Seo Kyo-Shin stared at the bouquet of freesias thrust right in front of him, then covered his face with one hand.
“I may not have much right now, but… I’ll work hard and make you happy!”
Trying his absolute best to look solemn and dependable, Shin-Yeon pushed the bouquet out even farther.
The sweet fragrance of freesias tickled his nose, and combined with the sheer absurdity of the situation, Kyo-Shin was just about to laugh out loud.
To make matters worse, through the glass wall, every single person in the restaurant had their eyes fixed on them.
Even the server assigned to the room stood outside the door, staring in shock.
“…Mm. Thank you for the bouquet. Let’s get you up first, shall we?”
Kyo-Shin took the flowers and set them on the table, then reached out to help Shin-Yeon to his feet.
Shin-Yeon, face flushed and eyes glistening with tears from embarrassment, opened his mouth.
“…My leg cramped.”
“Pff—… Ah, your leg cramped?”
That explained why he’d subtly switched knees mid-proposal.
Finding the whole situation utterly ridiculous, Kyo-Shin simply picked Shin-Yeon up with both hands.
“Oh my…!”
A gasp came from outside.
Ignoring it completely, Kyo-Shin carried him over and set him down in a chair, then took hold of his trembling leg.
As his large hand kneaded Shin-Yeon’s thin calf, Shin-Yeon clamped his mouth shut, looking like he might scream as he held back tears.
“Seems like the muscle’s loosened now.”
With his leg caught in Kyo-Shin’s large hand, it felt so thin, so fragile—Shin-Yeon was suddenly overwhelmed by a strange, almost indecent sensation.
His face flushed deep red, and just as he lowered his head and tried to rub at his eyes—
a warm hand touched his cheek.
A hand large enough to cover most of his face gently brushed under his eyes, wiping away his tears before cupping his chilled cheek.
“Why were you running like that? Because you’re a baby and like running?”
“I thought I’d be late. And I was worried the flowers might wilt in the cold, so I ran.”
“If you think you’ll be late next time, send a message and come slowly.”
Kyo-Shin stroked Shin-Yeon’s pale cheek, then used his thumb to tug lightly at the corner of his red, camellia-like lips.
“Mm…?”
“Your mouth is small.”
“It’s not small. I can eat half a hamburger in one bite.”
With innocent eyes, Shin-Yeon shaped a tiny hamburger with his hands as he proudly demonstrated.
Kyo-Shin let out a low laugh.
“Impressive.”
Sitting back down, Kyo-Shin watched as Shin-Yeon belatedly handed his coat and scarf to a staff member.
From the long line of his neck to his neat shoulders and slender back, his figure was revealed—an omega’s natural curves giving him a strikingly pretty silhouette.
Wearing an ivory knit sweater, Shin-Yeon looked even softer, even fairer. As he hurriedly fixed his mussed-up hair, his eyes met Kyo-Shin’s.
His cheeks flushed instantly. Avoiding his gaze, he hesitated before glancing up at the ceiling and speaking awkwardly.
“W-what kind of restaurant is this?”
“Italian. I heard it’s the kind of place younger people like. Any food you can’t eat?”
At the question, Shin-Yeon shook his head vigorously, saying he didn’t have any allergies or foods he avoided.
“You must’ve had a hard time preparing for the CSAT and college applications. Eat a lot. So—did you buy yourself something nice with your allowance?”
“Ah… that… my brother… uh— I mean, I saved it. He told me to.”
I see. Kim Shin-Hee ran off and even took his little brother’s spending money?
Kyo-Shin’s eyes curved as he smiled deeply at the sweat-drenched, panicking Shin-Yeon.
“So, why did baby propose to me—his future brother-in-law?”
“……”
“And in a public place, no less.”
Though he was smiling, his dark eyes flashed cold.
Meeting that gaze, Shin-Yeon swallowed hard and clenched his fists.
Even if you get dragged off by a tiger, as long as you keep your wits about you… you survive, right?
The sudden, sharp question made his head spin, and before he could think, the words tumbled out.
“You’re exactly my type! I couldn’t let my brother have you. There’s only one Seo Kyo-Shin in this world—just you, Executive Director!”
“Hmm… only one.”
“O-of course, not counting people with the same name.”
Even as he threw out every flirting line he’d learned online, Shin-Yeon felt a growing sense of danger at Kyo-Shin’s calm reaction.
At this rate… I might get rejected.
I don’t want to be homeless… I don’t want everything to fall apart.
“Executive Director Seo, aren’t you especially dazzling today?”
At the sudden question, Kyo-Shin glanced at the snow-clouded sky outside.
“…In this weather?”
“You’re so dazzling today I thought there were two suns.”
