41. Double Personality

With a calm face, Ji-soo gave Tae-ha some notes for future reference and began gathering her clothes. His persistent gaze lingered on every movement she made, but she carried on without paying him any mind.

She had shown him her naked body countless times, but getting dressed in front of him still felt impossible. Ji-soo picked up her outerwear and undergarments, ready to leave, but then realized the last piece she had taken off was missing. Her panicked eyes darted around the spacious bedroom, searching every nook and cranny, including beneath the bed.

“…Looking for this?”

The devilish whisper from behind her felt like a wicked curse. She regretted not just grabbing her clothes and leaving the bedroom when she had the chance. After hesitating and being needlessly stubborn, she had ended up in this awkward situation.

“Not it? If you don’t need it, I’ll keep it.”

Ji-soo whipped around, fuming. The white lace dangled teasingly from his hand.

“Give it to me.”

“Why should I?”

Was she really supposed to ask for her own underwear back while he held onto it, listing reasons as if mocking her? Ji-soo found the situation absurd and infuriating. Meanwhile, Tae-ha looked so amused that it irked her even more. To prevent herself from strangling him, she clenched her fists tightly to stop them from lashing out.

Was his excessive honesty an instinct or part of his personality? Ji-soo’s emotions were laid bare as they shifted with every passing moment. And every reaction she showed when provoked was pure entertainment for him, making teasing her all the more delightful. Despite his nickname “Ice Prince,” she doubted he agreed with it at all.

“How about we settle this with a hit? One punch, and I get to keep the panties.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

When Ji-soo took a step closer, planning to snatch it away, Tae-ha immediately stepped back, having read her intentions perfectly.

“That’s what I want to ask you. You’re such a split personality, Han Ji-soo.”

Once again, Ji-soo’s clear eyes widened with confusion.

“Me…? What did I do?”

While exchanging words with Tae-ha, Ji-soo couldn’t help but glance at the item in his hand. Perhaps displeased by this, he casually slipped it into his pocket. Retrieving it would require getting close to him, distracting him, and pulling it out—all of which seemed impossible against someone as persistent and calculating as him.

For a moment, she considered giving up and leaving the officetel as is, but she couldn’t predict what he might do with it later. As long as he had it, she was at his mercy.

He was a meticulous demon in human form, incapable of letting anything go without exacting repayment.

A bold thought crossed her mind: if Tae-ha were ever sent to the underworld to judge humans’ sins, he’d undoubtedly become the universe’s greatest judge.

“Imagine waking up after sharing a passionate night together, only for your sexual partner to immediately start criticizing your qualifications. Wouldn’t you be baffled? Or were all the guys you’ve rolled around with before just rude idiots with no manners?”

Technically speaking, it wasn’t right after waking up. They had lazily basked in the lingering heat, reluctant to leave the bed. Ji-soo had stayed in his arms as much as possible, enjoying these moments of afterglow. Just feeling the warmth of his bare skin and listening to his steady breathing made her heart race like it might explode.

And it wasn’t as if she had criticized his qualifications. She knew she couldn’t reject him or refuse any part of him—it simply wasn’t in her nature.

“If I offended you, I’m sorry. But wasn’t this something we both agreed upon? To keep things easy, comfortable, and mutually satisfactory as partners.”

Until the Vice President gets married. Ji-soo swallowed her last words and met his gaze with clarity.

“So why are you suddenly acting clingy and emotional instead of sticking to what we initially agreed on?”

This time, it was Tae-ha who stepped closer. As his overwhelming presence approached, Ji-soo’s entire focus gravitated toward him. She no longer cared about the underwear hidden in his pocket.

“Yes. If this continues, I don’t think we can keep seeing each other.”

Ji-soo turned her head away, saying words she didn’t mean. She feared he’d see through her lie at any moment and demand an explanation.

A soft touch brushed against her chin. Tae-ha gently cupped her small jaw and turned her face toward him. Ji-soo, who had been biting her lip, was helplessly drawn into his grasp.

“Say it again.”

“You wanted a quiet, enjoyable partner who fits well physically, right? Then stop doing things like this—suddenly showing up and disregarding my circumstances, acting however you please…”

Tae-ha didn’t miss the deliberate emphasis Ji-soo placed on the phrase “bedroom partner.” His fingertips, which had been tracing her soft lips, slipped inside her moist warmth. He stroked her tender, sticky walls with gentle care.

“Are you mad because I took you into my arms last night on my own terms? Want me to count how many times Han Ji-soo cried and clung to me throughout the night? How many times she got wet?”

“It’s just a natural bodily response, like a physiological phenomenon. It would’ve happened even if it weren’t you…”

Tae-ha pressed his finger firmly against her tongue, silencing her mid-sentence. The pressure prevented her from continuing.

