IDMPYU 41

Chapter 41: Because You Came to Mind

Hajun entered the lecture hall with vacant eyes. Law school, which he’d been forced into by his father, was nothing short of mind-numbing. Today was just another one of those days.

“Are you that Kim Hajun?”

As he sat down with zero enthusiasm, absentmindedly tapping the wide desk while waiting for class to begin, someone unexpectedly called his name. The cheerful voice faintly reminded him of Miri. Curious, Hajun looked up.

He saw a woman with long, light-brown dyed hair, heavy makeup, flashy clothes, and an equally bold expression staring down at him.

“I’m Shin Haemin. Have you heard of me?”

“Not at all.”

Hajun’s indifferent reply made the woman shrug.

“I thought Shinjin Corporation was a pretty big company. I guess a respected judge’s son doesn’t think the same.”

Hajun bit his lip to stop himself from cursing.

It might have sounded like sarcasm, but it was likely just thoughtless honesty. He knew that type all too well—those who approached him solely because of his background. He had encountered plenty of them during college.

“I’d like to focus on class, so can you move?”

“Then talk to me after class.”

“About what?”

“You’ll know once we talk.”

Not even slightly curious about the topic, Hajun gave a half-hearted nod. But things changed when, during class, he got a message from Miri—it was an invitation to meet up with her and Jihyun. Just the mention of Jihyun’s name made Hajun instantly forget about his conversation with Haemin.

“What kind of guy doesn’t even have a car?!”

As soon as the lecture ended, Haemin chased after Hajun, who was speed-walking away, yelling behind him.

‘Ah…’

Only then did Hajun remember his promise to talk to her. He glanced around.

She seemed more upset about the fact that he didn’t have a car than being ignored.

Since he was almost at the meeting spot with his friends, and because she seemed likely to cause a scene, Hajun turned around.

“Why are you following me?”

“I said I had something to say.”

“What is it? Say it here.”

Looking out at the traffic rushing by, Haemin finally spoke.

“Let’s date.”

“I think we just introduced ourselves today?”

Hajun blinked in disbelief. Haemin quickly added,

“I’m not thrilled about it either. My dad wants this. So…”

There was only one proper answer in this situation.

“No, thanks.”

Haemin’s eyes widened.

“Do you think it’s just my dad? Your father wants it too.”

At the mention of his father, Hajun irritably ran his hand through his hair.

‘Why do girls like this always bring up parents? Do they really think that’s convincing?’

“Then let the people who want it date each other.”

“Wow, Kim Hajun, I didn’t expect you to be like this.”

“‘Didn’t expect you to be like this’…”

That was the line he’d heard most from girls during college. Unlike his classmate Shin Seungho, who wore his bad attitude on his sleeve, Hajun had a soft appearance that drew girls in easily.

When he bluntly rejected their advances, they’d often say that exact same thing. Hearing it now from Haemin was more than he could tolerate.

“Look, can you leave? I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Wait! Just think it over, please.”

Haemin grabbed his sleeve.

“Come on, it’s not a bad offer!”

“I said no. Clearly.”

He shook off her hand without hesitation. Girls like her needed a firm dismissal—they’d otherwise take anything less as encouragement.

“Try someone else.”

He was used to this. He wasn’t worried about any consequences—at least, not until he realized that Miri and Jihyun might have seen the whole thing from their spot by the window.

As soon as he walked in, Hajun regretted pushing Haemin. He was greeted with:

“You’re such a jerk.”

“Uh, what you saw earlier…”

Hajun tried to explain carefully. The looks on the girls’ faces were serious.

But he couldn’t tell the whole truth. In his world, even relationships were calculated for gains. He was afraid of what they’d think if they found that out. After a pause, Miri broke the silence.

“I get it. Every guy wants to be the bad boy at least once.”

“What? That’s not it…”

“But you could’ve let her down a little more gently.”

Her lecture stung.

‘If she’d actually liked me, maybe I’d deserve the “bad boy” label. But it’s not wrong to reject someone who only came after me because our parents said so.’

“Let’s stop. Hajun must’ve had his reasons. Anyway, how’s law school?”

At Jihyun’s question, Hajun stopped mid-sip of his iced Americano.

He had never told her he was attending law school.

There was only one possible person who could have. Miri.

He turned to her with a reprimanding glare. Miri looked away sheepishly.

“Yeah… I told her. You two are friends—why so many secrets?”

“Secrets?”

“Jihyun got a job, too.”

“What?”

Hajun turned to Jihyun, puzzled.

‘Not the teacher certification exam?’

Reading his mind, Jihyun smiled awkwardly.

