To Me, Who Doesn’t Love You

“What’s with this ‘couple’ business? It’s not just one person, right? Sure, Lee Suhan may be like a wall of steel when it comes to me, but do you think he’d be the same with that flower-like alpha husband of his?”Sangbok couldn’t believe his ears at PD Cho’s audacious words.“Are you seriously planning to blackmail them?”PD Cho, startled by the absurd suggestion, waved his hands defensively.“What are you talking about? No way! I’m just saying… the husband might have a different perspective. Maybe we can pin our hopes on that. If he convinces them on our behalf, everything will fall into place.”“Ah…”Sangbok let out a long sigh, realizing that the second round of this persuasion game was about to begin. How it would turn out was anyone’s guess—they’d just have to see which way the flag flew.* * *Meanwhile, Suhan, who had just endured a headache-inducing meeting that devoured his entire lunch break, found his stress reaching its peak after wrapping up his afternoon tasks. While disagreements or stalemates in business meetings were part of the job, things became much harder to shrug off when his family was involved. Jo PD might not have intended to disrespect Suhan and Yeonseo, but the presumptive confidence with which he had laid out his proposal grated on Suhan’s nerves.“…”Even though Suhan rationally knew he was overanalyzing and taking it too personally, he couldn’t help himself.“Ah, Manager, are you leaving already?”As if to make things worse, just as Suhan was about to leave his desk after finishing his work, a subordinate appeared at the very last minute with documents for his approval. A cascade of irritating incidents seemed to follow one after another, like dominoes.“Uh… should I come back later?”Noticing the sudden coldness in Suhan’s expression, the subordinate hesitated, fidgeting with the handle of the office door. Suhan let out an internal sigh. Acting out like this was childish and unnecessary.“No, it’s fine. Give it to me. I’ll take care of it before I leave.”“Oh, yes, of course!”Let’s not vent my frustrations on someone else, Suhan reminded himself. He had resolved long ago to act like a professional.The document turned out to be a budget report for an overseas business trip scheduled for the following month. Typically, such expenses were approved at the department head level, but given the scale of this trip—including flights and accommodations for several people—it had reached Suhan’s desk for final review. However, on the very first page, Suhan immediately spotted a missing attachment that was mandatory for such requests.“…”He couldn’t decide whether it was due to poor onboarding or inadequate guidance from the previous supervisor, but Suhan had no choice but to pull up a similar report from the previous year, print it out, and send the subordinate back to revise their submission.Waiting for the revision wasn’t pleasant for either party—especially with Suhan’s growing exhaustion. He hoped it wouldn’t take long, as the corrections were simple. Yet, one mistake after another stretched the process out painfully. By the time Suhan was finally able to leave, his usual patience was hanging by a thread.‘How did this person even get through the interview?’Since returning from his long parental leave, Suhan had never felt so thoroughly exasperated.* * *Later, as Suhan drove home, his string of misfortunes continued. He narrowly avoided accidents multiple times, thanks to reckless drivers cutting in without signaling. At one point, he seriously considered hitting one of their cars just to teach them a lesson.‘What a day. Just one bad thing after another.’By the time Suhan parked his car and arrived home, he felt utterly drained.‘I’m done for today…’He rarely allowed himself to show weakness, but this day had pushed him to the limit. With a pounding headache and what felt like a fever, Suhan decided to apologize to Yeonseo and head straight to bed after a quick shower.But as soon as the door opened with a cheerful beep, he was greeted by a surprising sight.“Daddy’s home!”Sitting in a baby seat near the entryway, little Suyeon looked up at him, her tiny face lighting up with pure delight.“……?”Startled, Suhan hesitated before opening the interior door and stepping inside. There sat Suyeon, nestled in a baby seat, wearing a bunny-themed hood with little rabbit ears and a onesie patterned with bunnies. She flailed her arms toward Suhan, letting out an enthusiastic “Ooo-baa!”Suhan paused. He couldn’t touch Suyeon without first washing his hands after coming in from outside. Still, leaving her there unattended made him uneasy—what if she accidentally rolled off the seat while he wasn’t looking? Torn, Suhan froze, unable to head straight to the bathroom.“Baa-baa!”Suyeon babbled unintelligibly, her tiny lips puckering as she cooed at Suhan. The sight was enough to erase any lingering frustration, her charm overwhelming enough to clear his mind. All the anger he’d carried home vanished, leaving Suhan stuck like a glitching robot, uncertain whether to simply keep watching her or run to wash his hands and come back to hold her.Watching this from behind, Yeonseo chuckled.“She’s so cute, isn’t she? If I’d known it would suit her this well, we should’ve been dressing her like this all along!”Her cheerful tone carried an unmistakable subtext, as if someone had either suggested the outfit or gifted it. Suhan’s face tensed with foreboding as he asked, “Did someone send it?”Sure enough, Yeonseo answered brightly, “Yes, a package came this afternoon. Apparently, someone was out shopping and thought of us since we’re the only ones with a newborn nearby.”