498

 [Chapter 136]

[Prelude to Love (7)]

—Did I hear that wrong just now?

Han Seo-hyun said it so naturally that the important matter didn't sound like an important matter.

It felt like she just casually suggested having a meal together tomorrow.

Eunha doubted his ears.

"...Can you say that again? I think I must have heard wrong..."

Eunha decided to confirm again.

So he spoke to her in a shrinking tone.

Han Seo-hyun said—

"—Let's get engaged. Did you hear properly this time?"

"Crazy..."

Han Seo-hyun scolded Eunha as if asking if he couldn't hear this either while taking a sip of coffee.

Eunha let out an unfiltered exclamation.

It was truly crazy.

He didn't understand what she was saying.

"No, why is the conversation suddenly going off track? Noona, don't joke around."

"I'm not going off track, and I'm not joking with you now."

"Then what is it?"

"What do you mean what. I'm being serious."

"No, why?"

An engagement.

While he was thinking so seriously about this.

The one who brought up engagement seemed to be thinking about it very nonchalantly.

She should be the person who would welcome an engagement the least.

Eunha couldn't help but ask again.

"Because that's the rational and efficient way for you and me to solve the problem."

"..."

Rational, efficient.

Eunha changed his gaze hearing the words she uttered.

He who had been half thinking she was joking until just now changed his mind.

It seemed worth listening to once.

"I really hate people interfering with me."

"I'm the same."

"So I don't like the situation of people at the top trying to arrange my engagement regardless of my feelings."

"That's right."

"And you're in a situation where you're worrying about making Ha-yang's heart leave you."

"Right?"

"So you're going to get engaged to me. The reason I'm in this situation now is because I don't have a fiancé. So you'll fill the position of my fiancé."

"Hmm..."

"And you can keep Ha-yang in check by getting engaged to me. How about it? Isn't this the most rational and efficient solution in the current situation?"

Han Seo-hyun drinks her coffee with a huff.

Eunha was tempted by her words.

There was some reason to it.

By sheer coincidence, their interests aligned.

It's rational and efficient.

But Eunha couldn't answer rashly.

—I've been constantly postponing getting engaged.

Eunha recalled the reason he had been avoiding engagement until now.

He thought he would surely hurt whoever became engaged to him, no matter who it was.

But if the other person was Han Seo-hyun—

—No.

It can't be her even more.

Emotion came before reason.

It's inefficient.

Nevertheless, Eunha prioritized emotion.

He had to reject her proposal.

When he opened his mouth after a silence—

"—You're not misunderstanding, are you?"

"Huh?"

"The engagement I proposed to you is purely political in meaning. A purely political marriage without any irrational emotions like love mixed in."

"..."

"Just in case, I want to tell you it would be a huge mistake if you think I'm proposing engagement now because I have feelings for you."

"So this is simply a business transaction?"

Han Seo-hyun's addition striking suddenly as if reading his mind.

Eunha who was momentarily stung tried not to show his emotions as much as possible.

Then he deliberately cleared his throat and confirmed the conversation content with her.

She nodded.

"It's an engagement we're making out of mutual need, not because we like each other."

"..."

"Or... do you have feelings for me? If that's the case, wouldn't it be polite to at least break up with Ha-yang first before saying so?"

"...I don't."

"Then isn't it fine?"

Somehow it felt like falling into a trap.

Eunha looked at her with a hardened face.

When their eyes met, Han Seo-hyun gently smiled.

Eunha somehow couldn't keep looking into her eyes and turned his head away.

"We'll just be engaged, nothing will change in our relationship. You'll just be you, and I'll just be me, living like usual."

"...I understand you're saying to do it only formally. But is that really okay? Even if it's a formal engagement, an engagement is an engagement. If you happen to find someone you like later—"

"—That won't happen so don't worry. I'll take care of my own business."

"..."

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Eunha quickly shut his mouth and nodded mechanically.

