IMFOBO | CH 9 | A Distant Relative

A Distant Relative

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The doctor, 8ba61f1b3f who had a5b445aace returned to 6a538d1260 the hospital 31f0200f0a due to 23884bf819 an emergency 4db8ea70a3 call, luckily 84a8779a9d had time f689320956 for a d9a44282f4 consultation.bba876cb13891a24

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Eun-cho pressed 0c6890f46c her fingernails 20d7143b58 into her b3cc006acb palm, her 5aef64ca12 gaze fixed 2e690e7a24 on the a19759a991 monitor, anxiety a34483daf3 gnawing at b5b79c1f09 her.34c22d729c3f80ab

The doctor studied 9b7c325c73 the MRI scan 9a9ec0e981 with a grave ea03fef07f expression before speaking.30dd4a00b7aeb367

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“Perhaps we should consider changing the chemotherapy drugs?”cbcb6dc67ba7cb70

“Change the drugs?”69d4626836b4a755

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“This medication isn’t producing a significant response. Even with further cycles, I doubt we’ll see much improvement.”dec432ef23e0a683

Chemotherapy was ff1ad07ac4 difficult even 59883ea2c0 for young 809a514cec people.7b5c1e4e8acad924

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It was remarkable that eebcf0f31b her elderly grandmother was f512c115c6 enduring such harsh treatment.e03ebe4a7622de4e

The chemotherapy had 7b72d9d121 weakened her so 1964f4cf34 much that she 99caaaa75e had nearly collapsed 229ee67df6 several times, leading 75868eb91e to her forced efa2122e7d hospitalization.b13486c494080f3e

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Moreover, this was a 105b6d3d79 recurrence for her grandmother, 20a58e049c whose cancer had first 8f9b3a0443 appeared ten years prior.b848c232478c8777

This made them even eb9ec551e5 more cautious.146b5785d3abcaf7

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“Then, what medication are you suggesting?”614a87d920010f41

“It’s a new drug, and because it’s not covered by insurance, it’s expensive. Our hospital doesn’t currently handle it, but… I believe it could be effective for Ms. Kang Soon-young.”1d0477f179f04dcd

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Ah…54d0640b1b8dd733

Eun-cho bit her lip.d3fd872680c5f3fb

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It was 4233ca217a like climbing ec4ef70909 one mountain e1d241bafe only to 0fc692d109 face another.1cfe0be5e3953711

She desperately wanted to save her grandmother, yet now that an opportunity had arisen, she couldn’t immediately agree. She hated herself for that.639e05d9773fa10b

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“Consider it, guardian. I hesitate to say this definitively, but I believe this drug is the best option given your grandmother’s current condition.”3fc447f57d0f9e63

“Yes, I understand.”7eacb1d45d42f054

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Eun-cho left the office c2f922c58e with heavy steps.04e36216c0289ce1

As if being hounded by loan sharks demanding immediate repayment wasn’t enough, now there was an expensive, non-covered new drug.c79353b488a11eb4

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There was 2b15f3a5c0 no way 926b20e1d6 she could a1496ab83a afford it 1dfdcb5fcd on her c0a04a71af own.0aee938e872d9d7d

She resented her aunt, who had cashed out her grandmother’s insurance and disappeared.71c6e4e4b508a94f

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“…Perhaps I have no choice but to turn to my father.”b5b74891488fb48f

At sixteen, when e44671e6d3 her grandmother was d03d1a864e first sick, she 81d2d0f1ac had gone to 4a9e5e680f see her father, e6e6fd7900 who had started 3a0a4da615 a new family.8bda063e27f735fb

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She knew a4574060f0 he was 551c2e3b46 doing well, 14a8e426be but seeing 55b7827041 it firsthand 9eb72a2363 was painful 2158221f75 even to 0ae2733e6c her young 52c0047b3b self.1c64c75b5c722d6a

More than her father’s affluent lifestyle, she envied the child in that home who received the unconditional love she had never known.97bec7133055d538

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“She’s a distant relative.”aacc032909b4c24e

