✧

⋆‧°𓏲ּ𝄢 facts about me —

♥︎ i like watching cdramas and anime, my fav cdrama is the story of the kunning palace.

♥︎ the artists i currently listen to are nct 《also their solos》 exo 《their solos as well》 red velvet, h2h, malcolm todd, flo, dean and ive.

♥︎ i have this maternal feeling for vivi (sehun's dog).

♥︎ i like the colour pink very much!

♥︎ i started writing last year and started posting on a platform this year.

♥︎ my ult bias has been haechan since 2023.

♥︎ fav songs atm are :-

𓏲ּ𝄢 scared of love - min jiwoon, let me in - exo, love beyond - haechan, on me- sehun, love comes back - baekhyun, aftertaste - dean, anderson pak, brand new - xiumin.

here is my 《 masterlist 》 have fun reading!!

haechan spots you hunched over the laptop, hair tied up, tank top clinging to your skin. he drops his own work and slides behind you, arms wrapping tight around your waist. you whine, reaching for the laptop. "deadline's in an hour," you protest, but he buries his face in your neck instead.

his lips press warm and slow against the side of your neck, dragging upward in a trail of open-mouthed kisses. each press lingers, sucking gently on the tender skin just below your ear, pulling soft sounds from your throat. he moves lower, tongue flicking out to taste before sealing his mouth over the spot, suckling with steady pressure that leaves heat blooming across your skin. another kiss lands higher, teeth grazing lightly as he draws the flesh between his lips again, moaning softly into you.

his hands slide under your tank top, roaming over your ribs and stomach while he keeps his mouth locked on your neck, alternating between long sucks and quick, wet kisses that make your head tip back.

doyoung steps through the door after his long military leave, eyes dark with need as they lock onto you. he crosses the room and pulls you flush against him, mouth already seeking your neck. his lips part over your skin, sucking slow and deliberate, leaving faint red marks that bloom under each press. soft, low moans vibrate from his throat as he nibbles along the curve, teeth grazing before his tongue soothes the spot.

his breath comes heavier against your neck, warm and shaky. each suck draws another quiet groan from him, the sound thick with relief and hunger. he tilts his head, dragging his mouth higher, then lower again, alternating between gentle bites and wet, lingering pulls that make his lashes flutter shut.

he captures your lips next, nibbling at the lower one before sliding his tongue inside for a slow, deep kiss. one hand cradles your cheek, thumb stroking your skin, while the other slips under your top to glide over your bare back, fingers spreading wide to feel every inch. a muffled moan escapes him into the kiss as he lifts you effortlessly onto the kitchen counter.

his knee nudges between your thighs, parting them wider. the firm pressure presses right against your covered core, rubbing in slow, deliberate circles. your underwear grows slick, the damp fabric clinging as his knee keeps its steady rhythm. you whine, hips twitching, torn between wanting the barrier gone and never wanting that grinding pressure to stop. doyoung watches your face closely, pupils blown, lips parted around another soft moan while his knee continues its torturous circles, soaking the thin cotton even more.

you catch jeno leaning back on the couch, legs spread wide in that easy manspread that always draws your eyes lower. his forearms rest on his thighs, veins thick and raised along the backs of his hands, running up the length of his arms like they’re carved there. each flex of his fingers makes the lines shift, and you can’t stop staring at how they stand out under his skin. your gaze lingers on the way his veins pulse faintly with every small movement, the sight making heat pool low in your belly.

he shifts slightly, shirt riding up just enough to expose the sharp cut of his v-line. the same prominent veins trail down from his hips, disappearing beneath his waistband, and the sight pulls a quiet breath from you. you wonder how far they go, how they might look wrapping around something thicker, harder. the thought of his cock being just as veiny makes your thighs press together.

jeno notices your stare, a small smirk tugging at his lips as he stays relaxed in that wide-legged position, letting you take it all in.

one afternoon, you and johnny were strolling through the park, hand in hand. after walking for what felt like forever, you quietly mumbled, "i'm tired…" your voice was so soft that johnny didn't hear it. when you suddenly stopped walking, he turned around and leaned down to your eye level. "huh? what's wrong, love?" he asked gently. you huffed, "i'm tired~." he smiled apologetically, tilting his head. "why didn't you say so sooner?" you rolled your eyes with a grin. "maybe because you couldn't hear me, you godzilla." johnny placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "godzilla? that's harsh." the two of you ended up laughing before he led you over to a nearby bench, happily sitting beside you while your fingers stayed intertwined.

chenle kept his cock buried deep, thrusting in hard and fast, his hips snapping forward with each brutal stroke that forced your walls to stretch around him. his eyes stayed locked on yours, brows drawn tight in concentration as he groaned low in his throat. sweat slid down his forehead and dripped onto your skin while he pounded into you without mercy.

"oh yeah? you like that?" he growled, a cocky smirk spreading across his face as your loud moans filled the room. your reactions only made him thrust harder, his ego swelling with every desperate sound you made.

then the phone rang. chenle glanced sideways without slowing his pace, one hand reaching out to grab the device while his cock stayed buried inside you. he tapped accept, voice steady as he spoke into the receiver. "喂？咋啦?" (what? what's wrong) the caller answered, and chenle replied curtly, "我正忙着呢，别烦我。" (i'm busy, don't bother me.) he ended the call with a sharp tap and tossed the phone aside.

the foreign words rolled off his tongue so casually while he stayed deep inside you, and the mystery of what he said sent a fresh rush of wetness between your legs. heat pooled hotter in your stomach, your body clenching tighter around him as the interruption somehow made everything feel even more intense.

what starts as raised voices quickly turns into both of you trying to explain yourselves at the same time, until the room falls into a heavy silence. tears are already streaming down both of your faces. jisung lowers his head, sniffling quietly before whispering, "i'm sorry…" his voice is shaky as he gently cups your face and rests his forehead against yours.

without hesitation, you cradle his cheeks, carefully wiping away both the fresh tears and the ones that had already dried. "i won't do it again…" he chokes out. "please… let's not fight ever again." his breathing becomes uneven as another wave of tears spills over.

he breaks down completely, his quiet sobs filling the room. you immediately pull him into your arms, slowly rubbing comforting circles across his back. burying his face into your neck, he clings to you tightly, his tears dampening your shoulder as you softly reassure him that the two of you will work through things together, your gaze lingers on the way how desperate he was, the submission he has for you, the sight making heat pool low in your belly.

xiaojun is unbelievably patient, especially when it comes to you. after classes, he'd sit with you in the library, helping you through math one question at a time. no matter how clearly he explained it, you still found yourself staring at the page in confusion. with every problem, another sigh escaped your lips. a lump slowly formed in your throat, and you had to bite the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from crying.

xiaojun noticed immediately. he quietly turned toward you and said, "show me where you got lost." his voice was calm but firm. "and if none of it makes sense, we'll start over." your eyes widened as you hurriedly waved your hands. "n-no... i understand." he wasn't convinced. leaning in slightly, he held your gaze. "really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, patiently waiting for the truth. you tried to maintain eye contact, but you couldn't. your shoulders slumped as tears gathered in your eyes. "...i'm sorry," you whispered. "i'm just... really stupid. i'm trying so hard, but it's so complicated." your voice cracked near the end.

xiaojun stayed silent instead of looking back at the notebook, his eyes remained on you. his gaze moved slowly across your face, lingering on every little expression as if he were trying to understand what you were feeling without you having to say another word. he noticed the way you nervously bit your lip, the slight tremble in your lashes as you fought back your tears, and how your eyebrows pinched together whenever you thought you had disappointed him.

even the tiny quiver in your breathing didn't escape him. his eyes softened with every passing second, not with pity, but with quiet concern. the corners of his lips curved into the faintest smile, warm enough to reassure you without a single word. he wasn't staring because he was judging you. he was simply taking you in, hoping that if he looked at you long enough, you'd realize he wasn't frustrated with you at all. in that moment, the math problems scattered across the table faded into the background. the only thing holding his attention was you.

jungwoo was someone you always ran into on your walk home. every day, you'd take the same shortcut; a narrow, damp alley where the streetlights flickered and the walls were stained. hardly anyone used it.

yet, without fail, jungwoo would be there, leaning against the wall with a cigarette between his fingers, quietly watching the world pass by. the two of you never really talked much, just exchanged a small wave whenever your paths crossed. but one evening, you walked through the alley with your shoulders slumped, letting out one sigh after another.

jungwoo noticed immediately. he lifted a hand in greeting. "hey." you returned a lazy wave. he took one last drag before exhaling a cloud of smoke into the cool evening air. "mood's off today, mhm?" he asked, his voice low and calm. you simply nodded. as the silence settled between you, your eyes drifted to him.

he lifted the cigarette between two fingers and brought it to his lips with practiced ease. the ember at the tip glowed a dull orange as he took a slow drag before lowering his hand again. for a brief moment, he held the smoke, his jaw tightening ever so slightly, the muscles along his neck shifting beneath his skin. then he exhaled through parted lips.

the gray smoke drifting lazily into the cool evening air before dissolving into the darkness. his shoulders stayed relaxed, one foot resting against the wall as he absentmindedly tapped the ash onto the cracked pavement, his eyes never quite leaving you.

★ masterlist

— ★ At DR3AM HOUSE

It was eight in the morning at the dorm. Breakfast was usually loud, but today, a different kind of chaos was brewing.

Under the table, Chenle lightly kicked Jaemin's foot, Jaemin kicked him back. The two exchanged glances before simultaneously looking at Donghyuck, who was completely oblivious, smiling at his phone while absentmindedly eating his breakfast.

They'd been wanting to confront him for days. It wasn't just that he'd started leaving scrims early. Sometimes he'd skip the end of practice altogether, claiming he "had somewhere to be." Whenever they went shopping, he'd stop in front of expensive handbags, jewelry displays, or cute accessories, staring at them with a suspiciously soft smile, as if he was imagining someone wearing them.

Chenle had been the first to notice then he told Jaemin. After several late-night discussions that were definitely more dramatic than necessary, the two had reached the same conclusion.

Donghyuck was seeing someone. The real question was...who?

Chenle cleared his throat, looking at Jaemin as if asking for permission to begin. Jaemin gave him an encouraging nod. Resting his chin on his hands, Chenle casually spoke "So..." He pretended to think, "You wanna hang out today? It's the weekend." His eyes stayed fixed on Donghyuck, waiting for the answer they'd predicted.

Donghyuck looked up from his phone for a second, "...Nah, dude." He smiled to himself before typing another message "I've got plans today." Jaemin immediately let out a dramatic hiss, straightening in his chair. Donghyuck looked over in confusion, "...You okay?"

Jaemin quickly grabbed his throat "cough—uh... something went down the wrong pipe." Donghyuck simply nodded and went back to his phone. Jaemin seized the opportunity, "You've been... pretty busy lately." He raised an eyebrow. Donghyuck unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck, trying very hard not to smile "Me?"

"Nah..." He let out an awkward laugh, "You know...here and there." He nodded to himself, looking strangely proud of what he clearly thought was a convincing answer. Chenle narrowed his eyes, slowly looking Donghyuck up and down.

Yeah, he's hiding something.

Jaemin sighed dramatically, "Alright." He casually threw an arm around Chenle's shoulder "Come on."

"We're supposed to head out today anyway." Chenle blinked...since when? Before he could ask, Jaemin subtly elbowed him and shot him a look that clearly said: Let's get the hell out of here.

"...Oh."

"Yeah."

"Right."

The two quickly stood up and disappeared into Chenle's room, Donghyuck didn't even notice. He was far too busy smiling at his phone...texting you.

— ★ IN CHENLE'S ROOM

Chenle and Jaemin practically sprinted back into Chenle's room, both huffing as though they'd just completed a top-secret mission. Jaemin ran a hand through his hair and let out an exaggerated sigh. "This guy..." he muttered, tilting his head toward the dining room where Donghyuck was still sitting.

Chenle blinked at him. "Yeah, but... since when did we have plans together today?" Jaemin looked at him as if the answer was obvious, "Since now."

A grin slowly spread across his face, then proceeded to give the most craziest idea ever. "...Let's follow him." Chenle's expression twisted into horror. His mouth fell open, "Nah, dude. That's too much. Why are you acting like a sasaeng?"

Jaemin rolled his eyes. Chenle's complaint seemed to enter one ear and leave the other immediately. "Who cares?" he shrugged. "You're curious too, aren't you?" Chenle hesitated for a few seconds before letting out a defeated sigh, "...Sure."

Jaemin carefully cracked the bedroom door open just enough to peek outside. The living room was empty, "...Huh?" He frowned "Where did he go?" His eyes widened. "Did he already leave?!" Panicking, Jaemin threw the door wide open—only to freeze.

Donghyuck was standing a few feet away at the water dispenser, calmly filling a cup while scrolling through his phone. The sudden bang made Donghyuck jump, "...What the hell?" He stared at Jaemin "You scared me!" Jaemin immediately straightened his posture, "Oh."

"My bad..."

"Heh..." Behind him, Chenle slowly shook his head from side to side, burying his face in his hands out of secondhand embarrassment.

Twenty minutes later, Donghyuck had gone upstairs to get ready meanwhile...Jaemin and Chenle had somehow established a surveillance camp inside Jeno's room mainly because it was the closest room to Donghyuck's. Jeno looked at the two of them with complete disbelief, "...Get out of my room." He frowned at both of them. "What the fuck?" Chenle waved him off, "Relax, bro."

"Just keep doing whatever you were doing."Jeno frowned, "What are you even doing in my room?" Jaemin answered with a perfectly serious expression. "Carrying out a mission." Chenle nodded solemnly beside him. Jeno stared at them for a long moment before sighing "...Have you guys lost your minds?"

Giving up, he walked over to his PC, put on his headset, and decided ignoring them was the healthiest option. A few moments later...Donghyuck's bedroom door opened, freshly showered, dressed in one of his nicest outfits, he stepped into the hallway.

The amount of cologne he'd sprayed was so excessive that even from Jeno's room...Jaemin could smell it, he immediately pinched his nose, "You'd think he was getting married today."

Chenle snorted, Donghyuck, completely unaware he was being watched, hummed to himself while checking the time on his phone. A small smile appeared on his face. He grabbed his car keys from the entryway and headed downstairs.

Chenle frowned at his odd behaviour "...can't wait to tell his girlfriend he still sleep talks to his mom." Jaemin nearly burst out laughing before quickly peeking out the window, "There he goes." He watched Donghyuck's figure grow smaller as he walked across the parking lot.

Without taking his eyes off him, Jaemin urgently gestured toward Chenle, "Keys." Chenle immediately understood. The two bolted downstairs, nearly tripping over each other as they rushed into the parking lot. By the time they reached Chenle's car, Donghyuck's engine was already running "Hurry!"

They threw themselves into the seats. Chenle started the engine with a roar, keeping his eyes locked on Donghyuck's car as it pulled out of the lot, "Let's go." The two exchanged determined nods, then Chenle stepped on the accelerator.

Their mission to Find Donghyuck's Girlfriend had officially begun

Donghyuck drove through the morning traffic, heading straight toward your house to pick you up. A smile had been plastered on his face ever since he'd left the dorm, completely oblivious to the fact that two self-appointed detectives were following him from a distance.

Music played softly through the speakers as he hummed along, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel in time with the beat.

It had been three weeks since he'd started taking you out. Somehow, those "alleged dates" had quietly become part of both your routines and honestly...you didn't seem to mind them anymore.

The awkwardness that once filled every conversation had slowly disappeared. Donghyuck had opened up to you, about university, his sudden career as a pro player, the pressure of being Peter, and the expectations that came with it.

In return, you'd begun sharing pieces of yourself too, about your family, your writing and your worries. The two of you clicked far more naturally than either of you had expected.

With you, Donghyuck never felt like he had to put on Peter's confident persona, he could simply be... Donghyuck. Somewhere along the way, without even realizing it, he'd grown completely comfortable in your company and maybe...Comfort wasn't the right word anymore.

He liked you a lot and strangely enough...he liked the fact that he liked you.

Today's destination had been your idea. An amusement park. You'd originally wanted to go with your friends, but everyone was busy. They invited you to a club instead, but you weren't really in the mood to drink.

So...you ended up texting Donghyuck, he replied almost instantly. Sometimes, you genuinely wondered if he even had a job.

Does this man ever work?

You were unusually excited as you stood in front of your vanity, carefully doing your makeup. Even your mother noticed the obvious change in your mood. "So..." she sang teasingly from behind you. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"You still haven't told me about him." You smiled at her through the mirror while straightening your hair, "It's not a serious thing..." Your mom tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "No one smiles like that over 'not a serious thing,' hmm?" She walked over and admired your reflection for a moment. "You look beautiful, my dear." Your cheeks warmed, "Aww, thank you."

"I got that from you~" She laughed softly before placing a stack of freshly folded clothes on your bed. Right on top sat a familiar hoodie. Donghyuck's hoodie. She picked it up between two fingers, "...Is this his?" You rubbed the back of your neck with an embarrassed smile, "uh... yeah."

Your mom pinched your cheek affectionately, "Have fun." Just then, your phone buzzed.

the devil himself 😈: I'm downstairs.

You quickly set the hair straightener aside and gave yourself one last look in the mirror before hurrying downstairs. By the time you reached the entrance, your mom had already opened the front door.

Outside, a sleek black car with tinted windows was parked neatly by the curb. Donghyuck looked up from where he stood beside it, he noticed the woman standing in the doorway first.

She looked strikingly familiar. The resemblance to you was undeniable, same smile, same eyes only older. Before he could think any further, you rushed downstairs.

"Mom!" you whined, nudging her arm, "why'd you open the door?" She lightly tapped your nose. "I wanted to see who's been keeping my daughter so entertained." You snorted, "What do you mean entertained?"

"Is he a court jester or something?" Your mom laughed, meanwhile, Donghyuck had stepped out from beside the car. The moment his eyes landed on you...he stopped walking. For a second, he completely forgot how to speak.

He'd only ever seen you after classes, wearing comfortable clothes with your hair hurriedly tied back but today...you'd dressed up for this.

For him.

His mouth suddenly felt dry. A wave of butterflies settled in his stomach at the thought that you'd actually put effort into looking nice which you always do.

Realizing your mother was watching, Donghyuck immediately bowed a full ninety degrees, "Hello, ma'am." Your mother smiled politely. "Hmm...I feel like I've seen you somewhere before." (Probably from all those posters in your room, you thought to yourself.)

She observed him for a moment before introducing herself, "I'm Y/N's mother." Without missing a beat, Donghyuck clutched a hand dramatically to his chest, "Oh my God!"

"I thought you were her older sister!"

"No way." You immediately burst into laughter. Your mother blinked before letting out a delighted chuckle. "Oh, you silly boy." She was clearly amused. Smiling warmly, she waved the two of you off. "I won't keep you any longer."

"Go have fun." You hugged your mom goodbye before walking toward the car, still laughing under your breath, Donghyuck bowed once more "Thank you, ma'am."

Then, before you could reach for the handle yourself, he walked ahead and opened the passenger door for you. You looked at him, trying not to smile, "...Really?" He simply shrugged, pretending it was the most natural thing in the world.

"What a sweet interaction..." Jaemin sighed dreamily from the driver's seat, one hand resting dramatically over his heart, "I think my heart just melted." Chenle, on the other hand, looked thoroughly disturbed.

He stared at Donghyuck opening the car door for you before dramatically rubbing his arms. "...I'm getting secondhand embarrassment."

"I kind of want to throw a rock at him."

The two of them had parked several houses away before sneaking over on foot, hiding behind a row of bushes across the street from your house like some kind of detectives. Chenle let out a long, exhausted sigh. "What are we even doing?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, "curiosity really did kill the cat." Once Donghyuck's car finally pulled away, Chenle motioned for Jaemin to retreat. "Come on." The two crouch-ran back toward their own car as if they were escaping a military operation.

This time, Jaemin slid into the driver's seat while Chenle flopped into the passenger seat. A few minutes into the drive, Jaemin narrowed his eyes at the road ahead. "...Hey."

"I know where they're going." Chenle looked over, "where?"

"the amusement park."

"oh..."

Chenle nodded before something suddenly clicked. "...Wait, isn't Donghyuck terrified of heights?" Jaemin glanced at him before a knowing grin spread across his face "...Lover boy." Chenle burst into laughter.

Here you were.

Standing in front of Lotte World with Donghyuck. You were a little worried someone might recognize him, so he'd reluctantly agreed to wear a cap pulled low over his face. "...Sorry," you muttered as you got out of the car.

Donghyuck smiled. "Don't worry, baby~" You immediately frowned. "...Who the hell are you calling baby, dude?" Donghyuck clicked his tongue dramatically, "you just ruined the moment." You rolled your eyes with a huff before walking ahead.

He laughed and quickly caught up beside you. The moment you stepped through the entrance, your eyes lit up. A huge smile spread across your face as you looked around at all the rides. Donghyuck couldn't help but stare.

You looked...beautiful. Before he could admire you any longer, you suddenly grabbed his arm. "Let's go there!" You pointed excitedly toward the Drop Tower. Donghyuck followed your finger. His smile froze, the ride stretched impossibly high into the sky.

A bead of sweat slowly rolled down the side of his forehead. ...absolutely not. Still, he forced himself to stay calm "...Can't we, uh..." He cleared his throat "...Go to the bumper cars first?" You looked at him. "Uh... we can do those later." Donghyuck swallowed hard. His fingers unconsciously cracked together.

"...Yeah."

"Sure."

"Whatever you want."

The two of you joined the queue. You bounced lightly on your feet, excitedly watching the ride shoot up and plunge back down.

Donghyuck...was quietly taking deep breaths, trying to make peace with whatever awaited him completely oblivious to the fact that two detectives had joined the line a few people behind you.

There were two strangers between your group and then—Jaemin and Chenle, both wearing masks and baseball caps. Ironically, they looked far more suspicious than Donghyuck did.

Chenle leaned closer and whispered, "the fact that Donghyuck still hasn't noticed us...just proves he's dumb as hell." Jaemin bit back a laugh. "forget that." He nodded toward Donghyuck. "Look at his face, he looks terrified."

The two exchanged amused glances before quietly continuing to make fun of their him, who was too busy pretending he wasn't about to face one of his greatest fears.

Finally, it was your turn, the moment the staff waved you forward, Donghyuck practically latched onto your arm. His grip was firm, and if you looked closely...his legs were trembling.

You glanced at him, concern written across your face, "...Wait, are you scared?" Donghyuck immediately straightened his posture "What?" He pointed at himself before letting out an awkward laugh, "Me?"

"No." A pause followed, "Never!" His answer came out far louder and far more defensive than he intended. You blinked, "...Woah, okay." The two of you took your seats.

Just behind you, Jaemin and Chenle climbed into the next row. The ride began to rise, the two of them were having the time of their lives. They were laughing, yelling, and completely forgot they were supposed to be spying on him.

Meanwhile...Donghyuck had gone unusually quiet, a little too quiet "...shit, shit, shit, shit" He muttered under his breath like a prayer.

You, on the other hand, were having the best time ever, screaming excitedly as the ride climbed higher and higher, without realizing it, Donghyuck reached over and grabbed your hand.

His grip tightened and tightened, "Ow!" You quickly pulled your hand away. He immediately looked over, panic flashing across his face "Sorry..."

"I just..." His voice came out much softer than before, you simply smiled "It's fine." before he could say anything else, the ride dropped.

You let out another excited scream, Donghyuck...looked seconds away from passing out. A row behind you, Chenle glanced sideways—only to accidentally lock eyes with Donghyuck.

Oh, shit.

Chenle immediately snapped his head forward as if nothing had happened. Thankfully, Donghyuck was too busy trying to survive the ride to process who he'd just seen.

Chenle quietly hissed to himself, "...That was close."

A few moments later, the ride finally came to a stop. You happily unbuckled your restraints and hopped off. Donghyuck stood up much more carefully. One hand stayed firmly on the safety bar to keep himself balanced.

His legs were still shaking, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed two strangely familiar men in masks sprinting out of the exit, he didn't think much of it.

Turning back to you, he forced a smile, "Damn... that was..."You beamed at him, "So fun!" You pointed toward the towering roller coaster nearby, "Let's go on that one next!" Donghyuck's smile twitched.

Every instinct in his body screamed no but instead..."S-sure..." He swallowed hard, "...Shall we?"

Jaemin and Chenle quietly followed the two of you to the roller coaster, making sure to sit directly behind your row. At this point, they'd stopped bothering with their masks. Donghyuck was so focused on you that they were convinced he wouldn't recognize them even if they waved in his face.

You excitedly dragged Donghyuck to the very front row. He stared up at the towering tracks and silently regretted every decision he'd made that morning.

"Thank God we got the front seats before anyone else!" you said happily. Donghyuck let out a dry chuckle and thought to himself, "after this... I might actually thank God in person."

The restraints locked into place, the roller coaster slowly climbed higher, higher and higher. Donghyuck's palms were embarrassingly sweaty around the safety bar.

Then—the ride plunged.

"AAAAAHHHHH!" Donghyuck screamed at the exact same time you did. Thankfully, your own screams drowned his out.

Behind you, however, sat two absolute menaces. Jaemin and Chenle were having the time of their lives. They screamed louder than everyone else, laughing between every drop.

Chenle nudged Jaemin, "I'll push you off!"

"You first!" The two burst into another fit of laughter, looking more like they were on a date than the actual couple in front of them.

Halfway through the ride, Donghyuck frowned. That laughter...It sounded familiar. He gathered enough courage to glance over his shoulder—only for Jaemin and Chenle to immediately duck below the safety bars.

Donghyuck blinked, "...Huh?" There was no one. He slowly turned back around, confused. You noticed his expression. "What's wrong?" you shouted over the wind, "Nothing..."

"I thought I heard someone." You simply shrugged, "It's probably noth—" Before you could finish, the coaster twisted sharply, sending both of you screaming again.

"FUUUUCK!" Chenle yelled from behind, Jaemin was laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

When the ride finally ended, you stepped off, laughing as you tried to catch your breath. Donghyuck, meanwhile, immediately turned around.

He could've sworn...no. Never mind, then, just as he looked toward the exit—those same two weird guys sprinted away again.

"...Weird." He frowned, must be a coincidence.

The rest of the afternoon passed the same way, ride after ride. Donghyuck somehow became an expert at pretending he wasn't terrified. Every time a ride ended, he'd step off with shaky legs, quietly trying to regain his dignity before you noticed.

and somehow...at every single ride, those two suspicious guys appeared again.

Later, while wandering through one of the souvenir shops, you picked up a fluffy brown bear headband. You smiled before placing it on Donghyuck's head, "There."

"You're a bear." Donghyuck let out a playful growl. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed a white bunny headband from the display and gently placed it on your head.

He stared for a second, "...Cute." He'd meant to keep that thought to himself. You heard it anyway, pretending not to, you simply adjusted the headband.

"I came here once during a university trip," you said as the two of you continued walking "but it was kind of boring." Donghyuck raised an eyebrow, "because I wasn't with you?" A smile tugged at his lips. You rolled your eyes.

"My friends all disappeared with their boyfriends." A pause followed "Some went to hotels, others went clubbing." You shrugged "...I'd just broken up with my ex back then." Donghyuck nodded, "Oh."

"...What happened?" You hesitated, "He..." You sighed. "He cheated on me." The smile instantly disappeared from Donghyuck's face, his jaw tightened.

You quickly waved both hands, "But whatever—Who cares? Fuck him." You laughed awkwardly, changing the subject before he could say anything.

Just then, your attention drifted toward two people nearby. One wore fox ears, the other wore bunny ears. They were laughing together without a care in the world.

You smiled warmly, "South Korea's becoming so much more accepting for gay people." You said with a genuine smile, "I'm really happy to see that."

Donghyuck followed your gaze, his eyes landed on the pair...those two again. He squinted, trying to get a better look at their faces—but you lightly nudged his arm.

"Hey, wanna get ice cream?" You muttered, "I'll pay." Donghyuck looked at you as if you'd just committed a crime, "What?" His eyebrows furrowed, "No."

"Why would you pay?" He sounded genuinely offended, "You already paid for the rides..."

"...and these." You pointed at both of your headbands before giving him a small pout. Donghyuck clutched his chest dramatically, that should be illegal...

"S-sure..." The two of you walked toward the ice cream stand together meanwhile...Jaemin and Chenle watched from a distance. Chenle narrowed his eyes, "...I swear she was looking at us." Jaemin slowly nodded "...I think she knows." Chenle looked horrified, "No way."

"Our disguises were perfect." Jaemin glanced down at their fox and bunny ears, "...Maybe not."

By the time the two of you finished your ice cream, the sun had begun to set, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink. You looked toward the tallest ride in the park.

The Ferris wheel.

"...Can we go on that before we leave?" You looked at Donghyuck hopefully. He followed your gaze upward.

For once...it wasn't the height that made his heart race. It was the thought of sitting beside you, high above the city, with nothing but the two of you and the evening sky.

As the two of you waited in line for the Ferris wheel, Jaemin and Chenle had wandered off to a nearby churros stand. At some point, they'd completely forgotten they were supposed to be tailing Donghyuck.

Jaemin happily took a bite out of his churro while Chenle was busy drowning a corndog in ketchup, then Chenle glanced toward the Ferris wheel.

His eyes widened, "Hey!" He elbowed Jaemin "Look! They're getting on!" Jaemin nearly choked on his churro "What?!" He looked over and saw you and Donghyuck stepping into one of the cabins, "...Shit."

"I literally just bought this." The two exchanged a panicked look before immediately taking off. Still clutching their snacks, they sprinted across the amusement park, "Wait! wait!"

The ride attendant was already reaching for the gate. Chenle waved both arms frantically, "Please! Hold it!" The attendant sighed before reopening it.

The two practically threw themselves into the nearest cabin, still holding their churros and corndogs, the doors shut behind them. With a gentle hum...the Ferris wheel slowly began to turn.

The Ferris wheel slowly lifted into the evening sky. You sat beside Donghyuck, smiling to yourself as you thought back on the day. You couldn't remember the last time you'd laughed this much. Somehow, in just one day, you'd smiled more than you had all month.

Beside you, Donghyuck sat with his legs crossed, one hand tightly gripping the safety rail. You'd noticed him doing that on every ride, you just never pointed it out.

"...Scared?" you asked softly, without teasing him. Donghyuck scoffed instinctively, ready to come up with another excuse before he could, you smiled, "It's okay."

"I was scared too." He looked at you, "Try closing your eyes." After a brief hesitation, he sighed and slowly shut them "don't think about how high we are," you murmured. "Just feel the breeze."

"and think that..." you muttered, "...I'm with you." Donghyuck opened one eye before turning toward you. Without thinking, you reached over and held his hand. His tense grip relaxed almost immediately, "So?" You smiled "Still scared?"

He opened his eyes fully, the first thing he saw...was you. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, "I'm still scared." He pouted dramatically. "I think I need a hug." You laughed at him.

Instead, he intertwined his fingers with yours, his thumb gently brushing across your skin. For a while, neither of you spoke, then, quietly...

"You look really pretty today." Your heart skipped, no...it practically slammed against your chest. You were convinced he could hear it in the silence. Trying to hide your embarrassment, you laughed awkwardly, "...You too."

He nodded without missing a beat, "Well...you know I am." He brushed his fringe back with exaggerated confidence. You couldn't help but laugh again.

As your palm began to grow sweaty, you tried to pull your hand away, he held on "...Why?" He looked at you, "Why do you keep pushing me away?" His eyes searched yours as he leaned in slightly.

"My hands just get sweaty quickly, so—" You smiled nervously, "No." He gently shook his head, "I don't mean that." He looked down for a moment, "I know..."

"I kind of made your life difficult, I threw a tantrum over those fanfics and I kept dragging you out on dates." A small, embarrassed smile crossed his face, "...I'm really sorry." His apology was so sincere that it caught you off guard.

