PSS Ch 1

The imposing stone wall was higher than any other house’s fence.

It was like a warning to those who sought this place. A silent pressure saying, “If you can’t afford it, don’t step inside.” The mansion, standing tall and haughty, looks down as the wall turns its back on outsiders, embracing the estate. The intention to keep out riff raff is clear.

At least, that’s how it felt to me. Like I had stepped into a place where I didn’t belong, like I was facing a hurdle I couldn’t possibly overcome, I felt completely blocked by this massive wall. Maybe it was a sentiment created by the last vestiges of my conscience, which had been driven here with impure intentions. Because truly, my intentions were impure.

I let out a long sigh before placing my finger on the doorbell. It took a long time just to press the small button. Thanks to the chilly weather, the small piece of plastic felt cold against my fingertip. A familiar electronic chime rang out, cutting through the dry late autumn air.

—Who is it?

“I was sent by President Lim Junsu of HJ Industries.”

Clank, along with the scraping sound of metal, the gate opened automatically. The thick wooden gate felt as oppressive as its size. I pushed open the heavy gate and stepped inside. A neat garden, as if carefully cultivated by a skilled gardener, was the first thing to greet me.

Walking along the path through the garden, my eyes scanned the surroundings. Located at the top of a sloping hill, the house commanded an exceptional view thanks to its elevated position. The entire Seongbuk-dong area filled my vision. Had I come here for any other reason, I would have surely been lost in the breathtaking scenery.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

A servant who had been waiting at the entrance guided me to the drawing-room. I sat on a brown leather sofa facing a large window that overlooked the garden.

Outside the window, leaves hanging from the tips of branches swayed precariously, as if about to fall, in the gentle breeze. On the large desk in front of me, a letter opener, bathed in sunlight, gleamed with its sharp, awl-like tip.

I stared blankly at the teacup the servant had brought. Considering the cool weather, it was warm tea brewed with a tea bag. Even though I was infinitely inferior from the homeowner’s perspective, they offered me warm tea. I felt grateful for something so commonplace. When someone is desperate, they tend to attach meaning to all sorts of things.

Click.

Lost in pointless sentiment while looking at inanimate objects, I regained my senses at the sound of the doorknob turning. Unable to hide my nervousness, I sprang to my feet. Step, step, step. I wet my parched lips with my tongue as I listened to the approaching footsteps.

The footsteps stopped beside me, and a long shadow cast by the ornate chandelier fell upon the table. Since we were about to face each other strictly as superior and inferior, I plastered an awkward smile on my face. Rummaging through the countless words that popped into my head, I chose the most appropriate greeting. I opened my stiff lips to deliver the prepared greeting to him as he came around the table and stood before me.

“Hello.”

It was a clumsy and ordinary greeting, rendering my careful selection meaningless. I belatedly berated myself for being unable to utter anything better and quickly raised my head. The man, taller than me, wore glasses and had a stern expression. He was dressed in a formal suit, but somehow, he seemed more like someone’s attendant than an owner.

I felt a bit deflated by his appearance, which contrasted with what I had imagined.

“Nice to meet you.”

The man extended his hand to me. Thinking he was offering a handshake, I instinctively reached out, then hesitated when I saw the small piece of paper he was handing me. It was a business card.

“I’m Yeo Kyungmin. I work as Executive Director Jang Taejin’s personal secretary.”

“Ah. Yes….”

Now that I thought about it, I couldn’t detect even a hint of pheromones from him. No matter how well they try to conceal it, a dominant alpha always emits at least a faint pheromone scent. There had been no scent at all since he entered the room, but I hadn’t noticed, too caught up in my nervousness.

“You must be tired from your long journey. You are President Lim Junsu’s son, correct?”

“Yes. I’m Lim Jaegyeong.”

“I see. Mr. Jaegyeong.”

Although I hadn’t met the person I expected, his secretary was also an important figure to me. Perhaps I could hear what I wanted through him. I was in a position where I had to make a good impression even on his servants.

“Please have a seat.”

Calmly, I slipped the business card he gave me into my pocket and sat comfortably on the sofa. Was I being too sensitive? I thought the man opposite me twitched his eyebrow as I put the business card in my pants pocket. I worried that I might have committed a breach of etiquette. It was my first time receiving a business card, my first time in such a business setting, so I could have made a mistake. But I couldn’t afford to appear clumsy. I couldn’t let a small mistake ruin everything.

“As you might have expected, I am here to convey Executive Director Jang’s words.”

“Yes.”

“The Executive Director has thoroughly reviewed the materials you sent. He said it’s a very interesting proposal. However, there’s one thing he wanted to confirm.”

“What…?”

“It concerns Mr. Lim Jaegyeong’s background.”

“…….”

