Psst! We're moving!
“What a disgraceful child. Serves you right.”
At Eun-seo’s words, Hyun-soo snapped back to her senses. The commotion had drawn the attention of nearby customers, who were now whispering amongst themselves.
Hyun-soo wiped the dripping water from her chin as she caught her breath. Suddenly, a handkerchief was thrust in front of her face.
“Dry yourself.”
For a moment, Hyun-soo stared blankly at the handkerchief before slowly raising her head.
“You’re late.”
Even without looking, she knew who the familiar voice belonged to—Yoon Guk. As always, his expression was unreadable as he stood there calmly.
“How did you find this place...?”
Instead of answering, Guk sat down beside her. This startled both Hyun-sung and Eun-seo, who clearly hadn’t expected him to show up.
Hyun-soo was equally surprised. Still trying to process the situation, she simply stared at him. Guk met her gaze and gently wiped her wet face with the handkerchief. Startled, she took the handkerchief from him.
“I’ll do it myself.”
Guk handed over the handkerchief without protest and turned his gaze forward. Hyun-sung and Eun-seo awkwardly avoided eye contact.
“Why are you avoiding my eyes? You sounded so confident on the phone earlier.”
“Hmph. Who said I was avoiding your eyes?”
Guk smirked coldly before hardening his expression. Then, he issued a warning.
“From now on, don’t treat Hyun-soo carelessly.”
His voice was sharper than a blade, firm and unyielding. Hyun-sung and Eun-seo flinched momentarily before feigning nonchalance.
“Well, parents have to discipline their children when they misbehave. It’s not like I meant harm or hatred…”
“The goal is money, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“State the amount you need. Don’t waste time.”
The unexpected offer made them uneasy, but Guk’s directness left no room for hesitation. Torn between gratitude and discomfort, Hyun-sung fidgeted, scratching his ear and averting his gaze as he stalled.
“I’ll give you whatever amount you need, so just tell me.”
“Well… if you insist, I’m grateful, but…”
“I don’t care what you do with the money—start a business, gamble, or even wipe floors. It’s none of my concern.”
Guk’s detached tone, devoid of emotion, made Hyun-sung and Eun-seo furrow their brows. Though grateful for the offer, they couldn’t shake the feeling of being insulted, leaving a bitter aftertaste.
“That said, don’t involve yourself in anything illegal. I can cover up most things, but it’ll only make Hyun-soo’s position difficult.”
“…”
“Understood?”
“…Yes.”
Unlike earlier, when she had been frantic, Hyun-soo now sat calmly beside Guk. She had shifted her strategy. Knowing her father and sister wouldn’t abandon their demands for money, she decided it would be quicker to negotiate directly with Guk to ensure he didn’t give in. For that, she needed time for the two of them to talk privately. She resolved to wait for the right moment.
“And…”
Guk captured everyone’s attention and took Hyun-soo’s hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. Startled, she tried to pull away, but his grip was unyielding.
“We’re getting married.”
“Pfft!”
Eun-seo spat out the coffee she had been drinking. Hyun-sung choked on his words, coughing as he stared at Guk in disbelief.
“What, what did you say? What are you doing?”
“Yoon Guk!”
Hyun-soo turned to him with wide, rabbit-like eyes, shocked.
“I’ve already discussed this with Hyun-soo.”
“No, even so! How dare you decide without consulting us adults?”
“My parents already approve.”
“…Approve? Of Hyun-soo?”
Hyun-sung’s gaze darted between Hyun-soo and Eun-seo, who was wiping her mouth with a tissue. He couldn’t fathom why a prestigious family like the HK Group would accept Hyun-soo. If it were Eun-seo, beautiful and flawless, perhaps he could understand.
“My parents adore Hyun-soo.”
As Hyun-soo looked on in confusion, Guk smiled faintly and tenderly brushed the damp strands of hair off her face. She wasn’t sure if this situation was heading in the right direction.
“You’re invited to the wedding. I’ll send you an invitation.”
“As a father giving away his daughter, of course I should attend.”
Despite his obvious bewilderment, Hyun-sung tried to appear dignified, which made the scene amusing. Guk subtly smiled before continuing.
“Just to clarify beforehand—I’ll be walking her down the aisle.”
“What?”
“Why? Is something wrong with that?”
“No, how can you do that when her father is alive and healthy?”
“She belongs to me and will continue to belong to me. Isn’t that only natural?”
“Natural? What’s natural about it? Where exactly is the logic in this?”
