My Brother's Friend Wasn't a Guy - Chapter 25

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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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25.

“Someone who doesn’t usually wear perfume has a high chance of finding this scent off-putting.”
Lee Jin nodded after catching a whiff of it.
“You’re right. The scent is too strong—I’m getting a headache.”
Cha Ji Hoon had somehow chosen precisely this kind of perfume. A fragrance so potent and heavy that even Lee Jin, who rarely wore perfume, recoiled from it.
It was probably an attempt to overwhelm her with his favorite scent, to mark her as his.
But thanks to that miscalculation, Kang Hyun had no trouble disposing of the perfume.
“Let’s exchange it next time. It’s better if you pick something you actually like.”
“Is that okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Alright, then.”
Once Lee Jin agreed, Kang Hyun took the perfume.
He’d told her they were exchanging it, but that would never happen. He had no intention of giving her anything that Cha Ji Hoon had paid for.
Cha Ji Hoon’s perfume would go down the drain, and Kang Hyun would give her something he’d bought himself. Of course, there was no need for Lee Jin to feel burdened by any of this—it was better if she simply thought of it as an exchange.

After moving to a different location, the two had dinner at an elegant restaurant and decided to take a short walk through the Commercial District.
Since it had been a long time since walking through such crowded streets, Lee Jin’s eyes darted busily from one shop window to another.
Then their hands brushed. In that same instant, Kang Hyun naturally took her hand.
The sensation of their interlaced fingers was oddly ticklish. As she became aware of his thick knuckles, distinctly masculine, she felt perspiration gathering in her palm.
Then suddenly Kang Hyun began caressing her fingers.
“Why?”
When she asked what he was doing, an enigmatic smile played across his lips. Lee Jin couldn’t comprehend his actions and tilted her head in confusion.
No matter how hard she thought about it, she likely would never understand what was going through Kang Hyun’s mind.
Because right now he was mulling over how to make it clear to every other man out there that Lee Jin belonged to him.
That’s why he was stroking her finger. The most obvious and straightforward method had just occurred to him.
Scanning the surroundings, he spotted a Jewelry Store without difficulty.
“Let’s go look over there.”
“What? There?”
With her hand still clasped in his, Lee Jin found herself following Kang Hyun into the Jewelry Store almost before she could protest.
“Welcome. Is there a particular design or type of jewelry you’re looking for?”
The staff member greeted them cordially.
“Well, I…”
Kang Hyun cut off Lee Jin’s hesitant response and stepped in.
“Could we see some couple rings?”
“Of course.”
The staff member’s face lit up as she began selecting designs to recommend. Lee Jin shot Kang Hyun a look—a silent ‘What are you doing?’
Though she’d let the matter slide earlier because of the club members, Lee Jin was perfectly aware that the gift he’d given her was incredibly expensive. And now he was about to buy something costly again.
Seeing Lee Jin’s determined headshake, Kang Hyun let out a soft chuckle.
She seemed to be trying to look menacing, but since it was an expression he rarely saw from her, it came across as nothing short of adorable.
As Kang Hyun continued smiling without any intention of backing down, Lee Jin’s expression hardened.
“This isn’t a gift for you—it’s a gift for me.”
What? What did he mean by that? Lee Jin’s brow furrowed. Seeing her expression, Kang Hyun laughed once more before speaking.
“I’m the possessive type—ridiculously possessive. I can’t stand other men showing any interest in my woman.”
“Interest? Who’s—”
“Even just looking at you the wrong way. I’d want to rip their eyes out.”
That wouldn’t do, would it? Hmm? Despite his horrifying words, Kang Hyun spoke with a gentle smile.
“This is me preventing myself from becoming a criminal. So really, it’s a gift for myself.”
……
Lee Jin was at a loss for words.
The staff member, who’d been listening to the entire conversation while pretending not to hear, was watching her face cycle through different colors—which only made Lee Jin’s mind go blank with embarrassment.
“Fine, yes, I understand.”
In the end, Lee Jin let out a deep sigh and nodded in resignation. At that, the staff member, who’d been playing dumb, brightened immediately and hurried over.
“I’ve selected a few of our most popular designs. If none of them appeal to you, please let me know—I’d be happy to show you other options.”
“Thank you very much.”
Thanks to the staff member’s attentiveness and professionalism, Lee Jin was able to quickly select a couple ring design.
“Since we’ll be wearing them right away, could you just put them in a case?”
Fortunately, they had rings in her size in stock, so she was able to take them with her immediately.
As they stepped back onto the street, Kang Hyun took her hand with a satisfied smile, then brushed his fingers over the Couple Ring on Lee Jin’s ring finger.
“Thank you.”
Hearing her murmur something complicated, Kang Hyun laughed and spoke quickly.
“Thank me for what? This was purely efficient—a way to keep me from becoming a criminal…….”
Unable to hear him through to the end, Lee Jin pressed her hand against his mouth.
“If you’d just stop talking, I might not hate you so much.”
“You hate me? There’s no way that’s true.”
Kang Hyun bent his waist and thrust his face directly in front of hers.
Caught off guard by this sudden charm offensive, Lee Jin hurried to step away.
But his hand gripped hers, and when he followed her without quickening his pace, she found herself back where she’d started after just two steps.
Exasperated at her helplessness, Kang Hyun pulled her close in a tight embrace and whispered near her ear.
“Lee Jin, thank you for being born into this world.”
Those words made her heart slam against her ribs. For reasons she couldn’t name, heat flooded her eyes, and to keep her face hidden, she pressed her forehead deeper into his chest.
“That’s not fair.”
Hearing her murmur, Kang Hyun smiled and asked.
“What isn’t?”
“Saying something like that all of a sudden.”
Just moments ago he’d been so cutting and vicious she thought someone might lose an eye.
Perhaps because the words came without warning, they struck deeper into her chest. Lee Jin heard her heart thundering wildly and pressed her eyes shut. Confused, she couldn’t name what emotion was rising in her throat.
All she knew was that Kang Hyun’s broad chest around her felt solid and immense—like a fortress wall. The noise of the Commercial District, crowded with countless people passing by, suddenly receded into the distance.
Safe and unshakeable.
As if reading her thoughts, Kang Hyun held her even tighter.
And so they stood in that one place for quite a long while.

