Chapter 95
Dermatology Clinic
“Ah…”
Seoni was still rubbing her aching legs.
It didn’t hurt as much as she had expected, but the tingling sensation remained.
A little later, Ari, who had finished waxing behind Seoni, stepped out.
“Tada!”
Ari proudly showed off her smooth legs.
“Doesn’t it hurt?” Seoni asked in curiosity.
“It does. How could it not? But it makes things easier for a few weeks afterward,” Ari said, looking satisfied with her legs.
“Shall we come together next time?” Ari asked.
“Not too often…”
“Because of the cost? It’s cheaper when we do it together. Look,” Ari said, showing the payment receipt.
Luckily, it was cheaper than Seoni had expected.
“Let’s do it. Come together, okay?”
Seoni hesitated, but Ari clung to her, urging her on.
“Alright, alright.”
Seoni reluctantly agreed to Ari’s childish insistence.
“Yahoo!” Ari exclaimed joyfully.
“They say it’s cheaper with three, and even cheaper with four. Should we try to convince the owner too?”
“If you’re capable, go ahead.”
Seoni chuckled and looked down at her smooth legs. She was surprisingly satisfied with her first waxing experience.
“Let’s go. If we’re late, the owner will be upset,” Ari said, pulling Seoni along as they left the clinic.
“Cheonseon.”
At that moment, a familiar voice stopped them.
Gyeonhee, wearing a somewhat stern expression, approached them.
“Gyeonhee?”
Seoni, startled by his unexpected appearance, quickly covered her eyes. Ari, still intimidated, hid behind Seoni.
“W-what brings you here?”
“Just passing by. But why are your eyes covered?”
“Oh? Ah, nothing.”
“Move your hand.”
Gyeonhee came closer and gently pulled her hand down. He noticed her slightly swollen eyelids.
“Oh, it’s just… I heard many people get eyeliner tattoos these days, so…” Seoni trailed off, embarrassed even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. She worried he might be upset for no reason.
“I-I was the one who suggested coming. I brought her here, so don’t scold her,” Ari said bravely, though she still hid behind Seoni.
“Who said anything?”
Gyeonhee said in a calm voice and slowly spoke again.
“…Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Huh?”
Seoni looked up at his uncharacteristic concern. He lowered his head to examine her eyelid.
“It’s swollen. Red.”
“Oh… it’ll go down soon. Don’t worry.”
“How can I not worry? You’re in pain.”
Seoni’s heart skipped a beat. His gentle words felt like magic, warming her from the inside. Her face began to heat up.
“I-I’m really okay.”
Seoni lowered her head, embarrassed by her flushed face. Ari, watching, let out a sigh of relief as the atmosphere eased.
Then, Secretary Kwon, glancing at Ari’s legs, spoke.
“But, doesn’t waxing hurt?”
“It’s just a quick sting. Oh? Secretary Kwon, do you want to try it too?”
“Me?”
“Of course. These days, a lot of men do it too—beard, hairline, leg hair, anywhere there’s hair.”
“Hmm.”
Secretary Kwon pondered Ari’s words.
“It’s cheaper if more people do it. They’re coming next time. We should all go together,” Ari said excitedly.
“No!” Gyeonhee suddenly shouted.
The three looked at him in surprise.
“Ah, well…”
Sensing the awkwardness, Gyeonhee trailed off.
“Come here for a second.”
He quickly grabbed Seoni’s hand and led her away from the group. Once at a safe distance, he spoke in a low voice.
“Never do it.”
“It’s fine. Waxing doesn’t hurt as much as you think.”
“I said don’t do it.”
Seoni looked at him, puzzled by his intense opposition. Unable to explain fully, Gyeonhee spoke again, frustration in his tone.
“Please. Just listen to me. I’m begging you.”
“Why?”
“Don’t do it! You’re already pretty enough!”
A brief silence fell between them.
Gyeonhee looked almost incredulous at his own words, while Seoni’s face softened into a shy smile.
“Ah, anyway, you don’t have to do it. Don’t. Okay? Promise me.”
Seoni nodded slowly, bowing her head slightly.
“Then… I have a forum to attend. Hmm.”
Gyeonhee quickly left.
Left alone, Seoni glanced at his retreating figure, then caught her reflection in the shop window.
The faint blush on her cheeks made her look charming.
“Pretty enough?”
She barely held back laughter and continued walking.
Inside the Car, Heading to the Forum
“You’re already pretty enough!”
Gyeonhee kept replaying his words in his mind.
He even remembered Seoni’s startled expression, making him cringe at himself.
“Ah, I really am crazy.”
His self-reproach continued even in the car.
“Why? What happened now?” asked Secretary Kwon, driving.
“You don’t need to know.”
“‘Pretty enough’?”
Gyeonhee glared at Kwon, who chuckled nervously. Kwon quickly adjusted his expression, realizing he had read the situation too late.
“You’re taking it out on me for no reason.”
“Want me to really take it out on you?”
“Nope.”
Kwon dodged the question cleverly.
“Anyway, should we try waxing too?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Actually, I’ve always wanted to wear shorts in summer. Figured I’d try it now.”
“Haah.”
