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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: A Life of Consistency Between Words and Actions
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Yeongin unwittingly blurted out what was on her mind.
"Weren't you going to drop off Baek Huiran?"
Seonghyeok nodded nonchalantly.
"I dropped her off."
Yeongin tried hard to act casual, so her disappointment wouldn't show.
"Ah, Baek Huiran's house must be close by."
Otherwise, there was no way he could have dropped her off and returned so quickly.
"Well, I'm not sure if Baek Huiran's house is close or far from here."
"......?"
Yeongin, who had lowered her gaze slightly, looked up at him.
"I dropped her off right where you're standing now."
Seonghyeok approached Yeongin, who was standing two steps from the entrance, and continued.
"Jisang wanted to talk about the USI investment deal, so I came out to take the call in the car and left with her. I politely said goodbye and sent her off right here."
His finger pointed to his feet, and Yeongin let out a small laugh.
She disliked how her mood swung with every word Cha Seonghyeok said, but she couldn't deny that she felt good right now. Imagining Baek Huiran's expression also gave her a sense of satisfaction.
"Shouldn't you say you 'saw her off' instead of 'dropped her off'?"
"Right, let's say I saw her off."
A strange smile appeared on Seonghyeok's face as he readily admitted it.
"You thought I went to drop off Baek Huiran?"
"The Assistant Team Leader said Baek Huiran asked you for a ride, and then both of you disappeared..."
"You were upset because you thought I went to drop off Baek Huiran?"
"Why would I be upset?"
"You seemed very glad to see me just now. Was I mistaken?"
"You were mistaken."
"Alright, let's say I was mistaken."
Seonghyeok's smile clearly conveyed that he was letting her off the hook out of pity for her feigned ignorance, but Yeongin was in no position to be picky at the moment. She was simply grateful that he wasn't pressing the issue.
"Anyway, why did you come to Team 5's company dinner?"
"Because I was worried Ji Seungchan might pull another trick on you."
"Do you think I'm a fool? I wouldn't fall for the same trick again."
"He might try a different one."
"So you came to be my Black Knight?"
"Yeah."
"......"
Should she praise a life that strives for consistency between words and actions?
As Yeongin fell into deep thought, Seonghyeok asked,
"They say 'Black Knight' for men and 'Black Rose' for women, right?"
"That's what they say."
"Be my Black Rose today."
"......?"
As Yeongin tilted her head, Seonghyeok smiled, jingling his car keys.
"I'm too drunk to drive. Drive me home."
Yeongin wrinkled her nose and glared at him playfully.
"Why do you keep bringing your car when you come to a bar?"
"I had no choice since I came suddenly. I couldn't just leave it."
"That's one thing, but speak clearly. You're not drunk, you just had some alcohol. Don't you think I know your tolerance, Senior?"
Perhaps she should have said she didn't know. She had never seen Cha Seonghyeok drunk.
Even if he drank a lot, he was usually the same, except for his eyes and movements becoming a little languid.
Still, it was clear that he wouldn't get drunk on just a few beers.
"Just pretend you don't know, just for today."
His bold, no, brazen request made Yeongin laugh.
Alright, she'd pretend not to know. She'd give in, pretending she couldn't help it, and do as he asked.
Yeongin looked at the gentle smile the cynical man showed only to her, and conveyed a silent message in her heart.
Senior, you're drunk, and I think I'm drunk on you.
She wanted to get so utterly drunk that she'd pass out, so she wouldn't have to think about anything. She wanted to cast aside her trivial and insignificant reason and just follow her heart. It was agonizing and sad that she couldn't.
"You'll drive me, right?"
The moment Yeongin nodded silently, a gentle voice was heard.
"Yeongin."
Yeongin and Seonghyeok's gazes converged on one spot. Jingyo was standing there.
"Oh? Senior, you haven't left yet? I didn't see you, so I thought you'd already gone."
"There's no way I would have left without telling you. I met someone I knew and was at another table for a bit."
"Ah, I see."
Jingyo glanced at Seonghyeok and then turned his eyes back to Yeongin. The corners of his mouth curved gently.
"Yeongin, can you drive me home?"
Yeongin's startled pupils darted back and forth.
"Ah, Senior. I'm currently..."
"You're my manager, aren't you? The month you agreed to be my on-site manager isn't over yet. Driving me home is also your job."
Jingyo pressed Yeongin with a soft but firm tone.
Knowing that if she had to choose between what she wanted to do and what she had to do, she should naturally choose the latter, Yeongin bit her inner lip and looked back at Seonghyeok.
