“Take care.”
There were no formal pleasantries like stay well or you’ll do great. Nothing of the sort. Ethan showed only a rigid, uncompromising side. Knowing Ethan’s personality, even saying take care must’ve been difficult. He’d probably see it as an admission of defeat.
When Yeon Yiseo tried to pull his hand away after the handshake, Ethan didn’t let go. Confused, Yiseo looked up. The grip tightened just slightly, his strength growing firmer. Ethan, who had been quietly staring at him, finally opened his mouth.
“He’s always been better than me in every way.”
It was such an unexpected thing to say in this kind of setting that Yeon Yiseo’s eyes widened.
“In every single way, Yeon Yiseo.”
Only after saying that did he release Yiseo’s hand. Ethan turned and headed into the CEO’s office without another word.
Ethan hadn’t done what Yiseo feared. He just seemed a little more drained than usual—but that might’ve been Yiseo’s own perception. Honestly, he’d been quietly anxious, so it was a relief. But it left him feeling oddly deflated too.
The Ethan that Yeon Yiseo knew wouldn’t have hesitated to humiliate him if he wanted to. And yet, the man had even said take care, brief though it was. The fact that Ethan had treated him like anyone else was reason enough for Yiseo to be grateful.
In Don’t Look for the Sickly Villain, Ethan was the kind of man who didn’t care if showing his claws also meant exposing his own weakness. So if he’d thrown out a sneer or an insult, it wouldn’t have been out of character. Who knows what got into him? But even if Yiseo did know, it’s not like he could do anything about it—so he decided to leave it be.
When Ethan had tried to crush Yiseo with his pheromones, it was a good thing he hadn’t offered any words of comfort. If he hadn’t remembered the game at that moment and had comforted him instead, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. Ethan’s obsession and lingering feelings would’ve overflowed, and he’d have done anything—plotted anything—to keep Yiseo by his side.
He couldn’t fully understand what prompted Ethan to suddenly say Alexander was better than him in every way. Maybe it was Ethan’s own way of admitting defeat.
“Yiseo, is it true that you’re leaving because you got scouted?”
Natalie, who had been watching from nearby, finally spoke up. Lost in thought, Yiseo turned toward her.
“Yes, Natalie. I’m afraid so.”
And that part was true. Natalie must’ve known just how much she’d helped him.
“So today’s the last time we’ll see you here. It’s a big deal to suddenly lose the one person who was doing the work of two people, but honestly, I’m more sad about saying goodbye.”
Natalie spread her arms and pulled Yiseo into a hug, and he didn’t refuse. It was a farewell embrace between colleagues. He patted her gently on the back as her eyes welled up with tears. He knew now that her tears were genuine. The fact that she was this sad to see him go touched him more than he expected.
“We have each other’s contacts, so don’t forget to stay in touch, okay? I’ll send you a Christmas card.”
Yiseo nodded. If they wanted to meet up, it wouldn’t be difficult. Same for staying in contact.
Their time together might’ve been hectic and exhausting, but working alongside Natalie had made it enjoyable. He knew well just how rare it was to meet a colleague like that. That’s why he didn’t want to let go of this connection.
“Alright. I’ll send one too—a Christmas card.”
He smiled and gave her arm a soft pat.
Yiseo had never expected to leave Dymine like this. He’d assumed he’d stay longer. Even the original story hadn’t shown much change in this part of the narrative. With this decision, it had become even harder to predict what might happen next.
Carrying a box with his personal items, Yiseo waited for the elevator. Natalie had wanted to come down with him, but she had too much work to handle.
Back home, Yiseo was at least grateful for the half-day of free time he’d gained. When he’d still been a Beta, he’d have just used it to catch up on sleep—but now that he was a recessive Omega, he didn’t need to.
Instead of resting, he decided to use the time to learn more about Scott Industries, where he’d soon be working.
He researched the company’s history, current organizational structure, and active business operations as thoroughly as possible. He even memorized the names and faces of the executives and coworkers he’d be working with. By the time he’d skimmed through the list of affiliated companies, the evening had already passed.
