Chapter Text
Anxin had always thought there was a limit to how badly a situation could get.
Apparently, he had been wrong.
Because there was nothing quite like standing in front of the entrance to Lee Sangwon's private penthouse with several servants unloading his belongings from a car.
He stared at the building for a long moment.
This was really happening.
Behind him, the servants moved quietly through the entrance, carrying his belongings inside as though they had always belonged there.
Anxin watched them for a moment.
There was something unsettling about seeing his things being placed in a house that still didn't feel like his.
He had agreed to this arrangement.
He had known it was coming.
But standing there, surrounded by polished marble and unfamiliar grandeur, the reality of it settled over him all at once.
This wasn't a visit. He was actually moving in. Anxin slowly exhaled. “Unbelievable.”
“Well, well.”
The familiar voice came from the stairwell.
Anxin looked up.
Sangwon stood there, freshly showered, his dark hair still slightly damp. He wore a casual outfit that somehow still looked expensive, as though even relaxing required him to look annoyingly put together.
A small smile appeared on his face. “Look who's finally here.”
Anxin's jaw tightened.
Sangwon descended a few steps. “Didn't expect you'd actually show up, fiancé.”
“Don't start.”
Sangwon's smile widened. “Relax. I thought you'd run away before our honeymoon.”
Anxin's eyes widened.
“What?! Honeymoon?! Are you crazy?”
He immediately lowered his voice when he noticed the servants nearby. “Keep your voice down.”
Sangwon laughed quietly. “You're the one shouting.”
“Because you said—” Anxin stopped himself. The servants were still carrying his things inside.
He gave Sangwon a death stare.
Sangwon only looked more amused.
“Welcome home I guess...”
“This isn't my home!!”
Anxin muttered something under his breath that Sangwon wisely chose not to ask about.
One of the servants approached them.
“Where should we place Young Master Zhou's belongings?”
Sangwon gestured toward the staircase.
“Take them to the guest room on the second floor.”
Before the servant could respond, another voice interrupted.
“No.”
Both boys turned.
Mr. Lee stood near the entrance, having followed them inside.
Sangwon frowned.
“No?”
Mr. Lee calmly looked at the boxes.“Take them to Sangwon's room.”
Silence.
Sangwon blinked.
Anxin blinked.
Even the servant seemed momentarily confused.
“What?” Sangwon finally asked.
Mr. Lee looked at him as though he had said something ridiculous.
“You heard me.”
“But—”
Mrs. Lee walked in behind her husband, smiling brightly.
“Honestly, Sangwon. You two have supposedly been dating for months. I don't see why you should sleep in separate rooms now.”
Anxin's mouth fell open. “Mrs. Lee—” She smiled at him. “Anxin, you'll be more comfortable there aren't you ?”
Comfortable?
Anxin looked at Sangwon.
Sangwon looked back at him.
Neither of them looked remotely comfortable.
The servant quietly picked up one of Anxin's boxes.
“Wait—”
But it was already too late.
Another servant followed.
Then another.
Within seconds, Anxin's belongings were disappearing up the staircase toward Sangwon's bedroom.
Anxin stood frozen. Sangwon looked equally horrified. Their eyes met.
Neither said a word. But the message was obvious.
This cannot be happening.
Unfortunately, it was.
---
The shared room looked like something out of a magazine.
Spacious. Minimalist. Expensive.
And completely unsuitable for two people who could barely stand being in the same room for five minutes.
Anxin stood at the doorway with his suitcase beside him.
His eyes immediately landed on the massive bed in the center of the room.
One bed.
Of course.
Sangwon was leaning against the window, arms crossed.
He looked perfectly at home.
Anxin stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind him. Sangwon immediately turned.
“This is all your fault.”
Anxin's head snapped toward him. “My fault?”
“If you hadn't come up with that stupid lie, we wouldn't have to do any of this!”
Anxin stared at him. “You agreed to the lie!”
“Because you dragged me into it!”
“You went along with it!”
“You're the one who called me your fiancé!”
“You're the one who started talking to the reporters!”
Sangwon scoffed. “You made it worse!”
“You literally smiled while doing it!”
“Because someone had to make us look convincing!”
They stared at each other.
Neither willing to back down.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Both froze.
A maid's voice came from the other side of the door.
“Young Masters, dinner is served.”
Silence.
Anxin slowly straightened his shirt. Sangwon cleared his throat. “Coming.”
The footsteps outside disappeared.
Anxin looked at Sangwon. Sangwon looked at Anxin. Neither mentioned the argument. They simply walked downstairs.
---
The dining room was already prepared when they arrived.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee were seated at one side of the table, while the Zhou family had joined through a video call positioned near the center.
The moment Anxin and Sangwon entered together, Mrs. Lee smiled.
“There they are.”
Sangwon immediately knew that smile.
He didn't trust it.
“Come sit down.”
They took the seats beside each other.
Again.
Anxin quietly pulled out his chair.
Sangwon did the same.
Their parents watched them with expressions of complete satisfaction. Anxin forced a polite smile. Sangwon did too.
Under the table, their knees nearly bumped. Both immediately shifted away.
Mr. Zhou noticed nothing.
“So, Anxin,” he said through the screen, “how was your first day?”
Anxin paused. “Interesting.”
Sangwon coughed into his glass. Anxin shot him a warning look.
Mrs. Zhou smiled. “ you must be so comfortable there right?”
Anxin glanced around the enormous dining room. Then toward Sangwon. “Very.”
Sangwon raised an eyebrow.
Liar.
Anxin smiled sweetly. “I'm used to it.”
