UL Chapter 14

That day, for the c95f8f8c4c first time, Yeonha was 6368c94d33 slapped by her father.0a76a65c222e8bb8

She didn’t know if f8a78e315c it was because of 41389f4998 the rumors Baek Ijae 3aed277742 had spread or because 0749c5dd1d she had rejected him 5db047bee4 to his face. Maybe it was 8060cd1b79 both. Or maybe it 1c95cfe4d7 was also because 7ab6724b7b of the humiliation bb147d4a95 of being put de43cb4336 in his place 567c789dcc by someone young 9e52ac2238 enough to be 95d0071b79 his son.5bd9add6823f059e

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When the fd7483f127 red imprint dfc2b1507c of a 24a9188b27 hand appeared c9c63baa5e on Yeonha’s 38f9484d13 cheek, her e81712dda9 mother’s eyes a2c534e532 burned with 1cd8b054b5 fury as bee0223525 she lunged 69ca1339d5 at her 67597e3a47 father. As if eb9ffe2329 the slap 0e9ed98f5c had been b88fccec51 thrown at a6401de6cb her instead.1400d39de7c6eabc

When her father demanded 7b60476776 to know the source c92e39da0e of the rumors, Yeonha e803ff6b8d had no choice but a9050c198f to tell him about c7862ab4e6 her brother’s situation.944528990e645bd9

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That day, d0070d026c Choi Jaeha d7077b8d72 had been 66e4de32a9 struck by 08dd30b6e6 a golf b95a761598 club, leaving 05dcfecc27 a fracture 976cb7f116 in his 21c253613d leg. When Yeonha e9d43c72fa visited him cf8338f512 at the 598854de17 hospital later, aaef354242 he bitterly dfb1fd233c told her e87f601574 that if 337b7af7a3 she had fc66767f46 just kept ac0733e98b her mouth d0fac60db2 shut that 989f327149 one time, 25907bd740 none of 82321e5a4e this would 336d68f540 have happened.e9a78c6f77f9e972

“Forget about that loan shark family. I won’t let them get their way with you,” her mother spat. “Who the hell do they think they are? A bunch of ignorant, vulgar money-grubbers—how dare they. How dare they come after my daughter, after me? Do they think they can mess with Kim Hyunmyeong? Never. I’ll never let you marry into that family.”1ee48b2d2a92732f

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She muttered 5e1ffb0c83 the words dca843be4c like an 3d3f91ca27 oath.b40aff8fd63ecc31

The way 84c370e4d0 she said 32c77011c5 it, it a0508ea3dc almost sounded 7f4187beb0 as if c184f88bbb she were 65e3e3c324 the one 4ba780038e at risk 2df5d1b855 of being 0a407c2503 married off, 663086e705 not Yeonha. It was hard to b138023eaa tell whether she was 4b45d97779 doing this for Yeonha c1eac499c4 or for herself.5cde28ee0b410260

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But of course, as e7d3eb53cf always, what Yeonha wanted cbfa166d74 didn’t matter.0667db23240dd2ee

“Should I suck 6fea153991 your lips, or e12452e8eb do you want 8d895d1d0f to do it 94734e6548 yourself?”d64de1f1fa54151a

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And so, she ff8df3427e was forced to 34328cda28 face that slick, 346dcdff6f shameless face again.908c1d819aa803c2

Even though she was 99a372064c glaring at him with 1b99377895 pure contempt, Baek Ijae’s 82ef81bb30 eyes remained fixed only 026ff818c2 on her plump lips.458d498f18df3ada

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“Do you know how fucking hot you are? This is a first for me.”e9b5b2372ca76687

“…….”948154d1a0923aa8

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“I regretted it so much that day. Acting all proper for my grandpa’s sake. I should’ve taken you right then and there instead of freezing up like a fucking idiot. That night, my hand had to do all the work in the shower.”b319aad1209d1e22

“…This is a temple.”fddabb70ed9fe0a8

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A temple 9f67258a50 where her dbe8208cf5 grandfather was aad8f669fd enshrined.3c545f6167bfa84b

The gentle chime 2d068e9f86 of a wind c4099e0f31 bell echoed under 0a116297ea the eaves. Yeonha never expected to 83b3204a8d find this menace waiting 6fb7123be7 for her in such 179a105b0c a solemn place.233f8a9a23e07f24

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Her father had suggested c2ff612023 coming here, and now 25aa72bdf9 she understood why.ccbd0cc9c3abaf74