You squeezed his hand lightly, "I actually had fun." You smiled, "I mean...you were kind of a jerk at first." A pause followed, quiet but light, "...But I guess it was still better than getting sued." You laughed quietly.

Donghyuck looked at you with an expression you'd never seen before. It wad soft, earnest and full of longing. "But..." He paused.

"The one thing I won't apologize for..."

"...is liking you."

You froze. His free hand slowly reached up, gently cupping your cheek, "I like you." His voice was barely above a whisper, "I like you a lot." For a few seconds...you forgot how to breathe.

"...I"

"I don't know what to say."

"Mhm?" He waited patiently.

"I..." A nervous laugh escaped you, "I like you too." It sounded almost like you were just realizing it yourself, then your smile faded, "...but what if..."

"what if I'm only feeling this because you're Peter?"

"The E-sports player."

"...Not Donghyuck."

He listened carefully before asking one simple question, "Who's sitting in front of you right now?" The answer came without hesitation "...Donghyuck."

A gentle smile spread across his face, "So..."

"It's Donghyuck, is it?"

You let out a shaky breath. The distance between you had disappeared, barely an inch separated your faces. His eyes searched yours one last time, silently asking for permission before he leaned in just a little closer, you nodded before he closed the burning distance between you and him.

The slow hum of the Ferris wheel completely faded as his lips met yours. The moment your free hand snaked to the back of his head, his breath hitched.

He leaned heavily into the sensation of your fingers running through his soft hair, his shoulders relaxed, letting himself to feel your hands on him. The fear of the altitude and the flashing city lights below all vanished. The only reality left to him was you.

The kiss shifted from hesitant to deeply intense as Donghyuck caught your lower lip between his, tugging on it with a sudden, raw hunger. He nibbled gently, his lips parting as he drank in the feeling of you.

A quiet sound escaped him; a soft, breathless whine that betrayed just how much he had been holding back. He leaned closer, his hands resting carefully as he sought to stay grounded in the moment. The kiss remained tender yet steady.

A gasp pierced through the quiet moment. You immediately pulled away, turning your head toward the carriage parallel to yours.

The couple you had seen earlier was staring at both of you with wide eyes, Donghyuck followed your gaze. His eyes widened "...What the fuck." His expression immediately changed as he recognized them.

Jaemin and Chenle.

His jaw tightened, they had actually followed him all the way here.

A minute earlier...Jaemin and Chenle sat in the carriage directly across from yours, "Nice view, isn't it?" Chenle said casually, looking down at the city below. "Yeahhh~" Jaemin replied, leaning forward slightly to look at you both.

Chenle quickly smacked his arm, "Hey, sit properly. They can literally see us." Jaemin simply waved him off, "Look at Donghyuck." He grinned, "He's leaning closer." Chenle leaned over as well.

"Well...she's pretty." He took the last bite of his churro. Jaemin nodded, "Yeah, but seriously, how did she even end up with this loser—" Both of them suddenly froze.

Because Donghyuck kissed you. The gasp that escaped them was loud enough that both of you turned around and this time...Donghyuck clearly saw their faces.

Jaemin and Chenle looked at each other.

we're fucked.

When the Ferris wheel reached the bottom, Donghyuck immediately stepped out. He grabbed your hand and pulled you along, clearly frustrated. He stood near the exit, tapping his foot against the ground while waiting.

A few seconds later, the door to the other cabin opened, Jaemin and Chenle stepped out, trying their best to casually walk past him.

Jaemin waved, "Hey~" He placed both hands on his cheeks dramatically "Didn't expect to see you here. O.M.G." You couldn't help but laugh. Seeing J.Min in person was unreal, hks visuals were even more impressive up close.

And Chenle? God he was God gifted, He was casually eating his corndog while waving at you like this was a normal meeting, you shyly waved back.

Wow, you had just met two DR3AM members.

Three, technically.

Donghyuck, however, looked like he was the least excited person there, "Did you guys seriously follow us?" Jaemin scoffed "Follow you?"

"Absolutely not." He crossed his arms, "We told you we had plans today. We were going to the amusement park." Donghyuck blinked, that was exactly what they had told him earlier.

Chenle added, "Yeah. You think the world revolves around you? Pfft." Donghyuck stared at them in disbelief.

"It could be a coincidence..." you quietly added, your voice was softer than you intended.

Donghyuck glanced at you, meanwhile, your inner fangirl was struggling.

Wow, damn. He looks so hot when he's mad.

Jaemin immediately smiled, "Exactly~ a coincidence." Donghyuck turned back toward him, "Right, a coincidence."

"Then why were you at every single ride we went on?" Chenle didn't even hesitate, "Oh, because we saw you guys and decided to admire you." Jaemin nodded seriously, "Exactly." Donghyuck stared at them "That's a new way of saying 'follow'." You snorted.

Raising your hands, you interrupted, "okay, okay, it's fine." You looked at them, "they had their own plans, and they probably just got curious." And then at Donghyuck, "Why are you acting so dramatic?" Jaemin covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.

Donghyuck sighed, then suddenly —Chenle's expression changed. He looked down at his phone, "Uh..."

"...Hyuck." Donghyuck turned toward him, "you're gonna want to see this." Chenle turned the screen around. The headline made everyone's expression change.

"DR3AM's PETER Spotted On A Date With Non-Celebrity Partner On The Beach..."

Donghyuck's eyes widened, he let out a frustrated breath "We didn't even start yet and they already—" Before he could finish, his phone started ringing. The name on the screen made him sigh. It was the manager, Johnny.

"...Shit." You looked at him with worry, for a moment, you forgot.

This wasn't just Donghyuck. He was Peter, a professional gamer, a celebrity and this could affect his career.

"I'm sorry, this—"

"No!" All three of them immediately interrupted "This isn't your fault." You blinked, "Oh...

"Okay?" Donghyuck narrowed his eyes at them, but quickly turned back to you. He placed his hands on your shoulders, "I'll take you home first, then I'll update you about everything."

"And please...Don't go on social media right now." You nodded quietly, a smile crept up on your lips. "Look, they posted pictures of you without your permission." You bit back a chuckle, "are you gonna take them out on a date too?" Donghyuck huffed, smiling at you.

"Aw~" Jaemin teased. Chenle was already busy on his phone, blocking and reporting hateful comments. Donghyuck clicked his tongue, "Go home, bro."

The two rolled their eyes before leaving toward their car. You and him headed towards his car. Donghyuck opened the passenger door for you. The ride back was quiet, your thoughts were everywhere.

You had almost forgotten about the kiss, almost but the memory came rushing back, along with the warmth creeping up your neck.

When you finally arrived home, you opened the car door before you stepped out, Donghyuck muttered something, "Hm?" You looked back. He leaned slightly closer.

You blinked, then you noticed he was pointing at his cheek. You stared at him with a deadpan expression, "Are you serious?" He simply shrugged, you sighed.

Still smiling, you quickly leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Then, before he could even process it—You ran straight toward your house. Donghyuck sat there frozen.

The entire moment lasted only a second but the smile that appeared on his face stayed. For a little while...he completely forgot about the storm waiting for him back at the DR3AM dorm.

another day at school, another day of suffering. you walked through the school gates with zero enthusiasm, your posture slouched and your eyes heavy with sleep. as soon as you reached your desk, you rested your head on it. even the thought of socializing drained you.

the classroom buzzed with noise that morning. students were running around, chatting loudly, and the constant chaos felt overwhelming.

finally, after two torturous hours of classes, it was lunchtime. you practically rushed out of the classroom and stood in line with your tray, curious to see what was being served. this had been your routine ever since you transferred to this high school a year ago.

you hadn't made a single friend. still, you couldn't deny it was better than your previous school. you never wanted to go through that kind of pain again.

at lunch, you sat alone with a few other students who kept to themselves. you didn't mind having little to no friends. at least no one paid attention to you.

when school ended, you headed to the locker room to change into your sneakers and put your slippers back in your bag before going home. you were bent over tying your shoelaces when someone brushed past you. you turned to check your bag and froze. your favorite kuromi keychain was gone.

your eyes darted around the room until you spotted it. it was hanging from the hem of yushi's pocket.

oh no.

you quickly finished tying your laces and followed behind him, slightly crouching so you wouldn't attract attention. the locker room was still crowded, giving you the perfect chance to take it back.

"excuse me... can you give me some space?" you mumbled quietly as you squeezed through the crowd. finally, you were within arm's reach.

your fingertips brushed against the keychain—

oh...no.

it slipped right into his pocket.

no, no!

you were so close.

all you could do was stand there blankly as yushi and his friends walked away. that keychain was a gift from your friend back in second grade. she was the very first friend you had ever made and now you'd lost it.

you let out a frustrated sigh and walked back to your bag.

the entire walk home, you anxiously bit your nails, trying to figure out how to get it back but there were only two possible outcomes.

way one:

you: "yushi-kun! you have my kuromi keychain. could i have it back, please?"

yushi: "huh? what? i don't have it..."

yushi's fangirls: "did you just accuse yushi-kun of stealing?!"

...and world war three would probably break out.

way two:

how were you even supposed to approach him? he was always surrounded by his friends—and girls, way too many people. besides, everyone would probably think you were confessing to him.

you gasped, snapping out of your thoughts, and shook your head. "no, no, no!"

you whined, stomping your feet as you desperately searched for another solution. then, a light bulb practically went off in your head.

the boys' shower room.

volleyball practice started today, and yushi was still wearing his formal uniform which meant...he'd definitely be washing it today.

you shook your head, muttering to yourself, "no! are you crazy?"

the bizarre idea was still flickering in your mind, refusing to disappear. you gulped as you hurried home, trying to push away the thoughts that had been running through your head.

after greeting your mom, you immediately rushed upstairs and threw yourself onto your bed. you laid there, kicking your legs up and down in frustration.

"what do i do...?" you whined to yourself, for practically hours, you paced around your room, practicing how you would ask yushi for your keychain back.

"yushi-kun, excuse me... i think you have my kuromi keychain?" no, too awkward.

"yushi-kun! give me back my keychain!" absolutely not.

your legs were already sore, and even your tongue hurt from repeating the same sentences over and over again.

it was already 9 pm. you still had time. the volleyball team was probably still practicing, and no one should be in the shower room yet. those thoughts had been circling your mind for hours.

"ah, kuromi-chan! i will save you! no matter what!" you squealed, standing up with a sudden burst of courage and bravery.

only for your dramatic moment to be immediately ruined.

"shut your trap!"

your brother's voice shouted from the room next door while he was busy playing his game. you jolted, turning toward the wall where the voice came from. "sorry...!" you mumbled, rubbing the back of your neck.

you quickly changed into your black hoodie and black sweatpants.

the perfect disguise, right?

you proudly walked downstairs and announced to your parents, "i'm going to the convenience store!" ...to cause some inconvenience. your mom simply hummed in approval, completely unaware of the secret mission you were about to begin.

and from that moment onward, operation: saving kuromi had officially started.

it all seemed much easier said than done when you reached the school gates. you hid behind the bushes, peeking out carefully.

two security guards stood near the entrance, casually chatting with each other. on the other side, the lights were still on, meaning another guard was probably stationed there too.

you sighed, your shoulders dropping suddenly, it felt like you had two heavy iron weights pressing down on your back, this was impossible. then you remembered.

the small gate.

some rebellious students had created a hidden entrance on the side of the school grounds. you had noticed it before while walking past, and luckily, it wasn't too far from where the guards were standing.

but first...you needed a distraction. you pulled your bag down and searched through it desperately, looking for anything that could help then you found it.

a bear keychain that played songs.

why did you even have that?

honestly, you didn't know but to gain something, you had to lose something "goodbye, little bear..." you whispered dramatically.

you threw it toward the far left, the second it hit the ground, the bear started playing a loud song. the guards immediately turned around. "who's there?!" you didn't waste a second, you ran.

your heart pounded as you rushed toward the hidden gate covered by bushes and somehow...you made it through.

yes! you mentally high-fived yourself. phase one complete now came the harder part, finding yushi's pants.

you quietly made your way through the dark hallway until you reached the shower room. you placed your hand on the doorknob and silently prayed, "please don't be locked..." you pushed it down, it opened. your eyes widened.

wow, maybe luck was actually on your side today. although that luck didn't last long.

the moment you opened the door—"eeugh..." a terrible smell immediately hit you. it smelled exactly like a boys' locker room. (yushi once said, "this room smells like men.")

you pinched your nose, trying not to let the smell distract you from your mission. "what's the point of calling it a shower room if it smells like this..." you whispered.

you walked toward the washing machines, staring at the seven different uniforms inside somewhere in there was yushi's and hopefully your keychain.

you crouched down and opened the washing machine door, carefully searching through the clothes. your fingers grabbed onto something, you pulled it out.

your face immediately twisted in disgust, underwear. you quickly threw it back inside. this was a sacrifice you had to make for kuromi. your hand searched again until you felt something thicker. you pulled it out, pants. you quickly reached into the pocket.

and there it was. your kuromi keychain. your eyes lit up. "yes..." you whispered, barely containing your excitement. you carefully checked the plushie, wiping away the extra water and making sure it wasn't damaged.

finally. your precious kuromi was back but then you realized something, your hand was still holding something else. something that definitely wasn't yours.

someone's underwear.

you were about to throw it back into the washing machine when—a gasp echoed behind you.

you froze.

slowly, you turned around and standing there was...

riku.

fresh out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist, his eyes wide in complete shock because from his perspective...you were standing in the boys' shower room, holding a underwear especially his underwear and you didn't know how to explain what was happening.

you immediately raised your hands, dropping the underwear onto the floor "no, this isn't what it—" before you could finish, voices echoed from the hallway.

other volleyball players.

your eyes widened in panic. riku turned his head toward the noise, instantly realizing what was happening. without thinking, he grabbed your arm and pulled you behind the curtain where the players usually changed.

you froze, you were hidden away from everyone, barely making a sound as the footsteps grew closer. riku stood in front of you, covering your mouth to stop you from accidentally making any noise. your heart was beating so loudly you were sure he could hear it.

you avoided looking at him, too embarrassed by the entire situation. you could feel your face heating up as you stared down at the floor, wishing you could disappear.

one of his teammates called out, "did riku leave already?" yushi's voice followed. "he doesn't usually head out this early though." riku quickly answered, trying to sound normal.

"i'm changing."

he glanced back at you before calling out again. "it'll take some time!" a few seconds of silence passed then yushi spoke again. "why is your underwear on the floor though?" you immediately panicked.

your eyes widened as you looked at riku, silently begging him to come up with something, without hesitation, he replied, "i accidentally wore the wet ones. i'm changing. just wait for me outside."

"seriously?" yushi questioned.

"just go," riku answered.

you slowly tapped his arm, signaling that you needed to breathe. realizing it, riku quickly moved his hand away. the voices outside slowly became quieter as his teammates collected their uniforms and left the shower room.

finally...silence. the danger was gone but now came the part you were definitely not prepared for.

riku stepped away from you, giving you some space. you kept your head down, unable to look him in the eyes not only because you were embarrassed but because he was also half naked.

after a long silence, riku finally spoke, his voice was low, and there was a clear frown on his face "what the hell were you doing?" you swallowed nervously. you had no idea how you were supposed to explain this.

you looked up at him, panic written all over your face. "no, i didn't mean to—" your voice came out soft, almost like there was a lump stuck in your throat but riku immediately cut you off.

"didn't mean to take your underwear?" his tone was harsh and sharp. you quickly raised your hands, shaking your head. "no! that's not it, i—" you stopped yourself.

riku leaned slightly closer, raising an eyebrow "you...?" the words refused to come out. you just looked down, gripping your kuromi keychain tightly in your hand, wishing the ground would open up and swallow you whole.

this was it.

your life was over.

riku let out a sigh, a frown settling on his face "hey, what's your name? i need to know before i call the police—"

"no!" you immediately grabbed his hand in panic. "i didn't mean to! it's a misunderstanding..." you mumbled. riku looked at you with disbelief and slowly rolled his eyes "care to explain?" he pointed toward the underwear lying on the floor.

you froze. how were you supposed to explain this without making yourself sound even worse?

"i meant to... take..." you carefully chose your words.

"take yushi-kun's pants, not your underwear."

the second the words left your mouth: riku gasped dramatically like he had just discovered the biggest scandal of the century.

"ohhh..." his eyes widened "so you were after yushi?"

"no! no! that's not it! he—" before you could explain, riku covered his abdomen with his arms, looking genuinely horrified "who knows what you're gonna do to me next, you perv!" your eyes widened.

"perv?!" you pointed at yourself in disbelief "me?!" you couldn't believe what you were hearing. "i swear it's a misunderstanding!" but riku was already pushing you toward the exit "yeah, sure. explain that to someone else."

"wait—" before you could finish, he hurried you out of the shower room and closed the door behind you.

click. locked.

you stood there in complete silence, you just ruined your entire high school life. from now on, you would forever be known as the girl who got caught smelling underwear and the worst part?

the person who caught you was riku, maeda riku. the most popular, charismatic, and handsome volleyball player in school.

okay...maybe you had a tiny, tiny crush on him. which was why you were probably making him sound even more amazing in your head but that wasn't the point.

you were soooo done, completely done.

you clenched your fists, your kuromi keychain trapped between your fingers and without looking back you ran home.

the next day, you came to school completely mortified. you had reached a level of embarrassment that went beyond embarrassment itself. there was nothing you could do anymore. you just had to accept your fate and live with it shamelessly.

with your hood pulled over your head, you kept your gaze lowered the entire time, praying you wouldn't run into riku. surprisingly...everything was going smoothly.

you really shouldn't have said that.

it was the fourth period—the class right before lunch. the one where your energy was completely drained, and the only thing keeping you going was the promise of lunchtime.

the classroom door opened, and your homeroom teacher walked in. "class 3-2, today class 3-6 will be sharing our classroom because their teacher is absent." you didn't think much of it.

you simply looked up, watching as students from class 3-6 entered and filled the empty seats around the room then you saw them.

yushi, sion and riku.

oh no, you were so dead.

without wasting a second, you pulled your hood further over your head and immediately lowered your face onto your desk, please. just pretend you don't exist. after a few minutes passed, curiosity got the better of you.

slowly, you lifted your head, hoping they hadn't noticed you, only to freeze. riku was sitting right beside you and he was already looking at you.

not just looking, glaring.

his pencil was pressed against his notebook, digging into the paper as his cold gaze remained fixed on you.

you flinched, the second your eyes met his, you immediately looked away. "what the hell..." you mumbled quietly to yourself "why is he holding such a grudge against me...?"

a few minutes later, something lightly hit your desk, you looked down. a crumpled piece of paper. you slowly turned your head toward the person who threw it.

riku. he motioned for you to open it, hesitantly, you unfolded the paper. written in rushed handwriting were four simple words.

meet me at the rooftop.

panic immediately washed over your face, was he going to call everyone up there? was he going to expose you in front of the whole school? make fun of you? your mind spiraled into one worst-case scenario after another.

you were so busy overthinking that you didn't even notice the bell had already rung. students began leaving the classroom one by one.

riku walked past your desk, his bag slung over one shoulder, he narrowed his eyes at you. you jolted at his sudden presence. without saying a word, he continued walking out of the classroom.

and somehow...you still ended up at the rooftop. you stood there nervously, convinced you could be publicly humiliated at any second, with nothing else to do, you sat on one of the benches as the warm breeze brushed against your face.

then the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwel, you slowly looked over it was riku. his bag hung casually over his shoulder as he walked toward you.

for a brief moment, your brain betrayed you. everything suddenly moved in slow motion. the sunlight seemed brighter sparkles surrounded him and you could practically hear background music playing in your head.

it looked exactly like the beginning of a confession scene except this wasn't a date, it was an interrogation.

you let out a quiet sigh, already dreading whatever was about to happen next.

riku walked over and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms; he tilted his head slightly, looking you up and down as if trying to figure you out.

you gulped, keeping your eyes fixed on the ground, the silence lingered until he finally broke it.

"why were you there last night?" his voice was calm but serious and honestly...you couldn't blame him. if you caught someone holding your underwear, you'd be mad too.

you nervously looked up at him, "uh... so... um..." nothing. the words just wouldn't come out "yesterday... i lost my keychain and..." your voice was so quiet it was barely audible.

riku frowned and leaned closer, "what?" his voice echoed across the nearly empty rooftop, you flinched "...keychain!" you blurted out a little louder.

wow, good job. a round of applause for saying exactly one word.

riku stared at you, completely confused "key... key what?" he blinked, "what keychain?" before you could answer—rrrrring.

the bell echoed throughout the school, your shoulders tensed. a bead of sweat rolled down the side of your face.

riku let out an annoyed groan "you're seriously starting to piss me off." he clicked his tongue, "i'll just tell yushi about—"

"i'll explain everything!" you interrupted, quickly raising both hands, "after school! i'll explain it all after school!" riku stared at you for a moment before letting out a quiet huff, he shoved both hands into his pockets "fine."

he turned to leave before muttering over his shoulder, "get out of my sight, perv."

ouch, that one actually hurt.

it was the last period of the day, which was usually a free period; most students spent the time chatting or wandering around, but you preferred sitting in the gymnasium, listening to music while watching everyone else.

you pulled out your wired earphones and plugged them in, when you looked up, you immediately spotted the volleyball team practicing.

ugh, you really didn't want to see riku again. deciding to mind your own business, you secretly pulled out your manga and tucked it inside your english textbook, making it look like you were studying.

you had gotten so absorbed in reading that—thud!

something slammed right into your head, you jolted, letting out a small yelp as the volleyball bounced away "ow..." you winced, rubbing the sore spot on your head.

before you could even process what happened, several footsteps rushed toward you. you looked up, yushi and a few other volleyball players were already standing in front of you, panic written all over their faces.

"are you okay?!" yushi hurried over and crouched down in front of you. "it's my fault. i hope i didn't hurt you."

wow, your imaginary romance background music immediately started playing and your eyes practically turned into little hearts.

you could almost hear the entire gym go, "oohhh..." you quickly cupped your warm cheeks, "i-it's fine..." you smiled awkwardly."it didn't hurt."

it absolutely did but... a little pretending wouldn't hurt either.

"sorry," yushi said again, he gently reached over and rubbed the spot where the volleyball had hit your head. your brain completely short-circuited; you immediately lowered your head, too embarrassed to look him in the eyes.

"i'm really okay..." you mumbled softly. the surrounding students watched the interaction with knowing smiles.

everyone...except one person, your gaze shifted across the court; riku. he was staring at the two of you, his fists were tightly clenched at his sides, his jaw tense, and his eyes narrowed with unmistakable irritation.

there was something in his expression that almost looked like...pure rage. even riku didn't understand why he was reacting this way, seeing yushi fuss over you...

for some reason it irritated him.

"hey!" riku suddenly called out from across the court. "she's fine." he rolled his eyes before adding, "she looks like she has a head made of iron anyway."

he signaled for yushi to toss him the ball, yushi gave you one last worried look. "are you sure you're okay?" you nodded, "i'm fine." only then did he return to practice.

you quietly huffed to yourself, rubbing the back of your head again "...what a jerk."

school was finally over, before heading home, you stopped by the nurse's office to get an ice pack. the spot where the volleyball had hit you was starting to ache a lot more than you wanted than before.

with the ice pack pressed against your head, you slowly made your way home. halfway there, you suddenly froze "...oh no." you had completely forgotten. you were supposed to explain everything to riku.

you let out a long groan since you were already halfway home...there was no way you wanted to walk all the way back.

"hey, panty stealer!" your entire body stiffened, panic immediately took over as you whipped your head around.

riku standing a few steps behind you with the most infuriating grin on his face, without thinking, you rushed over and clamped a hand over his mouth.

"hey!" you whispered frantically. "why would you say that?!" your eyes darted around, making sure no one had heard him; your heart was pounding.

riku simply chuckled, he gently grabbed the hand covering his mouth and pulled it away. "i thought you were running away again." you frowned, quickly pulling your hand back "i wasn't..." you mumbled, "...i just forgot."

he raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced–his expression practically screamed, well? i'm waiting.

you took a deep breath, "so... yesterday..." you struggled to meet his eyes. "my keychain got caught on yushi-kun's pocket." you nervously fidgeted with your sleeves. "i wanted to get it back... and the only way i could think of was getting it from the shower room."

you paused before quietly adding, "and... i didn't even know that was your underwear." riku stayed silent for a moment then he slowly nodded; a relieved sigh escaped his lips.

"...oh." he rubbed the back of his neck, "that wasn't exactly hard to explain, was it?" you awkwardly smiled. he let out a small chuckle, "i seriously thought you had a crush on yushi or something."

"...me?" you pointed to yourself, one of your hand nervously rubbing your neck as a small smile crept upon your face.."a crush on yushi-kun?"

the smile on riku's face instantly disappeared, his arms slowly fell to his sides. his bag slipped from his shoulder and landed on the pavement with a soft thud "...you do?"

your eyes widened, "no! i don't—" before you could finish—

"well, well... isn't that our beloved y/n?" your blood ran cold. you slowly turned around; a group of girls approached with mocking smiles plastered across their faces.

the voice...you recognized it immediately, goosebumps spread across your arms. standing in the middle was enami asa, the girl who had made your previous school years miserable.

one of the girls looked between you and riku before gasping dramatically, "oh my gosh! y/n-chan has a boyfriend?" she laughed, you immediately shook your head.

"no... it's not what you think..." asa stepped closer with a fake pout "how cute." she tilted her head. "but i don't think he's in your league." you instinctively took a step back, "asa... it's not like that..."

before she could say another word—"who the fuck are you?" riku's voice cut through the silence. it was cold and sharp, everyone froze even asa.

she scoffed, clearly offended, "...did you just yell at me?" riku stepped in front of you without hesitation. his broad frame completely blocked you from view "yeah."

he stared her down, "what're you gonna do about it?" the girls looked at each other, stunned. riku leaned in just enough for only asa to hear.

"get out of my sight..." his voice dropped lower, "...before i snap you in two." asa's eye twitched. she shot you one last glare before turning away. "let's go." she motioned for the others to follow.

within seconds, the group disappeared down the street, silence settled between you and riku. you stood there, completely frozen.

did maeda riku just defend you? your mouth hung open slightly.

"...you didn't have to do that," you mumbled, gently tugging on the sleeve of his shirt.

he turned to face you, "are you okay?" you nodded. you didn't trust yourself to speak because if you did...you might cry.

instead, you quietly turned around and ran home. riku watched your silhouette grow smaller and smaller until you disappeared around the corner, he let out a long sigh.

resting both hands behind his head, he continued walking in the opposite direction "...could've at least said thank you." he clicked his tongue "tch...

the next morning, you were walking toward the school gate, fixing your hair while holding a small mirror in your hand. suddenly, someone grabbed your arm, "hey! watch out." you gasped as your body was gently pulled back.

a tree stood right in front of you. if he hadn't stopped you, you would've walked straight into it. you turned around "...oh." it was riku.

"thank you..." you mumbled quietly, you couldn't help but feel confused. why was riku at school so early? he usually showed up just before the bell rang.

what you didn't know was that riku had woken up at four in the morning just to catch an earlier bus. he had checked his reflection in every mirror and window he passed, fixing his hair over and over again, all because he wanted to run into you before school started.

"let's walk together." he casually adjusted the strap of his bag. "yushi and the others aren't here yet." he leaned in slightly with a small smile, you blinked "...o-okay."

you nodded awkwardly before falling into step beside him. the walk to the school building was surprisingly quiet, neither of you really knew what to say.

by second period, it was self-study time, you were almost finished with your math worksheet when someone suddenly placed a carton of chocolate milk on your desk. you looked up in confusion.

it was one of your classmates, "uh... thank you?" she giggled and shook her head. "it wasn't me." she pointed toward the classroom door, you followed her finger there stood riku, leaning against the doorway.

the moment your eyes met, he gave you a small wave, his smile was so genuine that it reached his eyes.

what? you blinked, what was wrong with him? still confused, you awkwardly smiled back.

before you could ask anything, riku noticed a teacher approaching and hurried back to his own classroom "...that was weird." you stared down at the chocolate milk in your hands.

before you knew it, several classmates had gathered around your desk,

"no way..."

"are you and riku a thing?"

"riku's never done something like this before."

"seriously, what did you do to him?"

your face immediately warmed, "n-no..." you laughed nervously. "it's nothing like that..."

it was almost lunchtime, you were on your way back from the restroom when you spotted riku wandering aimlessly through the hallway.

probably skipping class again.

you hesitated for a second before walking over to him, "riku-kun!" he immediately turned at the sound of your voice.

the moment he saw you walking toward him with a small smile, everything else seemed to fade into the background. in his mind, fireworks exploded.

she... called me...

riku-kun? kun? ehhh?!

his heart nearly jumped out of his chest, somehow, he managed to keep a straight face well...mostly. the tips of his ears had already turned bright red.

"oh, hey!" he greeted you as casually as he could, pretending absolutely nothing had happened.

you looked up at him curiously, "why did you give me the chocolate milk?" riku immediately looked away, trying to suppress the smile threatening to spread across his face.

he scratched the back of his neck, desperately searching for an excuse, "uh..."

"i accidentally bought the chocolate one."

he nodded to himself as if the excuse made perfect sense, "i like the strawberry flavor, so... i just gave it to you." he shrugged "why?"

you nodded in understanding, "oh..nothing." there was a brief silence, "um... i'll head back to class now."

"okay." riku smiled and gave you a small wave, "see ya."

you returned the wave before walking back toward your classroom completely unaware that the second you disappeared around the corner...

riku buried his face in his hands, "...she called me 'riku-kun.' he muttered to himself, unable to stop smiling like an idiot.

over the next few days, riku was... suspiciously nice to you, it confused you. you didn't exactly mind it, but it felt strange.

his was riku. someone who barely had time for anything besides volleyball yet somehow, he always found time to talk to you before class, during breaks even just to say hi in the hallway.

it was finally friday, the last day of the week. you walked through the school hallways with a spring in you step, already looking forward to the weekend.

just as you turned the corner—someone suddenly slid right in front of you, "hey, y/n-chan." your eyes widened.

riku, he was already dressed in his volleyball uniform, a bandana keeping his hair back. he looked like he'd been running all over the school. small beads of sweat rested on his forehead as he caught his breath.

despite that...he still somehow managed to catch the attention of nearly every girl walking past.

you blinked.

did.. he just call you...y/n-chan?

not..."panty stealer" not..."perv." your heart skipped a beat.

"hi..." you managed to mumble, riku smiled "do you want to come watch me play?" he tilted his head "at lunchtime?" you stared at him "...me?" you pointed at yourself. he nodded immediately "yeah."

his smile only grew wider, "it'll be fun." he leaned in just enough for only you to hear, "...besides, i like it when you're there." your breath caught before your brain could even process what he'd just said—

"riku!" sion's voice echoed down the hallway, "we're gonna be late!"

"coming!"riku called back. he flashed you one last smile before jogging after sion, leaving you standing there. completely frozen. "...oh." was all you could manage to say.

you carefully scooted through the rows of seats in the gymnasium until you found an empty spot from there, you could clearly see the volleyball court; your eyes naturally landed on riku.

he looked... amazing, the confidence in the way he moved across the court, the effortless jumps, the loud calls to his teammates. he was so charming it almost hurt to watch.

while warming up, riku's eyes wandered around the gym, he was looking for someone then he spotted you his face immediately lit up. without thinking, he stopped what he was doing and excitedly waved both his hands at you.

caught off guard, you smiled awkwardly and gave him a small wave back, that alone was enough to make him grin even wider. soon, the match began.

throughout the entire game, one thought kept repeating in riku's head; she's here, she's watching me, for some reason, it pushed him to play even harder. every successful spike..every receive...every point. he wanted you to see all of it.

when the final whistle blew, riku's team had won; the gym erupted into cheers and applause. his teammates celebrated around him, laughing and high-fiving each other but riku wasn't paying attention.

his eyes immediately searched the crowd, looking for you but you were gone. his smile slowly faded. he was about to leave the court and go look for you when a crowd of fangirls surrounded him.

