In an instant, the air froze ice-cold. A tension hung in the air as if even breathing without permission wasn’t allowed.
Putting together the conversation so far, it was clear that this man and Lee Seohee were quite close. Otherwise, there’d be no reason to say such shocking things in front of someone he was meeting for the first time.
‘Could it be… a lover?’
In fact, the man before his eyes was in no way lacking as Lee Seohee’s partner. With his refined appearance and sophisticated, mature atmosphere, he was a person from a different world than Hyowoo.
‘…He just said he was cheating so he ignored the calls. Then… am I the affair partner?’
Hyowoo looked at Lee Seohee, unable to hide his bewilderment. But strangely, despite this situation, he didn’t doubt him at all.
“Is it fun to pull pranks like this when we meet after a long time, Jung Royoon?”
Despite the situation where he seemed to be accused of infidelity, the first words Lee Seohee gave the man were surprisingly gentle. Then the man’s fierce face quickly changed to a bright smile.
“Yeah, it’s super fun.”
“What brings you here?”
“Client meeting.”
“On a weekend?”
“Where do I have weekends? If someone paying money says to meet, I have to come out.”
What kind of plot twist is this?
Just a few minutes ago, he had been lunging as if to devour them. But now the atmosphere was suddenly friendly and harmonious.
Hyowoo, staring at the two of them, couldn’t come to his senses at all.
“I’m sorry, Hyowoo-ssi. Were you surprised?”
Lee Seohee smiled gently at Hyowoo, who was standing still with a stunned face.
“Royoon-ah, say hello. This is Ji Hyowoo-ssi. Hyowoo-ssi, this guy is a close younger brother of mine.”
“Hello?”
At his words, the man immediately greeted him. He was beautiful even when angry, but his face smiling brightly was dazzling to the eyes.
“Ah… Hello. I’m Ji Hyowoo.”
“I’m Jung Royoon. This hyung and I have known each other since childhood because our families are connected.”
After finishing a brief greeting, Royoon took out a business card from his jacket pocket and handed it to Hyowoo. Taking it, Hyowoo carefully read the letters on the luxurious-looking business card.
Law Firm J&J
Attorney Jung Royoon
If it was J&J, it was Korea’s largest number one law firm. He had mentioned a client meeting, so it seemed he had come to meet a client.
“But what’s your relationship with Seohee hyung? What kind of relationship are you that you’re doing this at a hotel?”
“Pardon?”
“You two were heading toward the elevator.”
Seeing the two heading from the lobby to the elevator, did he mistake it for going to a guest room?
The moment he met Royoon’s curious gaze, Hyowoo’s face heated up.
“N… No. We were on our way to the underground parking lot.”
“Parking lot? Oh, a date maybe? Where are you going?”
As Hyowoo didn’t know what to do with the barrage of questions pouring out without pause, Royoon pressed for an answer. Unable to stand watching him persistently ask, Lee Seohee intervened.
“Why are you so curious about wherever we’re going? And show some manners to someone you’re meeting for the first time.”
“I can’t even ask what I’m curious about?”
“Yeah, don’t ask things that make Hyowoo-ssi uncomfortable. If you’re curious, ask me.”
Despite Lee Seohee’s rebuke, he continued asking Hyowoo questions without caring.
“You’re handsome and look young, so why are you specifically meeting this old hyung? He’s handsome now, but in a few years he might be completely wrecked.”
“Ignore him, Hyowoo-ssi. You don’t need to answer ridiculous questions.”
No matter how much Lee Seohee blocked him, Royoon didn’t give up his will to hear an answer directly from Hyowoo.
“How old are you? Don’t tell me you just took off your school uniform?”
For Hyowoo, who was about to start his working life soon, being told he looked young wasn’t so welcome.
“…I’m twenty-four by international age. I’m not that young.”
It was a statement emphasizing he was sufficiently an adult, but Royoon’s face turned ashen instead.
“Isn’t this just a thieving bastard?!”
Royoon, who had been glaring at Lee Seohee as if he’d chewed on a cockroach, suddenly struck his back. He put so much force into it that a satisfying slap—! sound rang out.
“If you’re twenty-four, you’re nine years younger than hyung! Are you in your right mind?! You’re the same age as Taeseo! What are you doing to someone so hopelessly young!”