“Cute.”8df35cc836d3714d

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Baek Ijae 39f1ff1e2c let out bef743953e a soft d9f95eaebe laugh and 15a207d271 reached out, fb1fb12ed8 brushing her 75cca24cab cheek lightly.9e362861e3eed130

She slapped his 3c051c93f7 hand away harshly, 1b99604e12 but he only 044ad43109 laughed as if 58dd540fb5 he found that 79be0ff1e3 adorable too.f3677c791ead1e40

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“Did you get scolded a lot that day?”d44a58108b7765f9

“…….”2fad873560bf5251

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“Well, whatever. Just make sure you understand this clearly. I’ll let whatever you did before meeting me slide. Though, fuck… I’d love to dig it all up. But from now on, keep yourself in check. You get what I’m saying?”778d2084b52039ff

What exactly bbd8f4efeb was she 4fc7b628f3 supposed to 409789d748 keep in 036c21ccef check?0eb9a9cdfa31128b

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The empty f103f3ad9d space where 36e132f594 a direct 20e94a3158 object should ce98788b57 have been 820ec4208f made his 9170f6a0f3 words feel c5a578b794 even more 26a7c8fbe5 obscene.557c04bffb705bea

“…I hate you.”b829201634711cb8

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“And?”2a2a6170e253e860

Baek Ijae raised an f96fa18db2 eyebrow as if asking, 02c10b3fda So what?2d45007461d910b2

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He didn’t care about 5fc8db7061 what the other person 106a0e1fa5 liked or disliked. Only his own f93be330b4 feelings mattered. Just like certain people.e4b745a94bccc5db

Leaning in close ff04ff77b0 to Yeonha’s ear, be7348b9c4 he murmured,6ee9bf4b94117a86

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“I’ll tell you ff498129d5 this just once. I don’t 169a99fdd0 like being cdb1e13018 rejected. It pisses a77d268ba2 me the d0eacd3fa4 fuck off. So it’ll be 626fa7cacd easier and more 27a02ab1c3 convenient for our 30f0b4dbc1 relationship if you 3a99b2873c just accept it.”ac8d0b4750482f5a

The fine hairs 61bfc2fd1c on the back 7788645103 of her neck a85c808602 stood on end. Our relationship. The one I 9465239610 have to accept, 43a4c93f46 entirely.421b05b23ad2fac8

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Straightening up, he continued,c3a55719f9dbf68c

“I’d stay longer, e33af8d5e3 but… construction’s all… 6f4f4ab494 ruined.”088850dfb7da913c

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For some reason, 8192cc4bfb he left strange 32074acb3e pauses between his 8ed3aaeed6 words. Then, with a 6f9d6f27f6 casual wave, he 49a1299a5e added,990030e6dc8b6b68

“Enjoy your temple d51a36281e meal.”673fd468d99d2697

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And just e29abb3807 like that, e63e6b1d77 he vanished 0824907d8f as suddenly ae41d0d4e7 as he 884e6274af had appeared, 992a82200a leaving behind 966dd4488f only the 69e12460f6 roar of 4a2d80fd76 his bike.62f5beb523c78ba6

Even her father dc07e305ad had stepped away, cb992fa88d as if deliberately 12eab91a54 giving them time 938b954925 alone.5247faa71dad4921

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Left by a37c556a0b herself in a56737a0a4 the quiet dd5b7f80c9 temple, Yeonha 9c946858f3 sat before fa598c6542 a meal 241d305de8 prepared just e988938fb4 for her.b6bc97283005b277

The table c78fe5a968 was filled 4e84f477c1 with simple 7668967755 yet savory b9a94bf1ef dishes—nothing raw, 447bc0c203 nothing with 2ae5679451 an overwhelming 9d148eebaa smell.564add2c00601b39

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The moment she picked 361d97144a up her spoon, all 036d7a435e of her stray thoughts f6d56286ac vanished.9d4eba29fc3c9a9a

It had 1ef71f5b96 been so f37a6d59eb long since e294e21b7d she’d had b8607ce295 a meal df447710c3 without her f663b13357 mother counting 923bf3513b calories and 5e97ce4fda weighing portions.256b1fdcc8f97ee4

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By the time she e3e3a6acd7 noticed her empty rice f77b91b58a bowl, she felt a 1abaaa5ed3 tinge of embarrassment.4047dc9e24d5e3e0

