Chapter Text
When Yeonjun decided to open his small business as a “couple breaker”, this was the last thing he expected.
He started it because he needed the extra cash, plain and simple. Rich people were the perfect target if you were looking for easy money. Yeonjun would know, he has been a part of their world, although not quite, for years now. He knew how toxic their relationships could be and how often people got together because of corporate alliances or other interests. So he took advantage of that.
The idea for the business was inspired by something that happened when he was a student in MOA University. A prestigious school where the sons and daughters of wealthy families studied, known for producing successful professionals who stood out in their fields.
Yeonjun only got the chance to study there because of a scholarship, which he earned through his hard work. His family was very humble, owning a small ramen restaurant in their neighborhood. Without that scholarship, Yeonjun would never have been able to afford the tuition at MOA.
Studying there was Yeonjun’s dream. Batter said, it was his goal. Some of the best fashion designers in the country taught there, and Yeonjun aspired to be just as big. Getting that scholarship meant everything to him, and he was committed to making the most of the opportunity. His determination was proved by the fact he maintained the top rank throughout the entire four years he studied there, and he was proud of that.
He couldn’t say that his university experience was completely smooth, but he thinks he handled it well. His fame as the “ Legendary Fashion Major It Boy” paired with his good looks, attracted both good and bad attention, but he managed it. It helped that the teachers were fair in their grading, upholding the university’s reputation. Also, Yeonjun has, surprisingly, found some people there to call friends. Most especially, Wooyoung and Changbin, both sons of powerful families, and it somehow has kept Yeonjun out of problems most of the time.
Yeonjun was, however, very prideful. He never liked to have his friends pay for his stuff, no matter how rich they were. That’s why when Heeseung — a boy he had talked to once or twice at some party — offered him money to seduce his fiancé so she’d be exposed as a cheater and their engagement would be called off, Yeonjun felt tempted to accept. It wasn’t the first time someone tried to bribe him, and he was always cautious about involving himself in potentially messy situations. On that particular occasion, though, he was very inclined to grab the chance of easy money for the Cashmere he desperately wanted to buy for a project. The University had denied him funding for it, so he was almost giving up. That’s when Heeseung's proposition came, like a light at the end of the tunnel.
It was well known that Heeseung’s marriage was arranged and that he and his fiancé basically hated each other. On top of that, the girl not-so-secretly had a thing for Yeonjun, which would make the job pretty easy. The task was simple, the couple’s relationship was awful anyway, and the payment would cover Yeonjun's sewing supplies for at least a few months. It was too good an opportunity to pass up, so Yeonjun took it — but not before securing a proper contract to ensure his own safety. He knew very well how tricky business people could be.
With the deal properly officialized, it took a week for Yeonjun to get “caught” heavily making out with Heeseung's fiancé behind the bleachers by the field. Soon, the news of Samsung’s CEO daughter cheating on the hair of Hyundai hit the cover of every gossip magazine, and the engagement was successfully ruined. With the new fabric he bought, Yeonjun created the dress that won him a national fashion competition and later secured him a job at Dio. A perfect success.
Yeonjun imagined it would be a one-time thing as he had no intention of repeating the feat. His focus was entirely on building his career, that was the only reason he agreed to help Heeseung in the first place. He didn’t want to make a habit of it; he wanted to build his life as a fashion designer, not as a “couple breaker.”
Unfortunately, things changed drastically after he graduated and began working at Dio. What he thought would be a dream come true quickly turned into a nightmare. He didn’t even last a full year at the company, and it wasn’t for lack of effort. He worked overtime every day, yet his boss treated him like an intern, asking him to fetch coffee and perform other tasks far from fitting for his position as assistant designer. The worst of it all was that nobody seemed to care about the one thing he’d supposedly been hired for: his ideas. Or, at least, that’s what he thought. Then he discovered that his boss, one of the most famous designers in the industry, had stolen all his designs and was planning to present them at Paris Fashion Week as his own.
Of course Yeonjun’s first action was to report him and ask for help, but nobody in that damn company gave a shit. His boss was a cousin of the CEO. Yeonjun, on the other hand, was the new guy, not yet known in the industry, with no power, and, on top of that, he didn’t come from a wealthy family like most of his colleagues. He had no value to them, that much was clear. Therefore, Yeonjun left.
