Chapter 34
Of course, she had intended to go into the bathroom near her room to get ready for work.
But Seung-eon, frozen in place, had to look up at the man who suddenly appeared as the door swung open.
Yes, this was unavoidable.
Seung-eon fixed her gaze straight ahead.
The man’s curly hair, which usually grew long enough to cover his face in both summer and winter, was soaked and slicked back. His forehead, now unobstructed, was clean and smooth, with sharp, clearly defined eyebrows.
Glancing slightly downward, her eyes fell on a nose that was sharply sculpted, almost reaching for the sky. Sweat trickled down from its tip, sliding across his soft cheeks.
Perhaps it was the mist from the shower, but his eyes—damp, glistening—were focused solely on her. His lips, slightly flushed and glistening, looked irresistibly inviting against the tense atmosphere.
Drip. Drop.
A bead of water slid down from his defined jawline and fell onto his broad shoulders. Seung-eon instinctively looked down. Then—
Gulp.
Saliva she hadn’t noticed had passed down her dry throat.
Had it not been for that sound, she would have remained hopelessly staring at him.
The man, who usually hid himself like a germophobic neat freak, had a body that was… unexpectedly impressive.
“Not… bad,” she thought.
Thanks to their sudden cohabitation, she had naturally learned more about Seoi-su’s otherwise monotonous, highly structured routine. He wasn’t the type to regularly hit the gym; his days were mostly just home and office, yet his physical condition was surprisingly good.
Her thoughts wandered…
“His chest…”
It was almost accidental that her eyes followed the sweat trickling past his collarbones, tracing the subtle glow of his chest muscles.
As Seung-eon’s gaze moved slightly lower toward a spot likely near the lower left side of his chest, she was interrupted.
“Are you going to keep staring?”
The man, who had been silently watching her for a moment, finally spoke with his lips firmly pressed together.
Flustered, Seung-eon blushed and quickly turned her head.
“I-I didn’t see anything. I wasn’t looking.”
She deliberately averted her eyes, but she was probably making a ridiculous expression.
Trying to ignore her burning face, she instead frowned slightly.
“B-But… Team Leader Seo.”
“Yes?”
“Do you usually… walk around the house like that?”
Her complaint came out awkwardly, stammering.
“Even after a shower… it’s still too exposed. What am I supposed to do?”
I’m human… my eyes just… wander.
Of course, she knew this was Seo I-su’s house, but still—this was too much.
Even though we signed a contract.
Had she known, she would have requested in the temporary cohabitation contract that he not casually strip around the house. Who knew that he, Seo I-su of all people, would act this way?
“And wasn’t this bathroom supposed to be my private space?”
“That… I’m sorry. I thought you’d still be sleeping.”
“How could I sleep when I have to go to work soon?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Was she being too harsh over one mistake?
Besides, it’s not even my house.
On second thought, the one showing kindness was Seo I-su, not her, so she had no right to criticize him.
“I’m not trying to get an apology… I just want you to be a little more careful while we’re living together.”
Sometimes, geniuses with sensitive personalities get easily hurt by minor criticisms and can even let it affect their work. Seo I-su might not be that extreme, but pushing too hard could lead to unpleasant consequences. Seung-eon decided to end the topic and turn away.
“Ah… Team Leader Seo.”
“Yes?”
“You didn’t answer my question earlier.”
“Do you usually walk around the house like that?”
Seo I-su seemed to remember her words and fell silent.
You never know.
Of course, the odds were basically zero. But if there were a mark beneath his left chest…
Then there might be a slight chance that the “hidden character” she had been searching for was actually Seo I-su.
Even though she claimed to have no expectations, she still waited for his answer, a contradiction she couldn’t ignore. She leaned in to hear his response.
“It’s a habit.”
A few seconds later came an answer that made her ears almost doubt what she heard. Surprised, she asked again, and Seo I-su slightly nodded.
“When I had a girlfriend, I got used to being comfortable at home… and it became a habit.”
…What?
“I apologize again. This won’t happen again.”
Seoi-su apologized sincerely, but Seung-eon didn’t hear the next part of his sentence.
What did he just say?
Girlfriend…?
“Uh…”
Seung-eon awkwardly twisted the corners of her mouth.
Seo I-su’s eyes showed a flicker of curiosity, making the muscles around her mouth twitch.
“The… thing you just said.”
“Yes?”
“Does that apply… to now?”
It was so natural. She had been completely certain that Seo I-su did not have a girlfriend.
Of course, from what she had observed, Seo I-su preferred darker clothes and didn’t care much about his appearance.
But with a little effort…
With his tall frame, broad shoulders, and dark eyes hidden beneath long hair, there were plenty of ways he could appeal to women.
And nowadays, who only looks at appearances?
Seo I-su, going only between home and office, could definitely attract attention from women even if not from Kang Seung-eon.
Why… had she assumed he had no girlfriend?
Does this mean Seo I-su is no longer a candidate for her boyfriend?
“Now…?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she saw his face stiffen slightly.
Ah.
A cold sweat ran down her back.
“I’m working on it. I told you, it’s going to take some time. I’m doing my best, so don’t worry. It will be resolved soon.”
“I have to hang up.”
Come to think of it, when she had seen Seo I-su on the balcony suddenly ending a phone call as soon as their eyes met… it had been suspicious.
Was that a call with his girlfriend?
No, but…
Does he treat his girlfriend that politely?
Frowning at the thought, Seung-eon snapped.
“Wait. So a man with a girlfriend just let any woman into his house?”
“Excuse me?”
“His girlfriend allowed it? Some woman is temporarily living at her boyfriend’s house?”
“That’s…”
“Ah, right. Because I’m the ‘employee,’ I guess he had no choice?”
“….”
“Team Leader Seo was being kind and letting me stay briefly for Woo-jin’s sake. I was the one who said I should stay longer. I understand now.”
Seung-eon stared at Seo I-su, who didn’t answer, and then said:
“In any case, I’m looking for a new place, so make sure you explain properly to your girlfriend. Misunderstandings could be troublesome.”
I don’t want to be the boss who steals a man who already has someone.
“I must have misheard.”
When she had turned around in annoyance earlier that morning…
Seung-eon’s ears picked up Choo, the secretary, sounding flustered:
“What do you mean ‘misheard’? He said it clearly.”
Seung-eon pouted in reply, making Choo raise her voice:
“Team Leader Seo really has a girlfriend?”
“Yes.”
“Not… 2D?”
Choo, that kind of bias is really bad.
