Chapter 25
Why Does It All Feel Like a Lie?
Morning came.
So-hye opened her eyes to the sunlight streaming through the window and rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she got out of bed.
For a moment, she sat there dazed, pressing down on the mattress that sank beneath her weight.
It was a new bed she had just brought home yesterday.
“Soft…”
Having spent her whole life sleeping on hard, cold floors, she was amazed by a bed that seemed to hold her body like a cloud.
It wasn’t just the bed—the entire world around her had changed overnight.
New clothes. A house far larger than her previous one, filled with unfamiliar and expensive modern furnishings.
And the numerous servants quietly going about their work, almost invisible, were a testament to the size and wealth of the house.
Everything around her had changed so drastically that it felt as if the world had flipped upside down.
Yet perhaps because she had nowhere else to return to, So-hye quickly adapted to it all.
It helped that Soon-shim patiently taught her every detail.
But there was one thing she still couldn’t get used to…
“Ah… good morning.”
“Mm.”
It was Woo-gun, whom she ran into throughout the house.
Whenever she saw him while leaving her room or moving around the house, she couldn’t help but flinch like now.
She hadn’t forgotten that this was Woo-gun’s home.
But every time she saw him, the memory of that day—how close their lips had almost met—made her body stiffen involuntarily.
That gaze, as if it alone occupied the entire world, and the memory of his lips lingered stubbornly in her mind, refusing to fade.
“Go.”
“Ah… yes…”
So-hye followed Woo-gun to the kitchen with quick steps.
Breakfast was prepared just for the two of them.
Soon-shim, smiling brightly, set the last bowls down in front of them.
“The master’s often away, and even when he’s home, he usually eats in his room, so this table rarely gets used. Now that you’re here, though, there’s someone sitting at it.”
“Madam isn’t eating with us?”
“She can eat with her people. But if you need anything, just call.”
Seeing the two of them together in the morning seemed to delight Soon-shim, and she left with a cheerful smile.
Finally, it was just Woo-gun and So-hye in the kitchen.
“Eat.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Even as she moved her spoon, So-hye couldn’t stop glancing at Woo-gun.
He was already dressed to go out, as if heading to school.
Neatly combed hair, a flawless morning face with no trace of sleep, and a tidy shirt that suited him perfectly made her heart flutter despite herself.
Yet unlike So-hye, who stole glances with every bite, Woo-gun focused entirely on his meal.
He acted as if no one else was even there.
“Does he really not care at all?”
Why was she the only one feeling this way?
Watching him, she lowered her eyes to her bowl, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
Even since she came to this house, Woo-gun had never shown a single sign of inner turmoil.
His warmth and attentiveness only appeared when Soon-shim or the other servants were watching.
Otherwise, he maintained a strict distance, never approaching her.
If anything, she felt even more distant from him than before.
“I wish I could be as unaffected as he is…”
No matter how hard she tried, her heart did whatever it wanted.
But someday, she would have to leave.
Thinking that one day the contract would end and she’d never see him again made her wish she could sort out her feelings, but instead, they only grew stronger every day.
“…I wish I could.”
“…”
“Are you listening?”
“Huh?”
So-hye, lost in thought, raised her head and met Woo-gun’s gaze.
His black eyes were fixed entirely on her.
“I’ve arranged a workspace, so you can start coming to the lab from today. Is that okay?”
“Ah… ah, yes! That’s fine. Anytime is okay for me.”
“Then be at the lab by 10 a.m. The other assistants usually arrive around then.”
“Yes… oh, wait.”
So-hye suddenly let out a soft groan.
She had forgotten to mention one important thing to him.
“I… have one favor to ask…”
She hesitated.
Woo-gun nodded, as if to say, Go ahead, but she still couldn’t speak easily.
It was about visiting Linjin’s, the academic household.
He already knew they weren’t on good terms.
“I’m sorry to bring this up on the first day, but could I leave a bit early every Monday? Around three o’clock…”
After the hectic weekend, she had forgotten to discuss this with him.
“If it’s easier, I can go for just an hour or two and come back.”
“Go where?”
“Well, I ended up taking on a class… teaching a child how to draw.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say it was Linjin’s household.
Even though she would only be teaching Linjin and not see the Lin family, Woo-gun probably wouldn’t approve.
She felt guilty for keeping it a secret, but there was no other choice.
“It’s not far from school, really. Just two hours, tops.”
From Songil High School to Linjin’s house, it wasn’t far at all. Two hours would be enough to teach and return to the lab.
Woo-gun studied her silently for a moment.
A furrow appeared between his brows, showing his concern.
“If someone were to follow you… Remember how panicked you were then, even when I was with you?”
“I wasn’t exactly panicked…”
Recalling that day, embarrassment and shame washed over her.
“Back then, I was just surprised because it was my first time experiencing something like that. I’m fine now.”
Besides, unless someone following her was completely incompetent, she wouldn’t even notice them.
Woo-gun had told her about the follower that day anyway.
She hadn’t seen a shadow of anyone until she turned into the alley.
And as Woo-gun said, without solid evidence, no one could do anything to her, so she had no reason to fear.
“Just one day a week, and only for two hours. I’ll stay in the house and the lab the rest of the time.”
So-hye spoke sincerely.
“Please, allow me this. Linjin isn’t like the other children, and I worry about him.”
Woo-gun let out a low sigh.
Though he was concerned for her safety, he couldn’t outright refuse.
