MM 72

‘What is he doing over there? Is he interested in cameras?’

As Yu-young slowly walked toward Do-won, he observed him in detail. Do-won was talking to a staff member. It seemed like the staff member was kindly asking him questions to help him, just like the one at the other store earlier.

Yu-young had only seen Do-won with his parents or at work, so seeing him dressed casually and talking to someone outside felt unexpectedly fresh. When they walked together or sat across from each other at meals, it felt different from now. In this moment, Do-won seemed more like a stranger than someone he was familiar with. His face looked beautiful yet indifferent as he conversed.

Do-won smiled slightly while looking down at the staff member. At that moment, Yu-young’s chest tightened as something heavy seemed to drop inside him.

‘…Why do I feel like this?’

Yu-young pressed his chest. He hadn’t even managed to hide the confusion in his feelings before Do-won rolled up his sleeves a little and nodded, taking the camera the staff member handed him.

Even though Yu-young knew nothing about cameras, it looked expensive and heavy. Do-won, holding the black camera, casually raised it close to his face and peered into the lens. His nonchalant yet skilled posture made Yu-young’s heart pound uncontrollably.

‘What’s going on? Why am I like this…’

‘Of course, I like photography, but is it really that cool for someone to look so handsome just holding a camera?’

His heart was racing so violently that he felt confused. Was it because of the photos he loved so much, or was it because of how cool Choi Do-won was?

Either way, it was definitely serious. No matter how much he loved photos, was it really normal for his heart to pound just because his boss was holding a camera? If it was the latter… then it was even more complicated.

‘Choi Do-won…’

It didn’t make sense. As Yu-young entered the store, he slapped his hands against both his cheeks. The sound made both the staff member and Do-won turn around simultaneously.

“You’re here. Let’s go.”

Do-won, who had been admiring the camera, turned around without hesitation and nodded at the staff. Yu-young waved his hands, stopping him.

“Ah, no. If you still want to look around, please take your time. I like photography too.”

“I’ve already bought everything I needed. Let’s go.”

Do-won held up a small shopping bag he had placed next to him.

“Oh, what did you buy?”

“…Some lenses.”

Do-won replied nonchalantly and slowly started to walk out of the store. Yu-young hurriedly followed him, asking,

“Come to think of it, Team Leader, you seem to be quite interested in photography too.”

“Well… I’m not completely uninterested.”

“Do you have any photos you’ve taken? Show me some, too.”

The fact that they shared an interest in photography made Yu-young feel unexpectedly pleased. His usual image was far from emotional or sentimental. He had mentioned that someone he knew was close to Won, so maybe he was more interested in photography than he appeared. As Yu-young rambled on, leaning on his arm, Do-won looked down at him with a small smile.

“Alright. Maybe another time.”

“Great.”

Anyone who liked photography would have some photos stored on their phone, so why wasn’t he showing them right now? Was he shy? Even as he thought about it, Yu-young smiled a little while following him. He really was more shy than he let on.

“Let’s have some coffee. Is it okay if we go there?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Great.”

They chatted as they entered the café. After ordering coffee, they sat across from each other at a small table, and suddenly, Yu-young wondered something.

Why did it feel so natural to eat together, drink coffee, and go through these processes without feeling awkward like before? Why was it so easy to walk side by side, grab his arm, or hold his hand?

Had they grown close after sharing so many moments in such a short time?

Yu-young stood up when the staff called out that their coffee was ready, but Do-won gently stopped him, and Yu-young looked up at the tall man. Even though the moments together were still somewhat nerve-wracking, he was relieved that they also felt comfortable, knowing that they would be spending a lot of time together in the future.

…

Do-won’s mother, Lee Yun-hee, sighed and handed a handkerchief to Lee Sun-hyung, who was crying. It had already been almost an hour since he arrived.

If anyone else had been bothering her this much, she probably would have kicked them out about 50 minutes ago, but this time, the blow had definitely been significant. She couldn’t really scold him for pouring out his complaints and crying in front of her.

It had always been like this. The things Sun-hyung resented were always the same. Choi Do-won was cold, ruthless, and heartless. Their families had been connected for years, so how could she treat him like this? And she couldn’t just tell him to go find someone else.

“How could he… leave me, Do-won, …sniff, not even say a word to me about marriage? How could he do that?”

Sun-hyung pressed the handkerchief tightly against his red eyes, his tears falling down his face again. Even though he was a man, his appearance triggered the instinct in any alpha to protect him, but Do-won didn’t seem to feel that way.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect he’d go as far as getting married.”

“Mother, you must have had some hint about it, right?”

“I didn’t know either. It just happened suddenly.”

She said it irritably, ordering the servant to bring more tea. The lady bowed respectfully and took the empty teacups. She hoped he would see it as a sign that they were wrapping things up, but Sun-hyung showed no intention of leaving.

“I’ve known Do-won for over 20 years. How could he not even tell me one word about this… it’s just too much. He’s awful.”

“Ha… I know.”

“And that omega, you said they haven’t even known each other for long, right? What the hell is that about, Mother?”

At Sun-hyung’s words, she automatically recalled the face that had boldly challenged her at the dinner table, and Lee Yun-hee frowned. The omega came from a completely unrelated family, and everything about his personality—impudent and rude—was repulsive. There wasn’t a single thing she liked about him.

“I don’t know either. He brought some unheard-of kid with him. I don’t like him either. But now I’m supposed to marry them off, and it’s driving me crazy.”

“Mother.”

At that moment, Sun-hyung reached out and took Lee Yun-hee’s hand. His delicate, pretty hand was flawlessly clean.

“Then, just don’t let them get married.”

“Do you think that’s easy? Do-won’s father already seems to have made up his mind.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say, What can I do when Do-won has been so persistent in rejecting you? Swallowing those words, she took a sip of the hot tea.

However, Sun-hyung’s eyes, which were staring at her intensely, gleamed coldly.

“You said it was a de facto marriage. They’re not even registering it, and there won’t be any imprinting or a wedding or pregnancy for a year. What kind of marriage is that?”

At those words, Lee Yun-hee looked up, meeting Sun-hyung’s gaze. His eyes, swollen from anger and sadness, had now calmed and settled.

“In other words, if they break up during that time, it becomes null and void, doesn’t it?”