MPK Ch 2

There was a time when I considered myself lucky.

Born into an average middle-class family, I was an only child, so my parents tried to raise me without any want. As part of that effort, they sent me to a youth baseball club in elementary school after discovering my talent for the sport, and then enrolled me in prestigious baseball schools for middle and high school.

In high school, surrounded by talented baseball players from all over the country, many of my friends gave up, realizing their limits. Fortunately, I performed well there too. I played as a starting player from my freshman year and was told I had a good shot at making the U-18 national team.

I had a career path I wanted, and the talent to pursue it. Thanks to my easygoing personality, I experienced less stress than others from the demanding training. The typical bullying from athletic upperclassmen, common for a 180cm baseball player, was also an exception for me. Rather, I’d rescued friends from such situations a few times, becoming close to them and enjoying a normal, fun school life.

That’s why…

Eighteen-year-old Jung Hankyung was full of himself. I thought I’d be lucky this time too, that I could handle whatever was in front of me.

It was a clear day, on my way home from school. Two young children, who looked like elementary school students, were being dragged into a black van. When I heard their screams of “Help me!”, my feet were already moving.

“Call the police!”

I shouted at the student in a different school uniform who had also witnessed the kidnapping. His eyes widened in surprise, and his lips moved as if to say something, but it wasn’t the time to stop and listen. I swung my bat bag at the van.

Clang!

I hit the van several more times, hearing shouts, curses, and cries from inside.

“Huff…!”

A sharp pain shot through my shoulder, and I realized too late.

The luck I’d enjoyed so far was nothing more than a small stroke of fortune within a well. The moment I bravely leaped out, the world no longer looked favorably upon me.

💍

Kim Jumin

Jung Hankyung, you’re not even a friend. How could you ruin someone’s once-in-a-lifetime wedding like that? I should have known. Name? I don’t even care about that crap. Yesterday 3:40 PM

Kim Jumin

Hankyung… Did you see the message? If not, please leave and rejoin the chat… I was upset and misspoke. Please don’t read it… Yesterday 9:55 PM

Kim Jumin

Our 10-year friendship can’t end like this… I want to apologize in person. Will you answer my call? Today 7:10 AM

Perhaps because unbelievable things were happening, as if in a dream, I fell asleep as soon as I got home, dazed. Believing that when morning came, I would return to my peaceful daily life.

Betraying my desperate hopes, my phone rang incessantly, waking me up and reminding me of the drastically changed reality. My body, having just woken up from an old dream, felt heavy, as if gravity had multiplied.

“…Kim Jumin, that jerk, did he put a curse on me or something?”

Meanwhile, Kim Jumin, who must have been constantly checking the chat, bombarded me with messages as soon as the ‘1’ disappeared.

Kim Jumin

Hankyung! You just woke up! The guys were so worried, thinking you blocked me… lol Of course you wouldn’t do that. Today 9:48 AM

Kim Jumin

But hey… Did you know CEO Woo Baekyeon before? Nahui said she’d never seen anyone like that among your friends?? Today 9:49 AM

The answer to the first message: I didn’t know there was a block function. I’ve never had a reason to use it. I’ll have to look it up and definitely do it later.

The answer to the second message: How did I get to know Woo Baekyeon? I got to know him by carving my name on him, kissing him, and making a scene at your wedding.

Honestly, it would be a lie to say I didn’t feel a sense of satisfaction towards Kim Jumin and Lee Nahui, but I also felt a tiny bit sorry. No matter what, I’d ruined their once-in-a-lifetime wedding. But seeing the persistent messages asking about Woo Baekyeon, even that tiny bit of regret vanished.

My phone was overflowing with messages, not just from Kim Jumin. Classmates I couldn’t remember, senior officers from the military, even my high school baseball coach sent messages asking how I was doing. I thought my last words with the coach were him calling me an idiot for throwing away my bright future.

“Ha….”

Perhaps it was the unsettling dream, coupled with constantly recalling the events of nine years ago, that made my long-healed shoulder ache. It didn’t affect my daily life, and I could even do some intense exercise. But it was a shoulder that could no longer swing a bat with the power of a professional player.

I massaged my shoulder as if squeezing out phantom pain and headed to the bathroom, leaving my ringing phone buried under my pillow.

Yesterday, I had literally collapsed as soon as I got home. The evidence was the wrinkled shirt from the wedding, still clinging to my body. I tossed it into the laundry basket and stood in front of the mirror.

“…This really could just be a dream.”

As if to wake me up, three clear letters were visible on the left side of my neck.

Woo Baekyeon.

“Seriously, even the handwriting is just like him.”

The name, as if written with a luxurious fountain pen pressed firmly, was so neat and without a single flick that it was legible even from a distance. The area, from right below my earlobe down to my collarbone, made it difficult to conceal. Even after rubbing my skin red, his name stood out prominently.

