The World of Contrasts Vol. 2 Chapter 1

Jaemin was also born in Chairman Jang’s hometown, but since Chairman Jang moved his base to Seoul when Jaemin was three years old, he had no reason to go back after that.

“You didn’t know?”

“…No. We don’t really talk about the past.”

Chairman Jang chuckled lightly before continuing.

“He dropped out of middle school and worked all kinds of jobs to pay off his mother’s debt—factory work, manual labor, you name it. Beat people up and threatened them to make a lot of money. Extorted money from guys running illegal gambling houses and those withholding wages. He’s got quite the knack for this kind of work. You made the right call spotting his potential.”

Listening to the unfamiliar history of Seol Daeyoung coming from his father’s mouth, Jaemin realized that what he knew about Seol Daeyoung was just the tip of the iceberg.

“And on top of that, with his late manifestation as a dominant alpha—being in the top 0.1 percent—he must be boiling with ambition inside, just like you said. He probably gets the urge to snap and quit everything a hundred times a day. You know that feeling, don’t you?”

According to the manipulated documents Joohee had prepared, Jaemin’s alpha trait test placed him in the top 2.15 percent. Jaemin didn’t know how much Joohee had paid for that single test result, but he was sure it had been a considerable amount.

“I do. I’ve felt that way since I was thirteen.”

At Jaemin’s response, Chairman Jang stared at him intently.

“Jaemin.”

“Yes, Father.”

Feeling like a bright red koi swimming in an artificial pond, Jaemin blinked.

“How can you be sure that Seol Daeyoung won’t stab you in the back?”

Jaemin swallowed dryly and, meeting the jet-black eyes that seemed to be observing or testing him, lifted the corners of his lips in a smile.

“I’ll use him appropriately and take him out before he does, won’t I?”

“Didn’t you say before that you wanted to trust that guy?”

What was Chairman Jang trying to confirm with him? One thing was certain: at this moment, Jaemin couldn’t back down. Imagining Seol Daeyoung’s scent lingering in his nostrils, he answered.

“An umbrella is always necessary for a rainy day.”

✽ ✽ ✽

“Dad said he’ll be here soon.”

After hanging up the phone, Yoojin smiled brightly.

“Shall we have a drink while we wait?”

“It’s our first meeting. That wouldn’t be polite.”

When Daeyoung declined lightly, Yoojin shrugged and quickly called over a staff member.

“Excuse me, could I get a beer in the meantime?”

When the staff brought her a bottled beer, Yoojin poured herself a glass and drank it down heartily. The beer foam clung to her pretty lips before disappearing.

“It was honestly a bit unexpected.”

“What was?”

“After we parted ways at the police station, I didn’t think you’d see me again. You had such a scary look on your face when you left after saying we should grab some soup.”

Yoojin stuck out her tongue playfully to lighten the mood.

“I wasn’t angry at you, though. Why?”

Smiling faintly, Daeyoung replied, his expression relaxed as always. Yoojin blinked at him momentarily, then rested her elbows on the table, propping her chin on her hands as she let out a sigh.

“Sunbae really doesn’t care about me, huh.”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

Even as he replied with a charming frown, his tone remained effortlessly composed. Yoojin recalled Daeyoung’s face when he grabbed the collar of the person she had been kissing—it was entirely different from anything she’d seen before. He’d looked like a completely different person, almost unrecognizable.

The target of his anger had, of course, been Jang Jaemin. The one Daeyoung had knocked down was also Jang Jaemin. It was clear that Daeyoung had completely lost his composure when he saw Jang Jaemin kissing Yoojin… but the real issue was the strange tension that had lingered between the two of them.

To put it more bluntly, Yoojin had felt completely like an outsider at that moment. Back then, in Daeyoung’s eyes, she simply didn’t exist. She was sure of it.

“Honestly, at first, you were a little interested in me, weren’t you? I’m not stupid, you know.”

Yoojin wasn’t so oblivious as to miss the goodwill of the opposite sex. While she had been the one to look at him first, it was Seol Daeyoung who had taken the initiative.

“Can I sit here?” he’d said, putting down his bag and smiling before she could even answer. Daeyoung had clearly approached her on purpose. There had even been moments when he openly stared at her face, smiled, and then looked awkwardly away. That’s why the current situation left Yoojin even more confused.

“I’m still interested.”

“Let’s be honest with each other.”

After finishing her second glass of beer, Yoojin looked straight at him. Daeyoung quietly observed her before finally opening his well-formed lips.

“Well, I don’t really like honest people.”