Hyun-sung’s voice rose unexpectedly, prompting Guk to exhale sharply. His slow blink and composed expression revealed his growing irritation.
“Do you think I look down on you because it’s been ten years since I last saw you?”
“Of course not.”
“I’m walking her down the aisle! I’ll proudly declare to everyone that she’s my daughter!”
It was as though a sudden surge of affection had overtaken him. Hyun-soo had never seen her father act so passionately on her behalf, making the whole scene feel alien.
On the other hand, Guk felt a small spark ignite within him. He instinctively sensed that Hyun-sung’s stubbornness wasn’t rooted in genuine affection for Hyun-soo but rather in a power struggle. This conversation was less about family and more about asserting dominance—petty hypocrisy at its finest.
“Why do you think I’m sitting here right now?”
“…What?”
“It’s because of Hyun-soo. I don’t want Kim Hyun-soo to get hurt anymore.”
“…”
“Stop posturing and take what’s offered. Isn’t this what you wanted all along?”
“This… arrogant…”
“For the money issue, I’ll send someone to discuss it with you. One more thing.”
“What now?”
“From this point on, all communication with Hyun-soo must go through me first.”
“What nonsense is this?”
“You keep treating her carelessly whenever you have the chance. How can I trust you around her?”
Hyun-sung’s face flushed red, and Eun-seo’s expression darkened beside him. Hyun-soo felt dizzy for a brief moment as Guk’s firm grip on her hand tightened painfully. The world seemed to spin—it was all so unexpected.
“What’s wrong? Not feeling well?”
Noticing Hyun-soo pressing her fingers to her forehead, Guk leaned in and whispered into her ear. She shook her head slightly and distanced herself from him, feeling self-conscious with so many eyes watching.
Without a word, Guk observed her silently before straightening his posture. Beside his tall, sturdy frame, Hyun-soo’s slender figure appeared especially small.
“If you have anything to say, do it now. There won’t be another meeting until the wedding day.”
“What do you mean, no more meetings? There’s so much to discuss!”
Eun-seo jumped at Guk’s statement, but his expression remained indifferent.
“If you have nothing more to say, we’re leaving.”
When Hyun-sung fell silent, Guk stood up. Without releasing Hyun-soo’s hand, which he had held since earlier, he pulled her to her feet. Stumbling slightly, Hyun-soo turned to look at her father and sister with a bewildered expression.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
Guk, who had been about to leave, suddenly stopped and reached into his pocket.
“Why are you…?”
Before Hyun-soo could finish her uneasy question, he tossed his wallet onto the table. The black leather cardholder landed precisely in front of Hyun-sung, who stared at it with a distorted expression before looking up at Guk.
“I heard you told me not to come empty-handed.”
“Such arrogance…!”
With a faint smirk, Guk didn’t wait for a response. Taking Hyun-soo by the hand, he left the café. Hyun-soo hurriedly slung her bag over her shoulder and followed him.
Trying to match his long strides, Hyun-soo found herself nearly jogging to keep up.
“Can you slow down a little?”
Finally turning to look at her, Guk slowed his pace.
“What was that last part about? Did my dad tell you to come today?”
“Let’s go for a drive. It’s hot out.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“It’d be boring to go straight home.”
“…What were you thinking, throwing your wallet like that?”
At Hyun-soo’s deflated tone, Guk glanced back at her. Her face was shadowed with emotions she couldn’t quite articulate.
“Was I too rude?”
“Not necessarily…”
“I’ve always been rough around the edges. Manners aren’t exactly my strong suit. You know that.”
“I’m worried about you. What if you need money later?”
His concern caught her off guard. Guk gradually slowed his steps until he stopped entirely, meeting her gaze. A subtle smile played on his lips.
“Are you worried I’ll end up somewhere penniless?”
“You gave your card to my dad just now. And my dad isn’t the type to be intimidated. He’ll max it out…”
“Naive as always.”
“What?”
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
As they stepped outside, the sunlight blinded them immediately. The dense rows of trees lining the street barely filtered the scorching rays. The cicadas’ relentless chirping filled the air as people shielded their faces from the sun or fanned themselves while hurrying to escape the heat. Amidst the chaos, Guk and Hyun-soo pushed forward.
“Where did you park the car?”
“Just a little further.”
Hyun-soo nodded and brushed her damp hair back. Most of it had dried since the earlier incident.
“There.”
“What?”
“Can I let go of your hand?”