After checking the message from the man on her phone, she put it back in her handbag.

Calmly washing her hands at the sink, she looked up to scrutinize her reflection in the mirror.

The luxury from head to toe she donned for today was all paid for by Jinwon using the man’s card.

Park Seoryeon murmured as she applied a richly pigmented lipstick.

“There’s no way it would have gone well.”

She knew the man she saw was clumsy in love. Hence, he stayed friends with a woman for 13 years.

With his unchanging nature, there was even less reason for things to resolve easily.

The man was incredibly attractive, but to handle such a man, a woman needs to be quick-witted and understanding.

That’s why she had offered to be the blind date.

The moment she saw Sajoon at the restaurant with Jinwon, he caught her eye.

Even a brief glance left a sharp impression with his striking features.

But his large, robust body was beautiful in a different way.

She had thought of him as just Jinwon’s junior, but learning he was the one paying the high contract fee increased her interest.

There are many men in the world, but few with good looks, a great body, and abilities.

Though she frequently appeared on broadcasts, whether entertainers or broadcasting staff, men were all the same. Bragging about money, showing off insincere manners to lure her in.

But the man she saw in the room was noble and elegant.

His indifference, even when smiling gently and speaking softly, appealed to her even more.

Such a type only knows one thing, whether it’s a woman, work, or anything else.

If the man fails today, she had planned to subtly offer herself for the contract relationship.

First, she would create a point of contact with him, then gradually strategize.

It would be tough and challenging at first, but once that’s overcome, the man would be easy to handle.

At that moment, a woman entered the restroom.

Their eyes instinctively locked for a moment, just looking at each other.

“…….”

“…….”

The woman in a white tee and jeans, wearing a cap hat, had striking features that looked elaborately made up even without any makeup.
Defying the current trend of preferring thin bodies, she had a voluptuous figure, suggesting she either worked out a lot or was involved in a fitness-related profession.

Her upturned eyes had a sharp look, but the large pupils within them were clean and clear.

The clothes she wore from head to toe were from inexpensive, regular brands.

Despite having a wealthy male friend who adored her to death, her choice of attire was likely due to her personality.

Not exactly kind-hearted, but incapable of doing harm, fiercely proud, and definitely not an easygoing character with a very strong will.

Of course, she probably doesn’t realize that her stubbornness and pride could make her lose a very decent man.

Park Seoryeon opened her mouth with a gentle smile.

“You know who I am, right?”

“Yes, you’re the person my friend had a blind date with earlier.”

Her voice was polite but not overly friendly.

“Did you decide to date?”

At Seoryeon’s question, the woman quickly furrowed her brows like crescent moons.

“That’s a question I don’t need to answer.”

Her irritated and confused expression clearly indicated that things hadn’t gone as the man had planned.

It was obvious she liked him and had followed him here secretly.

But seeing her, the reason became clear.

Both were clumsy in love, and their deep affection likely made them both cowards.

Just one word could resolve everything, yet they were unable to meet, going in circles – a skill in its own right.

Interesting. Seoryeon, suppressing a laugh, pulled out a business card from her handbag.

“Your friend must be quite desperate, hiring someone as expensive as me for advice. But since you’ve come this far, I guess I’ve done my part.”

The woman, taking the card out of courtesy, asked with a slightly surprised look.

“Are you the psychologist who appeared on the ‘Vivid Love Advice’ program?”

“That’s right.”

Recognizing Seoryeon, the woman nodded with a sense of satisfaction.

“Why don’t you just accept your friend? He’s not ordinary, and other women wouldn’t be able to handle him. What are friends for?”

“I don’t think it’s your place to interfere, so just go on your way. No matter how famous you are, I don’t trust people who disclose their clients’ secrets.”

You see, she’s not easy. Other women might have asked Seoryeon various things.

Wanting to know the heart of a man they like is a natural instinct. But this woman flatly refused and even turned it into a counterattack.

“You’re going to end up with your friend anyway, right? You like him a lot. Of course, your friend will never realize it.”

Stung by the truth, the woman’s face contorted faintly.

“Shall I give you a piece of advice? Even if you start dating, never let your feelings be known.”

The woman, pressing her lips tightly, looked down. It’s necessary to see the eyes to read thoughts and emotions.

With her long eyelashes hiding her eyes, it was impossible to read anything.

“That’s why your friend can’t get attached to you or act recklessly.”

If I can’t have that man, I wish no one else could.

This woman, with nothing but pride, was wasting a man who was too good for her.

“The moment your feelings are exposed, you’ll end up like other women. Treated like a stone on the road, kicked and ignored. So, if you don’t want to be abandoned, if you want to keep your last shred of dignity, hold out to the end.”

“…….”

“Just take it as an assessment and advice.”

Seoryeon passed by the woman with a sadistic pleasure.

“Dr. Park Seoryeon?”

As Seoryeon turned around with a generous expression, she was met with the woman’s sparkling eyes.
As Seoryeon turned around with a generous expression, she was met with the sparkling eyes of the woman.

“It looks like our Sajoon has been quite mischievous.”

The woman approached slowly and stood in front of Seoryeon.

“That’s your own experience, isn’t it?”

The unwavering clear gaze of the woman looking down at Seoryeon was piercing, unaffected by the 9-centimeter high heels she wore.

“I’ll take your heartfelt advice seriously and consider it deeply.”

After leaving the restroom, Taehi headed towards the emergency exit.

With Kang Sajoon in the café and that woman in the restroom, this was the only place she could go.

Sitting down heavily on the emergency staircase, Taehi let out a hollow laugh.

“He even hired someone for this?”

All this effort just to woo me. Truly remarkable, Kang Sajoon.

It seemed so effortlessly heartfelt, yet it was nothing but hollow sincerity bought with money.

“How can I believe your words of affection?”

Is it a relief that it’s only trust that’s missing? How can he be so dense only towards her?

That was infuriating in its own right.

“Even in this situation, he’s clueless about my feelings, but he quickly noticed Park Seoryeon’s interest and rushed out.”

It was obvious that Sajoon had been flirtatious with Park Seoryeon and got a taste of his own medicine. With his nature, he must have been quite harsh.

Seeing a successful doctor like Park Seoryeon driven by jealousy to such behavior spoke volumes.

What was more ridiculous was that Taehi couldn’t disregard Park Seoryeon’s words. It felt like a confirmation of what she already knew.

Then a call from Hyesook came at this troubled moment.

Taehi sighed softly and answered the phone.

“Hello, Mom.”

[Hyei, are you… are you… done with Sajoon?]

Hyesook’s voice was trembling.

“What are you talking about, Mom?”

[Sajoon is going on blind dates. Now you and he… are nothing anymore, sob. What do we do? We can’t lose him… not that, sob.]

Hyesook finally burst into tears.