By Zephyria Moderate exercise improves sleep quality. That day, Seo-woon had a satisfying sleep both qualitatively and quantitatively. He slept so sweetly that his whole body felt not just refreshed, but brimming with energy. This was almost the first time Seo-woon had felt this good since starting his freelance life.
His face was glowing, and his whole body was overflowing with vitality. Despite sleeping so much, nothing was swollen anywhere. Well, a few places were swollen, but not because of the long sleep. It was from moving so vigorously…
Thinking that far, Seo-woon finished brushing his teeth with a reddened face. Remembering what he did yesterday, of course his nipples stung against his pajamas, and even just standing still like this was difficult.
The muscles on the inside of his thighs were so knotted up he felt like he might die. Seo-woon hobbled out of the bathroom. It was the price for severely overworking muscles he usually didn’t use. It was also the result of being blinded by pleasure he’d tasted after so long, laying down someone he’d only met twice and enthusiastically moving his hips.
The fact that the thigh pain was so vivid meant it wasn’t a dream. Even as Seo-woon groaned and massaged his thighs, he couldn’t hide his satisfied mood. So this is what it means to feel full without eating – Seo-woon willingly skipped meals, immersed in the afterglow of their lovemaking. In doing so, he forgot something important. It was when he was having his first meal of the day, having delayed eating with the excuse that his body felt languid, that his phone rang.
Caller: Ahn Yi-jin. It was a call from Yi-jin. Not only had Seo-woon finally saved Yi-jin’s number, but just seeing Yi-jin’s name made him smile wider than anyone. It wasn’t a conscious action – he just couldn’t help smiling. The feeling of being full without eating was truly something he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Seo-woon answered the phone with a beaming smile.
“Hello.”
– “Were you sleeping?”
Even to his own ears, it sounded like a voice of someone who just woke up. Since he hadn’t said a word since getting up until now, it was understandable that Yi-jin might misunderstand. Seo-woon kindly cleared up Yi-jin’s misunderstanding, more kindly than anyone. The kindness welled up naturally from deep in his heart.
“No. It’s just the first time I’m speaking today.”
– “I see. Have you eaten?”
“I’m eating now. How about you, Yi-jin?”
– “I’ve eaten too.”
It was an ordinary, peaceful conversation that lovers might have. However, the peace didn’t last long.
– “Are you free the first week of next month?”
“…I’m free, but…”
Could it be… With a hopeful heart, Seo-woon trailed off.
– “Then let’s meet with the adults together then.”
“Adults?”
– “Yes. I’ll arrange the meeting place. Is Korean traditional cuisine okay?”
Ah, right. This guy said he wanted to marry me. Seo-woon calmly grasped the situation.
“That’s fine, but if we have a formal meeting with parents, are we really getting married?”
– “Is there such a thing as fake marriage?”
“…You weren’t joking, were you?”
– “I don’t joke.”
“That doesn’t seem like something to be proud of.”
– “I wasn’t bragging either.”
“Ah, yes. So you want to get married?”
– “Yes, that’s right. Do you need more confirmation?”
“What kind of confirmation?”
– “Pheromones and physical compatibility.”
Right, that happened. The reason Seo-woon could smile broadly despite suffering from muscle pain – in the beginning, there were pheromones and physical compatibility. Seo-woon answered honestly.
“No. I don’t think we need to confirm that further.”
– “Does that mean you passed?”
“…What do you mean passed. It’s a free pass.”
– “That’s fortunate.”
“What about you, Yi-jin?”
Seo-woon asked. Thinking of Yi-jin’s junior that would stand up eagerly without any help, the answer was obvious, but since it was better to be certain, he brazenly asked outright despite the embarrassment. Fortunately, Yi-jin didn’t seem flustered and calmly shared his thoughts.
– “It was as expected.”
The problem was that it wasn’t exactly an exemplary answer. It wasn’t conventional either. …What should one say in times like this? While Seo-woon pondered, Yi-jin continued the conversation on his own.
– “Seo-woon’s pheromones had a sweet scent. I thought they would. However…”
“Yes.”
– “Physical compatibility… I’m not sure how to put it.”
“…Why?”
Could it be that it wasn’t good…? Earthquakes occurred in Seo-woon’s pupils. A tsunami also rushed in.
– “The standards for physical compatibility aren’t clearly established, so it would be difficult to give you precise words.”
No. At this point, it’s definitely nonsense. Seo-woon began pursuing the nonsense.
“What standards are there for physical compatibility? If I feel good, then it’s good.”
– “Is that so?”
“What else would you do? How would you try to average that?”
– “There would certainly be many errors in the derivation process.”
That’s the problem. So you’re convinced by that? There were many things to say in various ways, but he didn’t. “So what’s your answer?” There was only one thing Seo-woon needed to know right now.
– “What’s important is Seo-woon’s confirmation, my opinion isn’t important.”
“…You call that an answer…”
– “I knew it would be like this from the beginning. Seo-woon was the one who needed confirmation. Isn’t that right?”
So how was I supposed to know that? Even as he thought this, the corners of Seo-woon’s mouth were already forming an arc. His cheeks rose up and became plump.
– “Seo-woon.”
Yi-jin called Seo-woon’s name once more. “Yes.” Though it wouldn’t be visible, Seo-woon answered with a smiling face. What kind of chaos is this in the middle of eating?
– “Let’s get married.”
Marriage, marriage. Seo-woon wanted to get married. Of course he did. That’s why he went on blind dates and worked so diligently. He had always wanted to get married someday, but he didn’t know that day would come so quickly. Even more so, he never imagined he’d be contemplating it while eating alone at home.
Still, having met twice, he’d become quite accustomed to Yi-jin’s calm courtship. What does this alpha believe in to keep talking about marriage like this? Does he trust me? What does he see in me? What does he know about me? There would be no end to questions if he started doubting.
He was curious. Of course he was curious, but Seo-woon ultimately didn’t ask anything. Because what mattered now wasn’t Yi-jin’s thoughts. Others’ opinions have clear roles and limitations, and they dare not take responsibility for my choices. Choosing something and taking responsibility for the consequences is solely my burden, and Seo-woon was someone who valued his own domain more than anyone.
So what exactly do I want to do with this person? Seo-woon pondered. Though he was in pajamas holding a spoon, this could be said to be the most serious he’d been in recent years.
Seo-woon’s life, short as it may be, flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern. Now he earned money and had a reasonably complete sense of self, but all of this was relatively recent – it had taken quite a long time to get to this point. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it took a lifetime.
