"I appreciate your concern, but my injuries aren't that severe," Lee Ju-hee remarked with a distant expression, walking closely behind her cousin and holding the door open for him.
She was dressed in her familiar barista attire: black jeans, a white short-sleeve shirt, and a nude-colored apron, her hair neatly pulled back into a ponytail.
Min-ho let out a sigh as he lugged the boxes of supplies into the cafeteria. "Just let me help, alright?"
Resigned, Lee Ju-hee nodded, yet she was determined to broach the topic again. "About what we talked last night—"
Min-ho's response was sharp and assertive, his tone cutting through her words. "I've said it before, and I'll repeat it: this is a bad idea."
A moment of pause hung in the air, and then Lee Ju-hee reluctantly admitted, "I can't see any other option. I wasn't a match for him, and I'm not convinced any of us ever will be."
Min-ho stole a few sidelong glances at her, his keen eyes picking up on the frustration etched deep into her expression. The confrontation with Yoo Jin-ho the previous night seemed to have shattered any semblance of a revenge plan she had been harboring.
It was a rare sight for him, witnessing her vulnerable side, something he hadn't seen since the incident of four years ago.
"Alright, let's entertain the idea of following your plan. What exactly do you aim to achieve?" Min-ho inquired, his tone measured.
Lee Ju-hee snapped back to the present, her focus sharpening. "I'm not entirely certain... but perhaps to gain his trust, gather more intel, and ultimately strike when he's most vulnerable?"
"Come on, noona! We've already gathered a substantial amount of information. Plus, I'm actively researching the origin of your abilities," Min-ho gently chided, setting the boxes down on the counter and crossing his arms.
Averting her cousin's probing gaze, she admitted hesitantly, "There's something else I need to confirm."
Curious, Min-ho pressed, "And what would that be?"
"He mentioned trying his best to save me back then. I need to understand why," she explained earnestly.
This sudden revelation seemed to grab Min-ho's attention, evident in the deepening scowl between his brows. His eyes briefly darted around their surroundings before he asked in a hushed tone, "Are you suggesting you want to use your mind-reading abilities on him?"
"Yes, precisely!"
Min-ho appeared to contemplate the idea for a moment before shaking his head in dissent. "I still believe it's too precarious. Let's not forget the potential side effects. You could become influenced by his emotions," he cautioned.
"I'm aware of that, but do we really have any other options?" she countered.
"How about holding off until I devise a more solid plan?" Min-ho proposed, his tone persuasive. "Besides, his motives shouldn't change the reality of what he's done, right?"
Lee Ju-hee mulled over his suggestion, her expression clouded with thoughts as she muttered, "Why rescue me if he intended to harm me from the start?"
"Maybe it's guilt," Min-ho calmly supplied.
"Guilt over harming the 'woman' of his adversary?" she questioned skeptically.
Min-ho shrugged, putting forth his theory. "Here's my take: Han Si-hyun orchestrated the abuse of Yoo Jin-ho's girlfriend. In retaliation, Yoo Jin-ho might have ordered the same treatment for Han Si-hyun's girlfriend, who happened to be you at the time. Then, during the kidnapping of you and Han Yeon-soo, Han Si-hyun used you as a decoy to save his childhood sweetheart."
"I understand," Lee Ju-hee acknowledged, her brows furrowing. "…but it still doesn't explain the 'why' behind it all!"
"Indeed, but I have a hunch," Min-ho elaborated, putting forth his assumptions. "When Yoo Jin-ho realized that you weren't the one who truly mattered to Han Si-hyun and that you were an innocent swept up in this chaos, he likely felt the need to rectify the damage he'd caused…"
"So, rescuing me was his way of seeking redemption," Lee Ju-hee deduced, connecting the pieces.
"Precisely!" Min-ho nodded, pointing at Lee Ju-hee and acknowledging her observation.
"But regardless of his motivations, he remains accountable for the harm he inflicted upon you."
"We're still grappling with how to make him face the consequences, though."
"It all hinges on devising a more effective plan," Min-ho asserted with conviction, reaching for a kitchen knife to slice through the tape sealing one of the boxes. He proceeded to unpack the assortment of teas and coffee beans that she intended to use in her café concoctions. "All I'm saying is that, putting yourself in harm's way is unnecessary."
"Okay, I understand," she relented, yielding to his reasoning.
Min-ho halted his unpacking and shifted his focus to her. "Besides," he paused, a note of something unreadable in his voice, "I can't bear the thought of you enduring the same torment you went through before."
