Only Bad for Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9

I only wanted to give Eun Jo a gift.

I felt sorry for my older sister, who didn’t even own one of those fancy designer bags everyone else carries around, so I drove her as a proxy.

A sleek black bag, undoubtedly perfect for the aloof Yoon Eun Jo—its golden logo and chain strap exuding pure luxury.

“Damn you, Chanel!”

Min Ah punched the innocent dryer with her fist.

[What if you get into an accident every time you go out? Don’t you know how dangerous the world is? Staying home is how you help.] [How many proxy gigs have I done for you already? You worry too much.] [Take better care of Da On—make her some tasty snacks. There’s so much to do at home anyway. Why don’t you clean the balcony for once!] [Why do you keep telling me to clean the already spotless balcony? Is someone coming over to lick it? Anyway, older sister is… ugh—an annoying nag.]

Tiirolo—tiirolo—

The dryer’s completion chime rang, but Min Ah stood still for a while, staring blankly into the balcony. It was impeccably tidy.

Lee Min Ah—the infant adopted just a month after birth.

Thus, her only memories of parents were of the adoptive ones who took her in.

They’d begun treating her like cold leftovers after their own biological child was born later—but that was all in the past, and it was fine.

Her birth mother had already been raising an older daughter; how had she ended up with me, too?

“She should’ve just not given birth at all. If she’d focused on raising just older sister, things might’ve been better.”

Opening the dryer lid, Min Ah resented a mother she’d never even seen.

She remembered Eun Jo spending a lot of time alone because her mother worked day and night.

And then suddenly taking a lot of medication.

The situation was easy enough to guess.

Still, Min Ah was simply grateful she’d met an older sister as devoted as any blood relative.

She’d met Eun Jo miraculously just two weeks before her own due date.

Perhaps because Eun Jo refused to speak about the baby’s father, Min Ah had to watch her cry silent tears for many long days.

At first, she’d thought it was just pity and frustration over her younger sister’s plight.

Only after living together for three years did she finally learn the reason behind those heart-wrenching, soundless tears.

It was three years after Min Ah, despite initial resistance, had been coaxed into registering Da On in her family register.

And even then, it was only hinted at ever so slightly: that she’d deeply loved someone, suffered terribly, and claimed she’d forgotten it all.

In that area, surely no one knew better than Lee Min Ah herself—after all, she’d even had a child.

But that… wasn’t something explainable in just a few lines.

Even optimistic Lee Min Ah couldn’t accept the part about “forgetting everything”—especially when it was said while avoiding eye contact.

How could anyone truly forget something that caused such excruciating pain? It would take an awfully long time just to grow numb, let alone forget.

Anyway, since then, Yoon Eun Jo had never cried or even frowned again.

Except for the single day Da On was born—she’d seemed oddly unhinged that day—but ever since, she’d been cheerful through and through, as if she had endless reasons to be happy.

“What a pair of utter fools, these sisters!”

She acted as if she’d raised children before—never surprised or flustered by ordinary matters.

She’d taken on the label of “unwed mother” in Min Ah’s place and remained admirably resolute.

[There’s nothing painful or sad about it. Looking back, crying seems like a luxury you can only afford when you have spare time.]

As Min Ah neatly folded the dried laundry, she suddenly murmured that name.

“…Kwon Jae Ha.”

Indeed, it was a name she’d never heard before. Home, office, home, office—Min Ah knew every detail of Eun Jo’s daily routine.

Yet this man clearly came from her past…

Outside the police station, Eun Jo had stood beside a remarkably tall and elegant man—even from afar.

Though Min Ah had been in a daze at the time, her older sister’s face, eyes reddened and raw, remained vivid in her mind. That forced smile, with those eyes—it was unbearable.

Now, slowly, she’s reached the point of worrying about her older sister—not because she cries, but because she can’t.

“Could something be broken inside me?”

Sitting cross-legged, Min Ah frowned as her hand instinctively brushed her right thigh.

She should’ve gotten out of the car immediately when the drunk thug sat in the passenger seat instead of the back.

In that split second when she glanced away, she noticed a shadow stepping onto the road just as she shook off his clinging, repulsive hand.

Even now, the memory alone made her shudder.

[The lawyer said it’s fine, but it’ll still cost money, right?][If we’re lucky, handing over some cash will end it. If this mess ruins your job appointment, I couldn’t bear it. Don’t worry—I’ll handle it, older sister.] [Why do you keep saying you’ll handle it? Stop acting like Mom already! If it has to go to trial, then so be it! I’m innocent!] [Don’t even mention a trial. After seeing those people, you still say that? Even if you win, nothing good will come of it for you. You don’t have time to spare.]

“Ugh… I’m going crazy.”

Min Ah glanced around their small but neatly arranged home.

The old, tiny apartment suddenly felt precious. Now that it might be lost, she finally understood why Eun Jo had polished and scrubbed every inch as if it were gold or jade.

Damn it! Lee Min Ah! What are you going to do?!

⭐⭐⭐

Home / Absolutely not. Savings / 8,000. Car / 330.