"riku-kun!"

"congratulations!"

they handed him drinks, snacks, little gifts, and notebooks for autographs although he smiled politely and signed them...his eyes continued searching the gym; hoping to catch one last glimpse of you.

a few minutes earlier...you had quietly slipped out of the gym. riku had looked completely exhausted after the match so you decided to buy him something.

you stood in front of the vending machine and pressed the button for a strawberry milk; with a soft clunk, it dropped into the tray below, you bent down, picked it up, and smiled to yourself.

holding the drink carefully, you walked back toward the gymnasium but the moment you reached the entrance, you stopped. riku was surrounded by girls.

they were handing him expensive snacks, sports drinks, gifts, and asking him to sign their notebooks; he was smiling as he thanked each of them. your gaze slowly dropped to the strawberry milk in your hand.

you suddenly felt embarrassed, maybe...you had overstepped, you quietly turned around and walked back toward your classroom. the strawberry milk remained unopened in your hand.

when you reached your seat, you gently placed it on your desk, the classroom was empty only silence kept you company. you stared at the carton for a long time.

maybe i shouldn't have bought this...

those girls gave him much nicer things.

he probably doesn't need mine anyway.

you let out a small sigh, shaking your head, you tried to chase those thoughts away but somehow...they only grew louder.

you heard footsteps getting louder before you could even react, riku appeared at the classroom door. he looked completely out of breath, his hands resting on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"you were here...?"

you immediately stood up, hiding the strawberry milk behind your back "oh... i just got here. i went to the restroom," you quickly lied.

riku stepped further into the classroom, causing you to instinctively take a small step back, he noticed. a confused laugh escaped him "eugh? what's wrong?"

you looked down at the floor, you knew you had to say it. taking a deep breath, you gathered all your courage.

"uhm..." he looked at you, "you don't have to be so nice to me." his expression changed "you don't have to pity me." your fingers tightened around the strawberry milk.

"i know you saw what happened that day. i know you know i was bullied before..." your voice became quieter, "but i'm used to not having friends. so you don't have to get involved with me just because you feel bad."

riku stared at you, then he repeated your words with a confused expression "pity you?" you nodded slightly "i know you're only being nice because of that. i don't want you to get dragged into my problems."

a soft laugh escaped him, not because he found it funny because he couldn't believe that was what you thought. he shook his head and stepped closer "you seriously think that's why?"

you blinked when he gently tapped your nose. "then what else would it be?" riku went quiet for once, he looked nervous. he took a deep breath before finally saying,

"i've liked you since you transferred here last year." your eyes widened. for a moment, you couldn't process what you had just heard, riku continued. "you were always by yourself." his voice softened.

"i wanted to talk to you, but we were in different classes. and every time i saw you, you looked so adorable that i couldn't approach you." he let out an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"i just never knew how to approach you." you stared at him, completely frozen, then riku smiled slightly. "honestly... i was kind of glad after the misunderstanding happened." you blinked.

he sighed, "it finally gave me a reason to talk to you." he paused, "although... the whole underwear situation was definitely not how i imagined it." you couldn't help but laugh softly.

riku smiled when he heard it, then his expression became nervous again. "hey..." you looked up at him. he looked like he was worried he had said too much, slowly, you smiled. "i like you too." your voice was quiet.

riku froze, "...really?" you nodded, looking away shyly. "yeah." for a few seconds, neither of you said anything then riku noticed what you were hiding behind your back, his eyes widened.

"wait." he pointed at it, "is that for me?" you looked down at the strawberry milk and slowly nodded. a smile appeared on his face, "actually..." he chuckled. "i don't even like strawberry milk." you blinked, "what?"

"i only gave you my chocolate milk that day so i lied about liking the straeberry one.." you stared at him. "...so i bought this for nothing?" riku laughed, "no, no. i'll still take it."

"if you don't like it, then give it back." he immediately pulled it away. he ripped the wrapper off the straw, poked it in, and took a big sip. "no! you can't take back gifts." he pouted. you chuckled, huffing playfully, "you're so evil..."

"you wanna drink it?" he asked. you tilted your head, confused by his sudden smirk. before you could answer, he leaned in, cupped your cheeks, and pressed a soft peck on your lips. the sound of the kiss was loud in the empty classroom. you stiffened at his sudden gesture

maeda riku just stole your first kiss..

you could even taste the sweet chocolate milk from his lips. "...you!" you exclaimed, hitting his arm. "why did you do that?"

"what?~ can't i kiss my girlfriend?" he chuckled, raising his arms to protect himself from your hits. your heartbeat raced with every single word he said. you shyly wiped your lips, completely avoiding eye contact.

he let out a dramatic gasp, looking at you as if you had committed a crime. he grabbed your cheeks again and pressed another kiss to your lips. before you could even say something—another kiss, and another one, each one melting away the initial shock.

both of you started giggling, especially riku, whose face was now as red as his ears. "i like you so so much," he mumbled, pulling you into a tight embrace. you pushed against his chest, laughing, "you're sweaty...that's why it smelled in the shower room..." riku smirks, "you still seem to remember what the shower room smells like..." he teased nonstop.

eventually, the playful bickering quieted down. you and riku sat side-by-side at the desk, the golden afternoon light casting long shadows across the floorboards. he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of wired earphones, untangling them with a focused frown before gently pressing one earbud into your ear.

he popped the other into his own, a soft, familiar melody immediately filling the space between you. slowly, riku’s hand slid across the cool wood of the desk. his pinky brushed against yours first, hesitant and warm. then, with a sudden rush of bravery, his fingers snaked forward, shyly but deliberately intertwining with yours.

his palm was warm, his grip just tight enough to let you know he wasn't letting go, and you could feel his pulse racing against your skin, mirroring your own...

currently playing — ᨳଓ

BOY MEETS GIRL - NCT WISH

Ever since that alleged date with Donghyuck, you'd been walking on thin ice, every day at university, you stayed on high alert, constantly looking over your shoulder in case you got kidnapped into another "date" and perhaps your biggest crime?

You still hadn't told Ningning about any of it, honestly, how were you even supposed to explain this?

"Hey, remember Peter from DR3AM? Yeah, he tracked down my AO3 account, found me, and keeps dragging me around."

She'd think you'd completely lost it.

Your last lecture of the day finally ended, you yawned as you walked out of the classroom, rubbing the sleep from your eyes, your phone buzzed.

A message from him.

Ugh.

You didn't even bother opening it and headed straight for the cafeteria instead. The moment you stepped inside, you spotted Ningning waving enthusiastically from a table near the window. You waved back before dragging yourself over. Dropping your bag onto the table, you slumped forward until your forehead rested against the surface.

"I'm so tired..." you mumbled, Ningning frowned "What's wrong? You've been like this for the past two days." You looked up at her for a split second before quickly looking away "Uh..." You cleared your throat, "Nothing."

"Just... burnt out from uni." Ningning studied you for another moment before nodding, "Makes sense." The two of you chatted idly for the next ten minutes, just as Ningning reached for the menu, her eyes suddenly shifted behind you.

Her expression froze, she looked... mildly horrified. You frowned "What?" Before she could answer, you felt someone slide into the seat beside you.

Oh my God

Slowly, very slowly...

You turned your head.

Please don't be—It was him. Of course it was, a disbelieving laugh escaped your lips. Ningning raised a shaky finger toward the newcomer "...What the fuck?" Donghyuck casually threw an arm around your shoulders, "Hey," he said. "Why are you both so shocked?" You simply stared at him, "...What are you doing here?"

He shrugged as though this was completely normal, "What do you mean?" He gestured toward your phone with a nod, "I texted you."

"'I'll be there soon.'" He pouted dramatically "Guess you were too busy to read it." You felt your eye twitch, "...Are you okay?" Without waiting for an answer, you yanked his hood over his head "and cover your face, dude!" Donghyuck laughed, fixing the hood without complaint.

Across the table, Ningning looked between the two of you in complete silence then she slowly pointed at you, "...y/n."

"are you going to explain this?" She paused, "or should I just... give you two some space?" You opened your mouth. "No, it's not—"

"Yeah," Donghyuck interrupted cheerfully, "Give us a little space, please." He smiled innocently, "we're supposed to be on a date." You immediately shoved his arm off your shoulders, "What date?!" you exclaimed. Ningning's jaw dropped "...A date?"

"No!" You turned to her in panic. "Ningning, listen to me. He's actually gone insane—"

"What do you mean insane?" Donghyuck protested.

"We're seeing each other, aren't we?" Your face twisted in horror.

"What?! No!"

Donghyuck nodded thoughtfully, "...Well..." He stood up "In the future." Before you could react, he grabbed your wrist, "Come on."

"HEY—" You dug your heels into the floor as he casually dragged you toward the cafeteria exit. Thankfully, it wasn't too crowded, even so more than a few students turned to watch as your protests echoed through the room while donghyuck, completely unfazed, continued pulling you along with the biggest grin on his face.

Now you were at a freaking beach. At this point, you were convinced he had a dedicated date planner hidden somewhere in his schedule.

You let out a long sigh as you stepped out of the car. Pulling your phone from your hoodie pocket, you glanced at the lock screen. Donghyuck's unread message sat there at the top, followed by 9+ notifications from Ningning, you winced.

Oh, she's going to chew me alive.

Without opening any of them, you shoved your phone back into your pocket "So," you said, leaning against the side of his car, "why are we at a beach?" Your eyes wandered over the sleek exterior of the car.

Damn... he's rich.

Your thoughts immediately circled back to the absurdity of the situation. Donghyuck clicked the lock button on his keys before slipping them into his pocket. He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the afternoon sun and glanced toward the ocean.

"Because I wanted to come here," he answered simply. "It's pretty hot today, isn't it?" You narrowed your eyes at him as the sunlight hit your face "So... we're just going wherever you want to go?" He looked at you with a smug smile.

"Well, you wrote whatever you wanted about me." There it was again, another jab. You rolled your eyes so hard it almost hurt before the two of you started walking along the beach. After a few steps, you turned to him again.

"And what was that about us seeing each other back at the cafeteria?" you yelled. Your voice came out loud enough that Donghyuck instantly flinched. "Ow!" He covered one ear dramatically, "you're so loud." He stretched his arms over his head before glancing at you with a teasing grin, "It was just a joke." He leaned in slightly, "...or maybe not?"

You frowned and clicked your tongue before lightly smacking his arm, "Shut up." Donghyuck gasped theatrically, placing a hand over his chest as though you'd gravely insulted him "'Shut up?' I'm your senior! And I'm older than you! Where are your manners?" You couldn't help but scoff.

"Manners?" you echoed with a laugh. "You're the last person who should be talking about manners." He opened his mouth to argue, then seemed to think better of it instead, he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and looked out toward the waves, clearly changing the subject, "...Wow."

A small smile tugged at his lips, "It's been a long time since I came here." You followed his gaze toward the horizon and quietly mumbled, "Same." Without warning, Donghyuck grabbed your wrist, "Come on!" Before you could protest, he took off running toward the shoreline, dragging you along behind him, "Hey—!"

By the time the two of you reached the water, you were both laughing, completely out of breath. You bent over with your hands on your knees, trying to catch your breath. He looked at you and burst into another laugh, "You have no stamina!" You shot him an offended look.

"You dragged me with you! You were running so fast!"

"I wasn't even running that fast."

"You absolutely were."

Still chuckling, he stepped closer, bent down and raised a hand, gently brushing a loose strand of hair behind your ear, You swore your heart stopped. Your eyes met his and for once, there wasn't a teasing grin or a smug remark waiting. Just a quiet sincerity in his gaze, a faint smile tugged at his lips, you were the first to look away.

Quickly stepping back, you cleared your throat, "...What are you doing?" He only smiled to himself and, surprisingly, didn't tease you. Instead, he turned and walked toward the shore, you stared at his back for a moment.

What has gotten into me? You shook your head vigorously, forcing yourself back to reality, looking down, you noticed small seashells scattered across the sand "oh..." You crouched down and began picking them up one by one, wandering along the shoreline whenever another caught your eye.

Completely absorbed in your little treasure hunt, you didn't notice Donghyuck watching from a short distance away, his expression softened. An unconscious smile settled on his face as he watched you excitedly collect seashells, completely lost in your own world.

...Cute. The thought slipped into his mind before he could stop it, he quietly pulled out his phone. Pretending to admire the scenery, he lifted it toward the sky and snapped a few pictures then without making it obvious he angled the camera slightly.

Click, Click.

A couple of photos of you crouching in the sand joined the pictures of the ocean, you remained oblivious, until— Click.

The unmistakable sound of the camera shutter cut through the crashing waves. You immediately looked up, "Hey!" Standing so quickly that a few seashells nearly slipped from your hands, you marched toward him, "delete that!" You reached for his phone, but Donghyuck was already laughing. He lifted his arm high above his head, holding the phone completely out of your reach. You jumped to grab the phone from his embrace.

"...Seriously?!" Giving up, you crossed your arms with an annoyed huff, Donghyuck looked down at you, unable to stop smiling, not his usual mischievous grin, a genuine one. The kind that reached his eyes. "You looked cute," he said simply, "so I had to keep a picture of my criminal."

"...Criminal?" You couldn't help letting out a small laugh, turning your head away to hide it, you shook it in disbelief. It was the first genuinely carefree laugh you'd let out ever since he'd taken you hostage.

Later, the two of you found yourselves standing in front of a small ice cream stall near the beach.

You sat on a nearby bench, completely occupied with counting the seashells you'd collected, arranging them into little piles on your lap. Meanwhile, Donghyuck stood at the counter, ordering for both of you, he glanced over his shoulder.

"Strawberry with sprinkles and...?" You looked up from your seashells "...With chocolate drizzle." He nodded, "got it." Turning back to the vendor, he repeated your order. The elderly stall owner, who looked to be in his early sixties, smiled as he prepared the ice cream.

"You come here with your girlfriend often?" he asked casually, Donghyuck blinked before smiling politely "It's actually our first time here... together." The old man nodded knowingly; "A lot of couples come here." He pointed toward a large tree a little farther down the beach. Beneath it sat an old wooden bench facing the ocean "You should visit that spot too."

Donghyuck followed the direction of his finger, "Why?" The man chuckled as he handed over the finished ice creams, "It's a famous place for couples."

"They say if you take a picture there together...you'll never be separated." He laughed at himself, shaking his head, "sounds silly, doesn't it?"

"But my wife and I took a picture there thirty four years ago." His smile softened, "and somehow... we're still together." Donghyuck let out a surprised laugh "really?" The old man nodded proudly, "whether it's true or not... I'll leave that up to you youngsters." Donghyuck accepted the ice creams with a grin "Sure."

"Thanks, sir." The old man waved them off warmly, "enjoy your date." Donghyuck glanced toward you for a brief second before smiling to himself as he walked back over.

Donghyuck walked back over and held out your ice cream, you reached for it, and as you took it from his hand, his thumb brushed against yours for just a moment longer than necessary. You ignored the strange feeling that stirred in your chest.

"...Thanks," you muttered. "You're welcome." He sat down beside you, a little too close. Close enough that you were painfully aware of his breathing and judging by the brief glance he gave you, he was aware of yours too. The two of you ate in silence for a while before Donghyuck nodded toward the seashells neatly arranged on your lap.

"So," he asked, "why'd you even collect those?" You looked down at them, "oh..." You thought for a moment, "My mom used to tell me that seashells are gifts for people precious to you." He listened quietly, "So... I thought I'd collect a few."

Donghyuck smiled, "Who are you giving them to?" you counted on your fingers, "My mom... my dad... Ningning..." You paused, thinking, "and..."

"What about me?" He leaned a little closer, you blinked "...why would I give you one?" You clicked your tongue and looked away "tch" Before you could react, Donghyuck reached over and gently wiped the corner of your upper lip with his thumb, "you had a little ice cream there." You froze.

Again?

Your breathing hitched as warmth rushed to your cheeks, "y-you..." you cleared your throat, "...You should stop doing that." Donghyuck casually took another bite of his ice cream before looking back at you "Stop doing what?" He tilted his head innocently, "Am I doing something to you?" A smug smile slowly crept onto his face, "W-What? No!"

You immediately sat up straighter, "obviously not." Before you could recover, Donghyuck quickly reached over and snatched one of the seashells from your lap. "Thanks!" He gave you a playful wink, "Hey!" You gasped, "That's mine!"

"You've got plenty." He held it up between his fingers. "what's wrong if I take one?" You frowned "I was saving those." He looked down at the tiny shell before smiling to himself, "you shouldn't have that many people who are precious to you." He shrugged.

"It should just be one." You looked at him in confusion, "...Huh?" He turned toward you, his teasing smile softening into something unexpectedly sincere. "This one..." He held up the shell "...Can it be for me?" For a brief second, all you could see was your own reflection in his eyes.

Your heart skipped, unable to meet his gaze any longer, you quickly turned your head away "...Eat your goddamn ice cream." You hoped he wouldn't notice the blush spreading across your cheeks. Donghyuck let out a quiet giggle. He slipped the seashell into his pocket as if it were the most valuable thing he'd received all day, then happily continued eating his ice cream.

As the two of you finished your ice creams, Donghyuck suddenly looked toward something in the distance, his eyes lit up. "Let's take a picture." You followed his gaze and immediately saw the bench beneath the tree the stall owner had mentioned earlier.

You stared, "that's so far away." You looked back at him. "Why are we going all the way there just for a quick picture?" Donghyuck immediately whined, "because..." He pointed toward it "it's pretty!"

You sighed, of course. You should've known he had some kind of reason. Eventually, you both made your way over there. By the time you reached the bench, you were exhausted from walking around all day, so you immediately sat down.

Meanwhile, Donghyuck stood there with the biggest smile on his face and you knew. He was definitely up to something, you narrowed your eyes at him. "Why are you smiling like that?" He blinked innocently. "like what?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." He quickly tried to suppress his grin, but failed miserably. Before you could question him further, he approached a nearby person and politely asked them to take a picture. A few seconds later, you were both sitting on the bench, then donghyuck casually wrapped an arm around your shoulders, your smile immediately disappeared. You turned to look at him, he leaned closer, whispering, "Smile." You stared at him.

Then, despite yourself, a small laugh escaped. The person holding the phone captured the moment, a picture of the two of you sitting together beneath the tree, smiling like an ordinary 'couple'. A second date or maybe something that would last much longer at least, according to that old man at the ice cream stall.

────୨ৎ────

The day had finally arrived, Kyung Hee University looked nothing like its usual calm self. The campus had transformed overnight into a sea of excitement. Students crowded every pathway, conversations overlapping into a constant buzz of anticipation.

Camera crews hurried between buildings while staff members rushed around making last minute preparations for the alumni festival.

Colorful banners stretched across the campus, welcoming returning graduates and guests. Posters featuring DR3AM's star players, Peter and Jeno, covered bulletin boards, lamp posts, and even the walls of nearby cafés. Some had already fallen onto the pavement after eager students peeled them off to keep as souvenirs.

Everywhere you looked, people were talking about the same thing.

"What time are they arriving?"

"I heard Peter graduated from the College of Music."

"Do you think they'll do a fan Q&A?"

The excitement was contagious and you were probably the worst of them all. You'd spent nearly an hour deciding what to wear, changed outfits three times, and checked your reflection far more than you'd ever admit.

Even now, standing among the growing crowd with Ningning beside you, your heart refused to calm down.

The player whose matches you'd watched religiously for years, today, for the very first time...you were finally going to see Donghyuck in person. The thought alone sent another wave of nerves rushing through your body.

You clasped your hands together, bouncing lightly on your heels as you searched every passing vehicle entering campus.

"What if he's even more handsome in real life?" you whispered, almost to yourself. Ningning snorted.

You stood on the tips of your toes, trying to peek over the sea of students gathered near the entrance. "Can you see anything?" Ningning asked. You shook your head, clutching your phone a little tighter.

"No..." Just then,

"Y/N!"

You turned at the sound of your name. A familiar face came jogging through the crowd, weaving between students with an expression that could only be described as pure panic. Your senior finally reached the two of you, stopping to catch his breath as sweat dripped from his forehead.

"Thank God..." he panted. "I found you."

Ningning gave him a once-over before muttering under her breath, "Looking rough." He let out a breathless chuckle. "Tell me about it."

You tilted your head, concern replacing your excitement. "Sunbae... what's wrong?" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before looking straight at you.

"Y/N... could you do me a favor?"

Your eyebrows lifted in confusion. "...Right now?" Your gaze instinctively drifted toward the main gate. The event was about to start, Donghyuck was about to arrive. You had waited an entire week for this moment.

Seeing the hesitation on your face, your senior nodded apologetically, "Yeah... right now." He sighed, clearly feeling guilty. "DR3AM's management just informed us they're willing to do an interview with Peter and Jeno before the alumni talk."

Your eyes widened, "...Interview?"

He continued, "The problem is every reporter from our department is already assigned somewhere else, the faculty's scrambling, and..." He gestured helplessly toward you, "...you're the only one who's free."

For a moment, your brain completely short-circuited, "...Me?" He nodded immediately.

"You've covered campus articles before, right? I know this is last minute, but I really need someone I can trust."

Before you could even process what he was saying, he slipped a clipboard into your hands. Several neatly printed questions filled the pages.

Questions for Peter.

Questions for Jeno.

Your fingers tightened around the papers, you were about to interview him. "I know it's a huge favor," your senior said earnestly. "But could you go through these questions for me? If there's anything you think should be changed, do it, then head backstage, the staff will escort you to the media room."

You stared down at the page, your heartbeat thundering in your ears. Beside you, Ningning slowly turned to look at you with the biggest grin imaginable, "...You lucky girl..."

You didn't even have the energy to deny it, because at that exact moment, you weren't sure whether you wanted to scream or pass out.

You looked down at the clipboard one more time before slowly lifting your head, "...I'll do it." A grin tugged at the corners of your lips as you nodded.

Your senior visibly relaxed, relief washing over his face, "seriously? Thank you so much, Y/N. You just saved our department."

He gave you one last grateful smile before hurrying off to deal with yet another event emergency. The second he disappeared into the crowd you let out the loudest, most undignified squeak, "No way."

You grabbed both of Ningning's shoulders, nearly shaking the life out of her, "there is absolutely no way." Ningning laughed so hard she had to pry your hands off her. "Yes way," she teased. "Now go! Get those questions ready."

She spun you around by the shoulders and gave your back a firm push, "Don't get too delusional though..!" Your legs were already moving before your brain caught up.

Everything after that felt like a blur, one moment you were weaving through crowded hallways with a clipboard pressed against your chest...the next, you were standing backstage.

The noise from outside was muffled by the thick curtains, but it was impossible to ignore, thousands of voices cheering, screaming and chanting. You swallowed nervously.

The clipboard in your hands had already become wrinkled from how tightly you'd been gripping it.

"Question one..." You cleared your throat, "Congratulations on winning the EWC. How does it feel to secure back-to-back championships?"

"...No." too stiff, You tried again, "First of all, congratulations on your victory..."

"...Still weird."

Again.

"...Congratulations on–"

You stopped yourself with a groan, burying your face in the papers, you had practiced the opening at least ten times now and every version somehow sounded worse than the last.

"Relax," you whispered to yourself, taking a slow breath. "They're just people." even you didn't believe that. To you, Donghyuck wasn't just a person, he was the player whose streams got you through stressful exam seasons, whose matches you'd stayed up until dawn to watch, whose interviews you'd memorized without even realizing it, now you were about to interview him.

A member of the event staff walked over with a headset on, "Miss y/n?" You immediately straightened, "Yes?"

"They've arrived."

Almost on cue, the roar from outside grew deafening, the crowd erupted into screams so loud that even backstage, the floor seemed to vibrate beneath your feet. The staff member called out,

"Peter, Jeno!"

"Over here!"

you froze for half a second, your heartbeat slammed against your ribs. They were here, just beyond the curtain, only a few meters away.

"Keep moving," one of the staff members urged, guiding them toward the backstage entrance. The corridor was far narrower than expected. Students pressed against the barricades, cameras flashing from every direction.

The staff rushed Donghyuck and Jeno in through the crowd, "Ow, dude" Donghyuck whined at the pushing against his shoulder.

Another staff member gently nudged Donghyuck forward "Peter, this way, please."

"I'm going, I'm going," he laughed, throwing one last wave toward the crowd before disappearing through the backstage doors. The deafening cheers became slightly muffled the moment they entered the building.

Donghyuck let out a relieved sigh, rubbing his shoulder dramatically, "I swear," he muttered, "my fans are trying to speedrun sending me to the hospital."

Jeno glanced at him with a deadpan expression, "You'll survive." A nearby staff coordinator couldn't help but laugh.

"Your interview is just down this hallway," she said, gesturing toward a waiting room. "The interviewer is already here preparing." Donghyuck absentmindedly nodded, "Cool."

Donghyuck stepped in first, with Jeno following a step behind. Both had changed into fresh jackets after the crowd greeting, though a few loose strands of Donghyuck's hair still framed his forehead from the humid summer air.

Donghyuck's gaze wandered around the room out of habit before landing on you, it lingered, you looked visibly nervous, your knuckles almost white from clutching the stack of interview questions. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall window behind you, catching the soft waves of your carefully styled hair. A white lace bow rested neatly at the back, giving you an unexpectedly gentle appearance.

For a brief moment, he simply stared there was something oddly calming about the scene. He couldn't quite explain why.

"...Hyuck." No response, Jeno frowned, "Hyuck." Still nothing, "...Donghyuck."

"Hm?" Donghyuck blinked, finally snapping out of whatever thought he'd been lost in. Jeno was looking at him with one eyebrow raised, "I've been talking to you for the past minute."

"...Oh."

Donghyuck scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, "Yeah...?" His answer came out absentmindedly even as he replied, his eyes instinctively drifted back toward you again.

Jeno followed his line of sight before glancing between the two of you, a knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, "So," Jeno murmured quietly enough that only Donghyuck could hear, "that's why you weren't listening."

Donghyuck didn't answer, he simply cleared his throat, finally forcing himself to look away as one of the event staff stepped forward.

"Peter, Jeno," she said with a polite smile. "Thank you for coming. This is Y/N from the university's media department. She'll be conducting today's interview." You swallowed nervously and offered a small bow.

"Hey guys! Thank you both for taking the time to be here." Your voice came out weak, and wayy too jolly than you expected, you face palmed yourself in your mind.

Donghyuck returned the bow almost automatically, "No problem," he replied with an easy smile. His voice was warm, far more relaxed than you had expected.

Donghyuck wandered around the room while the staff made their final preparations. Jeno had already settled into his chair, casually gesturing for Donghyuck to stop pacing and sit down too. Meanwhile, you adjusted the camera with slightly shaky hands.

You had rehearsed dozens of opening lines backstage, but now that he was standing right here, every single one had vanished from your mind. To make matters worse, Donghyuck had wandered over and stopped behind you. Not too close, but close enough to make you painfully aware of his presence, trying to break the awkward silence, he spoke first.

"You know how this works?" he muttered. His voice was noticeably deeper than the bright, customer-service tone he usually used during streams, you simply nodded. "Yeah... just this and that." He hummed softly.

"So... you're Y/N." He tilted his head slightly. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere." You turned to face him.

Oh, God.

Up close, he looked even more unreal. His long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyes, the afternoon sun catching the hints of brown in his dyed hair, his tan skin glowed warmly under the light, and his lips coated with what looked like strawberry lip balm curved into a small, curious smile.

You blinked and instinctively took half a step back, for your own sake. "Uh... actually," you began, gathering your courage, "when you were in your final year... I was a freshman." Donghyuck listened quietly, "We were in the same class... since you were retaking one of your courses."

He let out an embarrassed hiss, immediately covering part of his face "Oh, God," he groaned. "That was hell." A small laugh escaped you, "So... maybe that's why I looked familiar." His lips formed into a thoughtful pout as he nodded, pretending to remember, "Maybe..."

Then, his eyes dropped to the ID card hanging around your neck, without thinking, he leaned in for a closer look, his gaze settled on the student number.

2022-12742.

His expression froze, eyes widening before you could react, Donghyuck pulled the edge of your ID card, pulling it closer to read it, the sudden tug made you yelp, "Hey—excuse me..."

But Donghyuck wasn't listening, his eyes darted from the number to your face, back to the number and then to you again with absolute disbelief spread across his features. He thought he might've read the number wrong, blinking replusively. "You..." he breathed.

You gently pulled your ID card from Donghyuck's hand, giving him a puzzled look, "...Excuse me." He blinked, finally snapping out of it. You cleared your throat, trying to regain your composure. "Uh... could you take your seat, Peter? We should get started with the interview."

"...Right." Donghyuck turned without another word and walked back to his chair beside Jeno, the playful expression he usually wore was gone, instead, a small frown settled on his face as he stared blankly at the table, completely lost in thought.

Jeno noticed immediately, he nudged Donghyuck's arm with his elbow. "So..." he whispered, far louder than what qualified as a whisper "already planned your honeymoon with her or something?" Donghyuck slowly turned to look at him. His ears had turned an unmistakable shade of red.

"J-Jeno..." He didn't actually stutter. It was just for the dramatic effects. Jeno raised an eyebrow, clearly about to tease him even further, "Alright." Your voice interrupted them, "We'll be starting the interview now."

Jeno immediately straightened in his chair. You let out a quiet breath before pressing the record button on the camera, the red light blinked on. After adjusting the focus, you glanced toward the two of them.

Jeno was already wearing his signature, classic smile, but Donghyuck looked like his soul had momentarily left his body. You hesitated before speaking, "Uh... Peter?" He didn't respond.

"Could you... give us a smile?"

"...Huh?" He looked up as though he'd only just remembered where he was, "Oh."

A beat passed.

"...Yeah." He offered a smile a second later, slightly delayed, but enough for the camera, inside, however, his thoughts were racing.

2022-12742, there was no way.

Out of everyone...

He swallowed the thought, forcing himself to stay quiet, whatever conclusion he'd jumped to, now wasn't the time. You looked between your notes and the camera one last time before offering a professional smile, "Whenever you're ready." Taking one final steadying breath, you began the interview.

You straightened the stack of questions on your lap, taking one last breath before looking into the camera. "Three... two... one." The red recording light blinked steadily, you smiled professionally.

"Hello, everyone. Today, we're joined by two very special guests from DR3AM, fresh off their EWC championship victory. Congratulations on another incredible achievement, and thank you both for taking the time to be here."

Jeno bowed his head slightly, "Thank you for inviting us." Donghyuck nodded as well "Thank you." You glanced down at your notes.

"First of all, congratulations on becoming back-to-back EWC champions. Peter, you were also named Finals MVP for the second consecutive year. How does it feel?"

Donghyuck slightly seemed to settle into interview mode, "It still doesn't feel real," he admitted with a small laugh. "We worked really hard throughout the season, so seeing everything pay off is... rewarding. Winning once is difficult enough, but defending the title was even harder."

You nodded before turning to Jeno, "What do you think was the biggest challenge this season?" Jeno answered almost immediately.

"Staying consistent, every team studies your games once you're on top. We couldn't rely on the same strategies every match, so everyone had to improve individually."

The interview had been going surprisingly smoothly, you flipped to the next page of your notes, preparing the next question. Then Donghyuck spoke, "Ah, Miss Y/N."

You looked up.

"You know how people are really into fanfics these days?" Jeno's head snapped toward him so quickly it was almost comical, his expression practically screaming, What are you doing?

Donghyuck ignored him, he wasn't trying to derail the interview, he was watching you. Your fingers paused for the briefest moment on the corner of the page before you looked up with a polite smile. "Fanfics?" you repeated calmly. "Do you have any particular reference?"

Donghyuck let out a quiet scoff, "Oh, do I," he chuckled, "I actually stumbled across one written about me recently." He shook his head dramatically. "It was... so unforgettable." Under the table, Jeno pinched Donghyuck's thigh, hard.

