The Price of Impulse (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
“…….”
Why was he suddenly asking something like that?
Her mind went completely blank for a moment. Could he possibly remember what happened that day? Or had Seok Joo hyung-nim confessed that he’d been there with her?
All sorts of guesses swirled chaotically in her head. Thump-thump—the only sound she could hear in the quiet room was her own heartbeat.
Se Kyung took a sip of water to calm her racing heart, moistened her parched throat, and finally opened her mouth.
“If you mean that morning… you’re talking about when we ran into each other at the main entrance of S Hotel, right?”
“Yeah.”
Tae Jo picked up a piece of salmon, served late as an appetizer, and slowly chewed it while keeping his eyes fixed on Se Kyung.
“No… I don’t think I saw you.”
Se Kyung cautiously studied Tae Jo’s expression. Maybe it was because she’d just lied—but for some reason, her mouth suddenly felt dry.
If Seok Joo had confessed what happened that night, he would’ve called her beforehand, just like last time, to give her a heads-up. But if Tae Jo had actually recovered his memory…
He wouldn’t have simply asked whether she’d seen him that morning—he’d have asked why she’d spent the night with him.
“You didn’t see me?”
At his repeated question, Se Kyung slowly nodded.
“…….”
Had she misjudged the situation? Her heart pounded anxiously, unsure what words would come out of his mouth next.
“Yes. But… why are you asking me that?”
Se Kyung tightly gripped her sweaty palms.
“Oh, just in case.”
Just in case? Just what exactly was puzzling him?
She wanted to dig deeper, but clamped her mouth shut. If she asked clumsily, her hidden secret might slip out.
“You said you had something to tell me over the phone. Was it just to ask me that?”
“Ah, no, not really.”
“Then what is it?”
Just as Se Kyung asked, a soup filled with finely shredded crab meat arrived at the table.
Se Kyung picked up her spoon and stirred the thick liquid in the bowl.
She mechanically took a spoonful into her mouth, but because of what Tae Jo had just said, her stomach started churning.
“It was just an excuse to have you out for a meal.”
“…….”
Seriously? After scaring me like that just a moment ago!
Annoyed, she tightened her grip on the spoon. Tae Jo glanced down at her prominent knuckles and gave a mischievous smile.
“What? Were you gonna hit me?”
“No. I’ve never had that thought.”
Se Kyung subtly loosened her grip and took another spoonful of soup. He, with the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, leaned back in his chair and watched her.
“Just kidding. Anyway, Se Kyung-ssi, do you know Director Ji Je Hyeok? The one who made the movie ‘Night of the Blade’? He’s starting production on a new drama.”
“What drama?”
“It’s a working title—‘The Hunt.’ It’s about a woman seeking revenge for her dead younger brother. Originally written as a film script, but now that it’s secured funding, it’ll be produced as a ten-episode drama.”
“Ten episodes? What network’s airing it? That’s kind of an awkward number.”
“It’ll be an exclusive on an OTT platform—Company M in the U.S.”
“Ah……”
Se Kyung let out a soft sigh and tilted her head, looking puzzled.
“But why are you telling me this?”
“Why else? Because Director Ji mentioned he’s considering you as his top choice.”
“Me?”
Se Kyung’s eyes widened in surprise. She had no idea why Director Ji would specifically request her—they’d never worked together, nor even met privately.
“Yeah. He saw one of your movies and apparently thought you perfectly matched the character’s image.”
“What movie?”
“No idea. He didn’t tell me that much.”
Which movie could he possibly mean? As Se Kyung tried to recall all the films she’d appeared in, Tae Jo spoke again.
“I guess the director sees something different in you. That character is supposed to be pretty dark and cold-hearted—completely the opposite of the Se Kyung I remember.”
“What image of me do you have in your memory, then?”
“Hmm… a gentle little lamb trembling from the cold, maybe?”
“A lamb…?”
Didn’t that seem a bit off, too?
“Yeah. Remember our first meeting? It was pretty intense—you were shivering in the cold, even bleeding from your nose.”
“You still remember that?”
“Of course. How could I forget? I was so furious at that manager—no, that damn agency—for leaving only the two celebrities on set and walking off.”
“…….”
“And when I asked for my handkerchief back, you said you’d return it next time… then just took off with it.”
“It was stained with blood….”
That day, Tae Jo had stayed on set until Seok Joo’s shoot wrapped.
Just as Se Kyung’s manager arrived, he’d approached her, saying something like, “Your agency should take better care of its own talent.”
Her nosebleed had stopped, so he asked again for his handkerchief back.
But Se Kyung had hidden it in her pocket and promised to wash and return it the next time they met.
Foolishly believing they’d meet again.
“Did you throw it away?”
“No… but I don’t know where it is anymore.”
Though she’d had the chance to return it, for some reason, she hadn’t wanted to give it back. Glancing up briefly, Se Kyung asked him,
“Is it… meaningful to you? Like a gift or something?”
“No, not really.”
“Then… would it be okay if I bought you a new one?”
“I wasn’t asking you to buy one. I’ve got others I’m using already.”
Tae Jo pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and waved it lightly.
“Then, if I find it later, I’ll give it back.”
Though she probably never would.
“Fine by me.”
Tae Jo gave a casual nod. After that, their main course—a delicious-looking steak—was served, and they left the restaurant after enjoying a sweet dessert.
“Se Kyung-ssi, you said you drove here, right?”
“Yes.”
Tae Jo, standing a step above her, looked down intently.
His gaze traveled from her lips, tinged with a soft coral hue, up toward her neck.
“Go get your car first. I’ll hitch a ride with you.”