“I know. Hyowoo-ssi is Taeseo’s friend.”
It was true, but that one statement was like pouring oil on fire.
“Taeseo’s friend?! Now you’ve gone and laid hands on your younger sister’s friend?!”
Royoon struck his shoulder again with a fist. It should have been quite painful, but Lee Seohee took it calmly as if accustomed to it.
Feeling like something big would happen if this continued, Hyowoo stepped between the two. He grabbed Royoon’s arm and urgently stopped him.
“I… It’s a misunderstanding! Player Lee Seohee hasn’t done anything wrong!”
“What do you mean he hasn’t done anything wrong! When you’ve lived long enough to know better, what bigger sin is there than seducing a young kid!”
“You keep calling me a young kid, but I’m not a minor! I’m meeting him of my own will as an adult!”
One person hitting while asking if he was crazy.
One person just taking it.
And one person next to them saying this person wasn’t at fault and trying to stop it.
It was like a scene from a morning drama. People passing by began to stare at the three who had suddenly become an entertaining spectacle, and even hotel security staff approached.
Desperate in case more people gathered, Hyowoo spoke to Royoon almost pleadingly.
“Everyone’s staring. It’s causing trouble for the hotel, so please calm down.”
Thanks to Hyowoo desperately stopping, coaxing, and soothing him, Royoon’s excitement finally subsided.
“If this hyung does anything weird, call me. I’ll file for damages for fraud using marriage promises.”
“Why would I do anything weird to Hyowoo-ssi?”
“So behave yourself. Twenty-four may be legally an adult, but you’re still young.”
“I don’t think someone only four years older has any room to talk.”
“Do you know how long four years is? It’s the time from entering university to graduating. And I wasn’t going to say this but…”
Just as he was about to say one more thing, Royoon’s cell phone rang.
After checking the screen, he clicked his tongue quietly—tsk.
“There’s still plenty of time left. Why is this ahjussi rushing me like this?”
“Your client?”
“Yeah, I should go.”
His energy was completely drained as if he’d had a war of words 1 versus 30.
He’d thought no one could match his talkative and noisy younger brother, but compared to this person, Gyeonwoo belonged to the very gentle and demure category.
“Hyung, drive safely. It was nice to meet you, Hyowoo-ssi.”
“Yes? Ah… Yes. Take care…”
Royoon, who had greeted the two and was walking toward the lobby, suddenly stopped.
Seeing him turn around and approach the two again, Hyowoo naturally thought he had something to say to Lee Seohee.
It was just as he was about to quietly step back so the two could talk comfortably. Unexpectedly, he walked straight toward Hyowoo, not Lee Seohee.
Surprised by the momentum of him approaching right up close in quick steps, he unconsciously stepped back. Then Royoon lightly grabbed Hyowoo’s right shoulder and whispered softly in his ear.
“Please take good care of Seohee hyung. He’s someone I really like a lot.”
Gone was the lively tone from just before, his voice was calm as if making a confession.
Seeing Hyowoo stunned by the sudden confession, Royoon smiled brightly.
That bright smile somehow looked pitiful.
“Well then, see you again.”
After leaving his farewell, Royoon turned around just like that. His last words remained in his ear, and Hyowoo couldn’t move his feet for a while.
* * *
After settling into the passenger seat of the car, Hyowoo let out a small sigh.
‘What should I do? I haven’t done anything yet, but I’m already exhausted…’
It was as if a storm had swept through. As the tension released, his whole body drooped.
He slowly fastened his seatbelt and took out Royoon’s business card from his pocket. He stared blankly at his printed name and fiddled with the corners.
He recalled the sight of Lee Seohee and Royoon conversing without reservation.
It was like a painting, and the two looked good together like actual lovers.
The words he had whispered, that he liked Lee Seohee, kept circling in his ears.
‘Does he mean he likes him as a close hyung? But Royoon-ssi’s expression at that time was…’
He was a beautiful and capable lawyer.
Since he said their families knew each other, he was surely from a good family.
‘Does this person know… that such a wonderful person likes him?’
At that moment, a corner of his heart felt heavy.
“Hyowoo-ssi, what are you thinking about?”
