Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 15

It’s not like I haven’t tried dieting. However, being naturally tall meant there were limits to how much weight I could lose, and the moment my weight dropped to the low 70s, my muscle mass started to falter. Going all out and pushing past 80kg was another issue—athletes over 200cm tall dominated that class. In taekwondo sparring, where kicks are the primary attack, a difference in reach was a disadvantage that couldn’t be ignored. Not only was it daunting to compete in strength against athletes 20kg heavier, but maintaining a weight in the high 70s wasn’t impossible, so I settled for the current compromise. This, too, would end after the summer. For now, gritting my teeth was the only rebellion Taehyun could muster.

Having burned a ton of calories, the self-catering apartment he entered felt utterly desolate. Renting a relatively spacious apartment for living alone was likely one reason the place seemed so lonely. But the thought of bringing in a new housemate to liven things up was absolutely out of the question. Still, hating the oppressive silence, he turned on the TV, only to be met with bad timing—the face he was about to see in person appeared on the screen.

[Relieve modern fatigue, energize your daily life!]

[Choose what suits your constitution.]

[Ilwoon Pharmaceuticals, Vitamil!]

The guy who usually kept a blank, mannequin-like expression with his lips sealed shut was, on the TV screen, promoting a product with a surprisingly bright and cheerful face. It was so absurd it was funny. So, he puts on a capitalistic service smile when he’s paid, huh? Since it was his grandfather’s company, it probably wasn’t just a client relationship. With a gentle upward curve of his lips and a crinkling smile in his eyes, Sejin recited the scripted line, “Choose what suits your constitution,” looking exactly like a youthful guy his age. Young, fresh, and vibrant. No wonder people had been urging him since the last Olympics to retire early and become a celebrity—it was a face made for it.

But he’s just too good at his main job for that. It’s honestly a shame he doesn’t make a living off his looks. If Sejin had Taehyun’s easygoing, approachable personality, he might have snatched more than half of Taehyun’s commercial deals. After all, Sejin had the ultimate athlete’s title: Olympic medalist. While Taehyun was confident his own looks held up anywhere, it was true that Sejin’s were a notch above.

So, Sejin’s less-than-stellar personality was, in a way, a boon for Taehyun. The thought of Sejin saying something like, “Why would you think something weird like that?” if he heard this made Taehyun chuckle again. Man, teasing that guy is just too much fun. With these idle thoughts, Taehyun transferred his heated meal kit and chicken breast onto a plate. With every spoonful he chewed, the time to meet Sejin drew closer.

“Ha….”

I don’t want to go. But I have to, don’t I? Compared to selling your soul to the devil for a gold medal, having a bit of sex with an awkward acquaintance might be the better deal. But selling your soul guarantees the gold, while sex doesn’t… The moment he caught himself weighing the options, his phone, set to silent, flickered.

“Fuck, shit.”

They say speak of the tiger and it appears—was it Joo Sejin? Calming his racing heart, he checked the screen, only to curse under his breath. It wasn’t Sejin, just a spam text.

Only authentic★products☆ #GuaranteedEffect# Limited※Quantity Erection★Sustained Effect Top☆ Hard like an Alpha♡

I don’t need this, you lunatics. Taehyun shoved the message into the spam folder and clutched his forehead. For a split second, he wondered if taking a potency drug would affect his rear or just his front. Not that he’d ever take it, but it felt like a spear-and-shield battle between his omega traits and male functions. Meanwhile, time had crept up—it was now the moment to clear the empty plate, rush back to the parking lot, and head out.

Oh, no time for weird thoughts. Taehyun quickly threw on some casual clothes, hopped into his car, and the pre-set navigation address popped up on the screen.

Route guidance starting.

As the familiar voice of the navigation system sounded and the car began to glide forward, a sigh rose to the tip of his throat. Is this really okay? Even if he was fine with it, was Sejin really okay? If it was Sejin’s first time, shouldn’t it be with someone he truly liked? It was funny that Taehyun was having such naive thoughts despite not having done so himself. His own first time hadn’t been like that, but for some, a first sexual experience could be unforgettable. Taehyun’s mind drifted to his first partner, whose face he could barely recall now. Back then, he had no intention of revealing he was an omega, so his first relationship was with a woman.

Fortunately, she was a beta, completely oblivious to Taehyun’s pheromones. His omega reproductive system wasn’t triggered at all by a beta, so there was no awkward incident of slick gushing from his rear. As if proving that not all dynamics—alphas with omegas, omegas with alphas—were necessary, his relationship with a beta wasn’t bad, but it held no particular meaning or significance.

Even broadening the scope to his first sexual experience with an alpha, it wasn’t much different. The forced arousal from pheromones was more unpleasant than pleasurable. It was just a single trait he was born with, yet losing control of his body to an alpha’s influence felt utterly vile. As a result, Taehyun subtly avoided intimacy, and the relationship fizzled out. It wasn’t that he disliked sex or was completely unfeeling, but his first experiences, when scrutinized, were all rather unpleasant.

Would he become that kind of presence for Sejin? An awkward, uncomfortable person tied to a less-than-pleasant memory. Given that he’d left a vivid impression by spilling blood on Sejin’s back, the odds seemed high.

“Pfft….”

He hadn’t known that getting so excited at the thought of sex that your nose bleeds wasn’t just a cartoonish trope but something that could actually happen. Taehyun burst out laughing, recalling Sejin’s flustered, panicked face, unsure of what to do. Well, whatever. Joo Sejin isn’t just “anyone,” and letting him have his way with me won’t wear me out, so why not let him have the sex he wants? Muttering half-resigned, half-crazed thoughts to himself, Taehyun noted the distance to his destination shrinking. Despite it being the season when the sun set late, it was so late that the sky last longer than usual, and the sky was already a deep black.

If Sejin had developed even a bit of social grace, he might offer a cup of tea and they could talk slowly once Taehyun was let inside. Or maybe they’d sit in the car and keep it as brief as possible. With a mix of nervous anticipation, Taehyun arrived at the address, which turned out to be a far grander standalone house than he’d expected.

“Wow.”

The private garage alone spanned dozens of pyeong, and the yard looked to be at least 100 pyeong. In this neighborhood, the land value alone must be astronomical. As if that weren’t enough, the three-story building’s exterior screamed high-cost design, like something out of a magazine. It was the quintessential chairman’s residence from a movie or drama.

To think Sejin lived in a place like this with just his mother, who was rarely home due to business trips—it felt like stepping into another world to meet someone from such a reality. Parking briefly in front of the alley, Taehyun dialed Sejin’s number, and the call connected after just a few rings.

“Hey, I’m at the address you gave me.”

Would Sejin come out, or invite him in? Testing the waters with a faint sense of expectation, Taehyun was met with Sejin’s calm voice.

I’ll open the garage door. Come on in.

Oh, I’m deeply honored by the invitation. Muttering to himself, Taehyun shifted the gear back to drive. As the wheels smoothly rolled into the open garage, a lineup of stereotypical chairman’s cars greeted him: from collectible classics to top-tier sedans. With so many spare cars at home, does he really take taxis? The idea of Joo Sejin driving something like a MyBa○ without a chauffeur was unimaginable. Then again, a twenty-two-year-old with a personal driver would look absurd, so it was a ridiculous thought.

Was his humble domestic car even worthy of this impressive lineup? Feeling a bit comical, Taehyun stepped out of his car. Heading up to the first floor via the entrance, he found Sejin waiting for him, having opened the front door.