RACA 25

At those words, Jaebeom’s footsteps, which had just turned toward the main building, shifted course. The Jungheonjae was a detached building near the main gate, serving as a reception room for guests personally invited by Chairman Jang.

“I look forward to seeing you again, Chairman Jang.”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Shin. Next time, I’ll treat you to a fine place.”

“I look forward to it.”

Just as he stepped into the annex courtyard, he caught sight of two Alphas of similar age laughing heartily as they exchanged farewells.

Jaebeom halted, waiting for their conversation to conclude. The one in the tailored hanbok was Chairman Jang, while the man in the luxurious dark brown suit was Assemblyman Shin.

‘Assemblyman Shin, a three-term conservative party member?’

This was a meeting with a distinguished family whose lineage included generations of National Assembly members, with the previous assemblyman having even served as Speaker.

‘Looks like they’re trying to launder their bloodline too.’

He quickly pieced together the situation. Chairman Jang had two alpha and one omega children. One alpha was already married, leaving two unmarried ones, apparently intended for matchmaking with Assemblyman Shin’s family.

Having no intention of greeting Assemblyman Shin himself, Jaebeom watched until they exchanged a few more words and parted on warm terms before finally walking away.

“You’re here.”

Chairman Jang, whose cunning was legendary, so much so that people joked he might have eyes in the back of his head, greeted Jaebeom in his Yanbian dialect.

“What made you call me here on such short notice?”

Jaebeom bowed his head in greeting and asked casually.

“Well, the weather’s starting to heat up. I thought we could enjoy a cool cup of tea together.”

“Don’t try to keep me here with empty talk.”

“Oh come on, have I ever called you over for nothing?”

Outwardly, they conversed like a close father and son, yet inwardly, they watched each other’s reactions like tigers and dragons. Of course, neither was one to reveal their hand prematurely, making them formidable opponents.

One was an Alpha who had migrated south during the war and single-handedly dominated the underworld for fifty years. The other was a dominant Alpha who, until just a few years ago, had struck fear into everyone around him.

“Well, you’ll know once you hear it. I need to be going soon, so just tell me what you want.”

“Well, I suppose so. I’d be in a hurry too if I were you. But you, you’re something else. How do you manage to pull things off so smoothly whenever you set your mind to it?”

Chairman Jang chuckled heartily, feigning amusement. Then he turned and headed up to the annex. Jaebeom followed, his face clearly displeased.

“When do you plan to bring him over?”

Chairman Jang asked as he placed a teacup before Jaebeom.

“Bring him where?”

Jaebeom scowled, forcing down the bitter, tasteless tea. He frowned. Something with a decent hint of sweetness would be better than this.

“If you’re bringing an Omega home to live with you, shouldn’t you at least show me his face?”

“Forget it.”

“You’re an Alpha, after all. The way you keep your Omega so tightly hidden…”

“That’s precisely why I don’t need to.”

“Hm?”

At the question mark forming on Chairman Jang’s face, Jaebeom added indifferently, as if wondering why he even cared.

“Since I’ll send him away after he gives birth anyway, there’s no need for you to concern yourself.”

“Ah… I see.”

Chairman Jang nodded as if finally understanding. A brief silence fell between them. Jaebeom felt strangely unsettled, like something was wrong.

“Isn’t this tea stored improperly? The taste is rather bitter.”

“Do you even know what you’re talking about? This is Baihuo Yinchun, tea fit only for the Chinese imperial court! I specially brought out this precious treasure for you!”

Watching Chairman Jang jump up in indignation, Jaebeom took another sip of tea. Same as before. No matter how much he tasted it, he couldn’t understand why anyone would pay such a high price for something like this.

Thud.

He slammed his teacup down and rose from his seat.

“My palate must be dull. This just isn’t for me. Bland and grassy.”

“You… you’re still showing how uncultured you are.”

“Everyone who knows I only finished middle school already knows that. What does it matter? I’m leaving.”

Watching the large figure swiftly lace up his shoes and shuffle away, Chairman Jang clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

“He takes my advice to act more seriously and responsibly and twists it like that. Honestly, I wonder when he’ll ever settle down.”

Jaebeom, who still thought of himself as a wild beast surviving in the wilderness, was unsettling. He had plenty of talent and loyal followers; all he’d asked was to bring someone trustworthy into his inner circle. Yet Jaebeom interpreted it however he pleased.

