PSS - 4

Chapter 4: Why Her?

Soo-hyun stormed out of the room with as much noise as he could muster, his anger simmering as he reentered the courtyard. By now, the rain had thinned to a drizzle, the droplets swaying in the wind.

“Young Master.”

The staff who worked around the main house hurried over upon recognizing Soo-hyun. The sight of the towels and clothes in their hands made him feel nauseous.

How long had they been preparing? Since he and Hae-in had entered the room? Or even earlier, when they were still standing in the courtyard?

As long as he was within the main estate, every move he made fell under Chairman Park’s watchful eye.

He almost shouted at the staff in frustration but clenched his teeth instead, narrowing his eyes. Sensing his fury, the approaching staff slowly began to retreat.

“Take those things to that room,” Soo-hyun ordered sharply.

“That… room?”

“There’s someone inside, so use your judgment.”

He struggled to suppress his irritation as the staff hesitated and questioned him.

They couldn’t possibly be unaware of the situation—these people were extensions of Chairman Park’s will. Their questions were merely a way to confirm and report back repeatedly.

The problem wasn’t with those carrying out orders—it was with the one issuing them.

Soo-hyun knew this well and always acted deliberately. But today, he hadn’t been himself. He’d been reckless.

“Hah…”

As Soo-hyun watched the staff disappear toward the room where Hae-in was, he let out a long sigh.

Chairman Park probably thought that attaching a woman to his grandson would eventually lead to an heir—but it was an absurd notion. The more Yoon-hwa pushed for the continuation of the family line, the more Soo-hyun intended to resist.

This wasn’t just childish rebellion from a grandson—it ran deeper than that.

Park Yoon-hwa was the man responsible for his mother’s death. No matter how many excuses Yoon-hwa might spout, Soo-hyun’s conviction never wavered.

What had kept him alive until now was his deep-seated hatred and burning desire for revenge against Park Yoon-hwa.

Why did it have to be Yoon Hae-in?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. His soaked dress shirt clung uncomfortably to his skin, yet he felt no chill. Instead, the heat of his rage burned through him, making his body flush with feverish intensity.

Every time, the scene repeated itself like a stamp on a document—except today, Yoon Hae-in had been sitting there.

When their eyes met, something snapped inside him. Dragging her into the room was unprecedented for him. It was obvious the incident would be reported immediately.

What now?

Now that this mess was beginning, someone like Yoon Hae-in shouldn’t get involved. Was there any way to prevent it?

To Soo-hyun, Yoon Hae-in symbolized a certain chapter of his university life—a chapter she herself would never know about, but one that held significance for him.

She had been a quiet, unassuming female student who never lost her composure or relinquished her position as the top of her department.

“Hyung, have you seen her? She’s the top freshman this year.”

Her smile had caught his attention, prompting him to glance back a second time. But knowing that investigating her would invite Chairman Park’s interference, he stopped himself right there.

If first love existed for everyone else, perhaps Hae-in could’ve been his.

That was where his innocent days ended—or so Soo-hyun believed.

Occasionally, he found himself thinking about her. It wasn’t anything more or less than that, but it was a precious memory because it reminded him of a purer time.

So, finding her in the inner quarters of the estate had left him feeling utterly wretched.

Unconsciously, a sadistic urge had risen within him. He wanted to humiliate her completely, ensuring she’d never appear before him again.

Even when he dragged women out of matchmaking events to insult them, he had never taken them into a room or stripped their clothes off.

There was no need. Most crumbled under his intimidating presence, trembling and collapsing in tears.

But Yoon Hae-in—where did such steely resolve hide in her delicate frame?

Even as she swallowed her tears, meeting his gaze head-on made him feel as if his heart was being pierced by agony.

“I’m sorry… This is the best I can do right now…”

When her small face slowly approached him, his breath caught.

Though his eyes stared at her as if trying to bore through her calm facade, his heart was pounding wildly—no, it felt like it had already exploded.

And when her soft, red lips lightly brushed against his, it was…

Hotter than he could have imagined.

It was nothing more than a light, almost childish kiss, but Soo-hyun felt as if he’d been transported back to a day in his university years.

Perhaps it was the day their eyes had met by chance, and she had bowed her head slightly before walking past him.

As he watched her retreating figure, savoring the faint aftertaste of their encounter, one of his juniors had approached him about her.

“Hyung, if you’re not interested, can I make a move?”

“Don’t touch her.”

“What? Are you going to eat her up?”

“Don’t even talk about her like that.”

Hae-in, known for being a diligent bookworm, was also frequently discussed among male students due to her demure beauty.

Among Soo-hyun’s unruly group of friends, there were quite a few who salivated over her.

Yet none dared approach her throughout her university years because everyone knew—implicitly—that Soo-hyun had his eye on her.

