AOA Chapter 9

Her mother’s expression instantly brightened. 

 

Not only that, but her eyes also grew dreamy, as if her daughter had already become engaged to the heavenly Joo Kangwon. 

 

The dream of becoming in-laws with the Cheonsang Group seemed incredibly sweet to her.

 

“Our daughter is going to be a chaebol’s wife now? Mom is so happy.”

 

Her mother always used to say that if you had many children, at least one of them would manifest as an alpha or omega. She had five children and repeatedly emphasized that the one who became an alpha or omega would have to take responsibility for the entire family.

 

When Yeonseo, the youngest, manifested as an omega, the whole family was overjoyed. 

 

Looking back now, it must have felt like winning the lottery. 

 

And not just any lottery—it was as if four out of five tickets were duds, and the last one hit the jackpot. 

 

The euphoria must have been indescribable.

 

Congratulations money, support funds, a house, a car—benefits poured in as soon as Yeonseo manifested as an omega. 

 

Yeonseo didn’t find it strange to share all these benefits with her family. 

 

From a young age, she had been told over and over that the sibling who manifested as an alpha or omega would have to provide for the family. 

 

Since the family was very close-knit, it felt like the natural thing to do.

 

In fact, since it wasn’t money she had earned through hard work, she didn’t feel too bothered by it. She had been lucky enough to manifest as an omega, so sharing the benefits with her family felt right.

 

Thanks to the ABO support, they no longer had to worry about money, and she thought there would be nothing more to desire. 

 

But now, it seemed her mother was eyeing the position of being in-laws with a chaebol. 

 

‘Where would this greed end?’

 

Yeonseo forced herself to swallow the bitter feeling along with a dry gulp.

 

💫

 

Still, having been here once before, the grandeur of the Cheonsang Group’s main house didn’t feel as overwhelming today. 

 

Realizing just how nervous she had been yesterday, Yeonseo looked around a bit more comfortably. 

 

As she stepped inside, she was surprised to find Joo Kangwon waiting for her. She had thought she would only be seeing Lee Shinwoo from now on, so she hadn’t expected him to come see her…

 

“What’s with that expression?”

 

‘Had my thoughts shown on my face?’ 

 

Flustered at being called out, Yeonseo nervously touched her cheek. 

 

Joo Kangwon stared down at her, making it hard for her to know how to react. Then, his hand moved toward her face. 

 

Startled, Yeonseo froze like a stone as his fingers lightly brushed under her eyes before pulling away. 

 

‘Had there been an eyelash or something?’ 

 

He wiped his hand on a handkerchief offered by the butler standing nearby.

 

“Ah, um, thank you.”

 

He was a man who showed unexpected consideration in the most surprising places. 

 

Maybe he was used to taking care of a younger sibling with an age gap. Without much reaction to her thanks, he gestured for her to follow him.

 

“You’re free to do as you please during the times Shinwoo is working, like now. You can explore the house, read, or even sleep.”

 

“Ah, okay.”

 

“This is the main building. You’re free to go to the west wing and the central garden, but the east wing is off-limits. As for other places you shouldn’t enter, the staff will stop you.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Yeonseo, who had only seen the main building through the front gate, was surprised to learn there were more structures. 

 

It dawned on her just how vast their property was in Seoul, where land prices were sky-high. No wonder they were a chaebol.

 

“Wow…”

 

Following him as he explained, they arrived at the central garden. 

 

Yeonseo couldn’t hide her amazement as she walked, taking in the layout of the house. 

 

The central garden, surrounded by the main building and the wings on either side, was as beautiful as something out of a fairy tale. 

 

Even now, gardeners could be seen busily tending to it, clearly putting their heart and soul into its maintenance. 

 

‘Was Joo Kangwon really the type to care for such delicate details?’

 

“Do you like flowers?”

 

The question about the flowers was prompted by the unusually large number of them in the garden, but judging by his expression, that didn’t seem to be the case. 

 

There was no trace of pride or affection in his gaze as he looked at the meticulously maintained garden. 

 

It seemed more like he was simply a perfectionist, ensuring everything was kept in immaculate order.

 

“The west wing has a library, a music room, a media room, and more, so you shouldn’t get bored.”

 

Seeing Kangwon deflect the question without answering, Yeonseo decided not to press further. She hadn’t asked with any particular meaning in mind, anyway. 

 

To her surprise, he kindly led her inside the west wing, allowing her to explore every corner. It was unexpected that he would personally guide her instead of leaving it to the butler.

 

“There’s nothing missing here. You wouldn’t even need to leave the house if you lived here.”

 

The space seemed designed with that very purpose in mind. 

 

It reminded her of community facilities in apartment complexes, where residents could do everything without stepping outside. 

 

‘Was it because, as a chaebol, he didn’t want to mingle with ordinary people?’

 

As she looked around, Yeonseo realized that all of this had been prepared for Lee Shinwoo, who didn’t engage in public activities. 

 

Three years after his manifestation, rumors were swirling that he would soon die, and the initial fascination with him as the next top-tier alpha had turned into ridicule. 

