Not long after, Kiyonari excused himself from Jiwoo, who was still clutching his head, and followed the direction Eunji had gone.
She was waiting in an empty meeting room, the blinds drawn, the atmosphere hushed.
"Please, have a seat," Eunji said politely, gesturing to the chair across from her.
Kiyonari sat down, straightening his back. His eyes fell on the folder Eunji had been carrying earlier—it looked strangely heavy for something so thin.
Without a word, she placed it on the table and slid it toward him with both hands.
Kiyonari blinked, then carefully opened the folder. A stack of neatly compiled profiles, names, and photographs stared back at him.
Eunji's voice broke the silence, calm but firm.
"As you can see, these are the list of candidates the Je family has gathered over the years. It took quite a long time to collect everything and prepare for this moment."
Kiyonari's brows furrowed as he flipped through the pages. His eyes caught the bold titles, the details, the seals stamped on official letters. Slowly, his eyes widened. "Wait... this is—"
"Yes," Eunji cut him off flatly, her tone serious. "It's for business marriage. A tradition the Je family has followed for generations."
She leaned back slightly, watching his reaction. "Those are the names of Alphas—each one handpicked as a prospective husband for the Je family's only heir."
Kiyonari froze. His mouth opened but no words came out. Finally, he managed a weak, incredulous, "Huh? Alpha?... Wait, isn't—"
"That's why you need to listen carefully, Kihyun-sshi." Eunji leaned forward, her voice low as though the walls themselves might be listening. "This is a secret. Not even the Director himself knows yet."
Kiyonari's head snapped up at her, shock flickering in his gaze.
"The chairman himself assigned me this task," she continued steadily, "and he specifically instructed me to hand everything over to you. You, Kihyun-sshi, will be the one to arrange all the meetings and dates for the heir's prospective partners."
Kiyonari's heart pounded against his ribs. He stared back down at the folder, his throat suddenly dry. Arrange all the meetings... this sure is a big task for me.
But above all—his mind snagged on something that didn't add up.
"Wait... but..." He hesitated, his confusion spilling into his voice. You're telling me the Je heir... who's a Beta... is expected to marry an Alpha? For business reasons?
His chest tightened with a mix of disbelief and unease. That doesn't make sense...
The air in the room thickened as Eunji simply looked at him, her expression unreadable.
As Kiyonari skimmed through the profiles again, his eyes suddenly caught a familiar line printed on the header of one of the documents.
"Association of Secondary Genders..." He muttered under his breath.
Eunji's eyes flicked toward him, catching the recognition in his tone.
"Oh, yes. Most people just call it the Association."
They're the ones in charge of administering the second-gender test, to determine someone's classification:
Alpha (𝒶), Beta (ß), and Omega (Ω)
Kiyonari gave a small nod. "Yeah, I know of them. I had mine back in high school. It was mandatory—government-issued, right? They do it every year."
"That's correct," Eunji replied. "They're mostly known for that. But the Association has expanded for beyond simple classification."
Kiyonari tilted his head. "Like what?"
Her expression shifted slightly—less professional, more serious. "Arranged marriage."
His brows shot up. "Arranged... marriage?"
"They call it Prospective Mate," Eunji clarified, enunciating the term like it carried weight
Kiyonari leaned back in his chair, trying to process. Eunji continued, her voice even but firm, as though she had rehearsed this explanation many times before:
"Many family worries that Alphas will have difficulty finding a proper partner—because of high demands, their dominance, or simply their prejudice against other genders."
At the same time, there's the issue of Omegas—far too many of them end up in compromising situations, some pregnancies forced because of uncontrolled advances. Mostly from Alphas.
Kiyonari's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't interrupt.
"To prevent these issues from spiraling—and to maintain a balance in birthrates, especially among Alphas—"
—The Association.
A well known institute proposed one solution. Pairing Alphas and Omegas through compatibility testing. Families submit detailed information... even pheromone samples. Once a potential partner is identified, the Association arranges a 15-day trial period.
The individuals meet, evaluate compatibility, and afterward, either the families or the couple themselves decide whether to proceed with marriage or not.
Kiyonari blinked, utterly dumbfounded. "Fifteen days? That's it?"
Eunji exhaled softly, almost weary. "Of course, this system isn't applied to everyone. It's most evident among the wealthy. For influential families, bloodlines, and family alliances. Reputations matter more than romance."
Many Alpha heirs would rather waste their youth—sleeping around, fathering illegitimate children, than take responsibility. The Association caters to those families by ensuring their heirs are bound to a stable, controlled match.