Now, here’s the thing: Yeonjun was never one to give up. He didn’t dream small, either. You’re too ambitious, my healingie his mom always said Don’t forget to enjoy life as well. Yeonjun wouldn’t say he didn’t enjoy life, but he definitely sacrificed a lot to be where he was and he didn’t plan on quitting now. Or ever! So he set himself a new goal: start his own brand and get even bigger than Dior.
Some might call him crazy, but he knew he could do it. Anger was a powerful fuel, and Yeonjun was furious. All he needed was someone who believed in him, someone willing to sponsor him. Paris Fashion Week was the ideal place to find a patron or partner, if he could get there. However, he needed money for that, and he was currently jobless. Not to mention, he’d have to come up with new ideas quickly, as most of his designs had been stolen.
It was a lot of work, a lot of money and not enough days. Yeonjun needed a plan if he wanted to make it happen, something that would leave him time to work on new projects for Fashion Week. Something like the easy money he got from Heeseung back in college.
Once the idea popped into his mind, he couldn’t shake it. It seemed like the best solution, considering he didn’t have time to think of anything better. So he posted an ad online and hoped for the best.
Apparently, there were more people out there with mean intentions toward their partners than one might expect. Within a week, Yeonjun had his first client: a man who shamelessly told him he wanted to ruin his wife’s life. Accepting the deal wasn’t the most morally correct choice, Yeonjun recognizes, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Besides, he would never force himself into anyone, if people let themselves be seduced, it meant their loyalty was shaky to begin with. All he did was bring it to light.
Just like when he was at college, Yeonjun accomplished his mission fairly quickly. The woman seemed as superficial as her husband, and fell into Yeonjun’s trap almost too easily. Then came a second client, and another successful outcome. Then a third, although he couldn’t have prepared himself for what this one had stored for him.
The third e-mail Yeonjun received in response to his ad started differently from the beginning. The guy who wrote it said in his message that he needed Yeonjun to seduce his boyfriend. A refreshing change of scenario, considering Yeonjun had only worked seducing women so far. He was confident his charms would work on men just as well as it worked on women, the extensive list of guys he hooked up with through his life was proof enough. So Yeonjun confidently replied to the mail and scheduled a meeting.
When the day of the meeting arrived, Yeonjun opened his door to find a tall, skinny and young looking man who seemed more lost than anything else. He wore casual black clothes, his hoodie pulled up over his head, hands shoved into his pockets, just like a first-time criminal about to rob a bank. Or maybe one who’d already done it, judging by the luxury brands he was wearing. To top it all off, his wide eyes had that fear of someone who’d just done something wrong and was scared of getting caught, making him resemble a frightened puppy. If Yeonjun didn’t know better, he might have believed this guy was on the run despite his overall innocent look.
Yeonjun did know batter, so all he felt was amusement.
“Huening Kai?” he asked, smirking at the man's distress.
Under Yeonjun’s merciless gaze, his client seemed to shrink further into himself, as if he were seriously reconsidering his life choices.
A man in a moral conflict. Interesting .
“Y-yes.”
“Come on in,” Yeonjun invited, stepping aside and opening the door wider to give his new client space.
Huening Kai hesitated for a second before walking in. Yeonjun locked the door behind them, sealing their fate, and asked to be followed, leading them both to his small dinner table. They sat across from each other, Huening Kai tense like a rock while Yeonjun tried not to laugh at how obvious the other man was.
As Yeonjun opened his notebook — already prepared to jot down important information from their conversation — he heard it: a small sound, like a faint attempt at clearing one’s throat. He looked up at his client with a raised brow, finding the other man red-faced and staring down at his own hands.
“You’re Choi Yeonjun-ssi, right?” His client asked shyly.
Yeonjun’s smile returned as he watched the guy struggle, looking at every corner of the small room except at him.
“Don’t you think you should’ve asked that before you entered a complete stranger’s house?”
Huening Kai's face flushed even darker, and he chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
“Ah, yeah… You’re right. Sorry.”
Yeonjun took pity on him. “Yes, cutie. I’m Choi Yeonjun, and I’m here to help you break up with your boyfriend, if I’m not mistaken.”
