Chapter 36 Part 2

It would have been better to be misunderstood. He was basically quick-witted, often frustratingly so, because he understood everything without being told. Perhaps keeping his distance from Chaeheon like this was also…

“Brother.”

Lee Jun belatedly realized his sister’s presence as Haein’s voice overlapped his own.

He had forgotten about Haein.

“You were supposed to buy snacks a long time ago and you’re still here, huh?”

Haein, who had been grumbling as she walked towards Lee Jun, stopped when she spotted Chaeheon.

“Do you know him?”

She flinched as she turned to Chaeheon, asking Lee Jun if he knew him. She recognized Chaeheon. As Haein stared intently at Chaeheon’s face, Lee Jun wondered how to manage the situation.

“Haein, take Hae Sol and…”

“Hello. My name is Haein.”

Lee Jun, who had intended to send Haein away first, stared intently at her face when his words were cut off. She greeted Chaeheon first. Not only that, but at the look in her eyes, eager to strike up a conversation with him, Lee Jun forced himself to suppress a sigh.

‘No.’

It was clear what Haein was thinking. She was planning to get information about Hae Sol’s father through Chaeheon. She had been disappointed when he said no, but now that she had this opportunity, she didn’t seem willing to let it go.

“Haein.”

“I’m Lee Jun’s younger sister.”

“I am Chaeheon.”

Chaeheon naturally returned the greeting and continued the conversation, and Haein smiled as if pleased. Chaeheon might not have known, but Lee Jun knew Haein’s smile was fake.

Haein, observing Chaeheon’s face, asked.

“Are you close with my brother?”

As Lee Jun resisted the urge to grab Hae Sol and leave, Chaeheon offered Haein a kind smile.

“Senior, you come to our house, sleep over, and we eat together, so aren’t we close? And before, at my place…”

“Stop.”

Lee Jun cut Chaeheon off. Haein looked puzzled for a moment, then, as if a thought had struck her, she looked at Chaeheon with wide, surprised eyes.

“The reason my brother hasn’t been coming home lately is…”

So he had been with Chaeheon. Haein’s gaze, filled with questions like whether they were dating again like before, and if so, why she wasn’t trying to get information about Hae Sol’s father from Chaeheon, turned to Lee Jun.

But Lee Jun couldn’t explain anything to Haein right now. He didn’t have the time to explain that he didn’t know Chaeheon well enough to trust him. To resolve the situation, Lee Jun reached behind his back and unfastened the belt.

“I need to go to school, so take Hae Sol. Hae Sol, go to Auntie.”

While Lee Jun held Hae Sol, Haein paused as she took the hip seat and put it on. She fastened the velcro tightly around her waist and took Hae Sol into her arms.

“Hae Sol, come here.”

Haein, understanding everything from Lee Jun’s single remark, moved Hae Sol into the hip seat.

“See you at home.”

Haein, putting a hat on Hae Sol’s head, spoke as if nothing was wrong.

“I’ll order the snacks online. Put this back where it belongs. See you again next time.”

Haein didn’t forget to say goodbye to Chaeheon either, then she took Hae Sol and left. Lee Jun watched Haein and swallowed a sigh. Now only Chaeheon remained, and his presence was overwhelmingly significant.

“Shall we get coffee?”

His low voice sounded threatening.