Chapter 1

Translator: Nox

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Villain's Pure Love

Master of Domyeongjae

Spring rain pattered down on the parched earth.

In the liminal time between Qingming and the Start of Summer, Yeonwoo dragged her weary steps out of the police station.

She had sought help from the police against her boss's excessive obsession and gaslighting, but the outcome was dismal. It was no match against the five lawyers from a top-tier firm hired by her boss.

"Ms. Ji Yeonwoo, one wrong move and you could be charged with false accusation. You need to keep a pure heart. It seems Mr. Cha Yunseok's way of expressing affection was a bit excessive, but instead of coming to the police station, go talk it out nicely. He's not the type who won't listen."

Yeonwoo stared blankly at the thick raindrops. Amid the gloomy air as dark as the hanging clouds, a car soon pulled up in front of her.

It was her boss's sedan.

The door opened, and her boss smiled as he got out. Yeonwoo turned her head away. Though his face wore a gentle smile, she could see the snake-like glint in his eyes.

"Yeonwoo, I told you not to do anything foolish. You're just wasting money and time—there's nothing in it for you."

His voice dripped with mockery, but Yeonwoo unfurled her umbrella without much reaction. She hurried down the stairs at an angle, trying to put as much distance as possible between her and her boss.

Then the car door opened again, and he got out. As the door slammed shut, Yeonwoo's steps quickened, but he caught up in no time.

Without warning, he slipped under her umbrella.

"If you're going to treat someone like trash, at least apologize before you go. The lawyers wanted to throw you in jail for false accusation, but I held them back thinking of your bright future. You should be grateful. Right?"

Her pale face seemed to darken further, and he peered into it as if it were the joy of his life, flashing a victor's smile. Then he leaned in close, whispering in her ear.

"Yeonwoo, stop struggling and give up. You can't escape me."

It was so soft, the recorder she had on would be useless.

"If you try to screw me over like this one more time, I won't hold back. Take it nicely when I'm treating you humanely. As long as you're alive, Ji Yeonwoo, your man is Cha Yunseok—got it?"

"......"

"If you die, then I'll let you go."

Her boss straightened her umbrella for her. Then he stepped out from under it and gave a small wave.

"I'll mark yesterday and today as paid leave, so come back to work tomorrow. If you don't show up, you know what happens?"

For a moment, madness flickered in his eyes.

"I've told you over and over: finding you is nothing. Don't make me any angrier—just come to work obediently. Even my patience has limits."

Only after he finished speaking and swaggered back to his car did Yeonwoo bite her lip hard. As his car pulled away, the lawyers' cars followed behind.

The relentless downpour drummed on her umbrella all day. She gazed at the rainwater trickling into the drains, then slowly set off.

That night, well past midnight, at around 3 a.m.

Yeonwoo left home with a single suitcase. The lease on her place still had time left, and she hadn't even submitted a resignation, but she fled Seoul without looking back.

Don't make me any angrier—just come to work obediently. Even my patience has limits.

Her boss's voice clung to her skin like it wouldn't fade, and her fear grew sharper the farther she got from Seoul.

But no one could help her. Trembling in fear would mean she'd never escape her boss.

So she had to run. Evaporating was the only way out.

If you die, then I'll let you go.

Or, as her boss said, die.

It was the dusky blue hour of dawn as she escaped.

A little over three hours from Seoul would bring her to Yangto-myeon in Moksan-gun, nestled at the foot of Yeosong Mountain.

Seeing the rain that had been pouring at departure finally subside, President Nam Taejin of Sullyang Construction let out a groan as he glanced out the car window.

"Looks like the rain's finally letting up. What a spring downpour."

Seongheon, who had given the front seat to his uncle and was reviewing documents beside him, looked up. Gazing at the valley mist rising thickly around the mountains, he could almost feel the thin dawn air.

"That's a relief."

"Tell me about it. I was so worried it'd rain during the ceremony."

Seongheon flipped through the documents without much reply.

Nam Seongheon, Executive Director of Sullyang Construction.

They had arrived in Moksan-gun early this morning because today was the day they broke ground on the massive resort project.

A few years ago, hot spring water had been discovered by chance in Moksan-gun. The temperature met legal standards perfectly.

Sullyang Construction, quick on the news, bought up the entire area, including the site planned for a small model. This was their bold venture to create Korea's premier hot spring destination.

