The JM Hotel chain’s eastern branch on the outskirts of the city had an unusual name: An. Supposedly, it meant “a cozy embrace,” though in reality, the story went that one of the owner’s family members had named it after their spouse.
It had been a gift to celebrate the birth of their second child—or so the tale went. Ha-jin knew about it thanks to Kwak Mari, who’d practically spat while talking about a private party she’d attended there as part of a client relations effort. She claimed the story wasn’t even exaggerated. Since it had been pieced together by staff who’d witnessed the couple’s romance, marriage, and parenting firsthand, it was likely close to the truth.
“So romantic, honestly.”
Ha-jin muttered to himself as he parked the car in the hotel lot. After all, what most Alphas feared more than anything was the sudden arrival of an unplanned child. That story Mari told felt like something from a different world altogether.
Yushin, unbuckling his seatbelt in the passenger seat, let out a chuckle.
“What is? The car? Or the hotel?”
“Both. You bring your mask?”
They grabbed the small bags they’d packed and stepped out of the car. Their biggest concern had been a crowded hotel lobby, but even that was taken care of by Lim Han-soo. As soon as he made a call, the hotel staff promptly guided them through a private entrance.
Even the staff member who came to greet them was a Beta. It was hard to tell if the hotel’s service was just that thorough—or if it was simply because Cheon Tae-seong was a particularly demanding client.
Moving in such secrecy ensured Kang Sung-oh wouldn’t catch wind of them either. Ha-jin wondered if all this effort was even necessary—but that thought evaporated the moment they stepped into the suite.
The breathtaking view made everything else disappear.
Sunlight poured in through floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding the room. The high ceiling and artfully designed furniture made it feel more like a gallery than a hotel room. From the pristine white marble floors to the chandeliers—everything was a work of art.
“…Wow. And we’re staying here for how long?”
“Until the CEO returns. A week.”
Yushin turned to Ha-jin, scrunching his nose in a grin.
They didn’t even have time to marvel at the massive bedroom at the suite’s center, the open living area, or the luxurious wine bar. Because the moment they stepped out onto the terrace, a bright blue private infinity pool spread out before them.
Yushin sat slowly on one of the white sunbeds, staring at the pool in awe, his expression dazed. Seeing him like that made Ha-jin’s chest tighten a little.
He was glad he’d accepted Tae-seong’s offer for this vacation.
***
Kwak Mari joined their vacation not long after.
She’d initially reacted with disbelief when Ha-jin asked her to buy swimsuits. But the moment he sent the hotel address, her attitude changed completely. She even went the extra mile, bringing every kind of pool toy imaginable.
Yushin had screamed in delight when she pulled a giant pizza-shaped float from her bag.
As soon as they changed into swimsuits, Mari dove excitedly into the pool.
“Kyah! This is amazing! Ha-jin, Yushin, hurry up and get in! It’s soooo good!”
She laughed brightly, splashing water with both arms.
Despite being clearly excited, Yushin hesitated a bit. He’d been sick for so long and hadn’t had the chance to go out much. Playing like this felt unfamiliar and awkward. He’d never even been to a pool before. His only memories of playing in water were from when he was very young, back when they lived with their grandmother.
“I-I’ll get in… Is the water cold…?”
“Take your time. We’ve got all day.”
Ha-jin didn’t change into a swimsuit right away. Instead, he brought out drinks. For Yushin, he handed over a non-alcoholic cocktail. For himself and Mari, strong highballs. He rarely drank—but today felt like an exception.
“The view here’s insane, huh? Yushin.”
As if in agreement, Mari let out a satisfied hum. She was already leaning against the edge of the infinity pool, taking in the scenery. The hotel’s surrounding forest and the mountains in the distance painted a vivid landscape of glowing green.
At Mari’s urging, Yushin jumped into the pool, and next it was Ha-jin’s turn.
Once all three were drenched, Mari pulled out her phone and started playing music. Soft sounds flowed from the connected speaker, lifting the mood even more.
While the three of them were laughing and having fun, the suite door opened silently behind them. A small group of hotel staff entered, swiftly setting up a table on the connected deck just outside the terrace and arranging the food they’d brought.
By the time Ha-jin noticed, the entire setup was complete. As the finishing touch, they opened a bright white parasol and stepped away.
