IDMPYU 47

Chapter 47. An Emotion That Becomes Unpleasant When Entangled

At the absurd question, Seungho let out a sharp, splintered laugh.

“Hah, I don’t really have a hobby of being confessed to by guys…”

At his thoroughly sarcastic reply, Hajun slightly furrowed his brow.

“I don’t have a bad habit of treating serious questions like jokes either.”

Raising an eyebrow, Seungho wiped the crooked smile off his lips.

“I’m talking about Jihyun. Choi Jihyun—the one you always keep beside you.”

At the mention of her name, a crack ran through Seungho’s otherwise calm face. A flash of murderous intent gleamed in his usually composed, predator-like eyes.

“And you ask a question like that?”

“Maybe I only asked it that way because I knew you knew.”

“…”

Seungho stared at Hajun with the eyes of a beast ready to pounce and tear him apart. Instinctively sensing the danger, Hajun’s fingertips trembled slightly, but he didn’t back down.

“I’d like you to answer honestly. This is a serious matter to me.”

Perhaps due to the tension or the cold creeping in, Hajun clenched his fists tightly again.

“…Do you like Jihyun?”

“…”

Seungho’s gaze, as if he had just heard something outrageous, flickered to the empty air before returning to Hajun.

Desire or longing for emotions had never been his thing. People always came to him first and showed their feelings easily. For Seungho, the words “I like you” were just desperate pleas from clingy people who couldn’t let go.

Whenever his body was entangled in those sticky gazes—begging him for something he could never give—it made his skin crawl with disgust.

“Seungho, I like you.”

“I’m in love with you.”

Those one-sided confessions, which he had heard to the point of exhaustion, never meant anything to him.

Emotions that only became unpleasant when entangled.

Having finished his thoughts, Seungho didn’t hesitate to answer. No need to consider or waver. His answer was simple.

“No.”

The unexpected response brought silence between them.

“I see. I figured as much.”

As soon as the word “no” left Seungho’s mouth, Hajun’s stiff, tense expression softened. Seeing him so obviously relieved made Seungho feel… strange.

A hot rush welled up inside him, but it was followed by a sharp chill that stung the tip of his nose. The wind that blew cleanly through him was unbearably cold.

When his unbalanced body could no longer regulate its temperature, Seungho was overwhelmed by confusion.

That unpleasant feeling rose and swelled within him until it reached his head and made him dizzy. That’s when he concluded—there was no need for him to remain here any longer. He immediately turned to leave for the party, but Hajun’s voice rang out behind him.

“I like Jihyun.”

“…”

“She may mean nothing to you… but…”

Seungho stopped mid-step and looked back with a smirk.

“For someone who claims to like her, your words are a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

But Hajun’s words held nothing but raw, earnest sincerity—truths he had held tightly all this time.

“I hope that’s how it stays. That she continues to mean nothing to you. And…”

Hajun couldn’t finish. Seungho had already turned and walked away, as if he had no intention of hearing anything more.

*

“Ugh…”

Jihyun shivered from the chill. She had stayed outside for too long in a thin dress.

She rubbed her shoulders vigorously to warm herself and took deep, hurried breaths. Only after watching the two men head toward the party hall did she realize she’d barely been breathing the whole time.

She placed her trembling hand over her chest. Fortunately, her heart was still beating fast. The conversation she had overheard had struck her hard.

Hearing Hajun’s feelings toward her had left her flustered. The words were so unexpected that a tight pain clenched at her chest. But she didn’t even have time to figure out what that pain meant.

“Do you like Jihyun?”

“No.”

The moment she heard Seungho’s answer, it felt like her heart had stopped.

A faint, bitter laugh escaped her lips. She had been scared that he might say yes.

Despite his harsh teasing, there were moments when his gaze seemed uncharacteristically warm—grateful, even kind.

That’s why… if he had said he liked her, she feared she might have lost all her pride and wavered.

‘Thank goodness. Really… thank goodness.’

Repeating those words silently to herself, Jihyun rubbed her numb eyelids with a shaking hand, picked up her clutch, and stood up. It was really time to go back inside now.

“Where have you been?”

“Ah…”

Jihyun bit her lower lip.

Of all people, the first one she ran into upon entering the party was Shin Seungho…

Her mood sank. The heat of the party hall quickly melted the chill in her body.

The sudden change in temperature made her dizzy for a moment, but she firmly planted her feet. She didn’t want to show any weakness in front of him. Seungho’s sharp gaze scanned her from head to toe.

