FF Chapter 10

Ji Yeonwoo finally realized that he was truly in a relationship.

For Ji Yeonwoo, dating had always been a cycle of waiting and loneliness.

At least, that’s what his past relationships had been like. After the calculated kindness faded, all that was left was waiting, and it was Ji Yeonwoo’s burden to endure the accompanying loneliness. There had been frequent cancellations, even after agreeing to meet, with excuses like sudden work coming up. Back then, he was young and naive enough to believe every ridiculous excuse.

That’s why he’d been deceived by sweet words and had even considered marriage right after graduating from high school.

Personal experiences are hard to forget. The scars left behind didn’t fade with time but rather remained like old wounds, lingering and never completely disappearing.

When Choi Muhyeok had confidently said that he would handle the dating and only asked Ji Yeonwoo to follow along, he had agreed in the heat of the moment. But a part of him had doubted—how could someone as highly-ranked as a dominant alpha truly care about an omega who had even lost his pheromones? It was natural for him to interpret Muhyeok’s words through the lens of his past experiences.

However, with each of Muhyeok’s gestures, Ji Yeonwoo’s preconceptions slowly began to fade.

Ji Yeonwoo had a habit of eating slowly, as if counting rice grains with chopsticks, but instead of criticizing him for it, Muhyeok would place delicious side dishes on his bowl. When Ji Yeonwoo felt cold despite the heater being on, instead of scolding him, Muhyeok would drape his own coat over him. Such small acts of kindness made Ji Yeonwoo’s heart race like it was malfunctioning.

He didn’t want to believe that every single one of these actions was calculated.

Could this really be what dating was—feeling warm and having your heart race just by looking at someone?

This was completely different from the type of dating Ji Yeonwoo had known. He had always thought that the romantic relationships depicted in dramas were just fantasies, and that real life wasn’t much different from what he had experienced. But Choi Muhyeok had turned that belief on its head.

While Ji Yeonwoo sat at the desk, gazing at the rain falling through the dark glass, his eyes landed on a black foreign car pulling up in front of the store. He fixed his gaze as the driver’s door opened, revealing a familiar figure stepping out with a long umbrella.

The man walking toward the store locked eyes with him through the transparent glass. The neon lights reflected on his face.

Choi Muhyeok’s eyes were focused straight on Ji Yeonwoo, a soft smile playing on his lips.

Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t take his eyes off him as he entered the store.

Something about him seemed different today.

He was dressed as usual, with his hair neatly styled in a pompadour and a suit, but the outfit underneath was even more formal than usual. He hadn’t left the top button or two of his shirt undone like he typically did—every button was fastened, and his sleeves were adorned with cufflinks that caught Ji Yeonwoo’s eye. They were made of silver, giving off a luxurious shine.

Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze was drawn to the cufflinks on Muhyeok’s wrists, and then to the perfectly polished black shoes. His eyes followed the smooth line of Muhyeok’s wrinkle-free dress pants, up to his broad torso.

His gaze stopped at Muhyeok’s face. Normally, he wasn’t the most expressive person, but today Muhyeok’s face seemed particularly emotionless.

Did something happen?

As Ji Yeonwoo wondered, Choi Muhyeok raised an eyebrow.

“Do I have something on my face?”

Startled, Ji Yeonwoo quickly averted his gaze.

“No, it’s just… your style looks different today.”

Choi Muhyeok glanced down at his own attire.

“I had somewhere to be.”

“I must’ve inconvenienced you.”

Muhyeok’s eyes narrowed slightly at Ji Yeonwoo’s words.

“Why would you say that?”

“I didn’t know you had plans.”

“They weren’t important.”

His words didn’t seem to make sense. He wouldn’t have gone to an unimportant event dressed up with cufflinks and everything.

Ji Yeonwoo narrowed it down to two possibilities.

Either Muhyeok had left the event early, or he hadn’t attended it at all.

Either way, it seemed likely that Muhyeok had altered his plans because of Ji Yeonwoo.

