Impure Among Friends (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
Tae Hee wore an expression as if she’d just taken a solid hit.
Why that look again? She hadn’t even said anything wrong.
“Go inside, Min Tae Hee.”
Min Tae Hee, whom Sa Jun expected to leave coldly, was still standing right in front of him.
“Kang Sa Jun, are you really going on a blind date?”
Min Tae Hee asked again, after he’d already refused, sounding maddeningly coy.
But still, it only works if it’s you.
Sa Jun chuckled softly as he watched Tae Hee press her lips together tightly.
“What, are you worried?”
Instead of answering, Tae Hee just stared at him intently, and Sa Jun gazed quietly back down at her.
Her delicate face, bathed in the glow of the streetlamp, looked unusually vivid tonight.
Sa Jun’s chest tightened as he silently looked down at Min Tae Hee like this.
How long had they been staring at each other like this?
Tae Hee’s voice seeped through the muggy air like ripples spreading across water.
“Of course I am.”
“Then you go out with me yourself if it bothers you that much.”
Tae Hee blinked slowly, looking at Sa Jun as if bewildered.
Her eyes clearly demanded, “Why bring up something that’s already over?”
Instead of answering, Sa Jun lightly flicked her forehead with his thumb and index finger.
Sa Jun straightened his back as he watched Tae Hee scrunch up her face in exaggerated pain.
“Stop faking.”
“I’m not faking!”
Tae Hee snapped back, bit her lip hard, and glared at Sa Jun with narrowed eyes.
But apparently, he was completely smitten.
Even Min Tae Hee glaring like this looked impossibly adorable to him.
Ah, she’d always been pretty from the start.
Sa Jun stepped back one pace, hands slanted deep into his pants pockets.
His relaxed, dark eyes remained fixed on her small face, which still glared at him.
That forehead—perfect for flicking—was pretty. Those eyes, busier glaring than smiling, were pretty. Her dainty nose was pretty. And especially her lips—soft and pillowy—were pretty.
His hands clenched instinctively inside his pockets, holding back the urge to pull Min Tae Hee close and kiss her.
Before, he hadn’t known how her lips felt, so he could endure it—but now that he knew, it was nearly impossible to resist.
Whenever he saw Min Tae Hee, his eyes drifted unconsciously to her lips.
Unaware of his inner turmoil, Min Tae Hee innocently asked him,
“Kang Sa Jun, do you even have anything tasty to eat?”
Sa Jun had no appetite—so he never had anything “tasty.”
But recently, he’d found something. Right—Min Tae Hee’s lips.
Logically, those lips couldn’t be chewed or swallowed, and they didn’t even have any taste—so why did they feel so sweet to him?
Reaching out toward Min Tae Hee as if in a trance was simply irresistible for Sa Jun.
Since he couldn’t kiss her, he might as well settle for stroking her hair.
The sensation of her fine strands slipping between his fingers was soft.
Aside from her porcupine-like prickly personality, Min Tae Hee must be soft from head to toe like this.
Though her small hands swatted his away several times, Sa Jun kept stroking greedily.
Eventually, Min Tae Hee seemed to give in and quietly offered her head like a puppy.
When Sa Jun finally withdrew his hand after petting his fill, Tae Hee quickly smoothed her tousled hair with her fingertips.
“I’ll let it slide this time since you treated me to a delicious free meal.”
There’s no such thing as an expensive free meal in this world—everything costs money.
“If you treat me to something tasty again, can I touch you as much as I want?”
Tae Hee glared at him as if to say, “What nonsense are you spouting?” Sa Jun just let out a soft laugh.
Seriously, she never gave him an easy smile.
He couldn’t even figure out what part of this was supposed to be “easy.”
He’d even paid extra just to secure a meal voucher so he could meet Min Tae Hee—the very woman who’d put up her defenses and sharpened her claws at his explosive “Let’s date” declaration.
From the moment he went all the way to her office to see her until now, he’d focused all his attention on Min Tae Hee,
just trying his best to do something sweet and earn a few points with her.
While Min Tae Hee remained blissfully unaware of a truth he’d buried deep in his heart, Sa Jun finally spoke up.
“I’m leaving.”
After getting into the car, Sa Jun waited for the dashboard lights to turn on as he tried to recall—
exactly when he’d realized his feelings for Min Tae Hee.
It was at age 22—more precisely, when Min Tae Hee started dating her senior Je Hyeon in college and began distancing herself from him.
