The Worst Encounter 2
The spot Shin Jaewoo had swept through like a storm. The woman called Manager Hwang cautiously gauged Han Taeho's mood.
“Shopping…… shall we do it?”
She'd roughly explained the situation. But that didn't erase the rudeness aimed at Han Taeho. If he blew up, she'd have to take it. Her insides were burning, but fortunately—or unfortunately—Han Taeho wasn't in the headspace for that right now.
Kim Hyeju's a poisoned apple.
The shopping was doomed before it even began. He wasn't in the mood. No, mood wasn't the issue. Right now, all he could think about was how to ditch Kim Hyeju.
So when Manager Hwang asked about shopping, Han Taeho pondered.
How do I dump this girl?
Obviously, spending another dime on Kim Hyeju felt like a waste. His interest had already cooled, and now she was someone he wanted to put as much distance from as possible. Kim Hyeju was thinking along the same lines.
Thought I traded a junker for a luxury ride…… What the hell. Jaewoo oppa was the real deal.
A situation where they resented each other. Shin Jaewoo. Without him, one could have been his fiancée, the other his friend—both maintaining a fine relationship with none other than Royal Road Shin Jaewoo himself.
“Hoo.”
So Han Taeho let out a frustrated sigh instead of answering Manager Hwang. He was torn.
Should I just tell her now that we can't go to the party together?
But that bruised his pride.
Damn. It's like admitting I lost to that bastard Jaewoo.
Men have their pride. Of course, he had no intention of flaunting it in front of Shin Jaewoo. He knew it. The Royal Road product wasn't for just anyone.
A minimum deposit of 100 billion won.
On the surface, tying up 100 billion was a huge outlay, but his parents could swing it. Yet Panta Bank hadn't offered the Royal Road product to his family. At least a trillion, he guessed. He didn't know the exact threshold. But Panta Bank only pitched Royal Road to people whose assets were on another level entirely.
Damn it.
If Shin Jaewoo was Royal Road, Han Taeho couldn't afford to oppose him. But that was different from letting Kim Hyeju walk all over him here. Even kings get cursed behind closed doors. He'd texted Shin Jaewoo like a whipped dog, all apologies and quick goodbyes, but now he was acting tough.
“This sucks.”
Manager Hwang flinched at his outburst. Kim Hyeju's gaze shifted to him too.
“……Let's just shop.”
Han Taeho said to Kim Hyeju.
“You know I made a big choice because of you, oppa?”
Kim Hyeju played the guilt card. Han Taeho's fist clenched at her words.
You're the one messing up my life right now.
Neither acknowledged their own faults. That was the villain mindset. Villains never realize they're the bad guys. Kim Hyeju glanced aside, thinking.
What was that RL thing she mentioned earlier?
She'd seen it clearly. Han Taeho's face had changed when he heard it. She could tell it was something big.
Not just ordinary.
Even a rough guess made it obvious. It meant Shin Jaewoo belonged to some elite club. The shopping continued. Manager Hwang gave the maximum discounts within her power. The utmost courtesy. If anything, she put even more effort in than with Shin Jaewoo.
No need to stir up trouble.
Truth be told, it was Han Taeho's parents who were the big shots, not him. But they were stingy spenders. Han Taeho, on the other hand, was loose with cash.
Weak bully the strong, strong bully the weak.
He bowed to the powerhouse Shin Jaewoo, but his vanity ran deep.
“……The previous customer took this one.”
“I'll take it. No—something more expensive.”
Manager Hwang smiled inwardly.
Just as I thought.
She could read the tension between them. Scratch that itch, and sales would climb. Han Taeho swiped his parents' card without hesitation. But inside, unlike his bravado, he was rotting.
Damn. Gotta blow money here?
Above all, buying for Kim Hyeju stung. She picked up on his vibe.
This pisses me off.
She felt more wronged and bitter than ever. Han Taeho's reaction, and worst of all, letting Shin Jaewoo slip away. She'd dumped him purely because he was broke. Resentment toward him boiled up.
Promised marriage but lied to the end?
