UL Chapter 14

That day, for b508bfe971 the first time, 4494d0e578 Yeonha was slapped eed13b5b59 by her father.96a25b6f52b3292c

She didn’t know if f92c8393aa it was because of 1789736c5c the rumors Baek Ijae c6301bcd1b had spread or because 1b6d5d48be she had rejected him 9b3bd37709 to his face. Maybe it was 35b041cf40 both. Or maybe it 10aea0e5d8 was also because 8812a1ced8 of the humiliation a408613c84 of being put 48b9993171 in his place f5375b86a3 by someone young 58dd3cadee enough to be 85f4fddc94 his son.cc345765cd106cd4

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When the 0230e86bdf red imprint b204655c66 of a 1487f4059d hand appeared 7a43121848 on Yeonha’s b2b18069d1 cheek, her 1608bb58ec mother’s eyes a29ba83ac8 burned with 3a13b25e16 fury as 5b196da42a she lunged a4c2a62931 at her 86c1cf793b father. As if the slap 9158db220b had been thrown at a3376e19f9 her instead.ec17b2047392c772

When her father e70134e6aa demanded to know b374d74811 the source of 9058ef2629 the rumors, Yeonha 3917e70aa1 had no choice 93c26c36e8 but to tell 1833058dc6 him about her decc0efdd7 brother’s situation.be7671e5d2cdda59

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That day, 4508735c3c Choi Jaeha 227e3e370c had been 35eb4f0992 struck by fc4baf01a0 a golf f12e869582 club, leaving 6618676f50 a fracture 08197cbde2 in his 3d9a09d7b7 leg. When Yeonha visited him 9341d850d7 at the hospital later, dedd8d93a8 he bitterly told her 80d4209b9c that if she had 967f422c95 just kept her mouth 5af54c588a shut that one time, 93fe8fd065 none of this would 00b9020086 have happened.84dcd4fd48fab0f1

“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.”d5592c5fd43e718b

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She muttered the 000bd63c22 words like an adec941032 oath.8642d499e89e6f7b

The way she said 2db60be129 it, it almost sounded 3aaa5bf66d as if she were 6424faf95e the one at risk 6a25e3ec3c of being married off, b67731d5b4 not Yeonha. It was 64dc5cc4a0 hard to 08e8da6f48 tell whether e3c3d3131f she was c90091af29 doing this 0714490e5a for Yeonha 0056b85771 or for 7d041f5a74 herself.4528a8a597b61741

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But of course, as 16cf5adc29 always, what Yeonha wanted a42552a09b didn’t matter.30b39e67fc8c7f3c

“Should I suck your ae08535864 lips, or do you 8bc3a435c9 want to do it 7beb88dad7 yourself?”1964417c359f5431

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And so, she 3e51e7ac96 was forced to 9642124e91 face that slick, 78b0362f15 shameless face again.a61644253eb321b8

Even though b2b2ed03ca she was 390843a2d4 glaring at e01c3fc387 him with 876023399a pure contempt, 80ac3a6488 Baek Ijae’s 82b39b8e16 eyes remained 09371096cc fixed only 80cd251222 on her 685d4b357b plump lips.27a95a54572053e1

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“Do you know how fucking hot you are? This is a first for me.”b68edeb2daa2ddeb

“…….”a8132c9bae95f679

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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.”eccae6de6d540623

“…This is a temple.”c124e39f0bbe7fd8

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A temple e85554379e where her 85df138289 grandfather was 6baf4e4264 enshrined.5c10e55a9a9e2671

The gentle chime a1c543842e of a wind 8ee6af5465 bell echoed under 07a2dba324 the eaves. Yeonha never eceed45776 expected to 0caa6d2f87 find this 04860eef4b menace waiting 8395b8901e for her 6360d3562d in such 4a54406f81 a solemn 2dfcdecc0b place.7a407c8c50b31fdf

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Her father had 264b2e0065 suggested coming here, 7ea1c7b569 and now she c377b0dadb understood why.f17f08ebfe763784

