Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 5

‘Well, as long as you’re happy. Laugh all you want now. Take Jo Seongjun with you, makes it easier to send them together as a set.’

 

Haeyoung sat alone in the restaurant, staring through the glass window at the two figures walking away in the distance.

 

Minji was bouncing along, clinging to Seongjun’s arm. Seongjun kept turning to look at her, grinning like a fool.

 

“I’m glad you two are exactly the same as ever. I guess that means I don’t have to feel guilty.”

 

It was finally time to carry out the revenge she had been planning for days.

 

‘The dating show you’re both so excited about? I’m joining it, too. I can’t wait to see the look on your faces.’

 

Haeyoung unlocked her phone and dialed a number.

 

[000–0000–0000]

 

It was the number from the card Han Yoonhyuk had handed her last time. She had not been able to bring herself to throw it away, so she had left it lying on her desk, until she ended up memorizing it.

 

‘Han Yoonhyuk, wasn’t it?’

 

The dating program <Friendship Romance 2> that Seongjun and Minji were appearing on, only accepted pairs of male and female friends.

 

The program’s slogan was, ‘Between love and friendship, where do our hearts stand?’

 

The basic premise was to support the romantic endeavors of your friend while finding your own match. However, some contestants ended up revealing feelings they had long hidden behind the label of ‘friend’.

 

Which meant Haeyoung could not join on her own, no matter what she tried. They even evaluated looks and credentials during casting, so she could not just grab anyone off the street, either.

 

Someone with his looks would be possible.

 

Without hesitation, Haeyoung placed the call.

 

―“This is Han Yoonhyuk.”

 

“I’m the person who got into a car accident last time.”

 

―”Ah.”

 

There was a brief silence. Was it too late to contact him?

 

“I apologize for the late call.”

 

―”I was just about to turn myself in at the police station, in case I ended up a hit-and-run suspect. Since you called before I was arrested, I suppose I can forgive you.”

 

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

 

“Thank goodness you avoided criminal charges.”

 

―”Have you been to the hospital?”

 

“No.”

 

―”Hmm, you’re a bit stubborn. I see.”

 

“I contacted you because I wanted something other than hospital fees.”

 

―”Something else?”

 

Haeyoung turned her gaze toward the now-empty street where Seongjun and Minji had disappeared.

 

“Mr. Han Yoonhyuk, I want you to go on a dating show with me.”

 

* * *

 

Haeyoung was fiddling with her teacup. As she rehearsed her words in her head, the chair opposite hers scraped against the floor. Han Yoonhyuk had arrived.

 

A white cap, white t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. He was dressed casually and sat down without a word. He smelled like freshly dried laundry in the sun.

 

Yoonhyuk took a long sip of the iced Americano Haeyoung had ordered in advance. Half of it was gone in an instant, and the ice clinked at the bottom of the cup.

 

“What was that nonsense you said?”

 

His voice was cold. It made sense. What else could a man think when a stranger suddenly asked him to appear on a dating program, pretending to be her friend?

 

Even to herself, it sounded absurd. But there was no one else she could think of who might pull this off. She had to convince him somehow.

 

Haeyoung tucked her hands under the table, careful not to show any signs of nervousness.

 

“It was not nonsense, it was a proposal.”

 

“I’m not interested.”

 

“I have not even mentioned the terms yet.”

 

“You are quite bold.”

 

“I have a very clear reason to be.”

 

Yoonhyuk chuckled. Laughter was often a sign of amusement, but not always. This was one of those exceptions.

 

It was the kind of laugh that said, ‘Unbelievable.’ Or perhaps, ‘What a waste of time, getting involved with this weirdo.’ Something in that realm of emotion.

 

“Let’s hear it, then. Just how ridiculous is this proposal of yours, and how clear is your reasoning?”

 

Yoonhyuk looked down at Haeyoung with the air of an executive from a large corporation evaluating a junior candidate. It was the arrogant attitude of someone who saw himself as superior.

 

It was obvious who had such gestures as a habit.

 

People who behaved like that out of habit usually fell into one of two categories: either they were truly in positions where they commanded others, or they were nobodies with an inflated sense of superiority.

 

Haeyoung knew the latter type very well, she had dated one for six years.

 

Haeyoung glanced at Yoonhyuk’s appearance. She didn’t like judging people by their appearance, but sometimes appearance told you everything you needed to know.

