Chapter : 27
You’ll Be Protected
Kangwoo did not interrupt the conversation between the two of them.
After discussing Patrick’s research support and project proposal and resetting the schedule, Kangwoo wrapped things up and left the school.
Walking out across the sunlit campus, Chaekyung fell deep into thought.
Kangwoo relayed what he had discussed with Professor Patrick to Director Shin and gave instructions for the next steps.
He glanced at Chaekyung, who was walking quietly beside him.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Professor Patrick.”
Kangwoo looked at her, surprised.
“Patrick? Why—do you like him?”
Chaekyung shot him a sideways look at his joking tone.
Her meeting with Patrick had been especially meaningful to her.
Having lived alone with her mother, she had never really felt the warmth of a grandfather or a father.
Patrick’s generous, comforting presence made her quietly happy.
“Yes, I like him. He’s a good person.”
“He is.”
“I’m jealous of you, Vice President.”
The story Patrick had told her lingered in her heart. The sincerity behind it stayed with her for a long time.
Then Kangwoo spoke casually. His words flew straight into Chaekyung’s chest and lodged there.
“If you’re jealous, then take hold of it.”
“……”
“Don’t think about running away for no reason.”
Kangwoo spoke without caring that Director Shin was there, so Chaekyung glanced at him uneasily.
Seeing the seriousness on Kangwoo’s face, she turned her head away.
They finished the first day’s schedule quickly and headed to their accommodation.
The car drove along the lakeside. Seeing the beautiful lake, Chaekyung realized it was Lake Léman that Woogyung had mentioned. The sunlit surface of the lake sparkled brilliantly.
The place they arrived at was unexpected.
Kangwoo and Director Shin got out at the pier and walked toward a massive yacht floating on Lake Léman. Chaekyung stopped in her tracks and stood in front of the boat.
As Kangwoo stepped aboard, he turned back and held out his hand.
“Take my hand.”
“This is our accommodation?”
Startled, Chaekyung stared at the yacht instead of taking his hand.
“We’ll only be here today. Aren’t you getting on?”
At his urging, she finally reached out and took his hand.
Led by him, she boarded the yacht. It was even more magnificent up close.
“Look around. I’ll talk with Director Shin for a moment.”
Kangwoo went into the office space inside the yacht. Chaekyung wandered around the deck, then went inside to look around.
Everything needed for living was there. The luxurious yacht felt like a different world altogether. It was her first time on a yacht, and everything felt fascinating.
Through an open door, she heard their voices.
“Chairman Seo contacted us, saying the engagement wasn’t finalized in New York.”
“There will be no engagement.”
“It seems the Chairman intends to push it through.”
Kangwoo snapped back angrily.
“I said I won’t do it—why is everyone stirring things up? Cut off contact with headquarters.”
“Still—”
“Director Shin, just finish what I told you to do by tomorrow and don’t worry about anything else.”
“Yes, understood.”
Chaekyung, who had stopped in front of the open door, turned around.
She had expected this, though it had come a little sooner than she thought. Still, it didn’t feel good. She wanted to leave before they noticed her. She regretted coming inside and hearing something that would do her no good.
She had barely taken a few steps when Kangwoo stopped her.
“Why are you standing there?”
Startled, Chaekyung turned back, making excuses as if she’d committed a crime by overhearing.
“I was just passing by while looking around the yacht.”
Kangwoo’s eyes narrowed.
“Director Shin, you can go now.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
Without taking his eyes off Chaekyung, Kangwoo dismissed Director Shin. He passed by quickly.
Kangwoo approached her.
“How much did you hear?”
“……”
“Not going to answer? Min Chaekyung.”
“…About the engagement.”
Kangwoo looked down at her, then grabbed her arm and started walking.
“Where are we going?”
“The room you’ll be staying in.”
The white-toned room was as large as a hotel suite. Compared to the flashy interior, the furniture was simple. Other than the bed, nothing really caught her eye.
As she looked around, Chaekyung remembered her suitcase that was supposed to be moved here.
“What about my suitcase?”
“It’s at the hotel. Everything you need here is already prepared. If you need anything, tell me.”
He said it casually, but she couldn’t believe she was here as if she’d been abducted.
“All my things are in my suitcase.”
“Use what I prepared.”
“Can’t you just bring it over? It’s not that hard to bring one suitcase.”
After glancing around again, Chaekyung muttered in complaint.
“Say that one more time.”
His eyes sharpened dangerously.
