Translator: Nox

Chapter 64

64. Am I the Only One?

2023.07.03.

"No, so, so..."

So-eun stammered, clutching her throbbing head.

"So, Lawyer Choi helped me break up with Yang Hee-wook, and Lawyer Choi is actually Yang Hee-wook's enemy... is that what you're saying?"

"Enemy? That's funny."

Hyun-ji, who had unleashed a storm of assertions, smiled faintly.

"He's my enemy, but I don't know if I'm his enemy. That bastard probably doesn't even know I exist."

It was a smile with a bitter aftertaste. It also felt sad.

Hyun-ji, who had been quiet for a while as if recalling something, spoke again.

"One day, I saw Yang Hee-wook whining. I heard from Yang Hee-wook that Han So-eun was dating the director of her company's headquarters, and I just needed someone powerful to handle the data I'd collected so far, so I came here. Now that I've handed over all the data, I won't need to see you again."

Her voice, stating the circumstances that led her to visit this place today, was businesslike.

"If you still doubt my intentions, check the data. It summarizes all the document manipulations Yang Hee-wook has committed so far. And if you still doubt it after that, just live like that."

So-eun's heart was pounding so much from Hyun-ji's story that she had to catch her breath repeatedly. While organizing the information that had crashed in like a tidal wave, her eyes moved from one end of the office to the other several times.

She had a question for her.

"You knew I had a living donor surgery, didn't you?"

"I found out about a month after the surgery. If I had known before the surgery, we wouldn't have met like this."

Tears welled up in So-eun's eyes, but didn't fall. Hyun-ji turned her head away as if she couldn't bear to look at those eyes. Hyun-ji's face, trying to maintain a blank expression, felt unfamiliar.

"Then why did you offer me alcohol back then? At Omotesando Hills."

"To make Yang Hee-wook and So-eun break up quickly."

"......"

"But that alcohol, I diluted it a lot, so it didn't have much alcohol in it."

"I was really drunk back then, though."

"That's why I said I was wrong."

"No, well... it's not like I'm holding a grudge..."

After mumbling a reply and thinking about it, So-eun was almost fine at the bar that day. The drunkenness came on suddenly as she left the bar. And she seemed to have almost lost her mind when she met Tae-joon.

Did I want to get drunk, so I got drunk? That thought suddenly occurred to her.

"...Lawyer Choi, did you think I was that stupid?"

"That's just a figure of speech. Are you going to nitpick over something like that?"

Hyun-ji's eyes, which had been those of a passionate fighter, a burning gaze, had calmed down comfortably in the meantime. Her voice also seemed much more relaxed.

A moment later, the door opened.

"Are you done talking?"

Tae-joon, who had left the office leaving the two alone, couldn't last 10 minutes. He couldn't even bear the time it took to do a pull-up, which he was good at.

But now that the story was over, there was no need to ask Tae-joon to leave again. Although she still needed to sort things out in her head.

While So-eun blankly looked at the two of them, Hyun-ji said to Tae-joon.

"You're afraid I might say something strange, Director Kim."

"That's ridiculous."

When Hyun-ji teased him, Tae-joon retorted curtly as if it wasn't worth responding to. After the misunderstanding was resolved, looking at the two of them at a glance felt different than before. It was like watching a pair of spiteful siblings who found each other's existence laughable.

As if reading So-eun's mind, Hyun-ji spoke again.

"Director Kim, I think Han So-eun misunderstood the relationship between us. What do you think?"

Tae-joon glared at Hyun-ji with a terrifying expression as if there was nothing more unpleasant and contemptuous than this. Hyun-ji burst into laughter as if she found that amusing.

"Then I'll be going now. It was nice seeing you after a long time."

Soon, Hyun-ji got up from her seat.

"And I'll be staying in a relationship with Yang Hee-wook for a while because I still have things to do, so don't be surprised every time."

"......"

"I'm leaving for America when things are settled, so if you have anything to say, say it now."

"Um."

So-eun, who had stood up with her in confusion, opened her mouth as if she had been pushed out, but she didn't know what to say.

That you seduced Yang Hee-wook was all an act?

From So-eun's perspective, it was incomprehensible. What kind of story could make you willing to fake a relationship? How could you kiss and say you liked someone you hated without batting an eye?

She was so curious, but she couldn't bring herself to ask. She didn't think she could fathom the depths of that hardened heart that had planned even a fake relationship.

It was awkward to apologize, so So-eun asked a strange question.

"Is the refrigerator okay?"

"Refrigerator?"

She remembered Hyun-ji once asking So-eun to fix her refrigerator. Since that's what I can do, should I fix the refrigerator?

Hyun-ji tilted her head, then opened her mouth as if she had finally remembered something she had forgotten.

"Ah, that. A piece of junk made by K Electronics."

At the mention of 'K Electronics' and 'junk,' Tae-joon glanced sharply at Hyun-ji.

Hyun-ji answered coolly.

"I threw it away a long time ago."

"......"

"If you can't fix it, you have to throw it away. Whether it's a person or a machine."

