Chapter 60 – Money – Part 1

Chapter 60 – Money – Part 1

Mansu awkwardly scratched the back of his head and approached them.

“Hello. You must be Lee Sugyeong and Hong Seoyeon, introduced by Choi Yisu, right?”

“Yes, hello.”

Woojin, still biting into the strawberry tanghulu, also greeted them.

“Hello. I’m Shin Woojin.”

“Is that delicious?”

“It’s sweet.”

“That looks delicious.”

Mansu quickly spoke up.

“Why don’t we go inside instead of doing this?”

“Yes.”

As they nodded, Mansu took the lead and opened the pub door.

“Haha! Come on in.”

Everyone went inside the pub, and the door Mansu was holding closed.

But there was someone looking at the door from outside.

It was Lee Hyerim.

“Hyerim, what’s wrong?”

At her friend’s words, Lee Hyerim snapped back to reality.

“Shall we have a beer?”

“Suddenly?”

“Yeah. Let’s go over there.”

“Over there? It looks noisy and shady.”

“Then you go first. I’ll have a beer alone in that noisy, shady place.”

As Lee Hyerim immediately started walking, her friend quickly followed.

“You can’t even take a joke. Let’s go together!”

***

Inside, it was bustling with songs and people.

Mansu turned the menu around and handed it to them.

“Order whatever appetizers you want.”

“Anything is fine, but…”

Woojin subtly glanced at Lee Sugyeong, who trailed off her sentence.

Her face was pale, and her image was close to innocent.

Judging by her unconfident tone, she had a very introverted personality.

Conversely, Hong Seoyeon, who was looking at the menu, was choosing items as if it were obvious.

She had a cat-like face.

She tucked her flowing hair behind her ear, periodically showing off her accessories.

They were luxury brand earrings.

Soon, Lee Sugyeong spoke.

“How about a Cajun salad and fish cake soup?”

Mansu nodded his head vigorously.

“Wow! You have good taste in choosing menus. That’s great!”

They ordered snacks and drinks, and appropriate self-introductions were exchanged.

Mansu set the mood.

“Isn’t being a medical student really tough? Like, you have to memorize medical terms. You’re really amazing.”

Lee Sugyeong cautiously responded to Mansu’s words.

“Not really. Right now, it’s mostly general education…”

“Woojin, are you always so quiet?”

At Hong Seoyeon’s clear question, Woojin opened his mouth.

“Sometimes I talk a lot, and sometimes I don’t.”

Hong Seoyeon swept her hair back and replied.

In that fleeting moment, Woojin felt Hong Seoyeon’s eyes scan him.

His clothes, that is.

In fact, she had looked him and Mansu up and down even outside.

As if checking the brands of their clothes and shoes.

“The gathering must not be fun…”

At Hong Seoyeon’s words, Mansu waved his hand vigorously.

“It’s not that, he’s just a guy with a bit of a hidden charm. First, he’s smart, and he’s handsome too. If he really starts talking, he’s unstoppable. Hahaha! Oh, should we speak informally?”

Time passed and several drinks were exchanged.

Hong Seoyeon asked Mansu,

“Mansu, you’re Type B, right?”

Mansu flinched and looked at Woojin.

It was because he knew what Woojin was about to blurt out.

Mansu nudged Woojin’s leg with his knee, as if to tell him not to speak. Then he quickly spoke up.

“No! You think I’m Type B, don’t you? I hear that a lot because I’m a manly type. I’m Type O.”

“Really?”

Woojin slowly nodded his head.

Hong Seoyeon likes to make quick judgments.

She has strong opinions, like showing slight disappointment when seeing clothes without a brand, or trying to easily judge someone by their blood type.

“What type do you think I am?”

Mansu answered Hong Seoyeon’s question.

“Type B?”

“Oh. That’s right! What type is Woojin?”

“Me? The likable type.”

A moment of silence.

Mansu quickly burst out laughing.

“Hahaha! He loves dad jokes, so it’s fresh and new to hear one after a long time! Hahaha!”

Woojin’s dad jokes came out a few more times, and after a while, Woojin complimented them.

However, he did not delve into deeper backtracking or regression.

Because there was no need for it.

More precisely, there was no need to give them happiness.

“We’re going to the bathroom.”

Once they left, Mansu asked,

“Woojin, is there someone you like?”

“Seoyeon?”

At Woojin’s words, Mansu’s face brightened.

That was because he liked Lee Sugyeong.

Mansu didn’t know.

Woojin had just blurted out a name, thinking of Mansu.

“Oh! Really? I like Sugyeong. I’m attracted to the modest type, you see.”

***

Hong Seoyeon, who was fixing her makeup in the bathroom, said,

“Woojin is pretty decent-looking. Both of them look like they have nothing. Should we get going? An older guy I know wants to go to a lounge bar.”

“Huh? I think it’s fine…”

“Hey, Lee Sugyeong, that’s your problem. There are tons of guys like that. It’s more beneficial to meet better guys at this hour. Let’s stay a bit longer, and if it’s not fun, we’ll leave.”

As the two went out, a firmly closed bathroom door opened.

The one who came out was none other than Lee Hyerim.

Lee Hyerim, who had been staring at herself in the mirror with a cold expression, suddenly let out a small laugh.

Lee Hyerim, who followed Woojin in, sat right in the back seat.

And when she realized it was a blind date, she had to experience a lot of emotions.

The fact that Woojin was at a blind date itself made her chest tighten.

But as she kept listening, she realized she was overthinking things.

Woojin and this Hong Seoyeon are on different levels.

