UL Chapter 14

That day, for the 00a0dd6f5e first time, Yeonha was 1ec1bbee40 slapped by her father.11ae2bbb3d0fa746

She didn’t abc0663221 know if 61d5880d68 it was 2d696bebb9 because of 565ee6ebab the rumors 87c9a09917 Baek Ijae e299a15343 had spread 22fe932784 or because a033f409e2 she had 88146718ce rejected him 8eac78bab7 to his 26b056eccf face. Maybe it 6b19c577de was both. Or maybe it 89a6f8a258 was also because c22ff6a5a5 of the humiliation bcb36b79c7 of being put a15eb80dc0 in his place 937090a580 by someone young 13d22b3f6f enough to be 8bc97f7c55 his son.10c9c2464e6ecedb

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When the red 7e3e169066 imprint of a 4f5677355e hand appeared on bdb6f2a165 Yeonha’s cheek, her 32a6c1f81a mother’s eyes burned 9fe813509e with fury as 2f11444d34 she lunged at 6fdd088b58 her father. As if the slap 5839122a42 had been thrown at 0cc4246c00 her instead.dfbbb9c71f695b0f

When her a953a1345f father demanded f07ea0c35f to know de9ed17df0 the source 3fadd9c54a of the 8dafa5d729 rumors, Yeonha 392685f31a had no 5f365767b7 choice but e607880420 to tell b09db09a65 him about d42aa95025 her brother’s 5d72a0fa09 situation.a436e5188a4abf4b

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That day, b626f04b50 Choi Jaeha 92026d924d had been d6ff6f791e struck by 87fe73e4b6 a golf 4174434e4f club, leaving abe0e39566 a fracture 1db5239294 in his 15ad61346a leg. When Yeonha 6ae0bbf64e visited him 28894387a5 at the a5f14a126e hospital later, 6e7fe0f9b7 he bitterly f642050658 told her 7d90f13d56 that if 49cb1f1793 she had 495ea48bae just kept 50c9369055 her mouth 122237ac7a shut that 0fa25307e1 one time, 3b504861ac none of fba8b705fc this would 96e814a0fd have happened.c62778b1368301d6

“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.”7f19ac0563051eb8

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She muttered the words 1e265d03d1 like an oath.5544f0024556c2af

The way she cb516f68e1 said it, it ad226b1839 almost sounded as 0ded64b9a7 if she were 5dda1ed475 the one at f9171d3674 risk of being 7b8a5b88bc married off, not a88f08c361 Yeonha. It was hard to 21d07e0220 tell whether she was b36195dc71 doing this for Yeonha e55aa47a6e or for herself.fc1604bbc68c7f29

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But of course, as cd958efde0 always, what Yeonha wanted 533830ffb3 didn’t matter.11acd8a2530341ef

“Should I suck your e81dba4433 lips, or do you 5744fa2a4c want to do it 9042b902e4 yourself?”ecba1f9e6926b29b

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And so, she aae2323b6f was forced to 550d24cbb4 face that slick, 49c079f725 shameless face again.fe94a4d0714c60b4

Even though she was 62acec1611 glaring at him with 6d9e9291de pure contempt, Baek Ijae’s 01ee5ff697 eyes remained fixed only f4202e8643 on her plump lips.218603cfa625ef44

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“Do you know how fucking hot you are? This is a first for me.”e23940ffd0b1b4ce

“…….”1f37dc1c96dc5e6d

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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.”7f8a408b66e24e52

“…This is a temple.”573692f43495f182

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A temple where 1e6f58f755 her grandfather was f3f1d3306a enshrined.e9937ee929726b0a

The gentle chime of d113672fc2 a wind bell echoed 24d56be405 under the eaves. Yeonha never expected to 43939b7f29 find this menace waiting 491f524cc3 for her in such 9268f06685 a solemn place.33eda73d73ee0309

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Her father de791f64c7 had suggested 3175aed69c coming here, 63217a9f92 and now 57b78468a6 she understood 77051551cf why.fe395e87df214076

