IDMPYU 22

Chapter 22. Sit Beside Me
Tap. Tap. Tap.

Seungho sat across from Jihyun, legs crossed, tapping the side table with his finger without uttering a word.

A suffocating silence stretched between them. Jihyun recalled what Chief Kim had said earlier, right before abruptly dragging her to the mansion.

“I honestly don’t know what’s going on. Young Master Seungho contacted us saying he arrived in Korea, though he’s supposed to be in Europe. I was completely flustered…”

Chief Kim had gripped her wrist so tightly in his anxiety that his hand had been damp with sweat.

“He asked for you as soon as he arrived. But of all days, why did you have to go out today? The Young Master has been waiting a long time.”

Jihyun was just as bewildered. Because of Seungho’s sudden return, she, completely innocent, had been scolded. It felt unfair.

As they had hurried to Seungho’s room, Chief Kim turned and grasped her shoulders.

“The Young Master is in a very bad mood right now.”

His subtle trembling passed into her shoulders.

“Be careful.”

At that ominous warning, Jihyun swallowed the words she couldn’t bring herself to say.

‘Why do I have to be here?’

It was Seungho who finally broke the seemingly endless silence. Tilting his head slightly, he looked at her with eyes sharp like a honed blade.

“You seem to be doing well in my absence. Your complexion looks great.”

“…”

His words were as cutting as his gaze. She wanted to retort—yes, she had been fine, peaceful even, and why was he asking something so obvious?—but unfortunately, she didn’t have the courage. So instead, she chose silence.

As the silence resumed, Seungho slowly stood up. Dressed in a dark brown cashmere cardigan, he walked leisurely toward her—his presence oddly intimidating.

He stopped just in front of her, letting his languid gaze sweep over her from head to toe.

His predator-like stare made her feel like prey. The air between them tightened as if he might strangle her at any moment. Her small shoulders shrank instinctively, and Chief Kim’s warning echoed in her mind.

Trying not to reveal her nerves, she struggled to steady her breathing—until his long fingers tapped her white padded jacket.

“It looks good on you.”

The unexpected touch made her flinch instinctively.

“No need to say thank you.”

His piercing gaze then fell on the book Ha-jun had given her. As soon as his eyes landed on it, the curiosity faded from his face, replaced with cold disdain.

Feeling an unspoken threat, Jihyun instinctively hugged the book tightly. There was no need to explain—it was clear from his expression that he understood everything immediately.

“You’re not taking that damned thing to your room. Leave it here.”

“N-No… I can’t.”

“Ha…”

Seeing her shake her head as if her life depended on it, Seungho’s face turned frosty.

“If you don’t want to see it turned to ash, you’d better leave it.”

Shin Seungho was a natural predator. He instinctively knew what his prey valued most—and when they feared losing it the most. Jihyun’s gaze wavered momentarily before steadying.

As much as he knew her, she knew him too. He was the kind of man who didn’t care about anyone’s desperation, perspective, or wishes—once he decided something, he followed through.

Jihyun clenched her teeth. She couldn’t let Ha-jun’s gift be reduced to ashes.

Even as she slammed the book down with a loud thud, her eyes glared at Seungho with rare boldness. He let out a faint smirk—her eyes, usually gentle, now openly hostile, were amusing.

‘All this over a book…’

For a moment, he considered crumpling it right in front of her, but he restrained himself. Her defiant eyes were entertaining enough.

Suddenly, a sharp pain throbbed in his head and neck. Likely due to jet lag, exhaustion hit him like a wave. He waved her off with a tired flick of the hand.

“Starting tomorrow, come here. Stay by my side.”

Jihyun’s pupils trembled at the unexpected command. Seungho immediately realized the look in her eyes was a clear rejection. A thorn pricked deep inside his chest.

“What? Don’t want your book anymore? Or do you want to see it burn?”

But what came out of Jihyun’s mouth was something else entirely.