It felt like the adult Woojin was just cooing and comforting the child Hong Seoyeon.

But, even so.

Lee Hyerim recalled Hong Seoyeon from a moment ago.

‘There are tons of guys like that.’

The way she evaluated Woojin felt like she was belittling herself.

And Woojin and she were different.

Very much so.

Even more so in this situation.

Lee Hyerim, who had been looking in the mirror, soon left the bathroom.

“Shall we play a game?”

Mansu spun the hanging tab of the bottle cap wildly.

It was then.

“Kyaa!”

Hong Seoyeon screamed in surprise.

Because beer was suddenly sprayed on her.

It was the part-timer’s mistake.

“Customer, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry!”

Hong Seoyeon shrieked sharply.

“Oh really! What are you going to do about this! Do you know how much this costs!”

The part-timer bowed repeatedly, not knowing what to do.

“Customer, I’m really sorry. I’m truly sorry. I’ll definitely pay for the dry cleaning. I’m really sorry.”

“Dry cleaning fee!? Do you think dry cleaning will fix this!”

She muttered, turning the gaze of the people sitting nearby.

“Is that really expensive clothing?”

“Her face seems pretty, but her personality is incredibly prickly.”

As they were murmuring, the part-timer bowed once again.

“I’m sorry. If you tell me the brand and price…”

“Seriously, working a part-time job for minimum wage, as if…”

At that moment.

Hong Seoyeon, who had been speaking, screamed again.

It was because beer had been splashed on her once more.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, what should I do?”

Next to the part-timer, Lee Hyerim stood, holding a 500cc glass.

Woojin, who knew Lee Hyerim was at the bar because of AeCandle, said,

“Are you pouring it again here?”

Lee Hyerim made an apologetic expression.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I’m drunk. What should I do…?”

“Ugh, how annoying…”

“I think I said washing wouldn’t work, is it about 70 Righteous Path? I’m truly sorry. It looks like you bought it with all your heart. What should I do? I’ll pay for it.”

Hong Seoyeon’s face crumpled with a ‘kwak!’ sound.

“What?! You think I’d accept an apology, and now you’re trying to end it with money? Do you even have that kind of money…?”

Hong Seoyeon couldn’t finish her sentence.

She, who usually had a great interest in luxury goods, noticed the watch and clothes Lee Hyerim was wearing.

Meanwhile, Mansu just blinked, unable to do anything.

There was also surprise.

It was Lee Hyerim, whom he had seen once before as Woojin’s friend.

She was incredibly pretty even upon seeing her again.

Lee Hyerim tilted her head and said,

“Yes, I have money.”

“Why don’t you apologize properly?”

“I did apologize, though?”

“Is this an apology?! Do you think I’d accept an apology like that?”

Lee Hyerim tilted her head once more.

“What are you going to do if I don’t accept your apology? If you don’t forgive me… will something big happen to me?”

Just then, Lee Hyerim’s friend approached and spoke.

“My friend said she’s sorry, didn’t she? It’s disgusting to see you acting all high and mighty just because you’re wearing some cheap designer brand. How much did you pay for it? Hyerim, I told you we shouldn’t drink in shady places. Look how vulgar she’s speaking.”

Hyerim’s friend placed a check on the table.

“Happy now?”

Mansu cautiously got up from his seat, as if trying to break up the fight.

“Everyone, calm down… Hello, Miss Hyerim? We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

Hong Seoyeon’s body trembled as she spoke.

“Do you think I’m doing this for money? People should have manners…”

Lee Hyerim nodded, cutting her off.

“You’re not doing this for money? I heard everything you said in the bathroom earlier.”

“What…”

Lee Hyerim repeated exactly what Hong Seoyeon had said in the bathroom.

“She said, ‘There are tons of girls like them. It’s more beneficial to meet better guys at this hour. Let’s stay a little longer and if it’s not fun, we can leave,’ didn’t she?”

Hong Seoyeon quickly glanced at Woojin and Mansu.

Woojin’s expression was peaceful, like someone watching a battlefield, and Mansu’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

“No… When did I ever say that…”

All formality disappeared from Lee Hyerim’s speech.

“Just take the money you love and leave. And know your place. If you want to meet a prince, you have to be a princess worthy of him. Don’t you think your idea is completely unfair? It’s pathetic to imagine you looking around like a meerkat, searching for a rich man. Are you a parasite or something? Girls like you disgrace all women.”

Hong Seoyeon, who had been trembling and glaring at Lee Hyerim, suddenly stood up.

Mansu said,

“Everyone, please calm down, and let’s resolve this through conversation…”

Lee Hyerim, looking directly into Hong Seoyeon’s eyes, blurted out,

“Your look is disgusting, so just take the money and get out, will you?”

Hong Seoyeon gritted her teeth and said,

“Sugyeong, let’s go! What bad luck!”

Hong Seoyeon stomped her feet and moved, Lee Hyerim’s Friend said.

“Are you not taking the money? Your Friend will have to deliver it instead.”

Lee Sugyeong, who had stood up with an embarrassed expression, bowed her head repeatedly.

“I’m sorry.”

As Lee Sugyeong also left, Lee Hyerim said to the Part-timer.

“Could you please set up this table again?”

The Part-timer’s blinking eyes suddenly brightened.

The Part-timer felt like Lee Hyerim was their savior.

“Oh, yes. Please wait a moment. Should I clear the original spot?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Lee Hyerim turned her gaze to her Friend and said.

“Bona, do you want to go on a blind date?”

“Huh?”