Chapter 8 : Facing the Past

“Honey? Oh my god. That’s so romantic…”

Chief Kim, looking half out of her mind, muttered as she slumped to the floor.

Yehyun was equally stunned. He had hoped Yijeong would stick to a formal title, but he had just called him honey.

[What? Put me on speakerphone, honey.]

“Yehyun-ssi. Hurry up and put it on speaker, okay?” Chief Kim grabbed his arm and shook it, as if she were about to snatch his phone. Finally, unable to resist the pressure, Yehyun switched to speaker mode and forced a gentle voice.

“Done. It’s on speaker.”

[Hello. I’m actor Kang Yijeong. Please take good care of my Yehyun hyung.]

Yijeong’s voice, slightly distorted by the line, echoed through the office.

“Wow, it’s really Kang Yijeong.”

“My wife watched that drama, what was it, ‘I Am Not You’? She really enjoyed it.”

“Team leader, it’s ‘You Are Not Me,’ not ‘I Am Not You.'”

While the excited team members chimed in, Yehyun quickly tried to assess the situation. From Yijeong’s tone, it seemed he had figured out the gist of what was happening and was playing along. But if Yijeong thought this sudden act would fluster him, he was sorely mistaken.

“I figured you’d be busy, so I didn’t call even though I wanted to, but it seems we think alike. How perfect that you called right now, my honey.”

Did he think I wasn’t prepared for this? Yehyun laughed inwardly at Yijeong and spoke.

“Ooh-ooh.”

Hearing Yehyun’s affectionate voice, the team members cheered and started teasing him.

“Honey? Isn’t that too sweet?”

“Wow, you two are really into each other.”

Go ahead and chatter all you want. I’m in a sweet gig earning twenty million won a month. Yehyun smiled as he thought that.

“Did you eat?”

[My filming schedule is a bit scattered, so I’m just going to eat a big meal in the evening.]

“What kind of talk is that? You should eat something, even a little. You’ll ruin your health,” Yehyun said in a voice that sounded deeply worried. To anyone passing by, they would look like a couple in the early, love-filled days of a fresh romance.

[I’m fine. I have a personal trainer, and the company takes good care of my health. You’re the one who should eat well, honey. You don’t have a trainer.]

“I have someone to take care of me. I have you.”

Yehyun, who had blurted out that cheesy line without batting an eye, turned to Chief Kim. “Chief Kim, since he’s already on the phone, would you like to talk to Yijeong?”

“Yes, yes? Can I?” Chief Kim, who had been nearly unconscious on the floor, perked up at Yehyun’s words.

[Of course. If they’re my honey’s coworkers, they’re important to me too.]

“I’m a real fan. Since his debut… Actually, no, I even went to his fan meeting before. I never thought I’d like a celebrity at my age, but really… I’m not acting my age…”

[Hey, what are you talking about? Age doesn’t matter. There’s no age limit on liking someone. Everyone is precious to me, regardless of age.]

At Yijeong’s words, Chief Kim started staggering back as if she were about to faint. “This can’t be a dream…”

[Yijeong, I bought some stuff…]

[Oh, my manager’s here. I’ll call you again when I have time. Keep up the good work this afternoon. I’ll hang up.]

Thump. Chief Kim stumbled and finally collapsed to the floor. At the same time, the call from Yijeong ended.

Good thing he hung up quickly. Yehyun breathed a sigh of relief.

“He’s a busy guy, so he usually avoids calls, but today he contacted me first.”

“Yehyun, thank you so much. I feel like I just used up all my life’s luck…” Chief Kim, now limp, grabbed Yehyun’s hand and said. “What do you want for lunch? Let’s go somewhere other than the company cafeteria. I’ll pay. Anything you say.”

“Hey, Chief Kim. Don’t you know Team 1 eats together?” At that moment, Manager Kim interrupted with a serious facade.

Team 1 eats together? Since when did they ever stick together?

“Newbie. Let’s go. I have more than a few questions.” Manager Kim laughed transparently and patted Yehyun’s shoulder. Clearly, lunch was just an excuse; he wanted to hear about Yijeong.

“Yes, Manager.”

But Yehyun judged that dealing with Manager Kim, who was just curious because Yijeong was a celebrity, would be easier than dealing with Chief Kim the fan. He looked at Chief Kim and said, “It was nothing special. Really. If you insist, just buy me a coffee next time.”

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” Yehyun got up and followed the manager.

Shin Yehyun, keep your head straight. This is a twenty-million-won-a-month job.

