REH 10

Chapter 10

His relentless advances were so unexpected that Jaekyung felt like she might choke on her food.

“Thanks to you… I ate well. I’ll be going in now.”

“Go ahead.”

After leaving the kitchen, Jaekyung turned her head and looked at Yugam, sitting alone at the large marble table.

The Yugam she had only ever seen looking tense and on edge outside seemed like a completely different person now. He was calm and composed.

If only he would stop asking me to live with him, I think I could tolerate this.

Other than insisting that they eat together at the dining table, there was nothing particularly strange about his behavior. She almost felt embarrassed for having been so nervous.

After entering her room, Jaekyung looked down at the tumbler in her hand.

‘You’ll probably feel awkward and stay in your room without coming out. Take this with you and drink it.’

The subtle aroma of the tea Yugam had prepared for her filled the room.

She had just taken a sip when—

The sound of a piano came again.

It was the familiar piece.

The same piece Piano Man used to play.

Wondering if he had simply turned on a recording, Jaekyung opened the door and stepped outside.

The sound was coming from a room beside the living room.

Drawn in by the warm melody filled with longing, she stood outside the door and listened to the familiar piece.

Just as the piano stopped and she was about to return to her room, the door opened.

“Is spying on people one of your hobbies?”

“Ah! No. Of course not. I’ve heard this piece before.”

“Do you know how to play the piano?”

“I’ve never played before.”

“Come in.”

“It’s okay. I was just going back to my room…”

Yugam sat down in front of the piano again.

His movements were as graceful as those of a ballerino onstage. His long, pale fingers looked as though they had been made for playing the piano.

The comfortable, romantic melody seemed completely at odds with his cold expression.

Back when she was in her first year of high school—

She had once wondered how she could approach the male student who played in the music room.

Of course, she never got the chance.

Yugam’s profile as he became absorbed in playing was so handsome that Jaekyung couldn’t deny it.

Before she knew it, the music had stopped.

“…Whenever I listen to it, I feel like I’m being healed.”

“It is healing. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, third movement. It’s my favorite piece. Come here.”

Perhaps because of the familiar melody, Jaekyung let down her guard and approached the grand piano.

Maybe it was also because she had always been curious about the piano she had once wanted to learn.

“Sit.”

Drawn to the gleaming keys, Jaekyung perched on the piano bench.

“Put your fingers up.”

“But I don’t know how to play.”

After hesitating, Jaekyung brushed her fingers over the black and white keys.

The smooth sensation beneath her fingertips was strangely alluring.

“I’ll teach you.”

Yugam placed his fingers over hers and played the piano.

It would be wonderful if someday I could make such beautiful sounds with my own hands.

“Come into this room and practice whenever you want.”

Only then did Jaekyung come to her senses and abruptly stand up from the bench.

She belatedly realized how embarrassing their overlapping hands were.

“G-good night.”

She could feel his piercing gaze on her back, but Jaekyung hurried into her room.

I’m crazy.

She could still feel Yugam’s cool hand covering the back of hers, as well as his breath brushing against the nape of her neck. Her heart felt as though it might leap out of her chest.

‘I’ll teach you.’

She had been momentarily shaken because of the piano.

Even after lying down on the soft bed, Jaekyung could still feel the smooth texture of the keys and Yugam’s fingers wrapped around her hand. Her chest fluttered with heat.

The wistful melody tickled her ears, and even with her eyes closed, she couldn’t fall asleep.

In the end, she spent the entire night tossing and turning again.

“Secretary Seo. Come here.”

The call came from Yugam’s room as Jaekyung finished getting ready for work.

“Yes?”

“Come in.”

She quietly opened the door and saw Yugam standing there with his upper body bare.

“You called? What… is it?”

The sight of his muscular body, hardened by exercise, caught her off guard, but she didn’t want to show how surprised she was.

His body was completely different from the one he had had back when they shared a bed.

“Bring me a shirt from the dressing room.”

“That doesn’t sound like a secretary’s job.”

“This is secretary work, too. Check the contract later and bring me the clothes first. I’m running late.”

Jaekyung clenched her lips and entered the dressing room.

There are clothes already prepared. Does he really need me to do this?

“From tomorrow, you can do it yourself, Chairman.”

“Tomorrow, too. This is Secretary Seo’s job.”

“You can dress yourself. I didn’t know laying out clothes was part of a secretary’s duties. Exposure, physical contact… it’s uncomfortable.”

“Oh. Is it because you’ve touched me before, but this is your first time seeing me like this? There’s nothing wrong with this much exposure in front of my wife. And this level of contact between a secretary and her superior is fine, too. It’s not like I’m asking you to hug me.”

She felt like she was getting more and more tangled up in Yugam’s schemes.

“Starting tomorrow, prepare my clothes in the morning and evening. If you have a problem with it, let’s rewrite the contract.”

Does he have to bring up the contract every time?

She took back everything she had thought about his supposed lack of demands the night before.

With a stiff expression, Jaekyung prepared Yugam’s suit.

Regardless of Jaekyung’s mood, Yugam looked as though he might whistle happily as he stood in front of the mirror.