“Don’t worry, Chairman. Now that he’s brought someone in, things will gradually change.”

Director Kim, who had quietly approached, tried to placate Chairman Jang.

“Didn’t you hear? He said he’d kick him out the moment he gives birth.”

“Well… that’s something we’ll only know with time.”

Chairman Jang looked up at his chief of staff, whose eyes were hidden behind a smile so wide they seemed to vanish. Then, as if catching on to something, he wore an expression that said, “Ah, I see.”

“Look at that. Still so green, isn’t he?”

A sly smile appeared on Chairman Jang’s lips too.

•••

Unaware of their thoughts, Jaebeom reached the car in an instant and started the engine. Hadn’t the subordinate assigned to Lee Eunsol contacted him, he would have departed immediately.

[Hyung-nim, Sister-in-law says it’s a shame to go straight home. Would it be okay to drive around the neighborhood a bit first?]

The message was unexpected. Suddenly, he recalled Lee Eunsol’s hesitant expression when he’d timidly asked if he could go outside.

“Hmm…”

Jaebeom tapped the steering wheel. Then he glanced up at the clear sky. It really was a beautiful day.

“Well, everyone needs a change of pace sometimes. An hour-long walk should be fine.”

He could afford that much leniency toward an Omega carrying his child. Lee Eunsol wasn’t exactly a cat, after all. Staying cooped up inside must feel stifling.

‘Though he didn’t seem that desperate.’

From what he’d seen through the camera or in person, Eunsol was doing quite well at home. Before his pregnancy, he’d spent his time exercising, eating, and cleaning. After becoming pregnant, he mostly slept, ate, and took it easy.

“Guess they are alike after all.”

Watching him sprawled asleep on the sofa, he looked no different from a lazy house cat stretched out with only its tail flapping.

“How about Jongjong?”

The question slipped out naturally. Last night, after sleeping together, Jongjong had followed him to the front door, given a single “Grrr,” and then ran off.

He was probably exploring his new surroundings. While relieved he seemed to be adjusting faster than expected, Jaebeom still worried about his encounter with Eunsol.

Jaebeom knew all too well how difficult it was to integrate adult cats.

[Jonjong clung to him tightly, looking content. And when my sister-in-law tried to leave, he followed him to the front door and purred until it closed.]

“What? He purred?”

He just stared when his owner left, then turned and vanished.

“Anyway, Jongjong. He’s a good personality.”

Despite his words, Jaebeom’s lips curved into a smile.

“Just show him around a bit and send him back.”

[okay, hyung-nim!]

Just as Jaebeom was about to ask how long he’d have to keep calling him “hyung-nim,” he suddenly heard Lee Eunsol’s voice on the other end of the line and clamped his mouth shut.

[I’m not asking for much. Just 30 minutes? Huh? Can’t you make it happen? Huh? No, I’m not saying I’ll get out, just let me watch from the car, please!]

Hearing “please,” Jaebeom pictured Eunsol’s face, hands clasped together, looking up imploringly. The corners of his own mouth, which had lifted, twitched in displeasure.

“He acts cute like that with just anyone.”

Jaebeom muttered this before abruptly ending the call.

At that moment, Bulgom blinked, unable to comprehend the words reaching his ears.

“It’s such a beautiful day, it’d be a shame to just go inside. Right? Bulgom-hyung!”

But the spectacle unfolding before him left no room for further curiosity.

“Um, Sister-in-law? Calling me hyung puts me in a difficult position?”

“But Bulgom-hyung called me ‘Sister-in-law’ too.”

“What does that have to do with this…?”

“We’re becoming siblings.”

The audacious omega’s absurd logic made Bulgom’s temples throb. He looked pure white and innocent, yet where on earth did that twisted logic come from?

“If you call me that, hyung-nim will kill me.”

“Then let’s just add ‘-ssi’ or ‘-nim’ to each other’s names. How about that?”

Eunsol decided to settle the title issue once and for all and countered. Bulgom looked troubled before finally nodding.

Then, with a sigh, he relayed the order he’d just received from Jaebeom. Of course, he subtly omitted the title part.

“Yes, understood. We’ll be driving there, so get in the car.”