DD Ch 7

“Madam, shall I send in the dessert?”

Secretary Kim smiled warmly, catching Min Yeojin’s attention. Min Yeojin, who had a slightly uneasy look, nodded gently with a soft smile.

“Hmm, yes. With such kindness, Secretary Kim’s girlfriend must be happy.”

“Girlfriend? No, madam.”

“You don’t have one? How come, when you’re so courteous?”

“Working at the company, I hardly have time to meet new people.”

“Are you too busy? If it comes to that, you might find someone at the office.”

“I don’t think office romance suits me.”

“Shall I set you up? I know some nice ladies.”

After discussing her son’s marriage prospects, his mother even took an interest in her secretary’s love life, indicating her boredom with life at Yeonghwadae.

“Taeon, what do you think?”

“Secretary Kim probably doesn’t have time for a leisurely romance.”

“Oh my, what a rude boy! Don’t listen to him, Secretary Kim. You’re at an age where you should be thinking about marriage. How long will you keep cleaning up after him?”

“Haha, yes, madam.”

“Anyway…”

Min Yeojin shook her head and then suddenly brightened.

“By the way, how about the second granddaughter of this house? She’s a ballerina.”

“Oh…”

“I’ve met her once or twice, and she seems nice. She lives in Seoul, so it should be easy to meet. Have you seen her? Or only the first granddaughter?”

“I think she has a boyfriend.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I saw them having an intense kiss right out front yesterday morning.”

Secretary Kim whispered as if sharing a secret.

Min Yeojin’s eyes widened. She muttered about how different young people are these days, looking somewhat regretful.

“What a pity. If it weren’t for the limp, I would have considered pushing for the first granddaughter.”

“Ah…”

“Taeon, don’t you think Yeon Sahee and Secretary Kim would make a good match?”

Taeon looked up and met Min Yeojin’s eyes. The silence that settled over the table made Secretary Kim straighten up involuntarily.

“I’m not sure.”

“…”

“I don’t really know.”

It was a tense moment. Taeon casually took a sip of water.

Looking back, the winter he discovered Yeon Sahee was not just a significant memory for him. No matter how beautiful she was, Min Yeojin’s intuition hitting the mark suggested there was a favorable breeze.

Nine years ago, during winter.

Min Yeojin had also come to meet him at the airport then. Sitting next to him, she had turned to look at the young girl outside the car window. The scene that Taeon glimpsed as the car stopped must have left an impression on his mother too.

Reflecting on the unusually sensitive past week, it was clear they shared the same memory.

Taeon tilted his head and slowly scanned Secretary Kim’s face. He smiled charmingly at his subordinate, who had turned pale in the heavy silence.

“Isn’t Secretary Kim of a different breed than Yeon Sahee?”

“CEO! That’s too much!”

Secretary Kim raised his voice, looking deeply aggrieved.

Despite his loyalty over the years, he complained that it seemed to mean nothing. His words eased the previously tense atmosphere, making it difficult for Min Yeojin to add anything further.

Min Yeojin looked at the scene and burst into a mirthless laugh.

“Indeed… Our CEO is too much.”

Although her tone was soft, her gaze alternated coldly between Taeon and Secretary Kim.

“You can’t disappoint the people close to you.”

At that moment, Taeon’s phone on the table buzzed briefly.

It was already close to 11 PM.

Sahee gulped down the pill with a mouthful of water and sat on the chair, staring at the clock. The sensation of the pill sliding down her throat was rough.

She had sent a message to the man, but there was no reply. Her gaze naturally drifted to the phone lying on the bed. Without blinking, she quickly turned her chair.

I need to work.

Recalling the feedback from the editorial department about the new work, she gripped the mouse. Mrs. Chun’s warning voice echoed in her ears like an alarm.

“No.”

“……”

“No, Sahee.”

Mrs. Chun, who had seemed to have many questions, hadn’t asked anything. She checked Sahee’s temperature by holding her cheeks with both hands, and even though there were countless opportunities on their way back to the small annex, she didn’t say a word.

She just said no. It was like coaxing a child, teaching them right from wrong. Since she wasn’t actually a child, she didn’t foolishly ask why. She also couldn’t say, really, it’s not like that, since it wouldn’t be believed anyway.

