Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 125

“Ah, yes, yes. Thanks to you, I enjoyed watching a good match today.”

Truthfully, he was not sure if it was thanks to him. In any case, since he was Sejin’s superior, Taehyun offered the lip service with a friendly and well-liked expression, and the coach immediately shook his head.

“Hey, what did I do? This guy is the type who takes care of everything himself. There are still many matches left, so come watch if you’re bored. While you’re at it, take off your hat and show your handsome face. I think people would like it if you were caught on camera. Ah. Is your leg okay? There were articles and all sorts of fuss. Are you okay to be walking around like this?”

As he said this, he swiftly took Taehyun’s hat and squeezed his shoulders firmly. Even though Taehyun knew it was the kind of contact characteristic of older misters, with no malice or ulterior motives, Sejin seemed to find it grating on his nerves. Taehyun subtly pulled his shoulder out of the coach’s grasp and answered.

“Fortunately, they said I don’t need major surgery. I think I will probably go back to Korea for a simple procedure and receive treatment.”

“Oh my, that’s a relief. For a man, you know, this leg strength is the most important thing, as you probably know. Now you need to get married, have a pretty wife and kids too. It’s no good if you’re feeble.”

“Ahaha….”

It seemed likely that he would marry a beautiful spouse and have children. But that spouse would not be a wife, which he could not say right now, so he just laughed it off. Wondering if there was any need to listen to this any longer, Taehyun naturally concluded the conversation.

“Well then, I will be taking my leave. I hope you continue to have victory after victory in the remaining matches.”

After Taehyun finished bidding farewell to the coach, he gave a subtle nod to Sejin, who nodded back with a face full of suppressed dissatisfaction. Taehyun quickly escaped the waiting room as if he were running away, swept a hand over his chest, and then sent a message to Sejin.

8:21 PM

I told you it would have been better not to do more.

A reply came back from Sejin immediately.

I liked it.

8:22 PM

Taehyun, finding it absurd, quickly moved his fingers to send a reply.

8:23 PM

If it’s good a second time, my heart won’t be left in one piece.

But this whole act was also on a temporary contract, set to end in less than a month. Taehyun quietly swept his fingertips over the dark screen, then smiled and met with a staff member from the association to return to his accommodation. The swelling in his ankle had subsided considerably, and it felt a little lighter with each passing day. He wished time would pass quickly. He had never wished for this simple wish so desperately.

🤺

“A heart, please!”

“Please make a heart for this side too!”

The moment the gate doors of the departure hall opened, the sound of camera shutters, like a crash of thunder, rang out. The security staff member, who had been in charge of ensuring the athletes’ safety at every international event, had been in this line of work for quite a few years, but he clicked his tongue, saying it had never been this loud. It was understandable. Sung Taehyun, who had been considered the most likely gold medal candidate at every Olympics but had to taste defeat each time, had finally resolved his long-standing aspiration and returned, so it was only natural that an unprecedented amount of attention was focused on him. On top of that, there were the private life controversies spreading through online communities and the question of his retirement. A single individual was carrying several black-hole-level issues, so it was a matter of course that not only fans but also reporters swarmed in like clouds, creating a massive crowd.

“Mr. Sung Taehyun! A word on how you feel, please!”

Just as a personal question directed at Taehyun was about to open the floodgates, an official appropriately cut them off.

“Please save official questions for the interview!”

A formal team disbandment ceremony was scheduled to be held separately, but a brief press conference was planned to take place in a space prepared within the airport. Taehyun naturally smiled at the dozens of cameras pointed at him and waved his hand. After finally arriving at the event venue where the interview was to take place, he even noticed broadcast cameras that had finished setting up in advance for a live relay.

“….”

Taehyun, pleasantly aware of the immense media attention directed at him, sat in his prepared seat. It was a relief that he was able to sit next to Sejin, thanks to a subtle request he had made to the head of the athletic delegation beforehand.

“Yes…. I am also so very honored to be able to return with such a happy heart today….”