Donghyuck winced but kept going, "the author's username..." He pretended to think. "What was it again..."

"Oh."

"Peterlover."

Your heartbeat skipped, your grip on the papers tightened ever so slightly barely noticeable. But enough. You forced a professional smile. "Could you tell us... what made it so unforgettable?" Your voice came out softer than before.

Donghyuck leaned back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh, "Oh, it was such a," He shook his head "It wasn't even a fanfic."

"It was..." he searched for the words with theatrical disappointment, "...like someone threw together a bunch of ridiculous words and called it a fanfic, it was like a word vomit." He chuckled dryly, "It genuinely broke my heart seeing something like that written by a fan."

Every sentence landed heavier than the last. You stared at him silently and the smile on your face remained but inside it felt as though someone had reached into your chest and slowly crushed your heart.

You had spent nights writing that story, laughing over it, editing it, feeling proud of it and now the person you'd written it for was calling it disgusting. Donghyuck continued casually, oblivious to what his words were causing.

"So, yeah, my point is..." he muttered, "you—uh people can be jailed for it." A tense silence followed, before it could linger any longer, Jeno smiled toward the camera.

"Anyway," he interrupted smoothly, "I think what's more important is appreciating the creativity of fans while also respecting boundaries." He effortlessly steered the conversation back toward esports.

The interview continued, you asked every remaining question exactly as written and your voice stayed steady. Your posture remained perfect, no one in the room would've guessed anything had changed but the excitement you'd walked in with had quietly disappeared.

"And... cut."

The recording light switched off, the interview was over. As the staff thanked everyone, you sat there absentmindedly stacking the papers together. Donghyuck's words replayed over and over in your mind. A production assistant walked over, "Y/N?" You blinked, "Hm?"

"They're heading out now." She smiled, "Do you want to see them off?" You hesitated for only a second before shaking your head, "...No." You offered a small smile that didn't quite reach your eyes, "It's alright, I'll be taking my leave now."

Without another glance toward the interview room, you quietly picked up your bag and walked away.

Inside the van, neither Donghyuck nor Jeno spoke for several minutes, the campus slowly disappeared behind them. Donghyuck stared blankly out the window before muttering to himself, "...Was it really not her?"

Jeno looked over, "What do you mean?" He frowned, "and why would you even bring that up during the interview?" Donghyuck sighed "I had to know."

"Dude," Jeno said, rubbing his forehead. "You weirded her out." He glanced back toward the university, "She looked genuinely happy when we walked into that room." He paused "By the end, it looked like you sucked the soul out of her."

Donghyuck let out a short snort, "No, listen. I saw her student ID." Jeno raised an eyebrow, "It was..."

"2022-12742."

Jeno straightened immediately, "...What? You serious?" Donghyuck nodded repeatedly, "I'm serious."

"That's why I brought up the fanfic. I wanted to see if she'd react." Jeno leaned back, processing the information. "...But she barely reacted." Donghyuck frowned, "not enough for me to be sure." Jeno stayed quiet for a moment before speaking, "...Still, didn't you notice?" Donghyuck looked over. "She didn't come see us out."

"And..." Jeno sighed, "Her mood changed, well not dramatically but enough that you could tell." The two of them fell silent. For the first time since leaving the interview room, a sliver of doubt crept into Donghyuck's mind. He'd said more than he should have.

A week had passed since your interview with Peter and Jeno and a week had passed since you last logged into your AO3 account. No updates, no new stories not even a short author's note explaining your absence.

You couldn't, the thought of writing anything made your chest tighten besides, posting an explanation would only draw attention, his attention. You knew he lingered around your page now.

After everything he'd said during the interview, the last thing you wanted was for Donghyuck to notice you again. So, for the first time in weeks you left your account untouched.

Ironically, the person who noticed your disappearance first was Donghyuck.

Refresh. Nothing. He refreshed the page again. Still nothing. "No update?" he muttered, frowning at his monitor. It had become an unconscious habit over the past week.

Every evening after scrims, he'd open your AO3 profile, half-expecting to see an apology, a short hiatus announcement, or even a simple 'I'm taking a break for personal reasons.' Anything.

"Huh..." leaning back in his chair, Donghyuck absentmindedly clicked through your older works again. He'd already read almost everything, your DR3AM headcanons, your short smuts, and your smau. Even the stories centered around him, to his own surprise...He was entertained, very entertained.

"...she really thinks Jaemin got a big cock? Mine is way bigger–" he scoffed quietly to himself, a few tabs later... "Jisung definitely cries during movies." Donghyuck snorted, "fuck, why would Jeno leave her like that, the details.." tears trickled down his eyelashes, nose red and a pile of tissues next to him. He kept scrolling, some stories made him laugh out loud, others made him pause and think.

Occasionally he'd find himself muttering, "...I don't even act like this." Yet he'd continue reading anyway. What started as curiosity had slowly become part of his nightly routine. He wasn't reading because he was trying to catch the author anymore. He was reading because he felt somewhat entitled to you, even if he wasn't confirmed this author was you.

His mouse hovered over your profile. Last Updated: One week ago. He refreshed the page one more time, nothing changed. Donghyuck sighed "...Come on." For reasons he couldn't quite explain...The silence bothered him more than he expected, so he decided to take this matter into his own hands.

Now here he was, standing in the hallways of Kyung Hee University. According to Donghyuck, his disguise was flawless, a hoodie pulled over his head and black mask covering half his face.

His hands stuffed into his pockets as if that somehow made him invisible, to everyone else, though? He looked exactly like a celebrity trying to pretend he wasn't a celebrity.

He wandered through the familiar hallways, memories of his university days surfacing as he passed classrooms he hadn't seen in years. Then, the bell rang. Students poured into the corridors, conversations overlapping as everyone hurried to their next lecture.

Donghyuck instinctively stepped to the side, scanning the crowd, there, it was you. Walking with a couple of friends, a backpack slung over one shoulder as you laughed at something your friend had just said.

His eyes followed you without thinking, "...found you." Obviously, he couldn't just walk up and start a conversation in the middle of a crowded hallway. That would be strange, so very naturally, he decided to follow you.

Keeping several steps behind, he blended into the stream of students heading toward the same building or at least, he thought he blended in, well not really.

"Dude, move!" Donghyuck blurted out as a group of students slowed to a crawl in front of him. Someone glanced over their shoulder, "Then stop pushing."

"I'm literally not?" Donghyuck muttered defensively, trying to squeeze past. He gave up arguing and slipped through the doorway just before it closed, entering the lecture hall a few seconds after you.

Rows of students were already taking their seats, you settled near the middle of the room with your friends, completely unaware that, several rows behind you...a very poorly disguised student had just walked into the class, trying his absolute best to act like he belonged there.

He slipped into the empty seat directly behind you and your friends, earning a few curious looks from the students nearby which, in hindsight, made sense.

Donghyuck casually leaned forward, pretending to look through his backpack while trying to overhear your conversation unfortunately he leaned a little too far.

Ningning slowly turned around, narrowing her eyes at the stranger who had wandered into her personal space. Donghyuck froze, he cleared his throat, lowering his voice "Uh... my pencil fell."

Before she could question him further, he awkwardly ducked beneath the desk as if searching for it. The moment he was out of sight, he pressed a hand against his forehead.

I love me a humiliation ritual.

Above him, he heard Ningning mutter as she turned back around, "okay...? I've literally never seen that guy before."

Donghyuck stayed hidden for another few seconds before quietly sitting back up, deciding that speaking again would only make things worse. For the rest of the lecture, he kept his head down, blending in with the sea of students.

His attention kept drifting to the conversation in front of him, your voice was soft, almost drowned out by the chatter in the classroom, but he managed to catch enough.

"I can't start uploading again," you whispered. "All my comments are like, 'Girl, Peter noticed you,' or 'Don't take it seriously,' and..." You let out a tired sigh "I don't even know if he knows it's me." Your fingers tightened around your pen, "I don't know why he brought it up during the interview."

You hesitated before adding quietly, "And now some of his parasocial fans are sending me death threats as if they don't do worse." Your friends' expressions fell immediately "What?" Ningning asked, horrified.

"I've been ignoring those comments... but it's getting exhausting." A heavy silence settled over your group. Behind you, Donghyuck's foot stopped tapping, his smile disappeared. The excitement he'd felt moments earlier that he'd finally confirmed the author was you evaporated almost instantly, he had been right. You were peterlover.

But hearing what happened afterward...his stomach sank. He hadn't expected his careless comments during the interview to contribute to something like this. Suddenly, what had started as a game of satisfying his curiosity didn't feel amusing anymore.

As the bell rang, the lecture hall emptied in seconds, Donghyuck was the first one out. He bolted into the hallway at the speed of light, weaving through the crowd before anyone could recognize him.

A few moments later, you and your friends stepped out of the classroom, you barely made it a few steps before— a hand grabbed your wrist, "Wha—" You were suddenly pulled away from the stream of students "Hey! What the fuck—"

Before you could finish, you were tugged into an empty music room. The door shut behind you, a hand covered your mouth. You let out a muffled yelp, instinctively trying to pull away "Shh," the stranger whispered. "Keep it down." You froze.

The hooded figure glanced toward the door, making sure no one had followed, before slowly pulling down his mask, you blinked "...Donghyuck?"

He pulled off his cap, ruffling his hair with one hand before a grin smeared on his face "Aha!" he exclaimed, slightly out of breath. "So it was you." He pointed at you dramatically, "You wrote all that about me."

Your eyes widened, your mouth opened, but no words came out. For a moment, all you could do was stare "...Peter?" you managed to say quietly.

"Yeah," he replied casually. "What's up... peterlover?" The teasing nickname sounded like a slap on the face, you scoffed in disbelief. "What are you—why are you here?"

"Exactly!" Donghyuck threw his hands up. "I don't know either." Realization suddenly hit you, he knew you were the author, your thoughts spiraled instantly.

"Wait... ifyouwantmetodeleteit, Iwill," you blurted out. "actually, I'lldeletethewholeaccount justdon'tsueme lasttimeyousaidIcouldgotojailforit, soifthat'swhatyou—"

"Hey, hey, hey." Donghyuck cut you off with a laugh. He lifted a hand in a calming gesture "Relax, cutie." His arm rested against the door beside you as he leaned in just enough to lower his voice "It's not like that." He smiled, amusement flickering across his face.

"I came because I recognized you." You looked at him, confused "You were in my English lecture, right?" he asked. "You wore those huge glasses..." He tilted his head "And you could never make eye contact with me." He leaned a little closer, trying to confirm your expression, "...Right?"

You swallowed, "...You didn't have to come all the way here just to tell me that."

"Bingo." Donghyuck gave you a playful wink "I also came here because I know you're the beloved author of..." He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper, "What I do in bed."

You immediately hissed in embarrassment, "Please don't say it out loud."

"So it really is yours." You buried your face in your hands for a second, "What do you want?" you sighed. "I'll delete it if that's what you came for—"

"No, no, no." Donghyuck frowned, shaking his head, "Don't delete it." You blinked, caught off guard. He looked at you curiously "But..." he hesitated. "Is that really how you see me?" You frowned in confusion.

"Huh?" You looked at him with a puzzled expression, "In your stories." He rubbed the back of his neck "Is that... really what you think I'm like?"

You looked away, unable to meet his eyes, "It's just..." you mumbled "...a figment of my imagination." You shrugged lightly, "More like... how your fans imagine you."

Donghyuck let out a thoughtful hum "Oh, I see." Before you could ask what he meant, he reached out and grabbed your wrist "Come on." He started walking toward the door.

"Hey!" you protested, stumbling after him. "Where are you taking me?" You tried to pull your hand free, but his grip remained firm. Donghyuck glanced back over his shoulder with a grin, "You'll find out."

Now, you were sitting in his car, Donghyuck's car. The thought alone was enough to make your brain short-circuit. He walked around to the driver's side after making sure your seat belt was fastened, closed your door, and slid into his own seat.

The engine remained off, you glanced at him nervously. "...Are you taking me to the police station?" He let out a quiet huff that turned into a chuckle. A playful grin spread across his face as he slowly shook his head, "No, silly."

You fidgeted with your sleeves. "I told you, I'll delete the account. I can compensate you too if that's what—"

"No, no." He cut you off with a wave of his hand? "Do I look like someone who extorts money from a pretty lady like you?" His head tilted slightly as he met your eyes, you blinked at him.

"...What?" More importantly "Where are you taking me?" He started the car, "Somewhere." After a brief pause, he added reassuringly, "I'm not kidnapping you." You stared at him "...Isn't this exactly what a kidnapper would say?" Donghyuck laughed.

A few minutes later, the car pulled up outside a quiet café tucked away from the busy streets. The interior was warm and minimalistic, decorated with light wood furniture and soft lighting. There weren't many customers, but the gentle chatter and clinking coffee cups made the place feel comfortably alive.

You sat across from Donghyuck by the window, for nearly a minute. He simply looked at you, not saying a word. Unable to take the silence anymore, you cleared your throat.

"So, Why did you even bring me here?" He blinked, as though he'd just returned from another planet, "Oh, Right." He picked up the menu and slid it across the table toward you.

"I wanted to take you out on a date."

Silence. You stared at him, "...What?"

"On a date," he repeated matter-of-factly, your eyes widened. "You confessed to me through fanfiction," he added with the most serious expression imaginable "I figured I'd respond properly."

You could only gape at him, wondering whether he'd completely lost his mind... or whether you were crazy.

Your face twisted into pure confusion, mouth hung open for a second before you finally managed, "...What?" You narrowed your eyes at him "I'm sorry... but are you okay?"

Donghyuck's expression immediately dropped, looking almost personally offended, "What do you mean?" You stared at him in disbelief "Would you take every fan who writes a fanfics about you on a date?"

He leaned back in his chair, finally seeming to realize how ridiculous this looked "W-Well..." he cleared his throat. "Do you not mean what you write?" You blinked, "What?"

He scooted his chair a little closer before leaning toward your ear with a smug grin, "Didn't you write that I am the best in bed—"Your eyes widened, you immediately sat up straighter. "Shut up," you whispered harshly.

"Oh?" Donghyuck's grin only grew, "Do you want me to tell everyone that you wrote about how I fast my fingers are—"

"Shut—"

"Exactly." He leaned back into his own seat again, looking far too pleased with himself. He slid the menu a little closer to you, "Go on, order something." Then, with a quick wink and the most devilish grin imaginable, he added, "let's have an enjoyable date, mhm?"

You ended up ordering a simple iced Americano, not because you particularly wanted one but because your brain had completely shut down.

Cornered by Donghyuck's relentless teasing, you figured the safest thing to do was order the first thing you saw on the menu. A few minutes later, the drinks arrived. Donghyuck took a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving you, it honestly felt like he was staring holes through your soul.

The whole situation was ridiculous, you were on an alleged date with Peter from DR3AM. The thought alone made your head spin. Breaking the silence, Donghyuck rested his chin on his hand.

"So," he began, "tell me about yourself, y/n." he smiled lightly. Oh, the way you fought the urge to smile, "though... maybe you already know everything about me."

There it was, another jab. You let out a quiet scoff, "I'm a pretty boring person." you looked down at your drink. "You don't need to know me."

He frowned immediately, his lips forming into a small pout, "I seriously doubt that." You looked up, "I don't think you're boring at all." He smiled, completely genuine this time.

"I actually like the way you think." Your eyebrows lifted "...What?"

"The way you write." He shrugged, "about me." A grin slowly spread across his face, "I think they're quite accurate..." You blinked at him, momentarily speechless.

Donghyuck was practically cheesing out front of you, looking far too pleased with himself while you sat there wondering if this was another one of his jokes... or if he actually meant every word.

Donghyuck suddenly sat up straight, as if he'd just remembered something important, "Oh." He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and slid it across the table toward you.

The contacts page was open, you looked at him, confused "...What's this?"

"Give me your number."

"No."

The answer came out so quickly that he blinked, "...That was fast." You folded your arms, "I actually want to know something first." He raised an eyebrow "How did you even figure out it was me?" Your expression was completely genuine.

Donghyuck nearly choked on his coffee, "W-Well..."

"You know..."

"From here and there."

You gave him a flat look, "...Where is 'here and there'?" Donghyuck scratched the back of his neck "Well..." He deliberately avoided eye contact, looking exactly like a kid who'd been caught stealing cookies.

"Uhm..." He tapped a finger against his cheek as though thinking of a believable excuse then, realizing there wasn't one, he sighed "I... asked a friend to track the IP address linked to your account."

You stared at him, "...You what?"

"and somehow," he continued cautiously, "we found a university ID number." He rubbed the back of his neck again, "...Then I saw the same ID on your student card." A guilty smile appeared on his face "And... yeah."

For the first time since the two of you met that day, he actually looked a little remorseful.

you met chenle, when you were rushing to your second part-time job,fate seemed to have other plans. you crashed directly into a fancy black bentley parked by the curb, the impact wasn't huge. the dent, however, was definitely noticeable.

when the owner of the car appeared zhong chenle, you apologized, said you'd pay for this, with what money..? well chenle was intrigued. he stared at you as if he was scanning you completely raw. it almost feel like you were naked in front of him, he seemed amused, a faint smirk tugged on his lips, instead of looking angry, he looked suspiciously intrigued. he pulled out his phone, "give me your number," your eyes widened.

"my number?"

"so i can contact you later," he replied simply. "about the damages."

when chenle finally contacted you, you expected a repair bill or possibly a lawsuit, but not you sitting in front of him in a private dining room, and covered in luxurious silk dress you'd been given to wear by him.

this started as chenle using the dented bentley as leverage to force you out on dates with him. twice, or maybe thrice a week.

chenle spent money on you as if it meant absolutely nothing to him, he'd take you to the most expensive restaurants in the city, your closet slowly filled with luxury clothes, high-end makeup, gold jewellery boxes arrived at your doorstep.

chenle thought, it was natural, if something caught your eye, he'd buy it. if you mentioned wanting something once, it would somehow end up in your hands a few days later.

it was the fact that no matter how much money chenle spent, he still looked at you like you were worth far more.

chenle would, on a completely random tuesday afternoon, tell you to close your eyes before you could question him, he'd carefully fasten a diamond-studded necklace around your neck, he would gift you jewellery the same way most people gave flowers.

chenle would ask you to point at any building you liked, knowing there was almost no chance he wouldn’t buy it for you.

chenle could give you every luxury in the world, but what he truly wanted was the luxury of having you, feeling you, raw, unfiltered and bare.

chenle would clear out the entire VIP swimming area with a single call, just to fuck you in various places. he starts by bending you over the edge of the pool, his cock pushes into your warm walls first, stretching you open while his palm cracks across your arm, the sting shoots through you, making your walls clamp down.

he would groan at your tightness, spanking you again, harder. watching the red bloom across your skin.

chenle, then would pull out, and presses the thick head against your ass. he works himself inch by inch, the burn mixing with a deep, lewd pleasure you've never felt before.

chenle would flip you onto one of the lounge chairs next, spreading your thighs wide. this angle lets him grind deep into your ass, while his thumb circles your clit. you feel him everywhere, the stretch new and overwhelming. he leans down and, spits on your pussy before sliding to two digits inside, fucking both holes at once until you're sobbing from the intensity.

chenle, then lies his back on the wide daybed. his expensive pants shimmed down to his thighs, he tells you to climb on him. you sink dowm onto his thick length, taking him inch by inch, the diamond necklace swings between your bare breasts with every bounce. he watches your body move. the way your thighs tremble, the way your pussy drips onto the dark fabric of his pants.

chenle would grab your hips when you start to lose your rhythm and slams you harder. his free hand comes up and shoves two fingers into your mouth, you slightly taste yourself from the previous intrusion of your walls. he pushes his digits past your tongue, until you gag around them. tears spill instantly, your expensive mascara running in black streaks down your cheeks. he keeps his fingers there, making you gag and drool while you ride him, the wet sounds mixing with the slap of skin.

you come hard, squirting all over his pants. the liquid soaks through expensive material and he grins almost evilly. he flips you onto your stomach on the daybed, yanking your hips up. and drives back to your ass without mercy, "look how messy you are, doll." each thrust is a punishment and reward at once. his hand lands on your ass again and again, until your skin is hot and tender.

chenle pulls out, only to shove his cock into your mouth, making you taste yourself and him together. you gag around his length, tears flowing freely now. he jolts your head and fucks your throat until spit runs down your chin and drips onto the diamond necklace.

chenle would make you beautiful and doll you up just so he could be the one to ruin you exquiesitely and lavishly. the contrast of his tenderness and brutality keeps you floating. he kisses the tears from your cheeks even as he spanks you repeatedly, whispering how perfect you look ruined for him.

the expensive lingerine chenle bought for you was a pointless extravagence, it lies forgotten on the marble, straps torn, the real luxury being the way your body takes everything he inflicts. he knows you're just as fucked up as he is.

.

.

📂 AT QN GROUP BUILDING

you stepped out of the car, tilting your head back instinctively as the QN Group building towered above you. it was so tall it almost made your neck ache just looking at it. you stood there for a second longer than you meant to, blinking up at it. “okay… wow,” you muttered under your breath.

dang, this wasn’t just a building. it was a statement. you walked inside, immediately hit by the change in atmosphere. the air was cooler, cleaner, carrying a faint scent of vanilla mixed with something expensive you couldn’t quite name. marble floors stretched endlessly under your feet, reflecting soft light that made everything look too polished to feel real.

you barely had time to process it before someone approached you,“miss zheng y/n?”you turned slightly. a man in a neat suit stood beside you, posture professional but not cold.

“i’m sicheng,” he introduced himself politely. “mr qian’s assistant. i’ll guide you to the fortieth floor.”you nodded slowly, still a little overwhelmed. “uh… hi,” you said, slightly awkward.

he gave you a small, understanding smile like he was used to people reacting this way, “this way, please.” you followed him deeper inside the building, your footsteps softer against the marble than you expected.

elevators opened almost instantly, smooth and silent, like the entire building moved without effort. as you were led inside, your eyes wandered again despite yourself.

glass walls. expensive art. staff moving like everything had a purpose. everything felt controlled. precise. untouchable, you swallowed quietly.

yeah… this is definitely serious money.

the elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime, sealing you inside a space that felt more like a private capsule than a lift. the silence was almost uncomfortable, broken only by the faint hum of movement as it began to rise.

you stood slightly to the side, glancing at the mirrored walls that reflected you back in a way that felt too sharp, too aware. beside you, sicheng remained perfectly composed, hands folded neatly in front of him like this was just another normal part of his day.

you, on the other hand, were very aware of your heartbeat. “so…” you started awkwardly, then immediately regretted it. sicheng looked at you politely. “yes, miss zheng?”

you hesitated, “he’s… expecting me?” oh god what the hell are you saying...it sounded stupid the moment it left your mouth. sicheng blinked once, then nodded. “yes. mr qian doesn’t usually request meetings unless he is expecting someone.”

you nodded slowly, pretending that helped your nerves instead of making them worse. the elevator continued upward, numbers changing faster than your thoughts could settle. you exhaled quietly and shifted your weight, staring at the floor for a moment.

fortieth floor,

his office...

the words felt heavier now that they were actually real.finally, with a soft sound, the elevator slowed. the doors opened smoothly and the atmosphere changed immediately.

the fortieth floor was quieter. more private. the lighting warmer, the space wider, more refined in a way that made everything feel even more expensive than the floors below. there was no chaos here, only beaming control.

sicheng stepped out first, motioning politely, “this way, please.” you followed him, your steps slightly slower now as you took in the hallway. each step felt like you were walking deeper into the depth of the decision you haven't decided yet.

sicheng walked a few steps ahead of you, stopping right in front of the large marble doors. he turned slightly, gesturing politely.“you can go in,” he said.

you swallowed hard, your teeth practically gritting together from nervousness as you stood there for a second longer than necessary. you and sicheng exchanged a small, respectful bow.

both of you aware of how absurdly formal everything suddenly felt then, slowly, you pushed the door open. inside, qian kun was already there.

seated behind a marble desk that looked just as expensive as everything else in the building, he didn’t look surprised to see you. not even slightly, he was just aware like he had already calculated this moment would happen.

his gaze lifted to you briefly, calm and steady, before he motioned toward the chair in front of him, “have a seat.”

you stepped inside and closed the door behind you, the soft click sounding far louder than it should’ve. wow, you thought faintly. i’m really setting up my own marriage right now.

you walked forward slowly and sat down, straightening slightly as you looked at him across the desk. everything about him felt different from you. his posture, his silence, even the way he carried authority effortlessly.

you hesitated for a moment before speaking, “uh… that day,” you started, voice slightly unsure. “i’m sorry… and thank you.” kun tilted his head faintly, “why?”

you exhaled, fingers fidgeting slightly in your lap. “you dropped me off. and… i cried in front of you. it was embarrassing.” his expression didn’t change much, but his tone softened just slightly.

“no need,” he said. “it’s understandable. you weren’t in stable condition.” you nodded slowly, the tension in your shoulders easing a fraction then he leaned back slightly, cutting straight to what he actually wanted to know.

“so,” he said calmly, “have you thought about my offer?"

you had expected that question. still, hearing it made your heart beat a little faster. you lifted your gaze to him, gathering whatever courage you could find. “yes,” you said honestly. “i did think about it… a lot, to be honest.” a brief pause followed, then you exhaled once, steadying yourself.

“let’s get married,” you said. “i’ll be your wife.”

the words came out simpler than you expected, almost too calm for something so life-altering. kun’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying you for a moment longer than usual.

then, the faintest hint of expression shifted at the corner of his lips, not quite a smile, but something close enough to feel like approval. “good thinking,” he said.

kun gave a single nod, as if your answer had confirmed a prediction he had already made days ago. then he cleared his throat lightly and opened a folder resting on his desk, his eyes scanned a page briefly before looking back at you. “when would you like to set the wedding date?”

he asked it with the same tone someone would use when discussing a meeting schedule. your eyes widened. wait, it's a wedding, wedding preparations. there was a difference between agreeing to get married and suddenly discussing dates.

“that early?” you blurted out, a slight frown appeared on your face. “i haven't even told my mom yet.” kun remained completely unfazed, “what are you waiting for?” you stared at him and he stared back.

“call her.” the suggestion came so naturally that you almost laughed, “just call her?” you repeated. "yes.” he replied with an unfazed expressjon.

“and tell her what exactly?”you threw your hands up slightly, “hey mom, remember when i got involved in a national scandal? well, i met a rich ceo at the hospital and now we're getting married!"

kun considered your words for a second. "that sounds about right.” you looked at him in disbelief, "that was sarcasm.” he nods his head, “i know.” which somehow made it worse.

you let out a long groan and covered your face with both hands, “this is a disaster.” he lookrd down onto the unattended opened file he wasn't really reading, “not yet.” he added then,“you haven't told her.”

you slowly lowered your hands, staring at him, “do you enjoy stressing people out?”, "no." the answer came suspiciously fast. kun leaned back slightly in his chair, “if calling makes you uncomfortable, we can visit her.”

his tone softened by a fraction, “if you want to.” the room grew quiet, you blinked at him. for someone who usually spoke like a business contract come to life, that was surprisingly considerate.

you looked down at your hands for a moment before glancing back at him, "you'd actually come with me?”

“of course.” he said with a slight raise of the eyebrows. he looked genuinely confused by the question. “i'm part of the problem.” you snorted, “you mean the situation.” he shrugged, “same thing.” for the first time, you saw the corner of his mouth twitch upward. not quite a smile but dangerously close to one.

you suddenly sat up straighter, lightly slapping your palm against the desk as a thought struck you, “oh!” kun looked up from the contract, “if you wanted me to be your wife,” you said, a hint of sarcasm slipping into your voice, “you didn't even bother giving me your actual phone number.”

you crossed your arms, ending the sentence with a small pout and, honestly? you were a little offended, “do i have to talk to the receptionist every time i want to speak to you?” kun blinked once then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth lifted. it was a smile, more like a restrained scoff.

he held out his hand toward you, “mhm?" you stared at him, “what?”

“your phone.”

“ah.” you quickly reached into your purse, pulling out your phone before handing it over, kun took it effortlessly. with one hand, he unlocked the contact screen, typed in his number, and saved it within seconds and then he handed the phone back.

you glanced down at the screen and immediately burst out laughing at the words written on the screen.

老公 (husband)

that was the contact name, you looked up at him, amused “you have some jokes in you.”

“it's not a joke.” the response came instantly, kun raised a brow“is it?” your laughter died down into a smile, for a second, neither of you said anything then—

knock knock, the office door opened slightly. sicheng peeked his head inside. “sir,” he called out, as if something went wrong. kun looked over.

sicheng glanced between the two of you, then sighed dramatically “you have meetings~” his voice stretched the words into a sing-song tune “and you're the owner of a company. you've got things to do.” you blinked, you immediately looked at kun.

somehow, his assistant was talking to the ceo of one of the biggest companies in the country like a mildly disappointing roommate and he was still employed, unlike you.

impressive.

sicheng leaned further against the door frame, “the shareholders unfortunately don't care about your love lifeeee~.”

“it's a business meeting,” kun replied flatly.

“mhm...okay sure, whatever."

“it is.”

“of course.”

you watched the exchange unfold, completely fascinated, the two of them bickered with the ease of people who had known each other for years, sicheng finally looked at you “see? this is what i deal with every day.”

“you're being dramatic.” kun shots back as if he was offended. “i learned from the best.” kun sighed. you bit your lip, trying not to laugh.

honestly, after seeing how intimidating qian kun seemed to the rest of the world, discovering that his assistant talked to him like this felt strangely reassuring, it made him seem... human slightly.

⛸️ FOUR DAYS LATER

the day had finally arrived, the day you were going to tell your mother somehow, agreeing to a contract marriage with qian kun had been easier than explaining it to your own family.

kun had made the arrangements himself. he told you he'd pick you up personally, no assistants, no security team, no chauffeurs opening doors, just him. which, for some reason, made you even more nervous.

you stood in front of your bedroom mirror, smoothing down your white tweed two-piece dress for what had to be the twentieth time, it was one of your favorite outfits.

you had bought it with your prize money years ago, after standing on a podium with a medal hanging around your neck and your future looking impossibly bright. back then, you'd imagined wearing it for interviews, celebrations, important events, not for informing your mother that you were about to suddenly get married.

life was funny like that. your phone buzzed against the vanity table, you glanced down.

老公

你准备好了吗？我在楼下等你。2:01 pm

(are you ready? i'm waiting down. )

you stared at the contact name first then the message, then the contact name again. a small scoff escaped you. “still ridiculous.” and yet...you hadn't changed it.

you quickly ignored that realization. your fingers moved to your earrings, adjusting them carefully before giving yourself one final inspection in the mirror. everything looked fine, perfectly fine.

so why were your palms sweating? you rubbed them against the sides of your dress “it's just mom,” you muttered to yourself then immediately frowned. “actually, that's exactly why i'm nervous.” your reflection offered no useful advice and then with one final deep breath, you grabbed your purse and headed for the door.

the elevator ride downstairs felt far too short. every second brought you closer to the conversation you had been dreading all week. when the elevator doors finally opened, you stepped out into the lobby of the apartment complex and immediately spotted him.

kun stood beside a sleek black car parked outside, no bodyguards, no assistant hovering nearby, just him. one hand rested casually in his pocket while the other held his phone. he looked up the moment you emerged from the building.

his gaze settled on you and and stayed there, for a second longer than usual the sunlight reflected softly against the glass behind him, outlining his silhouette, you slowed slightly not because of him. definitely not because of him.

mostly because your heart suddenly remembered it's cabability of beating faster? kun closed his phone and stepped forward, his eyes briefly swept over your outfit before returning to your face, “you're ready.”

yeah he'd say that, typical.

not a you look nice, not good afternoon just—you're ready, you rolled your eyes internally.

