Chapter 3.5

When the meal ended, and Su-eon was lightly shaking the sweet rice drink that had been served as dessert before taking a sip, Seung-jo spoke while staring blankly at the table.

“You’re picky, aren’t you?”

He was referring to the acorn jelly that Su-eon hadn’t touched.

“You don’t like jelly, do you?”

“I do. I just couldn’t eat it because I’m full.”

Su-eon replied indifferently as she sipped her sweet rice drink. A man with such sharp observational skills was far more insidious than the acorn jelly. After all, isn’t jelly just powder mixed with water? Having grown up as a guest in Chairwoman Wang’s household and often tasked with kitchen chores, Su-eon had always hated the time spent standing in front of the stove to prepare jelly.

“You don’t seem to like it.”

“I said I do.”

“Ah, so you don’t like it, after all?”

“No, I said I like it. How many times do I have to—”

Feeling something odd, Su-eon stopped mid-sentence. Ki Seung-jo was smiling. 

Ah… This man is teasing me on purpose. Just to make me say I like it. And now, he’s smirking mischievously like a little rascal. How infuriating and annoying. I really can’t stand him.

Reading the expression on Su-eon’s face, Seung-jo’s eyes crinkled with playful amusement.

“I think I’m getting to know you now, Princess.”

What does he think he knows? Just that I dislike acorn jelly? How reckless, so reckless. 

Su-eon absentmindedly swirled her drink, stirring the grains of rice in the sweet rice drink with the motion of her glass. She wanted to scoop it up with a spoon, but not in front of Ki Seung-jo.

“You’re like a pretty little contrarian.”

Su-eon raised her head and blinked once at Seung-jo with a blank expression before firmly setting her glass down on the table.

“Let’s just leave now.”

Seung-jo burst into laughter. His laugh echoed, brushing past Su-eon’s cheeks. Remaining seated leisurely, he motioned with his eyes toward his untouched sweet rice drink.

“Want some?”

Without even glancing at the glass, Su-eon shook her head.

“No, thank you. I’ve had enough.”

Seung-jo laughed again, though she had no idea why.

“What kind of person do you think I am?”

“I don’t really know.”

Her immediate response, given without hesitation, made him chuckle. He picked up his glass of sweet rice drink and placed it in front of Su-eon.

“Then think about it.”

“…Do I really have to?”

Su-eon asked as she stared at the sweet rice drink he had set down.

“You probably should.”

“…?”

“We’re supposed to get married. In November.”

Without responding, Su-eon stared blankly at the table. 

The food had been fine, so why was he spouting nonsense after eating so well? Is he insane? 

If so, she shouldn’t associate with him further.

“I’ll be going first. Take your time finishing.”

Wiping her mouth with a napkin, Su-eon stood up. The sound of Seung-jo’s low laughter followed her as she turned away.

“I’ll pay for half.”

Watching Seung-jo at the counter as he settled the bill, Su-eon spoke. But before she could even get the chance, he finished paying, slipped his card back into his wallet, and turned to face her.

“Buy me coffee. That should even it out.”

That was precisely why she had suggested splitting the bill.

“I don’t have time to stay and drink coffee. I’ll just transfer you half the amount…”

She stopped herself before blurting out, “Use that to buy your coffee.” The words rose to her throat but remained unspoken. Crossing that line felt too risky—Ki Seung-jo was still an intimidating presence to her. The small gestures of kindness he showed her always felt precarious, as if they could be overturned at any moment.

Yet, it seemed Seung-jo had already understood the words she hadn’t said. He smirked crookedly.

“After enjoying a nice meal, you’re back to putting up walls again.”

“…”

“What’s bothering you? The contrarian in you? Or…”

Ki Seung-jo’s gaze, fixed on Su-eon, shimmered with a meaningful intensity. It was as if he were silently saying, “You already know, don’t you?” With a faint smile on his face, he continued to look at her.

“I don’t know what you mean.” 

Su-eon replied, her voice devoid of energy.

“Right. I get it—that’s your way of running away.”

“…”

“Let’s step outside for now. Maybe if I take you somewhere hot, you’ll start being honest again.”

He grabbed her arm and pushed the restaurant door open. Despite it being nighttime, the humid heat that hadn’t dissipated hit them in the face. Su-eon squinted and looked up at Seung-jo’s mountain-like, towering back.

“Let go of me. I can walk on my own.”

As she spoke, a group of people entered the restaurant, crossing paths with them. Seung-jo wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. The loose jacket he had deliberately worn tightened, brushing its fabric against her cheek as it was pulled taut.

