Chapter 30

She’d hidden her heart because she’d spent so long imagining an end to their story that she’d never even started.

Even if he loved her, and she loved him… the ending would be the same as twenty years ago.

If they played together as adults, she’d be surrounded by affection and maybe get a few sports cars, just like Lee Min-hee and Albert. But even if they had fun and laughed together, when the adults decided it was time to stop, they’d have to part ways.

Even if Ryu-il insisted otherwise… even if he wanted to go all the way with her… the Chairman would never accept a woman like her. One broken engagement had already cost Wigang Home Shopping; marrying her could cost him Wigang Construction too.

Ryu-il had been looked down on his whole life just for being the son of a servant. Even her own mother had said, “People like you and me are mixed in his blood.” If she were just a regular person with nothing to do with Ryu Gil-jae, maybe it would be different… but if she had a child with Ryu-il, everyone at Ryu Gil-jae would whisper about her child.

She held back tears, gritted her teeth, and ignored every trace of their lovemaking as she finished her meal. She didn’t put off the dishes, cleaning up neatly.

Now, she was proud of her life. She’d always wanted to live like this—earning her own way, never shabby before anyone, never a burden to anyone.

“Mom, why do I have to bow my head to Young Master?”

“What?”

“I’m not even a Wigang employee. I didn’t even get a scholarship from Wigang.”

“What’s this all of a sudden? Why are you acting strange?”

“No, but it’s true. It’s not the Joseon era…”

“It’s not Joseon, but it’s Ryu Gil-jae. That’s how it goes here.”

“So outside Ryu Gil-jae, it doesn’t?”

“What did you eat? Why are you talking nonsense? Go to bed. You have your university entrance ceremony tomorrow.”

Since becoming an adult, she’d always wanted to leave Ryu Gil-jae. That dream finally came true. So she should have been happy, proud, and content.

Now, she was no burden to anyone. But beside Ryu-il, she’d always be a burden to everyone. Her existence would be a burden to him, and maybe even to their child. Of course, she didn’t have a child, but because they hadn’t used contraception for the first time, the thought came naturally.

The reason she stayed silent at his confession was because of that.

That night, she couldn’t sleep. ‘I love you, I love you, Hee-won, I love you…’ those burning words echoed in her ears. The joy that welled up was painful.

Twenty years ago, when she’d called him ‘Young Master’ and bowed, he’d wanted to tell her not to. Even though he was four years older, he’d accepted her until she drew the line, and that was his sincerity. She, too, had wanted to run to him, calling him ‘Il oppa.’

But because she’d accepted her mother’s advice and drawn the line, they hadn’t been kicked out. Ryu-il had grown up without catching Won-jong’s eye.

Even now, if she drew the line first, she wouldn’t get hurt and wouldn’t interfere with Ryu-il’s future…

She knew all that…

‘I love you, I love you, Hee-won, I love you…’

“Ryu-il-oppa…”

She clung to her pillow and cried. All the words she couldn’t say fell in tears.

* * *

A week passed. Ryu-il no longer came to the pharmacy. Still, she couldn’t sleep, her mind blank, as if she were living in another world. Peaceful days had finally returned, but her heart was empty, her hands and feet sluggish.

“Um…”

Instead of Ryu-il, new customers came to the pharmacy every other day.

“Two packs of pain relief patches, please.”

A young man in a casual PK T-shirt and cotton pants. She’d never seen him before, but as soon as she heard his voice, she knew who he was. He was Grandma Soonbok’s grandson, who’d come to the village a few days ago.

“Honestly, the neighborhood’s so small—I figured this must be awkward for you, Pharmacist Jung. I’ve run a clinic myself, so I know. Since I’m the one approaching you, please just pretend my grandma doesn’t know anything.”

He was a kind-looking young man named Lee Eun-gyu. From hearing Grandma Soonbok and the other grandmas talk, she learned he was an ENT doctor.

He’d just finished his residency, entered a big hospital in another region, but quit recently because he couldn’t stand the pressure for excessive treatments. The village was too small to open a clinic, so he was looking to open a small practice in a nearby town, and Grandma Soonbok bragged about it so she could hear.

