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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: I Don't Want to Let You Go
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Yeongin froze in surprise as Seonghyeok's warm breath, tinged with amusement, brushed against her ear.
"What's wrong? You're so weak."
Yeongin slapped Seonghyeok's shoulder and straightened up. Her cheeks were flushed crimson as she glared at him.
"What on earth happened to you in America?"
"Hm?"
"Why are you so sly now?"
Three years ago, Cha Seonghyeok was an arrogant and cynical man. Of course, he was kinder to her than he was to others, but his fundamental personality hadn't changed. In short, he was the very definition of a tsundere. But now, "smooth" was the perfect word to describe him.
"Something did happen."
Seonghyeok stood up and continued.
"I haven't seen you in three years."
He took a step closer to Yeongin.
"I realized I'm not in a position to be arrogant. I'm practically begging you now. Please, just accept me."
Yeongin took a step back, widening the distance between them again.
"That doesn't suit you, Seonbae."
"Whether it's something I don't usually do, or something that doesn't suit me, I feel like I have to do *something* for you to even look at me."
Yeongin liked the old him, and she liked the current him too.
She didn't want Cha Seonghyeok to change because of her. That wasn't why she couldn't accept him.
She felt sorry that he seemed to think he had done something wrong, when their breakup wasn't his fault. It pained her that she couldn't tell him the truth.
"...Give me the keys."
Seonghyeok took the car keys from his suit pocket and placed them on Yeongin's palm.
"It's troublesome, this back and forth. I have a spare key, so you just keep that one."
"Today's the last day I'm driving your car for you, Seonbae."
Yeongin stated firmly and walked towards his car.
"Is it, though?"
Seonghyeok murmured softly, then leisurely followed Yeongin and got into the passenger seat.
Yeongin waited until he had fastened his seatbelt before starting the car. The car smoothly exited the pub parking lot and merged with the traffic.
"Have I ever told you?"
Yeongin glanced at the passenger seat.
"That you're a good driver."
"No, you haven't."
"You're a good driver."
Yeongin didn't bother with false modesty. Instead, she gave credit to the person who taught her to drive.
"Thanks to my instructor."
Seonghyeok's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"I thought you might have forgotten."
"How could I forget an instructor who taught me to drive in a car worth over 300 million won?"
It was Seonghyeok who had taught Yeongin, who had a license but rarely drove, how to drive in real-world conditions.
He was an excellent instructor, without a doubt. Except for his excessive generosity.
"I was so nervous every time I changed lanes or parked, worried I'd hit something. That's why I improved quickly, though."
"I clearly told you it was fine to scratch or ding it. I said it until I was blue in the face."
"Even so, I couldn't just go around scratching and dinging it."
"Why not? I said it was fine. I don't know when Chae Yeongin became so timid."
"I *am* timid."
So timid that even with something dazzlingly wonderful beside her, she was afraid to reach out, fearing it would lose its luster the moment it became hers. So timid that she couldn't have it, even knowing how foolish it was, because she was afraid of getting hurt.
"Then be bold from now on."
"..."
Yeongin just smiled silently.
She wondered if the day would ever come when she could be bold about anything related to Cha Seonghyeok.
***
At the same time, Huiran poured a full glass of wine and went to the sofa.
She planned to drown her disappointment at not getting drunk on beer, which barely touched the sides, with wine instead.
Her face, which had been full of irritation just moments ago, was now clouded with doubt.
"He's clearly interested in me..."
Huiran was utterly confused by Seonghyeok's attitude.
She wondered why he hadn't driven her home, despite coming to the Team 5 dinner specifically to see her.
"Is he playing hard to get?"
Given how exceptional he was, she thought it might be possible. His aloof and stiff demeanor was annoying, but she couldn't deny that it made him even more appealing.
It seemed that playing hard to get, regardless of gender, was the way to make someone desperate.
Like Cha Seonghyeok and Chae Yeongin, for instance.
Just as she was drawn to Cha Seonghyeok, Seo Jingyo was drawn to Chae Yeongin.
Her purpose in attending the Team 5 dinner, despite knowing she wouldn't be welcome, regrettably hadn't been achieved.
She had wanted to catch Chae Yeongin flirting with Seo Jingyo, but instead, she only confirmed that Seo Jingyo liked Chae Yeongin unilaterally. Chae Yeongin seemed to have no personal feelings for Seo Jingyo whatsoever.
That made her dislike Chae Yeongin even more. It was quite unpleasant that a man who had never shown her any interest liked a woman she disliked.
For now, she decided to postpone punishing Chae Yeongin. What was urgent now was Cha Seonghyeok, not Chae Yeongin.
