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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Don't Touch Me Carelessly
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“Huu.”
Yi Yeon let out a deep sigh.
Do Hyun, who had returned home yesterday, hadn’t asked her a single thing.
If anything, Yi Yeon wanted to ask him.
Why he had been so kind to Yeon-hee yesterday.
Why he had offered to take her home.
Why he had been so affectionate.
She had thought he was warm only to her, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
Though the sky was clear, all Yi Yeon could see were dark clouds.
Her heart, which had been endlessly happy just a few days ago because of Do Hyun, felt depressed today. She even felt a sharp drop in energy, down to her fingertips.
The more she thought about it, the drier her mouth became.
“Where are you going?”
“Oh, I have something urgent.”
“What is it?”
“I’m thirsty, so I’m going to get some water.”
As Yi Yeon weakly got to her feet, Ji Hu came over.
She didn’t even feel like responding. She didn’t want to think about anything.
“Oh, what is it. I thought you were going somewhere again. What are you doing this weekend? There’s this action movie that’s getting good reviews—want to go see it together? Last time we were talking about movies, I forgot to suggest going together.”
Ji Hu grabbed Yi Yeon, who was trying to leave, and started rambling on.
At his suggestion to watch a movie together over the weekend, Yi Yeon’s brow furrowed.
“Movies are best watched alone.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“You’re the one saying nonsense. Why would I watch a movie with you?”
She couldn’t even put strength into her voice.
“Can’t colleagues watch movies together? That’s too much. Fine, then you eat the popcorn. I’ll just watch the movie next to you. Movie theaters are popcorn heaven anyway.”
Popcorn, whatever—it was all annoying.
She didn’t even have an appetite.
Yi Yeon snorted in disbelief.
“No, I can’t go anyway.”
Yi Yeon firmly refused.
Ignoring him further, Yi Yeon picked up the tumbler on her desk and headed to the break room.
“What’s wrong with colleagues going to a movie?”
At Ji Hu’s words, Yi Yeon paused.
“Because you’re a guy. My boyfriend would get mad.”
The moment the words “boyfriend” left Yi Yeon’s mouth, Ji Hu’s expression hardened.
“Boyfriend?”
“Yeah, boyfriend. He hates it even if another guy brushes past me, so if I said I was watching a movie with a guy, he’d flip out.”
She wanted to tell Ji Hu she had a boyfriend. Maybe then he’d back off a bit.
“When did you get one? You didn’t have a boyfriend.”
Ji Hu’s face twisted further, but Yi Yeon didn’t notice.
“Who knows. I thought I’d never have one, but somehow I ended up with a boyfriend. He’s the jealous type—even if I just mention a guy asking me to a movie, he’d get worked up. I’m scared he’s got good instincts and might find out.”
“No matter how good his instincts, he won’t know if you don’t tell him.”
“He’s got good instincts and good eyes—he sees and senses everything.”
“That sounds like a shaman. How’s he supposed to see from that far away? I get it, Secretary Yu’s rejection loud and clear.”
It was all glass, so of course he knew.
That guy was already glaring at them from the office.
Do Hyun’s eyebrow twitched, his brow furrowed...
Now he was resting his chin on his hand, watching their bickering like it was TV.
“Yeah, whatever, can’t be helped.”
Yeah, please just go already.
While Ji Hu turned away for a moment, Yi Yeon flashed a bright smile at the guy she’d mentioned several times.
Seeing her pure smile directed at him seemed to lift Do Hyun’s mood a bit—he gave an exasperated laugh.
This spot was seriously dangerous now that it was out in the open.
When Ji Hu looked back at Yi Yeon, she dropped her smile as if nothing had happened.
“I miss the old Yu Yi Yeon.”
At Ji Hu’s words, Yi Yeon looked at him warily, wondering what he meant.
“I miss the pretty Yu Yi Yeon, and I kind of want to go back to those days.”
If she thought about it, there had definitely been plenty of good memories from her college days.
But if asked if she wanted to go back to that time, Yi Yeon would say no.
She didn’t want to relive that horrific experience twice.
She’d have to wait even longer to meet Do Hyun.
Yi Yeon liked the present.
“Yi Yeon, can’t you at least take off your glasses?”
“If you want to reminisce, do it alone.”
“Just... I miss seeing you like that. Seriously, one minute—maybe taking off the glasses will bring back that old face?”
“I said no.”
“Aww.”
Ji Hu grabbed Yi Yeon’s glasses.
Since she was holding the tumbler, she couldn’t swat him away quickly and stepped back.
Thud.
Her head jerked back, and her glasses fell off.
“Eek!”
Yi Yeon ducked her head and turned away.
“Sorry, I went too far with the joke. I wasn’t really trying to take them off—are you okay?”
“What’s this?”
Do Hyun had appeared behind Yi Yeon out of nowhere, standing there abruptly.
Blocking Ji Hu’s view of her.
“It’s because of me that Yi Yeon’s glasses fell off.”
“Why are you touching someone else’s face.”
“I went too far with the joke. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t touch what’s not yours. Apologize to Secretary Yu.”
Yi Yeon bowed her head lower at Do Hyun’s words, which carried the meaning of “why touch what’s mine.”
“Yes, Secretary Yu, I’m sorry.”
