“You crazy bastard! What do you mean do it together!”
Anger surged at the cheeky answer. Does that bastard even know what he’s talking about right now?
“No matter what hyung says, I have no intention of backing down from here.”
He was stubborn, didn’t know how to give up, and was even persistent. Rubbing his head which was throbbing beyond aching, Yoon Taerim closed his eyes tightly.
“Ha, fine. I understand your feelings very well now, so let’s stop. Let’s meet Baek Seungyeon-ssi tomorrow and have a three-way confrontation again. Even if I accept it, shouldn’t we properly hear what he has to say?”
He said that, but Yoon Taerim’s conclusion had become clear. If the straightforward method didn’t work, he had to come up with another move. Wasn’t it said that what removes a traveler’s coat isn’t the biting cold wind but the warm sunshine beating down? If Jung Sanho had no intention of bending his stubbornness, he could pretend to respect that while dragging out time to make him give up.
Although he’d boldly proposed a threesome, Jung Sanho was an innocent twenty-year-old who’d never had a relationship before. There were infinite ways to shock the surprisingly pure Jung Sanho. Neither Yoon Taerim nor Baek Seungyeon were lacking in that area, so steaming a single kid was laughable.
If Jung Sanho truly liked Baek Seungyeon, the story became even easier. The more sincere his feelings, the more Jung Sanho could never handle this relationship. How could that personality endure watching the person he loved stick to another guy in front of his eyes?
Do it together? With that temper, as if he’d do it together.
“I’ll contact Baek Seungyeon-ssi and tell him to meet tomorrow.”
Having finished the conversation, Yoon Taerim passed Jung Sanho and headed to the kitchen. He took out a bottle of water from the refrigerator and gulped it down. As much as his insides cooled, Yoon Taerim’s eyes also turned cold.
***
The ice in the iced Americano glass placed on the table clinked as it moved. In the morning hours before lunch, the inside of the cafe was quiet and peaceful. Among the young people tapping on laptops alone and those having quiet conversations, Seungyeon looked at Yoon Taerim sitting across from him with an absurd expression.
“Are you insane?”
Even at the aggressive response, Yoon Taerim didn’t bat an eye. Did I perhaps hear wrong? Seungyeon checked the conversation content from a moment ago again.
“So you’re saying the three of us—you, Yoon Taerim-ssi, and Jung Sanho—should date? Is that what you’re saying?”
“I looked it up and there are terms for that kind of thing. Non-exclusive polyamorous relationships, polyamory, open relationships, stuff like that.”
Yoon Taerim shrugged his shoulders. At the bizarre terms flowing out smoothly, Seungyeon closed his eyes tightly.
No, hadn’t he been horrified just yesterday and dragged Jung Sanho away? And now in just one day his opinion changed like this? What on earth did the two of them talk about for this to happen? Did he get persuaded by Jung Sanho in the meantime or what?
“Look… I don’t understand at all what kind of crazy talk you’re doing right now? No, I respect you two’s tastes. I respect that, but why do you want to do that with me? I don’t really want to do that kind of thing, you know?”
“That’s right. I think so too.”
“What?”
There was no way to follow the flow of the conversation that didn’t make sense. Yoon Taerim also seemed to find his own words absurd and quickly let out a hollow laugh. He fiddled with the surface of the cup that was half-emptied of its drink. The fatigue piled on his face at least didn’t look fake.
“Main wife, second—I didn’t expect to hear such talk from Sanho either. Setting everything else aside, how could I date the same person as that kid? This isn’t some makjang drama.”
At the expression that pierced the essence, Seungyeon’s shoulders trembled with a start. Yoon Taerim, who didn’t notice that reaction, let out a sigh full of resignation.
“I know it’s an abnormal situation. I know that, but Sanho just won’t bend his stubbornness at all. I’m actually curious now. What on earth did you do to Sanho for the kid to act like he’s possessed by an evil spirit? Baek Seungyeon-ssi, do you know how to cast spells or something?”
“Spells… I don’t know how to do that kind of thing? I’m actually more curious? Since he’s your cousin, you should know better than me at least.”
“I thought I knew well but I guess not. If I just say it absolutely won’t work, we’re really going to fight and I’ll have to call the police. It seems like this way won’t work at all, so I’m trying to use a different method. If we pretend to have a three-way relationship while we two get under Sanho’s skin, how could he endure that? It’s about showing yesterday’s events a little longer and extended.”
