* * *

“Couldn’t the same be said for you?”

“Ha. Just a moment ago, you were sitting there meekly while that guy talked about your looks and age, and now you’re like this with me?”

“Well, that’s because last time…!”

Wooseok found the omega in front of him amusing.

More honestly, adorable. Strange.

When he first heard that voice and realized Hajin was out on another blind date, he was furious.

But now, despite his sharp tone, Hajin’s big, teary eyes and flushed face, coupled with his trembling little mouth, were somehow… endearing.

Something about it made Wooseok want to tease him more with low jokes just to see his reaction.

“Forget it. Why bother rehashing the past?”

Hajin leaned back with a sigh, turning his gaze to the window.

His lips pouted slightly as he crossed his arms, signaling he didn’t want to talk anymore.

Of course, in truth, his entire focus was on Wooseok.

But showing any hint of regret wouldn’t help; in fact, keeping things cold and distant was the safer option.

Given their last encounter, it was the only strategy that made sense.

“It’s only been a few days, and you’re already seeing someone else.”

“Well, you were out with another omega too. Besides, crashing someone’s blind date doesn’t seem very polite.”

“And what, you’re meeting that kind of scum? Are you saying you’re fine with being sold off as long as the terms are right?”

What nonsense.

Hajin had gone to great lengths to track down Wooseok, even employing a professional investigator.

Wooseok’s movements were frustratingly secretive, but finally, today, Hajin got word that he’d be at this lounge.

The man from earlier was just a placeholder—anyone who could meet on short notice.

A whole truckload of guys like him wouldn’t be enough to tempt Hajin.

“Honestly, I don’t see much difference between that alpha and you.”

It was a veiled insult.

‘What makes you any better than that jerk?’

Most alphas, in Hajin’s eyes, were the same—rude and insufferable.

Wooseok was no exception, though his looks were on another level entirely.

“I think I’ll take my leave now.”

“Sit down. Why are you acting so uppity all of a sudden?”

This was Hajin’s first encounter with a dominant alpha, and maybe that was why.

Just as he confidently rose to leave, the oppressive aura Wooseok exuded forced him back into his seat.

It wasn’t intentional—he hadn’t planned to leave anyway—but the sheer intensity was overwhelming.

“It’s not that, I just thought we didn’t have anything more to talk about…”

For once, Hajin’s reaction wasn’t an act. Wooseok’s low, growling voice and overpowering presence made it hard to meet his eyes, let alone respond.

Their first meeting hadn’t felt like this.

Back then, Wooseok had seemed a little rough, a little arrogant.

Now, it was clear he’d been holding back before.

The ferocity radiating from him now was enough to make Hajin doubt he’d ever dare pour water on Wooseok’s head again.

“Who said we needed to talk? Let’s just get some food.”

Are dominant Alphas always able to control themselves like this?

The sharp aura that had made it difficult to even open his mouth had vanished in an instant.

Before he could even process what was happening, an unusually large yet incongruously gentle hand grabbed Koh Hajin’s wrist.

Contrary to the voice that sounded somewhat kind, the man used an overwhelming force to pull Koh Hajin to his feet.

“I’m not really—”

“I wasn’t asking.”

It seemed that way.

To keep up with the man, who was walking briskly as if unaware of his own long strides, Koh Hajin had to almost jog.

Cha Wooseok, leading the way, didn’t notice the faint smile that threatened to tug at the corners of Koh Hajin’s lips.

Though he couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason for Wooseok’s behavior, he found satisfaction in the fact that things between them hadn’t ended.

“Ow, that hurts!”

That part was genuine.

From the lounge to the lobby, Cha Wooseok had gripped Koh Hajin’s wrist with considerable strength.

His pale wrist, unusually thin-boned, reddened not just where Wooseok’s hand had been but even beyond.

Yet Wooseok only released his grip once they reached the backseat of the car, practically shoving Koh Hajin inside.

