# Chapter 55
Yeomin told Jiho he was going to meet Yeojin and went out. Jiho had insisted on coming along, and it took quite a while to dissuade him. Only when Yeomin pointed out how tactless it would be to intrude on a rare sibling meeting did Jiho finally give up.
Upon arriving at the café where they’d agreed to meet, Yeomin spotted Yeojin waving from a window seat.
She’d mentioned enrolling in an academy recently, and her appearance was considerably more modest than before.
‘As if she’s actually gotten her act together?’
Yeomin sat down across from Yeojin without even bothering to greet her.
She pinched his cheek without warning and teased him by way of greeting.
“Your face looks better, Joo Yeomin?”
“Ah, what are you doing?”
Yeomin irritably swatted her hand away.
“Look at how smooth your skin is. You must be eating well, little brother.”
“I didn’t come here to catch up with you, noona.”
“Then why did you come?”
Yeojin asked with a smile, resting her chin on her hand. Yeomin spoke, maintaining his composure.
“You mentioned Seol Jiho’s name.”
“Ha~”
Yeojin seemed to be enjoying the situation. Apparently he was the only one getting annoyed.
“That’s right. It’s really fascinating. To think that the person who gave me that watch was Ian Group’s Seol Jiho. I should have greeted him properly then—”
Yeojin’s eyes were like a hyena that had caught the scent of blood.
Though she was his sister, Yeomin thought she was quite something.
Yeomin drew a firm line.
“What difference does knowing that make?”
“Joo Yeomin, you don’t want to share the bowl of rice? That’s disappointing. How many years did we spend sleeping under the same blanket when we were little?”
That was Yeojin’s biggest problem right there. Her shamelessness was nauseating!
“Anyway, where did you hear about me?”
“SNS.”
“…What?”
“You really don’t know?”
Yeomin didn’t use social media, and he assumed Jiho didn’t either.
Yeojin immediately took out her phone and showed Yeomin the SNS screen.
“It’s an account that posts about celebrity issues and private lives. Recently, a photo was uploaded saying the grandson of Ian Group is incredibly handsome. …But next to him, I see someone I know? And it’s even… you, Joo Yeomin?”
“…”
Yeojin was telling the truth.
[All About Issues]
Seol Jiho, the first son of Ian Group’s President Ahn Hyungshin. Famous for never appearing at official events, he was spotted at a department store. With his superior height and visuals, he captivated the attention of passersby… The man accompanying him is presumed to be an acquaintance…
It seemed to be a photo taken when they went to the department store to buy clothes. They had deliberately wandered around crowded places for quite some time.
But Yeomin hadn’t realized he was being photographed. The proof was his foolish expression next to the incredibly handsome Jiho.
Yeomin was somewhat shocked to see how he appeared in others’ eyes.
“…”
Well. Wasn’t this the purpose of all those conspicuous, diligent dates in the first place?
It was even specified in the contract.
“Read the comments too.”
Yeojin showed him the comment section. Stories about Ian Group’s third-generation Seol Jiho, who had been shrouded in mystery.
Among them were comments about Yeomin.
→ But who’s that guy next to him? He’s more my type haha
→ Curious about the name of the guy next to him… Whose son is he… Which group’s son? I wish he would marry me.
→ They look good together. If I can’t have them, they should date each other
→ 22222222222
→ 3333333333333
→ Look at these crazy women ㅡㅡ
→ Old man, get lost
→ Two men shopping together, what a heartwarming sight^^
“They’re asking whose son you are. Puhah.”
Whether Yeojin found it amusing or not, Yeomin couldn’t laugh at all. No, rather, his mouth stiffened.
He wasn’t the son of an impressive family worthy of matching with Seol Jiho. It wasn’t that he now felt inferior about it.
Joo Yeomin had lived for more than 20 years already, too late to blame his birth circumstances? It wouldn’t change even if he resented it.
However.
“What’s really going on between you and Seol Jiho?”
To think that even after trying so hard, holding hands, and doing all sorts of things, they still wouldn’t be seen as a couple in normal people’s eyes…
It felt… empty?
‘If no one sees us as a couple, what kind of fake relationship is this?’
Yeojin keenly observed Yeomin’s darkened face. Afraid she might notice, Yeomin explained nonchalantly.
“He’s a junior from my department. He stayed at our house briefly because of certain circumstances.”
“So you helped this amazing guy and got a watch in return? What else did you get? A credit card?”
That question really bothered him. But since he had actually received money, he had no right to be offended.
Yeomin’s mood sank further.
“I have no intention of sharing with you, so stay out of it.”
But Yeojin was like a predator with prey in its mouth, showing no sign of backing down.
“You don’t seem to be staying at your studio apartment these days. Your clothes have all changed too.”
“I’m just staying somewhere else because there’s a problem with my place. Have you been investigating me?”