And yet, the peaceful and stable daily life that Seo-woon had built up over his entire lifetime was instantly turned upside down by an alpha he’d only met twice.
Though he’d only met Yi-jin twice, each meeting rewrote the history of shock, making it impossible to let his guard down. The same was true during this phone call. Unpredictable – he couldn’t even dare imagine what the future with Yi-jin would look like. No one knew what consequences today’s choice would bring.
Anxiety – it was a sensation Seo-woon felt after a very long time. At some point, Seo-woon had become accustomed to many things. He’d dated enough to have experience, and broken up enough to know how that felt too. It had been over five years since he’d started working, and as time passed, he’d accumulated considerable experience.
The heart-fluttering excitement that used to visit the past Seo-woon quite often no longer came easily to adult Jung Seo-woon. It wasn’t just romance – everything was like that. While finding comfort in peaceful daily life, he also felt something was lacking. What was he supposed to do? In this utterly contradictory peace, Seo-woon found himself facing a major life decision in the middle of eating.
The anxiety remained. Of course he was anxious, but if he was equally excited about it, had he finally lost his mind? Seo-woon didn’t know how to define this emotion. To call it impulsive, he found himself objectively weighing Yi-jin’s not-bad conditions one by one; to call it rational, he wanted to willingly accept this fate. He couldn’t help but be an appropriately materialistic romanticist perfectly suited to this era.
Wait! Hold on, Seo-woon. Shouldn’t there be some flaw somewhere? You should date for at least two years! Divorce is worse than breaking an engagement, and breaking an engagement is worse than breaking up! Seo-woon’s last remaining rationality desperately tried to dissuade him. Still, seeing that he couldn’t readily say no, he really wasn’t in his right mind.
“Right, well.”
He held a spoon in one hand and his phone in the other. He was still in pajamas. Finally, Seo-woon came to accept Yi-jin’s proposal.
“Let’s do it. Marriage.”
Can I get a refund on the fortune teller? At the moment of deciding this major life matter, Seo-woon had a very practical concern. “Thank you.” From the other end of the phone, Yi-jin conveyed his thanks.
It’ll work out somehow. For now, everything seemed like it would be fine. Thus Seo-woon’s marriage was decided.
* * *
So what happened after that? Nothing much – they lived well. Very well. For such a major life decision being made in an instant, the days were exactly the same as usual.
Life is practice. Marriage is marriage, but eating well and living well right now was more important. In fact, it was the most important thing. Seo-woon rolled around for a few more days after that before starting a new project. Since it was a place he’d be working with through a client referral rather than an existing client, he was twice as nervous throughout the work.
Having regular clients makes work easier, but the fatal flaw of only taking on regular clients is that there’s no development. Even for self-improvement, he couldn’t neglect developing new clients, but it was still too difficult. He couldn’t remember when he’d last had a proper meal. Even though he wasn’t working 24 hours straight, when he actually tried to eat properly, why was that time so preciously missed? Today too, Seo-woon ate at his desk. After sending what must have been the umpteenth revision, he glared at his monitor while biting into a convenience store sandwich.
Please just approve it already. He’d let his guard down because the person in charge spoke so kindly. This client never said what they wanted in one go. You could call it the pinnacle of indirect communication. It was the type least compatible with Seo-woon. Seo-woon was a straightforward person who found indirect communication the most difficult thing in the world.
This was also why Yi-jin’s attitude, which could seem rude, wasn’t particularly unpleasant to him. Even if the other person was excessively honest, being dumbfounded was much better than being frustrated. It might be absurd, but at least conversation was possible, right? Seo-woon chewed his sandwich while organizing the files he’d worked on.
Had he eaten about half now? As if by magic, his phone rang. Another revision request? Seo-woon frowned and answered the phone without even looking at it. But the phone kept ringing. The ringing wouldn’t stop.
What? When he finally checked his phone, it wasn’t a call but an alarm ringing. It was a schedule alarm Seo-woon had set as insurance a week or two ago.
[Family Meeting D-2]
Ah, right. The family meeting. I have to have a family meeting, don’t I? His mind snapped to attention. He’d completely forgotten about it.
That made sense since Yi-jin had gone on a business trip abroad not long after Seo-woon started working. The contact that used to happen at least every other day, at most once or twice a day, naturally decreased. Thanks to that, he’d properly forgotten. The fact that he was about to get married.
Two days until the family meeting – he had to inform the adults of this news right away. Given the situation, there wasn’t even time to reconsider marriage now. Seo-woon hurriedly contacted his uncle and aunt.
It was a sudden family meeting that was hard to believe for both Seo-woon, who was delivering the news, and his uncle and aunt, who were receiving it. It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand his shocked uncle and aunt, but there really was too little time. The day of the family meeting arrived before his uncle and aunt’s shock had even subsided.
“You have to understand him. Your uncle is naturally narrow-minded.”
If the alarm had gone off just one day earlier, it would have been a disaster in many ways. Seo-woon looked at his uncle’s dejected back as he stared out the window and smiled awkwardly. Right now, he was simply a sinner. A nephew who suddenly contacts them saying there’s a family meeting in two days – even with ten mouths, he had nothing to say.
“No, I’m completely in the wrong. I’m sorry, aunt.”
“Oh, it’s fine. These things happen. But you’ll let us know the wedding date on time, right?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“You skipped the introductions, so you must tell us the wedding date in advance, okay?”
Usually people greet the family before the family meeting, but the two of them had skipped even that. Not for any special reason – when schedules didn’t match and they kept postponing day by day, they concluded they’d just greet each other at the family meeting. Seo-woon was busy, Yi-jin was busy, and the marriage preparations themselves were proceeding so hastily that there wasn’t much time to spare.
Of course, all of this was an excuse – in truth, Seo-woon, who had properly forgotten about his own marriage, was most at fault.
“Oh, why are you embarrassing the kid? When you’re making your own living, these things can happen.”
“My goodness, who said what? Don’t take it out on me for no reason. Why are you taking it out on me after getting slapped by your beloved nephew?”
“What are you saying? The kid can hear.”
“Kid, what kid? Is Seo-woon seven years old?”
So it ends up like this again. He truly couldn’t sit still. Ah, this is tiring. Seo-woon kept an awkward robot-like smile the entire way to the restaurant.
Now that the family meeting was imminent, the anxiety he’d forgotten came creeping back, keeping him up at night. His sleep schedule was already irregular due to work, but when tension and discomfort hit all at once, this situation felt like a dream. The beginning of the dream goes back two days.
“Does their side know you’re an omega too?”
