CHAPTER 71………………………………….
“Huh?”
Just as Haru was about to hang up, thinking it might be a voice-phishing scam—
—You reported a rental deposit scam, right?
“Oh, yes! That’s right.”
When she first reported it, the police had said it would be difficult to find the culprit, so Haru had already half given up.
Besides, it had been almost a month since she filed the report and she hadn’t received a single call.
—We arrested the suspect today. He’s currently being questioned at the station, and we’ll be sending the case to the prosecution soon.
The unbelievable words made Haru’s eyes widen.
“The criminal… you caught him?”
A few days later, on the weekend.
“They said it was a burner phone and a borrowed bank account, so it wouldn’t be easy to catch him.”
Haru was repeating to Yihan exactly what the detective had told her a few days earlier.
“I filed the report and had basically given up, but then they contacted me after a month.”
Her voice was full of excitement at the rare good news that the rent scammer had been caught.
“They said I’ll get my money back too. Apparently he’s doing it to get a reduced sentence. Still, it’s a relief, right?”
“Yeah. That’s good news.”
Yihan didn’t tell Haru that he had actually hired someone himself to track down the culprit.
Just seeing her this happy was enough for him.
“The criminal case is already underway, and if you file a civil suit you could also claim damages. I can help you with that.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“You were really upset because of that. You should get everything you’re owed.”
“That’s true, but since I’m getting my money back, I don’t want to keep stressing about it anymore.”
Yihan nodded, accepting her decision.
“As soon as I get the money back, I’m going to start looking for a place.”
“I’m a little hurt. Are you happy thinking about leaving here?”
“No, it’s not like that. But I can’t stay here forever.”
“I wouldn’t mind if you stayed.”
Haru simply smiled faintly instead of answering.
That expression made it seem like she really intended to move out eventually, and Yihan reluctantly gave up.
Instead, he decided he would at least help her find the new place.
“I’ll find you a house to move into. Somewhere newer than your last place—safe, well-equipped, and in a good neighborhood.”
“Places like that are expensive.”
“If money is a problem, I can—”
Before Yihan could finish his sentence, Haru held up her palm.
“I’ll have to refuse that. I’ve lived well on my own until now. But I’m grateful for the thought.”
“I’m just worried you might get scammed again.”
“Then when I finally decide on a place, you can come take a look at it.”
Yihan nodded.
But the disappointment on his face remained.
“So that means there aren’t many days left for us to live together here. That’s really a shame.”
“Yeah.”
“That won’t do. Today and tomorrow, you’re spending the whole day at home with me.”
“Both days?”
“Yep. I’ll make sure you have fun.”
Haru chuckled at his words and soon nodded.
“Hmm… what should we do first? Should I make lunch?”
“Let’s cook together. Remember the pasta you made last time? Teach me how to make that.”
“You think you can follow along?”
“Of course. I’m actually good at cooking! If you teach me, I’ll do well.”
“Alright. I’ll be watching.”
With a playful smile, Yihan started toward the dining room with Haru.
Just then he felt his phone vibrating. Recognizing the caller, he excused himself.
“Just a moment.”
After quietly listening to Chief Kim on the other end of the line, Yihan spoke.
“Please politely decline the interview request. I’ve already said everything that needed to be said in the previous interview.”
After Yihan boldly revealed the side of himself he had hidden for years, the public reaction had been intense.
People became curious about the secret of his birth, and countless rumors began circulating about him.
The chairman and vice chairman of GN Group had both reacted with anger and concern over his shocking announcement, but public opinion moved in an unexpected direction.
By openly revealing what could have been considered a family shame and declaring that he would break prejudice through his work and actions, his words had resonated with people.
The stock price, which had initially dropped because of the gossip, began rising steadily. Investors and partners who viewed his management vision positively also started approaching him.
In the end, his bold decision became a turning point.
“You’d better start carrying a mask and sunglasses around, Yihan.”
Haru said with a smile after he finished the call.
The photo of him that accompanied the article had also become a hot topic.
Yihan’s striking looks—never previously revealed to the media—were now making headlines day after day.
Because of that, the dating rumor between him and Byulna resurfaced as well.
Many people said it made sense she had named him as her ideal type—he was certainly someone easy to fall for.
“Don’t tease me.”
“I’m not teasing. It’s really causing a stir. Your photos are everywhere these days. They’re calling you a handsome talent stolen by a chaebol family.”
“That sounds wrong. It needs correcting.”
Yihan said this as he opened the refrigerator door. Curious about what he meant, Haru fixed her gaze on him.
After taking out the pasta ingredients and closing the door, he continued.
“Not stolen by a chaebol family. Stolen by Danharu. You’re the one who owns me.”
Watching the corner of his lips curl up slightly at the end of his sentence, Haru asked with a flushed face,
“How can you say things like that without even changing your expression?”
The only one whose expression had changed was Haru’s.
Yihan simply laughed lightly and walked toward the kitchen island.
“You should get used to it. You’ll be hearing things like that all the time.”
While Haru stood there blankly, he wrapped an apron around her.
Standing behind her, he tied it like he was hugging her from behind.
After tying the ribbon at her waist, he leaned down and whispered by her ear,
“Stop spacing out and let’s start cooking.”
Only then did Haru snap out of it and hurriedly fidget with the ingredients.
Watching her, Yihan let out a quiet chuckle.
The living room in the afternoon was filled with warm sunlight.
After eating the meal they had cooked together, Haru kept her promise to Yihan—to spend the whole day with him.
“We’ve eaten. What should we do now?”
“I bought a new book. Want to read together?”
“Sounds good.”
They each brought a book they wanted to read.
Sitting side by side on the sofa with Yihan, Haru gradually began to feel drowsy.
Maybe it was the warm sunlight, or the quiet room—her posture slowly started to relax.
Before she knew it, she was lying down with her head resting on Yihan’s leg while reading.
Her eyelids grew heavier as she followed the lines of text.
Eventually, her slowly blinking eyes closed completely, and the book in her hand fell shut with a soft thud.
Yihan set aside the book he had been reading and looked down at her.
Watching Haru who had dozed off, an unconscious smile spread across his face.
“Your sleeping face is still beautiful.”
A memory of Haru from seven years ago in Italy came to mind.
She had fainted in shock after seeing the thug he had beaten to a pulp collapse in a bloody heap. He still clearly remembered carrying her all the way home on his back.
He also remembered secretly watching her while she slept soundly on his bed.
Maybe the shock had been too much—she had slept for quite a long time without waking up, and he had quietly watched her like he was admiring something.
Her long eyelashes resting on her closed eyelids, her straight nose, her small red lips.
Just looking at her made him feel a painful urge to touch her pale skin.
That desire had even felt sinful to him. He had wondered if it made him no different from the scumbag he had just dealt with.
Back then, he had never imagined that this small, precious woman would one day fall asleep in his arms.
Looking down at Haru now, Yihan felt a strange emotion rise inside him.
The woman lying sideways with her head on his leg was gently caressed by his hand.
His fingers slowly traced the graceful lines from her forehead to her lips.
Perhaps the touch tickled—Haru frowned faintly.
Yihan withdrew his hand and watched her quietly before leaning down and placing a light kiss on her pale cheek.
“Mmm.”
Haru’s eyelids slowly fluttered open.
“Caught red-handed trying to steal a kiss.”
Haru smiled faintly at his words.
“I must’ve dozed off.”
Her eyes looking up at him were beautiful.
Seeing her bright smile spread across her face, Yihan couldn’t hold himself back any longer and lowered his lips again.