As cold water poured over my head, my hand went to my neck several more times. I scrubbed my face twice as much.

Even I, an extrovert for 27 years, wanted to hide away like a mushroom today. But even if I fell and broke my leg in the bathroom right now, I had to go out. It was a continuation of yesterday’s incident.

💍

Woo Baekyeon’s impressive background was evident from our brief conversation yesterday. The results of searching his name on portal sites were even more astonishing.

N Woo Baekyeon

News

·Relevance ·Latest

「Forbes ’30 Under 30 ASIA’ Seung Group heir Woo Baekyeon」

「Woo Baekyeon: “I pity my grandfather who doesn’t know the beauty of love!” Grandson’s proclamation makes Seung Group Chairman Woo Wonchul clutch his chest」

「Korea’s 160th Name Couple Appears. Who is “Woo Baekyeon”?」

「Chaebol heir Woo Baekyeon’s destined partner revealed to be ‘Brave Baseball Boy who caught kidnappers’. The Name phenomenon returns after 2 years with passionate protagonists. Identity revealed」

「Power and love, he has it all! What is the ‘Name’ engraved on Woo Baekyeon’s hand?」

Just skimming the first page of articles revealed Woo Baekyeon’s impressive resume: early graduation from high school and university in the UK, simultaneous pursuit of an MBA and Ph.D. while working overseas from the age of 21, military exemption, and his return to Korea two years ago to actively participate in management.

It felt like a drama plot. Yesterday, even his face seemed unreal, like someone who couldn’t possibly exist… Both his appearance and background were equally surreal.

Every article emphasized “Seung Group” more than the individual’s name. The conglomerate that made phones, cars, operated hotels and resorts, sold insurance, and probably a lot of other businesses I wasn’t aware of. The giant screen of the building I just passed also displayed Seung Group’s symbol, “WS.” And the grandson, and likely successor, of Seung Group’s top chairman, Woo Wonchul, was… ‘Woo Baekyeon’.

Reading countless news articles, I tried to escape reality by hoping there might be a namesake who just happened to manifest the Name on the same day. Every time, the attached video of me charging into the wedding venue brought me back to reality. By tomorrow, there would only be one person in the country who hadn’t seen the video at least once: me, the one who didn’t have the courage to watch it again. Countless media outlets were broadcasting my and his images, making that no exaggeration.

My thumb, wandering the internet world, finally landed on information about the root cause of this situation.

Name [Name Syndrome]

Contents

1. The most romantic syndrome in the world
2. Name inscription
3. Korea’s historical Name couples
4. The Most Romantic Syndrome in the World

The phenomenon where the name of one’s destined partner is inscribed on their body.

The official name is Name Syndrome. Whether or not it should be classified as a “syndrome” is still debated, as it’s difficult to identify specific groups where the phenomenon is prominent. In fact, most countries perceive it as a “symbol of destined love” with a very positive image. ([1] For example, even in Korea, early Name couples enjoyed popularity comparable to celebrities).

However, the reason academia classifies Name as a syndrome is due to the various abnormal symptoms experienced by those who manifest it. Some find it hinders daily life and, in severe cases, can even lead to death. The symptoms are mostly related to the person whose name is inscribed, ironically romanticizing the symptoms triggered by the Name.

Known symptoms include:

-Sexual urges

-Emotional transference ([2] Sometimes instinctively knowing where the partner is).

-Activation of the sympathetic nervous system

These usually manifest upon direct contact with the partner. Conversely, they can also appear after a long period without contact, leading to intense longing for the partner. While simply holding hands can sometimes alleviate the symptoms, complete resolution requires more intimate acts of affection. While this may appear unseemly to the public, many Name couples complain about this aspect. ([3] Symptoms that could constitute public indecency are unpredictable).

1. Name Inscription

The inscription of names is mutual, not unilateral. The location of the Name varies from person to person ([4] Examples include hands, backs, faces, armpits, tongues, and even scalps), and the inscription is accompanied by light emission and pain. The name is inscribed in the language most familiar to the recipient, in the handwriting of the name’s owner. The cause of Name manifestation is still scientifically unknown.

It’s rare for the inscribed partner to be a complete stranger. If it were a random match across the entire global population, most people would never find their partner (..). Even those who claim to have never met before likely crossed paths at least once, perhaps living in the same neighborhood. There are cases where the Name is inscribed upon making eye contact and falling in love at first sight.

Overall, due to its matchmaking nature, there’s a theory that it might be a human evolutionary response to boost birth rates after the World Wars. However, as the scope of Name-matched couples includes same-sex relationships, some scientists have hypothesized the possibility of pregnancy in same-sex couples.

1. Korea’s Historical Name Couples

A total of 160 couples as of October 202X. Only surnames are displayed for civilians.

