Kill Your X Chapter 9

Working at an entertainment agency is just a hobby, isn’t he actually some chaebol’s son? It was extremely suspicious that he brought such a large sum of money in less than half a day. Also, the fact that he ghosted me right after we agreed to date… Si Yeonho was becoming increasingly far from ordinary in my mind.

There’s no way I can accept this money. Not only is it unlikely that he used a loan shark, but who knows what unwanted burden I’ll end up carrying if I accept it.

I called the number Si Yeonho gave me yesterday. It was a number he said he got specifically for contacting me. A vague fear washed over me as the phone rang.

What if a stranger answers? Taking this money to the police station would also be a problem. If I explain who I got the money from and where we met, my secret private life would naturally be exposed.

In the worst-case scenario, there’s a possibility that a report would go up to my father, a police executive. Then I would truly cease to exist in this world.

“Si Yeonho?”

―Yes, Sunbae.

He answered the phone just before the ringing stopped.

“Sorry to call so early in the morning. Did I wake you?”

―Thank you.

Is he thanking me for a wake-up call? If he’s serious, it’s quite cute, but I didn’t have the time to praise such trivial cuteness right now. I got straight to the point.

“What’s with the bag of money in front of my house? Did you really leave it there?”

―So you’ve checked.

“Take it back.”

A rustling sound came from the speaker. I could picture him slowly stretching as he got out of bed.

“Why aren’t you answering? Take the money back. How can I just accept such a large sum? Do you usually just hand out money to anyone?”

―I had some guys looking all night, but they couldn’t find out where Sunbae borrowed the money from.

My jaw dropped at his softly spoken words. Does that mean he really did more background checks on me last night?

―It’s best not to borrow from loan sharks in the first place, but if you absolutely have to, it’s better to borrow from a reputable place. Small-time lenders have smaller cash flows, so they cling more tenaciously to each debtor.

I wasn’t trying to get a lecture about a world I didn’t understand, but his languid voice drew me in. Aside from his looks, Si Yeonho had the charm to captivate people with his voice alone.

―I really want to help you, but I felt like you wouldn’t like it if I dug any deeper. Am I right?

He was asking if I wanted him to turn a blind eye to my lies. Si Yeonho was once again giving me the choice. My mouth felt bitter at the thought of my short-lived deception.

“Yeah. Don’t do that anymore.”

―Let me know if you need more money. I’m not sure if you’ll like the hangover drink, as it’s my first time making it.

“Hangover drink?”

―But Sunbae, don’t you have to go soon? You have to be at work by 8:30.

I checked my watch at his words. My body moved faster than my mind.

―I’ll hang up now. Live well today.

As I was about to leave the house again, the money bag lying by the front door caught my attention. After some thought, I tossed it into the dressing room and closed the door. I felt like I might cause an accident if I drove in my current state, so I called a taxi. I was exhausted as soon as I sat in the back seat.

The taxi merged onto my familiar commute route. Having finally calmed my racing heart, I belatedly checked the plastic bag I’d grabbed on my way out. It was the mysterious object that had been hanging on the doorknob.

Inside the bag was a single black tumbler. I thought it might be some suspicious liquid, but as soon as I opened the lid, the sweet smell that wafted out was very familiar. What Si Yeonho had given me along with 2 billion won in cash was honey water.

Imagining him dissolving honey in hot water made me smile. Then, the money bag came to mind, and I instantly became serious. My reflection in the rearview mirror looked like someone with a split personality. I arrived at school half out of my mind. Taking a taxi instead of driving myself had been an excellent choice.

“Gasp… huff…”

I barely made it to my desk on time. I had run from the taxi, and despite it being the middle of winter, beads of sweat dotted my forehead. I caught my breath and turned on my computer.

“Good morning. Mr. Song, you slept in today?”

“Ah, yes. I met up with a high school friend last night. We got a little carried away catching up, haha.”

“Good morning. I’m sorry for the late greeting,” I said to my colleague next to me with an awkward laugh. Then, something I almost overlooked came to mind.

‘I’ll hang up now. Live well today.’

The more I thought about it, the stranger the farewell sounded. Live well? Usually, people say “Have a good day” or something like that.

He just can’t say anything normally. The more I saw of him, the more Si Yeonho seemed to have a knack for getting under my skin.