While the head of the athletic delegation, representing the national team’s management, was giving his thanks to the citizens who had cheered for Team Korea, the press corps’ attention was solely on Taehyun. Occasionally, the shower of attention turned to other athletes who had achieved good results, but it soon returned to Taehyun. After one or two athletes finished their simple interviews and it was Sejin’s turn, everyone let out a light laugh at the sudden increase in the shutter volume. Well, he was undeniably beautiful, so it was worth taking pictures of him; similar thoughts seemed to cross their minds. However, contrary to expectations, the person in question was as cold as could be.

“I believe we had good results thanks to your support. Thank you.”

His turn ended before anyone had a chance to ask more questions after the short and simple interview. As Sejin quickly turned off the microphone as if he had no intention of taking questions, the host seemed flustered as he continued with the order of events. That personality of his is really something else. The murmuring of the reporters, who had been full of anticipation due to his glamorous appearance and newsworthiness, began to leak out, but Sejin did not care one bit. Taehyun, who was waiting for his turn, stifled a laugh. It was obvious from his face that he wanted it to end quickly, as they had plans to eat together right after the short event was over.

However, Taehyun’s turn was last, and he had no intention of ending it quickly either. He’ll be surprised, right? Still, I hope he’ll like it first. Taehyun recalled the words Sejin had whined as if muttering to himself. Did he say he wanted to boast that I was his in front of everyone? Well, that might be possible someday when the opportunity arises, but he planned to seize the first turn. Right here, in this very spot. When Taehyun’s turn finally came, everyone, as if they had been waiting, began to focus their attention, ready to be the first to send out his questions and answers as a news bulletin.

“Before I take questions, I would like to say a few words first, if that’s alright?”

As Taehyun began in a soft but low voice, no one could interrupt. Someone thought, He must have something to hide, so he’s trying to get the first punch in. Another thought, It seems like he’s trying to explain himself before more is said. While they all looked at Taehyun, harboring similar but different thoughts, Taehyun calmly spoke the words he had prepared.

“For the past 10 years, being able to wear the Korean flag on my chest and compete as a national athlete has been a time of great honor. Like many other athletes, the process was not always smooth, and the fact that I was able to show a good performance until the very end like this is entirely thanks to the support and encouragement you all have sent me.”

Last. At that single word, the sound of typing quickened. In reality, Taehyun’s retirement was as good as scheduled, so no one seemed to think of it as a surprise. The atmosphere was one of ‘what was expected has come.’

“As you know, due to my injury, it is a situation where it is difficult for me to continue my career as an athlete any longer. Therefore, I plan to gratefully cherish the honor of being a national representative and an athlete up to this point today, and now I intend to set it down. From now on, I would be grateful if you would cheer me on in my new life, not as a national athlete, but as an ordinary young man.”

Then, as if he was not finished speaking, he lightly raised a hand to stop the barrage of questions that was about to start.

“I’m sorry. I have quite a lot to say today, so I would appreciate it if you could ask your questions a little later.”

After a burst of laughter, what Taehyun brought up next was a story no one had expected.

“First, I think I need to briefly talk about my personal life. My mother has occasionally appeared in interviews, and she has come to cheer for my matches a few times, so some of you may know about her. During my athletic career, I’ve expressed my gratitude to my mother, but I’ve never mentioned my father, so some people have wondered if perhaps I don’t have one.”

For a moment, they were puzzled by his much lighter tone of voice than before, and they wondered why on earth he was bringing up that topic here. Or perhaps they predicted he was trying to use this opportunity to give credit to the father he had not been able to thank all this time. But it was the opposite. Taehyun, with a bitter smile, had chosen to reveal the wound he had wanted to hide as his most fatal secret.

“Actually, it’s something similar. It’s not something to be proud of, so I tried to hide it. It would be more accurate to say I wanted to hide it. My parents divorced around the time I graduated from elementary school, and the reason was my father’s long-term domestic violence.”

The moment he said these words, Taehyun felt as if a stone that had been lodged in his chest all this time had disappeared. To the point where he wondered why he had been so anxious and afraid that someone might find this out. He knew. It was possible now because he was no longer in a position where he carried the nation’s pride on his shoulders, a position where he needed the public’s support and encouragement to be active. The fact that this moment, which he thought would be suffocating when it came, was not so scary was simply a little relieving, and at the same time, sad.