“Who sent it?”“PD Cho. He said he was still grateful for the help last time and wanted to give us something as thanks. I also told him we’d properly meet up and thank him in person next time.”“……”Of course. That calculating man. Unable to sway Suhan directly, he had evidently shifted his strategy to target Yeonseo instead. Suppressing a sigh, Suhan clicked his tongue internally and headed into the living room to wash his hands and change out of his work clothes.“Did he say anything else when he sent it?”Suhan asked knowingly. Yeonseo hesitated, casting a glance at Suhan’s expression. Curiously, instead of looking uncomfortable or conflicted, he seemed… slightly pleased.“Well… aside from that, he also asked if we’d consider letting Suyeon appear on TV. He promised it’d be a quick shoot, and they’d promote some of our company’s products as PPL, so it’d benefit us too. He even said Suyeon’s privacy wouldn’t be an issue since she’s so young that no one would recognize her later. He said now is the perfect time.”It sounded suspiciously like a repeat of the pitch PD Cho had made to Suhan earlier. Judging by Yeonseo’s reaction, it seemed the idea appealed to him. But as soon as Suhan finished washing his hands, he picked up Suyeon and stated flatly, “Not happening. I already turned him down. If he contacts you again, just tell him we’re not interested.”Yeonseo’s eyes widened at Suhan’s firm response. Suhan, a public figure himself, could have used the opportunity to promote his company and showcase their adorable daughter, but he had refused outright. Surprised, Yeonseo cautiously asked, “Can I ask why? If it’s just a scheduling issue, PD Cho said they’re flexible….”His voice grew softer, almost wistful. Suhan pressed his lips into a thin line. Given Yeonseo’s tendency to gush about how cute and angelic Suyeon was, his interest in a parenting variety show wasn’t entirely unexpected. But Suhan couldn’t see the point. No matter how lovely Suyeon was to them, to outsiders, she was just someone else’s child. Subjecting her to cameras, strangers, and the chaos of a production set seemed unnecessary and risky.After a brief pause, Suhan explained his reasoning.* * *“There’s no need for her to go on TV. Even if they’re careful, having a production crew come in and out of our house won’t end quietly. Neighbors could complain about the noise, the house might get damaged during filming, and it’s just unnecessary. We’re not in a position where we need the money. Why expose Suyeon to all that? Are we planning to make her a celebrity or something?”He laid out his thoughts calmly and logically, but Yeonseo countered with something he hadn’t expected.“Well… we don’t know yet, do we? Suyeon might want to do it someday. Sure, there are some eccentric people in the industry, but there are also perfectly decent ones. If she wants to try, we could support her, and if it doesn’t work out, she could quit. It’s not like we’d let anyone take advantage of her.”That stance only made Suhan more resolute.“Even if she wanted to, I’d still be against it. We don’t know what kind of personality she’ll develop, but I’ve seen too many odd people in the industry. It’s a tough field, even for those with strong principles. As her parents, we’d be worried, and watching her struggle would be unbearable.”Until now, Suhan had delegated most childcare decisions to Yeonseo, trusting his judgment. Whether it was trying something new or making changes, Suhan’s attitude had always been, If you think it’s fine, then go ahead. This was the first time he had expressed such a firm opposition. Yeonseo looked startled but remained determined.“Still, deciding Suyeon’s future for her before she can even choose doesn’t seem right. Sure, there are odd people in the industry, but not everyone is like that. And if she doesn’t want to pursue it later, wouldn’t now be the best time to let her try? No one would recognize her later anyway….”Suhan suddenly interrupted Yeonseo’s words, cutting through the logic of PD Jo’s unexpected argument.“Did PD Jo really say that?”“Ah…”Caught off guard, Yeonseo averted his gaze, clearly embarrassed. Suhan knew well that Yeonseo was a bit of a doting parent. It was true that Suyeon was undeniably cute and objectively had a more attractive appearance than other babies. So, it wasn’t surprising that Yeonseo, who was desperate to showcase Suyeon beyond his limited social circle, would want to make her the model for their company’s products. After all, while everyone else surrounded their children with love from friends, close colleagues, and relatives, Yeonseo wasn’t in that position.The reason was clear: on his mother’s side, Yeonseo’s mother was an only child, and when Yeonseo was young, both grandparents passed away, cutting off ties with even distant relatives. As for his father’s side… well, that was a lost cause. The major scandals from the previous year were caused by that side of the family. Furthermore, because Yeonseo had studied abroad for university, he didn’t have any close college friends, and his childhood friends were practically non-existent. So, it was understandable that Yeonseo was so eager to hear praise for his daughter, wanting to display his “beautiful baby” to the world.Perhaps, in a way, Yeonseo even felt guilty for not being able to give Suyeon the attention she deserved due to his narrow social circle. On the other hand, Suhan, who had a vast network but had ruined nearly all personal relationships, had never felt such a need.