A Madman in Love-Chapter 67

Jin Sukyung, who had been accompanying Miju, looked beyond pale—her complexion had turned an ashen gray.

"Hey! That’s Seo Jaehee, isn’t it?"

Miju, snapping out of her shock, rushed forward in a hurry.

But Jin Sukyung merely blinked at her with sharp eyes before abruptly turning away.

She walked off so quickly that there wasn’t even time to grab her.

"I knew something was off…"

"……."

"So you really fooled me all this time, pretending to be innocent while secretly dating Seo Jaehee. You sly fox."

Miju made a fuss, oblivious to her mother’s presence behind her.

Suin, however, focused beyond Miju’s shoulder, watching her mother’s retreating back.

Jin Sukyung was storming toward the building’s entrance, her posture rigid with anger.

Yet, Suin hesitated to follow.

"When I first heard Seo Jaehee was back in Korea, I knew this would happen."

Her mother was furious, seeing this as outright defiance against her warnings—warnings she had given so persistently.

And beneath that anger lay guilt. Guilt toward the Chairwoman.

"Hm."

A heavy weight pressed against her chest, making her stomach churn with discomfort.

She let out a deep breath without realizing it, exhaling a thick, stifling sigh.

"What’s wrong?"

Miju, who had been throwing a fit just moments ago, belatedly sensed the cold air radiating from Suin’s mother.

"Come this way."

Miju glanced between Suin and Jin Sukyung, noting the growing distance between them, then grabbed Suin’s arm and pulled her aside.

Her voice had softened considerably.

"Does your mom disapprove of Seo Jaehee?"

"It’s not exactly disapproval… but she warned me."

"What kind of warning?"

"Miju, I’ll explain later. I’m sorry, but I need to go home."

Suin turned away, unable to focus on the conversation anymore.

She wanted to hurry home, but Miju grabbed her in a panic.

"Don’t go, you idiot! If you leave now, you’re just walking into disaster."

Miju wasn’t just acting out of curiosity—she was being careful in her own way.

"Give your mom some time to think. Anger fades with time."

She was right.

If she tried explaining now, her mother would only see it as an excuse.

It was better to step back and let things settle.

And I… I need some time to breathe, too.

***

"I can’t believe you pulled this off behind my back, Lee Suin."

Suin sat with Miju at a convenience store nearby.

Sensing her friend’s sinking mood, Miju had bought beers and set them on the outdoor table.

"So Seo Jaehee finally got his hands on you."

As always, Suin and Jaehee were the main topics of conversation.

"It was only a matter of time, even if it happened later than expected."

"……."

Suin had too many thoughts running through her head, so she silently sipped her cola instead.

If she drank alcohol while leaving her mother in such a state, it would only make things worse.

"Seo Jaehee’s relentless. Even after all these years, he’s still stuck on you?"

Miju cracked open her second beer after quickly finishing the first.

Her words made Suin laugh at an absurd thought—if she ever got kicked out, maybe she should just call Seo Jaehee.

Then she scoffed at herself for even entertaining the idea.

"How did he hold back in America?"

He didn’t.

That’s why he tormented me so much.

Even today…

"You must’ve had a hard time hiding it from me all this while."

Suin must have been unconsciously smiling to herself because Miju narrowed her eyes and gave her a teasing look.

"You ignored my texts and calls because of Seo Jaehee, didn’t you?"

"That… sort of happened unintentionally. I’m sorry."

"Bullshit. Unintentional, my ass. You ignored me on purpose."

"Cut me some slack. I had my own struggles. I really tried to avoid this whole situation…"

"How did he get you in the end? You, of all people?"

"I tried my best to push him away, but I failed."

"Do you like it? So?"

"Well, right now…"

As she spoke, she felt warmth creeping up her face before she even realized it.

Miju, spotting the pink blush on her friend’s cheeks—on her, of all people, who had always been indifferent to men—didn’t even bother to hold back her amusement.

"Congrats on your first relationship."

"Thanks."

Suin had expected a storm of curses, but instead, Miju raised her can in a toast.

With a faint smile, Suin lifted her cola and clinked it against Miju’s beer.

"Falling in love for the first time at thirty is kind of embarrassing. Don’t go bragging about it anywhere."

"Yes, I’ll keep that in mind."

"Or maybe not? If it’s Seo Jaehee, you should definitely brag."

Miju tilted her head, hesitating before nodding to herself.

Muttering under her breath, she said, "Yeah, if it’s Seo Jaehee, then it is worth bragging about."

And then she nodded again, agreeing with herself.

