Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Beautiful Loan Shark
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35 years old this year.
Kim Hyun-su, an ordinary office worker, sat in a cafe with a deeply tense expression, waiting for someone.
'Whew...'
The person he was waiting for was an employee from a private moneylending company.
Having fallen into illegal online gambling and become a credit delinquent, this was the only place he could borrow money from.
'If only I hadn't gotten hooked on online gambling...'
Kim Hyun-su reflected on the past, inwardly cursing himself for ending up like this.
What good was regretting it now?
For the moment, he needed to secure a loan to put out the immediate fire. If his company found out, he'd be in real trouble.
'I've got my ID, certified certificate on my phone. And they told me if they ask for a fee upfront, it's a scam—no deal.'
Kim Hyun-su had done his homework online beforehand, researching how to meet a private lender safely.
The image of these outfits wasn't great, so he'd prepared accordingly.
'The location's fine, at least.'
A crowded cafe.
Most stories online were about getting lured into a car for a private consultation, then threatened into a scam—so he'd chosen this spot.
'Why hasn't she shown up yet?'
It was five minutes past the appointed time, and no call or sign of her.
Maybe she'd bailed on scamming someone who picked a public cafe?
He pondered pulling out his phone to call when—
Ding.
The cafe door opened, and a woman stepped in.
'Whoa...'
Long straight hair, sharp nose, and big eyes without double eyelids. Skinny jeans hugging her legs and a tight white tee.
She knew exactly what men dreamed of.
'She's stunning.'
Not just Kim Hyun-su—every man, woman, and child in the cafe turned to stare. The guys especially looked dumbfounded.
'A woman like that is for rich guys only, right?'
Still, looking wasn't a crime.
Kim Hyun-su stole a glance at her while sipping his pre-ordered iced Americano through the straw.
But something felt off.
She was walking straight toward him.
Smiling brightly, no less.
'Do I know her?'
No way.
Unless he'd lost his memory, there was no forgetting a beauty like that.
"Kim Hyun-su?"
He choked on his coffee when she called his name.
"Oh dear! You okay?"
She rushed over with a worried look and...
"Take it slow."
gently patted his back.
Kim Hyun-su wondered if this was a dream.
Her skin was porcelain-smooth up close, and she even smelled amazing.
"Ah... yeah. I'm fine."
He stared blankly at her face before snapping out of it and quickly averting his eyes.
"Good thing. Sorry I'm a bit late?"
She pulled out a chair and sat naturally at his table.
Late?
He'd never made plans with a beauty like her.
Why was she sitting there?
"Didn't you contact 'One-Day Loan'?"
One-Day Loan? That was the lender he'd set up with for today.
"Are you from 'One-Day Loan'? I talked to a guy on the phone..."
"The guy who was supposed to come had a sudden emergency, so I'm filling in. Name's Oh Ha-young. Hyun-su oppa."
"Ah..."
Kim Hyun-su thought to himself.
'Jackpot. Easier with a woman than a guy.'
No threats, at least.
Plus...
'Does she think we're on a date? Patting my back like that. No way she guesses I'm here for a loan.'
He enjoyed the envious stares from other guys as he snuck peeks at Oh Ha-young.
"Thirsty over here—mind if I have a sip of that iced Americano?"
"Huh? No, let me get you a fresh..."
Kim Hyun-su started to stand, but she was faster.
"That's my straw, though..."
She picked up his iced Americano and casually sipped from the same straw.
Something only lovers would do.
The jealous looks from nearby guys gave him an inexplicable sense of superiority.
"Ah! Refreshing. So, shall we talk business?"
Oh Ha-young said, pulling the straw away.
"Ah... sure."
Only then did Kim Hyun-su remember why he was there—to borrow ten million won from her.
"Outstanding debt around 150 million, plus delinquencies, right?"
Did he look that pathetic? His face flushed with inexplicable shame.
"Yes..."
"And you need ten million?"
"No traits yet?"
"Yeah. Traitless."
"Hand over your phone for a sec."
"My phone?"
Kim Hyun-su's eyes widened. Why the phone?
"I'll put in my number."
"Your number?"
Was she into him?
He handed it over with a flicker of hope.
"We'll be in touch a lot from now on."
Oh Ha-young took the phone, entered her number, and continued.
"With 150 million outstanding and delinquencies, loans are basically impossible. Same anywhere."
"Then why the number..."
"But there's a workaround."
"A workaround?"
"Yeah. I'll teach you step by step. Oppa."
Kim Hyun-su blinked at the last word.
"Oppa?"
"You're 35, right? That's oppa age. I'm 24 now. Call me Ha-young, nice and casual."
"Ah... but first time meeting."
"Everyone starts as strangers. Nothing's born from familiarity."
"Starts?"
"Pfft."
Oh Ha-young covered her mouth and giggled lightly.
"W-what?"
"You're cute. Gotta explain the loan stuff, so scoot over. Oppa."
She dragged her chair right next to him, pressing close enough for their shoulders to touch.
"Look. Oppa. Know about debt consolidation?"
