The Price of Impulse (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
Seeing Se Kyung’s confused eyes, Joo Hee let out a deflated “Huh.”
The crew members, who had been packing up equipment, glanced curiously between the two, wondering what was going on.
“You’re always trying to stand out alone, acting up just by yourself. You never seem satisfied unless you’re the main character, right?”
Ah, so she was annoyed because today’s filming wasn’t centered around her?
Se Kyung awkwardly waved her raised hand once, then blew gently on her fingertips with a soft “Hoo.”
“We each need to fend for ourselves. We’re not little kids anymore. This is our workplace, after all. I’m not your babysitter—why should I have to look after you every step of the way?”
“What?”
Joo Hee’s face hardened at Se Kyung’s words, delivered with a faint smile.
Come to think of it, the last image Joo Hee remembered of herself was whining pathetically—no wonder she still thought so little of Se Kyung and dared speak to her like that.
“W-who ever asked you to take care of me? I’m just saying you lack consideration. We appeared together, yet only you stood out so much, and I…”
Would end up buried in obscurity. Maybe variety shows weren’t suited for her, and she’d stop getting invited altogether.
But that was Joo Hee’s problem—not hers.
“You haven’t changed at all. Not a bit.”
Se Kyung said bitterly. Joo Hee’s eyes widened, as if asking what she meant by that.
“You still judge everything by your own standards. Today’s variety shoot was originally scheduled for promoting our movie. You only appeared today as a replacement for Eun Kyo, who couldn’t make it.”
“…”
“So don’t act resentful just because you didn’t stand out. And don’t blame me for it either. Back then, we were on the same team, so I did feel a little guilty about overshadowing you—but now, there’s no reason to feel that way anymore, is there?”
“What, you…?”
Insulted at being treated like a petulant child, Joo Hee’s face flushed red. She couldn’t even muster a retort—only her clenched fists trembled violently.
“I’m sorry. I just… I only meant well, hoping things would go smoothly for both of us. I didn’t know you’d think that way.”
Biting her lip hard, Joo Hee forced out the words with a pained expression. Then, eyes brimming with tears, she hurried out of the studio.
One of the crew members, pitying her retreating figure, shot Se Kyung a reproachful look. It felt like the other side had thrown the first punch, yet somehow Se Kyung was the one getting blamed.
“Anyone watching might think you started the fight.”
Gi Jeong, who’d clung to Se Kyung, glared at Joo Hee’s fleeing back. Still, unless someone had learned acting through osmosis, an outsider unfamiliar with the situation would probably find Joo Hee’s act genuinely pitiful.
“Unnie, are you okay?”
As soon as the situation settled, Je Hoon approached with a worried look, having been standing outside the set.
He’d been debating whether to step in and mediate when Se Kyung caught his eye, so he’d stayed at a distance and simply watched.
“I’m fine. We didn’t even grab each other by the hair and fight.”
Casually shrugging her shoulders as if it were nothing, Se Kyung exchanged greetings with Gi Jeong, thanked the crew for their hard work, and left the studio.
“Unnie, shall we head straight to the hotel?”
“No, I have an appointment on the way. Can you drop me off here?”
Se Kyung showed Je Hoon the location on her phone, and he immediately entered the address into the navigation system.
Once the car pulled away, Se Kyung leaned back in her seat and stared out the window. The road was filled with the red glow of taillights—caught in rush hour traffic.
She pressed firmly on her aching lower abdomen.
Her body, overworked since early morning, finally began throbbing with delayed soreness, and she suddenly realized it hadn’t even been a full day since she’d spent the night with Tae Jo.
“What a long day.”
Her quiet murmur dissolved into the air.
Hearing the sigh in her voice, Je Hoon glanced back—but Se Kyung had already closed her eyes, seeking sleep.
***
Tap tap.
Tae Jo roughly ruffled his wet hair with his hands. He couldn’t concentrate on work all day, bothered by a lingering sense of stickiness.
He turned on the TV and sat down on the sofa. A drama Se Kyung had appeared in long ago was playing on cable.
