Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 29

“That will be 2,000 won, sir.”

2,000 won. Taejun hesitated for a moment at the unfamiliar amount before pulling out his card and holding it out. After he started eating candy instead of smoking, his office was always stocked with candy without him having to pay much attention to it, so he wasn’t familiar with the price.

As the thought that everything in this convenience store was awkward suddenly struck him, Taejun opened his mouth.

“You’re about to get off work, right?”

Haeshin chuckled.

“So you weren’t just passing by after all.”

“Shut up. I’ll be waiting nearby, so call me when you’re done.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Haeshin didn’t even ask for a reason. Is this the process of ‘earning points’ that Cha Haeshin talks about? If so, did a past Cha Haeshin act this friendly towards Jin Youngmin too?

Forcefully pushing aside the useless thoughts, Taejun went outside. He felt a bit ridiculous holding a lollipop in his hand, but he didn’t dislike the feeling. Taejun stood in front of the convenience store, unwrapped a candy, and put it in his mouth.

The cheap sweetness, still unfamiliar, spread through his mouth, and Han Taejun thought that next time, he should buy and try some chocolate.

☂️

“Look at this bastard…”

Youngmin, who had been watching Cha Haeshin get out of the convenience store and into Han Taejun’s car, spat out the words with a dumbfounded expression. He’d had his suspicions, but to think the two were actually meeting.

Yesterday, Youngmin had gone to the bar to see Haeshin for the first time in a while, only to be told that Haeshin wouldn’t be coming to work for the time being. He hadn’t quit, but there was no telling when he’d be back. When he asked if anything was wrong, the boss just repeated that he didn’t know that much.

It felt strange. It seemed like they were hiding something. So, Youngmin, avoiding the eyes of the boss and the manager, bribed one of the employees with money. As expected, he was told that although the detailed circumstances were unknown, rumors were rampant that Han Taejun had pulled some strings to keep Haeshin from coming to work.

So, Youngmin went to the convenience store to find Cha Haeshin. He was even willing to help if Haeshin was being subjected to some unfair treatment by Han Taejun. And while waiting for Haeshin with his car parked in front of the convenience store, Youngmin saw a familiar person walk past and enter the store. It was Han Taejun.

“I knew it… There’s no way Cha Haeshin would distance himself from me so suddenly without a reason.”

Youngmin bit his lip anxiously. With this, it became certain that Han Taejun’s intervention wasn’t simply due to the family’s honor.

“Since when did he become interested in Cha Haeshin?”

He felt suffocated. Han Taejun, unlike Jin Youngmin, was not the type to enjoy entertainment or nightlife. Let alone a low-class bar like the one Cha Haeshin worked at, it was impossible for him to have gone there on his own.

Could it be that he found out about Cha Haeshin because of him? A reasonable suspicion arose. It made the most sense that he first learned of Cha Haeshin after hearing that Jin Youngmin was frequenting a cheap bar and going to keep him in check.

Even so, a question still remained. No matter how handsome Cha Haeshin was, did it make sense for someone to suddenly fall for a bar employee? Especially an arrogant man like Han Taejun.

“Cha Haeshin… Cha Haeshin…”

The problem wasn’t just Han Taejun. It was Cha Haeshin as well. Until now, Youngmin had thought Haeshin was uncomfortable with Han Taejun. He had thought that the reason Haeshin had cut off contact with him was not of his own will but because of Han Taejun’s intimidation.

But the look on Haeshin’s face as he got into Taejun’s car a moment ago was, by anyone’s standards, not one of fear. Was it an act? To avoid getting on Taejun’s bad side? That possibility wasn’t nonexistent, but it felt fishy for some reason.

What if Cha Haeshin was daring to weigh Han Taejun and himself against each other?

Youngmin’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. What was most unpleasant was his own situation, where he couldn’t step in even after seeing the two of them together. It was unlikely, but if Han Taejun was serious about Cha Haeshin, could he really stand against him?

‘You can live your life as you please with everything else, but make sure you don’t fall out of favor with Taejun. Got it?’

He recalled his father’s stern voice admonishing him. The life that had flowed as he wished without any obstacles was beginning to shake a little.

☂️

The two had a late dinner at a traditional Korean restaurant that Taejun frequented. Thanks to being guided to a VIP room, they could talk comfortably without worrying about others. It was a given that Haeshin was amazed every time a new variety of food was brought out.

“Jin Youngmin hasn’t been coming around lately, has he?”

As the feast of successive dishes concluded and dessert was about to be served, Taejun asked.

“Did you really use your influence for that, sir?”

“What else did you think it was?”

At Haeshin’s seemingly surprised question, Taejun tried his best to answer calmly. He didn’t want to show it, but seeing Haeshin with his eyes sparkling made him feel quite proud.

“No, I mean, I thought it was probably the case, but it’s still amazing. It seems even a department head can’t help but be mindful of you, sir.”

It was such an obvious thing that Taejun didn’t bother to reply. Haeshin continued, sipping the tea that was served to cleanse the palate.