I see. So, she doesn't need a refrigerator anymore.

Hyun-ji gestured slightly with her chin towards Tae-joon and held out her hand to So-eun.

"Director Kim here may not admit it, but people like me will protect Han So-eun, so Han So-eun, live comfortably. Don't be afraid to speak your mind."

So-eun hesitated before taking Hyun-ji's empty hand, who was asking for a handshake. She was amazed by the fact that their body temperatures were the same.

Hyun-ji greeted her lightly and left gracefully.

The office became quiet as if a typhoon had been about to strike but changed its course and retreated.

So-eun slumped back into her seat after Hyun-ji left. Her legs gave way. While sitting still and catching her breath, Tae-joon sat in the seat where Hyun-ji had been sitting.

He seemed to know that they still had something to talk about.

So-eun opened her mouth first.

"...So, Director Kim, you knew everything. About me."

Her knuckles turned white each time she clenched and unclenched her hands on her lap.

"When? When did you find out? Did Lawyer Choi tell you?"

"No. I knew before that."

Ha, So-eun let out a hollow sigh, tinged with tears, at Tae-joon's confession.

She had made such a fuss to hide that secret, but this man knew all about it.

"Did you know from the beginning? From when you were working with Lawyer Choi Hyun-ji?"

"No, not that far back."

"......"

"I found out about the surgery a week ago."

"How did you find out?"

"At night... while wiping away sweat."

Ah. He saw the scar.

So-eun's face flushed.

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have seen it."

"No. I'm sorry too for not telling you all along."

So-eun silently nodded repeatedly.

A week ago. One day when she fell asleep at Tae-joon's house. When she woke up in the morning, there was a towel on her pillow. It must have been around that time. Certainly, Tae-joon's attitude had changed since then.

Tae-joon had noticeably started worrying about her health, and he had even urged her to throw up on days when she drank alcohol. The frequency of their intimacy had also decreased, and he sometimes looked at her with pity.

I see. So that's what it was.

She just kept nodding like a fool for a while before asking the next question.

"Then why did you hire Lawyer Choi Hyun-ji in the past?"

Come to think of it, it was suspicious that he had chosen a law firm where Yang Hee-wook and Choi Hyun-ji were among so many law firms.

If it was Kim Tae-joon, he could have hired a more famous law firm, a more capable and experienced lawyer, but it didn't make sense that he had hired Hyun-ji.

Tae-joon spoke heavily.

"Actually, I approached both Yang Hee-wook and Choi Hyun-ji. I hired both of them for the job."

Tae-joon, judging that there was no need to hide it any longer, told the truth.

Hyun-ji suddenly came to visit, and while he was annoyed with Hyun-ji, So-eun entered the office, and So-eun ended up having a private conversation with Hyun-ji.

While waiting outside the office for their conversation to end, Tae-joon considered the possibilities. What kind of conversation would the two have, and his actions would change accordingly.

After agonizing over it, Tae-joon concluded that it would be wisest to tell everything. Since he didn't know how much Hyun-ji had told So-eun, it was best for him to tell the truth as well.

After all, there was only one secret that Tae-joon had to protect until the end. The two people's relationship 20 years ago. That terrible ill-fated relationship.

As long as he could protect that, Tae-joon didn't care about anything else. It would be more comfortable to tell everything.

But the weight So-eun would bear would be different. That's why Tae-joon couldn't help but be aware of her feelings.

Tae-joon could clearly see So-eun's eyes widening.

"Why? Why did you approach the two of them?"

"I told you I was interested in So-eun from the moment I handed you the Eel rice bowl."

"You went that far because of that interest?"

"......"

"Is that why the two of them went on an overseas business trip?"

"......"

"Was it Director Kim who sent them on the overseas business trip?"

However, a strange feeling arose as So-eun was more surprised than Tae-joon had expected.

So, do you resent me? Do you resent me for breaking up with Yang Hee-wook because of me?

"But, don't you think it's all for the best?"

"......"

"Am I the only one?"

So-eun's expression also froze at Tae-joon's sharp gaze.

"No. It's not because I regret breaking up with Yang Hee-wook or because I feel bad about it."

No, the story stopped there.

Knock, knock, a knock sounded and the door opened. The person who opened the door and entered at Tae-joon's short answer was Bobae. Bobae, who gave So-eun a welcoming look as if asking if she was here, turned her head and greeted Tae-joon politely.

"Director Kim, hello."

"Yes."

"Chief Han left and hasn't come back. Chief Jang and I were looking for her together."

Ah... So-eun nodded and checked the time. Bobae stepped back slightly and bowed.

"It's seven o'clock, Director Kim, we'll be leaving work now. Then, please continue your conversation."

"No. Let's go together. Bobae."

So-eun jumped up from her seat as Bobae tried to leave first.

Tae-joon, who had only heard up to "No," felt his heart pounding. So-eun greeted Tae-joon casually.

"Director Kim, I'll be leaving work too. Goodbye."

She's leaving like this?

No, what am I supposed to do if you leave like that.