TGT 3

It was the Monday, a week after his hospital visit, that Seo Jeong-won agreed to meet Kwon Tae-hee again.

Seo Jeong-won arrived at the flower shop early in the morning. Since he had left the mess untouched on Sunday night due to exhaustion, there was much to clean up.

The floor was a disaster. Soil from repotting plants was scattered messily across the floor.

He sighed, wondering when he would finish cleaning it all.

While feeding the small fish in the ornamental—no, actually the aquarium he had brought in because he felt lonely—on the table used as a counter, he decided the order of what to clean first. The colorful tropical fish moved actively, following the food.

“Where should I start? Should I sweep the floor first to organize the flowerpots? Yes, that’s what I think too. I’m just being lazy.”

He picked up the broom leaning against one wall and carefully swept the aisles. He also checked on the Juniperus chinensis he had recently brought in, moving around to different spots.

They say succulents don’t die easily, but they were dying just fine even though he was taking care of them diligently. Was it sensitive to temperature? Maybe he just didn’t have the knack for it.

Having ended up running the flower shop unexpectedly, he didn’t really know how to grow plants properly, except for repotting.

Fortunately, there was a fairly organized notebook about plants among his aunt’s belongings, so he was managing to run the place on his own by referring to it.

It contained scribbled knowledge from small details like how much water to give and how to maintain the temperature in the flower shop, to how to revive plants or trees that seemed dead.

Only the financial aspects weren’t organized, so for several months, payment notices flew in like monthly events.

Although raised by his aunt, he wasn’t her biological child, so it was difficult to verify the debts. Only later did he learn that the flower shop had been acquired through excessive borrowing.

With a loan of this size, it was fair to say that the flower shop belonged to the bank.

“It’s too rural, so it’s hard to find a buyer.”

Despite being on the market for months, not a single person had come to see the flower shop. Seo Jeong-won said something each time he passed by the small aquarium.

“I told you I saw my brother. I couldn’t tell much since he was just sleeping, but he doesn’t seem to have changed much from before.”

When he tapped the glass wall with his finger, the fish gathered, thinking he was feeding them.

“I wish he would wake up. I want to ask how he’s been all this time.”

“Indeed. I wish that too.”

A low voice echoed from behind. The man had appeared without any warning.

Seo Jeong-won trembled and straightened his body. He was so startled that he couldn’t even make a sound. His heart hurt a little. Enough to feel a tingling sensation.

Seeing him clutch his chest, a concerned voice followed.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m just… surprised.”

“Your face has gone pale. Are you really okay?”

“…I’m fine. I was just really startled.”

Seo Jeong-won, pressing firmly over his heart, bowed slightly toward Kwon Tae-hee. He looked even more impressive today than at the hospital.

That day, perhaps because of the bad weather, he seemed to exude a gloomy atmosphere, but he looked different in the flower shop. He was radiant. Perhaps even gorgeous.

His eye color was quite bright. Eyes caught in the sunlight were as light as brown paint dissolved in water. Even the radial patterns of his iris within the round rim were clearly visible.

Knowing it was impolite, Seo Jeong-won still stared at him as if observing. He said he was an executive at a construction company, but could he also be… an actor or something?

“Shall we continue standing here?”

“Ah, no. S-sorry. Here, would you like to sit here?”

The man seemed too precious to seat at a rusty iron table, but there was no choice. Seo Jeong-won continued with flushed cheeks.

“I only have instant coffee mix, would you like some?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Kwon Tae-hee politely declined. Seo Jeong-won asked if he would like water instead and moved. Despite his refusal, a paper cup filled with water was placed in front of him.

“The flower shop is quite large. More quaint than I expected.”

“Ah, this… this is small. Other places are bigger and have more varieties of plants.”

“Is that so? I wouldn’t know since I’ve never been to one.”

Kwon Tae-hee smiled faintly, shifting his gaze from the flower shop he actually had no interest in, and opened his briefcase.

As he moved his hand, the pitch-black eyes followed his movements. Enjoying that gaze, he took out a brown envelope with slow gestures.

“I’ve brought a copy of the contract I had with Gyu-won and a draft of the new contract for us. Read it and let me know if there are parts you want to modify or discuss further. I’ll accommodate everything.”

