An Unwanted Proposal

“I’m back~.”

For some reason, Janggun, who had been unusually sensitive today, returned to being the sweetest dog in the world the moment they neared home.

He clung to Chanyeong affectionately—but only in front of him.

The moment he saw the Alphas again, he started barking wildly, so Chanyeong left him outside in the doghouse for the time being.

“You’re back, Chanyeong-ssi?”

“Ah, Seo Eunsu. There should be a first aid kit in the living room drawer—could you bring it for me?”

“You’re hurt?”

“Yeah. I bumped into someone earlier and fell.”

He scratched his cheek awkwardly and showed his scraped palms and legs.

Eunsu’s expression immediately hardened.

“Sit on the sofa right now.”

“I’ll disinfect it and apply ointment.”

“Huh? No, I can do it myself—”

Caught off guard by the unexpected kindness, Chanyeong waved his hands, but Eunsu ignored him and swiftly brought over disinfectant, ointment, and bandages.

“Wait—don’t kneel like that in front of me. It’s too much pressure.”

“The patient should stay quiet.”

“This isn’t serious enough to call me a patient—”

“I’m applying disinfectant.”

“AAAH!”

Before he could react, Eunsu skillfully rolled up his pants and sprayed disinfectant over the wounds.

“Ugh… it hurts.”

The injuries were worse than he thought.

Some areas were bleeding.

As he winced, Eunsu let out a small laugh.

“And you still say you’re not a patient?”

“You’ve practically scraped your skin off.”

“Your pale skin makes it stand out more.”

“My bad, doctor. Please go easy on me.”

He played along with a pitiful face, and Eunsu’s smile deepened.

“Almost done. Stop whining and stay still.”

“…Okay.”

Eunsu carefully cleaned the wounds and applied ointment.

A tingling sensation spread across his skin.

“All done.”

“Next time, try not to come back injured.”

“It’s not like I wanted to fall!”

“Regardless. As your part-timer, I need to ensure my employer’s safety.”

It felt like being scolded by a mom.

Unfair.

“I bumped into someone who just moved here.”

“It wasn’t my fault.”

“…Really?”

Eunsu paused, then added,

“That explains it. I smelled an unfamiliar Alpha pheromone on you.”

“…What?”

What did that even mean?

Seeing his confusion, Eunsu explained while applying bandages.

“When you encounter an Alpha or Omega, some pheromones can transfer naturally.”

“Like catching a bit of perfume in an elevator.”

“Right. So?”

“The problem is when an Alpha deliberately leaves their pheromones on someone.”

“That’s usually done when they’re interested in them.”

“…Wait.”

“Yes.”

“The pheromone on you isn’t accidental.”

“It was deliberately applied.”

Oh. My. God.

‘Is he insane?’

So that guy—Moon Kyungshik—was that kind of creep?

Chanyeong immediately revised his opinion of him.

Rice cakes? Forget it.

He wouldn’t get even a crumb.

Janggun’s barking had been completely justified.

‘I should trust Janggun from now on.’

He never expected someone to pull something like that—especially on a first meeting.

“…Are you sure?”

“If not, I wouldn’t have told you.”

“Leaving pheromones on a Beta… he must be into Betas.”

“…I see.”

That only made things worse.

Since Kyungshik said he’d stay for his grandfather, they’d likely run into each other again.

And if he already did that once—

Who knows what he’d try next?

“This place is so nice…”

“But I can’t just leave because of one guy.”

Even when the Alphas showed up, he hadn’t left.

No way he’d pack up over this.

Eunsu watched him quietly.

“Then how about this?”

“What?”

“Pretend to have a lover.”

“Create a human shield.”

“…With who?”

“I’m a Beta. It’s hard to find someone suitable here.”

The idea wasn’t bad—but unrealistic.

And honestly, he didn’t want to go that far.

Plus, it could attract suspicion.

If Kyungshik knew his real identity…

Things could get messy.

“Better not.”

“I’ll just call Secretary Choi if needed.”

That thought alone was comforting.

He was basically a cheat code.

As Chanyeong started thinking about asking for snacks and desserts—

Eunsu suddenly cupped his face with both hands.

“…Huh? What are you doing?”

“What about me?”

“…What?”

“What if I pretend to be your lover?”

“That way, that suspicious Alpha won’t come near you.”

“…Wait, WHAT?”

His brain short-circuited.

‘He’s lost it.’

Did becoming an Alpha break him?

“Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“If Baek Dojun, Chae Yunchan, Joo Taegang, or Yoo Iseo hear this, I’m dead.”

Seriously.

This was his house—why was he living like this?

But Eunsu remained calm.

“They probably won’t react like that.”

“They’ll just try to keep you in other ways.”

“That still means they’ll try to keep me!”

Frustrated, Chanyeong covered Eunsu’s mouth.

“I’ll just assume you were joking.”

“You were worried about me as your employer, right?”

“….”

“But I don’t like it.”

He stood up firmly.

“And just because those four are staying doesn’t mean you have to.”

“I’ll send you back soon.”

Without waiting for a reply, he left the house.

‘Didn’t hear it. Didn’t happen. Red sun.’

He filled a large basin with water and poured in rice seeds.

“These will sprout soon…”

Imagining golden rice fields in autumn calmed him.

“Grow well.”

Just as he was settling down—

A voice cut in from the side.

“You came back with Alpha pheromones on you?”