“thank you for the compliment.” faint crease appeared between his brows, “i wasn't giving one.” you pointed at him immediately “see? that's exactly why people think you're cold.”

he sighed, "you look good today." a laugh escaped your lips after you extorted a compliment out of him and for the first time that day, some of the nervousness faded, just a little though.

kun opened the passenger-side door for you, “shall we?” the question was simple but the meaning behind it felt much bigger, you looked at him then at the car then back at him and finally nodded.

just as kun reached for the passenger door, you suddenly grabbed his wrist. “wait.” he paused immediately. before he could ask anything, you lifted a finger and pressed it lightly against his lips, for the first time since you'd met him, you saw genuine surprise flicker across his face.

his eyes widened slightly, not dramatically but enough. “what are you doing?” he asked quietly. “shh.” you leaned in closer. “you see those guys?” your eyes shifted subtly toward a nearby car. kun followed your gaze.

two men were attempting to hide behind the vehicle, attempting being the key word. one of them was holding a camera large enough to qualify as evidence. they were about as discreet as a fireworks display.

kun's expression immediately cooled, “who are they?” he questioned in a serious tone. “dispatch.” you replied without hesitation, “they're probably curious how miserable i am after my downfall.” your eyes narrowed, then a slow, mischievous smirk appeared “but...”

kun immediately disliked that look, he could tell. “we should fuel some rumors for our marriage, don't you think?” his brows furrowed “you're suggesting we let strangers photograph you without your consent?”

“no.” you pointed at him, “not me.” then you pointed between the two of you, “us.” before he could process what you meant, you grabbed his hand and intertwined your fingers with his.

kun froze completely, his eyes dropped to your joined hands then back to your face and then back to your hands. you leaned closer again.

“pat my head.”

“…what?”

“do it.”

“why?”

“because it'll look cute.”

“cute...?"

“yes.”

kun stared at you and you stared right back.

“they're taking pictures.”

“i'm aware.”

“then do it!”

you practically hissed the last part, kun glanced toward the photographers, and the photographers who suddenly looked very interested in the parking lot and then at you then back at the photographers.

he sighed, a very long sigh. the sigh of a man questioning every decision that had led him to this moment, slowly, awkwardly, his free hand lifted and rested against the back of your head.

pat, then a pause. pat.

the motion was so stiff it looked like he was testing whether human interaction required a manual. you immediately fought the urge to laugh.

“less ai, more human,” you whispered.

“i don't know what that means.”

“just act natural.”

“this is natural.”

“for a robot maybe.”

his eyes narrowed, behind the nearby car, the photographers looked seconds away from passing out from excitement. one of them was practically vibrating, their camera shutters clicked furiously. you could almost imagine tomorrow's headlines.

🚨 Disgraced Figure Skater Spotted With QN Group CEO. Is It A Secret Relationship Or A Tyrst? Head Pats Exchanged—

okay, maybe not that last one...

kun, meanwhile, looked like he wanted to file a formal complaint against him. “are we done?” he asked. “yep.” you released his hand. his gaze lingered briefly on where your fingers had been intertwined, just for a second and then he opened the car door again.

“good.” you grinned “you know, for someone pretending to be my future husband, you're surprisingly cooperative.” kun looked at you, expressionless. "i've already agreed to marry you." then a pause, "you are actually kinda funny.", he returns the compliment "you too."

🏠 AT YOUR MOM'S PLACE

the drive felt much shorter than it should have, perhaps because you spent most of it mentally preparing yourself for what was about to happen or perhaps because every time you started rehearsing a speech in your head, you remembered that your mother was involved and immediately abandoned the idea.

some conversations simply couldn't be prepared for. especially this one. you had called her earlier that morning. all you'd told her was that you wanted to introduce someone, nothing else.

absolutely nothing else which, in hindsight, might have been a mistake because now your mother was probably expecting a boyfriend.

not a future husband.

you groaned quietly and leaned your forehead against the window, “i'm doomed.” kun briefly glanced away from the road, “you'll get through it.” you glanced back at him “easy for you to say.”

“is it?” you turned to look at him. he looked perfectly calm, of course he did. “my mother is going to have questions.” kun replied almost instantly, “i have answers.” you huffed, “that's somehow not comforting.” kun simply hummed.

the conversation died after that. mostly because you were too busy imagining every possible outcome. none of them were good.

when the car finally pulled into the familiar neighborhood, your stomach immediately tightened. it washome. you hadn't realized how nervous you were until you saw it.

the small garden, the familiar front gate, the house you'd grown up in. you swallowed. your heart was falling somewhere between your stomach.

kun parked the car, he then unbuckled his seatbelt. you stepped out of the car together. the afternoon breeze brushed against your face as you stared at the front door. your front door.

the door behind which your mother was currently waiting, completely unaware that her daughter was about to announce a marriage. you looked at kun, he looked back.

“you ready?” he said,

“no.”

“good.”

you frowned, "how is that good?"

"it means you're taking it seriously." he shot back, before you could argue, the front door suddenly swung open.

“y/n!” your mother's voice echoed through the yard, you immediately straightened. and there she was.

standing at the entrance with an excited smile already on her face, then her gaze shifted

to kun.

the smile froze, your mother's eyes widened and then widened some more. her gaze moved from kun to you, back to kun. back to you.

“...qian kun?” she lifted a trembling finger toward him. kun stood beside you, calm as ever. not nervous. not awkward. just... standing there. “hello, madam,” he greeted politely with a small nod. your mother looked between him and you then back at him, the again back at you.

“qian kun?” her lips trembled.

“yes, mom.”

“the hot shot ceo qian kun?”

“yes, mom.”

your mother looked like she was about to short-circuit. you immediately grabbed her shoulders. “okay! inside. let's go inside.”

“why is qian kun standing outside my house,” she whispered. you pushed her through the doorway, “yes, and he'll continue standing there if you don't move.”

even as she walked inside, she kept glancing back over her shoulder, making sure he hadn't suddenly disappeared, unfortunately for your blood pressure.

inside the house, things somehow became worse, your mother completely forgot you existed. the second kun stepped inside, she transformed into the perfect host.

“please sit.” she motioned towards the couch. he politely nodded. “thank you.”

“would you like tea?”

“anything is fine.”

“fruit?”

“that's alright.”

“you should have fruit.”

“...thank you.”

you stared from the side in disbelief, you called her out, "mom." absolutely no response, “mother.” still nothing. "hello! my mother!"

“don't disturb the guest.” then she turned back toward kun. “do you like oranges?” you let out an offended scoff. later, eventually everyone settled into the living room.

well, everyone except you.

somehow, your mother had taken the best seat beside kun while you ended up removing your heels and kneeling on the floor in front of her. you stared at the situation, then at your mother. then at kun, "thanks...for the hospitality.." no one reacted.

you placed your hands neatly on your lap and sat up straight. across from you, kun sat comfortably on the sofa, looking like he belonged there. your mother remained silent for a moment. she was thinking, processing, questioning every life decision that had led to this moment.

then she finally looked at you. “why didn't you tell me?”

there it was.

you swallowed, “tell you what?” “that you were dating him.” your mother pointed directly at kun “and this huge decision of getting married.” her tone wasn't actually scary, not to you but the disappointment hidden underneath it made you feel twelve years old again.

"well..." you scratched your cheek awkwardly, "don't 'well' me." your mother shot back, you immediately shut your mouth. your mother crossed her arms. “how long have you been dating?”

you glanced at kun, for half a second before answering, “a year.”

during the car ride, you explained to him the made up 'how did you guys meet for the first time' story. he was collabrating with a sponsor of yours, and unexpectedly met during work, then how both of you confessed and so on, that led you both to this decision, marriage.

sure, it wasn't as convincible as it sounds. it just felt like if you both haven't met in this situation maybe, in an different universe. you would've met like this. surely.

your mom, let out a horrendous scream, “a YEAR?!” you flinched

“yes?”

“and you didn't tell me?”

“surprise?”

“zheng y/n!” you immediately lowered your head. “sorry..” your mother stared at you in disbelief “you kept a relationship secret for an entire year?” you tried to justify yourself, “i was busy.”

“too busy to tell your mother?”

“okay, i know i'm in the wrong here.”

“because you are wrong!”

you let out a dramatic gasp, your mother ignored you completely. instead, she turned toward kun, her expression softened immediately. the way she turns into a completely different person around him.

“and you,” she said gently. “how did you put up with her for a whole year?” you looked offended. “excuse me?” kun looked at you, then at your mother. a brief pause followed. “it wasn't easy.” you glared at him immediately.

for the first time since arriving, a small smile appeared on your mother's face and judging by the slight twitch at the corner of kun's mouth, he was enjoying this far more than he should have been.

you let out an exaggerated huff and straightened your posture. “anyways!” both your mother and kun looked at you, you lifted your chin stubbornly. “we're getting married, so stop acting like i'm some stray you found on the street.”

“i never said that.”

“you implied it.”

your mother sighed, already looking tired, “y/n.” you hummed? “be quiet for a moment.” you immediately zipped your lips shut. your mother turned her attention back to the matter at hand though her expression remained serious, her voice softened considerably.

“did you meet his family?” your heart skipped, for a split second, your eyes widened.

family? oh no.

you could practically feel kun's gaze shift toward you, you forced a smile onto your face “y-yes!” you nodded enthusiastically, “i did.” another nod. “they like me very much.” across the room, kun narrowed his eyes slightly, just slightly but enough for you to notice.

you immediately looked away before you laughed, your mother seemed satisfied by the answer, thankfully. she let out a slow sigh before patting the empty space beside her. “come here.”

you blinked, then quickly stood up from the floor and moved to sit beside her on the sofa. the second you sat down, she reached over and adjusted a strand of hair behind your ear. a habit she'd had since you were little and suddenly, you felt yourself relax.

your mother looked at you quietly, really looked at you, not as an athlete. not as someone caught in a scandal. not as a future bride.

just her daughter.

“y/n,” she said softly, “you know ever since your father passed away...” her voice grew quieter “how paranoid i've been. your smile faded, “about raising you.” she let out a small laugh “about whether i was making the right decisions.”

her eyes glistened, “about whether you'd meet the right person.” you felt a lump begin to form in your throat. your mother had always been strong. sometimes so strong that you forgot how much she worried and how much she carried alone.

she reached over and squeezed your hand, “if you really want to do this...” her voice trembled slightly. “then you have my blessing.” the room grew quiet, you blinked rapidly trying very hard not to cry.

your mother smiled softly, “make sure to live in harmony.” her eyes briefly moved toward kun before returning to you. “and happiness.” for a moment, nobody spoke. the late afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow across the room.

the atmosphere itself felt emotional, “thank you, mom.” your voice came out smaller than usual. your mother immediately pulled you into a hug and just like that, your composure shattered.

“mom, don't cry.”

“i'm not crying.”

“your voice is shaking.”

“it doesn't matter.”

your mother laughed through her own tears and held you tighter, across the room, kun watched quietly. his expression unreadable but for the first time since entering the house, his gaze softened, as he watched the two of you and something about the scene made the usually composed ceo look away...

he looked at the scene with such bittersweet emotions, maybe this love. he could've received from his parents..?

a week passed in the blink of an eye, one moment, you were sitting across from qian kun in his office agreeing to a contract marriage and the next, you were drowning in wedding preparations.

dress fittings, venue meetings, guest lists, phone calls and more dress fittings.

every day seemed shorter than the last, disappearing before you could properly process it. whenever you thought about what was happening, someone would hand you another schedule, another form, another decision to mak, it was exhausting.

but strangely enough, it left you with very little time to panic, until today your wedding day. the bridal suite was unusually quiet compared to the chaos outside. staff moved in and out occasionally, making final adjustments, but for the most part, you were alone, alone with your thoughts.

you sat in front of a large mirror, staring at your reflection, the wedding dress flowed around you in layers of white fabric, elegant and beautiful in a way that almost didn't feel real. for a long moment, you simply stared at yourself.

at the veil resting behind your shoulders, at the careful makeup, at the woman in the mirror. you looked like a bride.

a small laugh escaped your lips, disbelieving “wow.” your voice sounded distant, “that's me.” your fingers lightly touched the fabric gathered in your lap.

all your life, you'd imagined countless versions of your future, winning championships, standing on olympic podiums or traveling the world but somehow...you had never imagined this.

never imagined sitting in a wedding dress, preparing to marry qian kun of all people, the realization made your chest tighten but not with fear, just disbelief.

a few weeks ago, your career had been collapsing around you, you'd spent days hidden beneath blankets, convinced your life was over and now you were here.

about to walk down an aisle, about to become someone's wife. you lowered your gaze, the ring resting on the table beside you caught the light your heart skipped, this wasn't a dream.

it wasn't some strange fever-induced hallucination, it was real every bit of it. a soft knock interrupted your thoughts. you glanced toward the door. “come in.”

the door opened slowly and for the first time since sitting down, you finally had to face the reality of what came next.

the wedding was about to begin.

the music echoed softly throughout the venue as you stood near the entrance, your mother's hand gently wrapped around yours. your heart was beating so loudly that you were convinced everyone could hear it.

this was really happening. you took a slow breath and looked ahead. rows of guests filled the seats, their conversations fading as they turned toward you, among them, you immediately spotted familiar faces.

shuhua was sitting near the front, already looking emotional despite the ceremony not even starting yet, the moment she saw you, her eyes widened dramatically.

she looked seconds away from crying, you could practically hear her thoughts from across the room. she actually did it.

beside her sat xinyu, completely glued to her phone. you narrowed your eyes.

seriously?

she is a busy person, of course. brand deals are flooding in for her or doing whatever people did during important life moments nowadays.

your mother followed your gaze, “what's wrong?” you looked back at her with a bittersweet smile, "oh, nothing. it just doesn't feel real.." both of you looked emotional.

then your attention shifted forward again and landed on him, qian kun standing at the end of the aisle.

the black suit fit him perfectly, tailored so well it almost looked unfair. his posture was straight, composed as always, hands folded neatly in front of him while everyone else seemed caught up in the emotions of the moment

he looked calm as ever, for a second, you simply stared because...wow, he was really handsome, ridiculously handsome. the kind of handsome that made you wonder if people got distracted during business meetings.

your eyes lingered a second too long, then another and another. your mother quietly noticed, the tips of her lips tilting upwards, you glanced at your mom, you coughed awkwardly and looked away.

kun was already looking in your direction, his gaze met yours from across the room, steady. unmoving and for the briefest moment, the noise around you seemed to disappear.

leaving only the strange reality that somehow, against all odds, the man waiting at the altar was the same man who had offered you a marriage contract over hospital coffee.

your mother squeezed your hand gently, you blinked and returned to reality “ready?” she whispered, you looked at her, then at the aisle and then at kun. your heart fluttered nervously.

“not at all.” your mother laughed softly. you let out a breathless laugh, then, as the music swelled and every guest turned toward you, you took your first step forward, toward the altar toward qian kun, toward a future neither of you had expected.

the ceremony itself passed in a blur, you remembered walking down the aisle. you remembered your mother wiping away tears. you remembered shuhua crying harder than anyone else in the room and you remembered xinyu finally putting her phone away.

most importantly, you remembered standing beside qian kun, the vows were exchanged, the rings followed, promises were made and before you knew it, the priest was smiling warmly at the two of you.

"you may now kiss the bride."

your soul immediately left your body. what? your eyes widened slightly, nobody had prepared you for this part. you looked at kun, he looked at you the venue suddenly felt very quiet, very, very quiet.

you could feel dozens of eyes staring at the two of you, waiting and expecting. your brain stopped functioning.

oh my god.

kun seemed to notice your panic immediately, his gaze softened slightly then, without a word, he leaned forward, your breath caught. his hand lifted instead of touching your face, his thumb gently rested against your lips.

for a split second, you looked at him in confusion then—he leaned down and pressed a kiss against his own thumb, a simple gesture it was brief, careful enough to satisfy the ceremony, enough to avoid making you uncomfortable.

the guests immediately erupted into applause, cheers echoed throughout the venue, your mother looked relieved,,shuhua was openly sobbing, and xinyu was staring intently.

you, meanwhile, stared at kun, he pulled back as if nothing unusual had happened, completely calm, completely composed as always.

only then did he lean slightly closer and murmur so only you could hear, "you're welcome." your eye twitched and just like that, the first few seconds of your marriage began with you wanting to smack your husband.

📂 A WEEK AGO

a few days earlier, while wedding preparations were taking over every hour of the day, qian kun was nowhere near his office instead, he was standing outside a police station with sicheng beside him.

when he had told you he would clear your name, he hadn't said it to comfort you, he meant it, every word. the moment he made that promise, he had already begun moving pieces behind the scenes.

the glass doors of the police station opened as kun stepped inside, a senior detective immediately stood from his chair upon seeing him. “ah! ceo qian.” the detective approached with a smile, extending his hand. “you didn't have to come here personally. i would've come to you.”

kun shook his hand politely, “it was an important matter.” his voice remained calm. “i had to visit myself.” the detective chuckled, “still the same as ever.” his expression softened slightly.

“ceo qian, ever since you saved my life, i've been indebted to you.” kun simply smiled and gave a small nod. he never liked discussing that incident. once the pleasantries ended, kun got straight to the point.

“did you look into the substance?” the detective's smile disappeared immediately, business, he understood.

“we did.” he motioned for them to enter his office, files were already spread across the desk. the detective opened one and slid several documents toward kun, “the substance found in the reports is unusual.” kun lowered his gaze to the papers “unusual how?”

“the chemical structure doesn't fully match any common performance-enhancing drug we've encountered before.” the detective rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“it's similar to substances we've investigated in previous cases, but not identical.” kun's eyes narrowed slightly. “source?”

“that's the interesting part.” the detective pointed toward another report, “our primary findings suggest it may have been smuggled through south korea.”

sicheng, who had remained silent until now, finally looked up, “smuggled?”

“yes.” the detective nodded, “there have been several investigations involving similar substances over the past few years.” he flipped through another page.

“but this is different.” kun remained silent, allowing him to continue, the detective leaned back in his chair. “there have been similar uses before.” his expression grew serious.

“but this is an entirely new type of drug.” the room fell quiet, kun's gaze remained fixed on the documents, carefully, methodically “and you're certain it wasn't obtained locally?”

the detective shook his head, “nothing points toward a domestic source so far, which means someone intentionally acquired it.”

“that's our current theory.”

sicheng folded his arms “and somehow it ended up connected to zheng y/n.” the detective nodded grimly, “exactly.” for a moment, nobody spoke then kun closed the file, slowly. his expression revealed almost nothing but the detective had known him long enough to recognize that look.

someone had framed you and qian kun had just become very interested in finding out who and somewhere out there, the person responsible was probably living their life as if nothing had happened, kun's jaw tightened ever so slightly.

because qian kun had already made up his mind, whoever had framed you, whoever had taken away your career, whoever had caused you months of pain–he would find them and when he did, he intended to make sure they paid for every single thing they had done.

haechan is just a simple guy. he doesn't mean any harm to you, you just happened to catch his eye one afternoon on campus.

maybe it was the way you laughed at something your friend said, head tilted back without a care in the world. maybe it was the way you tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear while reading beneath the shade of a tree or maybe there wasn't a reason at all.

all he knows is that after that day, he couldn't forget you, he tried. he really did but somehow everytime he thought about you led his hand in his trousers.

he was tired, tired of stroking himself alone. he laid in his bed every night, the rhythm of his chest rising up and down, sweat scattered on his forehead, as he imagines you, taking his length, filling you to the brim, tears leaving your eyes. he even thought about impreganting you, so you can't leave him.

but at the end of the day, it's all just a piece of his imagination. however, fate has another plan, the dream house party is this weekend. this time, he'd approach you without hesitation filling his blood.

it was finally the weekend. the one where haechan had been thinking about for weeks, where he was finally going to talk to you. he genuinely felt so pathetic as if he was high school teenage girl trying to confess to her crush, but the thing was that this was exactly the same thing.

he saw you the moment you walked in. the noise of the party didn’t fade, not really, but something about you cut through it anyway. oh god, you wore a short skim dress, not aware at how many jerks might be staring at you (including him) which made him want to gauge their eyes. he swore he popped a boner right there and then.

his hands embarassingly sweaty, resulting him clamping his hands over his crotch, trying to hide his rising length during the whole party. it was 12 am, people were leaving slowly, haechan was still there, still standing somewhere between “i’m going to do it” and “i’ll wait a few more minutes.”

which, at this point, was basically his entire personality for the night, he watched you from across the room. you were still surrounded by your friends, still talking, still smiling at something someone said like the world wasn’t quietly winding down around you. like time wasn’t slipping away with every second he hesitated.

he sighed, finally forcing his feet to move this was it. no more standing there pretending he was “waiting for the right moment.” there was no right moment. there was only this one, messy, real, slightly terrifying one.

he took a step forward, then another, eyes locked on you like if he looked away even for a second, he might lose the courage completely but then–

your group shifted, your friends started moving straight toward him or more specifically, toward his friends’ side of the room. haechan’s steps slowed almost instantly.

of course.

of course this was happening now, his heart kicked up so fast it almost felt loud in his ears, like it was trying to warn him before his brain could even catch up. suddenly, everything felt closer. tighter. like the room had shrunk without asking permission.

haechan caught in his gaze, the way you were walking towards him right now...everytime you took a step, your oh so perfect tits bounce just right, his eyes locked on them, for too long but not too long for you to notice. it drived him to the edge of crazy.

his mind already racing with filthly thoughts, he shifts uncomfortably, adjusting his growing erection in his pants. he let out a small, slightly awkward breath that might’ve been a laugh if he had more control over his nervous system.

one of your friends cut in first, haechan barely had time to register the movement before someone was suddenly in front of him, smiling like this was the most normal thing in the world.

“hey! wanna play truth or dare?”

for a second, he just blinked because his brain was still stuck on you being right there. close enough that he didn’t even have to look for you anymore.

“uh—yeah,” he heard himself say before he could overthink it into oblivion, his voice sounded normal. somehow miraculously. his friends immediately reacted like he had just agreed to jump off a building for fun.

haechan shot them a look, but it didn’t really land because his attention kept slipping back to you.

the group started forming a loose circle in the living room, people dragging chairs, sitting on the floor, laughing as the night finally settled into something slower, more contained.

haechan slides into the circle, positioning himself directly across from you so he has a perfect view. he leans back on his hands, legs spread casually as he watches you settle into your spot.

"alright, who's going first?" jaemin asks, spinning an empty bottle in the center. the bottle slows down, pointing directly at one of your friends.one of the friends clapped her hands dramatically, grinning “truth or dare?” the girl the bottle landed on didn’t even hesitate “truth!” immediate chaos.

the group around her reacted at once,

“no fun!!”

“boring!”

“you’re supposed to suffer a little!”

laughter broke through the complaints, filling the space again, light and easy, bouncing off the walls that were slowly feeling less like a party and more like a shared secret between everyone left in the room.

haechan let himself smile a little at that, just watching, but then his eyes drifted.

of course they did, to you.

you were sitting not too far away, listening, laughing at something someone whispered beside you, completely relaxed like the whole thing didn’t have the same effect on him that it did on you.

the girl suddenly leaned forward, eyes scanning the circle like she was about to expose secrets for fun “okay so,” she said, dragging it out for effect, “the people among us… who still is a virgin!" the room went instantly louder.

“oh my god—”

laughter bounced around the circle as people started pointing, teasing, trying to guess before anyone even answered properly. she buried her face in her hands for a second before finally peeking out between her fingers “ugh, fine.”

the room quieted immediately, she pointed across the circle “it's y/n..!" for a split second, everything went still then every head turned toward you, haechan's heart immediately dropped somewhere near his stomach.

the words hit him like a truck, his breath hitching audibly in his throat. immediately, his jeans became painfully tight, the realization that you were untouched driving him absolutely insane. he shifts his legs uncomfortably, trying to hide the massive bulge forming in his pants, his eyes locked solely on you with a newfound, predatory hunger. "fuck..." he muttered under his breath.

you looked completely caught off guard, “what?” you laughed, staring at your friend in disbelief.

“you asked!”

“i didn't think you'd actually say it..”

the room exploded into reactions, some people looked shocked and some looked suspicious. others immediately started teasing you while your friend defended herself with a dramatic, “don't blame me! you told me the truth!”

later, as the party slowly emptied out, people began gathering their things and saying their goodbyes.

the once crowded living room was now scattered with half-finished conversations and tired laughter. the energy had shifted completely from loud and chaotic to soft and sleepy.

haechan stood near the front door, hands tucked into his pockets and somehow, after spending an entire night trying to gather the courage to talk to you, he still hadn't done it.

it was actually impressive.

almost, then he saw you. you were saying goodbye to your friends, adjusting the strap of your bag as you prepared to leave. his stomach dropped.

no.

absolutely not.

if he let you walk out that door now, he knew exactly what would happen. before he could talk himself out of it, his feet started moving and suddenly he was standing in front of you. for a moment, neither of you said anything.

mostly because haechan's carefully prepared speech had completely disappeared from his brain.

"uh..."

great start.

you looked at him expectantly, he nearly laughed from nerves "you're leaving?" the second the words left his mouth, he wanted to throw himself into traffic.

obviously you were leaving.

you were standing by the door with your bag on.

genius observation.

but instead of looking annoyed, you smiled slightly. "yeah."

"right. yeah." he said, with a hint of hesitation.

silence.

haechan could feel himself actively losing this battle then he forced himself to continue "i was wondering..." his voice came out steadier this time. "would it be okay if i dropped you home?"

for a second, his heart forgot how to function, the question hung between you yet somehow it felt like the most terrifying thing he'd ever asked. you blinked, clearly surprised, not uncomfortable. just surprised which, honestly, was fair.

from your perspective, a guy you'd barely spoken to had suddenly appeared at the end of the night offering you a ride.

haechan immediately rushed to explain "only if you're okay with it," he added quickly. "if not, that's completely fine." he scratched the back of his neck, looking away for a moment "i just thought i'd ask." his honesty surprised even himself.

you studied him for a second and for the first time since he'd noticed you months ago in that university courtyard, haechan realized he wasn't looking at some impossible fantasy. he was standing in front of a real person and for the first time, you were looking right back at him.

ever since that night he dropped you to your home. it stimulates him that he knows where you live, your address. he has no bad intentions, he would never think of doing such a pathetic thing— but here he is, infront of your apartment complex.

he has your routine memorized, like the back of his hand. to anyone it was just a mundane routine but to him? it was poetry. he knew, at five am, the morning light peeked in your apartment causing you to wake up. then you'd get ready til six thirty am and leave for your uni.

you'd return home by seven to seven thirty pm, the real rush that made his blood hum with excitement was that today you were at a sleepover, he heard from your friends meaning you wouldn't be home today.

he has no bad intentions, really. he just wants you to feel loved, loved by him.

right now, he stands in front of your apartment. his eyes are locked on the keypad. he paces slowly in the dimly lit hallway. in his mind, he replays the exact movement of your finger. he had the code completely memorized.

he steps closer and presses the digits one by one. a sharp beep tears through the silent hallway. the lock click turns, as the door opens and all he could smell was remnents of you, your smell and your presence.

he steps inside, his eyes filled with lust scanning the familiarly unfamiliar place, the scent of vanilla and jasmine hits him instantly, your scent. it's intoxicating, driving him mad with desire.

he closes the door behind him, the click of the lock echoing in the quiet apartment. he pushes open your bedroom door slowly, stepping inside. his breath catches in his throat. the room is a sanctuary, soft pink walls, fairy lights draped across the ceiling, your scent lingering in the air like a beautiful ghost. he runs his fingers along the edge of your desk, his touch gentle, reverent.

he exits youe room, his feet moving towards the bathroom with a hidden ambition. his heart races as he spies your discarded panties on the bathroom floor. he picks them up cautiously, bringing them to his nose, oh god, your smell... something intimate and erotic awakes inside of him. his cock hardens instantly in his sweatpants.

he looks around, checking if someone could see him. the irony, his hand travels down to his trousers. he palmed his crotch as he found himself delving into your scent, he gasps for air.

he presses the fabric against his nose again, inhaling deeply. his free hand travels down his sweatpants, slowly. his throbbing length springs free and he groans softly, stroking himself as he sniffs your panties. he breathes, his thumb circling his tip. his breath is ragged, desperate. desperate for you.

his hand moves faster, pumping his length rhythmically as he imagines you beneath him. he presses your panties against his face, groaning at the intoxicating scent, "fuck... you smell so good, baby..." he pants, his hips bucking slightly, he closes his eyes, picturing your face.

his strokes grow harder, faster. in his mind, he sees you— eyes wide, lips parted as he slides inside you. He imagines your tight warmth gripping him, your soft moans filling his ears, "yes... take it all" he whines, his hips thrusting into empty air, his voice echoing in the empty apartment.

his pace becomes frantic, desperate. his cock twitches violently in his grip as he imagines your walls clamping down on him, milking him endlessly. his other hand squeezes your panties against his face, he strokes himself with the thrill of getting caught by you.

with a guttural, choked moan, his body arches violently. thick ropes of cum spill over his hand and the bathroom floor, his hips bucking uncontrollably into his fist as he rides out the intense orgasm. he gasps, panting heavily. his entire body trembles as the waves of pleasure crash over him.

after shamelessly catching his breath, he moves to your dresser, pulling open the drawer filled with your neatly folded panties. his eyes darken with hunger as he selects a pair. soft, silk, unused. he rubs his drying cum across the fabric, marking them with his essence.

a dark grin spreads across his face as he finishes marking them, his chest swells with twisted pride that every morning you'll slide into these panties, unaware that his cum will be pressing against your folds, coating your delicate flesh. you'll walk around, go about your day, feeling nothing but the fabric.

the next few days, he sees you across campus and his heart swells with this dark secret. you wave at him brightly, completely unaware that your sweet pussy is basically wraped around his essence. he waves back, playing the naive friend while inside he's burning with possesion.

for the next few weeks, the space between you teo seemed to shrink with every passing day. it became a fixture in the lecture halls, always sliding into the same creaking wooden seats, shoulders brushing with every shared laugh. but the casual hangouts and quiet study dates were no longer enough to quiet the restless storm brewing inside him.

a heavy, aching dissatisfaction had taken root. he didn’t just want to be close to you anymore; he wanted to tear down every remaining boundary, to consume you completely and feel you wrap around him from the inside out.

he just couldn't wait no more. he tried. he really did. but you would test his patience when you showed up in the shortest shorts, and tight tanks that barely covered you. sometimes he wondered if you were intentionally straining his patience, pushing his self-control to the limit.

today, he stood just a step away, his chest rising and falling in a slow, deliberate rhythm. the usual easygoing warmth in his eyes had vanished, replaced by something dark, intense, and unreadable as he watched the rain drip from your jawline.

you'd asked him to drop you off to your apartment, but it started raining, heavily. oh, how haechan thanked the heavens.

the rain fell in punishing sheets, standing under the shelter of the apartment awning, you were both completely soaked. strands of wet hair clung to your face, and your clothes felt heavy, plastering themselves to your skin.

haechan's eyes flickered, catching the way your white shirt had become translucent from the rain, clinging to your curves like a second skin. through the thin, wet fabric, your black bra was clearly visible, the lace pattern barely concealed.

he swallowed hard, his adam's apple bobbing as he watched the water droplets trail down between your breasts, disappearing beneath your collar.

it took every ounce of his self-control to keep his composure. he clenched his jaw, forcing his eyes away from the tantalizing sight of your wet shirt clinging to your breasts. he shifted his weight, discreetly adjusting his stance to hide the growing problem in his jeans, his knuckles turning white as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"uh, i'll go now.." he said, diverting his eyes from you. "you're going to freeze out here," you said, your voice shivering slightly as you offered a kind, sympathetic smile. you gestured toward the heavy glass doors of the complex.

