In his excitement, he didn’t notice that there was a woman sitting across from Lee Seohee.
‘Who… is this person?’
A beauty with an elegant atmosphere who appeared to be in her early forties silently observed Hyowoo intently.
Flustered by the unexpected companion, Hyowoo looked at Seohee. At the look asking who she was, he smiled and introduced the woman.
“She’s my youngest aunt.”
If she was the youngest aunt, she was the CEO of this hotel.
At this suddenly arranged meeting with a family elder without prior notice, Hyowoo hurriedly bowed in greeting.
“Hello. My name is Ji Hyowoo.”
The aunt, who had been quietly observing Hyowoo until then, spoke as if something came to mind.
“By any chance, are you the kid who had a blind date at Heyum last December? Taeseo’s friend.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
After carefully looking at Hyowoo once more, the woman greeted him with a friendly smile.
“I’m Seohee and Taeseo’s aunt, Lee Yujin. Nice to meet you.”
Despite her gentle tone, Hyowoo froze on the spot.
He could tell just from the atmosphere she gave off. She too was an Alpha like Lee Seohee.
She wasn’t a Dominant Alpha, but he could feel a strong energy.
A chilling energy traced down his spine.
His heart began to beat rapidly.
Hyowoo clenched his trembling hands tightly.
It was an instinctive fear of an Alpha he was meeting for the first time.
‘Wh… what do I do…? The trembling won’t stop……’
This person was Seohee and Taeseo’s aunt. He couldn’t show an unsightly appearance to a family elder, so he tried somehow to compose himself, but it was useless. No matter who the other person was, Alphas were frightening.
His breath caught as if the air around him had thinned.
His vision grew dizzy and the strength left his legs.
It was just as he was about to collapse.
Seohee carefully wrapped his arm around Hyowoo’s waist, then gently pulled him to lean against his body.
“Aunt, didn’t you say you have a meeting? I think it’s about time.”
Warmth slowly spread from where their bodies touched. Feeling reassured by his warmth, Hyowoo barely managed to hold onto his fading consciousness.
“That’s right. It’s already gotten to be that time. I wanted to talk more with Hyowoo-ssi.”
Did she think they were dating? Perhaps in her eyes it only looked like her nephew was embracing his lover, as she didn’t seem to notice Hyowoo’s condition.
Regret was clearly evident on Lee Yujin’s face as she said she should go up.
“It was nice meeting you, Hyowoo-ssi. Tell Seohee to buy you lots of delicious things.”
“If you’re going to tell him to buy delicious food, shouldn’t you give him some spending money?”
“What spending money for a rich kid like you? Shouldn’t you be the one giving your aunt spending money by now?”
“Ah, that’s true, but I only have cards right now. Sorry.”
“Aigoo, if only you couldn’t speak.”
She gave her joking nephew a small rebuke, then smiled brightly at Hyowoo.
“I’ll get going now. Have fun playing with Seohee today.”
“Yes, please go safely.”
“And… thank you.”
Lee Yujin’s meaningful final greeting unfortunately didn’t reach Hyowoo’s ears, as he was still out of it.
After she left the lounge and disappeared, Seohee quietly seated Hyowoo in the chair where his aunt had been sitting.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah, yes… I’m okay. Um, I’m sorry. I suddenly got dizzy so I……”
“Do you have anemia by any chance?”
“No, it’s not that, it’s dizziness that appears occasionally. It’s not serious……”
Hyowoo mumbled, avoiding his gaze. He wanted to avoid explaining his detailed physical condition if possible. Perhaps sensing that Hyowoo was troubled, he didn’t ask further.
“You were surprised that my aunt was here, right?”
“Yes, a little……”
“We met by chance. She just happened to be passing by when we came in.”
He explained that it wasn’t prearranged, and Hyowoo quickly understood. He knew that Seohee wasn’t the type of person to suddenly plan for him to meet family without prior consent.
Once they sat down and were alone, his mind calmed down a bit. But at the same time, anxiety quietly raised its head.
‘Did I… greet her properly……?’
Had he committed a breach of etiquette because he was too flustered? What if she noticed he almost collapsed?
