* * *

“Your father’s business is booming in the U.S., I hear.”

“Oh, no! Not at all. It’s just… just a small real estate company.”

Hajin Go flailed his hands, adamantly denying the man’s statement.

“So humble. More so than expected.”

The man smiled faintly as his gaze scanned Hajin from head to toe.

The rumors were true.

In fact, he was even more naive than the stories suggested, and his looks surpassed anything conveyed through words.

He was the epitome of an ideal Omega—perfect in every way.

His large, amber-colored eyes gleamed with vitality, matching his soft brown hair.

His high-bridged nose and flawless skin made him seem almost unreal.

But the crowning jewel of his appearance was his lips.

They practically begged to be bitten, kissed, or possessed—Alpha or Beta, no one could resist the temptation.

With a translucent sheen of reddish light, his lips seemed almost otherworldly.

And then, there was his pale, slender neck, inviting anyone to wrap their hands around it, as if it were made for that very purpose.

In terms of looks alone, he was more than extraordinary.

“Ivy League?”

“Uh… yes. I was lucky.”

“Princeton?”

“Y-yes…”

Hajin’s ears turned red as he stammered.

Despite his sharp eyes, his demeanor was obedient.

He lowered his gaze modestly and only spoke to answer the man’s questions, who had already taken the conversational lead.

“The Mediterranean restaurant near the main gate was pretty good.”

Startled by the man’s musing, Hajin looked up, only to catch a glint of sharpness in his eyes.

Though the man’s tone remained indifferent and polite, a keen edge occasionally flickered in his dark pupils.

This was one of those moments.

It was a different kind of gaze than Hajin had expected based on the rumors.

“Hmm… Are you referring to ‘Meditera’? I went there often too!”

“Ah, yes, that’s the name. I only remember it vaguely—I stopped by briefly after causing some trouble.”

Cha Wooseok subtly cast out bait—it wasn’t that he distrusted the Omega currently garnering all the attention from Gangnam’s elite matchmakers.

It was simply a habit ingrained in him, closer to his nature.

Given his circumstances, it was understandable.

Cha Wooseok had the solid support of two formidable fathers.

His Alpha father was the chairman of SHS Group, ranked third in market capitalization domestically.

On top of that, his Omega father’s own father—his grandfather—was the current leader of the ruling party.

With such a background, opportunists eager to exploit him were everywhere.

As a result, Wooseok had developed a lifestyle of always testing the waters before crossing, no matter how safe they seemed.

This deeply ingrained habit stood in contrast to his notorious reputation for being brash and callous.

“Oh! Then we’re alumni?”

For someone like Wooseok, Hajin’s earlier comment that his father ran a “small” real estate business in the U.S. didn’t necessarily sound modest.

After all, any background would pale in comparison to Wooseok’s.

Even the grandest estate would feel like a corner store beside his family.

“A-and I’m relieved that we seem to share similar tastes…!”

A faint blush spread across Hajin’s cheeks as he spoke, his lips curling into a shy smile.

A dimple appeared on one heated cheek, adding a touch of charm.

Wooseok watched this display with genuine curiosity.

Was this Omega here under family pressure, or was it their own decision?

Was that smile directed at Wooseok’s background or at him, personally?

Could it be that they were unaware of the rumors circulating about him?

The sheer innocence radiating from Hajin stirred countless questions in Wooseok’s mind.

“I see. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll share a meal someday.”

At Wooseok’s casual remark, Hajin’s cheerful expression crumbled instantly.

His face fell so dramatically that Wooseok wondered if the Omega might burst into tears.

Watching Hajin’s despondent reaction, Wooseok became certain—this Omega was undeniably interested in him.

Well, at least they have good taste.

“P-perhaps…?”

Hajin’s shoulders slumped as if bearing the weight of heartbreak.

It was an overreaction, given they’d barely known each other for thirty minutes.

What could this Omega have imagined in such a short time?

Even with all of Wooseok’s experience meeting Omegas, this response was refreshingly novel.

Hajin’s emotional openness was rare among today’s Omegas.

On the flip side, it also indicated their lack of skill in handling Alphas.

Their inability to mask their feelings suggested a life far removed from romance.

Even among Korea’s Omegas, let alone those from the progressive United States, such naivety was a rarity.

“My family is rather conservative.”

“Huh…?”

Korea was undeniably regressive when it came to Omega rights, lagging far behind its global status as an economic and diplomatic powerhouse.

Cases of human rights violations, reminiscent of rural backwaters from decades ago, were still not uncommon.

The situation was grim.

Alphas thrived without restraint, Betas—making up the majority of the population—stood by indifferently, and Omega rights had scarcely evolved since the emergence of New Humans, categorized as Yangins and Umins, centuries ago.

There was little hope for improvement on the horizon. Wooseok’s remark was a warning shot for Hajin, who had grown up in a progressive society.

He was essentially saying: in Korea, where Omega rights are dire, my family is even worse. Are you truly prepared for that?

“I… I’d considered that possibility. I mean, you come from such a… prestigious family, after all.”

Perhaps Hajin was made to endure such challenges.

“You’ll find it unreasonable here more often than not. Voicing complaints won’t be easy.”

“Y-yes… But as an Omega, it’s only natural to comply.”

Hajin’s stance was still passive, but the determination behind their words was clear.

It didn’t feel like something said just to appease Wooseok but rather a belief ingrained through upbringing.

That attitude, combined with the faint pheromonal scent lingering in the air, stirred something primal in Wooseok.

Even he, who had encountered countless Omegas, found this particular scent unique.

It was soft and refined, much like Hajin’s demeanor, enough to subtly provoke a response in Wooseok’s own pheromones.

“Hmm…”

Every word out of Hajin’s mouth was flawless, just like their background.

If this were a job interview, they would have secured the position regardless of the competition.

Hajin possessed a rare, perfect set of traits.

But perfection often bred boredom. Wooseok’s interest quickly waned.

“Sigh. This is dull.”

Rejected.

They weren’t what he was looking for.

Had they met under different circumstances, Wooseok might have explored his curiosity further.

But he wasn’t searching for a traditional marriage partner, and his interest vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

“…Excuse me?”

Hajin’s pupils darted in every direction at Wooseok’s abrupt shift in tone.

Their lips, once curved into a delicate line, now pressed tightly together.

Despite their visible unease, they couldn’t meet Wooseok’s gaze directly, casting furtive glances while trying to grasp his meaning.

That timid behavior was amusing in its own way.

How could someone be this spineless?

“I heard you’re the most talked-about Omega in Gangnam these days.”

Wooseok’s tone grew casual, dropping all formalities.

Slouching back into his chair, he nonchalantly pulled out a cigarette.

It was, of course, a non-smoking area, but having rented out the entire lounge, there was no one to stop him.

“I-I’m not sure what you mean…”

“Isn’t marriage the goal? Why pretend otherwise? You’ve probably met dozens of Alphas at events like this.”

The cigarette smoke spilled across the table, wafting directly into Hajin’s face.

* * *