“So. When did you two get so close, are you going to tell me now?”
“Get close? Who with whom?”
After finishing talking with Eunwoo, the Chairman asked Juheon casually as he came out to see his grandfather off. Whether knowing the Chairman’s question or not, or knowing but pretending not to know, Juheon lightly deflected that question. The Chairman, who glanced at his grandson and turned his gaze forward, showed a snicker.
“Who else would it be. You and Eunwoo. The kid who can’t even look properly at his grandfather’s face because it’s disgusting, what’s that with Eunwoo? I’ve really never seen such a scene in my life. You seemed to have forgotten I was behind you too. Concentrating on the conversation.”
“…It’s true that I forgot you were behind me, but I didn’t even use the word disgusting. Why are you doing this again…”
“You said looking at my face is uncomfortable? You think I don’t know that means the same thing? I can’t even remember when I last properly looked at my grandson’s face.”
“You always see me.”
“Is that, you punk, seeing? I’m the one sneaking glances? On days when I laugh and my teeth show, you retch in front of me!”
“I’m sorry about that too, but it’s not something I can control. And you need to tell me what you’re trying to say right now.”
Looking at Juheon who grumbled and didn’t even turn his face toward his grandfather, the Chairman shook his head as if defeated.
“I can’t even talk face to face or eat with my precious grandson, but you talk well with Eunwoo? Eunwoo wasn’t even wearing a mask, but throughout the conversation, not only did you stare at his face intently, you supported him and even fed him water… Isn’t it natural to be curious what’s going on?”
So that’s what he wanted to say the whole time we were walking down the hallway… Juheon wasn’t unaware of the Chairman’s intention to sound him out. And he also knew that his grandfather couldn’t possibly be unaware of what’s been happening with Eunwoo until now. From the moment they contracted, Eunwoo would have been under the Chairman’s surveillance. Juheon knows that, but Eunwoo probably doesn’t…
For the Chairman, who is looking forward to this contract more than anyone, Eunwoo’s every move has already been reported and then some. So he probably knows who Eunwoo was with, where, and what he did there. Asking him like that now means there’s another intention. Perhaps expecting something more intimate between the two…
It’s unlikely, but he doesn’t not understand the Chairman’s expectations. Since the way he treats Eunwoo is remarkably different from others, his surprise must be great. Since I was surprised myself too… But since even Juheon himself still doesn’t know the reason, it’s difficult to give the Chairman any definite answer. He can’t give the answer the Chairman wants even more so.
“Right. Everything aside, you also know how important this contract is, so I suspected you were trying quite hard in an uncharacteristic way, but I didn’t know you’d be this immersed.”
“Immersed? It’s not immersion, you heard the report on Baek Eunwoo-ssi’s condition just now. When his life could be in danger due to my negligence, should I just stand by and watch? I enticed an innocent person into a contract, got him pregnant at a young age, and even put his life in danger. It’s natural to feel responsible.”
“So you suggested living together? Because of that child’s life?”
“That’s obviously…”
“Every time you meet that child, only you were armed. Usually it was the opposite. You, who avoid seeing others because their appearance is dirty, weren’t disgusted by anything about Eunwoo.”
At the Chairman’s persistent words, Juheon stopped walking.
“Of course, he has both the omega-like physique and appearance with nothing lacking, but there are many more beautiful omegas than that. Why only with that child, that’s what I’m asking.”
“Ha, please, Grandfather.”
“I’m asking because I’m curious. What you’re thinking now and what your feelings are. Just how much effort does it take to overcome all of that? But you and I both know that it’s not something that can be overcome with effort. You who would vomit even just drinking tea with family, why are you so exceptional only with Eunwoo?”
At the Chairman’s direct question, Juheon was at a loss for words. That’s because Juheon doesn’t know that either. It must be because of pheromones, he only vaguely guessed. And at some point, he stopped thinking about it at all. He didn’t think about why or for what reason, and he only now realized that he hasn’t even been thinking about it.
So he should find out from now on. One of the reasons for deciding to live together was because he wanted to know the reason. There’s also the aspect of wanting to watch over Eunwoo, but he wanted to know why there’s no rejection reaction only with him. Of course, it’s also because of Eunwoo and the fetus’s health. Anyway, if they live together, won’t he be able to find out something?
“…Looking at your expression, you don’t know either.”
“If you noticed, Grandfather, why don’t you look into it for me?”
“I’m busy to death and you want me to do all sorts of things… But do you think that’s an easy thing?”
The Chairman, who had been grumbling that he’s being made to do all sorts of things by his grandson, moved his feet again and asked seriously.
“Do you know what it’s like living in the same house with an omega and made that suggestion? Looking at it, it seems like they don’t know what it means to live alone with an alpha either. Grown adults doing foolish things. Aren’t you idiots?”
Juheon just listened to the Chairman’s words that he laid out worriedly, whether it was a reprimand or what.
