Flower Fiancé Chapter 96

“If you marry that child, then the arranged marriage meetings you’ve been so reluctant to have will naturally fall to our Minhyeok, so I’m not in a position to oppose it.”

Though voices had been raised with Chairman Choi, he now understood why she had deliberately intervened and created a separate space for a private audience.

“But if you want to carry things out as you intend, you need to remove the obstacles first before putting it into action. I don’t want to fall out of the Chairman’s favor over idle words either.”

He decided to hear his stepmother out first.

“Go on.”

“The Chairman’s will is singular. That child who was part of the JT Group—whatever reason he developed pheromone deficiency, that reason doesn’t matter. A superior omega? The fact is, he’s currently suffering from pheromone deficiency, so the title of superior omega is just a hollow shell, isn’t it?”

“….”

“Moreover, if we accept a child cast out by the JT Group into our family, we’d have to take on the risk. Why would we accept a child covered in flaws?”

“So you’re saying I need to prove how beneficial Yeonwoo is to this household?”

Choi Moohyuk let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. He had listened quietly to see what she was getting at, and it was a sight to behold. If this was her approach, there was no need to hear any more about help or anything else.

Downing the remaining black tea in one gulp, Choi Moohyuk set the cup down with a clatter and stood up.

“Let me make this clear—I have no intention of doing business with Ji Yeonwoo.”

Choi Moohyuk looked down at his stepmother and spoke in a resolute tone.

“I met him knowing full well about his pheromone deficiency because I was drawn to him as a person. I don’t want to get married—only once in a lifetime—without any genuine feeling, just weighing tedious traits.”

“He’s not from some great family, just a superior omega with pheromone deficiency at best. Are you saying that child is valuable enough to be worth your while?”

His stepmother, who had been suppressing her emotions throughout, raised her voice. Choi Moohyuk felt bitter. The thought struck him that in the end, it was all about traits.

He had occasionally had brief, light relationships, but no one had ever developed into a serious enough relationship for his family to notice. Ji Yeonwoo was a first, and he was disgusted by the attitude of his family members who couldn’t even understand their son’s feelings, only prattling on about differences in traits and wealth.

“You seem to be mistaken.”

Twisting one corner of his lips, Choi Moohyuk let out a derisive breath and continued.

“He’s the person I chose. I decide the value.”

His stepmother, who had been about to say something, closed her mouth.

This was something that had to be confronted, and now that he had clearly heard his father and stepmother’s opinions, only the direction remained to be determined. Everything would likely be decided by how Ji Yeonwoo’s trait test results turned out in a few days.

If Ji Yeonwoo’s pheromones didn’t return as they were, he thought it might become quite a messy battle. But even if there were no improvement, or if he received a beta diagnosis, his resolve to marry Ji Yeonwoo remained unchanged.

In all his time with anyone, he had never felt as at ease as he did when he was with Ji Yeonwoo. Having lived alone for so long, he couldn’t sleep well with someone else in the bed, but Ji Yeonwoo was an exception.

Ji Yeonwoo’s body temperature was lower than Choi Moohyuk’s, so he felt cool to the touch, which he liked. He had little flesh, so when holding him, he could feel his bones, but that was also fine in its own way. He liked his fine-textured, smooth skin, and his sensitively responsive body during sex was also satisfying.

Even without pheromones, he could list dozens of good reasons like this, so he wondered if he needed anything else. Of course, as a superior alpha, there were moments when he was curious about pheromones and felt a sense of lack. But in all his time with Ji Yeonwoo, there had never been a single moment when pheromones took priority.

That was why Choi Moohyuk chose Ji Yeonwoo and resolved to marry him.

“More than anything, I want to make one thing clear—the fault for his departure from the JT Group was not entirely Ji Yeonwoo’s. If his wrongdoing had been significant, why would that family have stayed quiet all this time?”

His stepmother stared at Choi Moohyuk with her mouth closed.

“You seem concerned about Yeonwoo’s pheromone deficiency. The test results will be out soon. I’ll discuss the details after that, when I meet with Father again.”

“Test results? You mean he got tested? Where?”

Having naturally assumed the test would be done at Sunwoo General Hospital, his stepmother asked back in surprise. Choi Moohyuk wore a relaxed expression, as if he had expected this.

“You don’t need to be so curious. There will be an opportunity to meet soon.”

“You’re determined to bring that child in, aren’t you?”

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”

“Surely you’re not confident that omega’s pheromone deficiency will be completely cured?”

His stepmother shot up from her seat.

“I heard from the hospital director. That omega’s pheromones are reportedly very unstable. And yet you believe that omega will recover?”

Choi Moohyuk stepped closer and stood before his stepmother.

“I don’t know why you’re suddenly getting so sensitive. According to what you said, if Ji Yeonwoo’s pheromones don’t return, wouldn’t that be even better for you?”

At his words, his stepmother’s pupils flinched and wavered.

“Now, instead of worrying about my side, you should focus on Minhyeok first. It seems you want to connect Minhyeok with a good family, so shouldn’t you start moving busily from now on?”

“Moohyuk.”

“I’m saying don’t worry—I’ll make sure you have enough justification.”

“….”

“I’m not saying I’ll marry him immediately. The timing will probably be after Yeonwoo recovers his pheromones.”

Speaking with force in his low voice, Choi Moohyuk slowly turned around. After a few steps, he stopped and turned back with an “Ah.”

“If by any chance Minhyeok needs my help with his marriage arrangements, feel free to tell me anytime. I’ll help. But if you touch Ji Yeonwoo, then interests and everything else will fall apart, so you’d better think carefully.”

∞ ∞ ∞

In his sleep, he felt one side of the blanket gently lift. Along with the sensation of the bed dipping on the side, an arm slipped under his head as it entered the blanket.

‘Mr. Moohyuk is here.’

Recognizing who it was out of habit was instinct. Lying with his back turned, drowsily lost in sleep, Ji Yeonwoo turned around to face him. His bare chest, still damp as if he had just showered, touched him. Letting out a small breath, Ji Yeonwoo pressed his lips to his firm chest.

He, flinching and holding his breath, tilted his face and kissed him back.

‘Did something bad happen?’

His actions—pushing his tongue in and swirling it, then finally biting his lower lip with his teeth—felt more heated than usual, and at the same time, seemed urgent.

But the thought was brief. The mood escalated in an instant.

Both Choi Moohyuk and Ji Yeonwoo were a little strange today. It felt as if all reason had flown away, leaving only emotion behind.

Had they ever gotten this heated so quickly before? No particular memory came to mind.

For some inexplicable reason, he kept wanting to cling to and hold onto him. As Choi Moohyuk kissed him, he took his hand, spread it open, and wedged his thigh between his legs.

Choi Moohyuk, supporting himself with his palms on the bed and looking down from above, leaned in again. Ji Yeonwoo wrapped his arms around his neck as he pressed his weight down on him.

After sucking his lower lip and then his upper lip in turn, he traced his teeth and invaded his mouth. Freshly showered, he smelled of cool toothpaste. In that moment, even the ordinary scent of toothpaste seemed good to him.

“…!”

As the steamy kiss continued, a sudden, unidentified scent surged in. As he breathed in the scent, it pierced his lungs, blood rushed through his body, and his mind reeled.

Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, Ji Yeonwoo urgently pushed Choi Moohyuk, who was on top of him, away. At the same time, grabbing the blanket, Ji Yeonwoo quickly scrambled back toward the headboard.

“…Mr. Yeonwoo?”