* * *

He didn’t want to bother his father too abruptly.

It might seem rude.

He rubbed his face in frustration.

“Mr. Jungin, I’m sure he’d be happy to hear from you directly. He’s not the type to show his feelings much, but since you’ve arrived, he’s been so different.”

Mr. Choi smiled and added, “Since Madam passed, the house felt so cold, but it’s all thanks to you, Master Jungin. We really appreciate it.”

Jungin scratched the back of his head awkwardly in response, muttering his thanks.

While Mr. Choi prepared breakfast, Jungin sent a message to his father’s number.

“Uh…”

It barely felt like 10 seconds before his father, Chairman Ki, called him.

Jungin’s heart skipped.

He cleared his throat to hide his grogginess, then answered the call with his two hands holding the phone.

“Hello… What? You want something?”

Jungin, caught off guard by the barrage of questions from his father, stammered.

“I… I don’t have a driver’s license. A building?”

After rejecting the sports car, his father suggested a building instead.

Jungin had just wanted to apologize for oversleeping and send a message, but his father seemed so moved by it that he couldn’t help but offer even more extravagant gifts.

“I don’t need a yacht. Really. I’m already… Ah, Father?”

At this rate, it seemed like his father might end up giving him company stocks too.

As the list of extravagant presents grew, Jungin’s face fell into a frown.

Mr. Choi, noticing his discomfort, leaned closer and raised her voice as if to cut through the awkwardness.

“Master, your food will get cold. You said you were hungry earlier, didn’t you?”

Her voice deliberately grew louder, and Jungin, sensing the cue, held his phone up to her.

As expected, Chairman Ki’s flustered voice came through the speaker.

Hearing that Jungin was hungry, he quickly ended the call, urging him to choose a gift at a later time.

The call ended abruptly, and Jungin sighed in relief.

He looked up at Mr. Choi and said with a grateful smile.

“Phew… thank you, Manager.”

He was almost about to receive a car and a building as gifts.

Wiping the sweat off his forehead, he picked up his spoon.

This was the first time he ate alone since coming here.

Normally, he could eat at his own pace, and although it was comfortable, there was a hint of loneliness.

As always, the food was delicious, but once he was somewhat full, he no longer had an appetite.

Setting his spoon down, Jungin picked up his empty bowl and stood up.

“Already done?”

Mr. Choi asked, seeing Jungin placing his bowl in the sink.

He frowned slightly, noticing that he hadn’t eaten much.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m fine. Just… not that hungry.”

“Good, that’s a relief.”

Mr. Choi, still worried, was about to say more when the doorbell rang.

“Manager, there are visitors from the Hyun Group. They say they’re your brothers.”

“What? My brothers are here?”

Jungin’s eyes lit up as he turned to Mr. Choi, eager to see his siblings.

“Yes, they’re scheduled to visit today. Please prepare the drawing room to receive the guests.”

At Choi’s directions, everyone moved busily.

Watching the bustling staff, Jungin approached Mr. Choi and asked:

“May I go out to greet them?”

His expression was filled with uncontainable excitement.

Looking like a puppy eager to greet its owner, Jungin’s demeanor made Mr. Choi stifle a laugh before replying:

“Of course. I’ll have tea and refreshments ready in the drawing room. Would you like to escort your brothers in?”

“Yes!”

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

Once permission was granted, Jungin hurried to the front door, slipping on his shoes without care and darting outside.

Crossing the garden and rushing up the steps leading to the main gate, he spotted his brothers in the distance and broke into a wide smile.

“Hyung!”

Jungin nearly slipped on the dew-covered stone steps, causing his heart to pound.

Though momentarily startled and frozen in place, he quickly glanced at his brothers’ faces and broke into a bashful smile.

“I’m fine! I didn’t hurt myself!”

“Hey, be careful…!”

“Not again!”

The sight of Jungin precariously poised on the steps sent waves of worry through the three brothers.

Before anyone could speak, Jungseo was already moving, his long legs taking two or three steps at a time as he rushed to him.

“Ha… You little rascal, you’re still as careless as ever, even after that accident.”

Reaching Jungin in the blink of an eye, Jungseo scooped him into his arms and growled, his voice low and restrained, almost like an animal.

“I just… wanted to see you!”

“That’s not going to cut it this time. How many times have I told you to be careful? You even hurt yourself badly once when you were little, remember?”

Writhing uncomfortably in Jungseo’s tight embrace, Jungin’s head throbbed momentarily at the mention of that incident.

As he closed his eyes, a vivid memory surfaced—young Jungin tumbling down the stairs and crying loudly while his brothers surrounded him.

Why was this Jungin’s memory coming to him now?

Ever since occupying this body, why was the past revealing itself to him too?

Jungin bit his lip, overwhelmed by the flood of childhood recollections.

“Ugh…”

A muffled sob escaped through his clenched teeth.

Jungseo, ever alert to the slightest sound, immediately released his grip and examined Jungin’s face.

“Jungin? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just got a bit dizzy from running.”

“Are you sure?”

By now, Jungjin had approached, his sharp gaze scrutinizing Jungin closely.

“Yes, I’m really fine.”

The pounding headache from earlier had started to subside.

Seeing his brothers’ serious expressions, Jungin grabbed their hands and pulled gently, his voice upbeat.

“Let’s go inside. Hyung, you too, come on.”

The three brothers, their initial worry easing, caught sight of something on Jungin’s finger as he pulled them along.

“Hey, brat. What’s that?”

“…Huh?”

Caught off guard, Jungin hastily hid his hand behind his back, but the action only fueled his brothers’ irritation.

“Jungin. You…”

“It’s just… my fiancé gave it to me, so I just… accepted it.”

Fearing his brothers might harm Beomhyeon, Jungin tried to defend him as much as he could, but his nervous tone only made things worse.

“…That bastard.”

“I’m going to kill him…”

The ominous growl of an unknown voice sent a chill through the air.

The uneasy aura of three dominant alphas—no less than superior ones—spread instantly, making Jungin instinctively take a few steps back.

But before he could retreat further, Jungjin spoke.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess…”

The unexpected remark left Jungin puzzled.

This wasn’t like the Jungjin he knew.

Something felt off.

Before he could dwell on it, Jungjin continued in a calm voice.

“It really is. May I take a closer look?”

“Uh…?”

What’s with his eyes…?

The oppressive atmosphere made Jungin’s mouth go dry.

For some reason, he felt certain that if he handed over the ring, he might never see it again.

“No?”

To be honest, Jungin didn’t want to give it up.

But how could he refuse in this tense atmosphere?

Just as he reluctantly moved to remove the ring, a voice interrupted.

“Young master Jungin?”

“Ah! Mr. Choi!”

“I was worried something had happened since you didn’t come back.”

* * *