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Chapter 04
Before working as a hired hand at this orchard household, Aunt had apparently used to sell cosmetics and such door-to-door. Now, she just pulled weeds in the orchard and cooked meals for the caretaker’s family morning and evening.
As if to prove she’d once run around doing sales, her face suddenly brightened, and she laughed with an ingratiating smile.
If only she didn’t call every other girl a bitch, her gestures might almost have seemed warm.
“I live here in the annex. If I’d known Madam was coming, I’d have made a big hot catfish stew despite the cold!”
Her voice was full of sycophantic flattery, but Madam only gave a small nod and then turned her head sharply. She must have decided in that moment that this woman wasn’t on her level.
“That’s fine. I already ate. Mr. Yang Gyu, the house is in order, yes? It’s cold, I’d like to go inside.”
“Of course, of course! I even heated the floors nice and warm.”
“The luggage is in the trunk.”
With that short remark, Madam instantly reestablished the hierarchy of the entire estate.
Not that it needed saying—the difference between them, both outwardly and materially, was already stark. A cashmere coat could never be compared to the twenty-thousand-won padded jacket from the market.
“Anyway… Yeon-woo, thank you. Thanks to you, I didn’t end up late today.”
“…Yes.”
Yeon-woo had already felt that her place in this household had been made clear the moment her aunt referred to her as “that brat.”
That’s why Madam’s words of thanks startled her, and she blinked in surprise. Madam was every inch the refined woman, she thought.
“Our Jungha will be entering Gojeong High soon. I’ll be counting on you.”
“…Yes.”
Yeon-woo’s gaze was drawn, almost against her will, to Woo Jungha, who stood tall beside his mother.
So, you’re a high schooler too.
Her eyes pierced him with a chill so subtle that no one else could have noticed. Jungha shrugged his shoulders.
“Oh, so this is your son! You must be proud to see him so grown up. Our Yeon-woo is in her last year of high school too…”
“He’s the same age as Jungha then. Is she your daughter?”
“No, n-no! She’s my niece. Circumstances being what they are, I’ve pretty much raised her myself. I also have a son. He’s twenty.”
“…I see. Then what should I call you?”
“Just call me ‘Suwon’s wife.’ That’s what everyone does.”
She clearly didn’t want to admit that the “Suwon” in her name came from the orchard’s water source, not from the city of Suwon.
She’d tried once more to ingratiate herself with Madam, but her voice trailed off into nothing.
Madam, apparently done here, moved on. Mr. Yang Gyu hurried off to the car, struggling to carry the heavy luggage.
Jungha followed slowly behind his mother toward the main house. Yeon-woo’s eyes were unconsciously drawn to him, and when their gazes met, she startled like a child caught sneaking glances.
‘What?’
‘…Nothing.’
Whether she’d read his lips correctly or not, she heard the soft hiss of breath escaping through his teeth.
The only thing Jungha had done for her so far was save her life, but Yeon-woo couldn’t stand him.
He was the same age, yet broad-shouldered as a mountain. His weary, indifferent expression made him seem unshakable no matter what. His face was handsome.
And worst of all—he kept stealing her gaze.
“…You, speak properly. Where have you been, you brat? Skipping dinner too!”
Aunt smacked Yeon-woo hard across the back, just as she was watching Yang Gyu trudge toward the main house with the luggage.
The sting was sharper than usual, the fabric clinging painfully to her chilled skin.
From then on, Aunt began to fire off questions nonstop—how had she met Madam, why would Madam bother with a girl like her, and so on.
When Yeon-woo ignored her, lips sealed, Aunt muttered and cursed until her fingertips turned red.
“Disgusting brat. Nothing good ever comes from getting tangled up with you. Ugh, it’s cold. Did you see how Madam kept her head high like that? Looks so picky, so picky.”
As always, Aunt tired herself out in the end. She shot Yeon-woo a look full of contempt, then stormed into the annex alone. Yeon-woo stood outside for a long while after.
Between the self-loathing of ending up back here again, a sliver of curiosity about Woo Jungha flickered to life.
Even as she lay down to sleep, Yeon-woo couldn’t escape her aunt’s muttering.
The “Madam” was apparently Go Jung-hye, the owner of this orchard.
Aunt sniped that she was just the orchard daughter who had married some grand businessman, only to come crawling back to the countryside with just her son—obviously her marriage had failed.
Yeon-woo let the gossip wash past her ears. She pulled the quilt up to her chin, but shivers battered her body mercilessly.
Even after seeing her pale face, Aunt only yelled a few more times before leaving at her cousin’s call to cook ramen.
Through the crack in the narrow door drifted the salty smell of ramen seasoning mixed with alcohol, but Yeon-woo was too tired to care. Her hungry stomach grumbled once, and then her eyelids drooped shut.
“Ah…”
When she opened her eyes, a faint dawn light seeped in. She hadn’t dreamed for once, but her throat was swollen and every bone and muscle in her body ached.
Khhrrr—kuhk!
Aunt’s snoring roared beside her. Yeon-woo moved her heavy body like a machine. She rinsed rice, lit the kitchen fire as usual. By the time she was done, the pharmacy would be open.
She had about five thousand won—enough to buy medicine, if not see a doctor.
She slid the door shut carefully and sat on the porch to tie her shoelaces. Just then, footsteps approached.
“Where are you going?”
She turned slightly. A tall, broad-shouldered boy strode across the lawn, crushing the dead grass underfoot without a thought.
The black padded jacket, sweatpants, and branded sneakers suited him perfectly, intensifying his already sharp aura.
His short, rough hair fell over his brows. In his dark eyes flickered boredom… and curiosity.
“…”
Yeon-woo’s gaze fell on the trampled grass beneath his shoes.
Do you know how hard it was for me to lay that down?
He’d only spent one night here, yet moved as if it were his own home. She pursed her lips irritably.
“You got a problem?”
“Go wherever you want.”
Her words came out sharp, fueled by the embarrassment of him having seen her disgrace the night before. She wished their connection had ended with him saving her. Now he’d seen how she was treated in this annex. Her face burned.
“Your voice is really weird.”
It wasn’t even meant as a scolding, but it reminded her of his words the night before—don’t act recklessly. Her eyes narrowed.
“None of your business.”
“If you’re going out, show me around the neighborhood.”
“I’m not your tour guide.”
Yeon-woo snapped back, then slipped out through the gate with quick steps. Behind her, she heard Jungha’s footsteps following.
Annoying.
The young master’s sudden presence was anything but welcome. Yeon-woo widened her strides as much as she could, trying to put distance between them.