“Cute.”4e94038654b4c306

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Baek Ijae let out 3d89e45de9 a soft laugh and 80c2b82d8a reached out, brushing her 2953cccd18 cheek lightly.cc4bc7581d86d780

She slapped cbf031f59b his hand 7dd3d92aab away harshly, 49a6339aa1 but he d5b5687548 only laughed 250ca0b178 as if bccc00b753 he found 39d21b57ff that adorable eaf11d5274 too.74c4cc7ad565a37b

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“Did you get scolded a lot that day?”872b7873097498e3

“…….”97009149f7869f4e

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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?”c833dc0a75047029

What exactly c7b8131451 was she 8c57c32cc3 supposed to a60313b872 keep in a15defe914 check?1e31f3b32d2cd16a

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The empty space 78208ea526 where a direct 2ad76d143b object should have 95f7ee142c been made his 5a1ea428d5 words feel even 20e0b102a4 more obscene.9525027efe847cee

“…I hate you.”5a435422e8be5825

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“And?”c3a7360d70163ff4

Baek Ijae raised 0743a2818a an eyebrow as 5d45c6d893 if asking, So 7077ad275d what?b2672f2551dba083

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He didn’t care about 049bd6f5e2 what the other person e59e9f23de liked or disliked. Only his 03ac437f55 own feelings 85083f5a57 mattered. Just like 394c50e905 certain people.664e52fd5039e59c

Leaning in close 166a09b0fd to Yeonha’s ear, 4a9b3f3735 he murmured,5ec7e023d64324c6

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“I’ll tell you this 13e0c0ff38 just once. I don’t like being 9251e4b95d rejected. It pisses 5bba2c8f78 me the 10dd32a752 fuck off. So it’ll be feed3b3008 easier and more 19f4d3340d convenient for our e60b41fa78 relationship if you 21709a42e6 just accept it.”673bed4ba054b57b

The fine hairs e13a52723f on the back 5e4ab7e831 of her neck 86ef03b8c9 stood on end. Our relationship. The one I have c5dcee9a02 to accept, entirely.da5283984d0f5186

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Straightening up, he continued,e0e1191aac0e790f

“I’d stay 6d079888ea longer, but… 837023a36c construction’s all… 7b4cb9c3ca ruined.”250634bb6b4dcd83

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For some reason, 7d91309e4c he left strange baa41a039f pauses between his d4024b5989 words. Then, with a dcc41b45ce casual wave, he 3dc780f563 added,82feaef74d9f3993

“Enjoy your temple meal.”b48d301df0197334

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And just 3e89c7f6cb like that, 9208f0208e he vanished 2f4470d553 as suddenly e7d60756f5 as he bcefe91b36 had appeared, c1e10a4d74 leaving behind df8c5c07af only the e6ef7c5382 roar of f77e234e8b his bike.59f0157ab08b5712

Even her father a3a3c68d02 had stepped away, 37a3028d34 as if deliberately a0b3b89fd0 giving them time 7ffa847302 alone.bc2ea9834cb6385d

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Left by ac106f325c herself in bfce665adf the quiet 510b6c5999 temple, Yeonha 4b77a52653 sat before af05efce84 a meal d43e4bb5d1 prepared just 1733b8d5f4 for her.96f6c5001a12b0bc

The table was filled cc8c942bf0 with simple yet savory 673c0e9ef0 dishes—nothing raw, nothing with effb055a8c an overwhelming smell.96544d66ff3463e2

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The moment she picked a62813b47b up her spoon, all 640506de74 of her stray thoughts 961af0748e vanished.8b3f280a5f2054fb

It had been 9a8e92ac0e so long since 8aff0b889c she’d had a c0e920de53 meal without her 3240e7017c mother counting calories 141ab6ec9e and weighing portions.48667e0a4319f105

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By the time 7f36b00541 she noticed her 1611687e5c empty rice bowl, 1c77985302 she felt a f4a92225e9 tinge of embarrassment.cd686b1d74b30f72