“Do you even have any flesh on you?”

Seung-jo’s arm briefly tightened around her waist before releasing her, even before she could push him off. Su-eon glared at him with sharp eyes and pointed out, 

“That’s s*xual harassment.”

“Cut me some slack. It was an unavoidable situation.”

He responded shamelessly, letting out a low chuckle. His warm breath tickled her forehead and cheeks in turn. The refreshing scent that surrounded him wafted to her nose—it was the same fragrance she had been smelling ever since they arrived at the restaurant.

“Now, let’s go.”

As the man strode forward again, Su-eon followed him down the stairs, protesting.

“That’s why I’m asking you to let go of my hand…”

“I’m holding it so you don’t trip.”

What, was I supposed to thank him for that? 

Su-eon bristled.

“Do you think I’m a child?”

“Want some ice cream?”

“No, I absolutely hate ice cream.”

* * *

“Are you really not going to eat it?”

Su-eon frowned as she sipped her iced coffee through a straw.

Forgetting it was nighttime, she had ordered it with an extra shot of espresso as per her usual habit. But the barista had mistakenly added two extra shots instead of one. With the endless stream of customers, she hadn’t even had the chance to ask them to remake it, so she just took the overly bitter drink. It was so strong it felt like she had dipped her tongue into pure espresso, and her face twisted in displeasure.

Meanwhile, Seung-jo sat leisurely, resting his chin on his hand, with the gelato that Su-eon had patiently stood in line to buy sitting untouched in front of him. As the gelato slowly lost its shape and melted, her mood also sank—just like the melting ice cream, her frustration pooled and deepened.

“You said you wanted ice cream.”

“Once you’ve given it to me, it’s mine to do with as I please, isn’t it?”

Of course. Do as you like—let it melt or throw it away. 

Turning her head away, Su-eon sighed. The Han River, surrounded by dazzling neon signs and lights that made it as bright as day, was bustling with people out for a late evening picnic.

Instead of feeling the charm of the Han River, the chaotic voices and music, the humid breeze carrying the smell of fried chicken, and the incongruous sweetness of wine mixed together to create a rowdy atmosphere that Su-eon thoroughly disliked.

The funniest part was the fact that she was here with Ki Seung-jo. Among the people out enjoying their time like ordinary citizens, he was the one person who seemed even more out of place than she did.

What could he possibly be thinking, wasting time here leisurely watching the river, when he clearly didn’t have the time for this? 

Su-eon took another long sip of her coffee. 

Ugh, bitter.

“Is there something wrong with the coffee?”  

Seung-jo, who had been leaning back and sitting comfortably, suddenly straightened up and asked. Sitting at an angle with the table corner between them, their elbows lightly brushed against each other.

“No, there’s no problem.” 

Su-eon replied, scooting slightly to the side. She wanted to move to the opposite seat right then and there, but she held back, worried he might tease her again about running away or something. If only she could finish the coffee quickly and leave, but the coffee grounds at the bottom kept getting sucked into her mouth, making her hesitate.

“Every time you take a sip, your eyebrows shoot up. Like this.”  

Seung-jo demonstrated unnecessarily, lifting his eyebrows dramatically. His unsmiling face made the gesture seem all the more arrogant. Thinking how well it matched his peculiar personality, Su-eon impulsively pushed her iced coffee toward him. It was purely out of spite.

“Would you like to try it?”

She expected him to refuse outright, but to her surprise, Seung-jo leaned forward without hesitation and put the very straw she had been using into his mouth. He drank the coffee in one long pull, and Su-eon blinked at him in disbelief.

“No, I didn’t mean for you to drink it like that…”

The prominent Adam’s apple on his thick neck moved slowly up and down before settling back in place. Seung-jo squinted one eye slightly.

“Tastes like dirt.”

He muttered lowly, narrowing his eyes at her.

“You did it on purpose.”

Checking the coffee, now more than half gone, Su-eon barely managed to suppress a laugh that almost burst out. She feigned innocence as she replied, 

“I’m fine, so if it suits your taste, feel free to finish it.”

Ki Seung-jo’s expression, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, amused Su-eon so much that her lips twitched again. The annoyance that had flared up just moments ago vanished in an instant, swept away along with the heat.

“Let’s switch, then.”

Grinning faintly, Seung-jo took the coffee and placed the gelato in front of her. Though hesitant, Su-eon reached for the ice cream.

“Wanna bet? Let’s see who finishes first.”

“That’s obviously unfair to me. Coffee is liquid, and this is ice cream.”

“But yours is dirt water.”

“No matter how you put it…”

“Start.”

“…!”