Chapter 10

“So, what exactly do you want me to help you with?”

“Um… well…”

“Better not test my patience.”

“Even if you scold me, could you please just call my dad for a moment? He doesn’t believe me at all.”

Jae-won’s dark brows arched sharply.

“And why would I do that?”

“It’s because… I told him I was with you right now. Then he said if I was lying, he wouldn’t let it slide. He told me to make you call him right away…”

Even as she said it, she couldn’t meet his eyes, clearly embarrassed.

His expression twisted in frustration as he stepped closer.

“I told you not to use me.”

He practically growled, voice low and fierce.

“I know, you did. But I had no choice. Technically, I’m not lying. We are together… well, in the same hotel, just in the next room.”

He drew in a deep breath and glared at her.

“…”

“I’m sorry. Please just save me this one time.”

Her meaning was obvious even without more words.

“So you want me to call your father and tell him I’m with his daughter in a hotel room? You really think that’s a good idea?”

A dull ache pulled at the back of his neck.

She was unbelievable. He stared at her, eyes cold and unrelenting.

“You’re not leaving? Should I throw you out?”

“Please. Just tell him we’re watching a late-night movie together. That’s all. I’ll handle everything else.”

“What’s inside that tiny head of yours?”

He looked down at her as if studying a strange creature.

“I’m really sorry to your girlfriend, but please, just this once. If you don’t help me, I swear my life is over.”

Her eyes were red and glistening, lips pressed tight as she waited for his answer. The pitiful sight made him sigh.

He sat down on the single armchair and crossed his legs. His robe shifted slightly, revealing the firm line of his thigh.

“Gasp… Could you please put on some clothes?”

Startled, I-young quickly turned her head away.

“Why? Never seen a man’s body before?”

“T-that’s not it…”

Come to think of it, she had seen her friends Tae-joo and Dong-hoon shirtless plenty of times, but somehow, this felt different.

His half-smile curved upward, mocking.

“Get out.”

His voice was firm, cold.

“What can I do to make you help me? Please, I’m begging you.”

She gave him the most pitiful look she could manage, like a drenched puppy left out in the rain.

“Anything?”

There it was. He’d taken the bait.

“Yes, anything.”

She clenched her fists and stood up straight. If he refused, she was ready to drop to her knees and grab his leg if she had to.

He stared at her like she was hopeless.

“But tell me something first.”

“Y-yes?”

Her father was probably pacing, waiting for that call, but the seconds just kept ticking away.

“Room 1004.”

“Yes, sir.”

He really was a landlord, calling her by her apartment number.

“Did our lips actually touch?”

Her mouth fell open.

What was that supposed to mean?

“I didn’t feel a thing.”

“What? You think I’d lie about that? You really didn’t feel it?”

“Maybe you imagined it.”

“You think I’m some kind of pervert?”

Her anger finally burst. She planted her hands on her hips, fuming.

“You’re the one who said it did, remember? So if I tell your dad we’re together right now, who’s going to deal with the fallout?”

His condescending smirk made her resolve collapse completely.

Fine. Let her dad scold her.

Better that than putting up with this arrogant man. Who cared if he cut off her allowance? She could get a part-time job.

“Anyway, since we’re talking about it, I’ll send a full list of repair issues to the building office tomorrow, so make sure to fix them properly. And please pretend you didn’t hear my request just now. Sorry for disturbing you.”

She gave a polite bow and turned toward the door.

What a mistake coming here had been.

Not only had he mocked her, he’d treated her like some kind of creep.

Well… she had shown up at a man’s hotel room in the middle of the night.

Still, that didn’t make it right.

Just before she reached the door, she turned back to find him still sitting there, watching her.

“And for the record, yes, our lips touched. If you didn’t feel it, maybe something’s wrong with you.”

“Wrong? What do you mean?”

He stood up slowly, like a tiger stretching before a pounce.

Her hand tightened on the doorknob.

“How would I know? Anyway, get checked out.”

She yanked the door open and slipped out before he could react.

“Stop right there!”

His voice echoed down the hallway, but she was already sprinting toward her room.

Thud.

She slammed the door behind her and dove under the blanket.

“Where have you been this late?”

Half-asleep, Hye-sun mumbled from the next bed.

“It’s… a long story.”

Would he tell her father?

Would he actually call him?

She kicked off the blanket and stared at the ceiling lost in thought.

“I-young, sleep. We’re going skiing tomorrow.”

“Yeah.”

But there was no way she could sleep now.

After tossing and turning all night, she finally drifted off near dawn.

Buzz, buzz.

“I-young, your phone’s ringing. Pick it up.”

Hye-sun groaned, covering her face with a pillow.

Half-awake, I-young blinked at the phone vibrating beside her.

Sunlight slipped through the thick blackout curtains.

It was obviously her father.

She took a deep breath and whispered, “I’m doomed,” three times before answering.

“Hi, Dad.”

She tried to sound casual.

—This is your father.

Kang Ju-sik’s low, flat tone sent chills down her spine. He knew. He had to know.

“Good morning, Dad.”

—There’s nothing good about it. Get back here. Now.

She shut her eyes tight.

“Okay…”

Her voice came out small, defeated.

She ended the call and sighed.

She’d have to go back alone.

Turning on her side, she stared blankly at the wall.

Hye-sun pulled the pillow off her face and squinted at her.

“What’s with that gloomy look? You’re scaring me.”

“My dad told me to come home right away.”

Her friend’s eyes widened.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. I have to pack now.”

“No way. We just got here. We were supposed to snowboard today! Don’t ruin my rare vacation.”

“I don’t want to go either, but my dad’s furious. I ditched my blind date thirty minutes in and ran off to Gangwon-do. Can you blame him?”

“So you’re really going back?”

“Yeah.”

Hye-sun nudged the sleeping Mi-joo with her foot.

“Hey, Mi-joo. Wake up. I-young’s saying something insane again. It sounds bad. Get up, lazy.”

Mi-joo groaned and sat up, hair a mess.

“Ugh, what is it now? I was sleeping.”

“We might have to go back to Seoul.”

“What? Why?”

When she looked over, I-young’s expression was completely lifeless.

“I’m going back first. You guys have fun without me.”

“You’re joking, right?”

Mi-joo nudged Hye-sun, whispering, “She’s serious, isn’t she?”

“Unbelievable. What kind of luck is this?” Hye-sun threw off the blanket and jumped up. “Fine. If you’re going, we’re all going. No one’s leaving you alone.”

“No, seriously, I’ll go by myself. You guys stay.”

“What’s going on?”

Oh, this was ridiculous.

Her friends’ loyalty was touching but exhausting.

“It’s fine. It was a free hotel stay anyway,” Tae-joo said, leaning against the wall. Being from a rich family, he clearly didn’t care about the wasted cost.

Still, guilt weighed on her as everyone began packing.

And so, with a heavy heart, I-young climbed into Tae-joo’s long-bodied GallXper van with her friends.

The closer they got to Seoul, the paler she became.