Chapter Text
Yesterday was a mess.
It all happened so quickly. Panic didn’t do any good either.
In all honesty, he was feeling a bit desperate.
Scratch that—he was downright desperate.
Long story short, a series of unfortunate events happened and it all goes downhill from there.
And so…
He needed someone. Someone who is perfect for this role.
A stranger at that. Because he couldn't drag one of his friends to be involved in this… mess .
The last-minute decision consists of scrolling through social media—browsing anywhere through the vast corners of the internet. Panicking. Spiraling. Browsing again. And then, he found it.
He found him .
The perfect person for the grand performance.
So, his fingers moved faster than his brain and when he realized, he already contacted the person he stumbled upon just seconds ago on the internet.
What had gotten into him at that time? It was probably a mixture of adrenaline and despair. Strangely enough—it was like fate pushed through his agenda.
And now, here he was.
Waiting for him. For the actor named Kim Mingyu.
It was a pretty chill afternoon in mid-spring. The cafe was pretty empty, but he chose an outdoor seat tucked in the corner. With falling cherry blossoms as the view, it was indeed a perfect place to have a discussion… and a perfect place with many witnesses. Because, who knew if Mingyu turned out to be a bad person? He was a stranger after all.
Because of that, he intentionally came 30 minutes earlier. To declutter his head, organize his thoughts, calm himself down , to rethink his decision making skill—he already knew it was bad.
In those 30 minutes, the information that he could get after digging deeper for Kim Mingyu online (or as people like to call it, stalking ) was;
One , Kim Mingyu was pretty famous, he had around 10k followers on the bird app.
Two , Kim Mingyu was 27 years old.
Three , Kim Mingyu took great photos—he knew because Mingyu shared it often online.
Lastly , Kim Mingyu was… good-looking.
Most of the reason why he chose Kim Mingyu is because of that—his looks. He was all for personality of course. But in this situation? He needed someone striking, someone who could turn heads in an instant. Still, he hoped Kim Mingyu’s personality was not shitty. At the very least, he hoped the personality was decent.
After all, Kim Mingyu was about to be a part of his life for six months.
Whether they both want it or not, they just need to make life bearable at the very least.
Just six months. Just half a year to get through it.
Or so he hoped.
“Xu Minghao?”
Minghao stood up in a flash, panic kicked in as someone called his name. Then he saw him. Their eyes locked—he finally came face to face with Kim Mingyu.
Mingyu wore an oversized white tee, a pair of jeans and a black leather jacket. The chain necklace and his black-framed glasses complete the look. It was a simple outfit, really. But when Mingyu wore it, somehow it felt like a fashion show.
In all honesty, handsome was an understatement. It was borderline insulting .
Kim Mingyu looked like he had been sculpted and crafted by the Aphrodite herself.
He was taller than Minghao, five centimeters taller at least. And Minghao himself was already 180cm. He was already tall but Kim Mingyu? Taller. Bigger. Just overall perfect. He was better in person than the photos he had seen online.
Minghao suddenly remembered that he needed to reply.
“Uh… that’s me,” Minghao extended his hand, a gesture he often did when meeting new people. Mingyu shook his hand. “Just Minghao. Come, sit.”
Mingyu sat into the chair across from Minghao.
“I haven’t ordered your drink yet. What do you want?”
“Oh, I already ordered. No worries.” Mingyu threw in a smile.
That meant Kim Mingyu had already seen him before he made his way over. Minghao wondered if he looked silly from Kim Mingyu’s point of view.
“You’re quick to spot me,” Minghao commented, trying to make small talk and getting Mingyu better.
“Well, you sent me your photo, remember?” Minghao nodded. “And it was not hard to spot a pretty person like you from afar.” Mingyu added with a small chuckle.
Minghao fell silent, he pressed his lips together. Well, Mingyu definitely knew the way to people’s hearts. But, Minghao will not be shallow. After all, Mingyu was a professional rental boyfriend. Flattery was probably in his top ten rules.
Minghao wanted to scoff, respond with a ‘Yeah, as if’ . But he quickly reminded himself that he didn’t want to make enemy. Especially not the man who would be helping him over the next six months.
“Thank you so much, I guess? Anywa—”
“I’m being honest,” Mingyu said, his tone serious.”You probably thought I was just being sweet because of my job, but I’m not lying.”
Mingyu’s sudden confession? Unnecessary. Totally, utterly, not needed.
Because now, Minghao could feel the heat creeping up his face. Honestly, what was he supposed to say in moments like this? ‘Ok’? ‘Thank you’ again? Or a ‘You’re so hot too’ ?
Yeah, the last idea was pretty good, he just needed to rephrase it to not make him sound like a creep.
“You’re gor—”
“Here is your cup of latte, sir.” The waiter put a cup of steaming latte in front of Mingyu.
Thank goodness for the waiter and that latte!
Minghao silently thanked the universe for saving him from such an awkward moment.
Minghao cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence after the waiter left, pulling Mingyu's attention back to him.
“So, let’s talk about our arrangement?” Minghao asked, trying to get to the point this time.
“Yeah, sure,” Mingyu replied, taking a sip of his latte. “I, too, have a couple of rules for my clients.”
Minghao nodded, he opened up the note app on his phone and gesturing Mingyu to continue his talk.
“I have three basic rules,” Mingyu began. “One, I’m not that type of rental boyfriend so sex or anything sexual is off the table. Other than that, I’m down with skinship if you’re comfortable with it.”
Minghao nodded, typing the details into his notes. Made sense actually. He was a rental boyfriend, after all.
“Two, I will not accept anything that involves hurting my clients.”
The rules were no-brainer, really.
But Minghao recalled what Kim Mingyu had mentioned during their conversation yesterday— ‘My past clients had so many kinky requests’ . Minghao wondered what kind of kinks they had? Did Kim Mingyu comply with those kinds of requests? What had happened in the past that made Kim Mingyu have to put it as a rule?
Minghao shuddered at the thought. He wasn’t sure if he was curious enough to ask about the details of that.
“Three, I actually have a regular job, so I want you to understand that I can’t be by your side 24/7.”
Huh .
