CHAPTER 19

Following Taejun at the 5th position, Junhee, upon seeing the article, boasted, “Wait, why is my ranking lower than yours?” and grumbled about the lack of credibility in the article. He then went around the office with the magazine, asking employees if they agreed with the rankings.

There was nothing in the world that could fluster Kim Junhee.

‘Oh. Well, there is one thing.’

Taejun suddenly looked across the entrance of the somewhat rustic restaurant.

‘Kim Jaehee. Kim Junhee’s brother.’

A tall man with a striking presence stood in the doorway. Several employees surrounded him, gesturing enthusiastically to guide him to his seat.

‘Tiger does come when called.’

Taking off his sunglasses and holding them, Jaehee walked in with a bright smile while talking on the phone, casually strolling in like a satisfied tiger. His face, with a radiant smile, looked surprisingly similar to Junhee’s. Even without saying it, when the two stood together, it was evident they were brothers.

Junhee was a bit more glamorous Jaehee’s a little more defined.

“At 7:30, I’ve reserved our usual spot at Kimiko. Oh? Jia, what is there that I can’t do for you? Yeah. I miss you too. Love you. See you later, my princess.”

Jaehee’s words reached them as he walked over. It seemed like he was on a call with his fiancée. Junhee, with an exasperated expression, mumbled in Korean.

“Oh… he’s crazy. He really takes after Dad.” 

After hanging up, Jaehee stood at the table, shaking hands with Taejun. Then closed the distance and patted him on the shoulder in a hug.

After shaking hands with Taejun, Jaehee plopped down on the chair next to Junhee, extending his fist. Junhee reciprocated with a light punch and ruffled Jaehee’s hair.

Brushing off his hand, Jaehee greeted Taejun once again.

[TJ-hyung, how have you been?]     (‘Hyung’ in Korean means “older brother” and is used by males to call other males.)

[Good. How about you?]

[Well, you know, can’t be better than this.]

Jaehee handed Taejun a ‘Save the Date’ card, saying that it was for his wedding date, which was five months away. He casually mentioned that the formal invitation would be sent three months before the wedding and that the venue would likely be Fire Island near New York City. He smiled gracefully.

Taejun remembered that Miss Minnie said she was a fan of Jaehee.

‘When she sees this card, will she love it or hate it? What did Miss Minnie like so much about Jaehee?’

Taejun, who was observing Jaehee more closely than usual, suddenly imagined Jaehee with Miss Minnie. Then, he felt an odd sensation, like a heavy weight settling in his chest.

As soon as the food was ordered, Junhee gave Taejun a meaningful glance and then turned to Jaehee and asked him a question.

[Let me ask you a question.]

[The answer is no].

[You bastard. Saying no without even hearing what it is!]

[The answer is still no].

Jaehee leaned back against the chair with a mischievous expression, slowly raising a smirk to Junhee. It was starting again. The bickering between these two siblings was always childish and hilarious, but Taejun tuned out most of the time because it was the most unnecessary information in the world.

[What about sister-in-]

[What about Jia, what questions do you have about my wife?]

Jaehee cut off Junhee’s sentence with a growl as he jerked his upper body off the backrest. This time, Junhee smirked and leaned back comfortably, extending his arm over Jaehee’s chair. 

[Why? Is Jia already your wife? Right now, she’s just a fiancée.]

[Since we set a date already, I can call her my wife. You got the Save the Date card, didn’t you? Hyung, don’t you know about such things?]

[It’s forced. Fine, let it be that way. Anyway, my question is, how did you charm Jia when you first met her?]

[……Why would you ask that?]

When Jaehee squinted his eyes and looked at Junhee with a suspicious gaze, Junhee pointed at Taejun with a gesture of his chin.

[Not me, it’s Baek Taejun here. He’s curious about how to charm women. He wants to know how to do it.]

Surprised, Jaehee turned quickly to look at Taejun. Taejun sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead with his hand.

Jaehee glanced back at Taejun in surprise. Taejun let out a long sigh and put his hand to his forehead.

[Kim Junhee, you really…]

[Oh, Hyung, do you have a crush?]

[……No, it’s not like that.]

[Eh, no. It’s okay to be honest. Kim Junhee wouldn’t be much help in that department either. For some reason, girls have been flocking to him since he was young, even before he started flirting.]

[Ugh. He’s the same way.].

Junhee pointed his finger at Taejun with a disgruntled expression.

Ugh… Why did I follow him here?’

Taejun was about to wallow in self-pity when Jaehee chimed in with a smirk.

[I can’t generalize this since there’s only one girl I approached first, but….]

Both Taejun, with an expressionless face, and Junhee, with a relaxed posture, closed their mouths and focused on Jaehee’s words.

[For guys—it’s straightforward.]

The two men looked at Jaehee as if to say, “What nonsense is this?”