Her gaze met Kiyonari's directly, sharp but not unkind. "And the Je family is no stranger to this. They've poured unthinkable amounts of money into the Association—if not millions, then billions—to compile and provide them these lists of Alphas, all for their one and only heir."
The folder between them suddenly felt heavier.
Kiyonari stared at it, the words ProspectiveMate echoing in his head. His throat tightened.
Billions... just to guarantee the heir's marriage and future...
But more than the money, what unsettled him was the fact that he now understood: this wasn't just about marriage. It was about control.
After Eunji's explanation, the weight of the folder still lingered in Kiyonari's chest. He pressed it firmly under his arm as he left the room, releasing a heavy sigh that echoed faintly in the empty hall.
"Remember," Eunji's last words trailed in his ears, "you mustn't disclose anything about the prospective mates. This matter is for the Je family to announce—when the time comes."
"Until then, keep it to yourself "
She has reassured him that soon, Soo-hyun himself would be informed. But until then, the burden rested squarely on Kiyonari's shoulders.
I can't afford a single mistake, he thought grimly. For now, I'll just focus on the tasks in front of me. That's all I can do.
*****
He straightened his tie and continued down the corridor toward the tenth floor.
Halfway there, buzz of voices caught his attention. A group of employees had gathered at the corner, their tones bright and animated. Curious, Kiyonari slowed his steps.
Yiseo was among them. Noticing him, Yiseo's eyes lit up. "Kihyun-sshi," he called warmly.
Kiyonari offered an awkward but polite smile as he stepped closer. "What's going on here?"
The girls in the group turned toward him, their faces breaking into cheerful grins. "Kihyun-sshi, hello!" One greeted, almost giddy.
"We were just chatting about that Alpha CEO from AO Enterprises," another added, eyes sparkling.
"Oh?" Kiyonari tilted his head slightly, intrigued.
"Yes!" One girl nodded quickly, excitement bubbling in her tone. "He's so famous lately. What was his name again...?"
Another snapped her fingers as it came to her. "I think it's Kwon Jisung."
"That's right!" Another chimed in. "Kwon Jisung! Him!"
The name rippled through the group with a mix of admiration and awe, their chatter growing even livelier.
"I heard that he used to be a model before!" One of the girls squealed.
"Yeah, he's so young but already owns several businesses. And did you see the article about him in the business magazine? So charismatic."
"Not to mention, he's an Alpha," another added in a whisper, like it was some juicy secret. "It's no wonder every company wants to form ties with AO Enterprises."
Kiyonari froze for a moment, though he kept his expression calm. Kwon Jisung...
His mind instantly flashed back to the folder Eunji had slid across the table earlier. Among the pages of names, that one had stood out—Kwon Jisung.
The cheerful chatter around him blurred for a second as a chill ran down his spine. He forced a faint smile when Yiseo glanced at him, not wanting to reveal the storm brewing inside.
"Do you know him, Kihyun-sshi?" One of the girls suddenly asked, eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Kiyonari blinked, startled, before quickly shaking his head. "Ah—no. I've only heard of him... in the news, like everyone else."
The girls giggled, going right back to their enthusiastic discussion, but Kiyonari's heart beat heavier with every passing second.
Kwon Jisung, he thought. I'm guessing he'll be the first candidate the director will meet.
The chatter that had been lighthearted only moments ago suddenly shifted into something heavier.
"Now that I think about it, I'm also amazed by Director Je," one of the girls said, lowering her voice. "Despite his second gender, he's still better than those old Alpha higher-ups from before."
"I agree," another added. "He proved that someone like him can lead just as powerfully as the rest."
"To be honest," a third whispered, leaning closer, "he's more capable than most Alphas I've seen."
"You don't say."
Their words made Kiyonari stiffen. He furrowed his brows ever so slightly, trying to piece together what they meant.
Second gender? I mean, it's true that Betas has some great potential like any other Alphas... the same can be said to Omegas.
After all, people are now living in where society are slowly trying to understand and let even Omegas be known and recognized for their potential capabilities.
But what are they implying about the Director's gender?
He stayed quiet, unsure whether he should ask.
Then, suddenly, they all turned their curious eyes on him.
"Right? Kihyun-sshi," one of them urged.
"Huh?" Kiyonari flinched, caught of guard. His thoughts had drifted, and now he was cornered in their expectant stares.
"Since you're his secretary, it must be really tough. But what do you think of Director Je, despite his gender?"
Kiyonari swallowed, fumbling for the right words.
