Chapter Text
After three years of escaping the suffocating pressures of society and family expectations, Huang Renjun was finally back in the country. But stepping foot on familiar ground again felt unsettling. This place had made his deepest wounds—wounds he wasn’t sure had ever fully healed.
Renjun had always been the golden child, adored by his parents and cherished by his maternal grandparents. His mother had married a man her wealthy and influential parents disapproved of, leading them to cut ties with her. However, when Renjun was born, everything changed. Despite their disdain for their daughter's marriage, his grandparents fell in love with him. The **Kim family**, known for their deep-rooted connections in politics, struck a deal: if Renjun turned out to be an Omega, they would raise him as the rightful heir to their legacy.
Renjun grew up as the perfect child—**obedient, intelligent, and charming**. When he finally presented as an Omega, his grandparents wasted no time in arranging his future. Their plan? To marry him off to another elite family—**the Na and Lee families**, both of whom had ancient royal bloodlines and wealth that spanned generations.
For much of his childhood, Renjun lived a relatively normal life with his parents, attending public school and only visiting his grandparents on weekends and holidays. It was during these high-society gatherings that he first crossed paths with the **most elite friend group** in their world:
-Lee Jeno – The second prince of the main royal family, a high-ranking aristocrat with influence over diplomatic and political affairs. His family played a crucial role in modern governance, ensuring their continued authority in both tradition and law.
- Na Jaemin – Heir to a banking empire, with his family's wealth tied to the nation's largest financial institutions. The Na family had been the cornerstone of the country's economic system for generations, holding immense power over financial policies and global markets.
-Lee Mark – A descendant of the one of the nation's founders and the heir to the largest military and defense empire. His family's legacy was deeply ingrained in national security, supplying weapons, intelligence, and defense strategies to the government.
-Park Jisung – The youngest heir of the largest construction and infrastructure conglomerate. His family had built the country’s most iconic landmarks, skyscrapers, and royal estates, controlling the nation's urban landscape.
-Zhong Chenle – Successor to a global medical and pharmaceutical dynasty. The Zhong family owned a world-renowned healthcare empire, developing elite medical treatments and owning private hospitals catering to the wealthiest clients.
-Lee Donghyuk (Haechan) – Jeno’s cousin and connecting to a tech mogul, leading advancements in AI, cybersecurity, and smart city developments. His division of the Lee family controlled the digital infrastructure of the modern world, making him a key figure in global technological innovation.
These boys had grown up together, their friendships unbreakable, their status untouchable. To outsiders, they were the epitome of wealth and power—**exclusive, untouchable, and ruthless** to those who tried to infiltrate their circle.
Renjun, however, was different. He wasn’t just another social climber. He was *a Kim*, which meant he came with power and a reputation of his own. But to the group, he was still an outsider.
When his grandparents forced him to transfer to their prestigious private high school, Renjun’s world changed overnight. He became the center of attention—not just for his beauty, but for his lineage. The only one who showed him kindness was Mark, but that only made Donghyuk dislike him even more.
By the time Renjun entered high school, **Jeno and Jaemin were already the school’s most admired couple**. They were perfect together, untouchable. Renjun had admired them from a distance—not just for their beauty and status, but because, unlike the others, they weren’t cruel to him. In fact, they had even defended him from school bullies a few times.
But everything shattered when, in **their second year**, Renjun’s grandparents announced his engagement—to none other than Jeno and Jaemin.
The news **infuriated** them. From their perspective, Renjun’s family was only after their wealth and influence. Renjun had never told them the truth—that the only reason he agreed to the arrangement was because it was the only way to **reunite his parents with his grandparents’ approval.
After the announcement, Renjun found himself **forced into their social circle**, even though he never truly felt like he belonged. The dynamic between him and the two alphas became complicated—flirtation blurred with resentment, companionship tainted with duty.
At first, Jaemin and Jeno ignored him. Then, they began **to tolerate him**. Slowly, they became **something in between lovers and strangers**—never quite calling him a friend, but never fully rejecting him either.
Then, on graduation night**, everything changed again.
That night, they spent their heats and ruts together**, tangled in something too intense to be meaningless—but **they never told Renjun they loved him**. They never even asked him to officially be their lover.
Deep down, Renjun had known love had no place in their world. But **Jaemin and Jeno had chosen each other**—they weren’t forced into anything. With him, it was different. He was an obligation.
And when morning came, they made it clear.
