Faded Ties with Kim Dong-su and Han Taeho
Shin Jaewoo no longer cared about those two. Any lingering regrets had completely vanished.
Why him of all people...?
What? The guy you mentioned earlier was Jaewoo oppa? And that big-boobed bitch is stuck to him again. ...That spot should've been mine.
The uncomfortable ones were the pair: Han Taeho and Kim Hyeju.
Lee Sooyoung, who had entered alongside Shin Jaewoo, did glance at them briefly. But that was it—no further reaction.
"This is my partner, Lee Sooyoung."
Shin Jaewoo introduced her without specifying she worked at Panta Bank. Just partner.
Of course, Kim Dong-su knew her true identity, but he still responded politely to Shin Jaewoo's introduction.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Lee Sooyoung."
Kim Dong-su wore a subtle smile. He roughly guessed that Shin Jaewoo was interested in her.
Looks like he likes her. He said he just signed up, so he probably doesn't fully grasp his own status yet.
He knew why a woman like Lee Sooyoung would be assigned to a Royal Road client. It was Panta Bank's version of a honey trap. So Royal Road clients kept a polite distance from such staffers. After all, they weren't their employees.
"Haha, please, come this way to your seats. Oh, and this is... Han Taeho, a little bro I know, who's thinking of debuting as a yeocam this time... What was your name again?"
Shin Jaewoo introduced his group. Now it was Kim Dong-su's turn.
Han Taeho's face twisted awkwardly at his words. He hesitated, wondering if he should act like he knew Shin Jaewoo.
But Kim Hyeju didn't hold back.
"Ha? You go shopping and now you wanna come here?"
She glared at Shin Jaewoo and the woman beside him. It was too frustrating.
That should've been my spot!
Her anger boiled over, making her tone sharp. What made her even more furious and pathetic was Shin Jaewoo's attitude.
He tilted his head quizzically.
"Oh right, we bumped into each other at the department store earlier? I don't think I caught your name then..."
He played it completely oblivious. Maybe it was his way of being considerate.
Before Kim Hyeju could say more, Han Taeho stepped in front of her.
"Hahaha, yeah, what a crazy coincidence. We saw you at the department store earlier. I'm Han Taeho, hyungnim."
He realized Shin Jaewoo had decided to pretend not to know them. And he was somewhat grateful for it.
This is him giving us an out.
He'd initially thought of pitting Kim Dong-su against Shin Jaewoo by handing over the time-bomb that was Kim Hyeju. But not now.
If I do it, I gotta talk to Dong-su hyung first.
Kim Dong-su eyed them suspiciously.
What the hell is this?
He got the gist. This woman, Kim Hyeju, had some connection to Shin Jaewoo. Not knowing the full story, he never imagined Shin Jaewoo had been dumped.
I thought he was some naive guy... Did he eat up this wannabe yeocam chick?
A smirk escaped him. He said just one thing to Han Taeho.
"Taeho."
"Yes, Dong-su hyungnim."
"You should've vetted her properly before bringing her."
It was a poisoned apple of a remark, scolding him for dragging in someone like Kim Hyeju who could ruin the vibe.
Han Taeho flinched.
"I'm sorry, hyungnim."
He bowed his head. No room for pride now—he had to grovel.
"Tsk tsk."
Kim Dong-su clicked his tongue at the sight.
"What should we do?"
He turned to Shin Jaewoo.
Shin Jaewoo glanced at Kim Hyeju. She was shrinking back again, looking scared now that the mood had soured.
I always spoiled her too much.
That explained why she was acting out like this. She knew she was pretty and had always played the queen wherever she went.
So she probably didn't expect this... but she never learned to read the room.
Just a childish brat. That was all.
"If it's uncomfortable, she'll figure out somewhere else to go on her own."
That was all Shin Jaewoo said. And with that, he truly felt it.
No more... no emotions left at all.
Truth be told, his romantic feelings might have died the moment she betrayed him. The lingering attachment wasn't really about her.
I want to get married.
That was why he'd clung to Kim Hyeju before—wanting to build a family. But looking back, it was foolish.
