Shin-Yeon returned home a full week after leaving Kyo-Shin’s residence.
When he came back drenched in Kyo-Shin’s pheromones, his parents immediately assumed that their second son’s proposal had worked.
Ah, then the investment problem is solved!
The idea of switching the engagement from the older son to the younger one worried them a little, but Kyo-Shin hadn’t even tried to hide that he liked Shin-Yeon.
So they convinced themselves everything would be fine.
Meanwhile, the moment Shin-Yeon got home, he completely crashed. Between the flirting, the proposals, and the constant physical contact while staying with Kyo-Shin, he had used up all his energy.
After confirming that Shin-Yeon had fallen asleep the moment he got back, Kyo-Shin stood in the living room and gave his would-be in-laws a cold smile.
“I happened to discover Shin-Yeon when his heat cycle suddenly hit. I brought him home and took care of him in isolation.”
“Oh my, thank you so much.”
“I still don’t see Kim Shin-Hee anywhere. The wedding date is approaching—shouldn’t we be preparing by now?”
Silence fell over the living room.
Kyo-Shin seemed to enjoy the chill his words created as he continued,
“Don’t tell me he ran off after falling for another alpha?”
“N-no, of course not! He just said he wanted to travel a bit before the wedding, so we let him go for a few days. You know how Shin-Hee is—he’s always been free-spirited.”
The more Shin-Yeon’s mother tried to smooth things over, the colder Kyo-Shin’s expression became.
“Right. He’s never once fulfilled his obligations as a fiancé, but he’s certainly enjoyed all the privileges and wealth.”
The couple, well aware of Shin-Hee’s spending habits, fell silent.
Despite loathing the engagement to a man seven years older than him, Shin-Hee had made full use of everything Kyo-Shin provided.
Every piece of clothing he wore—from underwear and socks to shoes and bags—was luxury, often rare limited editions.
“I may have been busy, but I fulfilled my obligations. I even turned a blind eye every time he slept with other alphas during his cycles.”
In other words, Seo Kyo-Shin already knew that Kim Shin-Hee had gotten pregnant by another alpha and run away.
“…E-Executive Director Seo, just give us a little time. I’ll bring Shin-Hee back right away—”
“Before you bring him back, you’d better clean out what’s in his stomach first. I have no intention of letting another alpha’s child inherit anything. Otherwise, return every cent of the investment.”
Under the weight of Kyo-Shin’s threat, the couple broke into a cold sweat, exchanging uneasy glances before finally speaking.
“…What about Shin-Yeon instead of Shin-Hee?”
That was, in fact, Kyo-Shin’s ultimate goal—to break off the engagement with Shin-Hee and marry Shin-Yeon.
But there was no reason to reveal that to these greedy people.
“Baby’s efforts are admirable, but isn’t he too young?”
When he asked them that, pointing out how readily they were willing to offer up their barely-adult son, they had no answer.
This was exactly why he couldn’t accept Shin-Yeon’s proposal right away.
It was too obvious he would only end up being used and hurt by his own family.
They needed to be the ones to offer Shin-Yeon to him willingly—desperate, even—while he accepted reluctantly.
Not this half-hearted probing.
They needed to beg him to take Shin-Yeon.
Not the other way around.
“There are less than two months left now. By then, you will either bring back Kim Shin-Hee… or return the investment. One or the other.”
Rising from his seat, Kyo-Shin walked straight to Shin-Yeon’s bedroom and opened the door without knocking.
The room was filled with the soft scent of freesia.
He approached the bed, lifted Shin-Yeon’s chin as he slept, and kissed him.
“Mmh…”
“My baby. I’ll see you soon.”
Pressing a kiss to his soft hand, Kyo-Shin straightened, dark eyes glinting.
After he left, Shin-Yeon’s parents remained frozen in the living room before finally speaking.
“…No matter how I look at it, Executive Director Seo seems to have feelings for Shin-Yeon.”
“Right? Otherwise, why would he personally take care of him and carry him home like that?”
Arms crossed, they thought it over and came to a convenient conclusion—that his threats were just a show of displeasure at being deceived.
“Shin-Yeon doesn’t seem to dislike him either… should we just go ahead with it?”
“Even if we bring Shin-Hee back, he’ll probably reject him for being pregnant with another alpha’s child. Let’s just send Shin-Yeon.”
After a brief discussion, they easily decided on what they believed would be the most satisfying outcome for Seo Kyo-Shin.
***
After returning home, Shin-Yeon called Kyo-Shin every morning.
“Executive Director, I think it’s warm today. Maybe the snow melted because there are two suns.”
From beneath his warm blanket, the baby kitten melted into softness as he delivered his line. Kyo-Shin stayed silent for a moment before replying.
