Date Me! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
Before long, the taxi entered the neighborhood where Lee I Na lived.
Soon after, as the convenience store near Lee I Na’s apartment building came into view, she asked the driver to stop there.
When the taxi pulled up in front of the convenience store, Lee I Na reached for her wallet, but Joo Won held out his card.
“Huh? No, it’s fine. I’ll pay. And don’t you need to keep going?”
“It’s okay.”
Joo Won replied briefly, took the card from the driver, and opened the taxi door.
After stepping out first, Joo Won held the door and looked at Lee I Na, who numbly got out of the taxi.
As soon as the taxi drove away, Lee I Na looked up at Joo Won.
“Why did you get out? You’ll have to hail another taxi now.”
“It’s easy to get one. No big deal.”
Joo Won answered as if it were nothing and looked at the convenience store ahead.
“Wait here a sec.”
He then walked into the convenience store and came back shortly holding a black plastic bag.
“Here.”
As Joo Won handed her the bag, Lee I Na tilted her head in confusion and took it.
Inside were hangover relief drink, electrolyte beverage, and ice cream.
“Oh… Why’d you buy so much? I feel bad now.”
“It’s nothing. Just drink the hangover relief stuff in case your head hurts later.”
About to thank him for his thoughtful gesture, Lee I Na silently stared at the mango ice cream inside the bag.
It was the ice cream she’d practically lived on every day in middle school.
“This is my favorite ice cream… How do you even remember that?”
“How could I forget? Every time you came to our house, you brought tons of this stuff.”
At Joo Won’s words, Lee I Na let out a small chuckle.
“You’re right. I really did.”
Smiling as memories came flooding back, she looked up at Joo Won to thank him—but for some reason, her heart tingled strangely.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it all. But today, I’ve just been taking things from you the whole time.”
“It’s not a big deal. Come on, where’s your place?”
Joo Won asked, hands tucked into his pockets, and Lee I Na pointed ahead.
“Go straight down there and turn right—it’ll be right there.”
Joo Won nodded and gestured for her to go.
Lee I Na, holding the black plastic bag, took a step forward, and Joo Won matched her pace beside her.
Walking side by side with Joo Won through the chilly October night air felt oddly strange.
She couldn’t recall ever walking alone with him like this even back in middle school…
No, actually, they’d never really been alone together at all…
Yet here they were now, as adults after thirteen years, walking together—it stirred a peculiar, indescribable feeling inside her.
Joo Won walked in silence too, his expression thoughtful as if lost in thought.
After walking side by side for about five minutes, Lee I Na’s apartment building finally came into view.
“This is it.”
Standing in front of the building, Lee I Na spoke, and Joo Won glanced up at it briefly.
“What floor?”
“Third.”
Joo Won nodded and looked down at her.
“Alright then. You must be tired—go on in.”
“Yeah. You must be tired too from dropping me off—go on home. Thanks so much today.”
Instead of answering, Joo Won stared at her quietly for a moment before speaking.
“Don’t overthink anything. Just get some good rest, okay?”
“Huh? Oh… yeah, I will.”
“Then go inside. And if anything happens tomorrow, call me right away.”
“Anything happen?”
“If that guy shows up or causes trouble, call me.”
“Oh. I’m actually planning to stay at a friend’s place tonight, just in case.”
“Yeah, that’s better. Stay at your friend’s tonight, and if anything happens after that, call me immediately. Got it?”
Looking up at Joo Won’s serious face, Lee I Na nodded.
“Okay. Thank you.”
“Alright. Go on in. Sleep well, and I’ll see you Monday. I’ll call when I get off work.”
“Okay. Got it. You head home safely too.”
Lee I Na waved, and Joo Won gestured for her to go in first.
“I’ll leave after I see you go inside.”
Hesitating briefly at Joo Won’s words, Lee I Na finally nodded and turned to walk slowly toward the entrance.
Just as she was about to enter the main gate, Joo Won called out, “Lee I Na.”