There’s someone I want to marry. The first reaction to that difficult sentence was worry. In a world overwhelmingly populated by betas rather than alphas and omegas, that was understandable. “Yes, he’s an alpha.” His aunt was most pleased with Seo-woon’s answer.
Both his uncle and aunt were betas. How much effort they had put into understanding the world of traits incomprehensible through messages. Seo-woon was truly grateful to his uncle and aunt who had raised him.
“What kind of person is he?”
“What does he do?”
“Have you perhaps bonded yet?”
“What do his parents do?”
Endless questions followed Seo-woon’s sudden announcement. Evading answers by saying he’d explain when they met in person was by no means what Seo-woon had intended. In truth, Seo-woon didn’t know much either. What kind of person Yi-jin was, what he did for work – these were things Seo-woon was most curious about.
…Will I really be okay? It’s not that he wasn’t worried, but on the other hand, he also had irresponsible thoughts. After all, it’s not like they’re actually married yet, so what does it matter? It’s just a formal meeting with parents at most. There’s still plenty of time to turn back. Seo-woon knew this better than anyone. Seo-woon steeled himself once more. Divorce is worse than a broken engagement, and a broken engagement is worse than a breakup. Thinking this way made his heart feel much lighter.
Before he knew it, the car had stopped. A parking attendant approached and personally opened the car door for him. Seo-woon got out of the car with determination. The formal meeting with parents was about to begin.
Due to his uncle’s insistence, they arrived a whole 40 minutes early. It was too hot to wait outside, so they decided to wait inside. Seo-woon’s family was guided to a room reserved under “An Yi-jin.” Like most formal parent meetings, the space was separated like a private annex. Everything was fine up to this point.
“Did they give us the wrong room?”
“Are we having a press conference or something?”
Except for the fact that the room was excessively large. There were so many chairs in the room that you couldn’t count them at a glance. “Let me go check,” Seo-woon hurriedly went outside to find a staff member. There must have been a mistake. Seo-woon naturally believed this, but it was a naive thought. This room was indeed what Yi-jin had reserved.
Seo-woon returned and calmly looked around the room. Looking more carefully, there were only three chairs on one side, but on the opposite side, chairs stretched endlessly. Just how many seats did they prepare? ‘We’re at most three people, so you don’t need to match us deliberately.’ Seo-woon had certainly said that first, but this seemed a bit too much. Just looking at the number of chairs, it was no different from a press conference room rather than a formal meeting. Looking at the empty opposite side that seemed even more spacious because no one had arrived yet, Seo-woon became frantically anxious. They hadn’t even had the formal meeting yet, but it was extraordinary from the start.
“This won’t do. I need to drink more water.”
“Again? How many glasses is that already? Calm down. Your face is completely pale right now.”
“You think you look fine? You’re ripening red like a freshly steamed sweet potato…”
“Calling someone a sweet potato!”
“Be grateful I didn’t say potato. You should be thankful, tsk…”
“P-potato…!”
Seo-woon, who would normally have tactfully brought water on his own, didn’t have the time to care about his uncle and aunt right now. If only it hadn’t overlapped with his project, he could have prepared more than this. That was all he could think about.
Setting aside not knowing well what kind of person Yi-jin was (this fact had become too obvious now), there had been no discussion about how they should coordinate their stories in front of both families’ adults. If they told the truth, it seemed too reckless even by his own standards, and if they appropriately obscured the truth, it was questionable whether Yi-jin would go along with it.
…Fine. I should hope for what I can hope for. There was no way Yi-jin would tactfully act along with Seo-woon’s unilateral rhythm without agreement. Though he didn’t know much about Yi-jin, he could be certain of this much.
The dice had already been cast. Now he could only hope that whatever the outcome, it wouldn’t remain as a wound for his uncle and aunt. Of course, for himself as well.
“Oh my, you were here first?”
“Nice to meet you!”
“Wow! Our Jini’s husband is so handsome!”
“Hello!”
“Oh, what are you all doing? Come on in! They’re waiting!”
Still, isn’t this too much? Like most natural disasters, they appeared suddenly. And they kept coming in. One person, two people, five people, seven people… As the numbers increased, Seo-woon’s mind flew away. The age range was vastly different and the types were diverse. Alphas, Omegas, and Betas each noisily burst into the room. Their outfits were so colorful it hurt his eyes.
It happened in an instant. His uncle and aunt were stunned. Seo-woon was equally stunned, but fortunately or unfortunately, the uninvited guests were all sociable. They were friendly toward Seo-woon’s family. His uncle and aunt were pushed along by them to shake hands one by one.
“I’m Jini’s aunt.”
“I’m Jini’s second sister.”
“I’m Jini’s uncle!”
“I’m Jini’s third brother.”
“Jini’s…”
“Jini’s…”
Wait a minute, who is Jini again? Seo-woon belatedly came to his senses. He needed to confirm who Jini was, but he couldn’t figure out who to ask. There were too many people. Ha ha ho ho, the laughter never stopped. He was standing firmly on the ground with both feet, but suddenly felt like he was getting motion sickness.
So who is Jini? In the midst of lingering confusion, the last two people came to greet Seo-woon’s family.
“Hello. I’m Jini’s mother.”
Huh? The woman was the one who greeted them, but Seo-woon’s gaze stopped on the middle-aged man next to her. Among the many people surrounding the three of them and arbitrarily immersed in emotion, only that person looked familiar. What is it? What could it be? Seo-woon knew that person. He definitely knew him. He had definitely seen that tall middle-aged man, who clearly appeared to be an Alpha, somewhere before.
“I’m the person who is Jini’s father.”
Ah, I see. Seo-woon understood instantly. From his soft baritone voice, he very much resembled Yi-jin. No, Yi-jin resembled this side. Not just the voice, but the face too. Yi-jin was clearly visible in the faces of the middle-aged couple holding Seo-woon’s hands. Is that why he looked so familiar? Seo-woon casually shook off the déjà vu he felt.
“Are you going to keep standing? Everyone please sit down. Uncle, please take the innermost seat.”
There were so many people he didn’t even know someone was there. Yi-jin’s stiff voice could be heard from far away. Had Yi-jin ever been this welcome? Although it was only three meetings in total including today, anyway, Seo-woon felt like he had met a savior and waited for Yi-jin. Yi-jin was walking inward, organizing the chaotic people. Of course, it didn’t look smooth.
“Our Jini getting married, uncle is really…”
“How wonderful. Jini, you match so well together. You’re the couple of the century.”
“Our Jini, when did you grow up so much?”