‘Why does he think like that…?’To be honest, Suhan didn’t think Suyeon needed to be “shown off” to others. If anything, comparing her to Suhan’s own upbringing, Suyeon was extremely fortunate. He wasn’t trying to be self-pitying or jealous, but having financially stable and harmonious parents with respectable careers was already a stroke of extraordinary luck. So, was there really any need to apologize for that? Suhan glanced down at Suyeon.‘…’She was undeniably cute. In fact, she was more lovable than any other infant product models he had seen. But did that really need to be validated by others’ opinions? Wasn’t it imposing adult judgments on a child who didn’t even know her own name yet? Suhan was still torn, but after a moment of contemplation, he blocked Yeonseo from speaking again.“Don’t take everything those people say too seriously. They’re all people who live by making sales and spinning stories. What can’t they say? If problems come up later, they’ll just blame it on the participants and wash their hands of it.”It wasn’t that PD Jo had ever done anything like that. In fact, among all the PDs Suhan had worked with, Jo PD was relatively conscientious. Of course, when it came to capturing dramatic moments for the sake of entertainment, Jo PD could be quite calculated, but he made sure to get full consent beforehand. Some might think that whether someone volunteered or was pushed into a situation, it was the same thing. However, there were plenty of people in the industry who only cared about ratings and would put participants in risky situations without any prior warning, putting them in harm’s way just for the sake of a good show. Jo PD, at the very least, was someone who would make sure participants understood what they were getting into and the potential outcomes before anything happened. That was why Suhan had been able to work with him for so long.But the man brought in for today’s meeting was someone Suhan had never seen before. It was obvious that PD Jo had only played the role of making the introduction, and the actual filming would be directed by this new person. Despite Jo PD’s reassurance, Suhan didn’t feel reassured. When he voiced his concerns, Yeonseo, who had been listening silently, finally responded in a somewhat downcast voice.“But Eunah-ssi is the one who helped us when we were in trouble…”Suhan wasn’t convinced.“That’s one thing, but this is a whole different issue,” he said.He paused for a moment, then let out the words he had been thinking aloud earlier.“It’d be better to just give an envelope later. That way, they won’t keep asking us for favors. There’s no one who’d push something like this if we say no.”After speaking, Suhan cradled Suyeon in his arms as she blinked curiously, tilting her head as though wondering why the two dads were talking so much. He headed to the bedroom to lay her down for a nap before dinner. As he moved, he waited for Yeonseo’s acknowledgment, but when no reply came, Suhan suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.“…?”After gently laying Suyeon down to sleep, Suhan returned to the living room, only to find Yeonseo standing there, eyes red and brows furrowed in a pout as though he was about to cry. What was going on? Did I say something wrong? He hadn’t said anything too harsh. He had just voiced potential concerns that could happen. PD Jo would surely accept an envelope if the opportunity arose. Suhan knew this well from their long working relationship. But there was something about Yeonseo’s angry expression that made Suhan uneasy.“Why…?”Before Suhan could ask what was going on, Yeonseo spoke up.“Well, trying to repay someone’s consideration with money doesn’t seem like the right way to do things.”“Repay with money,” huh? The expression felt almost childishly innocent, as if it came from a children’s educational channel, and Suhan was at a loss for words.“If you don’t like the appearance on the broadcast, you can refuse, but handling the situation by saying, ‘You helped us, so here’s money, don’t drag it out, just eat and leave,’ doesn’t seem like the right way to go about it.”Is he scolding me now? Suhan felt a bit taken aback. Though the attitude felt a bit presumptuous, rather than being annoyed, it stung a little, like a needle pricking somewhere in his chest.“……”For a moment, Suhan was at a loss for words. What he had casually blurted out earlier was, after all, the way his past self used to solve problems. Hadn’t he decided to stop acting that way? He wanted to change, to live differently, and he had even forgotten his memories in an attempt to protect himself. If the other version of himself, the one he had met when he had lost his consciousness, saw him now, that version would no doubt lecture him endlessly. What would the version of himself from when he had lost his memory have done? After some contemplation, Suhan found his answer.“Why do you want to appear? Are you just reluctant to refuse because it was a suggestion from PD Jo?”He needed to hear it directly from her. It shouldn’t be based on assumptions or his own judgments. Yeonseo, with a deeply downcast expression, answered without hesitation.