The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 62

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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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62.
Cha Kyung walked with composure, shopping bags hanging from both hands, while Seong Do-ah huffed indignantly beside him.
“Tell me your account number. I’ll transfer the money.”
Cha Kyung let out a scoff.
“How could I take money that’s practically soaked in your blood?”
“Am I a child? I’m a working adult now, earning a steady salary.”
His derision deepened.
“Is that what you’re bragging about—having a little money? Don’t mock me!”
Before long they arrived at the Parking Lot, and Cha Kyung headed off to fetch the car. “Wait here and rest.”

Seong Do-ah wandered a few paces away, toward the shopping mall entrance.
Beyond the display window, a pair of delicate beige pump shoes gleamed under the lights. The lines were clean, and the heel height was just right.
‘Beautiful. But at that brand’s price…’
Seong Do-ah turned away. Better not to look at things she couldn’t have.
“What were you looking at?”
Cha Kyung had returned with the car and asked her.
“I was watching the fallen leaves on the ground. Just thinking that autumn’s already here.”
“Ah, I see.”
Cha Kyung replied in an indifferent tone.
They talked and laughed about the mart on the drive, and before long they’d arrived home.
Cha Kyung carried the bags inside, then left again, saying he had something to take care of.
The moment they arrived, Seong Do-ah rolled up her sleeves.
By the time the aroma of the Doenjang-jjigae filled the living room—loaded with expensive hanwoo beef—Cha Kyung had returned.
“Why did you make so much?”
“It’s nothing. I’m sure it’s not enough, but at least there’s plenty of sincerity in it.”
“It’s already wonderful as it is.”
Cha Kyung took a spoonful of the Doenjang-jjigae.
“This is really delicious, not just flattery. Same with the abalone porridge—are you always this skilled at cooking?”
“I just got used to it from living alone.”
After dinner, Cha Kyung volunteered for the dishes. He’d discovered that washing up suited him far better than grocery shopping.
“Wait, I left something in the car.”
He went out and returned in a minute, a shopping bag in hand—from the same brand she’d seen in the display window. He must have gone to buy them when he said he had business.
“This is…”
“Try them on.”
Inside the box were the delicate beige pump shoes. He’d clearly bought them while he was out.
“I haven’t even given you a proper gift yet, and I keep receiving things…”
“I want to give them to you, so what does it matter?”
Seong Do-ah slipped the shoes on. They fit perfectly.
The leather cradling her feet was soft, and the heel was exactly the right height to bring her chin level with his shoulder.
“They look beautiful on you.”
Cha Kyung’s gaze slowly traveled from her feet to her face.
Seong Do-ah forced a playful tone to hide her embarrassment.
“Don’t you know the saying? If you give your lover shoes as a gift, they’ll put them on and run away.”
“I know.”
What? Did he give her shoes to make her run away? Seized by an absurd anxiety, she was tensing when he smirked and spoke.
“If you run, I’ll catch you.”
Her heart pounded violently. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and opened it again—three times.
“I’m not running away. So don’t you go anywhere either. Because then I’ll… I’ll come after you and catch you.”
“What, we’re soulmates.”
Cha Kyung leaned in and pressed his lips lightly to her forehead, then turned away.
The warmth lingering on her forehead slowly seeped through her hair, leaving her warm.
At the same moment, Kyung-jun was sitting in the stale air of a PC Room.
He was playing a game when he suddenly remembered and called Na-hee.
“Na-hee, how have you been…?”
— Hey… Kyung-jun, we broke up.
“No, I just wanted to check in—”
— Why would you need to check in with an ex? I answered this time, but don’t call again next time. I won’t pick up.
The call ended.
Kyung-jun gritted his teeth and called Seong Do-ah instead.
Once, twice, three times, four times—she didn’t answer any of them. Shortly after came a message.
[Seong Do-ah: Only contact me when you’re ready to pay back the Bride Price.]
A vein throbbed visibly at Kyung-jun’s temple.