Han Seo-hyun said nothing.

Eunha observed her reaction as she continued drinking coffee.

While doing so, he tried to put into words the strange intuition he felt since talking about the topic of engagement.

It was an emotion that needed to be addressed.

"Noona, perhaps..."

"What."

"You don't happen to like me, do you?"

"You know that's an overinflated ego, right?"

"..."

Han Seo-hyun retorted without changing her expression at all.

Eunha was at a loss for words.

Unable to refute Han Seo-hyun's words, he felt his face burning.

He regretted saying it.

"...But if we do get engaged, let's add one clause."

"What clause?"

Still, he had to say what needed to be said.

He cleared his throat and continued speaking.

"Not falling for the other person."

"Don't worry about that. Are you confident you won't fall for me, Eunha?"

"...Isn't that an overinflated ego on your part, noona?"

"Want to get punished?"

Han Seo-hyun chuckles.

He somehow felt like he was losing.

Inwardly, he was displeased by how confident she was.

He felt like he was getting worked up for no reason.

Just then.

"—I'll add one clause too."

"What clause?"

Eunha's counterattack ended in failure, and her counterattack began.

Eunha sensed it.

That Han Seo-hyun giggling at him had a reason for doing so.

Eunha decided to brace himself.

She—

"—If someone you truly like appears... We can pretend the engagement never happened then."

"Then you won't gain anything, will you? Then I should also if you truly..."

"I don't need that."

"I don't need it either?"

"Then it's a clause that doesn't matter whether it's there or not. I was confident."

"About what?"

"That you won't break off the engagement. I think I'm an existence with enough merit for you."

"Isn't that an overinflated ego?"

"Well... I wonder?"

"..."

As if her words would be right.

Han Seo-hyun silently smiled.

Eunha couldn't answer.

He felt like whatever he said would be completely refuted by her.

It feels like I've stepped onto a board someone set up.

Eunha belatedly wondered if she had induced this situation.

Somehow it feels like I've been tricked.

But it doesn't feel bad...

It feels somehow unsettling and strange.

Eunha decided to compose his emotions that couldn't be expressed in words.

But I'll have to tell Ha-yang, what should I say? Ha-yang won't like this...

Then Eunha fell into worry.

Getting engaged was fine.

The problem was that getting engaged while dating Jeong Ha-yang was no different from insulting Alice Group.

He had to persuade Jeong Ha-yang.

"Don't worry about that."

"About what?"

"You're worrying about how to tell Ha-yang now, right?"

"...How did you know."

"I just know. I'll tell Ha-yang. Until then, don't say anything to Ha-yang, Eunha."

"...You? What will you say?"

"You don't need to know."

Han Seo-hyun saying she'll take care of it herself then.

Eunha was flustered.

But since she spoke confidently, he decided to go along with it for now.

"—Eunha, you just date Ha-yang, and be engaged to me."

"Hearing it like that makes me sound like trash."

"You just realized that now? You two-timer."

"..."

"And I'm broad-minded so I won't care much who or how many people you date. Just remember one thing, that I'm your fiancée."

"You don't have to worry because that won't happen."

"I hope that doesn't happen too."

"...Ugh..."

I can't refute anything.

Eunha who suddenly became a two-timer groaned and lowered his head.

What is this? Why do I feel like I came to remove a lump but got another one instead?

Ah, it can't be.

Dating Jeong Ha-yang.

Engaged to Han Seo-hyun.

Eunha sighed while murmuring the words she said.

It felt like his life was being mortgaged.

☆

The next day, same time, same place.

Han Seo-hyun greeted Jeong Ha-yang.

"Welcome, it's been a while."

"Yeah... it's been a while."

While Han Seo-hyun's expression was calm, Jeong Ha-yang had an anxious look on her face.

It couldn't be helped.

Jeong Ha-yang who learned how to survive in the political and business world from Han Seo-hyun.

