Section Manager Kim’s shocked questions poured out. His words were right. In fact, Muyoung had no points of contact with such people. Due to his unsociable personality, even being in the flashy entertainment industry for long, there were no gatherings or exchanges with others.
Moreover, the fact that he’d been in a lover relationship with Jinho until a few months ago was also a big cause. He had no leisure to spare for others, and during time with Jinho, he only focused on him. On days off spent without Jinho, resting alone was comfortable. There were times he’d thought Section Manager Kim, CEO Choi, and people met at work were enough.
“I came to know him by chance… but it’s not that kind of relationship like sponsorship or such.”
“Right, it’s not that I’m doubting you, Muyoung…”
“No, what good does it do if we believe? Isn’t the point that this tabloid might come out as an article?”
To CEO Choi, who was finding even a bit of composure while soothing Muyoung, Section Manager Kim poured out words with a deflated face. Perhaps because they were people who took pride in running things sincerely and honestly in their own way, it seemed uncomfortable that facts they didn’t know about Muyoung were revealed in this way.
Moreover, Section Manager Kim’s words were right. The truth wasn’t that important. If this content spread outside, it was Muyoung who would suffer a blow first. Since it already came out as a tabloid today, it could burst tomorrow immediately.
Even if an article was misinformation, the ripple effect was too strong. The drama Muyoung appeared in or advertisements in progress could become problems. Explanation requests regarding the controversy could fly from contracted companies, or in the worst case, they’d have to pay all penalty fees.
Even if Muyoung was really in a serious relationship with Dowon and wouldn’t look strange to others’ eyes, if the word sponsorship was attached to the article, their relationship was bound to fall vulgarly. Once this tabloid went out to society as is, any explanation would obviously be useless.
“Rather if the other party were an Omega, we could just pass it off as dating rumors and ignore it and everyone would let it go, but because you’re a Beta, Muyoung, even more…”
“Ah…”
“What use are Beta or Omega here? It’s just entangling an actor and CEO Han pouring out dirty rumors. It’s just speculation writing fiction. Whether you did anything with someone you know, what money bastard spread a tabloid like this.”
At Section Manager Kim’s words that it was entangled more dirtily because his trait was Beta, CEO Choi took Muyoung’s side. Perhaps considering Muyoung’s position, but rather the atmosphere became awkward. Meanwhile, Muyoung, who had to explain properly in the middle, was momentarily speechless when even trait talk came out. CEO Choi taking his side made it even more so.
Should I tell Section Manager Kim-nim the truth at this opportunity?
The most flustered by the suddenly striking situation was Muyoung. He didn’t expect words to circulate about Dowon in this way. Even until hearing it was a tabloid, he thought it was completely a rumor. He was relieved thinking it was a common occurrence that just wrongly caught him.
But now he just wanted to run away before the people who believed in him.
“…I’m sorry.”
“So how did you come to know him? Do you really have something with this person?”
“…”
“Recently occasionally not being home, were you with this person?”
Muyoung, who couldn’t make any answer while moving his lips, lightly nodded at CEO Choi’s question then finally opened his mouth unable to even put his gaze toward Section Manager Kim.
“Actually, I am a trait carrier, Section Manager Kim-nim. Since I manifested late and am recessive, we agreed to just act as Beta, so only CEO Choi-nim knew…”
“What?”
At the words that suddenly popped out, Section Manager Kim raised his voice loudly. CEO Choi burst out a long sigh, and Section Manager Kim scratched his head hard while repeatedly standing up and sitting down on the sofa.
“I’m sorry for not telling you in advance. But really, there were no inconveniences because of traits until now. I came to know CEO Han by chance, and it’s not that kind of relationship like the tabloid.”
Muyoung just couldn’t think of a method to get through this situation. More than anything, he kept shrinking at Section Manager Kim’s expression, which wasn’t good after immediately learning the truth. He knew he should have said it earlier, but who could have imagined such a thing would happen in between?
“Wait, I need a moment…”
Finally, Section Manager Kim, unable to overcome the flustering atmosphere, stormed out of the office.
“First, go home and lay low for the time being.”
“Yes…”
“If rumors start spreading like this now, it’s obvious they’ll try to find evidence somehow first. It’s better to lay low and endure in advance.”
“…”
“Then that… are you dating CEO Han?”
“No, no, not that. Absolutely not.”
