* * *
From the beginning, Wookyung hadn’t expected much from the exhibition.
He knew well that HK Furniture wasn’t widely recognized in the U.S. market.
But contrary to expectations, the booth was crowded throughout the exhibition.
What was especially surprising was the level of interest from dealers—key players in the industry.
“Manager Gil! We’re almost out of brochures!”
“Pamphlets too!”
“Where do we get more supplies? The storage is empty!”
As a result, Wookyung and the other staff were running around non-stop—restocking supplies, cleaning up messy areas, attending to visitors, and using any spare moment to observe competitor booths and assess trends.
And even amid all that, Wookyung kept finding his eyes drifting, always looking for Saheon speaking with someone nearby.
“The director is talking again. Who is it this time?”
“Not sure.”
These days, Assistant Manager Oh treated Wookyung like a walking encyclopedia, but Wookyung gave him a half-hearted reply.
He probably wasn’t expecting a real answer anyway.
‘He’s just curious, that’s all.’
It wasn’t just Assistant Manager Oh.
Even Wookyung had come to realize something new about Saheon here: he was more of a big deal than he’d thought.
A constant stream of people came looking for him—most wanting to deepen their personal or business ties with him.
In fact, the reason HK Furniture’s booth drew attention in the first place was because a business partner of Saheon’s showed up right as the exhibition opened.
And that was only the beginning.
“Isn’t that the CEO of STF?”
Staffer Choi, who had been helping Wookyung clean up, also noticed and replied offhandedly.
“STF? That social media SensriPen or whatever? That CEO?”
Even Wookyung had heard of that company—it owned a world-famous social media platform.
The CEO looked quite young, probably not much older or younger than him.
“They seem super close. No wonder—Director Saheon said he lived in the U.S. His connections are incredible. Do you know how many big names have come by already?”
“Still, I don’t get why they all come here. Wouldn’t it be easier to meet him elsewhere?”
“Maybe because he refuses to leave the booth. If they still came here just to see him, that says a lot.”
Listening to their conversation, Wookyung silently agreed. If it were anyone else, they would’ve relocated by now. But Saheon had no intention of moving.
‘Maybe he needs to see me nearby to feel at ease…’
Wookyung now understood just how obsessive an alpha could be toward their omega.
Saheon had stayed at the booth from beginning to end, unwilling to leave Wookyung alone amidst the bustling exhibition.
It got to the point that staff members begged Wookyung to please just show up exactly at opening and leave on time—for everyone’s sake.
Embarrassed, Wookyung even told Saheon he should just meet guests elsewhere.
But that, too, was ignored.
At best, like now, he’d chat with people within Wookyung’s line of sight.
Thanks to those efforts and the unexpected turnout, the booth was featured in local magazines, newspapers, and social media—and the news even reached headquarters.
When they returned home after the exhibition, interest in the TF team was practically explosive.
Anonymous forums and group chats buzzed with updates, and team members were bombarded with messages from their original departments.
“I don’t know what everyone’s so curious about when we’re this swamped.”
Despite the complaints, their bright expressions showed they felt the success on a tangible level.
After several exhausting days of post-event work, Saheon gathered the team.
Everyone seemed to understand what this meeting was about and quietly waited for him to speak.
“Everyone, thank you for all your hard work over the past few months. Thanks to your passion and teamwork, we achieved something incredible. I really appreciate it.”
He looked each person in the eye as he continued.
“We owe a lot to Assistant Manager Wookyung’s excellent planning.”
At that, Wookyung shot him a look that clearly said, ‘Don’t say stuff like that.’
Everyone in the company already knew they were dating—no need to add fuel to the rumor mill.
“Manager Pyun’s quick work on budgeting and marketing really smoothed the process, and the stylish designs from Senior Associate Sun and Senior Associate Lee made Wookyung’s planning shine even more.”
Fortunately, Saheon didn’t stop there—he went on to personally praise the other team members as well.
Thanks to that, everyone felt a bit more at ease.
“Assistant Manager Oh, you worked hard communicating with the field staff. And Choi Siwon, you did a great job juggling data collection, analysis, and all the miscellaneous tasks. Thank you again, truly.”
As Saheon bowed his head slightly, the others followed his lead, and with that, the TF team officially wrapped up their project.
Wookyung took a fresh look around the office.
It hadn’t even been a full year, but after going through so many things together, it felt like they’d spent much more time side by side.
“Well then, everyone. Let’s head out early today.”
With five minutes left before six, the division head officially declared the TF team’s work complete.
While most were still lingering with mixed emotions, the first to rise was Assistant Manager Oh.
“Thank you all so much for everything. I’m looking forward to seeing you again on future projects or in other roles. I’ll get going now!”
He bowed, then straightened and disappeared into the waiting elevator in an instant.
Shortly after, Manager Pyeon, Senior Associate Sun, and Senior Associate Lee left together, saying they should plan a dinner gathering sometime, their faces full of reluctant goodbyes.
Left behind in the office were Wookyung, Saheon, and Choi Siwon.
“Choi Siwon, you’re not heading out?”
Saheon, who had been on a call, finally seemed to notice Associate Choi still at his desk and called out to him.
“I was just about to.”
Even so, he hesitated, clearly having something to say.
Wookyung quietly watched him, sensing it.
After a long moment of hesitation, Choi finally spoke—just as Saheon was about to tell Wookyung they should leave.
“You’ll buy me dinner when the wedding invites are ready, right?”
Why take so long to say something so simple? Wookyung was about to nod and agree.
“I’m sending it digitally.”
But Saheon beat him to it, coldly rejecting the not-quite-request without hesitation.
Wookyung, who hadn’t even considered a mobile invite, glanced at him in surprise—was he really going to do that?
Saheon just looked back like, ‘What’s the problem?’
“You’re so mean. I did so much for you two. The least you could do is buy me a meal.”
“What exactly did you do for us, Choi Siwon?”
“What do you mean ‘what’? I kept your relationship under wraps, I explained away the rumors when Assistant Manager Gil’s name started going around, and I’m the one who told you, Director—no, Hyung—that you were going into rut!”
At that reminder, Saheon’s brow furrowed slightly, as if recalling something unpleasant.
“Oh right, that happened too. I kept quiet on purpose and you went blabbing? Do you know how much trouble that caused Wookyung?”
“But didn’t that bring you two closer?”
“Sigh… That’s not the point. Because of that…!”
Wookyung had felt uneasy ever since Associate Choi brought up the rut.
And the moment Saheon started to elaborate, he realized it was time to intervene.
“Okay, okay. That’s enough from both of you.”
Just as Saheon was about to blurt out how he ended up being outed as an omega, Wookyung cut him off.
Only then did the other two snap back to their senses and fall silent.
“Let’s just go. And Choi Siwon, the invites are out—so yeah, let’s have dinner soon.”
It was clearly going to get more awkward if they stayed any longer, so Wookyung quickly wrapped it up and stood.
He gave Saheon a look to say let’s go and waited for Associate Choi to pack his things.
The three of them took the elevator down together.
Wookyung was riding with Saheon, and Choi Siwon also commuted in his own car.
“Assistant Manager Gil, make sure it’s an expensive meal, okay?”
“Got it.”
Even just before getting into his car, Associate Choi kept repeating his request, even adding that it had to be pricey.
But the fact that Choi pouted all the way until the wedding because he received his invitation along with the rest of the department—that would be a story for another time.
* * *
