Ch 73

Following the dimly lit garden path he found himself walking almost daily, he passed through the numerous doors of the grand palace-like residence until he reached the final paper door. Throughout the journey, various emotions flickered across his face, appearing and vanishing in turns.

“You’re late.”

“Yes.”

“Have you eaten?”

“I have.”

At the end of their brief exchange as he stepped into her space, their gazes converged on one spot. Beneath the window, a new bedding mat had been placed, and on it, bathed in moonlight, Ji-an lay asleep.

“I heard something happened.”

Instead of sitting before Eunsook, Ideun settled beside Ji-an’s bedding and wiped his hands first with the warm towel he received.

“It happened because I lack discernment in people. Even if Chairman Noh comes looking for you, don’t think of meeting him. He acted all gentle and agreeable, like an obedient person, yet who would have thought he’d be so ruthless? Who could have known?”

At the small voice laced with a sigh, Ideun also gave a slight nod. He had thought of the man as someone raised in a good family, bright and pure-hearted. Someone sociable, capable of nurturing his own love. But to think he had such a personality. And at the root of it was Chairman Noh.

“What did Noh Haneul say this time?”

“Secretary Baek was planning to side with Chairman Noh. At the same time, he also pocketed under-the-table money from him, so he must have said everything he wanted. And in the process, he let slip the things he himself had done. Tsk tsk… Maybe I let him off too easily.”

As he accepted the tea Eunsook poured with a bitter expression, Ideun’s gaze remained fixed on Ji-an.

“What do you plan to do?”

“He’s guilty of many offenses simply through his words, so I’m preparing to have him locked up. But if negotiations with Chairman Noh go well, banishing him under the condition that he never sets foot in this country again could be another option. If later, that child finds out, it should be within the bounds of what he can accept.”

Eunsook’s response, given after finishing her tea in silence, was met with only a nod from Ideun. Studying abroad would be the most plausible excuse. Having his son expelled from the country would be a better option for Chairman Noh than seeing him behind bars, and Ji-an, too, would likely just accept it as it is.

“Since we met, I also prepared a few gifts, so just take them. As for wedding presents, they’re absolutely unnecessary, so don’t even bring them up. For such a kind and gentle child to enter our family, I should be the one bowing a hundred, a thousand times in gratitude. There’s nothing for me to receive. Even when I tried to buy something, he persistently refused… I couldn’t prepare much, so take care of him and make sure he doesn’t feel lacking.”

“So, did you also meet with the planner?”

“Call it an old woman’s selfish wish to see her grandchild get married if not her own child. And here, take this as well.”

As Eunsook casually pushed something across the table toward him, Ideun set his teacup down and opened the envelope.

“If you need to make changes, you might not be able to move in right after the wedding, but by the time the baby arrives, it should be ready. It’s close to the company and not far from here either. It’ll be better than where you are now, so consider it. Once it’s fully renovated and furnished, I plan to transfer it to Ji-an’s name.”

How long had she been planning and preparing this? While he had been gritting his teeth, cursing her, she had been gathering these things one by one for the grandchild she had lost track of without knowing anything.

“…I will gratefully accept it.”

A silence fell in the middle of their conversation, but it was no longer as sharp-edged as before.

“They say a child sleeps more when they are growing, but he wasn’t eating properly, just toying with his spoon, so I put him to sleep. Make sure he eats later. If possible, consider transferring him to another hospital. Not that the current one is bad, but it would be more convenient to have options when things get urgent.”

“I’ll discuss changing hospitals with Ji-an. And right now, sleeping soundly is beneficial for his health in many ways. Resting well is the best recovery… He must find this place comfortable.”

“He’s just starved for affection. Nothing beats the warmth of people. Starting tomorrow, one of my chefs will be working there. Since he seems to like the food here, that’s something at least. Not that I have any right to say this, considering my poor judgment of people, but be careful who you bring into your home. And shouldn’t there also be someone by Ji-an’s side?”

“I’ll look into it.”

Eunsook was the one speaking most of the time, while Ideun either nodded or gave short responses. It had been nearly twenty years since they had a conversation like this. After Ideun left to study abroad, the only time they spent together was during meals. Eunsook would ask about his school life, and the adolescent boy would respond curtly. Once he became an adult, they hadn’t even shared a proper cup of tea together.

Their sporadic conversation lasted until midnight, and by then, Ji-an, who still hadn’t woken up, had to be carried away in Ideun’s arms.

***

Though he had no time to dawdle and had to leave for the company, Ideun hesitated in the living room, wanting to see Ji-an wake up before he left. At the sound of a soft “meow,” he turned his head.

Ji-an, dressed in pajamas identical to his, was rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand as he descended the stairs. His slightly tousled hair and his still-drowsy expression brought an automatic smile to Ideun’s lips. He had been waiting, thinking that if Ji-an didn’t wake in another five minutes, he would go up to at least take one more look at him sleeping.

As he set his coffee down on the table and moved toward Ji-an, he suddenly halted when Ji-an, upon seeing him, visibly flinched in surprise. Was there something wrong? Since it was clear Ji-an had been startled by him, Ideun glanced down at his own appearance to check.

“I’ll let it slide.”

Not understanding Ji-an’s sudden and ambiguous remark, Ideun looked up at him, who was standing halfway down the stairs.

“…Because I’m young, I’ll let it slide.”

What does that mean? Let what slide? Ideun’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“…Because you’re pretty, I’ll let it slide.”

As Ji-an hesitated before taking another step down the stairs, Ideun’s lips twitched upward.

“Seo Ji-an.”

