From Now On, A Marriage Proposal Is The Only Way To Survive - Chapter 71

Shin-Yeon was about 20 centimeters shorter than Han Tae-Young, which perhaps made him look like a small, fair puppy.

Even though the shape of his eyes leaned toward feline, the gentle gaze and soft features made him seem even more so.

He had the look of an innocent beauty, but his lips were a vivid red as if painted, adding a subtle, provocative edge.

Overall, Shin-Yeon had a certain indescribable aura.

Is Kim Shin-Yeon an omega?

Judging by his looks, build, and aura, it was hard to think of him as a beta.

But with no detectable pheromones—not even faint ones—Tae-Young couldn’t be sure.

After a brief pause in thought, Tae-Young adjusted his mask, pulled his cap lower, and said,

“Call a taxi before we go. Can’t take you on my bike.”

“Sure! Guess I’m not eating lunch alone today.”

Smiling brightly, Shin-Yeon walked with Tae-Young toward the business school lockers.

While helping him put away his books, Tae-Young caught sight of the inside of Shin-Yeon’s backpack.

At the bottom sat a vial of omega pheromone medication.

There were both heat-cycle suppressants and inhibitors. Tae-Young quickly averted his gaze.

So Kim Shin-Yeon really is an omega… No wonder.

He’d only ever caught the faint scent of cologne from Shin-Yeon before, with no trace of the distinct pheromone scent—so he hadn’t realized until now.

Feeling oddly self-conscious, Tae-Young stared off into space.

Meanwhile, Shin-Yeon packed away only the textbooks he needed for class and pulled a small bottle of perfume from his bag, slipping it into his pocket.

“All done. Want to grab a drink before class?”

“I’m good.”

While Tae-Young refused, Shin-Yeon walked to the vending machine to buy green tea.

“Kim Shin-Yeon, hi!”

“Hey, Kyung-Joo.”

Today, Park Kyung-Joo—dressed in lively casual fashion—approached with a bright smile.

“Kyung-Joo, want some green tea?”

“I’ll have milk tea instead!”

Clunk, clunk—

After buying his drink, Shin-Yeon handed the milk tea over his shoulder to Kyung-Joo, who accepted it gratefully.

Now much closer with Shin-Yeon, Kyung-Joo draped herself over his back, speaking in a cheerful tone.

“Want to get malatang for lunch? There’s a place with great guobaorou too.”

Before Shin-Yeon could reply, Tae-Young reached over to open his green tea and spoke.

“He already has plans with me.”

Normally, Tae-Young gave curt or dismissive answers to other classmates, so when he responded properly this time, Kyung-Joo’s eyes went wide.

“Really? Where are you two going to eat?”

“We’re going to try an Indian restaurant. I’ve never had Indian food before.”

“I love Indian food! I’m crazy about samosas and tandoori chicken. Let me come too!”

Her expression lit up at the mention of Indian food, and she eagerly sought their agreement.

When Shin-Yeon looked to Tae-Young, he hesitated a moment before nodding.

“I’m fine with it.”

“Then come with us, Kyung-Joo.”

“Perfect! Let’s take my car during lunch.”

From Tae-Young’s perspective, Kyung-Joo was outgoing and playful, but at her core she was gentle and kind.

Given how quickly she had clicked with the equally gentle Shin-Yeon, he figured being friends with her wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Thinking about demolishing some Indian food for the first time in a while, Kyung-Joo licked her lips and asked,

“Do you guys like Thai food too?”

As she started naming her favorite restaurants, a group of upperclassmen walked into the lobby.

“Ugh, let’s get to the lecture hall.”

Seeing them, Kyung-Joo grimaced openly and grabbed Shin-Yeon’s arm to lead him away.

“Oh… Kyung-Joo and Shin-Yeon~! What a funny pair. Kyung-Joo looks like she’s been around, and Shin-Yeon looks so sweet… You’re not shaking him down, are you?”

At the rude remark from a third-year senior, Kyung-Joo’s expression froze.

“It’s almost time for class—let’s go. We’ll be leaving now.”

Blocking the seniors with his body, Tae-Young placed a hand on both Shin-Yeon’s and Kyung-Joo’s shoulders, steering them toward the lecture hall.

“Why do you waste your time listening to that nonsense?”

Kyung-Joo only then let her temper flare, gritting her teeth.

Shin-Yeon found himself sitting between Tae-Young and Kyung-Joo at the back of the hall.

“Just so you don’t get the wrong idea, I was never some delinquent or anything. People have said all kinds of things because of how I look, but it’s all wrong.”

With a wounded expression, Kyung-Joo opened her textbook and vented about the unfair rumors she’d endured since she was young.

