Morning sunlight poured through the floor to ceiling windows of the hospital room, the thin white curtains swaying gently in the breeze.
When Seo Eun Woo woke, the sharp scent of disinfectant that so often clung to hospitals had almost completely faded. He lay still for a few breaths before slowly sitting up.
The aftereffects of his concussion were still present, bringing occasional short bouts of dizziness, but aside from that, his recovery had been almost unbelievably fast.
His young, strong body seemed to proclaim—this vessel was meant to stand at the center of attention, to be noticed by all.
The WIY system hovered in his mind, breaking the silence as usual:
[Host, the doctor says a few more days of observation and you'll be able to be discharged.]
Seo Eun Woo rubbed his temples, his voice calm and indifferent:
"A few days is enough."
It was a soft voice, yet carried an innate cold magnetism.
Even without emotion, it made anyone who heard it imagine a hidden flame beneath ice and snow.
Sure enough, a few days later, he was discharged without issue.
On the day of discharge, Seo Eun Woo refused any assistance from the nurses. He changed into a simple, casual shirt and stood at the hospital entrance.
Black hair neatly framing his face, eyebrows and features clean and strikingly refined, skin smoother than porcelain.
The transformation from his pale, bedridden self just days ago was nothing short of miraculous.
Outside, the door of a waiting luxury car swung open, and Jang Dong Hyun stepped out, striding quickly to meet him.
"Eun Woo."
His voice was low, careful not to startle anyone, yet there was an unmistakable spark in his eyes.
In just a few days, the fiancé he had previously deemed merely "good-looking" seemed entirely changed—astonishingly refined, flawless in cleanliness, every slight tilt of his chin exuding near-lethal beauty.
Dong Hyun's chest tightened sharply.
Back home, Seo Eun Woo took a hot shower.
The bathroom steamed with vapor, white porcelain walls reflecting the contours of his body.
He lowered his eyelashes, letting his fingers glide from collarbone to chest, water droplets tracing his skin.
His collarbones were delicate yet defined, chest evenly toned and firm, waistline snug and precise, the lower curve hidden beneath a white towel.
—This body, though the same as the original owner's, had been "reclaimed" under his mastery, emanating an entirely different aura.
The original had been beautiful, but careful and submissive. Now, simply standing casually, he radiated natural seduction.
The WIY system couldn't help but comment:
[Host, are you participating in a fashion show? I think you don't even need to speak—just this appearance alone could completely overwhelm Jang Dong Hyun.]
Eun Woo let out a low chuckle, murmuring:
"Overwhelm him completely… that's exactly what I want."
He wrapped the towel around his waist and approached the mirror.
Wet black strands clung to his cheek, highlighting increasingly sharp features. The subtle curve at the corner of his eyes hinted at a captivating, almost unreal smile.
He lifted a hand casually, fingertips brushing over his thin lips in the reflection.
Red and full like ripened cherries, a single word from him would be enough to unsettle anyone's heart.
[Host, please be aware. I detect that your fiancé is pacing back and forth in the living room. Heart rate increased by 38%.]
Seo Eun Woo pressed his lips into a small smile.
"Good."
By the time he changed into his evening attire, it was nearly dusk.
A crisp, white suit hugged his frame, broadening his shoulders and elongating his waist.
White might appear plain on anyone else, but on him, it accentuated the pale perfection of his skin and the depth of his gaze.
WIY muttered:
[…Is this meant to drive the entire upper-class society crazy?]
Eun Woo chuckled lightly, eyes casually drifting:
"Not crazy… insane."
In the car, Jang Dong Hyun stared at him for a long moment, unable to speak.
The figure in the white suit was so pristine, yet terrifyingly beautiful to behold.
Eun Woo simply sat quietly, eyes on the passing scenery, his side profile forming the sharpest, most dangerous curve—a hook to ensnare anyone who dared look.
Jang Dong Hyun's fingers clenched tightly on his knees, a restless flutter spreading through his chest.
He lowered his voice suddenly:
"Eun Woo, don't leave my side today."
Seo Eun Woo tilted his head slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing at his lips.
"Leave? Isn't it safer by your side?"
The words sounded compliant, but his gaze sparked like teasing flames.
Playing hard to get.
Dong Hyun's Adam's apple bobbed, and his chest tightened as his breathing grew more rapid.
A sudden image flashed through his mind—the "Omega" from another department who had once caught his attention, now completely replaced by the man before him.
In this moment, his world contained only Seo Eun Woo.
The chandeliers of the ballroom glittered brilliantly, platinum light cascading from above, as if specially arranged to highlight the guests' exquisite attire. Long tables were adorned with fine Western dishes and champagne, while the soft strains of a symphony filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of wine.
The instant Seo Eun Woo stepped in, the chatter in the hall quieted perceptibly.
That presence alone could steal hearts.
He wore a white suit chosen specifically for the evening, sharply tailored yet perfectly accentuating the figure of a young Omega. Broad shoulders, slim waist, chest lines firm, radiating an undeniable youthful tension. His skin shimmered faintly under the crystal light, polished like porcelain, flawless and pristine.
What should have been labeled "graceful and proper" became something else entirely. When Eun Woo smiled subtly and lowered his gaze in greeting, that fleeting elegance combined with detachment, stirring inexplicable excitement in the hearts of onlookers.
"…Is that Jang Dong Hyun's fiancé?"
"Too beautiful… she doesn't seem human… can an Omega like that be controlled?"
"I heard it's from an old incident, some injuries… yet now she shines even brighter than before."
Whispers meandered through the corners of the ballroom.
Dong Hyun heard them all, a complicated mix of feelings churning inside.
