Whisper Chapter 17

When the neatly trimmed hair made the pale face stand out even more, he had merely thought, “That’s good now”. But after discarding those ragged clothes and dressing her in clean ones, even he, who had no interest in appearances, found it pleasing to the eye. He wondered how much more so others would feel. That thought annoyed him, leading to the absurd idea that it would be nice if the kid wore a scarf.

 

“This place has good food.”    

 

The restaurant, which served grilled Korean beef along with a traditional meal set, was a place Cha Gyeol frequented. The place he used to visit with his grandfather was now being run by the son who had inherited it.  

 

Having finished looking around, the other person straightened her posture and looked at Cha Gyeol with a gaze that seemed to hold something to say, tinged with worry.  

 

“What?”  

 

“But, sir…”    

 

Cha Gyeol nodded slowly as if telling her to continue speaking.   

 

“…I think you’re spending too much money.”  

  

For once, Cha Gyeol was not just surprised but flustered.  

 

What was this kid saying right now?  

 

“Are you seriously worrying about my money?”    

 

When he pressed for confirmation, Lee Heewoo hesitantly nodded.  

 

Not only had her hair been cut, but clothes, shoes—more than just one or two—had been piled into the trunk in amounts that even Heewoo couldn’t fully grasp. Even when Heewoo said she didn’t need so much, Cha Gyeol had simply replied that this was just the beginning and that they should buy more.  

 

At this point, Heewoo was starting to fear the word “just.”  

 

The place Cha Gyeol had taken her was a department store, and the price tags she had glimpsed had numbers so long that before she could even process them, Cha Gyeol had snatched them away. Instead of cash, he had pulled out a sleek black card.  

 

– “Even though he didn’t have money, he kept using your card every day until he ended up a credit delinquent.”  

 

Heewoo used to enjoy listening to the stories told by the aunty. Though she didn’t understand what a credit delinquent was, she had felt sorry to hear that the person had been kicked out of their home.  

 

Even their meals were eaten outside. Heewoo’s expression darkened.  

 

Was it really okay to spend this much money?  

 

Cha Gyeol sighed and leaned back into his chair, letting his head loll from side to side, drained of energy.  

 

To think he had met someone who worried about his finances.  

 

His grandfather, Cha Munju, had accumulated immense wealth through loan sharking while running an organized crime operation. The fortune amassed by the infamous moneylender was so vast that no one could fully grasp its extent. He had left all of it to Cha Gyeol upon his death.  

 

Although his grandfather had wanted him to pursue an education and establish a legitimate business, Cha Gyeol had followed in his footsteps early on.  

 

He had been ignored, despised, and abandoned because of his family background, and he had no intention of living a respectable life just to cover up that stigma.    

 

The inheritance, combined with the wealth he had grown himself, was so substantial that even if he lived past a hundred, he wouldn’t be able to spend it all.   

 

And yet, this kid was worrying about his finances. What a completely pointless concern.  

 

“I’m actually shocked. Do I really look that poor?”  

 

“…You look rich.”  

 

“Mm, I am. More than you could ever imagine.”  

 

“Yeah.”  

 

“That response lacks enthusiasm. This won’t do. Right now—”  

 

“Yeah! I’m sincere! I totally believe you! Sir, you must have an insane amount of money!”  

 

At the sight of Cha Gyeol looking like he was about to get up and spend even more money, Heewoo blurted out words in a panic.  

 

Cha Gyeol, amused by how easy it was to tease her, simply laughed.  

 

“Heewoo.”  

 

He called her by her name again. Heewoo, flustered, blushed deeply.   

 

“Should I start calling you by name now?”  

 

“No.”  

 

Her face grew even redder as she hurriedly shook her head in strong rejection.   

 

“You let others call you by your name, but not me? That’s discrimination. It makes me want to rebel.”  

 

“It’s not that…”    

 

She opened her mouth as if wanting to explain that it wasn’t discrimination, but her words trailed off hesitantly.  

 

“Go ahead, make your excuse.”  

 

Heewoo fiddled with a napkin, biting her lip.  

 

“…Mr. Jang Pal-yong calls me ‘Ms. Heewoo.'”  

 

“And?”  

 

“And it’s fine when Mr. Jang Pal-yong calls me that.”  

 

“And what happens if I call you ‘Heewoo’?”  

 

“My heart hurts and it races.”  

 

She said it so bluntly.  

 

Ever since they first met, Heewoo had been cautious around Cha Gyeol, yet she always spoke her mind. Cha Gyeol found that amusing and watched her with interest.   

 

“When you call my name, it’s hard to breathe.”  

 

As if troubled, as if embarrassed, Heewoo scratched her eyebrow with a finger.  

 

“Then should I call you ‘Ms. Heewoo’ instead?”  

 

He teased playfully.  

 

There was something about Heewoo that made him want to keep provoking her. A kid who seemed to know nothing about the world, like she came from a completely different one.  

 

It was fucking annoying.  