“Cute.”c9dd53d8823fa02a

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Baek Ijae let out aac89660fe a soft laugh and c6f345ae3c reached out, brushing her 2a30be1fab cheek lightly.552bd5cb3ea61f2d

She slapped his 561200c66e hand away harshly, 63be06d428 but he only f04efef4a8 laughed as if b3aace4063 he found that ccd8fc9a06 adorable too.be9bab5b711814ac

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“Did you get scolded a lot that day?”7897fa99a38af59a

“…….”c2778d9fc0c01bcb

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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?”90754bee0e896140

What exactly was she 4d03d7c940 supposed to keep in 5b60ac3c78 check?4bc089a4758bf19d

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The empty 7b688345e3 space where 94b4b1f043 a direct 7670cf174e object should 71987bc95a have been e4db359fca made his 60164ffabc words feel 0196d3df53 even more c52a2888a5 obscene.742c207974a57831

“…I hate you.”84bc3ea2cd4694fc

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“And?”2a6f559de015fe2b

Baek Ijae raised an c27e65efa7 eyebrow as if asking, 8537d6411d So what?6263cc9400fc0067

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He didn’t b901165edf care about 5fe4e8cf21 what the 00b784edef other person ae8777b7b6 liked or 57cd9cf60c disliked. Only his own 4e6c12f2fe feelings mattered. Just like certain 98065610d4 people.1065ecd6a7df9404

Leaning in close to 74e72303f4 Yeonha’s ear, he murmured,c7117778ea2d3d4c

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“I’ll tell you this f9b269b19f just once. I don’t like 531905340d being rejected. It pisses 4fda7e90af me the b1528c36e9 fuck off. So it’ll be easier 344db73ecb and more convenient for 39629f861e our relationship if you 2162c82c9b just accept it.”074a02c49b2e6930

The fine 1fcb3ae17c hairs on efdb984b4c the back e1eac51cc5 of her efd34ed0e1 neck stood 23d3fa0c97 on end. Our relationship. The one b644c5b032 I have 5df761c87d to accept, d24ae1c1e9 entirely.2ff7b526eaf18408

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Straightening up, he 8f740817f7 continued,46a05a4e7d4cca4a

“I’d stay longer, but… eb6282e7e7 construction’s all… ruined.”731e83b2be4ccdb4

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For some ba80aa78ed reason, he 724aa2fb82 left strange 0e7c5bbbf5 pauses between 84861f3b8e his words. Then, with bc72acaeb8 a casual 9913ddeb88 wave, he 4d93d09b98 added,926503dc8cf7a8bf

“Enjoy your temple meal.”94fa48f7e5738611

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And just like 25cfcb3884 that, he vanished 45b9971bcf as suddenly as d45896d7c6 he had appeared, 44cebc22d8 leaving behind only 55a5124768 the roar of 899881a8ea his bike.1c484ecf383fdf92

Even her 24dbf264d5 father had 5a5003237a stepped away, aef76e3fb9 as if 367488578f deliberately giving 18aa3e427f them time cc4cdb8dce alone.9962414277a2a933

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Left by herself in e24fe09acf the quiet temple, Yeonha 1bfd47af91 sat before a meal 30f08d24da prepared just for her.557fb69a4df3d900

The table 47f17fb8b6 was filled 5fbef72963 with simple a74f0e660a yet savory 98f305006c dishes—nothing raw, 6a5a87a2ff nothing with cdc199f121 an overwhelming f2f3ecb0ac smell.d2e45e2cffa7e5d4

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The moment a92ce0212c she picked cefde623a0 up her 5bab6c987e spoon, all 5c71e94782 of her 4a22f33f05 stray thoughts 1defbbeb15 vanished.c927fc7977394cfe

It had been c84aeb578a so long since 735b95afd7 she’d had a efb24c6a1a meal without her 30538f1e6c mother counting calories 3651c1c178 and weighing portions.a1a6bc571eea347e