He had once harbored a small distraction—an interest in the Omega from another department, the one he had unconsciously compared to Eun Woo on occasion. That Omega had been the "original" fiancé in his mind—gentle, composed, unthreatening.
But now, he found he could not recall that face at all.
All attraction had been stripped away by Seo Eun Woo.
Yet Eun Woo made no move to curry favor. He maintained a proper smile, measured gestures, unhurried—but in subtle ways, he twisted Dong Hyun's emotions mercilessly.
A faint flick of the wrist when raising a glass; the delicate angle of a lifted eye when speaking to others, never looking at him; a passing brush of a sleeve across the hand, then immediately withdrawn, leaving no trace of hesitation.
Playing hard to get.
So precise it felt rehearsed.
Dong Hyun's breath caught repeatedly, his throat burning, desire surging with nowhere to go.
He longed to pull this man into his arms, to shatter that "impeccable shell," forcing every guest to close their eyes and acknowledge that Seo Eun Woo belonged only to him.
But reason told him he couldn't. Not yet.
Eun Woo maintained a composed smile, his gaze indifferent and distant, as if separated by a thin frost.
This sense of detachment did not repel—it only made others yearn more.
The WIY system immediately flashed statistics:
[Notice: Currently in the room, aside from Jang Dong Hyun, 9 attendees have affection values exceeding 30% toward you.]
Seo Eun Woo snorted lightly inwardly.
He knew the true value of this body better than anyone.
Jang Dong Hyun remained at his side, the hand holding his glass stiff, his mind unsettled from Eun Woo's casual glances and teasing.
Seo Eun Woo pressed his lips together slightly, as if doing nothing, yet his poise was so composed and his gaze so subtly enticing it made hearts ache.
He seemed ready to walk away at any moment, yet always at the precise instant, offered a smile that could have been genuine—or not.
[WIY: Well done. That move—Affection +10.]
[Seo Eun Woo: Not yet. Patience.]
The system couldn't help but sigh in his mind, observing the shifting expressions on Jang Dong Hyun's face. It was clear—this man had already been ensnared.
Yet, at that moment, a low but impossible-to-ignore commotion arose from the other side of the hall.
A figure entered the ballroom, moving with measured grace, radiating a cold aura yet exuding an irresistible, contradictory charm.
—It was Cassian Jang, the true heir of the Jang family.
He was Jang Dong Hyun's uncle, yet not much older. Raised in luxury, with sharp, imperious features, he appeared far more untouchable than many of his contemporaries present.
People instinctively parted, clearing a path.
Seo Eun Woo's gaze fell uncontrollably on him.
In that instant, it was as if something struck his chest. Though the face differed completely from the image in his memory, he knew with absolute certainty—this was the one he had encountered across countless worlds, the one who had shared many years under the Life Tree, becoming a devoted partner.
A flutter of emotion froze him momentarily.
[WIY: Tsk… this guy manages to steal the spotlight in every world. Have you forgotten how he tortured you to death in your previous life (affectionately torturing, of course)?]
[Seo Eun Woo: …Shut up.]
But the system didn't shut up. Instead, it added without warning:
[WIY: Cassian Jang, Affection +3.]
Eun Woo's fingertips trembled.
He had just maximized Jang Dong Hyun's attention, barely able to finish collecting it, when Cassian's value suddenly appeared.
It was as if fate were repeating the same prank before him—no matter the appearance or identity, Cassian always managed to move his heart.
Worse, he could sense clearly that Cassian was looking at him too.
That gaze was deep, focused, perfectly hidden from anyone else—but Eun Woo felt it seize him instantly.
"…." He exhaled softly from the chest, yet his smile remained poised, flawless.
Jang Dong Hyun remained entirely unaware of this subtle undercurrent, only feeling as if a sharp needle had pierced his heart in the brief moment Eun Woo had coldly ignored him.
The party continued, glasses clinking and laughter flowing, yet in Eun Woo's mind, the system's final, blunt warning echoed:
[WIY: Warning, target for affection manipulation detected. Cassian Jang's affection value has been triggered.]
Seo Eun Woo's gaze uncontrollably shifted to Cassian.
The face was not identical to the "Cassian" he had seen in other worlds. The contours were sharper, the gaze calmer, and the trace of icy intent along the brow appeared tempered by countless trials.
Yet an unmistakable familiarity suddenly exploded from his chest.
[WIY: …Hmph.]
The system snorted, a hint of exasperated amusement in its electronic tone.
[Not surprising. You still can't look away at Cassian. Different identity, different appearance—you're still irresistibly drawn to him.]
Eun Woo's chest trembled slightly, fingers tightening unconsciously on his glass.
And in that instant, he definitively caught—Cassian's gaze.
Across the crowd, above the clinking of glasses, those cold, deep eyes briefly rested on him.
Just a fleeting moment, yet it felt like a blow to the heart.
"…." Seo Eun Woo's breath quivered.
[WIY: Alert. You have just triggered special data.]
A transparent interface appeared before his eyes.
—Cassian Jang, Affection +5.
Seo Eun Woo: "…!"
[WIY: Hah, first appearance and you've already triggered a value. Typical—you two are practically blood magnets.]
[WIY: But don't forget, you're still on the side quest of 'Winning over Jang Dong Hyun.' Stay focused.]
Seo Eun Woo blinked, coming back to himself. He remembered that his son was still at the Life Tree helping with data. A tight knot formed somewhere in his heart, as if an undercurrent was about to surface, slowly brewing beneath the glittering lights of the ballroom…
And with that, the true beginning of his conquest quietly unfolded.
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This is the second project I've just started—a quick-transmigration BL novel! I hope you enjoy it. Compared to my first slow-burn cultivation novel, this one has a faster pace and more system-based adventures.