■ The first couple: Kim○○♥Bong○○

A grandmother and grandfather who endured the late Joseon Dynasty and Japanese colonial era together. Their story, focusing on the grandmother’s battle with cancer and the grandfather’s unwavering support, was adapted into a film that surpassed 10 million viewers. They contributed significantly to establishing the image of the Name phenomenon as a symbol of sublime love in Korea (although their descendants later tarnished it…).

(Omitted)

■ 37th: Kwon Hyoshik♥Yoon Kyunga

Korea’s first celebrity couple. Their Names manifested during the filming of a popular reality group travel show in the early 2000s. After enjoying fame as a Name couple for 7 years, they divorced in March 2010, marking Korea’s first Name couple divorce. ([14] When asked how they overcame the Name syndrome after their separation, they stated the symptoms disappeared after their feelings completely faded. Yoon Kyunga covered her Name with a tattoo, saying she felt the Name disappear beneath the drawing.).

(Omitted)

■ 160th. Woo Baekyeon♥Jung○○ (new!)

This pairing garnered attention as the diamond spoon chaebol grandson of Seung Group Chairman Woo Wonchul found his match with a civilian. ([20] This civilian had also been in the news before. Related article: ‘Brave Baseball Boy who caught kidnappers and lost his dream’ Link)

This chaebol love story has provided a much-needed dopamine rush for Koreans who usually react with an “Oh, again?” to news of Name couples. The video of them deeply kissing and inscribing their Names at a wedding venue (not their own, someone else’s ([21] Rumored to be Jung○○’s rebound relationship)) reached #1 on trending videos within an hour….

“….”

I just turned off the screen.

I understood what Name was, I got it… but shouldn’t I feel something… destined? From yesterday until now, all I’ve been thinking is, “Why me?” Is this really destiny?

The problematic destined partner was sitting next to me now. The limousine, carrying us in the back seat, slowly cruised along the road as the sun began to set. As soon as we were picked up from the meeting point and got into the car, Woo Baekyeon glanced at me and then turned his head away, just like yesterday.

The front seats, with the driver and passenger, were separated from the back by a thick curtain. The silence, as if we were the only two in this space, was stifling. Just then, the curtain in front of me opened like a savior.

“Mr. Jung Hankyung, how was your day?”

Secretary Shin Kanghee was sitting in the passenger seat, with the same gentle smile as yesterday.

“Ah, I was a little overwhelmed by all the calls, but surprisingly, no one recognized me when I was out and about.”

“You did well. Unless your face is clearly exposed to the public, it’s not easy to recognize someone from blurry videos.”

It was the same principle as how celebrities get caught easily when bundled up in masks and sunglasses, but can go unnoticed with just a baseball cap. I never thought I’d be using anecdotes I’d overheard while working as a bodyguard.

“Choosing an outfit different from yesterday’s was also a good choice. We’re continuously monitoring and controlling the exposure of your identity, so if you just conceal your Name well, there shouldn’t be any major disruptions to your daily life, Mr. Jung Hankyung.”

“Haha… that’s the biggest problem. It’s hot.”

I wore a black turtleneck not as a strategy, but because I had no other choice. I had to hide my neck, which prominently displayed a celebrity’s name.

Even though autumn was in full swing, the temperature was still hovering around 20 degrees Celsius. The sweat trapped between the thick knit and my skin showed no signs of cooling down, even when I flapped my shirt. Perhaps bothered by this, Woo Baekyeon opened his eyes and looked at me. The inner corners of his eyebrows were furrowed in disapproval, like two seesaws.

“…Do I smell like sweat?”

This became my first greeting of the day.

“….”

Whirr-

Without a word, the window on Woo Baekyeon’s side rolled down, and I stopped flapping my shirt. The city air, mixed with exhaust fumes, flowed in through the window. Thanks to Woo Baekyeon’s silent protest, my body cooled down a bit.

“Sir, rather than opening the window, lowering the air conditioning temperature would be…”

“Do both.”

He closed his eyelids again. The noise from outside filled the silence inside the car. After a while, Secretary Shin opened the curtain again.

“Mr. Jung Hankyung, do you have any allergies or food preferences you’d like to avoid?”

“No. I eat everything.”

“Then let’s continue our unfinished conversation at the restaurant. I believe your surprised state of mind has calmed down by now.”

“…Yes.”

“I’ve reserved a private room at a Korean restaurant. So you two can talk comfortably and at your leisure.”

I’m the type who gets tongue-tied when given such a setting…

That’s why yesterday, I blurted out without thinking.

“Shall we… get married…?”

I must have had the dumbest expression on my face when I said that.

But what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t help but lose my mind in such a crazy situation. Moreover, I wasn’t exactly in a normal state of mind even before the Name inscription. That day was the wedding of my ex-girlfriend who had cheated on me with my friend.

No, wait a minute. It was Kim Jumin and Lee Nahui’s wedding, wasn’t it? Why was Woo Baekyeon there?

