My Brother's Friend Wasn't a Guy - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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17.

“Woooow.”
Cheon Woo-jae, watching the room’s mood, clapped awkwardly, but the rest of the family turned skeptical eyes toward Cheon Eun-jeong.
“I hate to say it, but does the youngest son of the Moonseong Group have some kind of defect?”
If you hate to say it, then don’t say it at all! Cheon Eun-jeong shot a glare at Cheon Ji-yong, the chairman of the Osung Group and her father.
“Are you serious?”
Among them, it was her mother, Jang Hae-yeong, who showed the most genuine delight.
“Of course I’m serious. Have you been deceived your whole life? You don’t even believe your own daughter?”
Cheon Mi-jin, listening to Cheon Eun-jeong’s sharp retort, crossed her arms and tilted her head to one side.
“Everyone says the youngest son of the Moonseong Group is incredibly handsome.”
“Yeah, he’s handsome, sure.”
“But then why…?”
The unspoken question hung in the air: why would such a handsome, flawless young master of the Moonseong Group be interested in you?
Cheon Eun-jeong caught the drift instantly and bristled.
“What’s wrong with me, exactly?”
……
Everyone looked at her with expressions that clearly said: “Know thyself.”
This is why I’m starved for affection! Cheon Eun-jeong lamented her own awkward position like an unwanted duckling and spoke with visible irritation.
“That so-called wonderful youngest son of the Moonseong Group was the one who first told me he wanted to date with marriage in mind.”
“His tastes must be pretty unique, then.”
Cheon Eun-jeong glared at Cheon Woo-jae for his muttered remark. He flinched, his shoulders trembling, and let out an awkward laugh before falling silent.
“Then do your best. If we become in-laws with the Moonseong Group, it could bring significant profit to our company.”
Only then did Cheon Ji-yong speak, with the calculating mindset of a true businessman. In his head, he was likely already sketching out the profits he’d gain from the Moonseong Group in the future.
“Now I don’t regret eating seaweed soup after giving birth to you.”
So you were regretting it until now? Cheon Eun-jeong looked at her mother, Jang Hae-yeong, with cold eyes, then spoke as if to show off.
“We’re still getting to know each other, so please don’t get ahead of yourselves. You never know how these things will turn out.”
“Right, right. That’s only natural. But you should get your hair done again. Do you have something to wear when you go on a date?”
Cheon Eun-jeong suppressed her laughter and replied.
“I suppose I’ll need to go shopping so I’m not outdone by the Moonseong Group.”
Thanks to Moon Kang-hyun, Jang Hae-yeong’s wallet seemed ready to open wide. Who knew she’d ever benefit from Moon Kang-hyun’s existence.
Cheon Eun-jeong realized the truth of the old saying that fortune turns on a wheel, and felt a quiet surge of triumph.

***

Saturday arrived, the day Lee Jin had arranged to spend at Cheongjeokje with Kang-hyun. She packed a light bag and spoke to her mother, Go Myeong-suk, as she left.
“Remember I mentioned I’d be busy with a project?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right.”
The awkwardness between mother and daughter lingered, so Go Myeong-suk stumbled over her words.
“There’s a lot of work to do, so I think I’ll be staying out on weekends for a while.”
“Oh, you will?”
Lee Jin was currently the one supporting the household. So Go Myeong-suk couldn’t say anything against her daughter’s need to stay out for work.
“When I’m not here, please don’t just grab whatever you can eat. Make sure you eat properly.”
“Yes, and you eat well too.”
“Okay, I should get going.”
Lee Jin stepped out through the entrance. Go Myeong-suk stood frozen like someone who’d forgotten how to move, then came to her senses a moment too late.
Should I go find some restaurant and wash dishes? With a heavy sigh, she picked up a cloth and headed toward Lee Hwan’s room.
Her son’s room remained exactly as it had been on the day the accident happened—preserved in amber. Clothes he’d left scattered during his hurried morning departure were still there, as was the water glass he’d been drinking from.
Go Myeong-suk dusted and wiped each object with the cloth, then set everything back in its original place.
No matter how much she cleaned, the room’s landscape never changed—and that was entirely by design.
Then her gaze caught on the suit hanging on the wall. It was the suit she’d bought him before he’d started his law firm position.

“Look at this fine specimen! Who else could be my son!”