What am I supposed to say? The only thing I know... is that he's a Beta. And the Je family is looking for an Alpha mate for him.
"Um... well," he finally spoke, forcing a smile. "It's amazing that a Beta like him could be just as proficient—maybe even more—than any Alpha."
Silence. The air shifted. The girl's eyes widened slightly, as if he had just dropped something unbelievable.
"... Kihyun-sshi," one girl said carefully, almost awkwardly chuckling, "what are you talking about?"
Another leaned in, her voice hushed but piercing. "Wait... don't tell me—you don't know yet?"
Kiyonaei blinked, his pulse quickening. Their gazes pressed against him, heavy with unspoken truth.
Confusion and nervousness swirled inside him. Don't know what...? What exactly am I missing here?
Suddenly, a mocking laugh echoed from behind them.
All at once, the group turned their heads.
Standing a few steps away, Mr. Kim leaned casually, a folder tucked under one arm while he tapped the edge of it against his shoulder with a smirk plastered on his face.
"My, Kihyun-sshi" he drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "I didn't know you could also make jokes that didn't sound like one."
The atmosphere shifted. The girls stiffened, their cheerful chatter vanishing as suspicion ran through their minds—had he been listening all this time?
Mr. Kim's smirk widened, his gaze narrowing in mock amusement. "And here I thought you were as sharp as a knife, exactly like what people said you were. But..." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "I'm quite disappointed. You're nothing like that at all."
His low snicker cut through the group.
The girls frowned, their lips pressing into tight lines, but none dared show their irritation openly. No one wanted to provoke Mr. Kim further.
He took a step back, his sharp eyes flicking once more toward Kiyonari. "Continue being like that, and it'll get you nowhere, Kihyun-sshi."
And with a mocking chuckle, he turned on his heel, walking away down the corridor, his laughter echoing faintly until it faded.
The group stayed quiet for a moment.
Kiyonari stood frozen, his jaw clenched but his face unreadable. He didn't say anything—not a word of protest, not even a sign of anger.
"Kihyun-sshi..." one of the girls finally broke the silence, her expression wry. "Are you alright?"
Another huffed softly, shaking her head. "Seriously, Mr. Kim won't give it a rest."
Kiyonari's lips curved faintly into a smile.
"I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
That gentle, almost reassuring smile caught the girl off guard. Their cheeks flushed pink, unable to hide it.
But one pair of eyes didn't soften.
From the edge of the group, Yiseo studied him closely, his smile fading into quiet thought.
How come... he doesn't know anything about it? Yiseo wondered, his gaze lingering on Kiyonari, as if trying to piece together the secret behind his ignorance.
*****
At the office, Kiyonari stood neatly in front of the director's desk, his agenda book in hand. He read his noted clearly, voice calm and practiced.
"And you have a meeting with President Yoon this afternoon," he announced.
Across the desk, Soo-hyun barely looked up, his pen moving across paperwork with swift, precise strokes.
"After that," Kiyonari continued, "you have a dinner meeting with your mother at the Grand Acadia this evening."
The scratching of the pen halted.
"... My mother?" Soo-hyun muttered, his tone sharp but low.
Kiyonari blinked, glancing up. "Yes, sir."
A heavy sigh broke from Soo-hyun's lips as he set the pen down, rubbing his temple with his fingers. His gaze dropped briefly, expression unreadable, before he exhaled again.
"Cancel my lunch," he said curtly. "And prepare my car. I want to drive on my own later on."
"Understood, sir." Kiyonari bowed his head politely, jotting a quick note on his pad.
"Would you like me to prepare the jewelry, sir?" He asked cautiously.
That finally made Soo-hyun lift his gaze. He leaned back in his chair, dark eyes fixed on Kiyonari. After a beat of silence, he spoke.
"Yeah. And don't forget to buy a bouquet of flowers for my mother—red roses."
"Yes, sir."
Kiyonari bowed once more and pivoted on his heels to leave. But as his hand brushed the door handle, something made him pause.
He turned slightly, just enough to glance back at Soo-hyun.
The director sat there, shoulders weighed down as though burdened with something heavier than work. His fingers pressed firmly against his forehead, his eyes closed for a moment, as if letting the fatigue away.
Kiyonari's chest tightened. He knew exactly why the Je family had called this dinner. He knew the truth about the match making that had been hidden from Soo-hyun.
Kiyonari couldn't say anything. He was told not to.
He sighed sharply through his nose, guilt knotting his stomach, before stepping out of the office and closing the door quietly behind him.