It irritated her to feel as though she had somehow lost.

“The weather is nice, and I’m in a good mood. Let’s have a cup of coffee in the living room before heading to work.”

“Have it by yourself. I’m not interested. And didn’t you say you were late?”

As Yugam adjusted his cuff, the corners of his mouth lifted as though Jaekyung’s displeased expression were adorable.

“If my wife doesn’t like it, I shouldn’t do it. They say that’s the secret to being a husband who is loved.”

“I’ll wait outside.”

Yugam stood uncomfortably close, looking down at her as he finished adjusting even his tie.

Jaekyung, feeling as though she had completed everything she needed to do, turned coldly and walked out the door ahead of him.

“If you keep being cold to me, I’ll deduct it from your performance bonus. For poor attitude.”

Jaekyung stopped in the hallway and turned around to stare at Yugam.

“If my performance bonus changes depending on your mood, then I suppose I should neglect my actual work and just focus on managing my facial expressions.”

With a smug little smile and an exaggeratedly polite expression, Jaekyung bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle before walking out through the front door.

“Seo Jaekyung. She never loses an argument.”

Her prickly tone, her sharp words—everything about her kept lingering in his mind.

I mustn’t get bewitched by that pretty face.

If he let his guard down, he had an ominous feeling that Jaekyung would ensnare him and strip him of his money, his heart, and even his pride.

A week had passed since Jaekyung began working as Yugam’s direct secretary.

Around this time of year, once the students’ exams were over, the school festival began.

Ever since Chairman Kwon had founded the international school, the festival had grown larger every year, with performances not only by current students but also by numerous alumni.

After changing into her gym clothes, Jaekyung stepped outside the building.

The entire school was bustling with more than a thousand students and over a hundred faculty members, including everyone gathered around the auditorium.

“Secretary Seo.”

Chief Kwon waved brightly when he saw Jaekyung.

Behind him stood Yugam, staring at her with a displeased expression.

“What are you wearing?”

Jaekyung looked down and examined her clothes once more.

“Gym clothes.”

“Couldn’t you cover yourself up a little? It’s too short, even for the kids.”

It was April, but perhaps he was objecting to Jaekyung wearing short sleeves and shorts despite the weather still being relatively cool.

“I’ll take care of my own clothes.”

“I’m saying it because it’s distracting.”

“…What is?”

Yugam continued staring at her disapprovingly.

Jaekyung instinctively held her breath, wondering what he was going to criticize next.

“Other people looking at you.”

He’s overreacting.

She looked around, but the only people paying attention to her were Yugam and Chief Kwon.

“I’ll go to the gym and inspect the site as you instructed.”

She hurried toward the gym to escape Yugam’s pointless nitpicking.

Then—

“Jaekyung!”

The familiar voice made Jaekyung stop and look toward the stairs connecting to the auditorium.

Minho was approaching her.

It was the first time she had seen him since they parted at the place where he had proposed.

He had texted her asking for time to think, and she had been agonizing over what she should say to apologize.

“Mr. Minho. How have you been?”

“Yeah. You look worn out. You were upset because of me, weren’t you?”

She couldn’t exactly tell him the truth—that she hadn’t been sleeping because of Yugam, her ex-husband.

“…Yes. What brings you to the school?”

“I’m one of the hospital’s representative medical staff, remember? I attended the foundation event last year, too. You weren’t here then.”

“Oh. I see.”

“Do you have a moment? Can we talk?”

“Now’s not a good time. Let’s talk outside after work.”

“It’ll only take a minute. I felt uneasy because I hadn’t contacted you either. Now that I see you, I want to clear up some misunderstandings.”

Jaekyung looked around, wondering if Yugam might be watching.

Fortunately, it seemed he had moved to the VIP section.

Since Chief Kwon was accompanying him, there was no way he would come looking for her.

“Then let’s talk for a moment. This way.”

Minho followed Jaekyung to the back of a booth on the athletic field, away from the gym.

“I thought about it carefully. Let’s get married as originally planned. I’ll forgive you.”

The moment he opened his mouth, Minho brought up marriage, leaving Jaekyung so flustered that she glanced around in case anyone had heard.

“Thank you for understanding. It was mostly my fault for not telling you beforehand. But I really have to refuse the marriage.”

When Jaekyung shook her head and refused, Minho’s expression hardened.

“You can’t get married? If you had met me ten years older, you would have thought about marriage too. Of course I should take responsibility. Your ex-husband is threatening you, isn’t he?”

“Please lower your voice. It’s not because of my ex-husband. I just don’t want to get married.”

“Jaekyung. I know your situation is difficult, but… sigh. I’ll protect you somehow.”

Minho looked hurt, then tightly grasped both of Jaekyung’s hands with a solemn expression, as though he had made some tremendous decision.

Before the misunderstanding grew even deeper, she needed to find a way to part with Minho.

“Mr. Minho, we…”

“Secretary Seo!”

Chief Kwon’s voice could be heard in the distance as he hurried toward them, calling out for Jaekyung.