TSS 12

Chapter : 12

A few days later, the day of their third date dawned. Unlike last time, Ha-yeon’s mother and Hye-yeon were much more relaxed today. Last time, the marriage hadn’t been discussed yet, but this time, at least Geon-hyeong’s side had made an inquiry, so it seemed more official.

“What should I wear today…?”

Still tense, Ha-yeon asked her sister. Hye-yeon glanced at her and handed her a T-shirt.

“Just wear this today. The rest, just pair it with some jeans that match.”

Ha-yeon’s eyes widened as she looked at the T-shirt. It was a surprisingly ordinary T-shirt for her sister to have. Well, to be precise, the fabric was a little unusual.

Could it possibly have some strange secret again?

Hye-yeon let out a sigh at her sister’s suspicious gaze.

“Don’t worry. You’ll see—it’s plain, perfectly normal.”

“…Sis, do you even have clothes that aren’t sexy?”

Ha-yeon asked skeptically. Hye-yeon laughed in disbelief.

“Rarely, yes. Even I sometimes wear sneakers. You can’t wear uncomfortable shoes when your foot is hurt. Wearing a sexy outfit with sneakers wouldn’t make sense, right?”

Hye-yeon was proud of her fashion sense and had a peculiar stubbornness about her style. For that reason—or maybe because of it—Ha-yeon had never seen her sister wear sneakers. So learning she even had a pair was news to her.

Tilting her head in confusion, Ha-yeon watched her sister click her tongue.

“Look at you. Basic fashion sense, isn’t it? Even when using accessories, I do it in my style.”

Items that could be “used in her style” sounded even more suspicious. Ha-yeon pouted unconsciously. But Hye-yeon, hands on her hips, began her lecture on fashion with a triumphant air.

“I think what Mom said last time was wrong.”

“Mom… wrong?”

Ha-yeon was surprised by her sister’s words. It was the first time she’d heard Hye-yeon say her mother was wrong.

Hye-yeon was usually headstrong, but she at least obeyed their mother. It seemed like a way to stay in her mother’s good graces. Still, both she and Ha-yeon were often ignored.

“I might not know everything, but I can at least dress well, right? Mom’s sense is good for a politician’s wife, but…”

Maybe she wanted to insist on the one thing she was confident in. It was truly a craftsman’s pride.

“Clothes should have an effect suited to their purpose. In that case, you could say last time, no thought was given to the other person at all.”

“…Effect?”

Ha-yeon wasn’t sure what kind of effect her sister meant. Last time, it hadn’t seemed all that bad.

She stopped herself from responding. Ever since the last date, that day had been floating in her mind. She hadn’t even tasted the shaved ice properly, though she had praised it enthusiastically when Geon-hyeong asked. After all, it was supposed to be delicious.

Ha-yeon glanced again at the T-shirt her sister had given her, feeling a little deflated.

‘Then maybe nothing strange will happen today. That’s a bit disappointing… Wait, what am I thinking?’

Her face flushed instantly. Meanwhile, Hye-yeon continued her presentation-like lecture about today’s outfit concept with surprising professionalism.

“There are times when age makes you act like a refined scholar, all dignified and proper, even if it doesn’t suit you.”

A scholar? Geon-hyeong? Ha-yeon tilted her head. Hye-yeon nudged her side as if Ha-yeon didn’t understand.

“In those cases, it’s better to do the opposite. Subtle but revealing, you know? Innocent yet fully aware.”

Subtle yet revealing, innocent yet aware—Ha-yeon couldn’t make sense of it.

“So today, let’s go sporty, and wear underwear that matches, okay?”

Hye-yeon raised one corner of her mouth and handed her a sports bra. Compared to last time, when her underwear wasn’t even suitable, this was a big improvement. Still, it was a sports bra rather than a regular one.

“What does that have to do with this…?”

“Ah, stop complaining. This is workout wear…”

“Exactly! You’re wearing workout clothes, which is good, right? After lunch, let’s go for a walk—maybe the park? Plus, you’re wearing sneakers.”

