II - 41

Since it was the weekend, I-ryeong figured her younger sibling would be home, so she decided to send them a message.

[Jeongmin, it’s your older sister. I was wondering if you’ve moved rooms yet, so I’m sending this text. How’s studying going? If there’s anything difficult, feel free to contact me anytime…]

She ended up writing quite a long message but quickly deleted it all.

“Since when have I been so affectionate?”

Thinking about how distant their relationship usually was made her actions seem ridiculous.

Not to mention, this wasn’t even their first contact.

Leaning against the wall, I-ryeong repeatedly wrote and deleted messages several times before finally finishing.

[Jeongmin. Have you moved rooms yet?]

A concise, no-frills text message.

I-ryeong felt quite satisfied, thinking that this level of distance between her and her sibling was just right.

[Sister, hello. I haven’t been able to move rooms yet. The furniture Brother-in-law ordered is arriving tonight. Once the furniture arrives, I plan to start using the room.]

But after reading the message from her sibling, her feelings grew complicated.

“I-jun?”

When did he manage to do something like this without saying a word?

She didn’t understand why he kept this secret from her, which left her feeling somewhat frustrated.

Still, she knew his intentions were good, so she pushed aside her frustration and replied.

[Alright. Be sure to thank Brother-in-law for me.]

Just as he had gifted her a study room, she chose to believe he had done the same for her sibling with good intentions.

Kindness should remain kindness.

[I’ll call you tonight. Thank you, Sister.]

Looking at the words on the screen, it felt like Jeongmin’s face was visible—those round eyes, beautifully layered, probably smiling sweetly.

That was just the kind of kid her sibling was. Even without being close, they always smiled warmly, so it felt natural.

Unconsciously, I-ryeong found herself smiling softly as she caressed her phone screen for a long while.

The couple woke up early in the morning and prepared to leave the annex together.

The distance to the main gate was considerable, so both the main house and annex used electric carts to get around. However, due to I-ryeong’s insistence, they decided to walk to the gate.

The April morning air was chilly, but I-ryeong, carrying heavy bags in both hands, enjoyed the crisp cold seeping into her bones.

Moreover, her new work attire played a part in lifting her mood.

Though she had married I-jun, unlike him who held an executive position, her rank was that of an entry-level employee—the lowest in her team.

However, today she was dressed in a luxurious designer dress that rivaled those worn by executives.

From early morning, the living room was filled with clothes and accessories as if it were a high-end boutique. Jackets and dresses costing over a million won, along with premium bags priced in the tens of millions, delighted her eyes.

At first, that was all it was. Having previously worked in the fashion industry before AE Cosmetics, she felt a bit curious.

She thought choosing an outfit for the day would be the end of it—but no. All the clothing items worth hundreds of millions, brought by the personal shopper, were neatly displayed in the couple’s dressing room. Enough outfits for the entire week, apparently.

Having indulged in luxury since morning, I-ryeong didn’t feel the weight of the bags in her hands.

Even wearing pointed heels, her steps felt light. Her shoes, perfectly matched with her tweed dress, made her feel like Cinderella, leaving her giddy with excitement.

“You look happy.”

“Just a little.”

I-ryeong wrinkled the bridge of her nose as she smiled.

“For just ‘a little,’ wasn’t that tune you were humming rather loud?”

“A song? You think I was singing?”

She couldn’t hide her confusion. She had never sung in front of anyone in her life, so she didn’t believe him.

“If you say it wasn’t you, then it wasn’t.”

“No, it wasn’t me. But if you say it was me, then maybe it was. Who knows, maybe I really did sing.”

Her gaze softened as she looked at I-jun, as though he were a prince on a white horse.

Watching I-ryeong’s expressions shift moment by moment stirred strange emotions within I-jun.

“What’s all that?”

Walking side by side, I-jun’s tone stretched out along with his narrowed eyes, clearly displeased as he stared at the gifts.

“It’s a gift.”

I-ryeong waved the paper bag she’d brought from the study.

“I know it’s a gift. Anyone can see how carefully it’s wrapped. If you’re going to carry such things, we should’ve taken the cart.”

“It’s not heavy at all.”

How could she claim it wasn’t heavy when she was carrying two bags almost as big as herself?

I-jun’s mood soured. He would’ve felt less irritated if she had at least asked him to carry them.

“Who are you giving this gift to?”

He felt twisted inside about these unexpected gifts. He had never received anything like this himself, making it even more unsettling.

“It’s a thank-you gift for my team members. Apparently, it’s customary to give gifts to those who attended the wedding.”

I-ryeong laughed brightly, her smile pure and seemingly without ulterior motives.

“Who told you that? We didn’t even collect any wedding money, and do you even know how much the banquet food alone cost? That was more than enough compensation.”

Distributing gifts at the company? This completely unforeseen response made I-jun bristle.

