DD Ch 20

When Sahee woke up after a good sleep, she felt vibrations on the mattress. It was an obstinate persistence. The phone rang several times, cut off, then rang again and again before finally reaching Sahee.

Sahee, feeling around under her pillow, briefly thought of Taeon amidst her groggy fatigue. However, the name filling the screen of her phone was not CEO Jung Taeon but her uncle’s.

Ingratitude comes in many forms. Feeling her quickly extinguished expectations, Sahee immediately pressed the call button. He must have been worried all evening last night. She needed to reassure him with her voice, but her throat was still hoarse.

“Hello.”

— Hey, Sahee, what time is it that you’re still sprawled out? Did you go to bed late last night?

“A little.”

Thankfully, her uncle seemed to think it was because she was still half-asleep.

When he would chuckle asking if she had been messing around with CEO Jung, thinking of the jelly she left on the porch, it might be his way of covering for her yesterday’s antics. No, it was more likely he was deliberately pretending not to know.

— You look like you’ll be lively by evening. Madam Chun said to get up for a picnic today.

“A picnic?”

— Yeah. We’ve been saying we should go for a while. Kept putting it off because of the bad vibes at Yeonghwadang, but we can’t delay anymore. The cherry blossoms will all fall at this rate.

“They haven’t fallen yet?”

— Of course not. Madam Chun’s been working hard since last night to make kimbap for your mouth for the luck ritual the day after tomorrow, so take note.

“…I’m fine.”

— Good. I’m busy. I wish that damn Jeongmun Group would just go bankrupt already. Anyway, I’ve told you, so I’m hanging up.

Without waiting for a reply, Cheoljun hung up.

Sahee looked at the brief call log with a troubled look. They would call around 7 or 8 after finishing dinner preparations for the picnic. There were less than two hours left.

She was at a loss on how to explain Taeon to those two. She hadn’t even mentioned her plans to go to Seoul, and it weighed on her mind.

As Sahee sighed deeply and mindlessly fiddled with her phone, she saw a message from Taeon that had arrived while she was asleep.

[Call me when you wake up.]

CEO Jung Taeon.

The name saved in her phone, not by his eleven-digit number, felt foreign. Even this name was barely attached, far from defining him adequately.

However, she couldn’t think of any other way to address him right now.

Sahee stared at the six letters of “CEO Jung Taeon” before pressing the call button. After a straightforward ringtone without any typical melody, he answered.

— Yes.

“It’s me.”

— I know.

“I called because I woke up.”

She could sense Taeon chuckling on the other end. Even though there was no particular business, just calling because she woke up still felt awkward in their relationship.

It seemed like there were more things to say when she was glaring at him with resentment. Now, even for a short call, she didn’t know what expression to make, her lips dry.

— Did you sleep well? How’s your body?

“I’m okay.”

— Have you walked?

“Not yet, but…”

— Walk.

Did he mean to get up and walk now? Although it seemed absurd, Sahee awkwardly placed her feet on the floor. She reached for the nightstand to support her weight as she stood up. Her legs were a bit stiff, but not so much that she couldn’t walk.

“I walked.”

— That’s good then. Want to have dinner together? Anything you want to eat? We can go out together, or I can have Secretary Kim go out and bring something back.

“Oh.”

— The latter might get a bit cold though?

Maybe this was what he meant by a ‘date’ yesterday. Sahee blinked, momentarily flustered, holding onto the desk.

— Miss Sahee?

“Can we have dinner tomorrow instead?”

— Why?

“I have plans to have dinner with other people later.”

— Wasn’t I first?

For a moment, her heart skipped a beat.

Right. Technically, her commitment was with him first, but now another appointment had popped up.

“Usually, around this time when the cherry blossoms bloom, we all go on a picnic together, but it’s been postponed. But because they thought I was upset about yesterday’s incident, they called me just now…”

— So, you eagerly agreed to go?

