MCMRH 09

Chapter 09…

Lee Sojin.
Quit her job, currently preparing to transfer.
Nickname: “Bull Sojin,” and…

“So you broke up again?”

“Of course I did. I should’ve known from the day that bastard gave me a secondhand item as a 100-day anniversary gift. I put up with it a hundred times, thinking he was just frugal. But then he goes and saves all that up to buy another woman a bag?”

A collector of strange men.

Still unable to calm her anger, Sojin slammed her fist on the table. Her friend Hye-young, sitting across from her, snickered.

“Honestly, you’re amazing. How do you keep finding guys who are all weird in new, creative ways? That’s not easy, you know.”

“I don’t know. They all looked fine at first… Whatever, let’s stop talking about it. Just thinking of them makes my blood pressure rise.”

Sojin had been dating steadily since her teens, but not once had a relationship ended well. And as if admitting that herself, she bit into the side dish with force.

“Well, hey, you can just meet someone else. Who knows? Next time it might really be an incredible guy.”

“Forget it. I’m going to focus on getting a new job now. It actually worked out better—one less distraction.”

“Come on, if you find a good man, you have to grab him. Who knows? Maybe your future boyfriend is sitting right here tonight.”

“Enough. Drink.”

Hye-young’s eyes darted around, as if she were determined to find a boyfriend candidate for Sojin. But Sojin herself chewed her squid with little interest.

“Hey, what about that guy over there? He’s seriously handsome.”

“…Where?”

“The two guys sitting diagonally behind you. Drop your spoon ‘by accident’ and take a peek.”

At Hye-young’s suggestion, Sojin deliberately dropped her spoon, bent down to pick it up, and glanced behind her. Just as Hye-young said, two very handsome men were sitting there—and some women were already approaching them.

“Ah, someone’s already made a move. I thought we’d finally found your prince.”

“…”

“Still, want to throw yourself in anyway?”

But Sojin didn’t move. She just stared fixedly at the two men. Hye-young teased her.

“You’re going to drill a hole in their faces. What, is he your type?”

“…Brother-in-law?”

“Yeah, your ideal type could be your—wait, what?”

“I’ll be right back.”

His outfit and hairstyle were completely different from what she remembered, but the face was unmistakable—it was Hyun. And when she spotted Kangchan sitting right across from him, Sojin strode straight toward their table.

“Brother-in-law?”

“…”

“You are my brother-in-law, right?”

The word made everyone around turn to look at her. Hyun also looked at Sojin, but instead of acknowledging her, he raised his brow as if she were spouting nonsense.

“Brother-in-law?”

“…”

“Who are you to pop out of nowhere and call me that?”

“Oh dear, Director! You’re really drunk!”

At that moment, Kangchan hurriedly covered Hyun’s mouth.

“What are you talking about? I’ve only had one drink—”

“How drunk are you that you can’t even recognize your sister-in-law? This won’t do. Let me help you up.”

“What?”

“Sorry. Our director has had too much. We’ll greet you properly next time.”

Kangchan quickly apologized to Sojin and tried to pull Hyun to his feet, but Hyun didn’t budge. Finally, sweating nervously, Kangchan whispered desperately.

“Please, please let’s just go…”

“Why should I? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Hyun frowned, refusing to move. Sojin stared blankly at him, startled, until Kangchan, nearly in tears, resorted to his last card.

“…I’ll tell you where your cousin is.”

“You should’ve said that from the start.”

Satisfied with that answer, Hyun stood up. His eyes briefly met Sojin’s, but he turned away without a word of greeting. Kangchan gave Sojin a quick nod of apology and rushed after Hyun.

“Mom.”

“…”

“Mom!”

“Oh, yes. Did you finish with the slide?”

Since it was a day off from kindergarten, Sojung was spending time at home playing with Harim. But even while playing with her daughter, her thoughts kept drifting elsewhere—toward Sua’s daughter.

Who would’ve thought she’d send her child to the same kindergarten?

