# Chapter 56
“It’s ridiculous. Why is everyone worried about me? What do they think Seol Jiho and I are doing… Why is everyone concerned that I’ll get hurt and broken?”
“…”
“Is it really concern? Isn’t it just dismissal?”
Yeojin looked perplexed at Yeomin’s sharp response. But soon her eyes gleamed fiercely, like a hyena that had spotted prey.
“What exactly are you doing with him?”
It was a piercing question that hit the mark.
“…”
Yeomin glared at Yeojin with his mouth tightly shut.
He wanted to insist that he wasn’t some fool who had fallen completely for Jiho, that he wouldn’t get hurt, that he wasn’t the same naive little brother she used to know.
That’s why it happened. Words that weren’t part of his plan slipped out.
“What are you two doing together~? Dating?”
“…A contract.”
“A con-what?”
“I’m just pretending to be Seol Jiho’s boyfriend because of a contract.”
Yeomin saw it. The way Yeojin’s eyes flickered with excitement.
“A contract, not a savings club?”
This time, her lips twitched. Her face brightened.
“What are you getting in return? Since it’s a contract, did you get money?”
As expected, that’s what she’d be most curious about.
Yeomin calmly sipped his coffee. Yeojin rattled on with what she called advice.
“If you haven’t received payment yet, ask for a lot. Add at least two more zeros to whatever amount you want!”
‘Shouldn’t she be curious about how I ended up in a contract, or worry about whether I’m okay first?’
At times like this, it really hit home that he and Yeojin were siblings. Yeomin felt slightly ashamed, wondering if this was how he appeared to others.
“I’ll handle that myself, so don’t worry about it.”
When he snapped at her, a pleased smile spread across Yeojin’s face.
“Our Yeomin has really grown up. Now you know how to look after your own interests~”
Wouldn’t people usually give such praise when someone shares sincere love or shows maturity?
But Yeojin was genuinely proud of him right now.
Yeomin wanted to end this conversation. It increasingly felt like talking to a mirror.
“Anyway, there’s nothing in it for you, so stop contacting me.”
“So, what do you have to do for him?”
The words wouldn’t leave Yeomin’s mouth. How could he say he was pretending to be a gay boyfriend?
But Yeojin already saw right through him. It was nearly impossible to deceive Yeojin.
She had incredible intuition.
“What, getting splashed with cold water by the madam? Kneeling at Ian Group? Then boarding a plane and crying bye-bye?”
“…Maybe all of the above.”
A shadow crossed Yeomin’s face. But Yeojin smiled as if she had no capacity for empathy.
“That’s my favorite scene in dramas~ When the madam gives a money envelope and all that. It’s fun to imagine how much money is in the envelope.”
“…”
“By the way, I heard a rumor going around about a marriage arrangement between Ian Group and Y Corporation? Is that about Seol Jiho? Do you have to pretend to date in front of the Y Corporation daughter too?”
“…”
“Your expression says you had no idea.”
Of course, Joo Yeomin knew nothing about that. Marriage arrangement? Rumors?
He’d thought that if it was something he needed to know, Seol Jiho would have told him.
To think he didn’t know something that even Yeojin knew. Yeomin felt a sense of alarm, wondering if he’d been too careless.
‘He’s definitely not the type to quietly agree to an arranged marriage. Is that why he proposed this contract to me?’
What exactly was that guy planning? Jiho had never explained anything to him.
He had been blindly following Jiho without knowing where they were headed.
Today, Yeomin felt especially foolish. And to have this feeling in front of Yeojin, of all people.
“Well, you don’t necessarily need to know about Ian Group’s affairs… but didn’t you say you had a contract with him? Contracts should be transparent.”
“…”
“Joo Yeomin. Want some life advice from your noona?”
“No.”
Yeomin refused in an instant, but Yeojin, as always, did as she pleased.
“Listen. I won’t charge you for this.”
Really. Joo Yeojin will ruin herself with that mouth of hers.
“The way to avoid betrayal is to betray first, before you get betrayed.”
“…”
“And if you still end up betrayed? Then pay them back double. That way, there’s nothing to fear or resent in this world.”
‘Yes, yes, Professor Joo Yeojin with the one-hit wisdom. What lo~vely advice.’
Yeomin checked his phone, letting Yeojin’s words go in one ear and out the other. There was a message from Jiho from five minutes ago asking when he’d be back.
