Chapter 05
“That was excessive.”
Ji-an managed to speak, forcing her anger down.
She just wanted to end this quietly.
But her desperate wish didn’t reach this ignorant man at all.
“Enough, alright? You need to hurry if you want kids. Twenty-eight is already cutting it close. Over thirty, even smart women have trouble, right? Just have two kids, smart ones. That’s my only condition.”
Ah… this is too much.
She hadn’t imagined her grandmother would push her to offer herself to such an absurd man.
It made her stomach turn. Yet, Ji-an pressed down her feelings one more time and stayed seated.
But then—
“Oh, and I’ll cover your mother’s care costs. I know she’s basically a vegetable, but I’m investing for my future child. Send her to a nursing home, forget about her. Misfortune is contagious anyway.”
Ji-an snapped.
She couldn’t take it any longer.
Until now, she had quietly endured in previous situations, smoothing things over without causing a scene.
But touching her mother was something she wouldn’t allow.
Seething with rage, she grabbed her water glass and splashed it at the man.
Splash!
“Ah! Hey! You! Are you crazy? Do you know how much this outfit costs?!”
The man shouted as the water drenched him in an instant.
Ji-an’s patience was gone. She didn’t just stand there anymore.
“You really should know when to stop spouting nonsense.”
“What? N-Nonsense?”
“I’m not asking for your help. So keep your mouth shut, and watch your steps at night from now on.”
“You! You’re going to regret this!”
The man trembled with indignation.
Ji-an’s whole body shook with fury, yet her voice grew even colder.
“If you ever need the ER, don’t come to Hanyeong Hospital. I don’t even want someone like you as a patient.”
“You… you… crazy woman!”
“If you hadn’t been rude, you wouldn’t have had to hear harsh words.”
Ji-an glared at him, sharp and unyielding.
Her words hit their mark. The man couldn’t say a word for a moment.
Ji-an let out a deep breath and turned to leave.
But the man grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around roughly.
“Hey! You! Begging without money, who do you think you are?!”
The enraged man swung his hand at her cheek.
Ji-an made a split-second decision. She thought: maybe it’s better to take one slap and be done with it.
If she got hit, at least her grandmother wouldn’t push her further with this man.
She didn’t dodge, bracing herself for the impact with her teeth clenched.
Then—
Thud!
A giant figure blocked her, gripping the man’s hand mid-swing.
Ji-an, who had instinctively flinched, slowly lifted her head, caught by a familiar, refreshing scent.
Why… was he here?
She froze, stunned to see the man appear like a hero.
“What are you doing?”
The man’s deep, chilling voice rumbled as he shielded her.
“Ha! What the hell is this guy doing?”
“……This guy?”
His eyes glinted with a dangerous intensity as he looked down at the blind date.
The man’s sheer presence intimidated the other, who wavered visibly.
A herbivore before a predator.
Having strutted like he owned the world, the man shrank before this stronger figure, voice trembling.
“L-Let go.”
The blind date tried to pry the hand off, but the man didn’t budge.
Instead, he gripped the other’s wrist tightly and looked back at Ji-an.
“What should we do? Shall I let go?”
He asked kindly, as if seeking her consent.
Ji-an, holding her breath, awkwardly nodded.
With a slight shrug, the man released the blind date’s hand.
Then she noticed the familiar bag in his other hand.
The designer tote her grandmother had forced her to bring—now returned.
Ji-an’s eyes widened at the bag she hadn’t even realized was missing, and she looked up at him in surprise.
At that moment, he silently mouthed words to her.
“Let’s help each other.”
“Let’s get out together.”
His clear lips met her eyes.
Ji-an slowly understood. He, too, needed to escape this space.
“Are you two… acquainted?”
The blind date, sensing the tension, interjected.
Seeing the man’s face, Ji-an made up her mind.
Alright. This has already happened.
“Fine.”
She nodded at him, signaling agreement.
Immediately, a charming smile spread across his handsome face like honey.
“Good. I like that too.”
Why… was he looking at her like that?
His eyes, actor-like, deep and warm, seemed to signal their unspoken plan to escape together.
Flustered, Ji-an tried to suppress the rising heat in her face.
The man stepped closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulder like a caring partner.
The weight startled her, and then he leaned in, whispering close to her ear.
“I’m Seo Tae-jun. My name.”
His voice was calm, but the warm breath against her ear was almost fiery.
Ji-an’s neck flushed as she hunched her shoulders.
Too close.
From the outside, it might look like he was kissing her ear.
Perfect for a misunderstanding.
Nervous, Ji-an shivered slightly, keeping her gaze just turned away. She saw the blind date trembling in fear.
When there was someone to help her like this, she felt a sudden urge to fully commit to this little performance.
“…Tae-jun, let’s go.”
She called his name warmly, forcing a small smile.
“Sounds really nice,” he said.
His hand tightened on her shoulder. Instinctively, her body was drawn deeper into his embrace.
Wrapped in his large arms, Ji-an felt like a small child.
She had known he was tall, but the embrace made him feel enormous.
“Hey! You! You—don’t think I’ll let this slide!”
The blind date shouted in a pitiful rage.
But Ji-an ignored him completely and strode out of the lounge with Tae-jun.
Her heart pounded madly.
Steadily, she took the elevator with him.
By the time they reached the lobby, she collapsed into a hidden corner, breathing heavily.
“Ha…”
The breaths she’d been holding came out in ragged bursts.
Turning sharply had been exhilarating, but the thrill didn’t last.
Worry and fear quickly followed.
Would it be okay?
If her grandmother found out what happened today… it would be a disaster.
Thinking of her grandmother’s face, Ji-an’s chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.
What if she actually stopped treatment…?
Should she have endured a little more, for her mother’s sake?
No, how could she endure more…?
If she didn’t, she might be forced to marry some strange man her grandmother wanted, and live a terrible life.
The emotions she had been swallowing surged up, reddening her eyes.
For her mother, she had come this far, enduring humiliation.
Or maybe… it wasn’t entirely for her mother, but for herself.
She couldn’t bear to live alone if her mother was harmed.
She had been stubbornly using her mother as an excuse to survive.
“I’m sorry… Mom, I’m sorry.”
Finally, the sobs she had been holding back broke free.
