Preparing to Return to the Countryside

“Just… I’ve grown disillusioned with people. I want to spend some quiet time alone for a while.”

As I answered weakly, Secretary Choi asked me in a slightly urgent voice.

[If that’s the reason, wouldn’t it be fine to take a proper rest at one of Seong Group’s overseas resorts?]

“No. I want to go to the countryside.

Those kinds of resorts will be crowded with people…

I need a place where I can quietly organize my thoughts alone.”

[…Understood. I will carry it out as you instructed.]

“Alright. Thanks for your hard work.”

After hanging up, I felt noticeably lighter.

‘Yeah. I should just figure out how to live well on my own.’

There was no point in dwelling on the crap I had already stepped in.

That would only hurt me.

I immediately blocked Joo Taegang’s number that remained on Seong Chanyeong’s phone, and deleted all the information I had gathered through various stalker-like methods.

“That feels refreshing.”

Once I actually did it, it was nothing.

So I dredged up the names of the other male leads from memory as well.

Then I found them in the contacts list and blocked them all.

“That should do it.
Yeah.”

What I clearly realized from my encounter with Joo Taegang was that, unlike Seo Eunsu, it was far more beneficial to not meet the male leads at all.

If I met them, I’d just end up getting beaten up anyway.

So as long as I blocked them on my side and avoided them, that was enough.

“Then… should I start seriously preparing to move to the countryside?”

As I entered the study, an expensive computer came into view.

I turned it on and searched ‘how to prepare for rural resettlement’ on the internet.

‘These days, it’s not just institutions or organizations—there’s tons of info on personal blogs too.

I can do this.’

Scrolling down and looking through related information was actually enjoyable.

Reading through successful rural resettlement cases, even taking notes along the way—it was an incredibly peaceful and happy time.

Meanwhile, Chairman Seong Gongun fell into deep worry after hearing the report relayed by Secretary Choi and the attending physician.

“So… you’re saying Chanyeong has recently attempted suicide multiple times?”

The words delivered by the physician were shocking.

His grandson, Chanyeong, had already attempted suicide several times.

“What on earth could he possibly lack to do something like that?”

Chairman Seong simply could not understand his grandson.

Especially because he was well aware of Seong Chanyeong’s terrible personality.

He already possessed wealth that others would envy.

To exaggerate a little, if Seong Chanyeong wanted something, there was nothing he couldn’t have.

Even if that something was a person.

“In my opinion, the young master seems to have struggled with emotional issues for quite a long time.”

“You mean he was mentally suffering?
Why?”

“Most likely… it’s because he was born as a recessive Omega.”

“…Tch.”

Seong Chanyeong had three older sisters.

The owner family of Seong Group still couldn’t abandon their patriarchal mindset, so they had urged their daughter-in-law to try one last time for a son—and that child was Seong Chanyeong.

But the result had not been good.

All three older sisters were born with Alpha traits, while only Seong Chanyeong—the long-awaited son—was born with dominant Omega traits.

‘And even that didn’t last long.’

Even if he wasn’t an Alpha, being born a dominant Omega meant he would have advantages later in a strategic marriage.

So they raised him with even more indulgence.

But before reaching adulthood, during the final trait evaluation, something went wrong.

Seong Chanyeong was classified as a recessive Omega.

And not just that—a half-baked Omega without even a pheromone scent.

Only then did his three older sisters, who had been unable to oppose him no matter how arrogantly he behaved, finally rebel.

Since they had never been on good terms to begin with, they actively pointed out his past misconduct and argued that he could not become the heir simply because he was a son.

The compromise that was eventually accepted was to conceal Seong Chanyeong as a Beta to the outside world.

‘After that, the brat became even more violent.’

Chairman Seong tapped the armrest of his chair in deep thought.

The ill-tempered grandson, frustrated by what he did not have, developed an inferiority complex toward Seo Eunsu, who had become a dominant Omega from a recessive one.

So he aggressively pursued the Alphas who showed interest in Seo Eunsu.

To the point where it looked strange to outsiders—he was obsessively fixated.

In that process, his fiancé, Baek Dojun, was not even a consideration for him.

There was a limit to how much they could restrain someone running wild like an unbridled colt.

One day, Chairman Seong called his grandson and scolded him.