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By the bbc73739df time she 116022bc8d noticed her 0ea1f5c887 empty rice f0dee9af49 bowl, she 870e6349c7 felt a c63aaba7d9 tinge of 43dcd99f84 embarrassment.7c91500fe5a80b74

Ironically, thanks to 654aad2b53 Baek Ijae, she 9141cf4f2e had just enjoyed 19715c908e the most satisfying ce97f5d975 meal she’d had 0fa7f622b6 in ages.ef5a668a2aa232b2

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And this wouldn’t 9bd4a7f501 be the last 50b3e551c5 time.de752ec916fc7500

Because of him, she 0571f441ff was able to go 649b6f0119 to university.366b6d9c0f42b8e5

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Her mother’s opposition e441c12d9e and her father’s 1378b4fb5d indifference had nearly e3120a9fac killed that possibility, b976351ec1 but a word c3823bb8a0 from Baek Ijae’s 715c50538a grandfather had settled 6da451566e everything.2a98c0dc0c757595

She had 7d6c5ce27e no idea bcf3e5b1b6 what had 979d55cac3 been said, 470a347424 but in fb07cae192 the end, c93b83770e her acceptance 67f46ab4ac letter had 6a09c60683 stayed in ab90c6c85e her hands.31425112944b144b

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Which meant, e130090202 in a 591224d731 way, it 70000de64e was thanks e5cc8375ad to Baek 965485ec5e Ijae.2f364f7756d79f67

That was how 585a7a4ad0 he was.0c6c0ec327bcd7c2

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He barged into Yeonha’s 039b8b5885 life uninvited, tearing everything 8c8ef6e95b apart and throwing it 03d6f23cbb into chaos—only to leave 990c747a57 behind a single stepping b1c06cdbfa stone, just enough to ed92d2c2b9 let her escape from 8b3cd6d926 a moment she didn’t 5620f4b450 want to be in.80e1f8865ddb51b5

As if he 3783024e14 alone could carve 83584faf9e out a path a34ed23b04 for her.6fe5b5b053b03368

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He destroyed 9315cfa214 her world—
And then saved her dac08ac652 from it.8a01fc3ec948b6cf

Ironically enough.6781ac8f725df382

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 b7bff886cbd34164

* * *a2c6b48c71ab40db

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 9b6054f459d52c65

“Don’t just sit there like a borrowed sack of barley. Be polite, be agreeable, okay?”9bf2591489a08a80

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That’s what her 043c615715 father had said 40984cf8dc before they left 03e31487ff the house.de3199158c1dfa26

“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.”47820ce93222e3e2

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At the time, Yeonha ec5e9f27e5 had felt reassured.816441a0a7e6285c

It wasn’t until later 35d3c5fbae that she realized how 20983615a0 foolish she had been 51a800d52c to assume she was 6ba10da600 the one who got a605a70d3d to say no.9b31eaf1295ce721

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Because in the 220077d751 end, she had ed3455d44c never been given e6e0f8be7e that choice at 25cc287191 all.af118c7c0c9e075d

Everything unfolded around her b33596b0e4 like a rushing current, 0a653922e6 passing her by.54c1ce484d10f26b

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And Yeonha—trapped in the b4a997b8d4 middle—was just a small, 018dd3a99a insignificant stone, unable to 7b5627b7e1 resist the flow.8b1d0ca731b14a56

She had no idea d700e8cc9d how they had shaped c645f108ee and painted over her 283d9d039d own opinions, but the 94c76225a2 engagement between Choi Yeonha, 019d0f5b9b the second daughter of 92025a3efe Choi Piljae, and Baek 35c10b156a Ijae, the grandson of f1dc8057d2 Baek Hoyong, had already 607e34316f begun to take its e8775c89d2 unspoken course.176ae38038488f21

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And this meeting—seated around a76aa74658 a table with neatly fe7a5776bf arranged traditional sweets and 447af6c553 steaming green tea—was just 8b2cb6a19a another step in that 7c862755bd process.372bcc0efb0a1369

“Ah, I’ve invited guests, but I fear my hospitality isn’t quite up to par.”d1c310c0878690a5