His words were met with a grimace. Huening Kai felt clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation. And Yet, he had been the one who sent Yeonjun that email.
“Yes, t-that’s why I came….” he said in a weak voice, pressing his lips together for a moment, guilt writing all over his face. Yeonjun was about to continue, but Huening interrupted him abruptly: “I really, really, need help with that!” He said, urgency evident in every word, like he desperately needed Yeonjun to understand. “Like, really! I know it seems bad, but I swear it’s not like that! I’m desperate, I didn’t know what else to do.”
Huening Kai was truly adorable, but his reasons were none of Yeonjun’s business. He was in it for the money, nothing else. There was no point in his client wasting their time explaining himself. If he made the choice of hiring Yeonjun’s service, he should be able to handle his own moral conflict by himself.
Still, Yeonjun couldn’t be rude to the hand feeding him.
“It’s fine, dear. I can definitely help,” Yeonjun reassured him patiently. “Why don’t you start by telling me exactly what you’re expecting from me? Maybe give me some ideas on how you could catch your boyfriend in the act.”
That only seemed to make the other man more nervous. “I—I… I’m not sure… I don’t want to ruin hyung’s reputation. He’s not a bad person, and he doesn’t deserve that. All I want is to break up with him. Even if you could just convince him to dump me for you, that would be enough…”
Yeonjun raised both brows, unimpressed. “You just want to break up?”
“Yes, exactly.” Kai exclaimed, probably not noticing Yeonjun’s expression since he was still avoiding eye contact.
Oblivious to the meaning behind Yeonjun’s momentary silence, Kai took a deep breath, his eyes drifting as he seemed lost in thought. When he spoke again, there was a lot of emotion in his voice.
“Honestly, I don’t even know why he hasn’t done that yet. Breaking up with me, I mean. It’s pretty clear neither of us are happy in the relationship anymore, and we haven’t been for a while now… Hyung is always complaining about how I never speak up about what I want, but he doesn’t see how stubborn he can be. I really admire him for having strong opinions and always sticking to them, but to me, it’s so draining to argue about every little thing. I’d much rather just go along with whatever he wants, but he hates it when I do that. He can tell I’m only doing things for him and not because I truly want to. I think, over time, it made him feel bad because he said it felt like he was dating a child who couldn’t make decisions and that he feels almost mean for always bossing me around. We used to be such good friends, but now… I just… I feel like I never know how to talk to him these days. And—”
“That must be hard for you…” Yeonjun interrupted with fake sympathy before that, whatever it was, could go any further. They were not on a therapy session, for fuck’s sake. But he couldn’t say that, so he took a more subtle approach. “Let’s stick to the matter, Kai-ssi. You want me to convince him to break up with you. Is that right?”
That seemed to snap his client out of whatever heart-spilling moment he was having.
Kai shifted in his chair, adjusting his posture. “Yes, that would be the best solution, I think.” He nodded, then added, flushing slightly, “I’d break up with him myself if I weren’t so scared. Not just because I’ve never done it before, but because of hyung’s brother. He has a very intimidating older brother who’s extremely protective. The first time we met, his brother threatened to ruin my life if I ever broke his little brother’s heart. It was freaking scary, I swear! And I’ve been terrified of him ever since. That’s why the only way I can get out of this situation is either if hyung breaks up with me willingly or if I have a really good excuse to do it. One that will make even his brother have to agree with my decision.”
Yeonjun nodded, typing on his notebook.
“I get it, older brothers can be a real pain in the ass,” he said, remembering a very particular episode in his life. “Ok, I can definitely handle that, but it will have a high cost. I’ll need half up front and the other half after the job’s done.”
“That’s fine. Like I told you in the messages, money won’t be a problem.”
“Great,” Yeonjun smiled, though he’d expected that answer. Huening Kai was, after all, the son of the CEO of Huening Entertainment, one of the top three largest music companies in the country. “Now, tell me a little about your boyfriend. His name, age, major, things he likes and doesn’t like, places I could meet him... You know, anything you think might be useful to help me seduce him.”
