"Enjoying the newlywed fun?"

"What nonsense."

Jaeha slightly furrowed his brow, conveying displeasure. But seeing Jaeha's reaction, Lee Jaeho started snickering even more.

Bringing up such a topic while receiving a handover at work was inappropriate, and the words were even more rude to say to an older sibling and their spouse. Rather than anger, he only felt pathetic.

Lee Jaeha's half-brother was nothing but a punk who lacked any sense of shame, doing things he didn't need to do. But now that Jaeha had completely withdrawn from Yushin's management, he merely hoped things would go well.

Even Jaeha, who had no affection for his family, had some affection for the company.

Yushin contained the shares his maternal grandfather had brought when his mother married Lee Ikhyeong. His mother was frail and neurotic, but she had loved Jaeha in her own way.

On days she wasn't ill, they often spent time reading books together or going to exhibitions.

On her sick days, she would push Jaeha away with a irritable face, but later, whenever he sensed his mother was unwell, he avoided her surroundings, so he only saw her bright face on healthy days.

There were no particularly happy memories, but he wasn't unhappy either. Lee Jaeha thought that was the warmth love provided.

If that truly was the warmth love provided, it would be too feeble and more lukewarm than water boiled and then cooled, but the young Jaeha was satisfied nonetheless. In a world overflowing with cases where parents pass on only useless things to their children, Lee Jaeha had received a considerable inheritance.

Considering the shares his mother brought as a marriage portion, it was hard to just abandon the company.

But Lee Jaeho probably didn't have that. Because Lee Jaeho, following Kim Ranhee's lead, wanted to resent and insult Jaeha's mother.

In reality, Jaeha's mother hadn't done anything bad to them. She merely used her family's influence to prevent the illegitimate child and the mistress omega born outside from being brought into the house. She never stepped forward to harass or persecute them.

Even that was for Jaeha's sake. Though somewhat neurotic, his mother was generally indifferent by nature; she held no resentment over being betrayed by Lee Ikhyeong and didn't even get angry.

She was only worried about Jaeha having a half-sibling. She even openly berated Lee Ikhyeong, saying, 'How incompetent must you be to get a child with some random omega outside?'

But there was no affection in that; it was merely a statement pointing out right and wrong.

Surprisingly, the one who couldn't endure it was Lee Ikhyeong. Lee Ikhyeong had genuinely loved Jaeha's mother.

But she did not love Lee Ikhyeong, and that unrequited love manifested itself in causing trouble, like a child craving parental love.

It was an absurdly idiotic act, but the fact that the chairman of a major conglomerate was engaging in such idiocy was the biggest problem. Matters concerning assets became far more complex than in an ordinary household.

"-for all the distinguished guests who have joined us today..."

On the podium, the planning department head of Yushin Pharmaceuticals was holding the microphone.

Today was the day of a fairly large event. It was a commemorative event celebrating the successful acquisition of Medudin, a diagnostic reagent company, by YS Biommer, a subsidiary of Yushin Pharmaceuticals.

While the pharmaceutical side had its own CEO, as a member of the controlling family, Lee Jaeha's attendance was important. Normally, he would have attended alone, but since he was also in the process of handing over duties, he brought Jaeho.

But despite coming all this way, he was only spouting nonsense. After giving his half-brother, who showed no sign of when he might come to his senses, a cool stare, Jaeha brought his lips to the water goblet.

The event's schedule was nearing its end. A dinner was to follow at the hotel where the event was held, but Jaeha just wanted to leave.

Somehow, he wasn't feeling well. Normally, he would have stayed, but his body was now one that only awaited resignation.

He thought he could just leave it to Jaeho and go home. As soon as he decided, Jaeha immediately called Yujin.

"I'll be leaving right away. You can go home too, Manager Lim. I'll drive myself."

"Director, but..."

Her boss, who never acted like this, was saying he was leaving first and would drive himself. As he stubbornly insisted, Yujin looked flustered.

Regardless, Jaeha quietly held out his hand, and she reluctantly handed over the car keys. As he stood to leave, the managing director from the pharmaceutical side stopped him.

"Director Lee, you even attended our event, we are truly grateful..."

"Hello, Managing Director Park. Lee Jaeho, Assistant Director, what are you doing? Hurry up and greet him."

Jaeha subtly pulled Lee Jaeho's shoulder and pushed him toward Managing Director Park, then slipped away. Lee Jaeho, who had been about to move to the adjacent hall where catering was prepared after all formalities ended, seemed caught off guard, pulled over to stand blankly before Managing Director Park.