It’s not me.

She had tried to say that but couldn’t. Mrs. Chun already knew that she was wavering. She would have known it was a lie anyway.

“I know.”

She answered that way instead, saying she knew everything.

Sahee let out a long sigh and stood up. Maybe it was the effect of the medicine, but she felt weak. She climbed onto the bed and fumbled for her phone.

[010-XXXX-XXXX]

An unsaved number. A picture on the blank screen. No reply from the man.

For her, it was a disaster that ruined the day, but for him, it was just a glance and a gesture. Even thinking back, he was a man she shouldn’t have looked back at.

Sahee was about to delete the conversation. Just then, her hand buzzed briefly with a notification.

[Are you asleep?]

Startled, she quickly set the phone aside. Her heart pounded loudly, her fingertips tingling with anxiety. She clenched her fist, and the bed seemed to shake as if there had been an earthquake. It was a terrifying illusion.

She decided she needed to block CEO Jung Taeon’s number.

With trembling hands, Sahee picked up her phone. But when she unlocked it, what she saw was a one-sided notification.

[I’ll be there soon.]

Be there soon? Where?

Before she could finish her thought, her arm reached out to the bedside table.

Click. As she turned off the faint light that lit up the room, the phone in her hand brightened.

[010_XXXX-XXXX]

Buzz, buzz.

The phone rang. Sahee hastily threw the phone onto the bed and hugged her legs close. Her hands, wrapped around her thighs, trembled with tension. She rested her forehead and cheeks messily on her knees, exhaling heavily.

The vibration stopped. As she stared at the screen, which now showed a missed call, another message arrived.

[I saw the light go off just now.]

Sahee turned her head toward the closed door. She strained her ears, listening for any movement, when the phone rang again. She pretended not to notice and held her breath. There were now two missed calls.

[Answer.]

At the repeated message, Sahee picked up the phone. She sensed movement beyond the door. As the approaching footsteps briefly paused, there was a soft thud.

Buzz.

The third call. Sahee gripped the phone tightly, imagining the unclear scene outside. If CEO Jung Taeon was sitting on the porch, he would have heard the vibration from the room.

[Are we going to do this all night?]

Pretending to ignore it was pointless. With a sigh, she buried her face in the now-silent phone. The vibration began again. Sahee pressed the call button with trembling hands.

“…”

There was a brief silence. Hearing the short breath on the other end, Sahee adjusted her grip on the phone.

She could easily picture his fierce face, legs crossed on the porch, smoking a cigarette.

─ Yeon Sahee.

“Yes…”

─ How are you feeling?

“I’m fine.”

─ How’s the fever?

“It’s gone.”

─ Did you turn off the light to sleep?

“…”

─ Hmm?

“…Yes.”

─ You’re good at lying, aren’t you, Yeon Sahee.

Can you really say you’re good at lying if they’re so easy to detect? Her stomach churned. Sahee pressed her fist against her heart.

His voice was gentle. It was something she didn’t realize when they were face to face. Sahee tried to recall Taeon’s face, struggling to reach the eyes that looked down at her so indifferently.

─ I’m sorry for getting angry today.

Sahee slowly blinked. His soft voice carried on the spring night, making her head spin. It must have been a trick.

If it wasn’t a trick, how could his voice be so gentle? How could he apologize?

Her heart wouldn’t stop racing. She had to make him frown again. Only in the imaginary world where CEO Jung Taeon’s face was completely contorted, glaring at her, did she finally feel a bit of relief.

─ Yeon Sahee.

“…Yes.”

─ Let’s meet briefly.

“…”

─ You don’t want to?

“…No.”

─ Alright then.

She thought she’d have to be dragged out just for answering, but his response was unexpectedly agreeable. Sahee let go of her anxious thoughts.

─ I’ll leave some medicine. Take it.

“I still have some left.”

─ Should I bring more when you run out?

His voice sounded almost mocking. Sahee quickly answered no. Taeon let out a short laugh, making Sahee feel inexplicably pale.

Despite experiencing it multiple times, the anxious feeling of seeing him never seemed to go away. She wished he would leave quickly.

Sahee rested her forehead on her knees, eyes closed.

─ You hang up first.

“…It’s okay. You hang up first, CEO.”