“Ok. Well,” Kai began, seeming to think about it. “I met hyung at college. We both study at MOA University. He’s my senior, majoring in arts while I’m majoring in music. Oh, hyung really likes music! It’s one of the reason’s we got closer. He plays the guitar and he’s really good at it. He’s also an overwhelmingly talented painter and sculptor. He also likes playing video games, especially LoL, and watching movies and dramas. He’s an introvert, like me, so he doesn’t like going out too often. Although he can really act like an E sometimes too. When he does go out, he prefers being with a few close friends and doing something fun rather than going to parties or social events with a bunch of strangers. He hates seafood, loves going to cafés, and his favorite color is—”
“Sorry,” Yeonjun interrupted abruptly, but this time for an entirely different reason. An itching feeling was growing inside him the more Huening Kai talked, and it had become so intense he couldn’t hold back any longer. “What did you say your boyfriend’s name was again?”
“Oh, sorry, I forgot to tell you the most important part!” Huening Kai apologized with a shy smile. “His name is Choi Beomgyu.”
Yeonjun choked on his own spit.
“You’re dating Choi Beomgyu?” he blurted out, the words leaving his mouth of their own accord.
He was so shocked that he barely registered Huening Kai looking him in the eye for the first time since he’d arrived, a small frown on his face. “You know my boyfriend?”
“Let me see a picture of him,” Yeonjun urged, completely ignoring the question.
“O-okay.”
Huening Kai fumbled to pull his phone from his pocket and searched for only a couple of seconds before handing the device to Yeonjun, who grabbed it eagerly. On the screen, staring back at him, was a picture of Huening Kai smiling brightly. Beside him was a man Yeonjun knew all too well. Beomgyu’s big brown eyes looked as bright and mischievous as ever, his soft smile was charming, and his dark hair, now longer than Yeonjun remembered, suited him well. He looked as pretty as Yeonjun remembered, if not even more so. And it was unsettling.
Yeonjun’s first instinct was to call the deal off. There was no way he’d seduce Beomgyu. Absolutely no way .
However, a voice in the back of his head diabolically whispered, why not? He kept looking at the picture of the man he once knew, but not anymore. Things had changed. It’d been a year, they didn’t mean anything to each other anymore. All he had to do was kiss the younger once and it would be it.
At the thought of kissing Beomgyu, Yeonjun felt his mind made up. After all, refusing the job would suggest he doubted himself and his professionalism. There was no reason to question that, he had a strong mindset and a clear goal, as he always had. He’d do it for the money and the fun of messing with Beomgyu, and nothing else. He doubted Beomgyu would think of it as anything but a fun time anyway.
It would be just fine.
“Yeonjun-ssi?” Huning Kai asked, carefully, pulling Yeonjun out of his thoughts.
“Sorry,” Yeonjun replied, looking away from the phone. “I do know your boyfriend. I graduated from MOA University a year ago, so we might have crossed paths once or twice. I was just surprised by the familiar name.”
“Oh,” Huening Kai breathed, processing the information. Then he asked, “Will that be a problem?”
“Not at all,” Yeonjun replied, his mind already working on creating a plan. “It might even be an advantage.”
“That’s… good?”
Yeonjun nodded to himself, satisfied with the idea he had come up with. “So here is what we’re gonna do,” he announced, feeling his usual confidence return.
Finally, Yeonjun smiled.
“I’m gonna make your boyfriend a suit.”
・❥・
Huening Kai was waiting for Yeonjun at the entrance of the restaurant, just as he’d promised, looking as nervous as the day they first met. Yeonjun smiled a little when he saw him standing there as still as a statue, his handsome face giving him the look of a Greek sculpture.
Kai was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice Yeonjun approaching until he waved a hand in front of his eyes. It was almost like magic the way Kai unfroze, blinking a few times before finally focusing on him. When he did, his body relaxed, if only a little, and a relieved smile curved his lips.
“You’re here!” he exclaimed, almost as if he’d thought Yeonjun wouldn’t show up. A silly thought, considering Yeonjun still wanted the rest of the payment for the job, which he’d only receive once he succeeded in making Beomgyu and Kai break up.
“Of course I am.”
“Good! I’m so glad you’re here! Hyung is already inside, and he keeps sending me messages asking where I am,” Kai complained with an awkward chuckle. “He’s basically spamming at this point. He likes to be annoying.”