Eun Jo stared blankly at the blinking cursor on her notepad. There was nothing more to write—it meant she had nothing else of value to sell.

Graduated top of her class from a prestigious university. Held a stable job and solid career. None of it helped.

She’d never thought she had little. In fact, until very recently, she could’ve said she was deliriously happy.

Especially after Min Ah passed the civil service exam—it felt like she’d gained the whole world. Of course, the child was growing, and more expenses lay ahead.

Still, even if half was mortgaged and the place small, it was her own home. Her child was healthy, smart, and cheerful. Once Min Ah secured a stable job, she could meet a good man and become even happier.

“Ha…”

How can this be?! How can everything suddenly go pitch black, like someone just flipped a switch?

Less than 100 million won… Yoon Eun Jo, you really have nothing. Or rather, no money at all.

Is this normal for someone my age? Or am I just this bad off? I… thought I’d been so diligent and thrifty.

She’d forgotten—Yoon Eun Jo’s life was built on bare, icy ground in the dead of winter.

No. Eun Jo squeezed her eyes shut tightly, then opened them again—to block out the rising tide of negativity.

“Ms. Eun Jo, are you feeling unwell?”

Team Leader Jang Shin Ae peered sharply at Eun Jo over her glasses.

“No, I’m fine.”

Looking at Team Leader Jang, Eun Jo silently rehearsed in her head: [Team Leader, could I possibly borrow some money from you?]

They’d known each other long enough and were close enough to ask such a favor—but even this silent rehearsal made her cheeks burn and stomach churn.

She’d thought she’d grown thick-skinned against the world and life itself. She was wrong.

Eun Jo pushed her chair back and stood up.

“I’ll treat everyone to coffee. My head feels heavy, and I’m craving something sweet. Ms. Jang Mi, how about a caramel macchiato? With extra whipped cream.”

“Deal!”

“Everyone else, drop your orders in the group chat.”

Eun Jo hurried out of the office as if being chased.

.

.

Alone in the design room after everyone else had left, Eun Jo remained at her desk.

This was the price paid for letting her mind wander elsewhere and wasting time.

Sure enough, employees from other departments frequently passed by the glass door before clocking out.

.

.

Knock knock.

At the light knock, her gaze shifted. Seeing the man standing at the open doorway, Eun Jo rose from her seat.

It was General Manager Lee Won Young—the youngest son of Chairman Lee Sung Choon and head of the newly restructured department appointed just a year ago.

“You’re still here before leaving?”

“Yes.”

He was also the architect behind the “Natural Products Convergence R&D Headquarters,” having merged the previously separate Strategic Planning Office and Medical R&D Headquarters into one new division.

Lee Won Young had been recruited from a renowned global pharmaceutical company—yes, he was the chairman’s son, but that wasn’t all.

“…Ms. Eun Jo.”

“Yes, sir?”

He paused unusually long. They saw each other almost daily since they shared the same floor.

“Do you have dinner plans? Or do you still have work left?”

“I did have some, but it’s all finished now.”

Eun Jo smiled faintly, answering honestly.

He was a good person—capable, kind, and respectful of boundaries.

“It’s gotten late. Aren’t you hungry? Some takeout arrived, and I’ve got extra. Join me.”

His eyes lingered briefly on the ribbon collar of Eun Jo’s neat blouse.

“Thank you, but I’m fine. I’ll eat at home—my family’s waiting for me.”

“Oh, a waiting family—how enviable. Alright then, maybe next time.”

The general manager offered a simple farewell and turned away immediately.

Switching off her laptop, Eun Jo thought: There would be no “next time.” Not now, not ever.

Besides, the illustrious royal family—even if offered freely, she had no interest.

Hastily grabbing her coat and handbag, she muttered to herself.

“…It’s already hard enough. Please just leave me alone. I’m begging you.”

Within the company, Yoon Eun Jo was famous for her impenetrable walls.

With her pretty face, slim figure, calm demeanor, and lovely voice, men often fell for her at first sight—only to suffer embarrassing rejection when they rashly approached.

Yet new faces kept appearing anyway—a truly exasperating reality.

Last month, she’d even received an outrageously lavish flower bouquet. It was from a new hire in another department who’d acted before even gathering basic intel.

Rumors already circulated that Yoon Eun Jo was a divorced mother. Half-true, but she never denied it.

Either way, she had no intention of dating anyone.

“…Ah.”

While waiting for the elevator, Eun Jo spotted Lee Won Young approaching with a large paper bag.

“I ordered the three most popular items. Share them with your family. Kids love pork cutlets—I do too, honestly.”

He gave an awkward smile and lightly shook the bag toward her, urging her to take it.

“Thank you. We’ll enjoy it.”

He’d already turned away but waved briefly over his shoulder.

.

.

[Of course—someone with that pretty face should have men lining up to hand over 600 million won.]

…If only her boyfriend were someone like the general manager.

Gripping the steering wheel, Eun Jo shook her head firmly. Of all the ridiculous thoughts.

But… an uncomfortable, unpleasant conclusion kept beckoning her.

Come on in.

She’d indulged in pointless thoughts more than enough—now it was time to shove them aside.