For a moment, it felt as though the room’s air had cooled. Yoojin unconsciously swallowed dryly but managed to conceal her unease with a light smile.

“Then what kind of people do you like?”

“People who are entirely different on the inside from how they appear on the outside. People whose words and actions don’t match. Those who never show their true selves to anyone.”

He was smiling, but his eyes weren’t. His gaze darkened slowly, like that of a predator, bringing back that unfamiliar feeling that had unsettled Yoojin earlier.

“I find boring people so dull I could kill them. It’s a waste of time to deal with them.”

“……”

“The last part was a joke.”

Yoojin thought to herself that this must be the real Seol Daeyoung. To see the raw nature of a dominant alpha—ready to rip his opponent apart in an instant—emerging from him was startling.

“Isn’t the issue not that you dislike boring people but that you’re drawn to people so dazzling they make your head spin?”

Yoojin blurted out the impulsive question without thinking. Daeyoung looked at her for a moment, then chuckled lightly and nodded.

“I like them. When everything about them, including their looks, is extraordinary. Just looking at their face never gets old.”

Yoojin had a gut feeling. Seol Daeyoung wasn’t trying to hide his feelings, and she was certain of who his target was.

Swallowing hard, she pulled out her e-cigarette from her handbag. Her father would likely have something to say about it, but she needed to calm down.

She hadn’t been mistaken. The emotions burning in Daeyoung’s gaze that day had been directed at one person, and now she knew who it was.

In fact, she had sensed something peculiar between them since the festival when Jang Jaemin showed up at the bar. Even in the midst of a frenzy, Seol Daeyoung had kept an eye on Jaemin’s table. She had noticed it because she had been paying attention to Daeyoung as well.

“…Why, though?”

Why did it have to be a male alpha? Reproduction was obviously out of the question, and marriage was impossible.

“Because it turns me on.”

Daeyoung’s answer came without hesitation.

“Sunbae, you’re surprisingly reckless.”

Yoojin remarked frankly, her expression incredulous as she took a puff from her cigarette.

“That surprised you?”

The corners of Daeyoung’s lips curled into an amused smile, and his eyes gleamed with enjoyment. Yoojin was indeed baffled by his unfamiliar demeanor, but to say she felt repelled wouldn’t be true.

If anything, it was the opposite.

Seol Daeyoung, who she had thought was just a good-looking, capable, and likable companion to have around during college, turned out to be far more formidable than she’d imagined. Her competitive spirit, which ran deep in her veins, began to stir with excitement.

“When you said you’d come pick me up that day, I tried to think things through my own way.”

“And the result?”

“It became clear. When I called you, you didn’t budge, but the moment I mentioned a picture of him, you rushed over. It was so obvious I couldn’t miss it.”

Yoojin raised her voice playfully. Daeyoung, meanwhile, maintained steady eye contact, attentively listening to her.

“Even so, I think a part of me didn’t want to admit it. It hurt my pride a bit, you know? So I told Jang Jaemin I’d introduce him to a girl… but he shut me up in the strangest way. I knew he had a terrible temper, but this was the worst.”

“Yoojin.”

Daeyoung finally spoke, licking his dry lips before slowly raising his thick eyebrows as he looked at her.

“Is Jang Jaemin your friend?”

He was smiling, but his eyes betrayed none of the warmth.

“Watch your mouth. Or you might really get in trouble.”

Danger. Yoojin instinctively bit her lip at the sudden chill of hostility she felt.

“Shouldn’t you… not be acting like this toward me?”

“What did I even do to you?”

His tone was devoid of any emotion. Yoojin’s fingers trembled slightly as she held her cigarette. Daeyoung quietly observed her, then finally smiled faintly.

“You’re right. Jang Jaemin has a nasty personality. It’s better not to get involved with someone like that from the start, don’t you think?”

The eerie shift in his expression, as if he had swapped his eyes for someone else’s, sent chills down her spine.

“Don’t stay around Jaemin.”

His tone was as kind as when he had handed her study notes and offered tips on their major subjects, but Yoojin no longer felt any goodwill in his words.

“Ha… Do you ever think that it wasn’t me who approached him but the other way around?”

“He’s not the type to approach anyone first.”

Daeyoung’s statement was absolute, as if it were a matter of principle that Jang Jaemin must adhere to.

Yoojin looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked directly, “Then, Sunbae, why did you approach me?”

“I already told you. I’m interested in you.”

Daeyoung’s shameless response, delivered with a grin, carried not a hint of guilt. What the hell… Yoojin was more stunned than angry at his audacity.

“Is it because of my family?”

“That’s right. To be precise, because of your father.”