Judging by the endless messages from Kim Jumin, it seemed they didn’t know Woo Baekyeon either.

“Excuse me.”

“…….”

“Excuse me.”

After calling him twice, the person next to me finally acknowledged me. But his expression was still unpleasant.

“Name.”

“….?”

“Why are you calling me that way?”

Huh? While I was speechless at his prickly remark, he tapped his neck.

“You were calling me by my name just fine earlier.”

There was indeed a name inscribed on my neck, in the same spot he tapped.

“Mr. Woo Baekyeon…?”

“Yes.”

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“I saw news articles saying you’re a chaebol. And that your grandfather is a very influential person….”

“Yes. He’s the chairman.”

With his confirmation, the hope of a namesake completely vanished. Come to think of it, why didn’t I realize it yesterday? The surname ‘Woo’ isn’t common, and I should have thought of Chairman Woo Wonchul of Seung Group right away.

Of course, even if I had, I would have been surprised to learn he wasn’t just a relative, but the leading candidate for the next chairman. But there’s no point in hypotheticals now. First, I brought up my immediate question.

“Why on earth was such an… esteemed person at that… humble wedding?”

Well, half of that was out of genuine curiosity.

“I own the hotel where that humble wedding was held.”

“….”

“The venue should have been renovated recently.”

“No, now that I think about it, the design was quite impressive, with a modern artistic beauty.”

Woo Baekyeon raised the corners of his eyes as if making an effort.

“I was inspecting the hotel and saw someone I’d met before. They were a guest at the wedding.”

“Oh, I see. Did you greet them properly?”

“No. They didn’t recognize me.”

What? Who? They forgot that face? I feel like I’d remember him even if I’d met him as a kindergarten classmate, reminiscing until I die, ‘That kid was really handsome…’.

“They must have a terrible memory.”

“…I don’t know. Maybe meeting me wasn’t that important to them.”

“That’s absolutely impossible.”

Who would forget meeting a living, breathing chaebol drama protagonist? How could he be so lacking in self-awareness? As soon as I thought that, Woo Baekyeon stared at me. Why was he staring?

“Sir.”

A voice called from the front seat. Secretary Shin looked perplexed.

“There seems to be a major car accident up ahead. It will be difficult to proceed on our planned route.”

I looked out the window. The cars on the road were now packed, and ours was slowing down.

“The alternate route to the restaurant has a tunnel… I’m afraid it might be heavily congested.”

Would a tunnel be more congested? Anywhere would be less congested than the road with the accident.

“Tunnel….”

Woo Baekyeon muttered, the veins in his hand throbbing. Secretary Shin was waiting for his response.

“…Turn the car around.”

Woo Baekyeon answered, turning his head to the window. Secretary Shin’s hands became busy. Woo Baekyeon, now showing me the back of his head, seemed to have no intention of continuing our earlier conversation. The setting sun was behind him, but instead of looking warm, he seemed paler than before.

I didn’t know what it was, but it seemed like it would take a little longer to reach our destination. Thinking so, I suddenly felt hungry and slightly curious about the Korean restaurant Secretary Shin had mentioned. I relaxed my stiff body and leaned back against the seat.

“Let me explain the main dishes. For meat, we have Hanwoo striploin steak and French rack of lamb. For fish, as you can see below, we have salmon en papillote…”

At the restaurant we arrived at, I diligently searched for traces of the “Korean” cuisine the secretary had mentioned. The only domestic ingredient I could find was the briefly mentioned “Hanwoo.” Perhaps the lamb in the French rack was from Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm…?

Yeah, this salad must be from the chef’s own garden, and this cheese and bread must be from Imsil… I tried to continue the thought but gave up. What did it matter? Korean, Western, or ramen, I was confident I could fill my stomach, which hadn’t had a proper meal since yesterday.

Of course, if what was placed between Woo Baekyeon and me was actually ramen, I would have questioned his identity, but the meat that entered my mouth was the most delicious I’d ever tasted. While I devoured two pieces of beef, Woo Baekyeon, who had nibbled on a chickpea-sized portion of salmon, wiped his mouth.

“Now that you’ve had time to think, let’s set a date for the wedding.”

At that moment, the piece of meat that I thought had melted in my mouth felt like it was lodged in my throat.

“Cough, hack.”

“….”

“…Uh, that’s… quite… fast, isn’t it?”

“There’s no point in wasting time.”

As soon as I swallowed the water the staff provided, he continued.

“For your information, my name was in every morning news broadcast today. At this rate, even if we do get married, a typical wedding will only backfire. The entire nation is watching to see what kind of relationship and marriage the chaebol heir, devoted to love, will have.”

The news of a chaebol receiving a Name was certainly sensational. I would have been curious about what kind of extravagant wedding they would have, if I weren’t the one getting married.

