Why was Song Hae-seop acting like an older brother to Seo Jeong-won?
They weren’t even close like that.
“Huh? Oh, Hae-seop hyung. He was there, so we just ate together… Was that not okay?
Should I have asked if it was alright to eat with him?”
Seo Jeong-won tensed up at Kwon Tae-hee’s suddenly changed demeanor and cold expression.
“Do you two feel some kind of kinship? Or is it a sense of camaraderie?”
“I don’t know what to say about the two people I use getting along so well.”
Kwon Tae-hee began walking again.
The pleasant feeling he had when facing Seo Jeong-won standing amid the green scenery dropped sharply.
“Executive Director…”
Seo Jeong-won was still a pretty toy, and Song Hae-seop was still a tool he needed, but as he looked at Seo Jeong-won, he began to doubt whether he truly needed that tool at all.
“Did I give you permission to get close with Song Hae-seop?”
“N-no, sir.”
“I didn’t realize you were so stupid that I had to spell everything out for you.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll… I’ll be careful.”
At the terrifying rebuke, Seo Jeong-won bowed his head.
Apparently, being friendly with Song Hae-seop—beyond simply letting them meet—was not something Kwon Tae-hee welcomed.
“Get a grip. You’re not here visiting my home for fun. Is this the time to be leisurely forming friendships?”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry. This won’t happen again.”
The more Seo Jeong-won apologized, the worse Kwon Tae-hee’s mood became.
He glared at Seo Jeong-won with a look fierce enough to devour him, then grimaced as he sensed traces of Song Hae-seop’s pheromones on him.
“Defective piece of trash.”
“…Excuse me?”
An omega that couldn’t even go into heat wasn’t needed.
Now that he had a clear reason to end things, he decided to wrap it up at an appropriate time.
It was an impulsive decision.
As if out of habit, Kwon Tae-hee released his pheromones.
Even if only a speck had clung to him, he couldn’t tolerate another man’s scent.
Seo Jeong-won, watching the still and unmoving Kwon Tae-hee, noticed the subtle scent spreading and lowered his head.
He quietly took a breath, trying to identify the scent drifting toward him.
What was this smell? It wasn’t a flower… but it wasn’t grass either. It couldn’t be from watering the plants just now…
Unconsciously, Seo Jeong-won stepped forward and gently grasped the edge of Kwon Tae-hee’s jacket.
Without realizing he was tugging, he gripped it tighter and inhaled the scent that grew stronger the closer he got.
“Seo Jeong-won.”
“…Yes?”
“You’re trying to slip past this, but next time it won’t work.”
“Ah… yes.”
With a light, almost mocking laugh, the scent disappeared.
Seo Jeong-won was left bewildered, not knowing what had just happened.
The scent was definitely from Kwon Tae-hee, but it wasn’t perfume.
It smelled like it came from him—and yet, now it was on Seo Jeong-won.
“Why.”
“…Thank you.”
“As you should.”
In that moment, Seo Jeong-won instinctively felt he shouldn’t tell Kwon Tae-hee.
He didn’t know why, but it felt wrong to let him know.
***
That day, Kwon Tae-hee ignored Song Hae-seop’s calls and spent time with Seo Jeong-won.
They sat on a rusty metal chair feeding fish, refilled dried-up water, and watched as the other moved briskly through the flower garden.
Holding the hose and watering every corner like it was his own home, Seo Jeong-won was hard to look away from.
He must still be in pain, yet he stubbornly carried out his duties.
The peaceful moment was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Seo Jeong-won’s friend, the one with the ten-thousand-pyeong orchard.
“Hey, why didn’t you pick up—!”
The shout stopped cold the moment he spotted Kwon Tae-hee.
“He’s… he’s here again.”
Kang Da-hyeon scowled, clearly displeased to see the man who kept interrupting his time with Seo Jeong-won.
He stood at the door, then walked straight over to where Seo Jeong-won was holding the hose in a corner of the flower garden.
“Hey, you…”
He instantly frowned when he realized Seo Jeong-won was not just touched by pheromones—he was practically soaked in them.
Didn’t he say they weren’t involved? If this wasn’t being involved, then what was?
“Are you dating that guy?”
Kang Da-hyeon bent slightly and pulled Seo Jeong-won’s arm, bringing his lips close to his ear.
He whispered, hoping the man farther away wouldn’t hear—but also doing it deliberately.
“…Well.”
“If you say you’re not, that would be even weirder. Are you seriously…”
“What the hell are you doing these days, really?”
Seo Jeong-won couldn’t explain anything. He simply gave an awkward smile.
