Chapter 91
- The Prince Who Knows Nothing
2023.07.30.
Tae-joon tilted his head at So-eun's overreaction.
"Do you have plans?"
"No, it's not that, but going far away is more tiring."
So-eun hurriedly made excuses. A slight cold sweat formed on her forehead.
This weekend, she absolutely couldn't leave the house. At best, Tae-joon's house. That much would be safe.
Tae-joon, taking her excuse seriously, rested his chin on the table and examined So-eun's complexion.
"Do you want to get a health checkup?"
So-eun, weak to lies, naturally lowered her head.
"It's not that serious."
"You should get them regularly. To become healthier."
"I'm healthy now. And I have trauma from health checkups..."
"So, you're not going to get them for the rest of your life?"
"......"
"I'll help you overcome it."
His gentle voice, without a smile, seemed to soothe So-eun's dried-up wounds. Thank you, thank you, thank you... I want to pile up words of gratitude in front of you, but I can't because I'm afraid you'll collapse even more in front of them.
"The company provides health checkups, so it's okay."
As she brushed off the suggestion in a dry tone, Tae-joon sighed.
"Then what do we do on the weekend? I want to have fun."
"I'm happy just going to the swimming pool."
Tae-joon's apartment swimming pool. In the midst of lies, she was able to say something true, and her voice became excited. So-eun really felt like she would be happy just going to the swimming pool. Of course, there would be no time to go to a real swimming pool.
"Actually, that was the first time I went to a swimming pool."
"......"
"Thank you for taking me to the swimming pool."
Thank you for showing me all sorts of firsts when I have no mom or dad. Thank you for showing me what a real date is like, what it feels like to be truly loved.
She only conveyed it in her heart.
His eyes changed meaningfully.
Uh oh oh oh?
In the blink of an eye, he quickly crossed the table. His long legs made the journey to her quick. Tae-joon, sitting on the table in front of So-eun, pulled her body up.
"Why, why?"
Even as she rose without resistance to his touch, So-eun couldn't relax her tense heart. She couldn't give him an opening. If she gave him an opening, this man would put his hand inside her clothes. He was so fast and accurate that even a momentary gap would fluster her.
She wants her heart to be at ease, but this person keeps making it race even faster.
We are too different.
But I still like you.
Tae-joon, sitting on the table, and So-eun, standing in front of him, were roughly the same height. Tae-joon smiled silently, as if satisfied with the stability. The large hand that had been supporting her spine slowly moved up. So-eun, flinching her shoulders at the sensation of touching her neck, lowered her eyelids.
Tae-joon smiled a little, amused by So-eun, who closed her eyes as if prepared, knowing exactly what he was going to do.
"Han So-eun."
"......"
"You have to open your lips too."
As he whispered in front of her plump, adorable lips, So-eun's eyes flashed open. Her rapidly reddening face turned into the color of her lips. Tae-joon devoured her lips at that moment.
\
Eun-pyo thought it would be better to just follow Bobae, rather than being conscious of Tae-joon just because he was next to So-eun, so he went to the eel restaurant, but he couldn't leave So-eun to clean up alone, so he hurried back a long way.
When he reached the 7th floor, he couldn't hear any sound. He became cautious for no reason and tried to silence his footsteps. He thought he could hear people in the Future Service Team office. For no reason, Eun-pyo's heart pounded. The door was slightly open.
Ah, I shouldn't be doing this.
And so, he saw something he shouldn't have seen. Of course, he didn't see it properly.
He only saw Kim Tae-joon holding the back of So-eun's head with his big hand, and her chin moving up and down greatly as if drinking water.
Director Kim Tae-joon was reckless and bold, as if he was determined to be caught. Only Eun-pyo's face turned red.
Wow, is there such a crazy person?
It's a good thing I saw it, what would have happened if someone else had seen it? Team Leader Han So-eun will be tired of working at the company.
If he could turn back time, he wanted to go back to that moment when Kim Tae-joon asked him to be friends.
\
Mal-hee's house was barely sold.
Hee-wook heard that the Illegal loan sharks were vicious, so he did his best to make 1.1 billion won. He barely sold the house, received his father's Death insurance money and retirement pay, sold the car, and even sold the damn 55 million won ring, and was barely able to make 1.1 billion won. The entire fortune of 1.1 billion won was only enough to fit comfortably in a small carry-on bag.
After moving out and converting the money into cash, Mal-hee entered the new house and lay down, unable to even think about organizing her belongings. She lost her will to live after her husband died and she had to sell the house.
"It's okay, Mom. This is just the beginning. Forget everything."
Hee-wook, who had experienced many terrible things in the meantime, comforted his mother as the head of the family.
Fortunately, he was able to find a two-room monthly rental near Seoul, so he avoided becoming homeless. They became a family with even less than Han So-eun, whom they had cursed for having nothing.
But there is still hope. He will definitely see Han So-eun and Kim Tae-joon break up, and Kim Tae-joon go crazy. And he must capture the moment when Kim Tae-joon loses his mind on film. He will then reach an agreement with Chairman Kim Jae-pil, take a generous amount, regain his reputation as a lawyer, and then expose everything.
As he made plans in his head, Hee-wook swallowed the saliva that had gathered in his mouth. The time of endurance will be long, but it will be just as sweet and exhilarating.
"We can get a better house again. Just hold on a little longer. Mom, where's the money bag?"
When he turned around after comforting his mother, the money bag was not in its original place. Only then did Mal-hee raise her head.
