AOA 109

A little earlier, when he got closer, Jeong Minchae even stepped back. Baek Mugyeong, who noticed it all, asked just in case.

Then Jeong Minchae’s expression changed. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his cheeks puffed up a little.

His pretty face overflowed with dissatisfaction. It looked so cute that he had to held back his laughter.

“I cursed you, Baek Mugyeong-ssi. I said you’re unlucky.”

“Is it because of the knotting?”

As if that was the right answer, Jeong Minchae’s cheeks flushed red in an instant. But the embarrassment lasted only for a very short moment. Minchae quickly lifted his chin. It was the gesture he usually made when he needed courage.

At times like this, he looked like a triumphant cat.

“Yes. But I didn’t tell Jaeha that you knotted me. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not that kind of person. I just cursed you.”

Jeong Minchae, who had been glaring at him in dissatisfaction, added an explanation that he shouldn’t misunderstand. It was obvious that he was deliberately putting on a show, which made him look very cute.

“I am sorry.”

He had meant to apologize earlier, but Minchae fainted, so he never got the chance. For now, Baek Mugyeong said he was sorry.

This came before anything else.

Then Minchae’s eyes widened slightly and softened.

“Well, I know it’s instinct… but it bothered me.”

Baek Mugyeong thought that being too soft-hearted was Minchae’s flaw. If someone apologized, he forgave easily. Of course, the one who benefited most from that was himself, but at times like this Minchae should have gotten angrier.

“You may get angrier.”

“It’s not to that extent. It’s just… it’s a little embarrassing, it’s like you’re crazy about sex. And doing it three times in a row is too much. The last time, you did it on purpose, didn’t you? You didn’t have to.”

“That is true.”

“Talking so boldly makes it more frustrating. You said you didn’t like being swayed by pheromones, but your words and actions don’t match. You’re a liar.”

Instead of anger, Jeong Minchae poured out complaints. His gaze that had softened slightly sharpened again. Baek Mugyeong lowered his head a little and let out a dry cough.

Not being able to suppress instinctive impulses and acting willfully was the thing he hated most. He had even thought of pushing Minchae far away because of it.

But now, being directly pointed out for doing the opposite himself, his conscience pricked.

Baek Mugyeong admitted it honestly. To ease Minchae’s mood, he had to face it head-on.

“I am a liar.”

“Then I can’t say much… but from now on, let’s really only do it on Fridays. Not on other days.”

Minchae spoke firmly. Baek Mugyeong wondered if Minchae realized this was training. Appropriate rewards and punishments were the most effective way to tame someone. The problem was, he himself knew it.

The determination not to just let it go poured out from Minchae. But in Baek Mugyeong’s eyes, it still looked more lovely than threatening.

“An Alpha’s knotting means obsession with the Omega.”

“…..?”

Minchae opened his eyes wide, as if asking why he was suddenly saying that.

“It means I am obsessed with you.”

“That… uh, yes.”

“This will happen again in the future.”

“Of course. So what?”

Minchae’s reply was so pure that Baek Mugyeong swallowed a bitter smile. It seemed he thought knotting was nothing much since they were already having sex.

“Getting aroused by you and obsessing over you is not unpleasant. No, it is quite enjoyable.”

They had entered a marriage of convenience but were hoping for divorce, and yet were having sex. He cared about Minchae and obsessed enough to instinctively knot him, but he didn’t want to define the relationship with specific words.

He could have kept turning away. But he reached his limit too quickly. He couldn’t suppress the desire to sweep away the ambiguity and define their relationship precisely.

It was not a direct confession. But Minchae seemed to understand, his wide eyes blinking several times.

“So… you mean…?”

“I am sincere about asking you to go with me to America, to New York. That will be something far later, so for now… let’s get to know each other seriously. What do you think?”

Baek Mugyeong explained as precisely as he could, so Minchae wouldn’t misunderstand. Asking to get to know each other seriously was a very standard and moderate confession. Minchae could have disliked it and refused.

But his widened eyes and parted lips stayed frozen. Shocked, he looked like a broken cat, and Baek Mugyeong laughed. He must not have imagined he would hear a confession.

