Chapter 45. Class
At Ji-hye’s words, Yooa immediately sensed it.
That she never once considered Yooa to be in the same league as her.
How little must she think of me to act like this?
Yooa didn’t want to look weak or small in front of someone like that. She straightened her back, took a deep breath, and the color slowly returned to her pale face.
<br>
“It’s not exactly a pleasure to see you, is it?”
“Oh my, Yooa.”
Ji-hye wrinkled her nose in mock offense, but the amusement in her eyes was obvious. She had expected Yooa to be speechless, caught off guard.
Ji-hye raised her right hand to cover her face, trying not to let her broad smile show too soon.
<br>
“Since you’re already here, you should stay and enjoy yourself. The staff prepared a lot of fun activities.”
“Is that so? But I—”
Yooa was smiling softly, but to Ji-hye, it felt like she was wearing a mask.
<br>
“Just seeing your face is enough fun, Yooa. So never mind all that.”
To keep herself from getting swept up in Ji-hye’s theatrics, Yooa dug her nails into her palm, the sharp pain helping her maintain a composed appearance.
<br>
“I’m a bit busy. I think you’d have more fun looking elsewhere.”
Yooa bent one knee.
She had to pick up a water bottle that had fallen and fetch a new one to bring back. The staff must be sweating hard right now and getting thirsty.
But Ji-hye, unwilling to part ways so easily, walked over with her arms crossed. Her new, high-end purple outdoor jacket and dark brown hiking boots were spotless, not a speck of dust on them.
<br>
“I’m even busier.”
Sighing, Yooa’s reaction made Ji-hye’s breath grow uneven.
Looking down at Yooa as she silently picked up the bottle, Ji-hye raised her foot to knee height.
Squish.
She stomped hard on the middle of the bottle, crushing it. The pressure popped the cap off, and water splashed out. If Yooa had reached just a second earlier, it wouldn’t have been the bottle that got crushed, but her fingers.
Startled, Yooa’s round eyes grew wide as she looked up.
<br>
“Compared to my time, yours is cheap. You’re probably just worth minimum wage, right? We’re not even in the same class.”
Ji-hye tilted her head and put her hands on her hips. The look of hurt on Yooa’s face satisfied her. She felt like everything was falling into place—as if Yooa was right where she belonged: under Ji-hye’s heel.
<br>
“Class, you say?”
“Does that offend you?”
Yooa brushed off her knees and stood up. She even shook the dirt from her hands, then locked eyes with Ji-hye, her gaze clear and unwavering.
The childish provocation told her Ji-hye wasn’t the type to back down easily.
Yooa realized it was better to let someone else clean up here—her energy was better spent silencing Ji-hye herself.
<br>
“…We’re in the same class, which is why I’m even wasting words on you, Ms. Sung Ji-hye.”
“What?”
“If you’re such a ‘high-value’ person with a ‘high hourly rate,’ maybe try talking like it.”
“Are you saying I’m being vulgar? That I look cheap?”
“Those weren’t my exact words. But the meaning is about the same.”
That sounded familiar.
Ji-hye suddenly recalled something Lee Jun had said to her.
“Let’s not act cheap, Ms. Sung Ji-hye.”
“There won’t be a next time. I only warn once. You’ve heard the rumors, right? About how nasty I can be?”
“If you come again, I might bite harder.”
Had they planned this? Hardly anyone knew she would be here today. How could they both be saying the exact same thing?
Ji-hye was confused, but she shook her bobbed hair as if to push the thoughts away and focused on one thing:
Shiny, sparkling things always attract bugs. That just proves how valuable I am. She tried to comfort herself.
But how could she tear out Yoon Yooa, this pesky sprout that kept trying to rise no matter how hard she stepped on her?
Ji-hye knew full well: she could only survive if Yooa disappeared. That’s why she was willing to risk everything—this dangerous gamble to marry Lee Jun.
Surely even the heavens would side with the one who desperately wished for something.
Ji-hye curled her lips in a sneer as she looked straight into Yooa’s eyes, who hadn’t flinched.
<br>
“What’s the difference between you and me, Ms. Yoon Yooa?”
“……”
“I really can’t see it.”
Ji-hye puckered her lips and blew on her Swarovski-crystal-tipped nails. A bit of dirt had splashed on her while crushing the bottle, and it repulsed her.
Scratching her nails furiously, she even dislodged one of the crystals, which tumbled to the floor.
Barely restraining her rising irritation, Ji-hye dropped the fake smile and spoke coldly.
<br>
“If someone like you can stand in that position, why can’t I?”
Yooa didn’t answer, as if asking whether Ji-hye expected her to step aside voluntarily.
Interpreting the silence as fear, Ji-hye pressed on.
<br>
“If you have no shame, at least have some tact. I heard you lived well in the chairman’s house. After all that, shouldn’t you leave on your own? I didn’t take you for someone with such thick skin.”
“You’re right. I lived well, thanks to the Chairman. But shouldn’t it be the Chairman or Lee Jun who says that—not you, Ji-hye?”
Ji-hye instantly caught on: Yooa calling him “grandfather” was a subtle way of saying you’re not the one to talk.
Speechless, Ji-hye trembled in place and shouted in warning:
<br>
“If you act like you’re desperate to get married, Lee Jun will get sick of you in no time!”
She tried to laugh it off as personal advice just for Yooa, but then—a cold voice came from behind.
<br>
“Who said that? That Yooa’s the one desperate to get married?”
Overwhelmed by a presence of a different class entirely, Ji-hye froze, unable to even look back.
Lee Jun stepped past her and naturally positioned himself next to Yooa. He wore a long black cashmere coat over his suit—he must have come straight from the office.
<br>
“I’m the one who’s been bothering her.”
“Lee Jun…”
His cold gaze melted as he looked at Yooa and gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Then, addressing Ji-hye, who stood shaking with her mouth open, he added:
<br>
“I’m the one who begged to marry Yoon Yooa. I’m the desperate one, not her.”
His icy tone made Ji-hye lose her words. One misstep, and she’d be torn apart by that sharp glare.
Lee Jun zipped up Yooa’s pink windbreaker to her neck and said softly,
<br>
“I hovered around like a damn dog for over 14 years, just hoping to catch her eye.”
Hearing how precious she was to him made Ji-hye’s stomach twist.
Had she ever heard anyone speak of her like that?
It made her feel sick. As if all of Lee Jun’s attention was poured solely into Yooa, and not a single drop was left for her.
<br>
“Lee Jun—or should I say, Executive Director Lee—why? What are you lacking that you’d go after a woman like her?”
With his wealth and looks, women should line up for him with just a glance.
Before she could even finish, Lee Jun replied bluntly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world:
<br>
“Because I wanted to make her mine the moment I saw her. I fell in love at first sight.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
As Ji-hye glared with dagger-like eyes, Lee Jun turned his back on her, blocking her from Yooa completely—making it clear she had no place between them.
<br>
“You should only see beautiful things.”
He took off his black leather gloves and stuffed them into his coat pocket. Then, with both hands, he gently covered Yooa’s ears, red from the cold.
His voice was tender, his expression serene as he turned and looked over his shoulder at Ji-hye one last time—and said provocatively:
<br>
“Right, Yooa?”