_"This was just physical,"_ they said. _"It doesn’t mean anything."_
Renjun had already braced himself for the inevitable heartbreak, but what shattered him completely was overhearing them talk about him as nothing more than a **toy, a prize**—something to be claimed, not someone to be cherished.
That night, he ran away. Away from the family who controlled him. Away from the love that never truly belonged to him. Away from a world that had never once been his.
Now, three years later, he was back.
His grandparents were sick and had asked to see him one last time. That was the only reason he returned. He planned to come quietly and leave just as fast—just long enough to collect his university documents and fulfill his duty as a grandson.
But fate had a cruel way of pulling him back into the very world he had fought so hard to escape.
And this time, he wouldn’t be the same naive boy who had once longed for love.
This time, he was here **on his own terms.
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Now, Three Years Later
The city hadn’t changed, but Renjun had. No longer the naive, obedient heir, he had built a life far from their suffocating world. He had found a purpose beyond being a pawn in an elite family's game.
But fate had a cruel way of pulling him back in.
His grandparents were sick, their health rapidly declining, and they had requested to see him one last time. He had no choice but to return, even if it meant facing the people who had once broken him.
The moment Renjun stepped off the plane, the weight of his past pressed down on him. Everything felt too familiar, yet so distant—like a dream he had long tried to forget.
By the time he arrived at his grandparents’ estate, dinner was already in full swing. From cousins to parents, everyone was waiting for him. And it wasn’t long before he felt their presence.
Jeno and Jaemin stood there—watching.
Their gazes locked onto him, filled with shock, longing, and something else—something Renjun couldn’t quite decipher.
But he wasn’t here for them. He had come back only to say goodbye.
Even though he was momentarily taken aback, he didn’t let himself linger in uncertainty for too long. He offered a polite greeting, keeping his tone casual, then took a seat—far away from them.
Still, throughout dinner, he could feel their eyes on him. A gaze that never wavered, that never once looked away.
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After dinner, Renjun was summoned by his grandparents. Their expressions softened the moment they saw him.
His grandfather spoke first. “Are you okay? How is your health? Is it better?”
Renjun lowered his gaze. “It’s better than before.”
A sigh of relief left his grandmother’s lips, but her tone was laced with sorrow. “My health has been declining, Renjun. I asked for you because I miss you. We want you to stay. Move back home.”
His grandfather added, “We know things were difficult before. But we won’t push you into marriage. We even spoke to their family—they understand.”
Renjun hesitated. “You know I have a life there, right? This is too sudden… at least give me a few days to think.”
His grandfather nodded. “Of course. We won’t pressure you. But while you’re here, stay with us. Your parents are also here. Let yourself rest, even if only for a few days.”
Renjun gave a quiet nod.
As he left the room, he ran into Kim Doyoung—his cousin from his mother’s side.
Doyoung, ever the strategist, studied him carefully before speaking. “They’re waiting for you in the garden.”
Renjun sighed. Of course, they were.
Doyoung placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Give them a chance, Renjun. Things haven’t been easy for them since you left, either.”
Renjun said nothing, simply nodding before making his way to the garden.
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Jeno and Jaemin were waiting anxiously.
The moment Renjun stepped into the garden, their conversation fell silent. They turned to him instantly, their sharp gazes taking in every inch of him.
He had changed.
Gone was the uncertain boy who had once tiptoed around them, afraid to overstep. Now, he stood taller, exuding confidence that hadn’t been there before. He looked radiant—like someone who had finally learned his worth.
Jeno was the first to break the silence, his usual friendliness now edged with nervousness. “Hi… long time no see.”
Before Renjun could respond, Jaemin’s voice cut in, his eyes holding an intensity that made Renjun’s chest tighten. “How is your health?”
For a split second, panic flared in Renjun’s heart. Did he know?
Jaemin didn’t give him time to overthink. “You look tired. The flight must’ve been exhausting.”
Renjun let out a breath, forcing himself to relax. “Yeah… it’s overwhelming to see so many people again.”
Jeno hesitated for a moment before speaking. “We wanted to talk… about us. About what happened before you left.”
Jaemin didn’t let him finish. “We grew up together. We were friends before everything got… complicated. We want to start over.”**
Renjun blinked. Friends?
Jaemin continued, “We know we messed up. The past was complicated, and we hurt you. But if you’re willing… we want to start from the beginning.”
Jeno nodded in agreement. “And to celebrate that, we’d like to invite you to dinner this weekend at our summer villa.”
Jaemin added, “Our other friends will be there too. You can invite some of yours if you want.”
