It was an uncharacteristically firm tone from the usually quiet Yeonwoo. As if there wasn’t the slightest falsehood in his words, Ho Munbeom’s lips curled up slightly at Yeonwoo’s direct gaze, which was rare.
“I know.”
Munbeom’s smile and response made Yeonwoo’s heart crumple.
He had been worried about what would happen if Munbeom didn’t believe him even after saying all that. But he truly hadn’t told anyone. Not even his father, Lee Jonghoon.
As Yeonwoo took a small breath and lowered his clasped hands beneath the table, Munbeom rubbed his left eyebrow with his finger and said, “Someone else at the hotel that day has put me in an awkward position.”
“…You mean that second son from the construction company?”
Munbeom’s eyebrows shot up for a moment.
“You knew?”
“It was on the news on Monday…”
Munbeom’s expression relaxed as he wondered how Yeonwoo knew about it.
Well, there had been noise all day Monday because of the news that Preyon had unilaterally released. They had made such a commotion as if the two had already met and set a wedding date, so Yeonwoo couldn’t have missed it.
It seemed that Munbeom’s path had crossed with the second son of Preyon Construction that day, but the person who had been with Munbeom was Yeonwoo. Munbeom had immediately demanded a correction and filed a lawsuit against the reporter and broadcasting station that had spread the information without verification. He had properly controlled it in the early stages before it spread further, and it had some effect.
The Preyon Construction side was still keeping quiet about the incident.
“People in this country are quite interested in others’ affairs, even if they aren’t true. Don’t you think?”
“…”
Munbeom smiled, but somehow that smile didn’t seem genuine.
During lunchtime that day, people had been gossiping about the news. From what they were saying, it sounded like the construction company’s second son and Munbeom were really dating. But now the person himself said it wasn’t true. I see, so it’s not true.
Taking a deep breath and exhaling for a different reason now, Yeonwoo heard Munbeom ask something else.
“I thought I would get a call from your family.”
“…”
“But you really didn’t say anything.”
As mentioned earlier, Yeonwoo hadn’t told anyone about what happened with Munbeom.
Everything that happened that day was strange. It was amazing that he even got to meet Munbeom for an arranged date in the first place, but the fact that the man who arrived late suddenly suggested going to a hotel room, and everything that followed were all unprecedented, incomprehensible experiences for Yeonwoo.
Of course, the price for these new experiences was harsh, with his body only recovering somewhat today.
Yeonwoo fidgeted with his hands under the table as he answered.
“I said I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“…”
“And I got the money…”
Trailing off, Yeonwoo closed his mouth.
Munbeom had handed over three checks, saying they were for transportation, but to Yeonwoo, they felt like payment. Payment for keeping that one night a secret and not revealing it to others.
This thought had only occurred to him days later. It was entirely his own conclusion. But after meeting Munbeom today and exchanging a few words, it didn’t seem like he had been wrong.
So he called me today to confirm whether I’d revealed what happened that night. Was he satisfied with my answer? Can I go home now? Will I be taken back in his secretary’s car again? This place seems like buses don’t run here, let alone taxis…
Just then, words Yeonwoo never expected flowed into his ears.
“If our agreement is still valid, could you maintain that lie a little longer?”
Yeonwoo’s eyes, which had been fixed on the table, slowly moved upward. With his gaze fixed on the small face that didn’t seem to understand what it had heard, Munbeom continued.
“My grandfather found out that I left the hotel in the early hours of the morning that day. Since then, he’s been causing a fuss trying to pair me with that person, and it’s giving me a headache. I’ve never even sat face to face having tea with that omega called Do Wonkyung or whatever.”
“…”
“Even when I say it’s not true, he won’t believe me, so at this rate, I’m going to end up in marriage talks with them. But the one I spent that night with was you, Lee Yeonwoo.”
A strange situation had arisen because of an unexpected omega who had inserted themselves. His grandfather, who had grown extremely impatient after a year of arranged dates without any progress, had rushed over. Asking if he was really seeing Do Wonkyung. His grandfather’s lips had curled up in delight as he questioned why Munbeom had hidden it if he had someone, instead of saying something earlier.