At his sharp tone, Chaekyung fell silent.
“There are things you’ll need in the inner room.”
The inner room turned out to be a walk-in closet.
Clothes hung on both sides, along with various accessories—all brand new.
Every item was expensive, and strangely enough, perfectly suited to her.
Realizing that all of this had been prepared just for her made it impossible to touch anything.
“I don’t need things like this.”
When she turned around, Kangwoo was leaning against the doorway. He spoke firmly in a cold voice.
“I need it. For today, just be satisfied with what I’ve prepared.”
“But still—”
Kangwoo checked the time, spoke quickly, and left.
“I’ll be back in an hour. Get ready.”
He disappeared without giving her time to ask what was going to happen afterward.
Left alone, Chaekyung looked around the room and froze when she saw the lingerie.
Every piece, trimmed with lace, was provocative and revealing.
You expect me to wear this?
She held one up to look more closely. It was nothing like what she’d ever worn before—and probably never would by choice.
Is this his taste?
She wondered why he’d brought her here, yet at the same time felt she understood what he wanted from her, which made her tense. The word engagement she’d heard earlier stabbed into her heart.
He had said he wanted to date her, but what he felt was probably just desire. In the end, he would marry a woman from his own world. Thinking that made her feel low.
She told herself that the pain she felt from being shaken by him was something she had to endure.
In the end, Chaekyung changed clothes. She couldn’t go without washing up until tomorrow.
She chose the simplest dress in the closet and headed up to the deck.
The yacht had left the pier and was gliding across Lake Léman.
The sky was beautifully stained red by the sunset.
Kangwoo was on the phone, standing against the sunset. His casual clothes and slightly tousled hair made him look different from usual.
Against the sunset, he looked like he belonged in a photoshoot.
“Don’t contact me until tomorrow. Just wrap that up.”
Seeing Chaekyung, he ended the call. His gaze stayed on her as he walked closer.
His eyes felt as hot as the sunset.
“It suits you.”
“It feels awkward.”
Chaekyung felt embarrassed as she looked down at her clothes. Kangwoo slipped one hand into his pocket, took her hand with the other, and spun her lightly.
“If I buy all those clothes, are you going to walk around dressed like that?”
It didn’t sound like a joke.
“I’m comfortable in my own clothes.”
Still holding her hand, Kangwoo led her toward the back of the yacht.
His expression didn’t change.
“You can accept it.”
“It makes me uncomfortable.”
“You’re really troublesome.”
To him, it might be pocket change, but to Chaekyung it was an excessive gift. The clothes he gave her felt like a burden she couldn’t openly accept.
Someday, when things ended between them, they would become fragments of lingering feelings he’d left behind.
She didn’t want to suffer because of traces of him.
And… she wanted to protect her final feelings.
They stopped at the back of the yacht.
A table straight out of a movie scene was lavishly set.
Delicious-looking food, beautiful flowers, and elegant tableware were perfectly arranged—too perfect to even touch.
Kangwoo pulled out a chair, guiding her hand.
After seating Chaekyung, he sat across from her.
Dinner on the deck under the setting sun felt like a dream. The awkwardness faded, leaving only happiness.
Chaekyung brought up something that had been on her mind.
“I have something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“What kind of relationship do you and Ray have? You told me not to ask before, but I keep wondering every time I see you together.”
Kangwoo looked troubled and took a sip of wine.
“At one time, Ray was my brother.”
“What? Professor Patrick said he used to be family.”
Chaekyung was even more confused.
“My mother remarried when I was in middle school—to an American man. Ray was my stepfather’s adopted son.”
“……”
“Ray was smart, as you know. But he made every mistake he shouldn’t have, all at once. And he was disowned.”
“……”
She felt sorry for having asked about such a heavy family matter.
Growing up under the shadow of a single mother, she’d thought of herself as unfortunate.
Chaekyung hadn’t expected the story behind a man everyone envied to be so heavy, and she apologized.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s fine. You were bound to know eventually.”
“Ray made a serious mistake. One of them was… ruining a woman’s life. Just because she was someone I was interested in.”
Chaekyung stared straight at Kangwoo.
He spoke solemnly.
“I won’t let something like that happen again.”
Kangwoo placed the napkin from his lap onto the table and leaned toward her.
He bent closer, meeting her eyes.
“I’ll make sure you’re protected.”
His firm words melted the feelings he’d kept hidden.
His lips softly stole hers—gentler than any sweet temptation.
