Marriage Mate: 9

As Yu-young stood there dumbfounded, the man brushed past him, leaving behind a tantalizingly irritating trace of pheromone scent.

Yu-young, who had been blankly watching the man’s elegant figure exit the restaurant, suddenly snapped back to his senses.

Shock. Embarrassment. Guilt. And… the emotion that surged most strongly afterward was sheer incredulity.

“What kind of lunatic…?”

It was absolutely ridiculous. Yu-young, who hadn’t even received so much as a glance from the man, let alone been able to hand over his business card, shoved it back into his wallet in frustration, trembling with anger.

Of course, he knew he was at fault. He fully acknowledged that the man had every right to be displeased and even furious. After all, he had just gotten an entire cup of coffee dumped on him. Anyone would be mad.

But strangely enough, it didn’t seem like the man was merely angry about the spilled coffee. His gaze had been filled with far too much contempt for that.

Much more than during their petty argument before the food arrived.

What the hell was his problem?

Even as Yu-young left the restaurant, paid his bill, and got into his car, he kept mulling it over. But eventually, he decided to stop thinking about it. Why should he waste time trying to understand a crazy bastard’s psychology?

Besides, the guy had refused compensation for cleaning fee anyway. From the looks of that suit and shirt, they were obviously ridiculously expensive brands. If he could afford clothes that pricey, he probably didn’t need Yu-young’s money.

Still fuming, Yu-young headed to the hospital—a clinic that specialized in pheromone-related issues.

Fortunately, it was a weekday and just after lunchtime, so he was able to get a consultation without an appointment.

The doctor greeted him with a friendly smile.

“Welcome. What seems to be the problem?”

“Well, I’m not in a heat cycle, but I’ve been feeling… feverish and kind of shivery. My condition just feels off.”

“I see. Let’s start with a blood test.”

The results came back surprisingly fast. The doctor, looking at the monitor, spoke up.

“Have you been under a lot of stress or overworked lately?”

“Huh? Well… yeah, obviously.”

Was there even a single Korean who was free from stress and overwork? Yu-young sighed as he answered. The doctor pointed at the monitor and continued explaining.

“That could be why your pheromones have become temporarily unstable. It’s not as strong as during a heat, but you must have been secreting them at a fairly concentrated level.”

“…Oh, really?”

“And, as you know…”

The doctor hesitated for a moment before carefully continuing.

“You haven’t had any contact with a compatible partner for a long time. I’m not saying you should force yourself to meet someone, but… going too long without any contact with an Alpha at all can make your body start reacting strangely. It’s instinctual, so it can’t be helped. Combined with accumulated fatigue, it’s contributing to your symptoms.”

“…I see.”

“There’s an injectable Alpha pheromone supplement available. It could help temporarily if you’d like.”

“No, that’s fine. I’ll save that for an emergency. Just give me a stronger suppressant for today.”

People with Yu-young’s traits who didn’t have a partner could sometimes use artificial Alpha or Omega pheromone injections in urgent situations. But it wasn’t a permanent solution—only a temporary measure.

Still, Yu-young gently refused. The thought of injecting artificial Alpha pheromones into his body made him uneasy. His condition wasn’t severe yet, and he preferred to manage it with suppressants for now. He could resort to pheromone injections if things got desperate later.

“Then make sure to get plenty of rest. Don’t push yourself too hard,” the doctor advised.

Leaving the hospital with his prescription in hand, Yu-young let out a deep sigh. Even as he picked up his medication from the pharmacy, the first face that popped into his mind was that arrogant dominant Alpha.

So that’s why he freaked out at me about pheromones.

For the first time, Yu-young felt a little guilty.

People with pheromone traits strictly managed them with suppressants in daily life. Since they coexisted with others of the same type in society, releasing pheromones at high concentrations could be considered extremely rude. If a person with these traits encountered another without properly controlling their pheromones, it could be seen as an act of sexual harassment or seduction.

But the biggest problem was that the person emitting the pheromones often couldn’t sense their own levels.

Yu-young drove home with a sigh.

In truth, there was a more effective way to regulate pheromones than meticulously taking suppressants on time or adjusting doses according to his condition.

Bonding.

Once someone bonded with a compatible partner, only their partner’s pheromones would trigger a reaction in them. This allowed for a much more stable life—similar to how Betas functioned.

For this reason, families like Yu-young’s, those from so-called “established” backgrounds, strongly encouraged their children to marry early. They believed marriage and bonding were essential for a stable and successful life. Many people rushed into marriage precisely to avoid being affected by pheromones and to fully focus on their careers.

However, even in marriages, it was usually the Alpha who continued working, while the Omega typically stayed at home.

So, for someone like Yu-young, marriage held no appeal at all.

Anyway… since the doctor had said rest was the priority, he decided to take it easy for now.

Back home, Yu-young took a quick shower and collapsed onto his bed. Sunlight streamed into the bedroom pleasantly. He flipped through a familiar photography book before slowly dozing off.

…

Despite his expectations, his vacation ended up being rather uneventful.

He had originally planned to go out, enjoy outdoor activities, and visit all sorts of great restaurants. But the doctor had warned him that overexertion could prevent his pheromone levels from stabilizing, even with medication.

So, for the remainder of his break, Yu-young lazed around at home, watching movies, cooking, and taking long baths. He admired handsome celebrities on TV, went on short walks when bored, and simply enjoyed a level of peace he usually didn’t have time for.

But eventually, the unavoidable obligation arrived—Saturday, the day he had to visit his parents’ house.

—“Where are you now?”

“I’m almost there.”

He smoothly turned the steering wheel, answering via Bluetooth-connected earbuds. The caller was his father.

By now, the family must have been preparing a feast to welcome him home.

