Chapter Text
“Zhao Yu, you’re getting married,” his mom announces as soon as she enters the mansion. Her heels echo sharply on the marble floor, reverberating through the room. “February 25th.”
“What?” Iso responds, dumbstruck.
“What?” his mom asks, raising a single eyebrow, as if Iso is an alien. “Didn’t you hear me?”
“Yeah,” Iso says. “But who am I getting married to? Why am I getting married?”
His mom rolls his eyes, setting her purse onto the kitchen table and looking Iso dead in the eyes. “Kiritani Ryo, mutually beneficial business deal, and you’ve asked enough questions. Vincent will forward you the details tonight.”
“I don’t want–”
The steely glare his mother sends him silences him immediately.
“Zhao Yu,” she reprimands. “I raised you, I put a roof over your head, I paid for your every expense throughout college. I’ve never asked you for anything besides this. Can you not repay me back?”
She picks her purse up from the table, turns around, and walks to her private study without waiting for an answer from her son.
Honestly, Iso probably should have seen this coming – it’s the first time he’s talked to his mother in weeks. Iso had been so excited when she’d invited him over for dinner, thinking she had remembered the fact that her only son, well, existed.
Of course, she only cares about what she can get from people — the extraction of value to further her business goals. Even in family, the same holds true.
Iso sighs, picking at his food. Suddenly, the delicious hand-made beef bone broth noodle soup and leek dumplings made by his mother’s professional home chef are no longer very appealing.
–
When Iso gets back to his apartment, it’s already pitch-black outside. He’d spitefully taken an Uber instead of public transit on his mother’s credit card, not that she’d care anyways. An Uber ride means nothing to the millions of dollars in her bank account.
True to her word, his mother’s secretary Chamber has sent Iso an email detailing the upcoming wedding — his upcoming wedding. Iso sighs, booting up his old Thinkpad and opening his inbox.
Subject: 1.27.23 LZY x KR Wedding
From: [email protected]
Dear Mr. Li,
Please find the details for your upcoming wedding attached below. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Vincent Fabron
Executive Secretary
Li Co.
[PDF Attached]
Iso clicks open the PDF. It primarily contains details about the wedding – the ceremony location, the guest list and seating arrangements, an ornate dinner menu and mock-up of the wedding cake. Iso’s mind spins as he scrolls through the document, until the last page catches his attention.
Marriage Contract
- Li and Ryo will be legally married to each other on February 25th, 2023. This marriage contract will last for 5 years.
- Li and Ryo will co-inhabit Ryo’s apartment for the duration of their marriage.
- Li will attend formal arrangements at the request of Ryo Corp.
- Li will practice fidelity in his marriage to Ryo.
What the fuck is this?
Iso is basically a hapless Victorian woman, a mail-order bride for some random businessman he’s never met before in his entire life. It’s like they’re in the 15th century again, the only difference is that Iso is a high school calculus teacher instead of a hapless young maiden.
Iso has the sudden violent urge to throw his laptop across the room, except that cost him $1000 dollars in college and also Iso does not want to become violent and destructive like his father. Instead he scrolls back up, rereading the terms and conditions (God, this is so stupid) outlined on the page.
Li and Ryo will be legally married to each other on February 25th, 2023. The marriage contract will last for 5 years. February 25th is in less than one month. In less than one month, Iso will be bound in legal matrimony to a complete stranger.
Li and Ryo will co-inhabit Ryo’s apartment for the duration of their marriage. Iso’s current apartment is shared between him, Jett, and Sage. Honestly, Iso wouldn’t mind moving out so he doesn’t have to third wheel the sappiest lesbian couple in existence.
Li will attend formal arrangements at the request of Ryo Corp. The last formal event Iso attended was a corporate event with his father when he was in elementary school. All he remembers is his dad aggressively yanking his arm and the fancy platters of mini sandwiches.