So he had a regular job. Interesting. If he had one, why take on the rental boyfriend gig as a side hustle? With his looks, he could easily make money as a model instead.
Minghao made a mental note to add that as a mystery case.
Mingyu clapped his hands, breaking Minghao’s train of thought. It startled him a little bit.
"That’s it for me!" Mingyu finished his line, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He rested his face in his hand and tilted his head to the side, signaling Minghao to take his turn speaking. “So, why did you want me to be your boyfriend for six months?”
Shit.
Minghao didn’t expect his turn to speak would come up so quickly. He wasn’t ready to explain the situation. His head was full of Kim Mingyu last night, he hadn’t prepared the explanation for his situation.
Well, honesty is the best route right?
He took a breath, trying to steady his nerves. If they were going to make this work, he’d have to be upfront. No point in hiding things now. Minghao met Mingyu’s eyes, trying to push past the awkwardness.
“I just want to.”
Well, fuck .
Why did he lie? Why was his brain and his mouth not in sync? Now he had to make up some lies when he could just be honest to Kim Mingyu.
Minghao heard Mingyu hummed. He cursed himself internally. Kim Mingyu probably had already seen through him. He probably knew that Minghao was totally lying.
Well, Minghao felt like he was not ready to spill out the reason to someone he barely knew behind all of… this.
“Well, I had my reasons,” Minghao exhaled, rubbing his thumb together. “But my details for this whole deal are still the same.”
He stole a quick glance at Mingyu, trying to read his mind. Thankfully, Mingyu didn’t say anything. Minghao was relieved—he figured Mingyu probably understood it was a private matter.
Minghao then continued his talk, “ First , you are banned from dating another person for the six-month period of time,”
Second , Kim Mingyu had to live with him. Moving into his house.
Third , Kim Mingyu had to act like he was head over heels for him.
“Actually, the whole point of this act is…” Minghao bit his lower lip. “ To fool people. In these six months, we will need to make people believe that we’re into each other.”
“So you want me to play a part in it?”
Minghao nodded, feeling defeated. “Yeah… I already made a plan in my head, you want to hear it first?”
Mingyu pulled his chair closer to Minghao with a smirk, clearly intrigued. He leaned in slightly, fully tuned in, ready to hear whatever Minghao had to say.
“Well, in my head… because I’ve been going to a pottery workshop on Sundays, I imagined we could meet there. Uh…” Minghao paused, wondering if he’d crossed a line with his question. “May I know what your job is?”
“I’m a photographer, mostly for editorial magazines.”
Oh. That explained the aesthetic photos Mingyu posted online.
“Do I cross the line with that question?” Minghao was a little nervous about prying too much.
“No, no. You’ll find out sooner or later anyway.” Mingyu reassured him with a smile.
With Mingyu’s permission, Minghao then started to ask more privy questions to Mingyu. Nothing too private, just enough to flesh out, adding some parts to the storyline.
Minghao shared that he was an art director for Sector17 agency. Mingyu, in turn, said that he likes to visit art galleries or anything involved with arts and crafts. Oh , Minghao found their similarities. Minghao added that he has an interest in fashion and Mingyu responded with, ‘Oh, I also like it! ’.
As time went on, Mingyu started to chime in a few times, adding some small tweaks here and there, adding details about himself to make their story more convincing. Minghao felt like they both were fired up by building up their own storyline.
Minghao couldn’t believe that it actually started to stich up one by one.
They needed to fool people after all and convincing people was not an easy work.
So, here is the backstory the came up with,
They met at a pottery workshop—Minghao actually went to one for a month, just on Sunday afternoon to unwind from his hectic schedules. They were partners in the first class, because of that, they started to be friends. They bonded over their work and shared interests. Minghao and Mingyu went on a date a couple of times before officially dating—Mingyu was the one who confessed.
As to why they moved in together was because Mingyu had been planning to continue his education abroad. The decision to live together seemed like the most practical thing to do—it made sense, and it would make the transition easier when Mingyu eventually moved away.
Minghao exhales. Finally . He thought it was enough.
The backstory? Convincing. Flawless .
It wasn’t dramatic, it wasn’t rushed and it was definitely simple enough to fool people.
They shared the same interests, grew closer over time, fell in love, and finally dating.
The story was just like any normal couple’s story, really. Nothing out of the ordinary. And that was exactly the point—it felt real, not over-the-top or too scripted.
Minghao and Mingyu leaned back at the same time, stretching their bodies a little after hours of fabricating some lies.
Huh, they are finally a partner in crime now. Not in a literal sense though.
The sky already turned orange by the time they were finished, casting a soft glow over the cafe. Their drinks had gone cold and almost finished, showing that they were too absorbed, too invested in making up some story.
Click!
Minghao snapped his head toward Mingyu, waking him up from his thoughts. He blinked, realizing that Mingyu had his digicam out, with the lens pointing at him.
Minghao froze for a second, caught off guard.
“Wait—What are you doing?” he asked, quickly straightening his back.
“The composition looks good right now. You look extra pretty with that golden ray casted on your face,” Mingyu explained, not putting down the digicam. “Stay still.”
Minghao threw his face to the side, feeling embarrassed and flattered. It wouldn't be funny if Kim Mingyu noticed the redness that was showing up on his face.
Kim Mingyu complimented him three times already. And he didn’t expect the sudden compliment that was thrown at him after all the brainstorm that was happening.
At this point, Minghao wondered if Kim Mingyu just praised everyone.
“And no, I don’t throw praises to everyone.”
Wow, did Kim Mingyu just read his mind?
The sound of the shutter stopped and Mingyu finally lowered his camera.
Minghao peeked over at Mingyu, curious about the results.
Mingyu handed out his camera, showing off the shots he took without him asking. He leaned in closer to Mingyu, curiosity getting the better out of him. Their shoulders brushed against each other as Mingyu also leaned in towards Minghao.
The shots were incredible—he had to admit. The composition was flawless, the lighting perfectly captured the soft, golden glow of the late afternoon sun. Minghao hadn’t expected the photos to be this good.
“You’re actually so good at this,” Minghao blurted out before he could stop himself. It slipped out, a genuine compliment from Minghao’s heart.