Sahee swallowed hard, her mouth full of saliva.

No matter how much she rambled in defense, the outcome wouldn’t change. Even without any malice, she knew this wasn’t the kind of behavior welcomed between lovers.

Her friend Yoojung had met guys like this, and she remembered how angry Yoojung got each time, yelling over the phone, “You bastard!”

Yet, calling him a lover or boyfriend still felt strange.

Of course, this was just another futile excuse. Outside, spring was in full bloom, but under her feet, it felt like the dead of winter, making her stomp her feet impatiently.

“I’m sorry.”

The moment Sahee apologized, Taeon burst into laughter. She didn’t know what was so funny, but he laughed for quite some time at her pale face.

“Why are you laughing?”

— Because your excuses are quite enjoyable.

His answer was calm in response to her burst of frustration. Sahee clenched the diamond that tickled her palm from her wrist, the delicate skin near her palm stinging a bit.

— Okay. Go ahead. There’s plenty of time.

“…Yes. Let’s eat tomorrow.”

She couldn’t face him calmly right now, but time would pass. The heart-pounding unfamiliarity would become familiar. She might even naturally hold his hand or kiss him.

When would that future be? Sahee awkwardly fidgeted with her hands, feeling embarrassed.

— You’ll be fine at night, right?

“Yes.”

— Send me some pictures of how much fun you’re having.

“I will.”

— Have fun.

The call ended with a short laugh.

Sahee placed her phone upside down on the desk. She stood there for a while, waiting for her trembling heart to calm down before eventually picking up her phone again.

Her fingers navigated to the contacts. After scrolling a few times, the number saved under “CEO Jung Taeon” appeared. Sahee entered the edit screen and removed the three letters after his name.

The title was too stiff for a man who never treated her like a servant. Or perhaps, it could all be just the nonsensical superstitions of a shaman’s granddaughter.

Even now, she instinctively called him “CEO,” but eternally, she didn’t know what else to call him.

An esteemed guest of Yeonghwadang. A man who meant nothing to her. While believing all people were the same, she found it so hard to approach him that her head naturally bowed.

Jung Taeon.

By naming him so, might they become closer, even if just for a day? With the hope that day would come soon, she saved his name like that.

* * *

After hanging up, Taeon burst into laughter, “pfft, pfft.” The woman’s voice, full of embarrassment and excuses, was sweet.

He wanted to rush over and see her flustered face. Would she be pale with embarrassment? Would she look up at him with her full, red lips trembling? He wanted to kiss the eyelids and lashes that lowered with an “I’m sorry.” She had an exceptional talent for turning him on in various ways.

Knock, knock.

At the knock, Taeon placed his phone on the sofa and looked up. Soon, Secretary Kim’s face appeared.

“CEO, have you decided on dinner?”

His plan to either pick her up for dinner or have Secretary Kim order food in advance had already fallen through.

She seemed genuinely distressed, apologizing profusely, but it wasn’t hard to understand. It was obvious who she was going on the picnic with.

Since he was the one planning to whisk her away like a thief, he could afford to give her a few days. Taeon shrugged lightly and picked up the documents he was reviewing before the call.

“I’ll just eat with my mother.”

There was no customary response to his answer. Taeon looked up at Secretary Kim.

“Madam says she won’t have dinner.”

“Didn’t she skip lunch too?”

“Yes.”

Was this a hunger strike? Taeon let out a bewildered chuckle.

“At this age, I guess I should accept my mother’s hunger strikes too.”

“Ha ha…”

“Alright, I understand.”

“Is she eating at the main house?”

“Yes. Let’s go see her after dinner.”

Taeon shook his head, clicking his tongue. Perhaps it was better if she collapsed from exhaustion rather than causing trouble.

After washing with hot water, Sahee received another call from Cheoljun around 7 PM.

Cheoljun, clearly relieved that his evening schedule had ended early, consciously avoided mentioning Jeongmun Group. With even Cheoljun being cautious, it became harder for her to speak. She had no history of making such declarations.

