Chapter 27
“What’s that sound? Isn’t it coming from the next house?”
Segwon frowned and looked out the window.
“Really? I’m not sure.”
“Wasn’t that place empty?”
“Someone lives there.”
Ikwon could’ve just said it was his friend who moved in, but the words didn’t come easily.
“Yeah? Have you met them? They’re not some shady person, right? I heard criminals sometimes hide in abandoned houses in the countryside these days…”
“It’s not like that. It’s someone from the hospital.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. I’m hungry. Is the galbi ready yet?”
“Just a little longer. It’s almost done. I’ll set the table soon.”
As Yeonwoo urged him, Segwon hurried back to the kitchen. The delicious smell of braised short ribs filled the entire house.
Creeeak.
After finishing his morning workout and sitting on the wooden porch to plan his day, Sajun stood up at the sound of a car parking beyond the wall.
Peeking over the low wall, he saw a handsome man step out of the car—someone who looked like he belonged in a historical drama.
The man opened the trunk, pulled out bags in both hands, and walked up to ring the doorbell at Yeonwoo’s house.
Sajun watched the man closely with his arms crossed.
“Princess, it’s me.”
The man casually called out “Princess,” clearly one of Yeonwoo’s brothers.
Judging by his appearance, it wasn’t the eldest, Ilkwon—it was probably the youngest, Segwon.
The worst of the bunch.
The shameless guy who made his little sister pretend to be his girlfriend.
Surely he wasn’t here for another disgusting favor.
Judging by the things in his hands, it looked like he had brought side dishes.
He could’ve just let her sleep in.
Sajun had been quietly waiting for Yeonwoo to wake up on her own.
Clink.
The gate opened, and Sajun watched as the man walked right in before returning to the old wooden porch and scanning the yard.
Weeds had grown thick under the wall.
Staring at them absentmindedly, Sajun got up. Since he thought of it, he decided to remove the overgrown weeds today.
He had been planning to do it before summer hit.
“Alright. Let’s clear it all out.”
He went to the shed and grabbed an old weed trimmer.
Once started, it roared loudly and ran well.
Yeonwoo’s yard probably had a lot of weeds too.
Bzzz. Bzzzz.
The loud buzzing noise filled the air.
“This wasn’t how today was supposed to go.”
As he walked along the wall, Sajun muttered to himself.
He had performed surgeries all week, so he had been thinking of taking Yeonwoo out for a meal in town today.
It hadn’t been formally arranged, but he hadn’t expected an uninvited guest.
“So many weeds.”
The youngest daughter of the Ryu family.
The precious Ryu Yeonwoo.
Oddly enough, a strange sense of indignation crept over him, like someone had taken his little sister away.
Had her family sent meat or something? The smell of grilled meat wafted over the wall.
Clutching his hungry stomach, Sajun ran the trimmer again and again.
Creak.
The old gate opened.
“Are you insane? Why are you using a weed trimmer with that leg? You’ve lost it, haven’t you?”
Jang Chanwoo stared at him with disbelief.
“What are you doing here…?”
“Shut up. Turn that thing off.”
Sajun switched off the trimmer and stared at Chanwoo.
“What’s up?”
“What do you mean, what’s up? I just stopped by.”
“Yeah, but why?”
“Why else? Thought we could eat together.”
Chanwoo held up a lunchbox.
“In this heat, you really love making things harder for yourself.”
Shaking his head, Chanwoo walked toward the porch and gestured to Sajun.
“Come eat. You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“…”
“What’s that smell? Did you grill galbi?”
Sniffing the air, Chanwoo looked around.
“Galbi? Don’t be ridiculous. Just open the lunchbox.”
Sajun’s voice came out gruff.
Chanwoo didn’t care and kept rambling, saying how nice it was to have a friend to spend the day off with.
“After this, let’s go to the reservoir. They rent out all the fishing gear.”
“Just eat.”
“You’ll change your mind once we get there. It’s so quiet and peaceful. Come on, let’s go.”
“No.”
Sajun cut him off firmly, but Chanwoo kept nagging.
Sajun said nothing and just silently ate the lunch.
“Are they grilling meat next door? Country folks are stingy, huh. Should’ve shared a little.”
He stared at the sniffing Chanwoo.
“Didn’t I tell you? Yeonwoo lives there.”
“Yeonwoo? You mean Dr. Ryu? Ikwon’s sister?”
“Yeah.”
Chanwoo stared at Sajun for a while, clearly scheming something.
Sajun continued eating quietly.
At least the food was good.
“There’s no doorbell.”
There was no doorbell at the old house.
Creak.
The rusted gate opened with an eerie sound.
Carefully stepping in, Yeonwoo looked around the neatly kept yard in awe.
She’d heard the loud sound of the weed trimmer that morning, and now the weeds had all been cleared.
How diligent.
Smiling softly, Yeonwoo walked toward the porch.
“Um, are you home, doctor?”
She stretched her neck and called out to Sajun.
The shoes by the porch and the lights inside suggested he was home.
“Doctor?”
Yeonwoo set the pot she was holding on the porch and called out louder.
Slide.
The sliding door to the inner room opened, and Sajun appeared.
“Ryu Yeonwoo?”
“Oh good, you’re here.”
“What brings you here at this hour?”
Sajun stepped out quickly, looking both surprised and pleased.
Wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and sweatpants, he seemed relaxed and off duty.
Even in casual clothes, he looked like he’d stepped out of a magazine, his handsome brows furrowing slightly as he looked down at Yeonwoo.
“Um… Have you eaten dinner yet?”
“No, not yet.”
His eyes dropped to the pot in her hands.
“What’s that?”
“I brought it for you. I didn’t make it—my family sent it. It’s already cooked, so you just need to heat it up.”
His gaze tilted slightly, a questioning look in his expression.
“It’s braised short ribs… If you don’t like it, I can take it back.”
“…”
“My mom’s a great cook, even if I’m not. My brother Segwon brought a bunch of side dishes, but it’s too much for me to eat alone…”
Ugh, why do I feel like one of those clingy girls who can’t take a hint?
I’m not like this…
She scrunched her nose and considered taking the pot back, but then Sajun smiled gently.
“If you haven’t eaten, let’s eat together. Looks like too much for one person anyway.”
He reached out and easily took the pot from her hands, stepping aside.
“Shall we?”
“It’s nothing fancy, but please come in.”
“It’s not shabby at all. A home is a home.”
Yeonwoo hesitated slightly, then stepped up onto the porch. The old wood creaked under her.
“Ah, but what now? I think I’ll need to cook rice.”
Sajun scratched his head sheepishly, and Yeonwoo laughed.
“Then… would you like to come over and eat at my place instead?”
“….”
Was that too much?
Seeing him stroke his chin in thought, she quickly added,
“Or I could go get some rice. I made plenty this morning…”
“…”
“It’s not that I have any weird intentions. We’re just neighbors, after all…”
The more she spoke, the more tangled it felt, so she shut her mouth.
Biting her lip nervously, she looked at him—and he chuckled.
“Guess it makes more sense for me to go over, right?”
“Yes.”
“Alright then, let’s do that.”
Sajun picked up the pot and followed Yeonwoo to her house.
“I picked some lettuce and cucumbers earlier today. Of course, the landlord auntie worked hard to grow them, but she said I could take some. They’re super fresh and tasty. It’s so cool to eat vegetables you grew yourself and watch them change every day.”
And just like that, Yeonwoo launched into a stream of chatter.
She regretted bringing the food over—should’ve just eaten alone.
If she could turn back time ten minutes, she would.
