TUW | CHAPTER 37

Chapter 37

Did You Already Pay?

Lee Yeon focused only on distributing the coffee and cookies.

She gave a polite bow and quietly slipped out.

In her caution around Do-hyun, she seemed to have forgotten to return his card.

She’s probably waiting to give it back.

Knowing Lee Yeon’s personality, she wouldn’t just leave.

She would definitely wait until he came out.

That was fine with him.

He wanted to see her again, alone.

The hope that she would still be there, waiting for him, rose thick and heavy in Do-hyun’s chest.

Right then, he resolved to end the meeting as quickly as possible.

Not long ago, Lee Yeon had told him why she hid herself.

But it wasn’t until he saw her face today that he truly understood.

Do-hyun loved Lee Yeon no matter what she looked like.

But this version of her was too alluring—like a flower so captivating that bees and butterflies couldn’t help but swarm.

It made him restless.

Attracting that much attention could only bring her trouble.

When the meeting ended, Do-hyun stepped out and spotted Lee Yeon waiting just as he had expected.

Of course.

That was the Lee Yeon he knew.

“I thought you’d still be here.”

Lee Yeon seemed convinced he still hadn’t recognized her.

Though he had no intention of keeping up the pretense forever, he decided to play along for now.

Since she hadn’t said anything yet, he wanted to respect that.

But then—

Jihoo had the nerve to ask her to take off her glasses, as if he already knew who she really was.

Do-hyun couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Does that bastard know too?

The thought burned through him.

He tried to endure it, tried to pretend.

But inside, it was as though a firestorm was raging.

If that sly fox knew as well—

Ha.

His patience wore thin.

At last, Do-hyun stepped in between them.

And he asked the question he had been debating whether or not to ask.

***

So, of course, there was no betrayal to feel.

No anger to hold.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.

I never meant to deceive you.”

Lee Yeon looked up at Do-hyun as he cupped her cheek, his touch gentle.

“You’re not upset?”

Her eyes brimmed with unease.

Do-hyun didn’t move his hand away, as though wanting to press that anxiety down, to smother it.

“Not at all.

You told me before, remember?

That uncle of yours—or whatever he was—the reason you had to hide.

I didn’t know you went as far as disguising yourself, but…”

The corners of his eyes crinkled into a smile, and Lee Yeon’s tension melted.

Thank God, he hadn’t misunderstood.

“I didn’t realize the scars ran that deep.

That man… I won’t let him go unpunished.”

Do-hyun’s gaze darkened.

If he ever got his hands on that bastard, his eyes alone could shred him to pieces.

“I just want to forget him.

I won’t let myself be tied down anymore.”

Lee Yeon nodded, firm in her resolve.

“Jihoo said he’d keep my secret if I had dinner with him.

That’s why we went out for dumpling stew the other night.”

The words were barely out when Do-hyun’s eyes sharpened.

“He threatened you?”

“Not exactly.

He just seemed curious about how I’d been.”

It was a kind of threat, yes—but Lee Yeon softened the truth.

She didn’t want Do-hyun’s anger feeding on it.

Glancing toward the clear glass walls of his office, Lee Yeon instinctively took a step back.

“Where are you going?”

“We have to be careful.

If someone sees us, it’ll be a disaster.”

Do-hyun flicked his eyes toward the transparent wall.

“Lee Yeon, whatever form you take doesn’t matter to me.

But if your disguise is only another prison born from your scars, I want you to stop.

Nothing should be allowed to bind you.”

He didn’t want her wounds to keep her caged.

“That’s why I finally gathered the courage.

I threw away the wig and went out with Hayul, took some photos.

Just as myself.”

“When you’re beside me, you can be at ease.

Those filthy pests… they won’t dare touch you.”

Her eyes blurred with tears.

He waited until she was ready.

He tried to understand before judging.

He thought first of the pain that had forced her into hiding—before telling her she was safe at his side.

Lee Yeon felt as though she could lean her entire weight on him.

Gathering herself, she smiled gently.

Then, shyly, she suggested, “Let’s go on a date this weekend.”

***

Lee Yeon had been busy since morning.

The moment she woke, she showered, then sat at her vanity, blow-drying her hair.

She smoothed essence through the thick waves until they shone.

Light makeup followed.

Then she opened her wardrobe.

“What should I wear?”

Today, she and Do-hyun were going shopping at the department store.

When he asked what kind of date she wanted, she had said she wanted to buy clothes.

She had decided: when she went out with him now, she would go as herself.

The real Lee Yeon.

There was nothing left to hide.

Showing him everything lifted a weight off her chest.

