IDMPYU 02

2. What a Mess
“Do your best not to get noticed by the Shin family.”

The image of the butterfly with a pin stuck in it from the second floor and her aunt’s warning swirled chaotically in Jihyun’s mind.

Her heart pounded in fear at the danger reflected in the boy’s dark eyes staring silently at her.

‘I have to get out of here.’

Thinking quickly, Jihyun bowed her head deeply.

“I-I’m sorry.”

It was humiliating, but she didn’t care. From the moment she agreed to work in this house, pride had no place. She just wanted this moment to pass quickly. The boy’s well-polished loafers finally loosened their pressure, perhaps appeased by her swift apology.

Jihyun quickly picked up the stone, but didn’t dare to stand. The hand that had been stepped on throbbed as if it had been burned, and cold sweat trickled down her back, but she remained still.

Somehow, she had a strong, ominous feeling that she mustn’t show her face to the boy in front of her.

He sneered faintly but, fortunately, said nothing.

Only when he finally turned his back completely toward the mansion could Jihyun let out a sigh of relief.

“A toast to me, for surviving another day!”

At the dining table in the annex, under the setting sun, Hyunsook poured Jihyun a glass of soda and drank her beer with a satisfied gulp.

“Ah, that’s the taste. I deserve a medal for surviving all that suffocating power-tripping.”

A smile crept onto Jihyun’s lips as she looked at the boisterous Hyunsook. It was the first time she had smiled today. After taking a sip of her soda and setting the glass down, Hyunsook asked:

“How was work?”

Work… she must be referring to picking out stones from the garden?

“It was okay. Not as hard as I thought…”

“That’s good.”

Hyunsook tore a piece of grilled squid and brought it to her mouth.

“Even if it’s just odd jobs, work is still work. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you, especially since you’re not used to it yet.”

Her warm consolation dimmed the cold gaze of the boy that had lingered in Jihyun’s mind all day.

“Did you run into anyone?”

“Ah, well…”

Just as Jihyun opened her mouth to mention she had met Seungho, Chief Kim entered the kitchen. She looked around quickly before fixing her gaze on Jihyun.

“There you are. Come on, we need to go. He’s looking for you.”

“Huh? Who?”

“Wait, Jihyun’s shift is over,” Hyunsook frowned, clearly annoyed that someone was giving errands after hours.

But Chief Kim continued without concern.

“You met Young Master Seungho in the garden today, right? He’s asking for you.”

So that boy was indeed the second son, Shin Seungho. Jihyun hesitated.

“Y-yes, I think so…”

“Then go quickly.”

‘Why would he be looking for me? Is it because of earlier?’

Jihyun turned pale and looked toward Hyunsook, but she just gave her a helpless nod and gestured for her to go.

“If it’s Seungho, it should be fine. Don’t worry too much.”

Chief Kim’s steps grew faster as they moved from the annex to the mansion. It was her first time being called directly by Seungho since she’d become chief, so she was just as flustered.

“It’s rare for Young Master Seungho to seek out a worker himself.”

“Did I do something wrong…?”

Jihyun asked cautiously, trying to keep up.

“I don’t know either. But he’s not the type to lash out for no reason, so don’t worry too much.”

According to Chief Kim, Seungho was the same age as Jihyun. The mansion, where helpers rotated in and out, was incomparable in size to the annex. Jihyun followed her up to the second floor.

The moment she stepped into the upstairs lounge, she was struck by the sight of a fall mountain view dyed in red and orange through a giant glass window. There was no time to admire the scenery, as Chief Kim quickly urged her along.

“This space is only for the first and second sons. You’re not usually allowed up here.”

Whether it was from the pace or the nerves, Jihyun was already out of breath even though they hadn’t walked far. At a hallway corner, Chief Kim finally paused and took a deep breath.

Knock knock knock.

“Young Master, it’s Chief Kim.”

“Yes.”

At the response from inside, Chief Kim turned the handle and leaned in to whisper to Jihyun.

“Keep your eyes sharp and don’t lose focus.”

The room Jihyun was half-pushed into was larger than several of the annex rooms combined.

Expensive-looking paintings adorned the walls, and instead of a TV, another wall was filled with reference books and novels.

And there, in front of the large window overlooking the garden—stood him. The boy who had stepped on her hand without a second thought.

