My Brother's Friend Wasn't a Guy - Chapter 59

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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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59.

Had she heard those words, Jin Ae-ran would surely have cried out something like this.
‘And whose fault is all of this!’
She would have beaten her chest in lamentation, cursing the day she bore such a dim-witted son, forced to shoulder burdens like these. The image played so vividly in Kang Hyun’s mind that he laughed again, a low chuckle.
Having driven his mother to the very edge, watching her now take initiative and move on her own terms stirred something in him—pity mixed with satisfaction.
If she’d shown this kind of spirit long ago, they might all have been happy.
But Kang Hyun, whose thinking patterns fell far short of filial piety, wasn’t one for self-reflection. He turned to Lee Jin and spoke.
“The flower wreath will be collected in a few days anyway. Let’s just leave it.”
“Yes, all right.”
Lee Jin nodded, wondering if she should send a separate thank-you message later.
Kang Hyun had come to the workshop at this hour because of a promise with his grandfather, Moon Hee-chan. It was the first thing he’d done after Lee Jin accepted the couple’s ring—arranging to meet with the old man.

The two of them left the workshop and headed toward Cheongjeokje.

“I never thought I’d see the autumn landscape of Cheongjeokje again.”
She murmured the words half to herself, looking around. The garden that had once been covered entirely in green now looked rather desolate.
Someone had tidied away the fallen leaves, so the grounds were immaculate—which only made the bare branches stand out more starkly.
“Grandfather moved here from the Main House about two weeks ago. He’s taken quite a liking to both the house and the pottery collection.”
Kang Hyun spoke more than usual, trying to ease Lee Jin’s tension.
He went on to assure her that whatever his grandfather might seem like to others, he was nothing to fear, so she needn’t worry. Then, as if remembering something, he added, “Oh, one more thing—a favor. Grandfather thinks I was injured in a simple accident. So please keep the details to yourself.”
“Mm, is that so?”
Lee Jin’s eyes narrowed slightly, then curved in a pleasant smile.
“All right, I understand.”
She gave him the answer he wanted without hesitation, then stepped into Cheongjeokje. Meeting Kang Hyun’s family was, to be honest, rather nerve-wracking.
“Welcome, Young Master.”
The butler who had managed the Main House since childhood came out to greet them warmly.
Young Master.
Lee Jin couldn’t believe there were still people who used such terms. She found herself quietly mimicking the title Kang Hyun was called, trying to ease her own discomfort.
“How do you do, Young Lady.”
But the butler’s courtesy extended to her as well.
“Oh, yes, thank you for the welcome.”
Young Lady—her mouth twitched slightly. Seeing her reaction, Kang Hyun let out a quiet laugh.
“And Grandfather?”
“He’s been waiting since a while ago.”
They followed the butler inside.
“Chairman, your expected guests have arrived.”
Moon Hee-chan, who had been sitting on the living room sofa reading the newspaper, looked up at the butler’s words.
“Ah, welcome, welcome.”
Kang Hyun exhaled quietly as he watched his grandfather’s gaze fix entirely on Lee Jin, the dark-skinned grandson forgotten.
“It’s an honor to meet you. My name is Lee Jin.”
As Lee Jin offered a respectful greeting, a rare smile bloomed across Moon Hee-chan’s face.
“Delighted. I’m Kang Hyun’s grandfather.”
“Yes, I’ve heard much about you.”
Moon Hee-chan had taken a liking to Lee Jin from the moment he’d first heard about her, and meeting her in person only deepened that favorable impression.
“Bring out some refreshments, will you?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
As the butler hurried away, Kang Hyun spoke with a hint of complaint.
“If you keep staring at her like that, you’ll wear holes in her face.”
“Tsk, tsk. How long have I waited? Should I not even get a proper look?”
Seeing his grandson take Lee Jin’s side the moment they sat down, Moon Hee-chan clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
Moon Hee-chan, who had met countless people over the long years, had come to understand something about reading character from appearance.
True to his grandson’s word, she was indeed a virtuous woman. Her beauty was evident, and her demeanor was calm, but what struck him most was the clarity in her eyes—a brightness and distinctness that spoke of a pure, wholesome spirit.
He rather liked that radiance about her.
So when he spoke, his voice carried a warmth far gentler than his usual tone.
“Has this grandson of mine been giving you any trouble?”

