FF Chapter 2

Choi Muhyeok pressed the earphone he had in one ear firmly.

“Yeah.”

[Have you finished work, hyung?]

His younger brother, Choi Minhyuk, joked. Choi Muhyeok, who had maintained a blank expression the entire time, slightly lifted one corner of his mouth.

“Do you need money again?”

[Why do you say that? Am I the kind of person who always asks for money?”]

“Then why are you acting out of character?”

[You’re so boring. What are you doing after work? Are you busy?]

Choi Muhyeok, who was driving leisurely, saw the taillights of the car in front of him come on as it slowed down, so he gently pressed the brake. Choi Muhyeok’s car came to a stop at a red light, surrounded by all sorts of vehicles. The roads in Seoul during rush hour were nothing short of hell.

“What’s going on?”

[I was thinking we could have dinner together, it’s been a while.]

“Why suddenly dinner?”

[Jincheol hyung went fishing and caught a yellowtail? He’s inviting you to come over for sashimi.]

“…Not today.”

[Oh, come on. Let’s go together.]

Choi Minhyuk, ever the smooth talker, lengthened his words, adding a playful tone.

“Where did you pick up that annoying habit of showing off cuteness?”

[Ah, hyung.]

“I have plans. I can’t.”

[Plans?]

Choi Minhyuk asked back, sounding puzzled. Choi Muhyeok, who had been lost in thought while tapping his finger on the steering wheel, finally spoke reluctantly.

“I have to go on a blind date.”

[Wha-what? A blind date? Just like that, out of the blue?]

As expected, Choi Minhyuk shouted in surprise. Choi Muhyeok remained expressionless, as if this reaction was entirely predictable.

[Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?]

“I just found out today myself.”

[They only told you today? Wow, our chairman sure is something.]

“Anyway, because of that, I can’t go.”

[Hyung, are you seriously going to go through with the blind date?]

“…….”

[…Are you okay with it?]

His question carried a double meaning. He was asking if Muhyeok was really okay with going through with the blind date, knowing it might lead to marriage, and if he was prepared to face the chairman’s wrath if things didn’t work out.

“If they kick me out, I’ll just crawl back from the bottom again.”

Choi Muhyeok’s interpretation was the latter.

[Wow, you’re really going to do it again? Hyung, you’re something else.]

“Don’t be sarcastic. You’re coming with me.”

[Why? No way. Count me out.]

At Minhyuk’s sly tone, the corner of Muhyeok’s mouth lifted again. His gaze drifted to the dashboard. The time was nearing 5:20 PM.

She was a beauty anyone would like, judging by the photo, but she didn’t appeal to Choi Muhyeok. Coincidentally, female Omegas were not his type. All his previous relationships had been with male Omegas, the last of which ended two years ago, during the winter when he turned thirty. So, the outcome of today’s blind date was already decided. The only question was how to decline.

Perhaps due to his twisted mindset, a simple rejection didn’t feel satisfying. If he wanted to prevent this from happening again, he needed a method that was a bit more ruthless. Something that would ensure he wouldn’t be set up on another blind date. But, of course, he couldn’t use violence against a woman…

Leaning his elbow on the windowsill and absentmindedly rubbing his lips with one finger, Choi Muhyeok’s gaze settled on something. He noticed a flower shop by the side of the road. Glancing at the sign, Choi Muhyeok was drawn to it and pulled over in front of the shop.

[Hyung, don’t do this…]

“Minhyuk.”

He interrupted whatever Choi Minhyuk was about to say. Startled by the sudden call, Minhyuk responded with a surprised “Huh?”

With the hazard lights on, Choi Muhyeok parked on the side of the road and leaned forward to look at the sign. ‘Flower Fiancé.’ The words, written in brown cursive on a light pink background, caught his eye.

[Hyung?]

“I’ll send you a picture, name, and the school she attended. Dig up some info.”

[The person you’re meeting today?]

“Do you know any second or third-generation chaebol without any blemishes? If you find something, I’ll use it when necessary.”

[Got it. I’ll look into it and get back to you.]