“Alphas and omegas are drawn to pheromones. What’s the reason there are separate omega and alpha schools during adolescence? They separated them completely because they don’t know what accidents might happen if they put the two in the same space. It’s to prevent the chaos that would happen when rut and heat come. But without any fear, an alpha suggests living together with an omega? And both dominants at that?”
It’s not that Juheon didn’t worry about what the Chairman is concerned about, but Juheon has never once gone into heat looking at an omega. Rut doesn’t come periodically either, and the one rut that came could be sufficiently overcome with suppressants. His grandfather wouldn’t be unaware of that.
Even when all sorts of omegas were pushed at him, even when he went to arranged meetings, even when he was pursued, everyone ultimately failed. Of course, the cause is Juheon. Because he didn’t feel any attraction, let alone excitement. So right now, the Chairman’s worry is literally a needless worry.
What hasn’t happened until now won’t be different just because it’s Baek Eunwoo. As for not being uncomfortable, since he’s pregnant with his baby, Juheon concluded that it’s definitely a temporary phenomenon.
“You’re not unaware that omega pheromones don’t come out as a kind of defense during pregnancy, right? That alphas can’t feel the pheromones of pregnant omegas is basic content learned from elementary school.”
“That’s only for alphas unrelated to that omega, but you wouldn’t be unaware that the person who impregnated them feels it even better, you fool? This is really…”
“…Th-that’s…”
The truth is Juheon didn’t think that far. Since that wouldn’t happen, there was no need to worry about it. Actually, when he suggested living together, he completely forgot about that part and didn’t think of it.
“You probably didn’t even think that far. How ignorant can you be, tsk.”
“It’s not ignorance, it’s because such a thing won’t happen. Don’t you know me?”
“Why wouldn’t I know. I know you ran out retching when I set up a meeting with Daegang Group’s granddaughter?”
“…That was because that omega disgustingly got whipped cream all over her mouth while eating. I held back a lot before that happened too. Anyway, since you know that too, there’s nothing to worry about. My thoughts haven’t changed. The important thing isn’t worrying about pheromones, but first we need to save a person and then see.”
The Chairman looked silently at Juheon, who stubbornly wouldn’t bend his intention to live together, with a tired expression.
“Fine. Go ahead and do as you please. Whether such a thing happens or not, we’ll know when the time comes. Still, it’s something that you’ve decided to live with someone. I thought you’d live alone for life after running out of the house.”
Is that good or bad, or is he worried? He’s a grandfather whose inner thoughts are unknowable. Juheon watched his grandfather’s back for a long time as he left those words and headed to the car.
***
The seminar at Chasung Hospital over several days had ended. Gyumin was coming out of the seminar room having a light conversation with fellow doctors. There was much to talk about with the doctors at the notification that from the next meeting, the location would change from the hospital to a hotel.
There was no clear answer as to why the location suddenly changed. It was just words about the hospital’s circumstances. While being puzzled with curiosity, something was bustling up ahead. The doctors who left first were all whispering while looking somewhere. Gyumin approached a nearby doctor and asked what was going on.
“What’s going on? Did an actor or idol come? But for that, everyone’s being too cautious?”
“It’s not an idol, but people even harder to see than that!”
People even harder to see? Gyumin moved his gaze to where his colleague doctor was pointing with a puzzled face. There was an elderly man and a young man, as well as what seemed to be bodyguards following them from a distance.
Looking a little more closely, the older man is someone who appeared a lot in media outlets and news. As he realized who he was, Gyumin’s eyes also widened slightly. He’s someone there’s a reason for people to make such a fuss about. A person who always shows presence in the economic section—it was none other than the Chairman of Chasung Group.
“Ah, isn’t that person Chairman Cha of Chasung?”
“That’s right. Amazing, isn’t it?”
For the head of such a major corporation, he was moving with too modest a number of people, so Gyumin doubted his eyes. This hospital is probably also a Chasung affiliate, so he must have visited. The moment the young man walking alongside the Chairman from a short distance turned his head toward the Chairman, Gyumin’s eyes widened a bit more.
“Oh! That person…”
He was definitely the man who was with Eunwoo when he met him after a long time. He was still wearing a mask like back then and showed a distinctive aura. Gyumin couldn’t forget that man’s characteristically cold eyes at the time.
He’s the man who made him feel humiliated by openly ignoring him and spraying disinfectant in a strange behavior without hesitation. It was his first time experiencing such treatment, so he suffered mentally for several days trying to forget it. Why is that rude man with Chairman Cha? Gyumin was confused.
“Wow, I always see him briefly in article photos, but it’s amazing to see him in person?”
“Who? Chairman Cha?”
“That grandson next to him. The Executive Director of Chasung Group. That person is the one likely to be Chasung’s next head. Or not? He’s probably the definite successor, right?”
“…What?”
Gyumin reacted somewhat sharply to the surprising news that came from his colleague doctor’s mouth.
