Chapter 167
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Ha Yuri (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Pfft!"
I couldn't help but spit out the water I was drinking upon hearing that.
"Cough! Cough!"
"Hyungnim, are you okay?"
"Hey, what's wrong? You good?"
"Cough...! Yeah, I'm fine... Just went down the wrong pipe for a sec..."
'Damn, sex appeal? What the hell...'
I felt a jolt of guilt hearing that. Especially with Wi Ho-yeon...
'Shit, is it because of me?'
"Sex appeal's increased..."
"No, fuck, it's true, right? Doesn't she seem way more seductive or something?"
"...You sure it's not just your imagination?"
"Come on... Hey, can't you tell just by looking? You're always right next to her."
"....."
They didn't seem to be connecting it to me just yet.
Still, from my position, cold sweat was beading down my back.
"It's not just me feeling it either. Hyun-jin, you feel it too, right?"
"...Honestly, she does seem a bit more womanly."
'Shit.'
"See? To me, it's 100% she's got a man now. Probably slept with him too."
"...What makes you think that?"
"You can just tell. It's like she's awakened to it or something."
'Fuck, what's with this guy's ghost senses?'
"Women like her, the quiet types, often have the strongest libidos."
...As someone who'd been with Wi Ho-yeon, I couldn't deny that.
"No... Hey, even if she's not here, isn't it too much to gossip like this?"
I tried to steer the conversation, laying some groundwork, but it didn't land at all.
"What's with you? Since when do you care about that stuff...? No, this is weird. She's always stuck to your side, how could you not know?"
"Ah... Well, I don't really chat privately with Ho-yeon-ssi much."
"Heh, still, there must've been some hints leaking from her while she's around you. No clues about the guy she's seeing?"
"...I got nothing."
'Fuck, what do I do?'
My head was starting to ache. Sure, revealing my relationship with Wi Ho-yeon would complicate things with Seo Yu-ju and Kang I-seo, but the real issue was deeper.
'No... We're not even dating or anything. It's just... physical...'
I had no confidence in explaining exactly what Wi Ho-yeon and I were.
The closest term might be lord-vassal relationship.
'Fuck, how do I even say that.'
I could guarantee they'd flip out the moment I said it.
"Hyungnim, Ho-yeon noona never cared about dressing up before. But lately, it's weird, right?"
"....."
"She even subtly asked me the other day what kinds of makeup men like on women."
'Huh, her outfits have changed recently...'
"Hey, what? She asked you that?"
"Yeah, noona. I was totally caught off guard."
"Nailed it. Definitely got a man. Why else would she ask that? It's gotta be."
"Yeah, probably."
"Hey, but I'm dying to know. Who the hell is she seeing? I never imagined Wi Ho-yeon would date anyone."
"Right? I've never seen noona with another guy..."
Kang I-seo shot me a sly smile as she turned to me.
"Hey, doesn't your stomach hurt?"
"Huh? What...?"
"Think about it. Wi Ho-yeon's fucking gorgeous, yeah? From a guy's perspective, working with her must've been distracting as hell. Right?"
"......"
"You had the best shot, and some asshole snatched her away."
Her voice sounded oddly excited.
"Man, she's hot as hell, great personality too. Where do you find quality like that? The guy who got her hit the jackpot."
"...Ho-yeon-ssi isn't some product."
"It's just a figure of speech. Honestly, I'm convinced they did it, but who the hell is he? How'd he conquer Wi Ho-yeon?"
...They clearly weren't suspecting me.
I got it. From Kang I-seo's view, assuming they'd hooked up, picturing it with me and Wi Ho-yeon... it was a stretch.
'I barely believe it myself. No wonder others can't.'
"Look at your face. Heh, disappointed?"
"...What're you talking about."
She seemed to be under some weird misunderstanding.
"Well, any guy would be bummed. Don't worry, some girl you like will show up eventually."
"Jeez... Even meddling in other guys' love lives. You're too kind."
"Ugh, it's obvious you're regretting it. Men are all the same."
Just as I thought I'd dodged the bullet, footsteps started coming down the stairs.
'Shit...'
"Lee Yun-seong-ssi, sorry. There was a lot to tidy up..."
"Ah... Haha, Ho-yeon-ssi..."
'Of all the timing...'
"Oh... You two are here too. Were you eating together?"
"Ah... Yeah. Ho, Ho-yeon noona, join us."
The atmosphere turned awkward with the subject of our talk arriving.
But Wi Ho-yeon sat down, seemingly oblivious to the tension.
'...Definitely.'
I hadn't noticed before Kang I-seo and Hyun-jin pointed it out, but Wi Ho-yeon's vibe was different now.
"Lee Yun-seong-ssi, is something wrong?"
"Pardon?"
"You were staring at me so intently..."
"...It's nothing."
Kang I-seo, overhearing our exchange, chimed in teasingly.
"Heh... Well, from his position, how could he not pay attention to you, Wi Ho-yeon-ssi."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
"Anyway, congrats, Wi Ho-yeon-ssi."
"...Congrats on what?"
Wi Ho-yeon looked utterly confused.