After hanging up, Choi Muhyeok slowly got out of the car. Dressed in a black cashmere coat, he looked up at the pink sign emitting a bright light.

Flower Fiancé.

White breath escaped his lips as he muttered softly. A flower-like fiancé, huh? Reflecting on the meaning, Choi Muhyeok twisted the corner of his mouth into a smirk. He found it somewhat amusing to stumble upon a flower shop that fit the situation so perfectly.

It was, in its own way, the best method. There probably wasn’t a flower that symbolized a breakup, and since the date was already set, openly defying his father wasn’t a wise choice either. His plan was to simply deliver a bouquet of flowers, pretend to be sincere, then find a flaw and get rid of her. That seemed like the best way to come off as a real jerk. The reasoning could be crafted as needed. Even though he didn’t particularly like underhanded methods, he still didn’t want to do this.

His long legs carried him toward Flower Fiancé’s glass door. As he pulled the door open, a rush of warm air, contrasting with the freezing temperatures outside, hit him.

Ding.

In a world overflowing with mechanical sounds, the classic chime that rang as the glass door opened was clear and pure.

The shop owner, who had been conversing with a customer who arrived earlier, turned around at the sound of the door.

“Welcome! I have another customer here, so if you don’t mind waiting for just a moment while I finish up?”

The owner, who politely asked for his understanding in a cheerful voice, resembled the flowers in full bloom within Flower Fiancé.

“Sure, whatever.”

Despite his curt reply, the owner smiled brightly. The owner appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties, a young man with strikingly fair skin and a clean-cut image. He smiled warmly at Choi Muhyeok before turning his attention back to the previous customer. As he watched the owner interact with the customer with a smile, Choi Muhyeok slowly glanced around the shop. His gaze landed on a business card placed on the tea table near the entrance.

‘Flower Fiancé, Ji Yeonwoo.’

That’s what was written there.

݁˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

Flower Fiancé was a small flower shop.

The interior of the roughly 16.5-square-meter (about 178 square feet) Flower Fiancé was filled with flowers and potted plants on either side, leaving just enough room for one person to walk through. With a giant standing there, nearly 191 cm tall and weighing 82 kg, the space looked completely filled to the brim.

The inside of the shop, like the cute sign outside, was full of brightly colored flowers. Red, yellow, white—everywhere. For someone like Choi Muhyeok, who wasn’t familiar with flowers, this place was just a tiring display of primary colors.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a shop with pale pink ranunculus.”

As Choi Muhyeok looked around, he turned his head at the unfamiliar flower name. The two female customers standing in front of the owner continued their conversation.

“My friend really loves this flower, but surprisingly, not many shops carry it.”

“That’s right. Ranunculus isn’t an easy flower to care for, so most places don’t keep it in stock. Actually, ranunculus is one of my favorite flowers too. So I make sure to keep it available whenever possible.”

“Oh, I see. Then do you also carry Hemerocallis? What about Alstroemeria?”

“I do carry both, but they aren’t in season right now, so we don’t have them at the moment. Would you like me to find some for you?”

“Yes, please. And could you also look for Belladonna lilies? They look so beautiful in a vase.”

“Of course. If you could write down your name and contact information, I’ll let you know when I find them.”

The female customers, seemingly thrilled, eagerly wrote down their details. Choi Muhyeok, who was watching from a distance, slowly began to frown.

“Heme… Madonna, what?”

The names of the flowers he’d never heard of before were making his head spin. Just as he was beginning to regret coming in, the two customers finished their conversation and brushed past him as they left.

“I’m sorry for the wait. Did you wait long?”

Finally, the man in a navy shirt and slacks with a brown apron approached him. Though he wasn’t wearing a name tag, Choi Muhyeok could tell that this man was probably ‘Flower Fiancé, Ji Yeonwoo.’

“Are you looking for a particular flower?”

Choi Muhyeok’s intense gaze swept over Ji Yeonwoo, who stood in front of him. If they were standing close, the top of Ji Yeonwoo’s head might just reach his chin. He didn’t seem to be quite 180 cm, perhaps around the mid-170 cm range. His light brown hair made his face appear clear and flawless. His eyebrows were neatly shaped, not too thick, with a slight double eyelid, and his lips were a soft shade of pink.

