My older brother, Kim Shin-hee, is three years older than me and an irresistibly beautiful dominant Omega.

With his soft brown hair and gentle, sparkling black eyes, he looked so adorable that he reminded people of a rabbit.

Thanks to his looks, when my father’s business was on the verge of collapse, he secured a massive investment in exchange for my brother’s engagement.

His fiancé was seven years older than him, the second son of Seolgang Group, one of the top conglomerates in the country.

The moment my brother turned twenty, he was forcibly “sold off” to a dominant Alpha seven years his senior—someone he had never even met before. At the engagement ceremony, he cried his eyes out.

It was beyond embarrassing; he threw such a fit that he practically shamed our entire family, lying on the floor wailing at the top of his lungs. His fiancé, glancing at his watch, coldly said:

“If you want to call off the engagement, do it now. I don’t have time for this childish tantrum, especially not at an engagement I barely managed to fit into my schedule. Of course, the money I invested will be immediately withdrawn.”

At his icy, indifferent words, my father fainted on the spot, and my mother clenched her fists, glaring at my brother.

Faced with this reaction, my brother, who had been thrashing on the floor, abruptly shut his mouth and stood up, finishing the engagement ceremony.

Fortunately, his fiancé claimed that he wouldn’t have time to get married for at least three years, granting my brother temporary freedom.

Well, “freedom” was just a nice way of saying he was ignored due to a busy schedule—but my brother had no complaints about that.

While attending university, he enjoyed dating freely, and at some point, he started spouting nonsense about having met his “fated one.”

“Shin-Yeon, look at this picture! Isn’t he handsome? Totally perfect, right?”

“Hyung, you already have a fiancé… And I have the college entrance exam coming up. Don’t bother me and get out.”

“Aw, come on! He might be your future brother-in-law, you know~”

I, a high school senior with only 100 days left until the college entrance exam, yelled at my brother, who was shoving his phone in my face.

“Mom! Hyung is distracting me from studying!”

Before I could even finish speaking, my mom stormed in, wielding a fly swatter, and started scolding my brother.

“You brat! Your little brother’s exam is just around the corner, and you’re fooling around?! And you, Shin-Yeon, don’t scream just because your brother talked to you! Ugh… Shin-hee, get out now!”

“Ow! Mooooom!”

Honestly, I had no interest in my brother’s love life. I was more concerned about the looming entrance exam, so I focused on my studies.

Ignoring my brother, who had buried his common sense in a field of flowers, I took the exam 100 days later.

It was brutal, but I managed to score higher than expected, so I was satisfied.

Just when I was about to smoothly move on to preparing for university admissions… my brother stopped coming home regularly.

“Kim Shin-hee must be out drinking and crawling around on the streets again.”

“Ugh, Mom is always worried he’ll suddenly show up pregnant with someone’s kid.”

“Come on… Hyung wouldn’t do that, right? No matter what, he has some common sense.”

But Kim Shin-hee, the eldest son, did not have common sense.

And none of us had any idea what was happening.

***

December of my nineteenth year, the last month of my teenage life.

My parents had gone to a year-end party, leaving me alone at home. I was watching TV and eating fried chicken when—

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang. I put down my chicken and checked the intercom.

– It’s Seo Kyo-Shin.

“Huh…? Hyung’s fiancé…?”

A low voice came through the intercom, and on the screen, a towering man stood outside, so tall that his face was barely visible.

Recognizing him as my brother’s fiancé, I hurried to the entrance and opened the door.

His black coat billowed in the cold winter wind as he walked toward me, exuding a dangerous aura.

“Hello.”

“It’s been a while. You’ve grown a lot since the engagement ceremony.”

With his long legs, he reached the doorway in an instant. His flawless features looked like they had been sculpted from a painting.

But contrary to his breathtaking beauty, his deep black eyes held an eerie chill.

“Still, I’m shorter than average. I’m only 173 cm.”

“That’s average for an Omega. Back then, you were so small you looked like a newborn.”

Despite his intimidating presence, his low voice carried a strangely lazy, relaxed tone.

“It’s cold outside. Would you like to come in for a bit? My parents are at a year-end party, and Hyung… should be out with friends, I think? I’m not sure.”

“I figured. I haven’t been able to contact Kim Shin-Hee at all recently. I think he blocked me.”

…Wait. Did my brother seriously screw up something huge?!