Back then, he truly thought he’d lose his mind.
He made up his mind to break them apart and schemed accordingly.
He investigated Je Hyeon and then paid Min Tae Hee’s father, Seon Tae, a large sum to separate the two.
Of course, it was ultimately Je Hyeon’s own choice to take the money and leave—but that betrayal left Tae Hee so wounded she locked her heart away completely.
So tightly shut that even Sa Jun couldn’t find a way in.
And that’s why he could never get closer to Min Tae Hee or reveal his feelings.
He’d waited like this for seven years—but he couldn’t wait any longer.
He had no choice but to bulldoze forward recklessly, creating a situation so extreme that Min Tae Hee simply couldn’t survive without coming to him.
Only after seeing the dashboard lights come on did Sa Jun get into the car and make a call somewhere.
“This is Kang Sa Jun. Send me the list of blind date candidates for Min Seon Tae. And please pick one woman for me to go on a blind date with as well.”
After giving a few more instructions and hanging up, Sa Jun couldn’t help but chuckle softly to himself.
Man, I’m a real bastard.
He was talking to no one but himself.
That’s how desperate and impatient he was—
feeling like he was losing his mind over Min Tae Hee, slipping through his fingers like sand he gripped too tightly.
[This is the timeline separator]A large VIP room at Geo Club.
Seated at the head of the table facing two young women and two men was Jin Won, Sa Jun’s Chief Secretary.
Park Seo Yeon, with her slender figure, handed Jin Won some documents.
“The total we four submitted was enormous, so we’ve summarized it into five concise pages.”
Jin Won scanned each page seriously; there wasn’t a trace of playfulness on his face.
After checking his wristwatch, Jin Won spoke.
“The 50% down payment specified in your contract should have just been deposited into your accounts.”
At those words, all four instinctively checked their phones for the deposit confirmation, as if they’d rehearsed it.
“Today, Ms. Park Seo Yeon, please create a group chat and invite my boss. That chat will operate 24/7, so respond instantly whenever he leaves a message. He’s extremely impatient and hates lengthy messages, so keep your replies strictly brief and to the point. Any questions?”
After exchanging glances, Park Seo Yeon—the team leader—raised her hand cautiously.
“The materials we received are too limited. It’s very difficult to accurately assess her true personality from this. Could you share actual messages or conversations she’s had with the woman in question?”
“That’s an invasion of my boss’s privacy—rejected.”
Jin Won flatly refused and swept his cold gaze over the four men and women before him.
The two men, though ordinary-looking, were notorious womanizers who charmed women effortlessly with their eloquence. The women were a psychiatrist and a dating columnist.
Especially Park Seo Yeon—the team leader, who was both a psychiatrist and a psychology PhD—had skyrocketed in fame thanks to her youth, stunning looks, and recognized expertise, even appearing on television.
Though her fee was significantly higher than the other three, Sa Jun had explicitly said not to worry about the cost.
“That’s precisely why I hired experts like you at such high fees—to provide excellent consultation despite limited information. Was my judgment wrong?”
Though Jin Won wondered why Sa Jun had gone through all this trouble and expense, he understood once he thought of his boss.
Who in their right mind would blurt out a confession the exact moment someone suggested dating—word for word, without missing a beat?
If it were me, I wouldn’t believe it either.
Sa Jun, utterly devoid of romance, was Sa Jun—but Min Tae Hee was just as much Min Tae Hee.
For thirteen years, she’d treated Kang Sa Jun—who naturally drew women just by sitting still—like a roadside pebble.
And that wasn’t all. She’d fussed over him like a child and acted like an older sister. No wonder Kang Sa Jun was desperate.
“If any of you lack confidence, we can replace you with others right now.”
“No! I’ll give it my all and work hard!”
One man answered loudly, prompting the other three to quickly agree as well.
Jin Won gave a brief nod, as if he’d expected this, then calmly continued.
“Anyone showing outstanding performance during the project will receive a personal bonus. Upon successful mission completion, you’ll get the remaining 50% of your contract fee plus an additional 100% bonus. Of course, if the mission fails or shows no progress midway, the contract will be canceled, and no remaining payment will be made. The advance you’ve already received can be considered as a token of appreciation for your effort. Any objections?”
The four exchanged determined glances and shook their heads firmly.
And understandably so—the 50% advance alone was already a substantial sum.
