Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 89

Chapter 89

“People, especially those in relationships, are quite simple. If a partner takes a friendly photo with another guy, they wouldn’t just sit back and watch. They’d need to check it out somehow…”

It was noisy. So much so that it made her miss Hisha.

Ha-yeon, walking with Joo-hwan, didn’t hide her annoyance.

“We’re not in a relationship.”

Unfortunately.

At those words, Joo-hwan looked Ha-yeon up and down.

“Are you wary of me thinking I might be an undercover reporter?”

Ha-yeon also looked Joo-hwan up and down.

“I hadn’t thought of that, but maybe you’re right.”

“So, does that mean you’re in a relationship?”

“No. Why would you think someone who cross-dresses would have a female partner?”

Joo-hwan suddenly stopped and faced Ha-yeon.

“His gaze. The way he looked at you wasn’t ordinary.”

Ha-yeon stared at Joo-hwan.

“Do you think so?”

Joo-hwan’s face lit up as if he had realized something and he looked intrigued.

“Oh, so you’re surprisingly the more proactive one?”

Ha-yeon didn’t answer and just shrugged. Joo-hwan then smiled widely.

“It’s a dream come true to see a woman like you being so aggressive.”

“I wish the other side thought that way too.”

With that, Ha-yeon gestured towards the hallway across from them.

In the distance, Si-woo, dressed as Selena, was approaching. As he got closer, he grew larger, and by the time he was right in front of them, his imposing presence, thanks to his original height and high heels, made him feel like a statue from Rhodes. Moreover, his vivid red eyes, looking down at them, exuded a strange aura.

Joo-hwan, seeing Si-woo up close, looked up with an overwhelmed expression, unable to speak. Ha-yeon, who was used to Si-woo, felt a renewed sense of intimidation thanks to Joo-hwan’s reaction.

Today, Si-woo was wearing a leopard-patterned blouse that looked like he had caught a leopard, which made him feel even more ‘mature.’

Si-woo extended his hand to Joo-hwan.

“Selena.”

Joo-hwan shook hands and spoke.

“You look different from the last time we met.”

“Last time?”

Since Si-woo probably didn’t remember meeting Joo-hwan before, he looked at Ha-yeon for clarification. Ha-yeon nodded towards Joo-hwan.

“He lives next door to me.”

Understanding that it was about having seen his male form, Si-woo checked his wristband for the time.

“I can give you five minutes.”

Then Si-woo looked at Ha-yeon.

“Please wait.”

Joo-hwan made a fighting gesture, trying to be supportive, and Ha-yeon looked unimpressed. Meanwhile, Si-woo had already gone ahead, and Ha-yeon followed.

Considering sitting on the couch and working on some tasks, exactly five minutes later, Joo-hwan came out with a smile.

“I think the conversation went well.”

Soon after, Si-woo approached Ha-yeon.

“Miss, may I have a word with you?”

Joo-hwan, noticing the cue, immediately spoke.

“I’ll go ahead.”

Then he turned and left.

Ha-yeon followed Si-woo into the empty meeting room. As soon as the door closed, Si-woo spoke directly.

“It would be better if you kept your distance.”

“Are you jealous?”

Ha-yeon asked, but Si-woo’s eyes revealed no emotion.

“It’s better not to get close to someone who is trying to gain something from you.”

“Isn’t it better than wanting nothing at all? That way, relationships can be established.”

Si-woo briefly looked at Ha-yeon before changing the subject.

“Please pay attention to your safety. Your father is worried.”

“That’s it? You’re worried about what my father might think?”

Ha-yeon didn’t stop there and asked more.

“Or is it because of Eop-ji?”

“……”

Si-woo didn’t readily answer. Eop-ji was a flower, a light, but over time, all memories inevitably become blurry. Si-woo could no longer clearly remember Eop-ji. Gradually, all that remained were feelings of pity and nostalgia, similar to when he thought of his younger sister who had died in an accident in his childhood.

So he thought of Eop-ji more. To hold on to fading memories, to grasp the melting snow.

“Are you still living like this because of Eop-ji?”

Ha-yeon was already angry, fearing that Si-woo might agree. Although it was pitiful how Eop-ji had met such an end, it was frustrating that Si-woo still couldn’t let go of the woman who had left 600 years ago. He might be devoted, but how long must he live like this, in despair, as if he were in a drunken stupor?

“No.”

However, Si-woo answered.

“The reason I live like this is that I couldn’t live as Chu Si-woo, the man.”

His gaze towards Ha-yeon was hard to describe. It was filled with anger, pain, and also sadness, and pity.

“I failed to protect the woman I loved. I haven’t even taken my revenge yet. I don’t have the right to bury the past and move forward.”

* * *

Joo-hwan held up a bottle of wine.

“A token of gratitude for your help.”

Ha-yeon, leaning against the door frame, crossed her arms and stood in a defiant pose.

“Wasn’t it a threat?”

“If it were a real threat, I wouldn’t have used my fist on your personality, would I? Are you going to let me in?”

