you should’ve brought cha sung-hoon to calm my nerves,” you murmured anxiously, fiddling with the hem of your sleeve as you approached the little restaurant where you were about to meet your fake boyfriend’s grandfather—chairman kang. your stomach felt like it was doing flips, every step heavier than the last.

jesus. why did you always have to end up in situations like this? if only young-seo hadn’t begged you to cover for her that night.

what started as a favor for your best friend had turned into a living nightmare. you had walked into that blind date expecting a stranger, only to find kang tae-moo, the infamously cold ceo of your company. the man you secretly referred to as having an archeopteryx-looking face. sharp, unreadable, intimidating—and now, apparently, your fake boyfriend.

“i thought you said you’ve got this? now you’re nervous?” he asked coolly, his tone steady but his eyes flickering briefly toward you. he was infuriatingly calm, as if he knew exactly how this would play out—that you’d somehow manage to please his grandfather. stupid old bird.

“mr. cha happened to mention that your grandfather is this scary and strict person,” you muttered, already overthinking. your hand reached out almost instinctively, brushing his arm, grounding yourself without realizing how intimate the gesture looked. his gaze lingered for a second longer than it should have.

“what if he suddenly realizes we’re just lying to him?” you blurted out, voice small, betraying your nerves.

“then you can try loving me for real. well, at least while we’re in there.” his words were casual, but they sent your thoughts spiraling.

“what?” you managed to say, heart stuttering. “let’s go.” he didn’t give you a chance to think, simply walking ahead. “okay…” you murmured, trailing after him, anxiety clawing at your chest.

“grandpa, we’re here,” tae-moo called as the door opened to reveal a cozy yet strangely quiet restaurant.

“ooh!” chairman kang laughed warmly as he stood, moving toward you both. “well, ms. shin geum-hui. you’re as beautiful as i imagined! actually, even more so!”

except—he wasn’t looking at you. he was addressing an employee standing nearby.

tae-moo cleared his throat, his voice sharp but controlled. “that’s the wrong person. this is her.” he guided you forward smoothly.

the chairman’s eyes widened in surprise as he finally spotted you.

you both chuckled awkwardly, and you bowed quickly. “my apologies,” the old man said, recovering, though you felt the weight of his gaze sweeping over you—judging, calculating.

“nice to meet you,” chairman kang said politely, but then his glance shifted toward tae-moo, something unspoken flickering in his expression.

seated at a small table, the meal began. “you mentioned that you majored in art studies in new york?” chairman kang asked, tone light but probing.

“oh! yes i did, sir,” you replied, pasting on your brightest smile. the lie slid off your tongue like practiced silk, though your heart pounded at the thought of your family’s tiny fried chicken shop.

“i suppose that explains it. you have a special look about you” he said.

you risked a glance at tae-moo. to your shock, he was smiling—just faintly, but still. it softened his sharp features, and you noticed even his grandfather didn’t miss it.

still, your attempts to charm chairman kang seemed to be falling flat. conversation after conversation slipped away awkwardly until, desperate, you remembered: tae-moo had mentioned his grandfather loved hikes.

with forced enthusiasm, you launched into a story of hiking the switzerland mountains (which was a lie) but it seemed to kind of be the deal breaker for the chairman. his smile widened and his laugh wasn't forced anymore.

but he interrupted you gently, "ms. shin geum-hui, this grandson of mine, do you love him?" he asked you. what? umm. "of course i do, i wouldn't be dating him if i didn't." you tried to laugh it off.

"well, then, why did you break up with him?" his grandfather asked, even tae-moo turned to you, interested. even though it was a fake relationship.