The food they had ordered was ready, but Hyun Kyung, who said she would return after making a call, hadn’t come back. Just as Yul Li was about to find out what was going on, a text message arrived.
What?
Yul Li doubted her eyes for a moment.
Has she gone mad?
Although Yul Li quickly sent a text message, Hyun Kyung didn’t even check it. Yul Li tried to call, but it went straight to voicemail after one ring, as if the phone had been turned off.
“Your sangria is ready.”
The wine cocktail she had ordered arrived just as she was about to leave a message. As the server placed down the decanter, Yul Li gave up on leaving the message, ended the call, and filled her empty glass with the wine. She needed a drink since she was too flustered.
Emptying her glass in one go, Yul Li focused her frazzled mind and steeled herself. Although the sudden situation was unnerving, she reassured herself that it would be okay.
After all, what’s so big about eating dinner alone?
He had helped her, so she would have had to treat him to a meal anyway, right?
“Hyun Kyung had to leave due to some work.”
As Yul Li explained the situation, Je Ho nodded lightly with an indifferent expression.
Ding―.
Just then, the cell phone placed on the table rang. Thinking it was Hyun Kyung, Yul Li pressed the call button without checking the caller ID.
“Yes.”
[It’s noisy there, aren’t you home?]
It was Min Woo’s voice coming from the phone, not Hyun Kyung’s.
“……Ah, Min Woo.”
Although she hadn’t done anything wrong, she felt tense for a moment. Yul Li frowned as she gripped her cell phone tightly.
“I’m having dinner at a restaurant.”
She said as calmly as usual, but her voice trembled slightly. Thankfully, it seemed Min Woo didn’t notice the subtle tremor.
[Are you with Hyun Kyung?] “Ah, Hyun Kyung had something to do so she left early……”
Just as she was about to say that she was with Je Ho, Min Woo interrupted her. [Where are you? Send me the address. I’m coming over there now.] “You’re coming here now?”
Yul Li’s voice rose unintentionally. Je Ho, who had been quietly looking at the decanter, suddenly turned his gaze towards Yul Li. Their eyes met in the air for a moment.
Her heart felt guilty as if she had been caught doing something wrong.
Why am I like this when there’s nothing to be worried about?
Unlike her, Je Ho leisurely smiled and extended his hand as if asking for the phone. Yul Li silently handed it over.
“Can you make it in 30 minutes?”
Startled by Je Ho’s sudden question, there was a few seconds of silence.
“If you’re not here in 30 minutes, we’ll be gone. So, hurry.”
Je Ho finished what he had to say and ended the call. Yul Li quickly texted the restaurant’s address to Min Woo as she took her phone back.
The ride from KG Group’s headquarters to the restaurant was 20 minutes, but if you factor in the time to park, 30 minutes might be tight. Surely he’s not really going to wait just 30 minutes?
“He might not make it in 30 minutes.”
“I know.”
“But why……?”
“It’s none of my business.”
Je Ho responded with a smirk, something about it felt impudent…
The attitudes displayed at yesterday’s meal suggested there was a deepseated animosity between Je Ho and Min Woo. However, it was hard to pinpoint exactly what that animosity entailed.
“Let’s eat before the dishes cool off.”
Je Ho ladled the paella into a dish and placed it in front of Yul Li. But in this atmosphere, she felt like she couldn’t swallow a single bite. Eating alone with him felt burdensome, and the fact that Min Woo was on his way made her uncomfortable.
Yul Li absentmindedly picked at her food, steadily emptying her glass of alcohol. The decanter was soon revealing its bottom.
Despite the sangria’s low alcohol content, on an empty stomach, it didn’t take long for her to feel the effects. As a warmth flushed over her, Yul Li removed her jacket and hung it over the back of her chair.
Je Ho, who had been quietly observing, tilted his upper body toward Yul Li and whispered with a faint smile.
“Oh, I forgot something.”
His words seemed insignificant, but they made Yul Li tense up. The gleam in his eyes as he looked at her seemed momentarily malicious.
“What happened to the clothes I gave you?”
He was talking about the jacket?
“That… uh…”
As she was about to answer, Min Woo’s excited voice could be heard from behind.
“What the hell is this about? You gave her clothes?”
As Yul Li turned around, Min Woo, his face flushed from running, was panting heavily.
“You’re earlier than I thought. Have a seat.”
Rather than replying, Je Ho checked his wristwatch and nodded at the seat opposite him.
“What did you just say?”
As Min Woo repeated his question, Yul Li looked at Je Ho with a troubled expression. The thought of saying ‘because my clothes were wet and my underwear was showing’ felt oddly risqué. However, the one who had dropped the bomb didn’t seem interested and was merely looking at the decanter.
From where Je Ho was sitting, he must have seen Min Woo arriving. It was clear that his question about the ‘clothes he gave her’ was intended to provoke Min Woo.
“I sent the jacket for dry cleaning. I’ll return it as soon as I get it back.”
Yul Li first answered Je Ho’s question and then quickly explained to Min Woo about yesterday’s events.
“I nearly got hurt at the mall yesterday, but thanks to him, I was safe. The clothes… I borrowed them then.”
“Oh, I see.”
Finally, Min Woo relaxed his expression and let out a small laugh, as if he had been imagining something unnecessary.
“Did you get hurt while helping Yul Li? That’s unexpected, bro.”
“What’s unexpected?”
Je Ho asked, tilting his head.
“So, you just stood there and watched Yul Li get hurt?”
His voice was smooth, but his eyes staring at Min Woo were sharp.
“What? Yul Li?”
Min Woo scowled as if he disliked the familiar address. However, Je Ho just stared at Min Woo without saying a word.
An awkward silence filled the air between them…
“Why? Feeling bad?”
Je Ho asked, almost spat out, but his gaze was on Yul Li next to him. For a moment, Yul Li’s face hardened as if the question was meant for her.
“Do I have to call you brotherinlaw even before you’re married?”
Je Ho, keeping his gaze on Yul Li, raised one corner of his mouth.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