 

Heewoo seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking again.  

 

“I don’t think that’s the problem, sir.”  

 

“Then what is?”  

 

“It’s not the name—it’s the person saying it.”  

 

A kid who seemed to know nothing about the world, from an entirely different one, kept flirting with him. Or was it gaslighting?  

 

“Oh! The food is here!”  

 

With the arrival of their meal, accompanied by a delicious aroma, Heewoo’s expression instantly brightened.  

 

Just moments ago, she had been coyly talking about how her heart couldn’t handle it and how it was hard to breathe. And now, all of a sudden, she looked overjoyed.  

 

Over thirty years old, with a significant age gap between them, and yet here he was—being flirted with and played with by a kid.  

 

“Please eat first, sir.”  

 

Despite everything, Heewoo looked at him with sparkling eyes, as if expecting him to start eating first because he was the adult.  

 

That made Cha Gyeol feel like an old man, and his appetite instantly dropped.  

 

“Eat a lot, Heewoo.”  

 

Feeling indignant, he retaliated. As he picked up the spoon and smiled, a crack formed in her expression, and her face turned red as she glared at Cha Gyeol. It seemed she was smart enough to understand the concept of revenge.  

 

But in the end, she was just a doll that could glare.  

 

For the sake of his healthy relationship with Lee Heewoo, Cha Gyeol sent a text message to someone on his phone.  

 

***  

 

He placed several shopping bags in Lee Heewoo’s room. Lee Heewoo, who had been following him around like a puppy, clung closely to his side. A faint scent of baby lotion lingered.  

 

“Put them away in that built-in closet. I think I need to step out for a bit.”  

 

Lee Heewoo, who had just responded with a “Yes” to the request to organize the bags, showed a devastated expression at the following words.  

 

“W-where are you going? Can’t I come along? I promise I’ll be quiet.”  

 

Looking sorrowful, Lee Heewoo anxiously shuffled her feet as if Cha Gyeol might disappear at any moment. Finding her constant need to stay close rather strange, Cha Gyeol narrowed his eyes.  

 

“How do you even know where I’m going?”  

 

At the slightly chilly tone, Lee Heewoo flinched in surprise. Ignoring her, Cha Gyeol walked toward the entrance. He could hear hurried footsteps behind him and felt a weak grip on his arm.  

 

“My Lady.”  

 

“I’m sorry. I won’t bother you. I really won’t make a sound. I’m really good at it, you know, staying perfectly still as if I’m not even there.”  

 

“……”  

 

Having lived in isolation with a shaman before suddenly coming to an unfamiliar place, it was natural for her to feel afraid. Following a man she barely knew and living this way was no ordinary matter.  

 

But he couldn’t exactly sit her down and let her watch while he chewed someone out.  

 

Cha Gyeol ran a hand through his hair and then shoved his hands back into his pockets.  

 

“I won’t be late.”  

 

He had to leave before he became entranced by that sorrowful doll.  

 

“This house has strict security, so nothing will happen. Just rest.”  

 

The weak grip loosened and fell away. Turning his back on Lee Heewoo, Cha Gyeol left through the entrance.  

 

As Lee Heewoo watched his retreating figure, she bit her lip to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. The fact that something like this could make her cry made her feel strange, as if something inside her was changing.  

 

The sound of shoes being put on, the door opening, and then the heavy sound of it closing in succession—she felt as if a cold wind had seeped into her chest.  

 

-Where have you been? You came back a different person.  

-What did you buy? Your hair looks nice. Should I do mine like that too?  

-Are you a gold digger? Trying to rip off that man?  

 

And, as expected, they appeared.  

 

“…What do you mean, rip him off? I’m already full from eating a lot.”  

 

Dejected, Lee Heewoo trudged into her room. People were truly fickle creatures. When had she ever lived without seeing or hearing them? She had been fine all this time. But now, just looking at the shopping bags in her room made her tear up again.  

 

“I told him that I don’t need these.”  

 

Even so, she dragged the shopping bags over to the built-in closet. Since she had been told to put them away and was promised he wouldn’t be late.  

 

-What is it? Show me.  

-Me too. Did you buy something nice? There’s a lot in there.  

-You seem a little slow. What school did you go to?  

 

As she took a box out of one of the bags, Lee Heewoo suddenly snapped her head around. It was because she felt a pang of guilt.  

 

“Wretched ghost.”  

 

Spitting out the words, she went back to sorting through the shopping bags.  

 

-Hey!  

 

The pretty ghost let out a sharp shriek. The two ghosts beside her covered their ears with their palms and scolded her to calm down.  

 

“What?”  

 

Lee Heewoo, feeling irritated, responded right away. It was unlike her.  

 

-I told you this room was mine!  

 

“You filthy ghost.”  

 

-W-what?!  

 

Whether the pretty ghost clutched the back of her neck in shock or not, Lee Heewoo quickly continued organizing. She planned to finish up soon and go wait by the entrance.  

 

Because she wanted to see him just a little sooner.