“Yeah… I figured it’d be good to save up before prepping for the exam. It costs money, after all.”

“Why go that far? I could—”

‘I could help you with that!’

Hajun swallowed his words.

He’d nearly blurted out that he’d cover her expenses, but he knew it would only burden her. He held his tongue, as he always did.

“Well, that’s great. What kind of job is it? That day you left after a call—did you get offered a TA position or something?”

Before Jihyun could answer, Miri jumped in.

“Not a TA. She’s the personal secretary to the Northern Duke.”

“The Northern… what?”

“Not exactly a secretary…”

As soon as Hajun realized who the duke was, his face darkened. Jihyun gave Miri a jab to the side and turned to Hajun nervously.

“I ran into Shin Seungho by chance. He asked for some help, so I’ve been working for him.”

“Shin Seungho…”

Even saying the name felt like swallowing sand. Hajun’s expression darkened more than when he’d rejected Haemin.

This couldn’t be a coincidence. The name that kept reappearing. The smug look Seungho had in high school lingered in his memory.

‘No way… did he know this would happen and smile back then?’

Instead of replying, Hajun stirred his now ice-filled drink.

“What’s with the mood? Why is it so tense in here?”

Trying to lighten the atmosphere, Miri glanced between them.

Hajun was speechless. If anything, Miri was the cause of this tension.

“You guys don’t know this, do you?”

“Know what?”

Miri lowered her voice. The others leaned in closer.

“When it comes to loosening the mood, nothing beats alcohol. And guess what? This place serves drinks! Boss! Alcohol, please!”

Later, Hajun looked down at Miri, who had passed out with her head on the table. She had cheerfully toasted and downed glass after glass until she collapsed. Despite her low alcohol tolerance, she always drank with enthusiasm—and always ended the same way.

“Let’s get going. I’ll take care of Miri—”

“Jihyun, wait.”

As Jihyun started to get up, thinking about work the next day, Hajun stopped her.

“Can we talk for a bit?”

His eyes were sincere, and she nodded.

“…Okay.”

“About your job… to be honest—”

Buzz, buzz.

Just then, Jihyun’s phone rang. She checked the screen—and her face hardened. The caller was Shin Seungho.

After getting out of the taxi, Jihyun glared at the exterior of the I Hotel.

‘I should’ve known better. He said I could take the day off too easily… how naive of me.’

Shin Seungho, who once tricked her with a dessert, wouldn’t give her a break without strings attached.

At the VIP-only lounge bar, the staff let her in without question.

The marble floors and chandelier-lit ceilings made the space feel elegant and atmospheric.

Seungho sat alone near a finely carved fountain.

Back at the café, her phone had rung before she could even answer. As soon as she picked up:

— I’ll send you the address. Come here.

“It’s not a good time. Can’t I hear it tomorrow at work?”

— Heh…

When she declined, flustered, he laughed mockingly.

— Did you forget?

“…”

— Absolute obedience to your superior during the contract period.

“B-but I have my own situation right now.”

— Come. Now.

Click. He hung up without hesitation.

“…You’re here.”

Clink. The ice in Seungho’s glass clattered gently. He held a crystal tumbler, looking unfamiliar even though she’d seen him drink before.

“Are you drunk?”

He smirked.

“This is whiskey soda. Do I look like someone who’d get drunk off this?”

Frankly, yes. His face gave the impression he could down straight liquor without blinking. He nodded toward the seat across from him.

“Sit.”

As she sat, a staff member approached with the menu. Before she could even take it, Seungho spoke.

“An Einspänner with whipped cream on top.”

“I haven’t even looked at the menu yet.”

“You like sweet things.”

Jihyun couldn’t say anything.

He wasn’t wrong. A moment later, the coffee was served.

The whipped cream sat beautifully on the small cup of coffee.

“So why did you call me?”

“…Drink first.”

As she sipped the cream-topped coffee, her eyes widened.

Seungho leaned back, resting his chin on his hand, watching her sip slowly.

‘Must be better than expected.’

Choi Jihyun was such an easy person to read.

He could tell what she was thinking just by watching her eyes.

He chuckled to himself.

After a few more sips, she set the cup down gently and met his eyes.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“…”

Instead of answering, he just stared at her. She blushed.

“I thought you said you had something important to say?”

Finally looking away, Seungho took a long drink of his whiskey soda. It had been a tiring day, full of meaningless competition.

He was sick of his older brother, who was obsessed with finding weaknesses to exploit.

And in the midst of that frustration, he thought of Jihyun.

Thinking of her helped him forget, even if only a little, his disgust for his own blood.

That’s why he called her.

Because he thought of her—
And once the thought came, he couldn’t stop it.