"come inside. just until the storm lets up, i can get you a dry towel." you urged him. how could he refuse you?, to which he reluctantly walked to your apartment, his steps heavy and deliberate as he followed you down the quiet corridor. he kept his eyes locked firmly on the back of your head, watching the way your wet clothes clung to your skin.

his hands curling into tight fists at his sides to keep from reaching out prematurely. he was crossing the threshold into your private world. a faint, dangerous shift passed over his features; a predator recognizing that the cage doors had just been unlocked from the inside.

when you unlocked the door, he stepped inside the utterly familiar house, which once he filled his scent with, inhaling deeply. the air still holds traces of him, ghosts of his presence, of the countless hours he's spent inside your walls. his eyes scan over you, damp and vulnerable, unaware that he's violated this sanctuary of yours dozens of times.

he watches you disappear into the bathroom, his mind racing. the sight of you, soaked and naive, has his heart pounding and his jeans growing tight. when you return with a towel, he takes it from you without a word, deliberately letting his fingers brush against yours.

"thanks.." he said with a soft smile, "yeah, no worries. just make sure don't catch a cold!

he nods, forcing his smile to remain casual as he watches you dry your hair. the gentle concern in your voice sends a jolt of possessiveness through him. he wants to keep you warm, keep you safe... and keep you wrapped around his dick.

"i'll bring you something warm to drink, mhm?" you said softly. his heart swelled at your sweetness. he nodded, watching you walk into the kitchen to make hot coffee. his steps were completely silent as he followed.

he purposely stood directly behind you, pressing his broad, damp chest flush against your back. he leaned his weight against the counter, trapping you between his bodu and the kitchen island. his cock presses against your soaked shorts as he feigns casual indifference, pretending to observe the coffee brewing.

"smells good," yeah, he couldn't give one single fuck about the coffee, the only scent he was craving was yours. he murmurs against your ear, his hips subtly grinding forward so you can't miss it.

you jolted, your breath hitching at the sudden warmth pressing against your back. you quickly convinced yourself he wasn’t doing it intentionally; the kitchen was small, and he was just trying to stay out of the way.

trying to shake off the sudden nervousness, you forced your hands to stay steady and continued brewing the coffee, "uh, yeah..." you stammered, your voice trailing off as you stared fixedly at the mugs, trying to ignore the wetness dripping in your panties.

he notices your nervousness and it intoxicates him. the way you're trying so hard to be normal, to be a good host, while he's violating your personal space. he grinds a little harder, letting you feel the full length of his arousal pressed between your ass cheeks.

you didn't mean to let out a whimper, your clamped your thighs tighter at the contact. haechan's ego swelling at your lack of experience.

his eyes flash with triumph at your unintentional whimper. he swallows hard, his arm wrapping around your waist to pull you back against him fully. his other hand moves to cover yours on the counter, holding you in place as he continues to grind against you slowly, deliberately.

"shh..." his hand travels around your curves, you didn't stop him, it felt so good.

he feels your knees weaken and it makes him dizzy with power. your body is betraying you, responding to his hidden assault even as your mind remains oblivious. he grinds with more pressure. "just let your body feel it...doll."

his hand slides down from your waist to grip your thigh, lifting it slightly to change the angle so he can press deeper between your cheeks. he kisses your neck gently as he dry humps you against the counter.

haechan was way more vocal than you, he moaned against your ear, goosebumps spreading across your skin. his hand travels down to the waistband of your soaked shorts and your panties, tugging them down slowly as your whimpers fill the kitchen.

he drops them to the floor, exposing your bare skin to the cool air and his burning gaze. his cock is rock hard against your ass, slick with his own precum. "you're so wet, baby.." he groans, "you can give it to me, right?"

he coaxed you with his sweet and gentle voice, His voice drops to a low, soothing murmur as his fingers find your slick folds, sliding inside you with agonizing slowness. he feels your walls clench around him, your body responding despite your confusion.

"easy there, doll... just relax for me..." he curls his fingers gently, searching for that spot he knows makes you melt. "you feel so good..."

"haechan...i've never done this before..." you let out a breathy moan, his heart stutters at your confession–which he already knows, something dark and predatory burns behimd his eyes. he strokes you slower, gentler, revering the wet heat of you. his thumb finds the bundle of nerves, rubbing soft circles. he continues to stimulate you to the fullest.

he turns you to face him, his hands framing your face gently as he sees your eyes got glossy from the mere pleasure he gave you. he wondered how badly are you going to break when he stuffs you with his cock, filling you up or when he fucks your throat ruthlessly, gagging around his cock.

oh he was just getting started, you were so devastingly innocent, all he wanted to do was to corrupt you beyond any limit.

his lips curl into a dark smile as he takes in your innocent face, your tear-filled eyes. he realizes just how easy it would be to corrupt you, to take your virginity and make you love every second of it.

haechan, then led you into the bedroom, his hand firm on your lower back as he guided you forward. once inside he started peeling off his clothes right in front of you, first tugging his shirt over his head to reveal his chest, then shoving his pants and underwear down in one motion.

his cock sprung free, already half-hard and flushed. he stepped out of the pile of fabric and moved closer, reaching for your own clothes next. he stripped you slowly, pulling your soaked shirt off, as he clipped off your bra as you stood bare in front of him.

suddenly you were hyperaware of everything about you. you felt insecure, your hands rushed to cover your breasts– but haechan burned inside when he witnessed you conceal your beautiful body, the body which he can worship for hours, the body which he could not leave untouched.

"no, no, no." he immediately pushed your hands from covering yourself. he sounded so angered as if it personally offended him, it absolutely did. he let you sit on the bed, standing in front of you with his cock standing hard.

he had climbed onto the bed and pushed two fingers into your mouth, sliding them over your tongue, "suck," he whispered, his other hand stroked his cock. your naive eyes fluttered open, confused but obedient as you closed your lips around his fingers and sucked gently.

he whimpered, pulling his fingers out and replacing them with the head of his cock, "you're so beautiful, do you know that?" you took him into your mouth, tasting the salt of his precum while he thrust shallowly between your lips, he removed his cock from your lips, and laid you down on the bed.

he pinned your wrists above your head. he shifted lower between your spread thighs, releasing one wrist so his fingers could trail down your stomach. two thick digits pressed between your folds, rubbing over your clit in slow circles before he pushed them inside.

a moan escaped your lips when he moved his digits inside you, his ego swelling beyond limit. he worked them in and out steadily, stretching your tight walls while his thumb kept stroking that sensitive spot above. the way your back arched oh god, he loved how your tits bounced to the rhythm of his strokes. your juices coated his fingers quickly as he curled them upward, searching for the spot that made your hips twitch.

he pulled his fingers free after a few minutes and brought them to his mouth, sucking them clean with a low hum. then he lowered his face between your legs, leaving small pecks on your stomach, on your pelvic bone and on your inner thigh. his tongue dragged a long, flat stripe from your entrance up to your clit, tasting you fully before he sealed his lips around the swollen nub and sucked resulting a devastingly beautiful moan from you. "mhmg!...haechan.."

"oh you taste like heaven..." he licked and lapped with purpose, tongue dipping inside you now and then while his nose pressed against your mound. you trembled continuously and he showed no signs of stopping his assault on your core.

his hands gripped your thighs, keeping them wide open as he ate you out, saliva and your wetness mixing and dripping down toward the sheets.

he stayed there, tongue working deeper and faster, it made you see white, your toes curled with pleasure filling up your nerves. you squirted until your thighs started shaking around his head, your juices gushing out rapidly. his face, the sheets and your thighs dripped of your cum.

only then did he pull back, lips shiny, and crawl up your body again. he gazed at your dried tears, "oh baby, you did so well," he captured your lips in a deep, consuming kiss, nothing sweet or innocent about it. his tongue invades your mouth. he moaned into the kiss, tasting your juice, suckling on your tongue, a clash of teeth and tongues.

"i'm gonna fill you up raw, baby..." he heaved with lust veiling his eyes, his cock rested heavy against your slick pussy as he positioned himself, the head nudging your entrance without pushing in yet.

he growls, lining the thick head of his cock against your untouched entrance. he pushes forward slowly at first, the fat tip stretching your tight hole, then slams in deeper with one rough thrust. your hymen tears open under the force, the thin membrane ripping apart around his cock as he forces every inch inside you, you screamed out, with pain flowing in veins which slowly transitioned into tempering pleasure.

blood trickles out around his shaft, spilling on the bedsheet and mixing with the slick from his precum as he starts pounding into you without mercy. each thrust drives deeper, stretching your virgin walls that clench and flutter around him.

he pulls back just enough to see the red streaks on his cock before slamming back in, fucking the torn innocence wider with every stroke. his hips snap forward relentlessly, the wet sounds of your bleeding cunt filling the room as he claims your virginity completely.

he doesn't slow down, not one bit. he finally have you under him, after months of longing. hd grinded his pelvis against your clit while his cock rearranges your insides, pushing past the resistance until he's buried balls deep as he fucks you harder, the head of his dick battering your cervix with each brutal thrust.

your body shakes under him while he uses your freshly deflowered pussy, pulling out partially to watch your juices cling to his cock before ramming back inside.

his pace grew erratic as he chased his orgasm, grinding deep and holding there while his cock pulsed. hot cum flooded your insides, thick ropes painting your walls and leaking out around his shaft to mix with the blood.

he stayed buried inside you, rocking gently to push his load deeper, "stay like this, doll.." he ordered, keeping you pinned beneath him, "we don't want any of it to drip out? okay?"

haechan told himself, he can't live without you, never and you can never leave him, ever. the way he can keep you to himself, only to himself is to get you pregnant. his nerves filled with joy, when he envisions you all big and plump with his seed in you.

so, even after he came he kept his cock inside, half-hard and twitching as more cum seeped into you. his hands roamed your body while he whispered about how he'd keep coming back to fill you up until your belly swelled.

you laid there dazed, his fingers back in your mouth as you sucked them clean, completely unaware of how thoroughly he'd claimed you.

"national figure skating star zheng y/n, 23, has been accused of violating anti-doping regulations after reports alleged the presence of AAS, commonly known as performance enhancing substances, during a recent investigation. as the controversy spreads online, additional allegations surrounding misconduct and favouritism within the federation have also surfaced, causing public backlash and placing her career under intense scrutiny."

the sound of the reporter echoed through the empty ice skating rink, her voice bouncing off the cold walls like a cruel reminder of everything crashing down around you.

your coach stormed across the ice, dress shoes scraping harshly against the surface before he shoved his phone inches from your face. his fists were balled so tightly his knuckles had turned white. he was furious. beyond furious.

“tell me this isn’t true.”

on the screen was your face plastered across every headline.

zheng y/n accused of doping scandal.

your breath caught as the reporter continued speaking in the background.

“—additional allegations have begun surfacing online, causing severe backlash against the twenty-three-year-old figure skater…”

the rink suddenly felt colder than ever.

you looked down, with glossy eyes. you shouldn't cry, this isn't your place to cry, you embarrassed your coach, your teammates, your family, and yourself. you bit your lower lip, forcing back tears. you let out a sigh.

"coach," you exhaled, wondering if he'll believe what you say. "i didn't do it. i swear," a tear falling against your cheek, your throat tightening. a lump forming in your throat, your heart felt suffocated; you couldn't get the words out of your words.

your throat tightened painfully, as your chest rose unevenly. it felt like the air had disappeared from the rink entirely, your heart squeezing so hard it hurt to breathe.

“i would never do something like that…” you whispered. your coach furrowed his eyebrows, not convinced, though he knew you wouldn't do something like this. not because he thought you were guilty; no, he had watched you bleed on the ice for years, watched you train until your ankles gave out and your hands trembled from exhaustion. he knew you better than anyone.

but scandals like this didn’t care about the truth. before you could say another word, he grabbed your wrist, tugging you toward the rink exit.

“okay then,” he said quickly, desperation slipping into his voice, “we’ll go to the police and tell them everything. i’ll talk to the higher-ups myself. i’ll make sure you stay on the national team until this gets cleared up.”

his words lit the smallest candle of hope inside your chest. for a second, you wanted to believe him and wanted to believe this could still be fixed.

your lips trembled as you slowly pulled your hand away from his grasp, fingers curling tightly into your palms until your nails dug painfully into your skin.

“coach,” you said shakily, forcing the words out through gritted teeth, “listen to me.” he furrowed his brows, beads of sweat dropping from his forehead in this cold room.

“it’s not that easy.”

your coach stared at you, confusion and frustration mixing across his face. “what do you mean it’s not easy?” he snapped quietly. “if you didn’t do it, then we fight this. we prove them wrong.” a bitter laugh almost escaped you. you swallowed harshly, your voice dropping to barely above a whisper.

“they already decided i’m guilty.”

⛸️ A WEEK LATER

a week later, the world outside had only gotten louder. headlines, accusations, interviews, every channel still had your name plastered across the screen like you were some criminal waiting to be sentenced. sponsors dropped you one by one. your federation released a vague statement. even your social media had become unbearable to look at.

so you stopped.

stopped answering calls. stopped opening curtains. stopped stepping outside.

your apartment was dark, cold, buried in silence as you laid curled beneath layers of blankets on the couch, staring blankly at the muted television.

ding dong.

your brows furrowed, for a moment, you ignored it, thinking whoever it was would eventually leave. but the bell rang again. and again, letting out a tired sigh, you pushed the blankets off yourself and dragged your feet toward the door. the moment you opened it, your breath caught slightly.

“y/n…”

standing outside were your teammates, xinyu and shuhua held a paper bag tightly in her hands while xinyu offered you a small, hesitant smile. both of them looked worried the second they saw your exhausted appearance.

and suddenly, after spending an entire week alone, the apartment didn’t feel quite as empty anymore.

you stepped back, to let them inside,the familiar warmth of their presence filling the stale air, their expressions melted into visible sadness after seeing your state. concern, sadness, almost painful in your eyes. you were wrapped in exhaustion. i mean you looked pitiful, understandable.

"y/n, i'm so sorry this happened to you," shuhua whispered with a frown on her face, xinyu nodded behind her, agreeing what shuhua was preaching. you simply nodded at her words because what else can you do, but you were honestly happy when they told you about their achievements.

you moved quickly, motioning for them to sit before going to the kitchen to grab glasses of water, after a week of hibernating inside your blankets.your movements felt somewhat slow as if your body was still catching up to the week you'd lost. you felt warmth within you, seeing your friends.

xinyu hesitated before putting the glass on the table. "i got selected into the national team, replacing you," complete silence. "honestly, i feel so guilty, i'm so sorry, y/n." xinyu frowned with a pout on her lips.

your chest tightened, not because you blamed her, but the world had already taken so much from you, another good news sounded like a kind of loss for you.

you exhaled slowly, forcing a soft smile to form even as it wavered at the edges. “i’m so happy for you, xinyu,” you whispered, voice gentle. you gave her a look that tried to be reassuring, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. “i’m glad you’re getting opportunities… you don’t have to feel guilty.”

your words came out steady, but something sharp formed in your throat right after, like a lump made of thorns pressing down every breath you tried to take. xinyu opened her mouth like she wanted to argue, but shuhua gently touched her arm, stopping her.

and just like that, the conversation drifted, thirty minutes passed like that. soft voices filling the space you thought had forgotten how to hold people. shuhua talked about practice sessions, about the coach being stricter than ever, about how the rink felt emptier without you. then she hesitated, glancing at you carefully.

“coach… and everyone,” shuhua said quietly, “they still talk about you.”your fingers paused around your glass. “they said they miss you,” she continued. “and… they’re waiting for you to come back.” for a moment, you didn’t respond.

something warm and fragile stirred inside your chest — unfamiliar after days of cold silence. you blinked once, then again, as if making sure you heard her correctly.

they still… wanted you back?

your lips parted slightly, but no words came out. instead, your shoulders sank just a little, like your body was finally allowing itself to feel something other than emptiness, and for the first time in a long while…you didn’t feel completely alone.

you opened your mouth to speak, but before any words could come out, xinyu’s phone suddenly rang. the vibration cut through the soft atmosphere like a crack. she reached for it quickly, glancing at the screen before answering.

“oh, alright, i’ll be there!” she said brightly, a smile instantly appearing on her face. she ended the call and looked up, only to meet two silent stares; yours and shuhua’s. who was it? the question hung unspoken in the air.

xinyu hesitated for a second before shifting in her seat. “guys… i think i have to leave earlier than expected. i have practice.” her eyes lit up slightly as she said it. “you know the finals are coming up…” for a moment, something flickered in your chest.

that expression. that excitement.

it used to be yours.

you used to speak like that about practice. about skating. about everything waiting for you on the ice. shuhua shot xinyu a sharp look, inhaling through her teeth in frustration, but xinyu immediately looked guilty. “oh—i didn’t mean to—”

you raised your hands gently, cutting her off before she could spiral. a small, genuine smile formed on your lips. “no, no! it’s fine,” you said softly. “it’s good seeing you happy, xinyu.” for a second, the tension eased. xinyu smiled back at you, a little relieved now, and quickly stood up to gather her things.

“i’ll text you later,” she said, adjusting her bag. you nodded at her, she gave both you and shuhua a small wave before heading out the door, her steps quick with purpose, already returning to the world you had been pulled out of and just like that… the apartment grew quieter again.

💊 AT SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL

the room was too quiet for something so expensive. it didn’t feel like a hospital room, more like a luxury apartment dressed in white walls and sterile silence. polished floors. soft lighting. a skyline view that meant nothing when you couldn’t step outside.

monitors beeped steadily beside the bed, each sound a reminder that time was still moving, even when everything else felt frozen. qian kun sat in a chair beside his father, posture straight but heavy, elbows resting on his knees.

on the wall-mounted television behind them, muted news footage played, headlines, scandals, names flashing across the screen like they were disposable. he didn’t really look at it.

his gaze stayed on the man in the hospital bed instead. his father. the man who built QN group from nothing. the man who now lay pale and still, weakened by something money couldn’t negotiate with. kun’s jaw tightened slightly. all of this, the wealth, the empire, the influence, and none of it could fix this.

his fingers curled once, slowly, then relaxed again. controlled. always controlled. but control didn’t change the fact that the beeping monitor was the only thing proving his father was still here and somewhere behind the noise of the television, another name flickered across the screen.

zheng y/n.

kun’s eyes finally shifted, just slightly distant, calculating as the reporter continued, the muted television filled the room with a soft, distant hum.

“figure skater zheng y/n… accused of misuse of AAS, also known as performance-enhancing doping…”

kun’s gaze, previously fixed on his father, slowly lifted, his eyes moved to the screen. the image of her appeared; bright arena lights, a frozen moment of perfection, a smile that didn’t match the chaos now being spoken over it. his expression changed almost unnoticeably.

his eyes narrowed slightly, studying the face on the screen, the gaze so sharp as if he could shoot razors into the screen. around him, the monitors kept beeping steadily, indifferent to the world outside the room, the reporter’s voice continued, but it blurred into background noise.

his father’s eyelids fluttered before slowly opening, the beeping monitors shifting slightly in rhythm as his condition stabilized just enough to return to awareness. kun’s posture straightened immediately. the screen behind him was forgotten in an instant.

“father…” he spoke quietly, almost restrained, like even his voice had been trained to stay controlled in moments like this. chairman qian turned his head with visible effort, lips curling into a weak, almost teasing smile.

“ah…” he rasped, voice rough but still carrying that familiar vigour of authority, “i forgot i had a son who actually cared about me.” a faint breath of laughter escaped him, strained but real. “you finally visited me, you punk!" kun exhaled slowly through his nose, expression unchanged, though his eyes softened just slightly.

“i couldn’t before,” he replied evenly, “due to overlapping meetings.” it sounded like a report more than an excuse. the chairman narrowed his eyes at him, unimpressed even in his weakened state. “meetings,” he repeated, as if the word itself was offensive. “you always have meetings.” kun didn’t respond immediately.

his gaze stayed steady, composed, the kind of calm that didn’t break even under pressure, but the faint sound of the television behind them still lingered in the room’s atmosphere, like something unfinished.

his father kept talking, voice still weak but carrying that same stubborn energy that never really left him “my son…” he muttered, staring at the ceiling like he was already exhausted by the conversation, “how old are you already? you’re thirty this year.”

his father let out a long breath, half annoyed, half amused“you know,” he continued, “i was already married at twenty-one.”he turned his head slightly, squinting at kun like he was personally offended by his life choices.

“and you?"

“what about you, you punk?”

kun blinked once, slow. the question landed, but he didn’t rush to answer it. his expression stayed calm, almost unreadable, but something behind his eyes shifted, faint, complicated, like he’d heard it a hundred times before but never felt like replying. he glanced down for a moment, then back at his father.

“you were forced to marry, i am not,” he said simply.

not rude. not defensive. just… honest.

his father clicked his tongue softly, clearly unimpressed, but there was no real anger in it. just a tired kind of concern buried under years of expectation, his father raised an eyebrow suddenly, eyes narrowing with visible curiosity despite how exhausted he looked.

“kun,” he started slowly, “are you gay?”

kun stared at him blankly.

the chairman continued anyway, completely serious. “you’re always stuck to your secretary’s hip. uh… what’s his name again…”his brows furrowed as he tried to remember. then his face lit up faintly.

“ah, yes. sicheng.”

kun looked at him with complete deadpan silence for a solid second before exhaling quietly through his nose. “that’s not the case, father." his tone stayed calm, though faint disbelief slipped through. kun met his father’s eyes directly, and posture is still composed as ever.

“i’m not interested in marriage,” he said simply.

a brief pause followed before he added, quieter this time,

“not right now.”

his father hummed unconvinced, giving him a long look like he could see straight through him. “you punk! i'm on my deathbed, just let me see you married.” kun rubbed a hand over his face, he said with genuine care.

“father, don't get rile up over something so useless, your blood pressure is gonna spike up again.” the chairman shot back "qian kun,” his tone alone made him look at him properly.

the chairman suddenly straightened slightly, whatever weakness in his body was momentarily overshadowed by pure stubbornness.

“if you do not get married while i’m still alive…” he paused to exhale, breath shaky from exhaustion, “then i will donate every last cent of my fortune.”

“no chairman position. no inheritance. nothing.”

the older man narrowed his eyes at him.

“stay a bachelor for the rest of your life since that’s apparently what you like.”

with a dramatic huff, chairman qian crossed his arms as best as he could and turned his back toward him like an upset child refusing to continue the conversation. silence filled the room for a second. kun stared at the back of his father’s head, almost in disbelief.

“…father.”

“hmph.”

“you’re blackmailing me from a hospital bed..?"

“and?” the chairman grumbled without turning back. “is it working?” kun let out a breath of amusement, somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple slowly.

kun raised an eyebrow for a brief moment before letting out a quiet sigh. he stood from his chair and leaned down slightly, carefully pulling the duvet higher over his father’s shoulders. despite everything, the motion was instinctive. gentle.

“rest,” he said quietly. “i’ll be taking my leave now.” his father didn’t reply this time. whether asleep or simply ignoring him out of stubbornness, kun couldn’t tell, he stared at him for a second longer before finally turning away.

the vip room door slid open smoothly. outside stood two large bodyguards dressed in black, stiff as statues. beside them was his secretary, sicheng, completely absorbed in his phone as he scrolled through something with zero awareness of his surroundings. kun walked toward him with measured, clean steps.

then snapped his fingers directly in front of his face, and sicheng nearly jumped out of his skin. “oh—my god,” he breathed out, clutching his chest dramatically. “you scared me.” kun looked at him blankly. “slacking off?” the question immediately made sicheng straighten his posture like someone hit a reset button.

“absolutely not!” he said quickly. “i was just, uh… checking the deployment of the new—” kun cut him in “didn’t we already do that?” sicheng visibly froze, “…double checking,” he recovered weakly, forcing out a nervous laugh. “is quite efficient, boss.”

kun stared at him for a long second, thoroughly unconvinced, then he started walking again. sicheng hurried after him as the bodyguards followed behind. the polished hospital hall echoed with their footsteps while the two continued bickering on the way toward the elevator.

“you spend more time on your phone than working.”

“that’s not true.”

“your screen time says otherwise.”

“…you checked my screen time?”

kun glanced at him flatly. “you left it open during a meeting.” sicheng groaned quietly in embarrassment while the elevator doors slid open in front of them.

❄️ TWO WEEKS LATER ❄️

your name slowly disappeared from television screens. the headlines that once screamed your downfall were buried beneath newer scandals, newer tragedies, and newer people for the world to tear apart. tv stations stopped mentioning you. reporters stopped camping outside your apartment. even the internet seemed to move on.

the chaos died down, but for you, the world had stopped the moment everything was taken away because people didn’t understand that it wasn’t just your reputation you lost. it was your first love.

ice skating had been there before the medals, before the cameras, the pressure. it was the only place where your mind ever felt quiet, the only thing that ever made you feel free and now, even looking at your skates hurt but still… some habits were impossible to abandon.

so sometimes, late at night when the city was asleep, you would sneak into the ice rink. hidden beneath oversized hoodies and caps, hoping no one would recognize the fallen athlete everyone once adored, the rink was always freezing. empty and silent but the moment your blades touched the ice, something inside you loosened.

you skated alone beneath dim lights, movements softer now, slower not for practice, not for competition, not for perfection, just to breathe, to let out the emotions trapped inside your chest; the anger. the grief. the humiliation, all the words you couldn’t bring yourself to say out loud became etched into the ice instead..

so lost in your thoughts, your blade slipped slightly against the ice, your balance gave out in an instant

“ah—”

you twisted your ankle awkwardly before falling face-first onto the freezing surface with a harsh thud. ouch. usually, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. twisted ankles, sore muscles, and bruises they were normal in skating. you’d learned how to endure pain years ago, but today…

today it hurt.

you slowly pushed yourself upright, sitting on the ice as you reached for your left foot. your fingers trembled slightly while untying the skate, carefully pulling it off, the moment you rotated your ankle gently, pain shot through it sharply. a small yelp escaped your lips as you inhaled through your mouth, trying to breathe through it.

it hurt more than before or maybe… maybe it was everything else hurting at the same time, the humiliation. the loneliness. the silence. all the emotions you kept forcing down finally felt too heavy to carry. a tear slipped down quietly, landing against your knee. then another, and another.

your vision blurred almost instantly as your breathing became uneven. you pressed a hand over your mouth, trying to stop it, trying to stay quiet, but the sob that escaped you sounded broken after weeks of holding everything in, you finally shattered.

your cries echoed through the empty rink, small and helpless against the massive walls surrounding you, sitting alone on the ice, crying harder than the injury itself deserved.

you asked your manager to drive you to the hospital. your eyes were swollen and red, exhaustion still lingering in them after crying for what felt like hours. strangely enough, part of you felt lighter now, like all the emotions trapped inside your chest had finally spilt out but another part of you felt miserable. pathetic.

your manager helped you through the hospital entrance, your limp uneven as you walked through the polished white halls. the scent of antiseptic filled the air, you’d been here countless times before because of skating injuries. sprains, bruises, and overworked muscles.

but this time felt different.

ridiculous, almost.

later, you sat quietly in front of a nurse while she carefully wrapped gauze around your swollen ankle. you winced slightly at the pressure, earning a small chuckle from her.

“you have low pain tolerance, don’t you?” she teased lightly.

the nurse looked young, kind, the type of person whose warmth naturally made people relax around her. you gave her a small smile.

“you figured.”

before she could reply, the door suddenly swung open. your manager rushed inside hurriedly, nearly out of breath. “can we speed this up a little?” she asked the nurse quickly. “we have to leave soon.” you looked up at her, confused.

“why?” your brows knitted together. “we just got here. the doctor said i still need more tests—”

“xinyu just called me,” your manager interrupted immediately. “i need to drop her off at practice. we can’t let her be late.” she spoke urgently, wiping sweat from her forehead like this was obvious.

oh.

something inside your chest stung quietly.

you lowered your eyes to your injured ankle.

was i not important anymore?

am i just… a burden now?

the thoughts came so naturally it scared you, you stayed silent after that, lost in your own head while the nurse continued wrapping your ankle gently; a few minutes later, she finally leaned back with a satisfied nod.

“miss zheng, i finished it.”

you blinked and looked up at her, the nurse hesitated briefly before leaning closer, lowering her voice into a whisper only you could hear.

“good luck,” she said softly. “i hope your scandal gets resolved soon.”

your eyes widened slightly and she smiled warmly at you.

“you didn’t do it. a lot of people are waiting for you to return.”

for a second, your throat tightened again, not because of pain. but how overwhelmed you felt. your heart swelled, and your eyes got somewhat glossy. you had to keep your composure, so you smiled at her softly.

as you carefully stood up, your hand gripping the chair for support, your manager quickly moved to help steady you. you thanked the nurse quietly before limping toward the door. just before leaving, you glanced back once more. the nurse gave you a small wave, you slowly waved back.

somehow, that tiny interaction stayed warm in your chest. the two of you made your way through the hospital hallways, the polished white floors reflecting the bright overhead lights. your ankle throbbed with every uneven step. then your manager’s phone rang again.

xinyu.

she answered immediately, the call wasn’t on speaker, but xinyu’s voice was loud enough for you to hear clearly through the phone.

“where are you?” she complained sharply. “i told you to come at 3:30. it’s already 3:23 right now!”

your manager instantly tensed.

“ah, i’m sorry, xinyu—”

“and why are you still managing y/n anyway?” xinyu scoffed. “she’s completely washed up now.”

your steps slowed.

“she’s such a burden to you. to me. to all of us.”

the words pierced through you so suddenly it almost felt physical, your chest tightened painfully. that horrible lump returned to your throat instantly as your eyes began glossing over again still, you kept your face forward.

pretended you didn’t hear it.

pretended your heart hadn’t just shattered all over again.

your manager kept apologizing nervously into the phone, “i’m really sorry, xinyu. i’m coming right now, i’ll just drop her off first—”

“i’ll drop her off.”

a calm, deep voice suddenly interrupted.

you flinched immediately, and both you and your manager turned around at the same time. standing a few steps behind you was a tall man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his posture composed, expression unreadable.

qian kun.

your eyes widened slightly.

wait, what...qian kun…?!

his eyes briefly flickered toward your manager — sharp enough to silence her instantly before settling on you and somehow, under that steady gaze…you suddenly became painfully aware of how small you looked standing there injured and humiliated.

📂 KUN's POV

kun had been visiting his father more frequently these days, too frequently. the kind of frequency that didn’t come from habit, but from something heavier, something he didn’t say out loud.

his father’s condition was deteriorating day by day, and even though kun never showed it on his face, it sat behind his ribs constantly, like a weight that refused to leave. stress from work didn’t help, neither did the silence that followed him home and at night, he would lie awake staring at the ceiling, thinking in loops he couldn’t break out of.

what if this was it? what if nothing got better? dark circles had started forming under his eyes, subtle, but there. a detail only people close enough would notice.

this was his third visit to the hospital in a week, he stayed with his father for about an hour, listening more than speaking, as usual. his presence alone seemed to be enough for the older man, even if they argued half the time.

when he finally stood to leave, it was supposed to be routine.

leave. work. repeat.

but then he saw you, limping through the hallway, small and slow, like you were carrying more than just an injured ankle. his steps stopped without permission; behind him, sicheng immediately caught up, phone in hand.

“boss, the team reported that the prototype is ready—”

kun didn’t even look at him.

“empty my schedule.”

sicheng blinked.

“…what?”

his voice cracked slightly in disbelief, kun finally glanced at him, expression completely flat.

“empty. my. schedule.”

a pause.

“you heard me.”

sicheng looked like he’d just been personally betrayed by reality “what do you mean empty your schedule?” he asked loudly, gesturing at the tablet. “you have three meetings, a board review, and—”

kun exhaled slowly, already done with the conversation, “today,” he said simply, “i’m playing hooky.” sicheng stared at him like he’d never met this man before in his life

then, with visible frustration, he stomped away and started aggressively tapping at the tablet, muttering under his breath while cancelling everything in existence, kun didn’t move.

he just watched you from a distance. waiting, not rushing. not interrupting, just timing, calculating it like this wasn’t a coincidence at all, even if he would later call it one.

an accidental interaction.

kun stepped forward with quiet, controlled steps, the kind that didn’t make noise but still somehow filled the space, almost eerie and ghostly.

he didn’t know what exactly he’d interrupted. he only knew something felt wrong, you looked… not okay. not in a dramatic way, not something he could define properly. just a feeling. broken wasn’t the word he would’ve used; kun didn’t really use emotional labels like that but something was clearly off.

and then he heard it.

your manager, talking about dropping you off. she was rushing, stressed and distracted. something in the situation didn’t sit right with him, so he stepped in.

he stopped right behind you, close enough to be heard but not close enough to invade, he was calm, composed and unreadable as always.