“Do you still have things to do?” Muhyeok asked, standing with his hands in his pockets as he looked at Ji Yeonwoo. Ji Yeonwoo hesitated for a moment, about to say something, but closed his mouth. He had wanted to suggest grabbing dinner since he hadn’t eaten all day, but he held back. Muhyeok didn’t seem to be in a good mood, and Ji Yeonwoo didn’t want to feel like a burden.

“No, I’m done. Just give me a second to finish tidying up.”

As soon as he said that, he noticed some decorations he had yet to clean up. How had he missed them? Ji Yeonwoo turned to the desk and began putting ribbons and wrapping paper back in their place.

Muhyeok leaned against the desk, watching him.

“Tomorrow’s the weekend. What are your plans?”

“Work.”

“Not taking the weekend off?”

“I don’t really have days off.”

“That’s a shame.”

“……”

“When are we going to have a date then?”

Ji Yeonwoo finished rolling up the last bit of wrapping paper and put it in a tube. He turned around, and before he knew it, he and Choi Muhyeok were standing face-to-face at the desk.

“Do you want to go on a date with me?”

“Of course. Who else would I go on a date with if not my partner?”

Choi Muhyeok spoke as if he were asking something obvious. Ji Yeonwoo, who had been staring at him, slowly smiled. The atmosphere around Choi Muhyeok, which had felt colder than usual, seemed to soften with just a few words.

“Is there anything you want to do, Ji Yeonwoo?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never really thought about it.”

“Then start thinking about it now. Like a movie you want to watch or a place you want to travel to.”

“Traveling might be difficult. With the nature of the shop, it’s hard to take long breaks.”

“Because of the flowers?”

“Yes.”

Choi Muhyeok looked around the shop and asked, “Do you have to come out and manage it every day?”

“Not necessarily, but without daily care, it’s hard to keep everything in good condition.”

“It’s going to be tough in the future. Your lover is a workaholic.”

Hearing Choi Muhyeok’s teasing comment, Ji Yeonwoo chuckled softly.

“Instead, how about we go on dates in the evening?”

“In the evening?”

“Yes. We close at 8 p.m., but if there aren’t any customers, we sometimes close earlier. Then we could have dinner and maybe catch a late-night movie.”

Choi Muhyeok, who had been quietly observing Ji Yeonwoo, adjusted his posture and crossed his arms. His lips curled up slightly as he continued to gaze at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just thinking. I’ve never had that kind of late-night date before.”

“Then what kind of dates have you been on, Managing Director?”

“Isn’t there only one thing?”

Suddenly, Ji Yeonwoo’s face flushed. Before he could stop himself, his imagination went wild, conjuring up scenes of him and Choi Muhyeok intertwined, indulging in intimate moments. It was a whirlwind of sensual thoughts. What am I thinking? Ji Yeonwoo scolded himself internally as he looked at Choi Muhyeok, his eyes wide in embarrassment.

“Why are you surprised? I was just talking about sleeping. As in, sleep, like rest.”

Even though Choi Muhyeok saw how flustered Ji Yeonwoo was, he wasn’t going to let it go. He was back to his usual self, speaking playfully and teasing Ji Yeonwoo.

Ji Yeonwoo felt like he had been caught off guard. It was clear that Choi Muhyeok had intentionally made him uncomfortable. The smirk on his lips said it all.

“Or were you thinking something else?”

It was as if Choi Muhyeok had peeked inside his mind and caught his naughty thoughts. It was infuriating.

“N-no, I wasn’t thinking of anything!”

But Choi Muhyeok wasn’t going to let him off that easily. Feeling embarrassed for getting caught, Ji Yeonwoo turned away, his face still burning. He couldn’t face Choi Muhyeok with his heart racing and his cheeks flushed.

“Should we leave? It’s raining, and we should hurry.”

Thinking he had to do something to break the tension, Ji Yeonwoo reached for the switch. As soon as the lights went out, the interior of the Flower Fiancé was swallowed by darkness. Only faint beams of light from passing cars outside occasionally flickered into the shop.

It’s dark now, so it should be better. Relieved, Ji Yeonwoo was about to turn around when he suddenly felt something strange. He stopped abruptly. There was the sound of footsteps and the feeling of someone standing close behind him.