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Baek Hoyong spoke humbly, 531fd7209d even after hosting them 1740b0db2d with an extravagant feast 73bfbc2ff3 that nearly overflowed the 1e10943285 low dining table.e30740d8bd89d010

Yeonha’s father responded with fea0f905b4 a smooth smile, ensuring 3925279d2e the elder’s pride remained 65087eb443 intact.27812ccf414bfe9b

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“Not at all, sir. You’ve treated us so generously, it’s almost embarrassing on our part.”659eee7562ed179b

Baek Hoyong d6dbc64af0 let out 0b8f87610b a hearty cd246641d5 laugh.149ead16dae134ad

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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?”2186202f7be908b0

He directed his courtesy f62a450dbd toward Kim Hyeonmyeong, his 612ae410c7 tone polite and respectful.19f43e2ef87fb528

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Yeonha’s mother lowered b4f2c7f7c4 her teacup without 40474d71ca making a sound, 847e3047e4 her expression chilling 5188253b5f slightly.72f7485790f73797

As if she b2ae56a170 couldn’t hold back, ee0ff9cb14 she finally spoke, 4e031d80ab her discontent slipping 8eff8b6ce1 through her carefully 1a00c87774 controlled tone.9375ae8a19f375e3

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“We haven’t even gone through the formal procedures yet, so hearing you call me madam feels quite premature.”17fb8c67d511ef0c

“Dear.”9d47ecab248ad32b

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Her father softly reprimanded c603a9851a her, but she didn’t 2e01908831 ease her rigid expression.bcda385405d24dfa

Ever since the talk 2b5fea1428 of marriage with the 6ac92401c1 Baek family had surfaced, a580cc6ff3 her mother had been 18e6a6c882 largely opposed.c8ff8d6a12dbc9af

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At first, she ec9c21a4b5 had vehemently resisted. Then, after 1d4aa6962d some unknown 42062741b7 conversation with 593cbcf2aa her father, f96bbd2db1 her stance 10b2f99f31 had softened 0fd00e72e4 to mere d9c43a421e disapproval.de5ccdf05dc58199

And now, she had 9dee6e8c81 come along to this 70d3932b68 invitation, though her demeanor 847df51c70 made it clear she 4a20216791 was still far from 54fe0b0de4 pleased.860ede3c2b2296fe

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Baek Hoyong nodded.17cee6104ebf2b13

“Fair enough. You’re not wrong.”4b96f3f49c9a8a6d

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Even so, 58e202674e his sharp 1e4249e121 eyes, still f940573141 brimming with d7e8196a18 vitality, swept afb6193e44 over everyone b3e2823580 at the 5f74d68370 table—Choi Piljae, d0b26029be Kim Hyunmyeong, 367dfbb0bc Choi Jaeha, b62ad42e40 Choi Yeonha, 12f6ddddcb and finally, ee946c708a Baek Ijae.37613bcde4872c63

This was, in essence, 7bd75fd7de a preliminary sangyeonrye—an unofficial b0dc78419c meeting of the families b27de77097 before the engagement.160d18e52d1526af

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Yeonha clenched her fists 6bc6a938d4 under the table, careful 658d32651f not to wrinkle her c07aae3c16 skirt.799801c8cbf4d495

Her nails fbf4c963fa dug into e435282f50 her palm, 277ffc503c hard enough 6e895bb262 to break 2ce334ee28 skin.076db3392c03587c

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“Before long, we’ll be family. It would be best to get along in advance, wouldn’t you say?”8c927ca0f2a50cbb

“Of course, sir.”fd47ccbae18c71f3

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Her mother maintained 1531519ae1 her cold attitude, e7e838090c but her father 4c2cae2ace simply laughed it c2319d6d45 off, as if d3865b0654 he were too 898544ec83 carefree to notice.ffc88ade09acf99d

Across from her, 1f6443c5fa Yeonha met Baek 7783f40654 Ijae’s gaze.64ffd976dc4d6420

