Chapter 4: WRONG IMPRESSION
1561 Words
HAN SEO-YEON'S POV
“Kim Na-ri, you're so dead when I see you tomorrow!”
I shouted after her, but she only laughed and ran faster.
I shook my head and continued walking home.
That girl seriously needed help.
The night breeze brushed against my face as I approached the house Chae-rin and I had bought together. It was beautiful, with wide glass windows, a spacious balcony, and a small garden leading toward the beach.
The sound of waves filled the air, rising and falling steadily against the shore.
It was peaceful. Beautiful. Exactly what we wanted when we decided to live together.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
“SEO-YEON!”
Before I could even remove my shoes, Chae-rin came running toward me with her arms open.
I barely had time to react before she wrapped them around me.
“Welcome home, my favourite human!”
I stared at her over her shoulder.
“Did you hit your head?”
She pulled away, looking offended. “Can't I welcome my best friend properly?”
“You saw me this morning.”
“And I've suffered without you ever since!”
I laughed and patted her head.
“Poor baby. Should I call someone?”
She smacked my arm playfully before grabbing my bag.
“Come on. Sit down. Tell me about your day.”
I dropped onto the sofa while she settled beside me, practically vibrating with curiosity.
So, I told her everything about the handsome stranger who had returned to the convenience store bleeding, the two suspicious men outside, and how he'd collapsed before I could get answers.
Then I told her about Park Ji-hoon, who had arrived looking like he'd stepped out of a luxury car advertisement.
When I finished, Chae-rin stared at me.
Then she burst out laughing.
I frowned. “What's funny?”
“Nothing. I'm just impressed.”
“By what?”
“Your talent.”
I blinked. “My talent for what?”
“Running into handsome men!”
I grabbed a cushion.
“Chae-rin.”
“First, the mysterious bleeding hottie. Then his handsome friend in a Rolls-Royce.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Seo-yeon, you should start charging people for your services.”
I threw the cushion at her.
“I'm going to charge you for being annoying.”
She caught it and hugged it to her chest.
“Don't be jealous because your best friend is naturally charming.”
“Charming? You're a walking headache.”
She gasped dramatically.
I burst out laughing, and soon we were both rolling around on the sofa, fighting over the cushion like two children.
After a while, she leaned back and looked at me.
“But seriously, are you okay? That must have been scary.”
I nodded. “It was. I still don't understand what happened.”
“Just be careful, okay? You don't know those men, and you shouldn't put yourself in danger because someone looks good.”
I gave her a suspicious look.
“Are you giving me advice or insulting my taste in men?”
“Both. I'm talented like that.”
I shoved her shoulder, and she laughed.
Thankfully, she didn't turn the conversation into anything serious. Instead, she started telling me about her own day at the university.
Apparently, one of her classmates had nearly fallen asleep during a lecture, and another had spent so long arguing with a lecturer that even the students at the back were entertained.
“And then,” she said, sitting up straight, “I saw this guy.”
I groaned.
“Not another one.”
“Tall. Handsome. Lovely smile.”
“Did you speak to him?”
She paused.
“No.”
I stared at her.
She stared back.
Then we both burst out laughing.
“Chae-rin, you need professional help.”
“And you need to stop judging me. At least I didn't bring a bleeding man home.”
“He wasn't in my house!”
“Details!”
We spent the next hour joking, playing around, and arguing about the most ridiculous things. By the time we ordered food, my earlier exhaustion had almost disappeared.
We ate in the living room, watched a comedy, and fought over the last piece of chicken.
I won.
Obviously.
Just when I thought the night was finally coming to an end, Chae-rin suddenly sat up.
“Let's do a night vlog!”
I slowly turned toward her.
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Just a short one.”
“Your short videos are never short.”
She clasped her hands together and gave me her best puppy eyes.
I stared at her.
She stared back.
I sighed.
“Fine. But if you embarrass me, I'm deleting the video.”
She screamed with excitement and grabbed her phone.
The vlog was a disaster.
Chae-rin introduced us with far too much energy, while I sat beside her looking like I'd been forced to attend a funeral.
She made me rate our food, answer silly questions, and reveal which one of us was messier.
When she accused me of stealing her clothes, I reminded her that half her wardrobe was already in my room.
“Because we share!” she argued.
“Then stop complaining!”
We laughed so much that she nearly dropped her phone.
By the time we finished, my cheeks hurt.
“Happy now?” I asked.
“Very.”
“Good. I'm going to sleep.”
We brushed our teeth, changed into our pyjamas, and headed to my room to chat for a few more minutes.
Chae-rin climbed into bed beside me and wrapped her arms around me.
“Goodnight, my favourite human.”
“Goodnight, my annoying puppy.”
She pinched my cheek.
I pinched hers back.
Eventually, we settled down, still smiling as the sound of the waves drifted through the open window.
Within minutes, we were asleep.
Neither of us knew that somewhere across the city, a certain handsome stranger had finally opened his eyes.
KANG DO-YUN'S POV
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Ji-hoon's irritating face.
The second thing I wanted to do was close them again.
“Look who's finally awake!” he announced. “How was your beauty sleep?”
“Get out.”
“Wow. Not even a thank you for saving your life?”
I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my left shoulder.
Ji-hoon immediately stopped laughing long enough to push me back against the pillow.
“Easy, hero. You were shot, remember?”
“I remember.”
“Good. I was beginning to worry about your brain.”
I glared at him.
He grinned.
“So, tell me something. Was running to that convenience store really the best idea you could come up with?”
“It was nearby.”
“Of course.” He nodded thoughtfully. “And the fact that the girl behind the counter was beautiful had absolutely nothing to do with it?”
I turned my head slowly.
“Ji-hoon.”
“Yes?”
“Keep talking.”
He leaned closer, grinning wider. “You know, I think you should thank her properly. Maybe flowers. Dinner. A little—”
I nearly swung my good arm at him.
He jumped back, laughing.
“Violence! Look at you! One mention of a pretty girl and you lose control.”
“Do you want me to finish what I started?”
“No, thank you. I'm rather attached to my face.”
I settled back against the pillow, regretting every decision that had led to this conversation.
Ji-hoon eventually pulled a chair closer. His expression became serious.
“The men who attacked you have been traced.”
I looked at him. “Who sent them?”
“Han Min-jae.”
I frowned.
“Han Min-jae? The chairman of Han Group?”
“The same man.”
For a moment, I said nothing.
“Are you certain?”
Ji-hoon nodded. “The information checks out.”
That made no sense.
Han Min-jae and I had no business with each other. I'd never threatened him, interfered with his company, or given him a reason to come after me.
So why now?
And why send men to kill me?
“Keep investigating,” I ordered. “I want to know exactly why he did this.”
Ji-hoon nodded.
“And keep people around Seo-yeon. Make sure nobody gets close enough to hurt her.”
His eyebrows shot up.
“People around her?”
“Yes.”
“I volunteer.”
I stared at him.
He smiled innocently. “I'll personally protect her. Day and night. I'll even help carry her shopping bags.”
My glare deepened.
“You're not going anywhere near her.”
“Why? You don't trust me?”
“Not even a little.”
He placed a hand over his chest. “That hurts.”
“Good.”
He laughed, clearly enjoying himself.
I looked away before I did something that would get me another hospital visit.
Seo-yeon had no idea her father might be connected to the men who had attacked me. Until I understood why, I wasn't going to let her become another target.
And Ji-hoon?
I'd deal with him later.
Preferably somewhere without witnesses.
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