Chapter 25: Dowry and Dignity

“It would be best to hold the ceremony at our hotel. It’ll be good publicity for the hotel as well.”

After the health checkup, the wedding preparations accelerated even more. There wasn’t much for Ha-jin and Woo-seok to do. Ah-seong was arranging everything according to his own taste and preferences.

“At… the hotel?”

“If we’re doing it, we should make it as grand as possible. It’s my son’s one and only wedding.”

It was Ha-jin who had voiced the question, yet Ah-seong only considered his son’s position. That was simply his style, so he let it pass. The important part was that the venue would be the hotel, and that it would be lavish.

“The reporters will come on their own, so organize the guest list and hand it over.”

At Ah-seong’s commanding tone, Ha-jin bit the inside of his cheek. This was a disaster. Everything else aside, how was he supposed to gather guests? Hiring proper actors wasn’t easy. Thinking about securing several hundred people made his head spin.

“Let’s keep it small, Dad.”

Woo-seok, who had seemed not to be listening at all, spoke quietly. He still held a coffee cup in one hand and his phone in the other, as if in his own world.

“Small…?”

“When Chae Jun-seok got married before, remember? Do we really need to make it big and flashy?”

“That time those beggar-like people-! Ha… That was a different situation, Woo-seok. And are you the same as him?”

Ah-seong spoke vaguely, as if he didn’t want to explain their family circumstances in front of Ha-jin. But from his agitation alone, Ha-jin could tell something unpleasant had happened. Another question to ask Woo-seok later.

“The company image isn’t great right now. There’s no benefit in articles about spending billions on a wedding. Wouldn’t it be better to hold a quiet family ceremony and donate the wedding expenses instead?”

Ha-jin pretended to consider the suggestion. Of course he wanted exactly that, but agreeing too quickly would be strange. Most people wouldn’t easily accept a private ceremony for their once-in-a-lifetime wedding.

Still, he was surprised to hear something so reasonable from Woo-seok.

“I think Woo-seok is right… Given the company’s situation, I’m fine with a quiet family ceremony.”

Woo-seok suddenly looked different. Surely he had said that for Ha-jin’s sake. He had never shown any interest in company management before. Seeing his once soft-hearted son express an opinion made Ah-seong fall into deep thought.

“Ha… I’m so upset. Just when I thought we’d finally have a proper wedding, something like this happens… Tsk.”

As Ha-jin listened to his lament, a strange thought crossed his mind. He had researched the Chae family thoroughly. They were well-known in Korea; their lives were documented in detail across generations.

Yet after Ah-seong married Chairman Il-ju, information about their family life was scarce, aside from having three children. The rest was mostly rumor. It was odd.

“Let’s not talk about that, Dad. It’s not something pleasant.”

“…Fine. It can’t be helped. At least we should handle the wedding gifts and dowry properly.”

It was almost comical. Whenever Woo-seok voiced an opinion, Ah-seong reluctantly agreed, yet always shot Ha-jin a sharp look. This time was no different. He spoke as if to his son, but his gaze was directed at Ha-jin.

“You especially need to do well, understand?”

“…Pardon?”

He was already bringing 20 billion won as dowry. What more was he expecting? Seeing his blank expression, Ah-seong continued coldly.

“Don’t make it obvious you were raised by a single father. We wouldn’t want to disgrace the deceased.”

Ha-jin’s face flushed red. Under the table, Woo-seok nudged his shoe. Ha-jin looked ready to explode. Without even glancing at Woo-seok, he spoke calmly.

“Of course. I was planning to prepare everything properly. You won’t have anything to worry about. But Father, the Blue Moon will arrive on time, right? Even if the ceremony is modest, it would be meaningful to wear it there.”

The explosion Woo-seok feared never came. Ha-jin’s tone was polite, as if nothing had happened. But Ah-seong was visibly flustered.