“We’ll prepare as quickly and perfectly as possible. I’ll try to accommodate your preferred date as much as possible, but we can’t push it past this year.”

For reference, today was October 7th. According to him, the wedding march would be playing within a month or two.

“Hold on, I understand the situation, but Mr. Woo Baekyeon, are you sure you’re okay with getting married like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I guess I have nothing to lose… but for you, Mr. Woo Baekyeon, isn’t this marriage more of a disadvantage than an advantage? Obviously, I can’t help you with your business at all. No, aside from everything else, ha… What if, after getting married like this, you happen to meet someone you truly love?”

“If it weren’t for this, I would never have gotten married. So there’s no need to weigh the pros and cons, or make meaningless assumptions.”

Woo Baekyeon neatly dismissed my questions and continued, “Of course,”

“I’ll make sure it’s quite advantageous for Mr. Jung Hankyung, whose life has suddenly changed.”

He gestured. A piece of paper, brought by Secretary Shin Kanghee, was placed next to the dessert plate.

“Check it.”

The paper I unfolded started with the title “Contract.” Contrary to the title, which suggested numerous complex clauses, the content was fairly simple.

Contract

Woo Baekyeon and Jung Hankyung, as a couple sharing a Name, agree to the following terms to maintain a smooth relationship.

1. Woo Baekyeon and Jung Hankyung will do their best to appear as an ideal couple to the public.
2. The residence will be Woo Baekyeon’s current home.
3. Woo Baekyeon will do his best to provide for Jung Hankyung’s convenience. This includes financial support, media control, and personal protection.
4. Jung Hankyung has no rights related to Seung Group and will not be required to fulfill any obligations of the owner family.
5. The marriage will be maintained for a minimum of three years. This period can be extended by mutual agreement.

“That’s all I want. While Mr. Jung Hankyung will have no stake in Seung Group, the support you receive won’t be lacking.”

His tone was as if he was proposing a business deal, not a marriage.

“Any parts you don’t understand?”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘support’?”

“It includes various things, but mainly cash or easily convertible assets. Request them as needed.”

“Ah, so I don’t have to accept it if I don’t need it? I’ll need your help preventing my face from appearing in articles… since I can’t do that myself, but I don’t need any financial assistance.”

“There’s quite a bit I can offer. Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

I’d probably regret accepting it more. To be precise, I already had. I didn’t need to delve into the tedious stories of the past.

“Why would I regret it? It’s not my money.”

“….”

I continued reading the clauses and stopped at the “three years” part.

“And what’s with the minimum three years?”

“Firstly, it’s the time it will take for the current issue to die down, and secondly, it’s the time I need to establish myself as a manager. By then, people won’t dare say anything about my actions.”

Ah. I understood what he meant.

The part about extending the period by mutual agreement seemed like a courtesy, and the real intention was to act as a Name couple for three years and then separate.

I had read earlier that Woo Baekyeon had begun the succession process in Korea. It was a critical period where he couldn’t afford any mistakes. At such a time, this incident had occurred, so he had to resolve it smoothly…

‘Well, I guess Woo Baekyeon isn’t thrilled about suddenly marrying me either.’

Three years would be enough time for the 160th Name couple incident to fade from the memories of busy modern people, and there would probably be a few more Name couples after us. Then, we would divorce. The timing of our separation would be after Woo Baekyeon had gained enough power to handle things more quietly, so it would just remain a minor gossip item.

So that’s why I was the only one making a fuss yesterday, yelling “Marriage?!” For Woo Baekyeon, marriage was just a way to handle the situation and turn the crisis into an opportunity.

In three years, I would be exactly thirty. I had even considered disappearing to the countryside, so three years was nothing.

And if the Name couple image could be of any help, I hoped Woo Baekyeon would make good use of that period.

It was strange. Despite his consistently cold attitude towards me, I didn’t feel annoyed or offended by his behavior.

“Mr. Jung Hankyung, is there anything you’d like to add?”

“No. I understand everything, and I’m fine with this, so take this…”

As I pushed the contract back, our fingertips touched.

Snap!

At that moment, Woo Baekyeon raised his hand like a student desperately wanting to answer a question in class. My hand, which had been pushed away as if struck, tingled. He stared at me with wide, startled eyes, then tightly pursed his lips.

What was that?

What?

Why did I feel like a scoundrel who had grabbed and harassed a refined young lady’s hand? Why, why? Even bumping into someone on the street would have involved more surface area contact than that!

“Excuse me. Mr. Jung Hankyung, now that you’ve confirmed the terms of the contract, may I explain the next steps?”

Secretary Shin suddenly stepped closer and continued in a gentle voice.

“First, we plan to release articles starting tomorrow night stating that you two are preparing for marriage. Also, we’ll add a bit of fiction to your first meeting. The story of your Names suddenly appearing at someone else’s wedding doesn’t create a good image, so we’ve developed a scenario where you two vaguely knew each other before. According to our research, you both attended high school in the same area, albeit for a short time.”

