Impure Among Friends (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8

Hee Gu’s ears perked up. For a moment, he was tempted—but if he fell for just one sentence like that, he wouldn’t be Kang Hee Gu, the seasoned veteran.

“Then bring her to meet your grandfather once.”

“I already told you, just give me a little more time.”

“If you’ve got a woman, just bring her over—why do you need more time?”

“I’m trying my best to charm her, but she’s not falling for it. It’s driving me crazy right now.”

Hearing something he’d never heard before in his life, Hee Gu snapped with an angry expression.

“What kind of high-and-mighty daughter from a fancy family would dare reject my precious grandson!”

“Her family’s dirt poor.”

Hee Gu stayed silent, as if urging his grandson to continue. Taking the cue, his grandson slowly went on.

“But she herself… she shines.”

His narrowed eyes, clearly picturing that woman, stared intently at something beyond Hee Gu.

“She’s got a damn stubborn personality, sure—but that’s all overshadowed. She’s incredibly smart, mature, confident, and beautiful.”

Hee Gu narrowed his own eyes, focusing intently as well.

For the first time ever, his perpetually emotionless grandson was showing genuine feeling on his face.

His own birth mother had sold him off for money, and his stepmother had given him a name incorporating the Chinese character for “death.”

Ever since childhood, his grandson had disliked women and kept his relationships with them scrupulously clean—so clean, in fact, that odd rumors even spread that something might be wrong “down there.”

Thus, Hee Gu had stopped hoping his grandson would ever marry and give him a great-grandchild.

He’d simply planned to wait patiently, letting him live freely—then use that as leverage to arrange a strategic marriage with a suitable woman.

Yet now, his grandson was confessing he had a crush.

Granted, Sa Jun had kept one female friend close since childhood—but it couldn’t possibly be her.

He’d personally stated they were the only two people who truly didn’t see each other as the opposite sex, and for 13 years, nothing had ever happened between them to contradict that.

Still, because the girl stayed close to his grandson, Hee Gu had investigated her long ago—and back then, she’d seemed utterly ordinary. Definitely not someone sharp enough to give his grandson trouble.

So then… who on earth could it be?

He was dying of curiosity, yet couldn’t launch another secret investigation. If the brat found out, he’d probably seize it as leverage to demand something else again.

Unaware of Hee Gu’s inner turmoil, his grandson grinned slyly and said meaningfully,

“You’d probably be shocked too, Grandfather, if you ever met her.”

Pleased by this rare, heart-to-heart talk with his grandson, Hee Gu gestured to Butler Go.

As Butler Go approached quietly like a shadow, Hee Gu instructed him to ensure their guests dined comfortably and enjoyed their stay.

Soon, a clean and modest drinking table was set before them.

After exchanging glasses of sorghum liquor, Hee Gu asked the question burning in his mind:

“So… there’s really a woman out there who won’t budge even after seeing your face?”

“She says I’m annoyingly handsome.”

“…What the hell does that even mean?”

“Jin Won hyung says he admits I’m good-looking, but it just irritates her.”

Hee Gu thought her a strange woman indeed—rejecting a handsome man like that. Still, if looks didn’t work, ability would.

“Don’t rely on your face alone, boy. Try giving her gifts, being affectionate. Not petty things like handbags—buy her a car, or get her a comfortable place to live.”

“She’d probably curse me out if I bought her something expensive. She absolutely hates being in debt.”

If neither looks nor ability worked, then family remained. Women tended to care deeply about family, more so than men.

“Sa Jun, shall your grandfather meet this woman’s family? If they’re in business…”

“No.”

At his grandson’s flat refusal, Hee Gu swallowed hard.

Was there really no better method than this?

“Why not?”

“She doesn’t get along with her family. She’d probably be happy if they went completely bankrupt.”

Hee Gu’s eyes widened in shock.

Wishing for her own family’s ruin? That sounded downright vicious.

He wanted to respect his grandson’s feelings, but this felt like going too far.

Right now, his grandson lived quietly in the shadows under the guise of freedom—but soon, he’d need to step into the light.

Even if he refused, Hee Gu was determined to pull him out somehow.

Letting such heaven-sent talent go to waste was a sin—but he absolutely refused to leave even a speck of his wealth to that disrespectful, ungrateful daughter-in-law and granddaughter who showed no reverence for their father-in-law.