“Aunt, please go in too. Uncle goes in next, and big brother and sister, please sit over here.”
It must be a characteristic of that family. Everyone including Yi-jin was each saying only what they wanted to say. Seo-woon watched the scene blankly and then helped his uncle and aunt sit down. The uncle and aunt docilely followed Seo-woon. What on earth is this all about… Their dazed expressions said everything.
“Hello. I’m late with my greetings. I’m Ahn Yi-jin, who will marry Seo-woon.”
“Oh, my. Nice to meet you. Very nice to meet you.”
When the commotion subsided, Yi-jin bowed and greeted them. His uncle and aunt also awkwardly bowed their heads in greeting. Clap clap clap, thunderous applause erupted from the opposite side. “All grown up, all grown up.” Voices filled with emotion continued. Now it was Seo-woon’s turn.
“Hello. I’m Jung Seo-woon.”
Clap clap clap clap clap! As soon as he finished speaking, tremendous cheers followed. “Thank you…” Seo-woon unconsciously offered thanks in response to the enthusiastic cheers. It felt like that was what he should do.
“How wonderful. So polite too.”
“Nice voice too!”
“They look so good together even like this.”
“Our Jini has a good eye for people!”
There was no way he couldn’t hear the whispers dripping with goodwill. For some reason, his uncle and aunt were grinning from ear to ear, pleased by such empty compliments. Looking closely, they were even clapping their hands.
“You must be busy, but thank you for taking this precious time. I’m Yi-jin’s parent.”
Yi-jin’s parents were the first to break the ice. Unlike Seo-woon’s uncle and aunt who were betas, they were a typical alpha and omega couple.
“What are you saying? We’re the ones who are more grateful. I’m the person who will be Seo-woon’s uncle-in-law.”
“Hello, I’m Seo-woon’s aunt-in-law.”
Seo-woon’s uncle and aunt also finished their introductions. A family consisting of an uncle and aunt rather than biological parents – how would Yi-jin’s family accept this? Seo-woon nervously watched Yi-jin’s side for their reaction. Fortunately, they didn’t show any particular reaction. At least that’s how it appeared on the surface.
“You two look so well-suited together.”
“You must have been very popular.”
“Oh no, not at all. Just the usual amount anyone gets. I got tired of receiving confessions though.”
Ahahaha! The atmosphere relaxed considerably with his aunt’s good-natured response. It seemed like there was nothing more to relax, but the mood got even better. What is this? Scary… Seo-woon couldn’t adjust to the temperature difference between Yi-jin and the families. Yi-jin was the only one not smiling. Not because he was angry or in a bad mood, but he was looking at Seo-woon with that characteristically stoic expression.
“Have you been well?”
“Me?”
“Yes. I mean you, Seo-woon.”
The adults who had been exchanging jokes warmly all shut their mouths at once as if by agreement. It was because the two main characters of the day had started talking to each other. Seo-woon sincerely hoped Yi-jin wouldn’t say anything strange.
“Of course I’ve been well…”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Haha. Yes…”
“……”
“…Have you been well too, Yi-jin?”
“Yes. I’ve been well too. I’ve finished adjusting to the time difference as well.”
“That’s… good to hear.”
“Yes.”
…Do we look like a normal couple right now? The question occurred to him, but he didn’t have the courage to confirm it.
“Seo-woon. Our child is quite lacking in expression, isn’t he?”
As expected, it didn’t seem that way. Seo-woon pondered his answer for a moment in the spotlight pouring down on him.
“I think he’s fine, but I’m the one who’s worried. I’m not very warm myself.”
“No. Seo-woon is not stoic.”
Please just stay quiet. Seo-woon deliberately didn’t look back at Yi-jin. If their eyes met, he felt like he might unconsciously make a stern face.
“Oh my, that kid too. There’s nothing to worry about, is there?”
“That’s right. Seo-woon doesn’t need to worry.”
I get it, so please just stay still. Thanks to this doting alpha who took his omega’s side, pleased smiles played around the adults’ lips. The same was true for his uncle and aunt. The atmosphere was too good. Only Seo-woon was at a loss, breaking into a cold sweat. Though this wasn’t his first time at such a gathering, this harmonious atmosphere was definitely a first.
“This is a place our family visits often, but I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.”
“Please feel free to tell us if there’s anything uncomfortable.”
Before long, a full table of food was prepared. Since they had chosen this as the venue for the family meeting, he had naturally thought the food would be decent, but he hadn’t expected it to be this proper. Much of the Korean food he’d eaten his entire life seemed like nothing compared to this – there were many dishes he’d never seen in his life. His aunt, who was always interested in cooking, couldn’t take her eyes off the food.
“It looks like it was crafted for viewing rather than eating. So beautiful…”
“It’s not just good to look at but tastes good too, so please try everything slowly.”
It was exactly as she said. Each dish melted in the mouth. The refined Korean cuisine, neither burdensome nor overstimulating, began to steadily stimulate the appetite. Seo-woon, who had been too busy with work to eat proper meals, immediately felt his appetite return. Even though he had felt nauseous just moments before, he completely forgot about it.
The meal time continued pleasantly, both objectively and subjectively. Before they knew it, the adults were having drinks with their meal. “The most delicious alcohol is definitely a cup of makgeolli at the summit,” – at the serious declaration from his uncle and aunt, who were hiking enthusiasts, Yi-jin’s family eagerly offered drinks as if they had been waiting.
…Do people normally drink at family meetings? He pondered briefly, but no matter how he thought about it, the basic conditions didn’t match. Seo-woon and Yi-jin had been unconventional from their first meeting. Everything was different to compare with other people’s typical family meetings. So what if it’s not typical? The food is delicious and the atmosphere is good. Isn’t that enough? Seo-woon quickly dismissed his concerns. It wasn’t an issue anyone except Seo-woon cared about anyway.
“When Seo-woon said there was someone he wanted to marry, I was secretly more worried, but I’m relieved that we get to form ties with such good people.”
“That’s what we want to say. All of our family members married early, so we were always worried about Yi-jin, but I guess he was waiting to meet such a good connection.”
Even Seo-woon, who had been eating well, felt his eyes well up at this point. Not from being moved, but from relief. It really was fortunate. Seo-woon had been so worried about how Yi-jin’s family would accept his family situation that he’d even had nightmares about it. Though they were a bit loud and boisterous, they didn’t seem like bad people.
“Ahem, then, Yi-jin?”
