Conditions of the Real Wife (2)
The air in the cafe, which had been warm and bright just moments ago, grew heavy and cold. It was freezing.
"So that's where you've been sneaking off to every day? Because of some girl?"
"……."
Han Yuri sneered, while Lee Seol watched with a quiet smile. And then—
That was the situation. The three of them had been heading to the library to work on an assignment when they spotted me and Shin Suyeon. Choi Ahyeon, who had already noticed the relationship between us, tried to steer them away. But they charged straight here without thinking.
The main culprit was Han Yuri. She had taken the lead.
Still, I had nothing to feel guilty about. I wasn’t dating Shin Suyeon, and even if I were, what could they possibly do about it? I calmly continued the conversation.
"Everyone, say hello. This is Shin Suyeon, a close noona of mine. These are my classmates—Lee Seol, and these two are my teammates, Han Yuri and Choi Ahyeon."
"Ah, hello. I’m Shin Suyeon."
"Hello, unnie. I’m Lee Seol."
"I’m Han Yuri."
"I’m Seonghyun’s friend, Choi Ahyeon!"
After the brief introductions, silence fell over the table. Shin Suyeon seemed overwhelmed by Lee Seol and Han Yuri’s beauty; she kept smiling awkwardly and swallowing. The other three stared at her as if appraising her.
Han Yuri sharply cut through the awkward atmosphere.
"So, what are you two? Dating?"
A straight-to-the-point question, very much like her. I shook my head.
"No. We’re just a noona and dongsaeng."
"Ha! I’ve never seen anyone who says that and actually means it. You know how fast ‘noona’ turns into ‘honey,’ right?"
She forced Lee Seol and Choi Ahyeon to agree. They both gave bitter smiles, clearly sympathizing with her words.
"Just say it proudly. You’re dating her. Who’s going to stop you?"
Her eyes were full of irritation as she spoke. Would you say anything if you were in my position?
I let out a deep sigh.
"I’m really not."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I swear on Ahyeon’s teddy bear."
"Ah! Why do you keep dragging my teddy bear into this!"
"I’m the one who bought it for you."
"Wow… you really are Satan……."
Choi Ahyeon looked genuinely betrayed. Han Yuri took a step back, her expression full of doubt. Then Lee Seol took over.
"Unnie, you just enrolled this time, right? In the supporter department?"
"Yes, that’s right."
"You seem older than us, so feel free to speak casually."
"Ah, no, it’s fine. We’ve only just met……"
"Come on, unnie, don’t be like that. Treat us comfortably. Oh! Should we exchange numbers?"
When Shin Suyeon took a step back, Choi Ahyeon and Lee Seol stepped forward. Was this uncomfortable for her? Shin Suyeon glanced at me. I gave a small nod. Only then did the three of them exchange numbers.
Han Yuri, however, had no intention of participating. She’d been staring down at the table with a displeased look since earlier.
"How long have you known Hyun?"
"Oh, since March this year."
"Wow. That’s shorter than I expected?"
"Yes……."
The three of them continued chatting softly. Then Han Yuri nudged my arm.
"What?"
"Would it have killed you to tell us in advance? If you’d said a noona you know was enrolling, we could’ve congratulated you too."
"We’re not even that close. Why would I need congratulations? And do you guys report every single friend you meet?"
"Hey! That’s completely different!"
Fuck, how is it different? This crazy bitch is at it again.
"At least Ahyeon and I tell you when we’re going to meet someone. But you just say you have a prior engagement and disappear every day! That’s why I’m pissed!"
"Um, Yuri-ssi."
"Yes?"
At Shin Suyeon’s sudden interruption, Han Yuri turned toward her. Shin Suyeon smiled faintly and asked carefully.
"Are you perhaps in a situationship with Seonghyun?"
"W-what? Why would he be with someone like…"
"Then do you have feelings for him?"
"D-don’t talk nonsense! I’m not the kind of woman who gives her heart to a guy like him!"
"Then why are you so obsessively prying into his business?"
"Obsessively prying…"
Shin Suyeon took a sip of her coffee, then smiled and continued.
"We’re all adults here. You’re not Seonghyun’s guardian, so I don’t think it’s right for you to interfere like this."
"It’s not interference… as a teammate…"
"Even as a teammate. If the other person seems reluctant to answer, isn’t it polite not to press them? And even if you are teammates, shouldn’t you show more consideration the closer you are?"
"Ugh……!"
Her voice was gentle and calm. But every single word carried a heavy, undeniable fact. Overwhelmed by the barrage, Han Yuri’s face turned bright red.
"Women who are overly obsessive aren’t attractive at all."
The final blow. The verbal hammer to the solar plexus left Han Yuri completely speechless.
The gathering somehow came to an awkward end.
"See you next time, unnie~."
"I’ll text you later!"
"Yes, take care."
"……"
Han Yuri remained silent, lost in thought. She hadn’t said a word since earlier.
I hope she’s learned something from this.
Someone once said that God is fair. In exchange for giving Han Yuri heavenly talent, He took away her social skills. She was hopelessly weak when it came to common courtesy, tone, or proper speech as understood by society. If this incident taught her even a little, it would be good… but…
She probably won’t change.
People don’t change that easily.
After seeing the three of them off, Shin Suyeon let out a long breath.
"Hoo…… My heart’s still racing."
She clutched her chest.
"You were really cool earlier. That fact-bombing was perfect."