Mingyu’s face lit up, he snickered. His cheeks rounded as he smiled widely. “Thanks! I enjoy my job very much actually.”
Minghao couldn’t help but smile back. He could feel the genuine happiness in Mingyu’s reaction when he complimented him. It felt Mingyu seemed more… human.
Minghao sat back in his chair, then slapped his forehead lightly as he almost left out the most crucial thing in this plan.
“Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you,” he snapped his fingers. “Before you move in, you’ll need to meet my grandma.”
Their second meeting or date—depends, because technically Kim Mingyu was his boyfriend, ‘fake’ boyfriend, happened a week later after their first meeting.
Minghao chuckled, recalling Mingyu’s reaction when he told Mingyu he needed to meet his grandma.
“I’m sorry? Your grandma? Your real grandma?”
Kim Mingyu widened his eyes as he repeated the question to Minghao over and over again. He looked so cute in panic. At that time, Minghao could see a glimpse of the real person behind his ‘fake boyfriend’ persona.
Seriously, Minghao needed Kim Mingyu to meet his grandma. It was an unavoidable scenario. He would like to avoid the whole awkward scenario in the first, first place so he didn’t have to rent a boyfriend, but in reality… reality sucks. But he has to face it all.
That’s why they agreed to date again. He couldn’t brush off their status in this fake boyfriend scenario but for Minghao, at least , he does wanna get close to Mingyu as a friend. That is, if Mingyu accepts him.
So today, he swore to himself that he is gonna open up to Kim Mingyu. After their last meeting, he concludes that Kim Mingyu was not that bad of a person—even though they only met once. But maybe, they could work in this teamwork. Maybe .
Minghao glanced at his watch. 13:35. Crap , he was running late. He started to pick up his walking speed, knowing Mingyu was probably already waiting for him.
Minghao stopped his steps, eyes scanning the crowded market. Tall and hot, tall and hot, tall and hot. Shit . There was no tall and hot guy to be found in the area.
That guy stood out in a crowd. Spotting him was the easiest work to do. But he was nowhere to be found? Their meeting point was in front of Namdaemun Market and Mingyu texted him a couple minutes ago, informing Minghao that he had already arrived so where the fuck is he?
“Why are you panicking?”
Minghao shrieked as he felt something warm touch his face. He turned, only to find Mingyu standing there with a can of coffee in his hand.
“Mingyu!” Minghao sighed, placing a hand over his chest, feeling relieved. “I thought you left me because I’m late.”
“ Ouch , that hurts,” Mingyu gave Minghao the coffee. “Here, drink this. I thought you might be thirsty, so I left to buy it for you.”
Minghao pouted, a little embarrassed that he had been unnecessarily negative about Mingyu when he himself had got out of his way to buy Minghao something. Such thoughtful gestures. He was so sweet it made Minghao’s heart waver a little bit.
“So sorry,” he glanced up, taking the coffee from Mingyu’s hand. “And thank you… boyfriend .”
Mingyu gave him a small smile before tugging Minghao on his cardigan sleeve, pulling him into the market. Minghao understood. It was probably Mingyu’s way of respecting Minghao’s boundary. Minghao had a lot of homework then; to make Mingyu open up to him. Slowly, but surely.
They wander through the bustling market side by side, leaving a little space between them. Namdaemun market was alive, selling everything from street food to vintage shops. The smell of food wafting in the air was so tempting. Minghao’s stomach gave a loud protest and he could feel his mouth watering.
Minghao was starving.
The last thing he ate consisted of one banana and four cold strawberries from his fridge since he woke up late in the afternoon. It was his fault for waking up late honestly. But right now, as he passed the hotteok stall, his stomach growled louder. It was like the hotteok was calling his name, teasing him, asking him to be eaten.
“Ahjussi, can you give me one yachae-hotteok and one kkul-hotteok please?” Mingyu suddenly ordered in before Minghao could open his mouth. The transaction was so fast that he missed the chance to ask one for himself.
“The hotteok was for you by the way,” Mingyu said when he was done, now waiting for the hotteok to be done. “You look… starving.”
Minghao couldn’t help but let out a small, embarrassed laugh. “True, I could eat a whole cow right now,” he admitted, putting his hand over his rumbling stomach. “Ah, how much do I owe you?”
Mingyu shook his head, “No need. I’ll pay for it. You will pay me lots in the future anyway, so… Don’t worry about it, okay?”
Minghao’s mind was split between two different scenarios. His right side, his positive side, said that Mingyu was being genuine, an act of kindness. But Minghao’s left side, his negative side, said that Mingyu was just saying that because it was his role as a ‘fake boyfriend’.
The ahjussi gave Mingyu their order. One yachae-hotteok and one kkul-hotteok. One savory, one sweet. Minghao gulped his own saliva, eyeing the yachae one. Was it too much to ask for the one he wanted?
“If you want something, you should just ask.” said Mingyu as he handed the yachae-hotteok to Minghao.
Minghao never considered himself as a shy person. He was always vocal about his likes and dislikes—if he liked something, he said it; if he didn’t, he made sure to speak up. The reason why he held back was because he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure how to act around Mingyu. But he promised himself to open up to Mingyu, so…
“Still not sure how to act around you.” Minghao admitted, shrugging his shoulders.
He took a bite of the yachae-hotteok, and closed his eyes in bliss. The crispy edges and the chewy, flavorful noodles hit him in all the right places. It was so good, he felt like he might cry from happiness.
“Why?” Mingyu asked, ravishing the hotteok in just three bites. Minghao slightly opened his jaw, awed by how quickly Mingyu managed to devour such a big, hot hotteok. So Mingyu had this side of him. Unexpected.
Why? Why? It was because Minghao was not sure about their ‘status’. Sure, he hired Mingyu for a specific role, but had he already started? Did he need to sign some kind of contract? What are the ‘specific’ boundaries for not getting sexual? Cuddling? Kissing? French kissing?
Woah, too far. Way too far.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts and finished the last bite of his hotteok. “I’m not sure when you’ll be acting as a fake boyfriend,” Minghao glanced at Mingyu. “Like, are you acting right now? Because I only need the ‘fake boyfriend’ later, when it’s needed. I don’t need it when you’re just with me.”
