My Ex-Boyfriend is Sold Out

Chapter 16: My Ex-Girlfriend Is Jealous of Their Relationship

* * *

“This time, you can’t say it doesn’t count, can you?”

Si-hyun’s entire body froze in response to Yerin’s daring move. His face gradually reddened. Yerin, looking down at him with a sultry gaze, gently placed her hand on his chest.

Thump. Thump.

Si-hyun’s heart was beating as fast as hers. Seeing this, Yerin raised the corners of her mouth into a satisfied smile and leaned forward. Their chests brushed against each other.

“What do you think you’re doing? Move…!”

The familiar warmth of her chest and her usual scent felt different somehow.

Normally, he wouldn’t be shaken no matter what Yerin did… But now, every word and gesture from her was awakening his desires.

‘Why is this happening…?’

He thought he had always seen Yerin as family. Why was he suddenly so aware of her?

There were two reasons.

The first was that dating Chae-yeon had left Si-hyun starved for affection, and Yerin’s advances seemed to fill that emptiness.

The second was the fear he’d felt during CPR, the possibility that she might die. That fear had firmly embedded Yerin in his heart.

“Si-hyun, your heart is racing.”

With the upper hand, Yerin had transformed from a gentle lamb into a sly fox. She whispered into Si-hyun’s ear, alluring enough to captivate any man around.

“Shall we… do it again?”

Hot breath brushed his ear, and Si-hyun shivered with embarrassment.

Just as he regained his composure and prepared to say something to resist her charm—

Smooch♡

Yerin, anticipating a scolding, instead pressed her soft lips against his open mouth, stopping his words. Their gazes met up close, and their pupils trembled rapidly.

“Hey, you—!”

Surprised, Si-hyun pushed her away, while Yerin, who had fully enjoyed the moment, pulled back with a shy smile. Feeling the lingering warmth on his lips, she gently touched them.

“So, this is what a kiss feels like…”

It was only a brief touch, yet it felt as if they were truly connected. Their affectionate gazes met, breaths mingling.

While Yerin was lost in her thoughts, Si-hyun asked, dumbfounded.

“Did you do all that just to find out what it felt like?”

“Of course not!”

Flustered, Yerin quickly shook her head. Twiddling her fingers, she added,

“I’d never do this with anyone I didn’t like…”

Hearing her so bluntly, Si-hyun couldn’t ignore her feelings anymore. Sighing, he lay down calmly and asked,

“When did you start liking me?”

“I don’t know. It just happened over time as we hung out together…”

“Then why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“It’s not that easy, you know? I’m not as brave as you are.”

Si-hyun smiled at her cute sulkiness. Sitting up to look at her, he brushed her hair back.

“Either way… I feel bad for not realizing your feelings sooner.”

Yerin, now pouting, averted her gaze.

“If you’re sorry, then start dating me already…”

“That’s a little… complicated.”

“What? After doing all this, you’re just going to run away?”

“You were the one who did it without my consent.”

The mood seemed to imply rejection. Yerin felt her heart race with the urge to flee at any moment.

Scratching the back of his head, Si-hyun continued.

“It’s not that I don’t like you. It’s just that I don’t fully understand my feelings yet… I want to be certain before we start dating.”

“Then…?”

“Just give me a little time. Once I’m sure, I’ll confess to you myself.”

Yerin froze, her mouth slightly open. Soon, tears trickled down her cheeks. He’d finally recognized her feelings and promised to think about it seriously.

“Okay… I’m used to waiting.”

Yerin gave him a sweet kiss on his cheek and added,

“This time, I’ll look forward to it!”

Her smile was brighter than ever, as if it contained all the happiness in the world, and seeing it made Si-hyun smile too.

“Sure. It won’t take long.”

* * *

Si-hyun and Yerin entered the vacation house. The lively atmosphere inside buzzed with their friends, all busy praising Yerin’s safe return and Si-hyun’s heroic actions.

But needing time to sort out his thoughts, he excused himself to rest and went to a room alone.

“Yerin likes me…”

The unexpected confession made Si-hyun clutch his head.

A childhood friend who had been by his side for as long as he could remember, second only to his parents. She had comforted him when he broke up with Chae-yeon and had always lifted him up with her positivity.

Judging by how she didn’t know when her feelings started, she must’ve hidden her heart for years.

Meanwhile, he had distanced himself from her while dating Chae-yeon, leaving her hurt in ways he couldn’t even fathom.

‘I don’t want to respond to Yerin’s long-held feelings with half-hearted emotions.’

He still hadn’t let go of his perception of Yerin as just a friend.

Love requires a mutual exchange of affection. If he still saw her as a friend, that kind of connection would be hard to form.

“Maybe I should reach out…”

During his time with Chae-yeon, whenever he had a dilemma, there was someone who guided him. Si-hyun decided to consult his dating advisor about this situation.

—

[Me: Aloe, can I ask for some advice after all this time?]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Oh! Is it about your ex?]

[Me: No, I’ve pretty much wrapped things up with my ex.]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Huh? So… could it be you’ve found someone else?]

[Me: Not exactly. I just got a kind-of confession and don’t know what to do about it…]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: I see. Well, then let’s get back to some good old advice!]

—

Si-hyun poured out everything to his relationship advisor. He shared how he had thought of Yerin up until now, how they’d typically spent time together, and even what had happened today.