She turned around, and Joo Won silently looked at her for a moment before speaking.
“I’m really glad… we got to meet again.”
Hearing that, Lee I Na stared at him blankly before giving a faint smile.
“Yeah. I’m really glad too.”
Joo Won smiled and gestured again for her to go in.
Lee I Na waved once more and walked through the apartment gate.
Joo Won stood a few steps away, watching the building until he saw the light turn on in the third-floor apartment—only then did he finally walk away.
***
On Saturday morning, after ten o’clock, Lee I Na opened her eyes, opened the window to breathe in fresh air, and checked her phone.
She’d blocked all calls, texts, and messages from Jung Hoon, so there was nothing from him—but three missed calls from unknown numbers showed up.
Without even checking, she knew it was definitely Jung Hoon.
Letting out a deep sigh, Lee I Na put down her phone and headed to the kitchen.
She gulped down cold water from the fridge, tied her hair up tightly, and started a thorough cleaning.
After vacuuming, scrubbing the bathroom, and stripping the bed sheets to start laundry, it was already half past eleven.
She toasted some bread, brewed a cup of coffee, and sat at the table staring at her phone.
Staring blankly at Joo Hee’s number—which Joo Won had given her yesterday—she swallowed hard and dialed with trembling fingers.
As the phone began to ring, Lee I Na’s heart started pounding.
Would Joo Hee recognize her voice? Would she be happy to hear from her? Or would she resent her for not reaching out all these years?
Lost in these thoughts, she heard a click on the other end, followed by a voice.
“Moshi moshi~”
Hearing Joo Hee’s unfamiliar voice after thirteen years, Lee I Na nervously gulped.
“Moshi moshi?”
When Lee I Na didn’t respond, Joo Hee spoke again in Japanese.
“Hello? Um… is this Joo Hee’s phone?”
“Eh? Who’s this?”
Joo Hee asked, startled, and suddenly Lee I Na’s throat tightened.
Her eyes welling up, Lee I Na stayed silent—but after a brief quiet moment, Joo Hee spoke carefully again.
“Could it be… Lee I Na? Are you Lee I Na?”
With her eyes reddening, Lee I Na bit her lip and nodded.
As if Joo Hee could actually see her through the phone, she nodded vigorously—and a tear dropped.
“Yeah. It’s me. I’m Lee I Na.”
Hearing Lee I Na’s choked-up voice, Joo Hee gasped in surprise on the other end.
“What? No way! Seriously? It’s really you, Lee I Na?”
“Yes. It’s me. Seo Lee I Na.”
As Lee I Na sniffled while speaking, a soft sniffle came from the other side a moment later.
“Oh my gosh. Lee I Na? Is it really you? My best friend from middle school, Lee I Na?”
“Yeah. It’s me. Your best friend, Seo Lee I Na. Sob.”
At Lee I Na’s sudden burst of tears, Joo Hee broke down crying too.
“Waaah! Lee I Na! I’ve missed you so, so much—but I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you! I suddenly moved to Japan and couldn’t get in touch. Later, when I tried calling, it said your number didn’t exist! I’m really, really sorry! Sob!”
Then, out of nowhere, Joo Hee started wailing loudly.
Startled, Lee I Na tried to tell her not to cry—but suddenly a man’s voice came through the phone.
The man asked something in Japanese, sounding surprised, and Joo Hee replied while crying. After a few more exchanges, Lee I Na heard Joo Hee loudly blow her nose.
“Sorry. Sob. My husband got startled because I suddenly started crying.”
“Oh. Okay. Joo Hee, don’t cry. You might scare the baby in your belly if you cry too much.”
“Huh? How do you know I’m pregnant?”
Surprised, Joo Hee asked, and Lee I Na explained she’d met Joo Won yesterday.
She didn’t mention Jung Hoon—only that she’d bumped into Joo Won by chance on the street.
“What? No way! How is that even possible? You ran into Joo Won right on the street?”