Yoon Taerim’s plan was simpler than expected. Since he can’t be persuaded with words, let’s show him with actions. Even if his stubbornness was strong, Jung Sanho’s mentality was weaker than expected. So if they gave him a little stimulation from the side, it was obvious he’d get hurt and fall out.
“So, you and I are going to do that kind of thing in front of Jung Sanho again? Like a jealousy strategy, that kind of thing?”
“Yees. Exactly.”
Yoon Taerim’s smiling face was shamelessly brazen. Seungyeon calmly pointed out the biggest flaw in Yoon Taerim’s plan.
“First of all, I don’t want to do that kind of thing with you. I don’t really want to pretend to date either. And Jung Sanho too… I’m not defending him, but when he says he likes it, I don’t know what right you have to interfere. He might get more upset and not bend his stubbornness even more. If you just leave him alone, he might break up on his own before his feelings get too deep…”
“No. I don’t want Sanho to get hurt by people anymore. You can’t choose your family but lovers are different, right? I don’t want to insult Baek Seungyeon-ssi, but honestly, you have a lot of problems. No money, no backing, and as for personality, what’s there to say. You meet anyone who gives you money. You would suit me better if anything, but not really with Sanho.”
Because of Yoon Taerim throwing out thoroughly insulting comments while saying he didn’t want to insult him, Seungyeon’s eyes sharpened.
“Really…”
“That’s what I think. Until Sanho gives up, Baek Seungyeon-ssi should cooperate with me a bit. I’ll give you proper compensation.”
“I don’t know what you see people as to say such things, but whatever the compensation is, I won’t do it. I don’t want to.”
“The story isn’t finished yet. Baek Seungyeon-ssi, you’re being raised by a single mother, right? And your older sister is a daughter-in-law of Tae Group.”
When did he investigate even my family? With the situation where he was even mentioning family as if to threaten him, Seungyeon’s patience also hit rock bottom. As if there was nothing more to hear, he kicked his chair and stood up.
“That’s enough. I’m leaving.”
“I’ll help you. I’ll take responsibility not only for Baek Seungyeon-ssi but also your older sister and mother.”
“I don’t need it.”
“If you just separate Sanho well, I’ll give you an apartment and a car in your mother’s name, and one small building. It’s a 3-story building with a franchise cafe on the 1st floor, so if you receive rent while living there, there’ll be no problem with retirement security.”
Seungyeon stopped firmly in the posture he was about to go outside. As if it wasn’t a joke, Yoon Taerim added one more word.
“Your mother had knee surgery a few years ago, right? It seems like she goes to the hospital periodically, so I’ll register her as a VIP at Yuon Hospital so she can get treatment right away without having to wait. I can help your older sister too. The bio business that Tae Group is putting heat into these days, we’re collaborating with our hospital on that.”
Yoon Taerim deliberately cornered Seungyeon. He drove in the last wedge saying, can you still refuse my proposal even with this?
“By any chance, isn’t your mother’s lifelong wish a Mediterranean cruise trip? If Seungyeon-ssi just cooperates with me, I’ll make that wish come true.”
From the part where he brought up his mom, it was already a fight with a decided conclusion. If he’d just offered money, honestly his heart wouldn’t have wavered this much. But when he said he’d take care of his mom’s health and future, which could be called Seungyeon’s weakness, and even her wishes, wouldn’t he not be human if he wasn’t tempted?
Watching Seungyeon slowly sit back down in his seat, Yoon Taerim smiled. It was an expression annoying enough to make him want to punch him, but it was hard to deny that his proposal was sweet. After agonizing for a long time, Seungyeon carefully opened his mouth.
“…Write a contract. So you can’t say something different later.”
“I’ll even get it notarized. Will that work?”
Looking at Seungyeon’s nodding gesture, Yoon Taerim immediately called somewhere. While vaguely hearing something about a lawyer, Seungyeon sipped the drink placed on the table.
Jung Sanho was like this, but Yoon Taerim also seemed to have a considerable amount of money. Moreover, this side was even experienced. It seemed like he’d already finished investigating what Seungyeon was weak to and what kind of proposal he wouldn’t refuse before coming.
‘Well, okay. Let’s sell my body and be filial while I’m at it.’
He didn’t know how effective the strategy of pretending to date Yoon Taerim and separating Jung Sanho would be, but if the moneybags Yoon Taerim wanted to do it, he had no choice but to follow along.
While the two were seriously talking about future plans, the chime bell rang from the cafe entrance.
Jung Sanho, who appeared pushing the glass door, discovered the two and viciously glared. At the sight of him approaching with big strides, Seungyeon unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.