“Wow… You’re not even trying to hide it, huh?”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“But, Sunbae, do you happen to want to go into politics?”

Yoojin shook her head in disbelief as she asked the question. Daeyoung hummed briefly before looking at her with a smiling face.

“I hadn’t thought about it before, but lately, I’ve suddenly been tempted.”

The idea annoyed her even more. With shamelessness being a prerequisite for politicians, he’d breeze through the primaries without a hitch.

✽ ✽ ✽

Yoojin spoke up, her tone sharp as if venting her frustrations.

“But you know, male Alphas can’t have kids together.”

At her words, Daeyoung’s previously unshakeable gaze wavered slightly. Though he quickly regained his composure, Yoojin wasn’t the type to let an opportunity slip once she spotted a crack in her opponent’s armor.

“I’m not saying this out of jealousy; I’m just stating the facts. Honestly, with someone like Jaemin Sunbae, women probably line up for him. Even I… I don’t even like the bad-boy type, but having someone who looks like that get close made my heart skip a beat.”

Daeyoung, who had been quietly listening, finally let out a thoughtful hum and responded.

“Does Jaemin seem like a bad boy to you?”

Her passionate argument was met with a completely unexpected reply. Yoojin frowned, her mouth agape, as Daeyoung tilted his head slightly.

“Doesn’t he look more like a model?”

Yoojin’s face flushed red before she could stop it. Seeing him make such an outrageous comment with a completely straight face left her momentarily speechless.

“And about the pregnancy thing,” Daeyoung continued in his usual calm tone, “that’s not something you need to worry about.”

“I’m not worried. I’m just stating facts,” Yoojin retorted.

Same-sex Alphas couldn’t have children. For the same reason, the government didn’t legally recognize their marriages. If Daeyoung genuinely planned to enter politics, it was an issue he’d undoubtedly need to address.

“Jang Jaemin is my Omega.”

“……”

“Not that it would’ve mattered if he wasn’t.”

“…Sunbae, do you realize how psychotic you sound? What are you even talking about?”

Staring at him in disbelief, Yoojin blurted out the words without thinking. Amused, Daeyoung continued as if nothing was wrong.

“If he keeps pissing me off, I’m considering getting him pregnant during his next rut. Lock him up for about three days. Then he’ll understand who he really belongs to.”

Daeyoung was being more honest with her than he had ever been, but Yoojin had no way of knowing that. The thought of treating a perfectly normal Alpha like an Omega was absurd.

And yet, despite constantly preaching about Omega rights on campus, Daeyoung didn’t hesitate to spout words that utterly trampled them. Not a trace of guilt could be seen in his eyes. Yoojin couldn’t fathom how someone whose mother was also an Omega could say such things.

“I think I understand now… why he looks at you the way he does.”

“What way?”

“He’s scared of you.”

When Jaemin and Daeyoung had fought on the street, their skills seemed evenly matched. But Yoojin had noticed a crucial difference. Jaemin looked as if he was doing everything he could to escape Daeyoung. In contrast, Daeyoung’s gaze had been entirely predatory.

“You picked up on that much, huh?”

Daeyoung expressed a hint of admiration, as though genuinely surprised. “Then why doesn’t he know?” he murmured to himself, but Yoojin couldn’t grasp his meaning. She was about to advise him to give up his one-sided love when Daeyoung spoke first.

“He’s afraid of how much he likes me.”

“…”

As Yoojin frowned, clearly unimpressed, Daeyoung smiled at her in his usual easygoing way.

“Thanks for introducing me to your father today.”

“This is the last time. I only did it because you’re the first person I’ve ever liked. Don’t forget that.”

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted when an employee outside announced that Congressman Kwon had arrived.

“Dad!”

The door opened, and Yoojin’s father, Kwon Sangdo, entered.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Daeyoung stood and shook the hand Kwon extended.

“Not at all. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Yoojin. She says you’re capable of anything and would be a great help to my work.”

“Dad, that’s an exaggeration. Forget it,” Yoojin protested, raising her voice, but Kwon laughed it off as if it were a joke.

“Let’s sit down and talk.”

As everyone gathered, the food began to arrive.

✽ ✽ ✽

Daeyoung and Kwon Sangdo got along well, which didn’t surprise Yoojin. She had expected it. Having someone as competent as Daeyoung by her father’s side was undoubtedly beneficial. People like him were better kept as allies than turned into enemies.

“Even if we can’t completely eradicate Omega brothels, we can still offer support to those working there.”

“I’ve heard you helped many such people back when you served as a public defender.”

