A Twisted Relationship (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
Her words momentarily caught in her throat. He was so serious that she didn’t know how to respond.
“Uh… um… Min Hyuk.”
“Yeah.”
Da Hyun bit her lip, then chewed on it nervously. She’d called out to him, yet couldn’t figure out what to say next.
His sudden seriousness made it feel like she had to take things seriously too.
Min Hyuk let out a soft chuckle as he watched Da Hyun’s flustered expression, completely unhidden.
“By the way, your sister seems to hope we’ll get divorced—even during our honeymoon! That’s pretty harsh.”
Propping his chin on his hand, Min Hyuk turned his whole body toward her and clicked his tongue.
“It was Kang Min Hyuk who invited you to dinner.”
She replied quickly to Min Hyuk’s abrupt topic shift. She knew he’d deliberately changed the subject after noticing her discomfort.
“So why did you invite me, then?”
“I wanted to see firsthand how you’d treat me.”
As soon as Ji Yeon disappeared, Da Hyun took a sip of the red wine in her glass to moisten her throat.
She’d been so parched it felt like her esophagus was burning, but the moment the liquid went down, her thirst eased.
Only now did she finally feel like she could breathe again.
Setting her wineglass down, Da Hyun glanced around to see if Ji Yeon was coming back. Lowering her voice just in case Ji Yeon might be eavesdropping, she asked,
“But have I really talked that much about my sister?”
Unaware of Min Hyuk’s subtle expression, Da Hyun tilted her head, puzzled.
Now that she thought about it, even the first time they met, he already seemed to know her situation well.
“I don’t remember ever telling Kang Min Hyuk anything about my family. I didn’t even want to mention them, so I hardly ever brought them up.”
She’d never spoken to him about Ji Yeon or her family, yet he clearly understood exactly where she stood and what her circumstances were.
Could we have met somewhere before?
But she had no memory—however faint—of ever running into him when he lived abroad. And since he’d never mentioned it either, their first meeting really had been at that blind date.
Da Hyun pushed her deepening thoughts outward. Maybe she was just overly sensitive and taking things too personally.
“Curious about how I know?”
Min Hyuk spoke as if he’d tell her the truth if she truly wanted to know.
Da Hyun started to nod but hesitated, then shook her head instead.
“It’s fine. Don’t tell me. Father must’ve said something. Only a very few people know how badly Ji Yeon and I get along.”
He must have started badmouthing her during their conversations before the blind date with Su Cheol.
He probably even fabricated exaggerated reasons for our bad relationship just to oppose my marriage.
“Han Da Hyun! Where do you think you’re wandering off to? Not you! Stay home. Don’t go out and get photographed, bringing shame to this family.”
Su Cheol never liked Da Hyun going outside. He worried paparazzi or reporters might latch onto her anytime, anywhere, and publish damaging articles. But that applied to Ji Yeon as well.
Yet Su Cheol was especially strict with Da Hyun and soft with Ji Yeon.
It was obvious to everyone, yet Da Hyun never confronted him about it. Even though she was three years older than Ji Yeon, he still wanted her to stay home more.
Suddenly, Da Hyun felt incredibly lucky to have married Min Hyuk and escaped Su Cheol’s interference. Though she sometimes regretted the marriage, she was truly grateful to be free from Su Cheol.
If she hadn’t married him, she’d probably be wasting time emptily in her room in that hellish house right now.
Min Hyuk stared intently at her.
Though she spoke calmly, he could see her tension in the way her eyelids fluttered closed and reopened ever so slightly.
“Father hardly ever talks about family matters with outsiders. He must’ve really not wanted you to get married.”
Seeing Da Hyun’s flushed cheeks, Min Hyuk looked at her with pity—what was there to be so nervous about?
“Still, you managed to change my father’s mind, Min Hyuk. That’s impressive. My father’s incredibly stubborn—if he says something won’t happen, he almost never changes his mind.”
“I already told you. I’d give you the freedom to escape your father.”
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Min Hyuk, I’d probably still be struggling just to breathe under Father’s shadow.”
Her gratitude was evident as the corners of her lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes gentle.
Min Hyuk found her natural demeanor dazzling. She’d remained the same—then and now—which made it even more striking.
He couldn’t fully grasp the life she’d lived, pretending and performing just to protect herself.
But right now, he couldn’t hide his own feelings. Seeing them so openly exposed, he suddenly remembered the first time he’d met her.
At first, he’d looked at her just like any other woman, but her public mask had sparked his interest.
Remembering the past, Min Hyuk winced slightly as a sharp ache tightened in his chest.
Shaking off those memories, he opened his mouth again.
“Have you ever thought about why your father treats you that way?”
Min Hyuk himself found it puzzling. Why did Su Cheol favor Ji Yeon so much, even though they shared the same blood?
“No. I used to feel hurt and resentful, but over time, I’ve grown indifferent. Our family only looks respectable on the outside—inside, it’s completely rotten.”
Her smile faded, her lips turning downward. She missed her mother, whom Su Cheol had driven away. Though her mother had eventually left home, Da Hyun still couldn’t find out where she was.
Da Hyun picked up her fork with a bitter smile, stabbing at the cold steak to regain her appetite, then stuffed it into her mouth.
Anyway, she’d escaped Su Cheol—she’d never have to live in that house again.
She’d have to find Yeon Sil herself, since Su Cheol kept her hidden. Da Hyun briefly considered asking Min Hyuk for help but quickly dismissed the idea.
They’d eventually become strangers anyway. She didn’t want to drag him into her personal matters.
All she wanted was for him to achieve his goal quickly so she could finally gain complete freedom.
