Chapter 1
[Scandal of the heir to Korea’s representative J Group?]
[Yoo Hana was sponsored by J Group, her most likely partner being the heir?]
[Top actress Yoo Hana spotted on a “late-night date” with J Group’s eldest son]
Sensational headlines filled the front page of the portal site, accompanied by photos taken from slightly different angles showing affectionate poses.
At a glance, they looked like a perfectly compatible couple.
Even though Ha-eun had endured such situations countless times, seeing the articles herself made her frown in irritation. She could not feel anything positive about it—the scandal of her fiancé appearing online on her birthday.
Her hands holding the tablet trembled slightly. Truthfully, she was angry at Jung-ho. No matter how superficial their relationship was, it was outrageous that she had to witness her fiancé embroiled in a scandal on her birthday.
“…Hah.”
Ha-eun exhaled slowly, pretending to be calm. She straightened her expression, closed the tablet, and handed it back to Secretary Kim.
“Thanks for the tablet.”
“Not at all. But are you really okay?”
Ha-eun gave a faint smile to reassure the worried secretary.
“I have to be. After all, it’s my birthday today.”
“You don’t look okay at all,” the secretary insisted.
“It’s fine, this isn’t the first time.”
By showing the same response as always, she could maintain appearances. Smiling lightly, she reassured Secretary Kim once more, then turned her gaze back to the window.
She needed a moment to untangle her thoughts—or perhaps, more accurately, to prepare herself. She needed the resolve to sever an engagement that had existed since before she could even remember.
‘Cha Jung-ho is almost thirty, but he still sees me as a younger sister.’
‘It’s fine, maybe he just sees me as younger because of the age gap.’
‘I’m already twenty-four. There’s only a six-year difference between us.’
‘I’ll wait, maybe in a few years it will be different.’
‘What if he keeps seeing me only as a younger sister?’
‘I’ll think about it then. I still don’t really know myself.’
‘Just watch, in my opinion, Cha Jung-ho will never change.’
Most of Ye-ji’s concerns had been proven correct. Even though she was now a twenty-four-year-old woman, Jung-ho had never once looked at Ha-eun as a woman.
She was just his younger sister.
Weekly meetings, obligatory attention to birthdays and anniversaries—it was all out of duty. And the truth, evident even in his gaze, was constantly reaffirmed through scandals.
She no longer harbored any vain hope that things might change. Once all hope had vanished, Ha-eun straightened her outfit and slowly stepped out of the car.
Jinseong Hotel.
One of the flagship affiliates of the Jinseong Group, managed entirely by Jung-ho, and the place where he obligingly celebrated Ha-eun’s birthday each year.
Ha-eun briefly looked up at the building, her gaze heavy. Tonight, as always, she had a dinner reservation with Jung-ho at the hotel’s lounge restaurant.
Upon entering the restaurant, the manager immediately guided Ha-eun to the VIP room. Under the soft lighting, Jung-ho was already there, speaking on his phone.
“Hold off for now. Make sure they don’t say anything until it’s absolutely necessary.”
His tone was colder than usual. Something urgent had clearly come up.
This was a side of Cha Jung-ho Ha-eun rarely saw. Soon, he ended the call and placed his phone down, finally looking at her across the table.
“You’re early this time.”
“You’re always the one who arrives earlier than expected.”
Ha-eun spoke calmly, masking her feelings, and Jung-ho smiled as if it were perfectly natural.
“I thought you’d get bored if I were late.”
“I’m not a little kid.”
“Not in my eyes—you’re still quite the little girl.”
Again, treated like a child.
“I’m already twenty-four.”
“Still only twenty-four in my eyes, I guess.”
Jung-ho continuously dismissed her words lightly, teasing as though she were a child throwing a tantrum. Despite the years that had passed, Ha-eun remained in his view as someone to be protected.
Perhaps because checking the articles in the car had crushed any lingering hope, she no longer felt resentment, only irritation at the sense of duty in his attention.
“Have you been well?”
“About the same. Technically, I’m still a job seeker.”
“No need to live like everyone else.”
“Everyone has their responsibilities.”
“You’re doing fine even now.”
Because she maintained the same composed demeanor as always, Jung-ho did not notice the subtle difference in her mood. To an only child like him, Ha-eun had always been someone to care for. She alone had ever hoped that his gaze might one day change.
“Anyway, happy birthday.”
“Thank you, for always taking care of me like this.”
“Don’t mention it—it’s natural.”
Not natural at all, considering they weren’t family.
“Not natural at all. We’re not family.”
“You sound a bit harsh today.”
Jung-ho lowered his fork and knife and furrowed his brows.
“It’s true, even if we’re formally engaged.”
“Your tone is rather sharp.”
“It’s always like this. You just didn’t notice before.”
Ha-eun shrugged casually, deliberately mentioning the engagement to provoke him slightly, reminding him of her role as his fiancée.
“Hmmm.”
Jung-ho straightened himself, resting his hands on the table, and met her gaze. Ha-eun raised her glass nonchalantly.
Why was this “little girl” annoyed on her birthday?
Her thoughts were obvious in her gaze, yet Jung-ho paid no attention, lightly brushing off whatever she said.
The scandal on the portal had appeared only an hour or two ago, on her birthday, of all days.
Ha-eun had thought he might at least say something, explain, or apologize—but it was a mistake.
‘I guess that’s all I mean to Cha Jung-ho.’
She didn’t even know what she had expected from him. Even having resolved herself beforehand, Ha-eun felt especially sorrowful today.
The carefully maintained relationship was like a sandcastle—easily scattered by the slightest wind. She had ignored it even when she knew better.
She stabbed a piece of steak onto her fork and spoke with feigned composure.
“How do you see our future, oppa?”
“It won’t be much different from now.”
As expected, Jung-ho didn’t mention the word “marriage” even once.
“Surely, that’s not all there is?”
“Well… I’ve never really thought about the future.”
“That’s harsh, considering your fiancée is right in front of you.”
Ha-eun forced a small smile, playing off her disappointment lightly.