A walk, huh? It sounded like an excuse, but Ha-yeon nodded.

Ah, that kind of date existed. She hadn’t considered it because Geon-hyeong had always been in a suit.

‘I’ll just bring a set of workout clothes. If a fight breaks out, I can change after stopping.’

She also remembered a joke Geon-hyeong had made. Maybe he really did have workout clothes. She even recalled him asking what her favorite place was.

‘…Maybe I should suggest the park.’

Her ears perked up. Hye-yeon, satisfied with Ha-yeon’s obedient choice, smiled.

An unfamiliar SUV pulled up in front of Ha-yeon, who had been waiting for Geon-hyeong.

“Waiting? Sorry.”

Geon-hyeong got out, looking apologetic. But it wasn’t really late; they still had five minutes.

“The car’s different.”

Ha-yeon shook her head, changing the topic. She had been the one waiting last time.

“Ah, I just use this car more often. Hop in.”

As she climbed in, Ha-yeon was impressed by the spacious seats. It suited Geon-hyeong better than a sedan.

‘With his size and all…’

She glanced at him buckling up. He wasn’t wearing a tie today either.

“Oh, nice.”

“Nice…?”

“My clothes. They look light.”

Geon-hyeong smiled warmly as he started the engine. He’d noticed her lighter outfit.

“Looks easy to move in. Did you know we’d be moving around a lot?”

“Moving around?”

Her sister had suggested a walk, but “moving around” sounded broader. Ha-yeon flinched slightly. Geon-hyeong smirked—definitely teasing her.

“Uh, are we going outside?”

She asked again, though she knew he was teasing. Her mind wandered back to the previous time.

“No, indoors.”

“Indoors…?”

Where indoors could they move around? A slightly embarrassing image crossed her mind.

Could her sister’s “subtle but revealing, innocent yet aware” concept really apply here? Ha-yeon muttered, pretending not to know.

“…A gym?”

Geon-hyeong chuckled and drove off.

“…A gym?” she asked again.

“Gym or fitness center, whatever.”

“Then neither?”

“You think we’d go somewhere like that dressed like this? By the way, you’re following me around well, even though we’re talking about marriage.”

He teased as he held the steering wheel with one hand. Ha-yeon mumbled defensively.

“…Well…”

“Because I bought you shaved ice?”

Ha-yeon was speechless. Geon-hyeong gave another clue like a game of twenty questions.

“Anyway, we’re getting married. So we need to prepare before the wedding. Some things need adjusting between us…”

“Adjust… between us?”

Her voice trembled. Even a clueless person couldn’t hide what she’d been thinking.

Geon-hyeong was sharp too. Ha-yeon’s eyes were the largest they’d ever been. Soon, she might even cry.

You get punished for teasing a child.

He sighed.

“The wedding hall.”

“Th-the wedding hall?”

His nonchalant answer reassured Ha-yeon, letting her lean back. A wedding hall. Unexpected, but not dangerous or strange—so she relaxed.

“I heard you need to book the hall first if you want to start preparing for the wedding.”

He said it matter-of-factly with a smile. Although Tae-seon had listed many wedding halls, she hadn’t planned to tour them. But a call that morning changed her mind.

‘This is Nam Myung-shin. We need to meet before the wedding, just the two of us, to discuss some things.’

It was her father. Why meet separately before the formal family meeting?

‘…Suspicious.’

Geon-hyeong rested his hand on the steering wheel, smirking. What could he want to talk about?

‘I asked Tae-seon to do some quick background checks…’

For someone of that stature, it would be too much for Tae-seon alone. Since morning, he’d been calling people, recalling his previous preparations. First strike, sure victory.

‘…Also.’

He glanced at the passenger seat. Ha-yeon’s face flushed. That expression, those little sounds from before…

‘All this time, I blamed myself, thinking he was a pervert.’

Now, it seemed she had known all along. Maybe those scandalous clothes were intentional after all.

In the end, it seemed like the world was practically pushing them to get married quickly.