Of course, with a family like the Dongyoung Group, it made perfect sense. The problem was how fast the whole process had gone. That wasn’t something easily done without powerful backing.

If she’s four, she’ll be in the same class as Harim.

Sojung wished her daughter didn’t have to be tangled up in all this. But there was nothing she could do. Besides, the two children were relatives.

That the man Sua married turned out to be Hyun’s cousin…

She had never been particularly close to her husband’s cousins, but she never imagined Sua had once been married into the family. Especially since she met Sua only after that marriage had already ended.

“Harim.”

“Yeah?”

“If anything happens at kindergarten, you tell Mom right away, okay?”

“Like what?”

“Mm… anything surprising or scary.”

“Okay!”

Harim answered confidently, though Sojung didn’t expect much. Still, her daughter’s bright, brave response made her smile as she patted her head.

Beep-beep-beep.

Just then, the sound of the door lock echoed from the entryway. The person who came in was Mi-ae.

“Mother?”

Startled, Sojung jumped up. Mi-ae clicked her tongue at the messy living room scattered with toys.

“Do you really live like this at home? Not even cleaning up?”

“No, it’s only like this when I play with Harim. Normally I keep everything tidy.”

“If she played properly in the first place, it wouldn’t be such chaos. Who does she take after to run around like a wild colt all the time?”

Mi-ae’s disapproving gaze now landed on Harim, who quickly hid behind her mother.

“Harim, go play in your room with the housekeeper. Mommy needs to talk to Grandma.”

Once Harim was led away, Sojung and Mi-ae sat at the dining table.

“Would you like some tea?”

“No need. I won’t be staying long.”

Waving her hand, Mi-ae got straight to the point.

“You know the company’s anniversary ceremony is coming up, don’t you?”

“Yes, it’s soon.”

With so many executives and VIPs attending, of course Sojung knew. But there was a major issue.

“Hyun won’t be able to come in his current state.”

“…No, I don’t think so.”

She had expected it. Right now, Hyun wasn’t a hotel CEO but just a twenty-year-old student. His appearance there would only cause trouble.

“Exactly. That’s why you need to attend and conduct yourself properly. Make sure no rumors start. Handle it thoroughly.”

“I’ve already prepared myself for that. Don’t worry.”

“Good grief… This is a disaster.”

Even with Sojung’s assurance, Mi-ae pressed her forehead as if the thought alone gave her a headache. Sojung quietly sipped her tea.

“By the way, have you been to the villa?”

“…Just once, to drop something off.”

“You should’ve sent someone else. Why go yourself?”

Mi-ae looked horrified.

“If you keep going back and forth, people will notice. That’s no good. From now on, only send someone unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

She made it sound like she was worrying about Sojung, but Sojung knew the real reason—Han Sua.

Mi-ae had already taken a liking to Sua. And she didn’t want Sojung and Sua running into each other.

Not that it mattered. Sojung already knew she couldn’t help her husband regain his memory.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

From Mi-ae’s words, she realized who had pulled strings to get Sua’s child into the kindergarten. But she didn’t mention it.

“Anyway, remember. Conduct yourself properly. Got it?”

“Yes, Mother. Please take care.”

Mi-ae left after saying only what she came to say. Sojung, used to it by now, saw her off politely. Once the house was quiet again, the housekeeper came out.

“Where’s Harim?”

“She fell asleep. Must’ve been tired.”

Indeed, Harim was dozing peacefully behind the closed door. Watching her for a moment, Sojung began picking up the toys scattered in the living room.

“Oh no, ma’am. Leave them, I’ll clean up.”

“I’ll just set aside the ones Harim likes. Please go on with your work.”

She had only wanted to tidy up and organize her thoughts. But then the doorbell rang again.

…What is today?

First Mi-ae, now another visitor. Weariness crossed Sojung’s face. The housekeeper checked the intercom and reported back.

“Ma’am, your younger sister is here.”

“What?”

Sojin?

She rarely came without notice. Shocked, Sojung went to see for herself. And there she was on the screen—Sojin, standing at the door with a very complicated expression on her face.