I suddenly got chills, my eyes darting nervously. I awkwardly raised my hands, gesturing for him to come inside, but he didn’t budge.

Almost as tall as the front door, Seo Kyo-Shin scanned the house with his cold gaze before finally looking at me.

“Today isn’t the right time. I should go. It would be inappropriate to enter a house where a kid is alone.”

As he spoke, he pulled a refined envelope from his pocket and handed it to me.

“Congratulations on getting into Korea University. Buy whatever you need or anything you wanted. Have a good end of the year and a happy New Year.”

“Oh… Thank you! Future brother-in-law, happy New Year to you too. You worked hard this year.”

I quickly accepted the envelope, making sure not to embarrass myself. Upon hearing my words, Seo Kyo-Shin let out a short sigh.

“Future brother-in-law, huh… You shouldn’t get too used to that title. It might change.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve kept you in the cold for too long. Go inside. Enjoy your chicken.”

Then, with a smooth motion, he reached out and wiped my mouth.

Raising his hand to show me the sauce-stained fingers, he let a faint smirk flicker across his lips.

“Ah… Thank you for wiping it off. Please be careful on your way back. See you next time.”

“Sure.”

Turning around, Seo Kyo-Shin walked back to the front gate just as quickly as he had arrived.

Then, as he glanced back at me, he licked the sauce off his thumb before disappearing.

“Wait… why did he…? Did I just imagine that?”

I stared at the spot where Seo Kyo-Shin had been standing, feeling an odd sensation. But instead of dwelling on it, I grabbed the envelope and went back inside to finish my chicken.

The year-end variety show was too entertaining, and as a result, I completely forgot about the fact that Kim Shin-Hee was out of contact.

Before I knew it, the new year had arrived.

Even Kim Shin-Hee, who had been out and about all the time, returned home for the occasion, and our family was finally together again.

Then, on the first day of my twentieth year, while we were eating tteokguk, Kim Shin-Hee dropped a bombshell.

“I’m pregnant.”

“What kind of nonsense is that, first thing in the new year?”

Holding his stomach with both hands, Kim Shin-Hee’s eyes welled up with tears.

“It’s from the senior I’m dating. He’s a dominant alpha, but his family is normal. Just so you know.”

“You… you crazy bastard! Catch him right now!”

In the moment our father, who had been eating tteokguk, choked and clutched his neck, Kim Shin-Hee took the opportunity to grab a suitcase he had already packed in advance.

As I helped my mother support my father, who had nearly collapsed, Kim Shin-Hee rushed to the front door, pretending to cry pitifully.

Then, he shook the envelope that Seo Kyo-Shin had given me last year.

“Sniff! Shin-Yeon, I’ll make good use of this money when I give birth! Since it was given by Seo Kyo-Shin, it’s basically mine anyway, so I’ll be taking it!”

“You crazy bastard! Why are you taking that?!”

“Seo Kyo-Shin is insane! What kind of psycho gives 5 million won to a kid who just turned twenty? Anyway, thanks for the money!”

“HEY!!!”

And just like that, Kim Shin-Hee ran away on New Year’s morning, escaping with his so-called “kid daddy.”

It turned out that the only reason he had come home was to steal my mother’s emergency savings, her jewelry, and all the cash and valuables from my father’s wallet.

By the time my parents realized their bedroom had been completely looted, both of them collapsed again, but there was nothing we could do.

Kim Shin-Hee had cut off his phone and vanished.

All we could do was sit there in stunned silence, feeling utterly helpless.

“Dad, don’t we have to return the investment money to Seolgang Group?”

“…If we return all of it, our company will go bankrupt.”

“We were barely holding on as it is with the bad economy…”

Sitting in the living room, our parents sobbed about how terribly they had raised their son, and I joined them, crying my heart out all day.

“I won’t go to college. I’ll get a job right away and start earning money… Can’t we figure something out as a family?”

“It’s not something we can fix that way.”

Suhan, our mid-sized company, simply didn’t have the capital to repay Seolgang Group’s investment in a lump sum.

The amount was close to 10 billion won.

If Seolgang Group took it back, we’d be out on the streets.

And not long after, Seo Kyo-Shin personally sent us the official countdown to homelessness.

—I’ve booked the wedding hall for early March. Please inform Kim Shin-Hee.

At that, my father clutched his neck and fainted again, and my mother ran in every direction trying to find Kim Shin-Hee.

