Chapter 38
38. The First Time
2023.06.07.
Thursday, Hee-wook visited the department store ring shop again during lunch.
He had no choice since Hyun-ji was so adamant about the A/S. He had to secretly buy it and switch it out to avoid any trouble later.
“I’m sorry for reversing my decision.”
“Not at all, sir. I hope your proposal is a success.”
After buying the ring again and saying goodbye to the employee, Hee-wook clicked his tongue bitterly.
He spent 60 million won on something that could have been resolved with 55 million won. He should have just bought the genuine article from the start and coolly forgotten about it, but he went to all the trouble of finding a fake and forging it, wasting money and effort.
Moreover, he had to figure out how to switch this ring with the fake without Choi Hyun-ji finding out, but today, Choi Hyun-ji didn't take the ring off her finger for a single moment.
As he worried about how to overcome this difficulty and headed to the parking lot feeling empty, he saw Kim Tae-joon, the director of K Group.
Tae-joon stopped by the department store on the way back from a meeting in Seoul. He had received a call that the glasses he had ordered for So-eun had arrived. As he was picking up the glasses and heading to the parking lot, someone called out from behind.
“Director Kim Tae-joon?”
Tae-joon turned his head and stopped walking.
“Attorney Yang Hee-wook.”
“It’s nice to see you like this. Korea is such a small place.”
“Indeed.”
Hee-wook was the same as he had been before. The greedy look in his eyes that couldn't be hidden no matter how hard he tried. This time, his attitude seemed a bit more cocky. Now that the contract in their business relationship had been terminated, his true nature was probably showing more.
“How have you been? I was very disappointed that you unilaterally terminated the contract, Director. And you didn’t even contact me separately.”
“I’m sorry. I apologize.”
Tae-joon apologized without any change in expression.
“I thought the first contract would be easy, but I was very disappointed that it didn’t go as expected. I hope you understand.”
“Still, is there any room for reconsideration? I will definitely make the next contract a success.”
“Well, I don’t think that will be possible.”
“Ah. That’s a shame.”
Even his expression of regret seemed cocky. Tae-joon recognized that he was being sarcastic. He didn't want to deal with him for long, so he was about to say goodbye and turn away when Hee-wook spoke again.
“Actually, my ex-girlfriend is at the K Electronic Service central branch where you work, Director.”
Tae-joon stopped again, his eyes narrowing.
“Is that so.”
“Han So-eun, do you happen to know her?”
“Assistant Manager Han So-eun. I know her.”
“Actually, I broke up with that girlfriend of mine recently, and on the day we broke up, I saw my ex-girlfriend and you hugging.”
“That happened. Assistant Manager Han So-eun didn’t look well, so I was just supporting her.”
Tae-joon replied dryly, noticing Hee-wook's gaze as if he was trying to read his expression.
“You’re such a warm person. Is So-eun doing well these days?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have the time to look after every single employee.”
“I wonder if she’s having a hard time after the breakup. I’m a little worried because she’s such a kind girl. She only knew me, after all.”
He quickly realized that these were words he was using to test him, but even so, he couldn't completely hide his emotions. Tae-joon's fist clenched tightly.
“Why don’t you contact her yourself?”
“……”
“Then, goodbye.”
Tae-joon gave a polite greeting and turned away.
\
So-eun, who had left work early and returned home, was deep in thought.
She was supposed to spend the next two nights and three days with Tae-joon, so she had to pack her luggage, but she didn't know what to pack. It would only be clothes at best, but she didn't have many clothes, so she felt intimidated. How should she pack her clothes, how many, and what about underwear...?
‘Ah, underwear…….’
She did have some pretty underwear that she hadn't even worn yet. But So-eun didn't have the confidence to show Tae-joon her underwear. Tae-joon didn't know about the scar from her liver donation surgery. It was a scar she never wanted him to find out about. A scar she wanted to hide forever if she could...
But she wanted to spend the night with him. She was curious about what it would feel like to be passionately loved by someone she liked.
Am I too easy?
But, but... wouldn't anyone fall for a man with such dazzling looks, such a busy man, who was so kind and wanted to spend the whole weekend with her?
So-eun wanted to be a more honest person when it came to her desires.
As she was agonizing over which clothes to choose, her cell phone vibrated. It was Tae-joon, whom she hadn't seen at the office all day because he had an external schedule. So-eun answered the phone happily.
“Hello.”
[Are you home? I’m in front of Han So-eun’s house right now.]
His gentle baritone voice made her jump up from her seat.
Tae-joon parked his car in front of So-eun's house and waited for her.
She had been feeling restless all day while working, but seeing So-eun's face flushed, he immediately felt more generous.
“Were you surprised that I came so suddenly?”
“A little.”
“I came to give you this.”
Tae-joon handed So-eun the glasses. They were the glasses he had picked up from the glasses store in the department store.
“Did you go alone, Director?”
“I had a meeting nearby, so I took the opportunity.”
“I was going to go... Thank you.”
She was planning to go sometime today, but she hadn't received a call from the store, so she hadn't gone to pick them up. It seemed that Tae-joon had picked them up first and hadn't contacted So-eun separately.
