Chapter 20
Saheon leaned against the rooftop railing with a lollipop in his mouth, gazing out at the scenery.
He had thought the same thing before, but the sweetness was enough to make his mouth tingle.
And yet, that woman’s lips had been even sweeter.
Saheon gave a self-deprecating laugh and ran a hand through his hair as the wind tousled it.
“It was a mistake.”
She had clung to him desperately, clutching the hem of his T-shirt, and yet the moment things went any further, she drew a firm line and insisted that they couldn’t.
With her face flushed red, the way she acted all prim and coy…
How could someone be so pretty?
He had thought what he felt for her was somewhere between interest and curiosity. His body reacting so strongly whenever he was with her was nothing new, but the pounding of his heart was an unfamiliar sensation.
The intensity of his feelings for her had been far stronger than he had expected, and frankly, it had even caught him off guard.
For the first time, he found it strange to have feelings for someone without calculating, measuring, or considering the consequences.
What a carefree bastard I am.
He was mocking himself inwardly when Manager Choi Kang-hoon cautiously approached him and asked,
“Director, did I snore a lot last night?”
“Yes.”
“I’m truly sorry.”
“If you ever have to come here again, Manager Choi, sleep on the pyeongsang from now on.”
“I will. I’m really sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for again?”
Saheon gave a small chuckle.
Manager Choi, who had been standing at attention like a robot, scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Is there any news from Seoul? Are they not looking for me?”
At Saheon’s question, Manager Choi’s expression darkened instantly.
“They are. A great many people are waiting for you, Director.”
Saheon rolled the lollipop around inside his mouth as he stared at the scenery.
It was so green and peaceful.
Completely at odds with the seriousness of their conversation.
Careful not to upset him, Manager Choi continued.
“They believe you’re recuperating after a traffic accident, which is why things have remained relatively quiet so far.”
“How long do you think we can keep this up?”
Manager Choi hesitated, unable to answer immediately.
“One month. Two months at the most.”
In other words, the only time in his life when he could devote himself solely to the feelings he had was, at most, until this summer.
“If it goes beyond that… the board will put the appointment of an acting director on the agenda. The official position is that you’re on an extended absence for health reasons, so if your absence exceeds three months, they’ll want to fill the vacancy.”
“I understand. I would’ve done the same if I were in their position.”
Saheon nodded.
Honestly, the only reason Lee Jae-kwon was feeling things out this cautiously was because he had something to feel guilty about. If that weren’t the case, he would have tried to take Saheon’s position away even after only a week of absence.
“Manager Choi. Should I go back?”
At Saheon’s question, Manager Choi was silent for a moment.
“To Seoul.”
“You mean… in your current condition?”
“Yes.”
“……”
“I’ll manage the work somehow. There’s no way I can’t. I’m Lee Sa-heon.”
Manager Choi calmly nodded.
“Yes. Of course, even the Director as you are now, with only your memories up to the age of twenty-one, would do well. But…”
Manager Choi fell silent for a moment before continuing.
“The Director you were in your thirties would do even better.”
That left Saheon speechless.
He was right.
If Saheon rashly went back and ended up destroying everything he had built over the years, it would be disastrous. Running a company wasn’t something that could simply be muddled through with quick thinking and improvisation.
“For now, there’s no choice but to stay here and do everything you can to recover your memories.”
“Yeah.”
Saheon knew that perfectly well.
He knew this wasn’t the time to act carefree and chase after that woman like a lovesick fool.
Then what was he supposed to do?
If he acknowledged that he and that woman had no relationship whatsoever and forcibly suppressed the feelings that kept growing on their own, would his memories return?
But why didn’t he want to do that?
At most, he had until this summer.
If his absence became prolonged, as Manager Choi had said, not only would an acting director be appointed, but he might not even have a position to return to.
He couldn’t let that happen.
Even if it meant eventually revealing everything—that there was something wrong with his memory—he would have no choice but to face the situation head-on.
And yet, knowing all that, he still wanted to drag things out a little.
Because he had never before been so desperate to win someone’s heart.
This really isn’t like me.
But what could he do when he liked her this much?
Saheon rolled the lollipop around in his mouth and gave a hollow laugh.
＊＊＊
Jian wiped down the display case where the bread was arranged, her eyes vacant.
She had no idea how she had gotten home last night after kissing Saheon, nor did she think she had actually slept. She had tossed and turned for a while, and before she knew it, the sun had risen.
I kissed Saheon.
I must have completely lost my mind.
It definitely hadn’t seemed like things were going in that direction at first.