“You haven’t graduated from school yet, I see.”

It was a question I had expected. It was also a point that could make my father and me seem very brazen.

“I’ll be graduating soon. I only have a little bit left of my last semester, and I thought there was no need to waste time.”

“Aren’t you considering going to university? Your academic records indicate you’ve done quite well.”

“My father wanted me to start working as soon as possible. I had no objections.”

“Even so, there are many things that don’t quite add up. Usually, even in the fastest cases, companies prefer to hire university graduates.”

“…….”

I had nothing more to say. My prepared answers ended there. No matter how hard I tried to make excuses, it was a situation anyone would find strange. Who would understand a minor, still in his final semester of high school with less than two months remaining, suddenly starting to work at his father’s company?

“I don’t doubt Mr. Lim Jaegyeong’s abilities. However, the Executive Director suggested that perhaps it would be better to leave the possibility open for Mr. Lim Jaegyeong and look forward to a future opportunity. He feels it’s a bit premature at this point.”

It was a disappointment. Although it was a long shot from the beginning, I couldn’t help but feel let down, having come here clinging to a sliver of hope. Even so, I couldn’t back down. I didn’t have the luxury of turning back just because I had been politely rejected.

“As explained in the materials I sent, what I can do for you is clear. I can already utilize all the technologies held by HJ Industries, and that will definitely be beneficial to JN as well.”

“Yes, of course. However, all tasks, including technology development, require more than just simple knowledge. Sufficient experience and a business-like attitude are extremely important. We want a professional, not a trainee. At least a few years of experience would prevent the atrocity of carelessly stuffing a business card received from a client into one’s pants pocket.”

My head spun. I had felt a strange sense of foreboding when the man twitched his eyebrow earlier, and now I knew why.

“I can quickly learn business etiquette.”

“Again, we want a professional.”

“The technology HJ possesses is unique.”

“That is also one of the things we are wary of.”

“….Yes?”

I blinked, my expression probably looking rather foolish. It was a completely unexpected answer.

“To be honest, we’re curious about your intentions. Suddenly proposing a technological partnership to us, and sending the underage son of President Lim Junsu…it makes us think there’s another motive at play.”

At that, I fell silent. The secretary was speaking, but it was just relaying a message. His opinions were all coming from Executive Director Jang Taejin. He wasn’t a fool. He wasn’t stupid enough to miss such a shallow trick. Perhaps my father and I knew that and still pushed forward recklessly. It was a foolish, reckless act.

“Mr. Lim Jaegyeong?”

It was because I was that desperate. Even if it was impossible, I had to somehow grab onto it and hold on.

“There is no other intention besides what’s stated in the materials I provided.”

I answered that way and lowered my head. It was guilt over telling a lie. I couldn’t bear to look him in the eye.

“I see. Thank you for your answer.”

The man might have been scoffing and sneering at my response. I kept looking down, unable to face him. The tea had grown cold and no longer steamed. Like a balloon that had inflated and quickly deflated, my heart grew cold and sank endlessly.

“I believe I’ve conveyed the Executive Director’s intentions.”

The man’s words implied that I should leave now that the business was concluded. Even though I knew that, I lingered, pointlessly staring at my teacup. The man waited patiently. Or rather, he gave me time to compose myself.

Within his consideration, I was finally able to pull myself together.

“Thank you for your time.”

Further conversation would have been nothing more than a childish tantrum. Nothing would change by continuing to sit across from a man who had no decision-making power.

“You’re welcome.”

I stood up and looked at the man. He extended his hand for a handshake, his face softer than when we first met. I hesitated, then took his hand. He shook it lightly, with the relaxed demeanor of someone with the composure of an adult.

“I apologize for not being able to give you the answer you were hoping for.”

“No, it’s alright.”

My brief conversation with the man ended there. I briefly considered adding a pleasantry like, “Please give my best regards to the Executive Director,” but it remained in my head, never leaving my lips.

My footsteps were heavy as I left the drawing-room. Walking the same path as before, the beautiful scenery didn’t register at all. I hadn’t come here thinking I would definitely succeed today. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of defeat and gloom.

“Ha….”

The path felt much steeper than when I came up. The cold wind pierced through the formal suit jacket I had put on for the occasion. Biting my chapped lips hard enough to draw blood, I walked down the hill. I had thought about calling a taxi, but I didn’t want to wait, so I decided to walk. It seemed like the wrong choice.

The wind grew stronger, making me realize it was late autumn. A deep sigh mingled with the cold breeze. I walked slowly, looking as far ahead as possible. The unusually quiet neighborhood was still, with no one else walking around. Only a single black sedan was coming up the smoothly paved road.

“…….”