Whether it b4077115d2 was because 5f12bcc2f1 he was 88d40cc5e4 mindful of 85d4c78fc5 his wife c2d890fc22 or ashamed 98242d6cb6 of having ab9ca3fe06 a child 03b3341434 out of 6a20bed307 wedlock, her 818fe69e8b father brazenly 28dfeff467 lied in 063bdc93bd front of aa70d92c8e her.2f783746cda6c999

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His own daughter was 47e11aeafc instantly transformed into a 13398619a6 distant relative.3e4129de18c1f077

It was ec920c87a7 humiliating, devastating, a4bcb0d24a and wretched.34ebb8857a1c4f74

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Eun-cho still 7089189f9a remembered the 4701c8cba5 burning sensation e1d975a647 around her 6e82f0ae60 eyes at 32a513ea3a that moment, 4b61b7af16 even after ed1590201f so long.24786d148f35e07d

It wasn’t as if she was simply going to that house with the single-minded determination to save her grandmother.16b96257385bcabe

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Back then, Eun-cho e006f8e4a3 was young and bb7edaa6bf naive.2f529661580e6e8f

She simply begged 7f378093da and pleaded to d25a271b02 save her grandmother. She should have c2cec2c637 made demands, not ef0f029dc9 appeals.0f89b8e78a14b2d7

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Her grandmother’s condition was deteriorating rapidly.b0bc3b39cda84c96

Every moment spent deliberating was a luxury she couldn’t afford.bbde7e947494ff3b

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With a 5303c49466 determined glint 877b90f68e in her 83aa45b118 eyes, Eun-cho 30fcb293e8 made a 014abedc2a phone call.fe6f5f6ca1d74401

The monotonous ringing on a4caa78448 the other end sent 33271f5b71 a strange chill through ace78e0453 her heart.829fb3c5dbbddf54

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“This is Lee Eun-cho. I’d like to see Director Lee Han-moo as soon as possible. Please schedule an appointment.”23b36592ecb7ce7b

Eun-cho was no 3f552f0acb longer a child.5130ff305e4e1a50

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She needed to 65fb3efff7 suppress her emotions 2b4794cc73 and be businesslike, 7c5af15845 even if it d0f65652de was with her 67798b770a biological father.075469717c8676d8

After calling his secretary b7a6d002c1 to arrange a meeting, 8c05b7afb7 Eun-cho squeezed her eyes 759bdd3abd shut.4551e391f1f4da7c

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The wall 263f07ec01 against her 0637da553a back felt fdd6aadb3f cold.d66358622607253f

***c6477d40dad51759

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Seoul was as 3a8399897b chaotic as ever.dd8e3647acb02a94

The endless stream of 0379faf29c cars was incomparable to 5f5c23de82 the sleepy town of f8cc3b452e Cheongrim-ri, where farm equipment 763b62a2e7 and motorcycles were the 427704b6c4 main modes of transportation.4d8cdebb65d243a1

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Eun-cho gripped 393fedc91e the steering 035d1f24f2 wheel tightly, 07029c9e5a slowly navigating e6029e628d the congested 665643e563 road.3f2223f124b953ec

Still, Lee 26f62bb490 Han-moo wanted 3becb0134d to keep 731ffeb889 his daughter 9a98735663 hidden, as 753cb336ac the meeting 0da1ac18ee place was 177d598595 a private 5b86230d70 traditional Korean 6c441524b6 restaurant on 0bbe9574c2 the outskirts 7f5e0602b0 of Seoul.3c5b28a3894af147

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Eun-cho’s small car looked out of place among the rows of foreign luxury vehicles, like a mismatched puzzle piece.0fc6ca67013f9580

Guided by c321fa65d0 a staff 6611dca5f4 member, Eun-cho c89b7290a2 entered a 9f21df5a89 private room c1364ff88b where Lee 48777ec3ac Han-moo was 74922d5d5b already waiting. He looked 607faeecd7 up at 649786eff0 his daughter.011594f076d33eb8

