II - 38

I-ryeong felt fortunate and grateful that Mrs. Choi, the helper stationed at the annex, was such a warm presence. 

There was something about her that reminded I-ryeong of the tender, comforting affection she had dreamed of as a child. 

“The Dogok-dong household isn’t as formal compared to other chaebol families. Neither the CEO nor the master of the house are particularly harsh or cruel.” 

The reputation of her in-laws, conveyed by an outsider, seemed quite positive. Just looking at Mrs. Choi’s gentle smile made it clear that her in-laws were good people. 

“Probably, the greeting you gave yesterday was sufficient. That’s likely why you weren’t called separately today.” 

I-ryeong nodded to acknowledge her understanding. Still, hearing about something after the fact wasn’t exactly pleasant. 

“Rather than me explaining their tendencies, I think it would be easier for you to understand if you experience and learn directly through interaction, Madam.” 

Mrs. Choi took another step closer to I-ryeong. 

A faintly sweet scent wafted from Mrs. Choi, who wore light makeup. 

Perhaps it was because she worked for a cosmetics company—her soft, cozy fragrance made I-ryeong’s eyes close involuntarily. 

She thought how nice it would be if her late mother had smelled this way—soft and warm. 

“As for the hanbok, I heard that you personally prepared it, Madam. Even the Vice President’s. I thought it would be better for you to store it separately rather than me arbitrarily placing it in the dressing room, so I left it in the closet. If it caused any inconvenience, I apologize sincerely.” 

Mrs. Choi bowed her head in a respectful apology. 

Her kindness had been misunderstood, and I-ryeong realized it was because her considerate gesture had felt awkward to her. 

“Oh, no! It’s fine!” 

I-ryeong’s face, pale as porcelain, flushed bright red. Her head felt hot, as if steam might rise from her uncombed hair. 

Fidgeting with her earlobes, she lowered her head. 

“If there’s anything uncomfortable during your stay, please let me know right away.” 

I-ryeong felt grateful for Mrs. Choi’s deep smile, which crinkled the corners of her eyes. 

She briefly pondered how to apologize for her earlier sharpness when— 

“What’s going on?” 

I-jun, wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his forehead, entered. He had disappeared since early morning. 

Lost in thought while talking to Mrs. Choi, I-ryeong hadn’t noticed him come in. 

“Welcome back, Vice President.” 

Mrs. Choi stepped back and bowed deeply to I-jun. 

He returned the bow and squeezed between the two women. 

“Why did you wake up so early? You were sleeping so soundly, so I left without waking you.” 

“I had to wake up. What time is it now?” 

A faint scent wafted from him, clad in black athletic wear. It was like the fresh, calming aroma of dew-kissed grass blending earth and flowers—a scent that soothed her restless emotions. 

It was a perfume from AE Cosmetics. 

Though the company specialized in cosmetics, its perfumes had struggled to shine against international competitors. As a result, their fragrances were often considered a weak point in their product lineup. 

“Is the time really that important?” 

“Of course.” 

I-ryeong couldn’t help but smile faintly as she replied. 

Despite having joined the company less than six months ago, she found it amusing how she could identify their products even with her eyes closed. 

“This is the annex. Our space. It means you can relax here.” 

The mingling scents of I-jun and Mrs. Choi weren’t unpleasant. In fact, they made I-ryeong feel like she had finally found a proper sanctuary. 

As she gazed at I-jun, she hoped this cozy atmosphere would soothe her weary heart for a lifetime. 

“I heard some noise near the entrance. Is there a problem?” 

With softly curved eyes, I-jun focused on her hanbok and asked Mrs. Choi, unaware of the inappropriate thoughts it might evoke. 

“Madam was planning to go to the main house, so I was trying to dissuade her.” 

“The main house?” 

His gaze remained fixed on the hanbok. 

“There seems to have been a slight misunderstanding.” 

“Is that so?” 

Overcome with desire, he nodded absentmindedly, his mind still clouded with the memory of their passionate night together. 

I-jun felt disgusted with himself. 

He had promised not to touch her again, yet he had broken that promise multiple times. Why make promises he couldn’t keep? 

“How should we prepare breakfast?” 

Mrs. Choi, stepping back further, addressed the couple. 

“What about you? If you’re hungry, shall we eat now?”

“…I’m not hungry yet.” 

Her flat stomach didn’t feel the slightest bit hungry. 

She had spent all morning focusing on trivial matters, leaving her with a mild headache. I-ryeong thought it would be better to catch up on missed sleep rather than force herself to eat. 

“It’s still early. I’ll eat later.” 

“Yes, Vice President. Please call if you need anything.” 

Mrs. Choi excused herself, leaving the couple alone in the living room, wrapped in silence. 

