Episode 2
Yeong-in’s pupils trembled at the unexpected encounter.
Unlike her frozen body, her heart began pounding like crazy.
*To think I’d run into Cha Seong-hyeok here…*
Even after three years, he was still breathtakingly handsome and elegant. His jet-black hair and eyes stood out starkly against his pale skin, giving him an almost otherworldly air.
She wanted to avert her gaze from those intense eyes, but it felt as if something invisible had bound her entire body—she couldn’t move an inch.
No sound, no sight. It was as if everything except him had blacked out.
Still standing dazed, Yeong-in snapped back to reality at the sound of someone calling her name.
“Yeong-in.”
A voice tinged with steel pierced her ears, and just like that, Seong-hyeok vanished from her field of vision.
Yeong-in looked up at the man now standing before her—a snake-eyed smile curving his lips.
It was Oh Chang-geun, one of her brother’s friends.
“You came to pick up Beom-jun, huh?”
Only now, after running into both someone she hadn’t expected and someone she hadn’t wanted to see, did she remember why she’d come here in the first place.
“…Ah, yes. Where’s my brother?”
For the first time today, she felt a flicker of gratitude toward him. If not for Chang-geun’s interruption, she didn’t know how much longer she might’ve betrayed her emotions to Seong-hyeok.
“He went to the restroom.”
Yeong-in frowned slightly.
“He asked me to pick him up, but he wouldn’t answer his phone, so I came upstairs.”
“I told him to call you. I wanted to see you.”
“…”
The frown deepened between Yeong-in’s brows.
That fleeting gratitude vanished without a trace. If not for Chang-geun, she wouldn’t have had to see Seong-hyeok—her irritation surged.
“I’ll wait in the car. Please tell my brother to come down right away when he gets back.”
As she turned coldly away, Chang-geun grabbed her wrist.
“Beom-jun will be back soon. Have a drink with us while you wait.”
“I drove here.”
“Ah, right.”
When Yeong-in twisted her wrist free, her face stiff, Chang-geun offered an awkward smile, his bleary eyes darting around from his drunkenness.
“What about calling a driver service?”
“…”
Yeong-in didn’t even bother replying; it wasn’t worth it.
“Then let’s grab a drink together another time.”
“I’m busy.”
What she really wanted to say was, *“I don’t want to.”* She longed to tell him to stop being so clingy.
But she held back—because he was her brother’s friend. Or more precisely, because she was tired of being scolded by her brother.
*He should’ve gotten the hint by now.*
Before Chang-geun could say anything else, Yeong-in walked out of the room, leaning against the wall as she let out a long, deep breath. The tension drained from her body, leaving her weak.
It belatedly struck her: there hadn’t been a single woman in the room.
The reason wasn’t hard to guess.
Even Chae Beom-jun, who hated drinking sessions without women, must’ve held back because Cha Seong-hyeok was present.
Everyone knew Chae Beom-jun was a willing lackey to Cha Seong-hyeok.
“Ha…”
Yeong-in straightened up and took a step forward when a deep, resonant voice wrapped around her ears.
“It’s been a while.”
She froze, then bit her lip hard and turned around.
“It has, sunbae.”
*I thought I’d never call him that again…*
The word *sunbae* stung as it left her lips, a dull ache pressing at her chest. Afraid he might notice, she found herself babbling words she hadn’t needed to say.
“Are you back for good?”
“Do you know where I’ve been?”
“I heard from my brother.”
“Ah, I guess you couldn’t help finding out, even if you didn’t want to.”
As his mocking smile lingered, Yeong-in dropped her gaze to avoid his eyes.
“I’ll head down now.”
“Wait.”
His emotionless tone stopped her in her tracks. Seong-hyeok gestured toward an employee visible over Yeong-in’s shoulder.
“Is there anything you need, sir?”
The man who came rushing over, bowing deeply, was the same guard who had casually spoken informally to Yeong-in earlier—now so polite she almost didn’t recognize him.
“Escort her to her car.”
“Yes, sir.”
To this man, Chae Beom-jun was approachable; Cha Seong-hyeok was untouchable.
He had only just learned from the general manager about Seong-hyeok’s family background.
SL Group had reigned at the top of Korea’s business world for over seventy years. There was even a saying: *“Governments change, but SL is eternal.”*
“Get rid of those animals over there too.”
Seong-hyeok gestured with his chin toward the couple still locked in a heated kiss, his furrowed brows radiating displeasure.
“Right away, sir.”
With a look of disgust, Seong-hyeok turned back into the room without another glance at Yeong-in.
The guard brought his mic to his mouth.
“Someone get up to the third floor. Now.”
