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Chapter 36
After finishing her shower quickly and coming out, what unfolded before Juyoung’s eyes was a grand table setting.
There was freshly cooked, glossy rice that seemed to shine with oil, steaming cabbage doenjang soup, and small plates of fresh kimchi and young radish kimchi.
He said he was just going to make rolled omelets, so she thought he would cook something simple…
“What are you doing standing there? Come sit down.”
When Juyoung just stood there blankly staring at the dining table, Seonghun, who was transferring the rolled omelet to a cutting board, turned around and spoke.
“…Okay.”
Juyoung sat down timidly.
It was her own house, so why did it feel like she was visiting someone else’s?
She’d made a deal to marry Choi Kwonyong to protect this house, but with Bae Seonghun intruding, the house now felt unfamiliar.
“How did you make the rice? There isn’t even a rice cooker here.”
“It wasn’t just a rice cooker that was missing. When I opened the fridge, there was nothing except water and apples.”
“That’s because…”
“Forget it. Anyone can see you haven’t been eating.”
Even if she had ten mouths, she had nothing to say.
Because it was all true.
In the week since she’d come to the summer villa, all Juyoung had consumed was water and apples.
She wasn’t hungry. More than anything, she had no appetite.
So for the past week, she had simply been breathing, moving only as much as her lungs forced her to.
“The rice is instant rice, and I bought the kimchi while grocery shopping.”
Seonghun cut the rolled omelet into bite-sized pieces, transferred them to a plate, and set it down on the table.
As if made by a professional, not a single part of the omelet was burnt; it was a perfect golden color.
“I just made the doenjang soup and the rolled omelet. I didn’t season them much. With an empty stomach, bland food is probably better.”
Telling her to hurry and try it, Seonghun pushed the plate of rolled omelet toward Juyoung.
Juyoung froze, not knowing how she was supposed to react.
“Ah…”
“Why? Oh, right, you said you don’t really like Korean food, didn’t you? If you don’t want this, should I check if there are any restaurants around that deliver?”
Juyoung frantically waved her hands.
“No, I mean… it’s true I don’t really like Korean food, but I’m not picky enough to refuse something someone cooked for me.”
“Then?”
“It’s just… unexpected. You know how to cook?”
“My philosophy is to learn anything that can be learned. A habit, a tendency I picked up as a kid. Something like that.”
Usually kids only do what they like, or even if they try something, they get bored quickly, don’t they?
A kid might beg to be sent to soccer classes, then quickly lose interest and ask to switch to taekwondo. Isn’t that what kids are like?
What kind of childhood would someone have to experience to develop the habit of wanting to learn everything from an early age?
In truth, Juyoung already knew the answer to that question.
After losing her mother, Ryu Sihyun, she threw herself into studying, learning, and acquiring anything new she could.
So that she could one day escape from under Choi Kwonyong’s shadow.
So she could survive—out of sheer defiance.
Maybe Bae Seonghun had developed that same kind of habit too… just for different reasons.
“Thanks for the food.”
With Seonghun watching, Juyoung picked up a piece of rolled omelet and put it into her mouth.
The rich, slightly greasy yet savory coating of oil hit her tongue first, followed by the soft texture of egg and a mild, clean flavor filling her mouth.
It was delicious.
Truly—no exaggeration.
Shockingly delicious rolled omelet.
After chewing carefully and swallowing, Juyoung picked up a little rice with her chopsticks, then switched to her spoon and tasted the cabbage doenjang soup.
The savory flavor with gentle seasoning blended perfectly with the refreshing taste of cabbage.
Not only the omelet, even the soup was excellent.
When Juyoung looked up at him in surprise, Seonghun smiled with one corner of his mouth lifted.
“So, food review?”
“…It’s good.”
His expression, which basically said, “Of course it is,” baffled her, but she didn’t argue.
Because it really was delicious.
And also…
Because it was a warmth that seeped into her body.
In a large private dining room, Hena was eating alone.
As each course dish was brought out one by one, her stomach slowly filled, and when the dessert finally arrived…
“Why are you so late? I’ve been waiting.”
The very reason Go Hena had come to this restaurant appeared in her private room.
“Well, look at you. I purposely came late so your appetite wouldn’t die on me, and you’re getting all cranky instead?”
Jin Taekyung placed a glass from a luxury brand, filled with lemon sherbet, in front of her.
Hena frowned.
“If you were worried about that, you shouldn’t have shown up in front of me again.”
“Sorry, but you’re the one who showed up in front of me first.”
“…Right. And that’s why I’m barely clinging on, swaying on the brink of death right now.”
It wasn’t a lie—like a candle flickering in the wind, Go Hena really was just barely surviving in front of death.
The day Choi Juyoung came home and discovered the ring missing, she genuinely thought, I’m going to die.
“You don’t actually think I stole it, do you, Chairman? Why would I ever do something like that when I lack nothing~”
That night, alone in a room with Choi Kwonyong, Go Hena used every ounce of charm she could muster.
She sat on his lap, clung to him with a nasal, coquettish voice.
It was a desperate struggle to survive.
Thankfully, her desperation worked.
“What would our Hena ever be lacking that she’d touch something like that ring?”
While kneading her hips, Choi Kwonyong spoke.
“But still, be careful. There shouldn’t be a second misunderstanding.”
He didn’t believe she hadn’t stolen it.
But he said he’d let it slide. That he would overlook it just this once.
So there couldn’t be a second time.
She would never again touch anything in that house.
“Ahh, ahh! Mmm~ It feels so good, Chairmaaan~!”
That night, she slept with Choi Kwonyong without a condom.
Since they’d been using contraception for a while, she did wonder why all of a sudden… but she had no complaints.
If she carried his child, she’d have a solid justification to secure a massive payout.
But before that—
“Jin Taekyung.”
You’re the one I need to remove from my life first.
“The amount I’ve transferred you so far isn’t small. Where did all that money even go?”
“…Why? Curious?”
The look in Jin Taekyung’s eyes changed as he dragged his chair beside her and sat down.
Danger.
She could sense it instinctively.
But she needed to know where the money had gone so she could plan how to deal with things moving forward, so Hena ignored her instincts.
“Yeah. Tell me.”
“For free?”
“Then how?”
“It’s been a while…”
Jin Taekyung turned his body toward her, facing her directly.
He spread one knee to the side and slowly ran his hand over his thigh.
The bulge clearly visible through his suit pants made his intentions blatant.
“Want to have fun like we used to?”
“…”
Ah.
In the end, you’re just another animal too.
Dinner was finished, and even the dishes were done.
The time was 8 p.m.
There wouldn’t be heavy traffic, but since it was raining, driving safely meant they would probably reach Seoul between nine and ten.
But the problem was that Bae Seonghun showed no signs of leaving.
In the end, unable to wait any longer, Juyoung asked,
“Aren’t you going home?”
“With rain like this?”
Seonghun jerked his chin toward the window, telling her to look outside.
Beyond the large glass window, in the darkened world, the sound of rain roared violently.
Now that night had fallen, the rain was even heavier than it had been during the day.
“And?”
“What do you mean ‘and’? If I go like this, I’ll get into an accident. And I’m not exactly eager to die early, you know.”
“And…?”
Juyoung blinked her wide eyes.
She felt like she understood what he was trying to say, yet at the same time, her brain refused to process it.
No way, right?
There’s no way Bae Seonghun would…
“Let me impose for just one night, yeah? I should at least earn my meal.”
But sometimes, that “no way” really does come true and wrecks you.