Mrs. Lee looked delighted. “I knew you would.”
Sangwon quietly stabbed a piece of food with his fork.
Mr. Lee looked between them.
“You two should spend some time together. It will help you adjust.”
Sangwon nearly sighed.
Anxin smiled. “Of course.”
Under the table, Sangwon lightly nudged Anxin's foot.
Anxin immediately stepped on his. Sangwon's expression twitched.
Neither of them reacted.
Their parents continued talking happily.
For the rest of dinner, they maintained the perfect image of two well-behaved fiancés.
It was exhausting.
Eventually, the Zhou family said their goodbyes. “Goodnight, Anxin.”
“Goodnight.”
“Take care of each other.” Both boys answered at exactly the same time.
“We will.”
They glanced at each other. Then immediately looked away.
The video call with the Zhou family finally came to an end.
After a few more reminders to take care of each other, Mr. Zhou said his goodbyes, and the screen went dark.
For a moment, the dining room became quiet.
Then Mr. Lee cleared his throat.
“There is one more thing.”
Sangwon immediately looked suspicious. “Of course there is.”
His father ignored the comment. “The Lee Foundation's annual charity gala is next weekend.”
Sangwon leaned back in his chair. “I know.”
“You'll be attending.”
“I figured.”
Mr. Lee glanced toward Anxin. “Both of you will.” Anxin paused. “Both of us?”
Mrs. Lee smiled.
“Your engagement is public now. It would look strange if you didn't attend together.”
Sangwon let out a quiet groan.
“Can't I just attend alone?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you're engaged.”
Sangwon stared at his father. “That answer is becoming your favorite.”
Mr. Lee calmly picked up his glass. “You'll have plenty of time to get used to it.”
Anxin lowered his gaze, trying not to smile. Sangwon noticed. “You think this is funny?”
“No.”
“You're smiling.”
“I am not!!”
“You are.”
Mrs. Lee laughed softly. “See? You're already getting along.” Both boys immediately looked at her. Then give parents a practiced smile.
Their parents exchanged amused glances. Anxin sighed and pushed his chair back.
“I think I'm going upstairs.”
Mrs. Zhou's earlier words echoed in his head.
Take care of each other.
That was easier said than done. He gave the Lee parents a polite nod.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Anxin,” Mrs. Lee replied warmly.
Anxin glanced briefly at Sangwon. “Goodnight.”
Sangwon nodded. “Night.”
Anxin left the dining room and headed upstairs. Sangwon watched him disappear toward the staircase.
Then Mr. Lee spoke again.
“There are a few details about the gala we should discuss.”
Sangwon sighed.
“Of course.”
He settled back into his chair. Upstairs, Anxin had already disappeared behind the bedroom door.
---
Later that night, Sangwon stepped back into his bedroom after discussing with his parents.
He stopped.
The bathroom door was closed. Water was running inside. For a moment, he simply stared.
Then it hit him.
Anxin was here.
He wasn't living alone anymore.
The realization felt strangely unsettling.
He walked farther into the room and sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor.
A few days ago, this room had been his quiet place.
His private space.
Now there were boxes belonging to Zhou Anxin sitting in the corner.
Sangwon sighed.
How had his life changed this much in such a short time?
The water stopped.
A few moments later, the bathroom door opened.
Anxin stepped out, his hair still damp from the shower. A few strands had fallen across his forehead, and he was dressed in simple sleep clothes.
Sangwon glanced at him. Then quickly looked away. Anxin didn't seem to notice. He walked toward the bed.
Sangwon watched him from the corner of his eye.
One step.
Two steps.
Three—
Why was he coming this way?
Sangwon's mind immediately supplied several possibilities.
Maybe he was about to say something.
Maybe he had another ridiculous idea for making their relationship look convincing.
Maybe—
Anxin stopped beside the bed. Sangwon's shoulders stiffened.
What was he planning?
Anxin looked at him. Sangwon looked back.
Neither spoke.
Anxin frowned. “What the fuck are you looking at ?”
“nothing."
Anxin stared at him suspiciously. Then he moved toward his side of the bed.
Sangwon immediately spoke.“Wait!!" Anxin stopped.“What?”
Sangwon pointed vaguely toward the hallway. “You're really.. going to sleep here?”
Anxin looked at him as if he'd completely lost his mind. “Yes.” A pause. “Why?”
Sangwon opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
Because what was he supposed to say?
I thought you were about to do something weird because you've already made our fake relationship ten times more convincing than necessary?
That sounded insane even in his mind.
So he cleared his throat. “Um... nothing.”
Anxin continued toward the bed. Sangwon's brain still wasn't cooperating.
For some reason, he suddenly remembered the tiny crush he'd had on Anxin years ago.
Even before all of this. It had been nothing. Barely even worth remembering.
At least, that's what he'd told himself.
Except apparently, his brain had decided that now was the perfect time to remember it.
Fantastic.
Anxin gave him a confused look. Sangwon avoided his eyes.
Anxin climbed onto one side of the bed and pulled the blanket over himself.
“Good night..”
Sangwon watched him for a moment before speaking.
“This is only happening tonight, okay?”
No response.
“Tomorrow, you're moving to the guest room.”
Anxin mumbled sleepily. “l know!! ”
Sangwon waited for an argument.
None came.
He looked over. Anxin was already half-asleep. Sangwon stared at him.
“You're not even going to argue?” Another sleepy mumble. “No.”
Then silence.
Sangwon slowly leaned back against the headboard. He looked across the bed.
Zhou Anxin was already asleep.
Sangwon sighed.
It's really happening.. insane!!
“This is going to be a long night.”