Jaeha used that gap to completely exit the hall. It wasn't his job anymore, so why should he care who greeted whom?

As Jaeha, having slipped out, headed toward the hotel lobby.

"Huh...?"

Jaeha blinked, wondering if he was seeing correctly.

It was an ambiguous time on a weekday afternoon, so the hotel lobby was quiet. Since Yushin had rented the hall for today's commemorative event, it was perhaps natural that general guests were sparse.

That's how Jaeha easily spotted Jang Taegun.

Though truthfully, even in a crowded place, he couldn't have missed him.

The man, standing a head taller than others, stood with his suit jacket not worn but draped over his shoulders.

Startled, Jaeha took a step toward him, then paused. Because next to him stood a slender man who appeared to be an omega.

...Who is that?

A question arose. It was a face he hadn't seen before, so he could think he was a subordinate working under Jang Taegun, but something felt different.

He was about to approach but then turned away. Already, because of Jang Changsik, frost had settled between them from the very start of their marriage, hadn't it?

Rather than doing something more and earning more dislike, it seemed better to just let his own heart rot without asking anything. For Lee Jaeha, that was the better opportunity cost.

"If you see your wife, you should at least acknowledge her. Why are you just leaving?"

So he didn't even realize those words were calling for him. He took another step or so before finally realizing they were meant for him and stopped.

Jaeha looked back, still doubtful. Wife? Of course, he had a spouse, but calling Jang Taegun that felt a bit, no, very subtle and awkward.”

When Jaeha finally turned his body completely, his eyes met the 'wife' who had been anxiously looking for him.

"...Manager Jang?"

"I heard Yushin had an event here."

Jang Taegun walked over, glancing toward the second floor where the hall was, without answering Jaeha's call.

Behind him were Myeongsoon and an alpha slightly shorter than Jaeha but sturdily built. Judging by appearances, the alpha also seemed to be 'one of those people.'

"Yes. What brings Manager Jang here..."

"I'm here occasionally to collect overdue debts and such. As you mentioned, I'm still just a manager, you know."

Even if it was 'overdue debts,' it probably wasn't moving for petty sums like neighborhood thugs. He likely came to handle something like a tens-of-billions-won construction project gone awry or similar.

...Did he come looking for someone?

But Jaeha didn't inquire further and simply nodded.

"Director, hello."

Myeongsoon, who had been standing quietly, greeted with a lopsided smile. Laughing with that stereotypical, movie-like appearance of his type created tension, but Jaeha obediently returned the greeting to Myeongsoon.

Among Taegun's party, Myeongsoon was probably the most familiar face. Since Jang Taegun didn't come home often.

"Yes, hello. Mr. Myeongsoon."

As Jaeha returned the greeting, the alpha who had been standing stiff-faced in the back stepped forward with a clomp-clomp and extended his arm.

"Hello, Director. I'm Mo Jeonggil. I serve Taegun hyungnim."

"Ah, yes. Hello."

Upon hearing he was Taegun's subordinate, Jaeha was about to greet him warmly in return.

"I don't know why these thug bastards always travel in packs."

A teasing voice came from behind them. Jaeha slowly turned around. It was Lee Jaeho.

...When did he get here? I clearly told him to finish all the greetings before leaving.

For an assistant director, it seemed inappropriate to leave his post without properly finishing the task assigned by the director.

Glancing at Jaeha like that, Lee Jaeho smirked and laughed. He seemed to think Jaeha couldn't say anything to him with his entourage behind him, emboldening him.

Jaeha was the type who valued Yushin's public image and cared about social perception of the controlling family, so he generally didn't scold Jaeho or ignore Kim Ranhee in public.

Jaeho knew that and was poking at him. ...I should have found time, taken him to the main house, tied him up, and beaten him. Jaeha looked at Jaeho with regret.

Despite Lee Jaeho's ruffian-like personality, the reason he hadn't been involved in any major scandals yet was 90% because Lee Jaeha was holding the fort behind him.

If it were only Lee Jaeho's personal misfortune, it wouldn't matter if he did drugs or squandered personal assets on gambling. But as long as he was a member of Yushin, he couldn't be left to live recklessly.

So Jaeha found time and beat him. If he caused trouble, he beat him. If he didn't cause trouble, he beat him anyway. Faced with the fists of Jaeha, who had boxed for a long time, and perhaps because a recessive alpha couldn't defeat a dominant alpha, Lee Jaeho never managed to resist and always ended up pathetically getting beaten.

Jaeha had a somewhat gentlemanly personality, but that applied only to civilized people. In Jaeha's view, Lee Jaeho was not civilized.