After relaying Seong-hyeok’s orders, he bent slightly toward Yeong-in.
“Let’s head down.”
Yeong-in nodded faintly and silently followed him.
The guard moved with a sense of mission, blocking off any drunken clubgoers who staggered too close to Yeong-in. Thanks to him, she made it back to her car under almost comically strict protection.
As she leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes, minutes later she heard the back door open and a grumbling voice.
“Damn it, I wasn’t done drinking yet.”
Opening her eyes, she turned to see a man with a short pomade haircut being helped into the car by the guard.
“You should’ve seen how Seong-hyeok snapped and told me to leave…”
“Seatbelt.”
Yeong-in cut him off coldly.
*He calls me to pick him up, and then complains he wanted to keep drinking?*
“Have a safe drive.”
As the guard shut the door and stepped back, Yeong-in pulled out immediately. Beom-jun muttered something incomprehensible before quickly dozing off.
The stench of alcohol made her head throb, but at least the car was quiet now.
Raindrops began tapping against the car as it sped down the dark, empty road—a sudden rain not in the forecast.
*Feels like my life these days,* Yeong-in thought, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
The car stopped in front of a two-story house.
After rousing Beom-jun and getting him inside, Yeong-in parked in the garage and followed him in.
Arim, standing in the living room and glaring at her brother sprawled on the couch, whipped her head around at the sound of the door.
“You brought him back?”
Her voice was sharp, her face twisted with annoyance.
“He asked me to pick him up,” Yeong-in replied flatly, heading for the stairs to her room.
Behind her, she could hear her sister and brother’s voices clashing.
“Can’t you come home sober for once? Stop drinking so much.”
“It was Seong-hyeok’s welcome-back party.”
“What? Seong-hyeok oppa is back? Why didn’t you tell me?!”
“Why would I tell you?”
“Are you seriously asking that? Ugh, forget it! Never mind!”
“Hey, Chae Arim. Seong-hyeok isn’t interested in you. Get over yourself.”
“Shut up, Chae Beom-jun!”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“You don’t know anything! For all you know, his tastes might’ve changed in three years!”
“Even if they did, I doubt he’d go for you.”
“Arghhh!”
As she listened to Arim screaming and stomping her feet, Yeong-in bit her lips tightly.
She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of faces her siblings would make if they ever found out she had dated Seong-hyeok.
One thing was certain—they’d never believe someone like *her* had dared to. And if they learned she was the one who dumped him, it wouldn’t end with disbelief.
A bitter smile tugged at Yeong-in’s lips as she climbed the stairs.
Three days later.
After work, Yeong-in came home to an explosive demand from her mother, Mrs. Kwak.
“A blind date?”
In this house, blind dates had always been for her brother and sister. At least until now.
“Mrs. Jin called earlier. She asked for you specifically.”
Mrs. Jin was what people in their world called a *madam-ttoo*—a high-class matchmaker.
It was common for people to curry her favor with luxury handbags and stacks of cash in exchange for introductions to the most desirable spouses.
Yeong-in knew her mother had been buttering Mrs. Jin up for some time now.
“Why me? Who’s the guy?”
Arim answered with a smirk.
“Oh Chang-geun.”
Yeong-in’s brows furrowed, and Arim let out a derisive laugh.
“What’s with that face? Chang-geun oppa is way out of your league. Don’t you know his family’s construction company is one of the top twenty in the country?”
Beom-jun chimed in.
“You’ve dodged him so many times he had to pull strings like this. Just say yes already.”
Mrs. Kwak delivered the final blow.
“Six o’clock, the day after tomorrow. H Hotel café. If you refuse, I’ll be in a very awkward position—so don’t be late.”
Her mother forced a benevolent smile, tugging at lips stiff from too many cosmetic procedures.
Yeong-in felt like a sacrificial lamb. And sacrificial lambs didn’t get to choose.
Five minutes before the appointed time.
Yeong-in arrived at the H Hotel café. The man she was supposed to meet wasn’t there yet.
She was mentally preparing the sharp words she planned to deliver—telling him not to pull such stunts again—when she sensed someone approaching.
Looking up, she froze.
Sitting across from her was the last person she expected to see.
“You… sunbae? What are you doing here…?”
Staring blankly at Seong-hyeok, she clenched her fists under the table to steady herself.
“I’m expecting someone.”
“They’re not coming.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’m here in Oh Chang-geun’s place.”
“…”
Yeong-in had assumed he was only at the hotel by chance and had spotted her in passing. But his words sent her thoughts spiraling into chaos.
“I told him to give this blind date to me.”
Leaning back in his chair, Seong-hyeok gave her a slow, amused smile.
Continued…
Comment