Chapter 7: The Proposal

For a long time, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the laptop screen.

Even if their stories differed, the internet was overflowing with materials regarding Reset Partners.

After reading through various articles, Chaewoo naturally moved on to related videos.

In Korea, there were almost no public video materials, but detailed information on Reset Partners was found in interviews with foreign actors and wealthy figures.

As if possessed, Chaewoo clicked on a video link at the bottom of an article.
After loading, an interview with an American actor began to play.

” As you all know, the movie ‘Secret Challenge’ has been a global box-office sensation. Joining us here is our hero and the star of ‘Secret Challenge,’ Rick Fallon! Rick, I heard the news that you recently became a father through a Reset Partner. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. It was something I had truly been looking forward to.”

” However, you’ve also faced quite a bit of criticism regarding the Reset Partner arrangement. You know what I’m talking about, right?”

“Oh, of course. I’ve seen many opinions. I love my wife enough to give her my heart. But my wife is a recessive Omega. If she were to give birth… our child would likely lead a difficult life. I’m not saying it’s a certainty, but the probability is quite high.”

“From a scientific perspective, you’re right. Unfortunately, that is the case.”

“I didn’t have the confidence to watch my beloved child and wife struggle. So, we had a child through a Reset Partner, and my wife is satisfied as well. The reason I made this public is to give courage to people facing the same dilemma as me.”

“Just as there was criticism, there must have been a significant amount of support messages as well, right?”

“Yes. It was a great comfort. Truly. Unfortunately, some people view the Reset Partner arrangement only through a negative lens. But we simply took what we both wanted as ‘partners.’”

“Taking what you both wanted as partners… That sounds very positive.”

” I gained a stable family, and my Reset Partner gained a stable life. He is a dominant Omega, and he deserves to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle. There is no unfair transaction involved here.1″

Chaewoo was so focused on the interview that he forgot to breathe until the video ended.

Even the English comments had more positive content than he expected.

‘Taking what they both wanted as partners.’

Chaewoo blankly chewed over the words spoken by the actor, Rick.

After watching a few more similar videos and documentaries, he also researched Beom Euigeon and his parents.

Because of his parents’ influence, there were many records of Euigeon’s childhood remaining on the internet.

From his fame in arts middle and high schools to participating in large-scale competitions, various short-term musicals, videos taken during operas, and photos where he appeared briefly at his parents’ overseas performances…

With just a few clicks, he could see what an incredible musician’s son he was.

It seemed he could play various instruments such as the piano, violin, and cello, not just sing.

Beom Euigeon had sparkled since he was a child.

Fine stage costumes, parents and teachers who supported him without reservation, talent that matched his background, the best education, and a bright future…

Even in the midst of this, he felt a strange sense of jealousy toward Euigeon.

He truly had everything.

Conversely, a shallow sense of relief surfaced.

If Euigeon’s family was looking for a Reset Partner to bear a child, Seol Chaewoo himself was perhaps the best option for them.

Chaewoo, wiping his wet eyes with the back of his hand, continued to read the searched materials without rest.

It was only long after he had returned to his room that he closed the laptop.
Blinking his dry eyes, Chaewoo once again recalled the conclusion he had reached in his uncle’s truck.

Now was not the time to be picky about who had requested the Reset Partner.

What mattered was that the family was willing to pay an amount far exceeding the generally established compensation.

Chaewoo, with dark circles under his eyes, stood up and spread out his bedding in a corner of the room.

He curled his body into it and stared at the black ceiling, holding his breath as he waited for morning to come.

He was tired enough to pass out right then and there, but sleep would not come.

****

After staying up all night, Chaewoo headed to school early, agonizing over how to talk to Euigeon.

Since they were in the same class and both upperclassmen, they had many overlapping lectures.

If he set his mind to it, he would have an opportunity to speak with him today.

While making various plans, he was passing the campus parking lot when he saw a familiar car entering from afar.

The black foreign car Euigeon drove.

He remembered it because he had seen it a few times.

Thinking the timing was perfect, Chaewoo approached the car while it was parking.

Once he had made up his mind, putting it into action was easy.

After taking a deep breath to hide his nervousness, he knocked on the window.

Soon, the darkly tinted window rolled down, revealing Euigeon’s face in the driver’s seat.

“Can I get in for a moment?”

“Now?”

“I have something to say.”

Euigeon was silent for a few seconds.

Underneath his thick, upturned eyebrows, his dark eyes observed Chaewoo intently.

“Get in.”

Chaewoo walked around to the other side, opened the door, and sat in the passenger seat.

Euigeon’s pheromones were faintly pooled inside the car.

Even though this was just the level that naturally emanated from his body, the fact that he was alone with an Alpha in a cramped space was uncomfortable.

“You were right. I’m actually an Omega.”

“Is that so?”

Euigeon responded leisurely, as if it weren’t surprising at all.

He definitely knew already.

Chaewoo didn’t think he would play a malicious prank using that as leverage, but Euigeon’s attitude seemed more indifferent than expected.

It was hard to predict what he was thinking, which somehow made Chaewoo feel even more cornered.

Chaewoo looked directly at Euigeon and spoke point-blank.