Yeah.

"Of course, it’s worth bragging about."

Suin had to admit it herself.

"Why is your mom against it? Any other mother would be celebrating, knowing he’s a chaebol."

"It’s because he’s a chaebol. He’s in a completely different league from us."

Miju hesitated as she reached for her third beer, then carefully asked, "And?"

Suin answered bitterly.

"On top of that, we owe the Chairwoman a lot. My mom has always worked hard to make sure we don’t become a burden. She’s constantly worried I might fall out of the Chairwoman’s favor."

"That must’ve been a lot of pressure on you."

"I can handle it. But… she’s overly cautious about not causing any trouble with the Chairwoman."

"That’s not the only reason. She’s worried about you."

Miju said it firmly.

"She’s scared you’ll get hurt. That you’ll suffer."

"I can take care of myself…"

"Your mom’s upset because, no matter what happens, the gap between you two is too wide. She knows she can’t protect you from it."

"……."

"Just talk to her. Help her understand."

For all her playfulness, Miju was thoughtful.

Suin suddenly felt like she was the immature one here.

She nodded.

***

Jin Sukyung went into silent protest.

By the time Suin returned home after parting ways with Miju, her mother had locked herself in her room and refused to come out.

Her stance against Suin’s relationship was clear—her opposition came in the form of silence and complete disregard.

No matter how many times Suin knocked and pleaded, her mother shut her eyes and ears.

The next day, too.

And the day after that.

Eventually, Suin decided to give her mother time.

But she remained cautious.

"Take the Director home. I’ll be heading out first."

"Chief, is something going on at home?"

"Are you saying that because I’ve been leaving work on time lately, Intern Kwon?"

"No, I wouldn’t dare! I was just worried—wondering if something happened."

The first person to notice was Jongin.

Despite his bear-like build, he had the sharp instincts of a fox. Seeing Suin suddenly clocking out on time struck him as strange.

Jaehee, on the other hand, simply trusted her.

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When she told him her mother wasn’t feeling well, he believed her.

—You ran away from me again today.

The only difference was that his obsession was growing stronger.

—Where are you? You didn’t get far, did you?

—And if I didn’t?

—Then I’ll come get you.

The days of lying weighed heavily on Suin.

She wanted to explain everything to Jaehee, to get it off her chest.

But if he found out that her mother was the reason for their cold war, it would escalate into an all-out battle.

—See you tomorrow, Director.

And so, she held back again today.

She sent him a short, somewhat distant reply, suppressing the lingering hesitation, and stepped through the front gate.

Just then, a familiar figure flickered past her vision.

A quick glance.

A fleeting silhouette.

"……."

Baek Ihyeon had walked past her without so much as a glance, treating her as if she were invisible.

Suin narrowed her eyes at his retreating figure before confidently stepping forward.

"Baek Ihyeon!"

Her loud voice made Ihyeon flinch and stop in his tracks, hesitating awkwardly.

She didn’t waste any time.

"Are you planning to run away from me for the rest of your life? If that’s the case, shouldn’t we at least come to an agreement? So I don’t have to be bothered by it, either."

"I’m in self-reflection."

"For how long?"

"Just until today."

"Alright. Then go on, keep running."

When she gave her approval, Ihyeon let out an awkward chuckle before shuffling away hesitantly, like a guilty thief.

The once most popular elite bachelor of the company—reduced to this?

"See you tomorrow, Oppa!"

Suin called after him in a playful, affectionate tone.

Ihyeon, still facing forward, nodded his head so vigorously it was almost comical.

His steps gained a bit more energy.

And then.

"Oppa?"

A deep, chilling voice echoed behind her.

Suin flinched instinctively before turning around.

Jaehee’s sharp gaze bore into her.

"Baek Ihyeon is your Oppa? You say it so naturally."

There was a madness in his eyes.

A shiver ran down her spine.

No way…

He wouldn’t go insane here, in front of the company, would he?

No.

This was Seo Jaehee.

She quickly gathered her composure and glanced around.

It was early in the evening, and in her rush to chase after Ihyeon, she had wandered far from the main entrance.

There weren’t any employees nearby.

Behind Jaehee, Jongin looked increasingly uncomfortable.

Suin silently signaled Jongin that he could leave.

Then she took a step closer to Jaehee, trying to remain calm.

"He is an Oppa. He’s a year older than us."

"And that makes him your Oppa?"

A vein in Jaehee’s forehead twitched, and he growled lowly.

"Then why don’t you call me Oppa?"

…What kind of ridiculous argument was this?