Chapter 39: Kim Hyeju's Blind Date - "Why Are Those Guys Coming Here?"
Kim Hyeju's body trembled. A bizarre delusion gripped her.
'Are those guys here to sabotage my blind date right now?'
Both Shin Jaewoo and Han Taeho could technically be called Kim Hyeju's ex-boyfriends if you really thought about it. And now here they were, showing up at her blind date spot. How could she not misunderstand the situation(?)
She couldn't hold back her anger.
'Now they suddenly have regrets about me? And they chase me all the way to someone else's blind date?'
Her mood soured. And amid all that, what really blew her mind was their attitudes. More precisely, Han Taeho's behavior.
"Hyungnim, what would you like? If you're staying here, I'll go order for you."
The guy who used to ignore her as a poor nobody.
-What are you gonna do marrying that poor girl? You really think you'll be satisfied with a broke wife?
Why the hell was the guy who'd said stuff like that suddenly changing his tune?
And the more this went on, the more a certain thought crept in.
'I shouldn't have dumped Jaewoo-oppa back then...'
Regret. But she couldn't pin the blame on herself.
'This is all his fault from the start. He should've just told me the truth from the beginning!'
The truth being that he had a ton of money. What kind of test was that supposed to be—testing the woman he was about to marry? She hated him for not trusting her. And naturally, it stung that she couldn't claim the spot right beside him anymore.
Tears welled up in her eyes from the resentment.
"H-Hyeju-ssi?"
The man across from her panicked at Kim Hyeju's reaction. Kim Minhyuk. A guy who'd become a lawyer thanks to his smarts. That very background left him short on experience with women. Still, he had some sense.
'She's not even looking at me...?'
He quickly pinpointed where her gaze was landing. And there he found them—two guys seated at one table. He'd caught himself glancing that way right when one of them had stepped out, maybe to the bathroom or to grab a drink.
Realization dawned.
'That guy's the one.'
Jealousy flared in Kim Minhyuk's eyes. The man seemed uninterested, turning his head away. Kim Hyeju, looking pissed about it, stood up before Minhyuk could even grab her hand and headed straight over.
"Here you go, hyungnim."
Han Taeho's attitude grew even more deferential. They hadn't even signed the building contract yet. He'd only conveyed his intentions through Oh Miyoung. And that alone had flipped Han Taeho's demeanor once more.
He could tell the moment they locked eyes.
'He really does look like a little brother now.'
He might even think the guy was kinda cute. His antics were endearing in a way. But more than that, this place.
Shin Jaewoo hesitated as he started to step into the cafe.
"I knew you were loaded, hyungnim, but I didn't expect it to be this level... Hm? What's up, hyungnim?"
Han Taeho, who'd been buzzing with excitement, paused and looked at Shin Jaewoo. He shook his head at the question.
"...Nothing."
Shaking his head, Shin Jaewoo followed Han Taeho's lead. But even so, he couldn't help scanning the cafe with a strange gaze.
'I used to come here a lot...'
It was a familiar cafe he'd visited many times. Of course, it made sense since he'd worked right next door. But it wasn't just that.
This cafe.
'Hyeju liked it here.'
As that thought crossed his mind, Shin Jaewoo realized the downside of buying the building next door.
'Keeps bringing up useless memories.'
He had no lingering feelings or hatred for Kim Hyeju anymore. He could confidently say he felt absolutely nothing. But the memories lingered all the same. And recalling them wasn't exactly pleasant.
"Hyungnim, what would you like? If you're staying here, I'll go order for you."
Han Taeho groveled without even giving Shin Jaewoo a chance to speak.
"......Strawberry latte. Make it iced."
"Got it, hyungnim. One sweet and refreshing iced strawberry latte for hyungnim coming up."
Han Taeho stood and headed to the counter. Shin Jaewoo's eyes followed him—then froze on one spot.
'What the...?'
Maybe thinking about Kim Hyeju here had caused a hallucination. For a second, he thought he saw her. But it wasn't a trick of the eye.
She was really there. And Kim Hyeju was glaring daggers at their table.
'And...'
Shin Jaewoo's gaze shifted to the man sitting with her. All he could see was the guy's back, but the vibe told him everything.
"...A blind date, huh."
What a ridiculous coincidence. A truly vicious twist of fate.
'Of all places, running into my ex's blind date here.'
It wasn't the same shock as seeing her head into a hotel with Han Taeho. They were broken up. She could date whoever. But watching it unfold made him click his tongue.
"Tch. She's bombing it."
Not his fault. She was self-destructing just fine. The guy was starting to notice her gaze wandering elsewhere. He turned around, their eyes meeting.
