Chapter 114
—…What? Is this for real? I’m speechless. Were you always this kind of person? How desperately are you trying to take things that you’d say something like that?
Moon Hee-jin’s voice was clearly shocked after hearing Cheong-yeon’s blatant declaration.
“Well, I’m thinking about becoming the model for Hwamyeong Department Store in Apgujeong.”
—Wait. Hwamyeong Department Store? Did I hear that right?
Cheong-yeon remembered the department store being on the CF list that Secretary Shim had shown him and blurted it out without thinking.
He regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth, as it was more like empty boasting with extremely low chances of realization.
Hwamyeong was one of the JT Group’s affiliates and among the top department store brands in Korea. With Moon Hee-jin as the current CEO, there was no way Cheong-yeon would become their model.
But he didn’t want to back down meekly without retorting as he used to. Even if it was impossible, an urge to provoke her welled up from deep within his chest.
—Are you crazy? How… Unless I get shot in the head, why would I use you as a model for our department store? How did you come up with such a pitiful delusion? I guess Do-heon has been coddling you so much that you’ve lost sight of reality.
Her voice kept rising, suggesting his bluff had hit a nerve.
“I was thinking of asking Do-heon. Do you think it won’t work?”
—Even if he’s lost his mind these days, he’s not that mentally unstable, honey. Get a grip.
“No one knows for sure. Why don’t we find out together just how loose his screws have become?”
—You really… don’t know your place.
Her trembling voice came through the speaker clearly.
Instead of worrying about consequences, Cheong-yeon felt an intense satisfaction washing over him.
“If I knew my place, I wouldn’t have married Do-heon in the first place. Oh, but I just imagined my face hanging on the exterior wall of Hwamyeong Department Store, and it doesn’t seem bad at all.”
Cheong-yeon deliberately let out a laugh, muttering in a dreamy voice.
“Cheong-yeon oppa, we’ll start shooting in ten minutes! Please get ready.”
Just then, with a knock, the waiting room door opened and Min Hye-rin entered. After Cheong-yeon signaled that he understood, he added into the phone:
“I need to go in for the shoot now. I’ll see you at the dinner soon.”
He could hear Moon Hee-jin snapping something through the speaker, but Cheong-yeon ended the call anyway.
“Who were you talking to?”
As Cheong-yeon took deep breaths to calm his pounding heart, Hye-rin approached with a curious look.
“Someone who dislikes me.”
“What? Who would dare dislike our Cheong-yeon oppa? Are they crazy? Don’t tell me it was Song the cockroach?”
Hye-rin rarely showed such a disgusted expression in front of Cheong-yeon. He shook his head.
“I didn’t mean to, but I got worked up this time and really sassed them… Do you think I’ll be okay?”
The exhilaration quickly disappeared, replaced by belated concern about dealing with the aftermath.
“What’s wrong with sassing them? If you just stay quiet, people treat you like a pushover. You did well, oppa. I don’t know who it is, but you should respond even more spitefully the next time you see such a person. That way, they won’t underestimate you and will be careful every time they meet you.”
Hye-rin shot back without taking a breath. Thanks to her, his heart felt lighter.
That’s right. He had appeared too easy to push around in front of Moon Hee-jin until now. This time, he might as well throw harsh words and show her that even a worm will wriggle when stepped on.
Thinking how simple-minded he was, Cheong-yeon put down the phone he had been anxiously holding.
But could he really act even more spitefully toward Moon Hee-jin when they meet? The Hwamyeong Department Store model comment seemed like an overreach…
His desire to avoid the situation began to resurface, thinking he should call Grandmother and tell her he couldn’t come. Though it would sour his stomach to imagine Moon Hee-jin smirking with an “I told you so” expression…
His indecisive heart kept changing direction moment by moment.
*
‘I heard you agreed to have dinner together. Grandmother mentioned it.’
On the day of the call with Moon Hee-jin, Cheong-yeon received a message from Do-heon while in the van heading home. He wasn’t particularly surprised, having anticipated this topic since seeing Do-heon’s name as the sender.
‘Somehow I couldn’t find the right timing to refuse. Since it would be awkward for you if I came too, I’ll just make up an excuse on the day and not attend.’
‘I don’t mind.’
‘What?’
‘I said I don’t mind if you come to dinner that day. Grandmother has been wanting to see you.’
‘…’
‘If you don’t show up, she might think something is strange.’
To Cheong-yeon’s ears, it sounded like Do-heon was encouraging him to attend.
‘Of course, if you don’t want to attend, that can’t be helped.’
‘It’s not that I don’t want to…’
Cheong-yeon considered why he should bother attending a dinner gathering full of JT family members he couldn’t stand to look at.
First, he really wanted to see Grandmother, and second, he wanted to show Moon Hee-jin that his declaration of war wasn’t just empty words.