Passing the black sedan, I stopped dead in my tracks, catching a scent carried by the wind. It was an intense smell. The kind of smell only a powerful alpha could emit. It was faint, carried on the wind, but it left a lingering impression strong enough to make me turn my head.

Mesmerized, I stared at the receding black car, overwhelmed by the intensity of the scent, which I had never experienced before. My remaining animal instincts froze me in place. The wind had become wilder, blowing fiercely. Like the fallen leaves tumbling across the road, my heart was tossed and turned.

It was almost dusk when I arrived home. Opening the front door, a heavy atmosphere pressed down on me, suffocating me. I shuffled habitually towards the living room. The sound of laughter from my family, sitting cozily on the sofa enjoying refreshments, stopped the moment I appeared.

“I’m home.”

My father, stepmother, and her son were sitting amiably on the sofa. Bound to me by the name of family, their expressions soured upon my arrival. My stepmother looked me up and down, her eyebrows twitching in disapproval. Even as she handed a meticulously carved, crescent-shaped slice of pear to my so-called younger brother, she didn’t take her eyes off me.

“Why are you so late?”

“The transportation wasn’t as good as I thought. It was a long walk to the subway station.”

“You should have taken a taxi.”

“It was a difficult situation to call one.”

My father clicked his tongue with a displeased expression before gesturing to a seat across from him.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

My stepbrother, who still treated me like a stranger despite having lived in this house with me for three years, munched on his pear. My stepmother finally looked away from me after a long while. She touched her voluminous, curled hair, then elegantly raised her hand and spoke towards the kitchen.

“Excuse me. Could we have another fork here? And some tea.”

I wasn’t used to the peculiar habit of having fruit and tea before dinner, so I politely declined.

“No, thank you. I’m fine. I’ll be going in soon.”

The housekeeper, who had just emerged from the kitchen wiping her wet hands on her apron, looked back and forth between my stepmother and me. My stepmother pursed her darkly lipsticked lips and stared at me with an exaggerated expression of annoyance. The innocent housekeeper looked uncomfortable in the strange power struggle. Maintaining her displeased expression, my stepmother continued to stare at me as she spoke.

“She said it’s fine. Leave it.”

The housekeeper bowed her head in response and quickly disappeared back into the kitchen. A stifling atmosphere returned to the living room. I knew this was the prelude to the impending storm. Because I knew what would come out of my father’s mouth next.

“So. How did things go today?”

I clenched my fists on my lap. My lips, already chapped from the cold wind, were cracked in places, and I could taste the metallic tang of blood. Perhaps I had come home so late to avoid this moment. My father’s criticisms, aimed at me like a target, were as burdensome as a natural disaster.

“It…didn’t go well.”

My father clicked his tongue as if he had expected it. The man who, just moments ago, had been a kind father and a warm husband, sharing fruits and tea with a smile, became a heartless parent to me, throwing daggers with his words.

“Why?”

“They…didn’t like that I’m so young.”

“So, it’s because of you again?”

“It didn’t make sense in the first place. I’m still a minor. It’s natural for them to find it strange.”

“What doesn’t make sense is your behavior. I called you home for the weekend. Executive Director Jang doesn’t invite just anyone to his house. He was interested in our proposal, so he invited us to his home, and you ruined everything.”

I closed my mouth. I knew that no matter what I said, my father’s anger wouldn’t subside. To him, I was no different from an abandoned child. As the only child from his previous marriage, I had to endure countless hardships in proportion to the affection my mother had received when she was alive.

My father had loved my birth mother very much, and for the sole reason that my face reminded him of her, he pushed me further and further into darkness. He was afraid of seeing my birth mother in me. He said even my gloomy and melancholic atmosphere was eerily similar to hers. The more my father intentionally tried to exclude me, the more I clung to him. I was at an age where I needed parental affection. Unable to act affectionately, I tried not to disappoint him. That was why I always ranked first or second in my class, and why I approached Executive Director Jang Taejin with that preposterous proposal.

“You useless boy.”

But as always, my father was displeased with me. I was still a loathsome existence to him.

“You can’t do anything right. How can I trust you with anything? You can’t even properly handle a situation that’s been laid out for you. I told you to go and cling to his pants if you had to, but you just came back saying it didn’t work? And you have the audacity to crawl back home after that?”

My father’s voice grew louder. Seizing the opportunity, my stepmother chimed in.

“See? I told you he wouldn’t be able to do it. He’s just rotten to the core. Other omega kids are so sociable and well-mannered. Look at him. He’s so pale and gloomy. Anyone would want to stay away from an omega like him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Executive Director Jang kicked him out just for his looks.”

Her words made me snap.

“Executive Director Jang Taejin wasn’t home. I spoke with his secretary.”

“Oh my! Listen to him talk. Look at him glaring. I thought he was just gloomy, but he has no manners either. How dare he talk back to an adult?”

