WONHEE had already lost two sets of parents.
First, she lost her biological parents when she was only five years old.
And then she lost her adoptive parents when she was fifteen.
Although Wonhee was grateful for her older siblings and grandparents, she still missed having her parents around. That was probably why she got easily attached to Seodam's mother, even though the madam clearly disliked her.
"Seorin told me she already gave you the talk."
Wonhee smiled nervously at Lee Sook-ja, Seodam's mother. "I don't know what 'the' talk should be, Mrs. Lee."
She tried calling the madam 'Mother' in the past, but the madam obviously disliked it.
So, 'Mrs. Lee' it is.
Wonhee was about to go home after talking to Seorin earlier when she received a call from her boyfriend's mother.
Mrs. Lee asked to meet Wonhee at a restaurant in Sarang-hee Hotel.
It's the hotel that I booked for Seorin Unnie's wedding hall.
Even though Wonhee knew that Mrs. Lee wouldn't call her for a good reason, she still couldn't turn her down.
Because despite everything, she still wanted Seodam's mother to accept her.
"Seorin Unnie told me I'm not invited to her wedding anymore, though," Wonhee said, laughing awkwardly. She also hated that her coping mechanism was to smile or laugh in uncomfortable situations. But what could she do? That was her trauma response. "But maybe Unnie will invite me again if Seodam Oppa and I get back together."
Mrs. Lee sipped her tea before she spoke. The madam looked younger than her age, and she dressed well. She was covered in designer brands from head to toe– all her clothes and accessories were gifts from Wonhee. "Chu Wonhee, I'll be honest with you."
Wonhee just smiled a little and nodded politely, clenching her hands in a poor attempt to hide her nervousness.
"I know that you helped my family when we were struggling before," Mrs. Lee said. "And you also helped Seorin organize her wedding. You've done a lot for us– I won't deny that. Hence, I'm here to offer you compensation."
"Mrs. Lee, I didn't do all of that while expecting to be compensated."
"Of course, I know that. But we don't want to be indebted to you."
Wonhee couldn't smile at this point. "Mrs. Lee, you're talking as if you're completely cutting off all your ties with me."
"Chu Wonhee, you're holding back my son."
"…"
"Seodam finally became an A-Class Hunter because of Ruda's help and guidance," Mrs. Lee said, saying Ruda's name affectionately, unlike how the madam called Wonhee by her full name. "My son wants to become an S-Class Hunter, and he can only do that if he receives Advanced Treatment from Ruda. But you're getting in their way, Chu Wonhee."
To say that Mrs. Lee's accusation hurt would be an understatement.
"Don't hinder my son's bright future," Mrs. Lee said sternly. "Break up with him."
Wonhee unclenched her now cold hands. Needless to say, she was breaking out in a cold sweat. "Mrs. Lee, I'm sorry to say this. But only Seodam Oppa and I are involved in our relationship. I will not break up with Oppa just because you said so, ma'am."
"My son already broke up with you, Chu Wonhee. You're the one who's hopelessly clinging to him."
She couldn't deny what Mrs. Lee said.
In her defense, she didn't agree with the breakup because she thought it was something that they should consider carefully before coming up with an irreversible decision.
But I can see why Mrs. Lee thinks I'm being clingy…
"Chu Wonhee, what have you been doing with your life lately?"
"H-Huh?"
Mrs. Lee sighed while looking at her disapprovingly. "I know that you used to be a top actress. But it's been a few years since your last hiatus. All you do these days is post pictures of your paid collaboration with some brands. If we were in the pre-Outbreak era, I'm sure your job as an online influencer would have sufficed. But after the Outbreak, everything has been so expensive. Even A-Class Hunters could barely afford a decent house these days without putting their lives on the line just to raid high-risk dungeons."
That was true.
Ordinary Koreans already had a hard time buying a house pre-Outbreak.
But now, nine years later, the inflation had been crazy high– especially in the real estate department.
Not that it had ever been Wonhee's problem.
"I don't think your current job can sustain your lifestyle for so long. Moreover, all you have under your name is the penthouse you inherited from your parents," Mrs. Lee said, now giving Wonhee a suspicious look. "Chu Wonhee, you're not thinking of depending on my son financially now that he's an A-Class Hunter, are you?"
Wonhee could see where Mrs. Lee was coming from.
Seodam Oppa's salary as an A-Class Hunter has increased. It's higher than what he used to receive as a B-Class Hunter.
To be honest, Wonhee had never cared about Seodam's financial status.
But it looked like Mrs. Lee was thinking otherwise.
Does she think I'm a gold digger?
This was the first time Wonhee felt so humiliated in her twenty-five years of living.
"You're not done talking yet?"
Hmm?
Wonhee looked up and thought Seodam had regressed to his younger years.
But no.
The handsome young man wearing a school uniform was Lee Seojin or 'Jin'– Seodam's twenty-one-year-old younger brother, currently a high school freshman.
If the Outbreak didn't happen, Jin would have been a university student by now.
"Lee Seojin, what are you doing here?" Mrs. Lee scolded her youngest son. "And how did you know we're here?"
"I heard your evil plan with my sister last night," Jin talked back to his mother rudely, then he turned to Wonhee with an exasperated look on his face. "Wonhee Noona, please do yourself a favor and break up with my brother."
Wonhee bit her lower lip, holding back her tears. "Jin-ah…"
"Noona, you're too good for my brother," Jin said in a frustrated voice. "Lee Seodam and my family don't deserve you."
Hmm???
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