MM 46

On a spring day, his pheromones were as delicate as petals fluttering in the breeze. However, as Yu-young received his kiss, he thought that Do-won’s touch was even softer than the pheromones.

His hand, more cautious than ever, gently stroked his neck, not carelessly wandering, just resting on the back of his neck. Slowly sweeping over his nape it felt languorous and provocative, as if searching for something precious.

“Ah… hnn.”

A breath caught in Yu-young’s throat, and he made a sound he wished to hide. Each time it happened, Do-won would pause, waiting for him with an even more gentle look than usual.

Suddenly, Yu-young remembered the day Do-won had met his father at the hotel lounge café. Back then, he had thought Do-won was a scary person for acting so kindly toward him. But now, sitting alone in the car, Do-won was looking at him with the same expression as before. Only now did Yu-young realize that it might not have been just an act.

Was this really mixing his pheromones with mine? It was too sweet for that. His gaze, his touch, and the entire atmosphere felt too intimate.

Slowly, Do-won pulled back.

“Let’s go now.”

“…Yes.”

Yu-young wiped his reddened face and got out of the car. His clothes, neatly arranged after the kiss, were tidied up by Do-won’s hand.

Thanks to a few days of effort, the pheromones between the two of them had temporarily merged exactly as they both wanted. The once sharp and intense pheromones now blended smoothly, softening and harmonizing like the edges of a rough stone worn down into a gentle curve.

His body felt the same way. He felt light, as if he had just woken up from a refreshing sleep, and his mind was clearer than ever. Now he understood why his parents always urged to find a stable partner quickly—it was something he could vaguely grasp.

However, the embarrassment, awkwardness, and the fluttering of his heart after the contact were beyond his control. Why had he not gotten used to it after so many times? Yu-young bit his lip tightly, thinking to himself.

Do-won held a tea set that Yu-young had carefully selected and brought. Though Do-won had said it wasn’t necessary, Yu-young had insisted, wanting to make the visit perfect since they were going to meet his parents.

As they approached the front door, it opened automatically, and the servant bowed.

“Welcome.”

“How have you been?”

Do-won greeted the servant with a faint smile. As soon as the door opened, Yu-young quickly scanned the wide view, straightening his back.

‘Don’t get nervous. Tch, this place isn’t that different from ours.’

Swallowing nervously, Yu-young clenched his fist, focusing his eyes. In reality, the size of the house might be overwhelming for a first-time visitor, but Yu-young’s own home wasn’t much smaller.

What made him more nervous was the fact that he had never been in a situation like this before. And to make matters worse, it was to meet Do-won’s parents. His fingertips, now cold, clenched tightly as he entered the house beside Do-won.

The middle-aged couple sitting in the drawing room slowly stood up.

“You’re here.”

“Yes, how have you been?”

“I’ve been well.”

Do-won’s father, who greeted them with a simple yet warm tone, had a strong build and a somewhat stern demeanor. This must be the president of KS Construction. Yu-young, looking at the natural authority of Do-won’s father, bowed respectfully.

“Hello, my name is Han Yu-young.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Welcome.”

As they shook hands, Yu-young felt a firm handshake, and the pheromones from Do-won’s father were as smooth and imposing as his own. He could immediately tell he was an alpha.

“Welcome.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Han Yu-young.”

Yu-young bowed to Do-won’s mother, who extended her hand gracefully. He studied her cool, composed expression. She definitely seemed strict and cold, just as Do-won had said earlier.

“Let’s go inside. How about we eat and talk?”

“Yes. We’ll wash our hands first.”

“Alright. Oh, you can leave the gift there.”

Normally, when bringing a gift, the host would accept it and offer some polite words. However, the servant, who took the gift from Yu-young’s hands, placed it on a distant table and disappeared, following her instructions.

Feeling that his gesture of goodwill had been dismissed, Yu-young tried not to show his discomfort as he and Do-won washed their hands and entered the dining room.

“Please, sit down. It’s not much, but we prepared it sincerely since it’s the first time Do-won is bringing someone home.”

“No, thank you for the lovely meal.”

Yu-young bowed deeply and sat beside Do-won. Sitting there in front of his parents, it felt strangely like they were a couple about to get married, even though it was all an act.

‘Focus. Don’t let your mind wander.’

Straightening his back, Yu-young picked up his chopsticks at the parents’ urging. The meticulously arranged dishes were as impressive as the ones Yu-young’s sister had prepared when she first brought her husband to their house.

“It’s a simple meal, but please eat a lot.”

“Yes. Thank you, I’ll eat well.”

Simple meal? It looks like the Great Wall of China… Yu-young thought to himself, but answered cheerfully and began eating.

