Episode 33
Serin left the hospital and returned straight to Hyunmujae. With tomorrow’s MOU signing and the engagement announcement with the Ohseong Group, Hyunmujae was already short-handed. The anxiety of having left during such a hectic time hit her belatedly.
She got out of the taxi at the main gate and could already hear loud noises spilling out. She caught glimpses of people bustling about, clearly preparing for a banquet. Serin quietly entered through the side gate.
She stopped by her lodging quarters to quickly change clothes, then stepped back out. Among the many staff rushing back and forth, Youngsook was standing, shouting orders at them.
“That nameboard goes over here—this is the center. The engagement announcement will be held here tomorrow, and you’re setting it up so close together?”
Her feet stepped onto the garden lawn. Hearing Youngsook’s command, the staff in the distance turned around and began carrying a large table toward her.
Serin quietly headed toward the kitchen. There, a few people were already gathered, busy preparing ingredients. Upon spotting her, Suwon-daek waved her over.
“Serin, over here.”
Suwon-daek was peeling onions at the sink. Serin quickly joined her.
“Did the hospital visit go well?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“Of course. It’s your family—of course you had to go.”
It was Suwon-daek who had allowed Serin to leave upon hearing that her father was ill. Without her, Serin wouldn’t have been able to go out at all.
After the incident at the boutique, surveillance on Serin had become even more intense. Since Taeyoon had openly expressed his feelings for Serin, it was natural that Youngsook wouldn’t just sit back. Going out, and even moving about inside the house, had become difficult.
Still, it was fortunate that the other workers sympathized with her.
“But why are we preparing so many onions?”
Serin, who had rolled up her sleeves and begun peeling onions, asked as she looked at the huge pile. It looked like at least a full sack’s worth.
Suwon-daek pointed with her chin toward Youngsook, who could be seen in the distance.
“Madam’s in a frenzy right now. Seems like she wants all of Korea to know about the event with the Ohseong Group. She probably invited everyone from the neighborhood.”
Judging by her pouting lips, she didn’t seem too pleased about it. Understandable—there was more to do than just peeling onions.
Glancing sideways at Serin, Suwon-daek lowered her voice.
“Tomorrow, you stay in the kitchen.”
“The kitchen?”
“Yeah. So many people who know you will be coming tomorrow. No good can come from you wandering around out there.”
“Even if people don’t say it, everyone knows Serin isn’t going to be one of us.”
“So just stay in the kitchen. Got it?”
Seeing Suwon-daek confirm once more, Serin nodded.
As she peeled onions, Youngsook, having finished setting up the tables, entered the kitchen. Serin lowered her head over the sink and pretended to focus on peeling.
Youngsook gulped down a glass of cold water in one go, then spotted Serin.
“Serin? Feels like this is the first time I’ve seen you today.”
As if looking for something to scold her about, she started walking toward Serin—only to be blocked by Suwon-daek.
“She’s been working with me all day. Don’t you remember? She was trimming green onions over there earlier.”
Suwon-daek pointed to a pile of green onions stacked in the kitchen corner.
“Oh? Now that you mention it, maybe she was.”
Not questioning it further, Youngsook finished the water and turned her head outside. Her expression soured at what she saw.
“Not there, I said!”
She pointed angrily and ran out. Suwon-daek shrugged.
“She can’t pay attention to anything when she’s this busy.”
Her nonchalant tone made Serin chuckle a little. But her smile soon faded.
Tomorrow, in front of everyone, there would be an engagement announcement. Taeyoon would stand next to Chaehee, not her. Just the thought of it made her heart ache.
But there was nothing she could do. Serin still had feelings for Taeyoon.
“Alright, enough with the onions—go slice those chives now. So much to do, goodness.”
“Okay.”
Suppressing the emotions swelling in her heart, Serin busied herself preparing the dishes to be served to the guests.
Preparations for the banquet went on until late into the night. After a whole day of chopping and cleaning vegetables, her entire body felt heavy like it was filled with lead.
Past midnight, Serin finished getting ready for bed and sat on the bed. As she massaged her sore shoulders, her phone on the table buzzed and rang.
‘Who could it be at this hour?’
A late-night call always brought a tinge of anxiety. Worried it might be news about her father, Serin quickly grabbed the phone. But upon seeing the caller ID, her expression stiffened.
‘Why is he calling at this hour?’
It was Taeyoon. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously pressed the answer button.
–“What are you doing?”
His voice was tinged with fatigue, a deep, husky tone echoing with the quiet of dawn. Serin sighed as the lazy voice tickled her ears.
“Just lying down.”
–“Just lying down doing what?”
It felt like he was playing cat and mouse—he wouldn’t let go.
“I’m about to sleep.”
Wanting to end the conversation quickly, Serin got into bed and pulled up the blanket. But Taeyoon didn’t back off easily.
–“So you’re not asleep yet, huh.”
–“Come over. To my room.”
Startled, Serin gasped. She had just laid down but immediately sat up.
“Are you crazy? What do you think this place is?”
–“Then should I come to you?”
She could hear him getting up through the receiver. It sounded like he might really show up, just like last time. The memory of him suddenly appearing in her room made her heart pound nervously.
“If—if you just wait a moment…”
A soft exhale sounded through the line, like wind escaping through a crack.
–“Alright. I’ll wait.”
After hanging up, Serin buried her face in her hands. What on earth was Taeyoon thinking? Did he not understand what kind of chaos could erupt from this?
Phew…
With a sigh, Serin threw on a black cardigan. Then, quietly, she slipped out the back path of the lodging quarters.
It was a path Taeyoon had once told her about—seldom used, meant for sneaking around. Not even the housekeeper who had lived there for 10 years knew of it.
Still, Serin walked like the wind, heart pounding with the fear of running into someone.
Just then, someone spotted her walking like a stealthy cat through the early morning mist.
“Wait, isn’t that… Serin?”
It was none other than Madam Kang, who had stepped outside to air out some vegetables for tomorrow.