***

Do Hyun Soo was an only son from a family long accustomed to privilege.
The company his father ran hadn’t quite reached the ranks of the conglomerates, but it was well-known enough—and he, the treasured son, had been raised precious and indulged.
A man like Do Hyun Soo could never simply accept an insult.
He remembered clearly the humiliation dealt to him by his classmate Kang Hyun and Cheon Eun Jung at the Osung Group’s new product launch party.
Yet his fury aimed not so much at Cheon Eun Jung, the younger daughter of the Osung Group and admittedly difficult to handle, but rather at Kang Hyun—that polished facade hiding nothing of substance. Even now his wrist ached where the man had gripped it.
Damn Kang Hyun. An architect playing at something he has no business touching. I’ll make him eat those words.
Nursing his malice, Do Hyun Soo had his secretary investigate Lee Jin’s whereabouts. It was illegal surveillance in all but name.
After roughly a week, the secretary brought him a report on Lee Jin.
She currently ran a pottery workshop, and her family circumstances were, by Do Hyun Soo’s measure, barely a step above destitute.
“Well, this shouldn’t be difficult at all.”
Do Hyun Soo smiled like a predator that had spotted easy prey. But the secretary offered a word that might reality-check him.
“However, from our investigation, it appears Lee Jin and Kang Hyun are in a intimate relationship.”
“Ah, figures. That bastard Kang Hyun threw himself at her and then had the nerve to throw a fit. Crazy son of a bitch.”
The secretary watched Do Hyun Soo mutter his curses, then spoke.
“If they are indeed close, then the odds of Miss Lee coming over to you are considerably low, aren’t they?”
“Why?”
Do Hyun Soo clearly had no idea what the secretary was getting at. The secretary felt a strong urge to hold up a mirror to him.
If Do Hyun Soo hadn’t known Kang Hyun’s face and build, perhaps he could have let it pass, but they had been classmates.
Which meant he knew better than anyone just how perfectly handsome Kang Hyun was.
“Listen, what do you think women look at more than a man’s face? Money, that’s what.”
So Do Hyun Soo believed that with enough money, he could pry Lee Jin away from Kang Hyun.
The secretary swallowed a sigh and delivered a fact he hadn’t yet shared with this naive rich boy.
“Well, this is something I discovered during the investigation. Kang Hyun is actually the third son of the Munseong Group.”

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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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