Do-won, who had been staring at him, smiled subtly. As Yu-young looked up at him with a questioning expression, Do-won only shook his head with a smile.

For a moment, only the sound of utensils clinking quietly filled the air. Then, Do-won’s father suddenly spoke up.

“I was planning to wait until after the meal to ask a few things, but… I just can’t help myself, I’m curious.”

“…Ah, yes. Please feel free to ask.”

Yu-young, who had been chewing his food, quickly swallowed and politely responded. Do-won’s father, who had been gazing at him, finally asked his first question.

“How did you two meet?”

“Ah, we… met at a fitness club. We felt mutual attraction then. Later, we found out that he was the new team leader at our company… and we thought it was fate, so we decided to take our relationship further.”

Yu-young repeated exactly what he had told his father and straightened his back. Do-won’s father nodded slowly.

“I see.”

“Oh my. If Do-won is your superior, work must not be easy, huh?”

A clear, bright voice suddenly interrupted, followed by a graceful laugh. It had begun. Yu-young instinctively sensed that Do-won’s mother’s subtle interrogation, as he had mentioned earlier, had started.

With a gentle smile, Yu-young responded politely.

“Since SC went public, it’s been on a roll. So, this is why the young people are putting in such effort. Ha ha ha.”

“Yes, he can be a bit strict.”

“Right? Ho ho… I have to say, sometimes Do-won can be a bit… scary, even though he’s my son.”

As Yu-young casually replied with a smile, Do-won glanced at him with an expressionless look. It seemed that his mother was satisfied with his answer as she laughed loudly. However, just as she was about to say more, Yu-young added with a smiling face.

“Still, everyone on our team, including myself, respects the team leader. He’s really good at his job.”

In an instant, the smile on his mother’s face faltered. Seeing her face subtly twist, Yu-young continued eating his food with composure. His mother, looking at him with eyes now different from before, spoke again.

“You don’t need to say things just because we’re here. I heard that Do-won created a very tense atmosphere at his previous company, and there were a lot of hidden complaints about him.”

“Darling.”

The unpleasant voice of Do-won’s father cut through the conversation. However, Yu-young, without showing any signs of panic, calmly replied.

“He is strict, but that’s because he is capable. That’s why I and the other team members respect him. If there were complaints from his previous workplace, it’s likely because they couldn’t properly recognize his abilities.”

After finishing his sentence, Yu-young smiled innocently. His face said that he had no idea about the tension or power struggle that was occurring.

It was almost as if he were saying, Isn’t it good to praise your son? His attitude was disguised as innocence. Do-won, who was sitting next to him, let out a small, incredulous laugh, though his face clearly showed amusement.

His mother, now clearly irritated, stared at Yu-young with narrowed eyes.

“Is that so? Then what does your father do, Mr. Han Yu-young?”

“He’s the president of SC Company.”

Though the question was clearly intended to diminish him, Yu-young responded without hesitation. His unflinching demeanor caused his mother to narrow her eyes, and there was a slight sense of surprise—perhaps his family’s background was better than she had anticipated.

On the other hand, Do-won’s father seemed to be quite pleased.

“Oh, so you work under your father? Just like our Do-won?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“You’re too kind. And please, feel free to speak more casually, sir.”

“Ha ha. Alright, I will.”

Thanks to Yu-young’s calm responses, the atmosphere immediately softened. Do-won’s father’s face also became gentler. In the peaceful atmosphere, Yu-young and him exchanged light toasts. However, his mother’s next question, like a cold splash of water, froze his actions.

“This might be a bit rude, but… may I ask if you are an Omega?”

From the way she asked, it was clear she was an individual with a secondary gender too. The way she threw out a question she could easily know was deliberate. Yu-young tried his best not to stiffen his face as he answered.

“I’m an Omega.”

Upon hearing Yu-young’s answer, his mother’s eyes narrowed with a sly grin. It seemed that this was the answer she had been hoping for.

“I see. Well, I suppose that’s why you’re here. But… a man being an Omega is quite rare. I haven’t seen many of them. Must be tough for you?”

“Mother!”

The icy voice rang heavily through the dining room. Do-won, growling like a beast, glared at his mother with an angry expression. Seeing the veins on his forehead bulge, Yu-young instinctively felt a chill run down his spine. While he had seen Do-won angry before, he had never seen him this furious.

His heart started pounding loudly. This was a situation he was all too familiar with. The final attack from an opponent after Yu-young had delivered his words calmly, every single time, felt almost like a promise.

‘…I’m sick of this.’

Internally, Yu-young felt disillusioned, but he knew that this atmosphere needed to be dealt with first. Once he made up his mind, a surge of defiance and venom rose within him.

27 years as a fighter—this is just cute.

Yu-young consciously lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled brightly.