“I want to look good to you too.”
I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help snickering. How much more perverted stuff is in that mind of his that he doesn’t think what he’s said and done so far is extreme?
“Why are you laughing! I’m being serious!”
“I laughed because you’re cute.”
“…Don’t lie.”
“You’re right, it’s a lie.”
“Sh… Are you just going to keep teasing me?”
“Yep.”
I smiled and gazed into Hahyun’s eyes. Unlike before, his pure brown eyes sparkled beautifully. The arms that had been holding me so tightly I could barely breathe were now relaxed. I kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear.
“I smile whenever I see you, and you cry whenever you see me, so I must love you more, right?”
Hahyun’s face first registered shock, then gradually turned red. Then it suddenly drained of all color. Anyone watching would think he’d seen a ghost rather than received a confession.
“Hahyun?”
“Hoo…”
Hahyun’s mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but only his breath came out. His broad chest heaved before my eyes.
I sat on his thigh and patted his back as if comforting a startled child. His ragged breathing slowly returned to its normal rhythm.
“Is it that shocking that I love you more?”
“I tried so hard to look good to you.”
Hahyun said, swallowing his breath. But I couldn’t understand what he meant and tilted my head in confusion. When was he talking about? To the past Yoon Juwon? Or to the current me?
“You seemed to have changed… You weren’t like this before, but now I thought if I could just endure a little and act cool, you would notice me.”
“…”
“I endured and endured again, crying only once when I wanted to cry ten times. Is that why? Do you smile when you see me because I endured well?”
Looking at Hahyun on the verge of tears made me want to cry too. But if I cried in this atmosphere, my words about smiling whenever I see him would become a lie, so instead of crying, I hugged him tightly.
I had so many things I wanted to tell Hahyun.
I needed to tell him that I didn’t like him because he endured, but because he was impressive just as he was. I needed to ask what made him so anxious all day, and I needed to tell him that no matter how angry he got, he should never break glass cups.
But I left all those countless words unsaid and only said one thing.
“It’s because I love you.”
Hahyun couldn’t say anything and just cried bitterly in my arms. I patted his back and tried to smile.
Thinking about it now, could the reason Hahyun fell for Juwon at first sight be because Juwon was the only one who smiled at Hahyun when no one else did? That’s why I wanted to smile more in front of Hahyun.
* * *
Hyunwoo parked the car in the lot of the VIP club run by Madam Song and looked in the rearview mirror. Hajin, reflected there, was staring straight ahead, unaware they had arrived. Hyunwoo broke the silence.
“What are you planning? Aren’t you being too impulsive these days?”
“Since I was young, Secretary Kim’s schemes were obvious to me, but there was one thing I missed. Like you said, I lost my reason when it came to Yoon Juwon, and I didn’t even realize this shitty situation was caused by Secretary Kim.”
Hajin was just spouting words that Hyunwoo couldn’t understand at all. Judging by his state, even if Hyunwoo asked what he’d discussed with the prosecutor or why they’d come here when they weren’t meeting a woman, he didn’t seem likely to give a proper answer.
Just then, someone knocked on the car window. When Hajin lowered his window, an elegantly dressed Madam Song was smiling.
“Well, look who it is. Is there some Fashion Group H gathering here? I didn’t hear about it…”
Hajin tilted his lips crookedly at Madam Song’s words, playing it cool.
“I came to see Song Yeonjin-ssi. Haven’t you heard? I’ve been completely ditched.”
“Oh, come on, we both know better. I might believe it if someone else got ditched, but CEO Seo? I don’t buy it.”
Madam Song’s gaze shifted to the driver’s seat.
“Wow, Park Hyunwoo-ssi is still as handsome as ever.”
Hyunwoo just nodded his head with a bored expression. Seeing this, Yeonjin’s eyes narrowed slightly. The fact that these two men, who never enjoyed entertainment venues to begin with, had sought her out in this situation gave her a premonition that something was up. Madam Song looked back and forth between them and said:
“What’s going on? Why the atmosphere? Was there really some appointment?”
Hajin shook his head.
“I really did come to see Madam Song. I have some important things to discuss.”
“Hmm? Am I in danger?”
“Well… Maybe, maybe not?”
Hajin’s eyes gleamed sharply. The coldness flowing across his soft face was enough to make one’s skin crawl.
“What is it? Are you just going to keep us in the parking lot?”
“No, of course not. Do I really just need to see you alone?”
At the question, which was asked with Secretary Kim in mind, Hajin nodded lightly. Yeonjin guided the two men to the innermost room.
“Drinks?”