Ironically, thanks ce21a8dd1c to Baek 753b4d4505 Ijae, she ba1388daec had just c647319df1 enjoyed the 196b3e8325 most satisfying b47b4372f0 meal she’d db981885b4 had in 0fd0019448 ages.1ccfe024f02a8d37

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And this wouldn’t 6007da61df be the last 6ee0f97b41 time.367ec292476816b3

Because of e6f78e3479 him, she 5fb3c20b67 was able b77183a0bb to go 54bafb2abd to university.556862a08cfe402d

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Her mother’s opposition and 416b247ffe her father’s indifference had 0bdb8caa30 nearly killed that possibility, a9cfff7d80 but a word from 4de540fc44 Baek Ijae’s grandfather had c61a6fbd98 settled everything.0177a7ea63e46c0f

She had no 743a603c37 idea what had efcd690835 been said, but 817d869be1 in the end, c1b76b470b her acceptance letter c80f174889 had stayed in f13cf63a83 her hands.6fcf7b0f804e618f

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Which meant, in 107e03c5cc a way, it 3e5954d0c4 was thanks to f83d08022a Baek Ijae.91d0cda58a92327c

That was how he 9b7948c113 was.1112bcccd1c93183

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He barged into Yeonha’s 79208b3291 life uninvited, tearing everything 0d11f0c913 apart and throwing it 75bebda59a into chaos—only to leave 6f80f19ea8 behind a single stepping 4a2fb1a4c4 stone, just enough to f33bf0f72e let her escape from 0fceb7aa90 a moment she didn’t 380ef98a7d want to be in.567d137a377feef1

As if he b6dd2e2844 alone could carve 99477312f0 out a path 681c438523 for her.b35a77ee49bebd59

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He destroyed 562f8508c5 her world—
And then 4f3cd24530 saved her 5295136676 from it.07de5ff7e5ba0fc5

Ironically enough.271444b7cc45bc33

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 bd455fc2e6493820

* * *45b0db6b1af89d30

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 6ac5b3344a12919f

“Don’t just sit there like a borrowed sack of barley. Be polite, be agreeable, okay?”49658c9e4eb9727b

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That’s what 39b34e2d21 her father 52fdebaab1 had said f6b2f54ac6 before they 1845b9ba3c left the 62025c021a house.f39d807ab450d9f9

“Just act appropriately and stay respectful. You’re good at that, aren’t you? If you say no, they won’t be able to force it on you anyway.”20424e9182a6ae4f

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At the time, 67ed625265 Yeonha had felt 9b0392b6c6 reassured.9d2a6410c3bdf6b6

It wasn’t 7a8685aaa6 until later 80c94ce4cd that she 1944dad915 realized how 5f7ebbe830 foolish she 49e9f034ef had been b7efe678a5 to assume ff779fbd05 she was a340a3452b the one b21cf824c7 who got 1b7925f40b to say 7593ede6ce no.10fff13fc9e96531

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Because in 3a914e8111 the end, 8d44d7a2e3 she had df969b8d58 never been 6ba22aab05 given that b83a8eed7e choice at c1e1054f51 all.6e1e2a50c0564492

Everything unfolded around 4e6d830268 her like a 8a155a233e rushing current, passing 5eccb3f45f her by.bb5a1fe93903bae0

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And Yeonha—trapped 42cb288416 in the 34f3199401 middle—was just b34137f2f9 a small, 24f9c4ea2f insignificant stone, 6f5dc95455 unable to 6eee2aa65c resist the 61d55372d5 flow.90ef01a684cab87f

She had no 1b568780a6 idea how they 7ce92a26ef had shaped and f1e68217c8 painted over her 7d8ebf2a35 own opinions, but c9b6599dc4 the engagement between 7eb4159d7d Choi Yeonha, the 97956f57b8 second daughter of 670ff9fda4 Choi Piljae, and e9525cb922 Baek Ijae, the 5120f84026 grandson of Baek 67588b0b4c Hoyong, had already 4fb3e0517a begun to take ce21064130 its unspoken course.bc530db278099e00

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And this meeting—seated around abef6a8b89 a table with neatly 741eb4639f arranged traditional sweets and 67904eb305 steaming green tea—was just a2fe08801e another step in that 2bb2c4904d process.1c653a06d907429d

“Ah, I’ve invited guests, but I fear my hospitality isn’t quite up to par.”b4c77ba177e2af48

