Yejun sighed heavily as he closed the door to his room, glancing around the suite. He had barely paid it any mind while moving his belongings into the new room, but it was quite nice. Blackout curtains for the windows, a desk to work at as well as a table and while no rain shower, the bathroom did have a separate tub. 

He stepped further in, finally glancing at the phone he had placed on silent during the day’s meetings. Two more messages from Jihun and three from Jieun. Yejun swiped away Jieun’s messages and instead opened Jihun’s.

Yoo (Pyeonjip): I got the money.

Yoo (Pyeonjip): Have you talked to Ahn-ssi yet?

Yejun scoffed, sitting down on the bed. He was starting to see that the reason Jihun asked for so little money was his true goal was to get Woojin’s information. It was obvious the alpha was interested in his friend and Yejun quickly switched to his conversation with woojin. 

Woojin 🍬: Hey, we should go to the Boryeong Mud Festival this year! My treat.

Yejun smiled as he saw the message. He had told Woojin at the time he needed to make sure he could manage the time off to go, but now, it was a great way to spend time outside of the office and find out more about what Jieun was saying about him. 

And how much Woojin believed, 

Yejun: Hey, we can totally do the festival. Also, would it be alright if I gave Yoo-ssi your number? I left Jieun in charge, but just in case. I know her rut is soon.

Yejun started to swipe to a different conversation when he saw the dots appear. 

Woojin 🍬: Sweet! It’s gonna be great. Also sure, whatever you think is best, Jun. I always trust your judgement. 

Yejun felt his smile fade a bit as he read the reply. He wanted to believe in Woojin. Believe that even if Jieun pushed, Woojin would never betray their friendship like that. But then what did “same place” mean?

He swiped back to Jihun’s conversation, quickly sending over Woojin’s number in Kakao. Then he took a deep breath, and finally opened all the missed messages from Jieun.

Jieun 🟢: Sleep well! I know the first day sucks.

Jieun 🟢: Hope the dinner went well. I’ll do well leading in your place.

Jieun 🟢: Did your meetings go well today? Don’t forget to eat properly.

Jieun 🟢: I’m still at the office today. There was a problem with the budget report, so I might stay late.

Jieun 🟢: Text me when you can. I know the time difference makes it tricky, but I’d like to hear you’re okay.

Each message made something in Yejun’s chest feel tight, like a fist was closing slowly around his heart. It wasn’t even the words themselves, but rather the knowledge that he couldn’t be sure what any of it meant anymore. He used to feel comforted by these check-ins. Now he read them wondering what she might have been doing in between the polite concern and the late nights. Did she even mean them?

Yejun let out a long breath, scrubbing his palms over his face. He was too tired to think himself in circles tonight. He forced himself to pick up the phone again and, after a moment’s hesitation, typed out a reply.

Yejun: Things are going well, just busy. Don’t overwork yourself. Send me anything that is urgent.

Yejun quickly exited the conversation, scrolling through his contacts to find Minjae. He found the acquisitions lead easily, realizing he still needed to remove Song from his contacts now that she had left and Seulgi was promoted to her position. He made a mental note to do it later and opened a new conversation

Yejun: Lee-ssi, it’s me. You said I could message you.

For a few seconds, he just sat there, feeling the shallow ache behind his breastbone. Then, with a kind of weary determination, he stood and moved to the small table by the window. The blackout curtains were mostly drawn, but he parted them just enough to see the glint of San Francisco’s lights below. A few cars crawled along the avenues like toy models. It felt surreal to be so far from home, to be stuck in a city that had never been part of any plan he’d made for himself.

His phone buzzed softly on the table. For a moment, Yejun didn’t want to look. He half-hoped it was just a calendar reminder, something impersonal and practical. But he already knew it wasn’t. When he finally reached for it, Minjae’s name glowed on the screen.

Lee (Gihoek): Of course. Did you want to meet, or simply message?

Yejun chuckled at how formal Minjae was still being. As if he hadn’t just seen the beta drunk out of his mind and offered to help him break off his engagement. 

Yejun: Message is fine. People might get the wrong idea if we meet in person too often.

Lee (Gihoek): Of course, that makes sense. Where would you like to start?

Yejun paused, considering the question as he sat back on the bed. He hadn’t really considered how much he was willing to share, or how much he needed to say just to make sense of his own thoughts. He stared down at the phone, feeling the old reflex of caution. But that caution hadn’t kept anything safe. It hadn’t protected the life he thought he was building.

