Chapter 133: Side Story - Younger Sister (16)
Chapter 133: Side Story - Younger Sister (16)
“If you ever change your mind… give me a call, okay?”
Shin Ye-ji left, leaving the two of them alone.
The siblings each envisioned their futures in their own way. As a result, they realized their perspectives differed ever so slightly.
It was inevitable. Kang Yu-jin and Kang Yu-ri had different personalities, and even as siblings, they couldn't share the exact same thoughts. Even if they faced the same situation or desired the same outcome, the direction they wanted to take and the future they pictured were bound to diverge.
While his sister was at work, Kang Yu-jin stayed home alone, mulling over the proposal as he did the housework.
That proposal—that future.
It was a suggestion more sweet and alluring than any future Yu-jin had ever imagined.
At best, Yu-jin’s idea for the future of this twisted sibling relationship had been to keep it a secret until they were physically separated by death. Beyond that, no matter how much he thought about it, any other path seemed utterly devoid of feasibility or realism.
He never truly believed they could pull it off. He never thought they could simply have a normal, happy future together.
Inwardly, he had been anxious.
How far could this relationship go? How long could they keep it hidden? What would they do if they were finally caught?
Whenever he tossed and turned in the bed they shared, these worries filled his mind and refused to leave.
However...
If they followed Shin Ye-ji’s proposal, everything would be easily resolved.
The suspicious eyes of the family would be averted by a fake marriage; having a wife would ensure no one suspected a thing. Even if a child were to be born, it seemed possible to raise them as long as they were careful and established a solid alibi.
And that child would be the one he had with Yu-ri.
He would need to coordinate with Yu-ri and reach a mutual agreement regarding Ye-ji’s relationship with him, but still, in Yu-jin’s eyes, this seemed to lead to the best possible outcome the siblings could achieve.
The problem was...
‘…Let’s talk about it later.’
Kang Yu-ri didn't seem to appreciate the idea.
She knew her friend’s intentions. Ye-ji was the type of person who could rightfully be called a pushover. She seemed willing to sacrifice her own life solely for the sake of Yu-ri’s peace. At least, that was the case based on what she had said.
While his sister was at work and Yu-jin stayed home because he had no classes, he paused while doing the laundry to look out the window, reflecting on the words he had heard.
‘I’ll be your accomplice.’
Shin Ye-ji had spoken with hesitation, yet her voice was filled with conviction. The kindness in those innocent eyes was unmistakable.
‘…A fake marriage?’
He remembered how she had hesitated even as she spoke, knowing that Yu-ri would reject it or find it unpleasant.
Yu-jin recalled the explanation that followed—specifically, the talk about the potential future awaiting Yu-ri. That story was incredibly realistic and directly linked to the most likely future they faced.
It was an issue that struck Yu-jin in a particularly poignant way.
After their relationship continued into adulthood, they had gone on dates. Right after that thick, intense night they spent alone for the first time in a motel using the ID cards they received as adults...
As they lay together sharing idle chatter, Yu-jin had thought to himself: We’re talking about such bright things now, but the actual future will most likely be bleak.
He felt a sharp pang in his heart when Shin Ye-ji expressed her fear that her friend, Kang Yu-ri, might suddenly disappear.
Yu-jin had thought the same thing; it was his primary concern.
If they disappeared, where would they go? How would they live? It wasn't wrong to be faithful to the love they held despite being siblings, but love alone wasn't enough to survive on.
Fleeing overseas, living a grueling life, and eventually drowning in regret. Fighting with each other. Blaming one another and eventually saying they should never have started this in the first place. Or seeing something even more horrific, like only one of them returning home.
Yu-jin shuddered involuntarily at the thought of that future. Just thinking about it felt like a curse.
That was why his heart leaned more toward Shin Ye-ji’s proposal.
‘…But that probably isn't her only intention.’
Even Yu-jin knew that much. It was difficult to discern what hidden motive might lie beneath, but he was certain there was something more. Perhaps she still had lingering feelings for him, or perhaps she harbored some dark obsession with Kang Yu-ri.
But even taking that into account, the proposal was too good to refuse.
Thus, Yu-jin found it hard to understand why his sister, Kang Yu-ri, was so displeased. To reject it simply out of a desire for exclusive possession seemed foolish when the proposed future was so dreamlike.
Starting a family together—even if it meant the children would have two mothers—the thought of building a home with Yu-ri was truly...
‘…How should I persuade her?’
Since his sister wouldn't accept it, Yu-jin was driven to distraction. He didn't know how long this offer would stand or when Ye-ji might change her mind. If they missed this chance, a similar opportunity might never come again.