Unfamiliar face. Shin Jaewoo decided to ignore them. They were his ex with no ties left and some random guy he'd never met.
But then—
She shot up. If Kim Hyeju hadn't stood and marched over, he wouldn't have even said hi.
Clack-clack.
She strode over confidently, heels clicking. Up close, Kim Hyeju was undeniably pretty. But her looks didn't register with Shin Jaewoo anymore.
"......Why are you two here?"
She finally reached their table, glaring venomously at Shin Jaewoo as she spat the question.
He frowned at the sharp tone.
"......Just had business around here. What about you?"
He really did. He was buying a building nearby. But Kim Hyeju didn't buy it.
She scoffed and snapped back.
"Ha? What business? Like you have any reason to come here. You came to mess up my blind date, admit it!"
Shin Jaewoo was floored by her words.
'Was she always this type?'
Thinking back, she'd been similar at the party. The type to jump to conclusions and charge ahead. And now here she was, losing it in public without a care.
That was Kim Hyeju's true nature.
"How the hell would I even know you're on a blind date? What exactly have I done? You're the one barging over and wasting our time when we weren't even acknowledging you."
So why not just go back and chat nicely with her date? Wishful thinking on his part—Kim Hyeju wasn't having it. But she couldn't keep grilling Shin Jaewoo.
"That slut needs some shame, hyungnim. The bitch who betrayed you and bailed—does she think she can just show up here and raise hell?"
Han Taeho had returned from ordering, drawn by the growing commotion. Kim Hyeju's face paled at the aggressive words.
"W-What the hell are you saying?!"
Slut? Betrayed and left? Not exactly compliments. And now Kim Hyeju was starting to feel her mistake. All eyes were on them.
And in the midst of it, a self-proclaimed 'champion of justice' stepped up to defend her.
"I was trying to stay quiet since it seemed like old history I didn't know about, but I can't anymore. Apologize. How can you hurl an insult like 'slut' at a woman?"
"Huh? Who're you?"
Han Taeho hadn't noticed Kim Hyeju had been sitting somewhere. He had no clue she had company. He sized Kim Minhyuk up like some third wheel butting in.
And this was Kim Minhyuk's moment to shine.
"I'm Kim Minhyuk, in-house counsel at Arkworks."
Lawyer. The word carried weight. Han Taeho faltered a bit. Legal trouble was the last thing he needed.
But he didn't back down. Just some corporate in-house lawyer punk(?).
"So what brings a hotshot lawyer here? You're Arkworks in-house, not her lawyer, right?"
"Don't call her a 'bitch.' That's defamation too—I can sue. And I'm here on a prior appointment with Kim Hyeju-ssi today."
Kim Minhyuk had pieced it together.
'Looks like she dated that guy before.'
He'd glanced at Shin Jaewoo and read the connection. But that was it. He hadn't paid much attention to Han Taeho's 'betrayed and left' line.
"I'll handle that myself..."
So Kim Minhyuk planned to show Kim Hyeju he was better than Shin Jaewoo. And give Han Taeho a lesson for putting her in a spot...
"Seeing you two together, this a blind date or what? Pfft."
Han Taeho burst out laughing. Kim Minhyuk scowled.
"......What does that have to do with you?"
"Obviously nothing. Whether you date our Hyeju or marry her, I don't care. But you know what?"
Han Taeho smirked mockingly. Danger glinted in his eyes, making Kim Hyeju's pupils shake. She wanted to shut him up right then.
But Han Taeho was faster.
"O..."
"Lawyer-nim, I don't care if you date her or not... But you know this bitch rolled around in a hotel with other guys even after getting engaged? Wait, not guys—men, plural?"
The bomb dropped from Han Taeho's mouth. Kim Minhyuk's face hardened. He struggled to process it.
"Hey!"
Kim Hyeju yelled, face flushed red. But that reaction confirmed everything. Her true colors laid bare.
"What, like you're so great!?"
Han Taeho was older, but it didn't matter now. He sneered coldly.
"Me? Of course I screwed up too. The guy I rolled around with back then? That was me, right?"
KO.
Kim Hyeju didn't look so attractive to Kim Minhyuk anymore.
"Hyeju's mom, I really thought well of you and Hyeju and set this up, but I had no idea it'd turn out like this? Hyeju breaking up with her boyfriend—that was because she cheated, right?"
"Ah, no..."
"And not with just one guy, but several... Oh dear. How embarrassing. Kids these days are so open-minded, but this? I'm too ashamed to even say it out loud. And she's not even my daughter!"