They had simply been talking calmly about each other when, at some point, they found themselves kissing each other breathlessly.
Every time he let out a low breath between their joined lips, her heart had pounded as though it would burst.
And whenever his graceful fingers caressed her waist, every place he touched—or rather, her entire body—had grown embarrassingly hot.
Then his large, warm hand had finally slipped beneath her T-shirt.
Jian abruptly opened her eyes and pulled herself backward.
Their lips parted, and the large hand that had been gripping her bare skin withdrew as well.
Saheon tilted his head slightly and asked,
“Why?”
His face was calm and shameless.
It was the face of a man who knew all too well that he was attractive—and therefore hadn’t even considered the possibility of being rejected.
When Jian didn’t answer, he planted both arms on the pyeongsang and smiled leisurely.
“Haven’t you finished thinking yet?”
“Thinking about what?”
“I asked you whether you were going to sleep with me.”
“I’m not. Even now… it was a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“I just got carried away by the mood. I hope you won’t misunderstand. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
Jian turned her head and answered firmly.
Saheon suddenly clutched his chest as though he had suffered a heart attack, his expression twisting slightly.
“Ow.”
“…What’s wrong?”
Startled, Jian leaned her upper body toward him.
He removed his hand and gave a small chuckle.
“I’m hurt.”
She couldn’t tell whether his mischievous smile was genuine or not.
They had moved past it somehow, but he must have found it ridiculous, right?
They had kissed, and then kissed some more, even getting completely caught up in the moment together.
And then she suddenly claimed she had simply been carried away by the mood and that it had been a mistake.
Even she thought it sounded pathetic and embarrassing.
Ah, this is so humiliating.
Jian squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again as she silently berated herself while wiping the display case.
And why was he such a good kisser, anyway?
Why was he so skilled at something like that?
A little frustration rose inside her, and she unconsciously put more strength into the hand rubbing the display case.
The kiss had wiped her mind so completely blank that she couldn’t even remember what kissing her ex-boyfriend had been like.
There was no comparison.
Her entire body had felt tingly, and she hadn’t known what to do with herself.
When he had pushed his tongue deep into her mouth and slowly explored it, Jian had practically clung to him.
She had felt his firm abdomen moving beneath her hands with his excitement, and she had become just as overwhelmed by the sensation.
Did he really want to sleep with me?
No.
That made no sense.
Even if she gave him the benefit of the doubt a hundred times over and assumed he had fallen for her…
No.
She couldn’t even entertain that possibility.
It was that absurd.
Stop thinking about it. Han Jian, you’re seriously crazy.
“Hey.”
Jian squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head when—
Smack!
A sharp sting shot across her back.
“Ah! Unni!”
She turned around with a short scream and found Heejin standing there with her arms crossed, looking utterly dumbfounded.
“I’ve called you several times, but you didn’t answer.”
“…Did you? I didn’t hear you.”
“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been acting like you’ve had a screw loose all day. Did I make you get up at dawn and knead dough or something?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just…”
Jian lowered her gaze and resumed wiping the display case.
Heejin clicked her tongue and snatched the cleaning cloth from her hand.
“Stop wiping that. Do you realize you’ve been cleaning the exact same spot for ten minutes?”
“Sorry…”
“But what happened to your lips?”
Heejin frowned and gestured toward her with her chin.
Jian touched her lips and hesitated.
“My lips? Why?”
“They look kind of swollen.”
Of course they do.
After all, they had been biting and kissing and sucking on each other all night.
Biting her lips, pulling them into his mouth, their tongues tangling together…
The memory of last night came rushing back again, and Jian’s face grew hot.
She hurried past Heejin and washed her hands.
“I guess I’m just tired. I’ve been under some stress.”
“What could you possibly have to be stressed about?”
“Exactly…”
Heejin approached her with a suspicious look. As she placed the loaves of bread that had been cooling on the rack into transparent bags one by one, she lowered her voice.
“Tell me honestly.”
“W-what?”
“Mr. Lee Sa-heon. Are you really sure he has nowhere else to go?”
“He’s a little suspicious, that’s all.”
“What about him?”
Jian suddenly felt guilty for no reason and snapped back irritably.
“What?”
Heejin narrowed her eyes, set down the bread she was holding, and crossed her arms.
“The way he carries himself isn’t normal. The shirts and pants he wears fit him perfectly, and his shoes and watch are designer brands. You noticed, didn’t you?”
“I don’t know… I didn’t notice.”
“He’s incredibly polite when he eats, too. And how should I put it? He has this refined, sophisticated air about him. You don’t think so?”