And anyone who ignored that unspoken rule risked facing the wrath of “Mad Dog” Jung Soo-hyun.

“Why can’t you let others have a piece of cake you won’t eat yourself?”

When a senior teased him provocatively, Soo-hyun threw a punch without hesitation. After that, no one mentioned or approached Hae-in again. It became an unwritten rule among the male students.

Everyone could pursue other girls—but not Yoon Hae-in.

Of course, if Hae-in had initiated contact with a man, the story might’ve been different. But that never happened. She was always rushing around campus, busy and friendless, as if perpetually chased by something.

So why did Yoon Hae-in, who should’ve remained a distant, bittersweet memory, suddenly reappear like this?

And worse, with just a simple kiss, she had rendered him powerless.

Realizing this, Soo-hyun had pushed her away and unleashed a torrent of cruel words, deliberately hurting her as she collided with the wall.

Her tear-filled eyes, staring at him during that moment, kept replaying in his mind.

“Hah. Damn it.”

There was nowhere to vent this suffocating frustration. With all his strength, Soo-hyun punched the nearest tree trunk mercilessly.

“Chief Choi!”

Only after blood began to clot on his knuckles did he shout for his direct secretary.

“Yes, sir. What is your command?”

Choi Hyun-woo, his secretary, appeared beside him, seemingly having been there for some time.

“…Get the car ready. Tell me my afternoon schedule.”

“You need to change first. You have back-to-back meetings.”

“Fine, let’s go home first.”

“Yes, sir.”

Choi cautiously observed Soo-hyun’s disheveled appearance as he adjusted his clothing.

“Did Young Master dislike the woman Chairman Park introduced today?”

“Don’t mention her name carelessly.”

Soo-hyun shot Choi a sharp glare before quickening his pace and leaving the Taesung estate.

Choi, struggling to keep up with Soo-hyun’s wide, rapid strides, barely managed to open the backseat door just as Soo-hyun reached the car. He swiftly guided him into the vehicle and then moved to the driver’s seat.

“Should we investigate today’s matchmaker candidate?”

Choi asked while adjusting the rearview mirror. Investigating women introduced at matchmaking events was standard procedure.

Once seated, Soo-hyun leaned back into the seat, finally feeling the rising heat within him begin to cool. After a brief pause, he spoke.

“Yes. Chief Choi, look into today’s woman. Same university alumna, Yoon Hae-in. How long will it take?”

“How extensive do you want the investigation?”

“Everything possible. I need to know what leverage Chairman Park has on her.”

“Give me three days.”

“Fine.”

Three days. Once he had the information, he planned to either persuade or threaten Yoon Hae-in into stepping out of this mess entirely.

Estimating the timeline, Soo-hyun furrowed his brow slightly and closed his eyes.

---

“The Young Master instructed us to leave these here.”

The person who had made the delivery disappeared quietly without showing their face.

Hae-in brought the clothes and teacup inside, staring blankly at the steam rising from the cup. Tentatively placing her hand on its warmth, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away and eventually took a sip.

The warmth spread through her body.

“Dear, why is a place like Taesung making us such an offer?”

“I don’t know either… Damn it.”

Staring at her reflection in the teacup, Hae-in recalled the conversation she had overheard between her parents.

Seok Ji-hyung had emphasized the privileges her family would receive if the marriage went through and then left.

Hae-in understood immediately what was expected of her.

“Mom, Dad. I think accepting the proposal is the right thing to do.”

Her father had erupted in anger, and her mother had cried at her abrupt decision to marry. To anyone watching, this was clearly a loveless marriage driven solely by conditions.

Moreover, the person extending the proposal was Park Yoon-hwa, who fearlessly voiced his opinions even when face-to-face with the president.

And the man who had barged into their first meeting with Chairman Park, dragging her out, was Jung Soo-hyun. Now that she had come this far, there was no turning back.

She could do this. Whether she liked it or not didn’t matter. This was something she had to accomplish.

“Hoo…”

Blowing softly on the teacup, she watched as ripples formed in the reflection of her eyes.

But why did Soo-hyun know her name?

“Yoon Hae-in?”

She had been so startled when he called her name correctly. While it wasn’t surprising that Soo-hyun, a well-known figure, recognized her, it was strange for him to know her.

Picking up the beige summer knit sweater left beside the teacup, she examined it. It was enormous, clearly men’s sizing.

“It looks like men’s clothing…”

Muttering to herself, she draped it over her body. It hung loosely enough to cover her torn dress. It seemed to belong to Soo-hyun, but why had it been sent to her? She considered taking it off but decided against it when the chill hit her.

Since the staff said the Young Master had sent it, it must be meant for her. Which meant Jung Soo-hyun had sent his own clothes.

“Giving poison and then the antidote… What a strange person.”

Shaking her head, Hae-in picked up the teacup and tray and stepped out of the room.