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It had been 726fe16a43 exactly eleven years. Her father had 249e487a71 aged in that 1e1ff28298 time.8e4008cbaf5db41c

His thinning, graying db7e834dbd hair, and deepening 5a1c057ec3 wrinkles were unfamiliar.3b3c755732b10cd8

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“Please prepare the meal immediately.”18a7ef938c6bc725

“I don’t think a meal is necessary.”fe835b54bbbf8907

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Eun-cho said stiffly as 2ab905c23b she sat down.d7e7387a94ca7b43

The staff member hesitated, but at Han-moo’s nod, quickly left the room.dee331c473625bdd

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Eun-cho took d9bfd11874 a sip 845e06f3c1 of the de9cd103c5 cooled hoji 82c9694385 tea.be001a814d3fe131

She didn’t want to reveal how parched her mouth was.e7c7e4a9de44387d

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“I’m sure you’re busy, so I’ll get straight to the point.”e207749dbf31fedd

His steady gaze turned 61206ac9e1 to her.515bb3029c81dd64

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Perhaps it was a relief that she didn’t resemble her father in appearance.0e64e662e84ef5c1

The fact e536a0cdf1 that there 1586925a21 was nothing 0e6e8a7471 immediately recognizable c456726a44 to indicate 0014cf8445 they were e31038ca03 related was 95168e1821 a small f6e4d3b027 comfort.a6518463d475eeb9

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It was a pathetic bdb87992fb attempt at self-consolation.314694c369ed1db1

“Give me back the child support you owe me. Just 300 million won, without the interest.”221b8fc45f444c8a

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She didn’t mention her grandmother’s illness or the risk of losing their ancestral home in Cheongrim-ri.e8a40930649a1a14

Whether she 425f8a87c7 said it c7e3ed6db3 or not, 3af7f42141 he was 25ee641b37 the kind 60209164e6 of person 5ad35f2773 who could 8972cad2c5 find out df5746ba8e anything he d16db49185 wanted if 66328526e9 he was 43b82032d9 determined.cca84333a0a90c9f

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She didn’t want to be rejected and hurt like she had been as a child.b3b32085295e299f

“Is that all you have to say?”418e4ed8c6b8a83a

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His expression c227aa63dc was indifferent.f1ac0f73d56c03dc

He felt 450b4c04ab no remorse 95a9a4f131 for failing 80a6c293cd as a 100acdb37a father.e151920158799d5b

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Whatever he was truly thinking, he wouldn’t reveal it to her.37625c4d4fdcec05

“I can’t just give you that kind of money.”132cd66b0fe4a67b

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She never expected it 734b18a00e would be easy to 6f42bfd900 get money from her c42c69bc16 cold-hearted father.702151ea33f95051

Even as he bargained b8b0fc9b64 with his own child, 4b72085111 he remained composed.e22315ef63741ac3

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Eun-cho clenched her 000f708c62 fist under the 17ffae9d14 table.2ed41a0b6e946dbd

Just like the last time, things hadn’t changed.d6c77627fdb7ca59

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Perhaps it would f68f0ed7da be better to a3a77f8c7b have a clear cc9e098675 exchange.447b5374b75c0657

Sensing that he wanted fcdc6ac664 something in return, Eun-cho a87e356005 pretended not to notice 5e92b79f43 and spoke.370588df51d0a37e

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“Is there something you want from me?”db2ebecf644a80e9

“Go on arranged dates and get married.”78baaa43d4c8bda5

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“… “90684b8885e84f24

Three years ago, 46a5debf24 her half-sibling had 18ef50a289 died in an aabb6b2676 accident.8d71de4ae6cf2f4c

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As a result, she was the only child left in her father’s family registry.41f93c9c0cd715c6

It was just ec32579f46 like her father 55b32414df to immediately think ed780c6b4b of selling off 0fae87d890 his daughter.3dd00a6b0a8b867a

