The Wife of My Girlfriend's Lover
Yeonwoo felt a strange sense of pride rather than anger as he watched the men staring at his girlfriend. His heart pounded, and he whispered to himself:
"That woman you're just staring at... she's my girlfriend."
He mocked the way they couldn't tear their eyes away from Hye-na.
"Last night, she was spread out on my bed, making filthy noises while I was on top of her. You have no idea what her face looked like in that bed. Or rather... you can only imagine. Heh."
As he basked in that satisfaction, the café door chimed open.
The man who entered appeared to be in his early to mid-forties. He wore a neatly pressed suit and silver-rimmed glasses. His appearance was clean, exuding a cold, authoritative aura that didn't fit the typical salaryman mold. He carried the air of a scholar or professional.
The moment the man glanced toward the counter, Hye-na's emotion value suddenly fluctuated, trembling unstably without settling on any number.
"What's going on?"
Yeonwoo immediately fixed his gaze on the man. As he focused, a translucent status window appeared above the man's head.
Emotion Value: 28 [Auto]
Name: Yeon Jeong-ho
Age: 43
Occupation: University Professor
Issue: Divorce from current wife, asset division
Yeon Jeong-ho? Jeong-ho? Ah!!!
As the name registered, Yeonwoo's chest tightened. The system had already revealed this man as the protagonist of Hye-na's Issue—the very person she'd been trying to "sort out." Yet he still hadn't let her go. Yeonwoo glared at him with murderous intent, though another question formed in his mind.
"Wait... but hold on..."
He scrutinized the status window hovering over the man.
"I've never seen this guy before today. Not once. No handshake, no physical contact at all. How is it that his name, age, occupation, and even the Issue that requires sex to unlock... are all displayed?"
Yeonwoo had only used men's status windows to check emotion values. While handshakes revealed names and ages, he'd never bothered unlocking further details. For women, jobs were unlocked through kissing, and critical Issues through sex—but with men, that wasn't possible, right?
And yet... all of this man's information was clearly displayed.
Yeonwoo considered the possibilities. The conditions for unlocking men's information must differ from women's. At least, kissing and sex weren't the keys.
"What makes this man different from others? What special condition did I fulfill to unlock his information?"
After running through countless scenarios, he landed on the most unpleasant yet plausible answer. His face stiffened.
"No way... A man who's had sex with a woman who's completed all information-unlocking conditions with me..."
The moment the thought struck, all the puzzle pieces clicked into place.
"That bastard... because he's had relations with Hye-na, who unlocked all conditions... his conditions are unlocked too..."
Yeonwoo's glare at Jeong-ho intensified.
Jeong-ho stood at the counter, slowly scanning the menu. His finger traced each item at an unnaturally sluggish pace—not from indecision, but to drag out time.
"So you were hiding here."
Hye-na didn't lift her head, tidying the machine beside her as she retorted sharply.
"Who's hiding? Can't you see I'm working?"
Jeong-ho smirked, leaning slightly toward the counter.
"If you'd just listen to my request, you wouldn't have to do this kind of work."
"If you're just going to say useless things, order and leave."
Hye-na lifted the coffee pot to avoid his gaze. The water-filled pot trembled slightly—her hand had tensed involuntarily.
"Alright."
Jeong-ho nodded smoothly, showing no intention to argue further. After a moment, he rummaged in his jacket pocket and dropped a folded slip of paper onto the counter.
Hye-na's hand froze.
"What is this?"
"You're not answering calls, and I think you blocked my KakaoTalk."
He said it casually, pretending to check for her coffee while subtly sliding the note toward her. A deliberate move.
Hye-na's eyes flickered. She glanced toward the window—where Yeonwoo sat. Their eyes met for a split second.
Startled, she widened her eyes and quickly looked away, her heart racing. She hastily grabbed the note from the counter.
"Read it... and get in touch."
Jeong-ho said nothing more. He picked up his order and walked out as if nothing had happened. The door chime sounded briefly.
Once the last customer left, Hye-na quietly hung the "CLOSED" sign on the glass door. Click. The café was now completely sealed off from the outside. The space fell silent, filled only by the sound of a cloth wiping wood grain and the dull friction of chairs being stacked.
Yeonwoo moved between tables, helping clean up without a word. Hye-na's expression was too serious to approach easily. She stood at the coffee machine, disassembling and washing the portafilter, but her movements were slower than usual, her gaze drifting into empty space. Only when the water stream lingered too long in one spot did she seem to realize she wasn't focusing.
"What's wrong?"
Yeonwoo asked cautiously.
"Hm?"
Hye-na startled, lifting her head.
"Ah, nothing. I'm just... tired, I think. Not feeling well."
Yeonwoo stepped behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist—not abruptly, but as he always did.
"How about we go home after this and have some chicken and beer?"
Hye-na leaned into his embrace for a moment, breathing deeply but not turning around.
"Oppa... I think I'll go home first today."
"Huh? Why?"
"My head hurts a little. And I'm not feeling well."
The excuse was too obvious. Yeonwoo instinctively sensed it wasn't just about her condition—there was guilt, the anxiety of hiding something that couldn't be exposed. That subtle tremor.
After a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke.
"About that male customer earlier."
He kept his tone as neutral as possible.
"Did you know him? You talked for quite a while."
"Huh?"
Hye-na's eyes widened in shock.
"The... guy in his forties. Sharp features..."
A brief silence. Hye-na lowered her gaze.
"Ah... he's a professor from my department."
"Oh?"
"Yes..."
"He came here to see you?"
"No."
Her reply was too quick.
"He didn't even know I worked here. He just... happened to drop by."
Yeonwoo didn't press further. He knew it was a lie without needing confirmation—and that pushing now would only hurt their feelings.
"Alright. Let's wait and see."
He decided internally.
"Whether she can truly sort everything out and come to me... or if she'll ultimately destroy herself..."
Then—
Knock... knock...
The door rattled. Despite the "CLOSED" sign clearly hanging, someone was shaking the handle with force.
Yeonwoo turned to Hye-na, who raised her shoulders slightly, her face confused—indicating she had no idea what was happening.
"Hello! Just a moment!"
A woman's voice. Sharp, yet strangely refined.
Yeonwoo nodded reassuringly at Hye-na and walked toward the door. He unlocked it and opened it slightly.
The woman standing outside immediately drew attention. Even to Yeonwoo, who knew nothing about women's fashion, she looked quite elegant. A cream-colored long coat over a neat suit, hair falling in soft waves below her shoulders, high-quality shoes with a modest heel, and a handbag with no visible logo. Everything was impeccably put together.
But what overwhelmed everything was her face. Beneath delicate eyebrows, her eyes shone coldly yet sexily. Her high nose bridge and thin but defined lips gave her an air of pride and nobility without effort. The slight upturn of her lips seemed to tempt the viewer. Just standing there silently, she radiated an aura that made ordinary men feel instantly overpowered.
"What can I help you with? We're already closed."
"I know. I wanted to briefly meet someone who works here."
Her gaze swept past Yeonwoo and locked onto Hye-na behind him. In that instant, Hye-na's emotion value jumped sharply from 50 to 55.
"Hye-na. That's you, right? I knew it... it was you."
"Ah..."
Hye-na parted her lips, barely managing to speak.
"Yes... Oh, long time no see..."
That single exchange was enough. No further words were needed to explain their relationship.
"Samo-nim..."
"Samo-nim? Could she be... Professor Yeon Jeong-ho's wife?"