“I don’t think Suyeon should become a celebrity. But… I do want to leave a record for Suyeon, so that when she’s grown up, she can look back and know that she was loved this much by us from the time she was little, even though she won’t remember it. I want to leave something for her, not just the memories we have among ourselves. And…”From there, Yeonseo, seemingly embarrassed to say it out loud, flushed bright red and hesitated before speaking again.“Suyeon is so cute… You know how people go crazy over babies on TV, calling themselves online aunts and uncles. It’s such a waste that only we know how adorable Suyeon is.”Yeonseo’s cheeks reddened, as if aware of how doting he sounded. Suhan stifled a laugh at the predictable response. With such strong enthusiasm to appear on the show, and considering Suyeon wasn’t solely his child, Suhan couldn’t unilaterally reject the idea. Since it wasn’t a regular appearance but just a guest slot, there shouldn’t be any major issues. Suhan made his decision and spoke.“Alright, let’s do it. But there’s a condition.”“…?”Yeonseo perked up at Suhan’s rare approval, only to hear Suhan add in a calm tone.“You’ll be the main star. I’ll just help out on the side. Is that okay?”To Suhan’s knowledge, Yeonseo had never appeared on television before—not even during their marriage announcement, where Yeonseo’s face wasn’t fully revealed. Although there might be traces of his appearance in social media posts from wedding guests, most people were too preoccupied with the headline “Lee Suhan Marries a Young Conglomerate Heir” to pay much attention to Yeonseo’s features. This would be Yeonseo’s first real taste of the hassle and nuisance that came with being a recognizable figure. Suhan figured that once Yeonseo experienced it firsthand, any talk of making Suyeon a future celebrity would vanish. A single experience would be more persuasive than a hundred warnings.Yeonseo hesitated briefly before replying with determination.“Yes, let’s do that! I promise I’ll prepare thoroughly so I won’t be a bother!”What preparation? It wasn’t like Yeonseo needed to do much. The production team would provide scripts and settings. The only “preparation” would be making sure his pretty face was camera-ready on the day of filming. Suhan suppressed a sigh and cleared his throat instead.“Fine. I’ll contact Producer Jo and handle the contracts since I’ve got more experience with these things.”“Yes! I’m so excited…”Yeonseo grinned ear to ear, the kind of grin you’d expect from a college freshman, not someone in his 30s. But as Suhan watched him, Yeonseo noticed the stare and blushed furiously.“Oh, and… I said something thoughtless earlier, didn’t I? I’m sorry if it came across as rude. I think I was too harsh…”At least he realized it. Suhan gave a faint scoff and replied.“It’s fine. It gave me something to reflect on. You were right—it’s time I stopped doing everything the way that’s easiest for me.”“…!”As Suhan stroked Yeonseo’s hair gently, Yeonseo’s cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red. Despite being treated like a child, Yeonseo looked overjoyed. This guy is still hopelessly smitten, Suhan thought as he sighed quietly. Right then, Suyeon’s soft whimpering reached their ears from the bedroom.“Ah, Suyeon’s awake. I’ll go put her back to sleep,” Yeonseo offered.But Suhan’s stomach, empty since earlier, protested.“I’ll do it. You prepare something for us to eat.”“Alright!”With their tasks divided, the earlier tension melted away into the usual warmth. Suhan went to Suyeon, who immediately tried to snuggle into his arms while sniffling. He gently patted Suyeon’s tiny back, marveling at how small the baby still was. Would this child someday grow as tall as him? If Suyeon inherited his Alpha genes, there was a good chance. Suhan imagined himself, years from now, marveling at how small Suyeon used to be while watching videos of these days.He smiled softly, recalling the hospital photo of a newborn Suyeon, skin bright red. Just thinking about it filled his chest with warmth. His parents must have felt something similar when they first held him, despite their messy approach to parenting. Brushing aside these fleeting thoughts, Suhan hugged Suyeon closer, savoring the sweet scent of baby formula that lingered on Yeonseo.It was a blissful moment.* * *Three weeks later, filming day arrived. It would span two days: one capturing their everyday life at home and the other showing an outing.“Why bother going out? Suyeon’s still a newborn. We could just film at home,” Suhan grumbled, uneasy about taking the baby far from home.In response, Producer Jo silently handed him a product placement (PPL) contract. The document detailed how the indoor scenes had to prominently feature at least five products from Suhan’s family’s conglomerate and specified that outdoor scenes must involve visits to their franchise locations or purchases of their goods.“Of course, it’s all about using my name for publicity.” Suhan chuckled bitterly at the blatant marketing ploy. It was true. While half of the show’s audience might be regular viewers, the other half would be drawn by curiosity about Suhan.Who married that Lee Suhan? What kind of person could handle someone like him? And how did this infamous figure behave as a parent?As always, Suhan was the lightning rod for attention. With a faint smile, he muttered, “They should be grateful.”