Chapter 34: The Omega Exception

“Uncle!”

As soon as he descended the stairs, he was met in the sprawling living room by Jiheon and Taeheon, the two sons of his eldest brother.

As the two children ran at full speed and threw themselves into his arms, Shin Joowon smiled warmly and lightly stroked their heads.

He exchanged greetings with his eldest sister-in-law, who was standing behind them, with only a nod.

“Uncle, we’re going to the amusement park on Sunday!”

“Really? That sounds fun.”

“Yes! We’re going to ride the bumper cars!”

The children, who knew nothing, followed Shin Joowon well, but he found it puzzling that his nephews followed him so.

He had never treated them exceptionally well or doted on them, yet whenever they met, their mother and father were forgotten, and they clung to him and wouldn’t let go.

Although he tolerated them because the children were innocent even if he disliked his brother, it was actually a bit bothersome.

“Have a good time. Eat lots of delicious things, too.”

“Can’t you go with us, Uncle? I want to ride the Viking ship with you…”

“I think your uncle is far too busy with various matters, so he won’t be able to go.”

“Various matters… are busy? Why?”

“Well, there’s a reason. You guys will understand when you grow as big as your uncle.”

Leading the two children to the dining room, Shin Joowon gave a slight nod to Chairman Shin and his mother, who were already seated.

Seeing that neither his father nor Shin Joohee was here today, and of his older brothers’ families, only his eldest sister-in-law and the children were present, it seemed it would be a small breakfast gathering.

As per Chairman Shin’s preference, a meal focused on vegetables and seafood was prepared, and everyone who would share breakfast today took their seats.

At Chairman Shin’s words for everyone to help themselves, they picked up their utensils one by one and began to eat.

Shin Joowon also picked up his spoon and first tasted the clear soup.

“Joowon, do you have time on Saturday?”

It was when he was reaching over to pick up a side dish for Taeheon, who was sitting next to him and struggling to reach.

The middle-aged woman sitting across from him—Shin Joowon’s mother, Choi Hwa-yeon—suddenly spoke.

When Shin Joowon didn’t say anything and only tilted his head slightly, Choi Hwa-yeon continued.

“You’ve met him a few times, right? Chairman Kim of Yugyeong Holdings.”

“Yes.”

“Chairman Kim’s eldest daughter is getting married on Saturday. I was originally going to go with Joohee, but she said she has an overseas business trip and won’t have time. I thought we could go together, to have a date with my son after a long time.”

Come to think of it, he felt like he had heard Shin Joohee mention in passing that she would be away from home for a few days.

So that was because of an overseas business trip.

Shin Joowon, who had passed over it with indifference, took a sip of water.

Saturday…. He didn’t have any particular plans yet, but it was extremely bothersome.

“Aren’t my hyungs free?”

“They both said they’re very busy lately, so it would be difficult.”

It was surprising that his two older brothers, who loved to stand out, had declared they would be absent from a famous figure’s wedding where many reporters would be stationed.

Were they finally intending to raise their actual business performance to catch their grandfather’s eye?

Shin Joowon picked up a side dish in front of him, put it in his mouth, and chewed without any interest.

“Is Chairman Kim’s daughter already of marriageable age?”

“It’s been a while, Father. She’s the same age as Joohee.”

Chairman Shin, who had been focused on his meal the entire time, finally spoke.

Hearing Choi Hwa-yeon’s answer, he let out a laugh.

“Chairman Kim cherished that one daughter terribly, so his heart must ache a little to marry her off.”

“In the past, he rejected all the marriage proposals that came in, didn’t he?”

Shin Joowon let the conversation, which was far from his interest, go in one ear and out the other.

He busyed his jaw thinking he should just eat his meal, but today of all days, it felt as unpleasant as chewing sand.

The fact that Chairman Shin had shown interest meant that he had no choice but to go to the wedding.

‘f*ck, it’s incredibly bothersome….’

Just thinking about wearing a fake smile and clapping inside a flashy wedding hall already made him feel bored enough to yawn.

Although he had seen Chairman Kim, whom his mother mentioned, a few times, he had never even met the daughter.

Surely his mother knew that too.

And yet, her intention in trying to drag him along was all too clear.

She wanted him to scout out potential marriage candidates in advance.

Since it would be a place where various famous figures from political and business circles would gather.

If one had to say, the person in this house for whom marriage was most urgent was Shin Joohee, not himself.

Why did she have to go on a business trip at a time like this?

Perhaps Shin Joohee had used the business trip as an excuse because she dreaded being dragged to the wedding, forced to wear a smile and greet people here and there.

“Yes, Joowon. You should start showing your face in such places gradually too. Go with your mother.”

“Yes.”

Even while harboring all sorts of rebellious thoughts internally, Shin Joowon smiled brightly as if he had never done so, and answered readily.

However, he had no choice but to stiffen his expression slightly at the words Chairman Shin added shortly after.

“Does Chairman Kim also know Chairman Seo of Bisang?”

“Yes, probably.”

Choi Hwa-yeon, who replied, also wore a soft smile as if she had already grasped Chairman Shin’s intention.

