Not for the First Time (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 4
Young In sat blankly for a long while even after Sung Hyuk left, then finally stood up.
She tried to sort out her chaotic, tangled mind, but only concluded that it was impossible to organize.
Her steps as she left the café and crossed the hotel lobby felt heavy. Even the brilliant chandelier that embodied pouring starlight, and the unique paintings and sculptures, didn’t register in her eyes at all.
Feeling like she was possessed, Young In returned home, stopped midway while trying to take off her heels, and looked at herself in the full-length mirror by the entrance.
“Did you get all dressed up like that and end up disappointed because it wasn’t the person you were waiting for?”
That sharp voice lingered in her ears.
Seeing herself like this, she couldn’t deny those words. Even to her own eyes, she looked like someone who had put effort into her appearance to impress a blind date partner.
She didn’t have the slightest desire to look good for Oh Chang Geun, yet she felt a little wronged by the misunderstanding.
Then suddenly she became curious. If the blind date partner hadn’t been Oh Chang Geun, would Cha Sung Hyuk have not cared at all?
“I can’t stand watching the woman who dumped me marry some loser like that. It would make me look too pathetic.”
Even granting him that thought a hundred times over, she couldn’t possibly choose her marriage partner while considering the pride and dignity of her impressive ex-boyfriend.
Young In looked away from the mirror, took off her heels, and slipped her feet into house slippers.
As she walked down the hallway and reached the living room, both her legs stopped moving. Someone she had assumed would naturally be out playing since it was Saturday was occupying the living room.
“You were home?”
A Rim, who had been leaning on the sofa, engrossed in a mobile game, turned her head. The mask pack covering her face looked rather eerie.
“Why are you back so early? Did you part ways without even having dinner?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you decide?”
“About what?”
A Rim frowned deeply.
“What do you think? I’m asking if you’re going to marry him.”
Young In couldn’t retort that the question was too hasty. It might have been because she had just met someone far more impatient than her sister.
“We’re getting married.”
Though she wondered if that even counted as a proposal.
“Really? You said yes?”
A Rim’s eyes sparkled as she wiggled excitedly.
“Should I? Is it okay if I do?”
A self-mocking smile briefly appeared and vanished from Young In’s lips.
“Why are you asking me? Of course it’s fine. You two are perfect for each other. Don’t mind oppa and me—just go ahead and do it first. Who cares about order these days? That’s so old-fashioned.”
The reason A Rim was pushing for their marriage was simple: she was certain that no matter who her own future husband turned out to be, he wouldn’t be worse than Oh Chang Geun—nothing more, nothing less. She could never tolerate Young In ending up with a better man than her.
“I’m going upstairs.”
A Rim almost shouted for a clear answer but held back.
The fact that Young In—who knew Oh Chang Geun’s true nature just as well as she did—was reacting this way already felt encouraging. At the same time, it was puzzling.
“She doesn’t seem to hate the idea that much?”
A suspicious gaze followed Young In as she climbed the stairs.
“Does Oh Chang Geun actually have some unexpected charm?”
It was the kind of thought only possible because she had no idea who Young In’s blind date really was.
[This is the timeline separator]The following night.
Sung Hyuk ended up back at the club where he had reunited with Young In. It was the same private room as last time.
The moment he stepped inside, Beom Jun’s voice rang out.
“The star has arrived!”
Sung Hyuk looked with displeasure at Beom Jun, who had jumped up from his seat and come trotting over.
“Why are you so late?”
“I wasn’t going to come, but I stopped by for a bit. Why all the fuss about another welcome party?”
Sung Hyuk’s expression was sour because this welcome party was happening against his will.
This was already the third one.
Unlike Beom Jun, who was crazy about nightlife, Sung Hyuk didn’t enjoy partying. He especially hated moving around in big groups like this.
“We have to let the whole world know Cha Sung Hyuk is back.”
“You’re just looking for an excuse to drink.”
Pretending not to hear, Beom Jun grabbed Sung Hyuk’s arm and seated him at the empty head seat.
“Here, have your first drink.”
Sung Hyuk gave perfunctory replies to his friends’ greetings while accepting the drink Beom Jun poured.
That was when a slurred voice reached his ears.
“Hey, Cha Sung Hyuk…”
He turned and saw Chang Geun’s face, blurry and red from alcohol. His thin lips parted irritably.
“How was the blind date?”
Sung Hyuk twisted the corner of his mouth in a sneer.
“Yeah.”
He hadn’t come just because of Beom Jun’s nagging. He had been more curious about what kind of reaction Chang Geun would show.
Seeing him do something he’d never done before, he must have been pretty discouraged. Of course, Sung Hyuk didn’t feel sorry in the slightest. He only hoped the guy wouldn’t get on his nerves. But that wish didn’t come true.