✽✽✽

I couldn’t focus on work at all that day. Every time I remembered the 2 billion won of unknown origin hidden in my house, I became anxious, as if I had stolen the money. By lunchtime, I was on the verge of a breakdown.

A thirsty person digs a well, so it was me who started filling the empty message box between us.

[Take the money]

[Take it, I said]

[Yeonho]

[Si Yeonho]

[Aren’t you going to answer?]

He answered the phone right away when I called in the morning, but his text message replies were slow, as if he was busy. Even those lacked sincerity.

[Buy yourself a meal]

I stared at the message, wondering what he meant, and then deflated. 2 billion won for a meal? Does he think I’m an elephant? Even an African elephant’s annual food cost wouldn’t come close to 2 billion won.

[Are you going to keep acting like this?]

[I told you clearly. I don’t need this money. If you don’t retrieve the money bag, it’s over between us]

It was childish, I knew, but I couldn’t think of anything else that would work on Si Yeonho. Given that he readily offered me a large sum of money, it was clear he didn’t want to break up with me for whatever reason.

Fortunately, the plan worked. I briefly sought out an empty room inside the office to answer his call.

―Have you eaten?

Despite calling me immediately after I mentioned breaking up, his first greeting was casual. The background noise was slightly boisterous, suggesting he was outdoors.

“Yeah. You?”

―What did you eat?

“Kimchi jjigae at the library cafeteria. I asked what you ate.”

―I haven’t eaten yet. How much is the kimchi jjigae there?

I thought we would immediately start arguing about retrieving the money bag, but the conversation flowed quite differently from my expectations.

“If you buy it, it’s about 5,000 won, I think? I get meal vouchers as a staff member, so I don’t really know. But Yeonho…”

―You can keep buying it there then.

I thought the topic had gone astray, but it hadn’t. Si Yeonho was talking about the 2 billion won from the beginning.

“Look, you seem to keep forgetting, but I’m a working member of society. I earn enough to buy my own meals. As for the debt I told you about, of course it will be difficult to pay it all off at once, but I can manage it on my own somehow…”

―Isn’t it good to have extra money? Money is important to people.

He says obvious things in a situation that is anything but obvious. He answers well and seems obedient at first glance, but he’s incredibly stubborn. I had no confidence I could win against Si Yeonho with words, as his way of thinking was different from ordinary people.

“Then let me rephrase my question. Why do you refuse to take back the money? Are you too proud to take it back after giving it?”

―I guess so.

The surrounding noise on the other end of the line subsided. He seemed to have moved to a quieter place.

―I want to help Sunbae, but if I take it back, it means I haven’t really helped, right?

“Still, there’s such a thing as moderation. I know you’re rich and capable, but I really don’t need this money, so I’d appreciate it if you’d take it back. It’s so burdensome that I’m scared to go home.”

Si Yeonho was silent for a long time. Just when I started to wonder if he had left the phone, the silence broke. The idea he came up with after thinking for so long was incredibly creative.

―You can use it for date expenses then.

“Yeonho…”

―Buy me something delicious next time we meet. I want to spend more time with Sunbae, but I have to go, so I’ll hang up.

“Wow.”

He hung up before I could respond. I kept letting out hollow laughs, which delayed my return to my desk. I was annoyed that he wasn’t listening, but at the same time, his response was quite cute, and it softened my heart. Maybe, without any other ulterior motive, he really just wanted to play at dating me.

“Mr. Song, are you seeing someone these days?”

My colleague’s words made me quickly compose my expression. I must have been grinning like a fool without realizing it.

“Seeing someone? You know I’m not interested in that sort of thing.”

“If you’re not seeing someone, what else could make you smile so brightly? And you’ve been glued to your phone since this morning. It’s really suspicious.”

This was a disaster. She was a good person, but her nosiness was a problem. She especially wanted to set me up with someone. After pretending to be so uninterested in dating all this time, I foolishly let it show. Caught off guard, I couldn’t come up with an excuse right away.

“Oh my, who is it? I kept offering to introduce you to some nice ladies, and I thought you were too picky!”

She sounded convinced I had a boyfriend. Since it was true anyway, I just gave an awkward smile and decided to admit it. Stalling would only seem more awkward.

“Well… we’re still getting to know each other.”

“How did you meet?”

“We went to the same high school. We reconnected recently. It could end soon, though.”

She nodded with a knowing smile. Her eyes held a mischievous glint, suggesting what she was imagining.