Ch 30

“Where do you think we are?” 

The memory of Ji-an and the old lady’s conversation, relaxed as if sitting inside a tiger’s mouth, came to mind. It wasn’t like they were a grandson whining about side dishes and his grandmother. He’d boldly spoken his mind with clarity, only to fall into a deep sleep afterward? And to top it off, he allowed meeting other people? It seemed the old lady, unable to restrain her temper, eventually threw her cup. And yet he drank calmly and got this drunk? Now, watching him nodding off, he even began to doze. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking in that small head of his.

Everything about him was a mystery — what kind of life had he lived to act this way before meeting him?

“Tsk. Make sure you meet CEO Kim’s eldest. You’ll realize just how senseless you’re being once you meet a proper person.” 

The old lady, openly displaying her dissatisfaction, watched as Ideun drew the nodding Ji-an into his arms.

“I didn’t think much about it, but listening to you, I feel like I should take care of him now. Since we’ve gotten acquainted, if anything happens to him, I’ll consider it as you’ve directed.”

“It sounds like a threat.”

“Yes. Please don’t interfere with my person. I’d like to remain a good grandson.”

Eun-sook didn’t stop Ideun, who carried out the drunken, slumbering person. Left alone in the spacious room, she finally relaxed her stern expression as she saw Assistant Cha carefully entering to gauge the atmosphere.

“Clear this place and bring out a fresh drink tray. I think I need a drink tonight. And stop the investigation on that kid.”

“Madam?”

“Why, is there something you’re curious about?”

“No, ma’am.”

“I’m thinking of trusting that kid’s words, but what do you think?”

Eun-sook turned her gaze to Assistant Cha, who was kneeling quietly in front of her after watching others remove the broken tea cup and tidy the table.

“How could I grasp Madam’s deep intentions? I will follow as you wish.”

“You can leave now, too, for the night. I need some time alone.”

After everyone left, and a small tray was brought in, Eun-sook raised her glass alone. Raising children, they said, is the hardest thing to manage, and she couldn’t agree more in her situation. What use is having billions in cash when it’s this hard to even see her own flesh and blood?

She was simply curious. Reports kept coming in that the boy, who had never allowed anyone close, had suddenly invited someone into his home and even changed the furnishings.

Upon seeing the young person who had come through the door, she sighed inwardly. There was no doubt that blood couldn’t be denied. Except for that clear, pleasant face, there was little else to look at, yet he approached with a frankness that was refreshing. Perhaps it was because she only kept people around her who constantly watched her cues and flattered her. She almost laughed at his boldness, holding it in with difficulty. He thought he was speaking tough words, but his hands trembled slightly. Just as she cleared her throat, he straightened himself and lowered his large eyes — young indeed.

Where had he even heard the word “first night”…?

When he turned down a fortune, saying he didn’t need it, and told her not to worry, he eventually ended up expressing concern for his own grandchild. What an odd one he was, and one who knew his place. He was still young; what story could he have that’d make him look so desolate?

Eun-sook filled her glass again. Her grandson and this bold young man were alike, so there was no one to blame. Oddly enough, this youngster seemed to be someone she could talk to. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to leave them as they are, especially when attempting to restrain them would only fuel their fire.

A flower that blooms will one day fall. Everything takes time. When it does fade, she’d do her part to clean up properly. She couldn’t repeat the same mistake and break the family line.

Eun-sook stood and opened the window, revealing the well-tended garden. But her gaze was directed beyond it, up toward the sky.

“I hope he’ll keep his promise, as the season of blooming flowers isn’t too far away.”

Murmuring to herself, Eun-sook opened the outer window, still feeling a lingering tightness in her chest. A cold winter wind whipped in, sweeping away the room’s warmth.

“I should have at least fed him noodles before sending him off.”

As the warmth disappeared and a chill set in, the attendants entered to close the windows and tidy up. They helped her prepare for bed, but Eun-sook remained standing in the same spot.

