PIA 116

Contrary to Jeong Hee-young’s initial plans, the engagement party for the main couple was held in a slightly smaller hall.

The first reason was that not as many people would attend as the JM Foundation Day party, and the second was Myeong Hyun-sook’s suggestion that it would be better to keep things modest since there was a child on the way and a wedding would soon follow.

“…I don’t like this.”

It was still early afternoon before the evening ceremony.

Seo Ji-hyuk was in a room on the floor above the hall where the ceremony would be held, one of several prepared for the families and the couple to prepare for the ceremony. He was nervously muttering while looking at the guest seating arrangement.

The tables in the hall, arranged for a dinner party format, were divided according to the type of guests, and Seo Ji-hyuk was displeased that Ji-an would be sitting at the JM host table with Myeong Hyun-sook.

Caught between regretting inviting Ji-an and wanting to show off, he bit his nails anxiously. The irritation welled up as he had a premonition that he might soon be witnessing Ji-an’s grand engagement party.

“Ji-hyuk…”

A woman with a kind and warm appearance carefully approached and put her hand on Seo Ji-hyuk’s shoulder. Despite it being a joyous day, his face reflected in the mirror was full of worry.

“Are you really okay with everything?”

“…”

Seo Ji-hyuk looked at the hand on his shoulder with sharp eyes.

“Mr. Jeong asked me discreetly. How it went when you went to the hospital with me…”

“…”

“He seemed very curious.”

“So, what did you answer?”

Seo Ji-hyuk’s anxious gaze scrutinized the woman through the mirror. He didn’t like her unreliable expression. The woman answered hesitantly.

“I did as you told me. Just said everything was fine. But I’m not good at making up stories…”

“Just keep doing what you’re doing now.”

Contempt flashed across Seo Ji-hyuk’s face as he sighed. It was incomprehensible why she was hesitating when the child she had adopted and raised was about to bear fruit. Having invested for years based solely on his superior Omega trait, shouldn’t she reap the harvest regardless of the process?

“If you just do as you’re told, everything you want will fall into place. What’s the problem?”

“Your father might be like that, but I… I’m not.”

“Don’t ruin the groundwork I’ve laid. Unless you want to lose everything.”

Seo Ji-hyuk avoided the woman’s eyes. He didn’t want to admit that she, forced by his father to raise him, was also a victim. It was hard to suppress his disgust every time she gave him a loving look.

“Even now…”

“Isn’t this what you’ve been enduring for? Why are you making that face and ruining my mood?”

Just as she was about to continue, a staff member entered with a knock, bringing in the outfits. The woman stepped back, awkwardly clasping her hands together.

The changing room began to fill up with Seo Ji-hyuk’s change of clothes and floral decorations. The overwhelmingly luxurious sight made it hard to breathe.

At the same time.

Ji-an was pulling at the bowtie choking his neck, feeling a bit stuffy. The strange anxiety he had felt since leaving home in his suit was growing since arriving at the hotel.

Though it wasn’t the largest hall, it was still lavish. Floral decorations reaching the ceiling and dazzling chandeliers hanging everywhere caught the eye dizzyingly.

The giant champagne tower in the center of the hall looked precarious, though it might have been her imagination. A large cake would also be moved next to it just before the ceremony began.

Hotel staff were still busy moving curtains and flowers, apparently with more decorations to add to the already full space. With each of their movements, the carpet on the floor changed, and candle holders and flower arrangements appeared on the tables one after another.

“Are Ji-an’s clothes uncomfortable?”

Jeong Hee-young, who was overseeing the hall preparations alongside Ji-an, asked casually. She had noticed Ji-an fidgeting with his bowtie for a while. She grabbed Ji-an’s shoulder and whispered close to his ear, afraid others might hear.

“With the baby and all, if you feel even a little uncomfortable, just say so. No one will mind if you slip out, so make yourself comfortable, okay?”

“It’s fine. I’m just a bit hot right now…”

Before he could finish speaking, a large hand suddenly entered their field of vision, separating the two. Turning around, Ji-an was almost dazzled by the beauty. Jeong Hee-seo, with his hair stylishly swept back, was smiling with a dissatisfied twist of his lips. He pulled Ji-an, who was standing close to Jeong Hee-young, towards himself.

“Maintain your distance.”

“Ugh. What a nuisance.”

Jeong Hee-young clicked her tongue in disgust. Ji-an felt a bit embarrassed. Ever since they learned about the baby, the affection from both siblings had been overwhelming. The brother and sister seemed to compete in doting on Ji-an.

Especially Jeong Hee-young, who seemed to be extra attentive, probably still concerned about the day Ji-an was kicked out and got sick. And it was Jeong Hee-seo who kept interfering. Sparks flew between the two as they engaged in this subtle power play.

“Hee-seo, don’t you have anything else to do? Aren’t you busy? You’re here early.”

“Why don’t you go check on Yi-seo? Her father doesn’t know how to entertain her, and she’s bored all alone.”

“Oh, really? Hasn’t grandmother arrived yet… Is Manager Han not in the waiting room?”

Jeong Hee-young looked troubled.

“Oh, then I’ll go check. I could use a break too.”

As Ji-an volunteered, Jeong Hee-seo’s eyebrows twitched. He seemed to wonder why Ji-an was trying to leave as soon as he arrived. Jeong Hee-young seized the opportunity and grabbed Jeong Hee-seo.