Mingyu blinked, his gaze fell on Minghao’s eyes like it was searching for something. The silence stretched on as he could only hear the distant hum of the market. He bit his lip, feeling a little bit nervous because Mingyu started taking too long to respond.
“Actually, you look uncomfortable. So I haven’t started yet,” Mingyu took a step closer to Minghao.
Mingyu took a step closer.
Closer. Closer .
Minghao froze, feeling his breath hitch in his throat as Mingyu stopped right in front of him, towering over him. The space between them was so small their heads almost bumped against each other.
“If we had, I would do this…”
Minghao froze as Mingyu gently took Mingho’s hand, and slid his hand from Minghao’s wrist, then slowly, sharing the heat of his hand up to Minghao’s fingers before interlocking their hand together. Minghao gulped, feeling his heart start to quicken.
“And… this.” Mingyu continued, his voice soft, almost a whisper as his other hand came up to Minghao’s face. His thumb grazed against the corner of Minghao’s mouth.
Minghao felt a shiver go down his spine. Without thinking, he took a quick step back, putting up some space between them. His hand instinctively came up to cover his face, hiding behind to shield himself from the wave of heat that flooded his skin.
Shit shit shit .
Minghao was caught off guard by the sudden, intimate gesture. He clutched the shirt over his chest, feeling his heart race. Calm down, calm down, he told himself. Mingyu was just demonstrating his role as a fake boyfriend, nothing more. Still, though. He hadn't expected things to escalate like that.
“Sorry, sorry.” Mingyu let out a soft laugh, putting his hand up in a playful, defeated gesture. Oh, that smug smile of his. How Minghao wishes to wipe it off that guy's face.
Minghao sighed, feeling his soul was slowly leaving his body. He made his way to Mingyu. Without saying anything, he grabbed the hem of Mingyu’s sweater and gave it a tug, silently dragging him to continue his date. They still had a date to finish—awkward or not.
They wandered deeper into the busy market. Mingyu excitedly recommended some of the vendors—he also swore that it was the best he’s ever tried. Minghao couldn’t help but smile at his infectious energy. As they strolled, the conversation steered to Mingyu’s love for cooking, something Minghao hadn’t expected from him.
In return, Minghao shared his knowledge about Chinese food, and told Mingyu he was originally from China, though he’d grown up in Korea since he was young. Mingyu seemed genuinely interested, nodding along and asking questions.
As time went on, their awkwardness began to fade. Mingyu revealed he had a younger sister who worked in Busan and Minghao confessed that he couldn’t handle cold foods very well—something he said after they finished a strawberry bingsoo.
Afterwards, when they were at the thrift shop, Mingyu scrolled his phone fast before showing Minghao a K-pop group poster. “Wait, you were in this project?” he asked, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. Minghao raised an eyebrow. “You were the photographer?”.
Small world, indeed.
Minghao felt like, since he’d been upfront with Mingyu about their boundaries, Mingyu had started to loosen up around him—Mingyu even cracked a joke about the secrets to his sculpted body and Minghao found himself laughing. It was like watching a dog wag its tail, but still keeping a little distance.
Minghao was proud that he didn’t flinch when Mingyu pressed his palms against his back to guide him through the crowds, or when their fingers brushed as they reached for the same item, or when their shoulders accidentally touched.
In fact, he even started to initiate physical contact, something simple like patting Mingyu’s arms when he showed off his muscles, or a quick bro hug when they said goodbye. They had both relaxed enough to agree on speaking informally with each other.
Finally. They finally made progress.
By the end of the day, Minghao felt surprisingly content. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough. And if things kept going like this, maybe the next six months wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Mingyu didn’t even know why he agreed to this whole… thing in the first place.
To be honest, it was a hassle. He had to move in, and play a part in some weird role. Not to mention, he had to constantly please people he didn’t know.
Did he need the money?
No . He had more than enough.
The income from his two jobs was more than enough to cover for his daily expenses and some splurging here and there.
It was nice to have a little bit more of course, but with the whole downside of it? Losing followers on his social media accounts, the pressure of eventually sharing Minghao on his account, saying something like ‘I found my true love’ or whatever along that line and involving his friends—real friends in this mess.
Mingyu could easily say fuck no and walked away.
But when Xu Minghao came up to him with that, ‘Hi, are you available to be my fake boyfriend for six months?’ .
Insane .
Six months wasn’t a short time frame. It was half a year. It was long enough for a baby to grow, add three months more and they’d be born.
But the truly insane part? It wasn’t Minghao. It was him.
Because despite everything, with full consciousness, he actually agreed to this play—and even worse, he added fuel to the fire by going along with it.
Well, he had his own reasons.
Minghao, on the other hand, looked desperate. He was intrigued by the reasons behind it all. And for Mingyu… Mingyu thought that maybe, just maybe , he finally found what he had been searching for all this time.
Mingyu stood in front of the mirror, one last check of his hair. A quick adjustment, straightening his clothes. He felt a sudden need for approval. He double-checked his things; injeolmi from the famous shop in town in his left hand and a batch of homemade frozen xiao long bao in his right hand—Minghao mentioned his grandma’s favorite food when they met the second time.
Mingyu suddenly felt the need to be praised because he put so much effort and time into it.
Was he nervous about meeting Minghao’s grandmother? Well, yes .
He was about to play his role, his part in the script that they wrote. Minghao hasn’t spilled the reasons behind this six months fake relationship thing, but Mingyu tried to respect the boundaries that Minghao made.
He knew Minghao would tell him the reason someday.
But, Mingyu was actually taken aback when Minghao said that he had to meet his grandma. Specifically. Not his parents, not his friends. But his grandma . Meeting family was a big deal. But meeting grandma was on a whole new level.
It was a little nerve-wrecking.
But Mingyu got this. He was a professional rental boyfriend after all.
Once everything was in his hands, he finally left his place.
Minghao’s place wasn’t too far away from Mingyu. Thankfully. Just five train stops, a fifteen minute walk and he will arrive. The distance from Mingyu's place to the station was not far away too, it only took him ten minutes to walk. In total, it was probably an hour trip from his place to Minghao.
