Breaking Matchmaking (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 5
“Thank you.”
With Chae Won’s words of gratitude, the door closed.
She had truly only borrowed a chair.
As if on a setup arranged solely for them to fall in love, she made it clear she had no other business with him besides that chair.
Yoo Gun had also been forced into this blind date, yet he couldn’t shake off a strangely hollow feeling.
“There’s no time for dating—I’m too busy growing my company.”
It was a line he always gave whenever anyone asked.
Indeed, right after his military discharge and graduation, he’d thrown himself entirely into his business.
He’d focused more on building his company than on women, and thanks to his natural luck and sharp instincts, his life had been filled only with the emotions of success and achievement—until Chae Won came along and took just a chair, leaving him feeling utterly flustered for the first time.
“Heh, how ridiculous, Choi Yu Gun.”
Yoo Gun scoffed mockingly at himself.
Exhausted, he’d wanted nothing more than to skip the hassle, shower quickly, and collapse straight into bed—
yet found himself imagining sharing tea with her, or offering help beyond just the chair she’d needed.
“I’m the one in a rush right now.”
Yes, that was it. Fearing Madam Kim Bok Rae might finally hand the Seongsu-dong house over to Ho Tae, he’d momentarily forgotten his fatigue and even considered playing nice with this blind date.
The exhaustion surged back again. Deciding first to shower and then just sleep, Yoo Gun headed toward the bathroom.
After rinsing off under a strong stream of water and splashing his neck with cold water, he was on his way to bed when—ding-dong—the doorbell rang once more.
Yoo Gun turned toward the front door.
“Thank you—I used the chair well.”
Still in his bathrobe, he opened the door to find Chae Won standing there with a smile. Yoo Gun stared at her in silence, lips pressed together, until Chae Won’s eyes traveled back up, scanning his bathrobe once more.
“I hope I didn’t disturb you—you should be sleeping.”
“It’s fine.”
“Oh, and this.”
Chae Won extended a long shopping bag she’d been carrying on her wrist.
Yoo Gun’s gaze, which had been fixed on Chae Won’s face, dropped to the bag.
“What is it?”
“It’s wine. It’s a bit high in alcohol content, but the taste is excellent—I’ve been keeping a few bottles. I brought it to thank you.”
If her intention had been to share it together, it was remarkably natural.
Just as he started wondering if perhaps this woman was a master manipulator when it came to romance—
“Then I’ll leave you to sleep.”
Chae Won gave a lovely smile and turned to leave.
Yoo Gun stood frozen in place, still holding the wine shopping bag, until the front door clicked shut.
No—he’d been too stunned to move.
Just as she’d truly taken only the chair before, this time she’d truly left only the wine.
“…What’s with this indifference?”
Facing this cold shoulder—the first of his life—Yoo Gun tilted his head repeatedly as if his mind had short-circuited.
He’d encountered similar situations before, but those times always came with obvious temptations. Never before had he experienced such clear-cut detachment on a night like this.
For the first time ever, he’d been ready to fling the door wide open—and she’d walked away cleanly. That woman.
“Ha.”
He’d been more willing than ever to give in to temptation, yet now, faced with a blind date who showed him utter indifference, he was thrown off balance.
“This is a problem.”
Yoo Gun turned his head toward the direction where Chae Won had been.
After staring blankly at the solid wall for a moment, he let out a hollow laugh.
Somehow, it was turning into a night that stirred his competitive spirit.
*
“You said we’d meet briefly, but I guess not? That guy lives right next door.”
Chae Won switched her phone to speaker mode and pulled out necessary items from a box.
—“I trusted Madam Kim’s word—she said it was close to your workplace and had tight security. I had no idea it was right next door.”
James’s awkward chuckle confirmed it.
There was no way he truly hadn’t known.
Whether he’d genuinely wanted to set them up or if it was purely business-related, Chae Won didn’t know—but she replied lightly with a smile.
“Thanks, Dad. It’s a nice place.”
She really was grateful to James.