“Yes, I did. A lot of Omegas ended up in those situations purely to make money but were scammed by pimps. Back then, truly horrible things used to happen more frequently. It was like living in an era of barbarity.”

Kwon’s expression grew wistful, as though recalling those times. After finishing the drink poured for him, Daeyoung spoke.

“To those victims, I’m sure you must have seemed like a savior.”

Kwon laughed, his sharp eyes narrowing in amusement.

“I heard your mother is an Omega. I can imagine how much hardship you’ve been through.”

“My mother is also from your hometown, Congressman. She once told me you helped her.”

“Is that so? What’s her name?”

“Seol Junkyung.”

Kwon furrowed his brow slightly as he tried to recall, but eventually, with an apologetic look, he replied, “I don’t remember, but I’m glad if I could help.”

“Thank you, truly.”

Daeyoung replied briefly, lighting a cigarette as he spoke. Yoojin felt a pang of discomfort from the fleeting silence earlier but soon forgot it as their conversation resumed naturally.

“The world I aim to create will undoubtedly be a better place for them to live in,” Kwon said confidently.

Daeyoung smiled calmly at Kwon.

“I’d like to support you in that effort.”

Their discussion was interrupted when the secretary entered with a light knock.

“Congressman, I have something to report.”

“What is it?”

The secretary glanced around as if gauging the room’s atmosphere, but Kwon gestured for him to speak freely.

“Chairman Jang Wonjung of Jang Hyun Construction is dining here as well.”

Yoojin instinctively turned to look at Daeyoung. It was common knowledge among their department that Jang Jaemin’s father owned a construction company and had ties to organized crime. However, Daeyoung seemed utterly uninterested, his expression unbothered by the topic.

“Hmm… Who’s with him?”

Kwon’s face grew slightly more serious as he asked. As a politician, being seen dining near a mob boss could only spell trouble.

“His son, I hear.”

“Well, if it’s just a family gathering, I suppose there’s no need to be overly concerned.”

“Chairman Jang’s only son, Jang Jaemin, is young but currently acts as the de facto head of the organization. It might be best to move before rumors start, Congressman,” the secretary suggested.

As soon as Jang Jaemin’s name was mentioned, the veins on the back of Daeyoung’s hand gripping his water glass became visible. Yoojin glanced at Daeyoung, who still appeared outwardly composed, and wondered why on earth he was making such an absurd choice.

To her, Jang Jaemin, the gangster’s son and an outright thug, was someone utterly incompatible with any good outcome—no matter how dominant an Alpha he might be. If anything, he was a danger.

✽ ✽ ✽

Throughout the meal, Chairman Jang’s habit of drinking incessantly had left the table covered in empty bottles. Jaemin noticed Seonho’s breathing grow slightly heavier and casually moved his glass aside. Seonho had a naturally low alcohol tolerance and usually stopped at two drinks even when drinking with Jaemin.

“Jaemin.”

Chairman Jang, who had been quietly observing, suddenly spoke up.

“When I was your age, I was getting laid as easily as breathing.”

“…”

“I’d be shoving food into my mouth at the table while someone was sucking me off under it.”

Jaemin’s already absent appetite vanished entirely. He forced himself to set his chopsticks down with a soft clatter.

“Should I call Chief Yoon to give you a blowjob?”

A water glass flew toward his face. Jaemin instinctively turned his head to dodge, and the glass shattered against the wall. Chairman Jang clicked his tongue at him.

“Chief Yoon became a grandfather two years ago. Even as a thug, you should have some manners.”

Bullshit.

Jaemin curled his lips into a sneer, recalling the scent of Chairman Jang lingering on Chief Yoon’s neck earlier. He could bet on the fact that, just before showing up at the restaurant, Chairman Jang had bent Chief Yoon over in a private room.

“…”

Jaemin stared directly at Chairman Jang, his lips still twisted. Seonho grabbed Jaemin’s arm, his hand tightening into a silent warning: Don’t react. Jaemin clenched his jaw, suppressing the rage that threatened to boil over.

“Other fathers and sons bond over sharing a woman, but our Director Jang is far too clean in that regard,” Chairman Jang remarked with a mocking grin.

“To be honest, I don’t think there’s a son in the world who’d get aroused watching his father have sex.”

If anything, it’d kill the mood entirely.

“How would you know if you’ve never tried?”

“What’s your point?” Jaemin asked irritably, his expression darkening. There had to be a reason his father was picking a fight with him. Chairman Jang looked at him with a faint smile and asked,

“Are you into men, by any chance?”