“He still contacts me from time to time, and I’ve been ignoring him… Will that be okay?”

“He’s still contacting you?”

“Yes. It’s nothing much, just things like he’s worried because he hasn’t heard from me.”

“He hasn’t learned his lesson.”

Taejun muttered, his voice quickly turning unpleasant. To keep contacting him even after being warned to that extent. It certainly seemed like it wasn’t just an ordinary feeling.

“I’ll make it so he can’t even contact you soon, so don’t worry and just ignore him. Or just block him altogether.”

“Is it really okay to do that?”

“Yes.”

Taejun deliberately answered more firmly. He wanted to resolve Haeshin’s anxiety. At least in this timeline, the event of Cha Haeshin being forced to marry Jin Youngmin would not happen.

Unless Cha Haeshin himself fell in love with Jin Youngmin.

It was an assumption that gave him chills just thinking about it. But he couldn’t say it was entirely impossible.

Of course, Taejun was almost certain that Haeshin had married Jin Youngmin semi-coercively, but one never knew. Cha Haeshin, who didn’t know the future, could make a foolish choice at any time.

That was precisely the reason why Han Taejun was with Cha Haeshin right now. He had to prevent Cha Haeshin from having any opportunity to develop feelings for Jin Youngmin. He didn’t know when this timeline would end, but as long as it continued, Taejun intended to do his best to change Cha Haeshin’s fate.

In the meantime, dessert arrived. As Haeshin was carefully observing the colorfully and ornately made dessert, Taejun brought up the topic he had been wanting to talk about since earlier.

“By the way, you’re thinking of getting a new part-time job?”

“Yes. Since my nighttime hours are free.”

It had come up on the way here in the car. The words that since he didn’t have to go to the bar anymore, he was thinking of getting another part-time job, were so absurd that he hadn’t even been able to respond right away.

“What’s the point of playing around? I need to earn even a single penny more. Wow, this looks really delicious. Can I eat it?”

“Go ahead and eat.”

Oblivious to the other’s feelings, Haeshin was engrossed in his dessert. Taejun let out a small sigh.

In fact, Haeshin wasn’t wrong. He was still drowning in debt, so he probably couldn’t rest with a peaceful mind. Even knowing that, Taejun was annoyed that he was planning to nullify the vacation he had gone to the trouble of giving him.

“Cha Haeshin.”

So, Taejun called him carefully. Taejun knew what Cha Haeshin needed more than a vacation right now. And he had the ability to give it.

“You… that private debt.”

What was more important than anything was Han Taejun’s own desire to willingly give it to Cha Haeshin. The question he had asked Haeshin, “how far can I pity you,” might have been more necessary for Han Taejun himself.

Just how far do I want to pity Cha Haeshin? Taejun hadn’t found the answer to that yet.

“The private debt?”

Haeshin, who had been diligently chewing on a mouthful of rice cake, asked back at the completely unexpected topic. Taejun, unknowingly clenching his fist, said in a low voice.

“If I say I’ll pay it off for you…”

Haeshin’s movements stopped.

“Is that a form of pity you can accept?”

A stillness fell between the two.

☂️

Haeshin, who had been staring at Taejun with a dazed expression for a long while, soon swallowed the rice cake in his mouth. There was no hint of a joke anywhere on Taejun’s face. Haeshin opened his mouth, his voice trembling.

“You’ll pay off all the private debt?”

“Yes.”

“Without anything in return?”

“You said if there’s something in return, it’s not pity.”

“Without any reason?”

“No matter how I think about it, it’s because I feel too sorry for you.”

“But…!”

“Forget that crap about there being plenty of people more pitiful than you. What, are we going to rank them by how pitiful they are? Can I only help the winner of the World’s Most Pitiful Person competition?”

Haeshin’s suspicion certainly had its merits. In reality, Taejun’s actions couldn’t be explained solely by the reason of feeling sorry for him.

“You’re probably not the most pitiful guy in the world. But the pitiful guy I want to help right now is you, Cha Haeshin.”

However, in Han Taejun’s hell, the only object of his compassion was Cha Haeshin. That meant it was a valid enough reason, even if not the whole story.

After hearing Taejun’s answer, Haeshin fell silent once more. Taejun wondered why he was being so frustrating now when he had acted as if he’d take anything given to him at one point. In the end, Taejun spoke again.

“And the less pitiful you are, the fewer openings Jin Youngmin has to dig his way into your life.”

“Ah…”

“Two birds with one stone.”

Haeshin, who had a stiff expression, burst into a chuckle. For some reason, it felt like Han Taejun was just tacking on the phrase ‘two birds with one stone’ for his own convenience.

Just as Taejun, seeing that face, was about to ask why he was laughing, Haeshin, his eyebrows drooping sullenly, opened his mouth.

“Pity this big always seems to have a hidden reason…”

His tone was like a child’s complaint, but it didn’t completely hide the sharp intent within. Haeshin had already been through this before.