[From the first day we met, I just had a feeling that this girl was meant to be mine. So, I didn’t think of any tricks or anything, I just went straight for it. Even though she says she doesn’t need anything, I wanted to give her everything. My feelings were written all over my face, so why would she tell me not to play poker with her? She said my face is like a billboard.]

Jaehee chuckled at the thought of his fiancée, closing his eyes and smiling.

‘I guess it’s true that you can’t hide your crush.’

Taejun smiled bitterly and concluded that he wasn’t looking for love, so Jaehee’s advice wouldn’t be much help.

Junhee, with a cynical expression, teased Jaehee.

[You and Father are too much. No master like me serves the servant. You’re the ultimate bootlicker.]

[Don’t be jealous, hyung. The day will come when you’ll understand what love is.]

[I don’t want to know, Kim Jaehee. And what Baek Taejun needs now is not how to get a wife, but how to convince a s*x partner].

Jaehee raised one eyebrow in surprise. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke up.

[Hyung, it’s not that difficult, actually. Just go to a place like a club and stand there—]

[Pfft!]

[Haah…….]

Similar words that came out of Junhee’s mouth came out of Jaehee’s mouth. Junhee burst into laughter loudly and Taejun lowered his head, clutching his temples.

[There’s one girl he wants to f*ck right now, not just a random woman, but she’s not falling for him easily. I’ve never seen a monk seducing a girl before.].

[Junhee, that’s enough-]

Taejun restrained Junhee, but Jaehee received Junhee’s words with a serious face.

[Ah, I see. So that’s how it is. If you want a long-lasting relationship with a specific woman rather than just a one-night stand, I think the basics are the same. You talk to each other, get to know each other, and then, um… If you see eye to eye, maybe a Friends with Benefits kind of relationship is possible.]

It wasn’t much different from what Junhee had said as they walked to the Core Club, but somehow it sounded pretty plausible when Jaehee, who was about to get married, said it. Taejun nodded without saying anything.

’But……. What does Miss Minnie like about Jaehee that makes her such a big fan?’

Taejun, who had been watching Jaehee for quite some time, studied his single-minded face with interest. He wanted to learn if there was anything he could benchmark. Taejun turned to Jaehee and asked.

[What does your fiancée like about you?]

[……Wow, TJ-hyung, that’s a really good question, I was wondering the same thing, hold on a second].

Jaehee pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and made a video call.

[No need to ask her directly—]

As soon as the call connected, a cheerful and cute female voice flowed through

• Jaehee, I have a meeting in five minutes. Is it urgent? Or should I call you after the meeting?

“Jia, I’ll ask you just one thing. What is it about me that makes you like me?”

• Kim Jaehee, I’m busy! Is that so urgent? Where are you? Did you finish lunch with your brother already?

“Yeah, it’s urgent. Answer quickly.”

• Why are you asking? Look at the screen. Doesn’t the screen answer for me?

Jaehee bursts into laughter and throws his head back, his ears red. Next to him, Junhee rolls his eyes and shakes his head excitedly.

Listening to their conversation, the slightly tingling reaction of Junhee, who was getting excited, seemed understandable, and there was a strange fluttering feeling in one corner of Taejun’s heart. It was clear that Jaehee had fallen deeply in love.

‘How can he be so defenseless? Is it because Jaehee has never lost anyone to be so boldly courageous? Does he know how much losing that love can destroy a person?’

How can he be so defenseless, so recklessly brave, is it because he’s never lost, anyone? Does he know how much losing that love can destroy a person?

Questions lingered in Taejun’s mind.

• You’re handsome, how can I not like you when you’re this good-looking? Is this even a question?

“Yeah, yeah. Jia, thanks for liking my face.”

•  ……I also like your body and your voice. Your way of speaking, taste, and even your sleeping habits. I like it when you act sweet and suddenly go crazy about me. Want more?

“Heh. Let’s stop here. Get into the meeting already.”

• Yeah. See you later. Love you.

“Yeah. I love you too.”

As Jaehee ended the call with a flushed face, Junhee muttered, rubbing his forearm.

“Yikes, seriously sick.”

Unfazed, Jaehee looked at Taejun and chuckled.

[That’s how it is.]

[Uh, yeah.]

Taejun nonchalantly nodded.

[TJ-hyung! You know you’re really handsome, right?]

[Uh, yeah. What……?]

[TJ-hyung, why hide that face? You’re way better than Kim Junhee, who thinks he’s the only handsome one. You’re taller too. That’s the kind of style girls really like.]

Taejun was speechless, flustered, when Jaehee squinted his eyes, analyzing Taejun’s charm.

[Even though you seem blunt when you’re silent, you’re subtly affectionate. If you really have someone you want to make your own, TJ-hyung, don’t hesitate to unleash all available resources. Looks, wealth, heart—no holds barred.]