As the largest shareholder of Seo Mun Group—having transferred management to his son Yong Jin—Hee Gu intended to fully back his grandson with all his power.

Thus, he hoped for a daughter-in-law who, while not extraordinary, was at least ordinary.

After all, a man couldn’t accomplish great things outside the home if his household was in chaos.

Carefully choosing his words to avoid pushing his grandson away, Hee Gu was about to speak again—but his grandson spoke first.

“Now that I think about it, you and her are kinda similar. Your personalities are far from normal, you’re not exactly kind—but you don’t do bad things either.”

Hee Gu’s tightly pressed lips twitched.

He couldn’t tell if the brat was insulting or complimenting him.

Yet, strangely enough, he found himself wanting to hear more.

“Hmm… go on.”

“If she has something to say, she says it. Hates freebies, has a strong sense of responsibility, precise with calculations, speaks a bit bluntly—and one of the few people who ever uses violence on me.”

His grandson’s gaze drifted pointedly toward Hee Gu’s ever-present cane.

Then, grinning mischievously like a troublemaker, he asked,

“That’s you to a T. Admit it?”

At his grandson’s words, Hee Gu couldn’t help but laugh. Now that he thought about it, it actually sounded true.

He realized anew just how eloquent his grandson was.

His words mixed praise and criticism perfectly, and though clearly not flattery, they still sounded pleasing—unless, of course, the clever brat had deliberately crafted this strategy, knowing Grandfather wouldn’t oppose a girl who resembled him.

Either way, though he wasn’t entirely pleased, he couldn’t say no either.

So Hee Gu decided to temporarily set aside his desire to bring in a respectable daughter-in-law who’d make even that insolent daughter-in-law take notice.

For now, he’d respect his grandson’s wishes, wait, and observe. At least the boy was interested in a woman—that was something.

Once they married, his grandson’s own strong personality would surely manage her well enough.

Truthfully, even if his grandson failed in love, Hee Gu stood to lose nothing.

As his grandson himself said, Hee Gu was precise in calculations—and in return for this patience, his grandson would unquestioningly obey his next order.

Having reached his decision, Hee Gu asked calmly,

“Then, Sa Jun, how exactly do you plan to charm her?”

“There’s really only one thing she truly loves.”

His grandson’s dark eyes, usually playful, now held a sharp intensity.

Instinctively, Hee Gu tensed and held his breath.

“A transaction based on conditions.”

“…?”

“I’ll figure out the exact condition she can’t refuse, propose a deal—‘Go out with me.’ That way, I’ll slowly make her my woman. She needs a meticulous strategy to be won over.”

His grandson was brilliant—but when it came to romance, he seemed utterly clueless, calling such nonsense a “strategy.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Hee Gu carefully spoke up.

“Sa Jun… where on earth would you find a woman who’d fall for such an absurd condition…”

“She will.”

His grandson’s low, steady voice carried absolute conviction as he added, “She’s different from other women.”

It sounded so sincere Hee Gu couldn’t even laugh.

Just then, his grandson checked his phone and made another outrageous request.

“Grandfather, can you get me some sweet corn soup to go from Chodang?”

“You fool! Is this a restaurant? How am I supposed to get soup?”

“Ask the kitchen or call a chef you know—use some of that influence. You still have that much power left, don’t you?”

Hee Gu didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.

Though he’d retired to the back rooms, he had to admit he still held power.

Yet his grandson had never once asked for his help before.

And now, his first-ever request… was for soup.

Of all things, asking him to use his influence just to get soup—well, I’ll be damned.

“Why? Does she want to eat it?”

Hee Gu tossed out the question casually—and his grandson immediately replied,

“Yeah, so hurry up.”

Seeing his usually calm grandson now fidgeting anxiously, Hee Gu grew anxious too.

Ah, the hell with it—I don’t even know anymore.

Raising his voice, Hee Gu called out,

“Butler Go! Butler Go! Emergency situation!”

[This is the timeline separator]

Her irregular period had chosen today of all days to suddenly hit. So she’d sent a message to Sa Jun.

[I’m suddenly not feeling well. Let’s postpone the strategy meeting to next week.]

A little over an hour had passed since she sent the message. Tae Hee, lying deathly still on her bed, suddenly grabbed her phone and glared at it.

“Hey, Kang Sa Jun. If you’ve read my message, reply already—just reply!”