Revenge ignited. Kim Hyeju realized tonight's party was crucial. Han Taeho had already half-dumped her. Shin Jaewoo was gone. She needed a new sugar daddy. Ideally, someone more solid than Shin Jaewoo. Here, their interests aligned.
“……Oppa.”
“What?”
“The party we're going to…… there'll be bigger fish than Jaewoo oppa, right?”
Kim Hyeju's face burned with grim determination, her pupils flickering with vengeful fire. Seeing it, Han Taeho's mind raced with calculations.
She's sharp, at least. Yeah. Same age as me, so Royal Road or not, can't be that impressive.
His eyes gleamed, and Kim Hyeju pressed on.
“Maybe I'll try being a yeocam this time?”
Reel in a big fish there, go yeocam. If the guy's decent, maybe even shack up.
What an airhead.
Han Taeho sneered inwardly. But it sorted his thoughts. He knew he couldn't stick close to Shin Jaewoo anyway. So focus on what he could do now. With that, they headed to the party. And approached the host.
“……Hyungnim.”
The man who kept Han Taeho's family afloat. Kim Hyeju's face soured for a split second before she fixed it. He wasn't even decently handsome by flattery. A balding middle-aged guy. Early 50s on looks, early 40s on paper.
“Oh? Taeho, you made it? Ooh, who's the girl?”
“Ah. Just a dongsaeng I know.”
“What, just a dongsaeng?”
“Yeah.”
Han Taeho's tone was firm.
“She wants to try yeocam, so I brought her.”
He stuck to the script they'd agreed on. Kim Hyeju flashed her sales smile.
“Hi! I'm Hyeju!”
“Ooh? Newbie yeocam? Taeho, you starting an agency or what?”
The man chuckled at the introduction. He and Han Taeho got along—on the surface, at least. And it was genuine enough.
Bringing her along…… looking for a sponsor, huh?
Kim Dong-su knew Han Taeho well. Like the son of a subcontractor(?) boss. They'd hung out since Han was a kid. Quick on the uptake, did what he was told. So Kim Dong-su decided to do him a solid(?).
“Hey, perfect timing. Taeho, since you're here, let's make introductions.”
“Introductions……?”
“There's an RL coming to this party. Last-minute thing yesterday…… but I hear he's around your age?”
He should've caught on here. But Han Taeho didn't. He grinned.
“RL at our age? Wow, must be one hell of a hyungnim.”
“Keke. Still think money makes the man, huh?”
“Isn't that how it works, hyungnim?”
Kim Dong-su nodded at that.
“You're right.”
An RL, after all. While they chatted, Kim Hyeju had other thoughts.
Same age as Taeho oppa? Then…… maybe aim for him over this guy?
Same value, pick the prettier face. RL again. Every mention made her feel like she was peeking into the upper crust—and just knowing elevated her own status. Then Kim Dong-su spoke up.
“Heard another RL joined AsiaTV. Pretty exciting. Don't know who exactly…… but we set up a meet through Panta Bank's VIP division.”
“If you invite us, it's an honor, hyungnim.”
Han Taeho smiled.
“Yeah, yeah. Gotta have you there for the fun.”
“Haha, right, hyungnim?”
That clicked Han Taeho's role. Nothing new.
Fuck. Time to play clown again.
Clown. With all these streamers around, why him? But he couldn't refuse. That was the gap between him and Kim Dong-su. And maybe between him and Shin Jaewoo too……
Guess I bend for that bastard Jaewoo.
He'd already bent via text, but groveling in person felt different.
“Oh. Says he's here.”
Kim Dong-su checked his phone. He stood and walked. Him and the Han Taeho couple(?) headed to the entrance. The three soon faced the newcomer.
“……!”
The worst encounter 2.
“Ooh, the RL's young as promised. Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Dong-su.”
Kim Dong-su opened with genuine politeness, unlike with Han Taeho. Moments ago, just a dad-joke uncle. Now, a proper gentleman.
“……I'm Shin Jaewoo.”
The man shook Kim Dong-su's offered hand firmly.