Chapter 9
‘Did you have to be among those alpha males even though you knew they were alphas? Don’t tell me you didn’t know how they would think of you.’
‘What could I do when others wouldn’t include me? Do-heon wasn’t there either.’
‘I was in a meeting for business.’
‘I was just talking to people while waiting for Do-heon to come. Did I have to stand there alone like a doll without knowing when Do-heon would return?’
‘But you didn’t need to laugh among other alphas.’
In reality, within the gathering, there was baseless gossip that a recessive omega like Cheong-yeon couldn’t help but be frivolous in front of alphas because they inherently couldn’t control their pheromones.
Do-heon was quite cold to Cheong-yeon over this issue. With no one to rely on in this household except Do-heon, Cheong-yeon eventually admitted that his behavior at that time was his fault.
After that, Cheong-yeon had to force himself to laugh humbly among people who openly ignored him to avoid creating discord with Do-heon at parties. Even if he heard sarcastic remarks, he pretended not to understand.
That didn’t last long either. He accidentally found out that the person who sent the photo was Moon Hee-jin, Do-heon’s cousin sister, and her husband, Park Jong-wook. From then on, Cheong-yeon once again confirmed that the people in this household despised him.
They were enjoying cutting him down and seeing him struggle, like cats cornering a mouse.
Just recalling those contemptuous gazes made his chest ache even now.
“Those damn bastards, you don’t have to see them anymore, so forget about it. And just act in a drama or movie and live well to show them. Right, Actor Yoo?”
“That’s right. I have to. I’ll really work hard. I’ll go to acting school, audition, and work. I’ll do everything I can.”
Cheong-yeon blinked slowly and resolved.
“Ah… I’m out of cigarettes. I’ll go to the convenience store for a bit. Do you need anything else?”
After all the talk was done and the memories were fading with the alcohol, Cheong-yeon started to doze off. Ji-han got up from his seat, saying he was out of cigarettes.
“No. Go safely and come back.”
“Actor Yoo, if you’re sleepy, just wash up roughly and go to bed.”
Actor Yoo. It sounds good. Cheong-yeon muttered softly.
But could he really do well? He was a high school graduate with no achievements, had failed as an idol, and his marriage had also fallen apart. Wasn’t he a recessive omega that even his family was dissatisfied with?
Ah, that’s why you should drink alcohol in moderation. Once you start digging a tunnel when you’re drunk, there’s no end.
“Haah…”
It was a night that made him feel stuffy for no reason thinking about Moon Do-heon.
Cheong-yeon closed his eyes, burying his face on the table.
*
“The mask is fine, but… the fact that he’s a recessive omega is a problem.”
“These days, do they still care a lot about traits? When I was around, it was really rare for omegas to participate in auditions.”
“Even now, it’s not something that happens often. Of course, it’s better than before…”
“Hmm.”
The director and audition staff sitting in the judging panel chattered as if looking at Cheong-yeon like a monkey in a zoo.
Ironically, Cheong-yeon, who had become somewhat accustomed to such situations, shamelessly raised his head and waited until they made a decision.
“Giving him a good role seems like a double-edged sword. If a scandal breaks out during filming, the whole team will suffer because of one omega.”
The director, sitting in a sloppy posture, scrutinized Cheong-yeon and spoke. How come these broadcasting people hadn’t changed from a few years ago when he was an idol.
Every remark was the same as back then. Talking about omegas and scandals.
“You’re twenty-six now, what have you been doing all this time? Even if it’s a supporting role, you should have appeared in at least twenty works by this age.”
“Heh. Twenty-six? He doesn’t look that old. He’s older than I thought. Oh dear.”
In the end, the audition was a failure after hearing only abuse. It wasn’t even a major broadcasting company, just a web drama audition, but as soon as they found out Cheong-yeon was a recessive omega, the staff’s eyes filled with venom.
Perhaps the alpha director wanted Cheong-yeon to fawn and beg to be chosen, saying he could still do well. He seemed to like his face quite a bit.
“Ha, damn it. Those damn bastards. If they don’t like it, they shouldn’t do it.”
But Cheong-yeon didn’t want to go that far to get a role. Such behavior would only reinforce the prejudice against recessive omegas.