But how could we possibly find someone who had disappeared on purpose?

There was only one option left.

I had to propose to Seo Kyo-Shin myself and offer to marry him in my brother’s place.

A recessive omega like me would obviously be unappealing to an extreme dominant alpha, but I had to try.

With my parents on the verge of complete collapse and our company nearing bankruptcy, there was no other choice.

By mid-January, I secretly checked my father’s phone to find Seo Kyo-Shin’s number.

“Haah… This is insane.”

After wandering the streets in the cold winter air, I finally dialed his number.

Trriiing—

—This is Seo Kyo-Shin.

“A-Ah, hello. This is Kim Shin-Yeon…”

—Shin-Yeon still sounds like a kid over the phone.

As his deep voice echoed in my ears, I nervously tapped my toes against the ground before speaking up.

“If, if you have time—”

—Yeah?

“Please… marry me. W-Wait! No! That was a mistake! I meant, please meet me!”

As soon as I realized my slip-up, my mind went blank.

I clutched my phone tightly, trembling in silence.

Then, I heard a laugh.

—Hahaha! So, if I have time, you want me to marry you?

“That’s not what I meant…”

As I chewed on my nails in panic, Seo Kyo-Shin laughed for a while before letting out a quiet sigh.

—What a shame. I don’t have time. Sorry, kid.

And just like that, he rejected me coldly.

Two months until we lost everything.

In two months, I either had to find Kim Shin-Hee or walk into that wedding hall with Seo Kyo-Shin myself.

From now on, my only way to survive… was to propose.

Tap tap tap!

On a dark night, Shin-Yeon stared at the monitor and quickly tapped on the keyboard.

[Search: How to seduce an alpha 10 years older]

└ Why would an alpha 10 years older be interested in a kid so young?

└ They might date for fun, but taking it seriously would be difficult… just date someone your age.

└ If that alpha is available, I should be the one dating them. Any decent alphas around?

[Search: How to flirt with an older alpha]

└ Today, we’ll learn how to flirt with an alpha. Subtly release pheromones, run your hand through your hair, and wink.

└ The comment above must be from the 1980s. Even in the Joseon Dynasty, people didn’t flirt like that.

└ If omegas accidentally release pheromones and act shy about it, most alphas find it cute.

└ What about sending messages at regular times? If you send cute messages every day and suddenly stop, they might start thinking about you.

[Search: How to find a runaway omega]

└ We track down runaway omegas. Contact Ilkwang Errand Center for inquiries.

└ If they ran away, they must have really hated something. Do you really need to find them?

└ Poor runaway omega…

As Shin-Yeon stared at the monitor, he let out a deep sigh and glanced at his phone.

“Haa…”

Time was ticking away, and the moment his family would end up on the streets was creeping closer.

“The time people feel most emotional… 2 AM…”

Holding his phone, Shin-Yeon considered sending a desperate, clingy message—like an ex who couldn’t let go.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: …Are you awake? They say people become the most emotional at this hour. So, um, would you marry me…?]

“No, no. This makes it way too obvious that Hyung ran away. I need to be natural… as natural as possible…”

Shaking his head furiously, Shin-Yeon deleted the message and rewrote it with a pitiful expression.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: This might be weird to say at this hour, but… you look really good in a suit. Oh, and by the way, you had some seaweed on your face.]

“Classic flirting never fails.”

After sending the message, Shin-Yeon kept staring at the screen, and as soon as the read receipt appeared, he quickly sent another message.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: Handsomeness, I mean.]

The moment the read receipt appeared, Shin-Yeon got embarrassed, flipped his phone over, and shot up from his chair.

Then, he nervously paced back and forth in his room, clutching his pounding chest and trying to catch his breath.

Bzzz—

“…What? A reply? Spam?”

He hoped it was a reply, but at the same time, spam felt safer.

With trembling hands, he hesitantly flipped his phone screen up. There it was—a message from Seo Kyo-Shin.

Thump, thump—

“This is all because of Kim Shin-Hee… What kind of crazy situation is this? I’m going insane.”

His heart felt like it would burst.

As he hesitated, debating whether to check the message, another one arrived.

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy. I’ve never even had a girlfriend before, and now I’m flirting with a guy ten years older than me… Damn you, Kim Shin-Hee!”

Clutching his head in frustration, Shin-Yeon finally gave in to the looming fear of becoming homeless in two months and tapped on the messages.

