JADE 2

‘He’s cute.’

As he guided him to his seat, Jin Sejun compared their physiques and concluded that Kwon Joowan was similar in build to himself, perhaps a little bigger. Of course, he’d have to see him naked to be sure.

For some reason, Jin Sejun was feeling a sense of goodwill towards this first-time client. He even felt as if he were seeing his first love from elementary school again, someone he had liked and then forgotten about.

He must have completely lost his mind from being starved his whole life despite his top-tier specs.

“It feels good to be complimented by such a handsome man.”

“Come on, I’m sure you’re used to it, Manager.”

Of course, he was used to it. But this was the first time he’d been complimented without any sarcasm by a guy who seemed like such a successful Alpha. Kwon Joowan’s cautious demeanor wasn’t bad either.

“……”

In the brief moment it took to seat the client and close the window, Jin Sejun was already imagining himself driving with the man before him in the passenger seat.

If he lacked confidence in his appearance, he would be easy to win over. So he indulged in a full-package delusion, wondering what it would be like to gently coax him, have him sit below the driver’s seat between his legs, and ask him to suck him off.

By now, the gap between his indirect experience, including voyeurism, and his actual experience had grown so wide that only these crazy delusions increased.

“Ahem.”

He was screwed. His frustration had grown so large that he was even thinking of getting with a Beta. An Alpha getting turned on by a Beta was considered a paraphilia. Though the situation was probably better than an Alpha getting turned on by an Alpha.

While Jin Sejun displayed success stories for each procedure type on the monitor and rattled on, Kwon Joowan nodded with a consistent smile on his face.

After making eye contact for a long time, Jin Sejun started to feel strangely and ended up asking a question that was awkward for the timing.

“But what brought you here?”

You look perfect. I’m not saying I’m jealous, but if I had your face, I think I’d live my life satisfied. …He wanted to spell it all out, but he had no intention of being overly forward at work.

“I’m concerned about my hairline…. A friend also told me my hair looks thin.”

“Is your friend an Alpha?”

“No, that friend is an Omega…”

What? What kind of bold and blind Omega was that? If an Alpha had said it, he would have assumed they were nitpicking to eliminate a competitor, even if he were a Beta, but for an Omega to say it was too strange.

Thin hair… If a fruit fly charged into that hair, it would get caught like in a trap and never get out.

“In that case… would it be alright if I asked for your sub-gender, Mr. Joowan? You left that part of the form blank.”

“Is it absolutely necessary for the consultation?”

Is it necessary? Isn’t it on the form because it’s necessary? Wouldn’t the subtle hormonal differences between sub-genders and Betas affect the surgical outcome?

Honestly, he didn’t think so, but his personal curiosity won out.

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

Kwon Joowan’s smiling lips twisted slightly as he answered.

“I’m a Beta.”

He had been 99 percent sure he was an Alpha, so this was unexpected. Anyone you asked would say he looked like an Alpha, one hundred out of one hundred times.

But since he couldn’t sense anything from him, he supposed it must be an unusual constitution and accepted it. After all, if you went by pheromones alone, everyone would think Jin Sejun was an Omega.

When Kwon Joowan lowered his head slightly, his voluminous, center-parted hair fell like a curtain. Jin Sejun, while trying to gauge his hairline, cautiously offered him a headband.

“In that case, would it be alright if I took a look at your hairline? It’s easier for me to proceed with the consultation if I understand the situation.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Why was Kwon Joowan here, was his perfectly fine-looking current hairline a tattoo or hair powder, and so on. The countless suspicions that had floated in Jin Sejun’s mind were consolidated into a single one the moment Kwon Joowan completely pushed his hair back.

‘Why on earth is he here? Is he incapable of objectively assessing his own appearance?’

But he had to make money by making it seem like there was something to fix, so he couldn’t just tell him to go home.

Jin Sejun drew a line slightly below Kwon Joowan’s already perfect hairline, handed him a mirror, and recited his sales pitch.

“You don’t need that much, Mr. Joowan. From 500 grafts to 1,000 at the very most.”

“Wow, now that a professional has drawn the line, I can see that my forehead was too wide.”

‘What is he talking about? It’s perfect as it is.’

Jin Sejun smiled bitterly but continued his explanation.

“When we harvest follicles from the back of your head, the FUT method is cheaper than FUE, but it leaves a scar. From our hair transplant surgery to the final aftercare is here…. You can check then, and if you feel the density is lacking, you can apply for follow-up service.”

The schedule Jin Sejun handed over detailed what both the patient and the clinic needed to do from the day of the surgery to one year post-op, at the final visit.

As Kwon Joowan nodded with a distant look in his eyes, Jin Sejun took out a calculator and busily tapped on it.

“I’ll give you the price. This is for the FUT method. But we have a promotion right now…”

“FUT is much cheaper.”

“That’s because it’s easier to harvest the follicles.”

“Hmm, I think I’d like to have it done here. I trust you, Manager…. I think FUE would be good.”

‘What? Already?’

He should have been happy about the easy sale, but he just couldn’t. Kwon Joowan’s decision seemed overly hasty, and the fact that he had no questions was very concerning.

“Perhaps you should also consult with the director…”

“It’s alright, after talking with you, Manager, I think it will be fine.”

“……”

His second brother was certainly skilled, but this was a surgery that would affect his face, so he felt he shouldn’t decide in one second. Jin Sejun focused on maintaining his expression and asked cautiously.

