Chapter 3

Seo Eunwoo, speaking with a bright smile, was different from the Seo Eunwoo that Yeon Yiseo remembered. His glowing, fair skin and rosy cheeks seemed to indicate that he was in good health. In the in-game novel, Seo Eunwoo was portrayed as sickly, with pale skin and a nervous disposition.

The fact that Seo Eunwoo was healthy was good news. However, something felt off. This meant that things were not progressing according to the original game Sickly Villain or the in-game novel My Beloved Beta. At this point in time, their engagement should have been maintained.

It didn’t seem like they had a bad relationship, nor did there appear to be any intense romantic tension between them. If Ethan had been obsessively attached to Seo Eunwoo like in the original game, he would have explained to the staff that he had an appointment with him and would have wrapped an arm around him as they entered.

What on earth was going on?

A deep wrinkle formed on Yeon Yiseo’s forehead. Yet, his fingers continued to move without slowing down. If he delayed even a little, he wouldn’t know what time he would finish today.

Yeon Yiseo glanced at the calendar. It was April. As his eyes scanned the numbers on the desk calendar, they returned to the monitor. Around this time, he often felt a bit melancholic. Today, he wanted to go home and lie down early. It was that kind of day.

Perhaps the heavens had heard his wish, or maybe it was a gift for the hard work he had put in, but he was able to leave the office an hour earlier than usual. Leaving work early enriched his spirit, making even the sound of his footsteps echoing in the quiet office after everyone else had left feel like beautiful music.

Having left an hour early, he could stop by the nearby sandwich shop, which he usually only saw with its doors firmly closed. He bought a BMT sandwich and warm soup, returning home to sit on the sofa and fill his stomach first. After some thought, he added a $3 soup, and he would have been sad if he hadn’t brought it.

Today, he wanted something warm. Today, indeed.

Lying on his cold bed, he recalled Seo Eunwoo, whom he had met earlier that day. He couldn’t figure out what had happened. Still, he had left a good impression. Yeon Yiseo thought about Seo Eunwoo again. It would be nice if they could become friends.

**

It had only been a month since then.

Seo Eunwoo had shown his face at the company a couple more times since then. Today, he thought he had come to see Ethan, but he suddenly approached Yeon Yiseo. He was so bewildered that he couldn’t respond, and he said it would only take five minutes as he grabbed him and led him toward the empty emergency stairs.

And then he said this.

“I’m also an engaged player.”

Seo Eunwoo waved his hand in front of Yeon Yiseo, who couldn’t react.

“Hey, wait… What?”

“Is it a rule that only one person can realize this world is just like the game? I want to befriend fellow engaged players.”

Seo Eunwoo was joking.

“I confirmed that you, Yeon Yiseo, came to Ethan’s secretary office as per the original story, but something felt off. Things aren’t progressing as I know them. So, I thought I’d come check today… and it really was true.”

Yeon Yiseo, who had been blinking in confusion, finally regained his senses.

“Oh, no. If we do this, it will twist the original story.”

“Isn’t the original already twisted since you realized you’re in the game?”

Seo Eunwoo’s point was quite valid, so Yeon Yiseo fell silent. He was right. He wanted to ask more, but he had been away from his desk for too long. They would start looking for him soon.

Still, Yeon Yiseo hesitated, wanting to talk to Seo Eunwoo a bit more, and finally spoke up.

“I’ll give you my contact information.”

As Yeon Yiseo spoke first, Seo Eunwoo understood the underlying meaning of his offer and nodded with a smile. He took Yeon Yiseo’s business card and pulled out his own.

“Great. Here’s my contact information. It’s a direct line, so you can reach me without going through my secretary.”

Seo Eunwoo’s secretary was a character not present in the original story that Yeon Yiseo knew. He stared at the word “lawyer” written on Seo Eunwoo’s business card. The original story had indeed twisted quite a bit. Yeon Yiseo needed to take some time to reflect on the efforts he had made to follow the original.

“But it’s fine if the original story twists. I’ve worked hard to make that happen.”

“Really?”

At Seo Eunwoo’s nonchalant remark, Yeon Yiseo unconsciously shifted his gaze.

