Chapter 134: Side Story - Younger Sister (17)
Chapter 134: Side Story - Younger Sister (17)
“I’ll be back in a moment. I need to use the bathroom…”
“Go ahead.”
Normally, Lee Seon-mi would have teased him, asking how old he was to still be asking his mother for permission to go to the bathroom, but given the gravity of the situation, she let her son go without a word.
Since she had essentially just told him to go on an arranged marriage meeting out of the blue, it was only natural that he would have a lot on his mind.
Besides, wasn't her son, Kang Yu-jin, quite the shy type? Although Seon-mi still found her children difficult to read at times, she prided herself on knowing her son reasonably well.
The youngest, Yu-ri, was charming and sweet, but she never showed her true feelings, so Seon-mi didn't know her that well.
Kang Yu-min was even shyer than Yu-jin and hardly ever spoke to her mother properly.
Furthermore, the eldest daughter, Kang Yu-dam, was on bad terms with her, so the only one she could claim to be close to and understand was her son.
In Seon-mi’s eyes, Kang Yu-jin’s current behavior was just his typical shyness. Though her conclusion was far from the truth, Seon-mi finished her rationalization and stroked the hair of Yu-ri, who was fiddling with her smartphone on her lap.
“Don’t you need to change your clothes?”
“Huh? I’ll change once Oppa comes out.”
Her voice sounded a bit subdued. Unaware of the reason, Seon-mi quietly continued to stroke her daughter’s hair. Meanwhile, Kang Yu-ri, lying flat so her mother couldn't see, was messaging her brother.
[Oppa]
[What are you going to do?]
Normally, she would have used emoticons, but the situation was too serious for that. Kang Yu-ri tapped at the screen, trying her best not to let her grim expression show.
“Who are you messaging so intently?”
“Hmm? Oh, nothing. I’m just writing in my diary.”
“Ah.”
As a mother who had once been scolded for peeking at her child’s diary, Lee Seon-mi quickly abandoned any hope of catching a glimpse and focused on stroking her daughter’s hair. Without even needing to check if her ruse had worked, Yu-ri saw her brother’s reply.
[There’s really no other way.]
[Yu-ri.]
She didn't even have to ask what he meant. The moment she heard her mother’s words, Yu-ri had immediately thought of the same solution.
Yu-ri was intuitive; she could instinctively come up with the most suitable plan for any given situation.
That quick wit was what made Kang Yu-ri a socially adept and skillful person, and she usually followed those gut instincts.
But this time was an exception. She felt a wave of revulsion at the method she had thought of, and that hesitation made her fingers wander over the keyboard.
[I’ll message Ye-ji.]
This time, her eyes wavered. Honestly, she hated the idea.
She should have felt relieved that it was at least a friend, but even so, the mere thought of sharing her brother planted a deep sense of rejection in her heart.
And yet.
Yu-ri’s reason and intuition whispered that it was the right thing to do.
That was what upset her. Kang Yu-ri forced her expression to remain neutral as she replied.
[What are you going to say to her?]
The method was important. Kang Yu-jin replied about five minutes later.
[I’m going to ask her to help.]
To help. It was a neutral answer.
Just as Yu-ri bowed her head in frustration, the door opened. Kang Yu-jin stepped out.
“That took a while.”
“Actually… I was making a few calls.”
“Calls?”
Lee Seon-mi quirked an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised. Facing his mother’s cold expression, Kang Yu-jin nodded.
“What you mentioned earlier… the blind date?”
“I thought of it more as an arranged meeting, but yes.”
“I don’t think I can go.”
At his firm refusal, Lee Seon-mi stared at her son as if demanding a reason. Kang Yu-jin struggled with all his might not to buckle under his mother’s icy gaze.
“You said it earlier, didn't you? That I wasn't seeing anyone anyway.”
“I did.”
“Actually, I am.”
While his mother was stunned by the unexpected revelation, Kang Yu-jin nodded.
He stole a glance at his sister, who looked subtly displeased.
“I just called her over. And… she’s someone you know, Mother.”
“Is that so?”
Seeing his mother’s bewildered expression, Kang Yu-jin nodded again.
“It’s Yu-ri’s friend, Shin Ye-ji.”
“Hello…”
Shin Ye-ji entered the house, greeting them shyly.
Lee Seon-mi looked at the small girl, her expressionless face masking a whirlwind of thoughts.
It was definitely a familiar face. Yu-ri often brought her friends over, and this girl had frequently come by alone to pick Yu-ri up.
Sometimes, she had even come over by herself to study with Yu-ri. Her face was not unknown to her at all.
Her personality seemed to match her appearance—innocent, simple, and timid. Lee Seon-mi didn't know many people like that, but she didn't get the impression that this girl had some hidden side that contradicted her looks.
In other words, she wasn't bad. She wasn't bad, but…
‘I’m not entirely satisfied, either.’
The fact that she didn't know her well played a big part. She only knew her as Yu-ri’s friend, and while she knew they were exceptionally close, she had never heard a word about her dating her son. It wasn't exactly something that needed to be kept a secret.
“Is it true?”