Ironically, thanks to 06e98f2667 Baek Ijae, she 7923ca228c had just enjoyed f1a2fb43d0 the most satisfying 257c883255 meal she’d had 3455e5b401 in ages.2603ca2092329f7e

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And this wouldn’t c712470f23 be the last 5785fa12b0 time.7b8ebd911deeee20

Because of him, she 2f1a97ff26 was able to go 530386cbf1 to university.eac68de155c9f622

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Her mother’s opposition and b438b235c3 her father’s indifference had 79b79b70ea nearly killed that possibility, e84b4b18ab but a word from 71ec50e331 Baek Ijae’s grandfather had 156c2371c7 settled everything.5a602b308b844901

She had no idea 14d5284f46 what had been said, 4d3df4f25f but in the end, 55a95dd53e her acceptance letter had c25cc1446e stayed in her hands.1c76a343f5714e5f

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Which meant, 331fbaf43a in a 43daf73b73 way, it 50eea53dfa was thanks 6283983655 to Baek 5cb6fd8e43 Ijae.df7a2744528e906a

That was how dcca391c17 he was.805955aa2c181822

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He barged into b914491fe5 Yeonha’s life uninvited, 220d312932 tearing everything apart 987c9268fe and throwing it 64fefab0b3 into chaos—only to 4641625ffd leave behind a 0895ab8890 single stepping stone, 0794a1cc9e just enough to c79240e4de let her escape f72ab3e244 from a moment be1fe07cd7 she didn’t want 4c4ebac1c3 to be in.b40baf0d4cee20b9

As if he 962fdd98ac alone could carve c9194e3b6e out a path ea93dfa4f8 for her.1fd1ff43b6fca790

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He destroyed 5d2147589d her world—
And then 96b7554aef saved her 5cb05ee99c from it.02c3b230b81fe574

Ironically enough.580fd543b558e730

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 6888b1a2017755a0

* * *3b5408335ab2e484

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“Don’t just sit there like a borrowed sack of barley. Be polite, be agreeable, okay?”4b52b41ad71ec15a

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That’s what her father 6f76890a5a had said before they 9d12ce9158 left the house.b256e2e3fd79d72a

“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.”1da6c3854c888407

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At the time, a998b36304 Yeonha had felt 247996f51f reassured.28ef520db48dd3e7

It wasn’t until later 1059439af3 that she realized how 9fc9a3a85c foolish she had been 70f3c2d1f8 to assume she was a307b7bd18 the one who got bb6a0628de to say no.5e8e27ae5cecb669

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Because in the end, 4837da1f20 she had never been 4ad2f20ff3 given that choice at 5190c3659f all.409d4ebaf85aede8

Everything unfolded around 13d1605b52 her like a 8f17611b14 rushing current, passing 03414b2a78 her by.708885caadaa487b

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And Yeonha—trapped in c48981f09a the middle—was just 987ce0ddc2 a small, insignificant e890c0d521 stone, unable to 6fef5b9909 resist the flow.3dfe6fe287d5eb9f

She had no f34c787c11 idea how they 3b41287e92 had shaped and dd79ead813 painted over her 30ab6fc5fd own opinions, but abfed7774c the engagement between e2415e6d7d Choi Yeonha, the 8e1d7ae6fe second daughter of dde3ed2708 Choi Piljae, and d166bc6188 Baek Ijae, the 3553b23000 grandson of Baek 5f0c0d703b Hoyong, had already 5ab2284f76 begun to take 49582ab450 its unspoken course.52a2f1b0f4d1a076

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And this meeting—seated around ef4cdad0b2 a table with neatly 9f8b939815 arranged traditional sweets and 4738885d13 steaming green tea—was just 6a8799668d another step in that 805bfc8d2c process.2bc173253c5d9b5d

“Ah, I’ve invited guests, but I fear my hospitality isn’t quite up to par.”0a19b230f347dcf4

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Baek Hoyong 9c89d3e7a5 spoke humbly, 0b9e3e7c9c even after 08c5a04262 hosting them b2e2a435ca with an 9e84f43d3a extravagant feast 8cf1a4526c that nearly 5df5e1d297 overflowed the faae41bd53 low dining 2a1a53648a table.e7a06b09bb4b253a

