He already knows the tactics. Haneul would never—never open his mouth that easily. Myung has to provoke him with various chats, even though he seems very childish and curious. That's okay. Origin Myung arrived at his destination.
Sure enough, there was nothing behind the disapproval of Haneul's parents for having a son-in-law like him. Haneul twice misheard and avoided last night. Before Myung, there must be a man who is prepared to be his partner in the future. Because Choi Yoon had also been paired with Shin Yeri long ago, maybe when they were young. Shin Haneul, too, must have fared similarly to his cousins.
The more Myung knows how it feels, the more helpless he is. Haneul lost the bet, and Myung was his punishment.
"What do you want to know about Haneul?"
Apart from Choi Yoon, Cho Yuna's, his step-sister is the one she can most trust to share information with her. Yuna must know a lot, because that woman likes to pry into other people's businesses, including Haneul's family.
"Everything. Before she met me. "
Cho Yuna looked thoughtful. "Has she been acting strangely during his life with you?"
"No."
"Do you think the child in her womb is not yours?"
"I never thought that way."
Yuna smiled while sipping her coffee. "You must have remembered your honeymoon in the Maldives before getting married."
"Nunim." Come on!
"What can I tell you?"
"What kind of family did I marry?"
Cho Yuna glanced sharply. She was sure Myung already knew. But wouldn't the Shin clan not be so easy to reveal their secret? He believes that after Haneul is dumped by his family, there will be no access that can allow Myung to know the family because his sister will definitely be underestimated.
"Haneul is the daughter of a conglomerate. You already know this, right?"
"She's been in a relationship with a man before me?"
Yuna furrowed her brows.
"Choi Yoon, my friend, does Nunim remember? They're cousins. Yoon was paired with another cousin of Haneul's named Shin Yeri since they were kids. Haneul... can have a partner like that right? "
"Did you know that clan privacy is very important to them?" Cho Yuna switched. "Even Haneul's parents paid reporters and paparazzi since their child was a baby, so they would never be exposed. Haneul, the organizer of the national fashion show, is very funny because she has never been seen or known in person. Even though he's friends with Collate Bing from Hong Kong, no photos of Haneul have appeared and there has never been any news about her."
Myung listened carefully. It's getting interesting to hear the story of this untouchable family. Hearing how much Haneul they take care of, like an antique and expensive crystal, But now it's falling with the wreckage.
"That's how important privacy is to them, Myung–aa. I can't know more. They can gag anyone's mouth to silence them. From what I heard, Haneul was really heartbroken a year before meeting you. The man of her dreams was married in France. I never knew who it was. They said he was from a water Chinese family. "
Now that everything was clear, Myung now knew why he was looked down upon by his wife's family. He wasn't the person they wanted him to be; he just happened to be messing with their daughter.
"You still want to hear it?" Cho, Yuna added. Myung nodded quickly.
"After Haneul found out she was pregnant by her mother—you don't know that horrible woman, she was forced to have an abortion but insisted on refusing. She was given the choice of having an abortion or finding the man who got her pregnant and leaving the house. He was liberated from all the protection he had had his whole life. He was released from the facility he had. Ever since he found out about you, the gossip about it got out of hand and spread everywhere. It's because Haneul's mother doesn't bother protecting her child anymore."
Myung and Yuna were silent. They never thought they would get involved in the complexities of that noble family. They just get rich and fight for power. Not to the extent of protecting privacy and maintaining self-respect.
"One thing that still bothers me: why does Haneul prefer to find you and be dumped by her family instead of having an abortion?"
"I don't know," Myung answered hastily.
"Does she have feelings for you after those 2 weeks in the Maldives?"
Myung had twice received the same opinion, and the second time he was really curious to ask Haneul the truth. Is it true that the girl has feelings for him?
**
Haneul was happy after the fashion show she prepared with Mercury from Singapore went very well. Several outfits for the upcoming season managed to captivate the invited guests. Without Park Eunji, everything feels light and fun. Haneul can even enter the toilet near his desk without having to go down to the first floor.
The employees lend their thumbs to open the toilet door. He was truly grateful for such a small thing.
The team in charge of modeling and fashion is gathering. Haneul can also hear Eunji's voice in their midst. The woman returned right on the day of the fashion show. He praised the performance of his employees. He hoped Eunji was in a good mood and didn't bother him much today.
"I don't want to see you dressed like this again at work."
Haneul looked down at his clothes. What's wrong? She had always dressed like this before.
