IDMPYU 29

 Chapter 29: “Creepy and Unpleasant Girl”

The path leading to the annex was stark and dull, unlike the mansion where he resided. Though part of the same estate, the annex used by the staff felt unfamiliar to Seungho.

Until Ji-hyun came, he had never once been curious about this place, let alone visited it.

His confident steps halted at the entrance.

He had come here on impulse, but Ji-hyun was nowhere in sight in this cramped space.

The fact that he had no way of contacting her was starting to seriously annoy him—just as he heard someone’s presence.

“Cough, cough.”

A small coughing sound. Seungho turned his head in that direction.

There she was—Ji-hyun. Wearing a faded gray hoodie and carrying a cardboard box, her face looked visibly gaunt.

As Seungho observed her pale complexion, his gaze dropped to her wrist. So thin it looked like it would snap with the slightest grip.

‘Tch. Coming out in that state…’

Despite the cold wind, she had carelessly come outside in only a thin shirt. Seungho’s gaze held disapproval.

She’d probably been sick with a cold these past few days. The constant coughing and reddened eyes spoke volumes about her health.

“What are you doing out here in that condition?”

Startled by his sudden voice, Ji-hyun jumped in shock upon seeing him.

“W-What are you doing here?”

Her hoarse voice grated on his nerves. Instead of answering, he snatched the box from her hands and tossed it into the recycling bin.

“This isn’t exactly a place to go for a walk…”

She mumbled, likely assuming he’d wandered here while walking around.

Seungho remained silent, scrutinizing her with narrow eyes. Her tiny hands fidgeted constantly, likely from the cold.

‘She came out without even knowing what the weather’s like.’

“You’re such a handful, seriously.”

He muttered low and draped his wool cardigan over her shoulders. Her light brown eyes widened. The lack of life in them bothered him.

“I—I’m fine. I just need to get back inside and rest.”

Ji-hyun, blankly staring at him, quickly tried to shrug off the cardigan as its weight settled on her shoulders.

‘You’re really just… irritating.’

Seungho pressed his hands on her bony shoulders to keep her from removing it.

“Keep it. I don’t need it.”

“It’s cold.”

“Then maybe think next time before coming out dressed like that.”

He regretted the cold remark the moment it left his mouth and glanced at her.

“Cough, cough.”

She covered her lips with her sleeve as she coughed. Her lowered lashes quivered like butterfly wings. He couldn’t look away.

When the coughing finally ceased, her lips—just pulled away from her sleeve—were a vivid red. In a world of gray, that splash of red was impossible to ignore.

“Well, I have a bad cold, so I should probably go back in now…”

As she trailed off, Seungho reached out and gently brushed her lips. Her lips were rough and warm from the cold wind.

Flustered, Ji-hyun looked up at him, but he continued staring at her chapped lips.

“I told you not to disappear from in front of me…”

His murmur somehow sounded gentle. Ji-hyun, instead of scolding him, stepped back.

But the warmth from his touch still lingered, making her bite her lips. His hand hovered awkwardly in the air before their eyes finally met.

From his arrogant, aloof face, a pair of sorrowful eyes stared at her—so unfamiliar, Ji-hyun couldn’t look away.

Perhaps she’d let her guard down too much. This time, instead of a hand, his face suddenly filled her vision.

Startled by the strong scent of his woodsy cologne, Ji-hyun stiffened. His lips hovered close to hers—dangerously so—before he whispered:

“Don’t just vanish and drive people crazy like that.”

It was strange. His words were so harsh, yet none of them scared her.

All she could see were his dark pupils, twinkling like stars in the night sky. Just then, a cold snowflake brushed her cheek.

Snow had begun to fall again.

*

Ji-hyun faced Madam again the very next day after their first meeting.

“You’re Ji-hyun, right?”

“Yes.”

After spitting out venomous insults the day before, she was only now asking her name. It was clear how little Madam cared about Ji-hyun.

Her concern was solely for her son, Seungho.

“At first, I tried to see you kindly. Mr. Kim told me your situation was pitiful. But my son’s a little naive and innocent, you see.”

Ji-hyun almost laughed in her face.

Naive? Shin Seungho?

The same Shin Seungho who ruled the top of the food chain with a razor-sharp mind? Ji-hyun bit her tongue to hold back a scoff.

“He’s never been interested in girls. It used to worry me. But now, I wonder if it’s just because he’s inexperienced.”

Madam sighed dramatically, her voice dripping with contempt.