At this rate, it seemed like his grandfather was ready to set a date immediately, so Munbeom had rebuffed him more coldly than usual. He insisted it was just a false rumor spread by them, emphasizing that it was completely untrue. Nevertheless, his grandfather, who still couldn’t give up hope, eventually slumped his shoulders and left after Munbeom’s continued cold reactions. Still, it was too early to feel relieved.
Now that word had gotten out somehow, his grandfather and those around him would become even more annoying. He was also sick of meeting an indeterminate number of omegas every week. At this point, it seemed better to put forward someone to play the role of a lover.
He had only thought about it until now, never intending to put it into action. But after this absurd scandal broke, he felt he couldn’t continue like this anymore. And at that moment, Yeonwoo had come to mind. Even knowing he shouldn’t, thoughts related to Yeonwoo kept progressing in his head.
If their conditions matched, it seemed fine to meet a few more times. If he provided appropriate compensation when they broke up, there wouldn’t be any gossip.
Plus, that night, their physical compatibility had been good. It was also worth giving high marks for how Yeonwoo had tried to hide his pheromones during the act.
Munbeom met Yeonwoo’s eyes, which were still looking at him.
“So, if it’s alright with you, I’d like you to meet my grandfather.”
His eyes widened in surprise, even more than before.
“…What?”
“You just need to meet my grandfather and tell him you were with me that night. Just, just say that.”
“…”
“What? Does it seem too difficult?”
Munbeom smiled faintly, as if to say it was nothing, what could be difficult about it?
That face wasn’t unfamiliar to Yeonwoo. He had looked at him with that same smiling face that night. And at that time, Yeonwoo seemed to have nodded.
From the beginning, Munbeom didn’t seem to consider the possibility that a refusal might come from Yeonwoo’s lips. Staring at the man who probably had never experienced rejection from others throughout his life, Yeonwoo’s lips moved slightly.
“…I don’t think it will end with just showing my face.”
“…”
It was unexpected. Munbeom’s smile widened at the response that seemed to understand the implication of his proposal. Dragging things out with more talk seemed troublesome. So Munbeom got straight to the point.
“I want you to act as my lover for the time being. During that period, I’ll stop going on arranged dates. Since my grandfather will certainly make a fuss about that, we’ll need to meet with him at least once.”
“…”
“If I show him the person I’m seeing, he won’t say anything more.”
His lover? Was this really coming from Munbeom’s own mouth?
Feeling incredulous, Yeonwoo pulled himself together as his mind was about to go blank.
“Why me?”
“Because no one would think it’s genuine.”
“…”
“I looked into your background a bit. Your father is very ill.”
Yeonwoo closed his eyes and opened them again. As his eyelids fluttered slowly, his foggy mind gradually became clearer. When his thoughts were finally completely calm, what came to mind was, Ah, that’s it.
It would be troublesome to break up with someone from a similar family background, as they might think it would naturally lead to marriage. In contrast, he, Yeonwoo, was not worthy of being someone Ho Munbeom, an extremely dominant alpha, would genuinely date.
“I’m getting tired of these arranged dates, and they seem like a waste of time. If I say I’m seeing someone, I can avoid those uncomfortable situations for a while. Of course, it would be at most for half a year. I’ll compensate you appropriately for your help during that time.”
“…”
“You can tell your family about this. I’ll handle it.”
By “your family,” he must mean Yeonwoo’s father, Lee Jonghoon.
Given that he knew about Yeonwoo’s omega father, the investigation into him must already be complete. Perhaps that’s why he could ask him to play the role of a lover with such ease.
“I can move your father to a hospital in Seoul. While pheromone disorder is difficult to treat, it’s not incurable. Of course, the hospital he’s currently in is certainly excellent as well.”
“…”
“You seem to have been very concerned about it.”
Yes, he had really tried hard and been very concerned.
He had taken his father to the largest omega specialist hospital in the province and begged desperately to get him surgery from a skilled doctor.
