Chapter 3 …

Choongho’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“Ah… really? Haha, well now. What an interesting coincidence.”

“I know, right?”

“Then I guess we have to keep it a secret from Yeonwoo too? That you’re Chairman Kang’s son.”

Chuckling as though he found it amusing, Choongho continued.

“You’re not officially back in Korea yet, are you? I heard you’re joining the company while hiding your identity. That means I need to watch what I say, right?”

“Yes. I’d appreciate it if you could keep it a secret.”

The moment Mugeol finished speaking, the front door opened, and Jiyoung, already changed into a fresh set of clothes, cautiously peeked her head out.

“Dad, you’re home…? Oh.”

She greeted Choongho with a bright smile before naturally shifting her gaze to Mugeol beside him.

The instant she saw him, her eyes sparkled, and a sweet smile spread across her face.

“Oh, Mr. Mugeol is here too…! Hello. I’m Jung Jiyoung.”

“…”

“I’m younger than you, so… it’s okay if I call you Mugeol oppa, right?”

Despite her greeting, Mugeol said nothing.

He simply stared at Jiyoung.

Of course, the reason he had come to this house immediately after returning to Korea…

…was because of the woman standing before him.

Jung Jiyoung.

The woman being discussed as his future marriage partner.

“Living your whole life renting our basement room, yet acting so arrogant just because you’re smart. Damn it.”

But somehow…

The image that kept surfacing in his mind wasn’t Jiyoung.

It was the fearless face of Yeonwoo, completely different from the vicious woman he’d just witnessed.

“Don’t expose your inferiority complex by saying ridiculous things. I’m not your emotional punching bag.”

The moment he saw her…

He couldn’t stop himself from asking her name.

“My name is Chae Yeonwoo.”

Chae Yeonwoo.

For some reason…

It was a name he was certain he wouldn’t forget easily.

---

“Come eat, Yeonwoo.”

Meanwhile, Kyungseok placed a pot of clam doenjang stew on the dining table and looked toward her room.

But strangely enough, there was no response.

“…”

Walking over to her room, he found Yeonwoo sitting at her desk, absentmindedly staring at the wall.

“Yeonwoo.”

Only after Kyungseok softly called her name did she flinch and turn around.

“Oh… Dad.”

“What are you doing? Come eat.”

She smiled awkwardly before leaving her room.

“Mmm. It smells delicious. Thank you for the meal.”

She sat down at the table with a bright smile.

Watching her expression carefully, Kyungseok cautiously spoke.

“Did something happen between you and Jiyoung earlier? You said you stopped by the department store because of her favor.”

“…”

“Did Jiyoung say something to you again? You don’t look so good.”

Kyungseok knew very well.

Although Jiyoung was younger than Yeonwoo, she never once called her “unnie.”

Instead, she rudely called her things like “Hey” or “Semi-basement.”

Every time he witnessed the way Jiyoung treated his daughter—even in front of him—his anger boiled over.

But whenever he tried to say something to Jiyoung, Yeonwoo would stop him instead, insisting that it was fine.

Because Jiyoung was the daughter of the owners of this house.

Because she was the precious only daughter of the boss who supported her father’s livelihood.

So Yeonwoo endured it.

Again and again.

Swallowing all of it in silence.

“No. I was the one who lost Jiyoung’s necklace.”

As she spoke, Yeonwoo found herself thinking about the man named Mugeol, who hadn’t left her mind since earlier.

Who is he…?

She had never seen his face…

Nor heard his name…

Not once during all the years she’d lived in this house.

She couldn’t forget the very first moment their eyes had met.

“The necklace? What are you going to do…? Did you find it?”

Kyungseok’s face filled with worry the moment he heard she’d lost Jiyoung’s necklace.

“Yeah… I found it. Thanks to him.”

“Him?”

“Ah… never mind. But Dad… the president had a guest over today…”

Yeonwoo lowered her gaze and asked hesitantly.

“Oh, he’s the son of one of the president’s close friends. Today was my first time seeing him too. The president didn’t say whose son he was.”

“I see…”

“His name was… Mu… Mu… what was it again?”

Mugeol.

Unable to bring herself to say it aloud, Yeonwoo merely swallowed the name.

“Oh, right. I heard he’s the one they’re discussing marriage with Jiyoung.”

“…What?”

For some reason…

The moment she heard those words, her heart sank.

Just then, the phone in her pocket vibrated.

[Jung Jiyoung]

It was Jiyoung.

She had probably seen Yeonwoo’s text saying she’d found the necklace.

“Hello?”

—Bring the necklace upstairs right now.

“I’m in the middle of eat—”

—Ugh! You just have to hand me the necklace! Get up here now!

The call ended abruptly.

Yeonwoo let out a helpless sigh.

“Who was that?”

“Dad, I’m just going upstairs to give her the necklace.”

“Right now? What about your dinner…?”