* * *

Seeing Ji-an asleep, snoring lightly, Ideun let out a helpless laugh. In front of the notoriously fierce old lady, Ji-an had said everything on his mind, drank, and, in the end, dozed off, leaning on him as if it were nothing. Even just from the old lady’s expression — one that seemed fed up and speechless — Ideun could envision everything Ji-an must have done.

At first, he’d spoken carefully and politely, watching his tone. But at some point, Ji-an had locked eyes with her and firmly said everything he wanted, even provoking her with his words. And he’d done that with the old lady?

Ideun didn’t know whether to commend him for his courage or scold him for his recklessness. The old lady was someone who could make people disappear without a trace. She’d been harsh with her own daughter… perhaps it was only because Ji-an had nothing that she was at ease with him. If she truly found him bothersome, he wouldn’t have even been allowed in that seat.

With a slight smirk, Ideun let his lips settle back. Though he was late for the reservation, he directed the car to the restaurant he had initially planned to visit with Ji-an.

“Mmm…”

Realizing the limitations of his position while stretching, Ji-an slowly opened his eyes. Not even a second was needed to realize he was in a moving car, with fast-passing scenery, a comfortable seat beneath him, and a seatbelt across his chest and waist.

“Glad you’re awake. I was worried you’d stay asleep until we arrived.”

“Ah… uh…”

Before closing his eyes, he’d been with Ideun’s grandmother, and he must have dozed off after finishing an entire pot of rice wine.

“How about chicken soup? We’re a bit late, but it’d be a shame to miss dinner.”

This guy’s taste in food…

Whether intentionally or not, the first time, he’d taken him to a Korean restaurant run by his grandmother, and now he chose chicken soup. It was indeed the kind of comfort food suitable for someone who hadn’t been eating well and was slightly tipsy.

“Really? Should I turn the car around?”

“No. Not that. Do you have anything else to say? Other than about food.”

Ji-an rubbed his face with one hand and checked his watch, confirming it was just past 8 p.m. He rotated his neck lightly. Considering the time he had slept, it wasn’t long, and it seemed that neither he nor the grandmother had engaged in a lengthy conversation.

“Flower sleep?”

Cough.

Not expecting such a direct statement, Ji-an choked on his own saliva and had to spend a while coughing, hitting his chest.

“I can’t exactly be totally honest with Grandmother. How could I explain that I imprinted on another alpha and that we’re just sleeping together to break that imprint?”

“You can explain it that way to that old lady. Do you really think I’m doing this just to break your imprint?”

“You’re not exactly the type who loves me, cherishes me like crazy, or would go mad without me.”

As they moved along a narrow road following the guidance of staff holding glow sticks, possibly because it was a famous restaurant, Ji-an kept his eyes on the cars going in and out.

“You’re not, either?”

“Of course. To be honest, I don’t mind if the imprint isn’t broken.”

“Because you like that person?”

“I do like him, but I know we can’t be together. Plus, my condition hasn’t been great lately, according to the doctor. Even if it’s not from the imprinted alpha’s pheromones, being exposed to an alpha’s pheromones is better than doing nothing.”

Ji-an, looking out the window as he answered, subtly turned his head to glance at Ideun when he received no response. But noticing his usual, unchanging, stiff expression, Ji-an quickly turned his head back, embarrassed.

They exchanged a few words, but when they finally sat across from each other at a prepared table and as the staff arranged chicken soup attractively in front of them, no further conversation arose. While the restaurant was filled with the warm atmosphere of families and couples celebrating the end of the year, the two seemed entirely detached from such sentiments.

The contrast was clear, from Ideun’s neat attire to Ji-an’s casual, comfortable clothes.

There was a sizable chicken leg on his plate, but Ji-an pushed it aside and started with the rice porridge. He thought that he could no longer skip meals or simply fill his stomach with alcohol. Even if he wasn’t in great shape, how could he have fallen asleep after finishing an entire bottle of rice wine?