The thought of enduring his father’s endless nagging all evening was daunting, but he didn’t mind seeing his mother and sisters again. It had been months since his last visit during the holidays. He could already hear his mother’s excited voice ringing in his ears.

As he pulled up in front of the enormous mansion—dwarfed in comparison to his own place—the iron gates automatically opened.

He drove through the garden and stopped in front of the garage.

A house staff member approached, bowed, and took the driver’s seat.

Handing off his car without hesitation, Yu-young headed toward the front door.

Within five seconds of ringing the bell, the door burst open, and his mother, Kim Jung-sook, came running out.

“Yu-young! You’re finally here! Oh, how I’ve missed you.”

“Mother.”

“Why are you so heartless? You never call or visit!”

His mother pulled him into a warm embrace. She still treated him like a child… but honestly, her affectionate welcome was nice after so long.

As he returned the hug, he grumbled teasingly, “I’d visit more often if Father didn’t nag me so much.”

“That’s just because he worries about you! If only you’d settle down with a proper spouse…”

“Ah, Mother, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat first.”

“Alright, alright. I made all your favorite dishes.”

The objects neatly displayed on the walls like an art gallery, the soft lighting, and the immaculately polished marble floors—Yu-young thought it had been a long time since he had seen such things. Accompanied by his mother, he crossed the living room and entered the dining room. His father was already seated at the table, waiting for him.

“Have you been well, Father?”

“I haven’t been well at all, you brat. Because of you.”

“Ah, Father. I’m starving. Can we talk after we eat?”

Since his sisters had said they would arrive later, his father agreed to start the meal first. The three of them began their meal together.

It had been a long time since he had eaten home-cooked food. The sight of it made his appetite surge naturally.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Eat up, Yu-young. You need to eat well to survive in society… Sigh.”

His mother looked at him with a pitiful gaze and gently encouraged him to eat more. Yu-young gave an ambiguous smile and shoved a piece of braised short rib into his mouth.

As they exchanged the usual pleasantries, his mother’s hands busily moving across the table, the peaceful meal passed without incident.

Afterward, they moved to the living room and sat side by side on the sofa. A housekeeper placed refreshments on the tea table before disappearing into the kitchen.

Yu-young, nervously watching his father’s mood, felt his stomach tighten when he heard the familiar sound of his father clearing his throat. This was it—the real reason for today’s meeting was about to begin.

“Han Yu-young.”

“Yes, Father.”

Here it comes.

Yu-young straightened his posture, bracing himself.

“Do you really want to go to such lengths just to keep working at that company?”

With a determined expression, Yu-young nodded and answered his father.

“Yes, Father. I want to continue working.”

“Then what about marriage? You’re already twenty-seven.”

His father let out a deep sigh and continued in a strict tone.

“It’s not as if I lack the means to let you live a life of leisure without ever working. Yet here you are, an Omega, running around unmarked. You do realize that the longer you go without being marked, the more unstable your pheromones will become as you age?”

Since his parents were both a dominant Alpha and an Omega, they understood these matters better than anyone.

Listening to his father, Yu-young inwardly congratulated himself for having visited the doctor a few days ago in advance.

Given how sensitive his father was to pheromones, if Yu-young had been wandering around with heightened pheromone levels like he had earlier that week, his father would have noticed immediately. If that had happened, this dinner would have been his last moment of freedom—he wouldn’t have been allowed to return to his own home but would have been locked up here instead.

His father continued speaking, his gaze fixed on Yu-young.

“…Did you know your team is getting a new team leader?”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

Yu-young blinked in confusion. What’s this about now…?

Just a moment ago, his father had been scolding him, but now he was suddenly talking about work? The abrupt shift was baffling.

However, as soon as he heard the next words, Yu-young’s face twisted into a grimace.

“He’s a highly capable talent we worked hard to recruit. I met him personally, and he’s a very solid young man. Handsome, an Alpha, from a good family. We plan to have him as the team leader for about a year before promoting him.”

Of course. So now he’s trying to set me up with someone from work?

And a team leader at that? Just thinking about it was suffocating.

Forcing a smile, Yu-young responded politely.

“…Yes, he sounds like an excellent team leader. I’m sure I’ll have a lot to learn from him.”

Drawing a clear line by referring to the man only as ‘the new team leader,’ Yu-young made his stance clear.

His father sighed.

“Yes, he’s an outstanding young man. You’ll have plenty to learn from him. What I’m saying is—if you naturally develop feelings for him, don’t force yourself to suppress them.”

Feelings, my ass…

Yu-young had never met a single decent person among those who held titles like ‘team leader’ or ‘deputy manager.’ The previous team leader, who had vacated the position just two weeks ago, had been an insufferable jerk with zero manners.

Those past two weeks without a team leader had been the happiest time at work. And now, another person was coming to ruin that peace. What were the chances he would feel anything remotely positive toward him?

Even as those thoughts filled his mind, Yu-young maintained a vague smile.

There was no point in getting into another exhausting argument with his father. Given that his father wasn’t outright demanding that he meet someone immediately or quit his job, it seemed like he had already compromised quite a bit.

So, for now, Yu-young decided to humor him.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. He’s very good-looking. His pheromones are elegant, and he’s exceptionally competent.”

Unexpectedly, when Yu-young answered smoothly, his father’s expression brightened in an instant.

As his father enthusiastically began praising the new team leader’s first impression, Yu-young muttered inwardly.

Father, I’m sorry, but there’s no way anything is ever happening between me and that team leader…

No matter how I think about it, the idea of being involved with a team leader or deputy manager is just revolting.

While Yu-young mechanically maintained a polite smile, his father was already talking about how beautiful the children they would have together would be—getting way too ahead of himself.