Chapter 6
“No.”
Ahan shook his head.
“It looks like your eyes.”
At his casual remark, Yeoreul’s eyes widened.
Her round irises, flecked here and there with pale amber, quivered ever so slightly.
Ahan popped a walnut into his mouth and chewed. Its rich, nutty flavor spread across his tongue.
Yeoreul stared at him blankly, unable to think of a proper response.
“Is it good?”
Grandmother’s attention turned back to the two of them.
“Yes. It’s fragrant, a little sweet… very good.”
Ahan answered politely, his tone courteous and respectful.
Leisurely, he watched Yeoreul chatting with her grandmother.
Little by little, expression returned to her face.
Her eyes regained their usual crystal-clear brightness.
This time, both her eyes and her smile were genuine.
“Do you want to stay the night?”
While Grandmother briefly stepped away, Ahan spoke quietly.
Yeoreul blinked in surprise.
“I think it would be fine if we went back to my family’s house tomorrow.”
“Oh…”
“I think we’ve had enough time to ourselves.”
His gaze remained fixed on her reflection in the teacup.
“I’ll head back first. Stay here tonight.”
The certainty in his voice left no room for doubt.
Yeoreul nodded immediately.
“Okay.”
Ahan lowered his teacup and looked up.
“I will.”
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in her answer.
A lovely smile blossomed across her delicate face.
There wasn’t a trace of reluctance in the eyes looking back at him.
She didn’t even offer the customary, “Stay a little longer.”
Her bright expression seemed to say only:
Have a safe trip.
For some reason…
He didn’t like that very much.
“You must be tired. Go home and get some rest. My legs hurt, or I’d walk you farther.”
Smiling kindly, Grandmother watched Ahan rise to his feet.
“It’s all right.”
Apparently pleased with her new grandson-in-law, the smile never left her wrinkled face.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for having me. I’ll visit again.”
Grandmother looked at Yeoreul, who could only gaze quietly at Ahan’s neat, gentle smile.
She gave her granddaughter a little shove.
“Go see him off.”
“Okay.”
Hurriedly slipping on her shoes, Yeoreul followed him outside.
Just as he reached the gate, Ahan stopped walking and stepped toward her.
The sudden closeness made her fingertips tingle, and she clasped her own hands together.
“Please… travel safely…”
Meeting his eyes, she faltered before finally forcing the words out.
After struggling for so long to say something…
That was all she managed.
“That’s it?”
Without changing his expression, Ahan brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
She flinched at the unexpectedly gentle touch, then looked at him in confusion.
“I thought you were going to say something incredible.”
He added,
“You took long enough.”
Is he teasing me?
The chauffeur, who had been waiting nearby, stepped out of the car.
“I’ll go.”
As Ahan turned away, the chauffeur opened the rear door for him.
Once he climbed inside, his face disappeared behind the darkly tinted window.
Yeoreul bowed politely.
The chauffeur returned her bow before getting into the driver’s seat.
Moments later, the car disappeared into the dark, narrow alley.
Yeoreul continued staring after it long after it had vanished.
Only when it was completely gone did she finally return inside.
After washing up, Yeoreul didn’t head to the tiny bed in her own room.
Instead, she crossed the threshold into her grandmother’s room.
She lay down beside her beneath the blankets, resting her head on the pillow and staring at the ceiling.
The warmth of her grandmother beside her filled her with quiet comfort.
“Grandma prays every day.”
Pulling the blanket up around her granddaughter’s shoulders, Grandmother gently patted her back.
“I always pray for my Yeoreul.”
“My poor, frustrating girl.”
“You used to call me smart.”
“Not today. Today you’re a frustrating one.”
Her wrinkled hand softly caressed Yeoreul’s cheek.
“You’ve grown up precious too. Without a single flaw.”
“You know that, don’t you?”
Yeoreul nodded.
“Will you treat him well?”
She moved closer and nestled into her grandmother’s embrace.
“…Mm.”
“Treat him well.”
“Oh, then that’s enough.”
Her grandmother had worried endlessly.
How could such a young girl marry a man she didn’t even love?
She had objected again and again, saying such a thing didn’t belong in this day and age.
Yet somehow…
Whether meeting her new grandson-in-law had eased her mind, or whether her worries had simply worn themselves out…
She fell asleep unusually early.
Though not before clicking her tongue several more times.
Yeoreul couldn’t sleep.
Outside, the pale blue evening had faded into darkness.
Then rain began to fall.
The old windows rattled softly in the quiet room.
She lay still, listening to the rain and wind tapping against the glass.
She liked the sound of rain.
Wanting to hear it more clearly, she got up and cracked the window open just a little.
Then she lay back down beside her sleeping grandmother.
Cool air drifted through the opening.
Her chest, finally free of its tightness, felt refreshed.
It was almost like having cried until there were no tears left.
Before she knew it, the steady rhythm of the rainfall lulled her eyes shut.
Beyond the frosted window, the night deepened.
She thought of Ahan.
Somehow…
It felt as though he already knew everything.
* * *
“Your father really is something.”
On the drive back to the estate, Ahan was speaking with his mother, Seook, over the phone.
“I honestly thought he didn’t know at first. When I asked why, he said it might all be a misunderstanding. That maybe there were circumstances in that family we didn’t know about.”
The car carrying Ahan stopped at a red light.
“Your father… he’s too kind. He’s kind to everyone. That kindness—and the way he sees through people—is exactly what made me fall for him.”
