Don't Call Anyone Else Oppa
“The setup looks polished and the vision is grand, but I can’t tell what the business model even is. And there’s no cash cow to prop it up right now.”
A peculiar smile curved Seok-hyeon’s lips.
“What Jo Gi-tae and Kim Na-bin want is for me to fill that role, isn’t it?”
A sucker who’d foot the bill.
Seok-hyeon muttered the words under his breath with a quiet scoff. Da-yeon was about to tell him he didn’t have to, but instead he covered the back of her hand with his own.
“I know what you’re worried about, Da-yeon.”
“…….”
“But don’t worry.”
His tone held not the slightest tremor, and the words of concern died on her tongue.
Then, from across the room, Gi-tae turned his head this way and that until he spotted Seok-hyeon and Da-yeon and hurried over. Seeming too intimidated to address Seok-hyeon directly, he shifted his gaze to her.
“Da-yeon… I mean, Sister-in-law. Mind if I borrow my brother-in-law?”
Da-yeon looked at Seok-hyeon. He rose from his seat as if it were nothing. When he gave a small nod as if to say lead the way, Gi-tae cheerfully steered him off. Under the pretense of introductions, he was clearly showing him off.
People’s eyes widened first at Seok-hyeon’s looks, then again when they heard the company name. The way he smiled calmly and composedly no matter the setting felt strangely unfamiliar. It was subtly different from the Shin Seok-hyeon who teased her.
Could anything ever shake that solid-looking man?
Seok-hyeon’s figure vanished among the crowd. With nothing left to watch, Da-yeon sat back and steadied her breathing.
“Unnie.”
Before she knew it, Na-bin had taken the seat beside her. After a sip of her cocktail, she spoke as if interrogating her.
“Is that the guy Mom set you up with?”
“…Yeah.”
“He didn’t look like that in the photo.”
“He’s the CEO of a medical aesthetics company.”
Na-bin snapped back in disbelief.
“You’re saying that face is post-plastic surgery? You believe that?”
“…Why does that matter?”
“Because…!”
Because Shin Seok-hyeon couldn’t be allowed to look better than Jo Gi-tae.
Da-yeon could guess the words Na-bin swallowed. Na-bin twisted her face and downed the rest of her drink in one go.
“Must be nice, Kim Da-yeon. Be good to Mom. She landed you a fine man, after all.”
With that, Na-bin left. Alone again, Da-yeon pressed a hand to her head.
Was this really something to thank Yoon Ju-ha for?
It had been inevitable, but the thought of Kim Na-bin telling their stepmother, and of Yoon Ju-ha grilling her about what had happened, already exhausted her. The alcohol seemed to keep swirling through her system.
Her throat burned. Wanting at least to rinse her mouth, Da-yeon rose in search of water. As she pushed through the crowd, her head spun. Fearing she might make a scene, she headed for a corner toward the restroom.
Rounding the corner, she saw a familiar silhouette. Instinctively, Da-yeon turned back. It was unmistakably Na-bin and Seok-hyeon. Her heart pounded as she tried to calm herself; a sharp voice carried over.
“You don’t seem to know much about Kim Da-yeon.”
“About what?”
Seok-hyeon asked calmly. Da-yeon held her breath without realizing.
“Her face is fine, so men do stick to her pretty well. I’m sure that’s what drew you in too, Brother-in-law.”
Na-bin spoke loudly, triumphant.
“She even got pregnant once. Didn’t give birth, though. If she hadn’t lost it, she’d have been an unwed mother.”
“…….”
“The accident left her with a bad leg, and if you look closely her hand’s awkward too. Mother packed up this defective product somehow, but I think the match is off—that’s why I’m telling you.”
No reply from Seok-hyeon. He seemed only to be listening. She wondered what expression he wore but couldn’t bring herself to step out.
“…You’re saying this for my sake?”
After a long silence, Seok-hyeon asked back.
“Of course. It’d be nice if you became my brother-in-law, but I wouldn’t want you feeling scammed later. Just be careful.”
Na-bin’s excited voice floated over. Da-yeon’s chest tightened. She knew what kind of person Na-bin was, so the words themselves didn’t wound her. But the shame of having her treatment at home laid bare so nakedly before Seok-hyeon cut deep.
“…Fascinating.”
When Seok-hyeon’s voice came again, a faint mockery underlay it.