Suppressing the smile threatening to break out, Ideun called his name in a deliberately stern voice.

“And since there’s also the little snake, I’ll let it slide!”

At Ji-an’s nervous glance and hesitant words, Ideun’s jawline tensed as he struggled to hold back his laughter.

“Seo Ji-an, yesterday, you…”

“Ahjussi, I’ll let it slide! I’ll really let it slide.”

“You didn’t even tell me and—”

“Ah! Just let it slide already!”

At Ji-an’s exasperated outburst, fists clenched as he stood at the bottom of the stairs, Ideun could no longer hold it in and burst into laughter. Not just a smile or a chuckle, but full-on laughter.

What crime was it to go out without telling him? It would have been better if Ji-an had returned safely, and in the end, things had been resolved after meeting his grandmother. Though Ji-an had once roamed freely on his own, now was the time for him to start being aware and taking more caution.

For health reasons, yes. And because of the little snake. But also because the news of Chairman Choi’s grandson finding a partner was already spreading.

Where on earth did he pick up that way of speaking and those words? It wasn’t that he was reprimanding him for going out—he was merely trying to say that from now on, he should go outside with someone. No, to be honest, he hadn’t even thought that far. The first thought that came to mind upon seeing Ji-an coming down in a drowsy state was that he wanted to pull him into his arms immediately. He had simply stopped in the middle of acting on that impulse because of Ji-an’s sudden remark.

“Why are you laughing!”

Ideun had tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t easily stop himself when Ji-an was just too adorable. Unable to hold back, he scooped Ji-an up the moment he came running toward him.

“Why are you laughing~”

Even as Ji-an fit snugly into his embrace, still grumbling for him to stop laughing, Ideun couldn’t bring himself to stop.

It was only after laughing for quite a while—something he hadn’t done in a long time—that Ideun finally managed to calm down, only to be met with Ji-an’s puffed-up cheeks. He knew Ji-an was sulking, and though he was aware that he should stop laughing, he simply couldn’t.

‘Ahjussi is letting Ji-an off the hook, really letting him off this time.’

How could he not? With how adorable he was, if Ji-an were to ask for a star from the sky, Ideun might not be able to pluck one down immediately, but he’d certainly look into space travel for him…

“If you tell me what you did wrong, I’ll let it go.”

Still holding Ji-an in his arms, Ideun leaned back just slightly to look at him, only to receive a bewildered response.

“Hah… I didn’t do anything wrong!”

What a little contrarian. The Ji-an from moments ago—who had been embarrassed, apologetic, and trying to brush things off—had disappeared, replaced by one who was now confident and unshaken.

“Fine, it’s all my fault.”

Reluctant to even create distance for a moment, Ideun pulled Ji-an back into his arms, pressing his face against the nape of Ji-an’s neck. At first, he hadn’t been certain, but after spending so much time together, he was sure now. An Omega without a scent… Instead, Ji-an absorbed his pheromones, creating a musk that suited him perfectly.

An Omega who retained an Alpha’s scent. In many ways, Ji-an was provoking his instincts as an Alpha—just as he had from the very beginning. Those outdated, forceful, and Alpha-centric thoughts that Ideun had tried to discard… The kind that screamed, How dare an Omega wander around alone! kept surfacing stronger than ever.

Even after drenching him in pheromones, Ji-an’s natural, purified scent would peek through before long. It was faint—so subtle that no one else would notice—but Ideun did.

No wonder he wanted to hide him away where no one could see. If he could, he’d even send away all the household staff. Just in case, he had only hired Betas. People had called him excessive for running background checks on mere employees, but he had weeded out anyone who could pose even the slightest issue.

Baek, that bastard, and Haneul, who had shown his two-faced nature—Ideun no longer wanted anyone near Ji-an who could hurt him. He wanted to eliminate the possibility entirely.

And now, with the bond mark making Ji-an wholly his Omega, his possessiveness and protective instincts surged even stronger.

“Just go to work already.”

As he held Ji-an close, inhaling his scent, and tried to steady his overwhelming emotions, the words he least wanted to hear pierced through him.

“……”

“Ahjussi, you’re going to be late.”

When he continued to ignore it, acting as if he hadn’t heard, Ji-an patted his back and spoke again. See, this is why I should just hand the company over to Tae-min. He was still fine for now, but morning sickness could start anytime, and once the baby came, there would be so many difficulties… Wouldn’t it be so much better if he just stayed by Ji-an’s side, tending to him?

He hadn’t told Ji-an yet, but just yesterday, he had gone to work and taken all sorts of flak from Tae-min while subtly shifting his responsibilities onto him. If that didn’t work out, he’d take full advantage of all his rights—maternity leave, paternity leave, everything. He had even boasted that he would use every last benefit, only to be scolded with, Are you an employee? You’re the owner!

“Just let me off the hook.”

Even if he scrunched his broad shoulders, they wouldn’t actually shrink. Even if he tried to squeeze his large frame into Ji-an, who was much smaller than him, it obviously wouldn’t work. But Ideun still repeated the words he had just learned from Ji-an—because right now, he really didn’t want to go to work. Tae-min’s inevitable scolding could wait; Ji-an’s permission came first.

“……”

“Ji-an, Ahjussi will let you off the hook.”

Ideun playfully said as he planted a kiss on Ji-an’s cheek. When there was no immediate response, he took full advantage and peppered Ji-an’s face with kisses.

“I’ll let you off the hook if you let me skip work today.”

And with that final remark, Ideun found himself being dragged toward the front door and promptly kicked out—with Ji-an calling after him, ‘Bring back some hotteok when you come home!’