No, it wasn’t just letting go—it felt more like tossing him.

“Artisan.”

Leaving only that one curt command for Secretary Kim, Cha Wooseok turned his attention to a tablet, flipping through news articles as though he had already forgotten Koh Hajin’s existence.

Surprisingly, the articles were in English.

It wasn’t shocking to see a Chaebol reading an English newspaper in this day and age, but if it was Cha Wooseok, that was a different story.

A notorious troublemaker known for his hard-partying ways, reading an English paper?

People wouldn’t have been surprised if he could barely read Korean.

Once again, Koh Hajin thought: some of the rumors about Cha Wooseok were definitely wrong.

And that was why he needed to be more cautious.

“Dubois is coming.”

The low voice broke the silence in the car, sounding almost languid.

Though Wooseok hadn’t specified an audience, Koh Hajin knew the comment was meant for him.

Fortunately, it was a topic he was familiar with.

“Overrated, in my opinion.”

“Overrated?”

“I first heard the name after coming to Korea. He’s not all that famous in the States.”

“Is that so? I wouldn’t know much about paintings.”

Turning his head to avoid Wooseok’s gaze, Koh Hajin allowed himself a small smile. ‘As if.’

Someone who didn’t care about art wouldn’t be heading to ‘Artisan’ while talking about Dubois.

Dubois was oddly popular among Korea’s, or more specifically Gangnam’s, wealthy elite. Several paintings he had glimpsed briefly came to mind.

“Well, you must be busy with work.”

“You’re being sarcastic, aren’t you?”

“…Not at all. You work at SHS Group—it’s only natural you’d be busy.”

Clever. Wooseok had intended his jab to be taken as a compliment, but Koh Hajin had deftly turned it around.

Anyone who knew Cha Wooseok’s name also knew he had no real interest in company matters.

Despite his title as an executive, it was a position earned not through effort but thanks to his father and his status as a strong candidate for successor.

“Strangely irritating… Well, let’s go in.”

Wooseok led them to a garden reminiscent of a tranquil forest.

Nestled amid the lavishly landscaped grounds was a modern, single-story building with walls of glass.

Inside, marble floors and towering columns gleamed, with familiar paintings hanging here and there.

“This place doesn’t require reservations… does it?”

“Of course not. Do you think I’d need a reservation just to grab a meal?”

The staff, recognizing Wooseok, bypassed the main dining hall and led them to a private room with a stunning view of the inner garden’s nighttime scenery.

The room, though called a “room,” was spacious enough to rival most restaurants, with just one elegantly set table in the center.

“You’ve been here before, even though you’ve only recently come to Korea?”

“Not quite. I’m interested in art, but this is my first time dining here.”

Koh Hajin sprinkled in a small lie.

Claiming to have dined at such a place before would’ve sounded far stranger.

Particularly since his past matchmaking partners were entirely uninterested in art and more focused on finding ways to drag him to a hotel room.

“They said you majored in economics.”

“It’s true… but I’ve always liked art. I’m not very good at it, though.”

Another partial lie.

He had learned economics the hard way through life, but his love for art was genuine.

“Then why study economics? It doesn’t seem like a particularly fun subject.”

After placing their order with a nonchalant air, Wooseok took a sip of the red wine that had arrived first.

Swirling the glass, he let his tongue flick out briefly to lick his lips, the deep red of the wine still visible on them.

Whether it was the lighting or something else, Koh Hajin felt the fine hairs on his body stand on end.

Wooseok looked like a predator eyeing its prey—or perhaps an animal in heat.

Coupled with the sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through surface appearances, the sensation became even more vivid.

“An Omega can’t always live the way they want.”

Koh Hajin smiled bitterly, his expression a silent answer to countless unspoken stories.

It was the kind of face that conveyed everything without needing words.

“That’s wrong.”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s not just Omegas who can’t live the way they want. Betas and Alphas are the same.”

‘What nonsense.’