Minghao lives in a serene neighborhood. Small shops that were owned by elderly—you know by the rundown signs on the front, humble houses with small yards—not apartments, and parks with playgrounds. The distant sound of children’s laughter echoing through the air. It was a quiet, charming neighborhood. A far cry from the bustling, fast-paced city life Mingyu was familiar with.
Mingyu checked the map on his phone. In front of him stood a one-story house with garden full of plants in front of it. The house was painted a soft beige with wooden accents. Giving the place a cozy, warm feel to it. House No.8 . Perfect. He had arrived.
He pressed the doorbell, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. The door swung open, revealing Minghao who was in baggy jeans and a white oversized tee with green alien graphics on it.
“Mingyu!” Minghao greeted him with a bro-hug before snatching the bag from Mingyu’s left hand, helping him carry it. “Was it hard to find this place? Are you tired? Want some corn tea?”
Yes, Mingyu was a little bit surprised too.
On their second meeting, they went on a ‘real’ date. To try to get to know each other better. It was awkward at the beginning, he even teased Minghao a couple of times. Remembering how flustered Minghao was made him want to tease him again. But, they became comfortable at the end.
So far, Minghao turned out to be a pretty cool guy. Different to what Mingyu had expected.
“Just corn tea is fine.” Mingyu set down his other bag on the coffee-table in Minghao’s living room. “Does your grandma live here?”
“No, she lives nearby. Just a five-minute walk,” Minghao explained as he poured cold corn tea from his fridge. “Today is Saturday, and Saturday is ping-pong day. So we’re waiting for her to finish.”
Mingyu nodded, glancing around the house. “And your parents? Do they work on Saturdays?” He asked, noticing there wasn’t anyone else in the house besides Minghao.
Minghao closed the fridge, “About that…” he handed the glass of tea to Mingyu, his eyes drifting to the side, trying to avoid Mingyu’s eyes. “They died in an accident years ago.”
The words hit Mingyu like a bomb.
Mingyu fell silent, pulling his lips together, unsure of what to say. The air seemed to feel heavier after Minghao shared his not-so-fun fun fact.
Minghao flapped his arms, trying to ease the tension. “But it’s okay! They passed away when I was twelve years old, so it was a long time ago!”
Mingyu’s hand instinctively went to Minghao’s back, pulling him into a gentle embrace. He didn’t know what else to do.
“I’m so sorry,” He murmured, his voice soft and sincere as he rested his chin on Minghao’s shoulder.
Minghao shook his head, squeezing Mingyu’s shoulder lightly. “No, no, don’t be. I’m fine,” Minghao pulled back, he offered a strained smile, trying his best to reassure Mingyu. “You shouldn’t worry about the dead. We should be worried about my grandma instead.”
Mingyu blinked, momentarily taken aback by Minghao’s attempt to joke around, he couldn’t help but smile a bit at how quickly Minghao was trying to brush it aside.
Minghao pulled Mingyu’s arm down to sit on the green sofa. He crossed his legs, bringing himself closer to Mingyu.
“Now, to make this more believable, I will reveal myself more.” Minghao began.
Minghao was born in Anshan, China, but his family moved to Korea when he was just five years old, following his father's job transfer. His grandma came to Korea after her husband passed away. Minghao’s father had given her a house nearby, respecting her wish not to live with him.
However, when Minghao was twelve, tragedy struck. His parents were involved in a car accident, and from then on, his grandmother became his primary guardian, raising him on her own, in this foreign country.
To Mingyu, it was clear that Minghao was trying to put a line between them. He shared his past, but just enough for people to see only the tip of the iceberg and keep the rest hidden beneath the surface.
He couldn’t help but feel a knot formed in his chest as Minghao spoke.
It was too heavy. The more Minghao peeled back a layer of himself, the more he felt the burden Minghao had to carry alone at such a young age.
He understood now why Minghao wanted him to meet his grandma first.
Mingyu felt his breath hitched, his hands clenching into tight fists. For the first time in his career as a rental boyfriend, Mingyu felt completely lost, uncertain of what to do.
In the past, his clients hired him to share in their happiness, to help lift their spirits. He was accustomed to making people smile.
But this was different. It was more… complicated .
At this moment, Mingyu had no idea what was the right thing to do.
Should he pull Minghao into a hug again?
Should he throw in some comforting words?
“But she’s stubborn,” Minghao chuckled softly, his eyes softened. “We could easily move back to China but she chose to raise me here. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her.” There was a quiet tenderness in his voice that wasn’t there before. Mingyu could see it—how much he truly valued her.
Just then, a buzz from the sofa broke the tension.
“Looks like she’s finished,” Minghao stood up, making Mingyu follow him. “Oh yeah, I call her lǎo lao. But you can call her halmeoni I guess? She’s great at Korean too, so don’t worry too much. I think she’ll like you.”
"Her name is Yuè Xiá, or her Korean name, Ye Seo," Minghao explained as they walked toward his grandma's house. "Our neighbor called her Yeseo though."
For the first time since he arrived, Mingyu found himself feeling less nervous.
He was curious instead. About Minghao grandma's personality.
Well, raising a child alone in a foreign country had to be a nightmare. Mingyu couldn’t imagine if he was in her shoes. The language barrier alone would’ve made it extra tough, but she had to deal with a child who was grieving, and trying to navigate the complexities of life in a place that wasn’t home.
And yet, here she was, still going strong, playing ping-pong every Saturday, being fluent in Korean and well-liked in the neighborhood.
Honestly, respect.
Mingyu admired her for it.
Maybe he should ask where her determination came from.
“Hey, Yuè Xiá!” Minghao called out casually.
Yuè Xiá? Mingyu furrowed his eyebrow, surprised at how informal and relaxed Minghao was when calling his grandma. If he did that to her own grandma? Mingyu shuddered. His body would probably be six feet under within an hour.
Mingyu could hear Minghao’s grandma muttering something in Mandarin, followed by Minghao’s laughter. He stepped into the yard, where he saw her watering the plants.
Surprisingly, Minghao’s grandma looked put together and somehow… stylish?
She had a short white bob and she wore a light blue floral shirt paired with bright red square-patterned pants that gave off a quirky yet fashionable vibe. Despite her age, her face had a fresh, youthful glow to it.