Yeonha’s father responded with eb8de6f8ed a smooth smile, ensuring c18c3d4e34 the elder’s pride remained 41cd459279 intact.61381bdcb94e1267

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“Not at all, sir. You’ve treated us so generously, it’s almost embarrassing on our part.”8097cc6a101e54bb

Baek Hoyong 5b5efc56e1 let out 60fd380c92 a hearty 1d527a7bff laugh.569a7cb4872e41db

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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?”17eda9fc95187f1c

He directed 2c8921b768 his courtesy 1611635c21 toward Kim bc724764db Hyeonmyeong, his 0c1b6d2dea tone polite 606f1edf72 and respectful.94ad7e55912a3637

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Yeonha’s mother lowered 707b5de93b her teacup without 937bfd930b making a sound, 3a9355ede5 her expression chilling d5f7d86760 slightly.0687abcbd66fa5d0

As if d1cb0af9fe she couldn’t 1e5063f58e hold back, 5fb2f95ba8 she finally 1b09591e6d spoke, her 0470a461e4 discontent slipping 07120e18c2 through her b96057f69e carefully controlled 3550abdb1e tone.44b9c63af20297ec

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“We haven’t even gone through the formal procedures yet, so hearing you call me madam feels quite premature.”851f75250303b88d

“Dear.”7620eea9e13bb495

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Her father softly reprimanded c7f99d2e8b her, but she didn’t 61200910b6 ease her rigid expression.e9819f84f3dbaec6

Ever since the talk 741bde56b2 of marriage with the cf0586c96b Baek family had surfaced, 25b623478b her mother had been 49b95d4a92 largely opposed.bd08751269296cd7

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At first, d1afe0e094 she had b9ce9f4139 vehemently resisted. Then, after some 6c8ea0d00e unknown conversation with 212b0182f3 her father, her 6c23836c50 stance had softened 88c8c93c17 to mere disapproval.c53bff8445fbbf45

And now, she 60bc4d913a had come along 112d014832 to this invitation, b234ed1148 though her demeanor 927ba1d3b5 made it clear 33c3bcb47e she was still 8469cfafe3 far from pleased.8670e699fb5bf44c

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Baek Hoyong nodded.2e715e1056385310

“Fair enough. You’re not wrong.”8d2bbb9bb18834ad

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Even so, f4d3ce4f4a his sharp fb206a32b8 eyes, still e116c9b4d0 brimming with 9d1d9f396a vitality, swept a804ea118d over everyone 007aa74e90 at the c5305c9453 table—Choi Piljae, 023ee0a37a Kim Hyunmyeong, b252bd3e70 Choi Jaeha, 8a69e24f7c Choi Yeonha, bcefd7a0bf and finally, d82fb78048 Baek Ijae.089bf517cc56955e

This was, in essence, 78edbc1b0f a preliminary sangyeonrye—an unofficial cc49a466e3 meeting of the families b145401288 before the engagement.3c76121f9e3df782

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Yeonha clenched her b3795eabe3 fists under the e842eb4ad3 table, careful not d6d1a9cbcd to wrinkle her d2445452f4 skirt.8d81d21bf04020dc

Her nails f14951993f dug into 29be23a266 her palm, 0cde343e84 hard enough fa6e95ad0f to break d4a3dbcda5 skin.4c1af3ea4a3aae81

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“Before long, we’ll be family. It would be best to get along in advance, wouldn’t you say?”ccc98b7e69b3968f

“Of course, sir.”a802edb377466ec8

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Her mother maintained her deebb1e16c cold attitude, but her 1cc8a7f5a5 father simply laughed it 9cade6ff50 off, as if he 3874da7b4c were too carefree to 4070823be5 notice.9fac2ed2f4cf24f3

Across from c1124989e3 her, Yeonha 47aff0c819 met Baek 3fb56d0016 Ijae’s gaze.bd2878025138c791

