EM 22

Chapter 22…..

Taejun gripped the steering wheel irritably.

Yumi often chose to sit in the back seat rather than next to him when riding together.

It annoyed him, as if she thought of herself as his chauffeur, but no matter what he said, Yumi wouldn’t listen.

After staring at her phone for a while, she spoke in her usual sharp, clear voice.

“Dad’s meeting a friend today, and it’s at the same hotel restaurant we’re going to. Should we change the place if it’s inconvenient?”

Ugh. Not exactly welcome news.

But Taejun couldn’t miss the meeting with his father-in-law. The man wasn’t particularly fond of Taejun and rarely gave him a chance to make a good impression.

“No, let’s just go and greet him.”

“Won’t it be uncomfortable for you?”

“I need to earn some points too.”

“Well, Dad’s been envious lately because his friend’s son is doing well. If you act friendly, he’ll be pleased.”

With that, Taejun entered the restaurant with Yumi. They were seated alongside three of his father-in-law’s close friends.

Yumi’s father, President Shin Seok-cheol, seemed unusually receptive to Taejun’s words that day. He had a discerning eye.

Taejun placed a plate of salad in front of Seok-cheol.

“Sir, since you need to manage your blood pressure, avoid greasy food and have plenty of these vegetables.”

The men sitting beside Seok-cheol commented.

“Shin has a sharp eye. Where did he find such a considerate son-in-law?”

“Ha! And with Shin’s belly growing recently, he really should watch it.”

Taejun responded immediately.

“My father is tall with a large frame, so I didn’t realize his belly was showing.”

Seok-cheol seemed fine with that, smiling as he replied.

“Ahem. I should probably exercise a bit more.”

“If you have time this weekend, I can take you to the field,” Taejun offered politely.

Seok-cheol’s friend clicked his tongue.

“Poor man without a son-in-law, huh? Yours is even better than my son! My son has never played a round with me!”

The atmosphere became warm and pleasant, making Taejun feel proud.

He had been nervous with Seok-cheol and his friends present, but this was satisfying enough.

As Taejun excitedly lifted his drink, the man sitting next to him spoke.

“By the way, we seem to share the same taste.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re wearing the same brand as me.”

He held out his hand to align with Taejun’s wrist. Both of their shirts had identical embroidery.

“Oh… yes.”

It was a bit puzzling. This was a gathering of Seok-cheol and his acquaintances. Why would anyone comment on wearing the same brand here?

Moreover, analyzing brands like this made things uncomfortable. Taejun’s shirt was a counterfeit.

‘Wait a minute. Could this person be doing this on purpose…?’

As Taejun suspected, the man continued.

“Oh, I thought it was the same, but it’s not. The S here is sticking out at the bottom.”

He pointed at Taejun’s sleeve. Sure enough, the embroidery’s design and placement were slightly different.

“You didn’t buy this from the official store, did you? For the sake of Chairman Shin’s reputation, go get it from the store.”

He laughed heartily. The other men tried to laugh it off as if it didn’t matter, but Seok-cheol’s reaction was different.

Taejun could see his face turning red with embarrassment.

Taejun wasn’t the only one who felt embarrassed by the counterfeit shirt.

In the car on the way home, Yumi kept scolding him.

“Did you really have to humiliate yourself in front of Dad’s friends like that?”

“How’s a salaried worker supposed to buy a shirt worth millions?”

“Where did all the money I transferred you last month go?”

He had spent it on important matters, not wastefully. It was an investment for greater gains, just needing a little time—but he had been caught at the wrong moment.

Taejun offered a mild excuse.

“I was busy. I’ll make time to buy one.”

Yumi seemed slightly appeased.

After dropping Yumi off, Taejun drove on.

Passing by Myunglim Pottery headquarters, where his office was, he noticed a stark contrast in how employees and his in-laws treated him.

The employees saw him as the son-in-law welcomed by Yumi’s family because Taejun had boasted about it. Each time, they were full of admiration.

“A department manager with a department store son-in-law! Kim won’t worry about money for life.”

“Taejun’s fiancée is Shin Seok-cheol’s only daughter. Of course, they’d treasure him.”

Hearing this made him feel successful and proud.

However, meeting Yumi’s family often made him feel inadequate. Today he had expected smooth sailing, but he ended up feeling humiliated.

Next time he met Seok-cheol, he would dress properly and somehow make a better impression.

Taejun went to a second-hand luxury store in Gangnam, planning to buy something decent with the remaining money.

Passing through the first-floor lobby, he spotted Seung-ah sitting among other people.

For a moment, he thought he was mistaken, but rubbing his eyes confirmed it was indeed her.

‘Why is Choi Seung-ah in a place like this?’

She was sitting in the waiting area for items submitted for consignment.

In other words, she was waiting to have her luxury goods appraised.

But Seung-ah couldn’t possibly own luxury goods.

Approaching her, her expression twisted, but Taejun ignored it and asked,

“Seung-ah, didn’t you go to work today?”

Judging by her outfit, she planned to go to the office later, probably taking a half-day off.

“And you, oppa?”

“I stopped by here on my way back from a business trip.”

“Then go finish your work.”

Seung-ah turned her face indifferently. Taejun, however, didn’t leave, sitting down in front of her.

“What brings you here?”

No answer.

“I asked why you’re here?”

“None of your business.”

Seung-ah didn’t even glance at him.

Two shopping bags sat on the sofa beside her, clearly filled with items for resale.

They looked heavy, packed with goods.

“You… did you bring all that here to sell?”

All of that is luxury goods?

Disbelieving, Taejun asked again.

“Where did you even get these?”

Seung-ah sighed as if the ground had swallowed her.

“Why, can’t I have luxury goods? Well, I never had any when I met you.”

“Are you seeing a rich guy or something?”

Taejun asked sharply, but Seung-ah didn’t even flinch.

“We’re broken up, so that’s none of your business.”

She showed no intention of revealing anything.

If the bags contained items Seung-ah had purchased herself, he couldn’t understand why she would sell them. Rich people might get bored and resell things, but Seung-ah wouldn’t. If she bought something expensive, she’d use it carefully for life.

So these luxury items weren’t hers.

The more he thought about it, the more he suspected Seung-ah had received them from someone else.

And being here meant she needed money enough to sell them.

Taejun asked the question that came to mind.

“Why are you selling them? Do you need money for something?”

“And you, oppa? You go around claiming to have elevated your status by dating a rich girl, yet you’re wandering into second-hand stores?”

It hit him where it hurt.

Already frustrated from meeting Seok-cheol, now this question pushed him over the edge.

As he prepared to remain silent, Seung-ah, anticipating his excuse, said coldly:

“Stop wasting time. Can you leave now?”

Taejun didn’t want the conversation to end there and quickly suggested:

“I’m heading to work anyway. Let’s go together after you’re done.”