Was it due to his surprise? Min Woo’s voice was trembling, it was so shaky that even he found it unsettling.

((()))((()))((()))

“Yul Li, we still have some time, shall we grab something to eat?”
“No, I don’t feel like it.”
Looking out the window, Yul Li gave a short reply.

“Alright then, let’s eat after the fitting.”
Although he said so, frankly, Min Woo felt terrible. This was because Yul Li had been sternfaced since just now. Could she have noticed anything? His mouth dried up from anxiety.

If he knew that Yul Li was coming to the office today, he would have behaved properly. Blinded by desire, he ended up making a mistake.

Damn it!

With the force of his inwardly spat curse, Min Woo slammed his foot on the accelerator.

With a roar, the car picked up speed, only then did Yul Li turn her gaze to Min Woo. However, instead of asking him to slow down, she leaned back on the seat. The complexity in her mind made her unable to feel the actual speed.

Why is that?

While staring at Min Woo, Yul Li slowly blinked.

Why am I not affected?

She had witnessed her fiancé’s infidelity, twice now. Although there wasn’t exact evidence, she could sense it.

However, she was not angry at all. She felt no disappointment, annoyance, or any emotion. Yul Li was shocked by her own reaction.

Shouldn’t I be shaken by the fact that Min Woo, who I am about to marry, has a mistress, more than the fact that Je Ho has a lover? Even though it was a marriage of convenience, Min Woo was soon to be her husband. She had decided to turn a blind eye as long as he didn’t get caught, but this was not something she should take so lightly.

Preferring a woman named Jasmine over a woman named Shin Dae Ri.

It was absolutely not a normal reaction. Somehow, everything seemed to have turned into a mess. She even started to question ‘Should I continue with the marriage?’

Upon arriving at the studio and seeing the prepared wedding dress, her doubts only grew stronger. Even though it had been meticulously altered, it was still drab.

“Even if it’s tradition, do we have to use that?”
So, her words turned sharp. Min Woo glanced between Yul Li and the wedding dress with a puzzled face before quickly pulling out his phone.

“I’ll ask my mom once.”
“What are you going to ask? Can’t you make a decision?”
Maybe because she had been suppressing her intense emotions till now? Irritation surged within her. She felt it would be impossible to try on the wedding dress in such a mood.

“You do the fitting today, I’ll come next time.”
Yul Li hastily exited the dress room. However, she could not take a single step and froze. Je Ho was walking from the end of the hallway. Min Woo, who had hurriedly followed Yul Li, also stopped in his tracks.

“What are you doing here, bro?”
Min Woo asked with a surprised look. Yul Li was just as surprised as Min Woo but struggled to keep her expression composed.

“I have an appointment today too.”
Je Ho said while leisurely looking at the two.

“Really? That’s good! We don’t need separate rooms then, you can join us.”
If Je Ho was with them, Yul Li would have to swallow her anger. As the daughter of a congressman, she was used to being cautious of others’ gazes.

“Would that be okay?”
As Min Woo expected, to Je Ho’s question, Yul Li silently nodded. Min Woo, who returned to the dress room with Yul Li thanks to Je Ho, breathed a sigh of relief. Now, he had to call Madam Na Do Hee and take care of that damned wedding dress.

“Just a moment, I have to make a call.”
As soon as Min Woo left the room with his phone, Je Ho started speaking.

“Did you, by any chance, earlier….”
“Yes, that’s right. I went home earlier.”
Before he could finish, Yul Li quickly responded. It would be better to say it first. He was going to find out anyway.

“I was worried if you were very hurt from yesterday. I happened to pass by the area.”
“But why did you just leave then?”
“I thought you were alone, but since you had a friend, I thought it wasn’t necessary. Because I knew you were okay.”
Je Ho tilted his head slightly, looking at Yul Li. Then, after a moment, he mumbled as if speaking to himself.

“We’re not friends…”
Did he want to say that we are not friends but lovers?

Yul Li tried not to waver, but she couldn’t prevent her gaze from trembling. Feeling uncomfortable under his persistent gaze, she averted her eyes.

“Well, friend or not. I knew you weren’t alone, so it’s fine.”
“You could ask even now…”
Is he laughing? Without even looking at his face, she could tell he was holding back a laugh.

“I don’t think there’s a need for that. You must be fine, since you didn’t cancel your appointment.”
“…That’s thanks to the painkillers.”
His words implied that the pain was severe enough to need medication. Her heart clenched at the moment, but Yul Li tried to compose herself. After all, he had a lover to take care of him.

“Hmm.”
At that moment, she felt Je Ho’s breath uncomfortably close as he huffed out. Reflexively turning her head, she found him much closer than before.

“Are you jealous?”
“What? Why would I be?”
Yul Li held his gaze, refusing to back down. If she avoided his eyes, it would be as if she was admitting it. But she regretted it almost immediately. She felt as if she was being pulled into his intense gaze.

He looked at her in silence, then a smirk appeared on his lips.

“Right. Jealous.”
Jealous? As if!

Jealousy is something that can occur only when you like someone. While she might be a bit flustered by the memories of her first love, she did not like him. She was just slightly annoyed by his confusing actions, even while having a lover.

“You didn’t cancel today’s reservation, did you?”
With her feelings somewhat sorted out, Yul Li naturally shifted the conversation.

“If you need to take painkillers, the pain must be quite severe…”
Pretending to worry, Yul Li narrowed her eyes. Je Ho smirked at her obvious act. Who would fall for such a clumsy performance? Despite her efforts to hide her true feelings, it was clear as day, like a hedgehog with its spikes standing up.

She had done it before. She had rushed over with a maybe, only to see Yul Li’s retreating back as she quickly got into the elevator. Even from a distance, he could feel her panic. Had she mistaken him for a friend who lives together?

He could have held her back if he wanted to. But he didn’t. He shouldn’t push too hard. She needed a breather.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”
Je Ho’s voice was nonchalant, but his gaze seemed to see right through her. Yet, she did not want to avoid it. Instead of averting her eyes, Yul Li clenched her fists tightly.

“I should worry, considering it happened because of me.”
She was sincere about this, at least. It wasn’t the first time someone had gotten hurt because of her, and every time it happened, she felt guilty and in debt.

At that moment, Min Woo came in as the door swung open. Seeing the two standing closely together, Min Woo scowled in displeasure.

“What’s with the serious conversation between you two?”
At his words, Je Ho, who was looking at Yul Li, slowly turned his head towards Min Woo.

“Who knows?”
After glancing at Min Woo, Je Ho turned his gaze back to Yul Li. A soft smile appeared on his lips.

“I wonder what conversation we were having?”

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