episode_0116

“How did you know I was dating Oh Yoonji?”

A single statement resounds heavily in the hotel room. Big Brother must be well aware that my response will dictate my future actions.

As if to say, “What does it matter?”

Big Brother’s indifferent expression remained unchanged.

“Oh Yoonji.”

The tone of familiarity with Oh Yoonji’s name subtly grated on me, but for now, I listen to Big Brother’s words.

“Do you really think it’s okay to date someone like her?”

“…What?”

“Just in case, I did some investigation. You must know where her father is, right?”

This sudden surge of intensity was unprecedented. My heart raced so fast that I wanted to cover his mouth immediately.

“You went as far as digging into her background?”

“She could become family. It’s only natural to do the necessary checks.”

“Damn it…!”

“Even while getting angry.”

Big Brother looked at me with cold, calculating eyes. There was a hint of disdain in his gaze.

“You seem to be doing well with other girls.”

“… ”

“Woojin, was Oh Yoonji really that important to you?”

“…!”

I was left speechless.

I knew what he meant, and I understood that whatever I said about Oh Yoonji would ultimately lack any persuasiveness.

How difficult it had been for me?

After the first semester, during the vacation, I had merely existed like a living corpse. No matter how much I elaborated on that time, it would only be dismissed as the past.

“While you’re in college, I won’t interfere with you as much as possible.”

“… ”

“You said it yourself, right? You’re going to cut off support from now on. You applied to live in the dorms, which was a good decision. You won’t freeze to death outside.”

“Damn it…!”

I wanted to curse him out, but I was still tongue-tied. Big Brother’s indifferent and mechanical words felt like nothing more than business.

“Experience everything you can outside. Then, if you truly believe you don’t need our family’s help… then live as you wish.”

My clenched fist trembled aimlessly, lost. In the end, I couldn’t properly refute Big Brother’s words.

Contrary to my claims of missing Oh Yoonji, my actions were truly despicable, and he knew it all too well.

“Yoonji…”

But as a final act of defiance,

I looked at Big Brother and uttered one last plea.

“Where is Yoonji?”

I wanted to know.

I worried that she might have disappeared suddenly and something might have happened to her because of me and my family.

Big Brother, who had been staring at me intently, let out a small sigh and spoke.

What was slightly surprising was that,

His last words didn’t feel as bureaucratic as before.

He genuinely seemed like an older brother concerned about his younger sibling.

“I heard she’s starting a business with Kim Woon.”

“Starting a business with Little Brother?”

What is he talking about?

I looked at Big Brother with a puzzled expression, but if there was nothing more to say, he turned his body, gazing out the window at the scenery.

“Well, if you don’t eat this, I’ll take it away.”

Annoyed by his lack of response, I grabbed a pillow and threw it at the back of Big Brother’s head.

“…Kim Woojin.”

“Don’t act tough! You’re as soft as a walnut!”

“Sigh, when will you grow up?”

“You mind your own business! How old are you and you don’t even have a single girl around you!”

“…The woman who just left will be your sister-in-law.”

What?

“Mother knows too.”

“Damn it?”

She was really going to be my sister-in-law?

“Hurry up and go. Being around you just makes things complicated.”

With irritation, I gestured to the cart and headed outside, where I coincidentally met eyes with the secretary waiting there, making us both awkwardly scratch our cheeks.

“Hello.”

“You’re greeting me again?”

“Could it be that he’s going to date a woman? She may be beautiful, but it wouldn’t have been easy to captivate him.”

“Excuse me, please dress more appropriately. Don’t just wander around in casual clothes.”

Recalling past events and feeling anxious, I spoke a word, and the secretary grinned.

I realized that I was advising my brother-in-law.

“I was curious about how the young master would react. I thought he might pursue any woman without dignity. But that wasn’t the case.”

“Praise?”

“Yes. I don’t know how she responded, but I support the young master. He’s a college student; he should date and gain experiences with different women.”

“What? Did my sister-in-law say that?”

Eyes widening, I asked, and my sister-in-law replied sharply.

“That person said that.”

“If you want to hit that jerk, tell me.”

To my words, my sister-in-law continued with a smile.

“Anyway, trying various experiences to find a good woman is also a method.”

“… ”

“Just like how that person eventually chose me.”

Seeing my sister-in-law emphasizing that she is a good woman, I couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.

She seems to be meeting good women indeed.

Acknowledging this, before leaving, I looked at my sister-in-law and sighed deeply, saying,

“Um, please take care of my brother.”

Seemingly surprised by my unexpected words, my sister-in-law smiled and nodded.

“Of course.”

***

“This guy definitely has a grudge against me.”

Kim Woojin, called back after leaving room 1007.

Watching him confidently walk away with cheese snacks, Yoo Arin felt a sense of complexity.

“Do we know each other?”

Kim Woojin, brought back from room 1007, felt different this time. It seemed like there was more distance between them.

It was surprising to order room service again, but this time, she didn’t follow.