Chief Kim’s face when she saw Seungho was completely different from when she was with Jihyun earlier. Gone was the stern expression; instead, she smiled pleasantly and introduced Jihyun.

“Young Master Seungho, I brought her. Her name is Choi Jihyun. She’s a new part-timer.”

Hearing her name, Jihyun flinched and stepped behind Chief Kim. The back of her hand still ached at the sight of him. Peeking from behind, she saw his features—delicate and striking, as if drawn with a brush.

Jet-black hair like ink, neatly shaped eyebrows, eyes like deep lakes, a sharp nose, and lips curved into a faint mocking smile.

Unfortunately, Chief Kim didn’t seem to notice the sarcasm lingering on his face.

“So… why did you call her…?”

With a slight tilt of his head, Seungho answered casually, his hands in his pockets.

“Oh, I need a favor. Nothing major… Anyway, thank you, Chief.”

A polite but unmistakable hint to leave and not ask questions.

Catching the subtext, Chief Kim gave Jihyun an encouraging look before hastily leaving the room. Now only Seungho and Jihyun remained.

An unbearable silence filled the space between them. Unsure where to look, Jihyun hesitated before speaking first.

“Umm… what is it you wanted me to do?”

“Choi Jihyun.”

“Yes?”

His voice, as if etching her name into memory, made Jihyun flinch.

Though he looked her age, there was a charisma about Seungho that made him impossible to defy. He leaned against the window frame, arms crossed, looking completely at ease.

“I want you to find something for me.”

Remembering Hyunsook’s words—that she was technically off-duty—Jihyun still nodded. Her position here left her no choice.

A small smile appeared in Seungho’s eyes.

“That white stone you were holding earlier. I want you to find it.”

“A… stone?”

The unexpected and absurd request left Jihyun blinking at him. But he was serious.

“Yes. The one that rolled to my feet.”

There was more meaning in his words.

The stone she had clutched even as he stepped on her hand.

How could she possibly find it? It should still be in the garden somewhere… or maybe she could bring a similar one…

Just as she turned around in a panic, Seungho, as if reading her mind, added:

“Oh, and don’t just bring me any stone. It has to be that stone. No substitutes.”

Jihyun left the room, nodding silently, and muttered inwardly once again:

‘Aunt, you said the second son was the mild one…’

The sun had already set, and the garden was steeped in shadows.

Thinking it would be even harder to find the stone once it was pitch dark, Jihyun’s urgency grew. She quickly gathered several pretty-looking stones and brought them to Seungho—only to be rejected again and again.

“Not this one.”

“This one’s too big.”

“This stone has a sharp edge. The one I’m looking for was round. You should know that.”

Seungho’s face gleamed with amusement, as if playing an entertaining game, every time he rejected her.

Eventually, the sun had completely set. Even with the garden lights on, it was hard to distinguish stones.

“Umm, it’s so dark now… Can’t I look again tomorrow?”

She asked, barely suppressing the urge to throw the last stone at him. But it was useless.

Seungho glanced at the darkness outside and responded coolly, without even looking at the stone she brought.

“Go to the person in the first-floor kitchen and ask for a lantern.”

Jihyun stared at him, dumbfounded. That’s when it hit her—Shin Seungho didn’t call her to find the stone.

He just wanted to mess with her. For fun.

Feeling drained, she trudged down the stairs with heavy steps.

Why had she drawn the ire of Seungho—supposedly the reasonable one in the Shin family?

The dim garden matched her gloomy mood as she sighed deeply and began rummaging for a white stone, lantern in hand.

“Here.”

When Jihyun returned to Seungho, her voice had lost all its earlier meekness. It was firm—barely hiding her irritation.

Seungho slowly looked up from his book. Her light brown hair was speckled with bits of grass, and her fingers were caked in dirt.

“You’re a mess,” he said with a slight frown, then returned to his book without even checking the stone in her palm.

Plop—Jihyun placed the stone firmly on his desk and bowed.

“I’ve done what you asked. I’ll be going now.”

……

Her legs wobbled from crouching so long in the garden, but she clenched her teeth and stood tall.

Even Seungho, who had been so dismissive before, said nothing this time. He merely looked at the stone she brought.

Sensing her chance, Jihyun gave one last bow and left the room quickly.

What an exhausting first day.