Chapter : 8
Geonhyeong gave a polite, almost forced smile toward the elderly gentleman standing behind the two of them.
“Werenât you on vacation?”
He was a white-haired gentleman who reminded one of a butler from a movie. Round glasses, hair neatly styled with pomade, and a suit pressed so sharply that not a single wrinkle was visible. He straightened his back, then slowly bowed to finish his greeting and continued speaking.
“Itâs been a while since your last visit, young master.”
“How have you been? I thought you were on vacation.”
Geonhyeong also bowed politely to the elderly gentleman. Their exchange of formal greetings looked like something straight out of a etiquette guidebook.
The gentleman shook his head slightly in response.
“The boss has gone on vacation. This is the first time in ten years.”
“Exactly. I was surprised that Auntie took a vacation too. Maybe Manager Baek should take one too. Ten years is a long time⌠hasnât it been over twenty?”
“Thank you for the suggestion, but the boss and the manager canât both be away at the same time.”
Hayun, listening to their polite conversation, hesitated and stepped back slightly. For some reason, being near the two of them made her skin tingle. The air between them seemed sharp, almost cutting.
“Today, youâve actually tied your tie properly.”
Manager Baekâs sharp eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Geonhyeong, like a teacher judging a studentâs conduct.
“But the stripes on your jacket donât quite match. I suppose your usual tailor has changed.”
Hayun flinched at the remark about Geonhyeongâs attire. Although it was unlikely, she felt as if her cardigan might be visible underneath. Geonhyeong shrugged lightly at Manager Baekâs comment.
“Grandfather, father, and I have all used the same tailor.”
“Ah⌠I see.”
Baek removed his glasses and sighed, rubbing them with the pocket handkerchief tucked in his breast pocket.
“Iâve told your grandfather, your father, and now youâwhen you fight, you should take off your jacket.”
“Ah, I always forget.”
Geonhyeong smirked lightly. He thought, âIâll just fight firstâwho cares about taking off a jacket.â
Regardless, Baek continued his lecture while cleaning his glasses.
“If you move violently, the seams get twisted. A good suit must be properly cared for. Actually⌠why do you even fight in a suit?”
“Yes, yes. I understand. Iâll make sure to bring comfortable sportswear. If a fight breaks out, Iâll just pause, change clothes, and then start. Letâs try it that way.”
Geonhyeong responded jokingly. Baek shook his head as if resigned and put his glasses back on. Then, his gaze shifted toward Hayun. The thin eyes behind his glasses suddenly widened, as if heâd glimpsed a crack in her composed demeanor.
“And this young lady isâŚ?”
“Oh, sheâs my guest. I was planning to take her to the inner quarters. Thatâs alright, right?”
“Youâre bringing a guest to a place covered in cat fur? You came to dine, didnât you? Yet you intend to stop by such an unsanitary place beforehand⌔
Hearing âinner quarters,â Baek furrowed his brows, as if dissatisfied that cats might be there.
“If you insist on staying there, I wonât say anything. So, where should we go today?”
Geonhyeong, once again, showed no concern on his face. Changing the subject quickly, Baek sighed in displeasure and stepped aside.
“The Green Willow Room that young master favors happens to be available.”
“Perfect. Thank you. Ah!”
Grabbing Hayunâs hand, Geonhyeong moved quickly past Manager Baek but stopped once again. Smiling mischievously at Hayun, he said:
“Patbingsu.”
Startled by the sudden mention of patbingsu (red bean shaved ice), Baek glanced at Hayun.
“Itâs not exactly the style of bingsu young ladies prefer these days.”
“No, just the classic typeâcrushed ice with red beans and a few toppings. I remember you liked that last time, right?”
Blushing slightly, Hayun nodded. Geonhyeong had remembered what she said casually before.
“Good to hear. I hope you like it. Our patbingsu is actually quite famous.”
Baekâs expression softened instantly as he spoke to Hayun, in stark contrast to when he had been arguing with Geonhyeong.
Encouraged, Geonhyeong led Hayun further inside.
Eventually, they arrived at the inner quarters.
“The cat room⌔
Hayun gawked at the space full of cats.