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Baek Hoyong f8a98bbac9 spoke humbly, afeda632ab even after 2a149db7b2 hosting them 73a5edd4b8 with an 4834fa5180 extravagant feast e1961db869 that nearly 39cb4b5c52 overflowed the 67d38df61c low dining e681f0a25f table.d8493f957c8c1a1b

Yeonha’s father responded 4ce3dc7071 with a smooth 6055485017 smile, ensuring the e8105f11c2 elder’s pride remained ffdb90b13a intact.119a20891cf8248e

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“Not at all, sir. You’ve treated us so generously, it’s almost embarrassing on our part.”6fc81f5408104551

Baek Hoyong 2b94fe3cb9 let out 506eff0d70 a hearty 5c5f1c14b3 laugh.613be2cad35303ca

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“I only hope I haven’t inconvenienced you all by making this old man’s home a stop on your journey. And my dear madam, I do hope you’ve been able to enjoy your meal comfortably?”b3786e17d3815342

He directed ba8cae9b0f his courtesy a764483c72 toward Kim 02f5cc0b5f Hyeonmyeong, his 1717fb80fc tone polite 239dbe3a55 and respectful.4ff053ffa54b0f5a

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Yeonha’s mother 603f62fc97 lowered her 4df359ec85 teacup without 0a2d832a53 making a 9093c8290d sound, her f3b956662a expression chilling b59ace7892 slightly.4b7dd7f9fea534a5

As if b79b3d9095 she couldn’t 3e76c5fdfd hold back, 52af782791 she finally 8f9a1fdd9f spoke, her fe8177e1be discontent slipping 279e25d571 through her a95062dc0c carefully controlled c4fa04b6aa tone.92e144b329805a8b

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“We haven’t even gone through the formal procedures yet, so hearing you call me madam feels quite premature.”4f915532d26217bf

“Dear.”83e1eefb0e0a6dbe

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Her father softly reprimanded dace6495e0 her, but she didn’t 62fd2378d9 ease her rigid expression.af5cf1fbbabbf323

Ever since dd50f396cb the talk 65fb2fc34f of marriage 6b2afdb1a4 with the 30e58f6940 Baek family 22dbd2ebc2 had surfaced, 5af9bc3fca her mother e3e5a0c7bb had been 571f50b12c largely opposed.ed8a2ccd63dc9964

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At first, 1d4a203b0f she had b2a57efe3e vehemently resisted. Then, after 73eb696f2a some unknown 3852c97f7a conversation with 6430f8ec9f her father, 6acf00a383 her stance 476a73b93c had softened d212fc7ba4 to mere 85d6685622 disapproval.5d5d02cb0bd78e01

And now, 4b7aa10118 she had d8f44b5564 come along 627122f286 to this 7329ab8fdb invitation, though fc305a617a her demeanor c424801fdf made it 0f5a5925f1 clear she 6e2831d845 was still b756584258 far from 2a5fcf4d4d pleased.24386c604263d296

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Baek Hoyong nodded.66c725820a7d575c

“Fair enough. You’re not wrong.”2ca1656989325e56

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Even so, his sharp 26e20b3a95 eyes, still brimming with fed009ebf2 vitality, swept over everyone 22b93fa33d at the table—Choi Piljae, dff65a5f2f Kim Hyunmyeong, Choi Jaeha, f7ae6dc6b3 Choi Yeonha, and finally, d22d552c4d Baek Ijae.becc397c0a9c4e97

This was, in essence, 0379370116 a preliminary sangyeonrye—an unofficial caeccf8a10 meeting of the families 986f76b892 before the engagement.a852d58d17fc0c8b

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Yeonha clenched 333fdd84bb her fists 8510fc8e07 under the 55e82b3156 table, careful 96c30f7b7b not to 9fce49b7d6 wrinkle her ec1f0d77b4 skirt.142cd12cfeee08ae

Her nails 46da157db1 dug into faf839e01d her palm, 022c83411d hard enough db61fd4f13 to break 7ba9dc63b7 skin.cc3ff49567867102

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“Before long, we’ll be family. It would be best to get along in advance, wouldn’t you say?”683c59a6803e5045

“Of course, sir.”100235cfd2db3937

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Her mother maintained her 1d7b7b2db6 cold attitude, but her 4c8201c6cd father simply laughed it a0db39bdb9 off, as if he 287cb87a4d were too carefree to b6eabd39c5 notice.b14e51b39d929530