He showed Yeonjun his phone, which was vibrating non-stop with each new ‘Kai-ah’ followed by ‘Where r u,’ flooding their Kakao chat at an impressive speed.
It was such a classic Beomgyu thing that a wave of dread hit Yeonjun unexpectedly, like his body was trying to warn him that he was about to fall for a trap. If he had to explain it, he’d say it felt a lot similar to catching a whiff of his favorite dish while he was in the middle of a diet. A thought he brushed off immediately.
Beomgyu was not his favorite dish.
Maybe a nice dish… But that entire comparison was stupid and Yeonjun wasn’t there to be tempted. In fact, it was quite the opposite! He’d had a week to prepare for this encounter, a week to come to terms with seeing Beomgyu again and, if everything went according to plan, probably touching him. He was completely ready to keep things professional and focused.
Nevermind that ‘ it will only be one bite’ never ended well for anyone dieting. Yeonjun was about to change that statistic.
“Let's go in, then” He said, gathering all his conviction.
Huening nodded, not half as confident. Not even his bubbly personality could completely mask the nervousness in his eyes, but Yeonjun decided not to comment on it and followed his client through the entrance.
Inside, the restaurant was even more luxurious than its facade suggested. The grand hall they entered was illuminated by ornate chandeliers cascading from the high ceiling in sparkling crystal. Tables were spaced elegantly across the vast room, each set with fine plates and perfectly folded white cloth napkins arranged neatly before each seat, with a single white flower in a vase as a finishing touch. The waitstaff were impeccable too: every hair in place, uniforms crisply pressed, and flawless smiles directed at each guest.
Yeonjun had learned long ago that, when arriving at a place like this, you had to act as if you belonged. Otherwise, the rich would notice immediately, and if you showed any sign of weakness, they wouldn’t exitate to treat you as inferior. Fortunately, Yeonjun had never thought of himself as beneath those with money; on the contrary, he’d always carried himself with such confidence that he rarely encountered disrespect, even among people whose wealth set them in a world far removed from his own. The worst discrimination he’d faced was at Dio, and even then, he hadn’t let it continue, leaving the moment he realized he wasn’t treated as an equal.
Nothing changed now: he walked into the restaurant with the confidence of a regular customer, even though Huening Kai would be the one paying for everything. He smiled at the waiter who welcomed them and looked around scanning the room until he found Beomgyu, sitting at the most secluded table in the corner typing furiously on his phone. His black long hair was falling over his face because of how he was hunched over the device, but it was still easy for Yeonjun to recognize him. Something about his silhouette, the roundness of his head, his posture, the point of his nose visible despite the delicate courtin of black hair… just something about the shape of him was too familiar not to be recognized. Even at that distance. Even with how long it had been.
Seeing him made Yeonjun’s heart thump louder. This time, it wasn’t anxiety he felt, it was adrenaline. He was about to walk along the edge of a cliff with the possibility of falling at any moment, and, if it was scary on one side, there was also a part of it that was exciting. A challenge to be faced, and Yeonjun had never run away from challenges. Especially if Beomgyu was involved.
With this newfound determination, he followed Kai across the grand salon, heading toward what might be the biggest trap of all time.
They were almost there when Beomgyu felt their approach and looked up. Time seemed to slow in that instant. It was almost comical, the way Beomgyu’s soft smile faded as his gaze slid from Kai to Yeonjun. His eyes widened as though they might pop out of their sockets, his lips parted, and his face turned slightly pale. A perfect image of chock that would make even The Scream jealous.
Whether Yeonjun would come to regret accepting this job, only time would tell, but Beomgyu’s reaction was worth the risk. It was absolutely priceless. It pulled a taunting smirk from Yeonjun, which he wished was part of a calculated plan but in reality was more instinctive than anything else. An old habit of teasing that hasn't seemed to go away, and a smugness that still came as a natural effect from holding the upper hand over Beomgyu.
The surprised face didn’t last much though. A bunch of emotions Yeonjun couldn’t recognize flashed on Beomgyu’s eyes, but he quickly schooled his expression into nonchalance and his eyes hardened into a glare. He clearly wasn’t happy at seeing Yeonjun again, but Yeonjun didn’t expect him to be. Not considering the circumstances in which they last saw each other.