My stepmother recoiled dramatically. Her bright red lips trembled. My father clutched his chest as if he was having a heart attack. Clinging to his side, my stepmother cried out.

“Excuse me! Water! Bring me a glass of cold water!”

The housekeeper, who had been working in the kitchen, rushed out with a glass of cold water in response to my stepmother’s exaggerated cry. My father took it and gulped it down in one go. Everyone was agitated, while I, the only culprit, remained silent with my lips tightly shut. Sweat beaded on my clenched fists.

“So. What are you going to do now? Do you even realize how dangerous the situation is? The overdue promissory notes will soon be due. If we can’t pay them, our company will go bankrupt.”

My father lamented as if we were about to be out on the streets. His resentment and criticism towards me made me lower my gaze. I wanted to ask why he had sent me on such an important errand in the first place, but the silence that had become ingrained in me since childhood, as always, sealed my lips shut.

Chewing on the pear in his mouth, my stepbrother, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke in an innocent voice.

“Mom. So, are we going bankrupt?”

My lowered head lifted involuntarily. My stepbrother, who had been chewing his pear with a blank expression, stabbed another piece with his fork.

“Huh?”

“Will I not be able to study abroad?”

My stepmother, clearly flustered, hastily said to my stepbrother as if making an excuse.

“Hey! Who said that? That our family is going bankrupt? No, that’s not true.”

“It’s not?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then, it’s true that I can go to school in America next year, right?”

“Of course. You just have to keep studying hard like you are now and prepare as the agency tells you.”

As far as I knew, my stepbrother’s English wasn’t even good enough to form a proper sentence. I couldn’t understand how he planned to attend school in America when he could neither understand nor speak the language.

“Yes, Yunseo. You just focus on your studies. Daddy will do everything for you.”

Considering my stepbrother’s mediocre grades, studying abroad in America seemed completely pointless. It was nothing more than my stepmother’s extravagance, wanting to brag about sending her son abroad after marrying a new husband, and my stepbrother’s desperate attempt to escape the hellish reality of the Korean education system.

“Yes, thank you, Father.”

My stepbrother replied and then glanced in my direction. He closed his munching lips, raised only the corners of his mouth, and gave a slight smile. Knowing that he was trying to provoke me, I simply watched him in silence.

The briefly warm atmosphere, thanks to my stepbrother, was shattered as my father looked at me again. The anger he had been suppressing amplified the moment our eyes met. I habitually chewed on my lip, waiting for my father’s next words, hoping they would be based on rational judgment.

“Collaboration with JN Corporation is the only way to save our company. In this situation, it’s the only way to get the extension on our debt repayment approved.”

“……I know.”

“You know that Executive Director Jang Taejin is the final decision maker, right?”

“Yes.”

The voice of the sinner crawled towards the floor.

“There will be a banquet at the JN Hotel soon.”

“What kind of……”

“It’s the JN Group’s anniversary banquet. It’s at the end of this month. Even if you’re an idiot, you should be able to understand why I’m telling you this.”

My father, who had been furious, saying that sending me was a mistake and expressing his distrust in me, changed his attitude as if nothing had happened and once again ordered me to entice Executive Director Jang Taejin.

“Make no mistake this time. Whether you have to cling to his pants or beg on your knees, make sure you get his approval.”

“…….”

“Do you understand?”

I wasn’t confident. As my stepmother had said, I wasn’t sociable or pleasant. I was a gloomy and melancholic, useless omega.

“Yes… I understand.”

But despite that, I couldn’t disobey my father. I was the one most desperate for his approval. To him, I was less than an abandoned child.

“Good. Then go in.”

Even though he knew it was before dinner, he said so definitively. It meant he had no intention of having dinner with me.

“Yes. Please rest.”

I stood up. My steps towards my room were heavy and sluggish, as if saturated with water. With difficulty, I lifted my feet and climbed the stairs one by one. I could hear the cheerful conversation of my family from the increasingly distant living room, a conversation that had erased my existence.

“Dad. Can we eat out tonight? There’s a restaurant I want to go to. They say their French dining is amazing. I want to try it.”

“Oh, our Yunseo. How did you find out about such a restaurant?”

“It’s easy to find good restaurants these days. They’re all over YouTube. And that restaurant is usually hard to get a reservation at, but if you mention that YouTuber’s name, you can get in even on the same day.”

“There’s such a thing? Honey. Yunseo wants to go. What should we do? Should we eat out tonight?”

“Shall we?”

My stepmother’s voice, which I heard last, was very bright.

“Excuse me! We’re going to eat out tonight. You don’t have to prepare anything.”

“Yes.” With the housekeeper’s reply, the voices disappeared. No one called for me until the very end.