“Yes, here you go. Please tap your card here.”

Eun-gyu, with an awkward smile, bought small items like patches, ointments, and bandages. When she handed him the patches, his ears turned red and his hands trembled. He’d said he liked her when he saw her around, and couldn’t hide his interest.

“Thank you.”

But to her, it all felt… like someone else’s story. Even if it wasn’t this man, her mind was so tangled, she had no energy for such thoughts.

“I heard you haven’t been here long.”

Eun-gyu smiled as he took the patches.

“I went to high school here, but it must be boring for someone from Seoul.”

“It’s fine. I like it here.”

“That’s good. Oh, did you know there’s a national park and some good restaurants just 30 minutes away by car?”

“Oh… I don’t have a car, so I haven’t really checked. Maybe I’ll go someday.”

“Yes, the trees are really green these days, so it’s worth a visit.”

“Thank you. See you.”

Her mechanical response made Eun-gyu smile awkwardly and turn away, disappointed. She only thought he was a considerate person for keeping Grandma from being too pushy.

But as Eun-gyu opened the door with a jingle, he turned back, as if making up his mind.

“Um, Pharmacist Jung?”

“Yes?”

“If you’re free this weekend, would you like to go to the national park with me…?”

At that moment—

“Excuse me. Sorry, could you step aside?”

A man in a black suit strode past Eun-gyu into the pharmacy.

“Hello, Ms. Jung Hee-won.”

“…Who are you?”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yoon Sungjun.”

No one here called her ‘Ms. Jung Hee-won.’ Everyone called her ‘Pharmacist Jung.’ The stranger, surprised by her face, handed her a business card.

“I work for Senior Executive Director Ryu-il.”

Words like Wigang Construction, secretary, and so on flashed before her eyes. It meant he’d come on Ryu-il’s behalf. She nodded to Eun-gyu.

“I think this will take a while. Can we talk later?”

“Oh, yes.”

Eun-gyu nodded slowly, looking disappointed and surprised, but still accepting. 

“See you later, Pharmacist.”

With that, Eun-gyu left with the patches. Only Sungjun and she remained in the pharmacy. She stared at Sungjun and asked,

“What brings you here?”

She tried to sound calm, but her heart was pounding. It had been since she heard Ryu-il’s name. Sungjun remained expressionless, but at her natural question, he sighed, bowed politely, and asked,

“I know it’s rude, but may I ask you one question?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have no feelings at all for Senior Executive Director?”

“…What?”

She looked at the stranger in shock. Sungjun sighed even more deeply.

“Senior Executive Director didn’t send me. I came on my own. He’s about to be called back to Seoul by the Chairman. If things go wrong, he could be sent overseas again.”

She looked at him, wondering why he was telling her this, and he spoke in a somewhat resentful voice.

“It’s because he’s in a terrible state right now.”

“…What?”

“I think it’s because of you, Ms. Jung. There’s no other reason.”

She still stood there blankly. She couldn’t imagine Ryu-il falling apart, but then again, she’d never imagined him smoking either. As she blinked, Sungjun spoke with a sigh.

“Senior Executive Director always knew, Ms. Jung.”

“What do you mean…?”

“He knew why you were coming to his room. He accepted it knowingly. He never cared about Wigang Home Shopping, and never intended to get engaged. I thought it was just a rational choice. I figured you wanted to pay off your debt.”

Her heart dropped. He’d known her purpose from the start, even when she’d shown up in that ridiculous state. Suddenly, all her memories began to warp.

“Was it all because of money, because Jung Kyung-won told you to, because you felt sorry for your mother, because you felt guilty toward me—was it only ever for those reasons?”

She’d thought those words were spoken only after he learned the whole truth. But Ryu-il had been swallowing that question from the beginning. And yet, he’d covered everything and simply confessed his feelings.

“Hee-won, I love you.”

Knowing everything, what had he thought, holding her while she cried? Was that why he’d said he hated her tears so much? Maybe her tears had hurt him just as much.