"Yes! Finally, a meal that acknowledges the presence of actual muscle mass in this family," Junho declared, dramatically flexing his bicep as the Seo family walked down the busy street toward the restaurant.
"You're mostly bone and misplaced enthusiasm, Junho," Jina countered, adjusting the strap of her handbag. "Besides, Omma only agreed because the broth is good for the nervous system, which Oppa desperately needs after the last few months of working at the orchestra."
Seo Soomin, Jaemin's mother, laughed and patted Jaemin's arm. "It's true, my eldest needs fortifying. But who is this mystery person we are meeting? You were very vague on the phone, Jaemin-ah."
Jaemin smiled, feeling a flutter of nerves mixed with pride. "It's… someone I want you all to meet properly. Someone important to me."
"Important, or Alpha Important?" Jina pressed, nudging his side with a sharp elbow and a mischievous smirk. "Because if it's who we think it is, you might end up owing the restaurant a new set of bowls. Junho will do nothing less than eat the plates off the table if he's trying to impress a celebrity."
"Yah! I will not!" Junho retorted, then lowered his voice conspiratorially to Jaemin. "But seriously, is it him? Is it Kang Do-hyun-ssi? I need to know if I should compliment his bowing technique or his shirt."
"Just be yourselves," Jaemin advised, trying to maintain a straight face. "And maybe leave the professional critiques at home."
"Too late," Jina chirped. "I've already prepared my questions about his excessive reliance on vibrato in the Sibelius Concerto. Don't worry, Hyung, I'll keep him on his toes!"
Jaemin shook his head, a genuine, untroubled laugh escaping him. He glanced at his father, Seo Taejun, who walked slightly apart from them, observing the passing traffic. He was silent, as usual, his expression stoic, reserving judgment until the moment of truth.
When they entered the bustling restaurant, the savory scent of bubbling oxtail stew and steam instantly hit them. And there, seated at a quiet corner table, dressed down in a simple cashmere sweater, was Kang Do-hyun. He immediately rose to his feet.
"Oh, it's you!" Jaemin's mother exclaimed, rushing forward, her eyes widening slightly at the sheer height of the alpha. "It's such a pleasure to finally meet you properly. Kang…"
Do-hyun bowed deeply, his manners impeccable. "Kang Do-hyun. But please, call me Do-hyun, Seo Eomeonim."
Jaemin felt a steady warmth bloom in his chest at the smooth introduction. He risked a glance at his father, who simply nodded once at Do-hyun, stormy eyes narrowed in polite but relentless scrutiny. He remained silent, allowing his wife and children to run the social play.
"I… was… right! It is actually the Concertmaster!" Jina announced with glee, elbowing Junho straight in the stomach and winding him. "So, just in case you forgot, I'm Jina, the infinitely prettier twin, and this is Junho, the family menace. We never got to thank you for the soup last time, oh, and for protecting our brother too, of course! Especially during that sandalwood disaster, oh my GOD."
Do-hyun let out a chuckle, the sound rich and low. He addressed the twins with an easy warmth that surprised Jaemin. "The sandalwood was an unfortunate choice, but I must admit, I rather enjoy the new scent." He flashed a quick glance at Jaemin. "Please, let's sit."
"See, Omma? He's great! You were worried about nothing," Junho declared, rubbing his stomach as he bounced his way into the middle of the bench. He was already maneuvering his way closer to the largest pot. "Wait, Do-hyun-ssi, how much oxtail are we allowed to order? Because I am capable of impressive consumption."
"Of course you do," Do-hyun replied easily, handing Junho a menu. "And if I may, I insist that today's meal is on me."
The table chaos was loud and restorative. Jina expertly ribbed Jaemin about his newly domesticated habits—he was really going to have to tell her to stop that, those elbows could really injure someone—Junho challenged Do-hyun about his favorite violin makers, and their mother hovered, offering Do-hyun extra portions and apologizing preemptively for her children's enthusiasm.
A few days had passed since they had solidified their status as mates, days that felt more like a floating, sun-drenched pause in the universe. Jaemin still blushed whenever he had to call Do-hyun jagi, but the word now settled in his chest, heavy and true.
Watching him now, patiently fielding his siblings' questions and his Omma's fussing, Jaemin felt a deep surge of pride. Do-hyun fit in with his family naturally. And for all they had been through together already in this relatively short amount of time, the least he owed Do-hyun was the respect of being seen. Not just as a co-worker to be categorized together with his past trauma and held suspect, but as a person, his alpha, someone who had cared for him and made him feel safe. Do-hyun deserved to be acknowledged and treated with dignity.
Jaemin risked another glance at his father. Seo Taejun was eating slowly, but his stormy eyes kept tracking Do-hyun—the way the alpha's hand settled on Jaemin's back for a moment, the natural possessiveness in his gaze when he looked at Jaemin, the steady, grounding presence he exuded despite the noise.
Then, mid-meal, Do-hyun's phone vibrated with a relentless, urgent buzz. He frowned, glancing at the screen before excusing himself.
"It's Manager Park," he murmured to Jaemin, standing up. "I need to take this."
"Is something wrong?" Jaemin asked, worried.
Do-hyun shot him a comforting smile. "I'm sure he's just calling about something mundane." Addressing the rest of the family, he said, "Please, excuse me for a moment."
Jaemin watched him go, a sudden, cold dread replacing the earlier ease and warmth.
…
Outside, the street was loud with traffic. Do-hyun answered the call, his voice dropping instantly into a professional rumble.
"Manager Park. What's going on?"
Manager Park's voice was strained, cutting through the city noise.
"Kang Do-hyun-ssi, you need to call a PR team together. Now, immediately, as soon as possible. The rumors… they've escalated far beyond the usual gossip. Someone has leaked details about the Conductor Park incident from last year."
"Park? That idiot who couldn't even get the tempo right?"
Manager Park sighed heavily. "That may be so, but you can't be caught saying anything of the sort right now. Do you understand, Kang Do-hyun-ssi? The whole incident of you throwing the bow, shouting at him… It's being framed as proof that the SPS is unstable, a ticking time bomb. They're calling you a liability, Kang Do-hyun-ssi, and they have specifics."
Do-hyun cursed under his breath, leaning against the cold brick wall. This had to be Choi Seungcheol. The initial, vague gossip had been a distraction; this was the first targeted, strategic strike. He quickly ended the call and began sent a text to his family's legal counsel.
"I need the names of everyone involved in suppressing the Park incident last year. We need a counter-narrative and a threat of libel. I'll call you later."
He inhaled sharply, trying to scrub the rising anxiety from his scent before returning to the warmth inside. He felt the familiar pull of stress, the need to handle the problem alone before it touched Jaemin.
"Kang Do-hyun-ssi."
The deep, reserved voice made him startle. Jaemin's father was standing just outside the restaurant door, his arms crossed over his chest, his face unreadable. He hadn't said more than three words all night, and now he was here, a silent judge in the fading light.
Do-hyun quickly slipped his phone into his pocket, straightening his posture. "Seo Abeonim. I apologize for stepping out."
Seo Taejun didn't move. He simply looked at Do-hyun, his gaze heavy with disapproval and worry.
"I was watching you in there," Seo Taejun said, his voice flat, every word measured and deliberate. "And I heard enough just now to know that you are an alpha whose passion invites conflict, and Jaemin is too fragile for this high-stakes life." He looked at Do-hyun, gaze stern. "I've seen this script before, Kang Do-hyun-ssi. I won't let him repeat it."