Just like friends reconcile naturally after a fight with their boyfriend, could she laugh? The more she thought about the man being someone both Madam Chun and her uncle knew well, the more daunting it became.

“Hey, Sahee.”

“Sahee.”

That was when Uncle and Madam Chun called for her from outside the door. They were supposed to head to the main house in ten minutes, yet here they were, coming to fetch her like they would for a child.

Sahee got up, opened the door with a bang, and asked the two standing in the yard.

“What’s going on? Why did you come all the way here?”

“No, Madam Chun. Ouch, don’t pinch my waist! It hurts! I told you I’m not as tough as I look!”

“Shh, quiet! I’ll smack you. Sahee, are you ready? Let’s go quickly. It’s getting dark. Put on your shoes.”

The small annex, which had been quiet, suddenly became noisy. Sahee came out, closed the door, and sat on the porch. The stares while she laced up her sneakers felt particularly intense.

For some reason, her heart felt heavy.

“Wow.”

Uncle exclaimed in admiration.

It had been nearly five years since cherry blossoms had lasted a week after blooming. Usually, they would bloom only to be swept away by spring rain or even fail to bloom fully some years.

Sahee looked up at the light cherry blossom petals fluttering with every breeze. Between them, she thought of the man she had briefly met eyes with, and her cheeks flushed for no reason.

Taking a deep breath in and out, Sahee watched the two lay out the mat. Her role in this picnic was always to carry the old, faded five-tier lunchbox.

When she was very young, she would hold the lunchbox tightly between her legs, fearing someone might steal it. Now, Sahee looked at the two with relief, seeing they hadn’t changed from those boisterous days.

“Sahee, come sit down quickly. I’m starving.”

At Madam Chun’s call, Sahee hobbled over. She placed the lunchbox on the mat and sat down with Cheoljun’s help. Meanwhile, Madam Chun quickly unpacked the lunchbox.

A layer of kimbap, a layer of inari sushi, a layer of side dishes, a layer of fruit, and a layer of bread – the composition was exactly the same as 20 years ago. Someone might call it simple, but by winter, Sahee always missed this lunchbox with its heartfelt preparation.

“Ugh, I’m dying here.”

“You’ve worked hard. Here’s a drink for you.”

Cheoljun chuckled as he took out makgeolli from the black bag he had placed on the mat. The cups they brought were soup bowls. Pouring generously, he first handed one to Madam Chun, then one was placed in front of Sahee with a thud.

“Ah, this is so good.”

After downing a bowl of makgeolli in one go, Madam Chun trembled, and Sahee picked up her phone. She took a picture of the spread lunchbox, and Uncle looked at her with curiosity.

“You’re doing something you don’t usually do?”

Indeed, if it weren’t for Taeon’s request, she would have been too busy stuffing her face to take pictures. Sahee, momentarily flustered, closed her mouth, but Madam Chun quickly took her side.

“Leave Sahee alone, whatever she does, Cheoljun.”

“Yes, yes, you’re right. I should take pictures too. I need to show my girlfriend.”

While the two were distracted, Sahee quickly sent a message to Taeon and turned her phone over.

Realizing she was doing the same affectionate antics she had once been tired of from Cheoljun, her nape felt hot. Speaking about it right now was definitely out of the question.

“But Madam Chun, what was that earlier?”

“What was what?”

“The Chae family. They came in a rush with Lee Hyungu and went to see the goddess.”

“Oh, yeah. They came to tell the goddess they’re going to register their marriage soon.”

“Huh? Is that okay?”

“People were talking about how it would look bad to hold a wedding so soon after the engagement was called off, but whatever. I overheard it. Seems like they’re going through with the marriage after all. Chae Hyunji somehow managed to make Chae Yoonbok pay off thousands of his debts, even broke her savings for it.”