Since it had been his remarriage, the father-daughter bond could easily have faded after her mother passed—yet he’d fulfilled his role as a father to the end, raising her just like this.
—“If anything’s bothering you, just say so.”
“Okay.”
Rustle, rustle. As she unpacked her moving boxes, Chae Won gave a simple reply.
“And… please handle the blind date well, too.”
So James wasn’t entirely in a position of power, after all.
Chae Won chuckled softly and answered with confidence.
“Yes, don’t worry.”
She’d do her absolute best to say goodbye naturally and gracefully.
After exchanging a few final pleasantries with James, Chae Won pressed the end call button.
Taking a lamp from the box, she carefully wiped it down with a dry towel before heading toward the bedroom.
“The new dining table arrives the day after tomorrow, and the custom-made chairs should come the following day… So by the weekend, I’ll pretty much have everything I need.”
But there was no need to unpack further.
Now that she knew her blind date—the man next door—would soon be leaving, this wasn’t a place she’d stay long.
Grabbing her phone to call the caregiver, Chae Won accidentally tapped the shopping center app instead.
The screen that popped up showed a promotional poster of a male actor who, for some odd reason, looked strikingly similar to the guy next door—making her pause briefly.
“He does look kind of alike…”
But if she had to compare, Choi Yu Gun was clearly better.
If it hadn’t been a blind date arranged through James, she might have seriously considered meeting that handsome man privately…
“Get a grip, Kim Chae Won—this is absolutely no time for romance.”
Shaking her head, Chae Won closed the ad.
Then she dialed the caregiver staying with Hee Joo.
“It’s me. I was just wondering if there’s any news.”
There was so much she wanted to demand, so much she longed to hear, and so much she wished to do together.
Yet Kim Hee Joo still hadn’t woken up at all.
Walking toward the living room window with the phone pressed to her ear, Chae Won gazed at a spot among the countless city lights in the dark night—a single point of light, flickering faintly as if it might go out at any moment.
“Yes. Please contact me. She’ll definitely wake up.”
She knew—because she was a doctor.
Because they’d spent so long together in their mother’s womb—she knew.
Kim Chae Won, and Kim Hee Joo, could never be faint.
*
The next day, 7 p.m.
Having parked his car, Yoo Gun pressed the remote with a blank expression.
Stepping out of the elevator on the second floor revealed a spacious, upscale restaurant.
“Welcome. May I have the name under which you’ve reserved?”
As the manager guided him toward a softly lit table, women’s eyes followed his long strides.
His fitted shirt hugged a solid torso beneath a perfectly tailored jacket, paired with sleek black trousers and loafers.
But above all, his sharp, upturned eyes, straight nose, chiseled jawline, and handsome face glowed smoothly under the gentle lighting.
“Welcome.”
Just as Yoo Gun took his seat, the restaurant doors opened once more.
Again, people’s gazes began to follow.
Over a short white dress with a mermaid silhouette, she wore a black jacket draped lightly over her shoulders. Her flowing hair framed a slender hand clutching a clutch bag, and every step she took in her slim legs made her high heels glint.
The woman’s elegant stride stopped right in front of Yoo Gun.
“I came a bit early on purpose—but you’re already here?”
At Chae Won’s composed voice, a faint smile appeared on Yoo Gun’s previously expressionless face.
“I just arrived. Please sit.”
Once the two faced each other, the onlookers gradually returned their attention elsewhere.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other in silence.
Both carried immense resolve, dictated by their own circumstances—but neither let it show on their faces.
“Let’s order first.”
At Yoo Gun’s suggestion, Chae Won picked up the menu.
“If it’s alright with you, may I order for us?”
“Go ahead.”
She still maintained her perfect zero points in the “consideration” category—failing to utter the usual polite line like, “Order whatever you’d like—I’m fine with anything,” to someone she’d just met.
Of course, the food itself didn’t matter—but he couldn’t help wondering when, if ever, she’d earn even a single point in consideration.
Soon the dishes arrived, and they exchanged faint smiles across the table.