“You’re practically blue. Were you outside?”

Avoiding his probing eyes, Jihyun hunched her shoulders. Seungho took a step closer.

“I can still feel the cold off you. Where on earth did you—”

“I-I just stepped out to the garden for a bit.”

At the word garden, Seungho’s eyes narrowed.

“The garden? Why?”

“Why else? She was probably looking for you.”

Out of nowhere, Minwoo appeared and answered for her, draping an arm over Seungho’s shoulder. For Jihyun, his appearance was a relief—she hadn’t known how to answer.

Minwoo, who had been gulping down champagne, looked a bit drunk now, his eyes slightly unfocused. Seungho’s sharp gaze shifted from Jihyun to Minwoo.

“Seungho, do you get a rash from staying in one place? Why are you wandering around so much?”

“Wait… don’t tell me you’re drunk already?”

“I looked everywhere for you… whew, I’m tipsy.”

Minwoo leaned his head on Seungho’s shoulder, breathing heavily. Seungho didn’t hesitate—he shoved him off.

“Get lost.”

Minwoo staggered but quickly clung to Seungho again.

“Wait, I have something to tell you! Your mom’s here.”

Do Surin, Seungho’s mother and the wife of Chairman Shin. At the mention of her arrival, Jihyun’s face darkened instantly.

“She’s looking for you.”

Having said his piece, Minwoo collapsed onto a nearby sofa. One of the servers—who had been getting scolded all night trying to find Seungho—spotted him and rushed over.

“Director, Madam is asking for you.”

Seungho nodded and turned to Jihyun.

“…Don’t move. Stay here.”

Surin was still beautiful, but the fine lines at her eyes revealed she was no longer as young as she once was. She was holding hands with Park Chaerin, chatting warmly.

“Chaerin, have you seen Seungho yet? He’s missed you since you returned.”

“Yes, I ran into him earlier but…”

Chaerin, who had confidently approached him earlier, now looked deflated. Whatever Seungho had said—about not being fit even to satisfy a woman—had clearly left a mark.

Oblivious to her downcast face, Surin went on bragging about her son. When the sound of heavy footsteps echoed, she turned her head.

“Oh my, look who it is! Seungho!”

Her face lit up with joy.

“It’s been a while, Mother.”

“It really has, my son. It’s been so long. Couldn’t you have at least called once? Didn’t you miss me even a little?”

“…”

Surin opened her arms for a hug, but Seungho didn’t move. He simply stared at her with cold, expressionless eyes. Embarrassed, Surin lowered her arms and quickly changed the subject.

“You’ve said hello, right? You and Chaerin studied in London together?”

“…”

Sensing the cold atmosphere between mother and son, Chaerin quietly tried to step away, but Surin was faster. She grabbed her hand tightly, leaving no room to escape.

Watching the scene, Seungho finally spoke.

“Yes. We met earlier.”

“Really? Well, since you keep bumping into each other, maybe it’s fate. You two look great together.”

Surin pushed Chaerin next to Seungho and clapped her hands excitedly.

‘If even this forced, artificial meeting can be called fate, then sure.’

Seungho let out a dry, self-deprecating chuckle. If so, then Jihyun was also “fate”—the only difference was, she was someone meticulously chosen and arranged according to his calculations.

As he recalled her big, clear eyes, Surin and Chaerin’s presence faded into the background.

He thought of Jihyun, the girl he’d left behind. Her light brown eyes had the strange power to stir up feelings he didn’t know he had.

He recalled the chill that clung to her skin… and his fingers curled.

Her red-rimmed eyes and cold nose had seemed pitifully vulnerable. He’d nearly reached out to brush her cheek—an impulsive urge that was quickly becoming harder to resist.

Imagining Jihyun waiting for him alone in the party hall made his throat tighten. Feeling suffocated, he loosened his tie.

“No.”

He didn’t regret the answer he’d given Hajun. He hated clingy, sticky emotions. Besides, he was sure that Jihyun would look at him the same way he had looked at others—with those cold, indifferent eyes.

But ever since giving that answer, his mouth had felt dry, like it was filled with sand.

“She may be nothing to you…”

He’d dismissed Kim Hajun as a fool, but the words had hit hard. His insides churned.

“She’s not nothing.”

Growling like a beast, Seungho turned and strode back toward where Jihyun was.

“Choi Jihyun… she’s mine.”