Lee Hyun almost widened his eyes in horror when he heard that cheery tone. He was nearly tempted to pretend he didn’t hear her, but the general manager was greeting her first.
"If it isn’t the Young Miss Sarah," the gentleman said with a smile and a little curtsy. Lee Hyun just knew that Sarah had been spending a lot of money on this hotel--or something to that effect.
"Hello," Sarah returned the greeting cheerfully, and Lee Hyun had no choice but to turn around. "We kept meeting out of nowhere, Uncle."
Look at that innocent smile--Lee Hyun grumbled inwardly. It was hard to see any malice behind it, which made it even more annoying. At least if Sarah was being rude, he could use it as a justification to leave after scolding her.
"Yes, it’s quite weird," Lee Hyun replied with a forced smile, hoping Sarah would take the hint that he didn’t want to linger. They didn’t really have a good relationship anyway.
But of course, she didn’t take any.
"I know, right? This city is really not that big after all!" Sarah giggled. "Oh, why don’t I treat you to a drink, Uncle? I’ve been wanting to thank you for what you did last time."
Was she talking about preventing those gangsters from beating her bodyguard? Lee Hyun arched his brow, realizing that the man was absent. "It’s nothing to be thankful for--but where’s your...bodyguard?"
"Oh, he asked for a leave today--I don’t know," Sarah shrugged. "I was bored and came out with a friend, but she ditched me just now to see an idol or whatever--come drink with me for a bit, Uncle."
Lee Hyun glanced at the general manager who had been standing there with a smile. Certainly, it would seem weird if he rejected her invitation now, would he?
"Very well," Lee Hyun nodded.
"Oh, great! Can we use the booth I used earlier?" Sarah asked the general manager, who bowed his head politely before calling someone over to guide them to said booth.
It was located in the corner of the bar, overlooking the lobby without being visible from even the rest of the bar--thanks to a pillar and an art installation. Perhaps because it was still the afternoon, the bar was actually deserted, so they didn’t even really need the privacy. When they arrived, the waiter had just finished cleaning the table, and Lee Hyun could see a bunch of expensive bottles whisked away on the trolley--no wonder the manager was elated.
"I can’t drink anymore, so just gimme something to sober up," Sarah told the waiter. "You can have whatever you want, Uncle. My treat."
It was rather humiliating having his niece pay, but then again, she was the one who invited him. "Red wine," he said dismissively. "Full-bodied one."
"You heard him," Sarah smiled sweetly at the waiter, who bowed politely before retreating.
Lee Hyun observed the girl’s face, wondering what she really wanted by inviting him . He doubted it was really to thank him--the old Sarah might, but the new one always looked at him with cynicism.
"So, Uncle..." the sweet smile gradually shifted into a mischievous one. "There’s something I’m curious about."
See? Lee Hyun narrowed his eyes, wondering if it was about the club after all. Not about the ’saving’ schtick, but about what happened inside. Sarah was drunk, but she shouldn’t be so drunk that she couldn’t see what happened on the table.
The black eyes curled and Sarah asked in a light note as if she was asking about an episode of a morning drama. "Are you together with that woman? You know, like fucking and such?"
Lee Hyun coughed even though he had nothing yet to drink, looking around in reflex to make sure no one was within hearing range. "W-who?"
"Tsk--that traitor of course," Sarah rolled her eyes.
The girl smirked at his agitated response. "Oh, it’s true, then?"
Lee Hyun wanted to groan in frustration. Of course, it was hardly the first time someone had a suspicion; but normally, people pretended like nothing ever happened. "Sarah, asking those kinds of things is uncouth."
"Me? Uncouth?" Sarah leaned back and covered her laughing mouth. "What about your illicit relationship, or...your hobby?"
Lee Hyun stiffened. "What?"
"You know...forcing some kids to perform a lewd act in the middle of--"
"Sarah!" Lee Hyun glared at his niece, once again thankful that the bar was deserted.
Sarah, however, merely scoffed. "Why? I’m just pointing out what I saw that day."
"I have nothing to do with that," Lee Hyun scowled defensively.
"Hmm..." Sarah leaned onto the table, propping her chin as she looked at her uncle with curled, mocking eyes. "So you just watched--is that what you’re trying to say?"
