I Don’t Want to Make You Cry
“Because soon… she’ll become my woman.”
A faint smile appeared on Jeho’s lips as he whispered.
“…Of course, it won’t be easy.”
Even though he wasn’t talking to her, Yulri felt tense and drew in a short breath.
Just then, the phone on the table rang.
“Excuse me.”
After checking the caller ID, Jeho stood up and stepped outside to take the call. As soon as he left, Minwoo turned to Yulri as if he had been waiting.
“Why were you with my brother?”
“I ran into him by chance after work.”
“By chance?”
Minwoo looked doubtful.
Now that she thought about it, it did seem strange. Was it really just a coincidence that he became an investor in Bauhaus? That he showed up at her office right when she was leaving? That he hadn’t eaten dinner yet?
“Even so, you didn’t have to eat alone together.”
“Hyunkyung was there too. She left early because something came up.”
She didn’t mention that Hyunkyung had stepped away on purpose, saying they should spend time together.
“He got hurt trying to help me. I had to at least buy him dinner. What was I supposed to do?”
“You should’ve told me first. I could’ve arranged something.”
“I told you yesterday I had something to say. You said you were busy and postponed it.”
Minwoo had no reply. He bit his tongue, holding back his irritation.
He always acted gentle in front of Yulri. If his mask slipped, it would be a problem. To calm himself, he poured the remaining alcohol into his glass.
“Don’t.”
Before he could take a sip, Yulri took the glass away.
“You’re driving. Don’t drink.”
If it had been anyone else, he would’ve gotten angry. But it was Yulri. Instead of shouting, Minwoo quietly set the glass down.
Still, this wouldn’t last forever. Once they were married, everything would change. She might dream of a show-window marriage—but he would never allow that.
Living together would give him plenty of chances.
Pretending to drink water, Minwoo glanced at Yulri from the corner of his eye. She rarely looked this unguarded in public. If she got a little more drunk, that would be fine.
As her cheeks grew red, a slow smile formed on his lips.
[You said you’d be back in an hour… but you didn’t come.]
Woogyeol’s voice came through the phone.
“Sorry. Something came up.”
Standing outside the restaurant, Jeho looked through the window. He saw Yulri snatching the wine glass from Minwoo’s hand. His brows furrowed.
They looked close, yet not quite. Hard to define. But it was clear they were comfortable with each other. Ten years was not a short time.
[Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.]
“Don’t. I’ll take a taxi.”
After hanging up, Jeho leaned against a streetlight and looked up at the sky.
Because of the bright city lights, he couldn’t see a single star. It felt like truth hidden behind glittering lies.
Malawi’s night sky must have been different.
—“The night sky we saw together… the stars shone like diamonds.”
“Ha.”
Jeho let out a bitter laugh. If they had known each other for over ten years, they must have shared far more memories than that.
Yulri was a good bait to shake Minwoo. If he took her heart, he could easily get what he wanted.
But why did his mood sink so heavily?
Her face kept appearing in his mind. Especially her eyes, as if they held untold stories.
“I don’t like this.”
Muttering dryly, he turned back toward the restaurant.
It was past ten when they finished eating. Yulri tried to pay, but the manager told her Jeho had already taken care of it.
“Why did you pay? I was going to.”
“It’s fine. You barely touched the food.”
“But—”
“Yeah, the one who ate more should pay. Bye, hyung.”
Minwoo wrapped an arm around Yulri’s shoulders and turned her away from Jeho.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
He tightened his arm around her.
“Ah!”
A sharp pain made Yulri stop walking. It was the same spot he had grabbed earlier.
At that moment, Minwoo’s phone rang.
“Yes, Grandfather.”
[What do you think you’re doing?!]
Chairman Kwon’s angry voice burst through the speaker.
[You left all the work to your subordinates and went home first?]
“I didn’t leave. I just stepped out for dinner.”
[Get back to the company right now!]
“Grandfather, Jeho hyung is here too. He saved Yulri yesterday at the mall, so we came out for dinner together.”
Minwoo lied smoothly, hoping to calm him.
[Jeho is there too?]
His tone softened slightly.
“I’ll take Yulri home and head back right away.”
[Yulri can go with Jeho. You return to the company immediately.]
The call ended.
“Does that old man never sleep?” Minwoo muttered.
Then Jeho’s voice came from behind.
“I gave you thirty minutes. Chairman probably won’t give you more than ten.”
“Yulri, I’ll go first.”
Minwoo hurried off.
Yulri turned to Jeho.
“You don’t have to take me home. I can call a driver.”
“If you’re calling one, I can just drive.”
“It’s fine.”
“We’re heading the same way anyway.”
She didn’t refuse again. Honestly, she had wanted a moment alone with him.
When they were almost at her house, she finally spoke.
“Back then… you weren’t wearing your jacket when you got hurt, right?”
He nodded slightly.
“Did you put it on to hide your injury?”
After a pause, he answered quietly.
“…Because I didn’t want to make you cry.”
Her heart pounded wildly.
Get a grip, Chaeyulri.
Ten years ago, she had cried when he got hurt. He must have thought she would cry again.
It doesn’t mean anything.
They arrived at her house. He turned off the engine.
“Rest well.”
“Wait.”
“Take the car with you. Bring it back tomorrow when you visit Director.”
He nodded.
“Thank you for the ride.”
As she reached for the door, he stopped her.
“If you’re thankful, grant me one favor.”
“A favor?”
“Take off your jacket for a moment.”
“…What?”
“Just for a second.”
Confused, she slowly removed her jacket.
Jeho’s expression darkened.
“That bastard… I knew it.”
Yulri followed his gaze. Her arm was red and swollen where Minwoo had grabbed her.
“It’s nothing. My skin bruises easily.”
But Jeho’s face remained stiff.
“You’ve known each other for over ten years, and he doesn’t know that?”
His tone sharpened.
“I thought you’d cry because it hurt.”
After a moment, he added quietly,
“You didn’t cry. Should I praise you?”
“I don’t cry easily anymore.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m not the same as ten years ago.”
Back then, she had believed in love.
But after discovering her father’s betrayal and the truth about her half-sister Yuri, everything changed. The tears eventually dried up.
Compared to the pain in her heart, physical pain meant nothing.
Her eyes trembled as old memories resurfaced.
Suddenly, Jeho lifted his hand and cupped her cheek.
She startled and tried to move back, but the car was too small.
“You said you wouldn’t cry…”
He whispered softly while looking into her eyes.
Only then did she realize tears had gathered at the corners of her eyes. A single drop fell.
Jeho frowned slightly.
“Ten years ago… and even now…”
He muttered quietly.
“You haven’t changed at all.”
For some reason, her tears—then and now—bothered him deeply.
He brushed the tear from her cheek with his thumb and slowly leaned closer to her.
