Correction Chapter 42

After the grand party ended, the family members all called Jungmin over and asked him what he thought of Sooeun. Jungmin said in a single phrase that he liked her.

With that one phrase from Jungmin, everything proceeded quickly. The families decided on the engagement with Sooeun, and Jungmin, too, resolved to love her. He began to look into information about her and her hobbies, starting his efforts to build affection.

To do that, it was important not only to meet her but also to hear about her from her family. From that day on, whenever he had time, he met with Ji Soohan to talk and ask about Sooeun. Ji Soohan was happy to share various stories about his younger sister and tell him about the things she liked.

“I heard you’re meeting with Sooeun this weekend.”

It was to be their first meeting in the three weeks since they first met. Sooeun had been reluctant and hesitant about Jungmin’s initial attempts to contact her, but perhaps his sincerity had reached the heavens, as he received a call from her the day before yesterday.

“Yes. The time has finally come for all the things you told me, Mr. Soohan, to bear fruit.”

“I see.”

Ji Soohan, who was eating soft tofu stew for lunch at the hospital cafeteria, said nothing more after that. His face was stiff. And it was a face I had seen often recently. There was no way Jungmin wouldn’t have noticed how Ji Soohan’s expression would grow heavier and heavier, even as he kindly shared this and that about Sooeun whenever asked.

“Do you still not like me?”

Jungmin asked, as if tossing the question out. Ji Soohan’s hand, holding his spoon, froze.

“Why do you think that.”

“It’s just… you seemed a bit lukewarm, both at the event where I was first introduced to Sooeun and now.”

“…I see. You are very observant, Mr. Shin Jungmin. But no. It’s actually the opposite. It’s because you’re too good of a person, Mr. Shin… that I’m worried.”

“Worried?”

Worried about me? Why? The answer was so unexpected that Jungmin put down the spoon he was holding.

“Yes… I’m more worried about you, Mr. Shin, than I am about Sooeun.”

“…Why is that?”

“…Well. I wonder why.”

Ji Soohan wouldn’t answer even when pressed further. He only asked me to take good care of Sooeun when I met her. At this point, I even started to wonder if something was going on between Ji Soohan and Sooeun. Perhaps they didn’t get along… or maybe there was some complicated family issue. But I soon dismissed it as a useless thought and prepared to meet Sooeun.

And on the weekend, I met Sooeun at the H Hotel restaurant, our designated meeting spot.

“Hello, Mr. Shin Jungmin.”

“Hello. Thank you for coming out like this.”

Jungmin pulled out a chair for her as he greeted her. She was dressed more plainly than when they first met, but she was still a beautiful omega. She would be even more beautiful if she smiled…. But the face that greeted Jungmin held no smile, only a deep shadow.

And that shadow weighed heavily on Jungmin’s heart.

“Does the food not suit your palate?”

“Ah…”

A high-end restaurant, a good seat in a sky lounge with a view of the nightscape. Even as the finest pre-ordered dishes were served course after course, on time, they only piled up, untouched.

It was because Sooeun just kept her head bowed low, not even taking a sip of water.

Jungmin had recommended the food to her several times, but she didn’t budge. At this point, it was a refusal. She had no intention of getting engaged to Jungmin. Jungmin sighed and blamed himself. It was because he had belatedly realized that he might have been using her for his own happiness. He should have asked for Sooeun’s opinion from the very beginning.

He was the one who had let things proceed arbitrarily, so a wave of guilt washed over him, and he could only sit there quietly. But there was a limit to that as well. It wasn’t as if he had rented out the restaurant indefinitely.

“I understand your intentions well, Sooeun. I will speak to our respective families. So please don’t worry.”

Jungmin said softly, so as not to hurt her. In a way, he was the one being rejected, but at the point of bringing it up, he had no choice but to be the bad guy.

And he willingly endured it. It would be easier for a man to step forward and persuade the family members than for a woman to do so.

“My brother….”

Just as I was about to suggest they leave, I heard her voice. Jungmin stopped the motions of getting ready to leave and listened to her voice.

“My brother said you’re a really good person, Jungmin…. I think I know what he meant.”

Is there really some story behind these siblings? Feeling the thought that had gone astray suddenly return, Jungmin shook his head. It couldn’t be that. Never.

No matter if they were an alpha and an omega, blood relatives are not affected by each other, and in fact, only feel repulsion.

“I’m sorry. It’s not your fault, Jungmin. It’s my problem. My….”

“Sooeun.”

“…I know it’s my problem, which is why I’m so sorry to say this to you, Jungmin. I can’t get engaged to you. I have someone I love.”

“Ah… I see.”

I wasn’t that surprised. The reason she would reject Jungmin was likely one of two things: either she didn’t like him, or she had someone she loved.

“I’m sorry.”

When Jungmin apologized politely, Sooeun, who had her head bowed low, looked up in surprise.

“For making you come to such a difficult meeting.”

“N-no, that’s not it. I….”

“I hope you will be happy with that person.”

I had no desire, nor the ability, to persuade her when she said she had someone she loved.

“Um, excuse me, Jungmin, um-”

She lifted her head for the first time. Her face was full of tears.

“Um, I have a favor to ask. I know I shouldn’t be doing this… but I’m begging you earnestly.”

She bowed her head again. Jungmin was flustered. I didn’t know how to handle this. But he soon calmed down and offered her his handkerchief.

“Please speak.”

“…Could you please… maintain the engagement with me.”

“Pardon…?”

Her proposal was unexpected.

“I know it’s a terrible thing to ask. I know it’s selfish. But just for six months… please, just for six months.”

“You just said you have someone you love….”

“That person… I’m leaving Korea with that person in six months. Until then… my parents can’t know about him. After that, I’ll take care of it and say the engagement was broken off because of me. I’ll make sure no harm comes to you, Jungmin… please.”

“Sooeun.”

Jungmin let out a deep sigh. This was a direction he hadn’t considered at all.

“Introducing that person to your parents is….”

“I can’t… If I could, I would have done it already. That person is….”

Is there a large difference in their family status…? That could be it.

But for something like that, she seemed far too anxious. She opened and closed her mouth several times, then, as if she had made up her mind, she spoke with difficulty.

“An omega….”

It felt like I had been struck over the head with a massive bell. Jungmin was so shocked it felt like he was hearing a ringing in his ears. As foolish as it looked, I just stared at her with my mouth slightly agape.

Sooeun just let her tears fall in big drops, unable to continue speaking. Her tears held so much hardship and sorrow that Jungmin couldn’t offer any words of comfort.

He just carefully sent a text to Ji Soohan. Because it seemed that what she needed right now was not him, but her brother who understood her entire situation. As soon as Ji Soohan received Jungmin’s message, he said he would come right away and hung up.

“Mr. Ji Soohan is coming.”

At Jungmin’s gentle words, she nodded, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly.

“Thank… you. I’m sorry.”

Why is she saying sorry? You’re just in love, that’s all.

“Sooeun-ah!”

Just then, Mr. Ji Soohan appeared, panting heavily. He soothed the crying Sooeun and looked at Jungmin, repeating over and over that he was sorry. Jungmin just watched quietly as he spoke to the family secretary who had come with him, helped Sooeun up, and sent her off somewhere. As the afterimage of her crying face disappeared, Jungmin’s mind snapped back to reality, but the seat in front of him was already empty.

Ji Soohan approached Jungmin with an apologetic face.

“Would you… like to have a drink?”

He asked, his face looking more desperate for a drink than Jungmin’s. Looking at his exhausted eyes, Jungmin accepted.