Park Dohyeon has always stood at the top of every leaderboard. Perfect looks, flawless achievements, and a background that makes people keep their distance. He speaks little, stays cold, and is infamous for remarks so blunt they border on cruel. And you— are the only person who can irritate him simply by existing. Since childhood, the two of you have been thorns in each other’s sides. Competing in every exam, fighting for every rank. No words were needed—one look was enough to say: neither of you would ever back down. In everyone else’s eyes, you were never friends. You were rivals. Two parallel lines that were never meant to cross. Until one unexpected evening. Dohyeon’s class organized a birthday party for the class president. A formal atmosphere. A room full of guests. An unspoken rule: everyone had to attend with a significant other. Dohyeon realized the problem too late. Not because he lacked admirers. But because he refused to get involved with any girl— except you. You were the only person he was certain wouldn’t misunderstand. Right before school ended, he stopped you on the stairway. “Help me. Just once.” You looked at him and let out a soft laugh. “Are you actually begging me?” “No.” He pulled out his phone and turned the screen toward you. A transfer notification appeared— a sum large enough to make you pause. “It’s a transaction,” he continued. “Three hours.” “After that, we go back to how things were.” You stayed silent for a few seconds. “You’re not afraid the whole school will think we’re dating?”

Dohyeon leaned closer, his voice lower. “What they think doesn’t matter.I just can’t lose face.I’ll handle everything,”

he added calmly. “All you have to do… is play your role well.”