Cough. Yi-jin was called, but Seo-woon was the one who choked. Seo-woon barely swallowed his cough and hurriedly looked up. “Yes. Please go ahead.” Yi-jin was looking at his uncle with a clean expression. Ah, no. He didn’t know what it was, but he just had that feeling. Yi-jin and his uncle – there was no telling where their conversation would go.
“How long have you been seeing our Seo-woon?”
Today is our third meeting. The family meeting is just beginning now.
“I have quite a few things I’m curious about regarding Yi-jin, but our Seo-woon should be the one telling me these things.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, his uncle took the initiative before Yi-jin could answer. “Is that so?” Yi-jin replied composedly, but he didn’t seem trustworthy at all. Yi-jin’s way of speaking was reminiscent of artificial intelligence embedded in phones. Whether intentional or not, there was no disputing that he was an unkind subject for adults.
“Then I’ll start with a simple self-introduction.”
Yet for all that, he wasn’t without manners. As he had felt during their last meeting, it might be a matter of tact. Yi-jin stood up from his seat as if to introduce himself. Do you really have to go that far? Seo-woon cried out silently.
“My name is Ahn Yi-jin, I’m a dominant alpha and I’m thirty-one this year. I have two older brothers and one older sister, making me the youngest of three sons and one daughter. My parents are an alpha and omega, my eldest brother and sister are alphas, and my second brother is an omega.”
For all that, it was a more beneficial time than expected. First of all, Seo-woon clearly learned about Yi-jin’s family relationships. Although he had received introductions earlier, there were so many people that he had been confused about who was who among Yi-jin’s relatives, but now he could perfectly distinguish them all.
And Yi-jin roughly summarized and organized his 31 years of life by revealing his educational background and career. As he had felt before, Yi-jin seemed like he would be incredibly good at work. Before he knew it, Seo-woon was listening attentively to Yi-jin’s presentation along with his uncle and aunt.
Except for Yi-jin’s name, age, and secondary gender, these were all facts he was learning for the first time. Yi-jin had generally spent a long time studying abroad. Is that why his family members are so clingy – because they lived apart from him? Seo-woon diligently stored information in his head while adding his own commentary. In any case, Yi-jin was currently the person most likely to marry Seo-woon.
“I’ve been working at XX Trading’s Korean branch since this year. Before that, I was at the American branch.”
So that’s why he frequently went on overseas business trips. Seo-woon finally learned about Yi-jin’s occupation. Being able to decide on marriage without even knowing the other person’s job was largely thanks to Yi-jin’s AlphaGo-like attitude. He obviously didn’t seem like he’d do anything illegal, but a major corporation employee – it seemed fitting yet somehow didn’t fit. The fact that Yi-jin had any social life at all was a bit… Amazing he didn’t get fired. Is he different at the company? That was Seo-woon’s first thought.
His uncle and aunt, who knew nothing about Yi-jin, were busy nodding with faces full of trust. Following prestigious schools that any Korean would have heard of, a major corporation drove the final nail. His uncle and aunt’s gazes toward Yi-jin couldn’t have been more generous.
Whatever the case, good things are good things. Now I feel a bit more at ease. But as always, accidents happen at unexpected moments.
“Come visit us all together next time.”
What? Where? Suddenly Yi-jin’s uncle interrupted to make his presence known.
“You said you have two children?”
“Ah, yes. We have one daughter and one son. But where are you asking us to visit…”
“LA!”
Why does LA come up here? When Seo-woon’s family couldn’t follow the flow of conversation and stumbled, Yi-jin kindly added an explanation.
“The American branch is in LA.”
“Ah, so you were together with your uncle at the American branch?”
“Yes. Uncle is in charge of the American branch, and my father is in charge of the Korean branch.”
Is it just his imagination? Somehow he felt like he had learned something tremendous. Seo-woon stopped thinking for a moment.
“With more family members, we’ll need a bigger cruiser.”
“Oh my, how nice. Indeed, the more people, the more fun it is.”
“Big brother, that’s a really good idea. Let’s all have a cruiser party! When would be good for you, in-laws?”
It wasn’t just Yi-jin – it seemed to be a family trait. From uncle to mother to father, they all had incredible initiative. Marriage seemed to be already a foregone conclusion as they were ready to plan a cruiser party right away. Seo-woon took charge of assessing the situation on behalf of his stunned uncle and aunt.
“…Yi-jin.”
“Yes.”
“There’s something I want to ask, just in case.”
“Yes. Please go ahead.”
“If this is offensive, I apologize in advance. Since we’re going to… marry, I think I should know.”
“Not at all. You’re right, Seo-woon. Please feel free to ask anything. I’ll do my best to inform you.”
“…By any chance, is your father’s name…”
“It’s Ahn Yi-sun.”
“Then, could it be that your father’s occupation, no, workplace, position, the one who appears on TV…?”
“Ah, you know him too, Seo-woon. He’s the chairman of XX Group.”
His startled uncle dropped his spoon. Seo-woon’s heart dropped. So that’s why he looked familiar, not just because he resembled Yi-jin, but because he’d seen him so much that it felt familiar. Meanwhile, his aunt was busy planning travel itineraries with the in-laws.
Is this marriage really okay to go through with? Seo-woon wished all of this was just a dream.
“What, what did you say? XX Group?”
“That’s what I’m telling you! He’s not just a company employee. XX is the youngest son! No, all those people were XX Group people!”
He doesn’t remember what was discussed or how after that. The harmonious parent meeting where they were discussing travel plans was hastily concluded by Seo-woon and his uncle. Only after finishing the formal meeting and coming to a small pavilion prepared at the restaurant did his aunt, who learned the truth, react similarly. Although she kept her voice down out of consideration for others, her expression colored with shock couldn’t be hidden.
“A chaebol family? It’s a chaebol family, isn’t it? A chaebol family! Why would a chaebol family want Seo-woon…”
“You two didn’t develop a reason you had to get married, did you…”
“We didn’t imprint and I’m not pregnant, so stop talking about that.”
Seo-woon was equally puzzled, but what wasn’t true wasn’t true. ‘Then why exactly…?’ Seo-woon’s sharp answer only deepened his uncle and aunt’s questions. In truth, no one understood this situation less than Seo-woon himself. Everyone except Seo-woon just didn’t know that. Seo-woon maintained a composed attitude while hiding his true feelings as much as possible.
“Seo-woon.”
“Oh my, what a shock!”
“I’m sorry. You were very startled…”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing. Did you come to see Seo-woon?”
“Yes. That’s right…”
“You two talk comfortably! Very comfortably! We’ll go ahead. It’s almost time for Min-young to finish school!”
