* * *

Annoyed, they grabbed the air freshener they’d placed in the room after a similar incident and began spraying it aggressively.

“I swear, these Omegas who leave their pheromones all over when there’s an Alpha around—they’re so annoying.”

“Hahahahaha….”

“You, on the other hand, seem like the type of Alpha who’d leave a trail of pheromones with every step you take, but you don’t, not at all. It’s always the decent Alphas who know how to hold back. But if the Alpha won’t change, isn’t it the Omega’s responsibility to be careful?”

Pheromones?

‘I must’ve left a trace earlier.’

Probably while watching some explicit video at work….

Not that Alpha self-pleasure videos would react to anyone in particular.

Regardless, Jin Sejun would never admit it, even if a knife were at his throat.

“Polite Alphas are so attractive.”

The staff member, known for being particularly strict with other Omegas, sidled up with a suggestive tone.

It wasn’t just customers; even employees were often bewitched by Jin Sejun’s appearance.

The world was practically a golden fishing ground prepared just for him.

If only it weren’t for these damned pheromone abnormalities!

The employee, who had been flirting moments ago, froze as they got closer to the consultation table, overwhelmed by the increasingly thick Omega pheromones in the air.

Then, as if dealing with a breeding ground for bacteria, he sprayed Jin Sejun liberally with the air freshener.

“Seriously, so inconsiderate. Who sprays pheromones in public spaces like that?”

Pheromones of the same trait tend to provoke aggression or discomfort.

While the same scent might be pleasant to an opposing trait, to those of the same trait, it triggered physical discomfort akin to a hormonal imbalance rather than just an unpleasant odor.

So it wasn’t entirely unreasonable for them to react so harshly.

Even without their usual disdain for fellow Omegas and worship of Alphas, any Omega would’ve responded the same way.

Left alone in the consultation room, Jin Sejun sullenly opened a window.

The air freshener should’ve been enough, but the thought that even his pheromone control seemed to be weakening lingered.

An Alpha whose insides were as rotten as his pristine exterior—an Alpha who couldn’t even perform as an Alpha.

Feeling awful, he decided he’d finish up quickly and head home for a drink and some videos of Beta before bed.

Thankfully, there was only one consultation left.

Knock, knock.

A cautious knock echoed, and a tall figure slowly opened the door.

Jin Sejun, having put his glasses back on, greeted them with a bright smile.

“Welcome, Mr. Kwon Juwan, right? I’m Manager Jin Sejun, here to assist with your consultation.”

“Hello.”

Beyond appearances or pheromones, there was a subtle instinct among those with traits—a sort of sixth sense.

Though it wasn’t precise enough to differentiate between Alphas and Omegas, it still existed.

This customer seemed every bit an Alpha at first glance, yet oddly enough, there wasn’t a single thing about him that resonated as such.

‘A wig? No, it’s his real hair. Why is he here? He’s just… handsome.’

His jet-black hair gleamed with luster and was thick to boot.

Though his purpose for coming here was unclear, the melancholy air surrounding him was similar to other hair-loss clients.

“Wow, I thought you were some celebrity, not the consultant. No wonder everyone recommends this place.”

Though his eyes looked downcast, the way he raised the corners of his mouth to make light conversation was unexpected.

‘He’s cute.’

While guiding him to his seat, Jin Sejun couldn’t help but compare.

Kwon Juwan’s build seemed similar to his own, but perhaps slightly larger.

Of course, you’d need to see him naked to be certain.

For some reason, Jin Sejun found himself drawn to this first-time client.

It was a bit like the feeling of rediscovering a forgotten first love from childhood.

Years of deprivation, despite having top-tier specs, had clearly warped his sense of taste.

“It feels good to be complimented by someone so dashing.”

“Oh, I imagine you’re used to it, aren’t you, Manager?”

Used to it? Hardly.

However, this was the first time he’d been praised—without any hint of sarcasm—by someone who looked like a successful Alpha.

The fact that Kwon Juwan carried himself with a certain cautious grace wasn’t unwelcome either.

“……”

In the brief moment it took to seat the client and close the blinds, Jin Sejun had already pictured the man sitting in his passenger seat while he drove.

If he wasn’t confident in his looks, it’d be easy to manipulate him.

Maybe he could coax him gently, get him to kneel between the driver’s seat, and… suck.

His imagination unraveled into a full package of fantasies.

His growing library of wild scenarios now far outpaced his real-life experiences, thanks to the gaping chasm between voyeurism and actual encounters.

“Ahem.”

This was bad.

His frustration had spiraled so far out of control that he was now considering a Beta as an option.

If an Alpha lusted after a Beta, that was a perversion, wasn’t it?

Though, to be fair, it would be worst case is two Alphas lusting after each other.

While Jin Sejun brought up case studies of successful procedures on his monitor and rattled off explanations, Kwon Juwan listened intently, maintaining an unwavering smile.

After holding eye contact for a bit too long, Jin Sejun felt oddly unsettled and ended up blurting out a question that felt out of place.

“So, how did you end up here?”

You look perfect.

‘Not that I’m jealous or anything, but if I had your face, I’d probably just live contently… is what he wanted to ramble on about.’

But he had no intention of crossing the line at work.

“My hairline bothers me… My friend said it made me look like I was balding.”

“Is your friend an Alpha?”

“No, he’s an Omega…”

What kind of audacious, poor-judgment Omega was this?

If it were an Alpha, it might make sense—as if trying to nitpick a competitor—but an Omega?

That was just bizarre.

Balding, huh?

If a fruit fly landed on that hair, it’d get trapped like a Venus flytrap.

“By the way… would you mind sharing your trait? You left it blank on the form.”

“Is that really necessary?”

Was it?

Probably, since it was on the form.

After all, the subtle hormonal differences between Betas and designated individuals might influence surgical outcomes.

Honestly, it probably wasn’t necessary, but his personal curiosity won out.

“It would be helpful if you could tell me.”

Kwon Juwan’s smile faltered slightly as he replied.

“I’m a Beta.”

Jin Sejun was 99% sure he was an Alpha.

With those looks, anyone would assume as much.

But since there wasn’t any pheromonal presence, it seemed reasonable to chalk it up to a unique constitution.

After all, people often assumed Jin Sejun was an Omega based solely on his pheromones.

When Kwon Juwan tilted his head slightly, his thick hair parted in the middle, cascading like a curtain.

Jin Sejun, estimating his hairline, cautiously handed him a hairband.

“Mind if I take a closer look? It’ll help me give you more tailored advice.”

“Oh, uh, sure.”

The questions piling up in Jin Sejun’s mind—why was he here, was his seemingly fine hairline a tattoo or spray, and so on—condensed into a single thought the moment Kwon Juwan pushed all his hair back.

Why the hell did he come here?

Can’t he objectively see how good he looks?

Still, he couldn’t just send him home; money was money, after all.

So, he drew a line just slightly below Kwon Juwan’s already-perfect hairline, handed him a mirror, and began his sales pitch.

“You don’t need much. Maybe 500 to 1,000 grafts at most.”

“Wow, seeing it drawn out makes me realize my forehead really is too wide.”

What are you talking about?

‘It’s perfect as is.’

* * *