But her closet only mocked her.

It was full of baggy clothes, nothing suitable for a date.

She rummaged, searching, but the choices were pitifully few.

“…Fine.

This one will do.”

She slipped on a sky-blue dress that fell mid-thigh.

The hem looked as if it would flutter with the slightest breeze.

She layered a cardigan she’d worn for a studio shoot, though it made her waist look boxy.

A slim belt fixed that, cinching her figure neatly.

Her first real date.

The first date between Lee Yeon and Do-hyun—without disguises, without lies.

She hummed as she slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped into the hall.

Just then, Do-hyun stepped out of his room.

“Let’s go.”

Smiling brightly, she walked toward him.

Do-hyun stopped dead in his tracks.

“What’s that expression?

Do you not want to go out?”

She crossed her arms, frowning.

She hadn’t missed the way he immediately scowled.

“I don’t like it.”

“Well, I don’t like that face you just made either.”

“What exactly are you covering up?

Your torso’s the only thing hidden.”

She glanced down at herself, puzzled.

With the cardigan, she was decently covered.

Before she could argue, Do-hyun pulled her into his arms, wrapping her up tight.

“This is no good either.

Honestly, I’d rather you went back to disguising yourself.”

Lee Yeon, full of concern for this overly worried man, wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Because you know everyone will be staring at me.”

“Now you understand how I felt.

I was always anxious because you shone too brightly.”

The moment they stepped outside, Do-hyun’s arm clamped over her shoulders.

His eyes swept their surroundings sharply, daring anyone to look.

Lee Yeon laughed, finding his jealousy unbearably cute.

“No one’s looking at me.

And I’m not interested in anyone else.

If I’d known you’d be like this, I would’ve gone on plenty of dates even in disguise.

I wonder—would you have been this worried over ugly Lee Yeon?”

“Just as worried.

The only difference now is I hate the thought of other men glancing at you.

Put on a mask, long sleeves, and pants.”

His possessiveness made her lips curl up again.

The two of them walked pressed close together.

All the way to the car, Do-hyun’s hand never left her shoulder.

“Today, I’m buying you only long sleeves and long pants.”

“You’re still jealous?”

“It won’t be over today.

Not until you take that dress off.

Actually—there’s one way to fix it.”

He opened the passenger door for her, leaning close.

“Take it off.

Right now.”

“…What?”

She plopped into the seat, eyes wide.

Did I hear that right?

Do-hyun laughed outright at her stunned face and shut the door.

“Pervert.”

“Lee Yeon, your reactions are priceless.”

He tugged her cheek playfully, grinning.

Tempted to tease him back, she wondered if she should tug her cardigan off, pretend to comply.

If she did, he wouldn’t be smiling so smugly then.

Realizing where her thoughts had gone, Lee Yeon snapped back to herself, covering her flushed cheeks with her hands.

Her face stayed hot all the way to the department store.

“You look perfect.

That’s you, Lee Yeon.”

Do-hyun’s eyes shone as she stepped out of the fitting room in a new dress.

It covered her shoulders, the hem brushing her knees.

Sophisticated, elegant—clearly from a high-end brand.

How much is this?

Changing back inside the fitting room, Lee Yeon checked the tag.

What?!

Her eyes widened.

She quickly checked the other dresses she had tried.

Each flimsy scrap of fabric was marked at hundreds of thousands—some even millions of won.

Slipping back into her own clothes, she approached Do-hyun quietly.

“This is way too expensive.”

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, let’s go somewhere else—”

But before she could finish, her dresses were already neatly folded into shopping bags.

Her heart sank.

“Did you already pay?”

Do-hyun nodded.

Lee Yeon still wasn’t used to this.

Clothes that cost a fortune, bought so casually.

“Since we’re here, let’s get you a bag too.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I already picked one.”

Her head spun.

How much has he spent already?

“Will you be wearing this dress out today?” the clerk asked.

“No, please wrap it up,” Lee Yeon answered quickly.

“The whole point was for you to wear it now.”

“I’ll save it for later.

I want to look at it first, get used to the idea.

Thank you… I’ll wear it well.”

“Need anything else?”

“No.”

Her voice shrank to a whisper, guilty and small.

“You’re not hungry, little g

lutton?”

“A little.”

“Then let’s eat.”

Hand in hand, they walked away smiling.

Behind them, the steady click, click of a phone camera followed.

The woman had been snapping photos nonstop, not even sparing their backs as they left.

“To think I’d run into the vice president here…

I can’t let a scoop like this slip away.”

The tapping of her fingers only ceased once the couple had disappeared.