Hearing his grandfather’s changed tone, Kang Hyun’s face went blank, and his eyebrows twitched.
“Ah, yes, well….”
But Lee Jin’s answer was hardly satisfying. At that, Kang Hyun’s eyebrows twitched once more. There was something unsettling about it.
“Don’t worry about speaking freely to your grandfather. I’ll give this fool a proper scolding.”
Normally, when Lee Jin heard such things, she would politely insist there was nothing wrong.
Yet this time, an impish smile flickered across her lips.
Kang Hyun’s eyes narrowed at once.
“Did you know, Grandfather, that this accident wasn’t an accident at all? That it was one Kang Hyun created himself?”
“What did you say?”
As Moon Hee-chan’s voice rose, Kang Hyun exhaled sharply and muttered under his breath.
“Damn it, Lee Jin, you….”
But at that very moment, the butler appeared with the household staff and laid out refreshments across the table. The conversation broke off.
“Enjoy yourselves, then.”
After the staff bowed and withdrew, Moon Hee-chan smiled and urged the refreshments on Lee Jin.
“Eat while it’s still warm.”
“Thank you very much.”
The moment Moon Hee-chan saw Lee Jin pick up her fork, his smile vanished entirely, and he fixed Kang Hyun with the fierce gaze of a tiger.
“That’s not what I meant to—”
“Not what you meant? I knew something was off the moment I heard about the accident!”
After that, Kang Hyun had to endure a torrent of his grandfather’s scolding. Lee Jin savored a sweet-tart apple while watching the spectacle unfold.
Her face seemed to wear the words “Kang Hyun, serves you right”—and seeing him being dressed down so thoroughly, he finally couldn’t help but laugh.
“You wretch! Are you laughing now?”
Which only earned him more of a scolding.

Since they’d decided to stay for dinner as well, the two of them agreed to take a walk outside while it was being prepared.
Lee Jin pushed the wheelchair along the walking path that led toward the Bamboo Forest and stopped when a bench came into view.
She positioned Kang Hyun’s wheelchair neatly beside the bench, then sat down herself.
“Today I could see Lee Jin was incredibly mischievous.”
Kang Hyun recalled what had just happened and smiled ruefully. He’d asked her not to say anything, and yet she’d stabbed him in the back.
“You’re only realizing that now?”
Lee Jin answered breezily, casting her eyes aside with a coy tilt of her head. She clearly hadn’t forgiven what he’d done.
“So you’re satisfied now?”
Kang Hyun remembered the repeated scolding from Moon Hee-chan and offered a bitter smile. At that, Lee Jin answered teasingly, deliberately ambiguous.
“Hmm, satisfied or not—I’m still deciding.”
A stunned sigh escaped Kang Hyun’s lips.
He’d even endured his grandfather’s tirade for her sake, and still she wasn’t satisfied. A hint of mischief played at the corners of his mouth.
He twisted his lip into a crooked smile and spoke.
“You think you won’t regret this?”
“Who, me?”
Lee Jin laughed and rose from the bench, stepping back a little distance from him.
Seeing her take comfort in that small remove, he found her both endearing and pitiable, and a smile leaked through.
She was probably thinking about the wheelchair—convinced she’d never be caught, and planning to torment him freely at least for tonight.
He could have played along with her plan, but watching the relief bloom across her face, he changed his mind.
“So that’s the thrill of teasing someone.”
Lee Jin laughed and tilted her head back toward the sky. The sun set quickly this time of year, and dusk had already fallen; the streetlights were on.
The moon was particularly bright tonight. She stood defenseless, her gaze stolen by the lunar glow, still playing with him.
“If you’re going to tease, you should focus on it, Lee Jin.”
He approached from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist. She started in surprise and spun around.
“What? How—?”
Her innocent face showed she’d never once imagined that Kang Hyun, who’d injured his legs, could abandon the wheelchair and walk toward her.
“Do you want to know why I’ve kept using the wheelchair?”
Kang Hyun asked, his fingertips gently brushing her cheek. Lee Jin shook her head, her eyes still wide with surprise.
“Because that way, you’d feel sorry for me.”
“What? So you mean—?”
“Yeah. I’ve been able to walk for a while now.”
He grinned, then cupped her face with one hand and kissed her. He parted her lips at once and invaded with his tongue, shaking her to her core.
The cool evening air made the kiss feel more intense and raw. Their tongues tangled and soft flesh was scraped roughly without restraint.
Under the overwhelming kiss that left her breathless, Lee Jin’s chest rose and fell desperately.
He gave her a brief moment to breathe, then brushed his thumb across her lips—slick with his saliva—and spoke.
“You had no idea I’ve been holding back wanting to do this the whole time, did you, tormenting me like that.”
Right, how could I have known that? Lee Jin nodded, her expression dawning with belated embarrassment.
Watching that endearing, pitiful face, Kang Hyun whispered with a wry smile.
“You should’ve been less tempting, then.”
With that, their lips met again.

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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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