PIA 6

That’s amazing.

It was a good place to make your wishes come true. As soon as Ji-an heard those words, he automatically thought of Han-joo’s face. Perhaps the voice could read his innermost desires, and what he wanted was most likely related to Han-joo.

Ji-an’s face distorted as he looked in the mirror.

“You swindler.”

How could this place be the easiest to fulfill one’s wish? It didn’t make sense. According to the world of the drama, he was in a situation where he had disrupted the engagement of the main couple to get back at his older brother, and he even had a one night stand with Han-joo’s older brother that resulted in him being pregnant.

How could his wish possibly come true? It felt like he was being told to take the most absurd route.

The guy who claimed to have explored more than seven billion parallel worlds selected this place as the easiest to fulfill his wish?

He began to question whether his desire for Han-joo was so insignificant that it could be classified as the easiest thing to achieve. How unimportant was it if this twisted place was considered the most easy path to fulfill his wish?

Ji-an cursed vehemently for a moment and then closed his mouth. Perhaps he was concerned for no reason, but he didn’t want to take any risks, especially if there might be a baby in his belly.

“Let’s check… Let’s check first.”

Even though this was a world from a drama, he had never experienced sex here, so he couldn’t believe he was suddenly pregnant. His lower region still felt as pure as ever.

“If it’s really a pregnancy, I’ll feel so wronged.”

Ji-an pressed his forehead and shook his head.

He needed to see more than just the result on the pregnancy test, which he wasn’t even sure if it was done correctly. He had to see a more definitive result with his own eyes. Only then could he determine the best course of action. It would be difficult to survive in this world without proper knowledge.

“I also need to deal with the ‘Devilish Omega’ thing… that should be solved.”

He needed to get rid of the perks of possession, such as the villain’s ability to emit pheromones in all directions. It was clear that without a proper plan to deal with either Jeong Hee-seo or Jeong Han-joo, Ji-an would board the express train to a suicide ending.

He needed a suppressant or perhaps a perfume that could mask the pheromones effectively.

His mind calmed down as he thought about all of this and sorted out his priorities. Ji-an went into the shower and quickly washed away the lingering bath foam on his body.

∞

Ji-an’s real-life mother, Mrs. Yoon Ok-hee, who had worked so hard, had high hopes for her children’s education.

It was during Ji-an’s first year of high school’s summer vacation, not long after he had started high school. Ji-an had already determined that studying was not for him, but his mother was not willing to give up.

That day, she gave him a phone number and said she had scouted a promising college student and that he should call him immediately to discuss his study schedule.

‘Jeong Han-joo?’

‘Yeah. He went to Korea University. He’s a dominant Alpha who won’t be swayed by your jagged recessive pheromones.’

‘Ah, what’s with this tutoring. Mom.’

‘Shut up. Don’t talk nonsense and just do what you’re told. Do you know how hard it is to find a dominant Alpha who attends Korea University?

‘I’ll handle it myself.’

‘You, handle it yourself? You’re the one who turned a math book into scrap paper in just half a semester.’

‘Mom, did you look through my bag again?’

Left with no response, Ji-an could only clench his fists and seethe with anger. Furthermore, since the payment had already been made, and she even threatened to cut his p*nis, he has no choice but to give it a try.

Ji-an made a phone call, thinking about how awful it would be for the older brother who got caught in this situation.

― Uh, the son of the Flying Pig restaurant?

‘… Yes. Hello. I don’t know how much my mom paid you, but I have no intention of getting tutoring.’

― … Is that so? Your opinion is important. I’m not confident about teaching a kid who says he won’t study to get a good grade.

Although Ji-an said something unpleasant from the first word in an extremely harsh voice, what came back from the other person was a refreshing sound of laughter. Ji-an momentarily forgot what he wanted to say, as he was greeted with a cheerful and bright voice.

― Then, shall I return the money and meet you?

‘Yes?’

― Didn’t your mother tell you? She gave me a bundle of cash as a down payment. I don’t even know the account number to return it to.

It was really strange. Mrs. Yoon Ok-hee, who didn’t waste a penny, had given a bundle of cash to a student she had never seen before. Later, when Seo Ji-hyeok brought Han-joo home with him, saying they were going to have a serious relationship, his mother called it a destiny…

“I thought it was my destiny.”

Ji-an woke up and muttered with puffy eyes.

It was a bad dream, and seeing that the texture of the bedding that surprised him before falling asleep was still the same, it seemed like he had not returned to the original world.