—

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: This one sounds promising. At least way better than the ex.]

—

Si-hyun received a positive response from his advisor. It was a stark contrast to their usual insistence on breaking up when it came to Chae-yeon.

—

[Me: Really?]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Yes. Since you’ve known each other for so long, you’re likely aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And considering how she stood up to your ex, she doesn’t seem like the kind who’d be cold-hearted like your ex.]

[Me: I see.]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Well, that’s just my opinion, but ultimately, what matters most is your feelings, Si-hyun. So, how do you feel about this friend of yours?]

[Me: She can be a little random sometimes, but she’s a good person at heart.]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Nope. What I mean is, how do you feel about her as a potential romantic interest?]

—

‘As a romantic interest…’

Scratching the back of his head, Si-hyun thought back to earlier.

His heart had pounded relentlessly after Yerin’s surprise kiss.

Thinking over the events of the day, Si-hyun realized he’d definitely started to see Yerin in a new light.

‘But does that mean I like her?’

Romantic feelings or not, it was natural for a man’s heart to race when close to a beautiful woman.

Si-hyun had once felt deep, all-consuming love for Chae-yeon, but he couldn’t tell if what he felt now was anything like that.

—

[Me: I am aware of her as a woman, but I’m not sure if it’s romantic feelings.]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Hmm… In that case, I think all you can do is observe things for a while. If you want to understand your feelings, it might be good to pay closer attention to her.]

—

Creaaak.

The door suddenly opened, and Chae-yeon looked at Si-hyun.

“The others want us to join for drinks.”

Si-hyun wondered why Chae-yeon was the one to relay this, but he nodded.

“Got it. I’ll be there soon.”

He sent a quick thank-you message to Aloe for the advice. After exchanging a few farewells, he rose from his seat.

‘Why is she still here?’

Thinking she’d left, he was surprised to see Chae-yeon lingering at the door, watching him intently. She clasped and unclasped her hands behind her back before asking,

“…Who were you talking to?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“I was just curious… Was it Yerin?”

Not wanting to engage in pointless questioning, Si-hyun brushed past Chae-yeon and headed out. The delicious aroma of grilled pork belly filled the air, making his mouth water.

As Si-hyun took a seat at an empty spot, Chae-yeon sat right beside him.

‘Why does she keep sticking around?’

Irritated, Si-hyun tore open a pair of wooden chopsticks and muttered,

“Quit hanging around and killing my appetite. Sit somewhere else.”

Chae-yeon flinched, clenching her fists in her lap as she replied in a small voice,

“I can sit wherever I want…”

“Sigh. Fine, do as you like.”

Not wanting to make a scene, Si-hyun decided to just ignore her. He started passing out chopsticks and paper cups to everyone, when suddenly—

“Si-hyun!”

Yerin arrived, cheerfully balancing a plate piled high with grilled meat, and took a seat on his right.

She leaned in close with a bright smile, making Si-hyun flustered. Chae-yeon, meanwhile, shot Yerin with a glare that could kill.

“Look at this meat! Isn’t it perfectly grilled?”

“Yeah, it looks great…”

Seeing Si-hyun’s shy reaction stirred a deep irritation in Chae-yeon’s heart. Wasn’t this the same way he’d acted when they’d been together? The more his attention drifted, the more a gnawing anxiety grew within her.

Enjoying the reaction, Yerin wrapped a piece of meat in lettuce and offered it to Si-hyun.

“Here, say ‘ah.’”

“It’s fine, I can eat by myself… You don’t have to…”

“Oh, come on~ My arm’s getting tired here.”

Relenting to her persistence, Si-hyun opened his mouth, and Yerin quickly popped the wrap in.

The flurry of sensations left him unable to even taste the food properly. Having decided to break down his walls, Yerin continued her relentless teasing.

“Oh, I got ssamjang on my fingers.”

Smack. Smack.

Yerin made a show of sucking her fingers, the same ones she’d just used to feed him. The gesture was so suggestive that, despite having had no alcohol, Si-hyun’s face burned bright red.

‘Si-hyun, you’re too cute…’

Seeing his honest reaction, Yerin couldn’t help but feel embarrassed as well. Blushing, she clutched her chest shyly, then pushed the plate of meat toward him.

“Feed me, too.”

“Fine…”

Si-hyun slowly prepared another wrap while Yerin waited with her mouth open, flashing her bright teeth in a grin. Just as he finished and was about to give it to her—

Swoosh.

Chae-yeon, seated beside them, abruptly grabbed the wrap and stuffed it into Yerin’s mouth.

“Mmph!”

Yerin’s face scrunched up in disgust. The wrap that Chae-yeon had prepared contained no meat—just raw garlic and chili peppers.

Unable to stomach it, Yerin grabbed a few tissues and spat out the contents, glaring at Chae-yeon with bitterness in her voice.

“What the hell was that?!”

“You said you were hungry, so I made something tasty for you.”

“Hah. Just admit you did it to spite me.”

“Think whatever you want.”

As tensions flared between his ex-girlfriend and potential girlfriend, all eyes in the group turned toward them.

But Yerin, not caring about the attention, smirked smugly and said,

“Are you trying to start something? Fine, bring it on.”

She opened a bottle of soju, though her tolerance was famously low. Chae-yeon, also a lightweight but unwilling to back down, grabbed her own glass.

Thus began a showdown between the two “alcohol novices” in the tourism management department.