“Yeah. Isn’t it crazy? I was totally shocked too. I wanted to call you right away, but it was too late.”
“No way! If it’s you calling, I’d jump up and answer even at 3 a.m.!”
Hearing Joo Hee’s stuffy-nosed reply, Lee I Na smiled.
She still couldn’t believe she was really talking to Joo Hee.
It felt so dreamlike that she pinched her cheek hard—and it hurt.
That vivid, painful feeling made her happy, and she grinned foolishly.
“Joo Hee, it feels like I’m dreaming. Hearing your voice feels exactly like a dream.”
“Same here. Lee I Na. I’m so scared this might be a dream. Are we really not dreaming?”
“No. It’s not a dream.”
As she answered, Lee I Na beamed.
They talked for a long time, sharing stories about their lives, and soon made plans to meet before finally hanging up.
Even after ending the call, Lee I Na had to calm her racing heart for a while.
Having cried throughout the entire conversation, her eyes were already swollen.
Looking in the mirror at the bathroom, she laughed at her own reflection.
“Long time no see, Rudolph with puffy eyes.”
Giggling, Lee I Na splashed cold water on her face.
***
“Hey, Seo Lee I Na—what happened to your lips?”
Hyun Joo narrowed her eyes as she saw Lee I Na’s lips upon entering through the front door.
Lee I Na silently took off her shoes and sat on the sofa, prompting Hyun Joo to raise an eyebrow.
“Please tell me… that bastard Park Jung Hoon didn’t hit you, right?”
When Lee I Na didn’t answer, Hyun Joo took it as confirmation and shot up, eyes bulging.
“That son of a bitch has really lost it! Has he gone so far as to lay hands on you now? I swear, I’m gonna—!”
In her fury, Hyun Joo looked ready to storm out immediately—but Lee I Na grabbed her and pulled her back down.
“Calm down.”
“Hey! How is this something to calm down about? That psycho! How dare he lay a hand on you?”
“He didn’t actually hit me directly… Something happened Friday night.”
“What happened?”
Hyun Joo asked, fuming.
Lee I Na briefly explained what had occurred Friday night.
After hearing the whole story, Hyun Joo’s eyes widened in shock.
“That psycho, seriously… What? Asked how many guys you slept with? Wow. That guy’s literal trash—can’t even be recycled!”
Hyun Joo scowled and clenched her fists tightly.
“Ugh! Seriously! I should chase him down right now and smash his shins in!”
“There’s no need—we won’t be seeing each other anymore.”
“But still…”
Hyun Joo suddenly straightened her posture and stared at Lee I Na with bright, eager eyes.
“How does something this drama-like even happen? The guy who saved you when you were being dragged away turns out to be your middle school friend?”
“Well, to be precise, he’s the twin younger brother of my friend.”
“Either way, he’s still your friend! Isn’t that exactly like a drama? What are the odds of running into him right there on the street—in that exact situation?”
“That’s why I was so shocked too. When I went to thank him, he looked familiar somehow. But he recognized me instantly when he got a closer look.”
“Wow. He’s seriously amazing. At first, he didn’t even know it was you—he just stepped in because a woman was being dragged away, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“Wow. Who even does that these days? He’s basically a real-life hero!”
“Right? Considering his personality back in middle school, he was never the type to get involved in other people’s business… That’s why I was even more shocked.”
“So what happened after that? Did you exchange contacts?”
“Yeah. After Park Jung Hoon left, we had a drink together—and that’s when you called.”
“Oh! So that’s who you meant when you said you were meeting a friend?”
“Yep.”
“I see.”
Hyun Joo fell into thought for a moment.
“Well, as astonishing as this dramatic reunion is… we should put out the immediate fire first. Since that bastard Park Jung Hoon might come looking for you, how about staying at my place for now?”
At that, Lee I Na paused briefly before speaking.
“Actually… Joo Won said he’d pick me up after work and walk me home every day next week.”
“What did you say?”
Hyun Joo’s eyes widened in surprise as she repeated the question.
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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