His stomach was begging for food, but there wasn’t anything satisfying to eat. His paycheck from Dymine would still be deposited on the usual payday, so there was no change in the amount he could spend on living expenses. Still, maybe thanks to the samgyetang he’d eaten last night, he felt slightly more energetic than usual.
Adjusting to a new environment would be tough, but it was all about mindset. And for Yiseo, this wasn’t just a matter of preference—it was survival.
When push came to shove, he could always do it. He always had done it. No matter what came his way, there was nothing to be afraid of. Nothing to fear.
Suddenly, Yiseo picked up his phone as if the thought had just occurred to him. If he told Seo Eunwoo too late, he’d definitely blow up.
He sent a quick message simply stating that he’d moved from Ethan’s company to Alexander’s. Then he put his phone down.
He’d half-expected a reply right away, like before, but none came.
It was a little sad to end his golden connection to Ethan here, but still—he believed this choice, one that avoided further risk, was for the best. With that in mind, Yeon Yiseo closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
***
Seo Eunwoo still hadn’t replied.
Checking his phone, Yiseo realized he’d been waiting for a message. Worried something might be wrong, he made a mental note to call him later. With that, he headed out for Scott Industries.
“Hello, Mr. Yeon Yiseo. I didn’t expect to see you like this. I’m Ellie Humbert.”
The woman who’d greeted him when he’d brought the USB last time was now welcoming him again. Ellie, with her bright, friendly smile, was in charge of reception.
She apologized for not being able to leave her station and offered to guide him to the secretary’s office, but Yiseo told her it was fine—he’d already looked it up. And he meant it. The floor directory for Scott Industries that he’d studied the night before was still clear in his mind.
“You came well-prepared, Mr. Yeon. Alright, then—take care. And if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to find me, okay?”
“Yes, thank you.”
With that, Yiseo headed to the secretary’s office.
What had looked like a floor entirely dedicated to the executive suite was, in fact, cleverly partitioned. What seemed like a wall was actually the entrance. Only the molding was slightly offset, painted in blue. It felt a little amusing, like a door only visible to those who knew.
When he stepped inside, everyone in the room looked up.
“Hello. I’m Yeon Yiseo. I’ll be working with you starting today.”
They must’ve already heard from Alexander because they all stood up and greeted him with handshakes.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Paul Arco. This is Janet Humbert—she’s been with us the longest.”
The woman introduced as Janet Humbert wore bold red-rimmed glasses. At first glance, the angular frames made her look strict, but her gentle eyes behind them told a different story. He realized the glasses were likely meant to counteract that softness.
“Hello.”
“Looking forward to working with you.”
Yiseo greeted her too. There was one more man in the office, and just from his build, it was obvious he was an Omega. His name was Mike Edenveron.
Yiseo offered his hand first, and Mike cautiously shook it.
Three secretaries—it seemed like a lot. Yiseo had wondered if there would even be enough work for him, but that assumption was shattered within half a day.
Even though six months of experience technically counted as experience, the work here was on a whole different level compared to what he’d done at Dymine.
He was surprised all over again by just how much work Scott Industries handled.
Janet, who’d been there the longest, was the one managing the most important tasks. She distributed work evenly and reported everything directly to Alexander.
“It’s lunchtime. Let’s go eat.”
“Oh, is it alright?”
“Lunch breaks are a protected labor right. So we enjoy them.”
At her words, Yiseo stood up and followed her down to the cafeteria.
One of the things he’d found intriguing while researching Scott Industries the night before was the fact that they had an in-house cafeteria.
Dymine had one too, but you had to pay. Sure, it was cheaper than eating out, but it still required spending money. Scott Industries, on the other hand, offered it for free. That alone made him happy.
And even though it was free, the quality wasn’t poor. The ingredients were fresh, and the menu was diverse. He could eat as much salad as he wanted, along with bread, meat, or even rice noodles. Vegetarian and halal options were also available.