Min Hyuk silently watched Da Hyun’s tiny lips move as she chewed.
“That must’ve been tough. You endured it well by yourself. I’m proud of you.”
Da Hyun’s jaw, which had been moving diligently, suddenly stilled.
She’d heard “just do better than Ji Yeon” so often it had become an earworm. She never expected to hear “you endured it well,” and her face froze in surprise.
Snap out of it. Why am I getting moved?
Slowly, Da Hyun resumed chewing.
Silence settled between them. The only sound was her quiet chewing.
There was no sign Ji Yeon had even gone to the restroom—no footsteps approaching.
After swallowing the last bit of food, Da Hyun finally moved her lips.
“It wasn’t hard. I’m not that weak.”
She forced herself to sound nonchalant. Though her vulnerabilities were already exposed, she didn’t want to appear pitiful.
“Right. I know you’re not weak.”
His gentle tone made Da Hyun’s heart beat faster.
Yet strangely, it felt like this wasn’t the first time he’d comforted her.
The words he’d just spoken felt oddly familiar, as if she’d heard them somewhere before. Da Hyun tilted her head slightly, wondering.
“Da Hyun.”
“Yes?”
Just as Da Hyun was about to ask if something was wrong—his expression looked so sad—the sound of approaching footsteps entering the dining room made her clamp her mouth shut.
“Brother-in-law! Sorry I kept you waiting! I meant to come right out after washing my hands, but I got a call and ended up talking longer than I expected.”
Ji Yeon’s arrival shifted the atmosphere instantly. The calm, steady mood vanished as quickly as it had come.
The moment Min Hyuk heard Ji Yeon’s footsteps, he erased the expression he’d shown Da Hyun.
“No idea if we waited long or not. When I talk with Da Hyun, I lose track of time.”
Ji Yeon gave an awkward smile, lingering by her chair without sitting down.
“Ji Yeon, the food’s gone cold. Should I have it reheated?”
Da Hyun cleared her throat gently and asked softly.
The rapid heartbeat Min Hyuk had stirred in her instantly steadied the moment she saw Ji Yeon’s face.
“It’s fine. I suddenly got a last-minute appointment and need to leave right away.”
Without sitting, Ji Yeon picked up her bag. Relieved to hear Ji Yeon was leaving, Da Hyun tugged at the corners of her mouth into a smile.
“Oh? That’s a shame.”
A shame? Not at all. Da Hyun forced out words she didn’t mean, hoping Ji Yeon would never show up like this again.
Still, Ji Yeon’s return had quieted the turmoil Min Hyuk had stirred in her heart.
“You really mean it’s a shame? Aren’t you glad I’m leaving?”
“Ji Yeon, I’m sorry.”
Da Hyun spoke words she didn’t feel, looking at Ji Yeon with a face that showed no remorse.
“What could you possibly be sorry to me for, older sister?”
Ji Yeon’s forced smile was reaching its limit; curses bubbled up in her throat.
She hated how Da Hyun’s face always looked so carefree and blessed.
If Min Hyuk hadn’t been there, she’d have openly insulted and crushed her without hesitation.
But because Min Hyuk stood firmly beside her, Ji Yeon had to swallow her true feelings and speak insincerely instead.
“They say brother-in-law wanted you from the start. Lucky you, huh? I’ll head out now—you don’t need to see me off.”
Ji Yeon just wanted to escape this suffocating house where even breathing annoyed her.
She couldn’t understand it.
Was he really serious about someone like Han Da Hyun?
No way. What’s wrong with me that I’m worse than her?
If not for her face, he wouldn’t have cared about some illegitimate child at all.
“Brother-in-law, take your time finishing the conversation with older sister.”
Ji Yeon bit her upper lip, barely managing to keep her expression composed.
“Sure. Sister-in-law, go home safely. If we get the chance, let’s meet again sometime.”
Though he knew it was sarcastic, Min Hyuk kept smiling and raised his hand calmly.
Ji Yeon was stunned by Min Hyuk’s composure. He kept smiling just like someone truly would with a beloved sister-in-law. Ji Yeon clicked her tongue briefly, then bowed her head.
“Brother-in-law, I’ll go now.”
Min Hyuk was certain Ji Yeon would never again take the initiative to contact and approach him like she did today.
Ji Yeon turned to glare at Da Hyun once more, grinding her teeth. Grabbing her coat, she left the dining room.
The housekeeper, sensing the mood, quietly followed to see Ji Yeon out in place of Min Hyuk and Da Hyun.
Da Hyun massaged her stiff neck, rotating her head in slow circles to loosen the tension.
“Look how your sister left without even saying goodbye to you.”
“She’s always been like that. It would’ve been stranger if she had greeted me.”
“Is that so?”
Min Hyuk refilled his wineglass, then remembered Da Hyun’s and filled hers too with a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Now that the interruption’s gone, shall we relax and have a proper drink? You seemed too tense to eat comfortably with your sister-in-law around.”
Da Hyun’s eyes widened as she lifted her wineglass.
When had he noticed that so carefully?
It felt like he’d been constantly watching her expressions and actions.
“That’s right. I couldn’t eat properly for fear of choking.”
Da Hyun raised her wineglass.
She almost asked how he knew her so well—but she didn’t.
It was meaningless, given their current relationship.
Assigning meaning to his actions would serve no purpose.
After all, this was a relationship formed solely for mutual benefit.
She just needed to maintain an appropriate distance from him.
“Shall we clink glasses?”
For each of them to obtain what they wanted.
Da Hyun lifted her round, hollowed wineglass.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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