“With a debt of 2.5 billion, does paying off thousands make a dent? The interest would just pile up.”

“Even that’s something, right? Earlier, Chae Yoonbok was crying, calling him ‘Mr. Debt’.”

“What’s ‘Mr. Debt’?”

Madam Chun laughed at Cheoljun’s sarcasm.

Once they leave Yeonghwadang, it would be a while before she saw Chae Hyunji again.

Her fierce determination to limp in front of Chae Hyunji once a year didn’t know how much it would ruin her. But knowing she couldn’t kill her or twist her ankle as she truly wished, her powerless revenge felt futile.

Perhaps it would be more productive to hope that Chae Hyunji’s life would be ruined by her gambling-addicted father or her future husband who couldn’t resist women.

After six years since graduating from university, she had stayed too long, too deeply rooted in one place after the accident. Sahee swallowed her drink and spoke to the two.

“I have something to say.”

“Huh? Sahee, what is it?”

Both heads turned towards Sahee. She suddenly remembered Taeon calling these two her family, not anyone else.

Indeed, they were more family to her than anyone by blood. Without them, she might not have dared return to Yeonghwadang after graduating from university.

Six years ago, in the winter after graduating from university:

“Can I leave?” When she asked, Madam Chun readily cleared out the small annex for her.

“I’m back.” When she returned to greet them, Uncle cheered, saying they had gained another worker.

At that moment, Sahee felt she hadn’t returned to Yeonghwadang but to the embrace of these two people. She had vowed not to rely on them too much, but she knew they had always supported her back.

Looking back at her childhood, Madam Chun and Uncle were always there. When she felt like an army grunt in this place, and every meal felt like army rations, these two willingly became her family.

Even if she were to leave this place, these two would continue to support her here. After long hesitation, Sahee spoke up.

“I plan to go to Seoul soon.”

Silence fell between the two at Sahee’s declaration. As always, it was Cheoljun who broke the silence.

“Suddenly?”

“Not suddenly. I’ve been thinking about it. I can’t keep relying on Yeonghwadang forever.”

“But still. Who thinks you’re relying on anyone here? You’re the goddess’s granddaughter. You help out when needed.”

“I also want to try drawing properly.”

Sahee gave a sheepish smile.

Now, Cheoljun had put down his drink cup, looking gloomy.

“Who will I hang out with when you leave!”

“You have a girlfriend.”

“So who will I brag about my girlfriend to? Don’t go!”

It was Madam Chun’s firm voice that calmed down the shouting Uncle.

“No, Sahee, you should go.”

“Madam Chun!”

“What’s a young person doing here? You have a job. Go to Seoul, enjoy yourself, and come back when you think of us.”

“It’s not like she has a job where she goes to work every day. The internet works here too, why leave! I saw on TV some artists move to the countryside on purpose. You’ve been fine here for six years.”

Cheoljun’s loud objections gradually subsided as he noticed the looks from Madam Chun and Sahee.

“You’ve been fine here,” he said, looking sad as Sahee poured him more makgeolli.

“You’re doing whatever you want. Do you have money?”

“I have enough for a studio apartment deposit.”

“Living there is worse than living here. What’s so great about Seoul?”

Since she would soon have to live in such a place, Cheoljun flinched under her gaze.

“…If that’s the case, I’ll help out a bit. I can do that much.”

“No need. You’re getting married, right? Get married quickly. I’ll give you a wedding gift then.”

Damn it. Cheoljun wiped his eyes roughly with the back of his hand and turned away. He downed a bowl of makgeolli in one go and sighed deeply.

He worried like he was leaving a child by the riverside, but it wasn’t this bad when she went to college. Now, Cheoljun seemed to realize Sahee was really aiming for independence.

Then, Madam Chun patted Sahee’s knee.

“Sahee, do you really have money?”

“Yes, I told you I do.”

“Then that’s settled…”

Madam Chun lowered her head, looking somewhat apologetic. Just as Sahee was about to say she understood her feelings, Madam Chun spoke up.