⋆.˚🦋₊ ⊹

The hotel at the end of the year was dazzling. A tree several times taller than me stood proudly in the center of the lobby, and strings of lights, as if sprinkled by fairies, twinkled, densely wrapped around the sharp conifer branches.

My father, who had been walking ahead of me, only looked back when we reached the entrance to the banquet hall. Seeing that I was close by, he confirmed our identities with the staff member guarding the entrance. “Two guests?” the staff member asked. My father replied affirmatively, and we entered the banquet hall.

Although the event was still some time away, the hall was already crowded. Dressed to the nines, as they always were at such social events, people elegantly held champagne glasses in one hand, bustling around, showing off their connections.

My father was no different. Although Executive Director Jang Taejin was undoubtedly his ultimate target, he flitted around, engaging with people of similar or higher status before meeting him. He had no intention of introducing his omega son to others. Thanks to that, I was spared the task of being dragged around. It was a relief.

I discreetly slipped away and headed towards a quieter area. I knew the opportunity to privately meet someone from the JN Group’s owner family wouldn’t come until after the main event. There was still a lot of time before the main event began. The time spent loitering in a corner, avoiding the bustling crowd, felt long and tedious.

Perhaps due to the wintry weather, the room was almost overheated. The dry air made my eyes sting. Thinking I should rest my tired eyes, I headed to the restroom. I put in the eye drops I always carried, and leaned against the sink for a moment, looking at myself in the mirror.

It was then that a suffocating scent pierced my senses.

I quickly looked around. Belying the fact that it was a restroom attached to a banquet hall, the surroundings were quiet, not a soul in sight. The stillness, which felt surreal, as if time and space had been separated, sent chills down my spine. The scent, emanating a heavy presence, pressed in on me even more intensely.

After looking around for a while, searching for the unseen source of the scent, I suddenly locked eyes with a man entering the restroom through the mirror. I stared at him, frozen stiff. His eyes were as intimidating as the pheromones that had paralyzed me. Like a predator mercilessly biting into its prey, his dark pupils, filled with primal instinct, were no different from those of a beast.

“Ah……”

A faint moan escaped my lips. I trembled like a small animal lost and wandering alone, separated from its herd. The thick scent sharply pierced my lungs. A chill seeped through my body as his footsteps gradually closed the distance between us.

At that moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t run away. Filled with fear, I could only watch his approaching face in the mirror. I felt as if I were dying. Even though all he did was approach the restroom sink.

Whoosh

The man, with whom I had been making eye contact through the mirror for a while, turned away from me as soon as he reached the sink and began to wash his hands. The cheerful sound of running water snapped me out of my daze. Realizing that I had been staring at him rudely, I quickly turned my head. The man, seemingly indifferent to my actions, simply rinsed his hands under the lukewarm water.

Thump-thump. My heart pounded relentlessly against my ribs. My body felt like it had malfunctioned from the overwhelming pheromones I had inhaled. I stood there like a statue, doing nothing, yet unable to leave. Meanwhile, the man finished washing his hands, and the sound of running water stopped.

He lightly shook his hands, straightened up, and stood squarely in front of the mirror. His tall stature, matching his broad shoulders, further accentuated his presence. He brushed his hair back and turned to look at me. I tried my best not to look at him as I listened to the deafening pounding of my heart. He stared at me for a long time. My time, consumed by emotions, passed slowly. Drip. Drip. Water droplets fell from the loosely closed faucet, creating noise in the silence. The sound of the droplets hitting the bottom of the sink grew louder, ringing like the New Year’s bell.

“……!”

Suddenly, the man’s hand reached out towards me. Abruptly, without any warning.

Startled, I flinched and recoiled. Too flustered to control my emotions, I stared at him. His hand casually passed by me and reached for the wall. It finally landed on the tissue dispenser attached to the wall. I thought he was reaching for me, but he was simply trying to pull out a tissue.

My face burned with shame.

“Are you alright?”

The man finally spoke. Although he was speaking to me, I foolishly realized it only after a long moment.

“Yes?”

The man glanced at my face and then wiped the water from his hands with the tissue. I then looked at my face in the mirror. It was flushed, clearly unnatural. My reddened cheeks were unsightly.

“No… no, I’m fine. I was just a little warm.”

The man glanced at me again and then crumpled the used tissue into the trash can. The shame intensified as I watched him nonchalantly going about his business. I was embarrassed, feeling like I had overreacted to a simple courtesy question.

“You should still manage your pheromones. Unless you want to advertise yourself as an omega in a place teeming with alphas.”

Leaving that brief advice, the man turned away from me as if he was done. I stared blankly after him, dumbfounded. The tall man left the restroom, leaving behind a powerful impression. My feelings were crumpled like the tissue he discarded.

“Where have you been?”