[Seo Kyo-Shin: You must be really bored at this hour. Isn’t it rude to text a working adult this late? Or are you still too much of a kid to know that? ^^]

[Seo Kyo-Shin: I’ve been handsome for years, so no need to remind me. If you can’t sleep, studying for an English proficiency test is a great idea. Otherwise, just go to bed.]

“…He’s mad, isn’t he?”

With a guilty expression, Shin-Yeon chewed on his thumbnail while staring at the messages. Checking the time again, he quickly sent an apology for texting so late.

“Yeah… texting at this hour was overstepping.”

He flopped onto his bed, buried his face in his pillow, and teared up at his own stupidity.

Bzzz—

“…?”

[Seo Kyo-Shin: So, if I make time for you, what do you plan to do?]

[Kim Shin-Yeon: That’s a secret. Goodnight.]

Shin-Yeon hastily replied, turned off the lights, and pulled the blanket over his head.

“Kim Shin-Hee, you bastard… If you were going to run away because of a pregnancy, couldn’t you at least have broken off the engagement first? Or asked for more time to pay back the investment?”

That night, Shin-Yeon sniffled under the covers until he finally fell asleep.

The next morning, he groggily opened his eyes, feeling unrested from all the stress.

Dragging himself to the kitchen with a disheveled look, he called out, “Mom.”

“You’re up?”

Shin-Yeon approached his mother, who was preparing breakfast, and said,

“If I marry Seo Kyo-Shin… we can stop the investment from being pulled, right? Can you ask him if he’d marry me instead of Hyung?”

“Your dad subtly asked around, and they said you’re too young—it feels burdensome.”

According to her, even if there’s an age gap, a single-digit difference and a double-digit difference give off completely different levels of pressure.

“Should I say I fell in love at first sight and got lovesick?”

“Oh, don’t. He’s not the type to fall for something like that.”

“Still, I have to do something. I can’t end up on the streets in two months…”

Seeing his mother’s pained expression as she prepared breakfast, Shin-Yeon suddenly teared up and threw his arms around her, sobbing.

“Mom… I—I’ll… sniff! I’ll try my best to win him over… hwaaah!”

Letting out a deep sigh, his mother patted his back with a bitter expression.

“Sigh… Because of that irresponsible eldest son, you’re the one suffering. No matter how much I cherished him, he only causes trouble. Meanwhile, my second son, who listens well and is so sweet, couldn’t even enjoy life properly after finishing his college entrance exams, huh?”

“It’s not about enjoying life! If our family goes bankrupt, I won’t even get the chance to have fun… waaah!”

His mother regretted pouring so much effort into raising Kim Shin-Hee, but it was already water under the bridge.

“All the more reason for you to stay calm and composed. Now, stop crying and eat your breakfast.”

Sniffling, Shin-Yeon ate breakfast with his mother before returning to his bedroom. He plopped onto the bed and grabbed his phone.

“I’m in no position to be picky. I have to seduce him and get married no matter what.”

[Kim Shin-Yeon: The weather is so nice today. It reminds me of you, Executive Director Seo.]

After sending the message, he walked over to the window, pulled back the blinds, and saw… heavy snowfall under a gloomy gray sky.

Whoooosh—!

“…Wow. I’m screwed.”

[Seo Kyo-Shin: (Photo of a snowstorm outside his office window) You saw this weather and thought of me?]

What’s flowing from my eyes right now? Sweat? Tears?

“I should’ve checked the weather first before sending that…”

Still, the fact that Kyo-Shin even replied was a good sign. Shin-Yeon decided to push forward with his flirting.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: It’s full of atmosphere. I love snowy days like this!]

“I need to show some effort.”

He quickly grabbed a padded coat from his closet, put on a furry hat, wrapped a scarf around himself, and rushed to the front door.

“Mom! Take a picture of me!”

“In this snowstorm? Why?”

As soon as he stepped outside, a gust of wind slammed into him, and the snow pelted his face. But… he couldn’t lose!

“M-Mom! Hurry up and take it!”

Shin-Yeon struck a pose in the blizzard, then quickly dashed back inside.

“Ugh, it’s freezing!”

“You don’t even like snow that much.”

“From today, I have to like it.”

Opening his mother’s phone, he checked the photos.

“…Wow. Why do I look so ugly?”