“Good idea. Ji-an, go rest, and you, come with me to look over the congratulatory speech and the order of events. Also, check the seating arrangement for Han Young Construction’s president. You know he doesn’t get along with Jin-han.”

“…Alright. Ji-an, go rest for a bit then.”

“Take care, hyung.”

Ji-an smiled at the still dissatisfied Jeong Hee-seo and left the hall. Heading towards the waiting room where Yi-seo was, he finally loosened his bowtie. He consciously took a deep breath.

Just before stepping out, he glanced back. Viewed from afar, the lavish hall gave him an even stronger sense of déjà vu.

‘Have I been to a party like this before?’

Ji-an tried to recall, wondering if he was confusing it with his older brother’s wedding, but that wasn’t it either. His older brother had definitely prepared his ceremony in a wedding hall with a different atmosphere. He tried to remember the ambiance of that place, recalling the time he sat there greeting guests.

Even after pondering, it was clearly different from this hotel. As he kept looking back, even the memories of his older brother’s wedding seemed to get jumbled.

An episode about a foundation anniversary he had seen in a drama.

Was his body remembering that? But that didn’t seem right either…

The fleeting memories felt as vivid as if they were his own.

Ji-an struggled to piece together the suddenly emerging scenes, trying to arrange them chronologically.

On a dark evening, he had mingled into the party, passing through crowds of people in luxurious dresses. The interior was filled with a mixture of fragrances, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. He remembered thinking it was like a masquerade ball, just without the masks. Perhaps because everyone seemed to be putting on a façade.

Jeong Han-joo and Jeong Hee-seo standing at a distance. Two flawless alphas who looked as if they had stepped out of a painting. After Myeong Hyun-sook’s toast, the party gradually gained momentum. The music… yes, the band was playing a modern-sounding melody that he had found unique.

‘It’s a remake of an old commercial jingle,’ someone passing by had commented.

The opulent atmosphere made Ji-an feel stiff and out of place. Perhaps due to nervousness, his mouth felt parched. Even after repeatedly sipping champagne, the thirst wouldn’t subside, and the alcohol went straight to his head.

‘Why did I come here again?’

Just as this strange question crossed his mind, making him frown, two women approached him.

‘Hello. We haven’t seen you before. Who did you come with?’

‘Uh… just by myself.’

‘Really? I’m …. And you are…? We were thinking of…, want to join us…?’

‘But… don’t you notice… pheromones…?’

His head seemed to malfunction, making it difficult to understand what they were saying.

As he hesitated, he accidentally stepped on someone’s foot, causing them to angrily walk away.

‘I need to get out of here.’

Stumbling, he left the party hall and took the elevator. He got off on an unknown floor and was walking, leaning against the wall, when someone grabbed his elbow to support him. Turning around, he saw it was ‘Jeong Hee-seo’.

At this point in his recollection, Ji-an shook his head vigorously.

What he had thought were scenes from a drama had somehow transformed into his own memories.

He wasn’t sure if there was confusion in his memories or if he was imagining and adding details on his own. Ji-an anxiously felt his chest. Unlike that day, a neat pin was in place. He couldn’t understand why his heart was racing so much.

Jeong Hee-young stroked her chin as she watched Ji-an walk away. Her eyes sparkled, deep in thought. She tugged on Jeong Hee-seo’s arm, who was receiving a report from his secretary.

“I’m pretty sure I saw Ji-an that day.”

As Jeong Hee-seo continued to look at the tablet handed by his secretary without responding, she added:

“At the foundation anniversary party. I’m sure I saw Ji-an. It’s not a face you’d easily forget. Seeing him dressed like this now, it reminds me.”

“…That’s when we met.”

Jeong Hee-young’s eyes widened at Jeong Hee-seo’s indifferent reply, still focused on the tablet. Feeling her stare, Jeong Hee-seo reluctantly offered a brief explanation.

“We met for the first time that day.”

“Oh my god! You’re crazy.”

Jeong Hee-young counted on her fingers. Being as sharp as Jeong Hee-seo, she quickly deduced the sequence of events.

“So you two that day― no, you disappeared during the party back then, saying it was because your rut came.”

Silence is affirmation. Jeong Hee-young couldn’t close her mouth. Her gaze at her younger brother was almost like looking at a beast.

Jeong Hee-seo lifted his head. His eyes, looking up at the chandelier, seemed to be retracing some point in the past.

“He had exactly that look that day too. I remember the sleek outfit and the boutonnière. When I met him again later, he looked like a completely different person.”

“Ah, yes, Ji-an usually dresses more childishly.”

Ji-an, who preferred comfortable and loose clothing, looked fresh and youthful even when he occasionally wore suits to the office, giving off the impression of a new employee. It was rare for him to exude such a mature aura as he did this time.

“That’s why I thought my memory was strange, but as they say, clothes make the man. Seeing him dressed like this now gives me a new perspective.”

Jeong Hee-seo’s eyes trailed after Ji-an, remembering his unsteady steps and how he had helped him when Ji-an looked like he was about to stumble. Looking back, it was strange that he had followed Ji-an out in the middle of an important event.

Perhaps even if that incident hadn’t happened that day, they might have become entangled in some way later.

“I couldn’t have imagined it then.”

Yes, he never dreamed that that moment of curiosity would lead to them becoming entangled in such an intimate way in that room.