Chapter 93: Venom in the Mirror and Shadows at the Altar

“I… I’m good with that. But are you sure you’re okay?”

If Do Yoon came along, I’d be grateful.

Smiling mechanically among strangers and greeting them beat slipping in briefly then hanging out with Do Yoon.

But Do Yoon had rarely appeared at official events or gatherings.

A wedding full of business bigwigs could draw unwanted attention.

Do Yoon laughed brightly.

<Of course.>

His cheerful reply somehow made Saturday feel a little exciting.

The wedding scale was monstrous, as expected.

Word was it was a shotgun affair.

At the massive hotel venue entrance, the groom—my classmate’s younger brother—bowed repeatedly in a black swallow-tailed coat.

Short, slim guy.

His eyes widened as I approached.

“Seung Hyun hyung?”

“Hey, long time. Congrats on the wedding.”

Total stranger, but I smiled and greeted anyway.

He grabbed my hand, shaking wildly.

“Hyung! Why so long? Thought you died since you never picked up.”

“Sorry, changed phones mid-way and wiped contacts. Grandfather chewed me out once.”

Probably blocked you.

The no-contact type was clear.

Sure enough, dark circles under his eyes—bad vibe from the start.

He looked regretful.

“Without hyung, fewer girls showed—boring. Ha, if I hadn’t messed up, I’d be living free like you.”

Inappropriate for a groom.

I hid my discomfort.

Suddenly he glanced at Do Yoon beside me.

Do Yoon smiled politely.

“Hello.”

“Ah, this is my brother. Choi Do Yoon.”

“…Ah.”

Short silence.

He scanned Do Yoon up and down, then whispered to me.

“Hyung must’ve had it rough.”

Whatever that meant, it wasn’t nice.

Rude stare at Do Yoon.

But Do Yoon just smiled, no retort.

The guy acted chummy.

“Stay for photos later, got it?”

“Of course.”

That’s why I came.

Luckily, tons of guests—I could slip out easy.

Went to a corner bathroom, scrubbed hands furiously.

His sweaty grip grossed me out.

Greeted the groom—duty done.

Once Do Yoon paid the condolence money, clap from a corner and bounce.

Running into his brother, my classmate, would be more hassle.

But the real unpleasantness came from nowhere.

“…Choi Seung Hyun?”

Looked up at the mirror.

A suited man stood there.

Took me ages to recall who.

My brow furrowed.

F*ck.

“…Han Won-joo?”

“Wow, back in Korea and running into fun people?”

His grin froze my body stiff.

Never expected overlap here…

Made sense in hindsight.

Heard he went to Japan after I beat him.

Forgot him completely after.

Hansung’s eldest hadn’t changed.

Still sleazy-looking, still built like a tank.

I shook water off hands, turned, expression blank.

“Yeah. Heard you might not have kids—get treated?”

I stared at his crotch on purpose.

His grin cracked.

“Don’t bullsh*t. Perfectly healthy.”

Cursing right away—must’ve hit the mark back then.

I smirked silently.

He gritted teeth, forced a sly face.

“Shame. If you were dumping Julia, should’ve married my sister.”

My brow twitched.

What?

“Our elders proposed to you before, remember? I recommended it.”

Stepped closer naturally.

“Just asking—wanna date my sister? Still single.”

Crazy b*stard.

I ignored, tried leaving.

Han Won-joo blocked, whispered.

“We could be real family. I’m all for it. Living together… I think it’d be pretty good.”

“You nuts?”

His eyes slithered like a sticky snake.

I glared.

He burst laughing, raised hands in surrender.

“Hey, good day today. Gonna hit me again? Bad for Ji Woo.”

“Maybe not if you know your place? Acting like a dog in heat at your friend’s brother’s wedding is lame.”

Flashback reversed in my head—the bar years ago.

Didn’t want to recall what he tried.

I kept quiet.

He glared briefly, snorted like it was absurd.

“Yeah, all my fault. Always losing because of Choi Seung Hyun. Noh Jae-sik too, Soo-jung too.”

Noh Jae-sik’s name made me flinch.

Glanced at the bathroom entrance even knowing Do Yoon wasn’t there.

He looked thrilled seeing me rattled—like he’d won life.

“You whined about your dad back then. I got you good stuff, you ignored the favor.”

He chuckled mockingly.

My eyes snapped wide.

Lowered voice.

“Soo-jung… you mean drugs?”

“That cost a fortune. You freaked and spilled it all. Other guys lapped it up like dogs—fun though.”

Eyes narrowed.

So… I never took them?

A lightning guess struck.

Played it cool, like remembering.

“You tried forcing it on me. That’s why I smashed your head with a bottle.”

“…‘Force’ is harsh. Between us.”

Crazy f*cker.

Guessed blind—hit true.

Not denying shocked me more.

Way more dangerous than thought.

Goosebumps everywhere.

He said.

“Ji Woo’s married now—won’t see as much. Change your mind anytime, call. Number’s same.”

Licked his lips.

“Or I’ll come find you. Welcome-back gift.”

As he reached slowly, someone grabbed and spun his shoulder.

“What the—?”

Han Won-joo snapped, annoyed.

Shockingly, it was Do Yoon, smiling politely.

Dim hotel bathroom lights—or something—made him look like a statue emerging from shadows.

Sharp features, deep shadows—even smiling, didn’t look friendly.

Intimidating.

Soft voice.

“Sorry. Thought you were my hyung.”

Stood beside me instantly.

Sleazy Won-joo, facing taller Do Yoon, flustered—muttered “tch” and fled.

Glared at me on the way out.

Do Yoon’s face turned worried the second he left.

I watched the magical shift, intrigued.

“Hyung, you okay? You look pale.”

Checked mirror—ghost white.

When did that happen.

“Yeah, just startled.”

Do Yoon hesitated.

“Didn’t mean to eavesdrop—bad history with him?”

“Yeah, few years back… stuff happened.”

Vague answer.

Just learned ‘Choi Seung Hyun’ never did drugs—heart racing, dazed.

Relieved and confused.

No withdrawal symptoms made sense now…

Thought it was my post-possession effort.

But never happened!

Original had him as an addict.

Cutting ties with this guy—god-tier move.

If I’d kept contact, or drank anything that bar night…

Do Yoon watched my face, asked carefully.

“Maybe the guy you fought before your company interview?”

“Huh… yeah? How’d you know?”

Nothing to hide, but him nailing it startled me.

Do Yoon clenched jaw briefly, smiled softly, arm around my shoulder.

Led me out.

“Guessed for a while. Wanna leave now? Paid the money.”

“…Already?”

Hesitated.

“Still need photos.”

“Okay. Actually found a band performing nearby. You said your new movie’s band-related—could help.”

“Oh…! Yeah. Let’s go later.”

Band movie was a lie, but I nodded hard.

Felt a twinge of guilt.

But Do Yoon remembering every little thing I said wasn’t bad.

Lost in thoughts, I missed Do Yoon glancing back toward Han Won-joo.