CHAPTER 59………………………….
On a day that could only be described as a battle, I-han asked,
“Did you fight?”
“Rather than fighting… they started something childish, so I just got back at them the same way.”
Though it hadn’t exactly been intentional revenge, her bag strap had done the tripping for her—on behalf of its owner.
“Come here. Sit down.”
After seating Ha-ru on the sofa, I-han brought over a first-aid kit.
As he opened it, he murmured,
“Every time you go outside, you come back hurt.”
He sounded upset—first it had been a burn on her hand, and now she’d come home with a scraped knee.
And to make things worse, today’s trouble had started because she’d gone out to meet Byeol-na.
“You really have no fear. Byeol-na isn’t someone you can just pick a fight with.”
Ha-ru let out a small laugh at that.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of her, I-han soaked a pad with antiseptic and began to clean the wound.
“Ah…”
A small moan slipped out as the stinging hit, and I-han blew softly over the spot.
“What if it leaves a scar?”
“I’m fine. It’s just a little scrape.”
“Doesn’t look like just a little scrape.”
Despite her reassurances, worry lingered across his face.
When he finished disinfecting the wound, he dabbed some ointment on a cotton swab and gently rubbed it over her knee.
“So,” he asked lightly, “did you win the fight?”
Ha-ru straightened up, proud.
“Of course.”
I-han looked up at her, lifting his head from her knee. For a moment, anger flashed in his eyes as he thought of Byeol-na.
“Should I go teach her a lesson so she won’t even dare talk to you again?”
“Don’t you trust me? I told you I won.”
Her lips, painted with bright red lipstick, curved into a satisfied smile.
I-han gazed at her for a moment—then leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
The soft smack made Ha-ru’s eyes widen in surprise.
“What was that for?”
“Because you look amazing.”
The blunt answer left her blinking in confusion.
“I must’ve picked a really good girlfriend,” he said.
At the word girlfriend leaving his lips, her heart fluttered wildly.
Her chest thumped so hard she couldn’t speak—only stare—when his lips found hers again.
Smack, smack.
The soft sounds of their lips brushing sent shivers across her skin.
What began as gentle pecks soon deepened. I-han parted his lips, capturing hers fully.
“Haa…”
The moist sound of their kiss filled the air, the space between them heating in an instant.
As their lips moved together, his tongue traced along hers, teasing lightly before intertwining.
Their breaths mingled, the sound growing wet and intimate.
Her skirt began to ride up as she shifted closer, knees brushing against his thighs.
Something hard pressed against her through the layers of clothing, and Ha-ru’s hips moved involuntarily in response.
Their breathing grew tangled, the air sticky with heat—until Ha-ru’s knee brushed the floor.
“Ah!”
“You okay?”
When I-han asked in concern, she winced and laughed softly.
“My knee stings.”
“I’ll put a bandage on it.”
Still keeping her on his lap, he peeled open a bandage and carefully pressed it over the wound.
Watching his gentle hands, Ha-ru spoke.
“Hey, the drama we were going to watch together—how about we watch it tomorrow after work? With chicken and beer?”
She remembered the show Dain had recommended and how she and I-han had planned to watch it together.
But instead of the easy agreement she expected, I-han’s expression turned awkward.
“Ah… about that. I won’t be home tomorrow.”
“What? Why?”
“I’m going on a business trip. Two nights, three days. To attend the MIA in Italy.”
The unexpected news caught Ha-ru off guard.
“Two nights? So you won’t be home for two whole days?”
“That’s right.”
Her face fell with clear disappointment. Even the dramatic wing of her eyeliner couldn’t hide the droop in her eyes.
They hadn’t been living together for long, but the thought of being apart for two days already felt lonely.
Especially since this wasn’t just any home—it was his.
The idea of this big, quiet space without I-han felt strange.
“I’ll call you,” he said softly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Ha-ru nodded, resigned.
[K-content really does feel global these days. It’s proven its value everywhere. I’m even considering a co-production with a Korean studio right now—for a Flex Original, actually.]
[That’s great to hear. We’re also focusing less on simple exports now, and more on global strategies like co-productions and local originals. I hope next time we meet, it’s not at an event like this—but as partners.]
[It would be an honor.]
I-han was attending the annual content market event held in Rome, Italy.
As an invited VIP, he drew plenty of attention from other participants.
Many who recognized him approached to talk, keeping him constantly busy.
Fluent in both English and Italian, he conversed easily without an interpreter.
“After lunch, there’s the drama pitching forum in an hour, followed by the VIP reception,” his assistant Kim reported beside him.
I-han nodded. “I’ll wait in the car. Wrap things up here.”
“Yes, sir.”
He climbed into the sedan provided by the event organizers, heading toward the lunch venue.
Since arriving in Italy, he had barely slept a few hours—jumping from one meeting to another.
Feeling the fatigue from the morning’s nonstop schedule, he pressed his fingers to his temples.
It was nearly lunchtime in Italy—but evening back in Korea.
Despite his exhaustion, the thought of one person kept circling his mind. He pulled out his phone and called.
After a few short rings, a bright voice answered.
—I-han!
At the sound of her cheerful tone, the hardness in his expression softened into a faint smile.
“Did you eat dinner yet?”
—I’m about to.
“What are you having?”
—A sandwich.
It wasn’t much of a conversation, but he couldn’t stop smiling.
—It feels weird being home alone.
“You mean you miss me?”
She didn’t answer right away. Then, a hesitant voice:
—The house feels too big. Empty, without anyone else around.
He could tell she was embarrassed—dodging the words he wanted to hear. He let out a quiet chuckle.
“Make sure you lock up. Don’t open the door for anyone.”
—Come on, security here’s tight. No one’s coming in.
“I just worry. Feels like I left a puppy alone at home.”
—Yeah… it does feel like I’m the puppy waiting for its owner.
Their soft laughter mingled over the phone.
—You’ll be back the day after tomorrow, right?
“Yeah.”
That was her way of saying I miss you.
Thinking of Ha-ru waiting for him made I-han’s chest tighten—but also strangely warm.
“Think you can survive two days without me?”
—Huh?
“Even if you miss me, just hold out for two days.”
—Ah…
He heard the faint rustle of her unwrapping something—probably the sandwich.
After a short silence, her voice came again.
—Okay. I’ll wait.
At that, I-han’s lips curled up in satisfaction.
It hadn’t even been a full day since he’d arrived in Italy—
and already, he missed her.