“Maybe âcat playgroundâ is a better term. This wasnât just an existing room repurposedâthey actually built it specifically for the cats.”
Geonhyeong added with a pleased expression, making Hayun tilt her head in curiosity.
ââŚDo traditional Korean restaurants usually take animals this seriously?â
Then she remembered, this wasnât a regular restaurantâit was a tea house. But the tea houses sheâd seen on TV didnât look like this. She imagined older men whispering secrets while sitting next to pretty women.
Hayunâs mind pictured a tea house from dramas, which seemed quite incompatible with Geonhyeong.
“Ah, that little one has been raised by me since it was a kittenâI fed it milk myself.”
But her attention was quickly drawn to the cats prowling around. Soon, her mind wandered entirely to them.
“The Green Willow Room is ready.”
After watching the cats for a while, they were informed that the dining space was prepared. On the way to the Green Willow Room, Hayun chattered happily.
“There are⌠so many cats.”
“Yes, they collect stray cats from surrounding villages, feed them, and take care of them.”
“Oh, so Auntie⌔
Hayun remembered calling the tea houseâs manager âAuntieâ earlier, but Geonhyeongâs response surprised her.
“Auntie brings them in and provides money and space, but Manager Baek actually handles the care.”
“âŚHuh?”
Thinking of the strict-looking elderly man, Hayunâs expression turned puzzled. Geonhyeong nodded knowingly.
“No wonder he hasnât taken a vacation in twenty years.”
Hayun rolled her eyes, thinking it couldnât really be because he was caring for cats for two decades.
“Unsanitary⌔
“Is it dirty?”
Hayun shook her head. Geonhyeong, walking at a leisurely pace, chuckled.
“In reality, Auntie keeps picking up cats without a plan out of pity. So Manager Baek had no choice but to take charge. Of course, heâs naturally strict. Itâs a tatami room, but itâs fine, right?”
Opening the door to the Green Willow Room, Geonhyeong asked. Hayun nodded. She was wearing a comfortable, light dress, so it didnât matter.
“Here, sit wherever you like.”
Perhaps due to Manager Baekâs strict supervision, Geonhyeong removed his jacket and pointed to the cushions on the floor.
In the neat, well-arranged room, two cushions were placed side by side in front of the table. Sitting on the inner cushion, Hayun could see the beautifully maintained garden.
An avid plant lover, she couldnât tear her eyes away from the view outside.
“Itâs beautiful⌔
“Is it?”
“The trees, the gardenâitâs much bigger than I thought. Must have been cared for a long time.”
“Ah, this house actually belongs to my maternal family. Before my mother got married, she ran it with her mother. Now Auntie manages it⌔
“I see⌔
Geonhyeong reached out his hand to Hayun.
“I know youâve brushed off some hair from the cats, but some might still be on you. Here, you can put this over your shoulders.”
Still staring out the window, Hayun took off her cardigan and let him drape it over her.
âGood, she says itâs hotâso naturally, I should take it off for her. And ideally, we shouldnât sit facing each other for the meal but side by sideâŚâ
Oh no.
Only now did Hayun remember her sisterâs advice. Flustered, she glanced at Geonhyeong, but he was already taking a seat beside her.
“âŚFeet.”
Geonhyeong swallowed the words that had almost escaped. Too late. His sharp gaze had already scanned her from head to toe.
Hayunâs face flushed instantly. She tried to change the subject.
“Did you just curse?”
But she had no skill in smoothly continuing the conversation, so all she could do was speak abruptly. Surprisingly, it worked. Geonhyeong looked embarrassed and turned his head.
“S-sorry⌔
“I saw you mutter it earlier too.”
“Ah, well, I tend to speak harshly⌔
“Please be careful from now on.”
Hayun turned her head casually. The initial awkwardness was overcome thanks to her little confrontation. But she immediately regretted it.
âNo, that wasnât rightâŚâ
She stole a glance at Geonhyeongâs profile. She had dressed as instructed, but she had no idea how to act from here. She had never really met a man beforeâthere was no way she could seduce him.
âMy sister said just to leave it, and it would happen naturally from thereâŚâ
But seeing Geonhyeong unable to even meet her eyes suggested otherwise.
Sigh. What now?