His heart was pounding with nervousness. It was his first time confessing, and he hadn’t expected to feel like this.

“Was it… just that you liked my body?”

“I have come to like other things as well.”

At first, he had indeed been drawn to the body that gave off a sweet scent. Ever since their first sex before regression, it had been like that.

It was hard to explain logically why he developed feelings for Jeong Minchae. His delicate face was his type. Maybe affection had grown from their constant closeness. Maybe he was drawn to the way he spoke up even while trembling, or to his careful kindness. The unpredictable quirks only added to it.

After staring at him blankly for a long time, Jeong Minchae slapped his own cheeks with both hands. He also shook his head quickly, as if trying to snap out of it.

“Um… you mean, we should date seriously? Officially?”

“Something like that.”

He had lived in America for a long time, so Baek Mugyeong didn’t know exactly what the slang meant, but he thought it was similar in that it was about getting to know each other. Minchae uses a casual slangy word 썸. It refers to the “something going on” between two people before they officially start dating.

“I don’t have to answer right away, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then, not now, later. It’s not that I dislike you, Baek Mugyeong-ssi, but I’m so shocked I don’t know what to do.”

Minchae’s cheeks flushed red, and his words rushed out quickly. Even without saying so, it was obvious he was startled and flustered.

“Yes. That is fine.”

“It won’t take long. Not tomorrow, the day after. The day after.”

“Understood.”

“Then I’ll go in first. Come in slowly. Slowly.”

Emphasizing slowly, Jeong Minchae turned and ran straight toward the building. The garden wasn’t large, so his figure disappeared quickly.

Baek Mugyeong watched until the door closed, then smiled. He was confident he wouldn’t hear rejection right away. At any rate, this was clearly a positive sign. Waiting two days was nothing.

Not long after, just as he had started to move, the front door burst open and Jeong Minchae appeared.

“Is something wrong?”

Seeing Jeong Minchae approach quickly with such a serious face, he wondered if the house might have caught fire.

“No, it’s just… I don’t think we need to wait until the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s do it. Let’s get to know each other.”

As he answered, Baek Mugyeong realized his eyes were covered with quite a thick filter. He even found him adorable after he ran away out of embarrassment, then returned with a resolute face. The way he lifted his chin even though he was clearly nervous, and how not just his cheeks but even his ears were red, all looked lovely.

“Then from now on, we’re dating.”

“Y-yes.”

Minchae bit his lip before answering, his face even redder. He averted his gaze for a moment, then looked back as if something had come to mind.

“Do you have something to say?”

“We’re going to divorce later, right? Will that be okay?”

“There are many couples who stay close even after divorce.”

“That does happen.”

“There’s no need to be legally bound.”

Even now, it bothered him that Jeong Minchae assumed divorce as the default. But he didn’t show it.

If he truly wanted divorce, then they would divorce. There were even couples who divorced and married again.

Of course, he didn’t explain that far. Baek Mugyeong couldn’t guarantee what kind of relationship he and Minchae would end up having. Even if right now he felt so drawn, later they might fall apart over something small and the relationship could collapse.

Everything was only possibility. And right now, what Baek Mugyeong needed was possibility.

Perhaps pleased with the answer, the tension faded from Minchae’s face.

“Alright. Then this time I really will go in first. I’m not avoiding you. Just a little embarrassed… I’m not usually the type to get shy. Ah, my words are coming out weird. See you at dinner.”

Rambling, Jeong Minchae bowed his head slightly and ran toward the house again.

Baek Mugyeong stayed there for a while for his sake. The corners of his lips were turned up.

***

A marriage of convenience was arranged for power, wealth, or family interest, regardless of the couple’s own will. So such marriages were mostly dry. In this world, it was common, regardless of age, for both sides to have lovers of their own.

In that sense, Baek Mugyeong’s confession was shocking. He was so surprised he wondered if he was dreaming while standing on his feet.

Flustered, confused, and shaken so much his head barely worked, but fortunately he gave the right answer.

They would get to know each other.