“Have you by any chance had consultations at any other clinics besides ours?”

“No, this is the first.”

You’re more impatient than you look… he’d roast beans on a lightning strike. Jin Sejun clicked his tongue inwardly as he neatly placed the schedule, estimate, and his manager’s business card into an envelope printed with the clinic’s name.

Instead of handing it to Kwon Joowan, he looked down at it for a moment.

“…You said you trust my judgment.”

“Pardon? Yes. You’re much more of an expert than I am.”

“Then why don’t you think of it as time spent touring clinics and meet with me a few more times?”

“With you, Manager?”

Kwon Joowan’s voice was filled only with suspicion. At the natural reaction, Jin Sejun waved his hands and added.

“Ah, it’s just that you seem to have made up your mind too quickly about a surgery that will affect your entire life. To be honest, I just went along with it because you said you weren’t happy with how you look now, but if I were you, Mr. Joowan, I wouldn’t have done it.”

If his second brother had heard this, he would have immediately grabbed Jin Sejun by his thick hair. In fact, there had been quite a few clients who had decided and paid just as quickly as Kwon Joowan. And yet, Jin Sejun was persistently clinging only to this first-time Beta client, trying to persuade him not to have the surgery.

‘Of course, because this guy is so damn perfect as he is now…!’

But Kwon Joowan didn’t seem happy to hear the compliment. He just stared at Jin Sejun’s eyes—no, the area above his eyes—with a strange expression and asked bluntly.

“Manager, did you get your hairline done?”

“Excuse me? No? I didn’t.”

Did he overdo it? When pitiful clients had asked in the past, he had smiled leisurely and dodged the question, but he had no idea why he was making such a fuss just because this client had a full head of hair, was handsome, and tall.

“In that case… since you were born so handsome, I don’t think you can understand the heart of someone who worries about their appearance.”

‘Is he crazy?’

The gap between Kwon Joowan’s lightly lifted lips and his heavily sunken eyes was vast. What must a person be like on the inside to be able to speak such dejected words while smiling so smoothly?

But with this much denial, it went beyond not understanding and started to feel like a challenge.

‘It’s true that I’m handsome, but you’re already handsome enough too. You’re perfect as you are right now, I’m telling you.’

Jin Sejun wanted to shout that, but he kept his mouth shut for now. He took only the business card out of the envelope he had packed earlier and handed it over.

“You can contact me whenever you feel anxious. Honestly, what do I have to gain from sending you away, Mr. Joowan? Do you think I’d say this if I didn’t mean it?”

“……”

“If you’re still dissatisfied and lack confidence after we continue to talk, I’ll help you book the surgery right away.”

“Why are you going this far…”

“……”

Right, why was he?

He didn’t know what he had mumbled. After sending Kwon Joowan off and by the time he was leaving work, he had the thought that even if he dissuaded him here, he would probably just go to another clinic and quickly lie down on an operating table.

But around dinnertime, a message arrived.

010—XXXX—XXXX : Hello, Manager. This is Kwon Joowan, who saw you this afternoon and only took a business card. Have you had dinner?

‘Dinner?’

Why, if I say I haven’t, are you going to eat with me? Isn’t dinner a bit like a date? Did Kwon Joowan also think it would be good to talk more with Jin Sejun?

Did Kwon Joowan also find Jin Sejun likable?

‘Sejun, shut up~.’

Jin Sejun quickly saved Kwon Joowan’s number, tapped his own cheeks, and replied.

Me: Hello, Mr. Joowan. You enjoyed your dinner too, right?^^

Client Kwon Joowan (Beta): Yes, I did.

What the? If he already ate, why did he ask?

Even though he had been internally gushing about how handsome he was, he couldn’t clearly remember Kwon Joowan’s face now. Though an impression remained of his gloomy eyes, which didn’t match his constant smile or cheerful tone.

Why did he send him away when he wasn’t even going to try anything? Was it because his second brother had insinuated that he was hitting on clients?

If he was going to send him away, he could have just said there was no need for the surgery and stopped caring, so why did he have to give him his card and tell him to call?

Maybe he wanted to make a friend since his life was so empty and boring lately, and dating was out of the question. The brief lewd thoughts were something that always happened.

Above all, since he was a Beta—someone he had never considered as a romantic partner—it was comforting that he wouldn’t find it strange even if he encountered Jin Sejun’s flawed pheromones.

Me: Besides that Omega friend, has anyone else ever said anything about your hair?

Client Kwon Joowan (Beta): No. But that friend is the most honest.

Isn’t that being rude, not honest? Jin Sejun snorted and burrowed into his blankets while still in his day clothes.

Me: I’ve never not been told I’m honest anywhere I go, so would you like to trust me for once?

The read receipt appeared, but the reply was slow. Jin Sejun repeatedly typed and deleted various things before sending another message.

Me: Plus, I’m an expert. You said you’d listen to an expert, didn’t you?

As the silence continued, Jin Sejun’s patience wore a little thinner. He felt like he was being too pushy, but Kwon Joowan seemed so much like a bear… a sloth, that he pushed one more time.

Me: Just for one month, as if you’re being tricked.

Client Kwon Joowan (Beta): Okay, I’ll trust you, Manager.

That’s more like it. After that, they exchanged some idle chatter. As the conversation continued, the corners of Jin Sejun’s mouth, who was hugging a pillow, kept rising.

It had been a very long time since he had texted with someone for so long that his phone grew warm, excluding the lewd exchanges with sex accounts.