Since Do-heon said it was fine, that should be enough reason for him to go.
For whatever reason, Moon Hee-jin had shown particular aversion to him attending this gathering. So seeing her face contort upon discovering him at the dinner would be incredibly satisfying.
‘I’ll go.’
After weighing various scenarios for a few seconds, Cheong-yeon made up his mind and answered resolutely. Do-heon then informed him in a monotone voice about when he would pick him up.
And so, on the day of the dinner gathering.
Having finished preparing by the time Do-heon was supposed to pick him up, Cheong-yeon was sitting on the sofa waiting for his contact.
His body ached all over from participating in an audition for a new drama until late last night. His eyes felt dry, perhaps due to lack of sleep.
Maybe he should take some supplements. His physical strength had been terrible lately. He would easily become tired as fatigue accumulated.
“Why isn’t he coming? Should I call?”
As he was staring at his phone wondering when Do-heon would contact him, the doorbell began to ring.
Startled, Cheong-yeon got up to check the intercom. Since the office building staff sometimes delivered packages, he casually turned on the screen. His eyes immediately widened.
“Director?”
After confirming it was Do-heon standing at the door through the monitor, Cheong-yeon opened the front door.
“I was waiting, thinking you would call first. Why did you come up directly?”
“There are a few things we need to coordinate in advance.”
“Ah, I see.”
“May I come in?”
Do-heon stood at the entrance, waiting for Cheong-yeon’s permission.
Even as he nodded to invite him in, Cheong-yeon found the situation somewhat amusing. After all, Do-heon was the one who had arranged this officetel for him.
If he had entered without permission, Cheong-yeon wouldn’t have been able to stop him anyway.
“Do you have that much to talk about? Ah, please sit somewhere comfortable.”
Cheong-yeon scratched his neck and awkwardly guided him to a seat. Then he noticed something in Do-heon’s hand as he entered the living room.
A small velvet case. He could tell what it was without any explanation.
It probably contained their wedding rings.
Though everyone they were meeting today likely knew about their divorce, they still had to pretend to be a couple in front of Grandmother. So he must have brought the wedding ring that Cheong-yeon had discarded long ago.
‘Don’t think it’s strange if I’m making… a silly expression. I’m just s-surprised.’
Suddenly, he recalled the day Do-heon first proposed to him with that case.
Even during his proposal, Do-heon was extremely indifferent and dry, but Cheong-yeon was indescribably happy just because such an impressive man had asked to marry him.
So, not knowing what expression he was making while looking at Do-heon, he had made that foolish request out of anxiety and uncontrollable trembling.
‘I promise.’
Three years ago, Do-heon had said that as he slipped the ring onto Cheong-yeon’s finger.
At that time, he never imagined he would eventually remove that expensive and beautiful ring with his own hands.
“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”
Do-heon had been explaining his recent schedule for quite some time, preparing for the kiss they would need to share in front of Grandmother, when he noticed Cheong-yeon wasn’t concentrating at all and changed the subject.
“…No, I was just thinking about something else for a moment.”
“Are you not feeling well? You look pale.”
“I was out until last night for a schedule, so I guess I’m tired. It’s not serious enough to worry about. Ah, would you like a cup of tea?”
Cheong-yeon asked, turning his body toward the kitchen.
“Please.”
At Do-heon’s acceptance, Cheong-yeon took out a tea bag, placed it in a mug, and got hot water from the purifier. The aroma of tea quickly spread throughout the kitchen.
“Here you go. Please continue what you were saying earlier.”
As Cheong-yeon handed him the mug, Do-heon took a leisurely sip of tea. Cheong-yeon sat across from him, looking at him as if urging him to continue.
“The tea tastes very good.”
However, unexpected words flowed from Do-heon’s mouth.
“What?”
“I said the tea tastes good.”
At these puzzling words, the thought ‘what am I supposed to do with that?’ crossed his mind. Then, a beat late, Cheong-yeon recalled a past conversation with Do-heon in a similar situation.
‘Is the tea at least drinkable?’
‘…’
‘Hurry up and drink it, then leave.’
‘Should I have answered that it’s drinkable?’
‘Given the effort of the person who made it, couldn’t you at least tell that little lie?’
‘It’s drinkable.’
‘Forget it. It’s too late.’
‘Next time we’re in the same situation, I’ll make sure to lie.’
So that’s what he meant.
“Pfft.”
Cheong-yeon burst into laughter in disbelief. He couldn’t believe Do-heon remembered those words. Despite the inappropriate atmosphere, it was amusing to see Do-heon seriously lying to him about how delicious the tea was.
Though he had failed to put his soul into it and still seemed somewhat mechanical, it was endearing in a way.
“I never thought you’d actually say that.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
