"...CEO Jeong, I'm coming in."
It came with a short knock. Mrs. Cheon's voice was neatly composed. However, she couldn't completely erase the anxiety that had led her to hold Sahee's hands in her room asking "It's not true, is it?"
Though Sahee had explained it was nothing, Mrs. Cheon clearly didn't believe it was nothing. There was still tension in her glances at Sahee.
No one would believe there was pure intent in asking for Yeon Sahee alone to be brought, but Sahee pretended not to notice. Whatever that man said, she just needed to endure it. It was just a matter of forcing down one meal.
He wants to repay a debt, so let him repay it. While bowing and groveling.
Sahee walked behind Mrs. Cheon who was pushing the cart, feeling her forehead still throbbing with a slight fever. The man who had been on a business call noticed Mrs. Cheon and Sahee with a glance and turned his steps.
Mrs. Cheon placed the side dishes one by one from the cart onto the table. Sahee had to stand awkwardly beside the spring vegetables drizzled with sesame oil that stung her nose with their aroma.
"Thank you for your work."
"This is the least I could do. Today I grilled thick yellow croaker. You like fish, don't you? The meat is very firm and the seasoning is just right, it should suit your taste."
Finally placing a large plate of grilled croaker in the center of the table, Mrs. Cheon dusted off her hands.
Then came a silence that revealed Mrs. Cheon's inner thoughts. She seemed unsure whether to leave or stay, with Sahee being there.
CEO Jeong Taeon watched this scene intently as he took off his suit jacket and hung it on a chair. His gesture inviting Sahee to sit as he took his seat had not a trace of superfluity.
"Ms. Yeon Sahee, please sit down too."
"...Yes."
Sahee pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down. Even though Mrs. Cheon was still standing nearby, the man added no further words.
"Do you like grilled croaker?"
Rather, he casually addressed Sahee as if walking a tightrope over Mrs. Cheon's anxiety.
The late night incident felt like a distant dream. Just as even throwing away the empty beer can early in the morning seemed like a solitary illusion, CEO Jeong Taeon appeared completely unfazed.
"You don't seem to like it. I owe Ms. Yeon Sahee quite a lot."
"...No, I do like it."
"That's good. Please eat comfortably."
Sahee bowed her head and picked up her chopsticks. She gathered some glossy rice between them, took a bite, and chewed on some seasoned bean sprouts.
Taeon watched her. He hadn't touched the utensils placed to his right, just quietly observing her eating.
"...Sir, let me serve you some croaker."
Unable to stand it anymore, Mrs. Cheon placed a fish on a separate plate and brought it to him, but Taeon didn't move.
Perhaps because of yesterday's proposition.
When he stared at her as if appraising her, she felt like merchandise for sale. Her forehead burned with uncontrollable humiliation and shame.
That's when CEO Jeong Taeon picked up his chopsticks. His large-knuckled, well-formed hands spread the chopsticks to pick up some seasoned eggplant.
"Are you picky with food?"
Was he in the mood to play? He dropped the glossy eggplant onto her rice. At that moment, Sahee wished Mrs. Cheon would just leave. Though she understood the woman's feelings...
A man who didn't hide his intention to toy with her before putting on his tuxedo, and her position where she couldn't get angry. She wished this was hers alone to bear.
"Eat."
"..."
Sahee glared at Taeon with moist eyes. He just leisurely leaned back in his chair and lifted his chin toward her.
Her hand gripping the chopsticks tensed. As Sahee silently tried to steady her breathing, Taeon kept his eyes on her while addressing Mrs. Cheon.
"Are you planning to stay here?"
"Ah, n-no. I'll leave. For dessert..."
Taeon's gaze brushed over Sahee's tightly closed lips.
"I don't think we'll need it."
"...Yes, sir."
Only after Mrs. Cheon hurriedly left did Sahee let out a bitter laugh while frowning. Simultaneously, a tear fell onto her clenched fist on the table. Taeon looked her over.