Seo Jeong-won carefully took the envelope placed in front of him. Even though it was given to him to read, it felt like he was secretly peeking. While checking Kwon Tae-hee’s reaction, the first thing he confirmed upon taking out the contents was the name “Seo Gyu-won.”

“By the way, I didn’t ask what exactly my brother had promised to give you back then.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“So, um…”

Seo Jeong-won’s eyes widened as he slowly read through the contract. Ah, wait a minute. He scrunched up his pale face.

“This is…”

His trembling eyes immediately turned to Kwon Tae-hee. The black pupils shook helplessly. Kwon Tae-hee slightly raised his eyebrows as if asking what was wrong.

“That’s right. What I was supposed to receive was a child.”

“I didn’t know it was something like this…”

Unlike most children of chaebol families who have arranged marriage partners from birth, Kwon Tae-hee never had such a person from the beginning.

This was because his parents thought differently, despite strategic marriages in political and business circles being a necessary strategy rather than a choice.

The couple, who never felt interest or attraction toward each other due to their loveless marriage, sat young Kwon Tae-hee down and said they didn’t want to pass down the evil customs of chaebol families.

When Kwon Tae-hee reached marriageable age, his parents set forth conditions for inheriting the company, as if they had been waiting.

The only condition they insisted he follow was to naturally meet someone through social interactions, marry in due course, and have a child. It was the only requirement he absolutely had to keep.

They hoped that their child, unlike themselves, would form a family with someone they loved in a perfectly ordinary way.

But his parents’ wishes were wrong from the start. Kwon Tae-hee didn’t want to spend time, effort, or emotions on such things as “natural meetings.”

So he received someone through an omega custom service center that specialized in such matters.

In this world, for a few bucks, Omegas with perfectly laundered pasts, lives designed according to the client’s wishes, and ideally set first meetings could be delivered to your doorstep.

The Omega delivered that way was Seo Gyu-won.

He never felt any guilt about deceiving his parents. His only thought was to end the troublesome procedure quickly and inherit the company.

“Wait, just a moment. I, I…”

“What is Jeong-won’s trait?”

The lowered voice didn’t sound like a question, but it clearly was one.

“I’m a Beta. Because I’m a Beta…”

“Ah, a Beta. Then… Seo Jeong-won-ssi also cannot give me what Gyu-won promised.”

“I’m, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was something like this. But… then what about my brother… how…”

If he had known this was the condition at the hospital, he wouldn’t have agreed.

But at this point, such thoughts didn’t occupy even a small fragment of Seo Jeong-won’s mind. It was filled only with vague thoughts of what to do now.

“Since the brother, Seo Jeong-won, also cannot fulfill the contract, you’ll have to either remove the ventilator or bear all costs directly involved in maintaining your brother’s life support. I brought this just in case.”

Seo Jeong-won’s mouth opened slightly as his gaze fell on the additional documents being presented. He also let out a small groan of “Ah,” as if surprised.

“These are the hospital bill receipts. And these are the caregiver costs.”

He stood up as if he had no lingering attachments.

“After seeing this, do you still want your brother to remain on the ventilator?”

“Of course… I want my brother to stay on the ventilator.”

“I see. I clearly understand what Jeong-won wants. I’ll inform the hospital that all future costs will be borne by the younger brother, Seo Jeong-won-ssi. If you ever need help, feel free to contact me anytime. I’ll help with whatever I can.”

Kwon Tae-hee took in the small figure trembling minutely before his eyes.

Looking at the business card placed next to the documents, he predicted when a call might come. Perhaps after two months of waiting? He would somehow endure for a month through sheer willpower, but from the second month on, he was certain it would be difficult.

Though it might be amusing to see what choice he would make, that was the extent of it.

A not-so-exceptional curiosity about Seo Jeong-won’s appearance and the atmosphere he exuded.

“The hospital bill payment deadlines must be strictly observed. Otherwise, forced discharge procedures will begin.”

He smiled, hoping that the things that would drive his situation to the worst would be placed in front of Seo Jeong-won as if they had been waiting.

He hoped that cheap flyers offering loans would be well-placed in places where his clear eyes would often reach.

“By the way, Seo Jeong-won-ssi, do you know? That Betas exposed to Alpha pheromones for extended periods can sometimes manifest as Omegas.”