A moment of silence followed.
Wanjin turned to Jiho and asked, “You’re Lee Soo’s boyfriend?”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Jiho replied confidently, unaware of the full context.
“And what about Yumi?”
“Ah, Yumi is like a younger sister to me, I’ve known her since childhood because of Aunt Soomin.”
“Uh-huh… Okay. Let’s eat then.”
Wanjin finally nodded, understanding the situation, and picked up his chopsticks.
During the quiet meal, Wanjin broke the silence.
“How long have you two been together?”
Yumi and Soomin both paused, clearly curious as well.
“Not long. About two months.”
Upon hearing Lee Soo’s answer, Wanjin, who had been nodding, started bombarding Jiho with endless questions.
Jiho couldn’t even touch his food, busy answering.
“Dad, let’s eat comfortably now. Enough with the questions, okay?”
Lee Soo, unable to bear it any longer, sweetly smiled and chided Wanjin.
“I haven’t even brought home someone I’m going to marry, you’re overdoing it. If you keep this up, I won’t introduce any boyfriends to you in the future.”
“Well, who knows about that. It’s not like there’s someone predestined to marry. You might end up marrying someone you like as you date,” Wanjin replied seriously, his emotions complex upon meeting Lee Soo’s first introduced boyfriend.
“How old am I to be talking about marriage?”
“What does age matter for an adult? When I was twenty…….”
Interrupted by Lee Soo’s retort, Wanjin abruptly stopped, surprised by his own words.
Wanjin and Hyejin had met as first loves at twenty and eventually married.
It was an unexpected slip of the tongue from Wanjin.
“Ahem.”
Wanjin coughed awkwardly.
Soomin, unaware of Wanjin’s past, remained unaffected by his comment.
“Anyway, it’s important to meet good people from the start. No one knows when or how connections will happen.”
“Got it. Let’s eat now.”
Yumi’s heart sank at the mention of ‘marriage.’
The thought of Lee Soo and Jiho marrying was unbearable.
‘Out of so many girls, why Lee Soo? What’s so great about her? What does she have that I don’t?’
Yumi felt like she had lost her most precious treasure to Lee Soo, her world crumbling.
She felt suffocated, unable to do anything in this situation.
The rice in her mouth felt like dry sand.
All five dined with their own complex thoughts.
“We should get going, Dad.”
“Already? Have some fruit at least.”
Wanjin was reluctant to let Lee Soo go so soon, having many more questions for Jiho.
“We need to get back to school. I left my books at the library.”
Lee Soo had only set aside a little over two hours for tonight’s dinner.
Despite starting her studies earlier than usual, there was never enough time.
“Back to school?”
Wanjin glanced at the clock on the wall.
It was just past 7 PM.
“The final exams are coming up.”
“Ah, right.”
“Right. I don’t want to cut down on sleep. You wouldn’t want that either, right?”
Lee Soo provided an irrefutable reason, also wanting to show she wasn’t neglecting her studies despite dating.
“Of course, you need proper sleep.”
“Jiho, let’s go. Get up.”
Jiho stood up, following Lee Soo.
It was a dinner where Jiho couldn’t remember what he ate or how it tasted, overwhelmed by Wanjin’s interrogation.
Even Jiho, usually unfazed, was unusually tense today.
The other three also stood up simultaneously.
“It’s a shame you’re leaving so soon.”
Soomin forced a smile at Lee Soo.
Her heart was heavy with worry for Yumi, but she didn’t show it outwardly.
“Yes. Thank you for the delicious meal.”
Lee Soo also smiled faintly.
Only Yumi stood there, looking as if she was about to collapse.
“Jiho, be careful on your way too.”
“Yes, Auntie.”
“Lee Soo.”
As they walked to the entrance, Wanjin reached out and grabbed Lee Soo’s hand.
“Hmm?”
“It’s good that you’re dating, but both of you should be careful. I know you’ll handle it well.”
Lee Soo stared blankly at Wanjin, emphasizing the word ‘careful.’
‘Careful. Careful. Careful about what?’
Pondering over his words, Lee Soo suddenly became flustered.
“……Dad!”
She was at a loss for words, faced with Wanjin’s overbearing concern.
‘What expression must Jiho be wearing right now?’
Did he catch the implication?
Lee Soo resented Wanjin for speaking so casually about such a matter in front of Jiho.
“You understand what Dad means, right? Don’t make any mistakes…….”
Wanjin continued, unfazed by Lee Soo’s visibly embarrassed expression.
“Ah, I get it… Stop it!”
Lee Soo cut off her father’s words, raising her voice.
Wanjin’s gaze was on Lee Soo, but his words were also meant for Jiho.
He trusted Lee Soo, who was always sharp and responsible, but felt it necessary to say his piece.
Jiho, understanding Wanjin’s meaning, felt as if cold sweat was running down his back.
Should he say something to ease Wanjin’s worries?
Jiho found it hard to speak and just swallowed dryly.
“Dad, I’m going.”
Lee Soo didn’t want to stay and hear more from Wanjin.
“Goodbye. We’ll be leaving now.”
Jiho greeted, and Wanjin firmly grabbed then released Jiho’s shoulder without a word.
Wanjin came out to the gate, seeing them off.
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.”
