From the time he received notification about his changed trait, it had actually been strange all along. Why had he been holding his breath? Why had he only listened when told that revealing he was an Omega, that he was imprinted, would be a loss? Had he been continuously suppressed by the circulating rumors? It’s not as if the world would turn upside down just because he was an Omega, but under the pretext of having to protect himself, hadn’t he been too intimidated?
He had understood the words telling him to be careful in his own way. It was just for comfort and safety. Because violence and discrimination against trait holders had never disappeared at any time.
He had constantly heard worries from CEO Choi, who had known about the manifestation from the beginning, and Section Manager Kim, who had belatedly learned about Muyoung’s trait, had the same attitude. They were constantly checking around his house and the hotel where he was currently staying. After the article broke, he had also been comforted by cautious words about whether he shouldn’t stay too long in one place.
But wouldn’t that not be something that could be resolved just by being careful? Wouldn’t it not be a fundamental method to prevent those who barged in with muddy feet as if it were nothing?
“While going through this sudden situation, the malice and prejudice spread throughout the world toward trait holders exceeded what I had known. All those words were violent to the point that most of them are stories I can’t even bear to speak. I believe those present here will think most sensitively about this. However, you must also know that you cannot escape responsibility for how those words come to be created.”
Muyoung’s eyes were calm as he slowly looked at each lens positioned in the conference hall. He seemed to make eye contact with several reporters, but he didn’t mind. He knew it might sound like criticism, but he couldn’t stop the story he needed to tell.
“The malicious spreading of falsehoods instead of truth, and the practice of hatred and condemnation, must stop. Because I realized too late that this isn’t an issue that ends with my personal problem, it took time to release this statement. The agency will also respond strongly to this, and I judged this decision to be something that responds to the hearts of those who care for me.”
Breathing out shortly, Muyoung concluded his words.
“I plan to take a rest until I recover my health and then continue my activities. Once again, I apologize for causing you concern.”
He put down the microphone, stood up from his seat, and bowed deeply in greeting. With this, everything Muyoung had to say was finished.
This is when I need to be even more careful from now on.
“We’ll take just a few questions and then conclude.”
At the words CEO Choi conveyed to the reporters while waiting beside him, several reporters who had been murmuring while looking around raised their hands as if competing. Muyoung sat down, moistened his throat with the water on the table, and only then pointed to the reporter who caught his eye first.
“Then does that mean there’s nothing at all scheduled as your next project? According to a tip, your agency is putting effort into casting Lee Muyoung-ssi in a leading role.”
It was about the drama lead role that had been bothersome since the filming set. After looking carefully at the reporter who asked the question, Muyoung answered in a calmed voice.
“That’s not true. My agency has never unilaterally decided on a project without consulting with me. Everything has been decided after sufficient discussion with me about the work or role, and upon investigation, although a related script did come into the office, I never received it.”
Now typing sounds were heard more than shutter sounds. However, unable to let his guard down, Muyoung finished speaking and looked ahead. He pointed to another person among the rising hands.
“Then the health problem you mentioned earlier—you said it’s because of an illness related to your trait. Is it bad enough that you need to pause activities for a while?”
“There’s no major problem with daily life. However… filming sets are places where multiple people move busily for one project, so one must be able to respond to changes at any time, and in that regard, my stamina has dropped significantly. Because I know I can’t ask for consideration for every aspect of my situation, I just need time to recover so I won’t be a burden. It’s not something to worry about to that extent.”
There had been times when he had to watch for opportunities and soothe his condition while dealing with pain and dizziness. Compared to that time, he had improved quite a bit now. As he finished his answer with a small smile, hands went up again here and there. Muyoung pointed to one reporter.
“The person you said helped you seems to be referring to Han Dowon, CEO of J Ent.—how did you two come to know each other?”
After thinking briefly, Muyoung picked up the microphone.
“We became acquainted through a chance opportunity. Trait holders must regularly visit trait institutions, and I first met him at such a place.”
As Muyoung finished his designation while shifting his gaze among the murmuring reporters, he waited for the next question.
“CEO Han Dowon is known as a dominant Alpha, and because of that, there’s much speculation about his relationship with actor Lee Muyoung. Did you only receive help? Is there any other relationship?”
“That’s……”
Strength unconsciously gripped hard into the hand holding the microphone. He opened his mouth to continue speaking, but what he should say didn’t immediately come to mind. It was even more so because Dowon was involved.
“Is this a difficult topic to discuss?”
“Did you discuss today’s press conference content with CEO Han as well?”