The image of Lee Hwan admiring himself in the mirror came alive in her memory—vivid and sharp. Go Myeong-suk’s eyes suddenly burned red with tears.
“Don’t cry. You mustn’t cry.”
That’s right—time to stop crying now. She clenched her teeth and swallowed the sobs rising in her throat. She was terrified that if she lost control and broke down completely, her relationship with Lee Jin would shatter beyond repair.
But she couldn’t figure out where to begin untangling the knotted threads. She scrubbed her eyes roughly and fled Lee Hwan’s room as if running away.

***

Lee Jin left her house a little earlier than the time Moon Kang-hyun had said he would pick her up. She needed to settle herself before seeing his face.
“Sigh…”
She exhaled slowly, trying to untangle the knot in her chest. The longer time passed, the more dreadful it felt to enter that house.
The reality that she would never see her favorite brother again was sinking in, and yet nothing about the house had changed at all.
Now she didn’t know how to comfort her mother, and with each attempt to avoid conflict with her, Lee Jin’s words grew fewer and fewer. The helplessness of it gnawed at her. That’s why stepping through the door terrified her more with each passing day.
Whether accepting Kang-hyun’s proposal had been the right choice, she couldn’t say—but under the current circumstances, she’d had no choice but to accept it.
Standing on the street and catching her breath, she spotted his car pulling up.
“You’re early.”
“Yeah, it’s a pain to find parking around here.”
Lee Jin settled into the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and smiled at Kang-hyun. He’d watched her long enough to know that shadow behind her smile.
But instead of prying, he spoke with deliberate cheer.
“I picked up groceries. I’m cooking dinner. Check the back.”
Lee Jin turned and her eyes widened. The rear seats were packed with bags.
“What on earth? How many ingredients do you need for one dinner?”
“That’s a lot?”
“Are you kidding me? That’s not a lot?”
Seeing her eyes go wide, Kang-hyun chuckled.
“In a little while, all of it will be in our bellies.”
“Is that even possible?”
Kang-hyun found her expression—with her brow furrowed in concentration—so endearing that he laughed outright.
His cheerful rambling had done the trick. The gloom that had clung to Lee Jin had nearly vanished.
“Looking at all these groceries, Cheongjeokje doesn’t feel like a stately hanok anymore. It feels like that candy house from Hansel and Gretel.”

Hearing this, Kang-hyun wisely decided not to mention that there were still more groceries filling the trunk.
“Are you afraid I’ll fatten you up and eat you?”
At that, Lee Jin let out a small laugh as if she’d heard a badly told joke.
“That’s just talk. You’re no witch—how would you eat me?”
“Hmm, that so?”
Kang-hyun raised one eyebrow with an ambiguous smile, his mind clattering noisily with a hundred and one ways he’d like to devour Lee Jin.
A short while later, the car arrived at Cheongjeokje. Because of the volume of luggage, instead of heading to the underground garage, they took the path along the back of the estate and parked before the rear gate.
“I’ll carry everything in. You go rest inside.”
“No, I’ll help.”
The two of them carried the groceries to the kitchen. The wide island counter filled up with ingredients.
“It looks like even more from this angle.”
Overwhelmed at the prospect of organizing it all, Lee Jin stared blankly at the mountain of groceries.
Kang-hyun could have had the staff stock the refrigerator in advance, but he hadn’t—and now he laughed at this rare expression on Lee Jin’s face.
“Can I take a picture? I want to capture that look right now and keep it.”
“Absolutely not.”
Lee Jin tossed her head with fresh determination. Kang-hyun made a show of regret and busied himself organizing the groceries with practiced efficiency.
For five years, ever since his mother had forbidden him from seeing Lee Hwan, Kang-hyun had lived apart from home. Nominally it was independence; in truth, it was near-estrangement from his mother.
In exchange for not seeing Lee Hwan as his mother wished, he had simply stopped seeing his mother instead.
During those five years, Kang-hyun had learned to handle most things on his own—cooking included.
Watching him organize everything smoothly and deftly, Lee Jin’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What? How are you so good at this?”
“You didn’t know? I’m naturally talented at everything.”
If anyone else had said that, it would have sounded unbearably arrogant, but coming from Moon Kang-hyun, it somehow carried an air of credibility.
“Where did all the modesty go…”
Watching her exhale in exasperation, Kang-hyun laughed and leaned closer.
“I’m just stating facts. A man who’s good at everything isn’t appealing?”
“Well, it’s not unappeal—I mean, being good at everything means being perfect.”
Then, bracing himself against the island counter, Kang-hyun leaned forward with his eyes meeting hers.
“So I’m prime son-in-law material. What do you think—want to marry me?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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