[This is the timeline separator]Jin Won headed toward the hotel’s indoor swimming pool, reserved exclusively for VVIP members.
A front desk employee recognized Jin Won and bowed respectfully in greeting.
Massive pillars supported the vast pool, and noon sunlight poured fiercely through the glass ceiling.
In the center of the shimmering pool—glittering like it held gems—a powerful jet of water surged. Sa Jun repeatedly surfaced and submerged his bare torso as he tirelessly swam back and forth across the expanse.
How long had Jin Won waited like this?
When Sa Jun finally reached the pool’s edge and slowly emerged from the water, Jin Won unconsciously let out a small gasp of admiration.
Even to another man, Sa Jun’s bare upper body looked like a meticulously carved sculpture.
His face, dripping with water, was beautiful—but his sensual body, charged with the raw energy of swimming, resembled a fierce, untamed beast.
Yet it was even more astonishing that Min Tae Hee had failed to see Kang Sa Jun as a man for thirteen years despite that face and physique.
Jin Won quickly handed a towel to Sa Jun, who’d collapsed onto a sunbed without even drying off.
“It’s five pages.”
Sa Jun took the towel, wiped his hands dry, and lazily skimmed the document with an expressionless face.
In less than twenty seconds, he handed it back to Jin Won—
who, having worked with Sa Jun for nine years, knew well his photographic memory and how he absorbed everything at a glance.
“Think it’ll help?”
“We’ll see.”
Sa Jun replied indifferently.
His pitch-black eyes, hidden beneath wet lashes beaded with droplets, looked languid and damp—as if soaked through.
Recalling how Sa Jun’s eyes only lit up vividly when he was with Min Tae Hee, Jin Won shook his head slightly.
How could someone who liked her this much have acted so indifferent all this time?
Though after hearing the brief explanation, it made sense.
Min Tae Hee had said their relationship would end the moment she saw him as a romantic interest—so what could Kang Sa Jun, of all people, do?
Sensing Sa Jun’s desperation, Jin Won carefully spoke up.
“Start by reaching out casually first.”
Sa Jun lifted his languid eyes as if to ask, “What are you talking about?”
“It’s written in Article Three of the ‘Ways to Restart a Relationship’ guide: ‘Send light, pressure-free messages.’ I recommend that too.”
But Sa Jun just let out a short laugh.
“Why send a message? If I’m going to do that, I might as well call. And if I’m calling, I’d rather just go see her.”
“Dude, think about it. Doing something you’ve never done before will feel burdensome. What if you just call out of the blue and ask, ‘What are you doing?’ Knowing Min Tae Hee’s personality, she’ll probably flare up and get suspicious.”
Sa Jun closed his eyes and waved his hand dismissively, clearly annoyed.
He really was stubborn as hell. No wonder Min Tae Hee had rejected him.
Muttering inwardly, Jin Won left the pool area—and only then did Sa Jun slowly open his eyes.
“Messages, huh.”
Min Tae Hee’s voice from a few days ago echoed in his head—the first time he’d ever called her and she’d picked up.
“What do you want? Why’d you call?”
Her voice hadn’t sounded pleased at all—only startled and guarded.
Remembering that tone, Sa Jun slowly opened his eyes and gazed up at the clear blue sky above the glass ceiling.
It was Saturday. The sky was clear, and the day was truly lovely.
[This is the timeline separator]Tae Hee was always busy on Saturdays—doing laundry, cleaning, organizing the fridge, and catching up on overdue housework.
But today, she was having a rather relaxed Saturday.
Since she’d skipped her usual Friday night visit to Geo, she woke up early without needing to sleep in—and thus started her day early.
“I should go to the supermarket.”
Maybe it was because of the chaotic week she’d had thanks to Kang Sa Jun—her fridge was in shambles.
It was full only of things to throw out, with absolutely no food to last her through the week.
Tae Hee let out a small sigh and glanced down at her phone on the floor.
“Seriously, no contact again? How am I supposed to believe you like me when you act like this? At least put some spit on your lips before lying.”
Kang Sa Jun, you idiot.
Just as she was heaping every insult she could think of, a message arrived on her phone.
Tae Hee’s eyes widened as she absentmindedly checked the screen.
[What are you doing?]…Damn. It was Kang Sa Jun.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
What mother isn’t charmed when she hears someone speak so lovingly of her child? Irresistible.