His father and mother were no different. They say that no matter how much of a troublemaker, a child is still a child to be cherished, but for Han Sol, it was the opposite.
He was completely a child outside their arms. It was clear they wanted to get rid of him as fast as possible.
(t/n : a child outside their arms = a child who has grown up and left the parent’s care)
Could the candidates in these profiles be the same ones as before? Did she get the same list from the Chairman? I worried as I flipped through the pages one by one. Some looked the same, some didn’t. I was squinting so hard that the names and photos were a blur.
Lee Geumyoung watched me with a frown as I struggled to look, as if there was something she couldn’t bear to see, before finally stuffing the bundle of papers back into the envelope without finishing.
“Are you saying you don’t want to go on the dates?”
“What? Ah, no. It’s just…”
“There is no ‘just.’ State your intentions clearly.”
Her already large eyes widened, making her appear menacing. Her red-painted lips only fueled my fear of her. How could a mother be as frightening as a ghost? Before I was transmigrated, I had been thoroughly sick of the very existence of parents, let alone my mother.
I carefully met Lee Geumyoung’s eyes and began to speak.
“I’m still only twenty-five, so being told to go on blind dates is a bit… You’re telling me to get married when I’m still young…”
“What’s so young about twenty-five? So you’re saying you can’t do it? You don’t want to do it?”
If she asked so directly, I couldn't say yes. Not because I was afraid of her, but because when I looked deep inside myself, that wasn't quite it anymore. My feelings had changed since the Chairman had given me those profiles. Back then, I didn't want to go on the dates, but now, for some reason, it felt like I should.
Not because of Lee Geumyoung, and not because of the Chairman, but for the sake of the man I lived with.
Even with a reason, my heart slyly betrayed me without my knowing. If Han Sol was a child "outside their arms," then I intended to treat them as parents "outside my arms."
"How much can you give me?"
Lee Geumyeong was stunned by my absurd mention of money. I scratched my head awkwardly and asked again. It was embarrassing, but I had to make sure she understood she wasn't mistaken.
"Father took all my money, so I don’t have a single penny. I need money to go on these dates, don’t I? I have to buy clothes, get my hair cut… Please add in an allowance for maintaining my dignity and for the emotional labor.”
“Not long ago you were crazy for men, and now you’re crazy for money?”
“Umm… yes.”
I answered with a cheerful "yes," the corners of my mouth lifting. Lee Geumyoung shook her head, utterly baffled, then suddenly raised her hand.
Smack—
In response to my smile, she left a stinging handprint on my back.
"Is this the time for you to be asking for money?"
***
After Lee Geumyoung left, as the sun set and the moon began to wane, I lay motionless in bed.
Han Jinheon had called to say a sudden dinner appointment had come up and that he would be home late. He offered to send Secretary Song again, but I vehemently refused, making up excuses about a stomachache and fatigue, turning my perfectly healthy body into a frail one.
I wanted to be alone. I wanted to just lie still, stare at the ceiling, and sort out my thoughts.
A thought just occurred to me. I got transmigrated and became broke. I got transmigrated and have to go on blind dates. I got transmigrated and am being told to become an Omega. By Han Jinheon, of all people.
This sentence, which sounded like a fitting title for a modern novel, was ridiculously my reality and my future. Even though I was living timidly, not doing much of anything, the life of a transmigrated person was proving difficult thanks to the solid tower of karma Han Sol had built.
The only fortunate thing was that the candidates in the profiles Lee Geumyoung brought were worlds apart from the ones the Chairman had sent. A heaven-and-earth difference.
The candidates she brought were men between their twenties and thirties, Alpha chaebol heirs of the third or fourth generation. Naturally, none were balding or had a history of divorce. They didn’t have children or mistresses. They were single, like me, never having been married.
The moment I realized that people like these could be potential partners for Han Sol, a bitter taste filled my mouth. It also made me realize just how much the Chairman must hate me.
Should I go on a date with one of the decent ones, and if I like him, get married? Then if I don't like him after we're married, I can find fault and divorce him. Get a hefty settlement. Then I could find another decent person, marry him, and if I don't like him, divorce him and get another settlement... What if the HANQ family gets a reputation for having a settlement-killer? The thought was so absurd a dry laugh escaped my lips.
Still, it was better than going to America. Going to America meant death, so I should be satisfied with just being alive. Yet, as I tried to force a positive mindset, a heavy sigh settled deep in my chest, making me feel suffocated. I left the room, deciding to take a walk in the yard.
Perhaps because winter was approaching, the night air was chilly. It was too much trouble to go back inside for a jacket, so I shoved my hands in my pockets and hunched my shoulders. As I walked through the yard, I approached the flowerbed. Even in the cold, the flowers were in beautiful full bloom.
