Translator: Nox

Chapter 48

The Villain is a Pure Soul

A Date in the Dark

Yeonwoo left her house early in the morning. After changing the passcode and closing the door, she stood in front of the entrance for a long time.

Then, she lifted her head and scanned the surroundings. She spotted the small CCTV camera that Cha Yunseok had illegally installed and stared at it quietly.

Yesterday, when she had entered her home for the first time in a while—

She had frozen solid upon seeing the interior, which clearly showed signs of an intruder. It took a long while for her to regain her composure. When she entered the room that had been turned into a complete mess, she found a single note left behind by Cha Yunseok.

Even as she read the violent words written on the note, Yeonwoo did not tremble or cry. She folded it neatly, as if disposing of a delivery receipt, tossed it into the trash can, and silently cleaned the house.

She didn’t fall asleep until past four in the morning, but it was a deep slumber. She woke up feeling refreshed, having slept without tossing or turning once.

After waking up, she packed the belongings she hadn’t been able to take before, and by the time the real estate agent she’d spoken with arrived, she was ready to leave again.

In the meantime, she spoke with Seongheon twice over the phone. One call lasted about five minutes, and the other about ten.

Seongheon mentioned he was heading into the office for an urgent meeting, and Yeonwoo informed him that she would head down to Domyeongjae first.

After that, Yeonwoo informed Lawyer Sin from Seolyang Group about the existence of the CCTV, and the real estate agent, accompanied by the police, arrived to finish collecting evidence.

…It was over.

Yeonwoo pulled her gaze away from the CCTV camera she had been staring at and began to walk. As she descended the stairs, the painful memories of the house seemed to drift away lightly.

The feeling was vastly different from that dawn when she had fled to Moksan County. She was in a state of profound peace.

After his substantive warrant review, Cha Yunseok was taken into custody due to concerns regarding the destruction of evidence and risk of flight.

“Oh my, you’re back?”

It was around two in the afternoon, past lunchtime, when Yeonwoo arrived at Domyeongjae.

As she pulled her carrier and entered the Main Hall, Eunja was the first to greet her.

“Yes, I’m back.”

Yeonwoo smiled brightly. She had only been away for a day, but for some reason, it felt like it had been a very long time since they last met.

“You’re back sooner than I thought?”

“I wanted to come back quickly, so I moved fast.”

“Goodness, Domyeongjae ought to give you an award. Your company loyalty is deep, truly.”

“It’s because I missed you, Sunbae-nim, that I came back so fast.”

When Yeonwoo murmured this, Eunja whipped around to look at her. She gave Yeonwoo a skeptical look, scanning her from head to toe.

“Who are you?”

“Pardon? I’m Yeonwoo.”

“No, you aren’t. That smooth talk isn’t like the rookie I know. Are you a mouse that ate our rookie’s fingernails?”

Yeonwoo burst into laughter again at Eunja’s suspicion. Eunja stared at her with a blunt expression. It was the first time she had seen the rookie—who was always either intimidated or wearing a withered expression—laugh out loud.

The girl who used to keep her thorns up as if fearing anyone might talk to her, giving one-word answers and radiating a chilly air.

“Did you… finish all your homework?”

“Th-the homework? You gave me three days’ worth; how could I be done?”

“You couldn’t finish it?”

“Well, I mean, I did finish it. But I thought my eyes were going to pop out.”

Though she couldn’t shake a suspicious feeling, Eunja answered Yeonwoo’s questions faithfully. However, even as she answered, she kept casting doubtful glances, making Yeonwoo smile serenely.

Just then, Manager Mun approached, and Eunja nudged her arm, whispering.

“Be careful. I think the rookie’s been day-drinking.”

“You’re back?”

“Yes. I’m back, Manager-nim.”

As Yeonwoo greeted her with a beaming face, Eunja nudged the Manager’s arm once more.

“Unni. Look at that grinning face. She must have been day-drinking heavily by herself somewhere.”

“Ah, that’s right. I bought some presents.”

Yeonwoo cut in as she opened her bag. She pulled out several cosmetic items.

“I stopped by a cosmetic shop for a bit while waiting for the bus at the terminal. They said these are very popular lately.”

She pulled out two small bags and handed one to each of them. Eunja accepted hers with a dubious look.

While the impatient Eunja began tearing open the box, Manager Mun, who had received her gift a moment later, looked at Yeonwoo over her glasses.

“Did you take care of your business well?”

“Yes. It’s all settled.”

“The house. Did you put it on the market?”

“Will you have to go to Seoul again?”

“Yes. I stopped by the real estate office too, and everything was resolved.”

“I don’t think I’ll have to go for the time being.”

Manager Mun nodded at Yeonwoo’s words. Her face was still stern, her expression devoid of a smile.

 

“Then don’t skip work from now on. You know very well that leaving isn’t usually allowed, right?”

“Yes. I won’t skip, I’ll work hard on my night shifts, and I’ll do my best at everything. Thank you for being so understanding.”

When Yeonwoo replied in a soft voice, Manager Mun raised an eyebrow. Meanwhile, Eunja was already busy testing the cosmetics on her hands and lips.

“Oh my, this is nice. Smells good, too. If I apply this diligently, will I look ten years younger?”

