CHAPTER 23

*

No, it must be a misunderstanding.

Yeonseo shook her head.

“…I also think It’s best to follow Mrs. Kang’s wishes.”

“That’s comforting. Do you plan on staying out in the rain?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Is getting soaked in the rain your hobby? Wouldn’t it be nice if you came on your own before dragging me here?”

Anyway, feeling rather displeased, she adjusted her steps to avoid the rain and walked into his umbrella’s shelter.

As her vision was blocked by his firm chest, the sound of rain started to be heard from a little distance away. The raindrops that were tapping on her cheeks disappeared, yet she strangely felt an even more ticklish sensation.

Yeonseo let out a sharp breath and asked.

“Can I go to Yongin too? I’ll just say hello. Is that too much to ask?”

After meeting Mrs. Kang, she had to go back to Seungbin. No, not back, but to see him and talk to him.

Director Woo had harbored ill intentions, and the fact that she had helped him was something she had to keep as a secret from Mrs. Kang, and she needed his assurance on that.

Seungbin would be looking forward to her death, so it would be better if he told her what Yeonseo had done. The thought gave Yeonseo a chest pain that felt like her heart was being torn in half.

If Seungbin wants something, it would be better to give it to him.

No, I don’t want to do that.

Every time Seungbin touched her, she felt shivers all over her body as if bugs were crawling on her. She didn’t want to experience that sensation again.

“If you go now, they’ll probably grill you like a neighborhood gossip.”

“Are all your family members in Yongin?”

“Yeah, for now, wash up and catch your breath. Grandma isn’t going anywhere right away.”

Yeonseo lowered her head and once again aware of her appearance. She was dressed in a way that would worry Mrs. Kang.

I should stop by the boarding house and get some clothes. No, even if I stop by the boarding house, I don’t have any decent clothes to wear.

I’d better buy some clothes. But money?

Only now did she remember that she left her bag in Seungbin’s car a while ago.

Maybe I should meet Seung-bin first.

“Let’s go by car.”

“I… “

“I’m not asking for your opinion, just get in quietly.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’re good at making me say things several times.”

Taeheon looked at Yeonseo coldly. It felt like he was advising her to calm down.

Even if Yeonseo ran around frantically, it wouldn’t help Mrs. Kang’s health. It would be more productive to think about what she could do for her.

The truth was, she didn’t have the strength to refuse Taeheon any further. She got into the front passenger seat he had opened. Before closing the car door, Taeheon took off his jacket and tossed it over Yeonseo’s lap.

“Put it on if you don’t want to catch a cold.”

Holding the large jacket in her arms, Yeonseo hesitated. It was the second time she received something from him.

“Did you put it on?”

“I was going to.”

At his question, Yeonseo quickly slipped her arms into the sleeves of the jacket. Taeheon’s car smelled strongly of his cologne. She didn’t like perfumes, but his scent was different.

Cool and addictive…

“Sir, you’ve done a lot for me…”

As Taeheon grabbed the steering wheel, he chuckled softly, seemingly amused by something.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I could cover the funeral expenses. Really.”

“Ask for more if you want.”

“….”

“I have you, Han Yeonseo, that’s enough for me.”

“….What do you mean?”

“Don’t make me drive all the way here and then pretend you don’t know. Because of you, I had to postpone an important schedule.”

A spark seemed to ignite in her chest, and Yeonseo tightly bit her lip.

“I never asked you to do that.”

“This is why you can’t get yourself together.”

Taeheon gripped the steering wheel tightly. Knowing that Taeheon’s actions were driven by s*xual curiosity, just a flow of desire, it still made Yeonseo feel strange.

“Did Seungbin say anything else?”

Yeonseo shook her head.

“It was nothing. Can you just drop me off near the boarding house?”

Seeing no response, she felt like her request had been ignored.

She wasn’t sure where his car was headed, and she wasn’t going to beg him to take her to the boarding house because she didn’t have the confidence to win against him.

Yeonseo cautiously opened her phone and checked the missed calls from Seungbin.

[Yeonseo, let’s not do this.]

[Manager Woo, it’s late today. Let’s talk tomorrow. Please don’t mention anything to Mrs. Kang, thank you].

She deleted and rewrote the message several times before sending it. She let out a deep sigh.

With the vibration of the car’s silent ride, drowsiness washer over Yeonseo.

She couldn’t resist the heavy fatigue pressing down on her like a rock and fell into a deep sleep.

*

She opened her eyes when the car came to a stop in the darkness. Blinking, Yeonseo unfastened her seatbelt.

She thought she smelled an unfamiliar scent, but it was just Taeheon’s jacket. She turned her head to see him in the driver’s seat.

Taeheon had his head tilted back, with his eyes closed. The light filtering in from the commercial buildings illuminated his handsome appearance. His well-defined features were the central elements that adorned his face.

Despite being a bad person, looking at his peacefully sleeping face, she couldn’t help but feel softened.