My father was very displeased with me for having been away for so long.

“The restroom.”

I answered my father, omitting the details. He clicked his tongue skeptically and then led me to our designated seats.

The emcee’s voice, announcing the start of the event, flowed through the speakers. I sat down, waiting for the event to begin, lost in thought. I recalled the man I had stared at, overwhelmed by his powerful pheromones, unable to even manage my own. I had been completely paralyzed, as if his pheromones, attacking me like a predator, had frozen my entire body. When he reached out his hand towards me, I was certain I would be caught. His pheromones were definitely targeting me. Like a predator stalking its prey, they were after my omega nature.

Even so, to be so captivated by an alpha’s pheromones that I couldn’t even control my own… I was truly pathetic. Of all places, why did I have to encounter such an alpha in an empty restroom? I had never encountered such intense pheromones before. How was I supposed to react?

“……Ah.”

Suddenly, my thoughts jumped back to my recent visit to Executive Director Jang Taejin’s house. Now that I thought about it, I had encountered similarly intense pheromones then. I had smelled them from a passing car as I was walking down the street after leaving Executive Director Jang Taejin’s house. Even though it was just a whiff carried by the wind, the scent had left a strong impression, remaining etched in my memory. If I had encountered him face-to-face then, I might have reacted as foolishly as I did just now. It was fortunate that I only caught a fleeting scent from a passing car.

“What are you thinking about? The event is about to start.”

My father’s reprimand interrupted my long train of thought. I quickly put my thoughts aside and corrected my posture.

“Useless boy.”

My father clicked his tongue and scolded me.

Music announcing the start of the event blared through the speakers. A man in a suit, holding a microphone, walked onto the stage set up at the front of the banquet hall. He looked familiar. He was a famous news anchor from a major broadcasting station.

While the emcee, in a lively voice, recited a flattering account of the JN Group’s history, my father reacted appropriately, blending in with the crowd and listening attentively. Because so many people had come, numerous tables were placed between my seat and the stage. Because of this, my meager plan to familiarize myself with Executive Director Jang Taejin’s face before speaking with him was foiled. It was impossible to locate the table where the owner family was sitting, but even if I could find it, I would only be able to see the back of their heads. Perhaps this represented the distance between me and the person I would have to appeal to today. A distance I couldn’t reach no matter how hard I tried. Executive Director Jang Taejin was that far removed from me.

“Now, we will have the cake cutting ceremony to commemorate the anniversary.”

The cake cutting ceremony proceeded according to schedule. The emcee, with utmost politeness, invited the owner family to the stage. Chairman Jang Gicheol, the head of JN Group, struggled onto the stage, leaning on his eldest son. Chairman Jang Gicheol and his eldest son frequently appeared in the media, so I recognized their faces. The rest of the second-generation members of the owner family followed behind them. Unlike the eldest son, the others were all unfamiliar faces.

“Then, let’s begin the cake cutting ceremony!”

At the emcee’s resonant voice, Chairman Jang Gicheol cut into the prepared cake. The cake cutting ceremony ended with a loud round of applause. The audience sat down in unison. I, too, sat back down, following suit. I was pulling my chair forward, which had been pushed back, and lifting my gaze towards the stage again when–

“The next item on the program is the commemorative speech celebrating the JN Group’s anniversary, which will be delivered by Executive Director Jang Taejin of JN Corporation.”

Executive Director Jang Taejin. At those four words, I quickly shifted my gaze to the person heading towards the stage. My heart pounded strangely as I watched the back of the man ascending the stairs.

It was him. The owner of those overwhelmingly intense pheromones.

The person on stage was definitely the man I had encountered in the restroom. The owner of those suffocating pheromones, Executive Director Jang Taejin, was standing there.

“Hello, I’m Jang Taejin.”

His presence alone commanded the atmosphere. As he had been in the restroom, he was even more intimidating on stage. Dressed impeccably, using formal language, and reading the commemorative speech calmly in a monotone voice, the ferocious beast hidden beneath the surface occasionally peeked through, making everyone watching him aware of who held the true power.

His voice, transmitted through the speakers, was stimulating, as if he were whispering directly into my ear. Every word he uttered clung hotly to my eardrums. Everything about him was so stimulating. His sharp eyes, intelligent lips, deep voice, and suffocating scent… they all assaulted my senses.

I was drawn in deeper and deeper. The intense scent seemed to engulf me like a storm. Trapped in his scent, I could barely breathe. The memory of his gaze kept flashing before my eyes, making me dizzy.

“We will not forget our pride as a leading group in Korea and will continue to strive for further development. Thank you.”

The commemorative address ended with his final words. Thunderous applause followed.

