VSSSP 03

Chapter 3

Yihyeon was sitting in the back seat of the sports car. Her stepsister, Park Sua, was driving, and in the passenger seat sat her fiancé, Kim Minseong.

It had originally been a date between Yihyeon and Minseong, but because Sua—her stepsister—insisted on treating them to a meal before the wedding, it became a trio outing instead.

Even though she tried not to listen, the car was so small that their conversation in the front seat echoed all the way to the back.

Minseong spoke in surprise.

“Didn’t know you had such a thoughtful side, Sua. Ah, I guess I should call you sister-in-law now?”

“Calling me sister-in-law is so old-fashioned. Just keep calling me what you always do.”

The two exchanged a warm and friendly conversation. Even though they were in the same space, Yihyeon felt like water and oil—unable to mix with their conversation.

She knew Sua was deliberately drawing a line, but as always, Yihyeon forced herself to endure it.

Ever since her father remarried, this feeling of alienation had been familiar. Yet today, for some reason, it stung more.

Yihyeon looked toward the passenger seat. There was Minseong—her fiancé—smiling warmly at Sua as they talked. His profile looked so gentle.

For a brief moment, jealousy flickered inside her, but Yihyeon quickly shook her head.

‘What am I doing… Seo Yihyeon. Why are you being so small-minded? There’s no one as kind as Minseong.’

Even though she was her stepsister, she was family. Since Yihyeon and Minseong were getting married, Sua would become family too. It was better to be friendly than awkward—so Yihyeon dismissed her foolish jealousy.

While talking with Minseong, Sua suddenly addressed Yihyeon.

“Oh, right, Yihyeon.”

Sua met Yihyeon’s eyes through the rearview mirror. It was the first time she had looked at her since Yihyeon got into the car.

It was the kind of attention she had always longed for.

But why now?

Why did she finally look at her at the worst possible moment?

Yihyeon’s head automatically lowered.

Luckily, Minseong’s gaze didn’t linger on her for long.

He curved his lips into a gentle smile and looked at Sua.

“That outfit suits you, Yihyeon.”

“Oh….”

While Yihyeon looked down at her clothes, Sua lifted the corner of her mouth.

“It’s the one I bought last year and wore a lot, isn’t it?”

Yihyeon bit the inside of her cheek.

Wearing clothes that her sister had grown tired of and tossed aside wasn’t something to be ashamed of—but it was different if Minseong noticed.

Her face burned with embarrassment.

“She always watches the clothes I wear. When I get tired of them and throw them away, she picks them up and wears them.”

“Very economical,” Minseong said.

“More like pathetic,” Sua replied.

At Minseong’s words, Sua let out a dry laugh.

Hearing their conversation, Yihyeon suddenly wished she could take off the clothes she was wearing.

The wedding date had been set, and since she hadn’t seen Minseong in a month, she had wanted to dress nicely. It was the newest outfit she owned.

There was no other reason.

Sua didn’t stop.

With a tone of condescension, she continued.

“She’s always been a bit pathetic. Well, growing up under a father who constantly begged for research funding because he never had money—what kind of nice clothes or toys could she have gotten?”

Why did her father have to be brought into this?

The conversation about a single outfit spiraled far beyond it.

Yihyeon clenched her hands on her lap, feeling the heat of shame rising.

Minseong responded to Sua’s words.

“I know Professor Seo had a hard time securing research funds.”

“That was long before you joined his lab. How would you know?”

Minseong glanced at Yihyeon in the back seat. It was the first time he had looked at her since she got into the car.

It was the gaze she had always wished for.

But why now?

Why did he look at her only in such a humiliating moment?

Her head lowered on its own.

Fortunately, Minseong’s gaze stayed only for a brief second.

He curved his lips into a soft smile and looked back at Sua.

“Professor Seo’s story is well known in our industry.”

Minseong had only worked in Professor Seo’s lab for about two years.

Seo’s research had long focused on electric vehicle batteries. After years of continuous research and breakthroughs, contracts started pouring in.

That was when Minseong joined the lab. Seo, a man devoted solely to research, entrusted everything to him. Patents and the daily operations of the lab all became Minseong’s responsibility.

When Minseong began dating Yihyeon, Seo trusted him even more and quickly set a wedding date.

That was why his words about her father made her tense.

Minseong spoke casually.

“Professor Seo… people used to call him the male Cinderella.”

At that, Sua burst out laughing. Her laughter filled the small sports car.

Minseong chuckled.

“What’s so funny? It’s true.”

“It’s not wrong, but it’s still funny. Cinderella, huh.”

Sua’s laughter finally died down.

In the quiet that followed, Minseong’s voice spoke softly.

“He almost had to stop his research because there was no funding. Then he met your grandfather and received substantial financial support. Not only that, he remarried the sponsor’s daughter and his research succeeded. He managed to secure both work and love.”

“Nice way of putting it.”

Sua’s tone was laced with scorn.

The car stopped at a red light. Having been driving the whole time, Sua turned her head and looked at Yihyeon in the back seat.

“Really, it just means a man with no real ability latched onto a wealthy old person, got money, and married into the family. Call it male Cinderella if you want. But isn’t that just… improving his life by selling himself?”

Yihyeon bit her lip, unable to respond.

Sua then looked at Minseong.

“Minseong, I didn’t expect you to be such a flatterer.”

“Flattery? No. Respect. Respect for someone who didn’t give up and kept researching until they succeeded.”

Even so, Yihyeon lowered her head in shame.

The humiliation and sense of degradation came not because their words were harsh—but because much of what they said was true.

She wanted to run away.

Her hands trembled in her lap.

Seeing her, Sua curled her lips.

“Actually, I’ve always wondered something about my father.”

“About Professor Seo?”

“If it hadn’t been for my grandfather’s money—would he have married my mother?”

A heavy silence fell inside the car.

Sua shifted her gaze to Minseong and then looked at Yihyeon.

“Seo Yihyeon, what do you think?”

Startled by her name, Yihyeon lifted her flushed face.

Sua smirked, as if enjoying the moment.

“You’re his daughter. You must know, right?”

Yihyeon trembled.

“You should know better than anyone what kind of person he is.”

“…Sister, stop.”

She desperately wished it would end.

But Sua ignored her plea.

“Why? It’s a fair question. Did he marry our mother for money—or for love?”

Sua let out a short laugh.

“Though it’s hard to answer. If it was for money, it hurts the pride. If it was for love… can you really call it love? His wife died only three months before he remarried.”

If the back seat had a door, Yihyeon would have flung it open and run away. But since the sports car only had doors in the front, she was trapped—like a cornered animal, trembling.

Then the light changed, and Sua pressed the accelerator.

The engine roared as the car entered the hotel grounds. It stopped, and the doorman opened the door.

“Welcome to Laon Hotel.”

Sua and Minseong got out of the car.

But Yihyeon couldn’t move.

It was strange.

Just moments ago, she had wanted to get out so badly. Now, she didn’t want to leave the back seat.

But the polite doorman pulled the front seat forward.

Hesitantly, Minseong approached and extended his hand.

“Yihyeon, the back seat must have been cramped. Come on out.”

Yihyeon stared at his face.

Since her mother died, no one had loved her. Not until she met Minseong.

Someone who loved her, who spoke kindly and smiled warmly—there was Minseong.

His smile made her trembling slowly subside.

“Yihyeon?”

When she still didn’t move, Minseong turned back, looking slightly worried.

“Sua is waiting. Come on.”

He still wore that gentle smile.

Yes. This one person is enough.

Yihyeon forced a faint smile.

“Okay… I’m getting out.”

She took his hand. The hand of the only person who had ever reached out to her was warm.