TDSW 21

Chapter 21

“What?”

“Uh, well… I mean, Ms. Park Gyu-jin and that child… And what your grandfather said too. Don’t tell me… you asked me to pretend because you were trying to hide your relationship with them…?”

Baek Seo-ah covered her mouth as she gasped.

Seung-hyun was so dumbfounded that he burst into incredulous laughter.

Running a hand roughly through his hair, he let go of Seo-ah’s wrist, placed his hands on his hips, and tipped his head back.

Staring at the ceiling, he let out a hollow laugh.

“Hey, Baek Seo-ah.”

“So that’s why you turned out so twisted. There was a reason… Did your family oppose it or something? Because she’s an actress? Wow, now I get it. It all makes sense now. So that’s the story.”

Watching her enthusiastically weave fantasy and speculation together all by herself, Seung-hyun raised a hand to stop her.

“I think you’ve seriously misunderstood something.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to hide it from me. I’ll keep your secret. I’ll cheer you on. I-it’s not an affair, right? Please tell me it’s not an affair. Or… is that child actually your—”

“Hey!”

At last, Seung-hyun shouted at the top of his lungs.

Startled, Seo-ah shrank back, then glared at him as if she were the wronged one.

“That’s exactly why I keep telling you to explain things step by step! I’m seriously confused to death! What is even going on here?”

Knock knock.

The heated atmosphere between them was broken by Gyu-jin’s knock.

She knocked twice before cracking the bedroom door open and peeking her head inside.

Both of them turned toward her at the same time.

Caught between two hostile gazes, Gyu-jin swallowed nervously before offering an awkward smile.

“Um… I think I’m the reason for the misunderstanding. Would it be okay if I explained?”

“And the kid?”

“He fell asleep on the sofa. I’ll put him in the back room. Just wait a minute.”

“Hahaha…”

Letting out an awkward laugh, Gyu-jin looked between the two of them, saw that they had calmed down somewhat, then quietly closed the door behind her.

Seung-hyun turned back to Seo-ah and pinched her cheek.

She was so annoying he could lose his mind.

“Ow!”

Whimpering, she grabbed onto his arm and rose onto her tiptoes.

Apparently it hurt enough that she smacked his arm several times.

“That hurts!”

“Then stop saying ridiculous things. Have you lost your mind?”

Seung-hyun finally released her cheek.

Her face had turned bright red, and her eyes were slightly watery.

Rubbing the sore spot, she shot him a resentful glare.

“You’re a tyrant.”

“I have absolutely nothing going on with Park Gyu-jin.”

“Fine. Let’s say that’s true. Maybe she’s your first love.”

“Why do you keep jumping to conclusions like that?”

“I’m just trying to make the story make sense. You asked me to fake-date you, then you bring a famous actress into your house. Isn’t a scandal much worse than getting set up on a blind date?”

After firing off her questions like a machine gun, Seo-ah suddenly realized something and slapped her knee before grabbing Seung-hyun by the collar.

“Oh! Your grandfather came to the Design Center today. Did you know?”

Seung-hyun glanced down at the hand clutching his collar.

She had a bandage on it, but the injury didn’t look serious.

Her hand had been perfectly fine that morning.

The scrape was right over her knuckles, as though she had punched a wall.

He had only wondered if she had broken company property… and whether he’d end up paying for the damages.

That was all.

“We’ll talk about that later. Go change your clothes and come out.”

Now thoroughly exhausted, he waved dismissively and straightened his wrinkled collar.

“So… you two really aren’t involved?”

“No.”

“Not even an unrequited first love? Because honestly, it really looks like—”

“Stop reading those ridiculous soap-opera novels. Got it?”

Grinding his teeth, he leaned in until his face was inches from hers.

She pouted, shrinking her shoulders.

“You clearly don’t know that melodrama is a timeless classic.”

He had definitely heard that nonsense somewhere before.

Still rubbing the cheek he had pinched, she flopped onto the bed.

Feeling his own energy drain away, Seung-hyun stood with his hands in his pockets, quietly studying her.

He had never met a woman this impossible to predict.

Sometimes he thought it would be easier to just kick her out of the house once and for all.

But every time he saw that defenseless expression…

Different words came out instead.

Come here.

Come inside.

That’s not what I meant.

Excuses.

Invitations disguised as pleas.

At work she slipped away like a loach whenever he tried to corner her.

Yet when she faced him head-on, she never backed down.

Was she simply fearless?

Or was she just incredibly clever?

Whether she was Team C’s ace or not…

Maybe he should just transfer her to another department.

If he dumped her in the executive office, perhaps someone could finally shut that endlessly chattering mouth.

One thought led to another.

