“You studied psychology, right? Can’t you read someone’s mood by their face?”
The reason for the chills at Park Seoryeon’s gaze was the dark emotions swirling in her eyes.
Interest, ulterior motives, selfishness, temptation.
“Don’t covet others’ food in such a pitiful way. If you’re really curious, order another rare steak yourself.”
It was baffling.
Despite knowing why she was hired, her flirting implied she had confidence in herself. As if having a normal face was all that mattered.
“Kang Sajoon!”
At Jinwon’s panicked call, Sajoon continued nonchalantly.
“If you’re going to keep up the nonsense, talk to the nice person next to you. Leave me out of it.”
Watching a woman act coy and pretty made Sajoon suddenly miss someone.
Min Taehi, who was stunningly beautiful without any pretense, and who spewed venom whenever she opened her lovely lips.
“I hope you didn’t misunderstand. It was just a question to gauge your personality. And if it’s okay, may I take the place of your blind date?”
Despite the potential for embarrassment, Park Seoryeon maintained her gentle smile.
Maybe that’s why women are said to be fearsome creatures.
Debating whether to give her a sharp retort or to ignore her, Seoryeon continued calmly.
“You’re known for being true to your emotions, right? It would be hard to see the true feelings of the woman at the blind date. If I go as your blind date, I could play along and get a sense of what she’s really thinking.”
It didn’t sound like a bad suggestion. Jinwon looked pale, gauging Sajoon’s reaction.
Just then, Sajoon’s phone rang. Checking the caller, he slowly got up from his chair.
“Continue the conversation over dinner. Order Ms. Park another tenderloin steak, rare.”
Jinwon nodded briefly, understanding Sajoon’s mannerless behavior as an instruction to plan the blind date strategy with Park Seoryeon.
After patting Jinwon on the shoulder, Sajoon left the room, answering the phone.
“Go ahead, Min Seontae.”
Taehi had called Laurence on Monday, but she didn’t make a reservation.
Why would a café reservation cost 100,000 won?
But eventually, she called again on Friday and made the reservation.
And then, on the returned Saturday.
Taehi sat at Laurence’s seat number 7, her large sunglasses and cap hat tightly pressed down.
“I must be crazy, there’s no way I’d come here otherwise.”
Even as she tapped her head, her gaze was drawn to the dessert on the table.
Laurence’s fame for desserts was not unfounded.
The sight of a chocolate latte topped with roasted marshmallows and a plain cannelé, carelessly scooped matcha and bean cake, was enough to make one’s mouth water.
Should I say it’s worth the high price? Ultimately, it was breathtakingly beautiful and impressively delicious.
After neatly finishing a cake, she recalled the conversation with Chief Kang.
‘If you just have an unrequited love, you have to act unaffected even when seeing the man with another woman. It’s much harder and more painfully foolish.’
It felt like being hit hard.
Avoiding becoming the protagonist of a melodrama, she nearly became an even more pitiful one.
Of course, until she rejected Sajoon’s love proposal, she was somewhat confident.
Seeing Kang Sajoon with another woman might hurt and sadden her, but she thought she would adapt over time. Confident that she could hide her feelings, not show them, and act nonchalantly. It was just that level of emotion.
But now, she wasn’t so sure.
Taking a sip of the cool, sweet latte, Taehi steeled her heart.
“I’ll make a clear decision today.”
With the coward hiding in her heart.
That’s why she came here. If she couldn’t bear to see Kang Sajoon with a blind date, she definitely couldn’t stand seeing him in a relationship.
If she couldn’t handle that, perhaps it was best to leave for a distant place. Maybe a faraway country like France.
“But they said only seat 7 was available, why are all the tables empty?”
Just as she was surveying the café.
“We’ll guide you to seat number 8.”
All the tables near the window had partitions.
Yet, at the mention of seat number 8, Taehi lowered her head.
Did the blind date woman come, or did Kang Sajoon?
“I was wondering why I didn’t see you at the hotel coffee shop, but this is not bad. How did you think to meet here?”
A woman’s voice, elegant yet calm, reached her ears.
“We’re known for our desserts here.”
The flat, unvarying male voice was unmistakably Kang Sajoon’s.
Hearing Sajoon’s voice, Taehi’s heart wavered.
If it’s famous for desserts, you should have brought me, not the blind date woman? But then again, who was it that rejected the offer to eat delicious food every day?
She knew that, but it still felt unfair.
“Thank you, Sajoon. For coming to pick me up at the hospital. I felt like a queen because of you.”
“No need to thank me.”
The woman was clearly a doctor.
More important than the woman’s profession was the fact that Sajoon had gone to pick her up.
Taehi was stunned, choked up, and breathless.
The only recent time Kang Sajoon had voluntarily come to pick her up from the company was once.
And now he went to pick up the blind date woman? A blind date just to buy time.
“Meeting you in person, Sajoon, I’m curious. What are your conditions for a contract relationship?”
The mention of a contract relationship meant they had obviously talked about various things in the car. Despite his shyness, had he already become so comfortable with the blind date woman?
“Looks like you’re actually considering a contract relationship.”
From the voices right behind, it was clear Taehi was seated back-to-back with Sajoon, separated by a partition.
“Sajoon, with you, I think I could even consider marriage. I think my parents would like you, and I could adapt to anything.”
“I heard you were an advocate of singleness.”
At Sajoon’s words, the woman laughed softly, as if amused.
That laughter grated on Taehi’s ears like sand.
“Even if I date, it’s obvious I’ll eventually be pressured to marry at home. Why do you think people opt for arranged marriages? If you like the person, it’s lucky. Like you and me, Sajoon.”
“I’m glad you like both the café and me.”
“Do you not like me, Sajoon?”
“I think I need some time to think about it.”
At that moment, when a decision was reached within her tumultuous heart, Taehi tightly closed her eyes.
“Then take your time to think about it. I’ll just go to the restroom for a bit.”
The sound of the woman’s high heels echoed on the marble floor, and the spacious café was enveloped in a quiet stillness.
Listening to the gentle piano melody, Taehi murmured to herself.
In a few years, she might forget Kang Sajoon.
Even if she returns to Korea, a promotion is guaranteed, and if she adapts well, she might not even need to come back. If her mother asks her to settle in France, she won’t have to see Min Seontae either.
So, she should just cleanly leave for France.
Then, she heard what seemed like an auditory hallucination.
“Min Taehi.”
It sounded just like Kang Sajoon calling her name.
Holding her breath and staying still, she heard the hallucination again.
“Min Taehi.”
Surely not, she thought.
Slowly opening her eyes, Taehi’s heart sank. Dressed in a neat black suit, Kang Sajoon was standing next to her, looking down.
“I didn’t think you’d come, but you really did.”
At Sajoon’s calm words, Taehi finally realized the situation. She had walked right into Kang Sajoon’s test.
Embarrassed but unable to retort, Taehi kept her mouth shut. Coming here was her choice, not Sajoon’s coercion.
As if he knew it would turn out this way, Sajoon casually sat down opposite Taehi, crossing his long legs.
“You must have heard the conversation.”
To Taehi, who wore a confused and swept-away expression, Sajoon spoke calmly.
“It seems like you might have something to say to me too.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