With her arms crossed, she pondered various things about Kim Woojin.

“Hey, come here!”

Suddenly called by Director Lee Chan-song.

Approaching him while grumbling about his already repulsive tone, Yoo Arin found a peculiar document-like thing there.

“Sign here.”

“What’s this? A contract?”

“Just sign it. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

Reading absentmindedly, Yoo Arin was momentarily taken aback.

“What, there was no contact with the director? No inappropriate remarks?”

“It’s a contract! We’re getting this in advance because you guys might cause trouble after work.”

“Ugh.”

It was not only unbelievable but also pitiful.

Is this really legally binding, just because they ask for it?

“Don’t worry, we won’t press charges. Don’t waste the director’s time for no reason.”

“That’s why I’m telling you to sign.”

“Well, if you’re confident, you don’t need to accept these things, right?!”

“Sigh, why are young people so frustrating these days?”

As Director Lee Chan-song got annoyed.

Footsteps approaching.

Thinking Kim Woojin had returned, Yoo Arin was about to leave the office, but instead, someone entered from the other side.

“Miss Yoo Arin?”

Tall.

His hair swept back, exuding a sturdy and dignified aura beyond his age.

The low voice made her tense.

Though a first-time encounter.

“He looks familiar?”

Yoo Arin called, but the reaction came from the side.

“Vice… Vice Chairman!”

Standing up immediately and bowing 90 degrees, Director Lee Chan-song.

‘Vice Chairman?’

Isn’t he the culprit who caused an emergency throughout the hotel? Still unaccustomed to such experiences, Yoo Arin blankly stared at the vice chairman.

The Vice Chairman’s gaze shifted towards the eerie document on the desk.

“Hmm.”

Reading it all, the Vice Chairman remained silent, picking it up without a word.

Feeling dizzy, Director Lee Chan-song bit his lip, but the Vice Chairman, unconcerned, called for Yoo Arin.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“M-me?”

“Yes.”

Saying that, the Vice Chairman left. Leaving Director Lee, who looked completely drained, behind, Yoo Arin followed him.

They went outside the hotel building. With his quick pace, it felt like he was worried about being caught by someone.

In front of a bench outside the hotel…

Since it was still early in the morning and there were few people around, it was hard to recognize the Vice Chairman in the darkness.

They didn’t sit or anything to start the conversation.

“Do you know Kim Woo-jin?”

“Oh, yes?”

“Are you dating him?”

“What? No?!”

Taken aback by the sudden question, she vehemently denied it, which only seemed to confuse Vice Chairman Kim Jae-woon even more.

“…Then?”

“He’s just a friend, for now.”

“Hmm, for now?”

Furrowing his brow, Kim Jae-woon asked with a peculiar look in his eyes as he stared at Yoo Arin.

“Have you two had any intimate relations?”

“…Intimate relations?”

“Have you slept together?”

“Oh, no… not yet.”

She blushed slightly after saying that, but Kim Jae-woon just nodded stoically.

The Vice Chairman was perplexed!

“Can I say something? Anything.”

“What are you doing right now, though?”

“That’s right.”

With her somewhat distinctive voice, Kim Jae-woon was convinced.

“Were you the one moaning when Kim Woo-jin was on the phone?”

“….”

Yoo Arin, who was wondering what on earth the Vice Chairman was talking about, suddenly remembered jokingly moaning while Kim Woo-jin was on the phone at the PC room.

Wait.

If that’s the case…

“Is Woo-jin your older brother?”

Asked in confusion, Yoo Arin received a slight nod from him.

“Wow, Kim Woo-jin is your brother? He’s insane. He hid that? And then earlier, he pretended to be generous buying Chocomong at the convenience store. Even yesterday, I bought it for him!”

Seeing Yoo Arin chuckle, Kim Jae-woon thought it wasn’t a bad reaction.

Most of the women who approached him were interested in business and wealth.

Therefore, Kim Jae-woon knew very well about the greed-filled eyes, but Yoo Arin didn’t seem to care much about those aspects. Or maybe it wasn’t registering for her yet since she was still a college student.

“But Kim Woo-jin won’t inherit anything separately. He’s given up everything. Now he’ll pay his own living expenses.”

Just in case, Kim Jae-woon said it explicitly.

“Oh! Kim Woo-jin is giving that up, the idiot!”

Rather than being upset, he clapped and laughed.

‘Oh Yoon-ji too…’

Thinking he had met good women, Kim Jae-woon smiled faintly, reaching out his hand for a handshake.

“It’s nothing special that I came to find you.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know how your relationship will end up, but… take care of Woo-jin.”

“Oh, sure!”

Grinning at his words, Yoo Arin confidently replied.

“Don’t worry. He’s a bit troubled because he’s surrounded by many women, but I’ll take care of him.”

Surrounded by women.

After a brief hesitation, Kim Jae-woon, who was already taking a step ahead, started talking to Yoo Arin about Oh Yoon-ji.