Kyungseok watched worriedly as Yeonwoo got up before finishing her meal.

She picked up the necklace case from her desk and headed for the door.

If she delayed any longer, Jiyoung would surely storm downstairs herself.

She didn’t want to make the house any noisier than it already was.

“Dad, go ahead and eat! I’ll be right back!”

---

“Ma’am… I’m here.”

Normally, she wouldn’t have felt this uncomfortable opening this door.

But today…

Knowing Mugeol was somewhere inside the house made the front door feel strangely heavy.

“You’re here?”

Jiyoung was sitting leisurely on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, sipping tea.

Yeonwoo quickly scanned the living room.

Fortunately…

No one else was there besides Jiyoung.

“Give it.”

Still seated, Jiyoung simply stretched out her hand.

Yeonwoo placed the necklace case into it.

“Check it. There shouldn’t be any problems.”

Having said that, Yeonwoo immediately turned around.

For some reason…

She felt as though Mugeol might suddenly appear.

“Perfect timing.”

Jiyoung stopped her.

“Auntie’s on vacation today, so we’re short-handed.”

Then she casually added,

“Cut up some fruit before you leave. You’re good at cutting fruit.”

Ignoring Yeonwoo’s dumbfounded expression, Jiyoung called toward Seunghee, who had just walked out of the kitchen.

“Mom! Thankfully, Yeonwoo said she’ll cut up some fruit before she leaves.”

“Hey, Jung Ji—!”

“Would you do that for us, Yeonwoo?”

“W-What?!”

Seunghee looked at Yeonwoo expressionlessly.

“Our housekeeper happens to be off today. Thank you, Yeonwoo.”

She had never agreed to do it.

Yet Seunghee gracefully tucked her hair behind her ear while thanking her as though everything had already been decided.

For some reason…

Whenever Yeonwoo stood before Seunghee…

She couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

Unsure what to do, she simply stood there awkwardly.

“The fruit is already on the table. And could you put some yogurt into a bowl and take both upstairs to the study? The president and his guest are there.”

Of all people… I have to bring it to him?

A little later…

Carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit and a bowl of yogurt, she walked into the living room.

She headed toward Choongho’s study.

The study door was slightly open.

“Excuse me…”

She quietly stepped inside.

“Seems we keep running into each other.”

“…!”

Mugeol’s voice came from directly behind her.

Startled, Yeonwoo spun around with the fruit plate still in her hands.

Standing before her…

Was Mugeol, expressionless as ever.

The sudden movement made her lose her balance.

The neatly arranged fruit tumbled off the plate.

“Oh!”

And unfortunately…

“Oh no…! A-Are you okay?”

The bowl of yogurt sitting atop the plate tipped over…

…and spilled directly onto Mugeol’s black slacks.

Sticky white yogurt left a vivid stain as it slowly ran down his pant leg.

Panicking, Yeonwoo grabbed tissues from the nearby table and immediately knelt down.

“I’m so sorry! What should I do…?”

She hurriedly began wiping the yogurt from his pants.

Her face flushed bright red with embarrassment as she frantically scrubbed at the stain.

“What do I do…? What do I do…”

But no matter how much she wiped…

The pale mark refused to disappear.

Looking as though she might burst into tears, she scrubbed even harder.

Without realizing it…

She tightly grabbed his firm thigh with one hand and leaned even closer toward his lower body.

“Excuse me.”

At that moment, Mugeol—who had remained silent until now—finally spoke.

“Y-Yes…?”

“If you keep going a little further…”

“…”

“I think we’re both going to end up blushing.”

His oddly suggestive remark froze Yeonwoo in place.

Still in the exact same position, she stared blankly up at the relaxed expression on his face.

“Your posture is…”

“Ah.”

As he spoke, Mugeol leisurely glanced around the dim study.

“I’d rather not get turned on…”

“…”

“…in someone else’s house.”

What is he talking about…?

Confused, Yeonwoo slowly lowered her gaze.

“…Ah.”

Right before her eyes…

The unmistakable bulge at the front of his pants came into view.

She was kneeling at his feet…

One hand gripping his muscular thigh tightly…

Her entire body pressed close to his lower half.

Her cheeks instantly burned crimson.

And then—

From beyond the still-open study door came Jiyoung’s voice.

“Oh, Mom… wait! It’s in my room!”

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Footsteps climbed the stairs.

To get to Jiyoung’s room…

They had to pass by this study.

Which meant that through the partially open door…

She would definitely see them like this.

What do I do?!

It felt as though ice-cold water had been poured over Yeonwoo’s overheated body.

Thunk.

Mugeol casually reached out…

…and quietly closed the study door.

At the exact moment Yeonwoo looked up at him in confusion, silently asking why he had shut it…

He curled one corner of his lips into a faint smile.

“As if I’d let her see us like this.”

His eyes remained fixed on Yeonwoo as he continued.

“The woman who might end up marrying me.”