“Oh, really?”

It wasn’t surprising. I went to a high school famous for its baseball team, and there were eight other high schools in that neighborhood, known for its academic focus. Among them were prestigious schools where luxury sedans transported students every morning.

“So, is the setting that Mr. Woo Baekyeon is like a neighborhood older brother? A senior?”

“You two are the same age. Sir only attended school for a month before transferring.”

“Oh.”

I had a strange feeling and looked over to see Woo Baekyeon staring at me again with an even more displeased expression. No, I didn’t mean he looked old, it’s just that his resume is so impressive… Who would have guessed he’d be called the next chairman at my age?

“So, we’ll embellish that connection and say that the feelings you weren’t aware of during your brief encounter in school exploded upon reuniting after almost 10 years. Mr. Jung Hankyung, please use this outline when answering questions, and avoid giving detailed answers to close acquaintances.”

Having gotten involved with someone from a drama, I now had a dramatic story of my own. The fabricated memories felt like a romanticized version of my days spent kicking up dust on the baseball field. …I wasn’t sure what Woo Baekyeon, still radiating coldness, thought about it.

“We will prepare all the necessary procedures for the wedding. However, we would appreciate it if you could make time for up to three suit fittings.”

“I don’t really know what that is, but… okay.”

I was really going to be a married man soon… Then I suddenly remembered something.

“Excuse me, there’s a meeting between the families during wedding preparations, right?”

“Yes.”

“My parents divorced on bad terms, so I don’t think I can do that.”

“I see. I don’t have parents either.”

His answer was so concise that it left me speechless.

“They passed away in an accident when I was young. You don’t need to offer condolences or anything. I’m sure you wouldn’t want them either.”

“….”

This… I didn’t know. No, I was careless. I should have realized it when there was no mention of his parents in the articles, only his grandfather, the chairman.

But Woo Baekyeon’s expression was truly indifferent.

“Anything else?”

“Huh?”

“I’m talking about what you want from this marriage. Or any compensation you’d like to receive. Even the power of Woosung Group, if that’s what you need.”

“It’s fine. As I said, I don’t really need compensation….”

It’s just jointly cleaning up a huge mess for three years. It’s not like I’m being sent to a fishing boat for three years, just becoming a married man.

“Ah, by any chance…”

But… if possible, there was something I wanted.

“Woosung… owns the WS Cheetahs, right?”

“The professional baseball team?”

“Yes.”

I felt a little embarrassed saying it out loud. But wouldn’t it be okay to ask for this much?

“A ticket to a postseason game.”

Those are incredibly hard to get.

“If you want to give me compensation, that would be enough.”

Neither Woo Baekyeon nor Director Shin Ganghee reacted much, but the reason I was the only one looking down was probably because I was embarrassed about clinging to such a trivial, old dream.

Woo Baekyeon took a pen from his inner pocket. I thought he might add it as a sixth clause, but instead he simply underlined clause three, which stated, ‘Woo Baekyeon will prioritize Jung Hankyung’s well-being.’

“Say something more.”

“Huh?”

“That’s something you can have as easily as breathing if you become my spouse. I’m talking about something other than errands like that, something that can’t even be considered compensation.”

There’s nothing else I particularly want. But his gaze, contrary to his tone, seemed to have softened a little, so I added one more thing.

“Then, since we’ll be family, no betrayal, at least not the minimum.”

💍

“Saw the news. If I’d known you were this bold, I would’ve sent you to guard a celebrity instead of a civilian!”

The hand clapping me on the back while he laughed heartily stung. I knew what this meant. This otherwise nice team leader’s voice always got louder before he delivered bad news.

“Agent Jung. No, Hankyung.”

Sure enough, the moment he gripped my shoulders with both hands, his voice dropped to a serious tone.

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“It’s unacceptable for a bodyguard to be more noticeable than the person they’re protecting…”

It was the most basic rule of bodyguarding. Making the person you’re supposed to protect stand out was not bodyguarding at all. There were even stories of bodyguards being replaced because their good looks attracted too much attention. And now, three very noticeable characters were branded on my neck.

Even if I pulled up my dress shirt as high as possible, ‘Woo B’ was still visible. Even a slight movement of my arm revealed ‘Woo Bae.’ So, once again, I had to grab a freshly dried turtleneck from the drying rack.

‘And it wasn’t like it was a subtly done name, either.’

A domestic company might have handled it differently, but <First Guard>, a US-based security firm, issued their order immediately. Cut him loose. I suppose, to them, Korean name-couple tradition or not, I was now persona non grata.

The bottom line was, I’d become unemployed with good severance pay!

“Still, man, you’ll get at least a year’s salary in severance if you apply.”

I wondered if they’d be that generous, considering I was being fired, but his last words made me understand.