Only then did Seung-hyun realize she had been quietly staring at him the whole time.

Her clear hazel eyes sparkled like glass marbles.

…Then why is it her?

Feeling an inexplicable tightness in his chest, he loosened his tie and turned away.

“Come eat.”

“Let’s talk while we eat. I’m starving.”

Looking at the table full of food, Seo-ah rubbed her overly full stomach.

If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have eaten tteokbokki…

After all, how often did someone get to eat a meal cooked by the nation’s top actress, Park Gyu-jin?

Honestly, it still didn’t feel real.

Maybe because the woman looked like she had stepped straight out of the television, the entire situation felt like a drama.

“Thank you for the meal…”

Seo-ah picked up her spoon and tasted the seaweed soup.

The tender, savory seaweed melted pleasantly in her mouth.

Watching her expectantly, Gyu-jin asked,

“How is it? I always cook lightly because of the child. I wasn’t sure it would suit your taste.”

“It’s delicious.”

“You call this food…?”

On the other hand, Seung-hyun set his spoon down with a sharp clack and rinsed his mouth with bottled water.

The two women silently mouthed the exact same thought.

What a jerk.

Seo-ah cleared her throat, glancing between Seung-hyun and Gyu-jin.

Only picking at a few dried side dishes from the refrigerator, Seung-hyun spoke.

“I’m tired. I want to rest. So if you’re going to explain, do it quickly—before Baek Seo-ah imagines something even stranger.”

“Stranger?”

“She already turned us into the leads of every over-the-top soap opera imaginable.”

“Oh my, really? No, Seo-ah. He and I are just friends. Completely. There isn’t even one percent of romantic interest.”

Gyu-jin waved both hands, smiling brightly.

There wasn’t a trace of darkness in that smile.

Seeing that Seo-ah still looked unconvinced, Gyu-jin suddenly held out her left hand—the one not holding her spoon.

Near the wrist, just below her watch, were faint bruises.

Seo-ah’s expression changed instantly.

Then Gyu-jin tugged aside the collar of her shirt, exposing her shoulder.

Dark purple bruises covered the bony shoulder.

Seo-ah unconsciously tightened her grip on her spoon.

“I’m the new model for Lethemis’s women’s clothing line.”

“I heard.”

“But if things keep going like this, I won’t be able to work.”

She smiled weakly.

“It’s embarrassing to admit, but… my husband hits me sometimes. I’m still in my prime, but he thinks he’s become washed up. It’s his inferiority complex. But because of my child, I can’t just stay in a hotel. Hotels aren’t really a place where babysitters can come and go. And I don’t have any family to rely on…”

Slowly stirring her seaweed soup, she continued.

“I even rented my own place, thinking I’d finally become independent. He found me within hours. Things only got worse. I’m under contract for a project, so I can’t file for divorce yet. I’m worried about my child… So I asked Seung-hyun for help.”

She looked at Seo-ah apologetically.

“I’m sorry for springing this on you.”

Seo-ah had never imagined there was a story like this.

Who could have guessed?

That Park Gyu-jin—the elegant actress admired by all of Korea—was suffering domestic violence.

Unlike Seo-ah, who was too stunned to know what to say, Seung-hyun remained calm.

He hadn’t even finished half his bowl of rice before setting down his chopsticks.

“If the misunderstanding’s cleared up, I’m leaving.”

Just as he pushed back his chair to stand—

Gyu-jin reached over and gently touched Seo-ah’s cheek.

“My goodness… Seo-ah, why are you so adorable? Look at your skin. You’re just like a baby.”

The sudden change in atmosphere left Seo-ah blinking in confusion.

At that moment, Seung-hyun stepped forward and slapped Gyu-jin’s hand away from Seo-ah’s face.

Looking at Gyu-jin with undisguised disgust, he rested a hand on Seo-ah’s shoulder.

“Baek Seo-ah. I know it’s inconvenient, but bear with it for one week. I’ll kick her out soon enough. And there’s no need for the two of you to become friends.”

“No matter what I say—!”

“Get some rest.”

Cutting Gyu-jin off, Seung-hyun headed straight into his room.

Grumbling about what an impossible man he was, Gyu-jin immediately turned back with a bright smile and offered Seo-ah a handshake.

“Don’t worry. I’m not interested in your boyfriend, so there’s no need to be jealous. Sorry.”

Cough!

Seo-ah choked violently.

“Boyfriend? What boyfriend?”

Tilting her head in confusion, Gyu-jin pointed toward the room Seung-hyun had disappeared into.

“He told me so. Said he’s living with his girlfriend, so I should keep my mouth shut and stay out of the way.”

Seo-ah slowly closed her hanging jaw.

He lied to Park Gyu-jin too?