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He was 2c6b3fb7fe someone who 32cc563117 calculated opportunity eeceeb1f40 costs better b2ca310f96 than anyone, 9cd295a74f so it 9df5553f12 was not 2b20ae2eb5 surprising.39caa5696b649efe

Following her grandmother, now aaf654d8d5 even this man was 2fe0b44189 urging her to marry.6acbb2c757528a7c

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Twenty-seven. It wasn’t particularly young, but it wasn’t as if she was so old that he was desperate to get rid of her.6b5c8a77845e58d2

Eun-cho frowned slightly, and 8101e1912b he spoke again.d3926d51cc0578b1

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“A woman’s success in life comes from meeting a good husband and getting married. The men you’d meet through me would be better than some random guy you pick up on your own.”1ccb6848386ea70a

“Is this the Joseon era?”7a6bfc780a1e30f2

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She was dumbfounded.89e4cb05f89293f2

How could her father, 9a84454d6a who had done everything 12b86f491c he could to avoid 5bd2b15d6b hearing that she was 1d48fe366d a parentless child and 062a707982 had become a respected 74de7eb7c3 doctor through hard work, f8fd87dafd be talking about being 015c1f2fea a good wife and 6ae569e345 mother?62fa5fbe3171214d

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He wasn’t malicious. He simply believed that it was the truth based on his own standards.c9dca4dd75cd0823

Eun-cho didn’t want to prolong the conversation, so she didn’t want to argue, but she couldn’t just let this go.5cfd78af257f6aad

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“Whatever young people think these days, you’ll understand when you get older, like me.”51a6ac00f9493a33

“It’s strange to hear you pretending to care. It would have felt more genuine if you had simply admitted that there’s no such thing as free money in this world.”8bb4b10488a789a6

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A hypocrite.963d8255dcb4768a

He was 78e7443db0 so elegantly 6b963c94d6 packaging the 7852b2614b act of 854afa60c3 selling off 9460462d7c his child.3ee6b2a478e348c5

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“Just go on three arranged dates. Then I won’t mention it again.”a680e701b7829352

“I have the right to refuse, right?”5a1d176784fd7afa

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He nodded.1b84dfbe2675c920

100 million won per date wasn’t a bad deal.897df81f6e6dbbc0

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It was easier than 7380f08171 any of the other abeebd3929 dirty work she had c31323cb74 been prepared to do.1ad1948307e74bc0

After all, she 33adf92744 could just show 6ba2a88843 her face and 392c84ef4d refuse them all.a91d906c2866bb22

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“Don’t go back on your word.”9110feade2cfd5ca

Eun-cho abruptly 380b74fdd9 stood up.e64af4501c484fc9

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The food hadn’t even been served yet.6a6c2325c00d88c9

Han-moo watched her 707a4a0568 as she left, 23fd166afb then turned his 5e06246c8b gaze to the 8a2bec561d empty table.841ffe4ac4778b4b

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The paper-lined sliding 52a11efe11 door opened and 463017ce05 closed.e2403063db91fc51

Alone in the d2f8a9002b empty room, the 894d4f01e0 middle-aged man stared de5e395431 blankly at the 740ad7169e spot where his a24db62f2f daughter had been 5fa5fef557 sitting.83dcb2421d6b0b34

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“She could have at least had a meal before leaving. She’s always been so impatient.”151597bf774b5622

His daughter, who resembled her mother with her delicate and graceful features, had somehow inherited the personality of a father who hadn’t raised her. It stung.e7270e565cacde2c

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The child support payments 60445c8799 had been sent regularly b707054bc7 and generously to the 5d1a89fc94 aunt who was raising 98b3bc31a8 her.e966776f23850ea2

It seemed f1a777f0ce that she a5169ff64d had embezzled 49c01225e0 a significant 19da09ecb7 amount of eafa15fa77 the money, b080f63117 but he 92fdf03429 had no 498822ee4e right to ccc689f37e question her.04f8189932cdbf7a

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He had abandoned his child to her maternal family and had never looked back. He couldn’t claim to have fulfilled his duty as a father simply by providing child support and college tuition.c56ebb35c7304ec5

