IDMPYU 46

46. Do You… Like Her, By Any Chance?
Seungho slowly closed his eyes and opened them again. Chaerin’s sharp voice grated on his ears so much it felt like nausea was rising up his throat, ready to burst out.

If he really was the protagonist of those rumors, it would be one of the filthy things Myungho had said. Seungho began to piece together the words Minwoo hadn’t dared to deliver and had hidden instead.

“Did he say I had low standards when it came to women?”

He knew it couldn’t have stopped there, and that bitterness filled his mouth. Myungho, if it meant degrading his younger brother, would’ve said things far worse and much more vulgar than anyone could imagine.

“Should’ve knocked out a few of his teeth instead of letting him off just because he’s my brother…”

From the calm he’d thought he had, fury welled up.

Jihyun, who had no idea what the rumors were, had gone pale just from being pointed out. Her trembling face made Seungho think that maybe it would’ve been better if she hadn’t been dragged into this at all.

“Oh, sorry for being so blunt,”

Chaerin said with a small laugh, snapping Seungho out of his spiraling thoughts. The strange tension between them had shifted in her favor.

She was the type who instinctively knew how to dominate someone. And today, her chosen prey was Jihyun — the woman beside Seungho.

“What kind of filth is she trying to pull now…”

A bitter laugh escaped him. He had a sudden urge to slap Minwoo for saying he and Chaerin were alike.

“Oh, am I wrong then?”

Chaerin tilted her head as she studied the faces of Seungho and Minwoo. She must’ve been going around trying to find the girl from Myungho’s rumor.

“Well, it was supposed to be years ago, anyway…”

She looked at Seungho with a satisfied expression.

“No, it can’t be true. If that rumor’s real, then he’s disqualified. My husband has to be perfect even at night.”

“Hey, Chaerin. Do you only see Seungho? Am I invisible or something?”

Minwoo raised his voice on purpose, trying to distract her. He noticed that something was off with Seungho — from his very breathing — and tried to deflect Chaerin’s attention.

“What’s with you? Acting all dramatic,”

Chaerin replied flatly, and Minwoo let out a deep sigh.

“Geez, that’s what I’m saying. You’re the one being dramatic. You weren’t this reckless the first time we met!”

Apparently, Myungho’s fake news had gotten to her more than they thought.

Already irritated by the rumors about Seungho, seeing another woman beside him must’ve driven her over the edge. And she wasn’t the only one who’d lost it.

“Chaerin.”

Seungho turned his head from the high ceiling he’d been staring at and looked directly at her. Even under the bright chandelier, his eyes were icy cold.

“I think I know what you heard. But here’s the thing — it’s not a rumor.”

“…What? What do you mean?”

“Everything Myungho-hyung said? It’s true.”

At the faint smile on his lips, Chaerin lost the ability to distinguish fact from fiction.

“And the more humiliating it sounds… the more true it is.”

The words were too sharp to be brushed off as a joke. Chaerin’s face twisted in shock.

“You’re lying!”

“Whatever you heard, chances are it’s true.”

The man who was supposedly only interested in vulgar things, who couldn’t perform as a “man” — the one the rumors were about — had just confirmed it himself.

“He’s my brother. My real brother.”

Chaerin, who would’ve believed Seungho even if he said red beans made soy sauce, felt despair creep into her eyes.

Watching the whole ridiculous drama unfold, Minwoo felt strange. Shin Seungho, who couldn’t stand even a speck of imperfection, had just smeared filth all over himself.

That single sentence from him would spread and by tomorrow, people would be saying that the perfect Seungho was nothing but a pretty, useless shell.

Why was he doing this?

Minwoo’s gaze turned to Jihyun. She sat silently, almost as if she wasn’t there, but her eyes trembled — clearly shaken by what Seungho had said.

Shouldn’t he at least explain something to her?

Then Chaerin, deep in thought, finally moved her pale lips.

“W-Well, it’s fine. My dad likes you, so it’ll be okay.”

Her voice carried a desperate will — she couldn’t just let her one-sided love end like this.

Seungho responded even more bluntly.

“Would he still like me if he knew what you heard?”

“I just won’t tell him.”

“Will you be okay with it? Even if I’m exactly like the rumors say?”