—Baby, how about trying that after you’ve gotten out of bed?
“I am out of bed. It really is warm today…”
Outside is dangerous… better not go out.
—You really do like extreme weather, don’t you. It’s negative twenty today, so stay inside and keep warm.
…Negative twenty?
“Wow… it might snow.”
—Unfortunately, it’s clear and freezing. The wind makes it feel even colder, so stay inside. Don’t go out just because your friends call you and end up catching a cold.
His gentle voice brushed against Shin-Yeon’s ear, making his cheeks flush.
The memory of their kiss surfaced for no reason. Fidgeting with his lips, he spoke again.
“When do your lips get dry, Executive Director?”
—Hmm… probably in the evening. Why?
“I’m figuring out when I can come kiss you. I was thinking I’d keep your lips nice and moisturized.”
At his ultimate flirting move, Kyo-Shin went quiet for a moment—then laughed.
—…Haha! You want to steal my lips again? That one worked. Should this old man come over tonight and let you take them?
“I’m not stealing them, I’m moisturizing them. You said it was your first kiss—then why are you so good at it? You were lying, weren’t you? It was really my first time.”
Shin-Yeon grumbled. Kyo-Shin laughed again before letting out a small sigh.
—When you get to my age, you can learn to kiss like a pro just from reading about it. I’m busy with my schedule right now, so we’ll talk later, baby.
“Executive Director, fighting!”
Face burning red, Shin-Yeon ended the call and buried his face in his pillow.
For some reason, his heart kept racing, like it had turned into cotton candy.
His ears felt hot, and he idly touched them as he checked the messages he’d missed.
After reading the one Kyo-Shin had sent the day of the art gallery, he went through the messages his friends had sent during his heat cycle and replied one by one.
[Kim Shin-Yeon: I couldn’t reply because of my heat cycle.]
[Seol Yi-Jun: That psycho didn’t do anything to you, did he? Just get engaged to one of us already.]
[Ji Won-Min: Shin-Yeon, are you really okay? You don’t need to try that hard for someone like him. Marry one of us—or at least imprint. Okay?]
Shin-Yeon frowned.
“Imprint? Are they insane?”
[Kim Shin-Yeon: What are you even saying, you lunatics? I’m not imprinting or getting married for friendship. And don’t even think about coming over! It’s too cold for me to go outside.]
After sending the reply, he tossed his phone aside and rolled around under the blanket before finally getting up.
Hunger hit him suddenly. Thinking he’d eat something and study new flirting techniques, he wandered out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
“Mom…? Mom, are you home?”
Being left alone without a word was nothing new. Both his parents were busy. Shrugging, he looked around for something to eat.
There was rice, side dishes, and soup—but he wanted spicy ramen.
He searched the cabinets, but there was none.
“Guess I have to go buy some.”
Changing his clothes, throwing on a thick padded coat and a scarf, Shin-Yeon grabbed his wallet and phone and headed outside.
Whoooosh—
“Ah—?! Is this weather insane? Why is it so cold?!”
Pulling his hood up and hunching his shoulders, he ran to the convenience store.
“Brrr… so cold…”
After grabbing several packs of ramen along with snacks and drinks, he paid and hurried back, the bag heavy in his hand.
When he reached home, pushing through the biting wind, he stopped short at the familiar figure standing in front of the door.
“…Huh? Hyung?”
“….”
Kim Shin-Hee stood there, trembling, dragging a suitcase, dressed in nothing more than a thin coat.
The moment Shin-Yeon saw how pale and worn he looked, he ran to him like lightning.
“You idiot! Have you lost your mind? Do you want to freeze to death out here?!”
He rushed over, stripping off his padded jacket and forcing it onto his brother, wrapping his scarf around his neck as well.
Kim Shin-Hee, who had been standing there blankly, burst into tears as he watched his younger brother take off everything he was wearing to dress him.
“Sniff…”
“What is it?! Why are you crying?! Let’s go inside first.”
Covering his face with both hands, sobbing uncontrollably, Shin-Hee was led inside by Shin-Yeon.
Dragging his freezing brother into the bedroom, Shin-Yeon sat him on the warm bed and covered him with a blanket.
“Are you insane? You’re pregnant and you’re out in weather like this?!”
“…Yeah. I was a stupid, thoughtless idiot.”
Watching him cry, Shin-Yeon let out a sigh.
“Did you eat? Warm up a bit while I make something.”
Laying him down, Shin-Yeon hurried to the kitchen, heating up soup and setting the table.
Just looking at him, Shin-Hee was in bad shape. Without hesitation, Shin-Yeon pulled out his phone and called their mother.