IMFOBO | CH 25 | A Mark of Ownership

Tae-san’s expression was grave.

His brow was furrowed as if something displeased him.

“What, what about my lips?”

“You really never give me a dull moment, do you?”

Just then, Jeong-seok turned to them, looking disgruntled.

He was rubbing his arm roughly, squinting with evident displeasure.

“Can’t you two save the lovey-dovey stuff for when you’re alone?”

Lovey-dovey?

The words seemed so out of place between Tae-san and her, making Eun-cho flustered but also relieved.

The fact that they could fool even those closest to them meant they must look convincingly like a couple to outsiders.

“As we discussed, make an appearance at the party after the inauguration ceremony.”

The two waved their hands dismissively and disappeared down the hallway.

Eun-cho watched Jeong-seok and Su-ji walk away, but she couldn’t shake Tae-san’s words.

Her haphazard application of lipstick had clearly backfired.

She turned to look at her reflection in the bronze-tinted glass wall.

“Where are you going?”

Ryu Tae-san smoothly caught her arm.

He must have noticed that the re-applied lipstick was too thick.

Everything from her hair to her shoes had been styled by professionals, except for her makeup.

Eun-cho felt self-conscious, as if Tae-san had found the one flaw in an otherwise perfect object.

“You’ve made a mess of your face.”

“…Is it that bad?”

He pulled a neatly folded handkerchief from his inner pocket and moved toward Eun-cho.

Caught off guard, Eun-cho froze as he gently dabbed at her lips.

Why did this simple touch make her cheeks flush?

She wanted to disappear.

“Did Bong Su-jo do this for you earlier?”

“That’s not…”

“Don’t get too friendly. That’s beyond just being friends.”

It wasn’t Bong Su-jo, but Bong Su-ji.

It seemed like a deliberate slip, but Tae-san didn’t seem to care.

“This isn’t working.”

A gentle smile played on his lips, a hint of playfulness in his expression.

There was something almost teasing in his tone.

Tae-san stared intently at Eun-cho’s face, then slowly ran his finger along the edge of her lips, smudging the lipstick that had bled outside the lines.

“…!”

His hand, which had been hovering around her mouth, now touched her lips.

Before she could even react to the fleeting contact, Tae-san patted the lipstick to even it out.

Her lips parted slightly, revealing a glimpse of red.

His fingertip brushed against her teeth before pulling away.

Tae-san casually wiped his finger on the handkerchief, but the red stain left behind seemed strangely suggestive.

“Is it okay now?”

Eun-cho asked, sounding uncertain. He grinned again.

Tae-san leaned closer, his lips near her ear.

“You look beautiful.”

Seriously, what is this guy?

Even though she knew it was a playful joke, she couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

It seemed like this man had discovered how much he enjoyed teasing Lee Eun-cho.

Otherwise, his mischievous expression made no sense.

“Are you always like this?”

“Like what?”

“Are you this sweet to women?”

She hadn’t checked a mirror, but she had a feeling her lips might’ve been jutting out in a slight pout.

Normally, guys would jump to deny it at times like this, but Ryu Taesan…

“Sometimes, when necessary.”

He was brutally honest.

“We still have some time left. Would you like to have a cup of tea?”

“Yes, let’s.”

She was barely holding it together.

Standing next to Tae-san meant she was soaking up all the attention from passersby.

Ever since Ryu Tae-san began touching her lips, it had reached a fever pitch.

Overwhelmed by the unwanted attention, Eun-cho eagerly accepted Tae-san’s offer.

They were striking on their own, but standing side-by-side, they looked every bit the couple.

Even without matching outfits, coordinating the tones of their clothes with a similar fabric pattern could create the illusion of a pair.

With this newfound realization, a ticklish feeling spread through her stomach as she became aware that they looked like a couple.

“The deli here isn’t bad.”

Tae-san moved first, offering a brief explanation.

When he noticed that she was a few steps behind, his eyes seemed to ask why she was standing so far apart, so alone.

Even at this slight distance, that man was the only thing that appeared crystal clear.

“Aren’t you coming?”

A ruthless man, yet so gentle with her.