“I-I don’t care!”

Her gaze, mixed with doubt and despair, involuntarily dropped to Seungho’s waist — then quickly darted back up.

“…Really.”

But her voice was too small to be convincing. Eventually, Chaerin turned her back, shoulders slumped. Seungho watched her go and downed his champagne. It was cold and sweet.

“Disgusting guy,”

Minwoo muttered.

“Didn’t she say marrying you was her dream? That was a quick give-up…”

“She can’t stay celibate her whole life.”

Minwoo’s gaze unconsciously dropped to Seungho’s lower half.

“Anyway… was that for real?”

“What was?”

“Your… pride as a man…”

Noticing where Minwoo’s gaze landed, Seungho bared his teeth fiercely.

“Seriously?”

“No, no, of course not! I never believed it!”

Minwoo quickly waved his hands in surrender, seeing the murderous look in Seungho’s eyes.

“But seriously, you’re too convincing when you say stuff. Like some shady snake oil salesman.”

Ignoring Minwoo’s grumbling, Seungho suddenly frowned. Jihyun, who had been sitting quietly, was gone. Minwoo snatched the champagne from Seungho’s hand and took a gulp.

“She left earlier. Looked like she was a bit shocked after what you said.”

Shocked? From what…? Oh!

Realizing something, a mischievous smile crept across Seungho’s face.

He hadn’t thought the innocent Jihyun would understand the implications of what he said to push Chaerin away. A waiter offered him another glass, but instead of accepting it, Seungho walked off without hesitation.

“Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going after her?”

Minwoo called out, holding two champagne flutes, but Seungho didn’t look back.

“I’ve got something annoying to take care of first.”

He wiped his lips roughly, irritated.

*

“Haa…”

Jihyun sat on a garden bench, breathing in the cool night air. After several deep breaths, the dizziness from the party began to fade.

While Seungho and Chaerin had been engrossed in their heated conversation, the attention of the onlookers naturally shifted to her.

“It might not be a total lie. I mean, he looks fine, but still…”

“Shh, quiet! What if he hears?”

The curious whispers and pointed glances made it impossible for Jihyun not to realize the rumors involved her. The increasing scrutiny made her uncomfortable, so she quietly slipped away.

Luckily, due to the cold, the rooftop garden connecting to the party balcony was empty.

The banquet hall remained bright and noisy like daytime, but the garden felt like deep night.

Escaping the chaotic heat, the dim streetlamp lights brought her a sense of peace.

This party world felt completely alien to her. People quickly assessed, calculated, and planned. It was far removed from the life she knew.

“Miri… this really is another world.”

She murmured softly, looking up at the stars. Then her thoughts wandered to Seungho.

Shin Seungho had lived his whole life in this kind of world.

Always calculating, meeting people with suspicion, preparing for betrayal…

Then, she remembered what he’d said to Chaerin.

“If the rumor you heard is too vulgar to repeat… then yeah, it’s true.”

Realizing what he meant, Jihyun’s face flushed from her toes to her scalp.

How could he say something so shameless? They all act so classy, but they’re obsessed with this stuff. But… why am I even bothered? It has nothing to do with me!

Her mind tangled with countless thoughts. No matter how hard she tried, Seungho’s words wouldn’t leave her head, and she slapped her cheeks.

“What are you thinking? Get a grip!”

The cold air wrapped around her, but the heat from earlier didn’t subside easily.

Then — rustling from the bushes behind her. Footsteps.

“Could’ve said it inside. What’s so important you had to come out here?”

Jihyun froze.

She recognized that arrogant tone — Seungho.

And the person replying…

“I wanted to talk to you out here. I’ve got some things to ask, and things to say.”

…was Hajun.

Apparently, they hadn’t noticed anyone was here. Feeling like she couldn’t be seen, Jihyun carefully lowered her body.

Looking worn out from dealing with people all evening, Seungho pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Don’t tell me… you came because of the rumor too?”

“Rumor? What rumor?”

Hajun asked, genuinely clueless. Seungho let out a sigh of irritation.

“Never mind. Just get to the point. I don’t have much time.”

“That was the plan.”

Hajun took a deep breath, steadying himself.

“…Do you, by any chance… like her?”