There was no reason to make a good impression, and he was already in a situation where it was better to become disliked. Still, his usual self couldn’t imagine causing such an embarrassing scene in front of someone’s family, especially someone he liked.

“Impressions of meeting the old lady?”

Ji-an, who had been enjoying the toasted rice porridge, looked up at Ideun’s question.

“An elegant and graceful grandmother?”

“Honestly.”

“…Well, you see, I actually acted pretty disrespectfully. Honestly, I thought I’d never see her again, and it’s not like we’re anything to each other. So, there was no reason to make a good impression. Besides, looking at the situation, it seemed like your grandmother left me alone.”

“That’s correct. You’ve grasped it well.”

“You told me to come out for a meal, but when I arrived, you weren’t there, only your grandmother. How could I not know?”

And… my favorite genre is trashy drama. This plot is so predictable.

Ji-an briefly glanced at Ideun as he took the chicken leg from his plate, but since he had no intention of eating it anyway, he focused on his porridge.

“So?”

“I didn’t realize I was hungry, but when she mentioned eating, I suddenly was. But there was only tea, so I asked for food. And I don’t even know about tea ceremonies. So when she told me to say what I wanted to eat, I did.”

“And you asked for alcohol, too?”

The large chicken leg, bones and all, had been taken by Ideun, but what returned to Ji-an’s plate was neatly cut-up meat, easy to eat.

“I asked for a green onion pancake, too. How could I leave out rice wine?”

“So you drank a whole bottle of rice wine, told her we were just sleeping together, and then fell asleep as soon as I arrived?”

Ji-an, meeting Ideun’s gaze, drew back the plate with the chicken meat, picked up a piece, and nodded.

“Good job.”

“What?”

He could barely get the words out as he chewed the meat.

“Good job. If you’d tried to behave like a perfect gentleman, you wouldn’t be eating chicken in front of me now.”

Oh… Is the grandmother more of a villain than I thought? The type who seals people up in cement and dumps them in the sea if they’re troublesome? But isn’t this supposed to be a mild family drama? No matter how bad family relations are…

“I thought about moving to a suitable place, but that might be overdoing it. The housekeeper will be replaced tomorrow, so keep that in mind. Anything else you’re curious about?”

“How do you usually handle your rut?”

Ji-an, chewing on the tender, chewy meat without thinking, froze mid-chew as the words slipped out without passing through his brain. It was honestly what he was most curious about. Ideun had spent the night with him in France, going along with what he’d said. It didn’t make sense that he wouldn’t remember that night.

But before that, he needed to confirm if his hunch about Ideun’s rut partner was accurate. Could there really be someone else with the same pheromone scent? There could be similar scents, but an exact match?

“Suddenly? I use rut-specific sleeping pills alone at my villa. Sometimes it’s just two days, but it can go up to three or four. Why? Planning to become my rut partner as well as my flower sleep partner?”

Without hesitation or even a moment’s pause, Ideun answered as casually as if he were listing favorite dishes. Ji-an reached for his water glass. Sleeping pills… He was usually awake, though he sometimes fell asleep. Likewise, he had been awake only minutes after Ji-an entered the room without being woken.

Whenever they met (or were abducted), people blindfolded him the moment he got into the car. He remembered the prepared bathtub and the same room each time. Sanghoon would meticulously prepare him, making him wash, take medicine, receive an injection, and wear the same bathrobe and slippers. Most of the time, he fell asleep from exhaustion and woke up in the hospital, though sometimes he pretended to sleep.

On those occasions, Sanghoon would inject the alpha before removing Ji-an from his embrace and carrying him back to the prepared room, wrapping him in a soft blanket. He was probably given a sleeping pill, as he never remembered counting past ten before blacking out.

“Why?”

Forcing his trembling hand to steady, Ji-an drank his water and looked up at Ideun’s calm expression.