While staring at the screen, he struggled to recall what had happened the previous night.
Seok Joo had insisted no one else had entered his hotel room besides himself. Both key cards had remained inside, so unless someone had picked the lock from outside, there was no way anyone could’ve gotten in.
What troubled him were the earring and long strand of hair found near the headboard, plus signs that someone had used the bathroom—and that lingering fragrance.
“Was there an air freshener there?”
Tae Jo tilted his head, trying to jog his memory. He’d only glanced around carelessly, so he couldn’t recall clearly.
Since all the amenities were untouched and brand new, that scent couldn’t possibly have come from them.
“And the earring…”
Tae Jo frowned. Even if housekeeping had been sloppy, that was the real issue.
He’d even called the hotel to ask if he could review the CCTV footage.
But citing privacy laws, the hotel refused. They said he could view the footage only if accompanied by police, in case of suspected criminal activity—but…
What exactly had he lost that he could report?
His memory? Or…
He glanced briefly between his legs and shook his head. With a tired sigh, he rubbed his furrowed brow.
“If no one actually came in… does that mean I took care of it myself, alone, in that state?”
He hadn’t fully relieved himself, so sexual frustration was certainly possible. Lately, he’d also been stressed from meeting investors.
And to make matters worse, he’d been completely drunk then—instinct overriding reason.
But if he was going to do it, he should’ve waited until he was fully sober. Why lose control when blackout drunk and end up feeling this uneasy?
“Still, this explanation seems more plausible.”
Assuming the earring belonged to a previous guest and that Moon Seok Joo hadn’t lied to him—
Besides, if someone really had spent the night with him, why would they vanish without a trace the next morning?
“There’s no reason to.”
Unless they’d done something wrong.
Tae Jo tapped his thigh lightly with his fingers.
He’d reached a conclusion, yet a faint suspicion still lingered in the back of his mind.
He picked up his phone and searched for a number.
Keeping his eyes fixed on Se Kyung on the TV screen, he pressed the call button.
Though the dream he’d had that morning and the fleeting memory from earlier still nagged at him…
—Hey, what’s up?
“Are you absolutely sure you left me alone in the hotel room that morning?”
He needed to confirm once more with Moon Seok Joo.
***
Jingle.
As she opened the shop door, a cute bell rang overhead.
Se Kyung checked the time and looked around the restaurant.
Her contact hadn’t arrived yet—likely stuck in Seoul’s dreadful traffic.
“Welcome! How many will be dining?”
A server approached with a friendly smile. When Se Kyung said three, the staff pointed to an empty table and invited her to take any seat she liked.
“Would you like to order now?”
“No, I’ll wait for my companions.”
The server set out extra cutlery and informed her of the last order time.
Should she call to check where they were?
Just as Se Kyung pulled out her phone and started pressing keys, the doorbell chimed again—this time opening wide.
She looked up to see a familiar woman and an unfamiliar man.
“Over here.”
When Se Kyung raised her hand, the woman—arm linked with the man’s—waved back cheerfully.
Yoo Na practically bounced over, pulled out a chair, and sat right across from Se Kyung.
“Did you wait long?”
“No, I just got here.”
After greeting Yoo Na, Se Kyung glanced at the man beside her. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and gave her a slight bow.
“I’m Ji Won Ho.”
“I’m Yoon Se Kyung. Please, have a seat. I’ve heard about you—nice to finally meet you in person.”
“Well, that’s because you’ve been busy,” Yoo Na chimed in, handing Se Kyung the menu.
“Go ahead, pick what you’d like to eat.”
“You choose. Anything’s fine with me.”
“Ugh, there it is again—that same old habit of yours.”
Yoo Na wrinkled her nose playfully and picked out several dishes from the menu.
After the server took their order and left, Yoo Na pulled an envelope from her bag and handed it to Se Kyung.
“I’m getting married. Please come, Actress Yoon Se Kyung.”
Holding the envelope with both hands, Yoo Na said teasingly. Se Kyung chuckled softly and opened the invitation.