Eun-cho pressed her lips together, still tingling from his touch.

She didn’t expect any fabricated kindness.

Kindness was a burden.

It came with more responsibilities, and in the end, the loneliness she had to bear alone would only grow.

Eun-cho was afraid of being abandoned, of being alone again.

Her grandfather was already gone, and now even her grandmother was preparing to leave her side.

Eternal kindness didn’t exist.

So she wouldn’t dare believe in that kindness.

Eun-cho lowered her gaze, steeling herself.

“Let’s pick something to drink.”

“Black tea, please.”

Tae-san expertly ordered the drinks along with several chocolates from the display case.

They sat down with their respective drinks: strong coffee for him and a light black tea for her.

“…”

Why was he staring at her like that?

This man never seemed to be the first to look away.

In the end, it was Eun-cho who averted her gaze.

Feeling awkward, Eun-cho put a chocolate in her mouth.

The bittersweet chocolate slowly melted in her mouth.

It clung to the tip of her tongue, filling her senses with its rich aroma.

It wasn’t exactly healthy, but the sweet taste was definitely tempting.

Just like Ryu Tae-san.

He stretched his long legs under the table.

Tap.

Their knees touched briefly before separating.

Eun-cho froze for a moment at the fleeting contact.

Was it intentional? These subtle touches kept happening.

He didn’t seem like the type of man to use these kinds of tricks.

Women would be throwing themselves at Ryu Tae-san without him having to lift a finger.

Eun-cho tried to appear unfazed, lifting the teacup to her lips, the red liquid sloshing gently.

But the sweet taste of chocolate had already spread to the back of her tongue, preventing her from fully savoring the aroma of the tea.

Whether it was a planned intention or an unintentional mistake, she shouldn’t care…

But it wasn’t easy.

“You look great today.”

“I know. I put some effort into it.”

The answer to her attempt to break the awkward silence was so typical of Ryu Tae-san.

Judging by his beaming smile, he must have meant it.

“Here.”

He placed a small box on the table.

Opening the muted red jewelry box, she saw a ring.

A teardrop-shaped diamond and a white gold band paved with shimmering gems.

How many carats was that thing?

Excessive. It was far too much.

“I thought we should have a mark of ownership to make it convincing.”

She wasn’t expecting a romantic proposal, but such blatant marking of territory?

Like a dog tag or a collar.

Eun-cho couldn’t help but laugh.

Why would he leave things like clothes and accessories to his subordinates but personally take care of the ring?

“It’s quite large and eye-catching. I’ll use it well and return it.”

“Why bother? Keep it. It’s yours, Lee Eun-cho.”

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly annoyed by the mention of returning it so soon.

He was urging her to accept a ring that was probably worth more than she could imagine.

Besides, when would she ever wear something like this?

Was she being overly anxious in thinking that it would make her a target for all sorts of crimes?

“It’s too much. Both this dress and the ring.”

“I never take back anything that leaves my hands, so throw it away. Or sell it online.”

How did he even know about online reselling?

Tae-san, looking frustrated by Eun-cho’s hesitation, slipped the ring onto her left ring finger.

It fit perfectly, as if he already knew her size.

He was showing off his experience here, too.

It suited her slender, pale fingers, but it still felt like it didn’t belong to her.

As if she were coveting something that was beyond her reach.

No matter how much she gave her most precious possessions, she could never repay him.

The feeling that she was accumulating debts she couldn’t repay weighed heavily on her heart.

“There’s only one person we need to win over: our old man. He’s probably already finished his investigation into you, Lee Eun-cho.”

“Are there any other people I should be careful of?”

“Not really. Just stick close to me.”

The teacups were almost empty.

Tae-san gave a subtle nod, and Eun-cho rose from her seat, trying to suppress her nervousness.

Tae-san offered his arm to Eun-cho, and she remembered the promise she had made that day: to smile beautifully while taking Ryu Tae-san’s arm.

“Ah…”

Just as Eun-cho was about to take his arm…

He gently took her hand.

“I think this will be better.”

He smiled brightly as their eyes met.

It was a dangerously charming smile.