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Chapter 07
Mu-hyeon muttered in a crooked, irritated tone as he tapped the steering wheel lightly with his fingers.
At first, he genuinely believed that the woman named Song Chae-yoon was his grandfather’s mistress.
Otherwise, there was no way his grandfather—who wouldn’t leave property to a complete stranger, especially a woman he’d never met and who was only twenty-six—would have given her a villa.
His grandfather had been born the son of a poor farmer and had built the Seongjin Group with his bare hands.
A born businessman with an exceptionally bold and generous personality, he was also famous for never letting go of anything once it was in his grasp.
If a stubborn old man like that had left a villa to a barely grown young woman—and even gone so far as to revise his will at the last minute—then there had to be a reason.
What’s more, the rest of the family, excluding Mu-hyeon, hadn’t been shocked at all when they heard that the Yangpyeong villa his grandfather had cherished so dearly had been handed over to some young woman.
They had simply kept their mouths shut, wearing expressions of mild discomfort—or as if they’d expected it all along.
Seeing their reaction, Mu-hyeon became convinced that Song Chae-yoon really was his grandfather’s mistress. That while he’d lost his memories, his grandfather must have fallen for some sly, fox-like woman.
It was hard to accept that a man who had spent his entire life working—considering even sleep and meals a waste of time—had fallen for women in his old age. But no matter how he thought about it, there was no other explanation.
But then—
The Song Chae-yoon he met in person was completely different from what he’d imagined.
A skinny body devoid of any sensuality, plain clothes, eyes so clear she could pass for a child, and a personality that was anything but meek or submissive.
If there were a woman least suited to playing the role of a rich old man’s mistress—whispering pillow talk into his ear—it was Song Chae-yoon.
So then why had his grandfather really left her the Yangpyeong villa?
And why was Song Chae-yoon refusing to sell a villa she didn’t even use, insisting she’d hold onto it until she died?
“If I dig a little deeper, something interesting is bound to turn up.”
For the first time in a very long while—more precisely, for the first time since losing his memory—Mu-hyeon felt curiosity toward another person.
He was certain that once he uncovered the connection between his grandfather, the villa, and Song Chae-yoon, this unpleasant irritation that gnawed at him every time he saw her would disappear.
Just then, raindrops began tapping one by one against the windshield. The sky had been gloomy since morning, and it looked like the rain had finally decided to fall.
“A convenient excuse.”
Muttering with a twisted smile, Mu-hyeon turned the car the moment he reached the intersection.
As he retraced the road he’d been driving just moments before, his eyes gleamed with an indescribable mix of anticipation and excitement.
Rumble—crash.
Startled by the thunder, Chae-yoon flinched and shrank back, then, after a moment, shuddered lightly and straightened up.
She hadn’t needed to check the weather forecast to know it would rain. Dark clouds had filled the sky since morning, and the air had been heavy with moisture.
As a child, she’d liked rainy days. But not anymore.
The stillness of rainy days, the bleak scenery as if all color had been drained away by moisture, the cold sound of rain, lightning and thunder flashing without warning.
Whenever she felt those things, the realization that she was alone in the world burrowed deep into her chest.
That there wasn’t a single person by her side who could make her forget the desolation of rainy days.
Even after Mu-hyeon erased her from his memory. Even after she was unfairly fired from school. Even after her grandmother passed away.
Chae-yoon tried to accept reality. She made an effort to remember her grandmother’s words—that things beyond her control should simply be allowed to pass as they will.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t overcome her loneliness. Especially on days like this, when it rained…
It’s raining, so I’m coming to pick you up. I’ll be there soon, so stay inside. Don’t let even a single drop hit you. Got it?
The voice that suddenly surfaced made her stare blankly out the window—until a light caught her eye.
Startled, Chae-yoon stepped closer to the window just as the car that had left an hour ago pulled back into the front yard.
Did he have something he hadn’t said earlier? Or had he come back to provoke her again?