“From now on, you won’t have to contribute to Hanul’s medical expenses.”

“That’s…”

“I’ll earn money too, dear. The goddess raised my salary significantly this year. Hanul’s condition has improved a lot since the last surgery. We’ll be fine. There won’t be many big expenses. If needed, there are ways to get support from the hospital. I’m the one who should stop being a burden to you.”

Hanul was Madam Chun’s sick granddaughter, who had been in and out of hospitals since birth. Since Sahee started earning money, she had been covering a significant part of the medical expenses due to Hanul’s worsening condition.

Sahee looked at Madam Chun with reluctance. Madam Chun chuckled, “Look at this girl glaring,” and patted Sahee’s arm.

“Still, if you ever need money, tell me. I’ll save up little by little.”

“Got it, got it. It’s such a nice day, let’s stop the sad talk and eat. You brought good alcohol, Uncle Cheoljun.”

“Yeah! Let’s drink until our noses are crooked today.”

Cheoljun took out all the alcohol he had brought from the plastic bag behind him. Seeing this, Madam Chun clicked her tongue.

“He’ll get scolded by his girlfriend again.”

“I’ll beg! Beg! On my knees!”

“A man’s knees are cheap, so cheap.”

“This Cheoljun doesn’t act proud in front of the woman he loves.”

After talking big, he only poured half a cup. Sahee and Madam Chun giggled and clinked their cups. Cheoljun belatedly joined in the toast.

Sahee thought about when to mention Taeon but decided today was enough and kept quiet. After all, she couldn’t just leave in a week as he suggested.

She needed time to straighten things out around her. She would speak before heading to Seoul after everything was settled. Having made her decision, Sahee smiled broadly for the first time in a long while.

The sun was slowly setting, and the cherry blossom petals fluttering about were beautiful.

* * *

In the end, only Cheoljun, who drank less due to his girlfriend’s watchful eye, remained sober while Madam Chun and Sahee were quite drunk.

Despite it being just the road in front of Yeonghwadang, Cheoljun returned with an exhausted look after escorting the two, who were ecstatic from their rare outing, back to their rooms.

After a quick shower, Sahee sat on the porch, dangling her legs. Her cheeks were flushed, and she couldn’t help but laugh foolishly. Even when she pressed her cheeks with the back of her hand, it was the same.

Being drunk wasn’t bad, but she didn’t like looking like such a fool. She always preferred just getting slightly tipsy, but today was unavoidable.

The day was good, and she was with people she liked. To have another day like this would take quite some time, so she wanted to enjoy it.

Still, the night air was chilly enough to cool her heated body. As Sahee let out a hot breath, leaning against the pillar, her phone started vibrating on the porch.

With her eyes still closed, leaning on the pillar, Sahee moved only her gaze to check the caller’s name.

[Jung Taeon]

For a moment, time seemed to slow down, and she felt like her breath would pour out. She needed to get a grip. Sahee lightly tapped her cheeks a couple of times and pressed the call button.

“Hello?”

— Did you get back?

“Yes.”

The end of her answer was a bit long, almost like she was being playful, stretching out the “yes.” Sahee frowned, puffed up her cheeks, and then relaxed her mouth.

— Are you drunk?

The following question seemed to be asked with amusement. Since she had probably included alcohol in the photos she sent him, it was a reasonable guess. And it was correct.

“A little.”

— I guess I need to come see you soon.

His voice, in contrast, was relaxed. Sahee closed her eyes slightly, using the alcohol to gather her courage. She focused on speaking clearly and opened her lips.

“I told them I’m going to Seoul today.”

— Your family must be upset.

“But I couldn’t mention you.”

— So the point is not to get caught?

“I won’t be able to go to Seoul just following you. I need to sort things out here first. I plan to tell them then. Besides, we’ll have to see each other often, which might be awkward…”

After her rambling excuses, there was no response from the other side. Had she pressed her cheek against the phone too hard, cutting off the call?

