Correction Chapter 41

“Oh my God… isn’t that person, Kim Joohwan?”

“What? No way, the Kal Frontier?”

Upon entering the hall, sure enough, all eyes were on Kim Joohwan. It was only natural, given his striking looks that stood out wherever he went, on top of being a dominant alpha and the heir to a major conglomerate.

The other omegas who hadn’t been chosen by Jungmin began to murmur, stealing glances at Kim Joohwan. The more forward ones had already approached him to express their interest.

Of course, the elders didn’t leave Joohwan alone either. As soon as they saw him, not only Jungmin’s family members but also people from their subsidiary companies all approached Kim Joohwan to greet him.

Kal Frontier, the company Kim Joohwan was set to inherit, researched and supplied nearly every drug related to secondary genders in the world. Furthermore, it was such an influential conglomerate that it was said the world wouldn’t turn without the medical equipment they developed. Its corporate value was the highest among all domestic companies.

So, it was understandable that the venue would be abuzz at the appearance of Kim Joohwan, the next in line to lead such a company. This was especially so because Kim Joohwan had, until now, only worked quietly behind the shadow of his father, the current head of Kal Frontier, and had never revealed himself at an official public event.

“Joohwan, my boy, it’s been a while.”

Jungmin’s father greeted Joohwan warmly upon seeing him.

“It has been a while for me as well, Chairman. And congratulations on new Chairman Shin’s inauguration.”

“Thank you. It’s an honor.”

Kim Joohwan bowed politely, very politely, to Jungmin’s half-brother who had just been inaugurated as chairman. Looking pleased, he grinned from ear to ear and made a show of greeting Kim Joohwan intimately for all to see.

And that was the beginning. Watching the crowd of people flock to Kim Joohwan, Jungmin shrugged his shoulders. The star of today was, from this moment on, Kim Joohwan. He himself seemed annoyed by it, judging by his expression, but that was none of my business. It has nothing to do with me. Lightly ignoring Kim Joohwan’s gaze, Jungmin went over to the food and filled his starving stomach a little.

“Mr. Shin Jungmin.”

A pleasant, resonant voice called his name, making Jungmin turn his head.

“Ah. Mr. Ji Soohan.”

“May I interrupt?”

“Of course.”

Compared to Kim Joohwan, he was a guest so welcome it wasn’t even a competition.

“Here.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Ji Soohan approached Jungmin and offered him a glass of wine. I was grateful, as my throat had been getting a little dry from eating only dry bread.

“Isn’t it funny how people’s paths cross?”

“Pardon?”

Ji Soohan asked Jungmin with a smile. Jungmin looked at him with a clueless expression. He showed a meaningful smile.

“I never would have dreamed… that you, Mr. Shin, would become my younger sister’s fiancé.”

“…The same goes for me, but…”

Jungmin let his words trail off slightly. At that, Ji Soohan’s smile vanished.

“Is there some kind of problem?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that. It’s just that Sooeun doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

“Ah.”

He nodded as if he understood.

“What about you, Mr. Shin? Do you like my younger sister?”

“To be honest, I don’t know yet. I think it would be rude to Sooeun as well to judge a person I’m to spend my life with after meeting her for the first time today and exchanging just a few words.”

“I see.”

“Besides, neither of us has even been told by our parents yet that we’re engaged.”

“Hmm, that has already been decided. If things go as planned, another meeting will likely be arranged soon.”

Ji Soohan continued speaking as he drained his wine glass. He then swirled the empty glass, seeming to be lost in thought. I couldn’t figure him out. His face, which had been smiling so readily just a moment ago, had now hardened as if something displeased him.

“Do you not like me?”

Jungmin asked.

“Pardon?”

“It’s better if you speak honestly. That way, not only I, but also your sister, Mr. Ji, won’t have a difficult time. Shouldn’t we at least avoid situations that are mutually embarrassing?”

“…I’ll say the same thing you just said, Mr. Shin. It would be rude to you, Mr. Shin, to judge a person after just a few conversations.”

I was startled. To retort like this with such a serious look in his eyes. For some reason, it reminded me of someone, and Jungmin shook his head.

“Hmm… I suppose that was a brilliant answer, even if I do say so myself.”

“Haha.”

Ji Soohan laughed heartily. His laughter was so loud that the gazes of the people crowded around Joohwan shifted, if only for a moment, to Jungmin and Soohan. Naturally, Joohwan’s gaze also fell upon the two, but they didn’t notice.

“Oh my, that’s an interesting pairing over there.”

“Well, it makes sense now. Aren’t their families going to be connected soon?”

People who loved to gossip exchanged stories with interest. Listening quietly to their conversation, Kim Joohwan gave a gentle smile to those who approached him to talk.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Kim Joohwan excused himself from the people gathered around him, careful not to offend, and walked toward Jungmin.

“sunbae.”