“If you’re awake, get off.”

Taeheon said, opening his eyes. She thought he was sleeping, but his voice sounded alert and normal.

“Where are we?”

“The officetel.”

(An officetel is a type of housing in South Korea that combines an office and a hotel, often used for short-term stays or housing for single individuals.)

It felt like the parking lot. In the end, she had come here. Yeonseo admitted that there was no way to back out now and nodded her head.

“Thank you for driving me…”

Before Yeonseo could finish her sentence, Taeheon got out of the car. Yeonseo hurriedly got out of the car and followed him to the building entrance.

Taeheon stood in front and the door opened without him doing anything. There were several security personnel in the lobby.

The receptionist greeted the two of them. The atmosphere of this officetel was quite different from the ones Yeonseo knew.

“I can go in alone.”

Taeheon didn’t even reply.

Surely, he wouldn’t follow me to the room, would he?

But that ‘surely’ became a reality. Taeheon, as if showing off that he was the owner, personally entered the 12-digit password, and Yeonseo followed nervously behind.

The interior of the officetel was luxurious enough to make her eyes widen. They passed the kitchen and a multipurpose room, and there was a living room with a door on each side.

After looking around, Taeheon took off his watch and placed it on the island table.

When he felt Yeonseo’s gaze on him as if asking him ‘Why?’, he spoked.

“We’re not done talking about Seungbin. Don’t lie to me, just tell me the truth.”

As Taeheon pressed on as if he knew something, Yeonseo’s mouth dried up. If she were to confess that he had threatened her, and that’s why she reluctantly made the request, what would Taeheon say?

While she hesitated whether she should speak, Taeheon added further.

“Did you kiss him again?”

“…Is that what you’re curious about?”

“I have a record of it happening before.”

Taeheon tilted his head slightly, as if trying to figure out what happened.

“You said so yourself that you wouldn’t get involved in any more private unpleasant affairs with Seungbin.”

Yeonseo felt wronged. It wasn’t her choice to meet Seungbin. So, she clenched her fist in frustration.

“What if I did?”

“It would be troublesome if you acted foolishly.”

“I was threatened by Manager Woo Seungbin.”

“You got yourself into trouble, huh?”

Yeonseo focused on Taeheon’s sharp tone and her soaked body trembled slightly. Suddenly, her body was floating .

“W-What are you doing?”

“You still protesting even when you’re cold? Don’t you like my kindness?”

Taeheon walked briskly into the bedroom. The floor seemed farther away than she expected. Surprised, Yeonseo held onto his body to steady herself. Taeheon seemed to chuckle softly.

Once inside the bedroom, Taeheon set her down in the inner bathroom, he glanced around and said.

“Take a shower and come out. There should be clothes in the closet.”

As Taeheon closed the bathroom door and stepped out, she felt liberated.

“Haah…”

Feeling guilty as if she had become a sinner because of Seungbin’s actions, she vowed never to ask for help from Taeheon. However, the boundaries of that determination were vague.

Seungbin’s actions were not just her personal matter, they were also related to Taeheon. She wondered if it would be okay to ask for help from him.

“I don’t know, I really don’t know…”

Yeonseo sat in the luxurious bathtub and buried her face in her palms. Conscience and morality, guilt and appropriate actions. Emotions and reason were all tangled up, overwhelming her.

And Taeheon was breaking down her walls, persistently, pushing and delving deeper into her being.

“I hugged him.”

She scolded herself for being so close to Taeheon just a while ago, as he carried her into the bathroom. She needed to regain her composure.

Afraid that Taeheon might knock on the door if she took too long, she turned on the water and slipped her body in the tub.

As the warm water spread over her skin, her body felt tired. Yeonseo quickly showered and put on a robe before cautiously opening the door.

There was no sign of Taeheon. Feeling relieved, she pushed open the closet that filled one side of the bedroom.  There were several neatly organized sets of clothes.

They were all new, still with tags attached, making her reluctant to wear them, but she couldn’t go out in just a robe. After some contemplation, she chose a suitable loungewear and put it on.

As she headed outside, a savory smell wafted from the kitchen. Her stomach grumbled noisily, as she hadn’t eaten properly for the past few days due to the commotion.

Taeheon was sitting on the couch in the living room, his eyes fixed on his tablet.

“Let’s eat.”

On the table, there was warm abalone porridge, side dishes, water, and utensils all prepared. She wondered if Taeheon had personally opened the container and arranged the side dishes himself.

It was hard to imagine him opening the lid of the side dishes with his long fingers instead of using them for a pen or documents.

“I’ll eat well. What about you?”

“Eat a lot, Han Yeonseo, and get yourself together.”

“…….”

Even if he had said something warmly, it sounded like he was being sarcastic. Yeonseo grumbled inwardly as she sat on the high stool and scooped up some porridge.

With just one bite, her appetite returned. Yeonseo quickly filled her empty stomach.