That was fine. Yeonjun could work with that. It wouldn’t be the first time that intense emotions between them blurred the line between hatred and passion.
A thick tension settled in the air as he and Beomgyu stared at each other. It was like a silent battle between them, one Yeonjun refused to lose even if Beomgyu’s eyes were more intense then he remembered them ever being. It made Yeonjun feel electric, buzzing with a thrill he hadn’t felt since… well, since he last saw Beomgyu almost a year ago.
It was Kai who broke the moment, hesitantly looking between the two men, then finally back to his boyfriend. “H-hyung?”
Beomgyu immediately shifted his cold gaze to Kai, who flinched like a scared puppy.
“Kai-ah,” Beomgyu said his name with unsettling calmness, his voice as icy as his stare. “I thought it would be just the two of us for lunch.”
Yeonjun could hear Kai gulp, he could practically see him trembling too. He felt a bit sorry for the guy, but he also thought to himself that if Kai couldn’t even handle Beomgyu’s display of annoyance without almost peeing himself, then he definitely wasn’t cut out to be his boyfriend.
In clear distress, Kai looked back at Yeonjun with a weird face, like he was simultaneously asking for help and trying to convey his feeling of betrayal, but ended up just looking terrified. He wasn’t stupid. He must have realized by then that when Yeonjun said he crossed paths with Beomgyu a couple times at college, he didn’t tell the whole truth.
But Kai didn’t have many options now. Unless he wanted to confess to his boyfriend that he’d hired someone to help him break up because he lacked the courage to do it himself, he’d have to stick to their plan. So Yeonjun’s response to his helpless look was a mere shrug, one that silently conveyed: no need to panic.
Kai didn’t seem reassured in the slightest, but Beomgyu had waited long enough.
“H-hyung, this is Yeonjun-hyung.” Kai finally said. “H-he is a great fashion designer! So I hired him to make our suits for your brother’s graduation. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Unable to hold back, Yeonjun’s smile widened as he added fuel to the fire. “Oh, you definitely had success with the surprising part.”
Beomgyu sent him a murderous glare and proved that his tongue was still as sharp as always when he snapped back: “It was truly shocking. I would’ve thought that after so long, you’d have stopped being obsessed with me. But I see now it isn’t the case.”
“O-obsessed?” Kai stammered, looking at Yeonjun as if he’d just learned he was a murderer. “I didn’t know he was obsessed with you.”
“Don’t worry about it, Kai-ssi.” Yeonjun retorted, but his focus was still entirely on Beomgyu, his words coated in sarcasm. “It’s just your boyfriend’s habit of thinking he’s the center of the universe. If anyone, he was the one who was obsessed with me.”
Huening Kai ignored him completely, more worried about appeasing Beomgyu. “Hyung, I didn’t know! I swear! I wouldn’t have hired him if I’d known! I-I will call it off!”
Oh, but there was no way Yeonjun would back out now, not when he’d gotten this far.
“You can call it off if your boyfriend still isn’t ready to have professional business with me.” Yeonjun said, making sure to smile in a way he knew would push Beomgyu’s buttons. “I’ll understand; it seems I left quite an impression on him.”
Beomgyu opened his mouth to reply — likely with something equally provocative, if Yeonjun knew him — but Kai was quicker.
“Yeonjun-ssi, you should go. This was clearly a mis—”
“Oh, no, no!” Beomgyu interrupted, his voice laced with mock sweetness. Surprisingly, Kai’s attempt to mediate seemed more effective at riling him than Yeonjun’s taunts. The spark in Beomgyu’s eyes was all the confirmation Yeonjun needed that he was getting exactly what he wanted. “Kai-ah, how could I ask you to call it off after you went through all the trouble of hiring someone to make our suits? I’d be a very ungrateful boyfriend if I didn’t accept your lovely gift, right?”
Kai looked even more helpless now. “B-but hyung…”
“No ‘buts,’” Beomgyu said firmly, locking eyes with Yeonjun, his gaze now blazing with both challenge and mirth. “I’m excited to see what the great Choi Yeonjun will do.”
Just like that, Yeonjun felt as though he were standing on the edge of a cliff, staring down into a deep abyss, his body shuddering with a mix of fear and anticipation.