"Ugh, I don’t know… I think I’ve been properly marked by Yuri-ssi now……."
"Do you know who she is?"
"Isn’t she the daughter of the Portan Guild Master?"
"That’s right."
"Aaaah! I’m doomed!"
Watching her clutch her head in despair made me laugh.
"Still, thank you. You said everything I’ve been wanting to say. Han Yuri never listens when I talk to her."
"No……."
"Hm?"
"That last thing you said wasn’t just for Yuri-ssi."
Shin Suyeon quietly watched the backs of the three women as they walked away.
Discharge-type Dungeon. Ogre’s Forest.
Kim Seongho stared at the departing Lee Seonghyun party with clear displeasure. His secretary cautiously spoke up.
"That Lee Seonghyun guy… he doesn’t fall for provocations easily."
"Indeed. He’s twenty, at the peak of his youthful vigor, yet he’s surprisingly composed."
This made it twice now. Despite deliberately choosing actions meant to piss him off, the guy hadn’t cursed once or even frowned.
"His emotional control is incredible. Maybe losing his parents young made him grow up fast."
"It would seem so."
"But guys like him always have a weakness."
"A weakness, sir?"
Kim Seongho gave a twisted smile at his secretary’s question.
"He can’t stand it when you touch his friends."
Kim Seongho’s gaze shifted to his phone. On the screen was a photo of Shin Suyeon walking with her friends.
"Ugh! Another day safely finished! Let’s drink! Soool!"
"Don’t you have an assignment?"
"I don’t caaare! Drink first, think later!"
This was the third time. Lee Seonghyun’s party had once again cleared a discharge-type dungeon and was returning.
Han Yuri quietly approached Lee Seonghyun with a serious expression.
"That data you sent yesterday… was it real?"
"Yeah."
"Wow. What the hell are those crazy bastards trying to do… It’s been years since I saw Dad’s face look that rotten."
The countless crimes and corruption within the Baekho Guild. Honestly, with more time I could have dug up even the smallest dust, but since we had to strike before they could cover their tracks, the material was a bit lacking. Still, for Han Yuri to be this shocked, the severity of the contents spoke for itself.
"They’re announcing it with the Association tonight. That bastard and the Baekho Guild are finished. Should’ve behaved while he still could. Who the hell does a damn thug think he is, acting so high and mighty?"
While Han Yuri ranted, Lee Seonghyun was busy texting Shin Suyeon. Normally she would’ve gotten angry at him for only half-listening, but after getting hit by Shin Suyeon’s verbal barrage, her patience seemed to have grown.
"That woman again?"
"Yeah. But she’s not answering."
"Maybe she has a lecture or something."
"She only had morning classes today. It should be over by now."
"……You even memorized her timetable?"
At Han Yuri’s appalled look, Lee Seonghyun simply shrugged.
"Seonghyun-ah. Can I go drinking with unnie?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Hehe. Just because!"
Choi Ahyeon, who knew the full story, occasionally teased him like this. Lee Seonghyun would just chuckle and let it slide. The three of them chatted about various things as they headed back to the dormitory. Then they saw it.
A large black plastic bag sitting in front of their door.
"Huh? Who dumped trash in front of our room?"
"What kind of brainless bastard—! Hey, go check the CCTV……!"
Thud.
The bag toppled over. Its contents spilled out.
Thick, sticky blood flowed along with countless shards of glass. And inside it was—
"N-noona?"
Shin Suyeon was there.
"Noona!"
Choi Ahyeon hurriedly flipped the bag over and pulled her out.
"This can’t be……."
Her arms and legs were bent at unnatural angles. It looked as if her joints had been forcibly twisted; every part was broken. Her entire body was covered in faint burn marks and embedded glass fragments.
The horrific sight left even Han Yuri speechless, not just Choi Ahyeon. Their brains had shut down. It was the first time in their lives they had seen anything like this.
While the two of them stood frozen, Lee Seonghyun spoke calmly.
"Ahyeon. You still have potions left, right?"
"Huh? Y-yeah!"
With trembling hands, Choi Ahyeon handed him a potion. He fed it to Shin Suyeon as if he had done this many times before. The liquid simply flowed out of her mouth. So Lee Seonghyun poured the potion into his own mouth and pressed his lips to hers.
Only then did her throat begin to move slightly. After making sure she swallowed it all, he pulled away and gave instructions.
"Ahyeon, sorry, but can you take noona to the infirmary first? Yuri, help me clean this up."
"O-okay!"
"Yeah……."
As Choi Ahyeon carried Shin Suyeon and ran off, Lee Seonghyun quietly began cleaning up the bag. Han Yuri glanced at him while helping.
He was calm. Too calm.
His close noona had been reduced to this state, yet he acted as if it had happened to a stranger. He should be furious. He should be raging. It would be normal for him to scream that he would get revenge right this instant.
But his expression was the same as always. His voice was the same as always.
That made it even more—
terrifying.
"Cancel tonight’s announcement."
"Huh?"
"I changed my mind."
"Changed it…?"
The moment Han Yuri looked at Lee Seonghyun, her body froze.
How could she describe it? She couldn’t put it into exact words, but she had seen it once before.
It was the same expression her father had worn when her mother was assassinated by the Black Guild. The look of ecstatic joy that a man who had resolved to massacre dozens, hundreds of people would wear at the very end.
Lee Seonghyun was smiling.