Even as he said it, Shin-Yeon felt his whole body cringe—but with teary eyes, he stubbornly met Kyo-Shin’s gaze.
Embarrassment is temporary. My home is not.
Kyo-Shin, who had seemed momentarily frozen, turned his gaze toward the window, the chill fading from his eyes.
“So baby prefers cloudy weather, then.”
No, I like bright sunny weather.
“…Because when it’s cold, I can ask you to hold my hand, Executive Director.”
Shin-Yeon trembled all over from embarrassment.
Kyo-Shin looked at him like he couldn’t even begin to decide where to start correcting him.
“I don’t even know where to begin, but… baby, if there were two suns, most life on Earth would go extinct.”
…Like I don’t know that!
“Hic.”
Feeling unfairly wronged, Shin-Yeon sniffled softly and looked away.
At that moment, Kyo-Shin stood, removed his jacket, and draped it over Shin-Yeon’s shoulders.
“You’re dressed too lightly. If you’re cold, should I have them move us?”
…This is my chance!
Eyes darting, Shin-Yeon cautiously held out his hand.
“…P-please hold my hand.”
“Well, holding hands is easy enough.”
As that large hand wrapped around his, Shin-Yeon’s heart began pounding for no reason.
He slowly lifted his head and looked at Kyo-Shin.
At 197 centimeters, his physique was nothing like an ordinary person’s.
Broad shoulders, and muscles clearly defined even beneath his dress shirt—it was almost intimidating.
Gulp.
Especially those large, veined hands, his wrists, and the thick forearms visible even through his shirt—they drew his gaze completely.
“If you’re done staring, give me your other hand too.”
“…I wasn’t staring.”
“Not something a baby who just swallowed like that should say.”
Carefully, Shin-Yeon took Kyo-Shin’s other hand as well, unable to hide his awe.
“Wow… your hands are really big. And cool.”
He rubbed his fingers over the firm palm, then held his wrist, tracing the thick bone.
At that moment, two large fingers slipped into the cuff of Shin-Yeon’s knit sleeve, loosely stroking his thin wrist, brushing along the inside.
This baby really has no fear.
Kyo-Shin watched Shin-Yeon, who was completely absorbed in touching and exploring his hands and wrists.
Just barely twenty, Shin-Yeon was still practically a baby, soft with youth.
Watching him react like that just from touching his hand, Kyo-Shin found himself far more drawn in than he’d expected.
He lifted his gaze to meet those brown eyes.
What am I supposed to do—he’s grown up even prettier than Kim Shin-Hee.
Biting his red lips, Shin-Yeon clasped both of Kyo-Shin’s hands tightly.
“Please marry me.”
“Let’s eat first, and then I’ll think about it.”
“O-okay…”
Slowly rubbing the soft, pale hand still caught in his, Kyo-Shin’s lips curved upward.
When Shin-Yeon pressed the call button, the server entered.
They explained the menu options within the pre-selected course and asked about steak doneness.
“Medium for me.”
“The same. Baby, what about wine?”
“Uh… I’ve never had alcohol before.”
“Is that so?”
Ordering a non-alcoholic drink instead, Kyo-Shin continued to idly stroke the back of Shin-Yeon’s hand.
“When do you plan on trying alcohol? You’ll probably drink a lot once you start university.”
“Before that, maybe? With my parents, or maybe I’ll get together with friends and try it.”
Kyo-Shin’s eyes narrowed slightly as he let go of Shin-Yeon’s hand.
“Sounds like you have a good social life. Your friends—are they trait-holders? Or betas?”
“Some are betas, some are omegas, some are recessive alphas, some dominant alphas. I get along with everyone.”
Answering honestly, Shin-Yeon went on, listing his friends’ personalities and the universities they’d gotten into.
Kim Shin-Yeon isn’t hiding anything shady like Kim Shin-Hee.
When Kim Shin-Hee got engaged to him at twenty, he had been openly dissatisfied from the start—and had plenty he kept hidden.
Still, he never skipped their scheduled meetings.
After all, he got fine dining and unlimited shopping with a black card.
Since it was a business engagement anyway, Kyo-Shin hadn’t minded. Providing that much was simply courtesy.
Reaching out, Kyo-Shin brushed Shin-Yeon’s cheek and the corner of his eye, his voice low.
“So—was there an alpha you liked? A first love, maybe.”
“My friends? No way. Ugh…”
Shin-Yeon visibly grimaced, shaking out his curled-up hands as if disgusted, even scratching his arm.
“Even if they’re alphas, there’s absolutely nothing romantic about them. And…! I—I fell for you, Executive Director.”
Coming to his senses late, Shin-Yeon attempted another line of flirting, his cheeks turning red again.