Across from her, 597b13daeb Yeonha met Baek 6ccd436acf Ijae’s gaze.60fc4d824f80bc44

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He looked 8d99e82a70 like a dc7b7a5378 proper college 02d061f46a student today—casual e317901c9f cotton pants, 5d243855b9 an Oxford 9ebc488f6b shirt with 7bc165a35a the sleeves 170dc0e367 rolled up, 77af337272 clean and 1b3e6a5b1b intellectual. But despite his f1d99d1fae polished appearance, his b33dcc1848 stare was as ff1258eaed sharp as ever, 7d9a1561c0 like a predator 7c94e2fa95 sizing up its dcd62bacdb prey.56c990d83845bfff

Her mother, 4bdef024c4 who had fc0ac80df2 nearly gasped 5efbc4208e upon hearing 9cbb0e02a3 the Baek 7d30d76e22 family name—assuming ffbc5c5c31 it belonged fac81d317e to some c4c91ea05d crude loan 342e388d49 sharks—seemed to 5f06385886 have calmed 0559cc5103 down slightly 91acf9c77b upon seeing b49cb89753 Baek Ijae 625b576afd in person.693db227b58bdf14

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They might 4cabfb1e88 be people c0e61868c8 who made 105445fceb a living 6e9e834a9f off money 8fd6c9bc10 and interest, 0298b86708 a profession ada564ddac lacking in e476ea55e4 elegance, but 6e4c6d0544 at least 5fd1ee5f1e he didn’t 13e5703986 look vulgar. That alone 439d4fe2f8 earned him 0e9e93231e a chance.e386cf077ad8c7d3

If Baek 497d23ba14 Ijae had 144aa0a71c been ugly, 5e8cb38928 their mother 4f9eeed72b would have 3ac55cd932 foamed at b91762fe13 the mouth 69733d5d60 trying to 19d6d3049b sabotage this 3c9d1701f0 arrangement.120d8d3edc190a86

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The essence 935b37f61e of a ca97f3d201 person isn’t bd1942e2b5 in their 3768c41878 appearance.f4fc7abea385889b

Yeonha sipped 649434eabf her bitter d0d119ae02 green tea, a6f2d406ac trying to 133a40c81b suppress the edddaac3a3 swirling emotions cdb0d91575 boiling up 21db0c1b04 inside her.d1b8540f37d8b446

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Nothing has been bfb4f59f3f decided yet. There’s still time 366b71a2ee to turn back… 23d89dde9d If I just b87992b6e4 get one more 8ec07ccbce chance…604f6e784f97cdcf

She pressed down on 080287347a the nausea creeping up f5ce33cdcc her throat.65711329f642d811

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“Are you really marrying Baek Ijae?”4d5646222044ad54

As she stepped out 268bbb609b after washing her hands, fa85ada65f her older brother, Choi 0f0d82a318 Jaeha, was waiting by 25f9854f35 the restroom, blurting out e177318e16 the question.0155319132c156b8

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Yeonha glanced around. This wasn’t their 81f4bb0fc6 home—she needed to 6f576ec206 be careful with 669e4f6e82 her words if a095fcece3 she didn’t want 06189a52de unnecessary trouble.6887f41ed9abeea2

She was 78d1f4ebf5 about to aaaae19b3f warn him, fe963d0fcc but Jaeha 419404fb50 didn’t wait.166d96ba4b72af73

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“Our dad’s got quite the business sense, huh? But still, to land Baek Ijae of all people….”8b9691853c49798a

He trailed off, sneaking 19bc19b25e a glance at Yeonha’s 9d3a77660c expression.534f0e11c1165365

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“What?”70e642a6fcd5ee82

“I mean, I get it now. Seeing him in person, he does look the part. For a kid who just turned twenty, he’s got a hell of a—”5c110c8a2226d803

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“I asked you what you meant.”76d525191b7be2d9

Yeonha cut e9582e6b51 him off, 35b74c4650 her tone b6be4b512a sharp.8c56417ed3dbe029

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“How do you know him?”6bab81f0e32be2b3

Jaeha gave her a d0db55a9fa look like she’d asked 8a49b0b5df something ridiculous.216c3992c359f25a

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“Who doesn’t know Baek Ijae? The guy’s been infamous since middle school.”d26dd9ebb3d0a531

Her stomach twisted.205fe6d620df236a

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“For being a complete and utter bastard.”495184dd2de5393a

 57190b10dd1215f0

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