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“I…”

If he let things continue to drift, he was likely to return home empty-handed. Seoyoon’s tone became urgent.

Kijung looked expectantly at Seoyoon, who had interrupted him to speak.

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“I… haven’t been in that kind of relationship with a man, but as an omega, I intend to get used to it.”

“……”

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“I can’t keep avoiding it forever.”

His voice slightly choked and his pronunciation dulled at the end of his sentence. He had tried to speak calmly, but he wasn’t sure if he had succeeded.

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An awkward silence followed. Kijung, who had been staring intently at Seoyoon, grinned and opened his mouth.

“You’re free to want to get used to men, Mr. Han, but I don’t see why I need to be your practice partner.”

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“Today’s meeting was decided by our families.”

“They told me to meet you once, not necessarily to reach a conclusion today.”

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The polite tone was gone. Faced with Kijung’s refusal to offer even the slightest courtesy, Seoyoon swallowed and forced himself to continue in a calm tone.

“I want to try.”

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I want to try. A statement more suitable for a job interview than a blind date.

Instead of replying, Kijung stared intently at Seoyoon. Seoyoon, with his eyes lowered just slightly, met his gaze directly.

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Since he had said something appropriate for a job interview, he hoped that Kijung would at least acknowledge his sincerity, like an interviewer would. But Kwon Kijung’s eyes remained dry.

The indifferent gaze slowly slid down from Seoyoon’s face to his neck, chest, and the parts of his body visible above the table. There was no warmth in that gaze. He continued speaking as he evaluated Seoyoon.

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“I’ve never been in anything resembling a romantic relationship with an omega.”

“……”

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“And I rarely have occasion to say things like ‘I’m an alpha’ or ‘They’re an omega’ in public. While many people consider secondary genders from the start of a relationship, I don’t. So, Han Seoyoon-ssi, you’re the first person I’ve met knowing beforehand that they’re an omega.”

“Yes.”

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“There are some prejudices out there. About alphas and omegas. Especially about omegas, regardless of sex…”

Prejudices about the two secondary genders, alpha and omega, were widespread. Perhaps they couldn’t be dismissed entirely as prejudices, since there was some truth to the stereotypes. However, the idea of alphas as superhuman figures or omegas as androgynous, beautiful spirits were things that would make those with the secondary genders themselves scoff.

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When the betas, who made up the vast majority of the world, spouted such nonsense, there were occasional online anecdotes from those with secondary genders who would retort with things like, “Hey, I’m actually an alpha,” or “That omega is right in front of you.” The other person would usually respond with disbelief, saying “You?” or acting completely surprised.

Seoyoon understood the implied meaning of Kijung’s trailing words. If only you fit the stereotype, there might be a chance, but you just look like a ‘man,’ not an ‘omega’.

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However, Kijung’s gaze, which had been carefully scrutinizing Seoyoon, returned to his face with a seemingly more favorable expression than before. He smiled faintly and, in a light, joking tone, delivered the results of the “interview.”

“Of course, you’re quite handsome, Han Seoyoon-ssi, but I don’t think you have the kind of looks that could be mistaken for a woman’s.”

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Well, of course not. I’m a man. Seoyoon bit the inside of his lower lip.

It was the first time he had received a negative assessment of his appearance. The experience of being judged as a suitable sexual partner in front of an alpha was something he had never encountered before.

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“Or is it different under your clothes? Is there some omega secret hidden there that I don’t know about?”

“……”

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“It’s not like omegas have something different down there instead of a dick, right?”

Kwon Kijung’s words were quickly escalating from rudeness to something closer to harassment. Yet, instead of jumping up from his seat or demanding an apology, Seoyoon was busy trying to think of an appropriate response that could salvage the situation.

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“…Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

Unable to come up with a sharp retort, Seoyoon excused himself. Kijung didn’t respond, his eyes cold as if he found Seoyoon’s retreat in the face of his blatant provocation pathetic.

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Seoyoon stood up, feeling distraught. He tried to maintain his composure as he crossed the room and exited.

He wanted to go home. But this blind date wasn’t just about him.

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“I was just about to bring out the meal.”

A staff member, who had spotted Seoyoon taking a moment to compose himself against the wall, widened his eyes. Seoyoon briefly explained that he was on his way to the restroom and it would be fine to bring the food out, then headed towards the restroom and stood in front of the sink.

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He hadn’t needed to use the restroom in the first place. He just needed time to collect himself. Seoyoon washed his hands for a long time, looking at himself in the mirror and trying to calm his shaken nerves.

If it were a matter of preference, he could at least try to adapt, but there was nothing he could do about being rejected simply for being a man. As Kwon Kijung had said, many people believed that secondary gender was more important than sex for alphas and omegas, but not everyone thought the same way.

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Wouldn’t it have been better to focus on dating?

What he needed now, more than anything else, was a way to change Kwon Kijung’s mind. But Seoyoon was completely clueless about how to seduce someone.

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Despite thinking that his grandfather’s past promises were nothing but wishful thinking, the words about Seoyoon one day becoming a part of the Cheonkwang Group seemed to have held a formless sway over his adoptive parents. His uncle, who became his father, had always strictly taught him to behave properly, saying that Seoyoon would one day become someone important. That teaching, however, proved utterly useless in this most crucial situation.

Seoyoon dragged his feet as he returned to the place he had escaped from. Stalling wouldn’t magically produce a solution.

