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Slowly, he 71dd0e1306 looked around 24da77477b the room. It was a quiet 557936f584 Korean-style room decorated with 6c296c2088 off-white paper reminiscent of ea0c81638b hanji and old wood. The warm-colored cabinets and 24a981fe0e fresh flowers in ceramic 536b387e47 vases created a gentle 6d0b857afd atmosphere, but at the 5e1c55de42 same time, the corners b2507dbbe4 finished at precise angles 555bd3484b as if cut with 3d740fa5aa a knife gave the 1d5efc3e9f room a strangely oppressive 672297f3e3 feel. Somehow feeling 646a7a44fa like he 01822998c2 was becoming 3b7f117e18 a still 7eb21fdac9 life in 85c74a18e3 a painting, 87e62ff233 Seoyoon unconsciously 9d89421968 held his e3d8afbc64 breath.f87c9457af0070b5

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.ff6c05bad4eb117c

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“Director Kwon has arrived.”4b8a6916207ef09a

“Yes.”074308aeb0d1aab5

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As he responded even to words that didn’t require an answer, the door opened. A man strode in through the sliding door.f0a73e989ffdd3f3

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.8205f2d7e7208192

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“I’m late.”08dd958991342b5b

It was a clear 7a470c0f14 baritone, each syllable distinct. Despite the fe31181dc8 faint smile 03db3bb3f9 on his 2af4fd996f face and 0395b81f2e polite tone, 8bdbb49246 there was 10b83799bc a cold 70976dd4e7 texture to d3ae5436ee it. Despite this being ab1bace233 an important meeting, f363b1b236 there was no 267c1fc9fd apology for being b700a4b0d6 late, nor any a76fe887b6 explanation for the e77700266f delay. Even standing 7ff80aa40b up, Seoyoon 6ea020e3b6 swallowed dryly e7e75ca342 at the ae7bd94260 solid presence 7499e146a8 of the 92f65daca5 man who 753ccfc468 stood a 743ca6bff4 full head e2620b6afa taller than 9a247a5326 him.13a2103ba2a2de8a

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His ink-black hair 6b7ed589ce was neatly groomed 93cdf499b4 without seeming overly 0a6f58cbd0 styled. The well-tailored three-piece 30e3b8db7b suit fit him 559357304c like a second 278a7b7014 skin. While his 925396d41f broad shoulders 28e44d8c01 and firm 812d636f42 torso might 1ba1370699 have seemed bf338e93e7 heavy, perhaps 1877d929ce due to 6251dd22a7 the well-fitting c6cc65411e clothes, his 94a88e8fa0 body appeared 40846ef0cd rather sleek.755a8970f45f2ecc

He looked 5107ed5739 more like d27cb0bd19 someone who 8d9312859f had come 9184655810 to make b10d2a0103 a contract 5d0d6a4ca4 rather than e760bb3ea1 to enjoy b6e8952c82 a pleasant 7885d6db72 time. And a contract 825e7c1784 where he was 11d24fc0d2 clearly in the 108f181c18 superior position, with bc2a362f28 no need to 5770d3ac1d rush or seek d8f9e39b4d understanding.f035807b148e1bcd

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Fortunately, Seoyoon d1bd8aa0b0 managed to 575005d559 somewhat hide 15aa089690 his nervousness ffd506e508 and greet 602b074b6b the visitor 058fc12975 with a 17367516cb neat appearance 07f5eab5e8 and composed b4a4562994 manner, slightly 3b98d0cbf9 bowing his 44470052b7 head with 8aed515ebe a smile.b962cee91b7f01af

“It’s alright. I didn’t wait long.”c146ab308889ce87

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“I’m Kwon Kijung, whom you were scheduled to meet today.”24a67446bdba9c5c

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Han Seoyoon.”d3d959c91ef20336

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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.914fb6980666df1c