Lee Hyun gritted his teeth. He was about to speak, but then heard footsteps from the bar and pressed his lips again. The previous waiter came with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and poured it for Lee Hyun, leaving the bottle on the table, before serving a glass of sparkling water for Sarah.
Glancing at the wine label, Lee Hyun was rather happy that the waiter--or probably the manager--took an expensive one from the cellar. He grabbed the wine glass and chugged it down, before pouring more into the glass. He was determined to empty the bottle before leaving--just to spite her.
Annoyingly, Sarah only chuckled. "Relax, Uncle...I’m not trying to persecute you or anything. I was just expressing my curiosity, can’t you see that?"
"And why are you curious?" Lee Hyun arched his brow.
"Because I hate that woman, of course," Sarah replied without hesitation, with a clear disgust on her face despite knowing her uncle did have something with the woman she despised. "But I don’t particularly hate you, so it’s rather a pity if you’re entangled with her--unless, you know, it’s just a playful little dalliance."
Lee Hyun frowned, the corner of his eye twitched in response. A wrong response.
Because Sarah arched her brow. "You’re not, like, seriously in love with her...aren’t you?"
Still frowning, Lee Hyun didn’t say anything. Or rather, couldn’t. He should be denying it, but what was the point if Sarah had already confronted their relationship? Having an affair just to play around was, in his opinion, more pathetic than doing it with genuine feelings.
He wasn’t his brother, after all. Lee Hyun refused to be seen as the same kind of person as his brother.
And thus, he couldn’t lie about it.
Sarah threw her head back and laughed heartily, slapping the armrest like she had just the funniest joke in her life.
"Oh, I’ll be! I don’t love this family, but I do love the mess!" she clapped like a happy seal, the joy looked so genuine that someone might think she was in an amusement park. At the end of that laugh, however, Sarah looked disappointed. "Oh, too bad..."
"What are you on now?" Lee Hyun asked in annoyance while drinking the wine again.
Sarah leaned back and propped her cheek on her palm, sighing. "You know, Uncle...if only you weren’t involved with that woman, I wouldn’t mind supporting you."
The newly filled wine glass paused before touching Hyun’s lips. He looked at Sarah with a dubious, but intrigued gaze. "Supporting me?"
"You know...in case you want to take over the group or something," Sarah chukled, her smile deepening as her uncle’s eyes widened in surprise. "It’ll be nice to see that father of mine losing his position, don’t you think? A nice offering for my poor mother."
Sarah tilted her head. "What about me?"
The combination of her sing-song voice and her dull eyes was somehow more eerie than if she just spoke angrily. Sarah truly didn’t bother to hide her hatred, even though her uncle could very well report the conversation to her father.
But then again, it would be quite an incriminating story for Lee Hyun.
Perhaps that was why?
"...nothing," Lee Hyun averted his gaze and hid the slight fear in his heart by drinking his third glass of wine.
"But if you like that woman that much, there’s nothing I can do," Sarah continued with a shrug. "Anyway, what were you doing in that club, Uncle? You’re friends with those kinds of people? I don’t want to judge, but it’s a bit classless taste, don’t you think?"
Lee Hyun almost spat out his wine--again. So it ended up returning to this. "What friends? They’re just people that Mina--" he retorted defensively at first, and then stopped as he remembered he probably shouldn’t reveal that. "N-never mind. Are you the one behind that mistress--Vivian or whatever--coming to the house?"
"Pfft--how could I? I’ve only seen her once during that Mirae party--doesn’t even know her numbers," Sarah snorted. "But I did tell her to just stay in the annex to spice things up," she laughed and gave her uncle a wink. "I heard the house is so much fun these days! Almost regret getting out too soon."
"You..." Lee Hyun narrowed his eyes, but ended up just sighing like his brother always did while talking to his second daughter. "Forget it. Just don’t tell anyone you saw me in that club," he shook his head, grumbling. "It’s also embarrassing for me to be involved with those lowlifes."
"Yes, yes--oh?" Sarah nodded at first, before pausing in a gasp. "Oh, no..."
"What to do, Uncle?" Sarah clasped her mouth, looking completely flustered. "I accidentally mentioned it to Uncle Joseph the other day."
Lee Hyun felt his heart drop to his stomach. "What?!"
Sarah blinked innocently. "Oops?"