Marriage Mate: 32

“Assistant Han, what are you doing right now?“

Do-won, who had been following without a word, arrived in front of an empty room. He lightly furrowed his brows and shrugged off his sleeve.

“Team Leader… I have something to say.”

With a serious expression, Yu-young began speaking. However, his voice was slightly trembling.

“That… of course, you might find what I’m saying extremely absurd. But please listen to me until the end. You might think I’m crazy, but please don’t think that way and hear me out until the end…”

“Just get to the point.”

Do-won interrupted Yu-young’s rambling with a cold expression. Seeing his frigid face made Yu-young feel as though the courage he had built up was suddenly draining away.

But there was no time. If he missed this opportunity, it would really be the end. Yu-young could already imagine himself sitting across from Kim Young-hoon, cutting into a steak.

“Wow, Han Yu-young. Long time no see? See, I told you this would happen. I knew you’d manifest as an Omega, right?”

That guy would probably say it smugly, crossing his legs. Could Yu-young bear that?

…Endure? What would there be to endure? He’d need to pour a cold glass of water on his head to snap him out of it. The disastrous outcome of the blind date was already crystal clear in Yu-young’s mind.

Right, this is it. If I don’t ask, I’m going to be sitting there cutting steak with Kim Young-hoon!

Yu-young clenched his fist again with a grim determination, closing his eyes tightly. Surely, saying this wouldn’t make Do-won angry enough to kill him, would it?

“Well… I… just for today… just for today!”

“…..”

“….Can you pretend to be my… boyfriend?”

Yu-young’s voice started to fade, like air leaking from a balloon.

“…..”

“…..”

The silence that followed was unbearable.

Yu-young’s face began to turn bright red, so hot that he almost feared it might explode. If he could, he’d cover his face with his hands and sit down right there.

Crazy… Why, of all words, ‘boyfriend’…?

It felt like an absurdly embarrassing word. Boyfriend. But other than that, he couldn’t think of any less embarrassing term to use between a team leader and team member in this situation.

Anyway, Yu-young struggled to continue speaking in order to salvage the completely awkward atmosphere.

“Team Leader… what I mean is…”

“No.”

Yu-young’s words didn’t get any further. It was a too-quick and clean rejection.

“Why should I pretend to be your boyfriend, Assistant Han?”

“…..”

“What’s in it for me? And I don’t want to get involved in anyone else’s personal matters.”

With his arms crossed and his head tilted in an indifferent manner, Do-won looked at Yu-young, who had no words to say in return.

In fact, he wasn’t wrong. If he were the team leader and one of his team members suddenly asked him to pretend to be their boyfriend, he’d probably ask if they were crazy.

Yu-young, desperate, clung to Do-won’s arm.

“Team Leader! I know my suggestion is ridiculous, but please just hear me out!”

“If you know, then stop it.”

“If you’re okay with it, I’ll make it worth your while. I can pay you handsomely…”

“I don’t need it. I have plenty of money.”

It was a fortress that couldn’t be breached. After hearing Yu-young’s proposal, Do-won looked not just dumbfounded, but also displeased. But Yu-young didn’t have the time or energy to be hurt by his reaction. Without thinking, he grabbed his arm and desperately shouted.

“Team Leader! Are you really going to do this?! I’m about to go on a blind date with my middle school classmate I hate! And with my father there too!”

“What does that have anything to do with me?”

“Please, I beg you! Let’s help each other out as human beings!”

Yu-young had reached a dead end, to the point that he temporarily forgot about his position. And the more he spoke, the more he felt this was the best option.

If people knew he was dating Team Leader Choi Do-won, his father would probably be thrilled. He could probably spend the next year without any interference. And when the topic of marriage came up later, he could just say they broke up due to personality differences.

It might seem like a ridiculous choice, but right now, this was the best. No blind dates, no nagging, no absurd kidnappings, just a peaceful time.

Of course, in this scenario, Do-won would eventually find out that he was the son of the company’s president. But somehow, Yu-young didn’t think Do-won was the type to blabber about it.

Considering no one had been gossiping about the embarrassing incident from the company dinner, Yu-young was certain Do-won would respect his privacy if he asked.