“i’ll drop her off.”

your head snapped towards him, your manager turned too, both of you looked surprised. kun paused for half a second.

why are they surprised?

it wasn’t like he’d said anything unusual. it was a simple sentence, a simple solution. his brows lifted slightly, as if trying to decode your expression.

was it confusion? disbelief? panic? before he could decide, he cleared his throat and repeated himself, voice a little firmer this time.

“i said, i’ll drop you off.”

you blinked, once, twice and then thrice. “...what?” you muttered, turning briefly toward your manager instead, like she would somehow explain this situation better than reality itself.

your manager looked between you and kun with an expression that clearly said: i am about to abandon you in the most brutal way possible, you widened your eyes slightly, shaking your head at her in a subtle “no, don’t you dare” motion.

but her phone rang again.

xinyu.

and that was it. your manager froze for a second, looked at her phone, then looked at kun like he had just descended from heaven personally.

“oh my god!” she blurted out. “you’re a lifesaver, ceo kun!”

your eyes widened immediately.

of course she said it.

“please take care of my precious y/n!” she continued dramatically, already backing away. “i’ll leave her in your care! goodbye!”

before you could even react or protest, she rushed toward the almost closing elevator, the doors slid open just in time, she gave you a nervous smile, continuously pressing the close the door button and then she was gone.

silence, you stood there. kun stood there and somewhere down the hallway, the elevator doors closed like a final verdict.

your mind drifted right back to the extremely awkward situation you were now stuck in. your fingers moved unconsciously to the back of your neck, scratching lightly as you tried to process what was happening.

“uh… you didn’t really have to—” you started.

“can we talk for a moment? i wanted to discuss something with you.”

he cut you off cleanly, as if your sentence had never existed. your mouth opened slightly, then closed again. you narrowed your eyes at him, confusion clear on your fvae.

“what discussion could you be having with me..?” you asked, genuinely curious now, despite everything, he didn’t hesitate, his tone stayed firm, controlled.

“i don’t think you should stand for too long. let’s sit there.” he motioned toward the hospital café without waiting for your response, you blinked once, then slowly nodded, too tired to argue.

a few minutes later, you were sitting across from him. the café was quiet, too clean, too bright, like every hospital café ever. he had placed a cup of bitter coffee in front of you, the kind that tasted as if someone combined water with dog shit.

You stared at it for a second, then back at him, he sat perfectly straight and composed, expensive-looking in a way that somehow felt unfair in a hospital setting, he looked perfect— what.

you shook your head slightly, forcing yourself back into focus before your thoughts could wander anywhere else, your arms rested on the table as you finally spoke.

“what did you want to discuss with me…?”

you hesitated slightly before adding, raisng a brow.

“ceo… kun?”

he looked at you deadpan and, without any hesitation, slid a file across the table. it stopped right in front of you. neat, official, almost too deliberate for what it represented.

you only glanced at it at first, not really registering the word contract before your attention was completely pulled away by what he said next.

“marry me.”

you stayed staring at the file for a second longer, as if ignoring it would somehow rewind reality. then your head snapped up slowly. “…come again?” you asked, voice unsure.

kun didn’t react to your shock. his expression stayed calm, controlled. “you make me repeat myself a lot,” he said flatly, then added, “marry me, miss y/n.”

your brain went completely blank. your mouth opened, then closed again as you blinked at him like he had just spoken in a language you didn’t understand. you even glanced around the empty café, just to confirm this wasn’t some mistake directed at someone else. “…huh?” you muttered.

then, still trying to catch up, you blurted out, “sorry, what? marry? like marriage? getting married? husband and wife?” your hands moved slightly as your thoughts spilled out faster than you could control them. kun listened without interrupting, completely steady, and then simply nodded. “yes,” he said. “i would like you to be my wife.”

silence fell immediately after that. you froze, staring at him like your mind had temporarily shut down, before slowly looking back down at the file. your voice came out quieter this time. “what is this then..?” you asked, pointing at it. “a marriage contract,” he replied calmly, almost convincing you as if he asked you to do a small favor

you swallowed, still trying to make sense of it. “why me? i mean… so suddenly?” you asked. he exhaled lightly, almost like the question was expected. “relax,” he said, as if this was all simple. “my father’s health is deteriorating. if i don’t get married, while he's alive. he’ll donate all his fortune and step down as chairman.”

you frowned slightly. “why don’t you marry someone you love…? wouldn’t that be better than… wasting your time with me?”

kun looked at you for a moment before answering, completely straightforward. “i don’t have time to love,” he said. then, without changing his tone, he looked at you, almost sincerely, "what do you say?"

his words almost made you believe this was some kind of soap opera you were in, you instantly snapped out of your bubble, after you grasp what kind of situation you are in right now. you swallowed, trying to form a sentence but couldn't find the words to.

"don't worry," he says flatly, "i will not pressurize you, so please take your time, considering my offer." he looked at you in such a genuine and desperate way, you almost melted.

you let out huff, straightening your horrible posture, a sign of confidence that you understand where he's coming from. "why should i have to marry you..? what do I gain from it, and my career—"

kun raised a brow, his gaze steady and unflinching as it stayed on you. there was a bit mockery in his expression, with blunt honesty.

“your career?” he said calmly. “isn’t it already over?”

the words landed without softness, without hesitation with no remorse, no cushioning. just fact, spoken like a report. for a second, you went completely still. the café felt quieter than before, like even the background noise had stepped back out of respect for how direct that was.

you clicked your tongue, letting out a sharp scoff as irritation finally broke through your shock. your brows knitted together, disbelief written clearly across your face.

“excuse me,” you said, voice rising slightly, “you’re the one asking me a favor and now you’re insulting me?”

kun didn’t react immediately. he just watched you for a moment, as if measuring your response rather than being affected by it then he leaned back slightly in his chair, expression still calm, still infuriatingly composed.

he then, states with a firm and deliberate tone, "if you marry me, i will clear your name, get you back into the national team, and chase the person who accused you til the end of this world," his gaze stayed on you, firm and unwavering. “and i will make sure they face consequences.”

maybe you were out of your mind to think it sounded kind of romantic. you were losing your composure for the nth time, while he sat on the chair, showing little to no expression for the past 15 minutes. you sighed, again.

“why? why work so hard for me? to clear my name… get married to a respectable woman. don’t get involved with an alleged druggie like me,” you said, eyes dropping back to the file like it was safer than looking at him.

kun didn’t answer immediately. his gaze stayed on you, steady, unreadable, like he was deciding how honest to be without making it worse then he spoke, calm as ever.

“because i feel bad for you.”

a pause followed, brief but firm.

“and if i marry another woman, i’ll be leaving them with no reason one day.”

his tone didn’t soften, but it shifted slightly, less detached, more bluntly practical.

“i asked you,” he continued, “because we both have something to gain.”

silence settled between you again, the café suddenly felt too bright, too clean for a conversation like this. kun’s eyes stayed on you, unwavering. “you get your name back,” he added simply. “i get what i need to satisfy my father’s condition.”

your teeth gritted as your voice finally rose, frustration breaking through everything you were trying to hold in “i don’t need your pity, and i don’t need you to clear my name.”

your eyes stung immediately after the words left your mouth, glossy despite how hard you tried to keep them steady. the lump in your throat returned instantly, heavier than before, making it harder to breathe normally.

kun didn’t react right away instead, he reached into his pocket and calmly pulled out a handkerchief, placing it in front of you on the table like it was the most casual thing in the world.

you stared at it, then at him.

“what’s this?” your voice wavered despite your effort to keep it steady.

“you look like you’re about to cry,” he said simply, brutally honest.

you immediately turned your face away with a scoff, rolling your eyes upward like that alone could force the tears back where they came from.

“who said i’m about to cry,” you muttered, your voice trembled.

but a tear slipped out anyway. then another followed. your brows furrowed as embarrassment quickly took over your entire chest, spreading fast, suffocating. your breathing turned uneven, a shaky exhale escaping you as your lips trembled.

you sniffed once, then grabbed the handkerchief without thinking any further, covering your face with it as everything you had been holding in finally collapsed.

you cried, fully and openly. like no one was watching, your sobs filled the quiet café, breaking whatever fragile stillness was left. a few people nearby turned to look, but before the attention could settle, kun subtly raised his hand and gestured to the guards nearby, who quietly guided the people away without disturbance.

time blurred after that.

you cried for what felt like forever, though it was only minutes; your shoulders shaking, breath uneven, everything you had buried for weeks spilling out all at once, eventually, it slowed.

you lowered the handkerchief, sniffing softly, eyes red and swollen as you tried to pull yourself back together, across from you, kun hadn’t moved much. he wasn’t looking at you.

instead, his gaze was fixed out the window, where the sunlight peeked in quietly, like nothing had just fallen apart at the table between you both.

⛸️ TWO DAYS LATER

two days later, you kept telling yourself it hadn’t really happened. it was easier that way, easier to pretend the hospital café, the contract file, and the calm voice saying something as absurd as marry me were just your brain trying to process stress in the worst possible way but it didn’t leave.

the words kept coming back at random moments, like they had settled somewhere in your mind and refused to move out. marriage contract, clear your name, get you back into the national team.

it didn’t sound bad when you broke it down logically. in fact, it sounded almost too clean for the mess your life had become. a solution with terms and outcomes instead of uncertainty but then reality would follow right after the logic.

your mother’s reaction and the media headlines. the internet turning it into another spectacle, raging headlines on news "disgraced skater marries qian group ceo after scandal"

even thinking about it made your chest tighten, so you called your friends over, though only shuhua came, since xinyu said she was busy practicing. right, it rubbed in like salt on a freshly cut open wound.

now she sat across from you in your apartment, legs folded under her, watching you with that familiar mix of concern and confusion as you fidgeted with your hands.

“so let me get this straight,” she said slowly, “the ceo of qian group offered you a contract marriage… in a hospital café?”you exhaled, leaning back against the couch.

“…when you say it like that, it sounds insane.” shuhua raised a brow immediately, "because it is insane.” you let out a small, tired laugh, rubbing your face before dropping your hands into your lap again.

“but it’s not bad,” you muttered. “i mean… it fixes everything.”the room quieted slightly after that. shuhua studied you for a moment, her expression softening just a little,“or it ties you into something you can’t walk away from,” she said quietly.

you didn’t respond right away. instead, your gaze drifted down to your hands, your voice lower when you finally spoke, “…i know.”

the silence that followed wasn’t heavy exactly, but it wasn’t light either. it sat somewhere in between, where decisions started to feel real instead of theoretical.

shuhua suddenly leaned forward with a grin that completely changed the mood in the room, “but he’s totally handsome!” she said, eyes sparkling like she was discussing a drama instead of your actual life. “like, the age difference is so cute. i can totally already picture you guys together.”

you immediately smacked her arm,“dude, that’s not what i called you for!” shuhua didn’t even flinch properly. instead, she grabbed your shoulders with both hands, shaking you lightly like she was trying to physically knock sense into you.

“okay, okay!” she said quickly, still smiling. “but think about it; what if it was some old sixty-year-old chairman offering you the exact same thing?” your face twisted instantly in disgust.

“…ugh.”

“exactly!” shuhua pointed at you like she had just won an argument. “plus he literally said you can divorce whenever you want!”you narrowed your eyes at her suspiciously.

“you look way happier than me, shuhua.”

she paused for half a second, then gave you a very guilty but very unconvincing smile “i’m just saying,” she said, letting go of your shoulders and leaning back, “objectively speaking… it’s not the worst deal ever.”

you stared at her in disbelief, “you’re supposed to help me think this through, not sell me on it.” shuhua shrugged lightly, clearly not helping at all “i am helping. i’m giving you perspective.”

you groaned, falling back into the couch again, falling into this madness of endless thinking about this shortcut ticket that effortlessly fell in your hands. “…your perspective is terrifying.”

shuhua inhaled softly through her teeth, her earlier teasing tone fading into something more grounded,“well… you can reject him,” she said honestly, shrugging a little. “that’s all i can really say.” the words landed heavier than expected.

you went quiet because deep down, you weren’t just confused. you were attached to the idea already. not fully, not logically… but emotionally, in your heart, you didn’t want to admit existed. you sighed, leaning back slightly.

could qian kun really change your life like that? or was it just another dangerous shortcut dressed up as an opportunity?

your gaze drifted to shuhua, steady now, searching for something certain in her expression. shuhua met your eyes properly this time, no jokes left in her tone.

“y/n,” she said more softly, “you should do whatever you feel is best for you. whatever gets you out of this situation.” she paused for a moment then added, “and honestly… one of the best chances you have right now is kun.”

you blinked slightly at that, her voice stayed firm, but not pushy. just honest“don’t let the opportunity pass you,” she said. “if you’re going to grab anything right now… grab the thing that helps you survive first.”

the room went quiet after that, her words didn’t feel like pressure. they felt like clarity you didn’t ask for but desperately needed.

you looked at her for a long moment, lips pressed together, something shifting slowly in your chest then you gave a small, reluctant nod, you said quietly

“…okay, i guess i'll have to grab that opportunity to survive."

🔆 THE NEXT MORNING

you woke up feeling strangely clear-headed, for the first time in weeks, there wasn't a heavy weight pressing against your chest the second you opened your eyes. the anxiety was still there, lingering somewhere in the background, but it felt quieter now, something that you can now manage.

you lay in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling, the thoughts returned immediately. the marriage contract you got offered, qian kun. his offer.

you rolled onto your side with a groan, burying your face into your pillow. maybe if you ignored it for another day, the decision would somehow make itself, but it didn't.

instead, you spent the next four hours wandering aimlessly around your apartment. you made tea and forgot to drink it. sat on the couch and stared out the window. paced around your living room. sat down again. stood up again.

by the time you glanced at the clock, it was already two in the afternoon. four hours, completely wasted inside your own head you let out a long sigh, rubbing your face, "okay."

your voice echoed through the empty apartment. you couldn't keep thinking in circles forever. sooner or later, you needed to make a decision. your eyes suddenly widened.

the business card.

without another thought, you practically launched yourself off the couch and rushed toward your bedroom. drawers were opened. clothes were tossed aside, a pile of laundry stood up like a flood.

"where is it..."

you dropped to your knees beside the laundry basket, frantically digging through hoodies and sweatpants, then your fingers brushed against thick card. you froze, slowly you pulled it out. the business card. you stared at it for several seconds.

it felt ridiculous, but your heart genuinely skipped a beat, the simple black card sat in your palm like some sort of golden ticket. you swallowed hard. "i'm actually doing this..."

the realization hit you all over again. you stood up immediately before you could change your mind, grabbed your phone from your bedside table, and sat down on the edge of your bed, your thumb hovered over the number. once, twice, thrice, then you pressed call.

the ringing felt impossibly loud, you sat up straighter without realizing it. one ring. two rings, then the call connected.

"hello, this is the reception desk speaking. how may i assist you?"

you blinked with disbelief

right.

of course, someone like qian kun wouldn't answer his own phone. you cleared your throat.

"i want to speak to qian kun."

the receptionist remained professional, "may i know who is calling? i will need to check whether you have a scheduled meeting with him." your brows knitted together, meeting?

you hadn't exactly expected to need an appointment to call the man who proposed marriage to you.

"could you tell him it's zheng y/n speaking?" you asked hesitantly.

there was a brief pause, then the receptionist added, "please stay on the line, ms. zheng." the receptionist's voice softened slightly before she placed you on hold. you stared at your phone screen and suddenly, every bit of confidence you had gathered over the last four hours completely disappeared.

what exactly were you doing? your leg bounced nervously against the floor. the hold music continued playing while your heart somehow beat faster with every passing second and all you could do was wait.

on the top floor of qn group's headquarters, the receptionist sat perfectly upright at her desk, headset in place as she followed protocol. every call directed toward qian kun went through multiple layers before ever reaching him.

“sorry to disturb you, sir,” she said professionally after the line connected. her voice was so polished it almost sounded robotic.

“there's a caller by the name of zheng y/n requesting to speak with you. i'm just confirming it isn't a spam call before transferring—”

the tapping of a keyboard stopped, kun's eyes lifted immediately from the document in front of him. for the first time that afternoon, his attention completely shifted. he hadn't expected you to call this quickly.

not because he doubted you would consider the offer; he'd seen the way your eyes lingered on the contract but because most people needed time before making decisions that could alter their entire lives, a faint look of surprise crossed his features before disappearing just as quickly.

“transfer the call.”

his response came immediately, the receptionist blinked once“yes, sir.” the transfer happened within seconds. meanwhile, several kilometers away.

you were one nervous breakdown away from hanging up. your foot tapped relentlessly against the floor.

tap.

tap.

tap.

your palms had become embarrassingly sweaty. you switched the phone from one hand to the other then back again. why were you nervous? it was only the ceo of one of the biggest companies in the country who had proposed marriage and could change the trajectory of your entire life.

totally normal.

you groaned quietly, dragging a hand down your face, “get it together,” you muttered to yourself. your heart ignored the instruction entirely, and then the hold music suddenly stopped, and your entire body straightened. the silence lasted less than a second.

“zheng y/n.”

your breath caught. the familiar voice came through the speaker so clearly that it felt like he was standing in the room with you and suddenly, all the words you'd prepared over the past two days vanished without a trace.

your foot stopped tapping, your brain stopped functioning and for three horrifying seconds, all you did was stare at the wall in front of you because now that he was actually on the line and you had no idea how to start.

“uh—hi!”

your voice came out way too bright, and you immediately regretted it. your eyes widened slightly as you realized how ridiculous you sounded, you quickly cleared your throat, trying to fix your tone.

“i mean… good morning, ceo kun.”

there was a brief pause on the other end of the line. then his calm voice came through, steady as ever.

“good afternoon to you too.”

you pressed your lips together, biting back a scoff. of course he corrected you. and of course he did it in a way that made it sound normal, like you were the one who made the mistake. it irritated you more than you wanted to admit. you straightened slightly, forcing yourself back on track.

“let’s meet.”

there. straight to the point, at one point, you were going to pat yourself on the back. there was no hesitation from him.

“sure, i’ll send a car to you.”

your brows furrowed instantly.

“what? where?”

“your address.”

you blinked, “…my what?”

“your address.” he said quietly.

your voice rose immediately? “how do you know where i live?!” there was a brief silence on the other end, one that felt heavier than it should’ve. then, for the first time, he showed a bit emotion in his tone.

“i…recall i dropped you home last time we met,"

he, then added with hesitance

"i also did a background check on you."

your jaw dropped, “a background check?!” it came out louder than you intended, disbelief completely taking over your face as you stood there holding the phone like it had personally betrayed you.

“without telling me?” your voice spilled out immediately, full of disbelief and frustration. there was a brief pause on the line before he answered, completely unbothered.

“typically, it defeats the meaning of a background check.”

you bited back the urge to let out a groan, you inhaled to stop yourself from cursing at him, right there and then.

“ah, right.”

you ran a hand through your hair, pacing slightly as your mind tried to keep up with everything happening at once. “when will you be sending the car…?” you asked, already tired of the conversation but too deep in it to stop now.

his voice came again, steady and final. “it’s already on the way. meet me at the fortieth floor, in my office.”

your brain paused for a second, trying to process the sudden switch in instructions.

“huh—”

beep.

the call ended.

you slowly lowered the phone from your ear and stared at it for a second like it had betrayed you personally then your face scrunched up in pure frustration.

“wow, qian kun,” you muttered, voice rising as you stomped toward the bathroom, “you are so infuriatingly annoying!”

your steps echoed through your apartment as you prepared yourself for the future, still muttering under your breath, half annoyed, half… something you didn’t want to name yet.

note — ayeee part 2 is here, i put my blood sweat tears in this, i tried to put more angst but like who could reject mark...?

playlist — pour up by dean, temperature by psychic fever, love by dean (ft syd), baby dont like it by nct 127, house of cards by bts, aftertaste by anderson paak and dean, heaven by red velvet - irene&seulgi

₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚

mark had been leaning lazily against the kitchen counter, phone in hand while half-listening to whatever story chenle was loudly telling from the couch. but the second his eyes met yours, the entire room seemed to blur out around him. his posture straightened slightly. you looked tired, visible dark circles around your eyes. signs of no sleep, only because of him.

not the usual “i stayed up too late” kind of tired. the kind that sat behind your eyes and dragged your shoulders down no matter how hard you tried to hide it behind that small smile and somehow, that was the first thing he noticed.

not your clothes.

not your messy hair.

not the fact that you looked like you’d rushed over without thinking twice...

just you

your presence relieves him to ease

his expression softened almost instantly.

“hey,” mark says quietly, voice gentler compared to the chaos around him, you suddenly become hyperaware of yourself under his gaze. the oversized hoodie you threw on in five seconds. the lack of makeup. the exhaustion practically written across your face, and meanwhile he looked unfairly good without even trying, so annoying

your fingers tightened around the strap of your bag as you forced out an awkward laugh. “sorry, i look kinda horrible right now..." the second the words leave your mouth, mark’s brows pull together “what?” he says immediately, almost offended by the statement itself, haechan snorts from somewhere behind you. “oh brother, here he goes.”

mark ignores him completely, eyes still fixed on you,“you don’t look horrible." the sincerity in his voice makes your stomach twist unexpectedly. “you look tired,” he corrects softly. “there’s a difference, exams must've drained you out... right?"

for a moment, nobody says anything, then chenle groans dramatically from the couch. “god, this is actually painful to watch..." “shut up,” mark mutters without even looking away from you, earning loud gasps from the room, and somehow, despite the exhaustion weighing you all day, the tightness in your chest eases just a little.

you nodded at him, with a slight smile, looking down, getting used to the chaos, "how have you been..?" you said, exhaling.

not how have promotions been.

not how’s the solo stuff going.

just him.

mark’s smile falters slightly, only for a second but you notice it because he understood exactly what you meant. the air between you suddenly feels heavier, filled with all the things neither of you had properly talked about since that happened. the distance. the silence. the awkward drifting apart neither of you seemed to know how to fix.

mark exhales quietly, glancing down before nodding once. “i’ve been…” he pauses, lips pressing together briefly. “busy, i guess.”you give a small nod, though both of you know that wasn’t really an answer, haechan, surprisingly, notices the shift immediately.

his playful expression softens as he exchanges a quick look with chenle before loudly clapping his hands together. “anyway!,” he announces dramatically, standing up from the couch. “chenle, help me order food, let's go, let's go!"

“why do i have to help”

“because i said so.”

“that’s literally dictatorship"

their bickering grows distant as they drag the others toward the kitchen, leaving you and mark standing awkwardly near the hallway, the silence that follows isn’t uncomfortable, it's just careful. careful of how things are going to turn out.

mark finally looks back at you fully, eyes softer now, “how about you?” he asks quietly. “you disappeared for a while.." your throat tightens a little at that, because disappearing sounded a lot nicer than admitting you just didn’t know how to be around him anymore after the sudden distance between you.

you hesitate for a moment before finally forcing the words out, “…could we talk somewhere quiet?” your voice is soft, nearly drowned out by the music blasting in every corner of the house but mark hears every syllable clearly and then you look at him.

really look at him.

there’s something in your expression that makes his stomach twist painfully tight, nervousness or exhaustion, maybe even hurt and suddenly all he can think about is how easily he’d give you anything if you just asked.

his jaw tightens slightly before he nods. “yeah,” he says immediately, quieter now. “of course.” he doesn’t even hesitate, mark gestures for you to follow him, slipping past the chaos of the living room while the others are too distracted arguing over food to notice much. though as you pass by, haechan definitely notices the tension between you two, his eyes narrow towards you two suspiciously, a smear smirk appears, maybe tonight. he'll forget about rina.

the stairs creak softly beneath your footsteps as you follow mark upstairs, farther away from the noise, the laughter, the bright lights downstairs. the air feels different up here, calmer. heavier, more dangerous somehow.

mark leads you toward the small balcony connected to the hallway, sliding the glass door open carefully before stepping aside for you first, cold night air immediately brushes against your skin, goosebumps rise.

for a second, neither of you speak.

mark leans lightly against the railing beside you, hands shoved into the pockets of his sweatpants as he watches you carefully from the corner of his eye, he hesitantly speaks, "so, what’s up..? kinda scaring me there hah.." his awful attempt at lightening the mood, attempting a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes and somehow, that only makes this harder.

“that day…”

the second those words leave your mouth, mark’s posture changes instantly, subtly but you noticed it. his shoulders straighten, fingers curling tighter against the railing beside him while his gaze drifts away from yours toward the city lights in the distance.

you swallow nervously, staring down at your shoes instead, “i wasn’t in the right mind,” you continue carefully, voice quieter now. “i mentioned her and…i messed things up between us, right?” the memory still made your stomach twist unpleasantly.

you risk a glance at him for barely a second before looking away again, “i’m sorry,” you murmur. “i crossed the line.”your fingers fidget anxiously with the sleeve covering your hands.

“…but a part of that wasn’t a mistake.”

silence.

cold air brushes past the balcony, but it suddenly feels hard to breathe, mark slowly turns his head toward you. his brows are furrowed deeply now. no, he wasn't angry, which would be more understandable and easier instead, he looks frustrated. conflicted.

his jaw clenches slightly as he watches you stand there apologizing to him like you’d committed some unforgivable crime, it irritates him instantly because why would you apologize to him like this? why were you looking at the floor like you were waiting for him to confirm your worst fears? mark exhales sharply through his nose before speaking.

“stop doing that.”

your head lifts slightly. “what?”

“acting like everything was your fault.”

his voice is low now, controlled, but there’s clear irritation underneath it, he pushes himself off the railing, taking a step closer. “yeah, mentioning her hurt,” he admits honestly, eyes fixed on you. “but you know what pissed me off more?”you blink up at him quietly.

“the fact, you're not wrong.

his expression tightens, and he leans back against the railing once more, fingers rubbing tiredly over his jaw as if admitting this out loud physically exhausted him.

“it’s me,” he says with a bitter laugh. “i’m the stuck-up idiot who couldn’t move on from my ex.” his words come slower now. more honest “and i tormented you because of it.” your brows pull together immediately. “mark—”, “no,” he cuts in softly, shaking his head. “let me say it.”

the city lights reflect faintly in his eyes as he looks away again, visibly frustrated with himself “i kept comparing everything to the past without realizing it.” he swallows harshly. “and you were the one who had to deal with that version of me.” the guilt in his voice makes your chest ache

“those things you said to me that night…” he pauses. “they pissed me off because they were true" you stared at him silently. “i hated hearing it,” he admits. “but after you left, i kept thinking about it over and over again.”

the wind blows softly through his hair, but neither of you move. mark finally looks at you again then, expression calmer now. vulnerable in a way you rarely ever saw from him, “you know what the worst part is?” he asks quietly.

your throat tightens. “what?”

his gaze lingers on you for a second too long before he answers. “i didn’t even realize how important you are to me until you stopped being around.

your eyes widened after those words left mark's mouth, and you let out an exhale, throat dry as a desert. "i don't understand what you're trying to say ..." you narrow your eyes at him. mark musters up courage, to look you in the eyes, seeing the reflection in your eyes of himself, made him realize what he was about to do was pretty shameless. he hesitantly speaks, "y/n, i like you."

your throat tightening, realizing the weight of his words. they relentlessly repeat in your head as mark waves his hand in front of your eyes, "y/n? are you uncomfortable? i'm truly sorry. i- uh, this wasn't supposed to happen—" you cut him off, "no! mark, what? what are you saying...?" you frowned at him, feeling this strange emotion between the line of happiness and unfairness.

mark's expression falls immediately at the confusion on your face, his hand drops back to his side awkwardly, trying to figure out if he ruined everything in the span of ten seconds.

"I—, uh let's forget this happened.." he exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair, frustration bleeding into his voice now. you let out an emotionless laugh, more like a huff. Your brows are furrowed tightly as you stare him, emotions visibly fighting behind your eyes.

"you're so unfair. you're so selfish mark. you know, every time you would start talking about rina, how'd I feel? i would feel like shit, like every word of yours would feel like stepping on shreds of broken glass.

your throat tightens painfully, and silence crashes between you. mark can’t even interrupt because deep down, he knows you’re right. you finally look back at him, eyes glossy under the balcony lights. “for the longest time,” you admit quietly, “i thought these feelings of mine were completely one-sided.”

the confession knocks the breath out of him. his lips part slightly, but nothing comes out because while you were sitting alone convincing yourself you never stood a chance, he was too busy being stuck in the past to even recognize what was right in front of him.

“y/n…” his voice comes out rougher than before. you immediately wipe at your face in frustration, embarrassed by the tears threatening to form. mark’s chest aches so sharply it almost feels unbearable. you laugh weakly at yourself, shaking your head.

“this makes me even more pathetic.”

“don’t,” he says immediately.

his voice is firm this time, he steps closer before stopping himself halfway, like he’s scared touching you right now would only make things worse. his eyes are locked onto yours now, filled with guilt and something heavier.

before you can step away again, mark’s hands gently grip your sides, careful but desperate at the same time. the sudden closeness makes your breath hitch. his eyes search yours frantically, and seeing you like this hurt because of him, crying because of him feels like something physically crushing down on his chest.

“y/n, i’m sorry…”

his voice breaks completely, and your expression falters instantly because mark rarely cries. but now tears are slipping down his face faster than he can stop them, his grip on you tightening slightly like he’s terrified you’ll disappear if he loosens it even a little “i know,” he chokes out shakily. “i know i was selfish.”

he laughs bitterly through the tears, shaking his head at himself.

“i’m such a goddamn fucking loser.”

“mark—”

“but i don’t wanna lose you,” he says quickly, voice cracking again. “please.”

the desperation in his voice hurts more than it should and then, almost cruelly timed, faint music drifts up from downstairs — some sad love song. you stare at him for a second before a hollow laugh escapes your lips at the sheer irony of it all

mark lets out a watery laugh too, forehead dropping briefly against your shoulder as if the emotional weight of the night is finally catching up to him. “perfect timing,” you mutter weakly.

A shaky laugh leaves him despite everything and somehow that tiny sound seems to break you even more. he pulls back just enough to look at you again, eyes red, cheeks damp.

“i know i don’t deserve this,” he says quietly. “i know i probably confused you and hurt you more than anyone should.” his thumb brushes lightly against your sleeve near your waist, hesitant. “but if there’s even a small chance…” he swallows hard. “i wanna do this properly.”

you stare at him silently.

the cold night air, the distant music, the city lights below everything suddenly feels strangely blurry compared to the way he’s looking at you right now, like you’re the only thing he can focus on.

"so..?" you sniff, wiping the residue tears under your eyes as you let out a small laugh, "so when are you asking me to become your girlfriend?"

silence

mark blinks once, then twice.

"what?" he breathes out, staring at you in disbelief. "what." you laugh again, this time more real, your cheeks burn immediately under his gaze. "don't make me repeat myself twice..." suddenly embarrassed, "it's embarrassing.."

his mouth opens slightly before closing again, and the realization then hits him fully. his eyes widened so fast, it made you laugh. "oh my god." he mumbles to himself.

"uhm, okay wait– let me start thid again -" he rushes, hands trembling like he genuinely couldn't believe this is real. he wipes quickly at his face with the sleeve of his hoodie, still looking emotional and overwhelmed at once.

