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chapter 02
Splash—.
Growing desperate, she plunged into the lake. The water rose, but all she could see was the hair tie. She stretched out her arms, but it was out of reach.
“Ah…”
In Yeon-seo’s hand, there was only a pale pink cherry blossom petal. Her delicate eyes reddened.
She moved deeper into the center of the lake. The brackish water reached her chin.
“Please…”
The hair tie, drifting further away, mocked her intentions.
At that moment, the water suddenly deepened. Even when she tried to push off the lake bed with her toes, she still couldn’t reach.
Even in the calm waves, her vision swayed violently. She kept sinking under the surface, then surfacing again, thrashing in place.
Eventually, she could only blame herself for recklessly jumping in without ever having learned to swim. A desperate cry built up in her throat.
“Please save me.”
Her frantic plea betrayed her. Her toes tangled, and she felt herself sinking deeper and deeper.
“I want to live! Please, help me!”
The lakeside was deserted. It was impossible to expect anyone’s help.
Then, she heard something like a shout. She couldn’t make out the words clearly, but it sounded urgent.
As her strength waned and her breathing faltered, all hope seemed lost.
When her face had turned pale as paper, a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders. Yeon-seo, half-conscious, was pulled up.
Someone clasped their hands over hers and pressed her chest. When they secured her airway and tilted her chin, all the water she had swallowed was expelled.
Through her wide-open eyelids, she caught a glimpse of the red sky.
Her vision cleared, and she saw a man looking down at her in a wet shirt. His gaze was sharp and reproachful.
All her senses started returning. His voice pierced her ears.
“If you want to die, do it somewhere I won’t see you.”
Despite the flushed expression on his face, his tone was cold and sharp.
Her body trembled from the sudden drop in temperature. Only where his skin touched hers seemed to carry warmth.
Even as she struggled to comprehend reality after escaping death, she found herself captivated by his unreal appearance. Yeon-seo lowered her eyelids, trying not to be aware, and responded.
“I wasn’t trying to die.”
The man didn’t seem interested in her answer. He immediately asked,
“Where’s your home?”
He was close enough that she could feel his breath. His gaze naturally moved downward.
From her thin waist, his eyes roamed upward, lingering on her modestly rounded chest. A falling cherry blossom petal gently landed on it.
He snapped his head to the side, brushing the plant debris off his palm, and said, his voice splitting slightly,
“Then let’s go see you home.”
Yeon-seo, looking into his eyes infused with light, barely parted her lips, pale from the drop in body temperature.
“Thank you. It’s just behind here.”
“That house?”
“Yes. Your clothes got dirty, so take a shower first.”
Perhaps it was her imagination, but his hazel eyes seemed to deepen, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly. He returned with a calm expression.
“Well, there’s no other choice. I was worried you might do something foolish after I saved you.”
Yeon-seo nodded silently.
“And this… seems like it’s what you were looking for.”
Dangling from his long fingers was an emerald-hued mother-of-pearl hair tie. A smile slowly returned to Yeon-seo’s face.
“Ah… I thought I’d lost it forever. Thank you.”
She stepped forward and extended her hand. He didn’t immediately give it to her, smirking as he looked down at her.
“Pl-please!”
“So it was just this hair tie? Worth your life, huh.”
His cold eyes scanned her.
The hair tie fell into her palm. Yeon-seo stared blankly at it in her hand.
With his hands in his pockets, he spoke in a commanding tone.
“Let’s go inside.”
She looked up at his face. A faint smirk lingered on his otherwise cold expression.
Suddenly, she realized she had seen him before.
This man… I’ve seen him before. A face I can’t forget.
The neat face, with a subtle hint of disdain—it was familiar.
Seo Do-hun, Executive Director, heir to the Seo Group.
Biting the delicate flesh inside her mouth, a flash of memory struck her.
“So this is the Myungseonjae I’ve heard about,” she murmured, strolling slowly through the garden in her school uniform with a backpack.
The garden stretched endlessly. Yeon-seo marveled at how the scenery changed as she walked.
“It’s beautiful. Truly my grandmother’s touch.”
Endless summer flowers surrounded her like a blue sea. She cherished being able to enjoy them at their peak.
Smiling brightly, she relished the happiness of her time in the garden. Only after some time did she sense someone watching her.
Through the gentle floral scent came the acrid smell of cigarette smoke. Yeon-seo frowned and looked up.
Who is that person?
Leaning against the stone wall, a man was smoking.
He lifted one corner of his mouth and extinguished the cigarette. Seeing him approach, Yeon-seo stepped back.
Looking up at the man in the narrow path, she was struck by his intense appearance. He looked down at her with hazel eyes.
“Who are you?” he asked sharply.
Annoyed, Yeon-seo retorted,
“What do you mean, coming at me like that?”
“Are you part of my family that someone left lying around? If you have something to say, speak.”
He looked bothered as if this happened often. Yeon-seo’s lips parted.
What kind of person is this…
Feeling unjustly confronted, she said sharply,
“Ah! I have something to say! Don’t smoke in the garden!”
“What?”
His eyebrow raised, a faint smirk on his lips.
Yeon-seo continued, unfazed.
“The plants absorb everything! Have you ever thought about the nicotine?”
He stared at her and lazily curved his lips into a smirk.
He laughed at me.
Her face burned, but she didn’t flinch and glared at him. Bending slightly, he met her gaze.
“How did you get in here?”
His eyes scanned her uniform.
“You’re so young… doesn’t seem like your taste. A thief, maybe?”
“A thief? That’s an incredibly rude thing to say.”
He lifted her chin with his index finger.
“The wall is low enough. A kid like you could easily climb it.”
She didn’t step back. His condescending behavior angered her.
“I came with my grandmother. She takes care of this garden too.”
“Oh, the gardener.”
The word grated on her. It revealed how this family treated her grandmother, who lived for this garden.
Her small lips pressed firmly together. He patted her head with his large hand.
What he said next was ridiculous.
“Then I need to know your position, kid.”
“….”
“Behave better, at least inside Myungseonjae…”
She clenched her fists and looked up at him.
“Yeon-seo! Our little one!”
From afar came her grandmother’s voice, calling for her. She quickly approached, eyes wide, alternating between Yeon-seo and Do-hun.
Her grandmother spoke warmly to him.
“Oh, Do-hun is with you! This is my granddaughter. She wanted to see where I work, so I brought her. Isn’t she lovely?”
He looked into Yeon-seo’s brown eyes clearly and replied,
“Yes. She’s beautiful.”
There was contempt and pity in his gaze.
He looked down at her like a predator grasping its prey. Yeon-seo, overwhelmed by his imposing presence, looked down helplessly.
Old yet vivid memories stirred her senses, making her body tremble.
Why is he here?
He couldn’t be here by chance. It seemed related to her grandmother.
Yeon-seo led the way toward the house. He followed without a word.
Entering the dim garden, the overgrown grass scratched her wet skin. Opening the wooden door, the old hinges creaked.
Inside, he casually dropped his wet shirt on the floor. His muscles were faintly visible beneath the wet fabric.
Yeon-seo turned sharply.
“Name.”
Breaking the quiet, he spoke softly. She still averted her gaze and replied,
“Woo Yeon-seo.”
“Woo Yeon-seo. Not a bad name.”
He casually judged her name and looked at her.
“Why… embarrassed?”
She heard his low chuckle. The man stepped closer, looking as if he could pierce her eyes.
“Or are you just pretending to be shy?”
“Thank you for saving me, but you’re a bit rude.”
“Is that so?”
Do-hun’s lips tilted slightly.
“If I make you an offer, Woo Yeon-seo, you’ll want to do anything for me.”