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes quivered as he stood facing the wall. In the already dark room, all his senses were heightened, and he was keenly aware of the muscular body so close to his back.

“Managing Director…”

A warm breath brushed the back of his neck. Tension spread through his body, causing him to stiffen. Sensing this, Choi Muhyeok placed his hands on Ji Yeonwoo’s shoulders, gently massaging them.

“You’re tense. Relax. I promised, didn’t I? I won’t do anything without your permission.”

“But… you’re too close.”

“So what if I am? I haven’t done anything yet.”

“But being this close… we’re right by the road. What if someone sees us?”

“Don’t worry. They won’t see anything. I’m blocking the view.”

The hands that had been massaging his shoulders slowly moved down to his waist. As Choi Muhyeok’s rough hands grazed his waist, he wrapped his arms around Ji Yeonwoo’s middle. Ji Yeonwoo’s heartbeat quickened with every touch.

Choi Muhyeok gently turned Ji Yeonwoo around, holding his shoulders. As Ji Yeonwoo slowly turned to face him, he looked up as if in a trance. It might have been easier if he couldn’t see anything, but unfortunately, his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and the outlines of Choi Muhyeok’s face became clearer.

“Managing Director, let’s just leave.”

“Are you planning to go straight home?”

“…”

“That’s harsh. You’d rather go home than stay with me?”

The Flower Fiancé was filled with the overwhelming fragrance of flowers, and Choi Muhyeok’s soft, low voice tickled Ji Yeonwoo’s senses. He wanted to say something, but his mouth wouldn’t move. All he could do was nod his head slightly.

“Then, how about giving me a tour of your home?”

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Tonight?”

“Is there a reason why we can’t?”

“It’s not that we can’t, but… I didn’t clean, and it’s really late…”

“Are you embarrassed because it’s messy, or are you uncomfortable because it’s late?”

“Huh?”

Bright light pierced through the thick darkness, seeping in from outside the glass windows. Though it was brief, Choi Muhyeok’s face became clearer as he looked directly at Ji Yeonwoo. A faint smile seemed to play on his lips, and for a moment, his expression appeared to be filled with a sense of anticipation.

However, Ji Yeonwoo felt differently. Although he wasn’t displeased, something about the idea of inviting Choi Muhyeok into his home at this moment felt wrong. Despite having lost his pheromones, his instincts as a dominant Omega remained intact.

It was then that the strong arm wrapped around his waist loosened. Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t hide the uncertainty in his eyes.

“You seem uncomfortable.”

“Oh, I…”

“There’s no need to force yourself. If you’re uncomfortable, we can do this another time. Just show me when you feel ready.”

Choi Muhyeok didn’t push any further, and his considerate response only made Ji Yeonwoo feel a deeper weight in his heart.

In fact, Ji Yeonwoo had been about to say just that—he would invite him next time. After all, even though he had lost his pheromones, he was still an Omega. His irregular heat cycles were proof of that. Having experienced failure at a young age, Ji Yeonwoo had learned the lesson that he needed to protect his own body. So right now, pushing Choi Muhyeok away seemed like the right thing to do.

But when Choi Muhyeok backed off, Ji Yeonwoo found himself suddenly at a loss for words. He wanted to know what kind of expression Choi Muhyeok was making. It was hard to gauge his emotions from his voice alone. Was he disappointed, or was he understanding? Ji Yeonwoo still didn’t know enough about Choi Muhyeok to read his feelings from his voice alone.

Just then, a light from beyond the glass window illuminated the area. In just a moment, it would cast enough light for him to see Choi Muhyeok’s face. But just before it did, Choi Muhyeok turned his back to Ji Yeonwoo. As Choi Muhyeok’s hand left his body, Ji Yeonwoo flinched and grabbed his arm just as he was about to turn away.

“Wait!”

Choi Muhyeok slowly turned back toward Ji Yeonwoo.

A sense of urgency struck him. He couldn’t let Choi Muhyeok walk away like this. Gripping his arm like a lifeline, Ji Yeonwoo tightened his hold.