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He looked bde8f106f6 like a 3470083898 proper college 7ccb6d58b5 student today—casual 8340bb82c9 cotton pants, df18504fc2 an Oxford c06c6162f8 shirt with 39b47f202a the sleeves 78cad01cf6 rolled up, df485c1640 clean and 18a3937c97 intellectual. But despite his 8327576e14 polished appearance, his 9abad127b4 stare was as 5cbbff2016 sharp as ever, d6d39ea430 like a predator 09e159971a sizing up its 61db4f351b prey.b1292072080f1032

Her mother, d0fd6f2579 who had 237f9ecd42 nearly gasped df1fda414d upon hearing 5aaafe3921 the Baek 00c24fafab family name—assuming 7cdb224884 it belonged c00adedaa2 to some 542cec964e crude loan a0fc35e12f sharks—seemed to 15bd6b8d53 have calmed 53d0d23602 down slightly 7730eea8a8 upon seeing 48c5c9eb12 Baek Ijae f75b1e4778 in person.fe69c4b597dd0044

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They might 32872d1b0e be people d1a2d7f237 who made ed8e989e38 a living 6aff17c381 off money 3325d7c1d9 and interest, fb4de8dfee a profession 4d5a09be42 lacking in ba99ca5928 elegance, but 16924ae95c at least 57b06c7679 he didn’t 77aa3e0d65 look vulgar. That alone 33d2420a71 earned him 087ed740a3 a chance.8949347e46d8c197

If Baek Ijae 59a5ae4479 had been ugly, ff74b160a2 their mother would 6c6ce8b077 have foamed at 809ae66519 the mouth trying c6bd38da49 to sabotage this aaf024e1ae arrangement.6f358c487dfa5ce8

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The essence of a 12b69b4fc4 person isn’t in their f3a8bb9597 appearance.5695df81c3ccbbc6

Yeonha sipped her bitter bf019f0f0b green tea, trying to 4c74290735 suppress the swirling emotions 783aaecc16 boiling up inside her.f23e8de3934332a5

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Nothing has been 4b2b9635ec decided yet. There’s still time e7322c79ac to turn back… 4f25aaa6a9 If I just 55d0947ca4 get one more 6df564354b chance…ce951d605b8ed51e

She pressed down 60a1aa16a4 on the nausea b38be193f7 creeping up her fb9287a99f throat.e87dd1c70ae32bc7

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“Are you really marrying Baek Ijae?”360f5a6f3e864c9f

As she stepped dba2f2fcbd out after washing 85b6901721 her hands, her d32858850e older brother, Choi 59e60b0520 Jaeha, was waiting 1a9b057497 by the restroom, 8b8a68f680 blurting out the 1ab254a7a8 question.e96839e7bfb5b6f3

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Yeonha glanced around. This wasn’t their 940f6697dc home—she needed to 12663b8d67 be careful with b2c52480df her words if 343060bd15 she didn’t want 779502fbce unnecessary trouble.c047397b9736d8b8

She was about 977ffda305 to warn him, 14e5ea94aa but Jaeha didn’t ccc91c76fc wait.d5a61ec983fbcfc0

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“Our dad’s got quite the business sense, huh? But still, to land Baek Ijae of all people….”e5f350fb6543ed4e

He trailed 88b4b760c5 off, sneaking 72c869f494 a glance 1cab323124 at Yeonha’s 01b75c8a48 expression.b3101e7ce7033925

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“What?”50c1b28519d60a1c

“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—”f0d8976f38a43585

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“I asked you what you meant.”dba7cfe15f2af5d5

Yeonha cut him off, 3a9f10ef74 her tone sharp.7e7870e39393d0d7

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“How do you know him?”08d93dc343061bb1

Jaeha gave 8e8334efec her a 269b23d9af look like eea5eed606 she’d asked 7e3bd75ed8 something ridiculous.baf431927efda05c

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“Who doesn’t know Baek Ijae? The guy’s been infamous since middle school.”3e13bb53dbd11a6b

Her stomach twisted.8b486bbfd2c4f355

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“For being a complete and utter bastard.”6a60ccb9a427e997

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