Of course, he understood her underlying worry that he might fall for Shin Ye-ji, but he felt she should be willing to compromise to some extent.
After all, the girl was offering to sacrifice her entire life.
As his sister had mentioned, this wasn't a simple matter. If Shin Ye-ji moved from a fake relationship to a fake marriage, she would essentially lose any chance of meeting another man.
Her current boyfriend wasn't a great guy, and she clearly intended to break up with him, but considering she would spend the rest of her life as little more than Yu-jin’s concubine...
They should be grateful. More than that, he felt she was entitled to claim some stake in the arrangement.
‘Is that why she’s refusing?’
It wasn't rational, but he could understand it if he looked at it that way. It wasn't strange to feel a sense of rejection at the thought of sharing the brother she loved, even if it led to the best possible future.
Yu-jin kept these thoughts in mind as he cleaned the house and prepared dinner. Fortunately, there was still time, and he believed he could resolve these concerns by talking them through with his sister.
Time passed. The sun outside began to sink slowly, and the time for his sister to return from work approached. Yu-jin waited, thinking he definitely needed to discuss this matter with her. Before long, he heard familiar footsteps in the apartment hallway.
‘She’s back.’
As Yu-jin stood up to greet his sister, the door lock beeped and opened. But Kang Yu-ri wasn't alone.
“Son.”
Yu-jin froze, his eyes widening. Standing next to Kang Yu-ri was a woman with a cold expression who looked very familiar.
“Mother…?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
It was Lee Seon-mi, the mother of the four siblings, and standing beside her was his sister, Kang Yu-ri, who looked visibly displeased.
While Yu-jin remained silent, sensing something was wrong, his mother spoke.
“May I come in?”
As her son, Yu-jin had no choice but to say yes.
*
“You’re keeping the place clean. That’s a relief.”
Her first words, spoken as she set down her handbag and slowly scanned the surroundings, were a genuine relief. It meant that Yu-jin’s efforts to clean and destroy any evidence after Kang Yu-dam’s previous visit had paid off. It meant his mother hadn't found even a shred of proof.
Yu-jin nodded, feeling inwardly relieved.
“I’m home all day, so the least I can do is keep it clean.”
“Doesn't Yuri help?”
“Yuri has to go to the office. I told her I’d handle it.”
“And because Oppa is better at cleaning?”
Kang Yu-ri, forcing a playful smile, hugged her mother familiarly. Lee Seon-mi embraced her youngest daughter in return, accepting the aegyo. The way she stroked and patted Yuri’s back, as if she were still a baby despite being an adult, was thick with maternal affection.
That was the kind of person their mother was. Her face was as set as a porcelain doll’s, and her emotions rarely showed in her actions or expressions, yet her motherhood was always vividly apparent.
Yu-jin inwardly respected his mother, which was why he often felt a sense of guilt even while engaging in incest with his sister at home. Even when he truly loved his sister and began to view her as a lover rather than just a sibling or a partner in a perverted act, his heart would ache at the thought of whether his mother would ever approve.
So, while he was glad to see his mother’s face after a long time, he also felt uneasy.
“Still, help him out once in a while. You’re family, after all.”
“Okay~”
When Yuri gave a playful, nasal reply, their mother pinched and pulled her cheeks affectionately. She seemed to have no inkling that these two could possibly be involved in an incestuous relationship.
Nevertheless, Yu-jin didn't let his guard down as he watched his mother. Why on earth had she come? Just because she felt like it? To say hello?
He didn't think so. The mother Yu-jin knew wasn't such a social or casual person. She surely had a purpose.
“What brings you here today? And with Yuri, too…”
“Do you not like it when your mother visits?”
“No, no. It’s not that…”
“I’m joking.”
He knew she was, but he still felt compelled to deny it. Yu-jin’s lips twitched as he looked at her.
“I had some business at the company, and your father asked me for a favor.”
“I see…?”
“Yes.”
Yu-jin glanced at Kang Yu-ri, who had been quiet the whole time. He momentarily widened his eyes at the look of suppressed venom on his sister’s face. By the time their mother looked down, the expression had vanished, but Yu-jin could guess the situation just from that brief glimpse.
No doubt, this was...
As Yu-jin watched his mother with growing tension, she spoke.
“The daughter of one of our business partners says she wants to meet my son.”
It was one of those things that had already happened several times before.
Yu-jin looked at his sister, who was staring at him with a cold, lifeless gaze, and answered.
“I’m a bit busy…”
“Even if you’re busy, make sure to meet her this time. It’s not like you’re seeing anyone anyway.”
There was no way out.