His resolve quickly shifted. He remembered his earlier promises, telling himself that while Choi Muhyeok was kind, he was also dangerous—that it wouldn’t be wise to let an Omega living alone invite him over this late at night. But as Choi Muhyeok took those few steps away, those resolutions crumbled like a sandcastle.

“Well…”

Ji Yeonwoo bit his lip and, as if he’d made up his mind, looked up.

“Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”

݁˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

“Come on in.”

As the door opened, a beam of light left a long trail inside. Before the last bit of it could disappear, Ji Yeonwoo stepped in, his hand feeling along the wall until he found the switch panel. With a beep, bright lights flooded the living room.

“Please excuse the mess.”

Contrary to his words, the home was small but neatly organized. The space reflected the owner’s taste, with pretty vases and flowers placed on the dining table, the coffee table, and a display shelf.

It made sense that someone who ran a flower shop would love flowers, but it still felt surprising to see Ji Yeonwoo decorate his own home with them.

“Take your time looking around. I’ll bring out some refreshments.”

As Ji Yeonwoo walked toward the kitchen, Choi Muhyeok turned his attention elsewhere. There were three rooms in total. The one with the diatomite mat in front was likely the bathroom, so the other two must be a dressing room and a bedroom. Heading toward the closer door, he reached for the handle.

“Oh! Just a moment!”

Just as he was about to open the door, Ji Yeonwoo dashed over, hurriedly positioning himself between Choi Muhyeok and the door, blocking it with his entire body. Puzzled, Choi Muhyeok looked at him curiously.

“Could you maybe… see that later?”

“Is it the bedroom?”

With an awkward expression, Ji Yeonwoo nodded.

“Well, it’s no big deal. We all live the same way.”

As Choi Muhyeok tried to step around him and reach for the door, Ji Yeonwoo rushed to block him again, growing more desperate.

“No, it’s not like that…”

Seeing Ji Yeonwoo so desperately trying to prevent him from entering was strange. The fact that he couldn’t even clearly explain why made Choi Muhyeok wonder if there was another reason beyond just tidiness.

“Don’t tell me there’s something… private you don’t want me to see?”

“Something private?”

This time, Ji Yeonwoo blinked his eyes in confusion.

“Like, I don’t know, adult items?”

“Huh? No, no, I don’t use anything like that!”

Ji Yeonwoo raised his voice in shock. He was fun to tease—perhaps he didn’t realize it himself, but his reactions were always so exaggerated, making it quite amusing.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“Well… what do you think?”

Ji Yeonwoo’s face flushed with embarrassment, his speech faltering.

“Usually, when people think of adult items, they think of something like condoms. Why are you so freaked out?”

“I-I was thinking of condoms, too!”

“Are you sure?”

“……”

“I don’t think so.”

As Choi Muhyeok pressed on with the teasing, Ji Yeonwoo’s face grew more flustered. He opened his mouth like a fish, then clamped it shut. When he finally looked back at Choi Muhyeok, his eyes had narrowed into thin slits.

“Managing Director, do you enjoy teasing me?”

“Did it seem like I was teasing you?”

“Yes.”

Contrary to what he expected, Ji Yeonwoo’s firm tone left Choi Muhyeok momentarily speechless. Ji Yeonwoo just stood there, staring at him silently. This was the first time he’d seen this kind of reaction. Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze was sharp, making him wonder if he was angry.

“Anyway, I’d prefer if you didn’t go into the bedroom.”

The situation had taken an unintended turn. This wasn’t the reaction Choi Muhyeok had hoped for.

As Ji Yeonwoo, still glaring at him with sharp eyes, tried to walk past, Choi Muhyeok reflexively grabbed him.

“Yeonwoo, wait…!”

— Growl.

At that moment, a thunderous sound echoed from somewhere. The noise pierced the still silence, and Choi Muhyeok’s eyes widened in surprise. Ji Yeonwoo, who had come to a halt as Choi Muhyeok held him, had also frozen. The source of the sound was Ji Yeonwoo’s stomach.