In many ways, Do-won was the perfect solution to this situation. However, the problem was persuading this man who seemed like he wouldn’t even let a needle pass through. No matter what Yu-young said, Do-won, arms crossed, looked down at him in disbelief, showing no intention of cooperating at all.

This was bad. Time was really running out now. In a panic, Yu-young started blurting out anything he could.

“Team Leader, please. If you help me just this one time, I’ll make sure to work hard not to get in your way from now on. I’ll avoid the gym and anywhere you are. Okay? Please, Team Leader, please.”

“Sigh… Assistant Han, you’re really bothering me. Don’t you think you’re being a nuisance?”

“Yes, I am a nuisance. But I don’t have the luxury to worry about that right now. Team Leader, please. Please! Just this once! Team Leader!”

As Yu-young began to act like a child, whining loudly, Do-won looked at him with disgust. However, if he truly hated it, given his personality, he would have already pushed him away and walked out. But despite the grimace, he kept looking at Yu-young, as if he were considering what to do. At least, that’s how it appeared to Yu-young.

Not missing the opening, Yu-young clung to him like a leech.

“Team Leader… please. Okay? If you help me just this once, I promise I’ll repay you in the future. I’ll do something big for you. Okay?”

“I won’t ever owe you anything, Assistant Han.”

“Come on, Team Leader. You can’t know everything about the future!”

While Yu-young clung to his arm, speaking desperately, Do-won looked down coldly and cut him off, but the moment he was about to say more, his pocket began vibrating.

“Let go. I need to take this call.”

“No, if I let go, you’ll run away.”

“Are you a child? Why are you throwing a tantrum when I say I don’t want to?”

Do-won frowned, but Yu-young didn’t let go of his arm, still holding on tightly, his face showing a pitiful expression. With a sigh, Do-won left Yu-young hanging and pulled out his phone to answer the call.

“Hello…”

– It’s me. Where are you? You’re still coming to your parents place for dinner, right?

A voice echoed through the phone so clearly that Yu-young could hear it. In that moment, Do-won’s face became so terrifying that it was almost unrecognizable compared to the expression he had when dealing with Yu-young. The fierce look made Yu-young instinctively release his grip on his arm and step back, startled.

“I’m not going. I’m busy.”

Do-won coldly spat out. Yu-young, holding his breath, kept silent and watched him.

After stepping back and letting go of his arm, Yu-young could no longer hear what was being said through the phone. However, it was clear that it wasn’t a welcome call. The sigh that came through the phone and the displeased tone from Do-won confirmed it.

“I hope you won’t come to my house like this anymore when I’m not around. We’ll talk later.”

With those words, Do-won hung up.

Yu-young, who had been desperately clinging to Do-won’s arm and throwing a tantrum just moments ago, no longer dared approach him. He could only glance at him nervously. Do-won, who was muttering curses under his breath while putting his phone in his pocket, looked far worse than before.

What the hell, damn it… Why did he have to get upset now of all times?

Yu-young sighed inwardly. It seemed like he might have been able to convince Do-won a little more, but with the atmosphere like this, there was no way he could bring it up now.

It was so painful to let him walk away like this, and the blind date with Kim Young-hoon was something he dreaded with all his heart, but… there was truly no other choice now. No matter how urgent his situation was, he couldn’t force someone who looked that displeased.

Actually… this was an unreasonable request from the beginning.

Yu-young scratched his head and took a step back. After a moment’s pause, he realized that while Do-won was still an attractive option for him, there was nothing Do-won stood to gain from pretending to be his boyfriend.

Sigh… Yeah, I knew this wouldn’t work.

Yu-young thought, letting out a depressed sigh. Even if he tried to run away now, those bodyguards would probably be lurking around the hotel. It seemed like today was the day he would have to sit with his father and go on that blind date with Kim Young-hoon. This was truly the worst day in many ways.

Still, he wanted to thank Do-won for trying to help him earlier. Even if he didn’t agree to his request, he was still grateful. And honestly, he hadn’t expected Do-won to truly go along with such a ridiculous request, but he had been desperate enough to try.

Thinking this, Yu-young straightened up and was about to thank him awkwardly when Do-won’s cold voice cut him off.

“Assistant Han.”

Yu-young, startled, looked up at him as he paused, confused.

With a cryptic expression, Do-won muttered, “I’ll do it. I’ll pretend to be your boyfriend.”