Something like “Got it,” “Rest well,” or “Are you okay?”—it’s not like your fingers are broken; how hard could typing a short reply be, you read-and-ghoster?

Of course, in 13 years, she’d never once received a reply or call from Kang Sa Jun. Even when he’d disappeared for over two weeks, there’d been no phone call or message.

So Tae Hee was used to being read-and-ghosted by Sa Jun; she’d always just accepted it.

But now that she’d recognized her own feelings, even the tiniest thing consumed her thoughts—leaving her achingly disappointed and heartbroken.

“That’s exactly why I never wanted to fall in love.”

She’d been like this with Je Hyeon, her first love too.

As her senior, she’d let it slide—but once they started dating, her entire focus and heart had been fixed on him.

She’d lost sleep over small things, gotten hurt, felt jealousy—and yet still felt excited and happy.

He’d been the first man in her life so kind and thoughtful—like warm sunshine, with a gentle smile and crinkling eyes that charmed her utterly.

She’d helplessly fallen for him, convinced she could trust and love this man.

But Min Seon Tae wouldn’t just stand by while Tae Hee forgot about Kang Sa Jun—the golden lifeline she was destined to climb.

When Je Hyeon quietly chose to break up after being offered debt relief and study-abroad funds in exchange for leaving her, it shattered her.

She’d trusted him so completely, loved him so deeply.

‘I love you, Tae Hee. I know it’s shameless, but can’t you wait for me?’

This time, she decided not to believe Je Hyeon’s words of love.

If he truly loved her, he should’ve rejected that money and chosen her instead. How could she possibly trust him now?

After Je Hyeon left and she was left utterly broken in body and spirit, Tae Hee made a vow:

Never again would she fall for such foolish love.

And yet…

“Here I am, falling into foolish love again.”

Letting out a self-mocking sigh, Tae Hee scrunched up her face.

The cramping pain in her lower abdomen felt like it was dragging sharp claws across her raw nerves.

She flung her phone aside and muttered softly,

“Kang Sa Jun… I hurt.”

On days like this, Sa Jun would always send her corn soup and medicine—but he was now at his grandfather’s house and wouldn’t escape until tomorrow afternoon.

That meant no corn soup for her, and she’d be stuck suffering through cramps until tomorrow.

Clutching her aching stomach, Tae Hee curled up like a shrimp.

Just get through one day—then it’ll be fine.

As she lay there with her eyes closed, the doorbell rang.

It was Sunday—no deliveries expected, and no visitors planned.

She wanted to get up and ask who it was through the intercom, but her body wouldn’t move.

Lying pale as a corpse, she stayed still—then the doorbell stopped, and her phone rang instead.

Glancing carelessly at the caller ID, Tae Hee’s eyes went wide.

[Absolute CEO Kang Sa Jun]

Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand to check again, she confirmed—it was definitely Kang Sa Jun.

This wasn’t her first kiss or even her first love—but it was her first call from him.

“…Who is this?”

Even as she answered, Tae Hee refused to believe it.

[Why won’t you open the door?]

Yet that slightly arrogant, deep voice was unmistakably Kang Sa Jun’s.

Since when did he start ringing doorbells and barging in?

Unnerved by this uncharacteristic behavior, Tae Hee asked warily,

“What do you want? Why are you calling?”

[Just entering your passcode—don’t be startled.]

Before she could respond, the call abruptly ended.

Hearing the keypad tones, Tae Hee simply rolled over to face the front door.

Moments later, the door opened—and Sa Jun really did walk in.

Tae Hee stared blankly as Sa Jun, tall and imposing, filled the narrow doorway completely.

In her small studio apartment, he reached her bed in just a few strides.

Sitting beside her on the bed, he looked down quietly—and she caught a faint whiff of alcohol.

“How did you get here?”

“Drove, obviously. Did you think I walked?”

She hadn’t meant what vehicle he took—but how he’d escaped his grandfather’s house.

But she wasn’t in the mood for wordplay, and the throbbing pain in her abdomen left her too weak to snap back.

So Tae Hee just bit her lip and closed her eyes.

Damn these cramps—she gritted her teeth, cursing silently—when she heard a soft sigh brush past her ear.

“Min Tae Hee… does it hurt badly?”

A large hand gently covered her forehead, damp with cold sweat.