ILLUSORY RELATIONSHIP ⋮ norenmin

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Stepping into the New Home II

The house situation was a serious problem. Renjun got to know it when he and Jaemin accompanied Jeno to one of the meetings that seemed to grow out of nowhere. For the past few days, the alpha couldn't stop coming to these meetings. Everyone wanted the house and the reforms were more than speculation. The omega pretended to be clueless but he soaked all that information, understanding clearly that if they didn't consider selling the house, they'd take it away from them. Just because the government wanted everyone to live in identical houses with no differences.

The thing is, selling the house that was burnt sounded a bit comical. Renjun stared at the alpha who provided them the information, the lawyer, as Jaemin said, and wondered why someone would want it without any restorations. He couldn't lie, Jeno's talent in projecting the house and the way it looked was worth the fuss, but Renjun didn't feel like it was worth the money they were offered yet. One million and a half wasn't enough for the house where one may get lost on their way to a specific room.

"I'd like to know about replacement. If I were to sell it now, what's the suggestion?" Jeno asked, surprising Renjun.

"There are several offers, Mr. Lee. In fact, there are so many that if you do it quickly, you may get a greater house," the lawyer replied, then listed the districts and even showed the pictures of the houses on his computer screen.

All Renjun could see were pretty houses, not his life in them. He loved the gothic house even when the fire ruined it. Keeping that in mind, the omega glanced at his alpha but was unable to read Jeno's mind. He tried to see the thought process on Jaemin's face too, but instead got the beta raising his eyebrows and wordlessly asking him what was wrong.

Renjun turned away, irritated that no one showed what they were actually thinking. They were with their lawyer, why couldn't they say anything they wanted? They had to let him know they didn't like the idea or was it just Renjun who was too attached to the former house?

The omega's mood dropped down and he stopped looking at what the lawyer was displaying on the screen. Not only was it boring but he also hated breathing the alpha's scent directly. He didn't hear what they talked about either. Sassily, Renjun picked on his nails and openly showed he wasn't interested in any of those pictures of houses.

Jeno noticed it happening and in the middle of the house suggestions that made the lawyer look more like a house seller, the alpha put his hand on Renjun's knee. The omega glanced up, meeting Jeno's eyes for short eye contact. The alpha seemed to attempt to calm his future mate just by looking at him, but Renjun was still furious.

He heard Jeno sighing and he must've looked at Jaemin because the next second the beta slightly touched Renjun's back. This gained the omega's reaction as Jaemin hadn't touched him since the incident in the bedroom—it had been two days already. As expected, Renjun's heart fluttered and he was distracted from the negative feelings toward new houses. He looked up at Jaemin and questionably looked at him.

"Do you want to take a walk?" the beta asked, interrupting the lawyer who still showed the pictures of houses and didn't stop complimenting them.

Renjun nodded, so Jaemin stood up first.

"What's the matter?" the lawyer paused to ask.

"Mr. Huang wants to take a walk," the beta said, collecting their stuff.

"Right now?" the lawyer scoffed. "We're in the middle of—"

"My master's wish is my command," Jaemin cut the alpha off and smiled. "We'll see you outside, Mr. Lee," he said to Jeno.

Renjun and Jaemin left the room, and the omega could sigh in relief as he escaped the intense scent and pheromone mess. He followed Jaemin down the unfamiliar hallways, keeping close as he was scared to get lost but it would've been impossible as the beta kept looking over his shoulder until he let Renjun go first. There weren't many people in the hallways, but if they came around, they would pause and look at the omega as he looked like a celebrity with a bodyguard behind.