 

Perhaps that was why he had decided not to go outside until his treatment was complete.

 

“Since it’s hard for him to go out… it must be nice to have these facilities at home.”

 

“Are you pitying him?”

 

“How dare someone like me pity a great A-grade alpha? Doesn’t that make you feel bad?”

 

“What do you mean, ‘someone like you’?”

 

“An A-grade omega who hasn’t found a mate even at twenty-five.”

 

When she threw his own words back at him, Kangwon’s lips twitched. 

 

It was hard to tell if he was smiling or not. 

 

As they passed the movie theater and entered the gallery, Yeonseo noticed that it was filled with works by artists famous enough for her to recognize.

 

Walking naturally through the gallery, Kangwon adjusted his pace to match hers, which left Yeonseo feeling oddly touched. She had assumed he would be highly dictatorial, but this showed her how wrong first impressions could be.

 

“By the way, haven’t you also never imprinted on anyone, Joo Kangwon?”

 

Joo Kangwon was thirty, five years older than her. 

 

It felt unfair for someone who was still single at his age to judge her. It was even stranger that an A-grade alpha and chairman of Cheonsang Group had never imprinted on anyone. 

 

Considering how many omegas must have desired him, it was even more incomprehensible.

 

Kangwon stopped walking and turned to look at her. His gaze bore down on her, and the sharp surge of his pheromones made her breath catch. 

 

Unlike Shinwoo’s refreshing pheromones, Kangwon’s were calm and heavy, almost immobilizing her.

 

“Have you ever had an alpha you wanted to imprint on?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Against her will, a warm sensation began to build in her stomach. She tried to suppress the pheromones that threatened to spill out, but her reaction was delayed. 

 

As she snapped back to attention, she replayed his question in her mind. 

 

‘Had I ever had an alpha she wanted to imprint on?’

 

“Five years isn’t a short time. It’s reasonable to think you might have desperately wanted someone at least once. I’m asking if you wanted someone, but they didn’t want you, which is why you’re still without a mate.”

 

“…”

 

“Seems like I got my answer.”

 

As he resumed walking, he was as composed as if he hadn’t just released a wave of pheromones. 

 

Did he really have to phrase it so awkwardly just to say he hadn’t found an omega he liked? 

 

But when she compared it to her own situation, it made sense.

 

When alphas mocked and belittled her, calling her pheromones ‘like sugar’ or saying she lacked charm, Yeonseo had also never found an alpha who satisfied her. 

 

No pheromone she had ever encountered had drawn her enough to want to imprint. 

 

Compared to the pheromones of Joo Kangwon or Lee Shinwoo, everything else felt mediocre and unremarkable.

 

“…Are we just too picky?”

 

An alpha who remained single until thirty and an omega who stayed single until twenty-five would undoubtedly seem peculiar to others. 

 

Sensing the slight gloom in Yeonseo’s voice, Kangwon spoke up nonchalantly.

 

“It just means our standards are high.”

 

Even his way of thinking was sophisticated. 

 

Yeonseo, naturally impressed, nodded repeatedly. 

 

They had circled the gallery, but not a single piece of art stood out in her memory. 

 

Her attention had been completely absorbed by her conversation with Kangwon, so it was no surprise. She figured she’d have plenty of opportunities to see them again and decided to look forward to next time as they moved on.

 

“Let’s have lunch together. Shinwoo should be taking a break soon.”

 

By the time they returned to the main building, it was nearly lunchtime. 

 

Kangwon had deliberately taken time out of his schedule to show her around the house and have a candid conversation with her. 

 

It was hard to believe he was the same person who had come to rescue her when she was kidnapped. 

 

Back then, he had been so intimidating that she had mistaken him for the kidnappers’ boss…

 

The reason for his change in attitude was obvious. She had proven herself to be someone Shinwoo needed. 

 

Even if they weren’t blood-related, it was clear that Kangwon cared deeply for Shinwoo, enough to go to great lengths to ensure his treatment.

 

How and when Shinwoo had become part of the Joo family wasn’t public knowledge. 

 

If they shared the same surname, one might assume he was the second son, but since they didn’t, it naturally sparked many rumors.

 

The most plausible theory was that they had recognized his potential early on as an alpha and brought him into the family.

 

Cheonsang Group had been riddled with so many issues that, had Kangwon not taken over its management, it would have likely fallen to mediocrity. 

 

That made Kangwon’s ability to elevate it to one of the top conglomerates all the more remarkable.

 

But the fact that Shinwoo, now twenty-three, was already working at Cheonsang Group suggested that his abilities couldn’t be ignored either. 

 

Kangwon didn’t seem like the type to hand out parachute positions.

 

Whether it was out of affection or recognition of Shinwoo’s abilities, Yeonseo was relieved that her relationship with Kangwon had become less awkward, especially since she would be seeing him frequently from now on.

 

“It feels like you really cherish Shinwoo.”

 

Kangwon, who had been giving various instructions to the butler, turned to look at her words. His deep, shadowed eyes seemed to hold an abyss that was difficult to fathom.