12.

A few days later, the day of their third date dawned. Unlike last time, Ha-yeon’s mother and Hye-yeon were much more relaxed today. Last time, the marriage hadn’t been discussed yet, but this time, at least Geon-hyeong’s side had made an inquiry, so it seemed more official.

“What should I wear today…?”

Still tense, Ha-yeon asked her sister. Hye-yeon glanced at her and handed her a T-shirt.

“Just wear this today. The rest, just pair it with some jeans that match.”

Ha-yeon’s eyes widened as she looked at the T-shirt. It was a surprisingly ordinary T-shirt for her sister to have. Well, to be precise, the fabric was a little unusual.

Could it possibly have some strange secret again?

Hye-yeon let out a sigh at her sister’s suspicious gaze.

“Don’t worry. You’ll see—it’s plain, perfectly normal.”

“…Sis, do you even have clothes that aren’t sexy?”

Ha-yeon asked skeptically. Hye-yeon laughed in disbelief.

“Rarely, yes. Even I sometimes wear sneakers. You can’t wear uncomfortable shoes when your foot is hurt. Wearing a sexy outfit with sneakers wouldn’t make sense, right?”

Hye-yeon was proud of her fashion sense and had a peculiar stubbornness about her style. For that reason—or maybe because of it—Ha-yeon had never seen her sister wear sneakers. So learning she even had a pair was news to her.

Tilting her head in confusion, Ha-yeon watched her sister click her tongue.

“Look at you. Basic fashion sense, isn’t it? Even when using accessories, I do it in my style.”

Items that could be “used in her style” sounded even more suspicious. Ha-yeon pouted unconsciously. But Hye-yeon, hands on her hips, began her lecture on fashion with a triumphant air.

“I think what Mom said last time was wrong.”

“Mom… wrong?”

Ha-yeon was surprised by her sister’s words. It was the first time she’d heard Hye-yeon say her mother was wrong.

Hye-yeon was usually headstrong, but she at least obeyed their mother. It seemed like a way to stay in her mother’s good graces. Still, both she and Ha-yeon were often ignored.

“I might not know everything, but I can at least dress well, right? Mom’s sense is good for a politician’s wife, but…”

Maybe she wanted to insist on the one thing she was confident in. It was truly a craftsman’s pride.

“Clothes should have an effect suited to their purpose. In that case, you could say last time, no thought was given to the other person at all.”

“…Effect?”

Ha-yeon wasn’t sure what kind of effect her sister meant. Last time, it hadn’t seemed all that bad.

She stopped herself from responding. Ever since the last date, that day had been floating in her mind. She hadn’t even tasted the shaved ice properly, though she had praised it enthusiastically when Geon-hyeong asked. After all, it was supposed to be delicious.

Ha-yeon glanced again at the T-shirt her sister had given her, feeling a little deflated.

‘Then maybe nothing strange will happen today. That’s a bit disappointing… Wait, what am I thinking?’

Her face flushed instantly. Meanwhile, Hye-yeon continued her presentation-like lecture about today’s outfit concept with surprising professionalism.

“There are times when age makes you act like a refined scholar, all dignified and proper, even if it doesn’t suit you.”

A scholar? Geon-hyeong? Ha-yeon tilted her head. Hye-yeon nudged her side as if Ha-yeon didn’t understand.

“In those cases, it’s better to do the opposite. Subtle but revealing, you know? Innocent yet fully aware.”

Subtle yet revealing, innocent yet aware—Ha-yeon couldn’t make sense of it.

“So today, let’s go sporty, and wear underwear that matches, okay?”

Hye-yeon raised one corner of her mouth and handed her a sports bra. Compared to last time, when her underwear wasn’t even suitable, this was a big improvement. Still, it was a sports bra rather than a regular one.

“What does that have to do with this…?”

“Ah, stop complaining. This is workout wear…”

“Exactly! You’re wearing workout clothes, which is good, right? After lunch, let’s go for a walk—maybe the park? Plus, you’re wearing sneakers.”