Yi Yeon just nodded slightly.
“Go back down now.”
Do Hyun’s voice was laced with chill.
Hearing him speak so low made her own skin crawl.
“Did you pick them up?”
“No, not yet.”
Ah, got it.
Yi Yeon finally grabbed her glasses from the floor and put them back on.
“Come in.”
After Ji Hu left, Do Hyun took Yi Yeon into his office.
Do Hyun stood with his hand shoved deep into one pocket, staring out at the world outside.
Yi Yeon stood at a distance, as if being punished, just gazing at his back.
He turned around in silence, then looked out the window again, repeating the motion. It seemed like he wanted to say something to her but was trying to hold back.
“Is there something you want to say to me?”
“Yeah, a lot.”
Yi Yeon flinched at his immediate, right-angled response, as if he’d been waiting for her to ask.
“But I’m too pissed to just hear it and pretend I don’t know.”
“......”
“I was going to play dumb until you told me first. But that fox bastard scratched me up inside.”
What on earth was he trying to say? She felt tense.
Yi Yeon, who had been quietly listening, felt her insides and mouth go dry.
“Why was that guy trying to take off your glasses?”
“Who knows.”
“Does that guy know? What Yu Yi Yeon really looks like.”
Yi Yeon snapped her head up, which had been bowed.
Her pupils shook violently.
“How did you... know, Vice President?”
Nothing else registered in Yi Yeon’s ears.
“Am I some idiot who can’t recognize my own woman?”
Yi Yeon couldn’t close her gaping mouth.
“Why does that guy know before me?”
Yi Yeon carefully watched Do Hyun’s expression, wondering if he was disappointed and asking why she’d hidden it from him.
He didn’t look angry.
“I’m sorry for not telling you first. I wasn’t trying to deceive you on purpose.”
Yi Yeon answered, avoiding Do Hyun’s gaze.
Either way, it amounted to deceiving him.
At that moment, a warm touch landed on Yi Yeon’s dejected cheek.
When she looked up, Do Hyun was cupping her cheek, smiling at her as if to say it was okay.
Do Hyun glanced at Yi Yeon, who had widened her eyes like a startled rabbit before looking down sadly.
Do Hyun kneaded her cheek freely. She didn’t want to stop his wandering hand.
The day he had asked Yi Yeon to handle some documents, Do Hyun received her message that her friend had arrived and headed to the lobby.
‘How am I supposed to find her friend?’
[I had some work, so I passed the documents to your friend.]
Even in the midst of frantically preparing the documents, Yi Yeon had resealed them and handed them to his friend.
As expected, Yi Yeon never did anything carelessly. She was meticulous and cautious in everything.
Contrary to his worries, as soon as Do Hyun walked into the lobby, he immediately spotted the person standing in the middle, staring right at him.
It was Ha Yul’s best friend from the event.
Her name was Yeon-hee.
Were all three of them friends?
As he approached, the unfamiliar woman carried Yi Yeon’s scent.
It had been the same last time.
Do Hyun found himself staring at her intently without meaning to. His gaze stopped at her eyes.
Clear, round eyes that closely resembled Yi Yeon’s.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away from hers.
Unsettling memories flashed through Do Hyun’s mind.
More striking than her rare beauty or the figure that had captivated so many gazes.
The woman’s startled expression when their eyes first met. And Ha Yul, Yi Yeon’s friend, sitting in front of her.
Those eyes, surprised as if they knew Do Hyun—it was because they resembled Yi Yeon’s.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
He could see she was trying to escape quickly.
Yi Yeon, wanting to hide herself; the freckles that had suddenly vanished; the eyes she kept half-lidded to look smaller.
Yi Yeon’s fragrance coming from this stranger, and this woman trying to run.
Ha.
Do Hyun barely suppressed a hollow laugh.
It was amazing how much a disguise could transform someone.
The airy dress that seemed tailored perfectly for her, with wavy hair—it suited Yi Yeon so well.
Seeing her now, Do Hyun understood why she had chosen the disguise.
He wanted to protect and possess her in this form too. He didn’t even like other men looking at her.
“Wait a moment.”
There was one last thing he needed to confirm.
Do Hyun asked Yi Yeon if she had any urgent appointments.
He worried what he’d do if she said yes, but Yi Yeon, quite flustered, ended up saying no.
He had brought her along under the pretext of a favor but couldn’t think of an excuse. Do Hyun just sat her in a chair, told her to wait, and went into the meeting.
‘Guess that’s the only way?’
After agonizing, Do Hyun gave Yi Yeon his card and asked her to buy some snacks.
Knock knock.
Soon after, Yi Yeon knocked cutely and came in with coffee and cookies.
Even her light steps were adorable.
Do Hyun felt deeply displeased seeing others looking at Yi Yeon with the same feelings he had.
If he could, he’d hide her away somewhere for his eyes only.
Yi Yeon was plenty pretty as usual. If she became even prettier like this, it might wear him out. He’d have to guard her from other men.
Oblivious to Do Hyun’s thoughts, Yi Yeon couldn’t help her occupational habit and carefully set coffee and cookies next to each person seated there.
As always, she placed the coffee on the left and the snack on the right.
Now it was completely certain.
‘Nice to meet you. The real Yu Yi Yeon.’