Seon-mi asked point-blank. Shin Ye-ji, who was taking off her shoes, flinched and her eyes went wide.
“Are you really dating my son?”
Under that suspicious gaze, Ye-ji’s eyes darted around as if she were about to have a fit of hiccups. Her gaze shifted from Kang Yu-ri to Kang Yu-jin.
Kang Yu-ri stood behind her mother with a cold expression, while Kang Yu-jin met her gaze with a troubled look.
“…Mother.”
In the end, it was Kang Yu-jin who stepped forward. As he moved to partially shield Ye-ji and block his mother’s view, Seon-mi’s eyes softened ever so slightly.
“Are you doubting me?”
“Yes.”
“No, why would you doubt this of all things…?”
“Because it’s the first I’ve heard of it. You never even told your mother.”
She wasn't wrong. And it was only natural for her to be skeptical.
Because it was, in fact, a lie. Kang Yu-jin had been in a relationship with Kang Yu-ri all this time, not Shin Ye-ji.
But he had a plan.
“I’ve been seeing Ye-ji for a long time. Well, to be precise… we only officially started dating recently.”
“…And?”
“I used to go out or go places often, right? Yu-ri came along too.”
Anyone who knew the truth would have realized the incestuous nature of Yu-ri and Yu-jin’s relationship then and there, but their mother didn't suspect a thing.
Common sense dictated it. What mother would ever imagine her son and daughter were sleeping together?
So, naturally, her thoughts flowed in one direction.
“…So you were meeting Ye-ji then.”
It was as if a light had finally turned on for Lee Seon-mi.
Often, these siblings had gone out together so frequently that she wondered if they weren't too close.
While having a good relationship was certainly a plus, they sometimes showed an intimacy that felt excessive.
Every time that happened, Seon-mi had felt a lingering sense of unease in her heart. It was as if they were going out on dates.
But now, she felt like she had the answer. It was a real date.
Not a date between siblings, but a date where one sibling tagged along.
Seon-mi looked at Shin Ye-ji with a peculiar gaze.
Her face was small, and her body was petite. Certain parts of her were quite developed, but the overall impression was one of smallness.
Her cute face and warm expression felt like the polar opposite of the type of women usually found in their household.
Though they shared the common denominator of being feminine, they felt worlds apart.
She was the complete opposite of the confident, sophisticated image of womanhood shared by Kang Yu-dam, Kang Yu-min, Kang Yu-ri, and Lee Seon-mi herself.
‘Well, he does have two older sisters…’
It was a point Seon-mi couldn't help but find logical.
“I see. Then, I suppose the arranged meeting is off?”
“Yes. It would be… unfair to Ye-ji.”
“That’s true. I’m sorry. I didn't even notice.”
“No, no. It’s because I kept it a secret…”
Lee Seon-mi let out a resigned sigh and stood up. It was a pity. She had really liked the other girl, but there was nothing she could do if he was already taken.
Seon-mi walked toward the entrance, wondering how she should phrase the rejection to the other party. Kang Yu-jin exchanged a look with his sister and followed her.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes. It would be uncomfortable for your girlfriend if your mother stayed.”
“You could stay longer…”
“No, it’s fine—”
Seon-mi, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped. The tangled thoughts in her head clicked together, and she stood still, reflecting on why she had stopped.
Something was bothering her. She felt a sudden sense that she was missing something important.
But what on earth could it be?
Seon-mi couldn't easily put her finger on it. To be precise, the truth was so twisted that it was impossible to reach through conventional reasoning.
The momentary flash of inspiration vanished as quickly as it had come, and she merely voiced the vague doubt that remained.
“But why did you hide it? You could have told your mother about a simple relationship.”
It was a question Kang Yu-jin hadn't anticipated. He froze for a moment, and just as Kang Yu-ri was about to jump in—
“Th-that’s because… I started dating Jin-i Oppa when I was still in high school…”
Shin Ye-ji stepped up quickly. Her voice was soft and quiet, but she spoke with a firm presence.
She faced her future mother-in-law with an excuse that was impossible not to fall for.
“The image of an adult dating a high schooler isn't very good, and I… I wanted to keep it a secret from my family. So I begged him to keep it a secret…”
She hesitated, but she said what needed to be said. At Ye-ji’s explanation, Lee Seon-mi blinked as if processing the information.
It was a plausible story. Although a lingering, unpleasant feeling that she was still missing something remained.
She was a rational person. Eventually, she had no choice but to nod.
“I see. Well… I suppose it couldn't be helped. I understand.”
With a deep sigh, the mother walked back toward the front door. Lee Seon-mi put on her shoes, her outfit clearly outlining her silhouette, and tucked her bag under her arm with a faint smile.
“Let’s have a proper talk later. Alright?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Then, I’m off. Call me often. Don’t skip meals. And the cleaning…”
“I know, I know. I’ve got it.”
“Honestly, this boy.”
At the sight of her son waving her off with an overtly annoyed gesture, the mother let out a faint smile and stepped outside.
Even after that voluptuous figure disappeared behind the door, the silence persisted.
The three of them exchanged glances, unable to let down their guard.
“…We need to talk.”
Kang Yu-ri was the first to speak.