Chapter 14
Thinking about Yugeon’s preferences, Jian didn’t really want to gain weight—but it should be okay. She’d even started using the treadmill, something she’d never done before, to manage herself…
So she found herself wishing that from now on, she could keep having breakfast and dinner with him like this.
“…Oh, right! I’ll be eating dinner out tonight.”
“Out?”
“Yes. Something good happened at work, so we’re having a company dinner. We signed a new partnership.”
“Really? If it’s good news, I guess you’ll be grilling meat. Eat well there too. Don’t skimp just because I’m not watching.”
“Yes, I will.”
Jian nodded as she replied.
“Oh, but I might be home a bit late. It’s also the CEO’s birthday, so we’re preparing a surprise party with the team. It might go longer than usual.”
At the mention of the CEO’s birthday, Yugeon’s neatly groomed brows twitched.
If it’s the CEO of Eun Jian’s company…
The man who had run through the rain to hold an umbrella over her.
The one who had carried her out when she collapsed.
The one who might have been the recipient of her so-called “confession”…
She’s celebrating that bastard’s birthday?
Yugeon’s hand holding the spoon began to tremble.
Suddenly, the idea of Jian attending the company dinner irritated him to no end.
Should I just tell her not to go? Make up some excuse?
The ugly impulse flared up, but as a working adult himself, Yugeon understood well that company dinners were part of professional life. He couldn’t let his own bad mood interfere with her social life by making her skip something everyone else was attending.
“…Still, don’t stay out too late, okay? The world’s dangerous these days.”
What he really meant was: I can’t tell you not to go, but can’t you at least come back early?
“Yes. I won’t stay out too late.”
Even so, his heart tightened with an inexplicable anxiety. A nasty premonition rose within him, as if he wouldn’t be able to relax until evening was over.
That evening.
As usual these days, Yugeon left work right on time. Recently, because he’d been having dinner with Jian, leaving on the dot had become a habit.
It wasn’t that he used to be buried in work out of necessity. He simply enjoyed working, so he’d always found more tasks to do and ended up staying late. If he chose to stop, he could leave on time anytime.
For him, doing less work was harder than doing more—but the new mission of having dinner with Jian gladly made him stop.
He returned home early as usual.
But today, Jian wasn’t there.
“Are you home?”
She would usually come running from the living room sofa to greet him at the door if she’d gotten home first.
For some reason, his chest felt hollow.
Before marriage, he had lived alone just fine. But today, the house felt unnecessarily large.
He ate alone, reviewed some documents, and even finished a workout in the fitness room.
By the time he was done, it was already 9 p.m.
“First round should be over by now. If it’s going long, does that mean they’re going to a second round? These days, work-life balance is so important for employees, and they’re dragging the dinner out like this…”
Leaning against the headboard, Yugeon anxiously bit at his fingernails and muttered.
“Haah, this won’t do.”
Unable to bear it any longer, he sent Jian a text.
[Is the company dinner over?]
[The first round just ended. We’re heading to the second place now. Is something wrong?]
“What? Is something wrong? My wife hasn’t come home late at night, so of course I’m worried. What do you mean, ‘Is something wrong?’…”
Grumbling, he typed a reply.
[Don’t stay out too late. I’m worried you might get caught up in some strange rumors.]
[Yes. Don’t worry too much. I’ll be careful not to get into anything weird. Even if I’m a bit late, please go to sleep first. I’ll come in quietly so I don’t disturb you.]
“So she’s basically saying she’s having fun, so I shouldn’t bother her and just go to sleep?”
Her thoughtfulness somehow made him feel even more upset.
Without replying again, Yugeon flopped onto the bed.
“Ha… What on earth are you planning to do while I’m asleep…”
His insides boiled.
He felt restless and irritated.
Like that rainy day—would she smile at that guy again like sunshine, wishing him happy birthday?
“Argh! No…”
The smile that had once stolen his soul flashed in his mind, and Yugeon grabbed his head.
But Jian’s smile directed at another man kept replaying over and over.
“No, Eun Jian…!”
Don’t smile. Don’t smile at that bastard like that…!
He rolled back and forth across the wide bed, groaning in frustration.
Finally, he abruptly sat up.
“How am I supposed to sleep like this…?”
Waiting quietly like a dog for its owner—it seemed impossible.
At the second venue, a classy wine bar, Jian sat down with her coworkers and ordered wine and snacks.
I miss Yugeon…
While waiting for the wine, she fiddled with her phone under the table and thought about him.
It was only natural to want to hurry back to the house where her favorite shirtless man was waiting.
She’d always been something of a homebody, but after marriage, it had become even more so because of Yugeon.
Of course, it wasn’t really the house that mattered—it was Cha Yugeon. As long as she had Cha Yugeon, and only Cha Yugeon, she felt like she could live even on a deserted island.
Still, it’s the CEO’s birthday. I can’t be so obvious about wanting to go home. Get a grip.
Sejun had valued her talent highly and even offered her the job. As an artist, she couldn’t help but be grateful.
She felt ashamed of herself for being so ungrateful.
“Wow…! So this is what wine tastes like? I’ve only ever had convenience store wine.”
“Right? It’s so good…!”
Among the coworkers who were marveling at the served wine, Jian joined in appropriately, though her mind was still full of Yugeon.
“We’ve been eating so well lately. Thanks to Jian’s husband remodeling the company pantry, we’re living luxuriously at work too.”
“Exactly. I especially love those éclairs from the CH Hotel.”
The employees’ faces were bright with smiles.
The pantry remodel had been Yugeon’s doing, after seeing Jian feel sorry toward her colleagues while she was hospitalized and resting.
It seemed like Eun Jian was worried about causing a gap in work at the company. I can’t stand seeing Cha Yugeon’s wife looking timid or intimidated at work. So don’t feel self-conscious about anything.
Remembering that, a smile appeared on Jian’s face.
It might have been partly his pride talking, but he had truly taken her feelings into account. She had been very grateful then.
Just as the atmosphere was growing warm and lively, Jian’s phone suddenly rang.
It was Yugeon.
What’s wrong?
They had just exchanged messages.
After excusing herself, Jian stepped outside to take the call.
“Ahem! H-hello…?”
She carefully steadied her voice as she answered.
—Uh…? What…? Ms. Eun Jian…? Why is it you…? Cough…
“W-what’s wrong? Why does your voice sound like that? Are you sick?”
Startled by the dying tone coming through the phone, she asked anxiously.
—Ah… I meant to call the housekeeper by mistake… Cough, cough!
“Yugeon!”
His violent coughing didn’t sound normal at all.
—Haah, sorry… You’re at the company dinner… Cough… I dialed wrong… Cough… Don’t mind me, have fun… Cough, cough! Ugh…!
“Hello? H-hello…?”
With one last sound that almost seemed like he was coughing up blood, the call abruptly cut off.
Jian’s hand dropped limply.
Is my husband… sick? Was that why he texted earlier? Did he want someone by his side because he wasn’t feeling well…?
And she had told him to go to sleep first.
Jian felt resentful of her own thoughtlessness.