Shin Joowon, feeling a sense of unease, swallowed a sip of water down his rough throat.

Chairman Seo was a figure Shin Joowon was well aware of, and his Dominant Omega son was even more familiar to him.

The moment he recalled the sickening pheromones with their water scent that made his stomach churn, what little appetite he had vanished completely.

“I have to head out a bit early today, so I’ll excuse myself now.”

“Already? Without eating more.”

“I’m sorry. Instead, I won’t be late today.”

“Uncle, are you already leaving?”

“Yeah, see you next time.”

Shin Joowon, who stood up after politely asking for understanding, stroked Taeheon’s head one last time and left the dining room.

As if swapping his face, with a single stroke of his hand sweeping back his hair, his smile vanished and turned into a freezing, expressionless mask.

‘I wondered why it had been quiet for a while.’

He had been wondering why Chairman Shin, who had strictly narrowed down spouse candidates for his youngest grandson in the past, hadn’t brought up the topic of marriage lately.

With marriage becoming a topic of discussion again, his perfectly fine head began to throb.

Marriage aside, the fact that he had to be entangled with an Omega was deeply unpleasant.

But…….

‘No, it’s not because I dislike you, Hyung… I was just a little surprised…’

For some reason, Jin Yooha was fine. Even though he was clearly an Omega.

When he first found out that Jin Yooha was an Omega, his mood had definitely been soured.

Dominant or recessive, an Omega was an Omega, and to Shin Joowon, Omegas were merely disgusting existences who leaked pheromones that made his mood foul.

Yet Jin Yooha was different.

The faint, presence-less pheromones rather aroused his curiosity.

The way he was flustered and didn’t know what to do at the words that his pheromones could be felt was so different from the reactions of the Omegas he had known so far that it was even fresh.

Jin Yooha’s pheromones, being ordinary, brought less aversion, and being weak, they made him crave them more.

So he wanted to know more.

How he would feel if the scent grew a bit stronger.

Just how flustered Yooha would get if he told him his pheromones could be felt.

And whether, if he felt his pheromones again, Yooha would clench his fists and try his best to endure the sensation spreading through his body.

Gradually, he was becoming curious about everything about Jin Yooha.

‘Shall I find out today?’

Before he knew it, a satisfied smile was drawn on Shin Joowon’s face.

Shin Joowon, wearing a innocent smile all over his face like a mischievous child, immediately went up to the third floor and hurried his preparations.

****

“Ah…….”

He was diligently heading toward the Business School building to listen to his first-period lecture.

Yooha let out a groan while rubbing his furrowed brow.

It had occurred to him that he had left the house without taking his suppressants.

Because he had slept late trying to listen to Woo Tae’s absurd plans, he had rushed out in a hurry with his sleepiness still lingering, and had forgotten.

‘I need to quickly go and take them….’

Organizing his thoughts and quickening his steps to arrive at the Business School building, Yooha was truly flustered this time.

It was because the pill bottle he always kept in his bag was completely empty.

It had only just occurred to him that he had taken the last pill a few weeks ago, and had not refilled it since that day.

Yooha helplessly put the pill bottle back into his bag and left the lounge.

His pheromones were so weak that the doctor in charge at the center had told him he didn’t need to take suppressants regularly, and even when he had forgotten his suppressants a few times, no one had ever noticed his pheromones, but…….

‘I can feel your pheromones.’

He could no longer think of it complacently.

Because a person who sensed his pheromones had appeared.

Yooha closed his eyes tightly and opened them, recalling Shin Joowon’s sweet voice.

If he failed to suppress his pheromones well, it could be rude to others.

Since, depending on preference or compatibility, the other gender who received the pheromones could feel displeasure.

Although Shin Joowon hadn’t shown any sign of being displeased upon sensing his pheromones, given his personality, there was a high possibility that he had pretended to be fine out of consideration for Yooha.

It seemed he had to be exceptionally careful, at least in front of Shin Joowon.

‘Since today isn’t a day we take a lecture together, we won’t run into each other, right?’

Yooha tried to quiet the anxiety that made his heart throb, but his lips were already being bitten repeatedly.

While walking, Yooha suddenly thought of the medical room.

If he went there, he could receive general-use suppressants that could be obtained without a prescription.

Although they were less effective than the suppressants prescribed according to individual health status and constitution, since he was a recessive type, he would be able to hide his pheromones with just the general-use ones.

Yooha, checking that he still had time, hurriedly went down to the first basement floor where the medical room was located.

Only after thoroughly checking the surroundings and confirming that no one was there did he knock and enter.

Meeting the eyes of the medical room staff sitting at the desk, Yooha hesitated for a moment.

Only after swallowing hard under the staring gaze did he take out and hand over his resident registration card.

“Could I… get some pheromone suppressants…?”

“Yes, just a moment.”

The medical room staff, who examined the secondary gender registration field on the back of the resident registration card, immediately took a square box out of a drawer.

Cutting one out with scissors and handing it over, the staff member opened a folder and asked.

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