“Right. It’s because of Min-young! Min-young is, uh, a senior in high school… Well, we’ll be going then. Have a comfortable talk!”
With Yi-jin’s appearance, his uncle and aunt hurriedly left. It was clearly unnatural to anyone watching, but fortunately the other party was Yi-jin. He bowed politely to his departing uncle and aunt. Yes, he has manners at least. But that’s not what’s important. What’s important is not that… Seo-woon sighed briefly. He didn’t know what to say, how to say it, or where to start. What on earth is all this – it’s been like this ever since he got to know Yi-jin.
Perhaps sensing the unusual atmosphere, Yi-jin raised his eyebrows. Seo-woon spoke first.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What do you mean?”
“About your family.”
“Yes.”
“You could have at least given me a hint…!”
“Yes.”
Yi-jin showed no particular reaction. As if telling him to continue talking, he quietly waited for Seo-woon’s next words. It was hard to call it his usual behavior, but there wasn’t much difference from usual, which only drained Seo-woon’s energy. He’d have to talk it through from now to know if Yi-jin really thought that way, but at this rate, he seemed likely to spout nonsense like “Is that really so important?”
“Is what my father does for work really that important?”
As expected, ominous premonitions are never wrong. Since it was a somewhat expected answer, Seo-woon was able to maintain his composure.
“Although there are many affiliates, neither my father nor anyone else does anything illegal.”
“…It’s not like I’m here for an audit – would I make an issue of something like that?”
“Then what aspect is bothering you?”
You’re asking because you don’t know that? However, there was a good chance that the alpha in front of him really asked because he didn’t know. Seo-woon answered clearly.
“The difference between our families is too great.”
“When you say family differences…”
“Economic differences.”
The answer came out immediately without any need for consideration. “Economic…” Yi-jin repeated Seo-woon’s words in a strange tone. He looked so nonchalant that Seo-woon became twice as frustrated.
“Yi-jin.”
“Yes. Please go ahead.”
“…Is that really true?”
“What is?”
“That… is your father really Chairman Ahn Yi-sun?”
Even saying the word “chaebol” out loud felt awkward. Seo-woon asked indirectly.
“Yes, he is my biological father.”
“No, no, no. That’s not what I meant…”
Thanks to this, Seo-woon had unintentionally ended up confirming someone else’s family paternity. This, this isn’t right? The shock hadn’t fully subsided yet, so he had forgotten. The alpha in front of him didn’t understand indirect communication. Eventually, Seo-woon openly began confirming Yi-jin’s identity.
“Then you’re also a XX Group person?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“But why…?”
Even if he asked why, the answer that would come back was obvious. How would he know? Faced with this unbelievable reality, Seo-woon’s rationality kept trying to escape. Fortunately, Yi-jin didn’t mock such a Seo-woon. He didn’t ignore him either.
“Certainly… it’s an aspect I’ve never considered before. I’ll think about it more and get back to you.”
Rather, he was too serious, which was the problem. Yi-jin said with admiration.
“Thank you for the constructive and fresh question.”
“…You certainly have a lot to be grateful for, Yi-jin.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Seo-woon.”
“…What did I do again?”
“As expected, you’re amazing, Seo-woon.”
“…Suddenly?”
“Not suddenly. I’ve thought so since we first met.”
So why exactly? He didn’t understand how the conversation had suddenly taken this turn. Someone definitely needed to hold onto their sanity. Seo-woon caught Yi-jin, who was running off on a tangent, and brought him back to the point.
“Why on earth would a XX Group person come out for blind dates? Don’t all chaebol marry among themselves?”
“No, that’s not the case.”
“Huh? It’s not?”
“No, that’s not the case.”
“…Why?”
“Even if you ask why…”
The sudden essay-type question caused Yi-jin’s buffering to lengthen. When he waited patiently, Yi-jin finished buffering and successfully loaded again.
“Of course there are such cases, but as you said, Seo-woon, it’s not all like that.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The questions remained, but since the person involved said it wasn’t the case, there wasn’t much more to say. Right, well. When you think about it, we’re all the same people in the end, so would life really be that simple? Where would you find life events that fall perfectly with 100% probability? You can’t know the whole from just the fragments visible on the surface. Seo-woon, having completed his own synchronization, slowly nodded his head.
“I see… That’s unexpected.”
“Is it?”
“Of course. I thought all chaebol married among themselves… But do marriage agencies even accept chaebol? Are there people with similar conditions?”
Marriage agencies thoroughly arrange meetings based on the other party’s conditions and needs. No matter how large the member pool, it was uncertain whether there would be suitable matches for chaebol.
“What is a ‘gyeoljeongsa’?”
“A marriage agency. It’s short for marriage information company.”
“I see. I didn’t know.”
“…Didn’t you also come out for a blind date through a marriage agency, Yi-jin?”
“If you’re referring to our first meeting, no.”
How could it not be? The confusion belonged solely to Seo-woon, while Yi-jin replied calmly.
“I was introduced to someone’s child through an acquaintance.”
Ah, that’s not right. Yi-jin quickly corrected his statement.
“I was introduced, but since we didn’t meet, it would be more accurate to say I was about to be introduced.”
That’s not the issue… Seo-woon became perplexed. Genuinely perplexed. Since he was a marriage agency member, he had naturally assumed Yi-jin was too. While not all chaebol marry among themselves just because they’re chaebol, an introduction through acquaintances rather than a marriage agency carried a different weight in nuance. Completely different. It was more secretive and personal than marriage agencies, and simultaneously more closed-off.
In the end, it was their own world. Seo-woon was like an uninvited guest who had infiltrated their exclusive world under the guise of coincidence. Learning the truth, Seo-woon’s face became serious.
“May I ask who the person was?”
“As I mentioned, I couldn’t check the documents, so I don’t know the details.”
“…Then what about the person who introduced you?”
Since he had said it was an acquaintance’s child, he would naturally know about the parents who arranged the meeting.
“It’s the president of ZZ Bank.”
“…Bank president…”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Not a branch manager… but the bank president?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Ha, haha… Seo-woon laughed. It was so absurd that he couldn’t help but laugh. Of course. He had expected that level of family background. They said not all chaebol marry among themselves, but if a bank president isn’t chaebol, then what is? Seo-woon finally realized the difference between himself and Yi-jin. He understood it completely with his whole body. Their thinking, their standards – everything was different.
A person completely different from me. Seo-woon looked straight up at Yi-jin and spoke honestly.
“As I mentioned before, my parents passed away when I was young, so I grew up under my uncle’s care. I’m so grateful that he raised me that I have no intention of receiving help during marriage preparations or after marriage. I’ll do everything with my own strength, and I don’t have any inheritance to receive.”
