Chapter 27: I Want to Misunderstand

Not long after, I left the director’s office with Jae-Ha.

While I was still flustered about the sudden dinner, Jae-Ha remained calm as he drove.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

He didn’t say a word about the destination, keeping his eyes on the road.

All I could do was look out the window and guess until eventually his car came to a stop.

“We’re eating here?”

I looked up at him in confusion.

I’d assumed we’d be going to a restaurant.

But his car had stopped in front of a high-end apartment complex I’d never seen before.

“Yes. Get out.”

“Where is this?”

He looked completely unfazed.

Unlike me, Jae-Ha seemed utterly composed as he unbuckled his seatbelt and added, “My house.”

His house?

There were so many restaurants, regular diners—even franchise burger joints.

But his house?

I sat frozen, hand on the car door, unsure how to respond. Then he got out of the car and opened the passenger door for me.

“When did you move?”

Wasn’t he still living in a hotel just recently? It was hard to believe he’d moved in such a short time.

“Moved? I guess it’s been about a week.”

“…”

“Looks like I won’t be going back to the U.S. as soon as I thought. And I got tired of the hotel.”

He extended a hand, signaling for me to come inside.

In the end, I stepped into his home.

Despite being brand new, the interior was filled with warm-toned wood furniture that made it feel surprisingly homely.

“For a new place, it actually feels like someone lives here…”

I remembered how even the remote controls in his hotel room had been perfectly lined up.

This home felt completely different.

He let out a soft laugh, as if he understood exactly what I was thinking.

“It’s cozier than your place, isn’t it? You can even smell cooking here.”

“Well… that’s true.”

I awkwardly recalled the newlywed house that looked no different from his old hotel.

This place seemed too large for someone living alone.

“Isn’t it a bit big for just one person?”

I looked around the living room as I took a seat by the kitchen island.

Catching my comment, he glanced at me with a curious expression.

“Maybe it’s not meant for just one. You never know what life has planned.”

His words were strangely suggestive, and then he looked down again.

He was busy with something—had been since I arrived.

From the cutting board and utensils already set up, it looked like he often cooked at home.

That’s… unexpected.

Besides my family or household staff, no one had ever cooked for me.

Watching him like this now felt oddly warm. The rolled-up sleeves of his white shirt revealed his firm forearms. Every time he chopped vegetables, the veins in his arms stood out beneath the fabric. The well-toned muscle reminded me vividly of that night.

What are you even thinking, seriously…

I shook my head, but my gaze trailed upward—to the loosened collar of his shirt. Why had he taken off his tie? It had been perfectly in place when we arrived.

Then our eyes met.

He looked up from the cutting board at the exact moment I was staring at him.

Startled, I quickly turned my head, like a kid caught doing something bad.

“First time seeing someone cook?” His low voice came from behind me.

“Ah… No. I was just… surprised.”

Embarrassed that he’d noticed me staring, I tried to play it off. I grabbed the glass of water in front of me, but my mouth was dry as dust.

This is all because of that accident.

He acted like nothing happened, while I was the only one hyper-aware of everything—leaving me with an odd sense of defeat.

Seeing my reaction, he grinned and turned his attention back to the food.

“What are you making?”

“Beef soybean paste stew.”

“Wow. You know how to make that? I honestly thought you’d just order out.”

I couldn’t help but be impressed. I’d had a hunch when he brought me to his place instead of a restaurant.

I knew he was great at his job—but I hadn’t expected him to be skilled in the kitchen too.

“Ordering is fine too, but…” He met my gaze with a natural smile. Then he continued from where he’d left off. “I figured it’s probably been a while since you had a home-cooked meal.”

He tossed a handful of zucchini into the pot. Maybe he’d noticed my empty fridge, and it had stuck with him. I never imagined that this unexpected dinner was born from something like that.

He keeps crossing lines…

He was constantly stepping over that boundary between us.

What was this feeling? A wave of emotion I couldn’t quite describe washed over me.

“Hmm. It’s a bit bland. Do you like mild food?”

He put down the tasting spoon and turned toward me.

Whether it was bland or not felt like the least important issue.

“I can eat anything…”

“I don’t like bland.”

My brow furrowed instinctively. Why even ask if he was just going to do what he wanted?

The smirk playing on his lips suggested he was enjoying teasing me.

“That look. No teasing allowed.”

I preemptively warned him, worried he might start messing with me like last time.

Jae-Ha looked at me with a “what am I going to do with you” expression before speaking.

“Got it. Can you get the salt from the top drawer next to the fridge?”

“Here?”

He nodded as I pointed to the cabinet.

It was fairly high up, so I stood on tiptoe.

I barely managed to open the door and reached for the salt container inside, but it was just out of reach.

“Ugh… That’s high.”

I muttered to myself and tried again—when a long arm stretched out behind me.

“…!”

Startled, I turned and found myself face-to-face with Jae-Ha, who was now right in front of me.

He’s way too close…

He was so close; if he tilted his head slightly, our noses would touch. The proximity froze me in place.

Facing Jae-Ha, my eyes began to tremble helplessly.

“I forgot I put it at my eye level.”

