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Chapter 13
Hongsi ended up getting nervous instead when she saw how visibly startled Taesan looked upon seeing her.
Still, she had already barged all the way in, so she steeled herself and flashed her ultimate weapon—a bright smile.
But maybe the smile looked too awkward.
Taesan’s expression hardened even more at the sight of it.
He used to say she looked like a scruffy little puppy every time she smiled and loved it, so what was with that murderous expression now?
A wave of gloom washed over her, but Hongsi forced herself to act cheerful and greeted Hyunseong, who stood beside Taesan.
“Long time no see, Secretary Kim.”
“Hongsi, it’s been a while.”
Seeing Hyunseong welcome her warmly made her feel a little more at ease.
Though Taesan’s fierce stare, like he wanted to stab her with his eyes, was still painfully intense.
“But somehow, you look even prettier than the last time I saw you.”
“Women put on makeup the same way soldiers prepare weapons before going to war.”
And it wasn’t just makeup.
Hongsi had dressed herself in the prettiest clothes she owned.
She had even spent nearly three hours following makeup tutorials from some famous YouTuber.
Hyunseong chuckled like he found her answer amusing.
“So are you some warrior heading into battle right now?”
“Ah, not really.”
Though she had dressed up with the determination of someone marching into war.
“I just tried dressing up a little. Do I look pretty, oppa?”
Hongsi glanced toward Taesan and tucked her hair behind her ear.
It was clumsy beyond belief, but in Taesan’s eyes, she was so adorable she could put a nine-tailed fox to shame ten times over.
“Of course you’re pre—”
Taesan unconsciously nodded, then abruptly stiffened his face and asked in a cold tone,
“Why exactly are you here?”
“I brought some clothes and food.”
As if she had been waiting for the question, Hongsi set down the shopping bags she had carried all the way here.
Then, blushing like a newlywed bride, she began taking things out one by one.
“Whoa. Hongsi made all this?”
Various colorful lunchboxes.
The clean underwear, socks, and ties he had desperately wanted.
Hyunseong looked at her with a mix of surprise and bewilderment.
“Anyone seeing this would think Vice Chairman Kang got married. This is exactly the kind of thing a wife would bring.”
Hyunseong had meant it as a joke, but the atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
After all, Hongsi and Taesan’s marriage was being kept secret.
Of course, Chairman Kang had promised that once Taesan’s curse was broken, he would officially acknowledge Hongsi as the lady of Taejung Group.
Their proper wedding ceremony would happen that day as well.
Hongsi suddenly worried she might have overdone it and hurriedly spoke up.
“O-Oh my! What nonsense are you talking about?”
Taesan let out a hollow laugh at Hongsi’s shameless response.
She had barged into his house and clung to him before.
And now she was saying it was nonsense?
As if he wasn’t irritated enough already, Hyunseong added fuel to the fire.
“Haha, right? Why would a young pretty girl like Hongsi date some old man? By the way, Hongsi, are you seeing anyone? If you don’t have a boyfriend, I could introduce you to my cousin—ugh!”
“Oops. My mistake.”
After deliberately grinding his shoe heel into Hyunseong’s foot and calmly calling it a mistake, Taesan slowly stepped forward.
Then he stopped in front of Hongsi and stared her down.
Hongsi slowly backed away at the frightening look on his face.
After surviving on other people’s moods for so long, she knew exactly when it was time to disappear.
And that time was definitely now.
“Th-Then I’ll stop bothering you and get going!”
As Hongsi hurriedly turned around, Hyunseong stopped her.
“Since you’re already here, stay and have lunch.”
“No, it’s okay. I have another schedule after this.”
Making up an excuse, Hongsi quickly headed toward the door before suddenly spinning back around as though she had forgotten something.
Taesan raised a brow.
“What, do you still have something else to do?”
“N-Not that…”
Fidgeting nervously, Hongsi shouted dramatically,
“M-Make lots of money!”
Silence fell.
Her face blazing red, Hongsi bolted away.
Only then did Taesan let out a helpless laugh.
“Ha.”
He genuinely had no idea what to do with that brazen little thing.
For someone so timid, he could clearly imagine how much courage it must have taken for her to come here.
Even though she had done nothing wrong, she was always worrying about everyone else’s reactions.
And yet she had carefully packed him lunch like this, even bringing clothes and underwear for him.
“Wow. Seriously.”
Taesan shot Hyunseong a glare when he opened the lunchbox before Taesan had even touched it.
Then Taesan slowly lowered his gaze.
“Heart-shaped peas actually exist?”
The pea heart decorating the white rice made Taesan’s throat bob heavily.
He absentmindedly rubbed the wristwatch on his arm as he looked properly at the lunchbox.
Under the rice were all his favorite side dishes.
Pollack pancakes, bulgogi, japchae without meat, spicy cucumber salad.
When had she grown up enough to become this good at cooking?
And there was even sea urchin seaweed soup steaming warmly inside the thermos.
