It was 4 PM, normally a time when he would definitely be working. But after receiving a message that his grandfather would be visiting suddenly, Ho Munbeom immediately left his office.
He had finished all important work in the morning anyway, so the afternoon was quiet. This meant he could be away from his desk for an hour or two without any problems. Of course, for Chairman Ho Jaejung who had come unexpectedly, this would be a major issue.
After a few quiet days, it seemed things would start up again. Predictably, his grandfather would interrogate him about whether he was really seeing Yeonwoo.
Though he said in words to bring any omega, in reality, he would scrutinize Ho Munbeom’s partner more meticulously than anyone. Family background, education, character, appearance, and even biological traits—he would examine everything despite saying to marry anyone. It wasn’t even funny.
Knowing this, Ho Munbeom hadn’t been sincere about the blind dates. Even if, by some miraculous probability, an omega who appealed to him appeared, the moment Ho Jaejung heard about it, round two would begin. That’s why Ho Munbeom, unlike other dominant alphas, didn’t keep a partner by his side.
Perhaps that’s why his grandfather was all the more suspicious of Yeonwoo’s existence.
Above all, setting aside everything else, the age gap of almost twenty years was an undeniable barrier. Yeonwoo still had downy hair on his cheeks. Though legally an adult, he was still young. And Ho Munbeom had already met with him three times.
“…”
Momentarily embarrassed, Ho Munbeom sighed as he stared beyond the floor-to-ceiling window.
He was currently at a café equipped with private rooms accessible only to dominant alphas like himself. They sold coffee and beverages only during the day, and also served alcohol after dark. He planned to spend a couple of hours here before returning to the office. By then, his grandfather would likely have finished his tirade and left.
But at the same time, he wondered how long he would have to avoid his grandfather like this.
What desire could drive an elderly man who had lived and enjoyed so much to interfere even in his marriage? It wasn’t as if there were no great-grandchildren. His cousins of the same age had already produced more than ten children between them.
“If you like marriage so much, you should get married yourself.”
Having said something that would make his grandfather grab the back of his neck if he heard it, Ho Munbeom looked at the road filled with cars and then shifted his gaze to the sidewalk. Perhaps because the café was located in central Seoul, many people in sophisticated and neat attire were visible. Among them, Ho Munbeom’s eyes were drawn to someone in a light sky-blue knit sweater with a coat.
“…”
Yeonwoo, well-dressed with styled hair, looked even prettier than usual. His good figure meant anything would suit him well, but the style he wore when meeting his grandfather was really quite nice.
When he had seen acquaintances spending lavishly on their partners to dress them according to their own taste, he had thought it pathetic, but now he somewhat understood. Even a rough gemstone becomes a jewel when polished, so how much more beautiful would someone already pretty become when adorned?
Knock, knock—a knocking sound interrupted his thoughts, causing thin wrinkles to form between Ho Munbeom’s brows.
He thought he had said not to disturb him during his break. Wondering what was happening, Ho Munbeom turned around with a sharp gaze. After another knock, the door swung open, revealing a man with a round face wearing glasses.
“Oh, what’s this? Why are you sitting here quietly when you’re in?”
“…”
“I came because you said to meet briefly, and what’s with that face? Did you forget we were in contact?”
The man who walked in confidently clicked his tongue at Ho Munbeom’s still cold gaze.
“Ease up on those eyes. How can someone be so consistent?”
Whether during hospital consultations or outside, his attitude never changed. Viewed positively, it was consistency; negatively, it was just a terrible personality. Younghwa, who hadn’t come to waste time with jokes, approached Ho Munbeom and stared at him.
He had worried something happened when Ho Munbeom didn’t call, despite needing to visit for his rut. On his way here, Younghwa’s mind had been filled with all sorts of negative scenarios, but they all disappeared the moment he saw Ho Munbeom.
The man who had been sensitive and sharp for months looked remarkably at ease. Medication could only do so much to improve an extremely dominant alpha’s condition.
If that was the case, there was only one possibility…
“Did you find someone?”
“…”
“Can I ask who it is?”
“No. Don’t ask.”
Thanks to this curt denial, Younghwa realized that Ho Munbeom really had found someone, and his mouth fell open. Good heavens, it was true. His face gradually filled with astonishment as he processed this hard-to-believe information. Only when he saw Ho Munbeom’s expression turning cold did he catch himself, raising his hand to close his mouth. Then, as if still in disbelief, he muttered to himself:
“My goodness, Ho Munbeom has found someone. Am I the only one who knows? Though it’ll spread quickly anyway. A partner for none other than Ho Munbeom. It’s truly amazing.”
