DSWM 06

Chapter 06

As the passenger-side window slid all the way down, Hyunjae’s face was revealed.

“What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for the bus.”
“Ah.”

Even though it was obvious that the car had stopped at a bus stop, he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and let out a small sound of realization.

“Want me to give you a ride?”
“It’s fine. The bus will be here soon.”
“…The one you just missed won’t be coming back that quickly.”

Because they were standing by the roadside, cars whizzed past at higher speeds, drowning out his voice so much that Yeoreum couldn’t quite make out what he had said.

She stepped closer, trying to catch his words.

“Did you say you live in Haengbok-dong? I’ve got business nearby anyway. Get in.”
“Still… Haengbok-dong is pretty big. I don’t want to trouble you. The bus is easier.”
“Am I the inconvenience here?”

She hadn’t meant it that way—just that public transportation was more convenient during rush hour—but she couldn’t bring herself to deny it outright.

The weight of his position as department head, combined with the way Hyunjae always reminded her of Suha, made it difficult for her to feel at ease.

Hyunjae glanced straight ahead for a moment, then looked back at her with a faint laugh.

“That’s understandable. We’ll be working on trips together soon, spending plenty of time side by side. Let’s just get used to each other.”

His tone suggested he understood her hesitation, without any sign of offense.

“But.”

The fingers that had been drumming lightly against the wheel stilled, and his eyes locked on hers.

“Since we’re not close yet, you probably don’t know this about me.”

His gaze sharpened, pressing in on her.

“I can’t stand not doing what I want. I’m not the type to ask twice, like I did at lunch earlier.”

“…”

“So please answer me properly.”

His voice was as kind as before, but the edge of something sharp lurked beneath it—kindness and intimidation balancing on a knife’s edge.

“Shall I give you a ride?”

The roads were completely clogged with rush-hour traffic, only clearing once they were close to her neighborhood.

The sun was setting, its last light bouncing harshly off the car windows. Hyunjae pulled out a pair of sunglasses.

Yeoreum watched the black lenses cover his eyes, as dark as his thick brows.

Since they hadn’t talked much during the ride, she found herself staring at him more than she should.

She had noticed at lunch as well—despite driving an extravagant sports car, Hyunjae handled it with remarkable smoothness. He didn’t show off with reckless speed, nor did he scowl at rude drivers taking photos of the flashy car.

She had never ridden with Suha, but she imagined he would have driven in the same calm way. The thought made her catch herself guiltily.

She shouldn’t keep making such comparisons. It wasn’t fair to Hyunjae.

“If the sun’s too bright, there are sunglasses in the front. You should wear them.”
“…?”
“Or was the glare just an excuse to stare at me?”

Caught, Yeoreum snapped her head forward, heat creeping up her cheeks. His quiet laugh tickled her ears.

Feeling the need to explain herself, she spoke hesitantly:

“Your driving looks… cool.”
“Not at other times?”
“You’re always cool, but with the sunglasses, you look even more…”
“Even more?”
“Handsome.”

The words tumbled out before she could stop herself, making her flush.

Hyunjae, however, seemed unfazed—clearly used to such compliments.

“So now I know your type: kind, gentle, and good-looking.”

Ah, so he had only wanted to tease her.

He even pulled in their earlier elevator conversation to keep up the joke, which made her laugh despite herself.

As his usually cold expression softened, her heart gave an involuntary jolt.

Startled by her own reaction, she quickly turned her gaze toward the window. Just then, she spotted the familiar convenience store at the entrance to her street.

“Chief, you can let me out here. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”
“I said I’d drop you off, so let’s go all the way.”
“The alleys are narrow. You’ll have to turn around just to get out again.”
“It’s not like the car can’t make it. We’ll go.”

The gentle mood chilled in an instant.

Even though she knew he was checking the side mirror, it felt like his sunglasses were fixed on her face.

Navigating the cramped streets between tightly packed villas, they finally arrived in front of her building.

Before the car had even fully stopped, Yeoreum unbuckled and hurried out.

When Hyunjae looked ready to follow, she waved her hands frantically to stop him.

His shoulder, halfway out the door, sank back inside.

“No need to get out. Please, just go ahead with your business.”

His flashy car was already drawing attention, and if she happened to run into Ye-gyeom or her brother Seongyu, it would only cause unnecessary trouble.

“Thank you for the delicious lunch today, and for driving me home.”

“You didn’t even eat, so what are you thanking me for?”

“Still, from my point of view, it means you tried to look after me, so I’m grateful.”

“Alright then. From my point of view, I’ll just take that gratitude as being given in advance, and next time I’ll buy you something even tastier.”

현재 and Yeoreum’s conversation felt like a handful of marbles spilling onto the floor at once—bouncing and rolling in every direction.

If she was the floor, then he was the marbles.

Maybe that was why she could finally understand what Myeongjun once said—that Gi Hyeon-jae was someone impossible to pin down.

“Then, Director, I’ll see you tomorrow. Please get home safely.”

“You too, Yeoreum. Take care.”

She had planned to leave only after watching him drive away, but Hyeon-jae made no move to leave. Instead, he just kept quietly looking up at her. In the end, Yeoreum gave up and went into the villa first.

Since the villa had no elevator, each time she climbed the stairs, the windows revealed a picture-like view of Hyeon-jae’s car.

Why hasn’t he left yet?

When she reached the third floor, she punched in the password on the keypad and entered her home.

She had expected to be greeted with an enthusiastic “Mom!” and the sound of running feet from Yegyeom, with the aunt beside him. But the apartment was empty.

Pulling out her phone, she discovered a belated text from the aunt, saying that she and Yegyeom had eaten pork cutlets and would come home later.

Replying with thanks, she went into her room to change clothes.

As she hung her jacket on the hanger, she casually glanced at the half-lowered blinds—and her eyes went wide.

He still hasn’t left.

He was leaning against the hood of his car, a cigarette between his lips, scanning the area as if checking something.

The question of why only lasted a moment. She raised the blinds and kept watching him.

At that exact moment, it felt like Hyeon-jae was looking straight back at her.

Even though it was impossible for him to see her from the first floor, his heat-filled gaze struck with pinpoint precision—as if he’d sensed her presence by instinct.

That tenacity pressed down on her even from afar, and Yeoreum turned her eyes away.

From the corner of her diverted gaze, she saw him snub out the cigarette in a portable ashtray and finally get into his car.

She only leaned back against the wall after confirming that his car had exited the alley.

Placing her hand over her chest, she could feel her heart pounding beneath her palm.

He was probably just making sure I got inside safely…

Yeoreum decided not to think of Hyeon-jae as strange.

After all, hadn’t she broken down in tears the first time they met, clutching his face without warning?

It was only because he resembled Soo-ha that she had given it so much meaning on her own.

Despite that bad first impression, he had graciously overlooked it and even reached out first, saying he wanted to be close.

Through her years of interpretation work, she had encountered many different types of people. But for an executive-level VIP to be this kind and considerate—

—that was close to a stroke of luck.

All she needed to do was handle herself well.