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Slowly, he looked around the room. It was a quiet Korean-style room decorated with off-white paper reminiscent of hanji and old wood. The warm-colored cabinets and fresh flowers in ceramic vases created a gentle atmosphere, but at the same time, the corners finished at precise angles as if cut with a knife gave the room a strangely oppressive feel. Somehow feeling like he was becoming a still life in a painting, Seoyoon unconsciously held his breath.

Amidst the tension, there was something that caught Seoyoon’s interest. It was a frame hanging on the right wall. As he was quietly gazing at the frame, there was a knock at the door. Seoyoon quickly turned his head.

“Director Kwon has arrived.”

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“Yes.”

As he responded even to words that didn’t require an answer, the door opened. A man strode in through the sliding door.

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In the time it took Seoyoon to quickly stand up, he had approached within arm’s reach. It felt as if the wind that had clung to him outside suddenly brushed against his cheek.

“I’m late.”

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It was a clear baritone, each syllable distinct. Despite the faint smile on his face and polite tone, there was a cold texture to it. Despite this being an important meeting, there was no apology for being late, nor any explanation for the delay. Even standing up, Seoyoon swallowed dryly at the solid presence of the man who stood a full head taller than him.

His ink-black hair was neatly groomed without seeming overly styled. The well-tailored three-piece suit fit him like a second skin. While his broad shoulders and firm torso might have seemed heavy, perhaps due to the well-fitting clothes, his body appeared rather sleek.

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He looked more like someone who had come to make a contract rather than to enjoy a pleasant time. And a contract where he was clearly in the superior position, with no need to rush or seek understanding.

Fortunately, Seoyoon managed to somewhat hide his nervousness and greet the visitor with a neat appearance and composed manner, slightly bowing his head with a smile.

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“It’s alright. I didn’t wait long.”

“I’m Kwon Kijung, whom you were scheduled to meet today.”

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“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Han Seoyoon.”

They didn’t really need to introduce themselves, as they already knew each other’s names. And not just names. Age, body measurements, medical history, educational background, occupation, personality traits, family relationships – in just a few days, Seoyoon had learned more facts about this man than about friends he’d known for years. The same was likely true for the other party.

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The two sat facing each other, and warm tea and snacks were placed in front of Kwon Kijung as well. Before the server could retreat, they asked:

“Shall I bring out the meal now?”

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“Call again when it’s time to prepare.”

“Yes, sir.”

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While Kijung answered without even asking for Seoyoon’s opinion, Seoyoon quietly clasped his hands together under the table. If luck was against him, would he end up going home after just tea time, without even sharing a meal?

During the not-so-short time it took to arrive, he had gone over how to behave in this situation countless times. As his father had said: confidently, calmly, straightforwardly without timidity.

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But now, face to face with the man, he couldn’t even clearly sense his own facial expressions. His senses felt dulled, like after light anesthesia at the dentist.

An awkward, brief silence followed. Just as Seoyoon had done upon entering, Kwon Kijung also seemed to be taking a moment to survey the interior. Kwon Kijung was the first to speak.

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“I hear our grandfathers used to come here often.”

“Pardon?”

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“They often used this place when discussing business, apparently.”

Seoyoon realized he was referring to the old house that was their meeting place. They could have met at a suitable hotel or somewhere similar, but perhaps it was his grandfather’s wish to set the matchmaking location here. Seoyoon nodded and added:

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“I heard it was originally an old Korean restaurant. When business became difficult and it was about to be demolished, Chairman Kwon bought it as a private residence.”

Seoyoon felt a little relieved that he had brought up the topic of their grandfathers first, which he hadn’t expected.

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Kwon Kijung’s grandfather, Cheongkwang Group Chairman Kwon Muntaek, and Seoyoon’s grandfather, Daeryung Trading President Han Gilmyung, had been close companions since childhood. Starting from the market streets, the two self-made men married around the same time and had children around the same time.

Although a difference in business scale emerged, the friendship between the two men remained strong over time. The more successful Chairman Kwon Muntaek provided much help to his friend President Han Gilmyung in both public and private matters. President Han Gilmyung, in turn, consistently repaid his successful friend’s kindness with diligence.

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In their younger years, the two men had focused solely on their businesses, but by the time they had grandchildren, they began to look back on things beyond work. Forgotten values. Things like family and friends, friendship and relationships, the small joys of everyday life.

Their grandchildren, born as an alpha and an omega respectively, filled the two old men’s late romance. The ambitious idea of marrying off their grandchildren when they came of age progressed without any regard for the actual wishes of those to be married, and yet for a while, it became a promise between the two families that no one could easily ignore.

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Seoyoon looked around the room again with a newly affectionate gaze.

“So grandfather used to come here often too. If he were alive, he would have been most curious to hear about today’s visit here…”

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The problem was that one of the parties to the promise was no longer in this world.

Seoyoon’s parents were not his biological parents. He had lost his birth parents in an accident during childhood and was adopted by his father’s younger brother, his uncle. Most of the family fortune built up by his grandfather, who had been an outstanding businessman, went to his uncle.

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Time had resolved many things. The grief of a child who had lost his parents, the aftereffects of a sudden adoption – these gradually subsided as time passed. During his grandfather’s lifetime, the whole family maintained a relatively smooth life.

The peace did not last. Seoyoon’s grandfather, Han Gilmyung, perhaps unable to overcome the sorrow of losing his eldest son, fell ill and passed away suddenly just five years after his son and daughter-in-law. After that, the family’s fortunes gradually declined, and by today had fallen incomparably from before. The talk of marriage between Seoyoon and the Cheongkwang Group’s third generation seemed to end as a far-fetched fantasy.