Li will practice fidelity in his marriage to Kiritani. Iso has never had sex in his entire life, so this requirement seems mostly irrelevant. He doesn’t foresee himself losing his virginity anytime soon, especially not to a completely stranger who’ll soon become his husband.
Once he’s finished reviewing the terms, Iso closes his laptop and sighs. He tucks himself into bed and falls into a dreamless sleep – maybe when he wakes up, he’ll realize this was all one massive fever dream.
—
“You’re doing WHAT?” Jett asks incredulously.
“I’m marrying Kiritani Ryo,” Iso repeats himself for the fifth time.
”Like, Kiritani Ryo of Ryo Corp, the biggest semiconductor manufacturing company in the entire world?” Jett asks with wide eyes.
“Apparently so,” Iso responds dryly. He’s still in a state of catatonic shock himself.
“I can’t tell if I should be saying congratulations or telling you to get the fuck out of this,” Jett sighs.
“Iso is an adult,” Sage says. “He is perfectly capable of making his own decisions.”
“Thank you,” Iso says.
“So what are you going to do?” Jett asks curiously.
“I don’t know,” Iso sighs. “It’s my mother, you know? I can’t really say no.”
“You’re an adult,” Sage repeats herself. “Your mother does not control you.”
“That’s true,” Iso runs a hand through his hair. “But I don’t exactly want to go against her wishes.”
Because his mother is right. Ever since she and his father got divorced when Iso was in elementary school, she’s let Iso do almost whatever he wanted growing up. Whether that was a sign of open-mindedness or neglectful parenting, Iso still isn’t sure.
“I mean,” Jett says. “You haven’t actually met Kiritani Ryo. If you do, you need to tell me how it goes. I’ve seen the photos, he’s super hot.”
“I’m right here,” Sage says.
”You know I love you,” Jett responds as she peppers kisses on her girlfriend’s cheek. “I’m your favorite disaster bisexual.”
“You are,” Sage says fondly.
“Ew,” Iso mimes throwing up. “Gay.”
“Are you being homophobic?” Jett grins cheekily.
“I’m also gay,” Iso points out.
’You can be gay and homophobic,” Jett laughs. Iso pokes her with his toe.
“Now now,” Sage says. “Back to the topic at hand. Iso, what do you want to do?”
“I don’t know,” Iso says.
“You don’t need to overthink it,” Jett says confidently. “Just meet him first, and then you can see what he’s like.”
“I agree with Jett,” Sage says.
“OK,” Iso says. “Here goes nothing.”
—
Chamber schedules a meeting between Ryo and Iso, scheduled for Monday at 5:00 PM at the Li Corp. headquarters.
Iso is a bit of a mess when he arrives. His mother had told him to dress formally. The week before, Chamber had patiently watched Iso change into five different suits before selecting the most suitable one at fucking Gucci. Gucci? Seriously? His mother is insane for that.
Iso’s plan had been to come back from school, change into his suit, and then take the train to Li Corp. headquarters. Easy, right?
Of course, nothing goes as planned.
- First, one of his students asked him for help on how to take derivatives after they did poorly on the latest exam — of course, how could Iso say no?
- Second, it unexpectedly started raining — of course, Iso had forgotten to bring an umbrella.
- Third, Iso’s public transit pass randomly stopped working.
At some point walking home in drenching rain, Iso had given up on trying to change into his stupid formal suit. Kiritani Ryo could see Iso in his current, soggy condition or simply not see him at all.
The front desk lady gives Iso an extremely concerned look as he taps his company badge on the card reader. He doesn’t actually work here, but being the son of the Li Corp CEO gets him special privileges. The meeting is on the thirteenth floor, and thank God his mom won’t be there. He knows if she saw him in his current state, he would be in for quite the stern conversation later.
Iso walks through the door, taking in the angular furniture and corporate design of the room. It’s all white walls and glass windows. When he looks up, he sees—
Kiritani Ryo.