He slipped his arm out of Kang Da-hyeon’s grip and moved slightly away, but Kang Da-hyeon only came closer.
“You’re a dominant, right?”
“…I’m not really sure.”
“You might end up changing traits at this rate. This is serious, you idiot.”
“…I know. I’ll handle it. Anyway, why are you here?”
Seo Jeong-won, after coiling up the hose, glanced at Kwon Tae-hee, who was staring straight at him, then started moving.
“The door was open, so I came in. It was like an invitation—you even had the sign on. It’s been closed for days, so I thought something happened… but you…”
“I’ll contact you later, so go for now.”
“Why are you always telling me to leave? And ‘later’ when? Tomorrow? The day after? You always say you will and never do.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow. For real.”
Kang Da-hyeon pressed his cap down hard and clicked his tongue.
He should’ve known from the moment he was turned down when he proposed.
He didn’t know what kind of fancy store this guy ran or where, but apparently, he was dating the manager or whoever that man was.
“Hey, doesn’t that guy just look way too old?”
Kang Da-hyeon exaggerated the “way too” part.
The man didn’t actually look that old—it was just childish spite.
“Keep it down.”
“But I’m right.”
“What do you mean right? Just go. Enough.”
Seo Jeong-won, worried that Kwon Tae-hee might overhear, quickly covered Kang Da-hyun’s mouth, which had started running wild.
But Kang Da-hyun stuck his tongue out and licked Jeong-won’s palm as if to be mischievous.
“Are you seriously crazy?”
Startled, Seo Jeong-won pulled his hand back and stared in horror at the saliva-covered palm before furiously wiping it on his pants.
“Then why did you cover my mouth? And what’s with these clothes? You seriously look like a beggar. You look like some traveling performer.”
Kang Da-hyun rolled his eyes in annoyance and stepped up to the table.
It wasn’t intentional, but inevitably, his eyes met Kwon Tae-hee’s.
“We meet often. Do you live nearby or something?”
“No, I’m based in Seoul.”
“The flower shop is just starting to get some foot traffic again, and you’re absent way too often. What, is your shop so big you can afford to do this?”
“That kid’s trying to make a living. You’re being irresponsible for someone in retail. Are you saying it doesn’t matter if it’s not your own store? That it’s fine because this place is small?”
At the unwarranted interference, Kwon Tae-hee let out a small laugh.
He wasn’t sure what kind of misunderstanding this was, but should he even bother clearing up such a stupid misconception?
Just because they’ve met a few times—why even bother?
“Stop talking nonsense and just go.”
“See? I’m right. You’re being way too much. What are you doing dragging around a clueless kid like this? Seriously.”
Seo Jeong-won reached out, as if begging him to shut up.
Kang Da-hyun kept dodging, and Jeong-won’s hand slipped and landed squarely on his chest.
“Da-hyun, I’ll call you. I really will. Just go.”
“You need to wake up too. You’re going to get into serious trouble like this. Just because someone has a pretty face doesn’t mean they’re all good. Do you think it’s normal to be covered in pheromones like this because of a Beta?”
“Since when did you start seeing Alphas—men, even? Huh? And if you’re going to date an Alpha, a man, then it should be me.”
“What are you even talking about?”
Seo Jeong-won feared that Kwon Tae-hee might respond to the crazy things being said.
He pushed Kang Da-hyun, hoping he would just ignore everything.
Even as Jeong-won backed away slightly, he tried once more to shut Da-hyun up, but failed.
He finally snapped and gave him a firm shove with a frustrated look.
“Stop it. Please.”
“I—!”
Just as Kang Da-hyun began to complain as if he was the victim, the sound of a metal chair scraping across the floor rang out.
Both of their heads turned toward the center of the flower shop.
With his characteristic relaxed and languid air, Kwon Tae-hee began to move.
Each step was graceful.
“Jeong-won.”
“Let him go. Come here.”
With a dazed expression, Seo Jeong-won let go of Kang Da-hyun.
He frowned slightly, glanced at Da-hyun, then stepped back and walked toward Kwon Tae-hee.
“Introduce me. Tell him who I am.”
“What? All of a sudden…?”
“Yes, all of a sudden.”
Kang Da-hyun’s eyes stayed locked on the stammering Seo Jeong-won.
His awkwardly twisted expression looked unfamiliar.
His ears were completely red.
It was frustrating not knowing what kind of conversation the two had to cause this kind of reaction.
“Can I say you’re someone who’s helping me…? My brother’s fiancé.”
“That’s a pretty shocking answer.”
“Well, I don’t mind, but that friend of yours probably won’t see you the same way again. We basically just announced we had sex.”