“What did I do so wrong!”
The more he thought about it, the more unjust it felt. Na-hee had come first, and the gifts couldn’t be returned now anyway.
Besides, it was Do-ah who’d neglected him in the first place—that’s what had strained things. He hadn’t abandoned her.
With a sigh, Kyung-jun’s eyes drifted to the monitor screen. The game login window was covered in dozens of illegal banners blinking.
One of them caught his eye.
「Reverse Your Life Overnight! Start Small, Strike Gold!」
Kyung-jun clicked the banner just to kill time.
* * *
In the Living Room of Yun Seong-taek’s Residence, the chairman of Hyunsin Group, a peculiar atmosphere hung in the air.
The space that would normally have been filled by Gyu-sun’s boisterous laughter or the cautious footsteps of Jung-hye was now occupied by an unfamiliar, ingratiating voice.
“Big Sister, I hear you’ve gotten much better! Thank goodness, truly thank goodness.”
Myung-sik set a Premium Fruit Basket on the table and smiled brightly.
“Big Brother is here too, and Tae-jun—everyone came. Timing the return for Big Sister’s surgery and all. When the whole family’s gathered, it’s like a celebration.”
Gyu-sun gave a brief thanks for his coming, but Myung-sik had already positioned himself on the sofa beside Cha Kyung.
His seating was as swift as his speech.
“Well now, our Manager Yun—moving up to Manager in your early thirties can’t have been easy, and I regret that your Uncle was too caught up in business matters to help you along the way.”
Every time Myung-sik used the term “Uncle,” Cha Kyung’s jaw tightened slightly.
Calling his uncle “Uncle” was Myung-sik’s old habit—a calculated effort to appear more closely aligned with the Hyunsin Family.
“It’s fine. You must be busy, so there’s no need for my Uncle to worry about my affairs.”
Myung-sik chuckled despite Cha Kyung’s cool response, patting him on the shoulder.
“Well then, I already know your abilities well. You’re young but getting praised for good performance—I hear that kind of talk around me all the time. But still…”
Myung-sik fixed Cha Kyung with a look mingling flattery and calculation.
“When you’re young, managing people is harder, isn’t it? People following you out of respect is different from following you because of your title. And there’s plenty of talk about your grandfather’s influence.”
“That may be so.”
Cha Kyung took a sip of his tea.
“I hear similar things are said about my Uncle too. And it’s been years since you took the presidency. Prejudice really is frightening.”
Myung-sik’s smile flickered, then returned—this time not reaching his eyes.
“You clever thing. You come to pay respects to our mother and talk nothing but work? Save that kind of talk for the office.”
At Tae-jun’s rebuke, Myung-sik quickly smoothed things over with false modesty.
“Oh my, how careless of me. Big Sister, I wish you good health. With the mistress of the Hyunsin Family holding steady, it’s no wonder the household has grown to this size.”
“Thank you for the kind words.”
The family soon moved to the Dining Room with Myung-sik and took their seats.
“My, how much you’ve prepared! I’ll dig in gratefully.”
Spoons and chopsticks clicked back and forth, with scattered conversation flowing between them.
Then one remark from Myung-sik made the Hyunsin Family freeze mid-bite.
“Cha Kyung, you haven’t had any accident trouble lately, have you? There used to be one every month or so. What kind of shaman is that good? I’d like to see her myself.”
The air in the room grew thin. Only Myung-sik, oblivious, continued smiling.
Yun Seong-taek set down his teacup. His eyes had hardened into flint.
“Myung-sik. You don’t speak so lightly of an incident where Cha Kyung’s life hung in the balance.”
“Oh, I meant no offense, Big Brother. I just heard that the shaman the Hyunsin Family brought in was so capable that Cha Kyung even prevented an accident, and curiosity got the better of me.”
Gyu-sun, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
“When you’re in a position above others, at least have the sense not to spread rumors you hear. Why bring it here?”
“I apologize, Big Sister. I spoke carelessly. This mouth of mine truly has no filter.”

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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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