The memory of Mu-hyeon openly ignoring her an hour earlier hardened her gaze.
But as she watched the car sit quietly in the drizzling rain, her anger quickly dissipated.
Why isn’t he getting out? What is he doing in there?
Without realizing it, Chae-yoon pressed closer to the window. If he’d come all the way back, he must have something left to say—so why wasn’t he getting out?
What if he was hurt? Or too sick to move?
She even imagined that his flu-like symptoms had worsened and that he’d come back to rest, before frowning and shaking her head, as if to shake off such pointless worries.
If Seo Mu-hyeon were really sick, he would’ve called someone. A secretary, a personal doctor—there were plenty of people who would rush to him with a single phone call.
And thinking about it again, there was no reason for him to come all the way back here just because he felt unwell.
There were plenty of well-equipped pensions and private resorts around Yangpyeong and Gapyeong.
If he were truly sick, he would’ve chosen to rest comfortably in one of those places rather than return to a villa that had been empty for so long. The Seo Mu-hyeon she knew was rude, but rational.
So he must’ve come back just to pick a fight.
“Guess he has something left to say.”
Chae-yoon muttered bitterly.
After meeting Mu-hyeon yesterday, she’d briefly felt the urge to tell him everything.
But she quickly changed her mind.
Mu-hyeon thought she was a gold-digger.
In that situation, no matter what she said about the past, he wouldn’t believe her. She’d be lucky if she didn’t face even more blatant mockery and humiliation than yesterday.
She had long since lost her motivation and goals in life, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed self-abuse.
She pulled down the blinds, blocking out the view from the living room, then went into the kitchen and switched on the kettle.
An hour later.
Wandering the living room with an uneasy expression, Chae-yoon cautiously approached the window.
After hesitating several times, she pressed herself against the wall so she wouldn’t be seen and gently lifted the edge of the blind.
Peeking outside, she saw that Mu-hyeon’s car was still parked exactly where it had been before.
“Seriously, what is he doing?”
Chae-yoon muttered in a weary voice.
It would’ve been better if he’d barged in like earlier, spat out whatever he had to say, and left.
Dragging things out like this—without a single movement—only made her more anxious. Especially on a rainy night like this, sitting in a car for over an hour.
What on earth was he planning?
Her pacing around the living room grew faster. Circling the sofa in mounting discomfort, Chae-yoon suddenly stopped.
She looked up at the ceiling, then down at the floor, then glared at the blinds with a scowl before biting down on her lower lip.
No matter how much she wanted to avoid him—even if he was an ex she never wanted to see again—she couldn’t just ignore someone who’d come into her front yard on a rainy day.
She had to at least check whether everything was okay—whether he was in a normal state.
As if steeling herself, she frowned and took several deep breaths. Then she widened her eyes and moved.
Grabbing an umbrella, she stepped outside, where a harsh wind swept past her. It was far too cold and rough to be late May, with summer just around the corner.
Chae-yoon held the umbrella tightly with both hands so it wouldn’t shake, walking carefully. Though she didn’t mean to, her steps slowed the closer she got to Mu-hyeon’s car.
Keeping her distance in case he got out when he saw her, she stopped about a meter from the passenger side.
There was no response inside, no matter how long she looked through the window. The tint was too dark, and night had fallen, so she couldn’t see clearly inside.
He appeared to be reclining the driver’s seat and lying back. Perhaps he had already fallen asleep in that position.
Otherwise, there was no way he’d stay this quiet when she’d been standing in front of the car for so long.
Should she just leave him? If he caught a cold sleeping in the car in weather like this…
“Ridiculous. Why am I worrying about that? Whether he catches a cold or his face gets paralyzed, what does it have to do with me?”
Annoyed at herself for fretting over Mu-hyeon, Chae-yoon snapped irritably.
As she spun around and stomped back with rough steps, she had no idea that Mu-hyeon was watching her from inside the car—eyes narrowed, wide awake.