“Don’t you have anything else to say besides that?”
At Tae-joon's prompting, So-eun rolled her eyes. While So-eun was thinking, Tae-joon took a step closer and gently stroked So-eun's hair.
“Thank you for buying me the glasses, too.”
“Hoo. Our Han So-eun has a long way to go.”
With a sigh, Tae-joon took another half step closer and put his arm around So-eun's shoulder. Her small body, with its faint warmth, slowly moved to him.
“Do you want to pack your things and come out?”
“……Where are you going?”
“To my house.”
So-eun broke away from the hug and stared at Tae-joon.
We were supposed to hang out tomorrow. That's what we agreed on a few days ago.
“……What are we going to do at your house, Director?”
“Maybe Han So-eun will let me sleep over?”
“……”
“Or I’ll let Han So-eun sleep over.”
Tae-joon came closer again, gently tucking So-eun's hair behind her ear and slowly tracing the curve of her ear. The action and his voice were so hot that they couldn't be read in any other way. It wasn't some hollow excuse like watching a movie or making something delicious, but a blatant answer.
“You have to go to work tomorrow.”
“You can just go to work with me.”
It hadn't been long since he had said that they should work hard during the week, but he was flirting with her as if he had forgotten all about that conversation.
A man who comes to visit without warning on a weekday night. A man who comes and tempts her to go to his house. It was a new world she had never experienced before.
In her head, she thought it would be impossible, but on the other hand, she didn't want to miss this feeling and this moment, so greed began to sprout.
“I don’t mind sleeping here if Han So-eun invites me.”
“No, no. I’ll go.”
It was a small voice, but it was a great courage. So-eun cautiously takes a step into a world she has never experienced before.
\
So-eun went straight into the house, packed her bag, and got into Tae-joon's car.
“Did you pack everything? Nothing left out?”
“Yes.”
When So-eun nodded, Tae-joon started the engine right away.
The car started quietly. The stability of the car resembled Tae-joon's silence. Only So-eun's heart was noisy. He looked as calm as ever, which made So-eun feel lost. Before getting into the car, her mind was dominated by the desire to follow him, so she couldn't think of anything else, but as soon as the car started, realistic worries slowly began to creep in.
Besides, the car was so fast. The roads in Seoul, which were always congested when she took the bus, were strangely clear today. The car moved quietly without any traffic and soon reached Tae-joon's apartment.
As soon as she got out of the car, her head spun. When So-eun stood still, Tae-joon took her bag and took So-eun's hand. Her palms were sweaty and her lips were parched.
She couldn't help but be afraid, even though she was prepared for it. She already thought the air was suffocating, but no one else got on the elevator that went up to the 30th floor.
I have to say it now. I have to say it.
So-eun mustered her courage and opened her lips.
“But, Director. I have a favor to ask.”
“……”
“I’d like you to turn off the lights.”
She didn't want to ruin the excitement of her first experience by revealing her surgery scars. She wanted to have a beautiful time that wasn't tainted by her surgery experience.
Tae-joon's eyes widened at So-eun's request. He didn't show much surprise, but his expression was clearly puzzled.
After a moment of silence, Tae-joon looked at So-eun with a blank expression and replied.
“Okay. I’ll just turn on one Bed lamp.”
“No, no! I don’t want that either!”
So-eun, who had become impatient, raised her voice.
Now that So-eun was showing such a firm reaction, Tae-joon was amused.
“Do you like doing it without seeing? Should I cover your eyes?”
“No! It’s not that.”
“……”
“Just, just. I just don’t want to.”
“Then how am I supposed to see? You won’t be able to see me either.”
So-eun's face turned red as he pushed her so blatantly. Her face, which looked like it would explode if touched, further provoked Tae-joon. It would be a torment to not be able to see such a lovely face.
“What if someone kidnaps Han So-eun and puts someone else in her place? I might not be able to tell.”
“That’s not going to happen. You watch too many movies, Director.”
“It’s hard for me to compromise on this.”
Tae-joon replied playfully.
In fact, he didn't have his mind set on sleeping with her no matter what. He just wanted to take So-eun home.
He was going to feed her delicious food, show her movies, and take her for a walk if she wanted. He was trying to score points by comforting her so that she wouldn't run away if he showed his desires too blatantly. If she desperately refused, he was even willing to just hug her and go to sleep.
But he didn't expect her to be so proactive. Her request was somewhat absurd and ridiculous, but her sincerity was so cute that Tae-joon felt like he was going to burst out laughing.
He wanted to grant her every wish.
“Okay. Is there anything else you want?”
So-eun paused for a moment at his question and replied.
“I’m actually… a virgin.”
“……”
“……I don’t have any experience.”
His expression stiffened slightly at that answer.
He couldn't figure out what she was trying to say by telling him that.
Tae-joon asked again.
“So?”
“Just… please take good care of me.”
I can tell just by looking at Yang Hee-wook's face how greedy he is. You want me to believe that a guy like that didn't touch you?
It's okay to be honest. I won't embarrass you for that.
The unspoken words rumbled inside his throat, but he swallowed them to avoid showing his jealousy.
