CONTRACT MARRIAGE TROPE

"ARE YOU not going to ask me why I said I hate President Lim Hojin, Gyubin?"

"I'm curious because I'm nosy, but it doesn't look like you're willing to share your 'beef' with President Lim with someone you just met, Wooju-ssi. Although if you need to get it off your chest, you can badmouth President Lim and I'll keep it a secret."

"No, thank you."

"Okay, then."

That was how Wooju's conversation with Baek Gyubin at the hospital ended.

He wanted to ask her to write the contract while both of them were free, but he noticed that she was starting to get sleepy. Hence, he just bid her goodnight before leaving.

I can't ask a pregnant woman to stay up late just to write a contract.

So, now, he was back at his penthouse in the apartment building that he owned.

"Han Wooju, why did you get home late?"

Of course, Kang Jaemoo scolded him as soon as he entered his own house.

But he was glad to see his manager— the person he needed to see most.

"Hyung, Baek Gyubin and I decided to get married."

"You're almost in your thirties now, Wooju-ya— it's too late for you to go through a rebellious phase."

Wooju just shrugged, then he walked past his manager and plopped down on the carpeted floor.

He faced the almost-finished puzzle that occupied the entire coffee table.

If he wasn't busy these days, he would have finished that a long time ago.

"Baek Gyubin needs a husband to activate her skills as a Hunter."

Kang Jaemoo sat on the sofa before sharing his (unsolicited) opinion. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all day. Carry on."

"She agreed to keep the baby as long as we get married."

"You accepted her ridiculous request?"

"What's ridiculous about her request?" Wooju asked while putting a piece of the puzzle where it fitted. "I also need to take responsibility for Baek Gyubin anyway. The egg was mine, after all."

"I understand where you're coming from, but marriage is a life-long commitment."

It wouldn't be a 'life-long commitment' because Baek Gyubin was dying in a year.

But it was confidential, so Wooju just kept his mouth shut.

Hunter Park Dong-min, under President Lim's order, made Dr. Im and I sign an NDA to keep Baek Gyubin's Bloom Disease a secret.

NDAs in the Awakened World could literally kill people who would break the contract.

But, even without the threat of the NDA he had signed, he would still keep Baek Gyubin's secret safe.

"Ah!" Kang Jaemoo explained. "Is it going to be a contract marriage?"

"Aren't all marriages a contract?"

His manager let out a sigh as if he was frustrated at Wooju's nonchalance.

Wooju couldn't help it since he was more interested in the puzzle he was building.

After all, the image he was trying to complete was an image of a beautiful steampunk train.

If only Hyung would shut his mouth and leave me alone…

"Wooju-ya, I'm talking about the contract marriage trope," Kang Jaemoo explained as if he were talking to a child. "In a romantic movie with that kind of trope, the female lead and male lead are often forced to get married even though they hate each other. So, to solve the problem, they would make a contract to make sure they would remain estranged for the rest of their marriage. But, of course, they would still fall in love with each other in the end."

"Get straight to the point, Hyung."

"What if you and Baek Gyubin fall for each other?!"

Wooju turned to his manager. "Will that be a problem? Baek Gyubin and I are both single and at the right age to start a family."

Kang Jaemoo opened his mouth as if to complain, but he immediately shut it when he couldn't find the right words to say.

It's because I didn't say anything wrong.

"Just set up a meeting with the PR Team, Hyung," Wooju said, going back to his puzzle. He was happy that he was able to shut Kang Jaemoo's mouth because it meant he could finally focus on the only hobby he enjoyed. "Ah, make sure my friends and family won't find out about my decision to marry Baek Gyubin yet— I'll deal with them later."

***

"DO YOU have time to have a meeting with my guild's PR Team?"

Gyubin was in the middle of having a quiet breakfast with Han Wooju when he asked her that question.

They were still in the hospital.

To be precise, the two of them were having a simple breakfast (just delicious sandwiches and coffee) in the kitchen of the VIP Room.

"PR Team?" Gyubin asked carefully. "Is it for our wedding?"

"Yes," Wooju said, nodding. "It's impossible to keep our wedding a secret forever because of my status. You're also an idol, and I'm sure you don't want to hide your marriage from your fans. So, we should discuss how we're going to deal with the press and the public once the news of our marriage comes out."

She had already expected that.

After all, she has been in the entertainment industry for a few years now.

We have to match up our story and hide the fact that my baby is an 'S-Grade Beast'…

… oh, shit.

Gyubin gasped when she remembered something slightly important. "Wooju-ssi, I need to divorce my husband first."

Wooju almost spat out his coffee, probably from shock. "You're married?"

***

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