‘I was originally someone who had a lover, so I knew Yijeong’s feelings but turned away, but then I broke up with my lover, and that gap in my heart…’ Yehyun reviewed the background story of how he and Yijeong supposedly got together, then walked toward the cafeteria with determination.

“Wow, how did you two meet? Fate really is amazing.” Manager Kim laughed, not even properly swallowing the rice in his mouth.

Yehyun had thought they were going out for a treat since Manager Kim led the way so eagerly, but he had just taken the team to the company cafeteria. As a result, Yehyun had to eat lunch under everyone’s hot stares, not even knowing whether the food went into his mouth or his nose.

“Wow. There’s a saying that those meant to meet will meet anyway. I guess it’s true.”

“I guess so. I didn’t know it would turn out like this either,” Yehyun chimed in appropriately.

Right, who would have known? Getting dumped by my lover, then embroiled with a superstar overnight. Even more than reality, this fake setup felt more plausible. Such is life; you never know what will happen.

“That aside, even if you haven’t been dating long, isn’t it too formal?” Assistant Manager Park, who had been chatting along beside the manager, added a comment.

“Me?”

I used all the charm I had, both natural and forced, and I acted like a madman, but he says I’m being too formal? What nonsense. Startled, Yehyun asked, and Park replied.

“No, I mean, you talk sweetly, but you saved his name as [Kang Yijeong], just three characters. How can that be? Your lover will feel hurt.”

Where did he see that? Yehyun sighed inwardly.

“Ah, I was going to change it, but I forgot. I got so many calls all weekend…”

“See? You can’t just save three characters like that when you’re dating. He must feel neglected,” Manager Kim chewed his food, mouth full, and said. “I wonder, wouldn’t it be someone from our company marrying a celebrity in a few years?”

“Oh, no way.”

After that rude remark, only Manager Kim and his flunky Park seemed excited among those at the table. Even Assistant Manager Lee, known for her loose lips, was glancing at Yehyun’s reaction this time.

“That can’t be.”

Yehyun knew better than anyone what the end of a successful alpha heir and a penniless omega with no parents would be. After all, this was a contract relationship. He had never even considered marrying Yijeong, who was just a counterpart as a business partner.

Moreover, Yijeong had a lot in common with Gyujin. That was enough to upset Yehyun.

“Dating and marriage are different things.”

‘Did you go that far to change my mind? I lost. I can’t marry you, but I’ll stay by your side as a lover.’ Yehyun knew that better than anyone present. Feeling inexplicably gloomy, he bit his lip and lowered his head.

“Good work today, Newbie.”

“It’s nothing. No trouble.”

Even after lunch, Manager Kim and Park kept pestering Yehyun to tell them about his relationship. After telling, retelling, and retelling the same stories, Yehyun looked gaunter than when he had arrived as he greeted Assistant Manager Lee.

“They’ll probably get bored in about a week, so hang in there. Go home and rest well.”

“Thank you. You have a safe trip home too.”

Yehyun parted ways with Lee in front of the company and boarded a bus to go home. The bus was packed during rush hour, leaving no room to stand. He was getting squished like a dried squid, but compared to the ordeal at work, it was almost comfortable.

“Phew.”

Yehyun got off the bus and sighed, dragging his tired feet. He knew that once he got home, Yeseo would grill him even more. Still, since he had a goal, he could endure this. And twenty million won a month wasn’t exactly easy money.

Thinking that, Yehyun straightened his drooping shoulders and started walking.

Vibrate—

Just then, his phone buzzed softly. Reflexively, he picked it up to check the message and frowned.

[Did you really block me? That hurts.]

A text from an unsaved number. He hadn’t seen the digits before, but it wasn’t hard to guess who it was. It must be Gyujin. He had blocked the number he knew and the number that had texted over the weekend, but apparently, Gyujin had multiple phones or was using someone else’s now.

Brrr—

Just as he was about to block the number, a call came from the line that had texted.

If I answer, what will he say? Whatever he says, I’ll just get hurt again and be disappointed in him. Better not to answer. Thinking that, Yehyun cut the call immediately and pressed the block button without hesitation.

“That’s really harsh, Yehyun.”

At that moment, a familiar voice stopped him.

“…Why are you here…”

“I expected it, but it really hurts to see you block my number. You’re not that cold-hearted, Yehyun.”

The man Yehyun had loved with all his heart for seven years, and who had cruelly dumped him, stood right in front of him.

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