Gyeonhee felt a headache coming on from this sudden waxing craze.
“You’re already pretty enough! Puh, puhuh.”
Ari imitated Gyeonhee, laughing.
“Did you hear that?” Seoni asked awkwardly.
“Of course. How could I not? But wow… I didn’t think Director Woo would say something like that.”
“…He’s changed a lot.”
“They say if someone changes suddenly, it means they’re about to die.”
“What?”
“No, I mean… he’s changed that much. That’s what I meant. Hmm, hmm.”
Ari quickly corrected herself.
Seoni couldn’t help but agree. The changes he had shown recently were unimaginable until seen or heard firsthand. It made her curious and slightly anxious about what might happen next.
Seoni shook her head.
He’s making an effort. So I should, too.
No need to worry about a future that hadn’t come yet. For now, all that mattered was putting their best effort into each other.
The elevator dinged.
They naturally stepped in and pressed the close button.
“Wait a moment.”
Seoni pressed the open button as a woman in a flashy hat hurriedly entered.
Her low-cut dress highlighted her sensual figure. Leaning against the elevator wall, she pulled out her phone.
“Uh. Elevator. Just starting now. Uh.”
She spoke loudly into the phone. Ari glanced at Seoni, frowning.
Soon, the elevator arrived at her floor. Distracted by her call, she shoved Seoni while exiting, her high heel pressing on Seoni’s foot.
“Ah!”
Seoni grabbed her foot in pain.
“Oh, sorry.”
“Ah… it’s fine.”
Seoni tried to reassure her, though her limp revealed the discomfort.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, really.”
The woman left the elevator, still on the phone.
“Who was that?” Ari asked.
“Why?”
“Looked at her expression? Not a hint of apology.”
“Eh, she apologized.”
“She was annoying.”
Ari glared ahead, irritated. The woman, still holding the phone, watched them as the elevator doors closed.
“Look at her, staring like she did something great. Really annoying.”
“Let’s stop. She might just be apologetic,” Seoni soothed, checking her foot. The pain was worse since it was the same foot that had dropped her phone yesterday.
Forum Parking Lot
Gyeonhee adjusted his clothes, feeling some tension in the crowd of political and business figures.
Chundeok spotted him and approached.
“Who’s this?”
Gyeonhee passed by without greeting.
“You should at least greet,” Chundeok said.
“Why?”
“At least greet. She’s family, after all.”
“Family?”
Gyeonhee laughed bitterly.
“Wasn’t it your mom, your dad, and you causing a fuss, claiming you weren’t my family?”
Chundeok stiffened but forced a smile, conscious of the surrounding eyes.
“Of course. Who would believe a random kid is family? It just looks like scheming for money, right?”
Gyeonhee smirked.
“Scheming is your specialty, isn’t it?”
“What did you say?”
“Don’t mess around, if you don’t want to lose what you have.”
“You bastard.”
Chundeok raised his voice, attracting some attention.
“Calm down,” said Secretary Kwon. Chundeok quickly regained composure.
“Hmm, calm? I wasn’t even excited,” Chundeok said, adjusting his clothes.
“Looks like you didn’t get inside,” Gyeonhee noted, seeing him leave.
“Of course, small fry don’t belong there,” Gyeonhee added and walked in.
Chundeok watched in frustration, asking Kwon why Gyeonhee could enter.
“Because the director invited him,” Kwon said matter-of-factly. Chundeok shivered.
Inside the Forum
Gyeonhee limped inside, holding his foot in pain.
“What’s wrong?” Kwon asked.
“My foot… it hurts.”
He felt sharp pain as if pierced. Struggling, he took out his phone and called Seoni.
Hello?
Seoni answered before the call even rang fully.
“Is everything okay?”
What? Yeah, nothing. Why?
“It’s nothing. Hang up.”
Seoni, as expected, didn’t admit she was hurt. But her voice reassured him that it wasn’t serious.
“Why do I still feel uneasy…”
Hanging up, Gyeonhee felt an unexplained dread but tried to calm himself before heading inside.
Watching from Afar
Chundeok and Woochang observed.
“What’s going on?” Woochang asked.
“Hmm.”
Chundeok watched the live feed, seeing Seoni’s pained expression as the woman’s heel pressed her foot. Then he glanced at Gyeonhee limping inside.
It was no coincidence—the timing and location matched perfectly.
“Not just that,” Woochang said, showing split-screen footage of Gyeonhee feeling pain simultaneously in the warehouse.
“So, he can feel her pain?” Chundeok asked.
“Even we didn’t believe it at first, but it’s true.”
“How did he get my contact?”
“Secretary Kwon had met her before. The phone he left had your contact. And they hate you, Director Woo,” Woochang said with a sly smile.
“They probably value this info more than anyone. That’s why I’m here,” he added.
Chundeok considered it. Though unbelievable, if used properly, it could be a powerful move—but risky.
“…First, we need confirmation.”
“Let me contact him separately. We haven’t met before, right?”
“Obviously, I only deal in money.” Woochang smirked.
Chundeok nodded and distanced himself, leaving Woochang watching Gyeonhee’s retreating back.
Whistling lightly, Gyeonhee walked into the forum with measured steps.