“Joo Yeomin, do you know this? About Seol Jiho…”
“…”
“There are rumors that he’s gay.”
Yeojin was clearly throwing bait, having already anticipated everything.
Momentarily failing to control his expression, Yeomin averted his gaze. He felt as though she had seen right through him.
Yeojin smirked as if she had expected this reaction.
“They say the rumors started because he showed no interest in women. It’s strange that the son of a chaebol family has no scandals at his age, so people probably made up stories.”
He hadn’t known any of this. Jiho hadn’t told him, and he hadn’t thought to look it up.
“Well, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, I think.”
Yeomin’s hand trembled as he picked up his coffee cup in front of the smiling Yeojin.
No matter how hard he tried, how much he fought back, how much he ignored it, he was still in the palm of his sister’s hand. It made him feel so pitiful. Is this how all younger siblings lived? I should have been born first.
“It’s none of your business anyway, noona. Since when have you cared about me so much?”
“Now I’m really hurt. I’m doing this because I’m worried. You’ll get hurt.”
“That’s ridiculous. Why is everyone worried about me?”
Yeomin’s voice became heated. Even Yeojin was slightly surprised by this intense reaction, different from before.
“What do you think Seol Jiho and I are doing… why is everyone worried that I’ll get hurt and break?”
“…”
“Is that really worry? Isn’t it just looking down on me?”
All the pent-up resentment, hurt feelings, and perhaps even feelings of inadequacy—everything burst out at once.
Maybe at this moment, he just wanted to blame someone. No, the person he really wanted to blame was himself, who couldn’t stay in control.
After telling Seol Jiho not to cross the line, he kept forgetting that line himself.
Perhaps he was venting his concerns about himself without realizing it.
* * *
Director Ahn sighed as he entered the wine bar.
“Why am I drinking alone when I’m getting old…”
It seemed that President Ahn, who once commanded the world, was also aging. These days she even went out drinking alone.
“If that’s the case, you should have called me to drink together.”
Director Ahn came today in the capacity of a brother. He sat down next to President Ahn.
“Hyungju.”
“You’re buying, noona?”
And as soon as he sat down, he ordered whatever appetizers he wanted.
President Ahn had already emptied quite a few drinks, but showed no signs of intoxication.
She wasn’t someone who enjoyed alcohol, but she had an incredibly high tolerance. Her drinking capacity had shone in many business settings.
As Director Ahn took his first sip, President Ahn calmly said:
“Did you know Jiho bought a building in Yeong-o-dong?”
“Pfft!”
Director Ahn spat out the drink he had just ordered.
“What?”
A guy who doesn’t even know what buildings he owns suddenly bought a building?
This was news to Director Ahn as well. Moreover,
“Wait. Yeong-o-dong is…”
“In front of Sehyeon University.”
And that’s where Yeomin lived. Director Ahn made a reasonable deduction.
“What kind of building? A studio apartment? Is he planning to attend school from there? I guess he’s moving out of my place!”
Director Ahn activated his happy circuit. But what returned was President Ahn’s cold response.
“It’s a commercial building. Five stories, built in 2001.”
“Why would he suddenly buy a commercial building? …That’s over twenty years old.”
No way.
“Give me the address.”
Director Ahn’s expression turned serious. Surely, it couldn’t be that. No, please don’t let it be…
Director Ahn desperately prayed inside as he looked up the address President Ahn showed him on a map.
Checking the street view confirmed a shabby-looking building exterior.
Various mismatched signs were barely attached to the building. Among them, the <ChaCha PC Bang> sign stood out.
‘Yeomin mentioned working part-time at a PC bang.’
His suspicion became reality.
Director Ahn’s head became complicated.
‘What else displeased him, what is he trying to control by impulsively purchasing a building? Seol Jiho?’
He really didn’t want to understand what was going on in that mind.
President Ahn seemed to have already guessed.
“It’s related to that student Joo Yeomin, isn’t it?”
“J-Jiho… is quite obsessive. More than we thought.”
“When do you think it will end?”
“How can we know what’s going on in that guy’s head?”
Director Ahn was skeptical.
Even for him, who followed Jiho around cleaning up after him from the closest position…
After hesitating, Director Ahn muttered with uncertainty:
“Maybe… it won’t end?”
Whether that was the answer President Ahn wanted or not was unclear, as her expression changed indecipherably.
President Ahn spoke as if she had made a decision.
“That student is still staying at your place, right?”
“Yeah. Neither of them seems to have any intention of him leaving or being kicked out.”
“I should meet him soon.”
“…You personally, noona?”
“Yes. But before that.”
President Ahn put down her glass roughly.
“Bring that Seol Jiho to me first.”
At the very least, both Seol Jiho and President Ahn had to be given credit for their decisiveness.
