Marriage Mate: 31

“Ugh!”

The bodyguard let go of the hand that he had been holding, making an unpleasant sound. At the same time, the people sitting next to him all stood up at once. One of them glared at Do-won fiercely and grabbed his wrist tightly.

“Who the hell are you?”

At that moment, Yu-young, with a pale face, stood up and shouted.

“Hey! What are you doing ?!”

The sirens were blaring in his head. Yu-young didn’t know why Do-won was in front of him right now, but he had to stop his father’s bodyguards from harming him.

Yu-young didn’t want to get involved with his superior in any unpleasant matters. Like a madman, he rushed over and grabbed the arm of the bodyguard holding Do-won.

“Let go! Don’t you dare touch him, or I swear I won’t let it go! I’m calling my dad right now, got it?!”

Yu-young’s speech, mixing informal and formal tones, made Do-won furrow his brows in confusion. However, before explaining the situation, Yu-young felt it was more urgent to stop the bodyguards from touching him any further.

He stamped his feet and dialed his father’s number. As soon as the phone connected, Yu-young shouted.

“Dad! I told you I’ll meet them! These people are being so rude! Do you even know how bad this is? If this keeps up, we’re going to get kicked out of the hotel, so please get them to leave, now! If you don’t, I swear I’ll throw myself on the ground right here!”

Hos father, likely stunned by Yu-young’s outburst, hung up without saying anything.

Yu-young huffed, hanging up the phone, and glared at the men. This was a rare moment where he was this angry… Well, not really, but seeing the bodyguard team leader turn pale after receiving his father’s call meant that he had successfully handled the situation.

“Yes, boss. Yes. I’m sorry. We’ve safely brought him… Yes, sorry. We’ll be leaving now.”

The bodyguards quietly walked out of the hotel. Do-won looked at their retreating figures with a scowl, then turned his gaze to Yu-young.

“Assistant Han. What exactly is going on here?”

“Team leader, why… why are you here?”

The two asked each other almost simultaneously. Do-won sighed briefly before answering clearly and succinctly.

“I saw you being dragged from the underground parking lot and came after you. As for you…”

“I was… my dad was setting me up for a date…” Yu-young started to explain about his situation but suddenly stopped, his eyes widening.

“Wait, wait a minute.”

It seemed like he had just heard something so shocking that he almost fell over in surprise.

“So, what you’re saying is… You came here because you’re worried about me?” 

He couldn’t believe it. The guy who usually acted so annoyingly came all the way here to help me…? Now? On this weekend? His mouth hung open in disbelief. Was this really the same team leader he knew? Was he seeing things?

Regardless of his reaction, Do-won asked in a businesslike tone.

“Anyway. What happened?”

“My dad would periodically kidnap me like this.… ha…”

Yu-young sighed, his face turning gloomy.

“Surprised, huh? Haha… My family’s like this. Anyway, I’m really sorry, and also…”

“…?”

“Thank you for coming to save me… I mean, really… thanks.”

He fumbled awkwardly as he expressed his gratitude. Even though he always complained about him, this person came to save him when he was dragged away by rough men in the parking lot. If it hadn’t been for this ridiculous arrangement his father set up, things could’ve gotten much worse, and he had come to his rescue, even at the risk of danger.

His resentment faded for a moment, replaced by gratitude. Still, the awkwardness lingered, so he lowered his gaze slightly, feeling his ears burn and his chest tingle.

Looking down at Yu-young, Do-won muttered with a disinterested expression.

“Anyway, it seems like it wasn’t a big deal. I’m just glad there won’t be any problems with Monday’s work.”

…Yeah, this was the team leader he knew. He thought he might say something to break the atmosphere, and just as he tried to force a smile and bow, he was interrupted.

“Thank you…”

“Assistant Han, phone.”

The phone that he had carelessly left on the table after talking to his father began to ring loudly again.

Yu-young hurriedly grabbed the phone from where he had thrown it.

Unluckily, the caller’s ID showed [Father] again.

“…Yes.”

-You’re causing all this commotion, huh? I trusted them to bring you safely, but you’re not running away, are you?

“Hah… I’m not running away. I’m not.”

It seemed like he was talking about sending the bodyguards away earlier. Yu-young tilted his head slightly, frustrated, and held the phone correctly. The screen lit up for a moment, and he unknowingly turned on the speakerphone button.

-I’m heading there now. I’ll be there soon.

His father’s firm voice was so loud that those around him could hear it clearly. Yu-young almost fainted, quickly adjusting the phone to turn the sound down.

“What, what did you just say, Dad…? You want me to go to a blind date together?!”

-What’s wrong with that? We’ve known each other for a long time.

“Known each other? What are you talking about?”

The more he listened, the more confusing it sounded, and Yu-young opened his mouth in confusion. But the next moment, he couldn’t help but be shocked.

