* * *

“Oh, and if someone you don’t know contacts you and uses my name, just ignore it.”

Before Junhee even had the chance to ask who it might be, the car door slammed shut.

Who on earth would mention Ki Taeryu’s name and try to reach out to him?

Calling to ask would seem odd, so he was left with only an uncomfortable feeling.

Junhee glanced at his right hand, wrapped in a protective bandage, and wiggled his fingers.

“I think it’s almost fully healed.”

He had carefully removed the bandage and washed it gently every time he showered.

The swelling had gone down, and aside from some stiffness, it seemed fine.

He thought about calling the doctor to ask if he could remove the bandage for good and picked up his phone.

Buzz—an incoming call.

[Member: Moon Doyoung]

Junhee stared at the cracked letters on the shattered screen before answering.

“Yes, this is Yoo Junhee.”

“Oh, Junhee. Are you at work right now?”

“Yes, I’m on duty.”

“Perfect. Do you like madeleines? Or cannelés?”

Junhee hadn’t tried either before.

Doyoung, apparently impatient with his lack of a quick response, answered for him.

“I’ll just buy both. Anyway, I’m nearby, so I’ll swing by soon.”

Click. The call ended.

It was almost as if rich people had a rule to act unilaterally like that.

From Junhee’s perspective, Ki Taeryu and Moon Doyoung would make a fantastic couple, but sadly, the app thought otherwise.

Shortly after, Moon Doyoung burst into the peaceful office of the four-member couple management team.

The youngest employee flinched, shrinking back behind the partition.

Junhee stood up and guided Doyoung to the consultation room.

The room they’d used before was occupied, so they moved next door.

“Here, share these with your coworkers. Oh, and I got a separate one for you, Junhee. The coffee from last time was the best, so I didn’t bring any on purpose.”

Which, of course, meant he should prepare that same coffee for her.

Junhee messaged the junior employee, asking for the coffee run, feeling a bit guilty for always having them run errands whenever Doyoung visited.

“What brings you by so suddenly?” he asked.

“Well… it’s nothing major.”

Doyoung paused, then sighed heavily as he looked over at Junhee.

“Actually, something’s been bothering me, and you’re the only one I could think of to talk to.”

“Feel free to share. I might not be able to solve it, but I can listen.”

“Really? I don’t know what I’d do without you, Junhee.”

Despite Doyoung’s friendliness, Junhee didn’t show much reaction.

How could he?

The memory of their last meeting, where he’d acted like he was ready to devour him, was still vivid.

He wasn’t foolish enough to mistake occasional kindness for selfless goodwill.

The type who showed up only when they needed something was also the type to discard you without hesitation if you made a single mistake or got in their way.

“As a matchmaker, you’ve met all sorts of people and seen plenty of marriages, right? You must have dated a lot, too. You have the kind of face that’s a hit with older women.”

Instead of explaining his worries, Doyoung appraised him like he was up for sale.

Admitting he’d never dated anyone would ruin the trust he’d built so far, so Junhee kept his expression calm and waited.

“Ha… Despite appearances, I’m actually a hopeless romantic. People think I’m easy, but they couldn’t be more wrong.”

A hopeless romantic.

Unless the definition of “romance” had changed to include casual flings and one-night stands, Junhee had no comment.

“Still, I’m getting older, and I’ve had to compromise a bit. Should I marry for stability, like everyone else, or hold out for someone who makes my heart race? Ugh…”

Junhee’s eyes widened slightly as he listened, a suspicion forming in his mind.

He glanced at Doyoung, who quickly waved his hands defensively.

“No, no! I don’t mean I have someone like that right now!”

“Are you still in touch with Siwon?” he asked.

“Ha! Junhee, what do you think I’d do with a kid like that? We only spent one night together. Just because he has a great body doesn’t mean everything! Do you think I’d…?”

His defensive outburst only made her more suspicious.

Actually, it confirmed it.

Doyoung was torn between Ki Taeryu, the division head, and Siwon.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to Junhee for advice.

People instinctively seek out help where they know they can get it.

“You need to be honest with me if you want the best advice,” Junhee urged.

Fidgeting with her manicured nails, Doyoung finally admitted, “Yes, it’s those two people you’re thinking of.”

Junhee mentally pictured both options beside him: Ki Taeryu and then Siwon.

“That’s good news.”

“What? You think it’s great that I’m struggling to make a decision?”

“No, I mean it’s good that you’re considering both of them seriously enough to think of marriage.”

“Oh, I thought….”

Realizing she’d overreacted, Doyoung retracted her claws.

Unfortunately, Ki Taeryu wasn’t even considering him, but Siwon… maybe.

The real problem, though…

“Ha… I genuinely thought that kid was twenty-five. But the next morning, guess what he said?”

Doyoung’s voice rose as she mimicked Siwon, veins popping out.

“ ‘I’m twenty, hyung’. He actually called me ‘hyung’! And just as I was about to faint, Ki Taeryu called, and it finally hit me. I can’t be messing around with a kid.”

Junhee listened quietly.

“So… you’re saying you like Siwon?”

“No! I’m just… drawn to him. It’s not the same as liking him, okay?”

Junhee thought there wasn’t much of a difference but nodded anyway.

“Have you established your relationship with Siwon?”

“Relationship? What relationship? It was just one night. Though he did ask me to keep quiet about it… said he was confused. It’s hilarious; he’s adorable.”

Watching Doyoung laugh, Junhee was more convinced he did like Siwon.

“Anyway, that’s not the point. My indecision is making both of them suspicious. If I’m not careful, I could end up losing everything.”

“How do you know they’re suspicious?” Junhee asked.

“How? I can sense it. They both avoid my calls—Ki Taeryu says he’s too busy, and Siwon says he’s studying for exams. Young or old, Alphas sure know how to play hard to get.”

Junhee clicked the pen he was holding.

Something in Doyoung’s story didn’t add up.

‘It’s understandable that Ki Taeryu wouldn’t like Moon Doyoung, since he’s mentioned it several times, but Siwon isn’t the type to behave like that…’

Even when it came to exams or anything else, Siwon was the one who would persistently stay in touch, even when Junhee didn’t bother replying because he was annoyed.

Sure, it’s possible, like Doyoung said, that he might be feeling confused, but…

“So, have you seen Siwon since then?”

“No. I tried to meet up, but he turned me down. After getting rejected twice, I got irritated and stopped trying. When I call, he does answer, but every time he keeps apologizing. Why is that? Was he always like this?”

Junhee’s left hand, holding a pen, moved awkwardly.

On the blank white paper, he scrawled the word ‘Sorry’ in uneven letters.

‘…I’m sorry, hyung.’

‘If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize.’

Different apologies he had heard from others drifted through his mind.

His thoughts became even more tangled.

“I think I’ll have to meet with him in person and hear him out.”

“Oh my, will you really do that? Then don’t mention that I’m worried, okay? Just subtly feel him out.”

“…What do you mean by feel him out?”

“You know… like, does he prefer older partners, when does he want to get married, things like that! Do I really have to spell this out?”

Perhaps embarrassed, Doyoung smacked Junhee lightly on the forearm.

The ID badge hanging around Doyoung’s neck swung up, grazing his cheek as it flew.

Junhee rubbed his now-stinging cheek, and Doyoung leaned in, his mouth agape.

“Oh no! I’m sorry, Junhee. My hand just slipped…”

Just as he was about to say it was okay—

Bang! The door to the consultation room burst open, and the youngest staff member entered, face flushed.

“Don’t lay a hand on Assistant Yoo!”

Splash! The coffee flung in Doyoung’s direction soaked his clothes.

* * *