The Textbook of a Lover - 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.
“It’s not that you nearly killed me.”
Cha Gyeong gripped Do-ah’s shoulders and turned her to face him. When his eyes met her tear-streaked face, his voice softened considerably.
“If anything, I owe my life to you. If you hadn’t held onto my clothes, if you hadn’t cried out to alert the others, my body would be lying on that ground right now.”
“No, s-sob…! Don’t say things like that. A corpse? That’s terrifying.”
“I’m sorry for frightening you. But truly, it’s not your fault. Why would you think such a thing?”
Do-ah looked up at Cha Gyeong through her glistening tears.
“I… I thought you’d blame me for what happened.”
A smile appeared unbidden at the corner of Cha Gyeong’s mouth.
“Why would I resent someone who saved my life?”
At his words, fresh tears spilled from Do-ah’s eyes.
This time, they seemed to be tears of relief.
Watching her, Cha Gyeong spoke with a hint of playfulness.
“That said, you’ve been calling me ‘sir’ this whole time. Did you forget about the penalty I mentioned?”
A small sound escaped her.
Do-ah’s sobs stopped abruptly. Cha Gyeong gently stroked her hair as she looked flustered and spoke.
“You’ve had quite a shock today, so I’ll let it slide. But next time, make sure you practice. Then I won’t go easy on you.”
Do-ah gave a small nod in response.
There was something oddly endearing about the gesture.
* * *
“Thank you for the ride.”
“Don’t mention it. Get inside safely.”
Do-ah had suggested taking public transport home, but Cha Gyeong wouldn’t hear of it.
She was still too shaken to think clearly, he’d said, and drove her all the way to her door.
The ride had been quiet, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable the way it once might have.
As Do-ah walked after getting out of the car, she found herself thinking about Cha Gyeong. At first, she’d believed him to be an exceptionally cold and intimidating person.
His face was always expressionless, and his tone of voice was curt and glacial.
But today he’d been different. He’d protected her among the crowds, even rode the rides with her.
And despite nearly losing his life because of her, he held no resentment toward her.
‘He had a gentler side than I thought.’
With a strange peace settling over her heart, Do-ah found herself humming without thinking.
But that mood froze the instant she spotted a man who had been hiding in the shadows.
“That car just now—wasn’t that Cha Gyeong?”
The figure who’d suddenly appeared before Do-ah was none other than Gyeong-jun.
Do-ah was baffled. When she’d been desperately searching for him to recover her dowry, he was nowhere to be found. Now he appeared of his own accord, blocking her path.
“You saw it yourself. Yes, it was Cha Gyeong.”
She gave that short reply and tried to move past him, but Gyeong-jun grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
“What are you doing? Let go!”
“What’s your relationship with that man? Are you really dating Cha Gyeong?”
Do-ah wrenched her arm free and looked Gyeong-jun directly in the face.
When they’d been together, she’d thought him reasonably masculine and handsome. He was tall enough, broad-shouldered, with distinct features.
But standing next to Cha Gyeong, he looked like a street food stall next to a Michelin Restaurant.
And his personality and manners paled in comparison as well. The disparity was so stark that even comparing the two felt like an insult to Cha Gyeong.
She couldn’t fathom how she’d ever liked such a man, even if he was the benefactor who’d once saved her life.
“Yes, I’m dating him. How is that any of your concern?”
“Are you involved in some kind of crime?”
“What?”
Do-ah stared at Gyeong-jun in disbelief, her mouth hanging slightly open.
“Did you find some dirt on him and threaten him or something? There’s no other reason a man like Cha Gyeong would be dating a woman like you.”
Beyond absurdity, his words infuriated her. Suddenly she understood just how thoroughly he’d looked down on her and dismissed her all along.
“I’m not blackmailing anyone. Do you think I’m like you?”
“Hey, when did I ever blackmail anyone?”
“You committed a crime against me. Marriage fraud.”
“What? You already signed that agreement, didn’t you? I could sue you for defamation.”
“Then maybe I should tell my boyfriend everything.”
Though she’d already done exactly that.
But Gyeong-jun seemed to find this threat utterly devastating. He bristled and shouted.
“Tell me honestly. How are you two even dating? It doesn’t make sense by any standard. Are you pretty? Do you have a great figure? Is your personality charming?”
I don’t know about the rest, but for him to have tolerated you for seven years—doesn’t that make me a living stone Buddha?
As she muttered this, a memory surfaced from earlier at the restaurant, something Cha Gyeong had said.
“You’re sufficiently pretty and cute, Do-ah.”
He’d tossed it out casually, but it was the kind of thing he’d even say to a contract lover—something this ex-boyfriend had never uttered once.
“He said I was pretty and cute.”
As Do-ah spoke deliberately, Gyeong-jun let out a derisive laugh.
“Ha. Ha ha. That’s rich. That man’s just playing with you. Wake up, Do-ah.”
Gyeong-jun continued, his sneer never faltering.
“A man like that must have met countless beautiful women. Models, actresses—obviously. And the daughters of wealthy families lining up for him. But you’re pretty and cute? You’re joking, right? He’s toying with you.”
So what if he is.
I know better than you would, since I’m the one in the contract arrangement.
Even as she thought this, Do-ah’s mind conjured the image of Cha Gyeong with another woman.
A woman standing beside him with perfect proportions, beautiful as a flower, radiating refinement and grace.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her chest.
“Even if he is playing with me, at least it’s better than being with someone like you.”
“What did you just say?!”
Do-ah met Gyeong-jun’s gaze squarely and continued.
“I dated you, didn’t I? So what? If Cha Gyeong is toying with me, at least he won’t steal my dowry and run away like you did. So stop worrying about my love life and focus on preparing your own wedding.”
Do-ah immediately turned and walked toward her home. Behind her, she heard Gyeong-jun grinding his teeth.
“Hey! Do-ah!”
His voice grew louder.
“Don’t you dare say a word to Cha Gyeong! I’m not done with you! You hear me? Hey!”
Do-ah didn’t respond and kept walking. The moment she stepped inside her apartment and closed the door, her legs gave out.
She leaned against the wall and slowly sank down. All the strength drained from her body.
“He’s toying with you.”
No, it’s not toying—it’s just a contract. Two people using each other for what they need.
But she couldn’t understand why his words unsettled her heart so deeply.
* * *
The next day, Do-ah reported to the Company as usual.
She caught sight of herself in the mirror: dark circles hung heavily under her eyes. She’d barely slept the night before.
She applied concealer thickly and traced her lips with lipstick, speaking to her reflection in the mirror.
“You’ve got this. Fighting.”
The moment she stepped into the office, a commotion erupted. At its center stood Na-hui.
“Wow, Na-hui, you must be so happy! That’s over ten million won from the department store, right?”
“I’m jealous. I want to receive something like that. All I got when I got married was a ring.”
“This bag is so hard to find even with early morning shopping. Your boyfriend has incredible taste!”
A luxury handbag sat on Na-hui’s desk. It was made of sleek black leather embellished with a gilded logo, glinting brilliantly in the sunlight.
The very man who’d been a penny-pincher to her had given Na-hui a luxury handbag.
It was unbelievable, but it didn’t matter. As long as my revenge succeeds, whether he buys a ten-million-won bag or a twenty-million-won one makes no difference.
She was about to walk past when Na-hui suddenly called out to her.
“Do-ah, what kind of gift did your boyfriend give you? Isn’t he the executive at a conglomerate? Shouldn’t he have piles of bags like this?”

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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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