By now, spring sunlight streamed through the large glass windows, scattering brilliantly like falling cherry blossoms over their heads. 

I-ryeong felt strangely unsettled. 

Though his eyes were hidden beneath the brim of his cap, she somehow sensed the way he was looking at her. She quietly imagined his gaze might be as warm as the faint scent wafting from him. 

“What did Mrs. Choi mean? About going to the main house?” 

His tone was sharp—almost as if he were angry. 

“I was on my way to help prepare breakfast.” 

Reflecting on Mrs. Choi’s kindness, she revealed the truth, hoping to prevent any trouble for her. 

“Breakfast preparation? No one asked you to do that.” 

“Let’s just say it was voluntary.” 

Her prickly emotions slipped out unintentionally. 

She didn’t need to feel disappointed in him—it wasn’t as though she had sought his permission before acting—but her tone came out biting and sharp. 

“While you were sleeping soundly, that was more productive. You’ve gone and done something unnecessary.” 

Her skin, bathed in sunlight, looked translucent—clearer than any water, almost unreal. 

“It wasn’t entirely pointless. Let’s say there were some… results.” 

“A misunderstanding producing results, huh?” 

“No comment.” 

At this moment, I-jun felt an overwhelming urge to touch her pouting lips and her flushed cheeks spreading red. 

“As long as you’re here in Dogok-dong, you won’t have to prepare meals. That’s just how things are here.” 

To shake off the blurred boundaries of reality, he brought up the topic he’d overheard at the entrance. 

“Dogok-dong…” 

Hearing those words directly from him felt different from when Mrs. Choi had said them. A wave of inexplicable discomfort surged within her chest. 

They knew something she didn’t. To I-ryeong, Dogok-dong felt like a raw nerve. 

“Relax your expression.” 

“What’s wrong with my expression?” 

Without meaning to, I-ryeong shot him a glare. She hadn’t intended to get upset. 

“Here and here.” 

He gently touched the corners of her sharply raised eyes with fingers warmed by his body heat. 

The soft sensation made her blink repeatedly, and her irritation melted away. 

“You looked like an angel while sleeping, but why do you suddenly look like a scary devil?” 

The cozy fragrance lingering in the living room mingled with his light laughter. 

His playful smile disarmed her, and the anger she had directed at him silently dissolved. 

Why did she always feel so weak in his presence? 

Her feelings couldn’t be explained solely by love—it was something deeper, more complex. 

I-ryeong clenched her lips to suppress her tangled emotions and stared straight at him. 

“You’re beautiful.” 

I-jun’s eyes softened into a gentle curve. 

“Quite stunning.” 

“…!” 

What woman wouldn’t be flattered by such a compliment? 

I-ryeong struggled to breathe properly, her breath catching in her throat. 

Her already large eyes widened further in surprise. She licked her dry lips, trying to regain her composure. 

The tension seeping from her tightly clenched hands on the hem of her hanbok made her head spin. 

“What are you thinking about?” 

Suddenly, I-jun tilted his face and leaned in close. His warm lips brushed against her cheek. 

The heat emanating from him made the fine hairs on her skin stand on end, but the sensation didn’t last long. 

The fleeting touch of his lips left her yearning for more.

Her longing for him to come closer only grew stronger. 

That fleeting moment, lasting less than a second, felt like a metaphor for their relationship. They seemed so close, yet remained impossibly distant—an ambiguous connection that left her with nothing but regret. 

I-ryeong trembled her delicate lashes, the weight of unfulfilled yearning lingering in her heart. 

“I’m curious what’s going through that little head of yours.” 

His hoarse voice, raspy as if scraping against his vocal cords, pierced her ear. 

It felt as though he, too, was lamenting the fleeting sensation, and I-ryeong couldn’t hide her flustered emotions. 

“The lipstick,” she murmured. 

When his hand moved from her eyes to her lips, she realized the absurdity of her earlier assumption. 

The dizzying fantasy shattered into pieces, leaving only embarrassment behind. 

A searing heat surged through her body, and all she wanted was to disappear completely. 

“It suits you well. You look beautiful.” 

Pouting childishly, she puffed up her cheeks, trying to dispel the lingering warmth of his touch. 

“I didn’t know you could look this cute…” 

Her angry expression resembled a greedy squirrel clutching an acorn. 

He wanted to poke her soft cheeks, bursting them like balloons filled with breath, but restrained himself. He intended to tease her all day long. 

I-jun took off his cap and tossed it onto the sofa. Running his fingers through his tousled hair, the soft strands slipped silently between his long fingers. 

With his mind finally at ease, memories he had never shared with her began to surface—instinct taking over, spilling secrets he hadn’t meant to reveal.