While Muyoung hesitated briefly trying to choose an answer that wouldn’t come to mind, reporters who jumped in between asked questions in succession. The murmuring sound was getting louder without any opportunity to look around.
Cold sweat ran down his back. His mind went blank white at the flow he’d lost in an instant. Several more questions continued, but they were all just muffled and didn’t properly reach Muyoung.
“Wait, please be quiet for a moment!”
As CEO Choi, who had noticed Muyoung’s state, requested calm to quiet the commotion in the hall, a sharp voice pierced his ears.
“Lee Muyoung-ssi? Was there any pressure from the Jaeyoung family telling you not to reveal anything?”
His gaze reflexively turned toward where the question was heard. Though it was a moment when he couldn’t even determine what words he’d heard, he could accurately grasp only the negative emotion. The face of the reporter hiding his expression behind glasses blinked in confusion as soon as he received Muyoung’s sharp gaze.
“There was no such… pressure…… Please don’t speculate.”
He first blurted out words trying hard to correct the facts, but he didn’t know how they would be interpreted. As he tried to calm down while looking around with a sigh, his gaze was caught in one place. A tall man was looking at him.
No way, how is he here…….
“I think revealing what kind of relationship it is would reduce speculation. Lee Muyoung-ssi.”
There’s no way he could have mistaken that weighty presence. As soon as Muyoung slowly closed and opened his eyes, the person visible just moments ago had disappeared from that spot. Had he seen wrong? As he fumbled looking around and then realized the question again, he stared at the reporter in front of him.
“My answer was delayed. I apologize.”
Even before Muyoung’s words could finish, the commotion grew again. And the shutter sounds grew louder as well. After even the flashes intensified, Muyoung finally thought something was strange. And at the same time, he could feel a presence approaching close by. Following his gaze that turned unconsciously as he looked up……
“I think I should be the one to make that clarification.”
Dowon was looking at him.
Dowon, who had been given a microphone by someone and conveyed a few words to the reporters, sat in the chair brought next to Muyoung. Sitting beside him, he was no different from usual. Just like when he came to meet Muyoung after finishing work—the perfectly fitted suit, the subtly spreading scent of cologne, even the relaxed smile were all the same.
Muyoung, who belatedly noticed that the commotion in the hall showed no signs of subsiding, put down the microphone he’d been holding onto the table. At the moment it was placed on the hard floor with a thud, producing a small noise, everyone became quiet momentarily.
“As Lee Muyoung-ssi already mentioned, we met by chance at an institution. And about the relationship you keep asking about……”
The reporter who had been pressing Muyoung flinched and trembled at Dowon’s gaze. The fact that Dowon wasn’t the kind of person anyone gathered there could encounter in everyday life was something everyone present knew. However, everyone who felt it acutely enough tensed up a bit and waited for what would follow.
“At an occasion for clarifying the photos that spread regardless of Lee Muyoung-ssi’s intentions and the rumors that arose from them, is this really a question that needs to be raised? May I ask what intention you had in asking, reporter-nim?”
Dowon’s low voice, delivered coolly at a speed neither fast nor slow, was directed at the reporter. Muyoung, who had been watching Dowon from the side, found this moment even more unfamiliar and couldn’t take his eyes away. It was because his attitude and expression were quite different from when he was with him. He didn’t know how the reporter who received the question back would interpret it, but the way Dowon’s lips curved up didn’t seem like a very good attitude.
“……If you don’t tell us the exact relationship, people will misunderstand, so wouldn’t it be natural to clarify?”
However, the reporter also didn’t meekly yield to the subtle hostility directed at him. Even knowing the hostility wasn’t directed at himself, Muyoung quietly drew in a breath at the feeling of being intimidated for nothing. He rather chose to slowly turn his gaze to examine again the many people’s gazes and cameras paying attention.
“That’s what they say, but what do you think, Muyoung-ssi? Would it be okay if I tell the truth?”
While he’d been distracted looking forward for a moment, Dowon, who had moved the microphone away, tilted his head and asked in a low voice. Muyoung, who had lightly hunched his neck at the breath that came out mixed with Dowon’s whispered words, soon straightened his posture. If they revealed it, what would change afterward? Would things change more than now? Or…….
The hand that quietly caught his thoughts trying to stretch out endlessly stopped them beneath the table. Large hands gently slipped between his fingers and clasped them firmly together. He gripped back the hand that had been pulled along without resistance. Until then, Muyoung hadn’t realized his hands had become cold, but in an instant they warmed up.