His breath, low and warm, brushed against my cheek with every word.

One second, two seconds—we stayed locked in that gaze for what felt like an eternity.

I was so flustered, I couldn’t move.

Jae-Ha set the container of salt down next to me and kept his eyes on mine.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I told you I’m not teasing.”

The playful smirk that had appeared on his face faded.

Then, in a low, rich voice, he asked, “When you stare at me like that, it makes me want to… misunderstand.”

… Misunderstand what?

As his intense eyes swept down my face, a rush of heat spread across my cheeks.

That finally brought me back to my senses, and I took a step back from him.

“Watch out!”

Suddenly, he pulled me by the waist.

Even though I had just backed away, I ended up even closer to him.

“There’s a corner right there. You really should look before stepping back.”

He gestured toward the sharply protruding edge of the dining table.

But more than the near miss, it was the feel of his hand on my waist that had me flustered.

My face flushed again, hotter than before.

Was my heartbeat this loud? Could he actually hear it? My lips moved wordlessly, searching for something to say.

Just as our eyes were about to lock again, he looked away first.

“Go sit down. Dinner’s ready.”

***

After dinner, Jae-Ha drove me home.

“Thank you for the meal. It was really delicious.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

It had been so long since someone cooked a meal just for me. I was always the one doing the cooking, always giving.

“I’ll head in now. Drive safe.”

I hurriedly gathered my things and reached for the door, noticing how late it had gotten.

“Wait.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and reached into the back seat.

What he brought out was a bouquet of white daisies.

He held the fresh, earthy bouquet out to me.

“What’s this?” I couldn’t help but ask, surprised. I never imagined I’d receive flowers from him.

“Congratulations… and a gift?” He said it plainly, and a laugh slipped out of me.

Seeing me smile, he looked pleased and added, “For the revenge we’ll carry out from here on.”

With that, Jae-Ha drove off.

Even under the night sky, the flowers gleamed white. I couldn’t help but smile.

I really loved flowers… But when was the last time someone gifted me any? I couldn’t even recall a memory, which meant it had been that long.

“…What a lovely little bribe.”

I buried my face into the bouquet. Though it smelled like grass, the scent awakened memories long forgotten—old and exciting ones.

****

Seo-Rin sat slouched on the sofa, deep in thought.

She was replaying the image of Yeo-Jin at the café.

That day during lunch, she had seen Yeo-Jin talking to an older man.

She didn’t know who he was, but he looked refined, and the atmosphere had felt serious.

Most importantly, she had clearly seen him hand over a document envelope and a USB to Yeo-Jin.

Before she even realized it, she had already copied the contents of the USB onto an external hard drive.

“Ha…”

No, to be honest, it had been pure instinct. She’d sensed immediately that it could be a major asset.

“I don’t know what it is, but… I’ve definitely found something big.”

And now, staring at the contents on her laptop, she realized just how terrifyingly accurate that instinct had been.

Seo-Rin didn’t fully understand corporate politics.

But the first thing she saw when she opened the files was a very familiar name: “President of Hojin Group, Seo Ji-Han.”

Even at a glance, she could tell this was a high-stakes project Hojin Group had been carefully preparing.

And the one leading the project was Ji-Han.

“But this… why does Yeo-Jin have this?”

The more she looked, the more suspicious it seemed.

Seo-Rin lifted a nearby wine glass and tilted it.

Thinking of Yeo-Jin no longer left her with that bitter, dry taste—it was almost sweet now.

When she first got involved with Ji-Han, she hadn’t even dreamed of getting this far.

But at this rate, the title “Madam of Hojin Group” didn’t seem so far off.

Just then, her phone lit up with a vibration.

[Your order for the whole cake has been received. Pickup details…]

Seeing the message immediately killed her mood. She slammed her phone down.

How long do I have to keep acting like an angel?

“Ugh. This is so annoying. I’m sick of pretending to be nice.”

“When a new anchor is appointed, shouldn’t we at least get a congratulatory cake? Can someone handle that?”

She remembered when the director had casually thrown that comment in the programming department.

The atmosphere turned cold immediately.

The same director who’d been indifferent until now was suddenly fawning over Yeo-Jin—it was blatant favoritism.

When no one volunteered and everyone just glanced around awkwardly…

“I’ll take care of the cake.”

In that chilling silence, Seo-Rin reluctantly raised her hand.

“I know what she likes best, after all.”

She could still hear her coworkers trying to talk her out of it.

“Of course, I didn’t want to do it either.”

She only did it to avoid future repercussions.

Ever since joining the station as a contract worker, Seo-Rin had clawed her way up to become the main caster for the news.

The anchor audition… I worked so hard to get that chance.

She had persuaded Ji-Han to get her the spot, and yet Yeo-Jin had snatched it away.

She hadn’t wanted to prepare that cake for her, but she had swallowed her pride and done it anyway.

“Well… It’s time to stop playing the sweet girl.”

There was something far more desirable than the anchor seat—just within reach.

If she could become a member of the Hojin family, what did it matter? Everyone would look up to her then.

Eyes glittering with greed, Seo-Rin smiled.