“If Woosung Group ever calls you up as a client, please take good care of them.”

“…….”

After saying goodbye to my team leader, my last task as a bodyguard was to say farewell to the clients I’d been protecting for the past five years.

After I quit baseball, becoming a bodyguard wasn’t my only option. But the reason my part-time job had turned into a career was because of these two.

“Hankyung, you really are… such an amazing person, just like always.”

Song Chaerin, who had skipped a day of school with her parents’ permission, shook her styled hair and lowered her head. There were three chairs prepared, but the other person was sitting on the sofa with their back turned. They pretended to be looking at their phone, head bowed, but the screen wasn’t moving.

Song Chaerin and Song Chaesung were siblings, three years apart, and the children of the CEO of Junghwa Daily. They had experienced an attempted kidnapping when they were younger, and their family still treated them like they were precious and fragile.

The young children I’d seen being dragged into a van right in front of my eyes when I was in high school were now the same age I was then. Junghwa Daily had hired me for a much higher rate than usual under the pretext of ensuring the children’s safety. Their other motive was probably to indirectly support me.

Over the years we spent together, the siblings’ trauma gradually faded. I was glad I could leave after they’d grown this much. Even if I had to end things abruptly, I had to finish well.

Even though they were now a senior and a freshman in high school, they still looked like the crying children who’d clung to me in my eyes. But now, both of them hated being treated that way. It was understandable for the soon-to-be-adult sister, but her younger brother still had a ways to go. His current behavior was proof of that.

“Mr. Song Chaesung.”

“…….”

“It’s my last day, aren’t you even going to look at me?”

After a moment, a voice caught on the cusp of puberty replied sullenly.

“You promised to protect me and my sister until we became adults.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t know this would happen. You have to be brave without me, okay?”

“What kind of promise is that? This is so unfair….”

“Ugh, he’s being so dramatic. Don’t bother trying to soothe him, just ignore him. It’s not like we were actually kidnapped and locked up somewhere, we were rescued from the car. Honestly, it’s all a bit hazy now. It was our parents overreacting.”

“Noona, you were older then!”

Chaesung shouted, turning around. Chaerin scolded him for being loud, but if she said she wasn’t happy that I was leaving, it would be a lie.

“I’ll come visit often. I have a lot of free time now that I’m unemployed.”

“Then be our bodyguard again….”

“That’s not good for you either.”

Chaesung trudged over with a dejected look. Sometimes, when I saw him on his way to or from school, I’d wonder when he’d gotten so tall, but today, he seemed small again. He must have been really comfortable with me, someone who’d been with him since he was young.

“How did you meet that guy?”

“Oh! I was wondering about that too. Where and how did you meet Director Woo Baekyeon? You haven’t shown any signs of dating recently.”

“Ah, that’s…”

I met him at someone else’s wedding. Obviously, I couldn’t say that.

“It just… happened. I didn’t know he was such an amazing person back then, and we just… became connected. How do you two know him?”

“Director Woo Baekyeon? It’s impossible not to know him. He’s been overseas for a while, so he only recently became known, but…”

Chaerin drew a large circle around her face. Her mouth clearly formed the word “looks.” I stopped myself from scolding her for using such language. Chaerin winked. Honestly.

“Anyway, he doesn’t go out to social gatherings much, but once you see him, it’s hard to forget.”

So, his looks weren’t just striking to me.

“Why him of all people… even if he’s a good person…”

“Huh?”

“Woo Baekyeon is weird. He lives in a weird place!”

“Hey, Song Chaesung! What kind of things are you saying about someone with a name carved on them? Especially now that they’re about to get married!”

Chaerin scolded Chaesung loudly, conscious of my presence. To anyone who didn’t know the situation, it would seem like Woo Baekyeon and I were destined to be together.

In reality, my affection for these kids, whom I’d spent years with, was far greater than for the man I met just the day before yesterday, so Chaesung’s words didn’t bother me.

“Hey, everywhere people live is the same, there’s no such thing as a weird place. When he told me to move in with him after we get married, I said okay right away. Now we’re going to fill the place he lived in alone together…”

I don’t know where it is, but it must be in Seoul… and it must be big since he’s so rich… This vague explanation should be fine, right?

“Don’t tell me you don’t know where Director Woo Baekyeon lives?”

“Huh? …Of course I know. I just haven’t been there.”

“…….”

“We mostly met outside. Woo Baekyeon is rich, you know. We ate a lot of delicious food, went to nice places…”

“…….”

…Did I mess up? Like some kind of Voldemort, the kids’ expressions hardened with every word I spoke. Chaerin touched her lips, as if debating whether to say something.

“If it were anyone else, I’d think they were trying to trick some naive person, but with the name carving, he must be sincere about you, at least. Anyway, the problem with these guys is that they don’t know how to have a normal relationship. They hide things from the person they love and then everything falls apart. I’ve seen it happen so many times.”