“Good afternoon, halmeoni,” Mingyu bowed deeply. “I’m Kim Mingyu, Minghao’s boyfriend.”
Minghao’s grandma gasped, her eyes widening as she took in Mingyu’s appearance. Her face… unreadable. Mingyu stood awkwardly at the entrance, the silence made him nervous.
Uh oh . Does Mingyu not make a good first impression?
Minghao’s grandma steps forward to Mingyu at a pretty fast pace causing Mingyu to instinctively take a half-step back, ready to run at any moment if it goes downhill.
“My grandson!” She exclaimed, grabbing both of Mingyu’s arms. “Where did you find this gorgeous, gorgeous man!?”
Mingyu blinked, completely caught off guard. For a second, he thought he might have misheard her, but her expression quickly reassured him that there was no danger—just pure enthusiasm.
“Lǎo lao, you’re scaring him.” Minghao giggled, watching the interaction between his grandma and Mingyu with amusement.
Mingyu, still processing the sudden praise, extended the gifts he brought, “Ah, I have this injeolmi and homemade xiao long bao for you, halmeoni.”
“Omo omo, gorgeous, tall and can cook?” she patted Mingyu’s back lightly, totally swooning over him. “Come, come inside. Let’s chat over a cup of tea, shall we?”
Grandma hooked her arm through his and led him inside the house. Mingyu glanced back, silently questioning Minghao with his eyes, asking if this was alright. Minghao, following behind, gave him a thumbs up, reassuring him not to worry.
As they entered the cozy house, Mingyu offered to lend a hand which Minghao’s grandma gladly accepted. So, the three of them split up to get to work. Minghao and Mingyu took charge of steaming the xiao long bao, and under Minghao’s guidance, they also prepared the Xu’s family dipping sauce, while grandma made the tea—her specialitea she said.
“I’ll bring everything once I’m done, sit down first Lǎo lao.” Minghao said, his hand busy pouring soy sauce onto the saucer plate.
Grandma nodded, wiping her hands before turning toward the back of the house, likely heading to the garden. “Don’t take too long, okay, lovebirds?” she playfully said over her shoulder with a teasing smile.
Mingyu and Minghao exchanged a look, then both broke into laughter. Mingyu couldn't help but feel his heart warm at the unexpected playfulness of Minghao's grandma. She was so different from what he had in mind.
“Your grandma,” Mingyu playfully nudged Minghao on the shoulder, making him turn his head to Mingyu. “She is… unique? I guess?”
“I know,” Minghao giggled, like he was feeling proud. “And I’m right, right? She likes you!”
Mingyu snorted, trying to stay low on the ground. Just then, the timer went off. Minghao quickly turned off the stove and removed the bamboo steamer off the pot. Mingyu, who was ready with a tray, catched the steamer.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Spring has always been Mingyu’s favorite season. The weather is perfect—just the perfect balance, not too cold, not too warm. Just ideal. He also felt like his fashion was elevated. He could layer enough without ending up like the xiao long bao he just steamed by the end of the day.
But what he loved the most about spring wasn’t just that. It was because… he can romantized his life at that moment. As if the world was seen through rose-tinted glasses. He would go outdoors whenever he could, with his camera everywhere. Capturing everything he found beautiful at that moment.
Mingyu’s hands are itchy. He was really holding himself back from running to get his camera. To capture the perfect view that was in front of him.
Minghao and his grandma were like the perfect picture. They sat together on a wooden veranda, facing the backyard garden full of blooming flowers. The sliding doors opened directly to the living room, allowing beams of sunlight to spill inside. The sunlight filtered through the branches of the plum blossoms, casting a golden path that stretched across the floor, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
The colors of the flowers outside blending with the soft glow of the sunlight, creating a calm, cozy space. The scene felt almost dreamlike, with Minghao and his grandma casually enjoying their cup of tea. Capturing it is not enough, Mingyu wished he could paint this breathtaking moment and put it as one of his most cherished memories.
“Mingyu? Why are you standing there?” Minghao’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Come here, hurry.”
Snapping out of his trance, Mingyu quickly picked up the tray with the xiao long bao and placed it on the veranda. “Halmeoni, may I take a picture of you and Minghao?” he asked, looking over Minghao's grandma's permission.
“Sure, sure! What pose should I make?” she grinned playfully, immediately striking a ‘peace’ sign with her fingers.
“Just act natural.” Mingyu chuckled at her enthusiasm, jogging over to grab his camera. “Enjoy your tea, eat the food, talk to your grandson.”
Mingyu stood in the living room, camera in hand, capturing the scene through the sliding doors. The backlighting bathed Minghao and his grandma in a warm glow, their figures gently outlined by the sunlight.
Satisfied with the photos he had taken, Mingyu moved into the backyard, standing among the blooming jasmine flowers, snapping pictures from different angles.
“Is he a photographer?” Minghao’s grandma asked Minghao, while sipping the tea. Minghao nodded, his mouth full of injeolmi Mingyu had bought. “Oooh! So you met him through some projects?”
Bingo! Finally, the question that he was waiting for!
Mingyu listened to their conversations, his hand busy adjusting his camera settings. For now, he would leave this story to Minghao to handle.
Minghao shook his head. “No. We actually met at the pottery workshop. The one I go to every Sunday?”
“Go on, tell me the details?” Minghao’s grandma urged, her voice rising with excitement.
Mingyu understood. People loved to indulge themselves in some good love stories. He loved them too, he just binge watched a drama last week. He didn’t like the ending though, as it ended on an open note, leaving him unsatisfied. He preferred endings with clear answers after all.
Minghao laid out his story, the storyline they had already agreed upon, but sprinkled in a few details for extra flair ‘ The first time we met, Mingyu was really shy’ . Mingyu nearly choked on his breath. Lies . Since when did he become a shy kid? But he stayed silent, letting Minghao create his narrative.
‘Our first date was at Namdaemun market’ . Facts. It was indeed their first date. He won’t count their first meeting as a date. Their first meeting was just that. Meeting. But Mingyu wasn’t expecting Minghao to bring it up. He silently gave Minghao a thumbs up in his head.