They had held a wedding without accepting any monetary gifts, as per their parents’ wishes, and paid for the banquet costing tens of millions.

“My teammates came over during the weekend. They sacrificed their personal time. Besides, the wedding checklist specifically mentioned that thank-you gifts were necessary.”

I-ryeong was truly grateful to them, even if they had attended because their boss was getting married and had no choice.

“Chae I-ryeong.”

He stopped abruptly on the path crossing the garden.

Startled by the low, piercing tone, I-ryeong halted and looked up at him.

“Don’t you remember what I said before? Didn’t I tell you not to look at that wedding checklist nonsense?”

“…I-jun?”

I-ryeong’s wide eyes instantly turned into those of a startled rabbit.

“Wasn’t that supposed to be some guide for a happy marriage?”

She couldn’t help but be surprised that he still remembered.

Ultimately, I-ryeong, her large eyes brimming with his image, was pulled back into memories of that time.

‘Is it really okay to use I-jun like this?’

‘I’m ready to endure everything.’

His words from back then, when he said he was prepared to be used by her once she decided to marry him, suddenly resurfaced. She remembered how even the slightest brush of their hands had made her tremble.

I-ryeong fiddled with the handle of the paper bag as she continued to look up at him.

Why was he suddenly getting angry? Back then, he had been so affectionate, and she had helplessly fallen for that fleeting tenderness.

With eyes full of questions, she stared at him silently. She could see her reflection deeply embedded in his gaze as he looked down at her.

“I’m going to thoroughly use you, Yi Ryeong. So, you should thoroughly use me too.”

Despite his warning about using her, he never asked for anything in return.

Well, there was one thing. He desired and craved her body.

“What are you thinking about now?”

His fingers lightly tapping her cheek pulled her out of her thoughts.

“It’s nothing.”

“Nothing? Didn’t I tell you before? You can’t hide anything from me here.”

The warmth of his fingertips, cooled by the wind, brushed against her trembling cheek. The chilly sensation made it feel like the heat on her face was fading away.

“I have to go to work today.”

“I know.”

“Do people who know act like this?”

The man who had been angry just moments ago now wore a troubled expression.

Yi Ryeong licked her lips, which were perfectly painted with lipstick. His gaze followed the tip of her tongue peeking out.

In his focused stare, an impure desire flickered.

“We’re... we’re going to be late! Let’s hurry!”

Realizing the implication of his words, Yi Ryeong turned beet red and rushed ahead of him.

If only they had taken the cart from the beginning, this awkward situation wouldn’t have happened.

She bit her lip hard and nearly ran.

In the distance, beyond the open gate, she spotted Manager Geum Haera waiting.

Surely not—there was no way anyone could have overheard their conversation from such a distance. Still, unease crept in. Anyone seeing the newlywed bride with a flushed face first thing in the morning might imagine inappropriate things.

“Good morning!”

“Yes, Madam. Good morning. Please hand me the bags.”

“No, I’ll take care of them.”

Still clutching the paper bag, Yi Ryeong quickly slipped into the car with its door already open.

The engine was running, and warm air filled the interior.

“Good morning, Madam.”

“Ah, yes. Good morning!”

Without a moment to catch her breath, she greeted Geum Joon-taek, the father of Manager Geum and the chauffeur assigned to the couple.

Just like Mrs. Choi, who took care of the annex, Mr. Geum, a middle-aged chauffeur, also had a gentle demeanor.

Perhaps because of that, her wildly racing heart began to calm down, gradually finding its rhythm again.

“Let’s get going.”

Soon after, I-jun climbed into the car and immediately gave the order to depart.

The sedan carrying the couple smoothly exited the estate and entered the city. The traffic during rush hour was predictably congested.

Ever since they had started moving, Yi Ryeong had been turning her head to look out the window. She hadn’t intended to avoid him, but somehow, that’s how it ended up looking.

The car, devoid of any radio or music, was enveloped in silence.

Immersed in the quietness, watching the rapidly passing scenery outside, she felt a sense of peace settling in her heart.

At that moment, a smile spread across Yi Ryeong’s face as she realized that while the study in the annex provided her solace, this car offered her comfort in the outside world.

“I’ll begin the briefing.”

Manager Geum, seated in the passenger seat, broke the silence as he read from his tablet screen.

“I’ve confirmed that both Vice President Lee and Madam have no external appointments scheduled for today.”

So, they were managing schedules now. With curious eyes, Yi Ryeong glanced at the front seat.

From the personal shopper who arrived early in the morning to the dedicated secretary—they all highlighted how different this commute was compared to an ordinary one.

“What about after work?”

“You have a dinner reservation with Executive Director Lee Kang-moo of EK Trading, scheduled a month ago.”

Unconsciously, Yi Ryeong perked up her ears at the mention of the evening plans.

Determined not to miss even the smallest detail, she leaned closer to him without realizing it, her body now almost pressed against his.