After all, even if she worked at the lab, she couldn’t always come and go with him.
She needed her own space and range of activities—he had to let her.
“Can’t… can’t I make an exception?”
Her eyes glimmered pleadingly.
Exhaling deeply, Woo-gun nodded reluctantly.
“Alright. But not on busy days at the lab. Once we agreed to work together, I can’t give you special treatment.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then finish the class and come straight to the lab. I’ll introduce you to the other assistants then.”
“Thank you so much, sir!”
She felt relieved. If he had refused, she would have been worried.
She could call ahead if she couldn’t leave on a busy day, and Linjin would understand.
So-hye pushed the weight of her secret to the back of her mind and continued her meal.
During the day, So-hye organized the lesson materials she would use for Linjin and headed to the academic household on time.
Autumn was drawing to a close, and the wind against her cheeks felt chilly.
“Thanks to you, teacher, I was able to buy new clothes.”
So-hye looked down at herself.
Today she wore a deep green blouse with lace along the front and a flowing bronze-colored skirt that fell from her hips, unlike a traditional hanbok.
The expensive outfit was certainly different; she felt warm even without a coat.
Before, she would wear tattered quilted clothes until her skin turned red from the cold.
The new outfit reminded her again of how much her reality had changed.
“I should’ve worn something more modest, like a jeogori, for my first day at the lab.”
She looked over her outfit and shook her head.
A jeogori might have seemed modest, but she wanted to leave a refined first impression on the lab staff.
She also wanted to erase a bit of her ‘modern café dancer’ image that seemed to follow her everywhere.
At last, she arrived at Linjin’s house.
She knocked, and soon Mrs. Jeong appeared.
“Oh… So-hye.”
Mrs. Jeong noticed her changed attire first and widened her eyes.
“You look like a completely different person in that outfit.”
“Thank you. I bought it recently, so it still feels a bit strange…”
“You look amazing. Pretty girls can wear anything and still look great.”
“Thanks.”
“Come on in. The young lady is waiting.”
Inside, Linjin stood by the entrance like last time.
Upon seeing So-hye, Linjin ran over, eyes wide with surprise like Mrs. Jeong.
The little girl touched the glossy skirt and clapped happily.
Mrs. Jeong smiled at the sight and spoke to So-hye.
“The young lady says you look really pretty today.”
“Really? Thank you, Linjin.”
After ruffling the child’s hair, So-hye carried Linjin up to the second floor where her room was.
Thanks to preparing the lesson ahead, she could teach without getting lost this time.
“Hold the pencil like this. Keep your posture straight. Observe the object carefully, and then sketch the outline on the paper.”
So-hye placed her hand over Linjin’s, guiding the pencil together.
She tried to teach properly, drawing on faint old memories, hoping Linjin could express more feelings through her art.
Linjin seemed a bit confused at the structured lesson compared to last week’s free drawing but quickly adapted.
After about an hour of teaching…
“Alright, Linjin. Take my hand going down the stairs. Good.”
The small hand quickly placed into hers.
So-hye carefully carried Linjin down, one step at a time, holding her handbag in the other hand.
Then Linjin suddenly spotted something and started hopping down the remaining stairs.
“Hey, Linjin! You’ll fall!”
So-hye called out, but her gaze froze on a person at the bottom.
“Boss…”
“Long time no see, So-hye.”
Linjin held in her arms, the academic master smiled faintly at her.
“I was worried I wouldn’t see you before you left. Fortunately, you’re still here.”
He whispered something in Linjin’s ear.
Linjin nodded and gently set herself down, waving to So-hye before leaving with Mrs. Jeong.
So-hye, unsure of what to do, could only glance back and forth.
Meeting the master unexpectedly and being left alone with him was slightly uncomfortable.
The guilt of hiding the truth from Woo-gun pricked her conscience.
“Have you been well?”
His low voice seemed to seep into her ears.
“I’ve been well thanks to you.”
There was something dangerous, almost thrilling, about his tone.
So-hye felt a strange sensation across her skin and smiled awkwardly.
“Yes, I’ve been well too.”
“…Is that all?”
“Pardon?”
He let his gaze slowly drop.
Noticing the difference in her clothing, he spoke with a weak voice, almost drained.
“This time, you’re not even thanking me?”
Then he looked back up at her, eyes filled with feelings she couldn’t ignore.
Resentment, disappointment, and even a hint of sadness.
“Did you get engaged in the meantime?”
So-hye flinched at the word engaged, blinking rapidly.
His stride brought him slowly closer, hand reaching toward her.
“Is it true? The rumor that you’re engaged to Shin Woo-gun?”
His fingers twisted a strand of lace caught in her hair.
Swallowing hard, So-hye nodded stiffly.
“Yes. It’s true.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? You could have at least told me the day we met in front of Songil High.”
“I had my reasons. My father opposed it…”
She had practiced this answer with Woo-gun.
But the longer she looked into his eyes, the stranger she felt.
It was as if he knew something.
Those black eyes seemed to peer straight into her soul.
Stay sharp. No one can find out.
She repeated to herself: I’m Woo-gun’s fiancée. I’m his fiancée.
As she stared firmly into his bold gaze, he twisted the strand of her hair again between his fingers.
A shiver ran down her spine as one corner of his mouth curled enticingly.
“How strange.”
And then he said something that completely shook the little calm she had left:
“Why does it all feel like a lie?”
