My Brother's Friend Wasn't a Guy - Chapter 18

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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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18.

“You’re something else.”
Lee Jin laughed brightly, making it clear she wasn’t taking Kang Hyeon’s words seriously at all.

“When you grow up, you should marry me.”

During his school days, Kang Hyeon had said things like this often—though only when Seo I-hwan wasn’t around, always in a playful tone.
Perhaps because of that, Lee Jin seemed to treat Kang Hyeon’s words as a joke.
But it wasn’t a joke—it was sincere. Kang Hyeon clicked his tongue inwardly and asked her.
“Why? Isn’t a perfect man your ideal type?”
Since she’d taken his words lightly, he had to play along casually for now.
Still, he couldn’t just let his curiosity go unanswered, so he packaged his true question as a light joke.
“Well, I don’t particularly dislike it. It’s just that Seo I-hwan talks about it so much…….”
When Kang Hyeon heard Seo I-hwan’s name, something cold settled in his chest.
“What did he say?”
Then Lee Jin explained the past brainwashing lectures from her Siscom brother.

“Lee Jin, listen carefully. First of all, you have to be wary of all men. There’s nothing in a man’s head except those sorts of things.”
“But you’re a man too.”
“I am. I’m a man, but to you I’m your brother, not a man, so let’s set gender aside.”
“Then who am I supposed to meet?”

When she glared as if asking whether she should only meet women, I-hwan stammered his response.

“First of all, don’t go for guys who are too handsome—they live up to their faces in all the wrong ways. And don’t date men who are well-educated, from good families, financially stable, and generally perfect either.”
“Why not?”
“Because guys like that are insufferable!”

Hearing the contents of the brainwashing education I-hwan had given his younger sister back then, Kang Hyeon let out a groan.
No matter how he thought about it, that sounded like it was directed at him.
Thinking about how long Seo I-hwan had been active as his rival, it was horrifying.
“You know, advice like that should go in one ear and out the other. He was probably just jealous because I’m good at everything—that’s the only reason he’d say something like that.”
“You think so?”
Noticing longing flicker in Lee Jin’s eyes, Kang Hyeon sighed and spoke.
“If I-hwan were still alive now, I bet he’d think differently. Back in school, maybe a guy who had everything was annoying, but now that we’ve all tasted the real world of capitalism, you’d absolutely want that. Especially with a man like me—he’d definitely tell you never to let go.”
“Hmm, that sounds more like your personal wish than his.”
“Well, I can’t exactly say you’re wrong.”
When Kang Hyeon shrugged, Lee Jin burst into quiet laughter.
“If you keep going this way, you’ll find the Studio Workshop. You can either look around or work—do whatever you like. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Lee Jin hesitated, wondering if she could really trust the evening meal entirely to Kang Hyeon, but the thought that time was too precious to waste drove her toward the workshop.
The room that had been empty the last time she’d visited Cheong Juk Je was now transformed into a Studio Workshop.
“Wow…….”
Lee Jin gasped with genuine amazement. The workshop, modeled after her own studio, had everything necessary already prepared.
Not only was everything laid out in a convenient workflow, but there were also several different types of clay.
This is troublesome. If I get used to working here, my studio is going to feel cramped. Lee Jin touched the clay with a conflicted feeling.
Making pottery requires preparatory work.
The clay must go through a Clay Wedging process that equalizes the water content and particle distribution; otherwise, defective pottery results later.
Clay that hasn’t been properly wedged traps air, which causes it to puff up and crack in the kiln or lose its shape. That’s why clay wedging was intimately connected to the longevity of pottery.
In the old days, clay was spread on the ground and kneaded by foot, but now with advanced technology, people used a Vacuum Clay Wedging Machine. When you fed the clay into the machine, wedged clay came out like sticky rice cake.
The workshop had two Vacuum Clay Wedging Machines—one for white porcelain and one for celadon. Lee Jin lost track of time examining the machines.
Knock, knock—the door opened. Kang Hyeon forgot to say it was time for dinner and broke into laughter instead. Lee Jin had come to greet him with a flushed, animated face.
“Oppa, how did you get a machine better than the ones at my studio?”
While Kang Hyeon liked that Lee Jin was smiling so radiantly and welcoming him like this, on the other hand it felt bittersweet. He wondered if his existence would ever outshine a Vacuum Clay Wedging Machine.
To make Seo Lee Jin laugh to this degree next time, he’d probably need to bring a custom pottery kiln.
“How could I invite such precious talent without preparing proper equipment?”
When Kang Hyeon shrugged as if it were nothing, Lee Jin’s eyes lit up as she spoke.
“It’s not much. This is a brand-new model that came out this year. The wedging machine at the workshop was getting on a bit, so it was about time we upgraded. I have to say, the new one really does make a difference.”
It was rare for Lee Jin to chatter away so much. Kang Hyeon chuckled and stepped over to give the tie of her apron a light tug.
Lee Jin, her hands dusted with clay, didn’t protest. Her eyes went wide.
As he spoke, Kang Hyeon slipped the apron from her shoulders.
“We’ll lose the whole meal if we don’t eat soon. Let’s have dinner first.”
“Oh? Right.”
As he removed the apron, his hand lingered at her waist, smoothing the disheveled strands of her hair with a touch as natural and fluid as running water.
But Lee Jin felt heat bloom wherever he touched her, and she stiffened awkwardly.
To any observer, it would have looked like she was simply being careful not to get clay on him. But to avoid betraying her nervousness, she hurried to the sink and washed her hands.
When they entered the dining room, the table was arranged with dishes Kang Hyeon had prepared. Lee Jin was startled by the spread—dishes worthy of a year-end party—and asked in surprise.
“Did you really make all this?”
“What, worried I have some enchantress hidden away somewhere?”
Kang Hyeon laughed and guided her to her seat. Her gaze darted between the food on the table and his face, restless and eager.
Succulent steak, salmon en papillote, penne rigate, mussels in cream sauce, and lemon-garlic salad—a riot of colors filled the table.
“You’re amazing.”
When Kang Hyeon saw her genuine wonder, he puffed out his chest with pride.
“Right? Why am I so amazing? There’s honestly nothing I can’t do.”
His words, absurdly boastful as they were, somehow dispelled her tension.
What an idiot, she thought, and a soft laugh escaped her. With the wine he’d brought, they ate in a warm, comfortable silence.