✽ ✽ ✽

The corner of Jaemin’s lips trembled for a moment. He bit the inside of his cheek, letting out a dry laugh. The sharp, icy gaze of his father pierced him, making his heart pound violently. He needed to choose his words carefully—it felt like walking a tightrope again.

“Do I really need to share my preferences with you, Father?”

“You might as well spill it. Even if you say you’re screwing some mutt, I’ll understand.”

Jaemin instinctively felt that outright denial would only backfire. He met his father’s gaze directly, letting out a deliberately casual sigh.

“I don’t discriminate between men and women. Dogs, however, don’t interest me.”

Chairman Jang burst into laughter.

“Is that so? I heard rumors you’ve been calling Alpha men to your hotel. Just thought I’d ask.”

Jaemin maintained his composed façade, but his heart was hammering in his chest. Damn it. How had that information leaked? Had he used the same hotel too many times?

Beside him, Seonho audibly inhaled in tension. Jaemin clenched his fist tightly.

“Alphas don’t come with the risk of pregnancy,” Jaemin replied.

“That’s what I figured,” Chairman Jang said with a knowing nod, chuckling. “With your germophobia, you wouldn’t go sowing your seed everywhere. Sticking with safe options would be convenient in many ways.”

“And there’s a certain appeal to dominating someone of the same type,” Jaemin added, his voice steady.

Chairman Jang chuckled again, nodding as if he understood.

“True… I did plenty of that in prison myself. There’s nothing like it for asserting authority.”

He lit a cigarette, exhaling a long plume of smoke. Through the haze, the wrinkles around his eyes deepened with amusement.

“Still, sometimes I think about sharing an Omega with my one and only son, side by side, just for old times’ sake.”

“…”

Jaemin stared at him, dumbfounded. This was the first time he’d been confronted with such a question, and he had no idea how to react—how much anger to show or where to draw the line.

“Sometimes I wonder how my son performs in bed. If he’s better than me.”

“…Ah, Father.”

Jaemin let out a hollow laugh, tossing the damp hand towel he’d been holding onto the table.

“I get that you’re feeling insecure with age, but now you’re even using that to provoke me? Are you senile? Seriously, this is disgusting. Seonho, let’s go.”

Seonho, caught off guard by Jaemin’s chilling intensity, scrambled to his feet. As Jaemin grabbed his jacket, Chairman Jang tilted his glass and muttered in a low tone,

“You’re not into being on the receiving end, are you?”

Jaemin stopped dead in his tracks, his steps cutting sharply across the room. His father’s clear, deliberate voice drilled into his ears.

“I can’t forgive my son if he’s the one taking it, Jaemin.”

“…”

Jaemin’s red lips drained of color as he stood frozen, unable to speak.

He swept a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath. Before his father, who seemed to dissect his every move and thought, Jaemin’s trembling hands reached for his belt buckle.

“Seonho.”

“…Yes, Director?”

Seonho’s voice cracked slightly as he replied, still frozen in place.

Jaemin unfastened his belt and swung it across the table like a whip. Plates and bottles toppled to the floor with a resounding crash.

“Make sure Chief Park gets Father a dementia test.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seonho’s voice wavered, but he managed to respond. Jaemin gave him a curt order.

“Take off your pants and get down.”

“…”

Seonho hesitated for only a moment before meeting Jaemin’s gaze. What he saw there left no room for delay. Seonho was Jaemin’s loyal subordinate, the only person he could trust.

Still, he couldn’t stop his large hands from trembling as they reached for his waistband. Jaemin clicked his tongue in frustration and grabbed Seonho by the collar, slamming his head down onto the table.

I’m sorry, sir.

“Sniff…!”

After roughly pulling down Seonho’s suit trousers, Jaemin glared at Chairman Jang, who was seated across from him. Alpha pheromones were oozing from Chairman Jang, creeping into the room. The man was genuinely aroused, watching his son about to engage in something obscene right before his eyes.

The intense scent, breaking through the suppressants, made Jaemin feel like he was going to throw up.

“It’s a shame Seonho’s a beta. Otherwise, we could’ve asked him just how strong Jaemin’s scent is, couldn’t we?”

Jaemin pressed down on Seonho’s trembling back and licked his lips.

I will never forgive you.

One day, he would stab a knife into that father’s neck with his own hands.

Just as Jaemin’s bloodshot eyes moved to unfasten his pants button—

Bang!

The closed door flew open with a loud noise.

“Jaemin, hi there!”

Jaemin froze and slowly turned his head. Standing in the doorway was Seol Daeyoung, grinning as he waved his hand.

“Your scent was so strong, I knew it had to be you.”