Sahee opened her eyes wide and checked the phone screen. The call was still ongoing. Maybe he was displeased?

At that moment, as she nervously brought the phone back to her ear, she caught sight of a tall figure in her peripheral vision. After a brief eye contact, she recognized the man standing off-kilter. Her smile, which had been loose from the alcohol, stopped. Perhaps her heart was beating unusually fast.

“This is totally gone.”

“…You were coming?”

“Yes.”

Taeon reached out and brushed back Sahee’s disheveled hair. She felt oddly ticklish from his gaze, which was usual.

Was it because he defined this relationship as dating? Could she get this excited over just that? Do other people start dating awkwardly, foolishly like this? More questions without answers piled up.

“Are you out here to sober up?”

Sahee nodded slowly. Taeon chuckled and sat close beside her. Even as she looked at him with a slight recoil, his face remained shameless.

Sahee then remembered something she had brought back.

“Just a moment.”

“Hmm?”

After asking him to wait there, Sahee lifted her legs onto the porch. Using the pillar for support, she stood up and went inside. She carefully brought out the cherry blossom petals she had placed on a tissue on the desk.

“You must be pretty drunk.”

Taeon looked at her amusedly. Sahee took his outstretched hand, sat back down beside him hesitantly, and then placed her clenched fist in front of him.

“What is it, Sahee?”

The moment Taeon gently grabbed her small hand, Sahee opened her fist and let the petals fall onto his palm. Taeon looked back and forth between the tiny petals in his hand and Sahee.

“I caught one that was falling.”

In his large hand, the petals were like specks of dust.

“If you catch a falling cherry blossom, love will be fulfilled.” That was what Madam Chun had whispered to young Sahee one day while holding her hand.

A childish saying with no known origin or credibility.

However, as a child, she took those words to heart and went out every spring with Madam Chun to catch cherry blossom petals. The petals didn’t often stay in her small hands, so Madam Chun would share the ones she caught with Sahee.

It was a memory she had forgotten after growing up, but today it suddenly came back to her. She went out with Madam Chun, leaving Cheoljun behind with all the luggage, to catch petals like when she was little.

She managed to catch just one petal. Giving it to him might have been just a spur-of-the-moment impulse. Her face felt hot at the thought of doing something so conspicuous.

At that moment, Taeon, with a furrowed brow, let out a chuckle.

“Ms. Sahee.”

“…Yes.”

“Thank you. I’ll gladly accept it.”

Taeon clenched his fist. It was the way he usually treated children. Perhaps because it was the most trivial gift he’d ever received, he laughed repeatedly, “pfft, pfft,” with an incredulous look.

“If you don’t like it, give it back.”

Sahee squinted her eyes and reached out towards him. Taeon, with the hand not holding the petal, pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead twice.

Even with just that, her mind calmed down. As they looked at each other, their gazes crossing, the sound of her heart beating fiercely became loud.

Taeon leaned down and briefly kissed Sahee’s lips. Instantly, her body warmed up. The moment he approached, her closed eyes opened, and a soft breath escaped her lips.

It was then that he held her face. As she stared blankly at Taeon, he parted her lips. While she was still in a daze, Taeon tilted his gaze. He stared at the soft tongue between her parted lips before pushing the petal she had given him onto her tongue with his own.

“Uh…”

Blink, blink. Surprised, Sahee frowned as she felt the cherry blossom petal on the tip of her tongue, unable to speak properly due to the awkwardness.

“Di… dirty.”

“I’m dirty,” she couldn’t finish the word, her pronunciation slurring. Taeon squeezed her cheek with one hand. He leaned close, whispering with his breath mingling with hers.

“What we’re doing is dirtier.”

Their lips met. She shared the first petal she had caught with him. The petal, crushed beneath their entwined tongues, was both bitter and sweet.