“Ok, but who confessed first?” she asked, her body leaned forward. Eyes sparkling with curiosity. Mingyu pursed his lips. He could imagine Minghao’s beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
“It was me.” Mingyu finally joined the conversation, his tone of voice filled with confidence.
At moments like this, of course he has to be confident. Minghao needed him for this moment, and he already agreed. No room for mistakes.
“And? And? What made you confess? What did you like about Minghao?” Minghao’s grandma was getting a little bit too excited, it made Mingyu feel bad about this whole play.
Oh, great .
Minghao glanced over at him, his eyes signaling Mingyu to take over the story. With a brief pause, Mingyu walked over to Minghao, stopping beside him.
Mingyu’s mind scrambled for an answer. He hadn’t anticipated this part of the conversation.
What can he tell to make their relationship feel more ‘real’ ? What would he say if he really fell in love with someone? No. To be more specific, what if—hypothetically, he fell for Minghao ?
He glanced at Minghao, whose eyes were flickering with something unreadable, waiting for his response. The pressure made it hard to think straight—especially when you had two people, one is his grandma who really loves her grandson. But he had to say something.
Anything .
“Well… I don’t know exactly when and it’s not anything crazy. It was more like… realizing that I can be with him without trying too much?” Lies . “He was like the warmth of sunlight in mid-spring. Before I knew it, I just wanted to be with him all the time.”
Lies. Lies. Lies.
His stomach was churning. The words leaving his mouth felt heavy, he could taste the emptiness of it. But what could he do? It was fine, it was just a job. He shouldn’t put too much thought into this thing. Even though everything was just a mere illusion. He was a professional at this. He didn’t need to feel bad.
More lies.
He did feel guilty. He felt guilty for lying. He felt guilty for deceiving a sweet, elderly woman who only wanted her grandson to have a real , loving relationship.
Minghao’s grandma let out a heavy sigh, causing Mingyu to stiffen. “Thank god…” Mingyu felt a warm pressure on his hand, she held it, giving him a squeeze. She gave him a comforting smile, her wrinkles softened as she spoke, “Thank you for loving my grandson, Mingyu.”
Mingyu felt like there was a lump stuck on his chest. “I will take care of him, halmeoni.” Mingyu gave her a warm embrace. “You don’t need to worry.”
He stole a glance at Minghao catching the briefest flash of something in his eyes before Minghao looked away. His expression… unreadable—neutral. Was he feeling the same thing? The weight of this lie too?
Minghao’s grandma pulled away, giving her smile to Mingyu and Minghao. “Now, come on, sit. Let’s eat. We can’t waste all this wonderful food that you brought.”
Mingyu sat down beside Minghao, but before he could settle fully, he felt Minghao’s hand ruffle through his hair. The smile Minghao wore was a bit bitter, he silently said ‘You did a great job’. Mingyu smiled back, their eyes exchanging a quiet understanding.
The meal unfolded casually—Mingyu sipping tea, chatting with Minghao’s and grandma, who asked him if he liked the tea. Mingyu praised her skill, teasing that the tea brought out his inner tranquilitea , earning a laugh from her. Small talk, light jokes. He slipped into the rhythm of it, trying to appear at ease.
But no matter what, he couldn’t remove the tangled knot in his chest. He couldn’t remove the heaviness on his back. His mind couldn’t help but wander through the many scenarios that he would partake in the next six months.
Mingyu couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that ate him up. Mingyu wanted to know. He wanted to know if Minghao, too, felt this burden. He wondered if, just maybe, Minghao’s heart was tangled in the same lie.
Today was just a snapshot—a small piece of the bigger picture.
He still has six months left. Six months left until his contract ends. Six months left until he wouldn’t have to lie anymore.
But for now, it felt like there was no way out. Another six months of lies, of pretending, of pain. And maybe, just maybe, that would be the hardest part of all.
Mingyu dragged his last suitcase into Minghao’s living room, carefully to not scratch the floor. Minghao had told him not to worry about it, but still—he didn’t want to risk damaging anything in this space he’d be living in for the next six months.
Oh, he is a stranger in this house but he will be making himself at home in a place like this. Why not? Minghao’s place was cozy. The house itself was not that big: one bedroom, one workplace—Minghao called it his innerplace , one bathroom, a kitchen, a living room. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
Mingyu couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but the house was just… Minghao . Varieties of plants here and there, touch of wood, turkish rugs, his paintings displayed—Minghao told him that he likes to paint. It was just so artsy. Well, he was an art director.
“Welcome to my humble abode for the second time, Mingyu,” Minghao handed him a glass of cold corn tea, the same one he’d offered the first time Mingyu visited. At this point, Mingyu wondered if it could be considered the house's official welcome drink. “Now, before we unpack, I have some rules in this house.”
Mingyu nodded.
“First,” Minghao raised a finger. “Clean up after yourself,” he held up another finger. “Second, if you want to bring your friend over, tell me beforehand. Third, you will sleep on…”
Before he could finish, the door swung open.
“Hi kids! I brought snacks!”
Minghao quickly snapped his lips shut, his teeth clicking together with a loud clack , and Mingyu almost burst out laughing. Minghao had closed his mouth so fast, it was almost painful. Ouch . But funny, okay.
“Hi, halmeoni. We’re just about to unpack,” Mingyu said, helping her with the tray of food and placing it on the coffee table.
Haemul pajeon and mattang. His stomach growled. After all of this moving out, the sight of food made his mouth water.
“I’ll help you out. Mingyu will be sleeping in your room right, xiaoba?” she asked.
Mingyu froze. Wait wait wait. He was not prepared for this at all . He’d assumed he would be sleeping on the floor with a sleeping bag and not in Minghao’s room.
“Yeah! Of course Mingyu will sleep with me.” Minghao answered quickly, his voice carrying a touch of awkwardness.
“Alright, let’s get moving then,” Grandma said cheerfully, heading toward Minghao’s bedroom. “Hurry up so we can rest, chop chop!”
Mingyu opened his suitcases. Only two—one filled with clothes, skincare, and undies, and the other more precious, packed with his cameras and electronics. He hadn’t brought much, figuring he could always return to his own apartment if needed. Maybe just to clean up, so dust wouldn’t build up.