"uh– so, would you let me be your boyfriend..?" he looks at you with hearts in his eyes, you wanted to devour him right there and then. he nodded, way eagerly then you expected, as tears escaped your eyes.another tear slips down your cheek as you laugh softly at his reaction, overwhelmed by everything all at once

before you can say anything else, he pulls you into him suddenly, arms wrapping tightly around your waist while yours instinctively circle around his shoulders. mark laughs shakily against your hair, holding you like he’s scared this moment will disappear if he loosens his grip. and honestly, you did the same. The tension between you both, building walls between you two, is cracking apart.

mark's forehead dropping against yours, he keeps looking at you with that same disbelieving expression, like he still can’t understand how this ended with you in his arms instead of walking away from him.

then, after a moment, his ears turn faintly red “…can i kiss you?” he asks softly and somehow, after everything tonight, that shy question is what finally makes your heart completely melt.

you don't say yes.

​you don't waste a single second with words because words have kept you apart for far too long. you instantly go in. how could you reject him when this exact moment is what you have been craving for months, losing sleep over, and dreaming about.​ you lean in, sliding your hands up his chest to grip the fabric of his hoodie, and close the gap between your lips.

​mark lets out a sharp, muffled breath against your mouth, a tiny sound of pure shock, but the hesitation lasts for less than a second. The moment your lips meet his, his grip on your waist tightens, pulling you flush against him as he catches his balance. the shy, desperate boy disappears, replaced entirely by the boy who has been wanting you just as desperately.

​the kiss is warm, deep, and heavy with months of unspoken longing. his lips are soft but demanding, parting slightly as he tilts his head to kiss you deeper, his thumb smoothing over the fabric of your shirt, anchoring you to him.

​when you finally pull back just enough to breathe, your foreheads resting together, mark’s eyes are still closed, a breathless, dazed smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His ears are redder than ever, but he doesn't look disbelieving anymore. he feels relieved.

mark narrows his eyes on your shirt, and he opens his mouth before closing it again. you understood what he meant as you pulled your shirt off with no hesitation. mark's eyes widened at your bold action. he was memorised at your almost bare state. ​his breath hitched in his throat, the words he had been trying to form dying instantly. his mind completely short-circuiting as his gaze locks onto you.

​"y/n," he breathes out, his voice dropping an octave, rough and completely stripped of his usual hesitation. ​the crimson flush on his ears spreads down his neck, but the shy restraint from moments ago vanishes entirely, replaced by a dark, intense focus.

​"you're going to drive me crazy," he murmurs, you sat there, bare-chested save for a lace bra that struggled to contain the swell of your breasts. mark's eyes widened. he looked as if he had been struck. his gaze travelled slowly, hungrily, over the curve of your waist and the pale slope of your chest. he eyefucked you with a raw, undisguised intensity that made your stomach flip.

he reached out, his hand trembling slightly. he didn't touch your skin at first; his fingers hovered just an inch away from your shoulder. then, he slid his hand around to your back. you leaned forward, granting him access. you felt the tips of his fingers fumbling with the hook of your bra. there was a sharp click, and the tension of the lace snapped.

the bra loosened, and you let it slide down your arms. You were completely bare from the waist up, your nipples peaking in the chill of the room. mark let out a low, guttural sound, a moan that started deep in his chest. he reached out and gave you a look of approval and cupped your breast, his palm warm and heavy. he squeezed, his thumb brushing over the hardened tip of your nipple.

"you are so beautiful," mark murmured.

"you're way more beautiful," you whispered.

mark lunged forward, his mouth crashing against hers. the kiss was not gentle. it was a collision of weeks of repressed desire. he tasted of mint and desperation. his tongue pushed into your mouth, seeking you with an aggressive hunger. You both exchanged saliva in a messy, wet slurry, breaths mingling in frantic gasps. mark's hand moved from your breast to the back of your neck, his fingers tangling in your hair to pull her closer, deepening the kiss until you felt lightheaded.

you let out a whimper into his mouth, your hands sliding down his chest to the waistband of his jeans. you could feel the hard ridge of his cock pressing against the soft cotton, a thick, insistent weight. you tugged at the waistband, the cotton tensing under the pressure.

"are you sure?" mark gasped, breaking the kiss for a second to breathe. you nodded almost instantly,

mark didn't argue. he pushed you back onto the sofa, his body following yours. He hovered over you, his eyes scanning your naked torso once more. he lowered his head, his lips trailing down your neck to the valley between your breasts. He licked a path of fire toward your left nipple, his tongue swirling around the areola before he took the peak into his mouth.

you arched your back, a loud moan escaping you. the sensation of his warm, wet tongue suctioning your nipple sent a jolt of electricity straight to your crotch. you felt a sudden, heavy gush of wetness between your thighs, your pussy aching for him.

"mark, please," you whimpered. mark moved lower, his hands sliding under your pants, pushing the fabric down to your ankles. he found the thin lace of your panties and ripped them to the side with a sudden, violent motion. he didn't remove them he simply pushed them aside to expose your dripping folds.

he leaned down, his face inches from your heat. he inhaled deeply, the scent of your arousal filling his nostrils. "oh my god," Mark whispered, mouth open in awe, he pressed his tongue against your clit, a sharp, direct stroke that made you scream. he began to lap at you, his tongue moving in fast, rhythmic circles. He used his fingers to spread your lips wide, exposing the pink, swollen walls of your vagina.

he pushed two fingers deep inside you, feeling the tight, hot squeeze of your muscles.

the sound of it filled the quiet room—a wet, squelching noise as his fingers slid in and out of your soaking wet walls. your hips bucked uncontrollably, your hands gripping the velvet of the sofa, your knuckles white.

"i can't... i can't take it," you gasped, your voice breaking, mark looked up at you, his lips glistening with your juices. he quickly stood up and shed his clothes, his sweatpants and boxers falling in a heap. when he stood before you, his cock was fully erect, a thick, veiny pillar of flesh that pulsed with every heartbeat. beads of clear pre-cum leaked from the tip, glistening in the dim light.

you reached out, your fingers wrapping around the shaft. he was hot, the skin stretched tight. you slid your hand up and down, feeling the ridge of his tip. mark groaned, his head snapping back.

you shifted, sliding your legs around his waist and pulling him toward you. you guided the head of his cock to your entrance, the wetness of your pussy acting as a lubricant.

you lowered yourself slowly, the thick head of his penis stretching you open. you felt a moment of resistance, a fullness that bordered on pain, before you slid down completely, taking all of him in one deep, sliding motion.

a, wet squelch echoed as your bodies connected. you let out a long, shuddering breath, your eyes fluttering shut. he filled you completely, hitting your cervix with a dull thud that made your toes curl. "baby, fuck..." Mark groaned, his voice sounding strangled. "god, you feel incredible."

he gripped your hips, his fingers digging into your skin, and began to thrust upward. the motion was slow at first, a steady grind that focused on the friction of your pelvic bones rubbing together. then, the pace quickened.

the sound of your bodies became a rhythmic percussion, lewd sounds of skin slapping on each other, the slap of his balls against the lower curve of your pelvic, the wet shlicking of his cock sliding through your cream. with every thrust, air was pushed out of your pussy, creating small, popping sounds that added to the raw intensity of the act.

"harder!," you urged, your voice a ragged whisper.

mark obeyed. he flipped you over, pinning you face-down into the pillows. he entered you from behind, his cock sliding back into you with a loud, wet plunge. the angle allowed him to go deeper, his length burying itself into you until there was no space left between you.

he hammered into you, his movements becoming frantic and erratic. the vigor of his thrusts caused his cock to slip out almost entirely, the head glancing off your outer lips before slamming back inside with a heavy thud.

the friction was intense, the heat building in both of you until it felt like you were melting together.

your breasts bounced and jiggled with every impact, your nipples rubbing against the fabric of the sofa. you could hear the sounds of your passion heavy, synchronized panting, the wet slapping of skin on skin, the way mark's breath hitched every time he hit your sweet spot.

"i'm going to... i'm almost..." mark gasped, his voice trembling.

his hand reached down, his hand finding your clit, squeezing and circling it in a deliciously slow manner. the action pushed you over the edge. you let out a whimper, body stiffening as he continued the double pleasure, your head felt light, toes curling. muffled moans escaped your mouth, as he violated your hole relentlessly.

the knot in your stomach loosening second by second, feeling insane ecstasy, your hips stiffened as you come undone, releasing your juices all over his thighs and the bed sheet, making a mess, mark rode out your orgasm, continuing the frantic thrusts which were getting sloppier by the second, chasing his own orgasm.

he delivered one final, deep thrust. he buried himself to the hilt, his cock pulsing inside you as he erupted. you felt the hot jets of his semen hitting your cervix, wave after wave of thick, warm fluid filling you up. your internal muscles clamped down on him, milking him for every last drop.

you both stayed like that for a long time, locked together, your chests heaving in unison. the only sound in the room was the rhythm of the faint music and the wet, sliding sound as mark slowly pulled out of you.

a mixture of pre-cum, saliva, and semen leaked from your opening, trailing down your thigh in a sticky, white streak. he flopped down next to you, anchoring his arm around your waist.

"i'm sorry, and i love you, y/n." mark whispered.

you laughed, a small, breathless sound. you leaned against his him, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

"i love you way more," you replied.

the heavy silence of the room returns, broken only by the sound of your shared, uneven breathing. both of you are completely tired, with chests heaving and breathing shuddered, completely consumed by the sudden rush of adrenaline and the warmth of each other's embrace.

and unknowingly, you both didn't notice, eyes peeking from the unclosed creaking door, it was haechan and chenle, peeking in, grinning ear to ear. they had their heads stacked one over the other in the tiny crack of the doorframe, witnessing the absolute chaos they had probably been rooting for weeks.

"finally, they did it!" haechan whispered, turning his head towards chenle with a triumphant grin. he adjusted his stance, leaning back slightly while keeping his voice to a low, muffled murmur. "do you think they noticed the songs I put from my go-to sex playlist?"

────୨ৎ────

"And, again, Peter Drains Ocean's HP, decreasing it to 50, then again! And again, another hit! There we go! WISHED's Ocean is now down!"

As the commentator shouted, voice echoing the arena as the screen flashed with a kill notification. The crowd erupted as DR3AM's Peter killed another Champion from WISHED team. Peter rolled his neck, confidence radiating off him, as he effortlessly secured an another kill.

Peter, At just twenty three, the mid laner for DR3AM had already climbed to the peak of his career only only three years after his debut. Everyone underestimated him but he proved them all wrong, a nightmare for every team standing across him.

Donghyuck never planned on becoming a professional gamer. Back in university, he was a piano major, trying to survive countless deadlines, spending sleepless nights practicing until his fingers bruised. People said he had fast and precise hands, how naturally talented he is. He wondered if he was really meant to play the piano. Sitting in practice rooms for hours, a part of him still felt restless, as if he was trying to force himself into a life that didn't feel like him.

At night, he'd play League Of Legends with his friends just to pass time. It was never that serious, just late night gaming, cursing at each other for letting go of the enemy, for getting killed by a Turret. These games made him forget how anxious he felt about his future.

After graduating, reality hit Donghyuck hard... Job hunting was exhausting, making resumes of experiences he never experienced, his classmates already getting hired. His parents kept asking about the interviews, too much pressure constantly questioning himself if he was good enough.

That one random ranked game turned his life upside down. What turned out to be a late night gaming session, he queued into a match and defeated the enemy team's mid laner effortlessly. It turned out to be S.Bin of TBT, one of the biggest pros in the E-sports scene. And the cherry on top was that, S.Bin was doing a live stream, the clips spread like wildfire immediately, and people suddenly wanted to know who that "peter" guy was.

A few weeks later, DR3AM contacted him, Back then, Donghyuck almost didn't accept. Becoming a E-sports player sounded risky, unstable and unrealistic, however he wanted to give it a try, so he said 'to hell with that degree!' He took the chance.

The guy who used to be constantly under pressure over job applications ended up becoming one of the best mid laners in the league history. Three years after debuting, He even surpassed S.Bin himself. He jokes about it sometimes, shrugging to himself simply saying it's a skill issue.

The cameras flashed endlessly as confetti rained down the stage, the massive EWC trophy shining across arena lights while the members of DR3AM crowded around it, exhausted and laughing at the same time. They done it again, winning the EWC back to back, and in the center Peter still holding onto the Finals MVP title for the second year in a row.

The commentator called him untouchable, fans called him the future of League, though his team members called him annoying after he got too cocky after a win, but you cannot deny his skills, smooth and precise timing of his fingers, fast pacing and steady strategies made at risky times.

"Hold the trophy properly man!" Jeno complained, as Donghyuck tried to not burst out laughing. "Relax dude," Donghyuck grinned, tilting the trophy. "I clutched today, how can you die from a turret dude?", "Crazy ego," Andy, also known as Jisung murmured under his breath. "Skill issue." Donghyuck instantly uttered.

The ride back home was somehow louder than the arena itself, inside the team bus. The EWC trophy sat carefully buckled into the seats while the members looked half dead after the exhausting finals. Well, everyone but Donghyuck.

"Nice hit! Wow, Peter you did so well!!" Donghyuck boasting, from his phone replaying the clips from the livestream earlier. With the biggest grin on his face, he even patted himself. Damn, this guy's insane...

In the backseat, came an irritated groan, "shut up dude," Jaemin muttered groggily before kicking the back of Donghyuck's seat. "I swear i'll throw you out of the bus." Donghyuck laughing louder at his face, "Dude, just admit you were stunned by how amazingly I destroyed the enemy tea--" An elbow slammed into his abdomen suddenly. "What the fuck dude?!" Donghyuck clutched his stomach, folding dramatically. Glaring at the culprit, Jeno doesnt even look apologetic, his hood was pulled over his head, eyes barely open.

"We're trying go sleep" he said flatly, "shut your mouth before I shove the trophy in it."

That actually kind of scared Donghyuck, making him quiet down for a whole...minute? Before he started giggling to himself again, while scrolling fan edits online.

By the time they arrived back at the house house, everyone was too exhausted to celebrate their win, Jisung practically dragged himself back to his room. Chenle muttered a tired goodnight, which no one really heard. Jeno and Jaemin looked like they were about to collapse any second now.

One by one, the lights of their rooms turned off, however, Donghyuck? The adrenaline rushing through his veins after that tremendous match still hadn't left his body yet. Everytime he closed his eyes, he could hear the crowd screaming NEO27's name, feeling the weight of the medal around his neck.

So, instead of sleeping like a normal person, the moment he got back to his room, he hopped onto his PC, his fingers almost moving automatically. PC on. Headset on,Twitch open.

Donghyuck leaned back in his chair, still wearing his medal around his neck like it was physically attached to him. Without thinking too much, he clicked the Start Stream option. Within seconds, the viewer count shot up instantly! The chat slide so fast it became unreadable.

| neospetermaid AYO OMGGG YOU GUYS WON EWC AGAIN

| lelechu HE'S ACTUALLY ONLINE WHAT 😭

| andyisbetterthanjuju where is andy???

| mr_j.minwife CONGRATS GUYS SO PROUD OF YALLL

| dr3amanagerreal PETER MVP SO PROUD OF U DUDE

| jasonthesnake i swear ocean of wished is fuming rn HAHA

Donghyuck blinked at the screen, reading the comments, a slow grin appeared on his face. "You guys truly flatter me!" Donghyuck huffed dramatically with a hand on his chest. The donation notification increasing minute by minute. "okay guys! Enough with donations , today we're gonna celebrate! So c'mon send me your reccommendations in the inbox. I'll check them out later. Join the queue already! Let's play swift play."

Instantly the chat exploded with songs, Anime, books, random memes. Donghyuck obviously wasn't going to check them all out but he still clicked through few links, letting random songs playing the background, "Who the fuck put Super Idol ??" He muttered with a huff while destroying the nexus of the other team.

Some reccommendations were ridiculous. Donghyuck squinted at the reccommended anime title before recoiling in disbelief.

"My Step-mom's Daughter Is My Ex...?" He read out slowly with a frown. He stared at the screen for a second. Deadpan. "What the hell are you guys watching??" The chat bursted laughing, filled with laughing and crying emojis.

It's been an hour, his celebration mood was starting to wear off. He leaned back in his chair, yawning as he scrolled through the flood of messages. Eyelids heavy, another incoming yawn.

Then, a title caught his attention, it was a link. Leaning closer to the monitor to clearly see it. "What's this?" Said to himself, as he curiously clicked on it.

The page loaded, Archive Of Our Own. It was an AO3 Fanfic...of him? He scrolled further down, reading the title properly.

Peter as your Boyfriend In Bed By peterlovr

NEO27/E-sports 23 april, 2026

Rating: Explicit

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Applied, Just Don't let him see this

Category: F/M

Fandom: NEO27, Peter/Donghyuck Lee, E-sports

Relationship: bf! Peter x reader.

Characters: Peter Lee

Language: English

Stats: Published:- 2026-04-23 Words: 2,270, Chapters: 1/1, Comments: 1,807 , Kudos: 18,944, Bookmarks: 5,612 Hits: 73,821

Donghyuck's eyes squinted at what he read next.

Guys, Peter as a boyfriend would be so adorable, but in bed? He'd be the wildest motherfucker EVER. After a stressful match, he'd come to you, needy. He doesn't care what are you doing at that moment, he push you back, your face on the pillow, panties off, starts humping you like a rabbit in heat. Resisting against Peter is basically impossible, but it's not that you hate it, you enjoy it in thre best way possible. He pulls your hair, you moan loudly showing how much pleasure he provides to you, His ego would start to take up the whole room, Oh! And his oh so fast fingers, will make you go crazy. Have you guys seen how insanely precise his fingers are? Making you come within minutes--

Donghyuck gulped, his throat tightening as he stared at the absolute blasphemy written across the monitor. His right hand ghosted over the mouse, his fingers twitching above the left click button, his mouth hung slightly open, his heartbeat getting faster and more erratic second by second.

Who would write this bullshit about me? He panicked internally, staring at the now minimized tab of Ao3. And why the fuck is this making me hard. His mind raced, teeth gritted, and hands balled into a fist. He thought hard, Was it one of the girls he'd slept with in the past? Or an incredibly observent stalker? Who was this lunatic of a person who wrote this abominable piece of scripture about me?

He shoved his hand down on the mouse, staring at the Start game button, but his head was spinning. He didn't even know what he was feeling, anger for being explicitly objectified in front of ninety thousand people or was his ego inflating to a dangerous size because of how someone's high opinion of him was?

"Uh guys," Donghyuck muttered in the mic, forcing a massive, completely fake yawn, stretching his jaw, "Let's continue this tomorrow. uh, i'm kinda sleepy.." Absolutely not, not after what he had just read. He was wide awake, his pulse way faster and beneath the desk, his trousers suddenly felt a whole lot tighter..

He hit the End Stream button, taking off his headset. Sitting alone in the darkness, with a blue light glowing in the DR3AM's gaming house.

He couldn't sleep, not at all. The words of the fanfication loop in his mind as if it was stamped onto his brain, he tossed and turned in his bed. He knew he had many fangirls and could be extreme, but he wasn't even mad. He wss just...astonished?

The next morning, Donghyuck's eyes were heavy from lack of sleep, he came out of his room clutching a water bottle, to run straight into Chenle, who was visibly trying not to laugh at his face. "Just say it.." Donghyuck muttered, rolling his eyes, Chenle dodging his glare, a snort escaping him "nah, just check the gc,"

Donghyuck frowned, his brows furrowing in confusion, "what do you mean-," he asked, already walking towards his desk. His fingers clicking open Discord,

[ DR3AM Official Discord ]

ANDY 11:45 AM

@peter why did you end stream so fast last night??

JENO 11:50 AM

check the clips on twt bro...your trending for reading your own fanfic

J.Min 11:51 AM

"He'd be wild" LMAOOO peter whats this?? [Link: ://X.com..]

LELE 11:55 PM

Guys, go easy on him, he just woke up HAHA

JENO 11:57 PM

manager saw it too, he wants to know why does a smut has better strategic detail than our actual matches

PETER 12:00 PM

hang yourselves

J.Min 12:03 PM

Good morning to you too（⊙o⊙)🌷🩷

PETER 12:04 PM

Where are you guys anyway??

JENO 12:06 PM

far from you

PETER 12:06 PM

oh shut up

J.Min 12:07 PM

We're at the company, we didn't wake you up since you were on live til 3 am. they said it wasn't that important, so only me, jeno & jisung went

PETER 12:07 PM

what are you discussing with the management?

JENO 12:08 PM

for you to send your resignation letter

⬅ JENO has been kicked out of the group, 12:08 PM

ANDY 12:09 PM

we'll tell you when we reach the house

Donghyuck leaned back on his chair, quietly slurping his iced americano as the front door clicked open, moments later. Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung entered back into the house. Jeno immediately kicked his shoes off while Jaemin let out a exhausted stretch. Raising his brow, Donghyuck gave them a pointed look over the rim of his cup, indicating an update on their company meeting.

Jeno took a note of the stare, looking up, "oh yeah, there are offers from Kyung Hee University for us to visit their alumni function, since you and I are alumni, i mean only if you wanna go"

"A visit..? All of us?" Haechan raised a brow with a pout. "Yeah, to give the students a 'lecture'," Jaemin said with air quotes. "i mean, who are we to give them an educating lecture as if we're not glued to our devices 24/7."

Jeno huffs, "you down?", tossing his jacket onto the couch. Donghyuck pouted, swirling the ice in his iced americano. "Yeah sure, whatever but I gotta find that lunatic of a author first. My public image is completely destroyed!"

"Was it ever really good before, though?" Jaemin chimed in, not even looking at him, mid-stretch. Donghyuck shoot him a glare, "Shut up." Suddenly, a light bulb lit up in his mind, instantly sat up in his chair, and called towards the kitchen. "Hey! Zhong Chenle!" Chenle came out a moment later, pulling the airpod from his ear, "what?"

"You have Yangyang's number, right?" Donghyuck asked, scratching his neck nervously "I think he lowkey blocked me..", "Uh, yeah I have it," Chenle muttered. His eyes narrowing as a deeply suspicious spread across his face "But why do you need it?" Donghyuck stood up from his chair, invading Chenle's personal space casually, with a cute pouty expression. "What do you mean, why do I need it? C'mon we're all bros, just do me favor!" Donghyuck whined.

Chenle eyed him up and down, "You do know exactly why he blocked you right?" Donghyuck glanced back to find Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung giving him the same look as Chenle. "What!" Donghyuck mewled, "Hyung, You kinda relentlessly annoyed him into hacking stuff for you last time," Jisung chimed in, exposing him.

Donghyuck furrowed his eyebrows defensively, "Hey! It was just for gift cards — It's not like I asked him to leak someone's address or something–" Jaemin's eyes widened as he understood what Donghyuck was about to do, "Hey! Lee Donghyuck! You cannot do that!"

Jeno looked between them, a confused raised, "Do what?" Donghyuck cut him off, "Do nothing!" Glaring at Jaemin for revealing his plan. He looks back at Chenle with that annoyingly cute expression. "Please!" He begged with his hands pressed together.

Chenle gives up because he knows Donghyuck will either torture it out of him or blackmail him, it is actually impossible resisting him. He sighs as he shared him the contact number, causing Donghyuck a grin. A few minutes later, Donghyuck was hovering his phone, typing out a text to Yangyang.

yy my guy🩷🕊

Donghyuck: heyyyyyyy

Yangyang: do i know you?

Donghyuck: im your fave, baby dont u know?

Yangyang: jiyeon?

Donghyuck jaw drops, probably he thinks it's one of his nightstands..as he aggresively replied back

Donghyuck: who tf is jiyeon?? It's peter lee, the biggest e-sports player in THEE world 😲😱

Yangyang: who the fuck gave you my number

Donghyuck: i don't think that matters baby, it matters that we can communicate again

Yangyang: dude i beg you, i was almost sued because you took the money from roblox gift cards...

Donghyuck: I MEAN you did do it, for me

okay okay my bad im sorry, I just need you to do me a favor i beg YOU

Yangyang: WHAT is it

Donghyuck: Can you come over on the weekend, i'll tell you there

Yangyang: uhh what is it that you cant tell me over text?

Donghyuck: baby, just trust me

Yangyang: top five lies ever said

"Y/n! Y/N!" Ningning's voice cut through the noise of the crowded hallway, snapping you out of your thoughts instantly. You jerked slightly, blinking, your eyes were still locked onto the massive poster hanging near the student center wall.

경희대학교 Kyung Hee University — Alumni Festival

Special Guests: PETER & JENO From DR3AM

Reading the poster again and again. Your Idol, your role model, AND the who helps you get off... was actually coming to your university.

"Oh my god, Ning Yizhuo!" You squeaked, immediately grabbing Ningning’s shoulders and bouncing excitedly. “Ning Yizhuo! Can you believe this?! I’m actually gonna see Donghyuck in real life!” Ningning laughed at your reaction, “As if you’ve never seen him here before?”

You frowned instantly, "That doesn’t count,” you argued. “Back then, I barely noticed anything around campus. I was literally just going from class to dorm every day..." you glanced back at the poster again, still in disbelief.

“I never even explored the university properly… so I never got the chance to see him.” Ningning crossed her arms with an amused grin. “And now suddenly you care about campus events?”

“Obviously..." you shrugged, Ningning rolled her eyes playfully. You continued, "but honestly, who wouldn’t lose their mind a little after finding out DR3AM’s Peter is visiting the uni..and now he is going to be standing somewhere on this campus in real life...."

This thought alone made you dizzy...

The moment the bell rang, the crowded hallway erupted into noise again as students rushed toward their next classes, You and Ningning split ways with one last excited look before heading to your respective lecture halls.

Every few minutes, you found yourself wondering if it was real or if you had somehow imagined the entire thing. You had probably pinched yourself at least ten times already just to make sure you weren’t dreaming...By the time class started, your notebook sat open infront of you untouchrd while the professor's voice became background noise. You got lost in thinking scenerios about him.

What if he notices you? What if he finds you pretty—

"Miss Y/n!" You jerked instantly, looking around to see the whole class, staring at you. You realized the professor was calling out to you for the past 5 minutes. You immediately stood up, "Yes, sir?!" Heart beat racing, you gazed down in embarrassment as the professor looked at you with an deadpan expression.

"And I was saying, you could all end up like Miss Y/n, if you don't get enough sleep, and start hallucinating in class.." His voice echoed through the room. You looked down in embarrassment, knuckle white fists. You muttered to yourself "fuck..."

The clock on the wall suddenly felt painfully slow, each minute dragging longer than the last Usually, classes ended quickly enough, but today? It felt like the the time was mocking you. All you wanted was for the day to be over, and be free from the shackles of Professor Hong.

— ★ At DR3AM HOUSE

Donghyuck takes a long sip of his Iced Americano, tapping his foot constantly as Yangyang works on his computer. Jaemin was absolutely correctly, he was gonna find the IP Address of that author and then sue them. Jeno, settled behind Yangyang's chair, uttered, "Donghyuck, take a chill pill. Do you know that this smut fanfication is pretty common? Let it go, really don't understand why you gotta take it this far.." Donghyuck huffs dramatically, "you wouldn't know, after you've been explicitly described in front of thousands,"

Jeno shrugged, "So get ready to sue the whole ao3 website if you're at it..." A chuckle escaping Chenle and Jisung.

"Jeno wouldn't even mind, he would be noting the positions used in the smut instead, they lowkey creative..." Chenle piped in, standing next to angered Donghyuck. Donghyuck clicked his tongue multiple times, "Shame on you guys.." Jaemin chimed in, from behind."By the way, Donghyuck, that same fic was open on your phone. You keep reading it, dont you?"

Donghyuck's eyes widen, about to shoot a soap opera, already halfway standing up from his chair"You son of a bit—" Yangyang cut him off, his fingers tapped on the keyboard a few more times, "Hey, I got through the firewall, this is the IP address where that fanfic was posted from.." Donghyuck rolls his chair closer, "Well..?" Yangyang muttered in blinking before slowly reading it

"Kyung Hee University "

Every single person in the room froze, and the silence was intimidating. Jisung almost choked on his saliva, "No way..." Jeno chimed in, "And they chose to write a smut in a university..." Donghyuck huffs with a grin, tongue digging his cheek, he straightenrd his position, "Any other info?"

Yangyang cracked his knuckles dramatically before hovering his fingers of the keyboard. The clicking of the keys filled the room as lines of codes flashed on the monitor, faster than anyone can understand... A few seconds later, Yangyang suddenly leaned in the monitor, "Oh?"

Everyone instinctively moved in closer, Donghyuck basically almost entering the screen, "What, what show me!" Yangyang frowned, and pushed him aside with a groan, "Move! Dude"

Donghyuck snarled at him before asking again, "What's this? Their phone number?" Yangyang lazily at the screen, "I couldn't find any personal information. Whoever this is, covered their tracks pretty well, but" Donghyuck ushered,"but??" Yangyang tapped the number on the display monitor, "But I think this is the university identification number..."

2022-12742

Donghyuck shot up from his chair so fast that almost everyone flinched, "LET'S GO BABY!" Chenle gave him the nastiest look, "Why are you celebrating...?" Donghyuck grinned, pointing at the screen, "oh, you author, you're done..." Jisung mumbles, "okay, i'm kind of scared..."

Donghyuck continues, "2022 means the year they entered the university, which means they were a freshmen when I was about to graduate..and do you guys know where we’re going next week?” Donghyuck asked slowly, a dangerous grin spreading across his face, nobody really answered, he leaned forward dramatically over the desk.

"The alumni festival…” he paused for effect, “…at Kyung Hee University..." The room was in complete silence, then Donghyuck burst into laughter.., it wasn't a normal laugh, the kind when the villain finally revealing his evil plan laugh. “hahah, oh, this is fate,” he wheezed, clutching the desk, “This is actually fate.."

Jaemin, who had been silently petting his cat the entire time, stared at him for a long moment before slowly standing up, "Okay you really wasted my time.." as everyone in the room, started leaving one by one. Jeno didn't even bother looking back, "You're deranged as hell bro.." Donghyuck called them out in disbelief, “Hey?!” Jisung stretched lazily before standing up “please don’t scare random university students... They'll think we're weirdos.."

Chenle was already laughing while walking towards his room, "Imagine if they see you acting like this and regret writing the fic..HAAHA." Donghyuck’s jaw dropped in betrayeveryone abandoned him, “Guys?!” he whined loudly, spinning around in his chair. “This is MY victory! Aren’t we supposed to celebrate?...."

The only response he got was Jisung quietly mumbled to himself, "Alleged victory..." Donghyuck left in disbelief “…Wow.”

Then Yangyang suddenly nudged his shoulder before leaving, Donghyuck looked up, "what?” Yangyang raised an eyebrow before subtly rubbing his fingers together in the universal sign for money, Donghyuck blinked once, "Ah...right.." Yangyang only grinned smugly, “A deal’s a deal..."

Donghyuck pulled out his phone, tapping aggressively against the screen, transferring him the promised account. "Sent it..." Yangyang grins as he stares at his suddenly filled back account, "Yo, thanks Haha, I'll be heading out now, and please don’t do anything weird..." Donghyuck lets out a scoff, he said confidently, "why would you let a guard cat the milk.."

Yangyang frowns while putting his phone in his back pocket, while mid-step "Huh what? Donghyuck looked at him, blinking at him, "Y'know, the saying.." Yangyang blinked back at him, correcting him, "you mean let a cat guard the milk?" Donghyuck blinked once.. "…Oh yeah,” he replied immediately. “That.” Yangyang burst out laughing so hard he nearly doubled over, “Oh my god, you are actually stupid, donghyuck..." Donghyuck shooing him away "Okay go back to your slum!"

Still laughing, Yangyang waved him off before finally leaving the room, the door clicking shut behind him...the silence returned almost instantly, Donghyuck leaned back in his chair again, eyes drifting toward the still-open monitor displaying the university ID number.

2022-12742.

A slow grin spread across his face once more, "…Kyung Hee University, huh?” he murmured quietly to himself...

Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day, and you're gonna see your Idol, Peter. You basically squealed the whole day, rotting Ningning's ear. You were beyond excited, and so was Donghyuck. Both for the opposite reasons...