“I only ever thought you were pretty. Never thought badly of you.”

Startled by Shin-Yeon’s honest words, Kyung-Joo blushed and mumbled before speaking again.

“I’m not planning on being a campus couple this semester. Sorry—you’re just a good friend!”

“Shouldn’t you ask if I even like you that way first?”

Shin-Yeon’s incredulous look made Kyung-Joo pop open her drink and gulp it down.

In an instant, Park Kyung-Joo drained her drink and shyly placed the empty can into Shin-Yeon’s hand.

“It’s my heart.”

“I’m not buying it!”

Meanwhile, Han Tae-Young, who had been quietly watching Kyung-Joo and Shin-Yeon bicker, subtly reached over and picked up the green tea on Shin-Yeon’s desk.

Lifting his mask, he secretly drank the remaining tea, then placed the bottle back where it had been.

The bitter, refreshing flavor of green tea was nice.

Just before class began, the back door of the lecture hall opened and Hwang Bo-Yoon walked in.

“Hey, Yoon! You’re late today.”

At his classmates’ greetings, Bo-Yoon removed his wireless earbuds and offered an awkward smile.

“Got held up by a senior midway and ended up talking. Oh! Shin-Yeon, hi. Kyung-Joo, Tae-Young, hey to you too.”

Approaching as he greeted them, Bo-Yoon lightly ruffled Shin-Yeon’s hair.

“Your outfit’s cute today, Shin-Yeon.”

Smiling with his eyes, he then sat beside Kyung-Joo and pulled out his textbook.

“Shin-Yeon, if you date someone on campus your first year, the whole university will know. And if you break up, hell gate opens.”

Narrowing her eyes, Kyung-Joo glanced sidelong at Bo-Yoon and whispered to Shin-Yeon,

“You’ve got to be extra careful with foxes that look like wolves.”

“I’m a bear, though.”

Bo-Yoon shrugged at her suspicion.

“What bear? The bear here is Han Tae-Young!”

“What nonsense.”

Tae-Young muttered under his breath, glancing over to see Shin-Yeon smiling brightly while texting someone.

That smile glittered so much that he found himself speaking without thinking.

“Ever thought about becoming an idol?”

“Wait, me…?”

Before Shin-Yeon could react, Kyung-Joo cupped her face with her hands and turned to look, but Bo-Yoon laughed.

“Who else?”

While his friends bantered, Shin-Yeon sent a message to Kyo-Shin.

[Shin-Yeon: My friends are all so handsome they’re telling each other to try being idols.]

[My Husband♥: Do you want to try being an idol too, baby?]

[Shin-Yeon: Nope. I can’t dance, can’t sing, and I’m not even cute.]

[My Husband♥: Oh, you’re not cute^^? Baby, do you know who Socrates is?]

Who doesn’t know Socrates?

[Shin-Yeon: Of course I do.]

[My Husband♥: If you know, then why don’t you know yourself? Is it because you’re my baby^^?]

“Kim Shin-Yeon, professor’s here.”

While Shin-Yeon was still reading the new message, Tae-Young leaned in slightly and spoke.

“Oh.”

[Shin-Yeon: Class now! Honey, I love you soooo much ♥♥♥♥♥]

After replying to Kyo-Shin, Shin-Yeon opened the university app to check in for attendance.

“Does everyone have their textbooks? Pass the copies of today’s materials to the back.”

Before class started, Shin-Yeon picked up the green tea bottle to take a sip.

…but it felt too light.

“Huh? Where did it go?”

Shaking the empty bottle, he glanced sideways to see Tae-Young pretending to look elsewhere.

The culprit was right there.

“Gotcha, you!”

Grabbing Tae-Young’s arm, Shin-Yeon shook the empty bottle with his other hand, glaring at him.

Tae-Young flicked the empty bottle with a finger, his eyes crinkling slightly beneath the brim of his cap.

“The green tea was refreshing.”

Narrowing his eyes, Shin-Yeon muttered,

“Try taking it again next time and see what happens.”

Tae-Young just looked at him like a sulky puppy, then glanced away and smirked when Shin-Yeon turned back to the lecture.

Shin-Yeon, who had worried about becoming a loner with zero credits from the start, was finding that his college life was going relatively smoothly.

Of course, even calm seas sometimes had waves.

By the end of class, Hwang Bo-Yoon had somehow ended up joining their lunch plans.

When the four of them left campus around lunchtime and headed toward a restaurant, they ran into a group of seniors.

“Oh~ Kyung-Joo, Shin-Yeon, Bo-Yoon… And who’s this?”

“Senior, Hwang-Bo is his family name, and his given name is Yoon. This one’s Han Tae-Young.”