20.1

Seonkyung looked at Chaeyoon, who was sitting across from her while holding a cup of black tea.

Dressed in thick black jeans and a sharp mustard-colored shearling vest over a black turtleneck sweater, Chaeyoon looked much more stylish and active than she remembered from memories or photographs.

Seonkyung, who liked jewelry, was intrigued by the flower-shaped stud earrings and the cocktail ring made of pearl with a creamy hue.

She had thought that pearls were something mostly worn by older people, but depending on the design, they could look youthful.

After finishing her buttered scone, Chaeyoon sipped her black tea, picked up a chocolate macaron from the top of the three-tiered tray of desserts, and popped it into her mouth.

She has a good appetite.

Seonkyung, watching how deliciously Chaeyoon ate, unconsciously picked up a chocolate macaron herself. It was her second, following a sandwich. Normally, she rarely touches snacks because she’s always trying to stay in shape.

“It’s not too sweet; it’s delicious. They must use high-quality ingredients. Do you think it’s good enough for you, Vice Chairwoman?”

Chaeyoon squinted her eyes slightly and smiled.

She’s even smiling at me.

Chaeyoon did not seem flustered or tense by Seonkyung’s sudden appearance. She neither became defensive nor overly familiar to the point of seeming obsequious.

Impressive.

Chaeyoon’s behavior suggested a lot. It was secondary that Seonkyung couldn’t tell the exact nature of her relationship with Seonho. Most people who knew Seonkyung instinctively became cautious and reserved around her.

Yet, Chaeyoon’s expressions and gestures were very natural. Even Seonkyung, who was observing, felt at ease—a difficult task.

“It’s okay. I’m glad it suits your taste. After all, I suddenly appeared and dragged you here.”

“Haha, dragged me? I should be the one thanking you. They say England is the country of afternoon tea, but it’s not cheap. Plus, I was really hungry after work. Seonho often travels on business trips. He must be planning something in London. Did you come yourself on a business trip this time too, Vice Chairwoman?”

At Chaeyoon’s words, Seonkyung’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She hadn’t expected Chaeyoon to bring up the topic of Seonho first. The tone was so candid that it bore not a hint of emotion about the matter.

Did she really think he was on a business trip?

“I came to see you.”

When you reach a position like Seonkyung’s, there’s little need to beat around the bush. So she spoke directly.

“Me?”

Chaeyoon tilted her head slightly and blinked.

“Seonho told me not to go because you were busy, but I wanted to hear it from you directly.”

“I was indeed swamped with my graduation project until a few days ago. I’m just catching my breath now.”

“Graduation project? So, are you done with your studies?”

“Not yet. The practical craftsmanship course is over, but I still have the design course left. Soon, I’ll start the business course. But I wonder, why did you come all the way to London just to see me?”

“That’s what I’m asking. Don’t you have any idea?”

Chaeyoon shook her head slightly after a moment of thought.

“I’m not sure.”

“What’s your relationship with Seonho?”

“What kind of relationship? Haha, that’s an unexpected question. It’s surprising.”

“What’s so unexpected about it?”

“I’ve never really thought about it, so I’m struggling to define our relationship when asked directly. If I had to label it, maybe friends? Or perhaps middle school and university classmates? We weren’t very close, but I’ve known him since I was ten because of Joo-eun, so it’s been a long while.”

“Is that really all?”

Seonkyung narrowed her eyes as she asked, to which Chaeyoon retorted.

“What did Seonho say?”

Seonkyung’s eyebrows twitched slightly at Chaeyoon’s words, but she casually dismissed it with her next remark.

“He said there’s nothing between you.”

“Then why did you come all the way here to see me, because you don’t believe what Seonho said?”

The way she phrased her question suggested that Seonkyung didn’t trust Seonho, which made Seonkyung feel absurd.

Why do I feel like I’m being scolded by her?

It was the same when she spoke with Seonho, and now unexpected things were happening in her conversation with Chaeyoon.

Was it really a misjudgment on my part to meet Chaeyoon based on vague suspicions?

Seonho’s words that she would look ridiculous if she met Chaeyoon were about to come true, but since she had taken the time to fly all the way to London, she needed to accomplish something meaningful.

Perhaps a veiled threat, suggesting that if they were really “nothing,” it should stay that way.

“Isn’t it strange to take ‘nothing’ at face value? Since you’re a promising young lady with good grades and clear goals, it would be wise that you shouldn’t be grabbing other people’s inadequate son.”

“I don’t know why you would think that, but I’ve never ‘grabbed’ Seonho.”

“There’s no way our Seonho would go as far as to say he’s traveling abroad, saying he’s going on a business trip, just to meet you if you were really nothing. I didn’t raise my son that way. But recently, Seonho has been doing things I didn’t teach him. That must mean he’s learned it from someone else, right?”

“Are you saying Seonho came to London not on business, but to see me?”

The look on Chaeyoon’s face showed she was utterly unaware, and Seonkyung felt a cold sweat down her back.

Oh, isn’t this it?

Seonho said they were nothing, but he would like them to be something more like wanting to marry. But does this girl not even know that Seonho likes her?

In business or politics, it’s the one who is more desperate who often loses, and in matters of love, it’s typically the one who loves more who is at a disadvantage.

In that sense, if Seonho likes this girl without her knowing, it’s probably best to leave it that way. It’s common for one to start caring and eventually fall for someone once they realize that person likes them. If that happens, today’s meeting would just be stirring up unnecessary trouble.

“No, it was a business trip. I was just throwing it out there.”

Seonkyung withdrew her confrontational demeanor and shrugged her shoulders as if it had all been a joke.

She needed to make excuses. She had to ensure that Chaeyoon didn’t suspect that Seonho had feelings for her.

Oh, what a hassle. If I had just left it after confirming they were “nothing,” none of this effort would have been necessary. Why did I try to threaten her only to end up in this mess?

Or maybe, I should have heeded Seonho’s advice not to bother her since they were “nothing.”

When it came to Seonho’s love life, all her predictions had been wrong.

“What?”

Chaeyoon looked perplexed, and Seonkyung sighed excessively, beginning to act more human-like.

It’s often necessary to act in life, and this wasn’t particularly hard for Seonkyung. It might be a bit embarrassing, but for greater benefits, she was willing to endure this level of embarrassment—that was her philosophy in life.

“You’re friends with Joo-eun, right? So you know. You understand that their lives aren’t entirely their own.”

Seonkyung is far from her usual character, sounding like a typical mom worried about her son.

She would have preferred to just get up and leave, but rather than having Chaeyoon sense something out later and cause headaches, she decided this effort was necessary.

“Of course.”

Chaeyoon nodded, as if she understood well.

“Did you know that Seonho and Joo-eun were going to marry?”

“Of course. I’m friends with Joo-eun, so I know.”

“Did you also know about Joo-eun planning to marry another man?”

“When she came to New York to see me, she said she was going to get engaged to Seonho.”

“She said that? So she was considering marriage until then?”

“It seems so.”

“You said you were best friends with Joo-eun, but she didn’t tell you?”

Seonkyung looked perplexed.

“Being closest, she probably didn’t tell me because it’s obvious I would have tried to stop her.”

Chaeyoon sighed.

“You would have stopped her?”

What does that mean?

“Being her friend, and also because my mother is Mrs. Ko’s secretary, I know about the workings of the chaebol family. Anyone can see that their married life would be tumultuous. If you’re a close friend, shouldn’t you naturally try to stop it? Love doesn’t solve all problems.”

“That’s… right.”