─ Polite at times like this, aren’t you?

“…”

─ Alright then.

The call ended abruptly, plunging her into darkness. Sahee kept the phone pressed to her ear for a while. It took a few moments before she could lift her head.

A call that lasted less than ten minutes had completely drained her. Her lips were dry.

She slumped her shoulders and waited. One minute felt incredibly fast, while thinking about him made ten minutes feel like an eternity.

How much time had passed? Sahee slowly stood up. She wished she could just faint, but it didn’t seem like sleep would come easily tonight. Maybe getting some fresh air on the porch would help her gather her thoughts.

Limp.

Her ankle creaked unusually, probably because she had been tense for a long time. The face in the mirror as she passed by the door was even more of a mess. She looked so pale that it wouldn’t be surprising if she fainted right away. She decided she should take the medicine he left and just lie down.

As she opened the door, pushing with her whole body, she met a gaze looking back at her through the crack.

It didn’t take long to grasp the situation. Sahee, startled as if she had seen a ghost, slammed the door shut.

From beyond the door, she could hear Taeon chuckling lightly.

Why. Why was he still there?

She gripped the handle tightly. The porch creaked. The silhouette of the man, visible through the flower-patterned door, looked huge. As soon as Sahee unknowingly pulled on the handle, Taeon knocked on the door.

“I told you I was leaving,”

The force on the handle from the other side was clear. Sahee tried to grip the handle tightly, but it was no use. As Taeon pulled the door, her body tilted forward.

“I told you…”

Through the narrow gap in the door, Sahee looked up at the man, who seemed even larger. Taeon responded with a calm face.

“Did I say that?”

“Clearly.”

“I said I would hang up.”

“You said you’d leave the medicine…”

“I never said I was leaving right away, did I?”

“…”

“You need to listen carefully.”

As her grip on the handle loosened, Taeon opened the door. Sahee tried to block him from entering, but he reached out.

“Take it.”

He handed her the shopping bag he brought. Sahee, momentarily flustered, glanced back and forth between the heavy-looking shopping bag and Taeon.

As she continued to stare at him, Taeon bent down and placed the shopping bag next to her. Inside, she saw a packet of medicine.

“Did you wash up?”

“Pardon? Yes…”

Sahee quickly nodded, lifting her head. She felt his gaze slowly scanning her, making her instinctively hunch her shoulders and look down.

“When?”

“Earlier…”

“When exactly. After you sent the message?”

“…Does it matter?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

Taeon chuckled. An awkward silence lingered between them, separated by the low doorframe.

“Looks like you still have a bit of a fever. Your cheeks are red.”

His words cut through the silence, revealing an inconvenient truth. Her cheeks, which had been pale when she left the room, felt hot.

Sahee turned her head to look past his shoulder. She stared into the darkness, feeling a cold hand on her cheek. Her stomach sank as if she had the hiccups.

“Did you dislike the kiss?”

“…”

“Oh. Or do you just dislike me?”

His thick thumb slowly brushed over her flushed cheek.

Sahee’s right shoulder trembled as he held her cheek, and her eyelashes fluttered. I’ve grown to dislike you more, even her defiant voice was swallowed by his warmth.

“Please… don’t do that to Mrs. Chun.”

Sahee stammered, barely managing to speak. That was all she could say. Taeon smirked and frowned.

“Should I listen to you just because you asked?”

“You can be mad at me. Why take it out on an innocent person…”

“I need to see someone to get angry, right? Hmm?”

Taeon’s fingers gently scratched behind Sahee’s ear, sending shivers down her spine and making the hair on her arms stand up. She bit her lower lip to suppress the humming sound vibrating through her throat.

“Shall we meet here again tomorrow?”

Her mind went blank.

I know. I really know who he is.

The answer she had given Mrs. Chun felt meaningless.

He was Jung Taeon. He was the main sponsor. Above all, he was a man about to get married and soon to leave. It was a tug of war with a predictable outcome.

So if no one asked, she would bury it. If no one found out, it would be a fleeting encounter with just such a man.

Sahee turned her head, finally freeing herself from his touch. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she breathed.

She didn’t want to naively worry about what he was thinking. She didn’t want to ask foolish questions like, what is our relationship?

Just a brief encounter.