"Oh, come on, no use playing innocent. You've got a man now, right?"
"Pfft! Cough! Cough!"
...Just like me earlier, Wi Ho-yeon choked on her water and coughed for a good while before calming down and responding.
"What do you mean...? A m-man...?"
'Don't look at me. They'll notice.'
Wi Ho-yeon kept glancing my way subtly.
Thankfully, Kang I-seo and Hyun-jin didn't seem to catch on.
"Isn't it obvious you've got a guy? Your vibe's changed a lot lately."
"Wh-what...?"
"More importantly, who's the guy? What kind of man swept Wi Ho-yeon-ssi off her feet?"
Wi Ho-yeon seemed relieved hearing Kang I-seo.
She'd panicked thinking our thing was exposed, but relaxed once she realized it wasn't.
"Th-that's a misunderstanding. I don't have a man."
"Too embarrassed to say, huh? Fine if you don't wanna share."
Wi Ho-yeon knew revealing us would put me in a tough spot, so she was avoiding looking my way.
"It's not embarrassment. I'm telling you, it's a m-misunderstanding."
"...Sorry, Ho-yeon-ssi, but blushing like that kills your credibility."
"....."
"I'm really curious though. What's so great about him? Is he... good in bed maybe?"
Wi Ho-yeon's face turned beet red at Kang I-seo's teasing.
"Th-that's..."
"Whoa... Hold up. For real?"
Until now, it was just speculation, but her reaction turned it into confirmed fact.
Wi Ho-yeon covered her face with both hands and bowed her head, looking like she wanted to crawl into a hole.
Hyun-jin gaped at the scene.
Even Kang I-seo, who hadn't actually believed they'd done it, swallowed hard and pressed again.
"Um... Ho-yeon-ssi, just one question..."
"Wh-what is it?"
"...Was it that good?"
Wi Ho-yeon's face boiled like a kettle at the question.
"......."
She shot me a quick glare that no one else noticed, then slowly nodded with her flushed face.
"Whoa..."
Kang I-seo gawked in admiration.
I tried acting casual, but I wanted to hide in a hole too.
'Fuck...'
We were the ones who'd actually done it, and here she was asking that right in front of us.
Kang I-seo looked shocked by Wi Ho-yeon's reaction.
I had no idea why she was more shocked than Wi Ho-yeon or me.
"S-so it can feel that good..."
Wi Ho-yeon nodded again at Kang I-seo's mumble.
'Fuck, why nod?'
I was on the verge of losing it.
Hyun-jin, unable to keep up, was pretending not to hear.
Kang I-seo muttered to herself.
"What the hell did he do to get her so hooked..."
'......'
...I couldn't exactly say to treat her sadistically.
'Thank god Seo Yu-ju isn't here.'
If she were, she'd have picked up on Wi Ho-yeon's reactions.
"More devoted than I expected?"
"What do you mean?"
"You. Seems like you're taking pretty good care of Ha Yu-ri. Even using your abilities to help. Something between you two?"
"What would there be?"
"Who knows. You're a guy, maybe you're helping 'cause of her looks?"
"Sharis-ssi."
"What."
"What kind of nonsense is this? Do I look like someone who'd go through all this hassle just for someone's appearance?"
"Yes. You made Ha Yu-ri your slave, didn't you? Isn't that the goal?"
"Ha, this woman really..."
Sharis snorted and dropped a bombshell I never saw coming.
"And you're pretending to be pure when you even went after your own guard."
"...Wh-what?"
My brain froze at her words.
'How does she know?'
"Thought I wouldn't notice? You might not see it, but that bitch—no, that woman—reeks of it."
"Sh-shit..."
"Others might miss it, but not my eyes. I'm sharp about this stuff."
"....."
"Ha, lecturing me about proper attitude and discipline, when you're riding your protectee and shaking your hips..."
"Hey, that's not how it..."
"What? It's the truth."
'Sh-she didn't ride me.'
I barely swallowed those words.
"...Anyway, it's not what you think, Sharis-ssi. Let's just help her out, yeah?"
"Hmph. You could've just forced it anyway. Why bother convincing me?"
"Heh, it'd feel wrong to order you around for this."
"Fine. I was gonna help anyway."
"Good to hear. Alright, let's head in."
As we approached the Madan Clan's house, we ran into an unexpected figure at the entrance.
'This guy...'
"Hm?"
The man noticed us too.
'Ah, I remember. The Japanese guy who was with Ha Yu-ri at that bar.'
Our eyes met. He looked like he'd come to the Madan Clan on business too.
In this awkward moment, Ha Yu-ri emerged to greet someone.
"Ah, have you been waiting? I was just..."
She spotted me and Sharis, then saw the man and her eyes widened.
"Huh? Mr. Kanda?"
"Ha Yu-ri-ssi, long time no see."
Ha Yu-ri looked flustered at his greeting. She clearly didn't get why he, me, and Sharis were together.
"Um... Are these two your guests, Ha Yu-ri-ssi?"
"Ah... Yeah. But what brings you here, Mr. Kanda...?"
"I came to apologize for misunderstanding you last time and speaking ill of you. And there's something I need to say."