The complex resort combined hot springs, an amusement park, ski slopes, and a golf course—and Nam Seongheon had spearheaded it from start to finish.

"Anyway, Moksan-gun should be grateful to the Nam family. Past and present, we're the ones keeping this place alive."

Born and raised in Moksan-gun, President Nam Taejin crossed one leg over his knee and wiggled his foot.

- 3 -

After the large-scale resort project was confirmed, good news kept coming. An unplanned rail line and highway extension were approved, so Nam Taejin's mood was sky-high.

"Anyway, it's great. Perfect! Woongsu Construction—those bastards must be gutted. Serves them right."

Thinking of his rivals' misery made him burst into hearty laughter. Woongsu Construction, which had been flying high, had lost its top spot—all thanks to Seongheon.

President Nam Taejin laughed until his body heated up, then caught his breath. He glanced at Seongheon.

His nephew, the Executive Director, had exceptional insight and resourcefulness—a bulldozer of a man who spared nothing to achieve his goals.

Sullyang Construction's meteoric rise since Seongheon joined management spoke for itself. He had no unachieved plans or unmet goals. So far.

"......"

The conversation lapsed. As the monotonous road dragged on, Nam Taejin tapped his knee boredly and glanced at Seongheon again. He'd ridden with his nephew hoping for some chatter on the way, but the guy was too quiet.

He shouldn't have expected conversation from him in the first place.

Should've just taken my own car.

Nam Taejin raised an eyebrow, then tried again.

"Seongheon, so how long are you staying here?"

"Who knows. The plan is about a month."

"A month? Isn't that too long? Can you leave headquarters empty that long?"

"With you there, President, what do I have to worry about?"

"Kid, don't rely on me. I don't know squat about what you do."

Seongheon set the documents aside and turned on his tablet.

"The early stages after breaking ground are crucial. I'll handle headquarters without a hitch. Don't worry."

As Seongheon fixed his gaze on the tablet, silence fell again. Nam Taejin straightened his back and rolled his neck.

"Fine. If that's how you want it, that's how it is. Am I bothering your work? I should just take my own car."

Seongheon glanced ahead.

"Too late. We're almost there anyway—might as well ride it out."

"Nah, nah. I need a quick nap at least. Hitting golf balls nonstop these past few days has me wiped."

Soon, the two cars stopped. Nam Taejin got into his lead vehicle, and Seongheon moved to the front seat, eyes back on the tablet.

Yangto-myeon, Domyeongjae

Among the sparse road signs, "Domyeongjae" stood out—the Nam family's ancestral home, a tangible cultural asset today, where Seongheon would stay for about a month.

They sped down the motionless dawn road. Toward that beacon, Domyeongjae.

The boring highway gave way to proper country roads.

Dawn had broken. Seongheon's car trailed President Nam Taejin's.

With the rain gone, milky fog hung thick like rice-wash water. Donut-like bands of mist wrapped the peaks of Yeosong Mountain, creating an eerie atmosphere.

"Whoa!"

The car braked hard, and Seongheon's body pitched forward slightly before settling. The startled driver turned.

"Executive Director, sorry. Are you alright?"

Instead of answering, Seongheon waved a hand dismissively. The problem wasn't the sudden stop.

"What happened?"

"Well, the President's car braked suddenly ahead. Looks like it splashed mud on some woman."

"Mud?"

Seongheon craned his neck to look. The fog obscured details, but he could make out a bus stop where the car had halted, and a woman standing there drenched in mud from the waist down.

The rural road's potholes and dense fog were to blame. The heavy tires hadn't cleared the deep puddle cleanly, splashing the stagnant mud onto her.

Standing there gawking wasn't right, but endlessly delaying on the road went against common sense too.

Seongheon tilted his head, observing.

"Sorry, but we're in a hurry—no time to waste. Very important people in the car. Take the money, dry-clean the clothes. Got it?"

Her expression was blank, features blurred, but it didn't matter. Even from afar, the harmony of her small face was striking.

"Time's short? Very important people in the car right now—didn't you hear?"

Seongheon's eyes, fixed on the tablet all this time, finally turned to the rain-soaked scene and the stranger.

Not a local. Not a tourist. Passing through? Arriving?

Seongheon pondered more than necessary.

"If you're not protesting for more money, just take it already. Looks like even all of it wouldn't cost much to clean."

Seongheon, who had been watching the driver urge her, opened his door.

His long, sleek shoe touched the ground, and the thick fog swirled at his feet.