Chapter 16
16. I Like That Guy
2023.05.16.
The next morning.
Yang Hee-wook saw the record of a missed call from Han So-eun and smiled with satisfaction.
Last Saturday, Hee-wook had a fight with So-eun, but he wasn't too worried.
He was sure that Han So-eun, who was foolishly kind and tiresomely devoted to him, would apologize to him first.
So he was relieved, but he was puzzled that he hadn't heard from her for several days. He needed Han So-eun to take care of his mother again this weekend. Last Sunday, Han So-eun didn't take care of his mother, so his family had a hard time.
As time went by, he became more and more impatient.
And yesterday, Hee-wook, unable to bear it any longer, finally contacted her first. But So-eun didn't respond. Even after sending a text message, there was no reply for hours, so he huffed and puffed and called, but So-eun ignored that call as well.
So, while he was angry and went out for a drink with a friend, Han So-eun called.
Hee-wook didn't answer So-eun's call right away either. He couldn't have a proper conversation in a noisy bar, and he was also resentful of Han So-eun.
And he thought he should call the next day, but he got a call first. From Han So-eun.
"Hello."
Hee-wook lowered his voice heavily and answered the phone.
[It's me.]
"Yeah. I know. I'm busy, so hurry up and talk."
[Didn't you call me first?]
"I sent you a message with the matter."
[What message? I didn't get anything?]
"Ha, Han So-eun. How are you trying to scam a lawyer?"
[No, really, I didn't get any message. Really.]
"Then someone secretly touched your phone and deliberately deleted the message?"
[……Huh?]
So-eun's voice trailed off. Hee-wook's heart sank. Was there really someone who deliberately deleted his text message?
"Hey, Han So-eun. I told you to lock your phone properly!"
[It's locked!The pattern is a 'ㄴ'!]
If someone saw our conversation history and found out what he had taken from Han So-eun, Hee-wook could become the worst guy in the world. Especially if he was caught coaxing So-eun several times during the organ donation screening process...
...No. He shouldn't get angry.
He should just buy her a new phone. That would be better.
Anyway, he thought he should meet her soon, so Hee-wook apologized first.
"I'm sorry. I was too harsh on Saturday."
After a while, So-eun's voice came.
[……No. I was too sensitive too.]
Only then could Hee-wook breathe a sigh of relief.
"Okay. Let's resolve any misunderstandings and get along well. Let's go on some overdue dates this weekend."
[Okay. And Hee-wook.]
"Yeah."
[We need to go on dates, but shouldn't we start preparing for the wedding again? If we prepare now, can't we do it within this year?]
"……Well, that's a bit much. My mother is still hospitalized, so we can't go around preparing for the wedding all happy-go-lucky."
[But we have to book the wedding hall early.]
"So-eun. Are we going to book the wedding hall without my parents' permission? No, we're not. You may be in a hurry, but let's not be too disappointed. It'll be fine soon. Okay?"
[.......]
"Aren't you upset? Instead, I'll look into a wedding planner."
Hee-wook coaxed her with empty words, but So-eun didn't react as if she was upset.
"Let's get a consultation with a wedding planner and go on a date this weekend. Let's go to the hotel buffet. How about it?"
[Okay. Sounds good.]
So-eun answered reluctantly, but she accepted it anyway.
Hee-wook, who had been nervous about the unexpected marriage proposal, finally sighed in relief.
Han So-eun was a pretty girl who was too good to throw away easily.
He was desperately making excuses because of his mother's surgery, but Hee-wook really wanted to hold Han So-eun in his arms. She was a woman with a good figure. He wanted to properly check out that breathtakingly beautiful curve that he had only vaguely admired with his eyes.
In terms of appearance alone, Han So-eun was much more beautiful than Choi Hyun-ji. Unless a woman like Choi Hyun-ji turned her eyes and rushed to him first, he should live enjoying the fun of holding Han So-eun.
He would take her to a hotel as soon as possible.
"Then work hard. I'll contact you again."
It had been two months since the surgery, so it wouldn't be bad to try. He was very curious about how a pretty, kind, and obedient woman would feel in bed.
He would do everything he wanted to do. He would ask her to do everything.
Hee-wook imagined the day he would hold Han So-eun in his arms, smacked his lips, and hung up the phone.
"Oh my, you scared me."
Hee-wook hung up the phone, turned his head, and pulled his chair back in surprise.
Choi Hyun-ji, the icon of freshness, was standing in front of him with tearful eyes and a sad face for some reason. As if she couldn't live with jealousy.
"Lawyer Choi. Make some noise."
"I did. You just didn't hear me."
"Oh, did you?"
"Is it So-eun?"
Hyun-ji asked in a tearful voice. Hee-wook was bewildered by what she was so serious about and her dissatisfied expression.
"You were so busy talking to So-eun that you didn't even know I came in?"
"Sorry. The door is hard to see from this seat."
"Actually, at the bar that time. In Omotesando Hills."
Hyun-ji's face turned red as if she had been drinking, and she spoke with force.
"It wasn't just a slip of the tongue. I wanted to call you 'Oppa' because I wanted to."
"……."
"I like you. That's why I'm so jealous of So-eun."
It was an unexpected story.
"I've given you so many hints, you can't say you didn't know. Why else would I drop everything and go to visit your mother in the hospital?"
At Hyun-ji's confession, Hee-wook opened his eyes wide and swallowed hard. His heart was pounding inside like a boy in first love.