The sight of the faded jeans and that damned checkered shirt made Jaemin’s grip falter. He had to force his back straight to keep from collapsing entirely.

“But… what exactly are you doing in a restaurant?”

Seol Daeyoung asked with a playful tone, his demeanor carefree, as though it didn’t matter who else might be around.

Jaemin swallowed dryly as he shifted away from Seonho. He couldn’t believe himself, feeling relief and his tension easing just from Seol Daeyoung’s sudden appearance. Even the heat rising with his labored breaths wasn’t under his control. Finally, Jaemin managed to speak.

“…Get out. Seol Daeyoung.”

Chairman Jang, staring intently at the unexpected guest with his wrinkled eyes, asked bluntly, “So you’re Seol Daeyoung?”

“Yes, that’s me, Seol Daeyoung!” Seol Daeyoung answered brightly, smiling as he looked at Chairman Jang.

“I’m Jaemin’s friend. Care to share a drink with me?”

“That kid’s insane,” Chairman Jang muttered, smirking faintly. Jaemin could only bite the inside of his mouth until it bled.

The moments he had desperately tried to avoid always arrived at the worst possible time, as if mocking his every effort.

“I’ll give you a drink. Sit down over there.”

Seol Daeyoung casually slid into the seat beside Jaemin, pushing trembling Seonho to the side. Feeling the heat radiating from Seol Daeyoung’s body as they sat close together, Jaemin tightly shut his eyes before opening them again. He wished all of this was a dream, but unfortunately, it was undeniably real.

✽ ✽ ✽

Shaa.

Jaemin stared at the stream of hot water pouring into the bathtub. Only after the water overflowed and splashed onto the floor did he finally turn off the faucet.

Splash.

As he leaned back, the water, filled to its limit, spilled over the edge of the tub, hitting the floor with soft, rhythmic sounds.

Ever since he had moved out and started living independently from his family home, every meeting with Chairman Jang had been tense. But today had been particularly the worst. Even after leaving the restaurant two hours ago, his agitation hadn’t subsided.

✽ ✽ ✽

“Who are you here with?”

“I’m here to meet the father of a girl I’m sort of seeing.”

Seol Daeyoung had shown no signs of tension while facing Chairman Jang.

✽ ✽ ✽

“Jaemin. Do you think your father even knows what ‘sort of seeing’ means?”

As he ate a piece of sashimi that had fallen from an overturned plate, Jaemin recalled Seol Daeyoung’s nonchalant face as he casually asked him questions.

Crazy bastard, really.

Jaemin held his breath and slid his back deeper into the bathtub. As he submerged completely, head to toe, bubbles floated to the surface.

Chairman Jang had worn a peculiar expression as he observed the brazen attitude of the fearless Seol Daeyoung, though he didn’t seem displeased. When Chairman Jang realized that the person they had dined with today was none other than Kwon Sangdo, he even laughed heartily.

There had been no prior coordination. Jaemin hadn’t known that the person Kwon Sangdo was meeting today was Seol Daeyoung, and Seol Daeyoung had no idea that Jaemin had reserved the same place. The two of them weren’t even in contact to begin with.

Yet, Seol Daeyoung dealt with Chairman Jang without showing any sign of hesitation. Just as Jaemin had recently explained to him, he acted as though he was leveraging Kwon Sangdo’s daughter to approach the man.

“I’ll get up first. I think they might be waiting outside. I only excused myself to go to the restroom.”

After downing his drink in one go, Seol Daeyoung stood up before Chairman Jang could even give him permission. Though Chairman Jang frowned momentarily, he soon rose to his feet as well.

“We can’t miss the chance to say hello before that bastard Kwon Sangdo runs off.”

When they stepped outside following Chairman Jang, Seol Daeyoung was already standing with Kwon Sangdo and his daughter, waiting for their car.

“Well, well, who do we have here? Congressman Kwon, isn’t it? Nice to meet you. I sent a big flower wreath during the primaries recently.”

Chairman Jang strode toward Kwon Sangdo and extended his hand for a handshake, offering his business card. Jaemin had no choice but to follow behind his father, bowing his head.

Facing a gangster at what was supposed to be a private dinner, Kwon Sangdo naturally looked anything but pleased.

“Your child is quite young.”

Kwon Sangdo’s gaze lingered on Jaemin slightly longer than expected, but Jaemin couldn’t have cared less. All he wanted was to leave that place as quickly as possible.

“Hah…!”

Feeling as though his breath was caught in his chest, Jaemin lifted his head above the water. Showing Chairman Jang his association with Seol Daeyoung might have been a way to ease his worries, but the anxiety within him didn’t dissipate.