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Soon, Seoyoon’s anxiety turned into urgency. Chairman Kwon Muntaek’s villa, Nokwoojae, had once been a gisaeng house, then a Korean restaurant, and was now managed as a private residence.

Built long ago, its layout was somewhat complicated, and since it wasn’t originally designed as a private home, it had many rooms. With all the similar sliding doors closed, finding the room he had been in was harder than he expected.

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As Seoyoon wandered through the wooden hallway, he heard voices. The faint voices coming from behind a door across the hall were definitely Kwon Kijung’s.

Thank goodness. Seoyoon breathed a sigh of relief and quickened his pace.

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“Oh…!”

It happened in an instant as soon as he opened the sliding door.

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A large brown stain was spreading across the clean white shirt he had ironed that morning. The person opposite Seoyoon looked down in a panic.

Seoyoon, hurrying to enter, and the staff member, who had just cleared the tea table and was about to leave, had collided. Kwon Kijung’s teacup, which he had barely touched, tipped over, spilling its contents all over Seoyoon’s shirt. The staff member bowed repeatedly, apologizing profusely.

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“I’m so sorry, Han Seoyoon-ssi. I’ll bring something to clean it right away. Please wait a moment.”

“No, it’s my fault for entering so suddenly.”

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Kwon Kijung, who had been observing the two flustered individuals, interjected.

“I don’t think wiping it will do much good.”

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“I’ll get the housekeeper. Please wait a moment.”

While the staff member hurried away, Seoyoon, instead of expressing anger or displeasure, looked down blankly at his chest.

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Perhaps this blind date had been a lost cause from the start? The date coinciding with his resignation, the sudden rain as he got out of the car… it seemed too much bad luck to be a coincidence.

As he stood there feeling deflated, he heard a low, quiet chuckle from a distance. Seoyoon slowly turned his gaze towards the laughing man.

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“I apologize.”

Kijung, who had been pretending not to notice after his string of rude remarks, apologized for his laughter for the first time.

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“I was hoping that at this point, I, the offended party, could get splashed with cold water by you and go home. But seeing you get drenched in tea instead made me laugh.”

“…I’m glad you were amused, Director.”

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Before leaving the room, he had been at a loss for words in response to Kijung’s sharp remarks. Now, thanks to the spilled tea, the tension had dissipated. He felt almost grateful to the person who had spilled the tea on him; it was a welcome relief.

But Kijung responded with a faint, crooked smile.

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“You know how to be sarcastic, too.”

“No, I…”

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He had been sincere. But Kijung didn’t seem interested in Seoyoon’s true intentions.

Meanwhile, the housekeeper entered the room. He bowed politely.

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“I sincerely apologize for our mistake. We’ll prepare some clothes for you to change into immediately, and we’ll launder and dry the shirt you’re wearing as quickly as possible.”

At the housekeeper’s words, Kijung also nodded slightly and instructed,

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“You can’t stay undressed, so go change.”

His words sounded like an order. But Seoyoon, without a chance to complain, simply nodded and was ushered away.

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“Where can I change?”

“I’ll show you.”

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Seoyoon followed the staff member who led the way. He involuntarily glanced back at Kijung, but he was no longer looking at him.

***

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The room he was led to was another Korean-style room, not much different from the previous one. However, it didn’t seem to be a place for entertaining multiple guests. Instead of a large dining table, it contained a couple of single-person chairs, a side table, a wardrobe, a decorative shelf, and a low bed. All were well-maintained wooden furniture. As Seoyoon looked around, someone approached him.

“Let me help you.”

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“Oh, no. I’ll change myself. I think that would be more comfortable.”

“We need you to take off the clothes you’re wearing so we can launder them right away.”

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“Ah… then would it be alright if I take them off and hand them to you outside?”

“Yes. I’ll wait here then.”

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Only after the staff member left did Seoyoon take a good look at himself. The brown stain on his white shirt had spread quite a bit. He wondered if it would come out in the wash.

He unbuttoned his shirt, and his long, white arms slipped smoothly out of the sleeves. Since the stain had also spread to his innerwear, Seoyoon had no choice but to remove everything he was wearing except his trousers.

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There happened to be a mirror on the opposite wall that reflected up to his chest. Seoyoon turned this way and that, looking at his reflection in the mirror, then at his arms, and sighed.

He hadn’t expected to have to undress.

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There were rumors that alphas and omegas became intimate as soon as they met, but that, too, was a misconception stemming from public ignorance. If he had to undress right away, Seoyoon would have been too afraid of revealing his flaws to even consider going on a blind date.

Nokwoojae, Chairman Kwon’s villa, was used by his close associates for business meetings and family events. Perhaps because it wasn’t a living space, there didn’t seem to be any suitable spare clothes. Even if there were, they would likely belong to the Kwon family and wouldn’t fit Seoyoon.

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The clothes brought for him to change into seemed to be work clothes, a dull-colored, work-style hanbok top. It was awkward, even if it was just temporary. He would have to sit in front of the impeccably dressed Kwon Kijung wearing shapeless, unstylish clothes. It was just one problem after another.

It can’t be helped. Just bear with it for a little while. Seoyoon put on the new clothes and slightly opened the door to hand his soiled clothes to the waiting staff member.

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“Here you go.”

“I’m truly sorry. We’ll launder this for you as quickly as possible.”

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“It’s alright.”

Only after the staff member’s footsteps faded away did Seoyoon start to adjust his appearance. He straightened his sleeves and buttoned his top one by one.

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As the soft rustling sound filled his ears, a knock came just before he fastened the last button.