"......Huh? Where did this money go, Hee-wook?"
"Ugh, Yang Heejin!"
His sister had come to help with the move for a while. No wonder she gave Hee-wook money to buy the necessary household items, she had stolen the money bag and ran away.
She had boasted that they could get 1.1 billion won, so don't worry. Was she going to steal it from this house?
Hee-wook called Heejin. The dial tone rang for a long time, but Heejin answered the phone after ten attempts. Hee-wook connected to the speakerphone so that Mal-hee could also hear the call. He didn't forget to press the record button.
[Hello......]
"Give me the money back, you thief!"
[Hey, you to your sister!]
"Are you a sister? How can you touch our money? Bring back 1.1 billion won right now!"
[Mom has lived a long life!]
Heejin burst into tears. But she didn't deny her mistake.
[I'm younger than Mom, and I have a child! Mom has lived as much as she can and is now living a bonus life. I have to see our Hyung-woo grow up, sob, Mom. Save me. I can't live like this......]
At Heejin's appeal, Mal-hee let out a long, deep sigh. Life has become difficult now.
"Yes. Heejin is right. What am I living for?"
"Mom!"
Hee-wook shouted, frustrated.
\
The disbandment ceremony of the Future Service Team was held at the eel restaurant.
Tae-joon decided on today's menu. So-eun knew what his intention was.
Our Director Kim Tae-joon, who privately uses public occasions. Of course, there was nothing to worry about because it was being paid for with the director's personal card, but So-eun felt guilty. At first, Bobae wanted to eat steak.
Still, it was a relief that the eel was much more delicious and all the team members liked it.
Just as they were finishing the satisfying company dinner, full of eel, a restaurant employee brought a small rice bowl.
"What is that?"
"It's Eel rice bowl."
The team members looked at each other with expressions that seemed to say, "Are we being fattened up?" Tae-joon smiled cheerfully.
"Please try a little. I heard that the Eel rice bowl here is also delicious."
The amount of Eel rice bowl was not large, so they thought they could still try it. The team members all picked up their spoons at once. So-eun also tasted the Eel rice bowl.
"Um! It's so delicious! It's the best Eel rice bowl I've ever had!"
Bobae commented energetically first.
"What about Team Leader Han?"
Tae-joon shifted his gaze to So-eun.
Even among the people, she could clearly see the affectionate gaze towards her, and So-eun felt choked up.
"Yes. It's delicious."
At that answer, Tae-joon's lips stretched out a little more. Without anyone knowing, Eun-pyo snorted next to him.
\
The company dinner without alcohol ended without being too late.
While Tae-joon was putting Bobae in a taxi, Eun-pyo also said goodbye and left. So-eun, who was left behind, ended up riding in the car with Tae-joon.
There are no bodyguards on the days when Tae-joon is with So-eun. Tae-joon protects So-eun up close, so there is no need for bodyguards.
Time that So-eun must remember. Time to use well.
Now, Tae-joon automatically climbs the stairs of the one-room villa with So-eun, without being told to come in.
"Should I move over here?"
So-eun turned her head at his murmur as they approached the front door.
"Here? Gwonseon-dong?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because we're too far apart. It doesn't seem like Han So-eun has any intention of coming to Seoul."
"......"
"There are many times when we can't see each other because our schedules don't match, but it would be nice to see each other even for a little while at night."
What would I have answered if I had heard these words a week ago? But now, she couldn't give any answer. As So-eun stood there silently, Tae-joon asked another question.
"Should I just buy this building and renovate it?"
"Then you'd kick out all the tenants here?"
The prince who knows nothing.
Even in the midst of sadness, she laughed at his innocent imagination. Tae-joon also chuckled, as if embarrassed.
Click, the front door opened. Tae-joon peeked inside and stroked So-eun's hair with his fingertips, as if he was going to say goodbye here.
"I'll come again tomorrow."
"......Why?"
She was flustered for two reasons. Because he didn't come inside today, and because he said he would come again tomorrow.
From tomorrow, she had to start packing. She had to leave without Kim Tae-joon knowing, so she couldn't let anyone into the house.
So, today must be the last day you can come into this house.
"Just because. Can't I come again?"
"We're supposed to meet on the weekend. We should meet on the weekend."
So-eun's words became faster in her fluster.
"I don't like it when the director doesn't do his job properly and comes to see me every day, it's burdensome."
"Why do you dislike it so much? I can still do my job properly even if I come to see you every day."
"......I still don't like it."
"......"
"I hope you work hard during the week and play on the weekend. You may not know this, Director, but office workers like that routine."
You can come in today. But not tomorrow.
She wanted to convey her exact intentions, but that was the only excuse she could think of right now, so So-eun gave up even today's invitation. She felt like tears were welling up somewhere in her body, so So-eun strained her eyes.
"Please work hard during the week, and keep the weekend free. Don't go anywhere else, and don't create any urgent matters."
Tae-joon, who had been staring intently at So-eun for a while, slowly stretched out his lips.
"I'm disappointed that you won't let me come tomorrow, but I like that possessiveness."
She, who always said that work came first, asked him to keep the weekend free for her, so it was understandable that he would like it. He tilted his head and gave her a light farewell kiss, then greeted her with his glossy lips.
"Okay. See you on the weekend."
This unknowing, pitiful prince of mine.
So-eun remembered the words he had once said to her.
"There will come a time when Han So-eun will feel sorry for me too."