“Looking out for a stranger more than your own family.”
“Th-that’s not it. I’m just telling you the facts.”
Not the reaction she’d wanted; Na-bin sounded flustered. Seok-hyeon’s voice followed.
“I already know.”
“You’re still seeing her even knowing that?”
“Da-yeon already told me. It’s something for Da-yeon and me to decide, so you needn’t worry any further, Na-bin.”
“Ha… Well, that’s a relief. That you already know.”
“Yes. It would be best if you focused on Gi-tae.”
He spoke as if kindly, but Da-yeon sensed the subtle difference from the tone he used with her. It sounded more like: I’ll handle my own affairs, so don’t interfere.
“Are you all right?”
A man about her age spoke to Da-yeon as she leaned against the wall. He must have noticed something off.
“I’m fine. Just a little tired, so I was resting here.”
Afraid he’d realize she’d been eavesdropping, she answered awkwardly. The man, seeming eager to help, held out a hand.
“Shall I assist you? Somewhere to sit…”
“Thank you.”
The thanks wasn’t from Da-yeon. Seok-hyeon had appeared from around the corner and greeted the man in her place.
“She’s with me. I’ll take care of her.”
Adding that, Seok-hyeon wrapped an arm around Da-yeon’s shoulders.
“I left you alone too long. I’m sorry.”
The other man left looking sheepish. Da-yeon watched Seok-hyeon warily, wondering if he’d realized she’d overheard. But he seemed unconcerned, guiding her back toward their original spot. Then he noticed her uneven steps and turned his gaze on her.
“Da-yeon?”
“I’m a bit dizzy. From the alcohol…”
Between the lingering buzz and Na-bin’s words, her stomach churned. Seok-hyeon immediately supported her and led her outside.
“You don’t usually drink, do you?”
She didn’t quite understand. Had she ever told him her alcohol tolerance? Had the matchmaker passed that along too? Her head kept throbbing, so she stopped thinking.
“No, I don’t… I just had one glass out of frustration.”
“…Shall I take you home?”
“Yes… I think I should… No, I don’t want to go.”
If she went back now, Yoon Ju-ha would ask why she was early, or after Na-bin’s report, demand to know why she’d hidden the match’s identity and get angry. She didn’t want to face that right now.
At her refusal to go home, Seok-hyeon looked flustered. He first guided her to the lounge. While Da-yeon sank into a chair and tried to settle her head, Seok-hyeon hurried off to make a call somewhere.
Before long, a hotel staff member approached him. Seok-hyeon supported Da-yeon, and in a daze she followed his and the employee’s lead somewhere.
Guided into a guest room, Da-yeon was laid on a soft bed. As the tension left her body she felt a little better, yet her head still ached. She had never handled caffeine or alcohol well.
“Lie still. I’ll get some medicine.”
She lay on the bed listening to the door close. Half-asleep, she burrowed into the covers. As if the single glass had disagreed with her, her body felt cold and she curled up. She needed warmth.
She heard Seok-hyeon enter and came back to herself. He sat on the edge of the bed, checking on her. Hangover remedy, a drink for sugar, things to soothe her stomach—he’d brought everything she might need without fail.
“Which would be better? The one with the stronger effect is…”
The way he focused on explaining the medicine looked newly different. The worry, the care. That small consideration moved her heart. It was something her family had never shown while she recovered from the accident.
After confirming she’d finished the ampoule, Seok-hyeon handed her water. Her eyes were still hazy.
“Did you drink because of Jo Gi-tae?”
He touched her forehead and sighed.
“I’ll tell him that if he wants investment, he’d better not cross the line. If you don’t like something, just say so.”
Seizing on the word, Da-yeon murmured weakly.
“Are you going to invest in Gi-tae oppa?”
“…Oppa?”
Seok-hyeon asked coldly, but Da-yeon didn’t notice and stayed focused elsewhere.
“…All bluster… He talks big, but he’s the type to exit for the money and leave.”
“Good. Even better if he’s that kind of person.”
“What?”
“For becoming family, isn’t the quality a bit low? The business is no different from fraud, and he has a fiancée yet…”
She couldn’t grasp what Seok-hyeon meant. His hand came to her cheek. The contact was hot.
“I’ll handle that well enough.”
Brushing the tangled hair from her cheek, he pressed firmly.
“I’d rather you not call other men ‘oppa,’ Da-yeon.”