He tried to speak as calmly as possible, but he wasn’t sure if Yi-jin heard it that way. Once again, Seo-woon revealed his circumstances to Yi-jin. He brought out his most intimate side as it was – the side he had always been eager to hide, the side he had never wanted to show anyone.
Even when Seo-woon finally accepted Yi-jin’s proposal, the first thing he had done was reveal his family relationships. Family relationships and upbringing background were not areas Seo-woon could control, so judging whether to accept this or not was ultimately up to the other party. In terms of family relationships, Seo-woon was always the subject of judgment. That was so unfair and frustrating. This was also why Seo-woon felt comfortable with marriage agencies.
If Yi-jin had been a member of the same marriage agency, he wouldn’t have needed to go through this trouble. Yi-jin had said it wouldn’t be any problem, but now the situation was different. Now Seo-woon was the one who had to worry. With that kind of family background, they would have more than enough reason to scrutinize Seo-woon’s family relationships.
Marriage is not a joke. It’s reality. Whatever had bewitched him, it felt like his blurred vision was finally returning. Even after finishing what he had to say, Seo-woon stood facing Yi-jin. Yi-jin was looking down at such a Seo-woon, exactly as he had always appeared.
“Aunt is running XX Food with first older brother, second older brother is the chairman of XX Fashion, and first older sister is the vice-chairman of XX Electronics. Besides that, cousins work in various departments. I’ll inform you of the details through an organizational chart. If you give me your email address, I’ll send it right away.”
What’s the need to go that far? Seo-woon immediately shook his head. Fortunately, Yi-jin also moved on readily.
“Understood. If you have more questions, please ask anytime.”
“Yes, well… But why are you suddenly talking about this?”
“You brought it up, so I’m just responding. There should be no secrets between spouses.”
“We’re not spouses yet.”
“We will be spouses.”
“…You really want to marry me?”
“Is there such a thing as fake marriage?”
“…Don’t chaebols do that kind of thing a lot?”
“That’s prejudice.”
Yi-jin exclaimed indignantly. “Yes, well…” When Seo-woon responded with utter indifference, Yi-jin listed precedents as if in protest.
“My parents met at a classical music club.”
“Oh! My uncle and aunt also met at a bicycle club.”
“Is that so? How interesting.”
“Oh, that’s really interesting! By any chance, what year did they get married?”
“They married in 19XX.”
“Ah, Yi-jin is the youngest. The years are quite different.”
“Then let’s go with dates instead of years.”
“Good idea. When is their wedding anniversary? Ours is…”
Seo-woon, who had been speaking up to that point, belatedly closed his mouth. Ah, I messed up. Where was I going with this? Seo-woon, who belatedly returned to his senses, brought back Yi-jin who was playing around alone in the middle of nowhere.
“A son of a bank president became a freelance designer all alone – are you really okay with that?”
“That’s right.”
“But why exactly? Economic power is so important.”
“You’re right. It is important. I also empathize more than anyone with the importance of economic power. It just doesn’t matter to me. The fact that you’re concerned about economic differences is actually no problem for me at all.”
Yi-jin said, looking straight down at Seo-woon. It was an extremely casual tone, as if having an everyday conversation.
“My economic power is sufficient on its own. My spouse’s economic power doesn’t matter at all.”
It seems Seo-woon had underestimated Yi-jin too much. …Ah, Seo-woon moved his lips several times but ultimately said nothing. No, he couldn’t.
“Of course, I don’t think my economic power is perfect. I haven’t completely resolved the material damage I’ve caused my family yet. However, I judged that it wouldn’t interfere with forming a household, so I requested marriage.”
“…Yes. You did.”
“If I’m insufficient…”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
Far from insufficient, it’s overflowing. Seo-woon quickly cut off Yi-jin’s nonsense.
“I won’t be able to match you economically, Yi-jin. I’ll do my best within my means, but I definitely won’t be able to match you. Just like how even if I worked for the rest of my life, I could never earn as much as you do.”
This was what Seo-woon most wanted to say from the moment he learned about Yi-jin’s family background. It was also the biggest reason he might not be able to go through with this marriage.
Surprisingly, the decision came easily.
“If that’s what you mean, it doesn’t matter. You don’t need to match me, nor do you need to earn as much as I do. Since I’m the one who proposed, I’ll pay for all the wedding costs and marriage preparation expenses. You just need to make time available.”
“…Please say something that makes sense.”
“In what context do you think it doesn’t make sense?”
“Everything you’re saying.”
“If it’s everything, starting from the part about not needing to match me…”
“Ah, you’re saying let’s get married!”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Does it make sense to prepare for the wedding alone?”
“Is there any reason I couldn’t do that?”
It’s nonsense. It’s really nonsense, but somehow it makes sense. Since there’s nothing legally preventing it, there seems to be no way to convince this AlphaGo-like alpha. This is maddening. Seo-woon held the back of his neck. Then he happened to think of another reason.
“Are your mother and father really okay with this?”
“With what?”
“This marriage.”
“You’re stating the obvious. I thought you were also going on the cruise party.”
“Why does the cruise party come up here?”
“Because they said it would be good to move up our wedding as much as possible for that. When I suggested doing it within this year, everyone agreed.”
“What?”
“Your aunt also said it was good.”
When did she become aunt-in-law again? He really can’t keep up with the flow. Is this really okay? A son of a bank president marrying a freelance designer all alone – is it really okay? Seo-woon made Yi-jin face various realistic problems, but it was useless. No matter what problems Seo-woon raised, Yi-jin didn’t think much of them.
After repeating this several times, Seo-woon’s defenses began to crumble. In other words, Seo-woon was the first to raise the white flag. You can never win against someone you can’t communicate with. Seo-woon grew increasingly exhausted. Is he the strange one, or am I the strange one? Looking at Yi-jin who genuinely didn’t seem bothered, he somehow felt like he was being overly dramatic.
“Considering the cruise trip, it seems we should move up the ceremony.”
“……”
“We should do it within this year at least.”
“……”
“Seo-woon?”
“Then let’s do it.”
I don’t know. Whatever happens, I’ll get a lot of alimony. Finally, Seo-woon came to ultimately agree to the marriage.
Thus, Seo-woon got a marriage deadline along with the formal parent meeting. The goal: get married within this year. About 4 months remained until the year ended.
* * *
Everything proceeded at breakneck speed.
– Yes, Seo-woon.