She sighed.
“But just as we suspected… that man intends to squeeze money out of our family. It seems he doesn’t want anyone talking about what goes on in his own household. Since everyone preferred to keep the peace, we pretended not to notice…”
Ahan slowly opened the eyes he had been resting.
“That man turned out to be even more despicable than I expected.”
The image of Taeha’s shameless face flashed through Seook’s mind, leaving her momentarily speechless.
“He actually thought we wouldn’t know they’d thrown Miss Yeoreul out of the house.”
“And then he stood there telling lies without blinking.”
Ahan could almost picture his mother sweeping her chestnut-colored wavy hair back from her forehead before speaking.
He waited quietly.
His sharp eyes beneath dark brows remained calm.
“The way he humiliates his own daughter, even in front of others…”
A weary sigh came through the phone.
“She’s such a good, upright girl. She must’ve suffered a lot growing up under that father.”
The sympathy wasn’t only for Yeoreul.
It was also something she wanted her son to hear.
She didn’t actually say,
Take good care of her.
But that was what she meant.
More than anything…
She wanted them to be happy.
She wanted her son to understand how much strength could come from kind words…
…from warm words.
And yet…
She felt she had no right to lecture anyone about such things.
Her son remained silent.
“Couldn’t you at least say you’re listening?”
At his mother’s exasperated complaint, Ahan tapped the screen of his phone twice with a fingertip.
Tap.
Tap.
“…Hah.”
Then he chuckled.
The playful laugh made him sound like a mischievous boy.
Seook clicked her tongue.
Even as a child, he’d never played little jokes like that.
So he just doesn’t like staying on the phone for long, does he?
“Honestly… you…”
“I’m hanging up.”
At least…
She didn’t sound upset.
“Yes.”
His playful smile faded.
The composed young man answered quietly.
The call ended.
Without realizing it, night had completely fallen.
Turning his head toward the empty seat beside him, Ahan frowned faintly.
She had smiled so beautifully while thanking him.
She smiled as though she couldn’t wait to go home.
As though she had the whole world.
She smiled…
Even while watching him leave.
Without the slightest hint of regret.
You’re supposed to come to me now.
Then…
If you came to my side…
Would you stop smiling like that?
It was a question he had no desire to ask himself.
The emptiness inside him, which he had expected to disappear, only grew larger.
The sight of her looking so happy to say goodbye left a bitter taste in his mouth.
The driver glanced at the rearview mirror after hearing a quiet laugh.
As always…
Ahan’s eyes weren’t smiling.
Only his lips were.
The car continued down the rain-soaked road.
Headlights scattered across the wet asphalt in restless reflections.
The sound of the rain kept dampening his heart.
So he fixed his gaze on the dark navy sky…
Trying to quiet the turmoil inside him.
* * *
Summer had returned, and nature had reclaimed its vibrant colors.
Yeoreul was walking toward the lecture hall with her university friend, Young.
Yeoreul liked wearing simple, feminine clothes.
Neither flashy nor overly plain.
Just something that felt like herself.
She held out a black shopping bag.
“Young, here. The things you asked me to get.”
Inside were sewing supplies and the fabric she’d picked up for her.
Young’s eyes lit up.
“Wow. Thank you! Sorry I couldn’t come with you. The girl on the morning shift suddenly had something come up.”
She must have rushed straight from work.
Her wavy brown hair was tied into a messy bun on top of her head.
As she tucked the bag into her backpack, she smiled gratefully.
“Seriously, thanks. I’ll buy you something really delicious.”
“If it weren’t for you, I’d have spent the whole class spacing out.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Going to the fabric market alone drains your soul.”
“I’m still not used to the way they look at students.”
The workers at the fabric market could spot students instantly.
If they realized you were one, they’d often ignore you, pretend not to hear, or answer only with curt looks.
“Where are you from?”
“I’m a student.”
“We don’t sell retail.”
After repeating that conversation enough times…
People simply got exhausted.
“I’m starting to think this major just isn’t for me.”
“Can I really survive in an industry full of people that intimidating?”
“Hm?”
“But you’re good at talking to people.”
“You’ve worked so many part-time jobs.”
“You have plenty of experience dealing with customers.”
Young shook her head emphatically.
“No.”
“The people in this industry are on a whole different level.”
“I’d rather get cursed out by a nightmare customer.”
“That’s honestly healthier for your mental state.”
“You know what I mean.”
“So do you.”
Yeoreul nodded in quiet agreement.
“That’s true.”
“But I’ve gotten used to it.”
“I understand where they’re coming from.”
“…Hmm.”
“You know, sometimes you seem incredibly timid…”
“…and other times, not at all.”
Young narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
Then she suddenly clapped her hands.
“Oh, right!”
She looked at Yeoreul.
“So after the semester ends…”
“Are you moving into that house?”
Final exams were almost over.
After that…
Yeoreul would have to move into Ahan’s house on the outskirts of Seoul.
“Stay quietly in that house until the wedding.”
“And don’t do anything that might get on Director Woo’s nerves.”
Taeha’s greedy voice echoed unpleasantly inside her mind.
“I don’t know why, but he seems to like you quite a bit.”
“At this rate, even if he realizes you’re pretending, he’ll probably play along.”
“So act cute if you have to.”
“Make sure there’s no way for him to back out of this marriage.”
“Do you understand me?”
He had repeated those words over and over.
“I heard it’s basically out in the countryside.”
Young wrinkled her nose.