"It's this difficult just to feed you a meal."
"That's not what this is about."
"Must be quite close to you. Seeing how oversensitive you are to cry over something like this."
"I clearly told you yesterday that I don't want this."
"No. You told me to seduce you."
Taeon frowned and pulled over the plate with the croaker. He skillfully separated the flesh by piercing the crispy surface with his chopsticks.
Sahee bit her lower lip as she looked at the white flesh pieces placed before her. The man clicked his tongue while wiping his hands with a table napkin.
"Eat."
"...How grateful should I be? Should I undress now?"
Taeon looked her over at her sarcastic words. An irritated smile hung at the corner of his mouth.
"Want to?"
"..."
"Go ahead then. Go lie down naked."
"..."
"Why look at me like that? Think we don't even need to go to the bed? How convenient."
Sahee's eyes shook helplessly. It didn't take long for tears to overflow.
Taeon stood up. As his figure approached, Sahee startled and moved her feet in her seat. He firmly steadied her tilting chair with one hand and looked down at her.
"Are you trying to fight, or what?"
"..."
"Ms. Yeon Sahee."
Taeon's shadow fell over Sahee's face. His sharp eyes brazenly traced her wet face. Though pale, her head remained stubbornly raised as she breathed heavily. For a moment, Taeon's eyebrows twisted subtly.
But before fear could set in, a defeated smile hung at the corner of his lips. As if rid of any lingering attachment, Taeon straightened up. Light poured over her face like clearing storm clouds.
"You can go now. Tell them to clear this away."
Before he could change his words, Sahee turned her head sharply and roughly wiped her hot cheeks with the back of her hand, hurriedly standing up. But simultaneously, her head spun and her knees gave out.
Once again, it was Taeon who caught her arm just in time. Even when Sahee shook her shoulders, he held her firmly.
"Let, let me go."
"You."
"No."
Despite her quick denial, Taeon lifted her like pulling her from water and sat her back in the chair.
Sahee's body followed limply. When his cold hand suddenly touched her forehead, Taeon's brow furrowed uncontrollably.
"How long have you been like this?"
"I'm fine..."
"Like hell you are, damn it."
Taeon returned to his seat and took out his phone from his suit jacket. Throughout giving instructions to his secretary about emergency medicine, his gaze remained steadily fixed on the frightened Sahee.
When the man returned after briefly stepping out, he had medicine in his hand. Sahee had to sit there silently listening to voices beyond the door fussing about whether someone was ill.
Taeon ripped open the medicine packets and handed them to Sahee with water. After staring at them for a while, she finally had to quickly swallow them in the ensuing silence.
Sahee wiped the moisture from her mouth with the back of her hand and raised her wet eyelids. His fierce gaze had softened like an adult trying to comfort a crying child.
"...I want to leave."
The air that had boiled hot then cooled was unsettled. Taeon stepped aside without a word.
This time she stood up properly, supporting herself on the table. Sahee took a step while needlessly watching his reaction. He immediately followed.
When Sahee turned back silently, Taeon simply responded with a curt "Go ahead."
"..."
Sahee stepped into the hallway through the door, ignoring the presence following her. The man's presence one step behind her slow, limping walk constricted her heart.
While sitting on the porch putting on her sneakers, she glanced several times at Taeon's long shadow. Only when she stood up was she finally granted a narrow relief.
Let's get back quickly.
That single thought dominated her mind.
"Madam! You're back early?"
Mrs. Cheon's clear voice cut through her tangled thoughts. Not far away, she sounded urgent, as if hoping her voice would reach every corner of the guest house.
Her heart sank. Sahee turned to look at Taeon. Their gazes crossed in the air like people who had committed a wrongdoing. Her unconsciously bitten lips were dry.
"Was the meal not to your liking? I prepared Jeju croaker today, which you like."
Mrs. Cheon's voice was anxious. The effort to somehow buy time pierced her ears sharply.
