Mine Again Chapter 16

“Unbelievable. Is he even a man? Or just a block of wood?”

 

Not even a few minutes had passed when—bang!—Yerin came storming in. She had said she’d see Sung-woon off on his walk, but it seemed her only real goal was Ryu Sung-woon after all.

 

“I mean, if a woman twists her ankle right next to you, shouldn’t you obviously catch her? He moved away before I could even reach out!”

 

Fuming alone for a while, Yerin turned her arrows toward Su-hwa.

 

“Are you really going through with this marriage?”  

 

“My parents have already given their consent.”  

 

“No matter how I think about it, it just doesn’t make sense. How can someone like you end up with Ryu Sung-woon of Yuseong Group!”

 

Yerin’s gaze shifted drastically. Su-hwa shut her mouth tightly, fearing a slap was coming. Perhaps realizing she couldn’t keep nitpicking a marriage already arranged, Yerin snatched up the shopping bags that filled the room.

 

“Today was quite the day, huh? Do you know how many posts popped up saying Song Su-hwa appeared at Yuseong Department Store? People might think you’re some top celebrity in her prime. Did you hold a fan meeting or something?”

 

Yerin pulled out bags and clothes from the shopping bags and threw them at Su-hwa indiscriminately.  

 

Thud! Her solar plexus and shoulder ached where they were hit by the hard leather corners. But Su-hwa didn’t dodge. She didn’t cry out in pain.  

 

If she avoided it, it would only come back twice as hard, and if she said it hurt, Yerin would yell at her for being noisy. This resignation had been built up over five years.

 

“Do you even know how much you spent today? But then again, you’ve never earned money yourself, so it’s not like you have any sense of finances.”  

 

“I went because I needed to prepare something before the wedding. I used Sung-woon’s card to pay.”  

 

“Oh, really? So why should I care that you used your fiancé’s card? What, you think you’re hot stuff now that you’ve landed a chaebol husband? Disgusting.”

 

Song Yerin detested Su-hwa being in the spotlight. And yet, she was the one who made the best use of Su-hwa’s name recognition.  

 

When new groups from Soul Entertainment—the company she managed—debuted or released new songs, she used Su-hwa to promote challenges and included her in live fan broadcasts.

 

“Whatever. We’ve got a lot to do. Come with me.”  

 

“Right now?”  

 

“You’re leaving this house soon once you get married. You need to do your part before then.”

 

Yerin grabbed Su-hwa’s wrist and dragged her along. Practically dragged, she ended up in her own room—the same one Sung-woon had visited earlier. Pushing Su-hwa against the wall, Yerin grabbed her camera.

 

“Grab those cosmetics over there, strike a pose, and smile. I need to post photos.”  

 

“Can I… do it after I wash up?”  

 

“It’s cosmetics, duh. You’re in full makeup right now. We have to shoot now. Honestly, no one wants to see your bare face anyway. Don’t make a fuss.”

 

A few years ago, Song Yerin had created a personal SNS account to get product sponsorships and ads. Most of the photos she posted were of Su-hwa. It was through her that she received those sponsorships.

 

“Even after you’re married, don’t even dream of having your own SNS. What I post is more than enough. You know Dad wouldn’t allow it anyway, right?”

 

At Yerin’s harsh words, Su-hwa nodded with empty eyes. Every time the camera flash went off, she struck the poses and expressions Yerin wanted.  

 

She’d lived in this house as a punching bag, so she was used to being a doll for Yerin’s games. She wouldn’t be let go until the shoot was over anyway. It was better to just give her what she wanted quickly.

 

“Now put that down and change into the clothes in the shopping bag.”

 

Yerin’s eyes lit up as she picked up the camera again. Her smirking mouth made Su-hwa uncomfortable, but she stood in front of the camera obediently.  

 

Thinking there wasn’t much time left until she could escape made her feel like she could endure anything.

 

***

 

Knock, knock.

 

With the sound of knocking, Ji-hoon entered the president’s office.

 

“The chairman’s secretary’s office has requested a schedule adjustment.”  

 

“……”

  

Sung-woon’s head, facing the monitor, didn’t move an inch. On the lenses of his non-prescription glasses, the data filling the screen kept reflecting without pause. Externally, Yuseong was a leading company with no apparent succession war.  

 

Though there were many collateral relatives constantly looking for an opening like hyenas, they could not compete against the shares to be inherited by him. Because Ryu Sung-woon was the only son.  

 

However, if you peeled back just one layer, the relationship between parent and child was worse than strangers, to the point where they checked on each other’s well-being only through their secretaries.

  

“They said they’d like to have lunch with you and Miss Song Su-hwa at the main house this weekend. They’ve already cleaned out the annex, too……”

  

It was a tradition handed down in Yuseong that newlyweds would live in the annex of the main house for a year after marriage.  

 

Though they called it tradition, it was actually a lifetime contract where the percentages of inheritance shares were defined for every milestone like marriage, cohabitation, and childbirth.  

Sung-woon was not the type to give up things that were rightfully his.  

 

However, since he already lived independently, he naturally didn’t welcome the idea of moving back into the main house where his parents resided. Ji-hoon carefully observed Sung-woon’s reaction.

  

“Set it for Saturday.”  

 

“Then, I’ll pass the schedule on to Miss Song Su-hwa.”  

 

“No, I’ll do it myself.”  

 

“You’ll contact her directly? Yes, understood.”

 

  

Tilting his head slightly in puzzlement, Ji-hoon exited the office. The wedding preparations were being handled by professionals, and Ji-hoon had been taking charge of delivering schedules to Su-hwa in between.  

 

Since Sung-woon only attended events where he absolutely had to show his face, Ji-hoon had actually seen Su-hwa more often than the groom-to-be himself.  

 

But now, why was he suddenly calling her personally?

 

Click.

  

After the door closed and Ji-hoon left, Sung-woon stretched out his arm toward the phone he had placed at a distance. But when it came time to actually make the call, his fingers hesitated.  

 

What was he doing?

 

All he had to do was tap the screen a few times. The message he needed to deliver to her was simple.

 

Then why the hesitation? Why was he bothered by something so trivial?  

 

Annoyed, he punched in the number quickly. After a few dial tones, Su-hwa’s voice came through.

  

—“Ryu Sung-woon?”

  

Was there no family around her this time? Her voice, with no hint of welcoming, was slightly tense. It was Su-hwa’s natural, calm tone, not one from her acting days.

  

“This weekend, on Saturday, are you available?”  

 

—“Yes, I’m available.”  

 

“My parents have asked us to have lunch at the main house. Also, to take a look around the annex where we’ll be living.”  

 

—“Yes.”  

 

“I’ll send a car to pick you up.”

  

Date, time, location. The conversation was stiff, like issuing a work notice. Her responses were also succinct.

  

“See you then.”

 

The call, having fulfilled its purpose, ended briefly. But its afterimage lingered, refusing to leave Sung-woon’s mind. He took off his glasses and pressed his thumb and forefinger against his eyelids.

 

“I understand.”

 

He could picture her, jotting it down with a solemn expression as if she had been entrusted with a critical mission. Was this what the phrase “vivid before my eyes” was meant for? It felt like she had been engraved onto his retinas.  

 

Once the image surfaced, it didn’t fade away.

  

Why?

  

Of course, objectively speaking, Song Su-hwa was a beauty. Anyone with normal eyesight would be compelled to admire her. But to say that was the only reason she had captured his attention didn’t quite make sense.

  

He had seen countless women with outstanding looks and figures, but neither his body nor his heart had ever been stirred by them. Nor had he ever been attracted to any other man.

  

Except for that one guy he met at the villa……