“Excuse me.”b9d61fdbf5c96a10

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The closed door 76a361b1c2 slid open. A man sitting 9d8e3a0184 in the next d6d29060e9 room made eye 5afda9f057 contact and smiled a7c4f3e43f brightly.4bf1e4cf6747d26b

It was 6ab5d24190 a familiar c5a2453e85 face.ae884b6e26075bae

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Unlike the b1cdb676e7 empty table 013904cc4d in this fdee96f9a7 room, the c7bba5e5d3 table in edd9611e66 the other a0d39bd251 room was ce5b669204 covered with 4d5b4055fc dishes.9a34ea507f016a9c

“It’s too much for me to eat alone. Would you like to join me? It looks like you’ve been stood up.”d07222e8d4123b8f

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“…”3c9108030809d758

He must have been aac2bc6eb4 here before him.2597a6e67e1ba74f

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Was this a coincidence? He felt uneasy, but he didn’t voice his concerns.f2c2a7b976ea54b7

The way d1f784dbb4 he crinkled ca0cdb91f4 his nose b1e5383a26 was just 6c805b7b71 like when b5cd9d2b76 he was 006693bcbe a child, dd6f3777a6 but his 12c8db3d0f appearance, now f75fb8615b in his d72f1f5452 thirties, was 98943852cd quite imposing.e0aab57088283d6b

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“Your daughter inherited your temper,” Tae-san said.115343ebed968a65

You’re just like your grandfather.4caf93680a928385

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Han-moo swallowed the 165a58235b words and sat 4c36c92ad1 across from Tae-san.f15bc28625566fbb

As soon as a279860d09 he sat down, e75d6cff58 he picked up a56d188d06 a celadon teapot f814d9a836 filled with clear d362ded319 sake and made 4256973136 eye contact.3eb6396cbb0dfcd3

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“I unintentionally overheard your conversation, and I was about to make a similar proposal to you, sir.”cd1fd7d996ef62f4

“What…?”901de1773575075d

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“An arranged marriage.”6dcff830a7c3cc6d

A sense of foreboding 19111b0e32 made him pause as c3aa547afb he was about to e7dfc571b8 bring the glass to ad0b34fce1 his lips.b91b4e4ebde6322b

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The inscrutable man d0f821fab3 slowly picked up dbf23265b1 a piece of 05cc34791c grilled croaker and 1211e4d430 dipped it in b5735413da sauce.5a6eda7cdcae02d4

“I’d like to choose the three men your daughter will be set up with.”4a7598d709cbbbe1

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Why would 47a8397813 you do f1939b4bbe that?b1767b2264a9540d

Who are you to choose my daughter’s dates?5672761f67fa1334

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He wanted to shout, but the other man was a member of Baekun’s royal family.346a86a7dcb0d25a

Ryu Tae-san, who 769f77cae4 was the spitting 20e497b0e5 image of the a3b1bd02e0 former chairman.37da78f13806c54d

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“I don’t know why you’re interested in my daughter.”dd1eceee521eff5a

“She’s cute, and she doesn’t seem like she’d be easily intimidated.”9e19803103f4cd31

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“She’s like a sore spot to me. She’s not someone you can just play around with…”00d2934fe986da71

Tae-san chewed 38e1f0ce48 his food 1d9610bf6d without making ba52fa1d87 a sound.12a1e35d4f04eb11

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His smooth Adam’s apple moved in a relaxed manner.3470dbdb7e129a12

He slowly d899512845 swallowed a 58a6bbae5d sip of d4b7c72985 sake.1e983ff6db3a3791

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“What do you take me for? I’m not trying to play around with her.”6ec5c033ac8680c8

“…”21eebed81f3fbddf

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“I’m trying to marry her.”2f22c6c29fafb8cb

The Ryu b2896d3fe4 Tae-san that 02dbdc4ebe Lee Han-moo 8e6885052c knew was 9f1ae5c513 someone who ec2904b1db never made 73eb81188c empty promises.3a2a60eab3b4070f

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