After leaving the audition site, Cheong-yeon unconsciously looked around with a tired face.
“…That’s right.”
He was about to look for the chauffeur’s car that used to pick him up out of habit, but then he remembered the reality that he was divorced from Do-heon.
Now, no matter where he went or what he did, there was no one to pick him up and drop him off. Yoo Cheong-yeon, who had lost the title of Do-heon’s spouse, was nothing.
After washing his face, Cheong-yeon checked the time. It was still bright daylight. It was time for Ji-han, who had finished broadcasting in the early morning, to be sleeping soundly. If he went in now, he might wake up because of the noise.
After pondering for a moment, Cheong-yeon decided to visit a real estate agency to look for a house.
He had already looked up the area on the internet, so he moved aimlessly towards the station area. And he entered the first real estate agency that caught his eye.
As soon as the real estate owner saw Cheong-yeon’s face, he smiled knowingly.
“An aspiring actor?”
“Yes?”
“Since this place is in front of the broadcasting station, I can tell right away. Actually, many celebrities live around here.”
“Ah, yes.”
Without saying anything, the owner quickly brought a bundle of documents from his desk.
“How much deposit and monthly rent are you thinking of?”
With the amount Cheong-yeon had, it was a bit insufficient to get a decent house in the bustling area near the broadcasting station. He could barely afford a one-room slightly larger than average or an old two-room.
The problem was that he couldn’t use all the cash he had to get a house. He needed emergency funds and tuition for acting school. Moreover, the cost of outfits and styling for auditions was not cheap. Adding basic living expenses, it was a situation where part-time jobs alone couldn’t cover it.
“By the way, boss. In the house, a dress room… obviously, there wouldn’t be one, right?”
“With this money? Hehe. You’re good at joking. Hahaha!”
It wasn’t a joke… Cheong-yeon grumbled timidly in his mind.
Having used a room with a dress room, he couldn’t imagine how to put clothes and furniture in one room. Ji-han’s room, which even had a hanger in the closet, was incredibly messy and narrow.
It’s a big problem that his standards have become unnecessarily high while living with Do-heon. From now on, he might have to live in a house where water leaks or bugs come out.
With various worries, Cheong-yeon’s face darkened as he looked around the houses with the real estate owner.
As expected, the condition of the houses was terrible. It would be fortunate if even rats didn’t come in. Small molds were basic, and damp spots and stains were almost automatically included in most houses.
Even though he had prepared himself to some extent, seeing it with his own eyes was more shocking.
For a moment, Cheong-yeon missed the view of his room in Do-heon’s house. Every time the sun came in through the window as tall as him, he enjoyed sunbathing with a cup of tea… and it was good for selfies.
“How is it? It’s not bad, right? It’s not easy to get a house on deposit at this price these days. If it’s too burdensome, the landlord said it’s possible to switch to half deposit, so think about it carefully.”
“…I don’t think I can decide right now. I’ll think about it more.”
After looking around a few places, Cheong-yeon, who was exhausted by the poor environment, came out without deciding anything. The owner earnestly told him to contact him quickly before someone else took the house.
“No, who would take such a house. Are you kidding me.”
After parting with the owner, Cheong-yeon muttered as he put the business card in his pocket. To summarize today, it was a day that went to hell.
Contrary to his resolution to work hard while clinking beer cans with Ji-han just a day ago, nothing went right.
“Failed the audition, couldn’t find a house…”
Cheong-yeon walked down the alley towards Ji-han’s house with weary steps.
But it seemed that this damn day wasn’t over yet. A gray foreign car was parked at the entrance of the alley.
“Ah, that’s Moon Do-heon’s car.”
The sleek car, which looked somewhat out of place in such a shabby neighborhood, and the familiar license plate. Without even looking inside, Cheong-yeon recognized that the car was Do-heon’s.
It was an unwelcome guest for Cheong-yeon, who had already had a tough day. What more did he want to say? If there was something to discuss, it seemed to have been concluded when they briefly met in front of the house last time.
“I have something to talk about.”
As soon as Cheong-yeon stood in front of the car, Do-heon got out.