–”Chanyeong, you brat!

How long do you plan to keep this up?

If you have a fiancé, you should know how to behave properly!
You’re a recessive Omega!”

–”Why should I? And what do you even know to be yelling at me like this? You don’t know anything.”

–”What?
You insolent bastard—how dare you speak to your grandfather like that!”

–”You’re a dominant Alpha who has everything, so of course it’s easy for you to say that.

You’ve covered up all my mistakes until now, so don’t start interfering at this point.”

–”Y-You! You ungrateful little—!”

Unable to just watch anymore, he scolded him—but Seong Chanyeong only reacted with even more disgust and left.

“Back then, I only saw Chanyeong as a troublesome brat…
But did I really miss something, Doctor Kim?”

“Well… even I find family matters difficult, so I can’t easily give you advice, Chairman.”

When Director Kim remained silent, Chairman Seong rose from his seat and approached him.

His body, still muscular and robust despite his age, shifted powerfully.

“Speak honestly as a friend, Bokdol.

Is my grandson in a very serious state?

Is it beyond recovery? Hm?”

Doctor Kim—Kim Bokdol—let out a deep sigh, then grabbed his friend Chairman Seong by the shoulders and shook him lightly.

“You should’ve paid more attention to the kid.

Giving him money and pampering him just because he’s your precious grandson isn’t everything, you idiot.”

“Ugh…”

True to being an old friend, Doctor Kim’s words struck sharply.

Chairman Seong, pricked by guilt over having neglected Chanyeong’s upbringing, merely fidgeted his sturdy arms.

“I thought he’d grow up fine that way.

I believed his parents would take care of things, so I thought it was better not to interfere too much.

Hm.”

As a grandfather, Chairman Seong had refrained from interfering much in raising his grandson—partly out of guilt and gratitude toward his son and daughter-in-law, who had given him that grandson.

What he had provided to Seong Chanyeong was abundant money and the role of a strong backer who cleaned up his messes.

“Honestly, how is it that I, an outsider, know more about your family than you do?”

Doctor Kim, Kim Bokdol, thumped Chairman Seong’s iron-like shoulders.

The chairman himself didn’t budge, but his weakened heart crumbled under those blows.

“Chanyeong’s mother, Madam Yoo, had him after pushing herself too hard, and she suffered from postpartum depression.

And his father, the company president, was always busy with work.”

Still, his treatment wasn’t bad when he was young.

Even if he wasn’t an Alpha, Seong Chanyeong was still a dominant Omega back then.

Most of the family’s stress was directed at his older sisters rather than him.

But when he was ultimately classified not as an Alpha nor a dominant Omega, but a recessive Omega, he became completely isolated within the family.

The decision to stay uninvolved at home—out of guilt for pressuring his daughter-in-law to bear a son—ended up becoming poison for Chanyeong.

His family stopped trying to care for him.

Though he had material abundance, once the more important familial love disappeared, Chanyeong gradually twisted.

Unfortunately, Chairman Seong was the only one who didn’t realize it.

Under the family’s indifference, Seong Chanyeong’s inner self slowly withered away.

“…Then why didn’t anyone tell me any of this?
That’s upsetting.”

“You told us not to, you idiot.”

“I… I did?”

Already aware of his own favoritism toward his grandson, Chairman Seong had restrained himself from showing affection too openly, fearing it would spoil the boy.

So he had even avoided hearing about his grandson whenever possible.

Like some distant benefactor, he only supported him from behind, never once directly expressing affection.

He believed that material support alone was enough to convey love.

“I was so frustrated back then. I knew a day like this would come.

At least it’s fortunate that Chanyeong didn’t insist on making an irreversible choice.”

“…You’re saying it’s not an extreme choice for that delicately raised kid to suddenly say he wants to farm?”

Chairman Seong felt a bit annoyed at his friend.

After all, his precious grandson—whom he had cherished in his own way without ever showing it—was now going off to get his hands dirty with soil, yet his friend seemed indifferent.

“Why?
It’s a hundred times better than him disappearing without a word.”

“That’s… true.”

The suddenly deflated Chairman Seong trudged back to his chair and sat down again.

His mountain-like frame looked shrunken, and seeing that, Doctor Kim gently tried to comfort him, saying there was still hope.