A gentle voice called out to Jungmin. Soohan and Jungmin, who had been talking face-to-face, turned their heads toward Joohwan. Ji Soohan also knew of Joohwan, but this was his first time meeting him in person, so he gave a slight nod as soon as their eyes met. But what came back was disregard. Joohwan looked down at him for a moment, then stood between Jungmin and Soohan. Jungmin sighed and put down the wine glass he was drinking from.

“What about all those people? Why are you over here?”

“I came to see you, sunbae, not them. Besides, I’ve already greeted new Chairman Shin, who was my purpose for coming here today.”

Joohwan had no intention of greeting Ji Soohan. Noticing this, Ji Soohan wore a slightly puzzled expression. It was possible for fellow alphas to be wary of each other, but this kind of wariness was only possible when an omega was present.

Joohwan was blatantly ignoring and looking down on Soohan. His pheromones felt like they were telling him to get lost. Feeling that if he stayed any longer, he too would get swept up by those pheromones and become hostile for no reason, Ji Soohan stepped back, giving Jungmin a nod. Jungmin also said goodbye, saying he’d see him at the hospital later.

Joohwan, who had his back to Soohan, turned his eyes to glance at him once as he left, then clicked his tongue. As an alpha himself, there was no way Jungmin wouldn’t have noticed Joohwan’s sharp pheromones.

“What kind of rude stunt are you pulling?”

He asked him in an irritated voice. Why on earth are you acting like this?

“It’s because all sorts of pests keep sticking to you, sunbae.”

Kim Joohwan came closer and whispered the unpleasant words into Jungmin’s ear.

“What?”

“You’re not even an omega, so why are so many alphas drawn to you?”

Jungmin stared at Joohwan, dumbfounded. Then, before he could open his mouth further, I quickly covered it and pulled his arm, dragging him to a secluded corner.

Joohwan let himself be dragged as if he couldn’t resist. In a place away from people’s eyes, where no one was around, Jungmin let go of Joohwan’s arm with an angry face.

“What if someone heard you? Are you crazy?”

“Isn’t it the truth?”

Joohwan said, burying his nose in the nape of Jungmin’s neck and sniffing.

“It’s strange, all I smell is alpha pheromones. Isn’t it weird how alphas go crazy for you like you’re some omega? Shouldn’t you get tested? You could be an abnormal species (異常種), or something, you know?”

Jungmin was aghast. I wished for nothing more than to punch Kim Joohwan just once, but I had no idea what would happen if I caused a scene on such a fine day, so I could only grit my teeth and endure.

“I don’t know what you’ve misunderstood, but Mr. Ji Soohan is not like that. He’s the older brother of the woman who will be my fiancée. He was just telling me to take good care of his sister. And in the first place, who gets turned on by a fellow alpha?”

“You say that like it has nothing to do with you.”

“What?”

“You, you get turned on by alphas, don’t you.”

“…Kim Joohwan.”

“Ah, right. My apologies. It was exclusive to Yoo Shinwoo, wasn’t it?”

A pang went through Jungmin’s chest. A name I had forgotten was echoing from Kim Joohwan’s lips. Years had passed, but that name still had a huge effect on Jungmin. And every time he confirmed it, Jungmin felt like he was going insane.

The defensive wall I thought I had built, thinking I had moved on and forgotten everything, crumbles again. To the point where I wanted to drop everything right then and there. But not in front of Kim Joohwan.

“Fine, fine. Think whatever you want.”

I said nonchalantly, in a calm voice. After that, the two didn’t speak anymore. Soon, an announcement looking for Jungmin echoed through the hall, and Jungmin pushed Joohwan’s shoulder aside and left. I could feel Joohwan’s gaze on my back, but I ignored it.

I’m so tired. Meeting Joohwan was tiring. Why was that? I had wondered about it once. And the conclusion I came to was this: he knew everything about Jungmin. He knew my lowest moments, and at times, he would use that knowledge to playfully, nonchalantly, choke me. I don’t know if he was aware of it himself, but because of it, meeting Joohwan gradually began to feel tiring.

I had wished to never meet Kim Joohwan again. I had hoped so desperately for our connection to be severed, so why did we meet again like this? I was worried that the bond between us, which had become loose, would become deeply entangled again. I prayed that if there was a god, he wouldn’t do something so cruel to me.

“Or maybe not. Maybe there is no god.”

Even so, I couldn’t avoid meeting Joohwan. Kim Joohwan’s family and Jungmin’s family were tightly bound as business partners. As long as they were the children of their respective families, they would probably have to see each other until they grew old and died.

Therefore, to be less tired, Jungmin thought the only way was to escape from his own past. It was about time I stopped looking up at the sky where the man named Yoo Shinwoo had disappeared. I had to make everything as if it had never happened, to the point where even the word ‘forgot’ wouldn’t come to mind, and find something new. The timing for that was perfect right now. To build a new future, a new love was needed, and as luck would have it, my family had arranged an opportunity to meet a beautiful omega. If I had to love someone, wasn’t it better if that person was also beneficial to the family? Jungmin complied and accepted it.