He had to carry out the decision he had made during the night as quickly as possible.

Now that he was here, it wasn’t as difficult or embarrassing as he thought it would be.

“And I’m a dominant type.”

“I see.”

“My intelligence is high, and as you know, I have a talent for music. My mother was a music professor.”

“You have a wonderful mother.”

Euigeon parked the car without difficulty even with Chaewoo inside.

“As you can see, my face isn’t bad either.”

“Should I give you a round of applause?”

Clap, clap.

Taking his hands off the wheel for a moment, Euigeon lightly struck his palms together.

His voice held no real emotion.

His gaze was also indifferent.

As if he didn’t find even a shred of interest in Chaewoo’s words.

“What is it you’re trying to say, Senior Seol? You didn’t come here just to brag to me.”

“I have everything right now… except money.”

The voice that had been bold throughout finally subsided.

“I didn’t realize that. And?”

“I know your family is looking for an Omega. You must have realized why I went there yesterday, too.”

“Hmm.”

The slowly moving car came to a stop.

Having finished parking, Euigeon sat still, hands still on the steering wheel, staring straight ahead.

Chaewoo glanced at Euigeon’s profile, which showed no expression.

“……”

The longer the silence lasted, the more his anxiety grew.

Chaewoo gripped the strap of his bag and waited for an answer.

“You’re right.”

Euigeon turned his head and looked at Chaewoo.

“We didn’t want it to be known publicly. But our family is… well, we’re definitely the type to be obsessed with having a child.”

“I’ll do it. Bearing the child. Am I not quite suitable for your family?”

Euigeon let out a small, mocking laugh.

“Is that why you came here? To tell me that you, Senior Seol, are quite suitable as the Omega who will bear my child?”

“…Am I not?”

“Well.”

Euigeon suddenly leaned his body toward the passenger seat.

A startled Chaewoo pulled his head back, but there was a limit to how far he could go inside the car.

He could see those thick eyebrows he had noted before very clearly right in front of him.

“Beom Euigeon, what are you…!”

Euigeon’s face drew close to Chaewoo’s neck.

‘Is he trying to lick me?’

It was an action Alphas typically performed when they wanted to sense an Omega’s pheromones up close.

As Chaewoo curled his body, hot breath brushed against his collarbone.

“I’m not so sure about that, so what should we do, Senior Seol?”

His leaning body returned to the driver’s seat.

“That’s Euigeon’s car. Euigeon!”

At that moment, someone called out to Euigeon from outside.

Chaewoo rubbed the skin where the breath had touched.

A faint trace of Alpha pheromones remained, just enough to be erased once he moved.

Euigeon openly watched Chaewoo’s face, which was colored with embarrassment.

It was so blatant it felt insulting.

The only way to describe what just happened was that he was playing with him to see his reaction.

Chaewoo’s face flushed red and his heart pounded as if it would explode.

Before the juniors looking for Euigeon arrived, he grabbed his bag and bolted out of the car, heading up to the lecture hall.

He felt like jumping out a window.

Curled up in the corner of the back row, Chaewoo pulled the hood of his sweatshirt over his head.

His face was more than just hot; it felt stinging.

Even though he hadn’t been hit, it throbbed with humiliation.

‘To think I said those things to Beom Euigeon only to be rejected.’

Had he made a mistake in judgment because he hadn’t slept properly?

Come to think of it, even if he volunteered for this, there was no guarantee Euigeon would welcome it.

He had consistently shown how much he disliked the guy, so unless Euigeon was an idiot, why would he be happy about it?

‘It’s over. Everything is ruined.’

Chaewoo wiped his face with his hands and regretted it.

How he wished he could go back to five minutes ago.

A while later, Euigeon and his group entered the lecture hall.

Fortunately, he didn’t try to speak to him again, but Chaewoo, feeling guilty, flinched every time he heard Euigeon’s voice.

He could only think of hiding in some secluded place after the lecture, finishing his remaining classes, and running away.

As for the money… he’d just have to fill the gap by finding another part-time job.
Or maybe it would be better to just quit school.

At the moment, that seemed like the most realistic alternative.

“Senior.”

Just as he stood up with his bag already packed after class, Euigeon called out to him.

“Senior Seol Chaewoo.”

He tried to walk out pretending not to hear, but since he had been called by name, he had no choice but to turn around.

As expected, Euigeon was standing there.

The weight of the surrounding gazes was uncomfortable, and he was a mess inside because of what happened before the lecture.

“What.”

“You left your sheet music in the car.”

“Ah.”

“Here.”

Euigeon held out a file.

Chaewoo stared at it suspiciously before rummaging through his own bag first.
Indeed, the sheet music file he had packed this morning was nowhere to be seen.

‘Of all things to leave in the car.’

Nothing was going right today.

Wanting to get out of this situation quickly, he snatched the sheet music.

No, he tried to snatch it.

“Oh. Actually, never mind.”

Suddenly, Euigeon withdrew the file.

Chaewoo, having grasped at thin air, furrowed his eyebrows.

“What are you trying to do?”

A faint smile, barely visible, played on Euigeon’s face.

“I’ve changed my mind.”