“The Blue… Moon…”

“Yes. Separate from the wedding rings, it would be meaningful to receive it from the Chairman at the ceremony, wouldn’t it?”

A headache suddenly throbbed behind Ah-seong’s eyes. He resented his husband for promising that diamond so casually. And what exactly did this young omega plan to do with such an enormous stone?

Perhaps he didn’t understand its value. Otherwise, why would he talk about the blue diamond so innocently, like a child asking for candy?

“We’re looking into it…”

“I’ll look forward to it, Father.”

Only then did Ha-jin’s simmering anger subside slightly. Secretly, he prayed they wouldn’t be able to secure the diamond, just to keep Ah-seong’s mouth shut a little longer.

****

“Wow, I’ve never been to a department store this late.”

“Right? I didn’t even know they stayed open at this hour.”

After receiving Ha-jin’s call, Woo-seok had rushed to a nearby department store.

“Did you come after drinking again? You’re not an alcoholic, are you?”

“That’s not the important issue here.”

It was past ten. Of course he had been drinking. Woo-seok had his reasons, but to Ha-jin it just looked like reckless behavior, especially so close to the wedding.

“We’ll talk later. Just give me the card.”

“So that’s why you called me.”

“Couldn’t you at least raise the limit? It’s embarrassing to get declined.”

Woo-seok, irritated, pulled out his card and handed it to the clerk.

“You’re awfully confident.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I’m buying gifts for your family while you’re out drinking.”

Ha-jin had summed it up in one sentence.

“It’s my money.”

“They’re not for me.”

He was annoyingly right. Thankfully, since the store was closed to regular customers, the VIP room was empty.

“And this isn’t even my fault. Why do you have so many relatives? Hundreds of cousins? The problem isn’t the limit, the store’s running out of items.”

“So you added fake relatives to your own list?”

“I mean! Might as well receive what I can….”

Woo-seok had somehow found out. Ha-jin had fabricated a long list out of spite after seeing the Chae family’s nearly hundred-person guest list.

“How are you going to use all that? Carry out 110 items at once?”

“I’m going to resell them. Don’t even think about taking them, that’s my labor fee.”

“Why didn’t I think of that? Bring everything to me.”

Ha-jin froze. He might lose everything.

“You’re joking… right? You don’t need pocket change like that…”

“That depends on you, doesn’t it?”

While the clerk processed the payment, Woo-seok leaned back on the sofa, looking exhausted. Ha-jin quickly moved behind him.

“You really should drink less. Your shoulders are stiff.”

He pressed firmly into Woo-seok’s rock-hard shoulders. A low hum escaped Woo-seok’s lips. Ha-jin pressed harder, even using his elbows.

“The massage isn’t great… but you can keep the gifts.”

Ha-jin put in all his strength. Sweat beaded on his forehead before Woo-seok finally relented.

“Life’s really tough…”

“What?”

“N-nothing! I mean, it must be hard earning money… ah!”

His inner thoughts had slipped out. Before he could recover, Woo-seok grabbed his arm and yanked him forward. Ha-jin fell onto the sofa, and a shadow loomed over him.

“Now what…”

Was this really necessary over one slip of the tongue? Ha-jin tried to look pitiful.

“How long are you going to call me that?”

“What?”

“The way you address me. We’re getting married, and you’re still saying ‘Mr. Woo-seok.’”

One of Ha-jin’s legs was draped over the sofa back, the other on the floor, spread wide. Woo-seok stepped between them and leaned down until his face filled Ha-jin’s vision.

“Say it. Just once.”

“…Now…?”

They were too close. Close enough that if he tilted his head, their lips might meet.

“Don’t want the gifts?”

That word struck like a spell. Ha-jin had no choice.

“Y-yeo- yeo- ah, f*ck!”

He couldn’t do it. The word wouldn’t come out.

“Did you just-”

A second too late, Ha-jin realized what he had done. He stared blankly as Woo-seok clutched his cheek on the floor, having apparently taken a hit in the chaos.