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chapter 27
As soon as they entered the officetel, Doheon seemed tireless, devouring Yeonseo as if he couldn’t get enough.
Was it because they were the only ones in this space? He moved freely through the living room, bedroom, and even the bathroom, leaving traces everywhere that vividly showed the time they had spent together.
The lingering drowsy haze across Yeonseo’s body was the result of being held under him countless times. Suddenly, the envelope tossed by the shoe rack caught her attention, preventing her from falling asleep immediately.
Yeonseo carefully tried not to make a sound as she got up. After hastily putting on some clothes, she walked into the kitchen.
She recalled memories of learning to cook beside her grandmother. Standing on a chair, her tiny hands would put vegetables into the pot, and she would exclaim with delight when the dish was finally ready to eat.
She wanted Doheon to experience that too—to taste food that brought happiness the moment it touched his mouth.
Cooking for someone you like was such an exhilarating thing. Yeonseo smiled, imagining him enjoying the meal.
Japchae, soybean paste stew, gochujang pork belly, stir-fried anchovies, salad with bell peppers, stir-fried potatoes, rolled omelet. Just looking at the completed dishes made her mouth water.
After filling the table, she went to wake Doheon.
She noticed cold sweat on his forehead. Despite the strong air conditioning making the room chill, he was sweating—was he feeling unwell?
Moaning lowly, Doheon opened his eyes at the sound of Yeonseo’s breath. He abruptly sat up, and the urgency and despair tangled in his gaze were unlike anything she had seen before.
“Did you have a bad dream? You were sweating…”
Yeonseo asked again, concerned.
“Are you okay?”
Doheon exhaled shakily and splashed water on his face. Yeonseo couldn’t hide her worry at his reaction.
“I… made breakfast. Can you eat?”
“You cooked?”
“You went shopping earlier. I really wanted to make it for you.”
Despite his usually serious demeanor, Doheon didn’t seem to dislike it at all.
Yeonseo led his hand and guided him to the kitchen. Doheon, looking dazed at the table, washed his hands and sat down.
Then he said firmly:
“You don’t have to do such unnecessary things next time. It’s not in the contract.”
“…I just wanted to.”
Doheon took a bite of the japchae and chewed. A certain liveliness seemed to return to his eyes.
“Where did you learn to cook?”
“I wouldn’t say I learned properly, but I helped my grandmother a lot when she cooked.”
“I see.”
His voice was still dry, but the tone had risen slightly.
He moved on to the rolled omelet, bell pepper salad, and stir-fried anchovies. Watching the food disappear quickly, a faint smile escaped her lips.
“Does it taste okay?”
He only nodded silently as he swallowed the food. Occasionally, there seemed to be a hint of sadness in his deepened gaze.
“Can I… come here sometimes? I want to eat with you, Doheon.”
She wanted to fill the empty space with warmth, even if just for a moment by his side.
Perhaps this man’s indifferent attitude started from loneliness, she thought.
Ding dong.
Before Doheon could answer, the intercom rang abruptly, snapping all her thoughts away.
The two checked who was at the door together. Yeonseo, recognizing the figure, covered her mouth with one hand.
All the thoughts she had just had now felt futile.
Ding dong.
The intercom rang again because the door wasn’t opened. Doheon walked to the entrance with a somewhat irritated step.
“Why are you opening the door so slowly?”
The heavy door swung open.
Long hair, tall figure, a face without a trace of worry. Yeonseo recognized this woman.
“Oh? Yeonseo, you’re here too?”
The woman seemed equally surprised.
Removing her heels, Seoryeon stepped inside, her mouth agape as she took in the messy living room.
“Ah, did I come at the wrong time?”
Her flustered expression made it seem as though she wasn’t entirely pleased to see Yeonseo with him.
“Yeah.”
Doheon replied in a low voice and snatched the envelope from Seoryeon’s hand. Looking inside, he scolded her.
Apparently, Doheon had asked Seoryeon to bring something, yet she had come into his private space unannounced, which troubled him.
Yeonseo kept her lips tightly sealed.
“You should have at least called first.”
“I forgot, I missed you too much, oppa.”
Seoryeon glanced at the pale Yeonseo and curled her lips in a sly smile.
“Oppa, have you eaten dinner? I was going to ask you to buy something tasty! Let’s go to that Japanese restaurant we went to last time, okay?”
With her playful movements, she linked arms with Doheon, being as cute as possible. He irritably removed her hand from his arm.
“I’ve already eaten. I’ll make a reservation for you to go eat.”
“You’re so cold-hearted!”
How often had these two met? Yeonseo thought. Even after countless times being held in his arms, she didn’t think she could act like that.
Instead, she felt like an intruder among their intimacy. Just a few hours ago, she had shared his warmth, and now she felt like a complete stranger in this house.
What kind of reaction could I even have toward them? Do I even have the right?
They openly displayed their closeness, yet she couldn’t even get angry.
He was married, but not really to her.
Seoryeon pouted her red lips and walked toward the kitchen. She rummaged through the kitchen items as if she were familiar with them.
“How about a drink after so long?”
Seoryeon took a bottle from the wooden wine rack and shook it. The wine sloshing inside seemed to reflect her desires.
What did she want to spend time with Doheon drinking that wine? Yeonseo watched silently, her eyes losing focus.
“What kind of drink is that? Just go home…”
Doheon, holding his forehead, scolded Seoryeon. His words stopped midway as he saw Yeonseo standing there with her bag packed.
“I’ll be going now.”
Yeonseo spoke without looking at him, like a monologue on a darkened stage.
“Where do you think you’re going alone? You’re coming with me.”
Doheon sighed lowly and grabbed her. She smiled faintly, as if to reassure him.
“I didn’t go to Myeongseonjae yesterday, so the elders might worry. I’ll take public transport.”
“Oh really? Yeonseo never stays out overnight! They must be worried. Go quickly then!”
Seoryeon acted as if she owned the house. She seemed happy that Yeonseo was leaving willingly.
Yeonseo thought that the two looked quite good together. Perhaps because they were from similar wealthy families, they didn’t seem different.
In this space, the only odd one out was her.
She saw Doheon’s lips move, but she deliberately ignored him and opened the front door.
Bang!
The heavy door closed.
Doheon no longer tried to stop her. Only the woman’s coquettish laughter escaped as she waited for the elevator.
Yeonseo slumped in the elevator, realizing the nature of her relationship with Doheon once again.
No matter her feelings, their end was only the contract’s expiration.
Her love was as fleeting as a flower blooming and withering in a season.
How long had she wandered? The darkness settling around seemed to awaken her restlessness.
Upon entering Myeongseonjae, the empty living room greeted her. She walked into the kitchen and gulped down water.
Just as she turned, an unwelcome figure appeared—Geum Seon-ae in a silk gown.
“Where have you been?”
Without makeup, her features seemed softer, but her gaze was imposing, stiffening Yeonseo immediately.
Yeonseo put the cup on the table and bowed her head.
“I went to the welcome party for brother-in-law’s arrival. I spent today at Doheon’s officetel.”
Seon-ae tilted her head, arms crossed.
“Really? What about Kang-jae?”
“…I only saw brother-in-law briefly. We just greeted each other, then I left with Doheon.”
Expecting her question, Yeonseo’s answer contained a little falsehood, which came easily. Seon-ae tilted her head disapprovingly.
“And?”
Her tone suggested dissatisfaction.
“That’s all, Mother.”
One corner of Seon-ae’s lips lifted.
“Why don’t you try more?”
“Huh?”
“Lying.”