He pulled his saliva-soaked finger out and wiped it across her lips. Her transparently red, swollen lips glistened—they were still puffy from being bitten and sucked relentlessly the night before.

“Alright, I’ll take it into consideration. Go ahead.”

As his finger retreated, the unexpected words caught her off guard. Ji-soo’s bewildered gaze shot toward him. Contrary to his earlier cold demeanor, he smiled brightly at her. His fresh, boyish grin resembled the face of a pure youth.

This was why Ji-soo was so confused. When their bodies entwined passionately, she felt like the queen ruling his world. Yet, in moments like this—in the daylight after waking up or during their everyday office interactions—he clearly maintained boundaries between them.

Even now, after acting as though he intended to end their relationship, he let her go, claiming he’d “take it into consideration.” Still, he hadn’t returned her underwear, keeping it tucked safely in his pocket.

“No, I should drop you off. Do you think I’d send you home alone without underwear?”

Only then did Ji-soo remember the item she had temporarily forgotten. Retrieving it was becoming increasingly difficult.

“What if you lure some other guy along?”

“When have I ever…”

Ignoring her retort, Tae-ha grabbed his car keys and exited the bedroom first.

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Under the crimson sky painted by the setting sun, the car carrying the two of them came to a stop at the entrance of the alley. Ji-soo initially thought the day had passed by so easily, but soon reconsidered. Being with Tae-ha felt like taking a nutritional supplement—you had to chew carefully and savor it to reap its benefits. Though consuming it was challenging, afterward, you felt a sense of growth, both physically and emotionally.

Gazing up at the reddening sky, Ji-soo picked up her bag.

“Thank you. Drive safely.”

“Wait a moment.”

With her hand on the door handle, Ji-soo turned her head slightly to look at him. Dissatisfied with just her glance, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her fully toward him.

Satisfied with her current state, he reached into the backseat and retrieved a shopping bag. When she just stared blankly at it, he took out the box himself and placed it on her lap.

“Vice President, I…”

“I couldn’t buy anything great since I rushed to finish work and come here.”

“It’s fine.”

“Who taught you the bad habit of saying it’s fine without even looking?”

Ji-soo gazed distantly at the luxury-branded box before opening the lid. Inside was the bracelet Kang Yu-ri had worn to the film production press conference—a high-priced item that had sold out despite its cost. That day, Yu-ri had successfully secured the role as the Korean version’s model thanks to the successful sponsorship.

Did he buy the same one for Yu-ri too? A purely innocent curiosity arose. Of course, she couldn’t ask him directly. A partner shouldn’t feel jealous of their fiancée, and she needed to accept the gift accordingly.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

“You won’t wear it anyway, just toss it in a drawer. What’s there to thank me for?”

“No, I will wear it…”

Ji-soo realized she had fallen for his leading question when she saw his satisfied smile.

“Wear it to the office on the days I’m working.”

“It’s too much to wear to work. It feels burdensome.”

“Exactly. I want it to bother you. I want this bracelet to remind you of me all day long, distracting you constantly.”

Tae-ha took the bracelet out and fastened it around her wrist. The metallic click sounded like a signal marking her as his eternal possession—something she couldn’t escape from, or perhaps didn’t want to escape from.

After stepping out of the car, Ji-soo waited for Tae-ha to drive off. The moment the engine restarted felt painfully long. Her phone vibrated continuously inside her bag. Only after he disappeared did she realize it had been ringing. Seeing Eun-ho’s name on the screen, she sighed softly.

—Ji-soo, are you okay? I was worried because you weren’t answering my calls… Oh, wait, that’s not it. You suddenly took sick leave, so I wondered if something was wrong.

“I drank too much yesterday after a long time and pushed myself too hard. I’m fine now. Thank you for worrying about me.”

Thank you, sorry, it’s fine… These were phrases Ji-soo hated hearing directed at her. Eun-ho couldn’t understand why she drew such a cold line between them, treating him with such guardedness. The hurt he felt only fueled his growing hatred for Tae-ha.

—Did you eat? Don’t skip meals because it’s inconvenient. Or… would you like to come out for a bit? I could bring you food and leave quickly—I won’t take up much of your time.

“I just stepped out and am heading back now. It’s fine. I’ll return to work normally tomorrow. Sorry for worrying you.”

—Okay. Got it. Even though it’s summer, the nights can be humid and chilly, so don’t wear clothes that are too thin. See you tomorrow.

After ending the call, Eun-ho glanced out the car window at Ji-soo standing there alone. Even while talking to him, her gaze remained fixed on the direction where Tae-ha had disappeared.