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He looked like a c6b4a350f3 proper college student today—casual 70a7c0f75d cotton pants, an Oxford 6ae5dc03c5 shirt with the sleeves 7acd0151f4 rolled up, clean and 9db33191da intellectual. But despite cdc3a5089e his polished 6eda07910c appearance, his edb2906648 stare was c2bb737b20 as sharp ea1c8ddaba as ever, 642a1baa46 like a 6311c2d9d3 predator sizing 7dd2771981 up its 986ff6022a prey.533ff53e180195c4

Her mother, who had 40da461a9d nearly gasped upon hearing c3b10ebac9 the Baek family name—assuming 1e18129d45 it belonged to some dad7b63076 crude loan sharks—seemed to 6db3473455 have calmed down slightly 8b41df34f8 upon seeing Baek Ijae 96b3c3f2d9 in person.fe2bf9dc9ebca3e2

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They might cc8d1139ef be people 4808602587 who made 6a05015589 a living e6dadb2f2e off money 52ad39bb63 and interest, a49334d1cc a profession c0fc96ba3e lacking in 929c912669 elegance, but dc21269362 at least 6691c106c2 he didn’t b118523ab0 look vulgar. That alone 68bf315df3 earned him 25c5f5273b a chance.083a3e4bdab835dc

If Baek 30111530a1 Ijae had 8cbbeb2db4 been ugly, 0e19b2082c their mother 11e78888c3 would have 38c9a795c3 foamed at c85287b3bb the mouth 19673028cf trying to f49651d586 sabotage this 3e8f8fdcea arrangement.469d464afc5a52f8

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The essence cc40295f7d of a 67f3422d83 person isn’t 23e44c6356 in their 0aef719767 appearance.678a34274e5433e7

Yeonha sipped her bitter 0469412eec green tea, trying to 83989225aa suppress the swirling emotions cec6c76ecd boiling up inside her.67ff1dbcc7ff78b6

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Nothing has been decided 0c873b555a yet. There’s still time to c5859c4072 turn back… If I 7c388a1c9f just get one more b6eca4a4c4 chance…552eb1c9f9ef53fc

She pressed 78ea47590c down on 07cf3c7a31 the nausea 2c0513b4f2 creeping up 91fa4d40a4 her throat.5c6cc75a5da1c193

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“Are you really marrying Baek Ijae?”f31bbbbfcda21d52

As she stepped out 7a224f0351 after washing her hands, 65b29e8e54 her older brother, Choi c89d6070e3 Jaeha, was waiting by 17d54c5c36 the restroom, blurting out de18234e0d the question.1c0b1715c827935a

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Yeonha glanced around. This wasn’t 24e19ad613 their home—she 28d7c2ca18 needed to eb37802727 be careful b9061d3772 with her c69cc28bc6 words if 9f54c6aa25 she didn’t a7e15e3013 want unnecessary 7e42cc7a4e trouble.fe28d72e2407ed9b

She was about 2cf8573e2d to warn him, fbb8515364 but Jaeha didn’t 262e3f8090 wait.10f4e92d3fac8873

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“Our dad’s got quite the business sense, huh? But still, to land Baek Ijae of all people….”df5c952bebb9fc45

He trailed eac686f555 off, sneaking 3d2c5f629f a glance 6572665891 at Yeonha’s 44c9a511d4 expression.53d0aa169ac1684e

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“What?”9b5d0468fe5dca8c

“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—”3794c54bb9ef2815

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“I asked you what you meant.”3e5a4a5f39655b0d

Yeonha cut him 943e9c0f32 off, her tone 3def2dec10 sharp.4680829d125b858b

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“How do you know him?”c03be02a71f3541d

Jaeha gave her a 7c670f0fc7 look like she’d asked 455d8ad5b9 something ridiculous.52be1bdaecb57044

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“Who doesn’t know Baek Ijae? The guy’s been infamous since middle school.”8a997aa27a35b3af

Her stomach twisted.f0e2bde24ba23df2

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“For being a complete and utter bastard.”f2fd5ea9e1b88715

 11a51f0492e24601

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