Kim Sangmin, after his rich parents died in a car accident on their way to a luxury vacation, was left alone with a hefty bank account. Weak since birth, he couldn't enjoy most outdoor activities despite his wealth. So, he decided to spend all his time and money on books of every kind.
The one he was reading now was an omegaverse novel—where dungeons appeared and awakened people fought monsters to close them and keep the world safe. But the ending was the same boring cliché: the main character saves the innocent, unawakened omega (his love interest) by killing the villain omega who had kidnapped and tortured her. And of course, the villain's reason was another tired trope—he did it because he loved the main character.
What a waste of his time.
He had enjoyed reading about the MC, Yoon Seoyul, and the villain, Cheon Areum. But the ending ruined everything. It didn't even make sense how the villain, who hated alphas so viciously, suddenly fell in love with one. And the MC, who constantly ignored the omega love interest, rushed to save her in the end?
"Why don't we just throw a wedding for them now that the villain's dead too?!"
Furious, he threw the book. It hit the wall and landed roughly on the carpeted floor. Even that small outburst left him breathless, his weak heart thudding in protest. He had stayed up all night reading that garbage. It was 5 a.m. when he finally fell asleep—still stewing over the ridiculous ending.
***
"Hyung! Hyung, open your eyes!"
Someone shook him excessively. Tiny hands with tremendous power. He didn't have any siblings, much less a kid who would call him Hyung. Realizing the kid was becoming tired as the strength he was shaken with lessened, he strained to open his eyes. It was bright.
"Ah! Hyung, you're awake!"
A little face came into his view, peeking from the side. His light purple eyes sparkled upon seeing him, as if he was really happy to see him. But he didn't know who this kid was or why he was calling him Hyung. Actually, where was he right now?
Suddenly bolting upright from the bed, he looked around the room. The kid, who had half climbed on him, tumbled backwards on the bed with the impact. He was in a small bedroom. There was hardly any furniture in the room—just a double bed with side tables, a wardrobe, and a white carpet to match the bedsheet and walls. The bright light was from the window beside the bed; warm and soft sunlight escaped from the window panel, shining down on the square carpet.
"Where am I?"
The voice that came out of his mouth was delicate but not weak. He could also move around on the bed as much as he wanted without getting out of breath. His heartbeat was stable.
"Hyung!"
The kid that fell on his back on the bed quickly stood up, shaking his whole body again. Light gray loose hair covered his face as his world rocked. Pushing his hair back, he realized his hair could touch his shoulders—a length he never had before. Examining his silky light gray hair, he looked at the kid laying on his lap, pouting at his unresponsiveness. The kid also had the same hair color; the only difference was that he had short hair.
"Hyung, get up already. I have a surprise for you."
Sulking deeper, the kid mumbled, his body twisting in weird positions as if he couldn't stay still for even a moment. Seeing his eagerness, he decided to get up from the bed. The kid happily followed suit, dragging him by the hand outside the bedroom. There was a room bigger than the bedroom they left. Outside, it hardly had anything in it—only the attached kitchen in the right corner had a small dining table with two chairs, with a few pieces of crockery and cooking utensils nearby on the counter.
He was standing out the bedroom door, looking around the place. It seemed like the kid was trying to get him to the dining table. There was a white plate on it. Walking with the kid hand in hand closer to the plate, he saw two egg roll pieces with strange colors, cut up in the shape of 2 and 3. Underneath that, three letters were written with a red sauce—presumably ketchup. The letters: H, B, D.
"Happy birthday, Hyung!"
"...."
The kid jumped up and down around the table, clapping his hands. He was in a dire situation—a kid he didn't even know was celebrating his birthday in a stranger's house. No, the most important part was that he didn't even know who he was supposed to be here. But seeing the jubilee kid, his heart softened, and he sat down at the table, smiling at him.
"What date is it today?"
"It's 1st January, Hyung's birthday!!"
When he asked gently, the kid came to latch on his lap, replying readily. 1st January. The kid was right—it was his birthday today, but his birthday was still a few months away. Nevertheless, he picked up the chopsticks resting on the side of the plate to pick up a piece of the egg roll. The kid's eyes almost bulged out, watching him with excitement. Even if it didn't taste good, he had to pretend it was. He couldn't break such a pure heart.
"How's it, Hyung? I made it all by myself!"
"....Good. It's delicious."
He had been skeptical, but it was actually quite tasty. He hadn't eaten an egg roll like this one before; the chefs he had would never make anything close to this burst of flavors.
"When I grow up, I'll earn a lot of money and buy you a big cake for your birthday."
This time the voice wasn't as cheerful as it had been. The kid didn't even look at him while saying it. He dropped the chopsticks to pat and ruffle his hair messily.
"Thank you. Hyung appreciates everything you do for him."
Only after that did the kid look up, his chubby cheeks smiling hard at him.
"You remembered this time! You used to pat my hair like this whenever I did something nice for you."
The kid closed his eyes, beaming with smiles. He patted him a few more times, laughing at his cuteness. That's when he heard the front doorbell ring. They both curiously turned to look at the door. A visitor had come at last... who was he again?
Before he could even gather another thought about what was happening, the front door opened after just one ring of the bell. Loud clicks sounded as red high heels came into his view. The woman, wearing a black fur coat, carried a red handbag that matched with her heels, which she didn't bother to take off at the entrance. She leisurely unequipped her sunglasses, looking down at them.
"No greetings for your grandmother?"
No, ma'am. My grandma died a long time ago when I was still a baby, he thought but couldn't say it. Her presence was too overwhelming. The kid gripped his loose clothes tightly—he appeared to be scared of her too.
"Nothing ever changes with your gloominess. Happy birthday, Cheon Areum. I was thinking of buying a gift for you but forgot about it."
The woman, who seemed too young to be their grandmother, lifted her lips viciously. There were too many things to note here. First, her smile was overly creepy, reminding him of a white face mask he had seen on the internet being sold in an online auction for 30 million won. Of course, he was the highest bidder and bought it on a whim.
Second, there was a huge contrast between them despite being related to each other. Everything the woman had screamed she had too much money to spend carelessly, but the apartment they were living in was as big as his dog's indoor garden and just as empty.
Third, she called him by a name that clearly wasn't his real name. Forgot his birthday gift on purpose. Wished him half-heartedly. Was the most dressed person in his birthday party.
In conclusion, she was looking to pick a fight with him.
There were many in the past who looked down at him for being born with a weak constitution, but he had always shut them up, and most of them ended up crying as he showed off his unlimited wealth while belittling them. He might be wearing some shabby clothes right now, standing in a shabby place, but it was still him who wouldn't back down if someone challenged him to a fight head-on.
"I thought you had a lot of money, but it must be insufficient to attend basic etiquette lessons."
Cheon Areum spoke without stuttering, looking her straight in the eyes. The woman, with bewilderment pasted on her pale face, dropped her sunglasses.
"You... where did you learn to speak like that then?! I'm certain you don't have enough money to attend any lessons, so it must've been your witch of a mother who taught you!"
The woman pointed a finger with a sharp and long red nail at him. He never knew his mother was a witch. If he did, he would've definitely asked her for a ride on the broomstick. He was about to continue with an even sharper hit, but the kid who was clinging to his clothes started trembling visibly. His face ashen and his lips bloodless as he looked up at him worriedly.
Just what had this woman done to this small life?
"Get out of my house."