“That’s true. However, whether the quality of the ingredients is high or the bartender’s skill is good, you won’t know until it’s completed.”
Haeyeon tilted the cocktail glass and, with a gentle tone, continued her words.
“When the ingredients arrive, you may find something damaged.”
Slowly and gently, she informed, one character at a time, to avoid any chance that her words might not be conveyed to Surin.
“and when you check, it turns out the bartender’s skill was just a façade.”
When Haeyeon finished speaking and laughed wholeheartedly, her crimson lips, unlike usual, particularly caught the attention.
Watching the silent skirmish between the two, continuing from the department store, Yunseo vowed silently in her mind that she wouldn’t touch cocktails from now on.
“Was I a bit late?”
The one who subtly transformed the atmosphere was Dohee. With a sunny smile, Dohee, dressed in a lively mini dress that suited her age, emphasized her already energetic style, making her look even more refreshing.
“Little sister, wow!”
Dohee seemed to see only Haeyeon again today. Pointing her thumb at Haeyeon, Dohee turned to Surin next.
“Oh Surin unnie. Different, huh?”
“You’re unique too, aren’t you?”
As Dohee playfully laughed, deliberately making scissor shapes with her fingers on her chin as if contemplating, Surin responded promptly with wit. Following that, Yunseo greeted Dohee casually.
“You’re going to the U.S. next week, right? It’s nice to see you like this, miss.”
“Miss is going to the U.S.?”
When Haeyeon’s eyes widened slightly, Dohee laughed apologetically.
“Ah, I tried to surprise Haeyeon unnie today, but Yunseo unnie stole my turn. But since she’ll be back soon, don’t be too sad.”
Saying so, Dohee displayed aegyo as if she would shed tears at any moment, brightening the atmosphere.
“Oh? Anyway, there’s my friend over there. Seriously, who invited that household to such a luxurious place?”
Dohee, who demonstrated her sense of humor to the end, whispered to Haeyeon, ‘Enjoy the party,’ and went to her friend, waving her hands from a distance. The atmosphere that had just brightened changed immediately.
“Beautiful women are gathered here.”
Approaching in a charcoal suit, a chic man, his two faces contrasting with his arrival. Haeyeon’s face bloomed with a smiling smile, and Surin, with a slight frown, whispered quietly.
“…He’s here.”
The man’s voice, like Yunseo’s, was familiar to both Haeyeon and Surin. Choosing a unique-shaped handkerchief and a tie pin, he was Lee Yunho. With his characteristic laughter, he squeezed in between Surin and Haeyeon.
Yunho was a figure who made Surin act emotionally. So perhaps that’s why Surin threw words at Yunho like a stab.
“Beautiful women are gathered here, huh? Isn’t that line too cheesy? Oh, and is your side still tingling?”
“That’s also cheesy. And I’m just happy with work.”
Yunho answered with a smile and continued.
“Moreover, I’ve never liked someone enough to aim for someone with a partner.”
Despite the meaningful words, Surin’s expression remained calm.
“I see. If you really fall in love, you’ll feel it.”
Although she called Doha ‘oppa,’ Surin, who did not use such a term with Yunho, said.
In fact, she was not ashamed of loving Doha, who was married. Doha’s marriage was just a small obstacle.
“…I thought so. Well, I’m just happy with work.”
Yunho laughed and replied, then changed the subject.
Isurin had been standing like a folding screen next to Yunseo and was about to move with him, but she turned her head again towards Haeyeon.
“Oh, Miss Min Haeyeon?”
As Surin spoke, she turned her back, and dazzling jewels shone brightly on the smooth curve.
“I heard you work. How’s it going? Is the job enjoyable?”
“Yes, it’s so enjoyable that I regret starting late.”
At Surin’s firm response with no lies or hesitation, she squinted her eyes subtly and shed a subtle charm.
“I’m glad. I hope it gets even more enjoyable in the future.”
After neatly finishing her words, Surin turned her steps with Yunseo towards the crowded area. As glamorous as her appearance, her inner self also concealed thorns.
“When the light is strong, the shadow is dark.”
An unexpected remark reached Haeyeon, who was staring at the spot where Surin had left with a stern expression.
“Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.”
What meaning Yunho had in saying such words was unknown, but Haeyeon accepted it for now.
“Instead of lamenting only the dark shadow.”
“You should reverse it to think that the shadow is dark because the light is strong.”
It was easy for Haeyeon to follow Yunho’s words as it was a famous piece, and she had read it several times.
“Now, I’ve untied the knot. The things that were tangled will soon unravel.”
Quoting Goethe implied dealing with transactions. Haeyeon’s eyes lit up as she understood.
Although she wanted to ask him more, when she saw someone approaching from that direction, Haeyeon bit her lip inwardly.
“Haeyeon.”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