"Should I be more aggressive?"
As she was deep in thought, her phone on the sofa table began to vibrate. She craned her neck and saw "Hyunsim Unnie" displayed on the screen.
Huiran put down her wine glass and answered the call.
"What?"
Her tone was brusque, a sign of her displeasure at having her thoughts interrupted.
-Huiran, you don't know about Director Oh Changgeun yet, do you?
"What about him? I haven't heard from him since he came to my place last time."
She didn't explicitly say it, but she knew their relationship was over.
Far from being disappointed, she felt relieved because she had met a man far more extraordinary than Oh Changgeun.
-He was arrested a few days ago on drug charges.
"Arrested?"
Huiran's eyes widened, as if they would pop out.
-I heard it from a reporter I know. Seongmyeong Construction tried desperately to stop it, but articles are going to flood out soon.
"..."
-You didn't know he was doing drugs, did you?
"Of course not. If I had known, do you think I would have met that bastard?"
Huiran nervously bit her fingernails.
"Surely the fallout won't reach me, will it?"
-It's probably best to prepare yourself mentally.
"I didn't go anywhere near drugs!"
-During the investigation, it'll come out that you and Director Oh Changgeun met, and then won't you be suspected too? You might even have to get tested.
"Because of that pathetic jerk, seriously..."
-Don't be too anxious. I'll contact you if I hear any new information.
Huiran hung up and gulped down the remaining wine.
The thought of being called in by the police or prosecutors sent a chill down her spine. Even if she was innocent, just being entangled in such a matter was dreadful.
On the other hand, the thought of needing a shield grew more urgent.
Someone who could exert influence over the police, prosecutors, and media.
The first person who came to Huiran's mind was Cha Seonghyeok.
***
Yeongin dropped Seonghyeok off near the elevator and drove out of the underground parking lot.
She didn't bother saying she would leave the car there, knowing Seonghyeok wouldn't readily agree. She planned to come back early tomorrow morning, just like last time.
About five minutes after leaving the villa,
while stopped at a traffic light, she faintly heard a phone notification from the backseat.
She looked back and saw Seonghyeok's suit jacket, which he had thrown off earlier, complaining it was stuffy.
"Ah..."
Only now did she realize that he had forgotten his jacket, and that his phone was inside it.
After a brief hesitation, Yeongin turned the car around.
It wasn't just anything; she couldn't possibly bring his phone to him tomorrow morning.
Returning to the villa, she parked and pressed the intercom button at the common entrance to the basement. But there was no response.
She had a hunch he was either showering or sleeping. It seemed likely to be the former.
Yeongin entered the common entrance by pressing the password. Arriving on the third floor, she pressed the doorbell in front of his door again, but it was useless this time too.
Last week, the owner had told her to go inside if she arrived first, but today, the owner didn't know she was coming, so she felt awkward just opening the door and walking in.
Hesitating in front of the door, she admitted there was no other way, unlocked the door, and opened it. The moment she stepped inside and placed the jacket by the entrance, she heard footsteps.
As she straightened up from bending down, Seonghyeok's face came into view.
He was in a shower robe. Water dripped from his hair, as if he had rushed out of the bathroom.
Feeling awkward for no reason, Yeongin gestured to the jacket with her eyes.
"You left it in the car."
Seonghyeok immediately understood the situation.
"You came back to bring this?"
"Because of your phone. I couldn't just leave it, in case you had an urgent call. Something came through, so you should check it."
Yeongin added, just in case he misunderstood.
"I didn't touch your phone."
"You can touch it, you can look at it. I told you it doesn't matter if you look at it."
Seonghyeok had given Yeongin permission to look at his phone freely even in the past. It meant he had nothing to hide.
"Whose old story are you talking about..."
Yeongin lowered her gaze and mumbled.
"What was allowed then is still allowed now. Nothing has changed."
"I'll get going now."
As Yeongin turned to leave, her wrist was caught, forcing her to face Seonghyeok again. First her left hand, then her right, were held by him.
"I don't want to let you go."
"..."
Yeongin silently stared into his dark, almost hypnotic eyes.
"If you don't like it, slap me. Make me snap out of it."
"..."
Was it true that an ideal type was just an ideal type?
Since she was young, she had preferred someone gentle and warm like spring. But the person she actually met was like summer.
Sensitive and temperamental, making him difficult to predict even an inch ahead.
Cha Seonghyeok was always hot enough to burn everything, like the midsummer sun.
His eyes now held a scorching intensity.
The moment her back hit the wall, Yeongin's eyes slowly closed. And their lips met.