Most of the pictures made him look like a tiny, three-headed doll, and his face was so distorted by the wind and snow that he looked like a bundle of misfortune.

“Why does it matter? You’re a good boy who listens well. That’s more important.”

“This won’t do.”

Determined, Shin-Yeon rushed back outside into the storm. He stood under a snow-covered tree, making a V-sign with his fingers, and took another photo.

Click!

Whoooosh—!

“Ack—!”

He checked the selfie, but his hands were so frozen that he could barely press the screen properly.

“Ughhh… I really hate the cold.”

Shivering, he scurried back inside and sent the photos to Seo Kyo-Shin.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: (Photo), (Photo) I really like this kind of weather.]

After sending the message, he hurried into his bedroom, took off his coat, and burrowed under the warm blankets.

His hands were ice-cold from the brief time outside. He tucked them under the covers and stared at the ceiling.

“Ugh… How the hell am I supposed to seduce him?”

***

Inside a high-rise office overlooking the snowstorm raging through the city.

Seo Kyo-Shin was working when a notification popped up on his personal messenger on the secondary monitor.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: (Photo), (Photo) I really like this kind of weather.]

When he enlarged the images, the screen was instantly filled with a pretty face winking while making a V-sign, wearing a sky-blue furry hat.

Shin-Yeon’s milk-white skin—likely from spending so much time indoors studying—was flushed pink from the cold wind.

What caught Kyo-Shin’s attention the most were his reddened nose and cheeks from the cold, along with the faint traces of tears in his eyes.

As he observed the gentle brown eyes framed by long lashes and slightly parted lips, Kyo-Shin unconsciously rubbed his own mouth and muttered,

“He looks like a kid camellia flower.”

The first time he met Kim Shin-Yeon—Kim Shin-Hee’s younger brother by three years—was at a formal meeting arranged for a business engagement.

Seventeen-year-old Kim Shin-Yeon had followed his parents and older brother to the gathering, looking so young and small that he seemed like an actual child.

Unlike his brother Kim Shin-Hee, who had sharp, rabbit-like features, Shin-Yeon’s bright, innocent eyes made him seem more like a hungry little kitten.

But no matter how much he stood out or how much Kyo-Shin liked his appearance, back then, Shin-Yeon was just a kid.

What could he possibly do with someone ten years younger and still a minor?

Lost in thought, reminiscing about that day, Kyo-Shin continued scrolling through the pictures—only to let out a small chuckle.

Shin-Yeon had been posing in the yard when a gust of wind blasted him directly in the face, distorting his features into an utterly ridiculous expression. It was… surprisingly cute.

“He really didn’t think about the possibility of someone zooming in on these, huh?”

Everywhere he looked, Shin-Yeon’s expressions showed nothing but misery in the snowstorm, making it even funnier. Kyo-Shin absentmindedly ran his fingers over his curved lips.

“Hmm…”

Knock, knock—

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

“Come in.”

His assistant entered, bowed politely, and approached with a document in hand.

“We’ve located your fiancé, Kim Shin-Hee. He’s currently living with dominant Alpha, Sung Hyo-Shin, in Hallim-eup, Jeju Island.”

Kyo-Shin skimmed through the address where Kim Shin-Hee was staying, along with the Omega obstetrics examination records.

“Five weeks pregnant… The father isn’t Sung Hyo-Shin.”

Sung Hyo-Shin was the dominant Alpha that Kyo-Shin himself had assigned to Kim Shin-Hee—a professional hired to facilitate their engagement.

Moreover, Sung Hyo-Shin had an implanted Alpha contraceptive capsule, ensuring that even during mating, pregnancy wouldn’t occur.

As Kyo-Shin’s gaze darkened upon reviewing the medical report, the assistant cautiously spoke again.

“I’ve sent the photos and documents to your email, Vice President. Should we withdraw our investment from Suhan? Or should we bring Kim Shin-Hee back to Seoul?”

Kyo-Shin shifted his focus to the photo of Shin-Yeon struggling against the snowstorm before answering.

“Let’s wait a little longer. If Kim Shin-Hee contacts us to return on his own, we’ll set pregnancy termination as a condition. For now, find out where he was five weeks ago.”

“From three months ago until recently, he frequently visited Club Daphne in Cheongdam and Club Tail in Gangnam.”

Both clubs were run by Ho Seok-Hyun, heir to the Gamwon faction—places where high-status phenotypes could engage in reckless behavior without consequences.

