WAK 19

Chapter 19

Hyunsoo entered a classy bar with irregular jazz playing in the background. He went straight to a seat without looking around, as if he visited often.

When he raised his hand, the bartender came forward.

> “Would you like to order?”

> “The usual.”

Hyunsoo ordered without even looking.

The bartender placed a glass of whiskey in front of him. Again, Hyunsoo reached for it without looking at the bartender. His eyes were on his silent phone, which displayed Hana’s number.

A message window that hadn’t disappeared for days, calls he had tried several times but she didn’t answer.

He snorted and drank the strong whiskey in one gulp, then signaled with his finger for another drink.

Looking tired, Sangjin came into the bar and sat next to Hyunsoo.

> “What are you staring at so hard?”

Hyunsoo turned off his phone screen and put it in his suit pocket.

> “Nothing.”

The bartender brought the second drink.

> “Give me the same.”

Sangjin ordered and slumped forward.

> “Why is a lazy guy like you so tired?”

Hyunsoo glanced at his friend.

> “Do you know how tiring it is to just have fun?”

> “I wouldn’t know.”

Sangjin glared at Hyunsoo.

> “You terrible guy. Going straight into your father’s company after studying abroad and working like a slave, is that so fun?”

Hyunsoo smirked, and Sangjin leaned back.

> “Just for one year, let’s have fun together.”

> “Aren’t there plenty of people to hang out with besides me?”

> “But you’re the most exciting one.”

Hyunsoo looked at Sangjin with a pitying glance.

> “Your father won’t make you manage the building?”

> “Who would do it if he asked?”

Sangjin hated working. Born lucky under rich parents, his only dream was to spend his father’s endless money and die rich.

> “By the way, why did you join the headquarters?”

> “……”

> “Who would welcome you there?”

Sangjin accidentally touched Hyunsoo’s nerve and stopped talking.

> “Why? Shouldn’t a concubine’s son work close to his father?”

Luckily, Hyunsoo let it slide. Sangjin regained confidence.

> “A son should stay far from his father to be free and reckless…”

That might be true for normal people, but not for Hyunsoo.

Hyunsoo had to stay close to his father and older brother. Only then could he seize opportunities when they came.

> “Enough. Just drink.”

Hyunsoo cut Sangjin off. Comparing families, the gap between Sangjin’s real-estate rich family and Hyunsoo’s financial conglomerate family was huge.

But Sangjin was the eldest in a proper family, while Hyunsoo was the youngest child of a concubine barely on his father’s registry.

No matter how good he was in school, talented, or popular with girls, Hyunsoo had a deep-rooted sense of inadequacy.

Sangjin would probably never understand Hyunsoo’s complex, no matter what.

> “What’s your dream, Hyunsoo?”

Sangjin, already drunk from earlier drinks, slurred.

Hyunsoo traced the rim of his whiskey glass slowly with his finger. He wanted everything perfect: a perfect family, a secure position, and recognition from everyone. He didn’t want to lose anything.

> “To have it all.”

The thing he wanted most was his older brother Jeonghan’s position.

Sangjin leaned back and laughed.

> “Still so greedy, huh?”

> “People don’t change.”

> “Scary guy.”

Sangjin ordered another whiskey.

Hyunsoo’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He quickly checked it and his slight hope vanished.

> “Why? Waiting for someone’s call?”

Hyunsoo didn’t answer, instead he asked:

> “There’s no reply to the message. What does it mean?”

Sangjin, bored, suddenly perked up.

> “A girl?”

Hyunsoo nodded.

> “A girl not replying to Ryu Hyunsoo?”

Both Ryu Hyunsoo’s father and mother were very attractive, and Hyunsoo was also a rare handsome man. Other than his older brother, he believed his looks were the best.

> “She must not be interested in you.”

Hyunsoo glanced at the excited Sangjin.

> “Then why doesn’t 1 disappear?”

> “What do you mean 1 doesn’t disappear?”

Sangjin frowned, then understood and widened his eyes.

> “You don’t even check?”

Hyunsoo just nodded.

> “She won’t answer the phone either?”

> “Nope.”

> “Awesome!”

Sangjin jumped up, covering his mouth with both hands.

> “Blocked, Ryu Hyunsoo.”

Sangjin laughed, and Hyunsoo gave a small laugh too.

> “I guess that’s it?”

> “One hundred percent. No, a thousand percent.”

Sangjin couldn’t stop laughing.

> “Never thought I’d see Ryu Hyunsoo get rejected by a girl.”

> “It hasn’t even started yet.”

Hyunsoo thought of Jeonghan watching Hana leave. He knew instinctively what that look meant.

> “It hasn’t even started.”

Hyunsoo muttered under his breath, downed his drink, and stood.

> “Laugh all you want. I’ll go first.”

Sangjin patted him on the back and shouted:

> “Hey, Ryu Hyunsoo!”

Hyunsoo turned. Sangjin asked:

> “What are you going to do? Shouldn’t you tell me?”

Hyunsoo put his hands in his pockets and thought for a moment.

> “If there’s a gap, I need to create a space to get in.”

> “What? Move next to that girl?”

Hyunsoo only smiled mysteriously and walked away.

—

Hana stopped by a bookstore on her way back from the courthouse to the law firm and bought a few books.

They were books on how to seduce someone.

To win, you must be fully prepared.

She had been avoiding Jeonghan’s calls for days, thinking she needed theory before practice.

Carrying three books, she walked to her law firm. The streets were busy, probably because it was almost lunchtime.

When Hana arrived at the company:

> “Kang Hana.”

She turned and was surprised to see Hyunsoo approaching.

> “You recognize me.”

> “Ah, yes.”

> “Sorry for coming suddenly.”

> “I couldn’t reach you.”

Hyunsoo shook his phone. Hana realized he was probably blocked.

> “Why are you here…”

Hyunsoo took an envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.

Hana looked down.

> “What’s this?”

> “Just the dry-cleaning fee.”

He gave only the dry-cleaning amount so she wouldn’t feel burdened.

> “No, you don’t have to return it.”

She waved, but he insisted, forcing the envelope into her hand. She tried to return it, and he stepped back.

> “Next time we meet, just say hi.”

> “Ah… okay.”

Seeing her indifferent attitude, Hyunsoo swallowed a laugh.

> “Enjoy your meal.”

He smiled brightly and left. He wanted to eat with her, but she wouldn’t accept. Better to leave an impression now and create opportunities later.

Hana looked at the envelope, confused.

> “What’s with him? That day he acted like a jerk, and now this?”

She shrugged and went inside.

Hyunsoo watched. Normally women would watch him leave, but Hana didn’t care.

> “This is secretly hurtful.”

He smirked and walked away.

—

Hana’s phone vibrated in her pocket in the lobby. She checked the number without stopping.

It was Jin Suyeon, who recently won a divorce case.

> “Hello.”

[Hello, lawyer.]

Suyeon’s thin voice came through.

> “Hi, how have you been?”

[Just… so-so.]

Hana noticed a troubled tone.

[Lawyer, are you well?]

> “Yes, I’m always busy as usual.”

[Oh… I see.]

> “Is something wrong?”

[No! Just… let’s have a meal sometime.]

> “Okay.”

[I’m free, so call when convenient.]

> “I will.”

[Then, see you.]

Hana got on an open elevator.