Ha-yeon only lowered her gaze to read the label on the wine bottle Joo-hwan was holding.

French, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. It wasn’t a vintage, as it had only been out for a few years, but it was a sufficiently good wine.

Ha-yeon turned around. Although she didn’t explicitly invite Joo-hwan in, she could hear Joo-hwan following her. Joo-hwan looked around the house and remarked.

“Our houses are structurally the same.”

Ha-yeon sat on the sofa. Joo-hwan, acting as if it were his own home, found a cup and sat next to her.

“Is this the only glass you have?”

“Yes.”

“I expected you to have all sorts of glasses. It’s unexpected.”

At Joo-hwan’s words, Ha-yeon gave a smile that made her seem unpleasant.

“Why? Is it because I know the CEO of ISLE?”

“Don’t take it the wrong way. I meant that I expected you to have the right glass for each type of drink. Since you seem to like alcohol.”

Although the misunderstanding was cleared up, Ha-yeon asked straightforwardly.

“What do you want? I just introduced you to the ISLE’s CEO.”

Joo-hwan smiled warmly.

“What do you think I want?”

In reality, she wasn’t a fool and knew what it meant for a man to approach a woman like this. Even if she had a man she liked, they weren’t officially together, so he might think there was an opportunity.

A strange atmosphere suddenly settled, and Joo-hwan slowly drew closer. Ha-yeon considered pushing him away but was curious to see if she could feel the same way she felt with Si-woo with another man.

The touch of their lips was softer than expected. Joo-hwan didn’t push aggressively; he was surprisingly gentle and not at all rough.

When their lips eventually parted, Ha-yeon asked.

“Is this how you usually are?”

Slightly puzzled.

Joo-hwan chuckled. It seemed he had expected that reaction.

“What do you like about him? Seeing how he acts, he seems a bit out of his mind.”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t speak so freely about things you don’t know.”

Ironically, knowing Si-woo’s past made Ha-yeon feel frustrated by his inability to move on, and she developed a protective instinct, unable to tolerate even the slightest negative comments about Si-woo. If she had known about the sad circumstances of his cross-dressing… well, she would rather not have known. Of course, even if she could turn back time, she would want to know.

Joo-hwan shrugged.

“I don’t know the details. People only see things from their own perspective.”

“He’s just foolishly kind-hearted.”

“Is he?”

Ha-yeon sipped her wine.

“He’s also quite stubborn. It’s as if he can’t send away the pain he didn’t cause himself, the suffering he’s endured.”

The fact that Changwon-gun, who killed Eop-ji, was still alive outside made it even harder for him to forget…

Joo-hwan probably wouldn’t understand the story, but he didn’t ask for clarification. However, Ha-yeon, who wanted to tell someone, mumbled almost to herself.

“What if telling him to forget makes me seem like a really bad person?”

“It seems like there’s a heavy backstory.”

Then Joo-hwan said.

“But isn’t it better to be a bad person? If it can make him forget such painful memories.”

Ha-yeon looked at Joo-hwan as if he had said something truly unexpected.

“Indeed.”

At that moment, Ha-yeon wondered what she had been worrying about. Becoming a bad person wasn’t such a difficult thing, especially for her.

Joo-hwan laughed softly and stood up.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Thanks for the drink.”

Joo-hwan waved and left Ha-yeon’s house. He returned to his own home and started making a phone call.

While waiting for the connection, he went to his desk and took out a transparent package with blue pills from under the desk. The surface of the pill packet had a cool sheen.

At that moment, the call was answered, and Joo-hwan looked at the pills with a pleased expression as he asked.

“The effect of the drug is guaranteed, right?”

* * *

Ha-yeon looked up at the glass window sparkling in the sunlight.

“Miss.”

Turning at the sound of someone entering, Ha-yeon saw Jerome walking into the office.

“Secretary.”

“You’re here? The CEO is in a meeting.”

“Of course.”

Ha-yeon, leaning back with her arms draped over the sofa’s backrest and her temple resting on one hand, muttered in a contemplative tone.

“So today…”

As Jerome turned to speak, he found Ha-yeon standing right behind him. Jerome was startled.

“Miss.”

For some reason, Ha-yeon was gradually getting closer. Jerome, overwhelmed, backed away, using the desk behind him for support.

“Ah, Miss?”

However, Ha-yeon did not stop and continued to approach until they were so close that there was no personal space left.

Ha-yeon lowered her eyes slightly and asked.

“May I kiss you?”

Jerome was overwhelmed with a mix of confusion, surprise, and happiness. He wondered if the miss had feelings for him, and he momentarily thought about where they should have the wedding and what to name their children.

At first, he just stared at Ha-yeon, who was waiting expectantly, blushing and nodding his head. Then Ha-yeon moved even closer.

Their lips touched.

Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed Jerome’s shoulder and spun him around. Si-woo stood there with a stern expression, so angry that his Selena persona was almost unrecognizable.

“Jerome Orosco, this is the company.”