As they swallowed each other’s saliva several times, not knowing whose it was, the residue of the petal that had clung to her tongue disappeared, and soon they were only crushing each other’s lips.

Yet, the bitter taste of the kiss lingered like a long thread. The breath of the man holding her tightly was sweet.

* * *

“It’s uncomfortable.”

Sahee confessed from between the legs of the man sitting on the mattress. In Taeon’s embrace inside the room, she was helplessly held.

“Bear with it a little.”

Taeon hugged her tightly. From where he was sitting, he could see the flushed ear of the woman too easily, which made him chuckle.

“Did you sober up a bit?”

“Just a little.”

Judging by her still slurred speech, it was indeed just a little. Taeon briefly kissed the back of her head.

“Looks like you had fun. You didn’t get this drunk even when you met with your classmates.”

“Because it feels like it’ll become a distant thing once I go to Seoul.”

“You can come back occasionally. Or I can invite you to Seoul.”

“It’s too far.”

Her ankle was troublesome for her to come down often, and Madam Chun and Uncle were not that free to come up to Seoul. Even during college, they only managed to call each other once a week. Back then, there was the promise of seeing each other during breaks, which made it okay.

But now, with the need to seriously take responsibility for herself, breaks were a luxury. Perhaps that’s why Cheoljun showed his disappointment; once she left, they didn’t know when they’d see each other again.

“I can either bring you or have someone escort them.”

Taeon said, burying his face in Sahee’s shoulder.

Although she couldn’t expect him to do what her family couldn’t, his words still made her smile briefly. He wouldn’t see it since she had her back turned.

“You think I’m joking.”

Sahee, without responding, leaned her back deeply against his chest.

“You’re busy, CEO.”

“I’m free.”

“I’ll get busy once I start working.”

“What kind of work?”

“I don’t know exactly yet… but I need to earn rent money…”

Still, several classmates and seniors had promised to introduce her to jobs, and she had royalties, so she should be okay for a while. That’s what she was thinking when…

“What?”

An incredulous sound escaped from Taeon.

Sahee turned her head to look at Taeon. Was it because she declared she would live in a rental despite his offer to live together? But she had already refused that conversation.

However, what Taeon said was completely unexpected.

“Ms. Sahee, did you sign a scam contract?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been on the bestseller list since your debut, why would you live in a rental? It wouldn’t be surprising if you owned a house in Seoul. We’ll look at the contract once it’s light out. If there’s an issue, we’ll go through legal procedures…”

“No! There’s no problem. It’s a publishing house run by a senior from university.”

Scam contract. Legal procedures. Her drunkenness vanished. Sahee hastily turned around, clutching his arm. Even though she said no, his expression didn’t relax.

“People you know can be scarier.”

“It’s not that I didn’t get paid, it’s just that there were places to spend what I earned.”

“What places do you have to spend money on when you spend your days here just drawing?”

Sahee swallowed hard. Her lips dried up in an instant. Taeon tilted his head, urging her to speak.

“…Madam Chun’s granddaughter has been ill. There have been several major surgeries in recent years. She’s often in the hospital.”

“So what? You’re saying you’ve been paying all her medical bills?”

“Not all, but, probably, a lot…”

This time, she thought of Cheoljun, who had to get his girlfriend’s permission even to spend a single 10,000 won bill. Sahee cautiously watched Taeon’s reaction.

His lips parted in disbelief, and his lowered gaze seemed quite astonished.

“Sahee, are you a pushover?”

“It’s my money.”

Sahee answered defiantly. She never understood why Cheoljun had to get permission from someone else to use his own money.

“That’s not the point now. Why are you paying the medical bills for someone who isn’t even your real family, not even that person, but their granddaughter?”

“You don’t know anything, CEO.”

“What don’t I know?”

“Madam Chun did even more for me when I was young. After my accident, she carried me on her back every day for a year to school, which was an hour away on foot.”