Thinking of marrying a girl like this.
If marriage was the goal, he should've cut her off cleanly from the start.
"Fair enough."
Kim Dong-su let it slide.
"Shall we head in, then?"
From there, things got truly entertaining—a gathering of big spenders, streamers, pay-up agencies, Excel crew members, and more.
But nothing particularly special happened. It was just a casual meetup.
Shin Jaewoo didn't glance at anyone else. The scene right in front of him was too amusing.
"Cheers to you, hyungnims!"
Han Taeho. Beer glass topped with a shot of soju. He slammed his forehead onto the table.
Thud.
The soju glass, balanced on chopsticks, tumbled into the beer from the vibration. He shook beers vigorously before pouring, putting on a full performance.
"Taeho knows how to liven things up, right?"
Kim Dong-su asked Shin Jaewoo.
Shin Jaewoo chuckled at the sight.
"...Yeah, seems like it."
"The kid's family has decent money, but he spends way more than he has."
"Is that so?"
Han Taeho was a big spender, sure. Stingy with others, but his vanity led to frequent splurges.
Just hype him a bit, and he'll open his wallet on his own...
A sucker. That's how he'd been the boss among his peers.
That was Han Taeho. And naturally, Shin Jaewoo had assumed he was loaded. He was, in fact.
"Not poor by any means. Owns some buildings, parents are solid... but his spending's off the charts."
"Extravagant habits?"
They chatted freely right in front of him. Han Taeho's face flushed red.
"Come on, hyungnim. It's harsh saying that in front of people. Anyway, hyungnims, have a shot each."
Bootlicking in front of the Shin Jaewoo he'd ignored, and having his image trashed—it wounded Han Taeho's pride deeply.
Fuck.
How had he ended up like this? He masked his rising fury with a grin.
Kim Dong-su smirked at it, then spoke after picking up the glass Han Taeho poured.
"Han Taeho's grown a lot. Now he's even thinking of interrupting when this hyungnim talks."
"Nah, hyungnim. You know you're the one I respect most in the world."
"Heh."
Kim Dong-su laughed. That's why he kept him around.
Better than most girls.
Kim Dong-su wasn't a good guy either. He lorded over Han Taeho to show off.
A relatively well-off guy like Han Taeho turned into his lapdog. But here, that didn't fly with one person.
I should befriend a guy like this.
Another Royal Road client like himself. He still didn't grasp the full extent.
"Anyway, this punk Taeho lives off his parents' dime. I get why they'd let him blow it like this."
He'd known Han Taeho flaunted his parents' money for a while.
"Parents run a solid business, but handing over this much cash? There's a reason."
"...?"
Shin Jaewoo didn't quite get it yet.
Grinning slyly, he said,
"It's 'cause he keeps guys like us entertained. Right, Taeho?"
"Haha, hyungnim, you mean that? I gotta use the card a bit to serve great hyungnims like you who keep my family fed. That's why I respect you all so much."
His eyes met Shin Jaewoo's mid-sentence, and he flinched.
So this is the kind of guy he is.
Shin Jaewoo's gaze seemed to say exactly that.
Damn it.
His stomach churned. The guy who'd always acted tough, the one Shin Jaewoo had dismissed—now staring at his pathetic depths.
Then Kim Dong-su piped up as if struck by a new thought.
"Right. Oh, if you're looking to buy a building, tell this kid. His mom's in real estate in Gangnam."
Real estate office. That's what they called it these days.
He'd heard something like that before.
Dad runs his own business too.
Vague college rumors: dad managed a factory or something. Mom ran a real estate office in Gangnam. That's why Han Taeho was rich.
His parents were rich, not him.
But apparently not here.
"That lady handles things cleanly. Taeho, even I'm plugging your family's business."
Kim Dong-su slung an arm around him.
Han Taeho forced a smile.
"Yes, hyungnim. Thank you so much."
His words said thanks, but his eyes were dying inside.
And Shin Jaewoo. Watching it all, a fun idea crossed his mind, curling his lips into a smirk.
"Really? Funny you mention it—I've been thinking of buying a building. Mind if I ask Taeho for a favor?"