The first thought that crossed Choi Muhyeok’s mind upon seeing Ji Yeonwoo was, “Is he an omega?” Generally, alphas could easily pick out omegas even in a crowd. The more dominant the alpha, the more accurately they could recognize omegas, almost as if by instinct.

But even though Ji Yeonwoo gave off an omega-like impression, there were no detectable pheromones. He wondered if the scent was masked by the fragrance of the flowers filling Flower Fiancé, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Typically, omega pheromones had something more than just scent—they contained something that instinctively attracted alphas. That certain something was missing from Ji Yeonwoo.

“Um… Sir?”

Ji Yeonwoo cautiously spoke up as he noticed Choi Muhyeok staring at him. Even then, Choi Muhyeok maintained his signature poker face. His eyes, without double eyelids, might make a stranger think he looked sharp or even angry.

Ji Yeonwoo, seemingly wondering if something was on his face, looked away and rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand.

“What kind of flowers do omegas usually like?”

Ji Yeonwoo blinked several times as he looked at Choi Muhyeok. It was an odd question to hear after he’d been in the shop for quite a while, but Ji Yeonwoo didn’t show much reaction beyond that.

Choi Muhyeok knew it was a strange question. However, it was his way of subtly probing Ji Yeonwoo’s secondary gender. Most betas didn’t appreciate being mistaken for an omega, so if Ji Yeonwoo was an omega, he expected some kind of reaction.

He wasn’t sure why he was so curious about Ji Yeonwoo’s secondary gender, but Choi Muhyeok felt an urge to know. Perhaps it was because Ji Yeonwoo’s soft, delicate appearance, which looked as though his skin would feel marshmallow-like and muscle-free, aligned with his preferences.

As Ji Yeonwoo stared at him for a while, he suddenly let out a soft chuckle, like air escaping.

A laugh?

Choi Muhyeok narrowed his eyes as he continued to observe Ji Yeonwoo.

“As someone who works in a flower shop, that’s the first time I’ve ever been asked that question.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s long eyes curved beautifully as he smiled.

“Everyone has different preferences when it comes to flowers, but we don’t categorize them by secondary gender.”

Choi Muhyeok looked even more confused. How was he supposed to choose a flower if he didn’t understand anything about this?

“Omegas, unlike alphas, don’t particularly like to stand out socially. Perhaps it’s something similar to that.”

“So what do you do if you don’t know the person’s preferences?”

“Hmm, if you know what colors or scents the recipient likes, it can make choosing easier.”

“I don’t know any of that.”

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been speaking calmly the entire time, finally fell silent. The more they talked, the more it felt like a waste of time. He had just wanted to pick a suitable flower, but things were getting unnecessarily complicated.

“Just make up a bouquet with something appropriate. We’re not going to see each other again anyway.”

It was for an omega he didn’t know anything about and who was just going to pass through his life. He didn’t care to learn the person’s floral preferences.

If there were a flower that symbolized parting, that would have been ideal, but he doubted such a flower existed.

“How about roses?”

He followed Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze. A large bunch of common red roses was in the spot he indicated.

“Red roses are the most popular and versatile flowers. They’re a common choice for gifts.”

“Then let’s go with that.”

Choi Muhyeok answered without a moment’s hesitation, as if he were running an errand for someone else.

“Shall I make it into a suitable-sized bouquet?”

Sensing his lack of enthusiasm, Ji Yeonwoo asked cautiously.

“Yes, that’ll do.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Ji Yeonwoo smiled brightly at him before starting to prepare the bouquet. Choi Muhyeok’s gaze followed Ji Yeonwoo’s busy movements.

His eyes landed on Ji Yeonwoo’s white, smooth neck, visible above the navy shirt. His skin was so flawless that he imagined if he buried his nose there, it would smell like baby powder. And that wasn’t all—his long, thick eyelashes were striking.

‘…He really does seem like an omega.’

Choi Muhyeok tilted his head slightly and rubbed his lower lip with his index finger. As he watched Ji Yeonwoo select roses, he slowly released his pheromones. It wasn’t the most ethical approach, but he had no other way to confirm.

