Secret
Kim Minseo glanced around cautiously. Sitting right next to her was Lee Haein. And across from them, Shin Jaewoo. It was an utterly unexpected trio to run into here. But what piqued her curiosity most was...
What the hell is their relationship that they'd come to a place like this?
Her cousin brother bore the brunt of her piercing stare. She'd heard recently that his company had vanished—not that he'd been let go, but that the whole thing had been dismantled and dissolved. And that wasn't all. The fiancée he'd been set to marry had run off with one of his college buddies. From the outside, it looked like the universe had dealt him the rawest possible hand.
And now he's here with a girl?
Kim Minseo's eyes flicked to the woman beside him, Lee Sooyoung. Her face was small and delicately pointed, with a fresh, innocent vibe and skin so pale it practically glowed. Her hair was swept up, revealing an alluring neckline, and her chest—unlike Minseo's own—was impressively full...
Ah, no, that's not the point.
It looked so soft, so tempting to poke with a finger...
Sip. Get a grip.
Then it hit her—this was no ordinary gathering. So she asked,
"Come to think of it... how the heck are you even here, oppa?"
This was a party for the big shots. She couldn't imagine Shin Jaewoo, who'd lost his company, fitting in here. Her eyes automatically slid sideways.
"Oh, is the noona next to you the big shot who got invited?"
It was a toss-out based on the assumption that he couldn't possibly be the VIP. But other possibilities crossed her mind.
From what I saw him doing in my room before...
Maybe he'd been blowing his savings on stupid stuff like that lately. If so, she'd slap some sense into him. A jobless guy who couldn't even save his company—what was he thinking, wasting money instead of hustling for work?
Shin Jaewoo gave a wry smile.
We've come this far... guess I have to spill it?
Kim Minseo was grilling him, which meant she'd already forgotten what he'd said earlier. He'd even asked her about it—how he'd gotten the invite. For her to ask again like this... or maybe she was misunderstanding.
Like, thinking I'm some broke nobody playing big shot with my savings at hostess bars.
That seemed even more likely. No way he could dodge it now. If he let the misunderstanding stand, it'd get back to her mom—his aunt—for sure. Ever since his parents passed, she'd stepped in as family for him. Even as an adult, he still felt a bit intimidated by her.
"...The one who got invited—the VIP—is me."
Predictable reaction. The moment the words left his mouth, Kim Minseo's eyes sharpened like daggers.
Where the hell would you get money like that?
"...I've come into some serious cash lately."
"Yeah, right. Must be your severance pay."
She seemed to be picturing a modest payout. But there was something she didn't know.
The company got dismantled—severance? From what?
Was what happened to him even "quitting" in the first place?
"Nothing to do with quitting."
"What, then? You win the lottery or something?"
Closer to the truth this time.
Kinda like that. A huge sum I never expected, all at once.
But still not quite.
Shin Jaewoo shook his head with another wry smile.
"...I'll tell you later."
He'd already been caught here. No reason not to tell family like Minseo eventually. The issue was the others present.
"Fine, whatever. I'll let it slide for now."
Whether she got the nuance or not, she dropped it. Truth was, she had more she wanted to pry into today.
"So, oppa, what have you been up to that you're meeting bankers for 'business'?"
Shin Jaewoo had just explained Lee Sooyoung's job amid the grilling. He shook his head.
"This big bro here's loaded, so the bank's VIP team dispatched her."
"What kinda bullshit?"
Even facts went unbelieved. Shin Jaewoo chuckled.
"I'll explain later."
"She's not really your girlfriend?"
"I told you no. Keep pushing it, and it's rude to Sooyoung."
"Oh, is it? Hehe, sorry!"
Kim Minseo flashed a cute smile and apologized to Lee Sooyoung, who waved it off.
"No, it's fine."
It was fine, and even if it wasn't, it had to be.
She's family to a Royal Road client.
The bank couldn't check family ties. Sure, they could hire PIs or old errand services, but background-checking VIPs was risky. All they had were account records. This was new intel.
Good call saying I'd partner with Jaewoo.