Mingyu spread his clothes out on Minghao’s bed, carefully organizing them into piles. Pajamas and house shirts went into one section, clothes for going out and sweaters into another, and outerwear into its own separate pile. Minghao’s grandma helped by folding the clothes, hanging them up and Minghao placed them in the empty space in his wardrobe.
Honestly, it was embarrassing for two strangers to take care of his undies. He could unpack himself, it was not a three person job. But there were Minghao’s grandma and Minghao, being a good grandson he is, of course he wouldn’t sit back and watch.
For his cameras, Mingyu put it on the shelf in Minghao’s workplace— innerplace . There was a whole empty shelf beside Minghao’s own. Mingyu wondered if Minghao added the shelf or if it had once held something of Minghao’s but had been cleared away.
With the help of two extra people, he is done putting his things at Minghao’s home. He stood in the hallway, taking it all in, looking at his belongings.
His cameras next to Minghao’s books. His toothbrush in the same holder. His clothes tucked in Minghao’s wardrobe. They all scattered alongside Minghao’s, blending in with Minghao’s possession in this house.
This is it. The start of something new. There is no turning back now.
No second thoughts.
No going back.
Time to embrace whatever came next.
Mingyu gently shut the innerplace door and walked into the kitchen, where he found Minghao preparing what seemed to be yuja-cha, with Minghao’s grandma seated at the dining table.
"Need help, babe?" Mingyu asked, his hand stroking Minghao’s cheek softly.
Minghao shot him a surprised, confused look before his eyes darted to his grandma, realizing the situation. It was clear it would take a bit of time for Minghao to get used to the public affection Mingyu gave him.
"I'm good," Minghao picked up the jug of yuja-cha then headed for the dining room. "Let’s eat, babe ."
Mingyu couldn’t help but smirk. At least Minghao remembered to play along.
They joined Minghao’s grandma at the dining table and eagerly dug into the food. Mingyu gave her a thumbs-up, his mouth full as he praised her for the delicious dishes. "Halmeoni, this is like… the best jeon I've ever had?" He said, she only squealed shyly. After a moment, he leaned forward and asked if she'd disclose the recipe to him.
To his delight, she agreed, but with a playful glint in her eye. "I’ll teach you, but only if you teach me how to make those xiao long bao."
Mingyu’s grin widened as he shook her hand. They made a deal.
Minghao, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke up. "Looks like we’re going to need to go grocery shopping soon," he said, glancing at Mingyu. "I don’t cook much, so we’ll have to stock up on supplies and kitchen essentials."
Mingyu giggled. "No worries. I’ll make sure we get everything we need."
Mingyu made a mental note to go over Minghao’s kitchen later, evaluating what was missing and what they needed to buy. Sauces, proteins, vegetables, frozen foods. He only saw chili oil, soy sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup, and a stash of ramyeon in Minghao's pantry. So it’s gonna be a pretty long list.
“Alrighy, I’ll go home now,” she said. ”Make yourself comfortable here, okay, Mingyu?”
Mingyu stood up and quickly embraced her. "Thank you so much for your help today, halmeoni."
She smiled warmly at him, then walked over to Minghao to pat his head before leaving the house. Mingyu turned his head to Minghao and they started to clean the table in silence. Afterwards, Mingyu washed the dishes until they were spotless and squeaky clean while Minghao locked the doors and turned off the unused lamps.
When he was done, he went into Minghao’s bedroom and found Minghao already wearing pajama—loose black shirt with white blue striped shorts. His face glistening, probably from the skincare he applied.
Mingyu stood at the doorway awkwardly, hesitant to step into Minghao’s bedroom. Was Minghao serious when he said that Mingyu will sleep in his bedroom or he just said it because he was with his grandma?
Noticing Mingyu's hesitation, Minghao raised an eyebrow. "Why are you just standing there? Come on in."
“Excuse me.” Mingyu muttered.
"Just sleep in the same bed," Minghao suggested casually. "My grandma sometimes drops by early, and we don't want her thinking we’re sleeping in separate beds or anything." He shrugged. "Relax, I won’t touch you. Probably . I don’t really know my sleeping habits."
Mingyu grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Inviting someone to your bed? So brave, Xu Minghao." He leaned in slightly, a teasing smirk on his lips. "The last time we met, you were flustered when I stroked your cheeks."
Minghao's face flushed red at the teasing. "Ugh, that’s not what I meant!" he groaned, before suddenly tossing a towel at Mingyu.
Mingyu laughed, catching the towel easily. He tossed it over his shoulder, then grabbed his underwear and pajamas—at his own comfort, he slept in his boxers but unfortunately he had to sleep in pajamas . He took a quick shower to freshen himself after a long day of moving out.
He returned to Minghao's room and found that it had become dark, with the main light switched off, leaving only the soft orange glow from the bedside lamp to illuminate the space. Minghao was engrossed in a novel and the bed’s left side was empty.
Picking up on the hint, Mingyu settled in Minghao’s left side of the bed. The bed was so soft, and bouncy, he was afraid his body would sink into it when he woke up. Minghao’s bed sheet and blanket had a soothing scent—jasmine. A stark contrast from his own bed. His bed was soft, but not like this. And it had no scent or whatever. It was just a… bed, nothing more than a place for him to sleep.
With the deadly combination of Minghao’s plush bed and the calming fragrance that reminded him of a spa and the exhaustion from a long day of packing and unpacking stuff, he couldn’t fight it any longer. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier by the second. Mingyu turned his body to Minghao, who was still absorbed in his novels.
Mingyu blinked slowly, torn between wanting to sleep and not wanting to sleep. Why didn’t Minghao ever tell him how he felt? What did he really think about them sharing a bed? Was he not bothered by it at all?
He really wanted to know about Minghao’s feelings.
What was on his head? What was on his head when he started all of these?
Mingyu’s mind couldn’t help but wander through the questions. But his body was too tired to focus. His mouth itching to ask, but his brain was already foggy and his eyes were getting heavy.
“Goodnight, babe.” Mingyu mumbled, and he drifted off to sleep.