He knew with what kind of heart CEO Choi was asking this question. Muyoung also still thought it wasn’t a deep relationship with Dowon. Though by chance it had become a situation of leaning on him physically, he didn’t want to use Dowon as an excuse for this kind of thing. It couldn’t even be done.
“Even if, even if you really develop feelings, think carefully. Those household people are no joke. Moreover, families like that all match conditions and lay down contracts for marriage. You know what I’m saying, right?”
“…Yes, I know.”
“Section Manager Kim, he’s probably just feeling hurt. You know he’s not someone with prejudices or anything, right? Don’t worry about it unnecessarily.”
“Of course, I’m fine. I should have said it earlier…”
CEO Choi, who gestured to Section Manager Kim who had just come back in as if he’d gone out to smoke, informed him of things to take care of. While deciding to move together from the office for now, Muyoung had to act properly for what came next. He knew at least that if he didn’t come to his senses on his own, he couldn’t escape this situation safely.
“Get out. Let’s move together for now. I’ll also go out and organize a bit, and we need to watch this a little.”
Hurriedly leaving the office as if pushed by CEO Choi, he was practically loaded into the van and escaped the building. Section Manager Kim had no words in the driver’s seat, and Muyoung sat in back, continuously only fiddling with his phone.
On the phone’s standby screen, a missed call from Dowon was displayed. Muyoung, who had tried to hurriedly make a call, momentarily stopped his hand. Just because contact came didn’t give him confidence that he knew about this matter. Even if Dowon knew the fact that a tabloid was circulating, he wondered what kind of talk they could have now.
Muyoung, ignoring the notification window, turned off his phone’s power. Until at least his complicated mind was organized after entering the house, he didn’t want to contact him even by mistake. Along with the plausible excuse of not wanting to cause needless worry, he was afraid he might lean on him in some way, his swaying self.
* * *
After taking Muyoung to the front of his house, Section Manager Kim left quickly. Though it seemed like he wanted to speak to him, at the back view immediately turning around while only shaking his head, Muyoung also couldn’t say any words. As CEO Choi said, he might need a little time, but since he also couldn’t completely ignore it, he felt even more tired in his disturbance.
How much time had passed sitting blankly inside the house after barely organizing things? Only then did the turned-off phone come to mind. After seeing a few texts that came in after the power came on, he immediately made a call.
He’d definitely thought of what to say, but he couldn’t remember. Unable to say any words to the voice connected after waiting. Dowon seemed to know nothing about the situation Muyoung was in, and also seemed to already know everything. Unable to bring out the many words rising in his head, he had to barely squeeze out his voice.
─ Were you very busy?
“…CEO-nim.”
─ I didn’t call earlier to hear this kind of voice. When it’s the first call Muyoung-ssi made. The timing is really bad.
“Are you outside?”
─ If you’re alone, just leave a text saying where. I’ll contact you a bit later.
Holding the disconnected phone, calming his confused heart briefly, he eventually lay down on the sofa as is. He wondered if lying down comfortably with his body would calm him, but his eyes just hurt from the light fixture shining straight down.
Rather than CEO Choi or Section Manager Kim, it was Dowon who knew his current situation well. He seemed to have more to lose than himself. No, perhaps he seemed to have nothing to lose at all. If he was such an impressive person with such a household as CEO Choi said, perhaps he wouldn’t even get scratched by this level of incident.
Muyoung suddenly found it strange that such a Dowon was currently the closest to him more than anyone. At the same time, he recalled that he wasn’t telling even this person his full situation.
He thought he was sufficiently aware that he became an actor wanting to act and was doing work where his face became known to others. While thinking he was careful about his private life and didn’t do anything to be cursed by anyone, he became powerless before a few lines of decorated and arbitrarily tailored text. The imagination about the future drawn with such a heart only became increasingly anxious.
Had he been too indecisive, unable to refuse from when they met? Would this not have happened if he’d firmly refused? Could this incident possibly have a bad influence on Dowon? The bad thoughts that began crawling out with difficulty multiplied well at the spot where Muyoung lay.
─ Rrrrr.
The phone placed on his chest rang. Glancing at it, he immediately answered the call at the name that appeared.
“Yes, CEO-nim.”
─ Where are you?
“Ah… I’m sorry. I forgot the text. I’m home.”
─ Are you alone right now by any chance?
“Yes, that’s right.”
─ That’s fortunate. I’m nearby right now, so I’ll probably arrive soon.