When Eunja expressed her delight, Manager Mun snorted.

“What are you going to do even if you look ten years younger? You’d still be an old lady. Just give up already, please.”

“Aigoo, then Unni. If you aren’t going to use yours, give it to me. I’ll apply it religiously and try to look ten years younger.”

“Forget it! Why are you coveting my gift! You’re so greedy!”

As Eunja reached toward the bag, Manager Mun hid it inside her apron and walked away. Watching them, Eunja and Yeonwoo pouted and laughed.

“Yeonwoo. Isn’t this kind of stuff expensive? It looks expensive.”

“It’s not that expensive. You can order it online, too. When you run out—”

Yeonwoo’s voice trailed off. It was the first time Eunja, who always called her ‘rookie,’ had called her by her name.

“I’m living the high life because of you, Yeonwoo. Truly. Even my own daughter doesn’t buy me precious cosmetics like this.”

“Ah…”

It was then. Manager Mun, who had gone inside, peeked her head back out and looked at Yeonwoo.

“Yeonwoo. Have you eaten?”

“Pardon? Ah… no! I haven’t! I’m hungry!”

When Manager Mun also called her by name, Yeonwoo’s eyes went wide, and she responded with exaggerated excitement. Still wearing a blunt face, Manager Mun motioned to her.

“Then come here. Eat first.”

“Yes! Yes, Manager-nim!”

Yeonwoo practically ran inside after putting down her bag. Eunja, who had been applying the cosmetics, tidied up Yeonwoo’s luggage and followed her right in.

---

Seongheon returned to Domyeongjae only after deep darkness had fallen. He could have left tomorrow, but he didn’t find the idea of a night in Seoul appealing at all with his girlfriend of two days back at Domyeongjae.

Eleven o’clock at night.

When Yeonwoo entered the Main Hall after stopping by her quarters to wash up and prepare for her night shift, Manager Mun left for the day, suggesting for the first time that she should take a nap during the dawn hours if she could.

Left alone in the Main Hall, Yeonwoo checked the time on the wall clock. It was already well past midnight, and her entire focus was on the phone inside her apron.

Hardly a minute after she checked the time, the phone vibrated.

Yeonwoo checked her phone immediately. When his number—which she hadn’t saved under a name yet—popped up, she composed her breathing and answered.

“Yes. It’s me.”

She wished receiving a call from a lover would become a normal part of her daily routine, but for now, it was difficult to answer comfortably without first steadying her voice and taking a long breath.

— Where are you?

“The Main Hall. I’m on night duty.”

— You must be tired.

“It’s fine. It’s not busy.”

She unconsciously bit her nail. His voice over the phone was so gentle; the low tone of his words seemed to harmonize perfectly with the night.

— I need you to come to Unseondang for a moment.

“Ah, yes. Vice President.”

She stood up as if she had been waiting. Not knowing what he wanted her to bring, she blindly entered the large kitchen.

“Is there something you need?”

— Not really. I just wanted to see you.

Yeonwoo came to a dead halt.

— I’d like to go to the Main Hall myself, but I don’t think you’d want that.

“Ah, right, yes.”

— If you feel awkward coming empty-handed, bring a cup of tea.

“Tea. Yes. What kind of tea…?”

— Whatever tea you want to drink.

Yeonwoo kept blinking her eyes and nodded. Even though he couldn’t see her, it was hard to find her voice.

— It’s late; can you make it?

At his question, her heart thudded strangely. Yeonwoo couldn’t answer immediately and hesitated.

The words “it’s late” sounded strangely significant.

“I’ll go now.”

— All right.

Yeonwoo barely managed to reply before lowering her phone.

She realized for the first time in her life that romance was something that strained the heart at every turn.

After agonizing for a long time over which tea to bring, Yeonwoo picked out chrysanthemum tea. Arriving at Unseondang, Yeonwoo left her shoes on the stepping stone and stepped up, looking left and right to find where Seongheon was.

“Over here.”

The voice came from the direction of the bedroom. When Yeonwoo turned her head, Seongheon, looking as if he had just finished washing up, raised his hand.

 

That sight was something she could never get used to, no matter how many times she saw it. Yeonwoo gripped the tray tightly and adjusted her path.

As Yeonwoo approached, Seongheon took the tray with one hand. Then, naturally, he took Yeonwoo’s hand with his other.

Setting the tray down on the first available surface, Seongheon sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at Yeonwoo. Standing as if trapped between Seongheon’s knees, Yeonwoo looked down at him.

Tense, Yeonwoo couldn’t say a word and just stared, while Seongheon, with his hair still damp, gazed back at her silently. How much time passed with them just looking at each other?

Seongheon wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his head against her.

Ha… I’m in real trouble.

At his sudden sigh, Yeonwoo’s eyes went wide. She wondered if something had happened at the company, or if it was related to Cha Yunseok; her thoughts naturally drifted in that direction.

“………”

“I couldn’t eat all day, and I couldn’t get any work done.”

“It’s killing me, seriously.”

This time, Yeonwoo’s lips parted slightly. The thoughts racing through her head vanished instantly, her lips falling open in surprise as she realized the true meaning behind his words.