The single name shattered the mask Ren had been wearing. A flicker of surprise, tinged with a touch of panic, crossed his features before he slammed it back into place. But it was too late.

Lia, however, remained blissfully unaware. “Shizumi?” she echoed, a furrow appearing in her brow. “Who’s Shizumi?”

Rowan, ever the showman, launched into an elaborate explanation. “Ah, dear Lia,” he began, gesturing with his hand, “Shizumi is the epitome of shyness. Always flustered, and about as outgoing as a hermit crab. Remember the nurse who practically ran out of the room during the last nurses’ party?”

Lia’s memory flickered, finally placing the name with a face. “Oh, right. The new nurse, right?” she said, finally placing Hana.

Confusion deepened on her face. “But what on earth could possibly connect her to Ren?”

Rowan, a mischievous glint in his eyes, relished the opportunity to tease his best friend.

“Oh, the connections are endless, Lia,” he said, his voice dripping with mock seriousness. “You should see the way Shizumi steals glances at Ren whenever she thinks he’s not looking? Or how she can barely meet his gaze but somehow manages to catch his eye every single time?”

He leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. “And don’t even get me started on how awkward Ren gets whenever the conversation takes a turn towards her.” He wagged a finger playfully at Ren.

Ren, his face burning with a mixture of frustration and a strange sense of belated realization, cleared his throat with a forced cough.

“Rowan, enough!” he growled.

The truth was, most of what Rowan described was entirely new to Ren.

“Lord knows what you said to the poor girl,” Rowan quipped, unable to resist another jab.

“I didn’t say anything,” Ren countered, his voice tight. “She hasn’t even given me an answer yet.” He turned to Lia, the weight of the situation settling on him. “It was just a favor I asked. I’m sure she’ll say no anyway.”

Lia, however, didn’t seem so convinced. “Ren, you know this is a big deal,” she said, her voice serious. “If she accepts, she’ll be meeting your family. That’s a whole different level of... exposure.”

Ren ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I know,” he muttered. “It just came out in the heat of the moment. I didn’t know what else to do.”

Rowan, never one to miss an opportunity for amusement, chimed in with mock sympathy.

“Ren, Ren, Ren,” he drawled. “You must really hate Shizumi. Throwing her to the wolves like that. Or maybe you secretly enjoy the idea of watching your family tear into her?”

Ren glared at Rowan, his jaw clenched. “That’s not it at all. I had no other choice, okay?” He turned back to Lia, “I had no other choice, okay? I could have asked you—”

Before Ren could finish his sentence, Rowan dramatically threw his arm around Lia’s shoulders, pulling her close in a mock protective stance. “No no, Jenkins,” he declared in a theatrical voice. “Eyes off her. This beautiful woman is taken!”

Lia burst out laughing, swatting Rowan’s arm playfully. “Get your slimy hands off me, Romeo,” she teased. Turning back to Ren, she said, “I understand, Ren. But we can’t have a worse rumor circulating, can we?”

Rowan smirked, relishing the juicy gossip. “Oh, I can practically hear it now,” he announced, his voice taking on a dramatic tone. “‘Heir steals best friend’s wife!’”

Lia cut him off with a sharp glare. “Rowan!”

Rowan, sensing the shift in mood, zipped his mouth shut with a theatrical flourish. “Fine, fine,” he mumbled, pretending to seal his lips with an imaginary zipper.

Lia took charge, her voice firm but laced with a hint of concern. “Alright, on a more serious note, let’s say this Shizumi agrees to your, uh, ‘request’. What kind of story are you going to tell your family?”

These were the questions that truly sent a jolt through Ren. Who, exactly, would Hana be to him in the eyes of his family? A junior colleague? A friend? The word “girlfriend” wouldn’t even dare to cross his lips, not in this context.

He looked at Lia, a silent plea in his eyes. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice a low rumble. “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

Lia’s voice cut through his jumbled thoughts. “Well, Ren,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice, “you better start thinking.”

With a glance at her watch, she rose briskly. “That’s enough chit-chat for now. I’ve got a surgery prepped and waiting. Now, shoo! Both of you!”

Rowan, ever the opportunist, tapped Ren’s shoulder with a mischievous grin. “Later, Dr. Jenkins. And hey, try not to scare the poor girl away with your stoic charm.” With a wink, he sauntered off down the hallway.

Alone in the hallway, the weight of the situation pressed down on Ren. His fingers instinctively reached for his phone, hovering over Hana’s contact.

But what could he possibly say? “Hey, remember that favor I asked? Well, it turns out it involves facing down my entire family as my… what exactly?” He couldn’t bring himself to utter the word “girlfriend.”

With a frustrated sigh, he shoved his phone back into his pocket. There was no way he was ready to have that conversation just yet. There was no point in calling now.

With a heavy heart, Ren turned and headed towards his office, the weight of his impulsive decision hanging heavy in the air.