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Join the Server[I looked into Park Gyujin. He’s been dating HJ Group’s Ju Seoyeon for about six months?]
After receiving the luxury watch, Yoojung immediately passed the information about Gyujin to Lee Jeong.
[She’s the youngest daughter, spoiled rotten, so she’s pretty naive. It’s a good match for someone on her level.] Yoojung chuckled and continued over the phone. [Anyway, they’ve been dating with marriage in mind for six months—practically engaged. There’s talk of an official engagement ceremony once she graduates.]
“Interesting.”
[But there’s something even more interesting.] Yoojung clicked her tongue. [Wouldn’t it be amusing if I told you that Park Gyujin’s girlfriend of seven years from college caught him and Ju Seoyeon on a date, and that’s how they broke up?]
Hearing Yoojung’s excited voice, Lee Jeong easily realized that she knew the “seven-year relationship” was closely connected to him.
“And that person being my partner would make it even more interesting, right?”
[Exactly. How could you hide such a juicy story from your big sister? So heartless.]
Since when were they the kind of siblings who cared about family bonds? Lee Jeong dismissed Yoojung’s words casually. “Since you know that much, you must have looked into my partner, too?”
[Shin Yehyeon, twenty-eight. Your lover… or not, I’d guess?] Yoojung said with confidence.
Knowing he could fool everyone else but not his sister, Lee Jeong replied, “Yeah. It got tangled up somehow, and now it’s like this.”
Even if it was odd for him to get involved with an ordinary citizen, the fact that his fake partner’s ex was NW Group’s Park Gyujin was quite entertaining. Of course, it also made it easier for him to get closer to Yehyeon.
“I was surprised, too.”
[Well, since I’m in a good mood, I’ll help you out as a favor,] Yoojung joked.
Lee Jeong knew she had already thoroughly checked both Gyujin and Yehyeon’s backgrounds, and he chuckled. “Yeah? What did you find?”
[Well, some parts aren’t fully sorted yet, so I can’t tell you right away. I’ll have Secretary Kim send the organized file to your place. Read it later.]
“Okay. Thanks.”
[Thanks? I got a watch out of this, so I’m the one who profited more. Cause more trouble and ask for favors more often.]
Lee Jeong shrugged at Yoojung’s words. “I’ll consider it. But then Grandpa might finally disown me.”
[Since when were you afraid of that? Oh, and this is a special service.]
“Service?” Lee Jeong tilted his head.
Yoojung lowered her voice to a whisper. [Ju Seoyeon was asking around about Park Gyujin’s ex, stirring things up.]
Yoojung had uncovered a lot of amusing facts while looking into Lee Jeong’s fake lover and Park Gyujin. The most entertaining part was this:
[She was poking Gyujin’s friends, saying she wanted to talk to that person, as if she were someone important. But since Gyujin kept his previous relationship a secret, how would his friends even know where the ex worked?]
Seoyeon wasn’t very careful. She had left traces everywhere while asking about Yehyeon, and soon people in their social circles were mocking her, saying she was still acting like a dramatic child.
[So I dropped a hint. By now, she’s probably barged into that person’s company or home and made a total scene.] Yoojung giggled.
Her tone was light, but she was fundamentally a cold person. She treated people who were useful to her kindly but remained ruthless to those who weren’t. To Yoojung, Yehyeon’s well-being didn’t matter at all.
[I’m looking forward to seeing what nonsense she spouts.]
“Then he must be in a terrible mood.”
Hearing that, Yoojung asked with a hint of surprise, [What? Are you worried?]
“As if.”
Regardless of how Yoojung viewed Yehyeon, it didn’t matter much to Lee Jeong.
“In that state, his guard will be lower than usual. If I’m nice to him now, it’ll benefit me later, don’t you think?”
[Ahaha. That’s my Lee Jeong,] Yoojung laughed out loud. [Alright, I’ve earned my watch, so I’ll hang up. If you need anything else, contact me anytime. Just stake one of your collectibles. Next time… those car keys you got from Mom last year would be nice.]
“I’ll consider it. Bye.”
The sibling call ended, and Lee Jeong checked the time on his phone screen. PM 8:25. If Yehyeon had met Ju Seoyeon right after work, he should be heading home around now.
Given how Yehyeon had cried and screamed when Park Gyujin came by his place, he probably hadn’t gotten over the betrayal completely. He must be in a miserable mood. And people tend to open up to those who reach out when they’re down, not when they’re happy.
Lee Jeong didn’t hesitate to pull up his messaging app and text Yehyeon.