“Didn’t Ho Seok-Hyun start investigating Kim Shin-Hee a month ago? As far as I know, he took out a loan from Min-Yang Cash right before fleeing.”

“That’s correct. Would you like us to investigate why he was looking into him?”

Kim Shin-Hee, who had been thoroughly charmed by Alpha player Sung Hyo-Shin, had taken out a massive loan from Ho Seok-Hyun’s lending business, Min-Yang Cash, and then disappeared.

But why had Ho Seok-Hyun been investigating him a month ago, rather than recently?

Could it be that he had a one-night stand with Kim Shin-Hee?

Or had he gotten caught up in a heat cycle and made a mistake?

With the heightened senses of a dominant Alpha, Kyo-Shin had a strong feeling that Ho Seok-Hyun was deeply involved.

“Look into it. Also, check Ho Seok-Hyun’s recent rut schedule.”

After issuing the order, Kyo-Shin dismissed his assistant and opened his email to review the photos taken in Jeju.

Leaning back in his chair, he coldly observed a picture of Kim Shin-Hee kissing Sung Hyo-Shin, then shifted his gaze to his second monitor.

Ding!

[Kim Shin-Yeon: Executive Director Seo, do you know CPR?]

“Huh… What is it this time?”

Just as Kyo-Shin was about to send a beginner’s CPR guide link, another message popped up.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: I think I just went into cardiac arrest because of you…]

“……”

Frozen in place, Kyo-Shin stared at the screen for a long moment before unexpectedly bursting into laughter.

His amusement was so sudden that he found himself pressing his lips together to suppress it before composing a reply.

[Seo Kyo-Shin: How is someone in cardiac arrest managing to send messages?^^ Do you have nine hearts? (Link: Beginner’s Guide to CPR)]

[Kim Shin-Yeon: Executive Director Seo… Are you a T?]

Even through text, he could practically hear Shin-Yeon trembling with frustration.

The clumsy flirting that had started yesterday was turning out to be unexpectedly entertaining.

“Cute little thing.”

Choosing not to respond further, Kyo-Shin returned to his work.

***

“Wow. How can someone be like this? Is he really a T? Is he bad at this because he’s a T?”

Lying in bed, clutching his phone in both hands, Shin-Yeon scowled, having spent the entire night staring at the screen.

He’d been tempted to send another message at dawn but held back, thinking it might cross a line.

As soon as the clock hit 8 AM, he grabbed his phone and sent a new message.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: Good morning, Executive Director Seo. I couldn’t sleep a wink because I was performing CPR on myself all night. But thanks to you, I’ve mastered it now.]

He knew full well that texting an adult like this was probably rude, but he just couldn’t let it slide.

“Sure, I have to win him over, but come on… Wait. What if he didn’t even realize I was flirting?”

Throwing his phone aside, Shin-Yeon buried his face in his pillow.

“Ughhh…”

Originally, he’d planned to go on a trip with his friends after getting into college and paying his tuition.

But now? Travel was the last thing on his mind. He was so stressed that he’d even stopped responding to their messages.

With a frustrated groan, he punched his pillow.

“How am I supposed to seduce someone if I can’t even meet him in person?! I’d at least be able to release some pheromones or something if we were face-to-face… But he won’t even see me!”

Sure, compared to his older brother, he was nothing special in Seo Kyo-Shin’s eyes.

“Even if I somehow manage to marry him, he’ll probably divorce me right away. But… that’s still better than doing nothing at all.”

Let’s not have any expectations—just focus on preventing the investment funds from being withdrawn.

Shin-Yeon recalled a time when his father and Kim Shin-Hee had a heated argument.

“A business marriage is exactly that—business. Love isn’t something you should expect. You just need to achieve your goal.”

“I don’t want to marry Seo Kyo-Shin! I don’t want a business marriage! I want to fall madly in love with a hot alpha and then get married!”

Is love really that important? Important enough to abandon your family and company?

To Shin-Yeon, the concept of love still felt vague and unrealistic.

Even when he looked at Seo Kyo-Shin or any other alphas, he didn’t feel any particular attraction.

Marriage itself just seemed like an annoying task he had to get over with as soon as possible.

Bzzzt!

[Seo Kyo-Shin: If I go into cardiac arrest, will the kid come perform CPR on me? I want to see how good you are^^]

“Is he teasing me? Mocking me?”