Because when Han Seo-hyun called her, it was often for unpleasant matters.

Sure enough—

"—What...?"

"I decided to get engaged to Eunha."

"...En...gagement...?"

Engagement.

Jeong Ha-yang was visibly flustered by the words that came out of her mouth.

The air vibrated.

The table shook.

The coffee filled to the brim in the mug sloshed greatly.

Nevertheless, Han Seo-hyun showed no agitation.

Rather—

"—It seems you're still very unskilled at hiding your emotions. Seeing how flustered you are."

"...Isn't this something to be flustered about?"

Han Seo-hyun's criticism.

Ha-yang clenched her fist under the table and asked her.

There was anger in her voice.

Nevertheless, Han Seo-hyun showed boldness by snorting.

"You shouldn't be flustered by things like this. If you want to be loved by Eunha."

"...What do you mean?"

She even made Ha-yang shut her mouth at once.

Jeong Ha-yang who flinched for a moment bowed her head and asked her.

Then as if teasing her.

She silently drank her coffee.

"Korean coffee is really good after all. Espresso rather than drip coffee."

"Unni..."

"You should know how to wait calmly too. If you want to be loved by Eunha."

"...Tch. What do you mean? Tell me."

The energy that almost collapsed the entire cafe disappeared cleanly.

Han Seo-hyun put down her cup and looked around briefly.

After confirming people's gazes had turned away, she opened her mouth.

"That kid is a coward who tries to take a step back when someone says they like him. He probably feels burdened because he's not confident he can treat them as well as he receives."

"...I know that now. But even knowing that, I'm not sure what to do."

"If you go forward, he steps back, so of course you have to go back and make him come forward."

"...Are you saying to play hard to get?"

"Hard to get... is a bit ambiguous."

Jeong Ha-yang expressed curiosity.

Han Seo-hyun chose her words.

She who could read people's emotions looking at her was certain Eunha's thoughts wouldn't change simply by playing hard to get.

No Eunha is a coward who gets scared and wary when he senses others' emotions.

No Eunha who didn't have feelings for others started showing faint emotions towards others sometime.

It's a good thing.

But he seemed to find the emotions that arose in him, or more precisely romantic love, unfamiliar.

In a way, it seemed like he was afraid of it.

So—

"—Yes, this expression would be better. You have to pretend to be uninterested to make him come to you."

"Huh?"

"The reason he's trying to distance himself from you is because you like him. Not because he dislikes you."

"...Keep talking."

"Then thinking in reverse, if you show that you don't like him, won't he approach you without being wary?"

"..."

"The point is you must never let your feelings of liking him be discovered. Draw Eunha in that way, then make him acknowledge his own feelings and become someone who absolutely can't live without me."

"...That's what unni is doing now."

"That's why he agreed to get engaged to me this time without any suspicion."

"...Ugh..."

"Eunha is that kind of kid. He doesn't want to date, but he wants to be together. There's no mindset quite as trashy."

"...Don't call Eunha trash."

"Then I'll call him an octopus."

"...Ugh..."

Jeong Ha-yang makes a crying face.

Han Seo-hyun chuckled looking at her who was 2 years younger than herself.

Eventually she unclenched her fist and muttered.

"...But that's something only unni can do. It's not my style. I'm not confident I can do it well either..."

"It can't be helped since people have things they're good at and bad at."

"Then are you saying I can't be loved by Eunha?"

"I'm saying you have something else you can do."

"...What do you mean?"

"If there's someone wielding the whip, there needs to be someone giving the carrot."

"...Unni is the one wielding the whip? I'm the one giving the carrot?"

"Yes, that's right."

"..."

"Actually, the things you're worrying about Ha-yang are things time can completely resolve. But you..."

"There are only 342 days left."

"I see... you were counting."

"Of course. It's the 23rd day today."

"Anyway, it would be hard to change Eunha's mind within 1 year. For both you and me."

"..."

"So won't you join hands with me?"

