* * *

After randomly sending a message that one day, Kwon Juwan hadn’t initiated a single conversation.

Sejun told himself he’d leave it be, figuring Juwan would reach out if he had any questions or concerns.

But as the days stretched on without contact, he found himself growing restless.

Handing out his business card to a client should’ve been as meaningless as tossing out promotional flyers, yet the lack of response left him feeling oddly slighted.

It’s all because of the pheromones!

Even in his teenage years, despite not dating much, omegas had always approached him.

That didn’t stop after he became “damaged goods,” either.

Before recognizing his own issues, Sejun had treated flirting with omegas he matched with on dating apps—or those he met elsewhere—as a kind of hobby.

But the reactions of omegas to his pheromones… Well, they gave him a level of trauma akin to someone being disappointed by a… modestly sized surprise.

As a result, he had immersed himself in his “adult entertainment” life to the point of habit.

After giving that up, though, he had so much empty time on his hands that it bordered on unbearable.

Back in the day, when his social circle was broader—thanks to college and work colleagues—he might not have been so fixated on a single beta.

“What if he went to another clinic and just had the surgery already?”

If Juwan decided against a hair transplant altogether, that would align with Sejun’s preferences.

But not being able to see him at all…

That might feel like a loss.

Why? Because having a good-looking beta friend didn’t sound half bad.

Maybe observing someone living free from the chains of pheromones would help Sejun learn to brush off his own inadequacies.

---

Me: Have you had lunch?

It took him a while to send such a trivial message.

Staring at his text, Sejun scribbled random lines across his work calendar to distract himself.

Killing time with something suggestive only to make his omega employees uncomfortable wasn’t ideal.

Messaging the intriguing Kwon Juwan seemed like a better use of his attention.

It would’ve been more entertaining if Juwan had replied right away.

Time dragged as Sejun finished mundane tasks, browsed his non-adult friends’ SNS accounts, and even debated what to have for dinner.

He’d given up hope of a reply when his counseling page finally pinged.

Client Kwon Juwan (Beta): (Photo attached)
Client Kwon Juwan (Beta): Chicken breast and steamed sweet potatoes. What about you, Director?

“Is he bodybuilding or something?”

How old was Juwan again?

Sejun initially thought they might be the same age or that Juwan might even be younger, but checking his details revealed he was definitely older.

Yet somehow, his reply felt… youthful.

Where did that impression come from?

Was Juwan just inexperienced with people, making him seem that way?

Feeling unexpectedly relaxed, Sejun typed back.

Me: I had bean sprout soup delivered with some coworkers. 😊

Small talk about meals wouldn’t lead to much, would it?

They weren’t close enough to chat aimlessly about food.

Should he bring up hair restoration?

But what if mentioning his insecurities about his hairline triggered Juwan in some unforeseen way?

Sejun hesitated, trying to come up with something meaningful to say when, surprisingly, Juwan responded again—this time more warmly.

Client Kwon Juwan (Beta): Bean sprout soup sounds delicious. Do you like Korean food, Director?

“What’s this? Why’s he so cute?”

While engrossed in replying, a passing coworker caught him off guard.

“Manager, are you dating someone?”

“No, it’s not like that. Just… work-related.”

They say eunuchs are more prone to fishy behavior, and perhaps Sejun was proof of that—suddenly finding a beta cute, all because of his pheromone problem.

---

A few days later, Jin Sejun was still smiling like an idiot at his phone.

Me: Did you have dinner?
Juwan: Yes, I had a salad. What about you, Manager?

His gaze lingered on the updated contact name, “Juwan.”

Now he even called him “Mr. Juwan” all by himself.

Of course, he’d never actually addressed him by the saved name.

Me: Is that enough? On a diet? I’m at a company dinner right now.
Juwan: (photo)
Juwan: I ate like an elephant, so it’s fine. Just trying to lose a little weight.

“Like an elephant, huh. Cute.”

Chuckling, Jin Sejun took a photo of the spread on the table and sent it back.

Even as drinks were exchanged back and forth, his attention remained glued to his phone.

Me: Doesn’t seem like you need to lose weight.
Juwan: I exercise. For various reasons.
Me: What kind of exercise?
Juwan: This and that.

“Various reasons and this and that? Is he prepping for a body profile shoot?”

He figured Juwan could be a trainer; after all, a physique like that didn’t come without muscles.

Maybe he was worried about his hairline too, since pictures would be involved.

“You’re definitely dating, Sejun. Your face has been glowing lately.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Oh, come on. Manager, even if you deny it, it’s obvious to everyone. You’re either flirting or already dating. No one looks like that otherwise.”

Hearing this, Jin Youngjun, Sejun’s second-oldest brother and the clinic director, slammed his chopsticks down.

“Sejun, are you dating someone?”

“No, it’s not like that. We’re just friends for now.
”
“For now,” huh? Youngjun narrowed his eyes.

“Bring them here. They’re not some weirdo, are they?”

“Director, who in the world could mess with an Alpha like Manager Jin? Let alone Manager Jin himself.”

“This must be because I carried him on my back and changed his diapers when he was a baby.”

“Oh, cut the family-man act, Youngjun. When I turned one, you were three. Stop channeling our older siblings with your nonsense.”

“Call me Director. And for your information, I could read Korean when I was three.”

“Sure, while still wearing diapers.”

“Alright, alright, Director and Manager! Cheers!”

---

The dinner wasn’t too long, and by 9 p.m., Jin Sejun was piggybacking his drunken brother into the apartment lobby.

“Stop overdoing it when you can’t even hold your liquor, Youngjun.”

“My baby brother is getting married!”

“I told you, I’m not!”

Anyone would think Youngjun had been the family breadwinner.

Unlike Sejun, Youngjun tended to get overly sentimental about trivial things, and it was clearly excessive.

“I was beginning to think you’d never get it together, but it seems my hard work paid off.”

“Hard work? Says the guy who got married after knocking someone up.”

---

Still, Sejun couldn’t deny that Youngjun had been a grounding force during his tumultuous mid-to-late twenties.

Sejun had never discussed his pheromone issues with anyone in the family (if it weren’t about pheromones, he’d have been more open).

Even though Youngjun had no idea what was going on, he’d always tried to help.

“Hey, Sis-in-law, I brought him back.”

As soon as Sejun stepped back to let himself be seen by the door camera, the entrance opened, and his sister-in-law, Chae Yunmi, quickly came out to support Youngjun.

“Ugh, seriously. Why does he drink when he can’t handle it?”

“Because… Sejun’s getting married….”

“Are you?”

“No….”

“Figures. More nonsense. Honestly, without you, he’d get lost after one sip of alcohol.”

“Well, since I live off him, this is the least I can do.”

This wasn’t the first time Sejun had to deliver his brother home, and he often visited their house, so it wasn’t uncomfortable.

But normally, his niece would come running at the mere sound of her uncle’s voice, throwing her arms around Sejun’s neck.

Today, she was nowhere to be seen.

* * *