It was the food Taesan always ate whenever he was stressed or suffering from stomach problems.
Seriously.
So she knew he had been stressing himself sick because of her?
What was this, making him sick then nursing him back to health?
Thinking about the sly little fox named Hongsi, Taesan smiled faintly to himself—
And his stomach suddenly growled.
He definitely hadn’t been hungry just moments ago, but seeing the glossy, delicious-looking food made his mouth water automatically.
Then Hyunseong suddenly picked up a note Taesan had failed to notice.
“Please come home today…”
Hyunseong stared blankly at the note before his eyes widened dramatically.
“Hyung. Did you and Hongsi finally end up doing the deed—ugh!”
Taesan swung at him, making Hyunseong yelp.
“Why are you hitting me?!”
“You get hit when you say stupid crap. I practically raised her like a daughter.”
Pouting, Hyunseong quietly sat down and eyed the lunchbox.
“I’m kidding, kidding. Can’t I just have a little? I skipped breakfast.”
Taesan pulled the lunchbox toward himself like there was no chance.
“You still here?”
Grumbling about how petty he was, Hyunseong got up.
“Fine, I’m leaving.”
After Hyunseong left, Taesan unfolded the note he had snatched away.
His brow twitched briefly before a laugh escaped him.
“Ha!”
The adorable note decorated with a chubby hamster read:
[People work best on a full stomach. From now on, I’ll take care of your meals, oppa, so don’t overwork yourself and just focus on your job. Fighting!]
“That cheeky little thing.”
The hamster that looked exactly like Hongsi was waving energetically.
Taesan almost tore the note up, but out of habit, he carefully tucked it into his wallet instead.
It was already full of little notes Hongsi had given him over time.
‘Guess I’ll need to clear some space soon.’
He glanced toward the bottom drawer.
That was where he kept the treasures too large to fit inside his wallet.
Hongsi’s high school ID photo.
And in the most precious place inside his house were the rest of his treasures.
Letters she had occasionally written him, little “filial piety” cards, her elementary school, middle school, and college ID photos.
After slipping the wallet into his jacket, Taesan picked up his chopsticks.
Then he placed one of the beautifully egg-coated pollack pancakes into his mouth.
The mild, healthy flavor suited Taesan’s tastes perfectly.
“She really knows how to drive a person insane.”
Taesan started eating properly.
He stuffed his mouth full of rice and ate the bulgogi.
Then the japchae and side dishes.
He ate everything frantically—
Then suddenly tilted his head.
Wait.
Something bothered him.
A deep crease formed between his brows.
“Who exactly was she trying to seduce by dressing up that pretty?”
Taesan slammed his chopsticks down loudly.
Maybe she had made a mistake.
She thought it would be fine since she had occasionally come by the company on errands before.
But now she worried that people might start suspecting strange things.
‘We absolutely cannot get caught.’
Chairman Kang had personally driven Hongsi to Taesan’s house and warned her.
He had looked like he wanted to say something during the entire drive, and just before she got out of the car, he finally spoke.
‘You are not officially that boy’s bride yet. Only after every last one of those wicked things clinging to his body is gone will you become his true bride.’
‘You don’t need to tell me that, Grandpa. I know exactly what my place is. I’m really good at reading the room. And I know my place well, so don’t worry.’
‘Are you foolish or clever?’
‘Huh?’
‘…Forget it. Take good care of Taesan. Since you say you know your place, I’m sure you’ll handle things properly.’
Even if Chairman Kang hadn’t warned her, Hongsi never intended to go around talking about it.
Because she never wanted to do anything that could hurt Taesan.
Remembering that conversation, Hongsi shook her head hard.
Some of the higher-ranking people at Taejung already knew about her circumstances.
They probably wouldn’t think much of some girl indebted to Taesan coming by the company.
She had considered all that before barging in here, but now she slightly regretted dressing up so extravagantly.
Still, whatever.
She would just be more careful from now on.
Thinking positively, Hongsi hurried to leave the company.
“Ow…”
Suddenly her heel throbbed painfully.
She had worn unfamiliar high heels for once, and now the backs of her feet were scraped raw and bleeding.
Startled, Hongsi looked around before spotting a restroom and quickly heading inside.
She immediately kicked off the painful shoes and wrapped toilet paper around her heel.
It stung terribly.
Her pinky toe had blistered too.
“Is this why people say you should know your place?”
Hongsi stared gloomily at her ruined feet.
“This is what happens when you wear something that doesn’t suit you.”
Even so, she had only wanted Taesan to think she looked pretty.
But Taesan hadn’t even properly looked at her.
Letting out a deep sigh, Hongsi shoved her shoes back on and left the restroom.
The moment she stepped out—
A woman laughing loudly with what seemed to be her coworker suddenly slammed straight into her.
“…!”
The coffee in the woman’s hand spilled everywhere, soaking both of their clothes.
Startled, Hongsi froze completely, blinking blankly.
Then the woman snapped furiously,
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?! Do you even know how expensive this is?!”