“I’ll do the dishes.”
After the meal, Lee Jin gathered the plates and insisted she’d handle the cleanup.
“I came here to serve you, remember?”
Kang Hyeon was equally stubborn about handling it himself.
“I can wash the dishes just fine.”
“Then let’s do it together.”
After some gentle bickering, they settled on dividing the work: Lee Jin washed while Kang Hyeon rinsed.
Standing side by side at the sink, they were surprised to find how naturally their rhythms aligned.
Lee Jin stole a glance at him.
The corded muscles of his forearms, the lean strength of his frame, the sharp profile she had to crane her neck to see—everything drew her gaze like a sculpture come to life.
Yes, he had every right to boast of his perfection. Yet watching him do the dishes in all that perfection created such a strange disconnect that laughter kept threatening to spill out.
Kang Hyeon, catching the barely suppressed giggles, narrowed his eyes.
“So our Lee Jin has a thing for men who do dishes?”
“I guess I do.”
She nodded readily and smiled. But Kang Hyeon saw through her—she was teasing him. A wicked glint crossed his features.
“Then what if this dish-washing man tried to seduce you? Would you give in?”
He caged her between his arms at the sink.
Earlier in the studio, her clay-dusted hands had kept her still; now, soap suds coating them, she was equally trapped.
“Huh?”
Before she could fully react, his lips drew near enough to touch.
The running water babbled loudly—the only sound.
“Wait, just a moment—”
As Lee Jin floundered, uncertain what to do with her soapy hands, Kang Hyeon took them in his and guided them under the spray.
Long fingers intertwined, and the sensation was electric. Holding her from behind, his body pressed against hers. Thump-thump—whose heart was beating so loudly?
After washing her hands thoroughly, Kang Hyeon turned off the tap that had been running noisily. Then, with a lazy smile, he said:
“We should conserve water. I don’t think we’ll be finishing the dishes anytime soon.”
“Why not?”
Lee Jin blinked, confused as to why the dishes wouldn’t be finished, and Kang Hyeon, smiling warmly, explained with mock courtesy:
“Because I’m about to kiss you.”

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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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