“Still, to bring home someone like you…”

It wasn’t a conversation—it was a monologue. She insulted Ji-hyun to her face without hesitation.

“Seungho’s pure-hearted in some ways. He still likes butterflies like a child.”

She compared his meticulous butterfly collecting hobby to typical bug collections boys have.

“He has a big future ahead. He can’t afford to have a weak heart. That’s probably why he got swayed by your pathetic puppy-dog eyes.”

Scanning Ji-hyun head to toe, Madam’s cold eyes narrowed.

“I’ve always said I hate cheap things…”

Ji-hyun bit her lip. Su-rin had a talent for cutting deep without a single curse word. She averted her gaze like dusting off lint.

“You work here with your aunt, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“You should both start preparing to leave soon.”

Ji-hyun tried to tune out the painful words, but this one shook her. Even if she could leave, Aunt Hyun-sook had no place to go. This mansion was their livelihood.

“There’s nothing between me and the young master. Please don’t fire us.”

She used the term young master to emphasize the distance between them. Su-rin smirked at her desperate tone.

“Where’d you learn that line? Sounds like something from a drama.”

“It’s the truth. If you must fire someone, please let it be just me. Let my aunt stay.”

Su-rin, staring at her pleadingly, curved her lips. That smile reminded Ji-hyun of Seungho. And when he smiled like that, something bad always followed.

With slow steps, Madam walked closer.

“I don’t want even a single ant in my house that doesn’t belong to the breed I chose. I’ve already spoken to Mr. Kim. Your aunt should start looking for a new job within two weeks.”

Ji-hyun felt her world crumble. Su-rin waved her off with a simple gesture.

“Please, I beg you…”

Ji-hyun’s face looked like she might drop to her knees. Su-rin turned her back with a bored expression.

On the way back to the annex, Ji-hyun’s legs buckled. Hyun-sook came running when she saw how pale she looked.

“I’m sorry, Auntie. I’m so, so sorry…”

She couldn’t stop apologizing, no matter how often Hyun-sook asked what happened. Ji-hyun was bedridden for days afterward.

Seungho’s favorite butterfly, the blue morpho, was framed alone in a large glass case, unlike the others.

While Ji-hyun was admiring its vivid, lifelike wings, Mr. Kim quietly approached.

“I delivered the message as Madam instructed. Ms. Hyun-sook didn’t resist.”

“Good. I like clean exits.”

Madam hummed contentedly, while Mr. Kim tasted bitterness.

He had tried several times to dissuade Madam, but she remained adamant. Despite never saying it aloud, Hyun-sook was one of the more capable staff. So was Ji-hyun.

Unlike Madam who ended it with a word, Mr. Kim would bear the practical burden of their absence.

Feeling it was the least he could do, he spoke up.

“Pardon me, Madam, but I must say this. Ji-hyun really isn’t that kind of girl.”

Su-rin chuckled at his daring.

“You’re far too sentimental, Mr. Kim.”

Without looking away from the morpho butterfly, she continued:

“You know the difference between a butterfly and a moth?”

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

“Butterflies drink nectar. Moths don’t. They scavenge.”

Su-rin shivered in disgust.

“She feels like a moth pretending to be a butterfly. Creepy. Unpleasant.”

Mr. Kim suppressed a sigh rising from deep within.

The one who had turned this indifferent girl into a so-called “moth” was none other than Su-rin’s own son.

‘You don’t know your son at all.’

At least it was fortunate that Seungho had left for the U.S. at his father’s request. Mr. Kim silently hoped he’d stay there as long as possible.

Snow began to fall again, thick and fast.

Staring blankly at the sky, Ji-hyun stood beside Hyun-sook, who held two bags.

“It’s piling up. We should get moving before the roads close.”

Ji-hyun’s eyes stung as she looked at her aunt.

“I’m sorry, Auntie. Because of me…”

At the verge of tears, Ji-hyun was cut off by Hyun-sook’s firm voice.

“What are you sorry for? Don’t you dare say that. This disgusting household isn’t your fault.”

The day Mr. Kim delivered the firing notice, Hyun-sook accepted it without fuss. She was already fed up with his watchful eyes and welcomed the break.

They were paid generously with severance and bonuses. That was enough.

“The taxi’s coming soon. Let’s wait outside.”

Ji-hyun slowly nodded. She would never come back here again.

She brushed her lips with her fingers. They were dry and cracked.

Following Hyun-sook’s lead, Ji-hyun walked away. As new snow covered their footsteps, the mansion was soon buried in silence.