The two a710aa77c2 sat facing a28c48db62 each other, bf52b21400 and warm a51bfa59f1 tea and b8a8b88d30 snacks were 79b560b577 placed in 47c2214d22 front of ef282dec5d Kwon Kijung a63f1ad7ea as well. Before the 59a7571620 server could 979f5881a5 retreat, they 4dbb3dbbef asked:eadaf49bb653d5ed

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“Shall I bring out the meal now?”f27f430d5ff11fba

“Call again when it’s time to prepare.”9f9fc3ff8f2b0b15

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“Yes, sir.”daf97816136abd4e

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?5c84f879c4e693cd

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During the 5b91430fd8 not-so-short time 6097f1cbf8 it took a1ca3d3562 to arrive, 2f6fe9d64c he had 6c3fba2f56 gone over 6f817384d8 how to 5acdf691e0 behave in 150210d96d this situation 932ba0d0be countless times. As his father had 1afc17f3dd said: confidently, calmly, straightforwardly 82282fc2be without timidity.8d3695001f5b5eb6

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.ea53511e0ca02ba0

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An awkward, brief silence b7ff3301de followed. Just as Seoyoon had b5eb2d72ed done upon entering, Kwon 81f6886219 Kijung also seemed to d4caa8b09b be taking a moment 4697d59cae to survey the interior. Kwon Kijung cfadbdc51c was the 9d2f4cc90f first to c1a51814d3 speak.036e8996154b6910

“I hear our grandfathers used to come here often.”e0ffb9c6709ec84d

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“Pardon?”8b640b4ff49d56ca

“They often used this place when discussing business, apparently.”8df1a16ec5ce954f

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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:26a04d688d8de0ff

“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.”28e34f133cac0bc9

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Seoyoon felt a little relieved that he had brought up the topic of their grandfathers first, which he hadn’t expected.620ee07bbc9e2a80

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.71bdb7628dafc253

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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.c85b1e5fd7860330

In their younger 160b8fe3b5 years, the two 80d8fc588b men had focused 72db69cf47 solely on their 8236ca7d7d businesses, but by 15c06dbf2a the time they 9a57995787 had grandchildren, they 80ff20b0bb began to look 06df47314f back on things 5c0b065eef beyond work. Forgotten values. Things like family 458362c453 and friends, friendship 807dd23129 and relationships, the 67d5de08ec small joys of bdfb140837 everyday life.2e42cb069867fb40

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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.22be76c7079b3639

Seoyoon looked around 3650d085dd the room again 134a1285f0 with a newly 3a0d677892 affectionate gaze.a777d9536995bfc0

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“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…”5e1a6487190e681b

The problem 14ce4e9842 was that 3049c446e8 one of 92f83ce636 the parties 7ef9a3d140 to the 2cfed3e8aa promise was d053c43921 no longer ee3765c2e3 in this 39a293093d world.3073441c66273d69

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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.da40851d9f1dae63

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.1461717529133901

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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.332b2265edef111e

It must have 041361a16c felt like grasping e79e8e6cc0 at straws. Seoyoon knew that his 14dc078df9 adoptive father had tried b6c336c93e to somehow bring this ef7ab7a529 marriage talk back into 064cacc218 consideration. But honestly, fd1c6081e9 Seoyoon never 24d9e99bd8 expected that e8744c6f39 the promise d0614ea426 made between bd2b8e59c2 their grandfathers a6585f5400 would actually eebefcd762 come to e242c69ecb fruition in 414afa4206 reality.ca0431344eb55f16

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“Are the paintings here pieces that Chairman Kwon personally selected?”7d9ef4e659b464ee

“Some are, some aren’t.”680295c7a1343c89

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“I see. I was glad to see a painting I had wanted to see hanging here.”f94b662a8a51d618

