PFFT.
Sohee couldn't help but laugh after Kim Heedo went pale. "It was a joke, brat."
Kim Heedo's face turned red as if he was embarrassed. "Hyung, don't get me wrong. I was just surprised that you brought it up already. After all, we decided we'd talk about conceiving a child later in our marriage. I don't want you to think that I'm the type of person who goes back on their word."
Right.
We promised to be mature when handling the heir issue, after all.
"To be honest, I've always wanted to build my own family because my family was dysfunctional," Sohee said while looking up at the starry sky. Wow. He just realized that it was already nighttime. "So, when I realized that I'm now financially free, I was relieved. I can finally dream about having a child without worries. But, then, I remember that I'm entering a contract marriage."
"I'm sorry, Hyung…"
"Why would you be sorry? I wouldn't be financially free if it weren't for you."
"Are you okay if your dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom gets pushed back in the meantime?"
"Of course, we're still both young anyway."
"Then is there anything else you want to do, Hyung?"
"Yep," Sohee said, smiling when Kim Heedo's face lit up. "I want to experience a life as a university student."
"Oh, Hyung wants to go back to school?"
"Yeah, that's my plan. I have half a year to prepare for the entrance exam," Sohee said while stretching his arms. "It's been years since I've finished high school. But now that I'm no longer financially burdened, I can finally focus on my life. I was pretty good at studying when I was a student, so I want to give going to college a shot."
"I'll support you, Hyung. Do you have a university in mind?"
"Yonhee University has always been my dream school."
Because it was the university that my mother wanted to go to before my scumbag father baby trapped her.
"Hyung, I'm a student there."
"Yeah? I think I remember Chairman Kim bragging that you attend Yonhee University."
Kim Heedo's face beamed. "Then we might end up going to the same school, Hyung."
Hmm.
If that's the case…
"Then should we keep our marriage a secret?" Sohee asked carefully. "I'm fine with it since we just need to stay married until your family's bad luck goes away."
"Are you sure you'll be okay with keeping our marriage a secret, Hyung?"
"Of course. Why would I brag about something that's not genuine anyway?"
Kim Heedo let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Hyung. To be honest, I don't like attracting attention. In fact, only a few people know that I'm the grandson of Ilsung Group's chairman. The others just think I'm just loaded."
"I see," Sohee said, nodding. "Then let's pretend we don't know each other at school."
If I pass the exam, that is.
***
IT WAS a little suffocating.
Sohee was having dinner with Jung (the shaman) and the Kim Family (except for Chairman Kim Hyungsik who was still in the hospital.
I finally met Kim Heedo's family.
Vice Chairman Kim Dohan (Kim Heedo's father).
President Kim Nari of Ilsung Group's Galaxy Department Store (Kim Heedo's mother).
The twins Kim Haewon and Kim Hanhae (high school students).
Everyone looks like a celebrity…
But Chairman Kim Hyungsik wasn't much of a looker, even during his younger years as Sohee had seen in his grandfather's old photos.
"Kim Heedo, your grandmother must be a beauty."
Sohee only meant to whisper that to Kim Heedo, but Kim Heedo's family's reaction said he actually said that out loud.
The serious Vice Chairman Kim Dohan faked a cough.
President Kim Nari smiled a little.
Kim Haewon— who looked like an elegant young lady at first— burst out laughing, and her laugh sounded like a dying hyena.
That was probably why Kim Hanhae covered his ears, but the boy was also grinning.
On the other hand, Kim Heedo chuckled while nodding enthusiastically. "You're right, Hyung. My grandmother was a beautiful Recessive Alpha."
Oh, a Recessive Alpha?
That made sense.
Female Alphas can get pregnant by male Betas and male Alphas since they have wombs just like Omegas and female Betas. The possibility of getting pregnant increases if the female Alpha is recessive— like Kim Heedo's grandmother. Male Alphas can't get pregnant, though.
"That's why my father was born a handsome Alpha," Kim Heedo said cheerfully. "Our mother is also a Recessive Alpha like our grandmother. And that's why all of us siblings were born Alpha."
I wonder if Chairman Kim feels out of place that he's the only Beta in the family.
"And, now, we also have an Omega in the family," President Kim Nari, Sohee's mother-in-law, said with a small yet warm smile on his face. "Welcome to the family, Park Sohee-ssi."
Park Sohee blushed because he didn't expect President Kim Nari— a sophisticated woman who looked cold on the outside— to welcome him warmly.
Even if they're just being cordial because their fortune depends on me, it still feels nice.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"You don't have to be so formal with us, Sohee-ssi," President Kim Nari said. "You can just address me accordingly."
'Accordingly.'
Then…
"Mother-in-law?"
President Kim Nari smiled and nodded. "That's right, my Son-in-law."
Aww.
Vice Chairman Kim Dohan didn't say anything, but he looked at Sohee with expectant eyes.
Aigoo.
"Father-in-law."
"Yes, Son-in-law," Vice Chairman Kim Dohan answered as if he was satisfied. "Have you figured out what you want to do after your marriage?"
Sohee nodded politely. "I want to study, Father-in-law. There are only a few months left before the entrance exam for aspiring college students, so I want to prepare for that."
"Do you have a university in mind?"
"Yonhee University is my dream school, Father-in-law."
Vice Chairman Kim Dohan and President Kim Nari's faces suddenly beamed.
"Hyung-nim, you must be smart then," Kim Hanhae said, his eyes sparkling. "Heedo Hyung goes to Yonhee University. That's also mine and Kim Haewon's goal. After all, that's where Eomma and Abeoji met and fell in love with each other at first sight."
Vice Chairman Kim Dohan and President Kim Nari both blushed as if they were teenagers being teased by their classmates.
Aigoo.
"I was good at studying back when I was still a student," Sohee said shyly. Well, to be precise, he was humble bragging. "I just hope that my brain still absorbs knowledge like a sponge the way it did before."
"Good luck, Hyung-nim~"
"Thank you, Hanhae-ssi."
"Just talk to me casually, Hyung-nim!"
"Alright, Hanhae-ya."
"Sohee Oppa, you can't marry Heedo Oppa."
Hmm?
The atmosphere suddenly fell quiet when Kim Haewon said that.
Kim Heedo was about to scold his younger sister, but Kim Haewon raised her hand.
"Sohee Oppa can't marry Heedo Oppa looking like a mess," Kim Haewon said, putting a pouch on the table. It seemed like a make-up pouch. "Sohee Oppa, let me make you prettier first. I can't stand it when I see pretty people who don't know how to style themselves."
Whew.
Sohee and everyone looked relieved.
I can tell Kim Haewon doesn't like me that much, but at least, it looks like she decided to be civil towards me.
"Then I'm in your care, Haewon-ssi."
Kim Haewon nodded politely. "You may speak comfortably with me, Sohee Oppa."
"Alright, Haewon-ah," Sohee said, smiling. "Thank you."
***
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