episode_0071

“Oh. Did Yoon Ji-yu mention that?”

“Yeah. She did.”

As soon as the topic of his younger sister was brought up, Yoon Ji-chang’s reaction was one of surprise.

“Well, that’s amazing. After breaking up two years ago, she was so scared of Dad that she didn’t tell anyone.”

“…Dad? Mr. Yoon Gwan-cheol?”

“Oh, right. Chaewon, this is a secret. Don’t tell anyone else.”

How many secrets had already been casually revealed just like that?

“Well, I have a photo too.”

Cross-verification successful. Yoon Ji-chang also had a photo of the same person Yoon Ji-yu had shown earlier.

“So, yeah. They weren’t really family. Dad brought her home when we were young.”

“…Adoption?”

“Yeah. We lived together like a family. And then…”

Yoon Ji-chang blinked his eyes and stared at me intently. It felt like a reminder to keep the secret.

We made a promise that if I broke it, he would take me with him when filming, and Yoon Ji-chang readily accepted and continued the story.

“She lived with us, but then our dad passed away.”

The first thought that came to mind was that the daughter was the father’s. Maybe Yoon Ji-yu was quick to discard people when she no longer needed them because she took after someone who did that.

But no matter who the person was, I couldn’t bring myself to tell such a story in front of family, so I held back and swallowed it in my heart.

“There were some legal issues, so it wasn’t a complete adoption until earlier this year. Two years ago, we just sent her back to her biological parents.”

“I see.”

“Well, it was shocking in one way or another. We didn’t even know she was adopted. Even though she looked a bit different, we naturally thought she was our mom’s daughter.”

“…Is that possible?”

“Since we’ve been together since we were very young. I was only a year older than her, so it’s not strange that I don’t remember.”

Well, that makes sense. How many people in the world would remember things from when they were two years old?

“So, why the story about Jin Sae-yeok?”

“Her name is Jin Sae-yeok?”

“Yeah. She’s the same age as you.”

Jin Sae-yeok. A pretty name. I should remember that.

“I went to Yoon Ji-yu’s house yesterday, and she suddenly hugged me as if she saw me as… Jin Sae-yeok.”

“Wow. Really?”

Yoon Ji-chang covered his mouth with his hand and showed a worried expression.

“Is she already in the process… Be careful.”

“Be careful?”

“Several girls have fallen for that method. She only approaches immature girls like you.”

“I see…”

As expected. I had hoped, even if Yoon Ji-yu had a hidden family history and wasn’t a bad person, it was my mistake to have such expectations. Well, that’s right. Yoon Ji-yu is Yoon Ji-yu. She was fooled in her past life, and almost fooled in this life too.

It’s just that her way of charming men and women was different. If it weren’t for Yoon Ji-chang, I might have missed it.

“Maybe now she’ll act like a real sister, giving you everything and then throwing you away when you’re no longer needed?”

“Then… we just have to stick to our plan.”

“Exactly.”

The plan was simple.

If Yoon Ji-yu tries to leave me, I will cling to her persistently.

Following Yoon Ji-chang’s directions, I will go to school and bother her.

I will persuade her to spend some time with me in a quiet place, saying I want to talk alone, and somehow drag her to an empty classroom.

But, that place won’t be an empty classroom.

Yoon Ji-chang, the ultimate insider, will distribute snacks he bought overseas to his close friends and seniors as an excuse.

If the voices inside get louder, people outside will be curious and gather at the door. Eventually, they will see the real Yoon Ji-yu.

Yoon Ji-yoo doesn’t know what to say in that situation, so she will probably come out with a nonchalant attitude, and that’s when Yoon Ji-chang’s hidden card explodes.

I’ve been through that too. I’ve been through it.

The former victims who were listening outside the classroom come pouring in as if they had made a promise.

There are Yoon Ji-yoo’s second-year classmates, and there are also juniors similar to me who have been taken out to play in the past few months.

The guy filming in the middle. The guy spreading it on SNS. The guy calling more people. The guy going to the professor, and so on.

The scene will quickly turn into a market square.

“But well. If it were my crazy sister, she wouldn’t be bothered by that situation.”

I wholeheartedly agree with Yoon Ji-chang’s words.

In fact, right after Yoon Ji-yoo placed second in the Paganini Competition, her misdeeds at the arts high school came to the surface one after another.

But Yoon Ji-yoo did not actively explain any of the controversies. When reporters asked related questions, she didn’t even react. It wasn’t just a figurative expression, her expression really didn’t change at all.

She had no idea what she had done wrong.