"I'm saying this because we work in fashion, right?" Eunji continued. "You're too big to wear an off-shoulder top and show your thighs everywhere because the overalls you're wearing are a bit slanted to hold your bulging stomach."
This was discussed once more. Eunji's stomach is a big problem for her. Moreover, it's already the fourth month, and everyone can see his stomach sticking out under the clothes he's wearing.
"She's pregnant. You want her to hide her belly behind her back?" A Mercury staff member suddenly grabbed Eunji. That's Tjin Lee. She's been Haneul's friend for a long time.
"That's exactly what I meant. That's right, she's pregnant, and I really hope she picks the right clothes so her tummy doesn't show up. It really disturbs my view. No one who is overweight, distended, or disproportionate in appearance is permitted to work in this industry. You don't deserve to wear any good clothes in your current state, Haneul. Besides, don't be proud to show your belly that contains an illegitimate child with that middle-class man. You should be ashamed. "
Those long and broad sentences were more like a pounding punch that Eunji had hit her in the chest. Haneul numbs the pain, tightness and Her tears dried on their own because the unbearable pain was not to be expressed by crying. Haneul kept it to himself. Swallow it whole, as usual.
"You're going too far. Haneul is your sister-in-law, you know!" Tjin Lee cursed the cold woman they dubbed the Ice Princess.
**
There's something strange this morning, seeing Haneul wake up early and choose clothes that are a little longer in their closet. He came out in a black suit; his pants were culottes without pleat, and she wore a long-sleeved shirt with a turtleneck model. Haneul wears a camel-colored outer that reaches below the knee with a buttoned middle.
Honestly, living with Haneul for a while lets Myung know how to dress, her tastes, and the colors she wears. Black isn't Haneul's color at all. What's with her this morning?
"Would you like some breakfast?" Myung offers his help.
"Apparently not, I have to come early because my boss just got back from his business trip."
"Your sister-in-law?"
"Yes."
"Want me to make some cereal? Milk?"
Haneul smiled. What's wrong with Myung lately? Basically, the guy was good, but this was starting too well. Haneul doesn't want Myung to be too nice to him. Their relationship was only conceptualized as marriage like this, nothing more.
"Can I eat it while driving?" Haneul asked back.
"I'll just make toast then."
"Thank you."
"You get ready; I can make it in 3 minutes!"
Myung winked and quickly got off the bed. Haneul smiled. Secretly, she was happy. But can she feel that way? Does she deserve to be happy with Myung?
The woman looked at herself in the mirror. She had to come to terms with the situation. She had to understand why Eunji hated seeing her belly. Dark-colored clothes can cover this distended. Even though Haneul felt like this wasn't her at all, she looked really weird wearing it. Haneul quickly applied sunscreen and daily moisturizer then sprayed setting spray and put red lipstick on his lips.
She went back to bed and cleared out the overlapping pillows, smoothing out the blankets as well.
"Hey, the bread is ready!" Myung returned to the room as fast as lightning. "What are you doing? Let me clean up today. I'm at home all day. Come on, you'll be late."
Haneul turned around and found Myung near the bedroom door, folding his arms.
"Leave it," he begged firmly as Haneul was still holding onto the blanket to fix.
"Wow!" Myung exclaims as the girl walks closer. "You look really cool today, Haneul-ssi. You're the coolest tailor I've ever met."
Haneul laughed with flushed cheeks. Her choice of bright red lipstick seemed to help brighten up the effect of his dark clothes a little. Haneul usually wears salmon and coral-colored lipstick.
"Thanks for the bread. I'll go first."
"Okay, but can you take Saturday off next week? Everyone is off, only you are working. "
"I will try." Haneul nodded happily, and the girl disappeared behind the door.
It was reported that Haneul's family always held a Friday dinner with a number of families, but she couldn't go. It was because of Myung. Yoon said she was there because Shin Yeri's family wanted to see her more often. Yoon is a regular at the dinner from now on, while Haneul is kicked out.
Myung could feel the girl's sadness because none of her family took sides. He felt more fortunate because he was not born into such a family. His mother is still willing to welcome him when Myung comes home, and his father still talks to him even though it's just a work problem.
Moreover, this morning he was dressed like everyone else. What's wrong with her? Haneul is not the type of girl with red lipstick; she is a girl with high sensuality, sexy and serious. Red lipstick symbolizes two things: courage and sensuality, or just to hide the sadness of the wearer. Myung knows that Haneul chose the lipstick for a second reason.
...