[ Did you get home safe? PM 8:27 ]
He couldn’t have gotten home safe. Knowing that perfectly well, Lee Jeong put on a kind mask, pretending to be oblivious.
[ No weird people today? PM 8:28 ]
What would he reply? Lee Jeong tapped the screen, waiting for Yehyeon’s answer. The read receipt appeared immediately, but the reply came after a slight delay, as if he had hesitated.
[ Hyunie hyung♡: I got home safe. Nothing unusual. PM 8:31 ]
Was it pride, or did he think it was too early to confide in me? Either way, it didn’t matter. You couldn’t achieve everything at once.
[ That’s good PM 8:31 ] [ Be careful going to work tomorrow. See you on the weekend. I have a dawn shoot starting tonight, so I’m going in now. PM 8:32 ]
Lee Jeong wormed his way into Yehyeon’s heart with attentive words. Since Yehyeon seemed soft-hearted, he would likely accept this calculated goodwill without suspicion.
[ Hyunie hyung♡: Okay. An all-night shoot sounds tough, so take care of yourself. ]
Sure enough, the reply was a bit more affectionate than usual.
“Well, easy enough.” Lee Jeong put his phone down without a second thought.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Juseok looked at Yehyeon with worried eyes.
Not knowing that a rogue reporter had already ambushed Yehyeon at his home, Juseok thought he was doing the interview unnecessarily and felt protective.
“Of course, our contact will write a good article, but there are a lot of malicious people out there. They latch onto the smallest things and drag you down. Also, gaining too much sudden public attention isn’t great…”
“Stop it, Hyung. Yehyeon isn’t a kid; he thought it through and made his own decision.” Lee Jeong put his hand on Juseok’s shoulder, cutting him off. “Right?”
“…Yes. I thought about it a lot, so don’t worry too much.”
Not wanting to admit, “Because a crazy reporter came to my office and house screaming for an exclusive, I wanted to do an official interview somewhere else out of spite,” Yehyeon simply nodded in silence.
“Right. Lee Jeong is right today. He didn’t force you into it; you said it would be fine,” Jaeryun added, nodding along. “I feel a bit bad for monitoring the conversation, but we’re here to watch over Lee Jeong, not you, so don’t feel too uncomfortable.”
“Ah, saying that makes Hyung misunderstand me. I’m not that kind of troublesome person.” Lee Jeong laughed cheekily and leaned closer to Yehyeon. “Right?”
“…That’s true.” Yehyeon subtly took Lee Jeong’s side.
“Ha, it’s good that you two get along so well, but don’t fall for Lee Jeong’s pretty face, Yehyeon,” Jaeryun let out a hollow laugh.
“The reporter said she’s on the first floor.”
The casual chatter paused. The time for the press interview—the core purpose of today’s meeting—was fast approaching. Yehyeon had believed he was mentally prepared, but hearing that the reporter was right downstairs made his chest tighten with nerves, and he took a deep breath.
“It’s nothing. I’m right here by your side, so why worry so much?”
“You’re a celebrity, so it’s nothing to you. Do you even know how stressful an official media interview is for a regular citizen?” Jaeryun scolded Lee Jeong before turning back to Yehyeon with a gentler expression. “If it gets too difficult, just give me a subtle hint. This reporter has worked with our agency for a long time and she’s reasonable, so you don’t have to force yourself to answer everything, and you don’t need to feel pressured.”
Yehyeon had initially thought Jaeryun was a rigid, strict manager, but this considerate side surprised him pleasantly, and he gave a quiet nod of gratitude.
“I should sit right next to you, right?”
“Yeah. We can’t look distant if we’re a couple. No need to show the press that we’re awkward.” Lee Jeong pulled out the chair directly next to Yehyeon and slid into it. “We’re not awkward at all anyway. Right?”
Lee Jeong’s bright, flawless celebrity smile shone directly in front of Yehyeon. At the same time, a woman’s silhouette appeared through the translucent glass window of the private room.
Right, we shouldn’t look awkward.
Remembering their arrangement for a brief moment, Yehyeon suddenly reached out, linked his arm tightly with Lee Jeong’s, met his gaze, and said with a natural smile, “Yeah, of course.”
“Hello. I’m Jung Sooyeon from Milchak Patch. Oh my…”
The reporter slid the door open, froze at the sight of the intimate atmosphere between the two men, and covered her mouth in genuine surprise.
You’ve got to see this next! The Only Ice Flower will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : The Only Ice Flower
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