Her gaze met his, a mixture of gratitude and understanding. "Is there really no way to change your mind?"
A lopsided grin appeared on his face, a touch of his trademark confidence. "As of now, none that I know of." His attention then shifted as he noticed something. "Oh right, where are your trainees?"
"Ha-eun is dealing with a brutal hangover, and Tae-sung will be running a bit late today," Lee Ju-hee replied, her hands deftly reorganizing the supplies on the counter while Min-ho efficiently cleared the emptied boxes.
Approaching the latte machine, she meticulously ensured that everything was pristine before adeptly selecting a portafilter and carefully adding freshly ground coffee. With precision, she leveled and evenly distributed the grounds before locking the portafilter in place with a swift twist.
"Need any assistance with anything else?" Min-ho offered.
"No thanks, I've got it covered," Lee Ju-hee declined his help and proposed an alternative. "Why not take a seat? I'll be there shortly."
"Consider it done, boss!" He flashed a playful smirk her way before settling into one of the cozy corners within the café.
Swift and deft, Lee Ju-hee expertly crafted a latte, her hands moving with practiced precision. As she delicately placed the cup before him, accompanied by a delectable creampuff from the previous day, she offered, "Here, indulge yourself."
A genuine expression of gratitude crossed Min-ho's face as he replied, "Thank you, this is much appreciated."
With a brief glance towards the wall clock, Lee Ju-hee took her seat across from him. The café wasn't open for business yet, affording them a moment of tranquility.
"Actually, I've been pondering an alternative," Min-ho declared, savoring the rich flavor of his latte, infused with the delightful hint of hazelnut syrup. "I'll swing by later, and we can discuss it further."
Lee Ju-hee shot him a skeptical glance. "Are you sure you're not just using this as an excuse to score some free food?"
Min-ho attempted to defend himself, a grin tugging at his lips. "Well, there's a grain of truth in that, but I'm genuinely exploring a better Plan B."
Her shoulders sagged in a mixture of resignation and mild amusement. Before she could utter another comment, the cafeteria door chimed as it swung open.
Their attention snapped to the entrance, and Min-ho's usually confident expression shifted into one of stern seriousness. Tae-sung had arrived, his face adorned with bruises and a couple of band-aids. He looked as if he'd just stepped out of a hospital.
Reading the tension in the room, Lee Ju-hee made an effort to ease it. "Tae-sung? Weren't you going to be late?"
Tae-sung looked slightly guilty and uneasy, his eyes avoiding direct contact. "Yeah, things just... sped up unexpectedly."
"I see… as long as you're feeling better now."
Seeking refuge from Min-ho's inquisitive stare, Tae-sung inquired, "Is there anything specific you want me to help with?"
Lee Ju-hee gestured toward some unopened boxes on the counter. "You could lend a hand with setting out the cakes on display."
Tae-sung nodded, accepting the task without objection, and headed toward the counter. Amid his movements, he caught snippets of their ongoing conversation.
"I told you, that guy's trouble," Min-ho chimed in, making no attempts whatsoever to hide his thoughts.
Lee Ju-hee offered a defense, her tone indifferent. "Give him the benefit of the doubt. He might just need assistance. It could be less serious than you're assuming."
A chuckle escaped Min-ho's lips in mock. "Ju-hee noona, you're too kind."
"Hardly," she retorted with conviction, before adopting a more authoritative tone. "Now, if you're done, please head toward the door."
"Ouch… so cold!" Min-ho mockingly feigned hurt, clutching his chest. With the last dregs of his latte drained, he seized a cream-puff from the plate, bid Lee Ju-hee farewell with a quick kiss on the cheek, and made his exit. "Catch you later, noona!"
Rolling her eyes, Lee Ju-hee watched him walk off. Once he was out of sight, her attention shifted back to Tae-sung, who was currently tying on his apron. "Well?"
"Noona…" His voice carried a trace of uncertainty as he broached the subject. "Are you thinking of asking me to quit too?"
"Why would you think that?"
"It's because of what... your friend mentioned."
Letting out a resigned sigh, Lee Ju-hee shook her head while retrieving the used coffee cup and the now-empty platter, preparing to clean them. "I have no intention of letting you go. However, an explanation about what happened to your face and who's responsible is in order!"
Tae-sung's hesitation still lingered, but he realized he had to address the issue or possibly risk losing his job. He offered a subdued nod in response, accompanied by a simple: "Y-yes!"