Work Text:
Sohyun hated these parties. She had never been the kind of person who enjoyed the flashy corporate events, the endless small talk, and the parade of people who always seemed to want something from her. But she had gotten used to it, mostly because of Xinyu.
Xinyu, the ever-poised CEO of their newly merged company, her wife—on paper, at least. Their marriage had been arranged for business, a move to strengthen their family ties and solidify a powerful alliance between their companies. Everyone saw them as the perfect couple: powerful, influential, untouchable. But only they knew the truth.
They weren’t a real couple. Not yet.
Sohyun sighed, watching as Xinyu moved effortlessly through the crowd. There was a natural grace to the way Xinyu carried herself, her sharp suit complementing her striking beauty. She was a presence in every room she entered, and tonight, it was no different.
It wasn’t the first time Sohyun found herself captivated by Xinyu’s elegance, the way she made everything seem so easy. But tonight, it felt… worse. Maybe it was because of the way other women couldn’t take their eyes off her. Maybe it was because Xinyu was being pulled into conversations and surrounded by admirers, especially Yooyeon, Xinyu’s ex-girlfriend.
That had to be it.
Yooyeon, a model with long legs, sharp cheekbones, and a smile that could stop traffic, was all over Xinyu tonight. She lingered in every conversation Xinyu was a part of, her laugh a little too loud, her touch a little too frequent.
Sohyun clenched her glass a little tighter, taking a long sip of champagne. She should be used to this. It wasn’t as if Xinyu had any obligation to stay by her side all night—they were friends, yes, but their relationship had been complicated ever since that day Xinyu had confessed.
Sohyun’s stomach twisted at the memory. She had rejected Xinyu’s confession, not because she didn’t feel anything for her, but because she had been scared. Scared of what it meant to fall for someone she was supposed to be married to out of obligation. Scared of what it would mean to blur the lines of their arrangement. Scared of losing Xinyu if things went wrong.
But now, standing in the middle of the crowded ballroom, watching Yooyeon drape herself over Xinyu like she still had some claim to her, Sohyun felt something she hadn’t expected.
Jealousy.
It was a ridiculous feeling. Why should she care? Xinyu was her friend, her business partner, her wife on paper. It wasn’t like they had ever been a real couple. And yet, every time she saw Yooyeon brush her hand against Xinyu’s arm, or lean in a little too close, Sohyun’s heart burned.
Xinyu was laughing now, her deep, rich voice carrying across the room, and Yooyeon was hanging on every word, her hand resting on Xinyu’s arm as if it belonged there. Sohyun’s chest tightened, her fingers gripping her glass so hard she was afraid it might shatter.
Why was she feeling like this? She had no right to be upset. Xinyu wasn’t hers—not in the way she wanted her to be.
Sohyun quickly excused herself from the small group she had been chatting with and made her way toward the exit. She couldn’t stand being in the same room anymore. She needed air, space, anything to clear her head. This was getting out of hand.
The car ride back to their apartment was silent. Xinyu had noticed Sohyun’s sudden mood change and had quickly made her excuses to leave the party. They sat on opposite ends of the backseat, the tension thick between them.
Sohyun’s mind raced. She was angry, but she couldn’t even explain why. Angry at Xinyu for entertaining Yooyeon all night. Angry at herself for caring so much. Angry at this entire situation that felt so impossible and tangled.
When they finally arrived home, Sohyun stormed inside, barely waiting for Xinyu to follow her.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” Xinyu asked, closing the door behind them. Her voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to her words. “You’ve been acting weird all night.”
Sohyun spun around to face her, the words spilling out before she could stop them. “What’s wrong? You’re seriously asking me that after you let Yooyeon hang all over you tonight?”
Xinyu blinked, taken aback. “Yooyeon? What does she have to do with anything?”
Sohyun crossed her arms, the frustration boiling over. “She was all over you! Everyone could see it! It was like you were back together or something.”
Xinyu raised an eyebrow. “You’re upset because I was talking to my ex at a public event?”
“It wasn’t just talking,” Sohyun snapped, her voice louder than she intended. “She was practically glued to your side! And you didn’t seem to mind!”
Xinyu’s eyes narrowed, her usual composure cracking. “What do you care, Sohyun? You’re the one who rejected me. You’re the one who made it clear we’re just business partners. So why does it matter if I talk to Yooyeon?”
Sohyun flinched at the words. Xinyu had never spoken to her like this before. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of anger and hurt swirling inside her. “Because it does! It matters, okay? I… I don’t like seeing you with her. I hate it.”
Xinyu’s expression softened slightly, confusion flickering in her eyes. “Sohyun…”
“I made a mistake,” Sohyun admitted, her voice trembling. “When you confessed to me… I was scared. I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t want to risk losing what we had. But tonight, seeing you with her… I can’t stand it. I care about you, Xinyu. More than just a friend, more than just a business partner.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Xinyu stood frozen, staring at Sohyun with wide eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of Sohyun’s confession hanging in the air.
Finally, Xinyu let out a slow breath, stepping closer. “Do you mean that?”
Sohyun nodded, her heart in her throat. “Yes. I’ve been lying to myself, trying to pretend that I didn’t feel anything, but I do. I don’t want to keep pretending anymore.”
Xinyu’s face softened, her hand reaching out to gently cup Sohyun’s cheek. “You don’t have to pretend, Sohyun. I’ve always felt this way about you. But I didn’t want to push you into anything.”
Sohyun leaned into Xinyu’s touch, her chest tightening with a mixture of relief and nervousness. “I don’t want to push you away anymore.”
In that moment, everything seemed to click into place. The distance that had always been between them, the awkwardness, the hesitations—it all faded away. There was no more pretending, no more hiding.
Xinyu leaned in, her lips brushing softly against Sohyun’s. It was a kiss that was gentle at first, hesitant, as if testing the waters of something new. But then it deepened, and all the unsaid words, the buried feelings, the years of tension melted away in that single moment.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other.
“No more pretending,” Xinyu whispered.
Sohyun smiled, her heart full for the first time in what felt like forever. “No more pretending.”
They didn’t need an arranged marriage to keep them together anymore. They had something real now, something worth fighting for