“You said you hated me…”

Her voice trembled slightly, belying her unreadable expression. Seungho understood what she meant. No one wants to be around someone who has bluntly told them they’re despised.

“You clearly said you hated me before.”

“I did.”

He acknowledged it without hesitation.

Jihyun’s cheeks flushed pink, clearly furious. His gaze, which had been calmly observing her like a painting, shifted to a blue Morpho butterfly framed on the wall.

Beautiful but unmoving—still frozen.

“I still do. And I probably always will.”

His jet-black eyes curled prettily as he whispered lazily.

Late that night, though his body was exhausted, Seungho’s mind remained sharp.

Without turning on the light, he approached the table and frowned at the book Jihyun had left. A photo of three smiling people was attached to the cover.

“Tch. Must be nice, having fun.”

Clicking his tongue in disapproval, he tore the photo off without hesitation. Holding it up in the moonlight by the window, he stared at it.

In the picture, Jihyun was smiling brightly with her friends. It was a smile he had never seen before. His eyes lingered on it for a long moment, deepening with unspoken thoughts.

“He’s really insane.”

Jihyun muttered to herself as she slammed her fist into the dough.

Since winter break, the mansion had been peaceful. But this morning, everything changed. One of the kitchen helpers had called her in to help make sujebi for lunch.

Thinking it would be a good distraction from the overwhelming thought of having to face Seungho again, she had gladly agreed. Better to work here than to be stuck like a corpse in his room.

“You’re kneading the dough well, Jihyun. Just don’t overdo it—you’re still not very strong.”

“It’s okay. I like it. It’s kind of fun.”

Striking the dough was surprisingly therapeutic. As she continued pounding it, the kitchen lady sighed.

“Who would’ve thought Young Master Seungho would return so early? The chef’s on vacation, so now I’m stuck.”

“Right?”

Jihyun nodded vigorously in agreement.

‘Why does he have to come early and make trouble for everyone…’

The biggest victim was Jihyun. Her peaceful days had shattered the moment Seungho reappeared. No matter how she thought about it, he was impossible to understand.

He’d said he hated her—loud and clear. So why now insist she work by his side? Was it a declaration of war? What had she done to deserve that?

“Oh, Jihyun!”

Kim Chief’s startled cry broke her thoughts. Jihyun looked up, puzzled.

“What are you doing here?”

“Huh?”

“Seriously, I can’t deal with this.”

As Kim Chief rushed over, the kitchen lady tried to intervene.

“Why? I called her in to help…”

But Kim Chief swiped the dough from Jihyun and shooed her away.

“Please don’t call for Jihyun anymore. She has a new position.”

Jihyun’s eyes widened. This was the first she’d heard of it.

Usually, only full-time staff had assigned positions. She was part-time and paid hourly—no such position had ever been given to her. Even the kitchen lady frowned in confusion.

“Since when does a part-timer have a position?”

“It’s already been decided. Jihyun, go upstairs.”

As Kim Chief forcefully pushed her out, she heard murmuring behind her.

“…Really? Are you serious?”

“Now do you get why I said what I said?”

Jihyun desperately wanted to know what they were whispering about. But the sharp intensity of their stares gave her a bad feeling—it was best not to ask.

“You’re late.”

When she knocked and entered the room, Seungho sat at the long table, arms crossed, grumbling.

Jihyun, who had purposely delayed her arrival, faced him with a blank expression.

“I just came to get my book…”

Thankfully, the book she had left the day before was still sitting safely in front of Seungho.

It was within arm’s reach, but she hesitated—his threat to burn it still lingered in her mind. As she debated, he looked up and met her gaze.

“Sit.”

“I just need the book—”

Annoyed that she wasn’t complying, his voice dropped even lower and colder.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Jihyun reluctantly dropped into the chair across from him. He scowled and motioned with his head.

“Not there.”

Huh?

“Sit beside me.”