A Cheeky Brat and a Bitter Drink
On the afternoon of the day after Yoon Siwoo and Marin's blind date, Natalia Eloise finished her shift. A small smile played on her lips as she recalled how Marin had looked during their video call the previous night. It was only natural, she supposed. Marin was the daughter of Lucas—a man so breathtakingly handsome that he easily ranked among the finest—and herself, a woman who had never once been overshadowed in the beauty department.
Though Marin usually showed little interest in dressing up, much to Natalia's frequent disappointment, she was absolutely stunning once she actually made an effort. Natalia couldn't help but think that no man alive could possibly resist her when she was styled like that.
With a knowing smile, Natalia murmured to herself, "Fufu, I wonder if my sweet daughter had a wonderful night?"
Having carried and given birth to her, Natalia knew her daughter's personality inside out. Marin was a girl who absolutely refused to do anything against her will. No matter how much she might complain, the very fact that she had agreed to go on the blind date meant she harbored some feelings for Yoon Siwoo. After all, this was the same daughter who had stubbornly refused to dress up despite constant nagging, yet had gone out of her way to look like a blooming flower for this meeting.
Natalia chuckled softly, feeling vindicated. Her meticulous planning of the time and place—ensuring they would be alone together late into the night in a highly romantic atmosphere—had not been in vain.
To be frank, while the blind date itself was important, what came after was what truly mattered. If Yoon Siwoo was a red-blooded, healthy young man, there was no way he could remain indifferent after seeing her daughter looking so radiant. And since Marin wasn't indifferent to him either, the stage was set.
There was no way a young, passionate couple meeting late at night would just part ways after a simple meal. There was a hotel right near the restaurant, and if they wanted somewhere more private, both Natalia and her husband were on duty, leaving their house completely empty.
Natalia was practically certain that something had happened. After all, a man's primal instincts made him incredibly easy to sway; a little mood lighting and a soft suggestion of, "My parents aren't home tonight, want to stay together a bit longer?" was usually all it took.
If even her husband, who had been the epitome of a passive "herbivore" man, had fallen for it, how could Yoon Siwoo possibly resist her gorgeous daughter?
While others might view her aggressive matchmaking as overly scandalous, Natalia didn't care in the slightest about public opinion. Her philosophy was simple: when you find a catch as attractive as him, you must secure them by any means necessary before anyone else can snatch them up.
And Natalia's long-held belief was that the easiest way to capture someone's heart was to capture their body first.
Surely, my daughter will appreciate my thoughtful consideration one day, she thought with a grin.
As she indulged in her wild imagination, Natalia noticed the sun was high in the sky. Deciding it was finally safe to call, she pulled out her phone.
Oh, how she had agonized, suppressing the urge to call and ask how it went!
Calling last night might have ruined a romantic moment, and calling too early in the morning risked waking her daughter if they had stayed up late enjoying themselves. To prevent herself from making a disastrously timed call, Natalia had deliberately taken the night shift.
Now, seeing the call connect, she eagerly spoke into the receiver.
"My sweet daughter, did you have a peaceful night?"
"...Huh? Yes, it was peaceful enough. But why are you calling?"
Hearing the unmistakable exhaustion in Marin's voice, Natalia gasped softly, her grin widening into a sly smirk.
Just how late had they stayed up for her to sound this drained in the middle of the day?
He looks so innocent, but he must have incredible stamina, Natalia thought, instantly upgrading her estimation of Yoon Siwoo's physical prowess. Unable to hide the amusement in her voice, she pressed further.
"Fufu, oh, it's nothing major. I was just curious about how your meeting with young Yoon Siwoo went yesterday. What did you think of him after meeting him in person?"
"Well, he was a good person... and a good man, too."
Natalia's smile widened. For her daughter, who never gave empty compliments, to speak of him like that meant she was completely smitten.
Is he even more impressive than I thought?
Upgrading her opinion of Yoon Siwoo yet another notch, Natalia rejoiced at the thought that her daughter had finally found her match.
"So, are you two officially dating now? Or is it a secret relationship because you don't want to make it public yet?"
"What? No, it's nothing like that. What on earth are you talking about?"
"Oh, look at you getting all shy. Don't worry, darling, Mother understands. Still, I think it's much better to date openly if possible."
That way, other competitors won't even dream of making a move.
Giggling at Marin's embarrassed denial, Natalia was already happily planning when they should announce the relationship and when the wedding should take place.
However, her daughter's next words shattered her delusions completely.