“Guess your man sent this,” Mari said, grinning mischievously as she splashed water.
Ha-jin stepped out of the pool and reached for a robe. Wrapping it around himself, he walked straight over to the table. Just like always—ever since he’d told Tae-seong about his shellfish allergy—everything was perfectly tailored to Ha-jin’s preferences. A stunning spread of dishes filled the table.
As he walked along the edge, scanning the food, his eyes fell on a flower basket placed in the center. Nestled among the pale pink peonies was a familiar black envelope.
“……”
This time, the envelope was infused only with the peony’s fragrance. Ha-jin held it to his nose and, for some reason, felt a faint pang of disappointment. He opened the card inside—and let out a small, amused snort.
[I’m fine.]
Back by the pool, Mari and Yushin were shouting and laughing again. Wrapped in robes, they ran barefoot into the room, dripping water everywhere. Droplets splattered across the sun-soaked deck.
For some reason, it all made Ha-jin feel inexplicably happy.
***
Kim Dae-hong stood in front of Cheon Tae-seong, holding up his phone and clearing his throat. His screen was flooded with messages from Lim Han-soo.
The meeting had already started in the car on the way from the airport after a grueling 13-hour flight. The message reading began shortly after the first official meeting ended.
Though Dr. Song Jae-hyun—who had accompanied them as Tae-seong’s personal physician—had recommended he get some rest, Tae-seong sat instead, instructing Dae-hong to read the updates aloud.
Kim Dae-hong hesitated at the odd first line but started anyway.
“After parting ways with the CEO, he immediately returned to Boseong Bathhouse. Bathed longer than usual. On his way home, stopped by the supermarket and bought meat, vegetables, side dishes, and cola. Chatted at length with the butcher again. Main topic was whether front leg or hind leg cuts taste better. Butcher convinced him, once again, to just get pork neck. As usual, he gave in easily to the butcher’s suggestion.”
“……”
Cheon Tae-seong, having landed on the other side of the world after a long flight, put a cigarette to his lips—a special type meant only for Alphas, known to help calm pheromones. The smoke that drifted from it was thick and blue, its scent sharp and heavy.
“What are you waiting for? Keep reading.”
Tae-seong gave Dae-hong a pointed look when he fell silent.
“Around 6 p.m., he made dinner and went to bed early. All the lights were off by 9:45 p.m. Seems he was very tired. House lights didn’t come on again until morning. For breakfast, he shared a homemade meal with his brother. Then went outside for the first time to throw out food waste.”
“……”
Tae-seong inhaled deeply, cheeks hollowing from the pull. His eyes, sharply focused, seemed almost anxious.
“He was very startled to see the security personnel. Didn’t believe the explanation at first. Most likely hadn’t seen your message yet. After going back inside and checking it, he welcomed them. Even invited him to come in.”
“Hah.”
Tae-seong let out a laugh—but the annoyance was plain.
When he heard that Ha-jin had gone to the hotel, his face lit with amusement. But the moment the report mentioned Kwak Mari arriving with swimsuits, he set his cigar down and pulled out his medication.
“Dae-hong.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Tell Han-soo to send up room service. Steak—make sure it’s tender, all the stuff Ha-jin likes. A good spread. Gotta eat well when you’re playing in the water.”
Kim Dae-hong looked up from his phone mid-message.
“Hotel staff are asking about the floral arrangement for the table, sir. Part of the premium service package.”
“Hmm… Let’s go with peonies.”
“What about the message card?”
Tae-seong touched his lips briefly in thought, then rose and grabbed Dae-hong’s phone. He typed out a message to Lim Han-soo.
Dae-hong had no idea what it meant.
After sending it, Tae-seong said he’d take his break now and dismissed everyone else—except Dae-hong. He sank deep into the lounge chair that had been prepared for him.
In the silence, he spoke.
“Dae-hong. If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Don’t sit there looking like you need to pee.”
“Ah… There’s something I just don’t quite get.”
“What is it?”
“If you’re curious, why not just call him? I’m sure there’s a deeper reason behind all this, but… as you know, I’m a simple man, and I don’t understand.”
It would’ve been much simpler to just bring Ha-jin along. But Kim Dae-hong instinctively knew better than to ask.
Tae-seong, eyes closed now, let out a quiet laugh, his shoulders shaking.
“Right? I don’t even know why I’m doing this either.”