“That’s hilarious. You got rejected, dude.”
When Chang Geun let out a scornful laugh, Sung Hyuk’s brow narrowed.
“Rejected?”
“Some Madam Jin or whoever—that pimp lady said the woman wasn’t interested, right? That basically means Young In rejected you.”
Beom Jun, who had been quietly listening in confusion because the guy usually struggled to even speak one word to Sung Hyuk, finally cut in with a bewildered look.
“What are you talking about? Rejected by Young In?”
“I barely managed to set up that blind date by begging my aunt who already hates me, and this bastard Cha Sung Hyuk stole it!”
Unable to contain his anger, Chang Geun yelled. He was even angrier at himself for not flatly refusing when asked to give up the date.
“What? So the person who went on the blind date with Young In yesterday wasn’t you, but Sung Hyuk?”
Beom Jun turned to Sung Hyuk with eyes full of questions.
“Why did you go?”
Instead of answering, Sung Hyuk fired back.
“You call yourself her oppa—why did you just stand by while that piece of trash was hitting on your little sister?”
He had shown up because he thought Young In was seriously considering marriage. And because he believed she didn’t know Chang Geun’s true nature. In the end, both assumptions were wrong.
“What did I do…”
As an embarrassed Beom Jun avoided Sung Hyuk’s gaze and trailed off, Chang Geun muttered sarcastically under his breath.
“Cha Sung Hyuk isn’t all that either. Getting rejected by an adopted kid.”
Sung Hyuk let out a short laugh and stared straight at him.
“From now on, let’s gather without the illegitimate child.”
His low but clear voice pierced the ears of everyone in the room.
Chang Geun’s face turned bright red after having his complex struck directly.
Not satisfied with just humiliating him, Sung Hyuk walked over, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him out of the room.
“Urk!”
Pinned hard against the wall, Chang Geun curled his shoulders in pain.
“Stop chasing after Chae Young In. You filthy bastard who doesn’t know his place.”
Chang Geun’s lips trembled as he looked up with frightened eyes.
“Do you… like Young In…?”
“She hates you.”
“…”
Chang Geun quickly averted his eyes from the menacing glare. Inside, he was regretting having acted cocky while drunk.
“Don’t show up to any gathering I’m at from now on. I never want to see your face again.”
“Y-Yes…”
The moment the grip that seemed about to tear his clothes loosened, Chang Geun fled down the hallway.
Sung Hyuk watched him with a scowl, then turned and walked the opposite direction.
He figured if he drank now while feeling this foul, he’d suffer a terrible hangover tomorrow.
[This is the timeline separator]Hye Seong Entertainment was an actor management agency with a total of seven employees, including the CEO. Though small in scale, it had several famous actors and was known in the industry as a hidden gem.
Young In’s official title was Management Team Leader.
Thanks to her all-round performance—from scouting artists to management and PR—she was undeniably called Hye Seong’s ace.
As befitted the company’s horizontal culture, meetings were always intense. No one hesitated to argue even in front of the CEO.
Today, Young In and the PR team leader clashed.
“I think it’s better not to release an article about re-shooting with no pay. If the lead actor spreads a heartwarming ‘no-fee’ story, it becomes even harder for supporting actors to ask for their pay.”
In the drama starring Hye Seong’s top actor, the female co-lead had suddenly dropped out after her affair with a married man was exposed. They had decided to cast a new actress and reshoot her scenes.
The PR team leader couldn’t understand why Young In opposed putting out a no-fee heartwarming article.
“Team Leader Chae, our artist is the lead—why worry about the supporting roles? Why miss a chance to boost his image?”
“For supporting actors, pay is a matter of livelihood.”
“That’s their problem. They’ll eventually become leads too someday.”
“What are the odds of that? About 0.1%?”
“…”
The PR team leader shut his mouth awkwardly.
“Our artist’s image is already good enough. Skipping one heartwarming article won’t hurt it. Instead, let’s get proper payment for the reshoot, donate that money, and then release the article. ‘We actually received payment for this reason, and we donated it.’ It’ll be a bit delayed, but isn’t that the win-win approach?”
CEO Kang, who had been silently watching, asked Young In.
“What does Min Woo say?”
“He said he’ll do whatever I decide.”
“Then let’s go with Team Leader Chae’s opinion. Meeting adjourned. Everyone’s dismissed.”
And with that, the meeting ended.
Young In, who had been suffering from a headache since morning, declined CEO Kang’s offer to have dinner together and left work earlier than usual.
Only to run straight into the very person who had been messing with her head these past few days.
At home, no less.
“Our junior is here.”
Sung Hyuk was sitting elegantly on the living room sofa with his legs crossed, smiling.
When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman
“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to date them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.
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he still hang up with his ex,i smell trouble for them