It felt as though something immense and undefinable was silently creeping toward him. The thought that all of this had unraveled because of his entanglement with Seol Daeyoung sent another wave of heated frustration surging within him.

✽ ✽ ✽

“Shit…”

Since Chairman Jang was keeping a close eye on him, going in and out of hotels was off-limits for the time being. Remembering who had shown up the last time he called an alpha to a hotel sent chills down his spine, even as he soaked in the hot water.

Seol Daeyoung seemed like the kind of guy who could make anything possible if he set his mind to it, which only made him more terrifying.

“Haa…”

Jaemin’s mind was a complete mess. Amidst the chaos, he glanced down at his cock, standing upright above his navel, and bit his lip. He had almost ended up putting this into Seonho. Poor Seonho, who had the misfortune of working under the wrong boss and was enduring endless suffering. As his erection began to fade, Jaemin muttered a curse through his teeth.

“Jaemin-ah, hello!”

The memory of Seol Daeyoung bursting in, forcefully sliding open the wooden door, made Jaemin’s mouth go dry. His cock grew heavy again. Slowly gripping it, he began to move his hand, but it wasn’t enough. His body, familiar with deeper pleasure, craved something more intense.

“Haa…”

Droplets of water rolled down his sleek temples.

In truth, loosening himself up wasn’t something Jaemin particularly hesitated to do. After all, no one could know about his filthy thoughts, and he could deal with the shitty feeling that came after masturbating on his own. But Jaemin hesitated to spread his legs.

“You know you can only have sex with me from now on, right?”

The voice ringing in his head made him falter. His arousal kept climbing, but his hand hesitated, afraid that he might end up thinking about “real” sex with Seol Daeyoung. Jaemin cursed under his breath, debating. Should he call Seonho and ask him to send over any alpha?

“If you sleep with someone else, I’ll rip that bastard’s dick and your ass apart, got it?”

The sudden ringing of a bell shattered the silence, making Jaemin freeze and frown. The intercom in the bathroom was alerting him to a visitor.

It was 1:30 a.m. A late hour for Seonho to come by. Could it be some clueless delivery guy who got the wrong address?

He tried to ignore it and closed his eyes, but the doorbell rang again. Cursing, Jaemin harshly pressed the intercom button.

“Who is it?”

— Baby.

Jaemin froze, one arm draped over the edge of the bathtub. He wanted to convince himself he’d misheard, but unfortunately, he hadn’t. From the speaker, he could hear Seol Daeyoung laugh low and soft. It sounded like he was covering his mouth with his hand, the noise dampened and spreading through the static of the speaker.

— If you don’t open the door soon, I’ll break it down, alright?

Jaemin squeezed his eyes shut, opened them, and got up. Throwing on a navy bathrobe as if he were grabbing it off a hook, he crossed the room barefoot, not bothering to put on slippers. Wherever he stepped, droplets fell and left wet footprints behind him.

The damn doorbell wouldn’t stop ringing, and the person on the intercom screen mounted on the living room wall was really him.

The moment Jaemin pressed the button to release the lock, the door burst open. It stopped partway, caught on the chain latch, but through the narrow gap, Seol Daeyoung’s face appeared.

“What the hell is this about at this hour?”

“I missed you.”

Bastard. Jaemin felt heat rise to his neck and hissed through his teeth.

“Screw off.”

“This door looks expensive.”

Seol Daeyoung chuckled, holding the door with his hand to keep it from closing. Jaemin ground his teeth, thinking he’d love to stab him with a knife.

“If you don’t want to lose that hand, get lost.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jaemin yanked the doorknob hard. The large hand wedged in the gap disappeared immediately.

“Haa… Seriously.”

Jaemin turned away, breathing heavily in irritation, but before he could relock the door, it was thrown open again. The chain latch rattled as it caught, and through the gap, half of Seol Daeyoung’s face reappeared. His vividly colored lips curled into an upward arc, and Jaemin involuntarily took a step back.

Bang! The door shut again but was followed by another click! as it reopened. Jaemin’s expression grew increasingly twisted. Was this lunatic really trying to break down the door?

“Hey…”

It seemed absurd that any human could break through steel with sheer strength, but as the banging and clicking continued, Jaemin began to grow uneasy.

The noise in the middle of the night was bound to wake the elderly neighbor living alone next door, and he worried the old man might call the police. The man was wealthy enough but had a rotten personality, with no family visiting him. It wouldn’t be surprising if he burst out at any moment, threatening to report the disturbance.

“Goddamn it, I’ll open the door, so…!”