If anything, Alphas’ troubles were akin to choosing between white gold and rose gold—deciding between the best and second-best options.

But Betas and regular Omegas?

They had to choose between the worst and slightly-less-worse alternatives, grateful just to have any options at all.

“Well, everyone has their struggles, I suppose. Maybe I was just whining.”

“I wasn’t criticizing.”

Not wanting to prolong the debate, Koh Hajin gave the appropriate response for his role.

Wooseok, seemingly content with that, didn’t push the issue further.

Left with nothing else to say, Koh Hajin sipped his wine, the gesture smooth and practiced.

“Hope it’s to your taste.”

“I’m not picky, so I’m sure it’s fine.”

Their food arrived, and the formalities of dining began.

“You do seem that way.”

“Sorry?”

“Judging by how you meet with just about any guy, I figure you’re not particular about what you eat either. You’ve got a strong stomach.”

Koh Hajin barely stopped himself—just barely—from throwing something at Wooseok.

Knife, fork, plate, anything. Instead, he clenched his thigh, suppressing his anger with a tight jaw.

“You have terrible taste.”

“What, planning to throw wine at me again today? I won’t let it slide twice.”

“Oh, so you admit you said something wine-worthy?”

‘I tried to hold back.’

The events of their previous meeting still lingered in Hajin’s mind, so he hypnotized himself into believing he shouldn’t act too familiarly.

He wanted to maintain some distance and maybe even throw in a few timid complaints.

But with every word that fell from Cha Wooseok’s lips, it felt as though the man was determined to scrape Hajin’s patience down to the very bottom.

Each and every comment flipped his insides, forcing a sharp retort out of him before he could stop himself.

Of course, the irritation was entirely his.

For a fleeting moment, Wooseok’s face lit up with a smile—an expression that, considering their conversation and the situation just moments before, seemed impossible to muster.

Confronted with that sight, Hajin momentarily felt the heat of his anger evaporate.

It wasn’t one of those fake, calculated smiles Wooseok usually wore.

It was genuine.

And disturbingly, it was… surprisingly pleasant to look at.

“Ha, this is just ridiculous…”

Wooseok didn’t finish his thought, instead picking up his knife and fork. Hajin couldn’t bring himself to ask.

Whatever Wooseok didn’t say, Hajin instinctively knew it wouldn’t be anything good.

A man like him, with that smile but a thoroughly unpleasant personality, might’ve been thinking, “Should I just kill him for real?”

“Eat. I’m kidding.”

“…Y-yeah, sure…”

The soft melody of a piano filled the gallery-like space as they continued their meal in silence, the absence of even the smallest clash of cutlery punctuating the air.

Wooseok had taken the liberty of choosing the menu without consulting Hajin, but, surprisingly, the dish suited his taste.

The steak was cooked perfectly, and the sauce complemented the tender meat exceptionally well.

“Does it not suit your taste?” Wooseok asked.

“Huh? Oh, no, it’s delicious… I’m just full…”

A sharp tsk escaped from Wooseok, laced with faint disapproval.

Then, almost as if it were a reflex, he muttered, “Omegas, honestly…”

Hajin stifled a retort, biting back the urge to snap, “And you Alphas are the ones who gorge yourselves like mindless beasts!”

It wasn’t unusual for Omegas to eat less than Alphas; it was basic biology.

Their physiques and metabolic rates were different, after all.

Even so, Hajin knew he’d eaten very little.

He hadn’t even finished half the modest steak, smaller than the size of his palm.

Not that he couldn’t eat it—he just didn’t want to.

“…Sorry about that,” Hajin mumbled.

“It’s fine. Better than forcing it down and getting sick.”

With a casual wave of Wooseok’s hand, the table was cleared, leaving only a wine glass and a platter of light snacks.

He broke the silence again, the shift in mood barely perceptible.

“So, you must really be in a hurry to get married. Is it because of your age, like people say?”

‘…This fucking bastard.’

* * *