My ears were ringing from the쏟아지는 applause. I understood why he had delivered the commemorative address on behalf of his family at such an important event. He was perfectly suited to be the face of the giant corporation. Just like me, everyone in this room was overwhelmed by his presence.

“Thank you, Executive Director Jang Taejin. It’s truly inspiring to see such a wonderful person in charge of JN’s future. To all the guests who have joined us today, please give another round of applause for the future of JN and Executive Director Jang Taejin.”

Along with the emcee’s eloquent words, Executive Director Jang Taejin left the stage.

I don’t remember how the rest of the event unfolded. My mind was completely filled with Executive Director Jang Taejin. The more I thought about him, the more anxious I became. He was not someone I could handle. I didn’t know what my father was thinking, asking me to deal with such a powerful figure, but in any case, he was not someone I could possibly influence.

The banquet hall, after the main event, quickly transformed into a social gathering. My father was frantically trying to approach Executive Director Jang Taejin. I grew more and more nervous as my father got closer to him. Everything that had happened, from our first encounter to the moment he delivered the long commemorative speech on stage, swirled in my mind, making me shrink further.

My father hovered around Executive Director Jang Taejin, talking to a few people. Executive Director Jang Taejin, showing no signs of fatigue, maintained a relaxed composure, conversing with the endless stream of people approaching him. As soon as there was a slight opening, my father grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. He cut in front of a middle-aged man who had just finished talking and was turning away, securing a spot before Executive Director Jang Taejin.

“Good evening, Executive Director.”

My father bowed excessively respectfully and extended his hand towards Executive Director Jang Taejin. Executive Director Jang Taejin looked down at my father without a flicker of emotion. With almost arrogant indifference, his eyelids lowered, he opened his lips. Completely ignoring my father’s outstretched hand, he said,

“Yes, hello. President Lim Junsu.”

Hahaha. My father awkwardly withdrew his hand, masking his embarrassment with laughter. It was strange to see my father acting so subservient to someone much younger than him.

“Your speech today was truly outstanding. I’m once again impressed by your abilities, Executive Director.”

“Is that so?” Executive Director Jang Taejin replied indifferently and then briefly glanced in my direction. Tension scraped against the back of my neck.

“This is my son. He visited your residence the other day.”

As soon as he finished speaking, my father reached behind him and nudged me. Prodded by my father, I forced my tightly closed lips apart.

“Hello… I’m Lim Jaegyeong.”

My father frowned at me. It was a reprimand for not offering a more cordial greeting, like praising the moving speech, as he had expected. Knowing this, I kept my mouth shut. Such pleasantries didn’t suit my gloomy nature.

“Yes, hello.”

Executive Director Jang Taejin acted as if he were meeting me for the first time. Perhaps he had genuinely forgotten our encounter in the restroom, or maybe he was being considerate. Honestly, if he had acknowledged me, it would have been a bit awkward. Since I hadn’t told my father about our chance encounter in the restroom, if he had mentioned it, I would have fallen out of favor with my father once again.

“I apologize for the other day. My son seems to have made a mistake at your residence.”

“Is that so? I haven’t received any such report.”

“No, it was my oversight. I should have visited you personally.”

Executive Director Jang Taejin stared down at my bowing father. His eyes were cold, devoid of any emotion. He seemed to naturally accept the subservience of a man much older than him. It was probably to be expected for someone in his position.

“It’s alright.”

With that reply, Executive Director Jang Taejin brought the champagne glass to his lips. I interpreted his gesture as a sign that he wanted us to leave, but my father didn’t seem to think so. He continued to talk to Executive Director Jang Taejin. Executive Director Jang Taejin responded with only short answers, as if listening with one ear and letting it out the other. He even stopped doing that eventually.

“Oh, right. My son said he has something to discuss with you, Executive Director.”

My father finally brought me into the conversation after a long, rambling chat. I was startled, even though I had known he would do this.

“I know you must be busy, but please listen to what my son has to say.”

With those groveling words, my father abandoned me and walked away. I stared blankly after him, then, realizing my situation, quickly turned my attention back to Executive Director Jang Taejin.

To my surprise, he was staring intently at me. His intense gaze raked across my skin. I felt a sense of dread. It was like facing the massive wall at his mansion. I had to approach this man, Jang Taejin, but just meeting his gaze made me feel drained, as if I were completely blocked by a huge wall. I couldn’t even begin to think about what to say. I was completely intimidated by the mere fact of standing before him.

“So, you weren’t ill after all.”

He spoke first, since I was just standing there speechless.

“Yes……?”

“Your pheromones.”

He stared intently at me. His piercing gaze seemed to constrict my body.