“…”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t something like a partner. It was just a relationship where they met and had sex when their schedules aligned. But no matter how he might deny it, his relationship with Yeonwoo would appear to be nothing more or less than that of partners in a third person’s eyes.
Ho Munbeom thought of Yeonwoo. And he placed himself next to Yeonwoo in his mind.
…The age difference would probably be noticeable.
“By the way, does the chairman know about this? If he finds out you have a partner, he’s the type who would immediately look for a wedding venue.”
Of course, Chairman Ho Jaejung knew of Yeonwoo’s existence. They had even met directly.
Recalling his grandfather’s expression when he saw Yeonwoo, Ho Munbeom frowned and rubbed between his brows with his fingertips. Then, after checking the time, he turned away.
“What? Leaving already? I haven’t even had a cup of coffee!”
“Then have some and go.”
“Such rudeness. I pity whoever your partner is. You must treat them this way too. As a friend, I should tell you that dominant alphas sometimes tend to mistreat their partners, but you shouldn’t do that. If you hurt someone’s heart, it lasts for a long time…”
Ho Munbeom stopped at the door and turned around, causing Younghwa to promptly close his mouth.
He was visibly displeased, obvious at a glance. Younghwa had been so surprised by the fact that Ho Munbeom, of all alphas, had a partner that he ended up saying unnecessary things. One should be more careful with close relationships. Of course, Younghwa, well aware that Ho Munbeom’s reason for keeping him close wasn’t simply because he was an acquaintance, gave up on the coffee and followed him.
Standing beside him, he felt the alpha’s hardened gaze even more strongly. How fortunate he wasn’t a trait-carrier at times like this. If he had been an alpha or omega, he wouldn’t have been able to speak so freely and approach Ho Munbeom so closely.
Younghwa shrugged his shoulders and raised the corners of his mouth as if asking for understanding.
“Of course, the Ho Munbeom I know isn’t that kind of alpha.”
Ho Munbeom, with narrowed eyes suggesting disapproval, let out a short sigh and went outside.
Younghwa quickly followed, sweeping back his hair. It felt unsatisfying to part ways like this. Usually, he would consult with Ho Munbeom about medication prescriptions for his poor condition and carefully suggest, “How about finding a partner?” But it seemed he had already found one.
Ho Munbeom wasn’t a gentle cat, but until now, he had looked at people strangely as if utterly repulsed by the mere mention of a partner…
He was slightly heated, but at least this would reduce his worries for a while. Among the patients Younghwa managed, Ho Munbeom ranked first in stubbornness and disobedience.
By the way, who could this omega be that Ho Munbeom was seeing? Though he probably wouldn’t answer even if asked, Younghwa’s curiosity led him to speak again.
“There’s a gathering this weekend. Would you like to come? Someone there has been dying to invite you.”
“Not going.”
“Are you answering without even knowing what kind of gathering it is or who’s coming? One of the members is Do Wonkyung.”
“Who’s that?”
“…I’m not sure if you’re genuinely asking or just testing me.”
Given that this person was his most recent scandal partner, he thought there might be a chance, but judging by his reaction, it wasn’t the case. Thinking he had asked needlessly, Younghwa turned his head, and his expression changed. At the end of the corridor in the lobby stood the very person he had mentioned.
An omega, gleaming from head to toe, clearly having put effort into their appearance, was pacing with an anxious expression. Upon spotting Ho Munbeom, their eyes widened. From this obvious reaction of someone who had been waiting, Younghwa pushed up his glasses.
“I’ll find out who it is directly.”
“…”
Because the person was in their path, Ho Munbeom had already noticed them before Younghwa pointed it out.
They had somehow managed to be waiting precisely at a place he had visited privately. Someone must have informed them that he was here. Thinking he would never come here again, Ho Munbeom widened his stride.
Omega Do Wonkyung, seeing Ho Munbeom approaching rapidly with his long legs, seemed at a loss. As he came directly in front of him, Do Wonkyung bowed their head first as if they had been waiting for this moment and greeted him.
“Hello, I’m Do Wonkyung. From Yewon Construction, which was recently in turmoil…”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