“I, I see.”

I felt like I was being thoroughly analyzed by Chaerin’s sharp gaze. Even in her school uniform, she already had a certain aura unique to media families. Chaerin sighed deeply.

“I’m not saying this to gossip, but I’m worried because it seems like one side is so far behind in terms of information.”

“Yeah.”

“Woo Baekyeon… he’s amazing. He lost his parents in an accident when he was seven, and it’s not easy for him to hold onto that position. His academic achievements and career at that age are almost inhuman. And he probably has the most personal assets of anyone in their 20s in our country. Naturally, many people try to approach him, but he’s always surrounded by secretaries, bodyguards, and people from the chairman’s side, so no one has succeeded.”

“Ah…”

“But aside from this objective information, his private life is kept completely hidden. The rumor Chaesung mentioned earlier is the most well-known one. The house where the lights never go out.”

“…What’s that?”

“He lives in the penthouse on the top floor of Heaven’s Castle. And that house is brightly lit day and night. Some say it’s because he’s not well and medical equipment is constantly running, or that he’s secretly meeting people and planning to betray the chairman of Woosung Group, or that he’s hiding an illegitimate child… Hmm, never mind that last one since you have the name carving.”

Heaven’s Castle was a super-tall apartment building right next to the Han River. It was considered a symbol of wealth and was often used in cheesy hip-hop lyrics like, ‘I’m doing well, my house is Heaven’s Castle, my car is a Maybach.’ The actual resident of the top floor of Heaven’s Castle was quite different from the hip-hop portrayal.

“Actually, because information is so tightly controlled, there are all sorts of speculations. Even now that he’s back in Korea, his routine is just work and home.”

“…….”

“Well, if you think about it simply, he could just be a common workaholic.”

“No, he must be hiding something. Definitely.”

Chaesung added in a serious voice. I recalled the man I faced across the contract yesterday. Woo Baekyeon, and the penthouse where the lights never go out…

“Anyway, I don’t care what he hides from others, but it’s a bit unsettling that even the person with his name on them seems to know nothing.”

“Oh, no, Chaerin. I know a lot.”

“Don’t lie. I knew it the moment I heard the news.”

Chaerin narrowed her eyes and pointed at me. My heart skipped a beat.

“Be honest. You fell for Woo Baekyeon just based on his looks, right?”

“Uh…?”

“I’ll say it again, his physical appearance is top-notch. But a person isn’t just about their face. Even if you’re name-coupled, try to get to know him better.”

“Uh, yeah. Thanks for the advice. Actually, you’re right. I was smitten by how pretty he is…”

“Honestly. I knew it.”

I broke out in a cold sweat inwardly at the question from the future journalist who would lead Junghwa Daily. Just in case, I added pathetically,

“Chaerin, Chaesung, please keep what I said today a secret. We’re doing…well, we’re doing well.”

“Don’t worry about that. There’s no way anything bad about you will leak from our family. My dad still adores you. He keeps saying you’re getting such good press. I thought he’d only do that for you, but he’s been strangely positive about Woo Baekyeon too.”

“I should thank him when I call later.”

The connection with the siblings, which could have ended with reasonable compensation, continued to this day thanks to their parents’ kindness for nine years. But it was time to part ways. I checked the time and quietly pulled back the chair I was sitting on.

“Are you leaving already?”

Disappointment dripped from Chaesung’s voice. But it couldn’t be helped.

“Yeah. I think I have to go now.”

“Why? Stay for dinner since you’re here.”

“Sorry. Something big came up, so I’m a little busy.”

“…….”

“The wedding isn’t far off, is it? Sigh, Jung Hankyung… you were such a rare young man in this day and age, and now you’re stepping into this dirty world…”

“Where did you learn to talk like that?”

“Mom said it.”

“Haha…”

“It’s a shame. It was fun when you picked me up and all the other kids would ask who you were.”

“Thanks, even if it’s a joke.”

“Why would that be a joke? You don’t realize the impact you have when you stand at the high school gate in a suit with that face.”

“Since you’re praising me so much, I’ll make sure to pick only handsome guys as my replacements before I leave the company. Don’t worry.”

While I was saying goodbye to Chaerin at the entrance, Chaesung’s mouth was tightly closed again. He came to see me off at the front door, though.

“Bye, guys.”

“Yeah. Live well!”

Unlike Chaerin, Chaesung was still hesitant. He was much taller than his sister when standing, but he still seemed like a child.

“Chaesung, I’m really going?”

“…….”

“Oh dear, I can’t even say goodbye to Chaesung properly. Next time we see each other, you probably won’t even acknowledge me.”

“That’s not true!”

Finally, after patting the tearful Chaesung on the back, I was able to leave the house.

Creak—click. The thick iron gate closed. It sounded like the path I had walked so far was twisting and reassembling itself.