Chapter 16

Upon making eye contact with Woo Hyun, Seo Eun's eyes softened.

"I went to your office today. I didn't know you'd be here."

Seo Eun offered a gentle smile. She was elegant and composed. If Seo Eun just only had followed him around like a stubborn child, he wouldn't have grown so tired of her. The reason Woo Hyun didn't like Seo Eun was precisely that elegant smile. With that smile, she relentlessly tormented his girlfriends until they were fed up. In fact, some women had even given up and left, unable to endure Seo Eun's harassment. He couldn't even guess what her true face, hidden beneath layers of composure, might look like.

"I know. That's why I'm here."

Even with Woo Hyun's words, clearly indicating his intention to avoid her, Seo Eun maintained her smile.

"I called you yesterday and today."

"That's why I turned off my phone."

At Woo Hyun's dry response, Seo Eun's lips momentarily stiffened. Then, as if she'd made up her mind, she quickly replaced her venomous expression with a smile. She was old enough now to know that to get what you want, you shouldn't throw tantrums. She had learned that to seduce a man, you needed to be armed with a sexy combination of smiles, light touches, and kindness. Seo Eun approached Woo Hyun and gently patted his arm.

"Anyone would think I'm trying to devour you, Oppa. I just wanted to have a meal. I wanted to eat with you here... I thought you didn't like Italian food. If I'd known you did, I would have suggested we come together sooner."

"I don't like it. I still hate it."

"Then why did you come?"

"Because my companion likes it."

It was then that Woo Hyun answered so bluntly. Da Hee, who had returned to her seat, sat down. Wiping her wet hands with a handkerchief, she looked back and forth between Seo Eun and Woo Hyun.

"Should I leave?"

Da Hee calmly asked, looking at Woo Hyun. She didn't even seem curious who the woman speaking to him was, or what the situation was.

"Would you please?"

"No. Stay there."

Seo Eun and Woo Hyun's answers conflicted. Da Hee, who had been looking back and forth between the two, leaned back against the chair.

"I haven't seen Oppa in a very long time, so would you mind giving us some space?"

Seo Eun ignored Woo Hyun's wishes and spoke to Da Hee once more. Da Hee looked at Seo Eun with an indifferent expression. The woman, draped in luxury from head to toe, stood with her shoulders back, was smiling as she looked at Da Hee. Da Hee began to laugh.

"Does Mr. Woo Hyun also have the same thought as this woman?"

"No."

Woo Hyun answered cleanly.

"That's what he said."

Da Hee smiled sweetly at Seo Eun and leaned back against the seat. Seo Eun's eyes, which hadn't even blinked at Woo Hyun's disregard, turned cold.

The woman dressed in cheap casual clothes had ignored her. The only thing remotely presentable about the woman was her face, but even that couldn't compare to her own. She was young and beautiful. Reminded of that fact, Seo Eun drew a smile back onto her lips.

"Is she someone you meet for work?"

"No. We just met in passing."

"Ah, so this must be the woman Mr. Seong Tae mentioned."

Seo Eun smiled at Da Hee.

The woman who gave Woo Hyun a cactus, the woman who made Woo Hyun, who had no interest in plants or whatsoever, cultivate a cactus. A woman's intuition is frighteningly sharp. The moment she heard that story, she couldn't simply brush it off as usual. A strange chill ran down her spine.

Seo Eun smiled and turned her body towards Da Hee. It meant she had shifted the conversation to Da Hee.

"Lee Seo Eun. Go back to your seat."

Woo Hyun said coldly.

"Why? I just want to talk with your companion for a bit."

At Seo Eun's words, Woo Hyun's face instantly hardened. Just as the stern-faced Woo Hyun was about to speak chillingly, Da Hee interjected.

"Please go ahead and talk."

Woo Hyun looked at Da Hee as if asking what she was thinking. Da Hee, smiling identically, was looking at Seo Eun. She seemed to have no intention of avoiding Seo Eun's attack. Woo Hyun looked at her with a dissuading expression, but Da Hee raised her hand as if telling him not to interfere. Woo Hyun, appearing to give up, sank back into the chair. One of the things he hated most in the world was women fighting over him. However, since Da Hee's resolve seemed firm, Woo Hyun decided to observe. Moreover, he was a little curious about Da Hee's fight. Woo Hyun rested his chin on his hand and watched.

"She says she has something to say, so you should say it. Please speak."

Da Hee said.

"What's your relationship with our Oppa?"

"As you can see, we're close enough to share a meal."

"Oppa's taste has changed a lot. And... where on earth is that side from? Your clothes seem a bit..."

Seo Eun asked, looking at Da Hee's worn sneakers. Da Hee laughed.

"It's from a no-brand store, so you wouldn't know."

"No-brand..."

"You're covered in luxury brands."

"Because I can afford to be. What do you do?"

"I run a café. Come visit sometime."

"Are you the CEO of a franchise café?"

"No. Just a small neighborhood café."

"A café... Haha."

Seo Eun laughed in disbelief. This was the first time she'd encountered someone from such a profession among her acquaintances. Furthermore, a surge of anger rose within her towards Woo Hyun, who was having a meal with a woman wearing worn-out, no-brand shoes. How could he be with a woman like this when he wouldn't even spare her a glance?

In contrast, Da Hee, who was on the receiving end of the attack, maintained a calm expression. She even observed Seo Eun with a composed gaze.

"To be able to wear luxury brands and still look like that... that's a talent in itself."

At Da Hee's words, Seo Eun's mocking smile froze. Da Hee rested her chin in her hand and deliberately examined Seo Eun's outfit. The woman's clothes and bag sparkled. But, that was all there was to it.

"What did you say?"

"The luxury items sparkle, but you, within them, don't stand out. That's why you look like a mannequin. I'll probably remember the clothes and the bag you're wearing more than your appearance."

"It seems like you want to comfort yourself that way. Most people who can't afford luxury goods tend to make such excuses."

Seo Eun said with a smile, throwing out a pointed remark.

"Is that so? Perhaps. Do you like Mr. Woo Hyun?"

Da Hee asked with a relaxed expression. The atmosphere had reversed, and Seo Eun's face, now on the defensive, hardened like stone.

~~~~~

Miel's Translations