“…”

“Whether it’s thousands or tens of millions, it’s not a waste, so please don’t say that. It’s not like I took the money from your wallet.”

At the end of her defense, tears welled up in her eyes.

Her mother who had abandoned her forever, and her grandmother who wouldn’t even meet her eyes for a while before finally turning away cruelly. In the midst of this misfortune where no one wanted to take responsibility, it was Madam Chun who pulled Sahee out.

She carried the lonely child on her back every day for that long time just to comfort her. At that time, it was Sahee who was unrelated, not Madam Chun now.

The trivial stories she heard while her head was buried in Madam Chun’s back brought Sahee back to earth. They made the times when she felt swept away by the fierce currents seem like they were in the past.

Sahee suddenly turned her head.

Hearing the long sigh from behind, her heart tightened.

She shouldn’t have brought it up. From yesterday, all she had told him seemed like nothing but her weaknesses and miseries, which felt somewhat horrifying.

The alcohol had worn off, and she couldn’t even use that as an excuse anymore. Sahee buried her head on her knees. Taeon pulled her firmly towards him.

Even as Sahee flinched and tried to shrink away, it was futile. Taeon lifted her onto his lap and turned her to face him.

“Indeed, a guy who never carried you talks too much.”

“…”

Her rough breathing calmed down in an instant. Sahee lowered her gaze.

“Sorry,” the warmth of his embrace was comforting. Although she had shouted that he knew nothing, she hadn’t wanted to make him apologize for something he didn’t know about. Her heart sank.

At that moment, Taeon’s hand reached out and gently held her left ankle, softly tracing over the scar as he asked her quietly.

“Was it an accident?”

“…”

“When you were young?”

“…Yes.”

“When?”

“A long time ago. When I was nine…”

“Is it still hard to talk about?”

It was strange. She didn’t want to seem more pitiful than she already was, yet she also wanted to tell him everything and lean on him. She wished he would say it was okay.

As a lover, she couldn’t expect him to embrace all her pain. Even if he touched her scars hundreds of times, they wouldn’t disappear.

However, it was the first time she felt this desire towards someone.

“I fell into the river.”

Sahee quietly spoke, her gaze lost in the air, recalling that day.

The sound of pouring rain. That day when she walked on the wet, muddy ground towards the school, the fierce current had swept her away completely.

“…It was a day when it was raining really hard. Even though they reported it right away, the current was too strong for rescue. People thought I was swept away and drowned, but I got caught between rocks and survived.”

It was a relief that the man’s face didn’t look overly sympathetic. He just held her tighter. His hand, which had been gently touching her scar, stayed on her ankle.

“But because I was only found after daylight, I can’t walk properly anymore.”

“Why were you by the river on such a rainy day?”

“To find a doll.”

“Was it a doll you liked?”

“No, it wasn’t mine. It was my little sister’s. She lost it nearby, so I went to help her look for it and ended up in the river.”

That was the extent of the summary. Sahee couldn’t tell him everything and stopped there.

Perhaps one day she would really tell him everything. Even if that day never came, this was enough for now.

Sahee leaned her head against Taeon’s chest.

* * *

“CEO.”

Taeon, back in the annex, nodded to the waiting Secretary Kim.

“Did you get some sleep?”

“Yes, I slept well. I can assist you all night. Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes.”

Taeon took his place in front of the mountain of documents on the sofa table. At the same time, his gaze shifted to Secretary Kim, who was preparing the coffee.

The story he had heard from Sahee was poking at him with suspicion.

“Secretary Kim.”

“Yes, CEO.”

“Was it about 500 million won, 20 years ago? The amount Park Jisun took from the Chairman.”

Over the noise of the coffee machine, Taeon’s voice carried. Secretary Kim, who was watching the foam gently rise in the coffee cup, turned around with a start.

Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in that story? With this doubt, Secretary Kim nodded.

“Yes, that’s correct.”