It was the moment Jaeha opened his mouth to say something to the uncivilized Lee Jaeho.

"Are you a thug bastard too?"

"...What?"

Jang Taegun asked Lee Jaeho, tilting his head expressionlessly. It looked less like having no expression and more like someone who didn't know how to make one, sending a slight chill down the spine.

A giant alpha over 190cm staring at him with a bizarre expression made Lee Jaeho appear flustered.

"I'm asking if my brother-in-law is a thug bastard too. Since you all came in a line, I'm just asking."

Again in that ambiguous tone, neither formal nor informal, he asked Lee Jaeho. He didn't forget to gesture with his chin toward the entourage behind Jaeho.

Lee Jaeho, choking with anger, tried to retort but then looked back at his own followers and waved them off.

Having watched the whole scene, Jaeha let out a deep sigh. It was utterly pathetic.

"Lee Jaeho, Assistant Director."

"What."

"……."

"...What is it?"

He answered curtly, but seeing Jaeha's fearsome expression, Lee Jaeho quickly added formal speech and was glancing alternately at Jaeha and Jang Taegun.

"What's with your attitude? Come over and greet him properly."

"……."

At Jaeha's words, Lee Jaeho hesitated with an irritated look, then slowly crept toward Jaeha and Taegun.

With two dominant alphas standing side by side looking at him, his Adam's apple bobbed nervously as if he were tense.

Reluctantly, Lee Jaeho opened his mouth.

"Hello, Hyungnim. It's my first time seeing you since the wedding."

But as if uninterested in his greeting, Jang Taegun turned to look at Jaeha. He seemed about to say something to Jaeha.

That's when Lee Jaeho spoke again, as if mocking.

"But calling you 'Hyungnim' is a bit ambiguous, isn't it? I'm not a member of your organization."

"...Lee Jaeho."

Jaeha called Jaeho's name in a low, subdued voice, but Lee Jaeho, perhaps displeased at being ignored since he first spoke, began to act tough in his own way.

"No, seriously. Thinking about it, it's fucking hilarious."

Lee Jaeho let out a low-quality laugh. But that didn't last long either. Jang Taegun started laughing.

Leaning his head back slightly with his hands stuck in his pockets, he laughed quite loudly, which felt jarring. Even Jaeha looked at him blankly.

"...Why are you laughing?"

Jaeho asked slowly, the corners of his mouth dropping at Taegun's laughter. Taegun answered obligingly.

"I laughed because it seemed like my brother-in-law made a joke, and I wanted to look good."

"...What are you..."

"Don't you have to make a good impression on your spouse's family? Hey, Myeongsoon. Am I wrong?"

At that, Myeongsoon behind him replied stoutly, "That's right, Hyungnim." Lee Jaeho's face flushed red. Whether he realized he was being mocked or was just angry, he seemed furious.

Jang Taegun took a step forward. Lee Jaeho had to step back because of Taegun's gradual approach.

But the distance was close, so Jaeho was quickly caught up. Looking at him like that, Taegun spoke with a face that seemed devoid of any emotion.

"You said it's fucking hilarious."

"……."

"But why am I the only one laughing? Makes me feel fucking left out."

Then he stared intently at Lee Jaeho. Feeling like a predator with fangs as big as an adult's palm was scrutinizing him up close, Lee Jaeho's eyes wavered.

But Jang Taegun didn't back off. Helpless, Lee Jaeho forced the twitching corner of his mouth upward.

"Haha..."

Lee Jaeho forced a laugh. He forgot about the entourage behind him and that this was the middle of a hotel lobby.

All he could think was that if he resisted, he would be crushed underfoot and killed right there. He only wanted to lightly mock Jaeha and Jaeha's marriage partner.

After picking and choosing, he just wanted to ask if the one finally chosen was a thug bastard. He wanted to say that he would suck dry the Yushin that Jaeha cared for so much. He wanted to ask why Jaeha suddenly got married. Because the questions he could have asked Jaeha directly never left his mouth.

But as if to show that even such mockery came with a price, the man was looking down at him with terrifyingly dark, glossy eyes.

If one was human, expressions would naturally surface on the face, revealing emotions, but there were none. Lee Jaeho was breaking out in a cold sweat.

That's when Jang Taegun thumped Lee Jaeho on the shoulder.

"Live laughing often, brother-in-law."

"……."

"They say it's good for cancer prevention."

...Did I just get health advice...? Staring blankly at him, Taegun had already turned around and was pushing Jaeha's back.

By the time Lee Jaeho flushed red and purple with shame and humiliation, only he and his long line of entourage remained in that lobby.