As Se Kyung hurried off toward the parking lot, Tae Jo took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips. He slowly descended the stairs, watching her receding figure.
When he reached the spot where she’d just stood, the lingering scent in the air swirled gently around him.
“Definitely familiar…”
Tae Jo murmured softly, cigarette pinched between his fingers.
Her fragrance, the strangely familiar curve of her lips and neck—
They hadn’t spent just a day or two together, yet lately Yoon Se Kyung had been confusing him more and more.
It was a bright, clear morning—the sky a flawless blue, without a single cloud.
Yet Tae Jo’s face, as he headed to work, was as gloomy as a sky heavy with storm clouds.
“Good morning, CEO.”
Secretary Kim lifted her head after bowing and studied Tae Jo’s expression.
Even as she greeted him, she wondered if “good morning” was really the right phrase. His brisk steps made his shoes click sharply against the floor.
“Yes. Good… um, yeah. Good morning.”
Despite his clearly bad mood, Tae Jo automatically replied with the usual polite greeting.
“Shall I get you some coffee?”
“Yes. Please make it strong.”
As soon as Tae Jo entered his office, Secretary Kim placed a cup of coffee—two extra shots added—on his desk.
Tap tap. After drumming his fingers on the desk and waiting for Secretary Kim to leave, Tae Jo rubbed his face wearily.
“Ugh… I’m going crazy, seriously.”
Was it because of that diffuser Se Kyung gave him? The dreams that occasionally haunted him had been unusually vivid today.
He still couldn’t see the person’s full face—but whereas before his gaze in the dream had lingered around the neck, now it reached all the way to the lips and below the jaw.
The problem was he couldn’t tell whether it was a fragment of lost memory, just his imagination, or if it was tied to that strange sense of déjà vu he’d felt from Se Kyung the day before.
“I’m not some pervert, seriously.”
After taking a sip of strong coffee, Tae Jo picked up the remote and turned on the TV. His finger froze mid-channel-surf as Se Kyung’s face appeared on screen.
Whoa… almost spat out my coffee.
Why the hell did she have to show up right now—to make me feel guilty?
Frowning, Tae Jo wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. As the camera zoomed in on Se Kyung’s face, he lifted his hand to cover her eyes and nose on-screen.
“She does look kind of similar…”
So… was that dream because I met Yoon Se Kyung yesterday?
“Well, I did think about her all day yesterday.”
Even he found it ridiculous. Shaking his head, Tae Jo pulled out his phone.
He browsed news articles on the portal site, then remembered what Director Ji had mentioned and typed “Yoon Se Kyung” into the search bar.
Pressing the magnifying glass icon brought up her profile, recent videos, and filmography.
Before signing her contract, he’d focused only on the dramas she’d starred in—but excluding her latest work, she’d actually appeared in quite a few films as a supporting or special guest actor.
“This won’t tell me much.”
Tae Jo clicked through the movie listings, scrolled down, and opened the image tab.
Photos mixed recent promotions with older, youthful shots in chaotic order.
“Finding it here would take forever.”
Should he just wait until Director Ji told him directly?
Frowning, Tae Jo scrolled quickly through the images—
Then suddenly paused, backtracking to a picture that had just flashed past.
“…….”
It looked like a magazine photoshoot. Judging by her radiant beauty, it couldn’t have been too long ago.
But something else had caught his eye even more.
The photo was a close-up of Se Kyung’s profile, taken from so close that even tiny accessories were sharply visible.
“This…”
Tae Jo tapped the photo to enlarge it, then took an earring from a box on his desk and compared it with the one Se Kyung was wearing.
“…Exactly the same.”
Seriously, why did Yoon Se Kyung have the exact same earring? If it was worn during the photoshoot, she must’ve received it as a sponsorship gift.
As Tae Jo turned the earring over in his hand, lost in thought, the intercom from the secretary’s office beeped, its red light blinking.
CEO, Director Song Ji Hwa from Management is here.
“Oh, please send her in.”
Knock knock.
Director Song entered, holding some documents under her arm. Tae Jo turned on the monitor connected to his laptop and brought up the portal site.
“CEO, I have something to report…”
“Just a moment. There’s something I need to check first.”
Tae Jo searched for Se Kyung’s name and pulled up the photo he’d just seen. Then he rotated the monitor toward Director Song.
“……?”
Director Song looked baffled, as if wondering why he’d show her this.
“Do you know which magazine did this photoshoot?”
“Hmm… Ah, yes! I remember—I was actually there. It must’ve been for V Magazine. The shoot was a few months ago.”
“Then do you know which brand these earrings are from?”
“The earrings?”
Was he planning to gift them to someone?
Director Song leaned forward like a turtle extending its neck, peering closely at the screen—then suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”
“Yes, I know. But… this is a limited edition. You probably can’t buy it anymore.”
Limited edition…
A limited run? Just what he didn’t need to hear right now.
“So… which brand is it?”
“Hmm, it’s ‘Dion’—a local jewelry designer’s brand. The designer is a big fan of Se Kyung-ssi and personally gifted them to her. These were actually Se Kyung-ssi’s own personal items used for the shoot.”
“Personal items…”
“Yes. So they’re definitely not available on the market.”
“Meaning… only Se Kyung-ssi owns them?”
Director Song shook her head, correcting him.
“As far as I know, after receiving purchase inquiries, they made exactly 77 pieces—and they’re already sold out.”
Seventy-seven pieces. So there were 77 possible suspects?
“Then…”
Tae Jo’s voice trailed off as he gripped the earring tightly in his hand.
“Could you find me a list of everyone who owns these earrings?”
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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