He remembered me. He remembered our encounter in the restroom, my flushed face, and my foolishly uncontrolled pheromones. Why had he pretended not to know me? Did he do it out of consideration for my awkwardness? Impossible. Someone in his position wouldn’t bother to consider the circumstances of someone like me. Perhaps he was simply toying with me. My behavior in the restroom was quite clumsy, so maybe he was just playing a prank…

“I, I apologize for earlier…”

Regardless of his intentions, I quickly apologized. I apologized for staring at him so rudely in the restroom. But he looked at me with an expression that suggested he didn’t understand what I was talking about. In that brief moment, I had to decide whether to explain further.

“I was… staring too much.”

The man chuckled softly. It was a nuance that suggested he was laughing out of absurdity. I shrank further, feeling like I had become the object of his ridicule. It made it almost impossible to say what I had intended.

“Is that what you wanted to tell me?”

I felt another wave of dread as I remembered the excuse my father had fabricated. I wasn’t here to make such an apology. As my father had instructed, I had to cling to his pants if necessary to secure the collaboration, but in my current state, it seemed impossible.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then?”

“It’s about the matter I discussed with you before.”

“Ah.”

The man’s eyes glinted with interest, and he took a sip of champagne. Was it my imagination? I felt like his tone and demeanor had shifted slightly. I even had the illusion that he was treating me more casually because I was young. If so, it was problematic. I had been rejected because of my age.

“I believe I rejected that proposal.”

He emptied his champagne glass and handed it to a passing waiter. All his movements were slow and overflowing with composure. It was like watching a slow-motion video. His demeanor captivated my attention.

“Yes, you did. However, I would like you to reconsider. It will definitely be beneficial to JN Corporation. You’ll be able to acquire the technology and know-how we’ve accumulated over a lifetime.”

The man slowly stroked his chin. His long fingertips glided along his sharp jawline. Beneficial, you say… the man murmured softly, almost inaudibly. Even though he hadn’t shown any such signs, I was nervous, anticipating harsh words from him any moment.

“Why?”

“Yes?”

“The reason you’re making such a beneficial offer. I’m curious why HJ is so desperate for this collaboration with JN.”

“JN Corporation is incomparably larger than HJ Industries. If our company collaborates with JN Corporation on a project, it will generate very positive publicity for us. This will create greater value for our company…”

“Is that all?”

The man cut me off.

“You’re willing to share your lifelong technology and expertise just for public image?”

His question cut me like a knife.

“How about this instead. The collaboration with JN will delay the impending debt payments.”

My eyes widened. Unable to hide my emotions, I stared up at him, my surprise evident. My heart pounded, and my head felt dizzy, as if I had been struck. My obvious motive had been exposed. I felt like I was standing before him naked.

“Is that a difficult question to answer?”

The man smirked, one corner of his lips lifting. He looked away from me. Then, he turned around with fluid grace. In that instant, instinctively sensing that he was about to leave, my body moved on its own, bypassing my rational mind. I realized I had done something crazy after I grabbed his arm.

“……?”

He glared at me with an expression of extreme displeasure. Out of my mind, I spoke to him in an incredibly clear voice.

“What if it is?”

“?”

“What if it is as you say, that we requested this collaboration with JN Corporation because of the impending debt crisis?”

“…….”

“Would that be unacceptable?”

I looked him straight in the eye, my gaze challenging.

The displeasure on the man’s face disappeared. Instead, a look of interest appeared. He stared at me with a genuinely amused expression. It was the look of a child holding a new, exciting toy.

“JN Corporation will not suffer any damage. Rather, you’re essentially giving us your technology unconditionally. Isn’t that enough reason to consider our situation?”

My words weren’t wrong. A company the size of JN Corporation wouldn’t suffer any damage because of a small company like ours. It was a beneficial proposal for JN Corporation in many ways. If they could overlook our company’s desperate situation, it was a deal that could proceed without any problems.

Of course, that didn’t mean JN had any reason to accept our proposal. Everything depended on Executive Director Jang Taejin’s whim. He could accept it if he felt like it, or reject it if he didn’t.

“…….”

Had my desperation driven me to insanity? Perhaps that’s what Executive Director Jang Taejin thought. After a moment of silence, an enigmatic smile played on his lips. Seeing that smile, I dejectedly released my grip on his arm. A wave of belated regret washed over me, and my head bowed involuntarily.

In a dying voice, I stammered an apology.

“I… apologize.”

He spoke in a cheerful tone, completely different from before.

“You’re Lim Jaegyeong, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard your story. It was quite impressive.”

His words seemed to mock my childish behavior. If this was his true intention, it would likely be followed by a rejection.

“But if you want to persuade me, you’ll have to come up with a more compelling proposition.”

He grinned broadly, a hearty laugh escaping his lips. It was at that moment that my bold words died in my throat. I felt dazed, as if I had forgotten everything I had said. It felt like I had given up everything, standing before the massive wall blocking my path.