He fidgeted with the hem of his clothes for no reason. He was worried that his comfortable outfit might have looked untidy in the elder’s eyes.
‘More than that… how did she know about the blind date? And I think she said something before leaving… but I didn’t hear it properly……’
Once again, trivial worries filled his head. The more anxiety piled up, the more tightly his mouth closed.
Seohee, who had been silently watching Hyowoo nervously fidgeting with his fingers, spoke up.
“My youngest aunt has lived at the main house with us since I was born. She’s someone who played with me often since I was young, like an older sister.”
At the sudden words, Hyowoo raised his head.
“Maybe that’s why we have similar tastes. Also, since she’s been running the hotel for a long time, she has an accurate eye for people.”
Hyowoo tilted his head, unable to grasp what he was trying to say.
“From what I can see, I think my aunt liked you, Hyowoo-ssi.”
“Pardon?”
As he blinked his bewildered eyes, Seohee smiled gently.
“So don’t worry too much.”
It was only 2-3 minutes.
There was no way his aunt could have liked him from such a short meeting. Moreover, it didn’t make sense that he could have read her mind in that brief time. It was clearly an intention to ease Hyowoo’s mind after sensing his discomfort.
Hyowoo’s heart found stability again at his kind consideration. Seeing his wavering eyes calm down, Lee Seohee handed him the small menu on the table.
“Have something to drink. You don’t seem to be in good condition either, so let’s sit a bit longer before leaving.”
“Ah, it’s okay. I’m not dizzy and I’m not thirsty either.”
“You don’t need to push yourself. We still have plenty of time.”
“No, really. I’m really okay. Let’s leave now.”
When he repeatedly emphasized that he was fine now, Lee Seohee looked at the vintage watch on his wrist. The watch with its stately design unexpectedly harmonized with his casual attire.
“We do still have time, but shall we just move early?”
Since they weren’t going to eat here anyway, there was no need to stay longer. When he nodded once slightly, Seohee stood up from his seat.
“I’m sorry about the meal time, but I’m planning to go somewhere else first instead of a restaurant—is that okay?”
“Ah, that’s fine. I’m not hungry yet.”
He was about to ask where they were going, but stopped.
‘It’s been a while since he entered the country. Today I should go where this person wants to go and do as he suggests.’
At Seohee’s words that he brought a car, the two headed to the elevator that connected to the underground parking lot. As he walked beside him, consciously aware of his hand swaying close enough to almost touch his own, it happened.
“Wait a moment, Lee Seohee-ssi.”
Someone stopped him. The two simultaneously turned toward the direction where the voice came from.
“I was wondering where you went, and you were here?”
The person who stopped Lee Seohee was a man in a neat suit. He was a stunningly handsome man, breathtakingly so.
‘…Who is that person now?’
His age at most seemed to be around mid-twenties? He didn’t look much older than Hyowoo.
Perhaps he was mixed race—he looked Asian but had distinct facial features. With his straight nose bridge and Western-looking almond-shaped eyes with deep double eyelids.
He was someone with particularly beautiful eyes. Hazel-colored eyes with a fresh green like new shoots blooming on a spring day and light brown around the irises. Against his pure white skin, his glass bead-like eyes created a mysterious atmosphere.
‘Is he an Omega? He’s really handsome. I think this is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful person.’
He was as handsome as Lee Seohee. No, rather than handsome, the word beautiful suited him better.
‘Is he an actor? Or an idol?’
Someone possessing such exceptionally beautiful looks couldn’t have not entered the entertainment industry. However, no matter how much he searched his memory, he had no recollection of seeing the man on TV or in movies.
His admiration for that captivating beauty didn’t last long.
“I was wondering why I couldn’t reach you all day. You were coming in and out of a hotel with some kid? Were you too busy cheating to answer my calls?”
The man walking briskly toward Lee Seohee had a fierce expression.
“At least try to make an excuse. I’ll listen.”
The man snapped sharply as if he was about to grab him by the collar. When anger filled his delicate, finely-featured face, an overwhelming aura dominated the surroundings.
‘Wh… what on earth is happening? This situation no matter how you look at it……’
It could only look like the reaction of someone who had caught their husband or lover at an affair.