“You have to know what went wrong. There are actions that are acceptable as a human being and actions that are not.”

In a way, it’s a blessing that my younger brother Yoon Ji-chang is so human.

It may have been thanks to the lessons learned from our father and sister’s appearances.

“Anyway, let’s be careful and deceive well in the future!”

“Yeah. And.”

I grabbed Yoon Ji-chang’s shoulders with both hands.

“Oh. Chaewon is giving me physical affection…!”

And then I grabbed his neck and shook it back and forth wildly.

“Crack. Crunch.”

“You. I gave you money to eat Hanwoo beef, and you’re just going out to play without Siwoo? Do you want to die?”

“Oh, ack. Geez. That’s…”

It’s not as severe as with my sister, but breaking a promise is still a big deal.

I tormented him until he admitted he was wrong and then let go of his hand.

“Phew. I thought I was going to die.”

“You’re such a drama queen.”

My strength is not strong enough to kill a person. Yoon Ji-chang’s thoughts are obvious. If he wanted to, he could have easily escaped, but he was just enduring it because we were connected by fate.

While stroking his choked neck, Yoon Ji-chang raised the index finger of his opposite hand.

“That’s right. How about throwing a bait that Yoon Ji-yoo might like a little more?”

“Bait?”

“It seems like there won’t be any blood or tears, but there might be a subtle weakness.”

“Tell me.”

As mentioned several times, Yoon Ji-chang may look like a good person, but Yoon Gwan-chul’s blood runs through him. That’s why, sometimes, he packages his evil side in a pure way.

“If you subtly mix in the words our mother used to say, wouldn’t she react more strongly? Then Yoon Ji-yoo might not easily reject you and hesitate.”

It was natural for there to be a sense of pity in his expression.

He’s a remarkable guy. I don’t know if I should consider this self-destructive behavior or a sign of depravity.

“To mention an old lady who passed away over 10 years ago….”

Yoon Ji-chang seems to be throwing it in a way that implies it’s okay because I wouldn’t know about my mother’s situation, but if I ask about it, I’ll be the only one in trouble.

I’ve lived without my parents, but I still understand that mentioning deceased parents can be the cause of a fight. In fact, I almost got into a fight with a friend in kindergarten right before the fight.

“I’ll pass on that. If you do it, that’s one thing, but if I do it, it’s a different story.”

“Oh. I see.”

If Yoon Ji-yoo shows what the fear of a ruthless adult is, Yoon Ji-chang shows what the pure malice of children is.

At first, I thought the reason the two were entangled was due to the absence of their mother.

No.

After meeting Yoon Gwan-chul today, I realized for sure. All the problems started with Yoon Gwan-chul.

Professor Baek Jungeon often mentions Yoon Gwancheol with a smirk, which seems to be a proof that he was not much different from Yoon Jiyu in his younger days.

“Well, anyway. If there’s a sudden situation like today, make sure to let me know.”

“… But where are you going?”

Grabbing Yoon Jichang, who was turning his body in the opposite direction of Siwoo’s house.

“Where else. I’m going home.”

“Aren’t you going to stay at Siwoo’s house?”

“Don’t you two have something to talk about?”

As I mentioned before, Yoon Jichang has a knack for taking things in a strange direction.

I thought he secretly messaged each other, but he caught on by just looking.

“Jung Siwoo had no reason to suddenly leave. He just wanted to give you guys some space to talk, and then you were going to talk among yourselves, right?”

I didn’t feel the need to deny it, so I slowly nodded my head.

“He said you’re all better now, but it’s better to rest until Monday. Just talk at home. I’ll give you some space.”

“… Says Yoon Jichang, who ate grilled beef and neglected his duties.”

“No! That’s… um… there’s a reason…”

Yoon Jichang, who ran away sneakily as I glared at him. Would it have been fun for you to watch Jung Siwoo all day? You have to drink with friends and go out to have fun.

“Anyway! I’m going! Have a good talk!”

Watching Yoon Jichang quickly leave, I turned and headed towards Siwoo’s house.

It was still early May, so the night weather was quite cool.

Thinking of buying a drink for Siwoo who must have been bored waiting at home, I texted him as I walked towards the cafe.

— Me: What do you want to drink?

— Me: On my way home

— Jung Siwoo: Behind you

When I turned my head, it was really Jung Siwoo.

“Here.”

I opened the distance between us first.

“What, you scared me.”

My heart was pounding.

Okay, Min Chaewon. I know you’re surprised, but calm down first—.

“I thought the conversation would be over by now, so I came early.”

Ah, why is he like this, seriously.

This bastard is like a firecracker ready to explode!