"But I tried not to hate So-eun. That's why I invited her to our company dinner, and the next day I sent her a bouquet of flowers as a gift... but it's too hard. I can't do it anymore."
Choi Hyun-ji seemed quite serious, but Hee-wook was so happy that his lips wouldn't move as he wanted. It was thrilling.
Choi Hyun-ji liked him!
The queen of Yulkyu Law Firm, Choi Hyun-ji!
She liked him, even though he had a girlfriend!
Was this what they meant when they said a pumpkin rolled in with the vine?
He felt like a winner who had the world.
"Honestly, I don't know why you're dating Han So-eun. You're much too good for her. You were having a hard time yesterday because you couldn't get in touch with So-eun. I wouldn't make you so hard."
Unlike Hee-wook's suddenly elated mood, the serious Hyun-ji turned around after shedding tears at the end of her one-sided confession.
"I'm sorry for surprising you. Sniff......"
Opportunity. It was an opportunity.
An opportunity that would never come again if he missed it.
Hee-wook impulsively reached out and grabbed Hyun-ji's arm. Her delicate wrist fit in one hand. He pulled her in with force, and she was immediately embraced in his arms. She was a petite figure that fit perfectly in his arms. Her body, smaller than So-eun's, was lovely.
Hyun-ji rubbed her face against Hee-wook's chest like a cat or a puppy and cried for a long time. It was impossible to know whether she was still sad, or whether she was embarrassed by his reaction. Or maybe she was surprised by his reaction.
"Can you hear my heartbeat?"
"......"
"This is my heart."
Hee-wook, with a smile, whispered softly. It was a line he used to seduce So-eun. Hyun-ji's arm, which had been helplessly drawn into Hee-wook's arms, gradually gained strength. Hyun-ji also hugged Hee-wook tightly.
*
Han So-eun, the fool of fools, the idiot of idiots.
Tae-joon had no hesitation in reminding Han So-eun of this fact last night. He didn't feel any guilt either.
But all day today, Han So-eun's face from last night kept popping up in his mind, making him uncomfortable.
Han So-eun, who was swallowing her emotions with tears welling up in her eyes. He was also pathetic for constantly worrying about that fool of fools.
After spending such a pathetic time at work, it was 6 p.m.
"Assistant Manager Han, you're here?"
"Yes. Hello, Manager."
Han So-eun's voice was heard from outside the office.
"The director is in his office, so knock and go in."
"Yes."
A moment later, a knock sounded, and So-eun came in.
"Director, hello."
He clearly heard the conversation outside. So-eun's voice, which was one tone lower when dealing with Manager Song Mun-gyeong, was somehow annoying, but Tae-joon nodded without showing it.
"Yes."
"Are you giving the Future Service Team a mission today?"
"I'll give it to you, so wait at your seat."
As he continued his busy work, he answered without even making eye contact, and So-eun, as always, turned around saying, "Yes, I understand," and then approached him again.
"Director, you were in front of me when I was dozing off in the office yesterday."
"You weren't dozing off, you were sleeping."
"Yes, anyway, you were in front of me when I was sleeping."
"......"
"Did you touch my phone at that time?"
Tae-joon shifted his gaze, which had been fixed on the monitor, to So-eun.
"No."
At his firm answer, So-eun blinked.
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. I was just asking in case."
He was a person who could hide the truth nonchalantly. Seeing her cute appearance of curling her lips as if she was embarrassed to ask, he chuckled, but Tae-joon hid even this well.
He repeated "fool" in his mind and gestured with his chin to tell her to leave if she had no business, but So-eun didn't move.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
"Thank you for yesterday, Director."
"For what?"
"Thank you for taking me home. And I was really awakened by what you said."
Yesterday, she left as if she was about to cry, but today she's saying she's grateful for his words?
Tae-joon's eyebrows arched in the opposite direction.
"Thanks to you, I was able to reconcile. With my boyfriend."
As she spoke with a smile, Tae-joon felt strange. Her smile seemed to contain a will to tease him. It felt like seeing a rebellious child who deliberately didn't listen to her mother.
"Now I'm going to take care of my own rice bowl and meet him with respect. Thank you."
That was the truth. So-eun really sent a telepathy message with the updated news today, containing the message, "Stop worrying about other people's business and use your heart well." It was her own revenge.
After So-eun left with a triumphant smile, Tae-joon was lost in thought for a moment.
He burst out laughing at the unexpected and bold words that Han So-eun had thrown at him.
His eyes also sparkled at the unexpected and interesting reaction.
She's coming out so cutely, how can he stay still? He should gladly repay her.
Tae-joon picked up his phone and called Hee-wook.
"Lawyer Yang."
[Director, hello!]
"Are you available to talk?"
[Yes. Please speak.]
Tae-joon could hear that Yang Hee-wook was willing to listen to anything he said, and his voice was full of kindness, which sounded quite ridiculous.
"I'll send you the first list of overseas recruitment talents now. I don't think I'll have time, but are you available for a business trip to Japan this weekend? It seems like it'll be a one-night, two-day trip, and it would be good to go with Lawyer Choi Hyun-ji. We plan to give you a generous business trip expense and a success bonus."
[Ah, yes! I have time. I'll discuss it with Lawyer Choi Hyunji first and then get back to you!]
As expected, Yang Hee-wook gladly took the bait.
"Yes. Then please contact me."
Tae-joon easily finished his business and hung up the phone.
Thinking that he should now inform the Future Service Team of their first mission.