A walk, huh? It sounded like an excuse, but Ha-yeon nodded.

Ah, that kind of date existed. She hadn’t considered it because Geon-hyeong had always been in a suit.

‘I’ll just bring a set of workout clothes. If a fight breaks out, I can change after stopping.’

She also remembered a joke Geon-hyeong had made. Maybe he really did have workout clothes. She even recalled him asking what her favorite place was.

‘…Maybe I should suggest the park.’

Her ears perked up. Hye-yeon, satisfied with Ha-yeon’s obedient choice, smiled.

An unfamiliar SUV pulled up in front of Ha-yeon, who had been waiting for Geon-hyeong.

“Waiting? Sorry.”

Geon-hyeong got out, looking apologetic. But it wasn’t really late; they still had five minutes.

“The car’s different.”

Ha-yeon shook her head, changing the topic. She had been the one waiting last time.

“Ah, I just use this car more often. Hop in.”

As she climbed in, Ha-yeon was impressed by the spacious seats. It suited Geon-hyeong better than a sedan.

‘With his size and all…’

She glanced at him buckling up. He wasn’t wearing a tie today either.

“Oh, nice.”

“Nice…?”

“My clothes. They look light.”

Geon-hyeong smiled warmly as he started the engine. He’d noticed her lighter outfit.

“Looks easy to move in. Did you know we’d be moving around a lot?”

“Moving around?”

Her sister had suggested a walk, but “moving around” sounded broader. Ha-yeon flinched slightly. Geon-hyeong smirked—definitely teasing her.

“Uh, are we going outside?”

She asked again, though she knew he was teasing. Her mind wandered back to the previous time.

“No, indoors.”

“Indoors…?”

Where indoors could they move around? A slightly embarrassing image crossed her mind.

Could her sister’s “subtle but revealing, innocent yet aware” concept really apply here? Ha-yeon muttered, pretending not to know.

“…A gym?”

Geon-hyeong chuckled and drove off.

“…A gym?” she asked again.

“Gym or fitness center, whatever.”

“Then neither?”

“You think we’d go somewhere like that dressed like this? By the way, you’re following me around well, even though we’re talking about marriage.”

He teased as he held the steering wheel with one hand. Ha-yeon mumbled defensively.

“…Well…”

“Because I bought you shaved ice?”

Ha-yeon was speechless. Geon-hyeong gave another clue like a game of twenty questions.

“Anyway, we’re getting married. So we need to prepare before the wedding. Some things need adjusting between us…”

“Adjust… between us?”

Her voice trembled. Even a clueless person couldn’t hide what she’d been thinking.

Geon-hyeong was sharp too. Ha-yeon’s eyes were the largest they’d ever been. Soon, she might even cry.

You get punished for teasing a child.

He sighed.

“The wedding hall.”

“Th-the wedding hall?”

His nonchalant answer reassured Ha-yeon, letting her lean back. A wedding hall. Unexpected, but not dangerous or strange—so she relaxed.

“I heard you need to book the hall first if you want to start preparing for the wedding.”

He said it matter-of-factly with a smile. Although Tae-seon had listed many wedding halls, she hadn’t planned to tour them. But a call that morning changed her mind.

‘This is Nam Myung-shin. We need to meet before the wedding, just the two of us, to discuss some things.’

It was her father. Why meet separately before the formal family meeting?

‘…Suspicious.’

Geon-hyeong rested his hand on the steering wheel, smirking. What could he want to talk about?

‘I asked Tae-seon to do some quick background checks…’

For someone of that stature, it would be too much for Tae-seon alone. Since morning, he’d been calling people, recalling his previous preparations. First strike, sure victory.

‘…Also.’

He glanced at the passenger seat. Ha-yeon’s face flushed. That expression, those little sounds from before…

‘All this time, I blamed myself, thinking he was a pervert.’

Now, it seemed she had known all along. Maybe those scandalous clothes were intentional after all.

In the end, it seemed like the world was practically pushing them to get married quickly.