Yejun: I think I need to know if she’s cheating or not. Woojin doesn’t sound as if he fully believes her so I'm not sure if they are actually doing anything.

Lee (Gihoek): If she hasn’t yet, she’s definitely planning too. She sounded impatient and entitled in the recording, and if she’s lying about how you treat her, it’s likely to get sympathy for why she would look elsewhere. Is Ahn-ssi the only omega in your department?

Yejun: On the core team yeah.

Lee (Gihoek): Then first step would see if he’s the only omega she talks to that way. I can ask my sister to see if she visits Translations a lot or not, since it's on the same floor. I know there are a few unpaired omegas on her side.

Yejun: Your sister?

Lee (Gihoek): Yes, my twin. She just got promoted to the Team Leader in Translations.

Yejun paused, thinking about Seulgi. Well, now that he thought about it, they did share similarities, particularly their blond hair. Hers was darker than his, but Yejun had always assumed it was merely dyed to stand out more. Siblings made a bit more sense. 

Lee (Gihoek): Don’t worry. I won’t tell her what’s going on. 

Yejun scoffed softly, unable to help his slight smile. 

Yejun: I appreciate it. When will you ask her? 

Lee (Gihoek): Tomorrow. Less suspicious that way. Have you eaten yet? I noticed you skipped lunch.

Yejun’s smile disappeared. He hadn’t yet. 

Yejun: I ordered some room service. It’ll be here soon. You said you could also help me in case she told the truth.

Yejun quickly reopened the hotel’s room service app, switching to the food tab. It seemed they did offer Asian cuisine, but nothing strictly Korean in nature. He scrolled for a while, eventually he settled on a simple miso soup and a plate of steamed rice with grilled salmon. It wasn’t the same as a warm doenjang jjigae, but at least the flavors were familiar enough to ease the hollow feeling in his chest. He placed the order and set the phone aside, letting his gaze drift back to the window.

Lee (Gihoek): Well, if Chairman Lim disowns you, it would be smart to have your own money. Is there any way you can push back the engagement?

Yejun read the message twice, feeling the exhaustion settle deeper in his bones. He was grateful that Minjae was thinking so far ahead, but part of him hated that any of this was necessary. He didn't want to think his mother would disown him, but his father and grandparents constantly pushed back on her naming him her heir. They could easily pressure her to finally give up on him if Jieun revealed the truth.

Yejun: Maybe, if I phrase it carefully. 

Lee (Gihoek): Let her know you want to live on your own for a while, to get used to the idea. Your own apartment, and an account you have full control over, to get used to the idea of being a husband and a parent. Once that happens, I can help you more.

Yejun: How?

Lee (Gihoek): Investing.

A knock sounded at the door startled him. For a moment he thought it must be a mistake, but then he remembered the room service. He stood, accepting the tray with a polite nod and pushing the door shut as soon as the server left. The scent of warm miso drifted up in a thin cloud, and he exhaled slowly, trying to let it soothe something tight and raw inside his chest.

He set the tray carefully on the table by the window and looked at his phone. It was… strange how prepared Minjae was. Did Minjae always think like this? Was his position as heir also unstable? Questions and curiosity swirled in Yejun’s mind as he typed his reply with one hand.

Yejun: Should I wait until we get back?

Lee (Gihoek): You know Chairman Lim better than me. Do it in whatever way is likely to get you a yes.

“In person then,” Yejun muttered, arranging the bowls and utensils precisely. Each motion felt deliberate: peeling back the lid of the soup, settling the rice bowl at a perfect right angle to the chopsticks. 

Yejun: I will. Good night, Lee-ssi.

Lee (Gihoek): Good night, Lim-ssi. I’ll let you know what my sister says.

Yejun set the phone face-down, letting the screen fade to black. He forced himself to pick up the chopsticks and try the salmon, though he hardly tasted it. It was nicely grilled, with a little soy glaze, but it wasn’t quite what he wanted. Maybe he should have asked Minjae if there were any decent Korean restaurants that would deliver to the hotel. 

Picking up his phone again, Yejun glanced at his contact for Minjae. He had called the alpha by his first name, but Minjae had overlooked it, immediately reverting and insisting on formalities. He appreciated it, but also… it felt strange. Yejun closed his eyes as he chewed, the faint memory of Minjae’s scent floating through his mind. He laid down the chopsticks and opened to edit the contact. 

Lee (Gihoek) → Minjae 🪵

Yejun smiled. That was better.