-Do you remember Kim Young-hoon? Your middle school classmate.

“Kim Young-hoon…?”

At the unexpected name, Yu-young squinted for a moment before covering his mouth.

“Wait… You mean the son of MD Construction, Kim Young-hoon?!”

“Yeah. I remembered. I ran into his dad at a gathering, and I heard that he also manifested as an Alpha. So, we thought we’d set you up.”

Yu-young felt a chill go down his spine. He remembered that back in school, Kim Young-hoon had come from a good family and was handsome, but his personality was awful and mean. He’d always hung around with people like him and bullied weaker kids. He used to say ridiculous things like, “You’d look good as an Omega,” and that if it happened, he’d take care of him.

Yu-young had punched him in the face for that, and the fight eventually ended because both their fathers were business partners, but now his father was asking him to meet him, together?!

A shiver ran down his spine.

“Father!”

Yu-young, who had been about to shout, lowered his voice, glancing around to check if anyone was watching.

“I don’t like Kim Young-hoon. Don’t you remember we fought before? I absolutely don’t want to go on a blind date with him! And what year is it now? Why are my parents coming along for a blind date?!”

-Shut up, you brat! You should’ve taken care of things on your own until now!”

His father’s voice echoed, making Yu-young’s eardrums hurt. Yu-young scowled and moved the phone slightly away from his face.

-I don’t like this guy, I don’t like that guy. Have you ever seriously thought about someone? All you’ve been doing is eating good meals at blind dates without any real intention, and I can’t stand it anymore. This is not a game!”

“No, Father! I’m the one who is shocked! It’s better to go with someone I don’t know than to suddenly have a blind date with a middle school classmate! Without telling me anything!”

-Shut up, just meet him and talk! I’m almost there.”

The loud phone call ended abruptly. Yu-young felt so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even laugh.

With a vacant expression, Yu-young turned off the phone screen.

“…..”

“…..”

Do-won who had been watching, nodded and turned around. 

“Anyway, we’ll see each other on Monday. Take care.”

That cold, indifferent tone was unmistakable, and Yu-young couldn’t help but feel irritated. It wasn’t like he had anything to do with it, but he couldn’t help but feel frustrated that Do-won, without saying anything comforting, just turned away.

But he couldn’t ask Do-won for help either. Do-won showing up here at this exact moment was no coincidence, but pretending to be a fake boyfriend to fool his father? That didn’t seem like something he’d do…

Wait a minute.

A sudden shiver ran down Yu-young’s spine. Fake boyfriend…?

Yu-young quickly looked over Do-won’s retreating figure. His tall, confident back, the elegance and dignity he maintained even in a tracksuit, his excellent traits as an Alpha. His reputation for outstanding skills that had brought him here with difficulty. Most importantly, he was the very one his father had been subtly trying to pair him with all along.

Could there be a better reason than this? Yu-young, without thinking, ran after Do-won, who was already quite a distance away.

“Wait a second! Team Leader! Wait, just wait!”

Yu-young stumbled as he chased after Do-won, grabbing his arm. Do-won frowned slightly and turned back.

“What now?”

“Team… team… team leader.”

Yu-young had rushed over without thinking, but now that he saw Do-won’s cold, distant gaze, his words were stuck. But it was do or die. If he let this man go now, he would end up going on a blind date with Kim Young-hoon. The thought of that horrible experience was unbearable.

“I… I have something to tell you.”

Do-won didn’t rush him. He just looked at him with an expression that seemed to say, “Go ahead,” and that made Yu-young feel a bit tense. Yu-young licked his lips, closed his eyes tightly, and gathered strength his courage.

“SC President?”

Yu-young, who had his eyes closed, opened them at Do-won’s voice.

“…Yes?”

“Over there.”

Do-won, with a neutral expression, lightly pointed toward the hotel entrance. Yu-young’s eyes widened in shock. Wasn’t it his father ?

No, he had said he was almost there, but not this quickly…! Panicked, Yu-young didn’t even think twice and grabbed Do-won’s arm with both hands, pulling him.

“Team leader, please, please this way…!”

“Assistant Han, why are you suddenly like this?”

“Please. Please. Please!” 

Yu-young whispered urgently, his eyes wide open. Sensing that Yu-young was serious, Do-won, fortunately, followed him without question.

If they had been just 10 seconds late, they would’ve been caught. Yu-young quickly led Do-won toward the elevator, keeping his eyes on his father, who was looking around for him by the sofa where Yu-young had been sitting earlier.

Soon, Yu-young’s phone started ringing. He quickly cut the call and sent a text saying, [I’m in the bathroom right now.]

It was now or never. Yu-young clenched his fist with determination.

With a chime, the elevator arrived at the floor where Yu-young had changed earlier.