“Let’s pretend we drank, and I’ll pay before we leave. When drinking with a beautiful person, even water becomes alcohol, right?”
“Don’t bother. Everyone knows you’re like a stone Buddha.”
After Hajin and Hyunwoo sat down, Yeonjin said she should at least serve something since they were guests and left the room. Once Madam Song had gone, Hyunwoo narrowed his eyes and asked, having picked up on the situation from their earlier conversation.
“You’re setting a trap here too?”
“It doesn’t hurt to be thorough.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Not suddenly, I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I was going back and forth on whether to do it, but after talking with Prosecutor Lee, it felt like shit. Debts should be properly repaid.”
“That’s why I’m asking what the shitty reason is.”
When Hajin just grinned without answering, Hyunwoo shook his head and said:
“How did you ever work with other secretaries when you’re this frustrating?”
“Why would I talk to anyone else like this except my baby?”
At those words, Hyunwoo shuddered and moved to the edge of the sofa. Just then, Madam Song came in pushing a tray.
“I told you we don’t need this.”
“Still, I can’t send guests in my house away empty-handed.”
Soon the table was filled with wine, cheese, and fruit. Hajin, who had been watching Yeonjin pour the wine with emotionless eyes, opened his mouth.
“That person is still the same, I assume?”
Madam Song’s hand, which had been picking up some appetizers, stopped abruptly. She seemed to know who “that person” was without being told. She sighed and said:
“You know secrets are the lifeblood of this business, so why are you doing this?”
“Let’s keep this simple. If I forcibly use Madam Song’s weaknesses as leverage, our relationship will become strained.”
“I can’t really do this without assurance of my safety.”
Hajin smirked as if he had expected Madam Song’s response. With his gaze fixed on her, he tapped the table with his fingers. It was an expression like he was contemplating how to devour the prey in front of him.
“Do you want to be my enemy? Chairman Choi must have visited here, and our directors must have come and gone too, right? With Madam Song’s skills, you must have gathered information from them… So you must know which side has the upper hand, yet you want to stand with them?”
After hearing Hajin’s strangely twisted words, Yeonjin bit her lip. She didn’t want to risk herself by siding with a powerless old man. But she needed to be cautious, not knowing what this arrogant young CEO would demand.
“I’m always on the side of handsome men.”
Hajin’s expression turned serious at Madam Song’s calculated response.
“It won’t be difficult. There are mainly two things I want. First, don’t connect your network to Director Kim. Oh, and of course, don’t lend him money either.”
“The second one sounds scary…”
“It’s also a very simple thing—just give me what you already have.”
Yeonjin’s lips trembled. Hajin looked at Yeonjin’s pale face and raised the corners of his mouth.
“Why are you so surprised? Are you afraid I’ve investigated your background? Don’t worry, it’s not like that. I just thought there must be a reason you’ve risen to this position without any backing.”
Yeonjin let out the breath she’d been holding. It was a completely different matter whether the other person knew exactly what cards she was holding or was just guessing. The latter was somewhat reassuring.
“You wouldn’t have just ignored all the careless talk from drunk men. Not someone like Madam Song.”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“Yes, it’s a very simple thing—just hand over whatever recordings or videos you have to me. Not anything that looks impressive. The most filthy one.”
“Do you really have to go this far?”
“Yes, because those people dared to touch someone they absolutely shouldn’t have.”
A murderous glint flashed in Hajin’s eyes as he said this. Yeonjin felt a strong sense of kinship with Hajin’s demeanor. Hajin had always been like this. Despite being a chaebol heir, he showed the tenacity and ruthlessness of someone who had struggled in the depths. That’s why Yeonjin decided not to turn him into an enemy.
“I need time to organize things.”
“In three days, I’ll send Hyunwoo, whom Madam Song likes, and you can hand it to him.”
Yeonjin quickly composed her distorting face and forced a smile. Then she sighed deeply.
“You know, CEO Seo, you’re really unlikable.”
Hajin burst into laughter.
“I know. You probably don’t have anything on me.”
“What do you mean? There’s the Jeon Hyesu scandal.”
“Ooh, scary. But that’s a weakness of Hyesu-ssi and the Chairman, not mine, don’t you think?”
Madam Song said with a disgusted expression:
“You’re insufferable.”
Hajin got up, dusting off his seat, and nodded to Hyunwoo. Hyunwoo followed Hajin with a nauseated expression.
“Then we’ll trust in our beautiful Madam Song and take our leave.”
“Go quickly. I need to sprinkle salt.”
Hajin’s steps as he left seemed lighter than ever before. Yeonjin, left alone in the room, gulped down the remaining wine at once and held her forehead.