"...Are you saying to cooperate?"

"That's right."

"..."

Han Seo-hyun held out her hand on the table.

Jeong Ha-yang stared intently at Han Seo-hyun's hand.

Though she understood her argument, she didn't want to take her hand.

Because—

—In the end, only one person will end up with Eunha.

And Seo-hyun unni will get engaged, while I only have 342 days left.

It was a completely disadvantageous alliance.

Though Han Seo-hyun probably wouldn't do that.

Jeong Ha-yang imagined a picture where she would give carrots to Eunha for Han Seo-hyun's sake, then break up with him when time was up, and Han Seo-hyun would bind Eunha with the engagement.

Just then—

"—I know what you're worried about, but think carefully. There's no guarantee that only one person will end up with Eunha, right?"

"...Huh?"

Han Seo-hyun added.

Jeong Ha-yang tilted her head.

She didn't understand what she was saying.

Then Han Seo-hyun said to her as if it was obvious.

"Do you really think only one person will be involved with Eunha?"

"..."

"There's a saying that heroes have three wives and four concubines. I really hate words that seem to justify harems, but unfortunately the current world is one where the system of monogamy has lost meaning. Isn't that right?"

"...That's true. It is."

 Han Seo-hyun asked pointedly.

Jeong Ha-yang nodded.

It was an open secret in the political and business world.

There were quite a few people who kept a fiancée and a lover separately, like what was happening between the two of them.

As a result, while Jeong Ha-yang didn't welcome the current situation, she was unconsciously accepting the abnormal situation.

"It's a world where those with power control everything, and people flock to those with power."

"..."

"In that situation, what do you think will happen when No Eunha goes out into the world? Do you think the world, people will really leave him alone?"

Jeong Ha-yang shook her head.

Eunha is already receiving attention now.

She couldn't imagine how much more attention he would receive after graduating from the academy and achieving merits.

But surely—

"—He'll be surrounded by women non-stop. That's already happening now."

"...That's right. It will surely be like that."

"Regardless of what Eunha thinks, he can't have just one woman. It's not impossible, but if he's thinking of changing the world, that's even more so."

"..."

"So anyone who ends up with Eunha needs to be prepared to be part of a harem. If you try to possess him with half-hearted feelings, you'll just end up getting hurt needlessly."

All of Han Seo-hyun's words were correct.

Jeong Ha-yang was already nodding along, absorbed in her story.

She focused without realizing her coffee was getting cold.

"Many women will appear in the future, and you'll have to fight to share No Eunha's heart with those women. So, now is the opportunity before those women appear."

"You mean I should monopolize him while I can monopolize him."

"I'm saying to establish your position."

"So..."

"That's why I'm saying to join hands with me. We join hands to keep other women from causing problems later. If a harem forms, internal strife is bound to occur. So shouldn't we form a faction in preparation for that time?"

"...Unni is right. Okay, I'll do it."

Jeong Ha-yang knew how to see reality.

As Han Seo-hyun said, No Eunha would end up forming a harem whether he liked it or not.

It's already like that now.

Isn't he two-timing?

Therefore, she took Han Seo-hyun's outstretched hand.

"But unni, then are you saying you'll be the first?"

"Why, do you have a problem with that?"

"I confessed first..."

"Then if you're confident you can manage the girls who come in the future, you do it. I don't mind. That would be more comfortable."

"...No. I'll just unconditionally follow what unni says."

"Good, you thought well."

That day, the two made a secret pact about No Eunha's married life that No Eunha didn't know about.

And—

""""—What the hell is this?""""

Not long after that day.

No Eunha and Han Seo-hyun's engagement caused an uproar in the world.

It was like a bolt from the blue.

No Eunha's engagement was announced less than a month after he started dating Jeong Ha-yang.

""""Crazy....""""

Dating Jeong Ha-yang.

Engaged to Han Seo-hyun.

Rumors of No Eunha two-timing spread.