Yeomin replied.
[Where are you? At home?]
The answer came immediately.
[Puppy Mind: I came to meet someone briefly]
Meet? Who? Yeomin couldn’t bring himself to ask.
If it had been Seol Jiho, he probably would have asked Yeomin outright. Was that the difference in their power dynamic? Or was it a matter of nature?
‘You don’t want an arranged marriage, right? If you don’t want to do it, can you refuse? Is it possible you might not have to go through with it?’
Like gum stuck to his chest, these sordid questions clung to him, sticky and irritating. Yeomin tried to shake off this unpleasant feeling.
[Okay, see you at home]
The feeling of not being able to ask even when curious. Was it difficult for him to ask Jiho, or was he afraid of hearing the answer?
* * *
[I’ll be at your place soon, you should hurry back too, hyung]
A smile curved Jiho’s lips as he sent the reply.
What should he buy on the way home today? What delicious food would make Yeomin puff out his cheeks like a hamster while eating heartily? He couldn’t help but hum.
Seeing Jiho in a good mood, the real estate agent asked,
“But why would a young person like you want a building like this? Is it for investment?”
“Well, I haven’t thought that far yet—”
Jiho answered absently, having already stamped the contract. In front of Sehyeon University. Yeongo-dong 242-1. A five-story commercial building.
Naturally, it was something Jiho had neither need nor use for.
But when had he ever bought something because he desperately needed it? He could start thinking about its use from now on.
Having completed the contract, Jiho was in a good mood, which made it a rather meaningful purchase.
Jiho spoke casually, saying whatever came to mind.
“Maybe I’ll open an academy.”
“Great~ There’s an elementary school nearby too~”
“A math academy would be nice.”
Since Yeomin hyung liked math. If he could satisfy the picky Seol Jiwoong, it meant he had a talent for teaching.
‘Joo Yeomin teaching little children…’
But when he thought about Yeomin’s attention being divided, Jiho suddenly didn’t like the idea.
Imagining elementary school children following Yeomin around, and Yeomin finding them cute, made his teeth clench.
“A math academy is great! There isn’t one in this area yet…”
“No, maybe I’ll open a flower shop instead.”
Jiho immediately changed his mind.
Yeomin and flowers. Just hearing it sounds like a perfect combination, doesn’t it?
The agent made a face that said ‘What flower shop would work here?’ but still smiled and said “Sounds nice~” to humor Jiho.
Jiho continued to let his imagination run wild.
He could fill all five floors with restaurants so Yeomin could eat delicious food every day.
Actually, it didn’t matter if the building was left as it was. The remodeling was just an excuse to evict the current tenants.
“The compensation will proceed without any issues. For related matters, please contact our legal team.”
Jiho handed over the business card of Ian Group’s legal team leader. The agent bowed repeatedly as he accepted the card with both hands.
Jiho felt rushed. If he lingered any longer, he would be late.
‘I need to get there before Yeomin hyung and wait for him.’
The five-story building without an elevator had equally crude stairs going down.
The stairs were so worn that they would be quite dangerous on rainy or snowy days.
Indeed, it didn’t make sense to let Yeomin continue working in a place like this.
“…”
Jiho descended the stairs while searching on his phone for something to buy on the way home.
Looking only at his phone as he walked, Jiho ran directly into a man coming up from the lower floor.
He was about to pass by without thinking, when a surprised voice was heard.
“Huh? You!”
Only then did Jiho’s gaze, which had been fixed on his phone, move belatedly.
Jiho typically paid no attention to his surroundings when walking. His concentration and interest were directed solely at one being.
Jiho finally recognized the man’s face. Pointing a finger, he made the same sound the man had made.
“Huh?”
It was an unmistakable face. That… Manager Cha or whatever, who would go to work at the PC bang wearing a tracksuit.
He was also the person Yeomin talked about the most after Taeyang.
Jiho suddenly felt irritated. And he had been in such a good mood until just now.
“Manager Cha, do you know this person?”
The real estate agent seized the opportunity to interject. But before Manager Cha could answer, Jiho coolly denied it.
“No. I don’t know him.”
Then he went on his way without a backward glance. Regardless of what expressions Manager Cha and the agent were making behind him.
Thinking that seasoned soy marinated crab would be good for dinner tonight. He wanted to see Yeomin eating with red sauce on his lips.