The guest house didn't even have the usual mouse holes. The only way out was through the door. There was nowhere to escape unless she jumped over the wall taller than her...
"Did we commit a crime?"
Taeon whispered softly as they faced each other.
Looking into his eyes, for a moment she had the illusion of Park Jisoon's thick palm slapping her cheek. Mrs. Cheon was there too.
How dare you.
The fierce eyes that had been directed at Sahee immediately turned to Mrs. Cheon.
How could you, Mrs. Cheon.
While she could somehow survive leaving Younghwadang, Mrs. Cheon had a sick granddaughter she cherished like life itself.
As her legs moved first to hide somewhere, her wrist was caught. Her breath caught. The man's calmly settled eyes seemed to actually want this secret meeting to be discovered.
Sahee shook her head violently. Taeon pulled her closer without concern. His cold hand slid over the back of her hand, burrowing between her fingers to finally block her way.
"...Please."
At a distance close enough to fall into his arms, her thin voice pleaded with him. The voices were getting closer. The footsteps stuck like barnacles clinging to rocks.
Sahee put force into her caught hand. Earnestly, as if about to kneel and beg.
Please.
"Just this once."
She didn't know what he was being so generous about. She just yielded to the grip pulling her.
* * *
Of all times. Why now?
"This flower is pretty. The grapefruit color is so fresh. Mrs. Cheon is really skilled."
"Oh, you're too kind."
Sahee exhaled hot breath as she heard their friendly exchange. Her nape burned as if scorched by the sun.
In the narrow gap between the wall and the guest house. He entered first and pulled her in. Though they hid before Madam Min and Mrs. Cheon entered the yard, she felt no relief. She was too close to him.
"..."
"..."
A gap of perhaps one centimeter was their only boundary. Even when spring breeze tickled her nape, the heat showed no signs of cooling.
Sahee, who had been staring at the narrow gap between them, looked up. As if he had been following her gaze all along, their eyes met.
"By the way, did CEO Jeong eat?"
"I took it to his room earlier. I was about to go clean up, but I'm not sure if he finished."
"Really, it's so hard to even see my only son's face at mealtimes because of all that work, work, work. I don't like it. At least make sure he gets good desserts. Today's yakgwa was delicious. It wasn't too sweet and didn't stick to your mouth, it was amazing."
"Of course. I specially requested it from a place I know when I heard you were coming, Madam."
Though she tried to maintain eye contact defiantly, Sahee was the first to look away.
Taeon let out a light laugh. Startled that it might have been heard in the yard, Sahee grabbed his sleeve.
Taeon looked down intently at his caught sleeve. Though Sahee quickly tried to pull her hand away, he was faster. He caught her retreating hand and pulled her close.
As Sahee tilted toward Taeon in the confusion, gasping for breath in uncertainty, his large hand cupped her right cheek.
"..."
"..."
His calloused thumb gently caressed her face. Heat rose following his languid touch stroking her face. She tried to pull her chin away to avoid him, but it was futile.
"It's good Mrs. Cheon is back. I should prepare some health tonic to make up for my guilt. She could have used someone else, why get sick cleaning and scrubbing here?"
"I feel better doing it myself. You know that."
"That's why I like Mrs. Cheon."
Her pulse raced wildly below her neck. When his fingers touched her lips, which his lowered gaze had been intensely tracing, a tingling sensation rose below her navel. It was an urge she feared would be discovered.
Sahee squeezed her eyes shut as she felt Taeon slowly lowering his head. For a moment, nothing happened. Only their breathing could be heard clearly.
However, the moment Sahee opened her eyes, Taeon met her gaze and kissed her as if he had been waiting. Their lips collided as if being devoured, but the kiss was sweet and soft.
Taeon found her trembling, curled-up form and thoroughly tasted her. While it was hard to believe this man had such moist, tender flesh somewhere, when he sucked on her lips it felt so thrillingly good that her breath caught.