What kind of flower is this? I don’t know much about them.
Just as I took out my phone to search, my ears perked up at the sound of a car coming up the hill outside the wall. A car coming all the way up here could mean it was Han Jinheon. With that guess, I searched for the flower. Yellow and autumn. Ah, are they chrysanthemums?
The sound of the car stopped. Instead, I heard what I assumed was a car door closing, followed by the main gate opening. It was Han Jinheon. To give him a surprise welcome, I quickly stood up, tiptoed toward the stone steps, and sat down beside a bush.
He won’t see me if I sit here. If Han Jinheon just looks at the mansion as he walks, there’s no way he’ll know…
I heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. As they grew closer, my heart was already pounding with the thought of surprising him. But when Han Jinheon finally reached the top and walked across the yard, I couldn't bring myself to jump out. Far from startling him, I just sat there dumbly, watching his back.
Han Jinheon, who had been walking confidently, looking straight ahead, stopped.
Like me, he approached the flower bed filled with yellow blossoms and admired them. His large frame drew close to the tiny flowers, and his rough hand, as if touching my hair, brushed over the petals. He was unexpectedly delicate for his size. I chuckled at the cuteness that didn't suit him.
In the quiet night, my small laugh reached Han Jinheon's ears. He slowly turned his head and saw me. Upon spotting me, his eyebrows twitched. He straightened up and asked.
“What are you doing there?”
"Hyung, I was just scoping out a good spot to surprise you."
“And you didn’t. What are you doing? Come here.”
I got up and walked over to him. Han Jinheon took off his gloves and cupped my cheeks with his bare hands. The warmth from his hands instantly transferred to my cheeks, making them feel even hotter.
“Your cheeks are freezing.”
“It must be because the nights are getting chilly now. Let's go inside."
I gestured to the door, regretfully pulling his hands away from my cheeks. I thought I had taken the first step, but Han Jinheon had already passed me and was holding the door open. As soon as we were inside, I tried to go to my room, but Han Jinheon grabbed me and pulled me into the kitchen. He sat me down at the island counter and brewed me a cup of chamomile tea.
“Drink this before you go.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
"You didn’t eat, did you?”
“Dinner? I wasn’t very hungry. You ate before you came home, right?”
He gave a slight nod, took off his jacket, and took the seat beside me. He told me to drink the tea and soak in a warm bath so I wouldn't catch a cold. Then he said that rather than just suggesting it, he would draw the bath for me, which made me jump up to stop him.
What are you doing? Why are you trying to take care of me to that extent? I can do that myself!
“No! If I’m going to bathe, I’ll do it myself. You just got home, too…”
“Right. And since I just got back, don’t I need to wash up too?”
Yes, you need to wash up too. Wait a minute, don’t tell me…!
"Were you suggesting we wash up… together?”
My gaze dropped from Han Jinheon's face to his body, landing squarely on his firm chest. Even though he was clothed, I could vividly picture what that chest looked like. I had already been staring at it to my heart's content for a month.
Right, just that alone was stimulating enough. If we were to get undressed and wash up together, I might just die of a heart attack. And this time, I probably wouldn’t get to be transmigrated again.
“Do you want to wash together? I didn’t know you saw my body that way.”
“Th-that way?! Who! Me?!”
“That promiscuous nature of yours never changes.”
"I may be promiscuous, but I have some common sense! Am I crazy enough to—Hy-hyung! I’m picky about my partners, you know! The things you say to your own brother! Your mouth is the reckless one! Reckless!”
As I yelled nonstop, Han Jinheon leaned back. Even without him covering his ears, his expression made it clear he wasn't listening.
Honestly, I didn’t need to raise my voice that much, but I’d been caught off guard. I sat back down on the chair with as nonchalant a face as I could manage and picked up the teacup. I brought it to my lips, avoiding his gaze entirely, trying belatedly to appear calm.
I could have just gone upstairs. But Han Jinheon casually tossed his jacket onto the island counter and sat down next to me. He must be tired, yet he’s not going up. I grumbled internally and shifted my body slightly away. I was suddenly intensely aware of his physical presence.
“Han Sol.”
At the sound of my name, I glanced at him. Han Jinheon was staring only at me, so our eyes met instantly. I had no choice but to turn my body toward him.
"Your mother visited today, didn't she? May I ask what she said to you?"
It wasn't surprising that Han Jinheon knew about Lee Geumyeong's visit. It was his house, so of course he'd know. However, I hesitated. Lee Geumyeong hadn't specifically told me not to speak, but I wasn't sure if I should tell him the truth.
What would this man say if I told him about the blind dates? Would he tell me to become an Omega again?
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