“Why does Han-joo hyung keep appearing in my dreams for no reason? I’m trying to give up.”

Ji-an sighed and got up. The sun was shining brightly through the window. Checking the clock, he realized he had slept for almost 18 hours.

On the table, there were the cards and a bundle of cash that Mrs. Yoon had reluctantly handed over the previous day. She seemed to be watching her son carefully. He could tell how messed up this ‘Seo Ji-an’ had been living. Ji-an stretched and got up from his bed.

He had to go to the hospital he had arranged before falling asleep, but before that he needed to visit the department store as instructed by Mrs. Yoon. Spending money was a form of filial piety – he had to admit that. This part he liked a little – there was no choice but to spend.

After quickly washing up and getting dressed, he headed out following the path he had taken with the servant yesterday. He felt his mind was clearer after a long rest, and he was filled with renewed energy.

He had plenty of money, and if he handled each situation carefully, he thought he could endure for about a year. If it didn’t work, he could always extend the storyline. He just needed to avoid creating a situation where the story progressed in a strange direction!

It was then. An old woman appeared in front of Ji-an, smiling with determination.

She was attending the pine tree bonsai in the living room, pursing her wrinkled lips. As soon as she saw Ji-an, her eyes lit up like a predatory animal discovering prey. 

Ji-an had already encountered characters with similar appearances, shiny cardigans, and sparkling glasses in dramas. How sincere his older brother was when writing characters from real life. What a rotten guy. Did he really need to be so detailed, even with their grandmother… Whether it was a character in a drama or a real-life grandmother, Ji-an didn’t like her. No, it was more like his grandmother didn’t like Ji-an– that was more accurate.

“Where are you going? You haven’t even eaten, and you’re going out on an empty stomach in the morning.”

“… Uh, department store.”

Ji-an answered honestly, thinking it was his mother’s request. However, as soon as he saw the change in his grandmother’s expression, he realized he should have answered more carefully.

She didn’t have a significant role in the drama, but she played the role of a trigger that pushed ‘Seo Ji-an’ over the edge. He should have been more cautious in his response.

“Living off the money your parents bring in, huh. What about what Grandma asked you to think about? Have you looked through the list carefully?”

Ji-an had no idea what she was talking about, but his impatient grandmother reached out and tightened his loose tie.

“The spouse list. Even if I only chose dominant Alphas as candidates, you are the recessive one who needs to get pregnant.”

“…Ah, spouse, so you mean a marriage partner.”

When Ji-an responded in a mocking tone, the grandmother’s mouth twitched.

He felt like he was on the spot with such a straightforward expression. Yes, his grandmother was the same here and there. His grandmother who only adored the dominant Omega Seo Ji-hyeok. And the recessive Seo Ji-an who was nothing more or less than a defective product to her.

But in this world, the only child left to create a successor for the family was ‘Recessive Omega Seo Ji-an,’ so considering his grandmother’s fervor, it was only natural that her determination was heightened, if not lessened.

“Even if you’ve tried hard while getting help from the hospital at a young age, it won’t be easy to have a successor. It’s been a while since I gave you the list, and there’s still no answer.”

Ji-an unconsciously stroked his lower abdomen, then clenched his fists and smiled.

“You have to decide carefully. If you want to make a great-grandson who pleases your grandmother.”

“Oh my… you don’t say.”

If he was pregnant, his grandmother should never have found out. According to the later events, she was the one who contributed significantly to Ji-an’s demise.

“Well, when I told your parents to have another child, your parents didn’t listen. It would have been easier for you if you had one more younger sibling.”

“… I know, right.”

The scene where she was angry at the couple who had lost their child and told them to have one more was made into a gif and used in all kinds of frustrating situations. Ji-an caressed the end of his eyebrows and slipped out of front of his grandmother.

Seo Ji-hyeok, who was the hope and joy for his grandmother. The pitiful protagonist who went missing at the age of eight. Maybe it wasn’t the grandmother who made five-year-old Seo Ji-an make that decision.

Since he didn’t do it himself, he didn’t know the truth, so he ended up defending ‘villain Seo Ji-an’ without knowing it. It was just the original setup, so he had to deal with it.

It could be a good idea to find Seo Ji-hyeok, the main character of this world, and return him to his family and place. It was unpleasant to feel a strange sense of guilt even though he didn’t do anything.

“I’ll be back.”

Leaving behind his tongue-tied grandmother, Ji-an left the house and made a change to one of his plans. He decided not to get rid of the officetel but to move to a different place. Maybe he should even think about going abroad to live.