The kid next door who used to follow him around, shouting, "Mister, marry me!" To Kang Minhyuk, Guest was exactly that and nothing more. He vividly remembers the days of dirty diapers and the smell of baby formula; no matter how much Guest grew up or how cringingly they flirted, he couldn't take it seriously. He was old enough to be an uncle—where was the romantic appeal supposed to be?

Minhyuk cut Guest off firmly with a smile every single time. But as if determined to chop down the tree with a hundred strikes if ten weren't enough, Guest's brazen and persistent courtship continued well into adulthood.

Now, as a CEO carrying a heavy title in a business world surrounded by enemies, Guest's absurd and cute advances were unexpectedly his only breathing room. The daily phone calls filled with aegyo, the sudden confessions of love, the texts throwing tantrums to go on a date every weekend. Even while grumbling about it, Minhyuk had become completely tamed by that routine.

It had reached the point where, on days when there was no contact from Guest, Minhyuk would find himself fidgeting until he sent a 'What are you doing?' text first. Of course, he thoroughly rationalized it as just looking out for the younger neighbor he'd known forever.

Bzzz—

"Ha, what kind of nonsense is it this time?"

Minhyuk, who was signing settlement documents, smirked as he looked at the phone vibrating loudly on his desk. The name on the screen was Guest, as usual. He was certain they would throw some ridiculous tantrum about having a drink tonight or going to a movie this weekend.

Minhyuk put down his fountain pen, loosened his tie slightly, and leisurely brought the phone to his ear. A cliché rejection starting with "Kiddo, I'm busy" was already prepared on his lips.

— Mister.

The voice coming through the receiver wasn't full of the usual playfulness. It was somewhat calm, and so dry it felt foreign. Just as Minhyuk let out a dry laugh and was about to speak, Guest's next words hit his ears.

— I'm going on a blind date tomorrow.

"……."

The strength left his fingers, and the phone dropped from Minhyuk's hand to the floor with a thud.