"I'm sorry. I'll call you a taxi, so leave the car and take a taxi. I'll bring the car over later."
Contrary to her expectation that he would be displeased, Seonghyeok reacted very magnanimously.
"Why are you sorry? You're just being loyal to your duty."
Of course, his gaze towards Jingyo was utterly cold. It was because he knew Jingyo was deliberately being obstructive.
"See Actor Seo Jingyo home safely and come back. I'll wait here."
Yeongin's eyes widened, and she shook her head.
"Don't do that."
"Go on."
Seonghyeok offered a faint smile and then turned his attention back to Jingyo.
"Once the agreed period is over, I will never send Yeongin away like this again."
He had no intention of accepting such conditions again, no matter what threats Yeongin might face.
***
A moment later, a taxi Yeongin had called arrived in the suffocating silence.
"Get in."
As Jingyo opened the back door, Yeongin quietly got into the taxi. She felt his persistent gaze but didn't look back. It was because if she saw Seonghyeok's face, she felt she would want to tell Jingyo to go alone.
The taxi, with Jingyo also inside, set off for its destination.
Yeongin didn't say a word until the taxi arrived in front of Jingyo's apartment. It wasn't a silent protest. She merely remained silent because Jingyo didn't say anything either.
Yeongin also guessed why he had asked for a ride home. She was more uncomfortable with the situation itself than angry at him. Being entangled with Seonghyeok in this way was awkward and difficult.
Jingyo got out of the stopped taxi first, and Yeongin followed, asking the taxi driver to wait for a moment.
"Go on in, Senior."
"I'm sorry for being childish."
"No, you're not. You made a legitimate request."
"Request..."
A bitter smile spread across Jingyo's lips. It was true, but it felt like he had been confirmed to have acted petty and pathetic.
Suddenly, he remembered what Huiran had said when they met in front of the restroom a little while ago.
"Oppa, you like Chae Yeongin, don't you?"
"I don't have to answer you."
"So you're not denying it."
"..."
"Looking at the atmosphere, it seems you're the only one who likes her. What's so special about Seo Jingyo that he'd be lacking?"
He couldn't help but sigh, wondering why he had to fall for a woman who had no room for anyone else.
He had never been intimidated by anyone, but he never dreamed he would meet someone like Cha Seonghyeok and feel inferior.
As he grew increasingly dissatisfied with his own diminishing stature, he kept asking questions whose answers he already knew.
"Want to come up for a bit?"
Yeongin calmly shook her head.
"No, I have to go."
"To CEO Cha?"
"Yes."
"It took nearly 30 minutes to get here, so it'll be an hour round trip. It's a long time for an ordinary person to wait, so do you really think Cha Seonghyeok will wait?"
"He will wait. He's the kind of person who would wait all night if I didn't come."
"..."
"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, Senior."
Yeongin got back into the taxi, leaving the silent Jingyo behind.
"Driver, please take me back to where we started."
Impatience was evident in Yeongin's expression and voice. She couldn't show any sign of it in front of Jingyo, but she couldn't help but feel anxious.
A whole hour.
Just as Jingyo said, it was a long time for an ordinary person to wait, let alone the impatient Cha Seonghyeok. Yet, knowing he would wait, her heart pounded.
Yeongin picked up her phone and drafted a message.
She typed and deleted the message repeatedly, ultimately unable to send it. What was the point of saying something pointless when she knew he was the type to wait all night?
The taxi returned to its original spot 55 minutes after it had departed.
Yeongin paid and got out of the taxi, then paused instantly. Seonghyeok was sitting on a stone in the flower bed in front of the beer pub.
Yeongin, with a surprised look, hurried towards him.
"Why are you here? You should be in your car or inside."
Seonghyeok slowly lifted his head.
"To look pitiful."
"......"
As Yeongin furrowed her brow, he tilted his head, looking curious.
"Don't I look pitiful?"
"Not at all."
She even wondered why this man looked stylish instead of shabby, even while squatting.
"What do you need to look pitiful to me for?"
"What for? To try and rely on your sympathy, even a little."
To think she found it endearing that the least pitiful man in the world was trying so hard to look pitiful—it seemed not only Cha Seonghyeok was going crazy, but she was too.
"Get up."
Seonghyeok remained seated and just extended his right hand.
"Help me up."
Yeongin hesitated for a moment, then took his outstretched hand. But before she could pull him up with force, she was abruptly pulled forward.
"Ah!"
Her upper body lost balance and lunged forward, and by the time she regained her senses, she was already in Seonghyeok's arms.