 

He looked to be around her age, dressed in a comfortable outfit that anyone could manage. The fact that he showed up dressed like this on a weekday afternoon after just a phone call, he had to be the latter type. She needed him to be.

 

“What I am asking from Yoonhyuk-ssi is simple. Appear with me on <Friendship Romance>. Pretend to be my friend. Make sure no one finds out it is an act.

 

Yoonhyuk leaned back without taking his eyes off Haeyoung. There was no emotion in his gaze, nothing she could read.

 

“And the compensation?”

 

“Cash.”

 

A flicker of emotion crossed Yoonhyuk’s face.

 

Was he surprised she mentioned money? Or had he been hoping for something else entirely? His eyes ran down her figure, slowly.

 

“You do not exactly look like someone with a lot of money.”

 

“I do. My savings are maturing soon, too.”

 

“Even your savings? I am intrigued. How much are we talking?”

 

“Thirty million won. Additional payment for appearance fees. All you have to do is play pretend with me during the shoot, and the money is yours.”

 

“Thirty million.”

 

Yoonhyuk narrowed his eyes, as if trying to gauge her sincerity.

 

“You are offering that much?”

 

So he was the second type. Haeyoung let out a silent sigh of relief.

 

“Why? Is there a law against women paying for what they want? You see it in dramas all the time, contract relationships, contract marriages. Think of it as a contract friendship.”

 

Yoonhyuk nodded thoughtfully. She thought he might agree on the spot, but instead, another question came.

 

“Why me, though?”

 

Of course it would not be that easy.

 

“I cannot appear on <Friendship Romance> alone. It requires a male and female friend to join together.”

 

“There are men everywhere. What do you even know about me?”

 

“Nothing at all. But I do know you are good-looking. Ugly people do not make it on that show.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Yoonhyuk crossed his arms and nodded again. Unlike before, his demeanor had softened noticeably.

 

“You must not have any good-looking male friends around.”

 

“No, I do not. Are you not aware of how you look? People like you are rare.”

 

“Who knows, maybe there is someone out there, an old friend, or someone who once saved your life. Try to remember.”

 

“There is no one.”

 

“That’s a firm answer.”

 

Yoonhyuk appeared to be deep in thought. Haeyoung remained quiet, waiting for his next move.

 

“So what exactly is your goal?”

 

Haeyoung hesitated. How should she phrase it to make it sound convincing?

 

“To get revenge.”

 

“Revenge? On whom?”

 

“Jo Seongjun. He is my boyfriend.”

 

“Did he cheat?”

 

“Well, it is hard to say definitively.”

 

“Then why seek revenge?”

 

“We have been together for six years.”

 

“Six years?”

 

Yoonhyuk leaned back. He tapped the table with his fingers, showing a subtle sign of irritation. Perhaps he was displeased with her reasoning.

 

“Because of him, my family nearly died. Well, they are alive now, but it was close. Yet he does not feel the slightest remorse.”

 

“What a bastard.”

 

“Exactly. The worst kind of bastard.”

 

Yoonhyuk burst out laughing. That was a good sign.

 

“Why are you laughing?”

 

“Because it is amusing. The most absurd and bizarre proposal I have ever received.”

 

“So you are saying it is funny, that sounds like a compliment.”

 

Haeyoung gave a small shrug. It might be ridiculous, but she had no other options.

 

“Okay.”

 

“What?”

 

“I will do it. Think of the thirty million won as the settlement for the car accident Haeyoung-ssi refused.”

 

* * *

 

Once she secured Yoonhyuk, everything progressed quickly. She approached the producer and even reported a contestant’s history of school bullying in advance.

 

The producer, scrambling to fill the newly vacant spot, was more than happy to bring Haeyoung on board. The tight, near-live shooting schedule helped her case.

 

Seongjun claimed he was too busy preparing for the show and never made time to see her. Not once before filming began. That was fine, Haeyoung had been just as busy. It was a good thing.

 

Then, the day of the first shoot arrived.

 

The makeup she received at the salon felt unfamiliar. The white dress she never would have worn under normal circumstances was uncomfortable. Her loosely wavy hair kept getting in the way, and the contact lenses she wore instead of glasses made her eyes dry.

 

Still, those were all minor inconveniences compared to her true objective.

 

“Seo Haeyoung-ssi, please come in now.”