Chapter 5
Tap—tap.
After four full years in England with her uncle, Ha-eun finally set foot on Korean soil again. She exited the airport with a feeling that was less than pleasant, as if the emotions she felt when she left had returned to greet her.
The last time she had come to the airport, four years ago, she had already carried her fair share of hurt. Memories may fade, but they never disappear completely, and time doesn’t always smooth them over prettily.
“Nothing’s changed here in these past four years, huh.”
Indeed, four years could feel long or short depending on perspective. Ha-eun shook off the bittersweet sensation, scanning the crowd until she spotted someone approaching—a man who immediately brought a bright smile to her face.
“What? Your expression’s better than I expected.”
“Of course. Did you hope I’d be gloomy?”
“Well, not exactly…”
Ha-eun handed over her luggage to Jung-min, who had approached swiftly, and lifted her head with a sly tilt.
“It’s been a while in Korea, too.”
“Anyway, welcome back, boss.”
She tapped his arm lightly in jest, smiling as her hands became free.
“So noisy… anyone hearing this would think you’re a gangster.”
“Wasn’t I one? Ever since we were kids, you’ve always been a bit rough with people…”
“So you’ve still got a long way to go before being beaten, huh?”
“Hey, hey, I’m joking! Don’t tell me you’re gonna hit me now?”
Ha-eun rolled her eyes at Jung-min’s quick dodge, waving him off. It had been years since she had returned, and almost a year had passed since she last saw him for work back in England.
“Have you contacted your family yet?”
“Soon. First, I need to unpack.”
She smiled faintly, shrugging her shoulders as if it were nothing. Over the past four years, she had relied on Jung-min quite a lot as a friend; there was no reason to hide it now.
After all, he had accompanied her to England even when she refused his earlier request, and had handled nearly everything related to her artwork since then. A lot was technically repayment owed, even if he did it willingly.
“At this point, it’s almost a surprise return, isn’t it?”
“I guess in a way, yeah. Kind of a surprise.”
Ha-eun let out a small, bitter chuckle, lost in the memory of events four years ago. Since she hadn’t seen her family properly during that time, this return could well be a true surprise.
“Anyway, let’s go. The car’s waiting at the entrance.”
“I feel bad… don’t you have plans for the weekend?”
“Unfortunately, still single at the moment.”
“What? You broke up again?”
Ha-eun blinked, surprised, recalling that he had a girlfriend just a few months ago. She climbed into the back seat of the waiting car, her gaze flicking out the window at the unfamiliar streets.
Luckily, her parents had ensured that nobody—her three older brothers or anyone at the Jinseong Group—knew where she was living. She had carefully erased Cha Jung-ho’s presence from her daily life over the past four years. It had taken that long to grow and clear her heart before returning.
Cre-eak.
Lost in thought, Ha-eun felt the car slow to a stop in a quiet residential area.
“Huh? Weren’t we going to a hotel?”
Her glance wandered out the window at the unfamiliar neighborhood before returning to Jung-min, who was behind the wheel.
“It’d be hard to work there. This place should be fine.”
“Wow, you already had it prepared in advance?”
“I told you, I’ve got it all taken care of.”
Inside, it would probably resemble his previous studio. He pulled a key from his pocket, shaking it casually. Ha-eun followed him as he opened the old iron gate. Stepping into the yard, she took in the quiet scenery, glancing up at Jung-min.
“Yeah, the vibe is strangely similar.”
“It’s where I used to work.”
He carried her luggage up the stone steps, commenting:
“Definitely a good place to work.”
“Since I’m the owner, maybe pay a little rent.”
“How much are you even going to squeeze from me?”
Ha-eun pushed his elbow playfully and entered the house first. Grumbling came from behind, but she ignored it.
The studio he had prepared was small but charming, with a garden in the front yard that would be perfect for creativity.
“I’ll alternate between the main house and here for a while, so it should be fine.”
Ha-eun murmured to herself as she inspected the living space converted into a studio. With canvases, paint, and other supplies laid out, it was ready for work. The room would soon become cluttered, but that was part of the process.
“Use it comfortably, but make sure you meet your deadlines.”
“Nothing’s free in this world, huh. That fits perfectly.”
“Of course. If it were free, you’d probably hate it even more.”
Ha-eun caught him checking his phone, remembering that he worked at her father’s company. Gathering her bag and phone, she moved toward the entrance.
“You’re heading back to the office, right?”
“Well… yeah, more or less.”
“Drop me off near Hongdae then. I have a few places to visit and some supplies to buy.”
She left the exact destination vague, prompting Jung-min to hurry along.
Ha-eun’s return was almost like a short visit. Most of the supplies she needed were left behind, so she had a lot to purchase: canvases, easels, extra brushes, palettes, and other small items.
At the counter, she placed the heavy basket, glancing awkwardly at the clerk.
“Excuse me, could this be shipped?”
“Of course. Just fill in your address, and we’ll send it.”
The clerk pulled out a shipping form and pen. But as Ha-eun began to write, she realized she didn’t know the address yet. She clicked her tongue softly and, resigned, messaged Jung-min immediately.
[Can you check your messages for a sec?]
[Sure, why?]
[Hey, what’s the address there?]
[Which one? The studio?]
[Yes.]
[Weren’t you going to the art supply store?]
[Yeah, it’s more stuff than I thought. Planning to ship it.]
Even though her father owned the company, he wasn’t in a position to fully help her at work yet. Relieved by Jung-min’s quick reply, Ha-eun smiled.
[You’re picky about little things.]
[I need to see what I’m using for a while.]
[Right, right.]
[Hurry up and give me the address.]
She copied the address onto the shipping form, handed it back, and completed the process. Once outside, she compared her receipts to her list, meticulously checking each item.
“Hmm, I think I’ve got everything now.”
Satisfied, she folded the receipts and put them in her bag. Anyone seeing her meticulous approach would be shocked—she had never been the type to economize as the youngest child, used to receiving generous allowances.