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.ee1462a82701046f

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The painting decorating the 24196e5f1b wall was an ink 4077eabca5 wash painting that completed e3aa018d0e its depiction with just 2554ffb20c brush pressure. Despite the lack cdf725aa46 of color, it 6cbd33eb86 gave the impression f02da039b4 of both a 175c633115 rising and setting f6a69b27e6 sun, a curious 5126d58968 piece. Though simple 218d497122 in composition, feee4ddbc6 it exuded eeda6834c7 the spirit e5dd59acf4 of an 847d433914 aged master f1a50b2406 who must faea99a11e have refined 626d121c92 his craft 0bfc790b92 over a edb68ccc4f lifetime, and 3599468791 was indeed 13ac265393 a work 7c01a4cf7d that had 0eae8e3279 been auctioned 8973669b94 for a 0490d6f7bc high price.929a2e33e8f7e374

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.49273477763ff37d

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“You do art appraisal, I hear.”92b1497dc524bcb3

“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.”10fcb2a823ae74c8

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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.7c8717bc89603a8d

“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.”ebf3dc4af0942b24

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“I heard the response wasn’t bad.”a5336ff5d096fab9

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.279310c0f69fdf89

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As if 166260b805 he had f2dcd78fef merely played d6e70351dc along briefly d6ca618f15 with an 7f01e51201 uninteresting topic, 361c4038ae Kijung directed 71aa874d7d an indifferent b337be3b52 gaze at 36c265f9e9 Seoyoon sitting ac6623999f across from 543b50f2c8 him and 1de682693c changed the f2baf7a6af subject.2e219117f8ef767a

“I apologize for the sudden proposal to meet today.”4175389b3ad1bf87

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“Not at all. It’s natural to accommodate the schedule of a busy person.”582210247eb6ec49

“How did you feel about coming to the meeting place?”33799c8ec98866f5

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Seoyoon opened his eyes wide at the unexpected question. He didn’t seem like someone who would care about Seoyoon’s feelings.28498d5dca428222

“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.”59528a4452b883d7

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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.51338bf8fb8fe9f5

“Even for people like us, it’s rare to be conscious of our nature in daily life, isn’t it?”785a1ee106a910b3

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“…I suppose so.”0b6163d41baeab9d

“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.”90148aa7ebdfc1a3

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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.b08499f4b7032e59

Without trying to express 701691bc1b things indirectly or make cbb1d4fba0 the atmosphere more comfortable, 28a7b3acf1 he was getting straight b82fd93060 to the point. Seoyoon was 9719004d35 at a e40c1f5464 loss for cccc71d5cd words.c9a1ae13f1bb5e98

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‘He came reluctantly.’8201e997a709b278

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.6f4ebe7c868b3fb0

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“You seem to have a special affection for the late President Han.”32d78b834961352f

“Yes… He cared for me a lot.”00a104534f0f764b

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“It’s the same for me. I couldn’t refuse because it was my grandfather’s wish.”eafd8c6dd56b9207

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.2c51ae248b2594bb

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“I understand.”79fb03b3190f59ea

“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.”c4f130d78f5b49b2

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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.a551c8af10617490

“I feel the same way about that.”dd095b4053f10268

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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.56c44acb0e65df13

Only then did Kijung’s expression soften slightly as he leaned back more into the backrest of the floor chair.f22bfa33aba31655

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“Then our conversation should be easier.”e4a5704e3fee94ac

“……”4212a5efb4b28f15

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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.”790c000cada3c9cb

There must have c2f1acdaf7 been a call c4ea7679e8 button next to b221960b03 the table like 81f3a38178 in a restaurant, a6e79f33fd as not long 3d0e02a6cd after, a worker 5c06053852 opened the door. Kijung made 886aacaa49 a new 782abfd07a request.e89fe908910fe4c8

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“Please prepare the meal. And bring a bottle of alcohol too.”2e72fc2d35b737cb

“Yes, please wait a moment.”32bd231a18be104a

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Kijung belatedly asked Seoyoon’s opinion.426d1aceaf36d75a

“Would you like to join?”298bbc35bf5367fc

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“I’m not good at drinking.”8f70ff69d27497e9

“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.”85c3d29407047541

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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.5223cc34aa3befe0

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.c47ed23d6a58c1fd

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“I thought I might make a new drinking buddy even if the matchmaking didn’t work out, but I guess not.”7cc0c0b707efca36