The call connected before even a few rings could sound. Seo-woon put the phone on speaker and then familiarly moved his mouse first. Now was the time for confirmation.
“Is now a good time to talk?”
– It’s fine. Please go ahead.
“I saw the email, and I think it would be better to unify everything with one menu after all. If we try to cover all those people, there will definitely be mistakes, so let’s not provide any room for error on our end. This course seems sufficient.”
– Thinking about it, that does seem better. As expected, you’re wise, Seo-woon.
Human adaptability was truly frightening. Seo-woon clicked on the next email without much reaction. He had become quite accustomed to Yi-jin’s nonsense by now. Though they had still only met three times, phone calls had inevitably become frequent due to wedding preparations.
This agenda item was about wedding invitation design – the previous company hadn’t been satisfactory, so he had received proposals from entirely new companies. As a fellow designer, he didn’t want to be overly picky, but he couldn’t help it. When the skill level was so obviously lacking, what was he supposed to do? Professional hazards really don’t exist for nothing.
“Two places are good for the wedding invitations. The first one and the second one from the bottom. What do you think, Yi-jin?”
– I don’t mind either way, so please choose whichever you prefer, Seo-woon.
“Again?”
– You can decide everything as you wish, Seo-woon. I’m fine with anything.
He couldn’t get used to hearing this every time. Whether he truly had no preferences or not, Yi-jin’s answer was always the same. ‘Do whatever you want, Seo-woon.’ Or ‘I don’t mind.’ At this point, it was enough to create suspicions that hadn’t existed before.
First, let me get my work done. Wedding preparations required much more work than he had imagined. Today too, Seo-woon was methodically handling the remaining tasks together with Yi-jin. It sounded nice to say ‘together,’ but in reality, everything went according to Seo-woon’s wishes. Seo-woon just had to browse through the list Yi-jin had prepared and choose and ask questions. When he gave final confirmation, Yi-jin would put it into practice. I’d like to hire a secretary like this if I make a lot of money. Seo-woon was very pleased with Yi-jin’s work handling.
– Understood. Is there anything else you need?
“Nothing. I’ll think about the furniture list a bit more.”
– Please take your time thinking about it and let me know. If you want to redo the interior, I’ll send you a list of companies, so just say the word.
“It’s a new house, why would we redo the interior? It’s fine, so I’ll just think about the furniture more. You’ve already bought all the big furniture, but there are some small things missing.”
– Yes, I understand. Or we could buy everything new too. Please purchase according to your taste, Seo-woon.
“Why buy new when we have new furniture already? It’s fine, so calm down.”
They had decided to start their newlywed home in a detached house owned by Yi-jin. Perhaps because it was a house purchased with marriage in mind from the beginning, the scale was different. Even though it was an empty house where no one lived, there was a gardener managing the garden and even a caretaker who periodically inspected the house interior. Basic furniture was already provided, so they could move in and live there immediately. It was Seo-woon’s first experience with a substantial wealth gap. Next was the fact that the wedding venue was a hotel owned by XX Group. There were countless other things if he listed them one by one.
That’s why it was even more suspicious. A youngest son of a chaebol family who’s handsome, tall, has a good body, a big dick, and is even good at sex? Is this even possible?
Shouldn’t there be some flaw somewhere? Even though he tried not to, he kept becoming suspicious. Seo-woon spoke directly.
“Yi-jin. I have something to discuss.”
– Would it be better to do the interior after all?
“I said it’s not necessary. Let’s stop talking about that.”
– Understood.
“First… if this offends you, I’ll apologize in advance. I just can’t understand this.”
– What do you mean?
“I think we need mutual verification of each other.”
– Verification?
“Yes. I’d like to see your marriage relationship certificate, health examination certificate, criminal background check, and credit certificate. I’ll prepare mine too.”
Seo-woon calmly waited for Yi-jin’s response. Even if the marriage fell through, it was better than marrying with such an uneasy feeling. He wanted to finally end the suspicions that had been tormenting him since the day he seriously started wedding preparations.
– Did you receive them?
“Receive what?”
– Marriage relationship certificate, health examination report, criminal background check, credit certificate – I just sent them by email.
What? Seo-woon had been staring only at his phone during the call. A new email had arrived in his mailbox. Sender: Ahn Yi-jin, the email was full of attachments.
“What…? What is this…”
– I should have shown these to you on my own before you asked. I’m sorry.
“No, there’s nothing to be sorry about… Did I ever mention this? When did you prepare these?”
– I saw it on a mom cafe and prepared them in advance. They say it’s essential before marriage these days.
“Mom, what?”
– The exact name is ‘Orange Terrace,’ a cafe that people preparing for marriage must join. Until recently it was called ‘A Cozy Rest Space for XX-dong Moms,’ but since it has various quality information beyond childcare, they officially changed the cafe name. Since they changed the name not long ago, the new name doesn’t roll off the tongue well.
What? It seemed like he’d just heard something incredible. While Seo-woon was flustered by the unexpected development, he moved his fingers without hesitation. First, Seo-woon clicked on the marriage relationship certificate. The Yi-jin in the document was indeed a first-time groom. He wasn’t divorced.
– Ah, the asset certificate is missing. I’ll send it right away.
“No. It’s fine. You don’t need to send that.”
– The cafe says you have to send everything…
“It’s fine, so don’t send it.”
– Yes, understood.
He wasn’t genuinely curious about the personal assets of a chaebol family’s youngest son. He felt like he’d get hurt if he knew. Seo-woon stared blankly at the monitor. Several documents were open, but he couldn’t believe them even seeing them. He had thought Yi-jin wouldn’t be displeased, but he never expected him to have prepared them in advance. He was still flustered, but he had to do what needed to be done. After receiving the documents, he couldn’t just wipe his mouth clean by himself. Seo-woon said calmly.
“I’ll prepare my personal documents and send them by tomorrow. Sorry I couldn’t prepare them in advance.”
– Not at all. You must be busy, so please take your time preparing them.
No matter how busy I am, could I be busier than the youngest son of an active chaebol family? Instead of saying that, Seo-woon said he understood and ended the call. Come to think of it, Yi-jin didn’t say he didn’t need the certificates either. It could be intentional like Seo-woon, or he might believe that’s what should naturally happen when getting married. Either way didn’t matter. Both were things anyone would do if they were human. However…
“…Why does he want to marry me?”
He became curious belatedly. It was a very fundamental question.
And the next day, Seo-woon’s wedding date was set. D-45, a month and a half later, Seo-woon would get married. To an alpha he had met three times.
Now it was time to inform acquaintances about the marriage news.