"Sigh, I told you, it's really not like that. Yoon Siwoo and I decided to just be friends. I got rejected the moment we met. I've been training non-stop since morning just to shake off the disappointment, so why are you doing this to me?"
"...Wait a minute. Weren't you two together until morning?"
"...Unlike you, Mother, I have absolutely no interest in such impure relations, alright? We just talked for a bit last night and then parted ways."
"...Is that so? But still, for you to be rejected rather than doing the rejecting... Mother simply cannot comprehend what you could possibly be lacking."
Could he have a physical dysfunction? Or perhaps some highly unusual preferences?
Natalia was so utterly flabbergasted that she even entertained such absurd thoughts. No normal man would ever reject an attractive woman like Marin when she showed interest—unless he was indeed impotent or had bizarre tastes.
However, her doubts did not last long.
"He said there's a girl he likes among the students he met back at the Academy. Since he already has someone in his heart, what else could I do?"
Hearing Marin's words, Natalia let out a heavy sigh and muttered, "My goodness, someone already beat us to the punch."
Then again, it was foolish to think that a prime catch like him wouldn't have other girls eyeing him.
Thinking about it now, everything finally clicked.
The favor Yoon Siwoo had asked of her in exchange for agreeing to the blind date—to persuade Martina to lecture at the Academy.
The real reason he wanted Martina to lecture there was so he could follow her and see the girl he loved.
She had been completely played by Yoon Siwoo without even realizing it.
"...To play your own superior like a fiddle. What a cheeky brat."
Natalia let out a hollow laugh as she hung up the phone.
"...Well, a promise is a promise."
Muttering quietly, she dialed another number.
Martina Ivanova, currently on leave, was drinking alone in her room in the middle of the day.
If my leave was going to feel this depressing, I should have just stayed at the base, she thought, tossing back another shot of alcohol. With a gloomy expression, she muttered, "...Why is this alcohol so bitter?"
Why indeed?
Was it because Yoon Siwoo, who was supposed to go on leave with her, had insisted on leaving a day early?
Or was it because when he returned today after his blind date with that wretched woman's daughter, his face looked strangely, irritatingly refreshed?
"I want to meet a good man too..."
Hoping that getting drunker would numb the bitter taste, Martina continued to drink at a rapid pace. Just then, her phone began to ring.
"...Hellooo?"
"Ah, Martina. Are you enjoying your leave?"
Hearing Natalia's voice on the other end, Martina's face instantly contorted. She remembered how Natalia had smugly asked her to officiate the wedding if things went well.
It was the voice she least wanted to hear, at the worst possible moment.
Knowing that Natalia was undoubtedly calling to brag about the blind date, Martina contemplated hanging up right then and there. But before she could, Natalia spoke again.
"Listen to this. You know my daughter had her blind date with Yoon Siwoo yesterday, right? Well, would you believe he completely rejected her?"
Martina froze.
"...Rejected? Yoon Siwoo rejected your daughter?"
"I know, right? I never would have imagined it. I have no idea how high his standards must be."
Martina recalled the face of Natalia's daughter, Marin. True to her lineage, the girl was undeniably beautiful. Yet he had rejected her.
Wait... could he have rejected her because of me?
I knew it. Even if he acts like he isn't, he must have some feelings for me.
Suddenly, the bitter alcohol tasted incredibly sweet. A silly, goofy grin spread across Martina's face as she took another sip.
As she basked in her sudden good mood, Natalia's voice crackled through the receiver again.
"Anyway, putting the blind date aside, what do you think about lecturing at the Academy? Now that I think about it, it seems like a pretty good cause. I'm thinking of going."
Martina tilted her head. Lecturing?
Ah, right. There was that request.
She hadn't intended to do it, but hearing that Natalia was going made her competitive nature flare up. If she didn't go, it would feel like she was losing. Still, she hesitated, believing that rest should be rest, until Natalia spoke again.
"Besides, I'm just so curious. He said the reason he rejected my daughter was because there's a girl he likes at the Academy. If we go lecture there, we'll get to see exactly who she is, won't we?"
Huh?
The reason he rejected her wasn't because of me?
Hearing that he had another girl in his heart, Martina's smile instantly vanished.
Her sweet mood evaporated, and the alcohol in her mouth turned incredibly bitter once more. The sudden shift from sweet to bitter sparked a wave of irritation, and that was more than enough to sway her hesitation.
She, too, had become intensely curious.
Just how amazing was this girl that Yoon Siwoo would reject everyone else for her?
If she didn't see it with her own eyes, she would never be able to accept it.
Martina drained her glass in one gulp and growled, "I'll do it. That lecture..."