“Better hurry back. They’ll wonder where you’ve gone.”

Just as he had been pulled away, Yeon Yiseo returned to his desk as if pushed. It took him several hours to accept what had happened to him. However, upon reconsideration, perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing. He acknowledged that there had been a desire within him to find someone to share such conversations with.

After all, Seo Eunwoo had approached him first. He even said he wanted to twist the original story. The reason Yeon Yiseo had tried to stay true to the original was to build connections. If he could maintain a friendly relationship with Seo Eunwoo, wouldn’t that be okay? Yeon Yiseo looked down at Seo Eunwoo’s business card in his hand.

Since things had turned out this way, it was best to adapt to the situation. With his resolve firm, Yeon Yiseo took a deep breath and vowed to quickly tackle the tasks that had come his way.

**

It didn’t take long for the two to meet again. After their encounter in the emergency stairs, Seo Eunwoo contacted Yeon Yiseo the following weekend. Although his plans to sleep in were disrupted, it was a moment he had been waiting for, so Yeon Yiseo quickly prepared and headed to the meeting place.

The meeting place was a luxurious café that he would normally never dare to visit. Seo Eunwoo, who had reserved a nice spot by the window, waved when he saw Yeon Yiseo.

As Yeon Yiseo sat down, a server brought out coffee and sandwiches. He said he had ordered them in advance.

“I hoped they would be served when your friend arrived, so I made them as soon as I saw you sit down.”

“Thank you.”

The server smiled at Seo Eunwoo. Yeon Yiseo wondered if they served food like this because he had never been there before, but it seemed that Seo Eunwoo had specifically requested it. Since it wasn’t just about money but rather about the warmth of human connection, the staff was likely happy to extend their kindness.

Yeon Yiseo felt that too. Seo Eunwoo had a magnetic charm. It wasn’t just the allure of a dominant Omega. He was so pretty that even standing still, he drew attention, and with his relaxed demeanor, it would seem odd for anyone not to find him charming. Yeon Yiseo often found himself staring blankly at Seo Eunwoo whenever his mind wandered.

“I felt bad for calling you out this morning, so I bought this for you. I heard the sandwiches here are quite famous, so give it a try.”

“Oh, thank you. You should eat too, Eunwoo.”

“I already had breakfast. A cookie is enough for me.”

Seo Eunwoo, smiling as he spoke, seemed genuine as he sipped his latte. When Yeon Yiseo’s stomach growled, he felt it was awkward to refuse any longer, so he began to eat one side of the sandwich.

The warm brioche bread, filled with fresh lettuce, crunchy pickles, and savory chicken patty, blended beautifully with the gravy sauce, making it incredibly delicious. He felt a pang of regret with each bite that diminished it.

“It’s really tasty.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste. Take your time with the rest.”

Seo Eunwoo waited for Yeon Yiseo to finish eating. After finishing his meal and taking a sip of coffee, Seo Eunwoo finally leaned forward and opened his mouth.

“Seeing you eat like this in front of me, the person I had only imagined, makes it feel real now.”

Though it was a casual remark, Yeon Yiseo understood perfectly what he meant. It aligned exactly with what he felt when looking at Seo Eunwoo.

“By the way, I recognized you the first time I saw you. How about you? I only saw your picture, but you look exactly like the image!”

“Oh, I felt the same. You look even better now, but I’d say the image I had in mind was spot on.”

“It’s strangely accurate, isn’t it?”

Seo Eunwoo was right. The game had never been adapted into live action. The only way he had encountered the characters was through illustrations. Yet, upon seeing Seo Eunwoo and Ethan, he was so taken aback that his mouth dropped open in surprise.

“The reason I wanted to meet today is that, first of all, I wanted to get closer to you.”

“……Oh.”

“You’re not afraid of me being the villain from My Beloved Beta, are you? I’m a completely different person.”

Seo Eunwoo joked. Indeed, he was entirely different from the Seo Eunwoo Yeon Yiseo knew. He wasn’t neurotic or timid, nor did he have a cynical or detached demeanor. His appropriately lively and cheerful attitude was more than enough to endear him to her.