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It must have felt like grasping at straws. Seoyoon knew that his adoptive father had tried to somehow bring this marriage talk back into consideration. But honestly, Seoyoon never expected that the promise made between their grandfathers would actually come to fruition in reality.

“Are the paintings here pieces that Chairman Kwon personally selected?”

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“Some are, some aren’t.”

“I see. I was glad to see a painting I had wanted to see hanging here.”

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At those words, Kijung’s gaze lightly turned to the side. A black straight line, as if drawn with a large brush, filled one wall.

The painting decorating the wall was an ink wash painting that completed its depiction with just brush pressure. Despite the lack of color, it gave the impression of both a rising and setting sun, a curious piece. Though simple in composition, it exuded the spirit of an aged master who must have refined his craft over a lifetime, and was indeed a work that had been auctioned for a high price.

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Seoyoon hadn’t known this painting was hanging here. Probably several other precious originals decorated this house as well. But unlike Seoyoon, Kijung seemed uninterested in the painting and quickly turned his head away.

“You do art appraisal, I hear.”

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“Ah, I’ve studied a bit, but not enough to work professionally. Currently, I’m working as a general staff member at an exhibition-related company.”

As of today, I’ve quit. It didn’t seem like Kwon Kijung’s copy of Han Seoyoon’s resume had been updated with his resignation circumstances yet. Should I mention it? After a moment’s hesitation, he decided against it. He’ll probably receive a report on that later anyway.

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“The special exhibition at Hyunsong Art Museum last month was really good. It’s not easy to encounter Eastern European avant-garde works in Korea. I was surprised they secured so many pieces, when it could have ended up as a small-scale exhibition.”

“I heard the response wasn’t bad.”

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Seoyoon, after gauging the atmosphere, gave up on continuing the conversation about art. The inaugural director of Hyunsong Art Museum, operated by the Cheongkwang Group, had been Kijung’s mother. He had thought that someone whose mother was the world-renowned painter Jo Myung-shin would be interested in art, but it seemed he had misjudged.

As if he had merely played along briefly with an uninteresting topic, Kijung directed an indifferent gaze at Seoyoon sitting across from him and changed the subject.

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“I apologize for the sudden proposal to meet today.”

“Not at all. It’s natural to accommodate the schedule of a busy person.”

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“How did you feel about coming to the meeting place?”

Seoyoon opened his eyes wide at the unexpected question. He didn’t seem like someone who would care about Seoyoon’s feelings.

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“Well… I was a bit flustered by the unexpected rain that wasn’t in the forecast, but it was an honor to see the scenery of Nokwoojae that I had only heard about.”

Unable to understand his intention, Seoyoon’s answer diverged slightly from the question. Noticing Kijung’s expression, it seemed this wasn’t the answer he wanted, as a bitter smile spread across his face.

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“Even for people like us, it’s rare to be conscious of our nature in daily life, isn’t it?”

“…I suppose so.”

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“I felt a bit strange. I’ve lived most of my life without really being conscious of it, but suddenly here I am, having a formal matchmaking meeting as an alpha and omega in such a solemn place.”

After finishing his words, Kijung smiled professionally. Finally understanding the true meaning of the question, Seoyoon felt dumbfounded, as if he’d been hit on the back of the head.

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Without trying to express things indirectly or make the atmosphere more comfortable, he was getting straight to the point. Seoyoon was at a loss for words.

‘He came reluctantly.’

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Due to the somewhat hastily arranged schedule, Seoyoon had hoped that perhaps Kwon Kijung’s family had welcomed the matchmaking first, but of course, that wasn’t the case.

“You seem to have a special affection for the late President Han.”

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“Yes… He cared for me a lot.”

“It’s the same for me. I couldn’t refuse because it was my grandfather’s wish.”

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He came because he couldn’t decline his grandfather’s request. It wasn’t unexpected. It would have been more pleasing if he had been welcomed, but it wasn’t surprising. Seoyoon tried to maintain his smile and nodded.

“I understand.”

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“I haven’t really thought seriously about marriage yet, and they say gender doesn’t matter between alphas and omegas… but I’ve never once thought of myself as homosexual.”

If you were a female omega, it might be different, but as it stands now, I’m not interested at all. He didn’t say that much, but Seoyoon understood the unspoken words precisely.

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“I feel the same way about that.”

It wasn’t a place to assert his pride, but Seoyoon answered trying his best not to show any agitation. No, it wasn’t just about pride. It was a calculation that even if he said he felt differently here, the other party wouldn’t react more favorably.

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Only then did Kijung’s expression soften slightly as he leaned back more into the backrest of the floor chair.

“Then our conversation should be easier.”

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“……”

“Let’s just spend some comfortable time today and then go home. We’ll say we weren’t compatible at the matchmaking meeting. It would be better for you to arrange a new meeting with a wonderful female alpha.”

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There must have been a call button next to the table like in a restaurant, as not long after, a worker opened the door. Kijung made a new request.

“Please prepare the meal. And bring a bottle of alcohol too.”

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“Yes, please wait a moment.”

Kijung belatedly asked Seoyoon’s opinion.

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“Would you like to join?”

“I’m not good at drinking.”

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“Then I’ll have a drink alone. The work that was holding me up right before coming here was quite stressful. Honestly, I wanted a drink more than tea.”

Suddenly drinking alone at a matchmaking meeting they had just started – it was consistently rude behavior from the beginning, though he pretended to be polite.

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It was as good as saying he had given up completely. Seoyoon had made another mistake by going along with it. Ignoring Seoyoon’s anxiety, Kijung continued his jokes in a seemingly casual manner.

“I thought I might make a new drinking buddy even if the matchmaking didn’t work out, but I guess not.”

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