Shin-Yeon trembled with frustration as he stared at the message. Instead of replying, he threw the blanket over his head and shut his eyes.

Fine. Let him stare at the message screen and feel anxious for a change!

He was determined to hold out.

But just as he was trying to sleep, the phone buzzed again.

“Ignore it. Don’t fall for it. Kim Shin-Yeon, you are NOT the type to get flustered over a vibrating phone.”

Pride must be protected at all costs.

Bzzzzt— Bzzzt—

“…But if I end up homeless, I won’t even have my pride left.”

In the end, his pride crumbled under the weight of curiosity, and Shin-Yeon hurriedly checked his phone.

[Seo Kyo-Shin: I think I can make time tomorrow. Want to meet?]

[Seo Kyo-Shin: No response? Are you sulking^^?]

[Seo Kyo-Shin: Are you an F?]

Shin-Yeon’s expression twitched as he glared at the screen.

With shaking hands, he threw the phone onto the bed and screamed.

“ARGH!”

He had completely lost this round.

Furious, he flailed on the bed before staring up at the ceiling, deep in thought.

“Marriage is marriage, but I refuse to lose like this.”

Determined, he picked up his phone and typed his reply.

[Kim Shin-Yeon: Where should we meet tomorrow?]

[Seo Kyo-Shin: I’ll pick you up.]

Shin-Yeon smirked. He had prepared for this.

Using lines he had saved from an online flirting community, he typed:

[Kim Shin-Yeon: I’m already excited to meet you, so I’d rather just see you at the location tomorrow.]

“Let’s see how he handles this.”

Shin-Yeon stared at the screen, waiting for a response.

Seo Kyo-Shin had already read the message, but there was no reply.

“Hah. You’re flustered, aren’t you? Gotcha!”

Feeling smug, he stretched out on his bed. Before long, he dozed off.

Bzzzt!

[Seo Kyo-Shin: I was busy, so I replied late. If you start getting excited today, you’ll be too tired tomorrow. Try to hold it in. See you at noon. Here’s the address…]

Seo Kyo-Shin’s walls were high and sturdy.

But the little kitten snoring in dreamland had no idea.

***

To make time for Shin-Yeon, Kyo-Shin had to rearrange his schedule for several days.

After working in the office that morning, he left in time for their appointment, driving himself to the restaurant he had reserved.

He had chosen a popular spot with a bright, casual atmosphere—appropriate for Shin-Yeon’s age.

Arriving at the entrance, he handed his car off for valet parking and stepped inside.

“Hm?”

The private room he had booked had glass panels as part of its design, making the interior somewhat visible from outside.

Normally, he wouldn’t have dined in a space that exposed him like this.

But since there wasn’t much time left before their meeting, he simply took off his coat, handed it to an employee, and sat down.

He had come straight from the office, so he was still in a suit.

Would Shin-Yeon like it? Or would he not care?

Either way, it would be amusing to see his reaction.

But more importantly—

Shin-Yeon wanted to clean up Kim Shin-Hee’s mess.

The real question was—how?

Narrowing his eyes, Kyo-Shin gazed out the window at the snow swirling outside.

That’s when he saw it.

A small figure in a white coat, clutching a large bouquet of yellow freesias, sprinting toward the restaurant.

“Hmm…”

Kyo-Shin tapped his arm with his fingers, wondering if he should have prepared something in return.

Knock knock!

The door rattled open before he could finish his thought.

“Hahh… hahh…! I’m so sorry I’m late!”

The little thing who had just burst in was flushed from exertion, soft hair tousled from the wind.

Even when he first saw him, Kyo-Shin had thought—why is this kid so pretty?

And right now, that same beautiful creature was panting, cheeks flushed, stumbling toward him—

Then suddenly collapsed onto the floor.

“…?”

Kyo-Shin instinctively moved to help, thinking Shin-Yeon had simply lost strength from running too hard.

But before he could reach him, Shin-Yeon steadied his breath, his expression turning resolute.

He thrust the enormous freesia bouquet toward Kyo-Shin and declared—

“Seo Kyo-Shin, please marry me!”

MBTI personality types, where “F” stands for Feeling and “T” stands for Thinking.

F (Feeling) types make decisions based on emotions, personal values, and relationships.

T (Thinking) types make decisions based on logic, analysis, and objective reasoning.