Yet, Ji Yeonwoo remained completely unaffected. He continued his work with a bright expression, showing no reaction, not even a slight flinch.

Choi Muhyeok raised an eyebrow in surprise. Even a recessive omega wouldn’t be this unresponsive to a dominant alpha’s pheromones.

‘If there’s no reaction at all, it means he’s not an omega.’

Choi Muhyeok loosened his neck with a twist. Although Ji Yeonwoo’s appearance and way of speaking matched his tastes, he had never been interested in betas before. It was strange that he was paying so much attention and reacting this way now. If, without realizing it, his preferences had shifted to betas, especially male betas, then it would be embarrassing enough to drown himself in a basin of water.

His eyes casually caught sight of an unfamiliar flower. The yellow petals, with a wavy pattern, were layered like a chrysanthemum but weren’t quite the same.

“What flower is this?”

Choi Muhyeok pointed to the yellow flower at his feet. Ji Yeonwoo looked back from the roses he was picking.

“That’s a marigold, also known as calendula.”

Ji Yeonwoo, who had just set down the flowers he was holding on the desk, approached closer.

“Marigolds come in various types. They’re generally divided into Cheonsu-guk and Mansu-guk based on the size and spread of the petals. The one you’re looking at is a Cheonsu-guk.”

Choi Muhyeok stared intently at Ji Yeonwoo as he explained about the Cheonsu-guk.

“They’re also called Aztec marigolds. They grow widely in Mexico and are considered sacred, often used in religious ceremonies.”

Ji Yeonwoo finished his explanation with a gentle smile directed at Choi Muhyeok. The more he looked at him, the more he thought Ji Yeonwoo had a bright, pleasant aura. He seemed like someone who had grown up in a greenhouse, interacting with people effortlessly. Instead of coming across as rude, the more they talked, the more Ji Yeonwoo’s presence lifted his spirits.

From the moment he entered Flower Fiancée until now, Ji Yeonwoo’s surroundings had been warm and bright. Among the vibrant flowers, only Choi Muhyeok seemed colorless.

“Do you know the meaning of Cheonsu-guk?”

“Of course. The meaning of Cheonsu-guk is…”

Ji Yeonwoo started to speak but suddenly hesitated. His reluctance was a sharp contrast to his previous quick responses.

“The meaning of Cheonsu-guk is, ‘pitiful love’ or ‘the sorrow of parting.’”

Choi Muhyeok’s deep brown eyes hardened. He was surprised, his reaction showing it was unexpected.

Ji Yeonwoo offered a somewhat awkward smile.

“It’s a bit… somber, isn’t it?”

“…”

“That’s why it’s not a flower that’s often given as a gift.”

The atmosphere became subdued. Choi Muhyeok continued to stare at the Cheonsu-guk without speaking, while Ji Yeonwoo glanced at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll finish up the roses quickly…”

Ji Yeonwoo hesitated before turning away, holding the roses in his arms. Choi Muhyeok, who had been staring intently at the Cheonsu-guk, lifted his head.

“…So, it really does exist?”

A flower that symbolizes parting.

His lips curled slightly as he mumbled to himself. An unusual thought crossed Choi Muhyeok’s mind.

“Yes. This will be better.”

“Pardon?”

Ji Yeonwoo turned around quickly, startled by his words.

Choi Muhyeok’s eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief as he met Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze.

“Not the roses. I’ll take these.”

The flower Choi Muhyeok pointed to was the Cheonsu-guk.

He had decided to become a complete jerk from the very first meeting. He had no intention of leaving a good impression on the other person. It was better if the message was understood and the other person distanced themselves, rather than delivering it without meaning.

“This is Cheonsu-guk^[1],” Ji Yeonwoo confirmed again, looking confused.

“So what?”

“But the meaning…”

“Pitiful love, sorrow of parting, right? Isn’t that what you said? Is something wrong with that?”

“No, that’s not it, but…”

Choi Muhyeok’s expression seemed to say he didn’t see what the problem was.

“If I give it to them, they’ll probably look up the meaning of the flower, won’t they?”