She was learning his personal connections—Kim Hyeju to Kim Minseo. And judging by things, Lee Haein too.
But right now, Lee Haein mattered most.
"...I never imagined seeing you, writer-nim, at a place like this. Anyway, if you're still writing, could you let me read something sometime?"
Lee Haein figured Minseo's curiosity was sated enough. Now she voiced her own interest. Shin Jaewoo flinched at the words.
I haven't written anything.
He read novels plenty. He'd worked in the industry, after all. And the company he'd been at? Minseo knew it well.
"Oh yeah, oppa. Ask noona to hook you up with a job there."
"...What?"
Shin Jaewoo looked baffled. As far as he knew, Haein was an employee too—no power to hire.
"Noona runs that web novel company."
"Yeah, but contracts with writers aren't 'jobs.'"
"Whatever about writers. Didn't you used to work at the same company as noona?"
There was a thing called pure evil. Right now, Kim Minseo felt exactly like that.
I gotta sew that brat's mouth shut...
He wanted to stay "writer-nim" to Haein. But mentioning his old job made it sound like he'd quit writing. And honestly, he had.
He'd loved web novels and had writing experience, which landed him the gig—not that he'd given up.
"Don't spout nonsense..."
"Oh my. Writer-nim, you got a job in our industry recently?"
"...It went bankrupt, though."
"Huh?"
"The company went under."
No point hiding it now. Shin Jaewoo came clean to Lee Haein.
"So now...?"
But here he fibbed.
"Figured since the company's gone anyway, I'd give writing another shot."
"Really? Oh, that's great!"
Lee Haein clapped in delight, her eyes sparkling as she leaned toward him. While Shin Jaewoo was captivated, the other two picked up the conversation.
"You're Jaewoo's little sister... right?"
"Yep! Um... if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"
Kim Minseo had tons she wanted to ask Lee Sooyoung anyway. This beauty popping up next to her cousin out of nowhere.
Why would a banker get involved with oppa for 'work' anyway...?
That was the big one. But first, the basics. Lee Sooyoung smiled and answered.
"I'm a 2000 baby."
Twenties. Young enough to still count as a kid, almost. Though Minseo was even younger.
"Hehe, then talk casually to me! I'm a 2006 baby, so feel free."
"Whoa, 2006?"
2025 now—meant she'd just turned adult this year. Lee Sooyoung eyed her in surprise.
"Yeah, I stream. Minseo-jjang. Come watch sometime!"
Minseo pitched herself—the first sale of the night. Lee Sooyoung's response was scripted.
"Of course. I definitely will."
"Then can I call you noona too?"
"Go ahead."
"Eyy, drop the formal speech first, noona."
Minseo teased her for not switching to casual yet. Lee Sooyoung glanced sideways at the words—VIP family meant she was VIP too. Tough to get chummy without clearance. Training had warned about VIPs who hated staff getting too close to family.
-Some Royal Road clients see themselves as nobility. They treat us like servants, and hate it if servants fraternize with family.
That's what the trainer had said. No signs of that from Shin Jaewoo, though.
"Sh-should I...?"
She tried casual cautiously. Minseo caught her peeking at him.
Oh ho? What's this?
She got it now. Unlike with Kim Hyeju, he held the reins here. Unthinkable back then.
Our spineless oppa wrapping a girl around his finger?
Or maybe they were still new, so she was being careful? Curiosity won out.
"But hey."
"Yeah, shoot."
Lee Sooyoung seemed comfy now.
"Noona, how'd you two meet?"
"Huh? Well..."
She glanced at Shin Jaewoo. Then flicked toward Lee Haein. Finally, she spoke.
"...If Jaewoo doesn't want it out, I can't say."
An odd phrasing. Minseo misread their dynamic.
They're crushing!
Sooyoung liked him, waiting for him to claim her as girlfriend? Minseo had asked how they met, but that detail vanished from her head. And Lee Haein?
What the...?
It bugged her. That glance from Sooyoung—like Haein's presence blocked her from spilling.
Yeah, like she and Jaewoo shared a secret. You don't get to hear it.