Renjun hesitated, but in the end, he gave a small nod. “Okay. I’ll be there.”
Later That Night
As Jeno and Jaemin left, Renjun let out a deep sigh.
He had expected this. Of course, they only saw him as a friend. Not as a mate.
It felt like they were drawing a clear line between them.
But… wasn’t this what he had wanted?
So why did it feel like an invisible weight had settled on his chest?
And why, despite everything, did he feel just a little bit disappointed?
From the Jeno and Jaemin’s POV
What Jeno and Jaemin never realized was how deeply Renjun had embedded himself into their hearts. At first, they had tried to resist him. He was an intrusion, a forced obligation they despised. But Renjun was unlike anyone they had ever met.
His sharp wit, his quiet resilience, and his ability to stand tall despite the weight of his family’s expectations intrigued them. He never once sought their wealth or power—something rare in their world. Instead, he challenged them in ways no one else dared. He was selfless, enduring pain in silence, sacrificing his own happiness for his family’s sake.
Jaemin had been the first to waver. He noticed the way Renjun’s hands trembled when he thought no one was looking, the way his lips curled in a sad smile whenever he watched Jaemin and Jeno together. He saw the loneliness in his eyes—the same loneliness Jaemin had felt all his life despite being surrounded by everything money could buy. But it wasn’t just the sadness that drew Jaemin in—it was the small, unexpected moments that made his heart stutter.
Like the time Renjun fell asleep on his shoulder during a late-night tutoring session, his soft breaths warming Jaemin’s skin. Or the time Renjun shyly gifted Jaemin a hand-knitted scarf, his cheeks dusted with pink as he muttered, “You always forget to bring one, so…” Jaemin had worn it every day that winter, ignoring the designer ones hanging in his closet. Then there was the moment Renjun laughed, really laughed, for the first time in front of Jaemin—so unguarded and full of warmth that it made Jaemin’s chest ache.
Jeno followed soon after. The way Renjun carried himself despite the burdens placed upon him made Jeno respect him. Renjun never bowed to him just because he was royalty. Instead, he met Jeno’s gaze head-on, unafraid of the consequences. It was that quiet strength, that unwavering dignity, that made Jeno see him as more than just an arranged partner.
Jeno would never forget the day Renjun patched him up after a sparring match gone wrong. “You’re reckless,” Renjun had scolded, dabbing at the cut on Jeno’s brow with gentle fingers. Jeno had only stared at him, captivated by the way Renjun’s lips pursed in concentration, his usual sharp tongue softened by quiet care. Or the way Renjun would always save the last bite of dessert for him, pushing his plate toward Jeno without a word. “You like it more than I do,” he’d say with a shrug, but Jeno knew the truth—Renjun had a sweet tooth, yet he still gave up his favorite treats. And then there was the time Renjun had fallen asleep in the library, curled up in a patch of afternoon sunlight, his head resting on an open book. Jeno had sat beside him, watching the way the light kissed his skin, thinking, He’s beautiful. It was the first time Jeno ever let himself acknowledge it.
Last time, they had been blind—too proud, too stubborn to see the truth until it was too late. They had convinced themselves they didn’t need him, that he was just an obligation, a name tied to theirs by force. But when he left, he took more than just his presence. He took the warmth of their world, the softness they didn’t know they craved, the light they had always overlooked.
Jaemin still remembered the little things—the way Renjun’s fingers would curl slightly when he held a cup of tea, the quiet hum of a song escaping his lips when he thought no one was listening. The way he leaned into Jaemin’s touch just for a second before pulling away, as if afraid to want more. Jeno had tried to erase him. But every time he saw golden sunlight filtering through a window, he thought of Renjun’s hair glowing in the afternoon light. Every time he heard a quiet laugh in a crowded room, his heart clenched, hoping it was him—only to feel the crushing disappointment when it wasn’t.
Renjun was their greatest mistake, but this time, they wouldn’t let history repeat itself. Possessiveness burned deep in their veins, an uncontrollable, primal need to claim what was theirs. They had spent years lying to themselves, convincing themselves they didn’t want him, only to realize that they had never wanted anything more. Renjun had never been just an obligation. He had never been replaceable.
And now that fate had brought him back, they wouldn’t waste this second chance. No more distance. No more mistakes. No more running. No matter how much Renjun tried to resist, no matter how many walls he built around himself, Jeno and Jaemin were prepared to tear them down—piece by piece, kiss by kiss, touch by touch.
This time, Renjun belonged to them.