Thunk!

With that sound, the door swung open. Jaemin didn’t even have time to be horrified by the broken, dangling chain latch. Daeyoung shoved inside and pinned him against the wall.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“…Ha…”

All Jaemin could do was let out a faint sigh of disbelief. The belated sound of the broken door locking itself back into place sounded stupidly useless.

“Answer me. Why didn’t you pick up?”

The long, dark pupils in his eyes gleamed like black marbles. His voice was low and soft, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

Jaemin had no obligation to answer his calls, let alone promptly. But overwhelmed with exasperation, his response came out differently than he intended.

“Can’t you see…? I was in the shower, you idiot!”

Seol Daeyoung tilted his head slightly, his fingers trailing through Jaemin’s wet hair, droplets falling.

“Don’t you bring your phone into the bathroom?”

Seeing his puzzled expression, Jaemin shot back, “What?”

“Don’t you look at my pictures when you jerk off?”

“Are… are you insane?”

Jaemin stammered like a fool, caught off guard. There was no way Seol Daeyoung could know that he’d briefly thought of him just before masturbating in the bathroom.

Daeyoung smirked, his perfectly symmetrical lips curling into a grin.

“I did it this morning while looking at yours.”

“You bastard…”

Unable to hold back his anger anymore, Jaemin grabbed him by the collar. But before he could say more, Daeyoung covered his lips. His warm tongue slipped between Jaemin’s soft lips, still loosened from the long soak in the bathtub. It was the first time in his life he’d been kissed, pressed against the wall, in his own entryway.

No, this was the first time Jaemin had ever allowed anyone other than Seonho or Sejun into his home. The man, who shattered all the rules Jaemin had set for himself like crumpled paper, teased his tongue with deliberate ease, drawing out saliva as he pressed his mucous membrane against Jaemin’s.

“Mm… Haa… Hey… Ah…!”

Jaemin’s body grew increasingly feverish as Daeyoung kissed him again, ignoring his attempts to push him away. The hard bulge pressing against him made it clear Daeyoung was aroused, and despite himself, Jaemin felt heat spreading through his own body.

The moment Jaemin’s strength faltered, Seol Daeyoung instinctively tilted his head further, deepening the angle. His sharply defined nose pressed against Jaemin’s flushed cheek, rubbing against it. Jaemin could tell from the rough breaths in and out that Seol Daeyoung was inhaling his scent.

“….”

The lips that had been relentlessly prying at his parted with a wet sound when Jaemin grabbed his groin with enough force to almost crush it. Seol Daeyoung, pinning Jaemin to the wall, drew in a deep breath as he stared at him.

Saliva, thick and mixed, still dangled between their parted lips, a testament to how messy and obscene the kiss had been just moments ago.

“Why would I need to jerk off to your pictures?”

Jaemin’s voice came out heated as he glared at him. Standing tall under the dim entryway sensor light, Seol Daeyoung merely toyed with Jaemin’s flushed face with his large hand, studying him intently.

“When you come running here yourself, all worked up like a horny dog.”

Seol Daeyoung chuckled lightly, and Jaemin tightened his grip on the hefty erection in his hand, feeling it twitch beneath his grasp.

Despite being so aroused, there wasn’t the faintest trace of alpha pheromones emanating from Seol Daeyoung. Jaemin, who knew better than anyone how agonizing it was to suppress pheromones during moments of arousal, couldn’t help but feel a bitter sense of admiration. How strong must someone’s willpower be to suppress such a visceral reaction?

As he felt the space between his buttocks, concealed beneath his bathrobe, growing damp and itchy, Jaemin’s self-loathing intensified. The dirty kiss he had just shared had left him unable to control his own pheromones, while Seol Daeyoung stood before him with an unnervingly calm and unshaken gaze. The contrast between the two couldn’t have been starker.

“I have a question.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Have you ever let Lee Seonho fuck you?”

When Seol Daeyoung whispered hoarsely, staring at him unblinkingly, Jaemin swallowed hard. The hand caressing his face moved with no restraint, like a child molding clay, and his eyes gleamed with the unsettling curiosity of someone who had found a fascinating new toy.

Jaemin twisted his lips as he met his gaze. The self-loathing that had consumed him moments ago began to fade, replaced by a peculiar sense of amusement. So that’s what this was about—he had gotten worked up over that and come running like his feet were on fire. A rush of dopamine surged through Jaemin’s body.

“If I have, what are you going to do about it?”

After a brief silence, Seol Daeyoung finally let out a deranged laugh and muttered under his breath.

“…Then I’ll have to take your cock for myself.”