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Wait a moment.”
Just as Yoo Gun reached for his fork, Chae Won called out urgently. When he looked up quietly, she spoke with a grave expression.
“Actually… I practice a faith.”
He watched, expecting her to clasp her hands and say grace—but instead, she began offering an unnecessary explanation.
“It’s not Christianity. It’s actually quite a rare religion here in Korea. But I believe in it deeply. One simply can’t live without faith, don’t you think?”
“I suppose so.”
Yoo Gun replied dryly, and Chae Won closed her eyes, bringing her slender hands together as she murmured.
“O Yarli…”
Yoo Gun, who’d been about to take a sip, paused and looked back at her.
“Yarli Yarli Yarli-Yarli. I believe, and believe again. I believe earnestly. Thank you for our daily sustenance, and I dedicate everything I have so I may swiftly attain Nirvana through faith in You.”
After reciting this bizarre incantation—a strange fusion of Christian and Buddhist ideas—she gracefully opened her eyes.
“Our deity says it’s fine to begin eating now.”
“Oh.”
“Enjoy your meal, Mr. Choi Yu Gun.”
Looking proud, Chae Won sliced into her steak and took a bite.
“Actually… I have a story.”
Yoo Gun set down his untouched drink and fixed his gaze on her.
“It’s been about a year? Anyway, at some point, I started seeing ghosts.”
As she aggressively cut into her steak, she continued with a serious expression.
“I went through treatment, and that’s how I encountered the Yarli deity. Thanks to that, I no longer suffer physically like before. But I still occasionally see ghosts even now—so it’s become my fate to serve the Yarli deity.”
“I see.”
“I personally offer our Yarli deity a lot—cash or other valuables. As much as I possibly can, right as I earn it.”
“I understand.”
Glancing briefly at Yoo Gun, Chae Won elegantly resumed cutting her steak as she continued.
“Exactly. And once I marry, I plan to offer fifty percent of everything my spouse and I earn together to our Yarli deity.”
Suddenly remembering something, Chae Won lifted her head sharply.
“Oh! It’s a secret from my father. He’d worry if he knew I could see ghosts… so please, keep it between us.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, Mr. Choi Yu Gun.”
Chae Won flashed a sweet smile—then her eyes widened as she stared past Yoo Gun’s shoulder.
“Oh my.”
Deciding to humor her, Yoo Gun tilted his head.
“I told you, right? I can see ghosts… There’s… oh, a ghost with big ears right behind you, Yoo Gun.”
When Yoo Gun simply stared back at her without reacting, Chae Won gradually lowered her gaze, embarrassed.
“Don’t worry—it just left.”
Regretting having brought it up unnecessarily, Chae Won stabbed at her steak once more.
After a brief pause, she vigorously wiped her lips with a tissue and spoke.
“Do you happen to have any feelings for me?”
Her voice was no longer delicate—it was bold and direct.
Knowing full well Yoo Gun wouldn’t say “no” no matter what she said today, she listened as he replied.
“Yes.”
“I understand. Even I think I’d find myself attractive. I’ve never met a man who didn’t like me—sigh, what is it with this charm of mine?”
Switching instantly from illness to princess syndrome, Chae Won continued earnestly.
“I’ve been popular since I was young. Men followed me endlessly—to the point of annoyance. That’s why I can’t possibly get married. I believe it would be a huge loss to society if someone like me were to marry.”
“I see.”
How crazy did she need to appear?
At this point, he should’ve been giving her an uncomfortable or disgusted look—thinking, “This girl’s clearly not right in the head.” But Yoo Gun responded seriously without showing any reaction, leaving Chae Won perplexed.
She was trying to figure out how to act insane without completely ruining her image—when she heard approaching footsteps.
“Hee Joo unnie?”
Chae Won turned her head, eyes suddenly wide.
“Why are you here, unnie?”
It was Jenny, Hee Joo’s sister-in-law.
Chae Won’s startled gaze met Yoo Gun’s blank expression.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
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