Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 1

‘Is this really the right thing to do…?’

Having arrived at a neat business hotel on the outskirts of Seoul, Taehyun sat in the parked car in the lot, gripping the steering wheel tightly, lost in deep contemplation. Should he call now and say he can’t go through with it? For the fifth time, he picked up his phone only to set it down again, and before he knew it, the time had crept dangerously close to the appointed hour.

Sung Taehyun, twenty-eight years old this year, was a national taekwondo athlete. There was a reason why an elite athlete, soon to report to the training center, found himself paralyzed with indecision in the basement parking lot of a business hotel.

Taekwondo star Sung Taehyun: Can he finally secure Olympic gold this time?

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Entertainment industry’s top sports star Kim Sia, Sung Taehyun, and Park Sehee aim for Olympic gold

National taekwondo athlete Sung Taehyun’s third Olympic attempt: Can he redeem himself this time?

With the Olympics less than six months away, the surge in attention meant that searching Taehyun’s name yielded a flood of similar articles daily. Would Sung Taehyun finally succeed in winning a gold medal this time? The interest, sustained for eight years now, was both gratifying and suffocating for Taehyun.

At twenty, neither too young nor overly seasoned, Taehyun had debuted at the Olympics at just the right age and had never ceased to be a promising figure. Discovered by an excellent coach at a young age, he quickly entered the elite track, and with his physique already well-developed, he had amassed a string of awards at international competitions even before the Olympics. Not only was he skilled, but his strikingly handsome face and cheerful, approachable demeanor made him more popular than many idols debuting that year.

As if that weren’t enough, during his first Olympic appearance, he became the victim of a controversial refereeing decision that sparked significant debate even overseas, earning him the sympathy and support of the entire nation. The spotlight and attention that poured in immediately after the Olympics would have overwhelmed an ordinary athlete, but Taehyun navigated his newfound fame with a friendly and humble attitude. Overcoming the unjust call, he dominated most international competitions the following year and finally clinched a gold medal at the Asian Games, an achievement that had the entire nation celebrating as if it were their own.

Moreover, with senior sports entertainers having already paved the way for athletes to shine in the media, Taehyun appeared as a guest on ten different broadcasts that year alone. With advertisements and sponsorships flooding in, he solidified his position as one of South Korea’s leading sports stars. A heavy crown demands effort to bear, and not all the attention led to positive outcomes. Still, Taehyun didn’t mind being loved by the public. Who wouldn’t appreciate a system where hard work and skill were rewarded with fame and fortune? Four years after the bitter experience of his first Olympics, Taehyun found himself back on the Olympic stage.

But not everything goes as planned. An injury sustained in the previous competition worsened critically during the preliminaries, forcing Taehyun into a long rehabilitation period that threatened his career. For a year, he could barely walk due to surgical complications, focusing solely on recovery. Two years later, he had recovered enough to compete in domestic tournaments and eventually secured a spot in his third Olympics. However, the string of misfortunes had eroded Taehyun’s confidence.

“Two times was enough. It’s a minor sport anyway, and he hasn’t won a medal in eight years. Isn’t he ashamed of hogging a spot? LOL”

“The Olympics aren’t held often, and it feels unfair for someone who hasn’t medaled to be on the national team three times in a row, no?”

“He’s not young anymore. Shouldn’t he step aside for the juniors? He’s clinging on too long. Must have good backing from the association since he’s such a star they can’t push him out.”

“Popularity, popularity, popularity, popularity, popularity, popularity, popularity, popularity, popularity.”

“If medals were awarded based on popularity, he’d have gotten gold ages ago LOL.”

“He’s not a streamer, so isn’t it embarrassing for an athlete to make a living off his face? LOL. Fans are so delusional, turning an athlete into a celebrity LOL.”

The general sentiment toward Taehyun was that he was a handsome athlete who had been unfairly robbed of a medal and had overcome injuries. However, as his third Olympic appearance was confirmed, dissenting opinions began to surface. Despite his proven skills in numerous competitions, his lack of Olympic success led to conspiracy theories questioning not only Taehyun but also the integrity of the association. Amid all the controversies, Taehyun remained one of South Korea’s most beloved male sports stars.

‘This time, I absolutely can’t fail.’

The pressure weighed even heavier on Taehyun. To avoid disappointing those who believed in and supported him, he had to win a medal this time. He needed to meet the expectations of the nation that had been placed on him all these years.

But how? Outside of his entertainment activities, Taehyun had devoted every moment to training with almost excessive diligence, leaving no room for further effort. He never slacked on weight management for his weight class or basic training, and his recently healed left ankle benefited more from limited use than additional strain, leaving him with truly no options left.

The pressure mounted, and with this being his final Olympic appearance—both physically and in terms of public perception—Taehyun was desperate enough to clutch at any straw, as long as it wasn’t illegal. The solution proposed by his agency was certainly not illegal but deeply unappealing.

‘I didn’t want to go this far…’

If it guaranteed results, it would undoubtedly be beneficial. But Taehyun didn’t want to engage in anything he couldn’t proudly stand behind, causing his resolve to waver multiple times a day. What difference would it make if my skills aren’t up to par? Yet, anxiety crept in, questioning whether he was in a position to be picky. Why did I have to be born with this trait? He resented a constitution that had never once been helpful in his life, but nothing changed.

After countless rounds of agonizing, Taehyun now found himself in the hotel parking lot, grappling with yet another wave of tormented indecision. Just leaving without showing up wouldn’t be fair to the other person. Maybe he should at least meet them face-to-face and apologize. Yes, apologizing in person to someone he didn’t even know seemed like the least he could do. Just apologize and leave. Just apologize. Despite steeling himself, when Taehyun reached the designated room and saw the face of the person waiting for him, his words caught in his throat.

“What is this? Some kind of hidden camera prank?”

Four years ago, that prickly eighteen-year-old kid was now sitting there, looking noticeably more refined.

“……”

Ignoring the king-sized bed dominating the center of the room, Taehyun sat on the edge of the sofa, staring at the floor, and thought to himself. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. He had often told his juniors, “You never know how life will turn out, so be good to those around you.” He never imagined those words would come back to haunt him like a boomerang.

“……”

What do I do about this atmosphere? The silence, stretching over ten minutes since they entered the awkward hotel room, was suffocating for Taehyun. Should he try saying something? But what could he say in this situation? No matter what he did, it was bound to be awkward, so the heavy silence persisted. Still, they couldn’t keep wasting time like this. Better to face the music and get it over with. Taehyun, who found sitting still harder than anything, finally closed his eyes tightly and made a desperate attempt to escape the situation.

“Um… I’m sorry if you had any expectations, but I don’t want to disappoint you. This is probably uncomfortable for both of us, so would it be okay if I left first?”

There was no point in awkwardly throwing in a “long time no see,” so Taehyun scratched the back of his head sheepishly and started to stand. At that moment, the transparent gaze that had been fixed on the floor snapped up to Taehyun’s face. Flinching, the clearly displeased expression made Taehyun inwardly sweat as he swallowed a sigh.

The person in front of Taehyun was a fellow athlete, six years his junior, competing in a different sport but also training in a national team uniform. Taehyun had once helped him out in some way. Yeah, this situation must be pretty unpleasant for you too. Taehyun suppressed another long sigh and avoided the younger athlete’s gaze.