Below a simple, elegant message were the names Lee Yu Na and Ji Won Ho, neatly printed side by side.
“Can you make it that day? If you’re too busy, I’ll understand.”
“I’ve cleared my schedule. Of course I’ll come—whose wedding is this, after all? But…”
Se Kyung trailed off after double-checking the venue and time. When Yoo Na asked why, Se Kyung folded the invitation and continued,
“Have you contacted the others?”
“Who? The rest of our group?”
“Yeah.”
“Well… I haven’t spoken to Joo Hee in ages. As for the others… everyone’s busy, I guess. I reached out, but they all said work wouldn’t let them come.”
Yoo Na smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.
“Oh, by the way—didn’t Joo Hee sign with some agency to become an actress? Have you seen her?”
“Yeah, I saw her today. We filmed a variety show together.”
“A variety show? Wait—I thought she was focusing on acting. Why’d she start with variety?”
Their food began arriving, momentarily cutting off the conversation.
As Yoo Na urged them to start eating and picked up her fork, Won Ho separated a slice of pizza and placed it on both women’s plates.
“How’s Joo Hee? Has she changed at all after all this time?”
“She seemed exactly the same to me. She even said I hadn’t changed a bit toward her.”
Yoo Na grimaced as she chewed her pizza.
“What did she say to you?”
“…”
Se Kyung glanced sideways at Won Ho.
This was supposed to be a celebration of their upcoming wedding—yet here she was, gossiping about others. It made her uneasy.
“You don’t need to worry about his feelings. Won Ho already knows everything.”
“Yeah, Yoo Na told me everything.”
The groom-to-be nodded in agreement with his fiancée’s words.
“What exactly did she tell you?”
“Everything about her time in the entertainment industry—how you even shared your earnings with her, and the trouble that happened when the group disbanded.”
So she really did spill everything.
Se Kyung shot Yoo Na a look that said “You told him all that?” and Yoo Na shyly stuck out her tongue.
“We met shortly after my contract ended. I was really going through a rough patch, and he stayed by my side. I drank a lot back then—got drunk and spilled every little story to him.”
After all, among their former group, only Joo Hee and Se Kyung had continued actively working in the entertainment industry after disbandment.
Yoo Na had wanted to stay in the industry too—even if not as a singer—but no agency would sign her, so she’d had to give up that dream.
Now, she taught yoga and ran a YouTube channel to stay connected with fans.
“So, what did Joo Hee say to you again?”
Yoo Na tapped her fork against the plate, urging her to continue. Se Kyung recalled their post-shoot conversation and spoke.
“She said I was showing off alone, acting up just to stand out. That I’m never satisfied unless I’m the main character.”
Yoo Na’s jaw dropped. Her fork clattered onto the plate with a loud clang.
“Is that self-reflection? Or confession at church? Why’s she telling you her own issues?”
Yoo Na stomped her feet excitedly, as if the story had happened to her personally.
“You didn’t just sit there like a fool listening to all that, did you?”
“No, I gave her a piece of my mind too.”
Yoo Na’s eyebrows shot up as if asking, “Really?” Se Kyung nodded.
“She burst into tears and ran off.”
“She really hasn’t changed. Whenever things go badly for her, she cries first.”
Memories from the past seemed to flood back—Yoo Na clenched her fist tightly. Won Ho quietly took her hand in his.
His quiet, devoted care—always on her side—was heartwarming to watch. Seeing them like this, Se Kyung looked on with envy until Yoo Na asked,
“By the way, Se Kyung—are you dating anyone?”
“Huh? Oh, I…”
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic, Se Kyung blinked in confusion.
“I mean, you’re beautiful, you’ve got a great figure, plus you’re rich—so are you choosing not to date, or just can’t find anyone?”
“It’s more like I can’t…”
Se Kyung replied in a low voice when Won Ho chimed in from beside her.
“I guess there’s just no one Se Kyung likes.”
“Someone she likes? Oh! The handkerchief guy!”
As if suddenly remembering, Yoo Na clapped her hands together brightly.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
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