Oh Ha-young had pulled paper and pen from her bag and started writing.
"Uh? Yeah, I know."
Kim Hyun-su nodded dazedly. The writing on the paper was invisible to him now.
He was lost in her scent wafting from beside him and her face inches away.
She stopped writing and stared at him.
"Ah. S-sorry."
He realized his mistake and apologized hastily. But she said something unrelated.
"Take off your glasses."
"Glasses? Why all of a sudden..."
"Bet you'd look pretty handsome without them."
"Me?"
He'd never heard that before and was baffled.
Was she teasing him?
Despite his doubts, his hands were already removing them.
"Wow."
"Why the gasp..."
"Way better. Wear contacts next time you come see me."
"Next time?"
"Think we'd solve all that debt in one meeting? We'll see each other a lot, oppa."
Oh Ha-young continued with a bright smile.
"No contacts? We can shop for some together while we're at it."
"Together?"
"You're my last one today anyway. Dinner too?"
Kim Hyun-su's mind reeled.
He'd come for a loan, not this...
But he couldn't refuse the woman before him. Didn't want to.
Who knew? It might lead somewhere.
Plus...
'Get close, and the loan'll be easier.'
Rationalizing it, he put his glasses back on and nodded.
"Sure?"
"Yay! I'll cover drinks, though."
"Drinks too?"
"Guys and girls meet, eat, and just part ways?"
His face reddened at the date-like turn.
Then a voice from behind.
Park Il-su?
Kim Hyun-su turned to see the owner: a 20-something guy in a red jacket. Masculine face, broad shoulders, fit build.
"Wrong guy. I'm not Il-su."
He replied, then turned back to Oh Ha-young.
"Park Il-su. Park Il-su. Park Il-su."
But the guy kept chanting the name obsessively.
Picking a fight?
Couldn't look weak in front of her. As Kim Hyun-su rose—
"Can't you see I'm working? Who's calling me?"
Oh Ha-young beside him spoke up.
I'd hitched a ride in Jin Woo-young's car that Cha Jin-hyuk had stubbornly shoved my way and arrived at Park Il-su's cafe.
'Same as ever, Park Il-su.'
I spotted her the moment I walked in.
All eyes were on her spot.
In the corner, cozy next to some naive-looking guy.
Couldn't help the stares, really.
'I've gotten plenty myself.'
Her looks were top-tier, after all. She'd used them to run a loan shark scam and rake in cash.
Just like now.
I approached and glanced at her table.
The guy's phone and hers overlapping naturally.
Stealing certs and data that way.
I stood behind them and called her out.
The guy next to her looked at me.
Park Il-su?
Ignored me like it was none of her business.
A bit hurtful after all this time.
I kept calling her name, the one she hated.
Misunderstanding, apparently.
She played dumb, but the guy reacted instead.
Puffing up his shoulders, half-standing like he'd charge me blindly, smitten.
But Park Il-su beat him to it.
Finally couldn't ignore the repeated calls.
The guy's eyes widened at her sudden words.
Poor sap.
Scammed and heart stolen.
'Thank me later.'
His life was about to hit rock bottom, but not anymore.
"Huh? Lee Han?"
Our eyes met.
"It really is Lee Han?"
She looked up at me in surprise.
"Yeah. Me."
In my past life, we hadn't crossed paths yet.
No reason to.
Time passed, and when I needed her, we met.
"What's up suddenly? Doesn't look like you just happened by."
Park Il-su wasn't thrilled to see me after so long.
I wasn't either.
"Just missed you?"
"You're nuts?"
She snorted.
"Um..."
The guy awkwardly cut in amid our exchange.
"What's going on here."
Had to be confused.
Ladylike moments ago, now casual banter.
"Mister, grab your phone and go. Never borrow from this one again. You almost got scammed."
He stared at her instead, baffled.
"Ha-young, what does that mean?"
Desperation in his eyes: please no.
"What else? I was gonna scam you. Damn, ruined my day."
Unlike his hopes, she admitted it flatly. Grabbed her phone and stood.
"Hey, Lee Han. Come on. Let's hear why you're messing with my business after all this time."
She glared, pissed, and started to walk—
Then the guy slammed the table with his fist.
"You bitch. Scamming wasn't enough, now you mock me?!"
He had the most right to be mad here.
Still, overreacting. Probably his pride stung by the crowd's eyes.
"Think I'll let you walk?! Huh?!"
He shot up, chair crashing back.
"Get over here! I'll smash that face so you can't show it again!"
Eyes crazed. Better stop trouble before it starts.
The guy? No.
"Il-su. Don't."
I tried to stop Park Il-su.
Too late.
"When have I ever listened to you?"
Her leg whipped out in a graceful arc toward the approaching guy.
Thwack!
A sound like something shattering.
"Guhhh..."
He groaned in agony, clutching his groin and doubling over.
"Still the same. Taekwondo 4th dan, always aiming there."
I'd seen it plenty before.
"Guys still hit on me a lot. You're the only one who's stuck around without getting kicked. Ex-boyfriend."