Driven by a light attraction, a momentary curiosity, and fun.

“Only at night.”

“…”

“Come only at night.”

There are moments when things become real by saying them aloud. Sahee finally defined her relationship with him. She decided to set the beginning and end of this relationship herself.

“During the day, will you ignore my messages again?”

Taeon looked at her for a moment, trying to gauge her intentions.

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

His irritated voice echoed her response. Sahee gently pushed Taeon, who was standing in the doorway.

“Go now.”

As she reached for the door handle, her fingertips trembled like leaves. Taeon watched her with an amused smile.

“Yeon Sahee.”

She didn’t want to hear his next words.

With a loud thud, Sahee slammed the door.

* * *

“Where have you been?”

Entering the annex, Taeon calmly met Min Yeojin’s gaze. The moment their eyes met, Min Yeojin smiled brightly.

The cold look she had given him during dinner, after mentioning Yeon Sahee, had completely vanished.

“I was taking a walk. Why aren’t you resting?”

Taeon smiled and approached, and Min Yeojin softly stroked his arm.

“I felt suffocated.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Isn’t my being here already a problem?”

“True.”

Taeon chuckled as he lowered her hand. Perhaps the walk had been pleasant enough to forget why he and his mother had come to Yeonghwadae.

Maybe it was because of the absurd demand to come only at night.

Does she even understand what that means?

You, really?

She had made a grand offer that no man with a working brain would refuse, yet she had been trembling with fear, making it feel like a cute game.

At that moment, Min Yeojin sighed deeply. Taeon, who had been thinking about Sahee, turned his attention to her. She looked quite desolate.

“Your father called. It seems Director Kang Moon-joo will be investigated instead of Taejun.”

“I see.”

“Did you know?”

Taeon nodded in affirmation without answering. It was not surprising. This was expected ever since Jung Taejun fell into Chairman Jung’s hands. What was surprising was his mother’s hypersensitivity.

“I heard that Jung Taejun might even be given the chairman’s seat. And that’s not all. Today, I learned for the first time that Director Kang has a son who has been preparing for the bar exam for a long time. They said he told your father to find a position for that second son.”

Taeon exchanged glances with Min Yeojin.

Just as she had been his mother for 35 years, Taeon had lived as her son for 35 years. He knew what she was trying to say.

In the midst of Chairman Jung’s efforts to cover for Jung Taejun, it was a highly political suggestion that they should secure their backing through marriage.

“One causes trouble, another takes the fall. If talk about early inheritance for Taejun comes up…”

Before Min Yeojin could say more, Taeon pulled her into a large embrace. He felt her body stiffen for a moment. Taeon held her closer.

“You…”

“…”

“Mother.”

“Don’t worry. Hasn’t Chairman Jung always been like this? There’s no reason for you to be stressed about it.”

Her rough breathing echoed within his embrace. Taeon held her shoulders and gently pushed her back. Min Yeojin’s lips curved into a soft smile, despite the slight tremor.

“The wind is chilly. Would you like to go in now?”

“No, I should go in now.”

Min Yeojin linked her arm with Taeon’s. He willingly escorted her. As they walked up the porch, Min Yeojin turned back.

“Taeon.”

“Yes.”

She seemed to want to say more, but instead, with a warm gaze, she said,

“Sleep well.”

“Sweet dreams.”

As they exchanged smiles and turned away, the air grew cold.

Hanbij Tteokjip. Gwanghwamun Main Store.

Inside the shopping bag CEO Jung Taeon had given her were medicine packets and rice cakes. Sahee stared for a long time at the three packs of honey rice cakes, arranged in five rows each.

In this neighborhood market, honey rice cakes are plentiful. Unless the ones sold in Seoul were gilded, there was nothing special about them. There was no need to bring them all the way from Gwanghwamun; it seemed like a gesture to show off.

“…”

I’ll give them to Mrs. Chun tomorrow. Or throw them in the trash.

Sahee got up and lay down on her bed, burying her face in the pillow. The loud pounding of her heart made her squeeze her eyes shut.

She needed to treat it lightly. She would think of it as trivial. She didn’t want to attach too much meaning to anything he left behind.

It was like a downhill slope. To avoid being pushed down, she needed control. She didn’t want to end up crying alone at the bottom with broken knees.