the night sky colored in various hues was visible. The darkness dressed in brilliant colors was no longer dark.
“This really reminds me of Hawaii.”
Bang! Bang, bang! The fireworks burst again. Each time the fireworks bloomed and faded, shadows fell across Yi-jin’s face.
“If it’s alright with you, would you travel with me again next time? The location doesn’t matter. As long as you’re there, Seo-woon.”
The shadow of a beloved person has color even in its shadow, so you can recognize it at a glance wherever it is. Like tens of thousands of fireworks illuminating the darkness in different shapes, like the flickering lights spreading across the sea, it naturally catches the eye without conscious effort.
The sky sparkles incessantly. Above the heads of the people Seo-woon loves, thousands of shooting stars appear and disappear repeatedly. Seo-woon captured each of their figures in his eyes and made wishes to the shooting stars.
“…Yes, me too.”
May the people I love always be happy. For the first time, Seo-woon wished for other people’s happiness. And he resolved.
To protect this happiness forever. Yi-jin took Seo-woon’s hand. It was warm.
***
That day was particularly unlucky from the morning. He, who had been serving as the president of ZZ Bank for several years, got caught in a 5-car collision on his way to work. Unfortunately, he was right in the middle of it all, so not only did he crash into the car in front, but he was properly treated like a punching bag by the cars behind him. It was a complete sandwich situation. In the end, he was transported to the hospital clutching the back of his neck.
A newspaper interview was scheduled for a few days later. He had been receiving treatments since last week in preparation for the interview, but ended up having to wear a neck brace just days before the interview. On his way back to the company, he got into a heated argument with police over an illegal U-turn. Even after subtly revealing who he was, the police didn’t bat an eye. Anyway, the problem with young people these days is they have no flexibility.
“Executive Director Ahn from XX Trading has sent a gift.”
When he finally arrived at the company in the afternoon, he was quite pleased by the unexpected gift. The youngest son of the XX Group, who had once almost become his son-in-law, was an Alpha he had earmarked as son-in-law material early on, as he had neither dirty rumors like other third-generation chaebols nor a filthy private life.
Although a cunning Omega blinded by money was currently occupying the seat next to Executive Director Ahn, they were mismatched from the start so it wouldn’t last long. Being someone who knew how to take the long view of life, he was already waiting for Executive Director Ahn’s remarriage. He happily opened the card sent by his future son-in-law.
[If it weren’t for the bank president, we wouldn’t have been able to meet. Thank you for bringing me and Yi-jin together. From Jeong Seo-woon and Ahn Yi-jin.]
How dare they! His hands trembled with rage at this brazen provocation. This must surely be the work of that cunning Omega who had been manipulating Executive Director Ahn with that pretty face. Otherwise, there was no way they would have sent him 100% natural Australian honey as if to show off.
How outrageous…! Unable to contain his anger, he jumped up from his seat. And then he faced it—the aftermath of his second car accident. He hadn’t only injured his neck to begin with. He ended up throwing out his back.
It was a damn unlucky day.