ALRE 10

Chapter : 10

“Okay, so what exactly do you want me to help with?”

“Well, um… that is…”

“You’re about to get in trouble.”

“Even if you scold me, could you please call my dad? He just won’t believe me otherwise.”

Jaewon’s thick eyebrows lifted sharply.

“Why should I?”

“It’s just… I kinda told him I was with you right now. Then he said if I was lying, I’d be dead. He told me to have you call him immediately…”

Even as she explained, she couldn’t look him straight in the eye, too embarrassed by her own words.

Jaewon approached her, twisting his face into something genuinely frightening.

“I clearly told you. Don’t sell my name.”

He growled deliberately, as if he might bite her head off.

“I know, I know! I didn’t want to, but I had no choice. Besides… technically, I am with you. Well, in the next room, but still.”

Jaewon let out a sharp breath and glared.

“……”

“I’m sorry. Please, just spare me this once.”

Her intentions were obvious without needing long explanations.

“So you want me to tell President Kang that I’m in a hotel room with his daughter right now? You think that’s something I can do?”

Her neck stiffened painfully.

He wasn’t just eccentric—he was something else entirely. Jaewon stared at her with a cold, flat look.

“Leaving, or do I drag you out?”

“P-Please. You only need to say we’re watching a late-night movie together. That’s all. Please. I’ll take care of everything afterward.”

“What exactly is inside that tiny head of yours?”

He looked down at her like he was observing some odd creature.

“I’m really sorry to your girlfriend, but please, just this once. If not… my life is basically over.”

Her eyes reddened, lips pressed together as she waited desperately for an answer.

Jaewon sat down on the single armchair and crossed his legs. His robe fell open slightly, revealing firm thighs.

“Gasp—! Could you please put on some clothes?”

Yeong snapped her head away, startled.

“Why? Never seen a man half-naked before?”

“That’s not it, but…”

She’d seen Donghun and Taeju shirtless plenty of times, but never like this—never this blatant or… sensual.

Jaewon’s lip twisted.

“Get out.”

His voice was absolute, icy.

“What do I have to do for you to help me? Please. I’m begging you.”

Yeong put on the saddest, most pitiful expression she could manage—like a wet puppy abandoned in the rain.

“Anything?”

He responded. A good sign.

“Yes! Anything!”

She pumped her fist and stood up.

If she had to, she’d cling to his leg like a koala.

He looked her up and down pitifully.

“Well then.”

“Yes? Yes?”

Her dad was waiting. Time was running out.

Holding back her panic, Yeong stared at him.

“Room 1004.”

“Yes, sir.”

Only a building owner would call people by their suite numbers.

“So… did our lips really touch?”

Yeong’s mouth slowly fell open.

Why was he massaging his temple so casually while asking that?

Figure out the test-maker’s intention.

“I didn’t feel anything.”

“So you think I’d say we kissed if we didn’t?”

“Isn’t it possible?”

“Do I look like some kind of pervert to you?”

Forget the phone call—Yeong’s temper shot up. Hands on hips, she puffed out her nose like an angry bull.

“You said we kissed even though our lips barely brushed. And now you want me to prove to your dad that we’re together? And who’s supposed to deal with the consequences of that?”

The snooty look he gave her as he raised his eyes made all her earlier determination drain away.

Fine. Better to get yelled at by her dad.

Better to live like a beggar than be humiliated by this man. Who cared if her allowance got cut? She could get a part-time job.

“Well, since we’re talking—tomorrow I’ll send a detailed list to the management office. Please make sure they do the repairs properly. And consider the earlier request canceled. Sorry to bother you.”

Yeong bowed and turned to leave.

What a mistake coming here was.

Getting treated like some weirdo.

Well… she sort of did look like one.

Still!

At the front door, she turned back toward him—still seated on the sofa, watching her.

“And yes, our lips touched. Definitely. If you didn’t feel it, then that’s your problem.”

“Problem? What problem?”

He stood up slowly, like a tiger stretching after crouching too long.

Yeong’s grip tightened on the doorknob.

“I don’t know. But you should get checked.”

With that parting shot, she yanked the door open and bolted.

“Stop right there!”

His voice echoed from behind the door.

Before he could catch her, Yeong sprinted into her own room.

Whish!

She dove under the blanket.

“Where were you wandering around this late at night?”

Hyesun, half-asleep beside her, grumbled.

“It’s… complicated.”

Would he really keep quiet? He wouldn’t tell her dad… right?

Yeong tossed off the blanket and stared at the dark ceiling, stunned.

“Kang Yeong, sleep. We have skiing tomorrow. You need rest.”

“Okay…”

But of course she couldn’t sleep.

She tossed and turned all night and only drifted off at dawn.

Bzzzzt. Bzzzzt.

“Yeong, your phone’s ringing. Answer it.”

Mumbling, Hyesun pulled a pillow over her face.

Barely awake, Yeong stared blankly at her vibrating phone.

Sunlight filtered through the blackout curtains—morning already.

It had to be her dad.

After silently repeating “I’m dead” three times, she answered.

“Yes, Dad.”

She tried to sound calm.

–Yes. It’s your father.

Jusik’s voice was low and ominous. He knew. He definitely knew she lied.

“Good morning, Dad.”

–There is no good morning. Come home. Now.

Yeong squeezed her eyes shut.

“Yes. I will.”

She whispered and hung up.

She’d go down quietly. No need to drag anyone else.

She lay on her side, utterly deflated.

Hyesun pushed aside her pillow and squinted at her like a lizard.

“Why are you killing the mood like that? You’re making me nervous.”

“Dad told me to come home. Immediately.”

Hyesun’s eyes widened.

“For real?!”

“I have to pack and leave now.”

“No way. We were supposed to snowboard and have fun starting today! Don’t ruin my rare vacation!”

“I don’t want to ruin it either, but my dad is really angry. I ditched my blind date after thirty minutes and fled to Gangwon-do, so… yeah, he’s furious.”

“So you’re really leaving?”

“Yeah.”

Hyesun kicked sleeping Miju.

“Hey! Wake up! Yeong’s saying weird stuff—something’s wrong. Get up, you sleepy bear!”

Miju sat up with messy hair.

“Ugh… why are you waking me up…”

“We have to go back to Seoul. Now.”

“What? What happened?”

When she looked at Yeong, Yeong answered with a hollow expression.

“I’m heading back first. You guys have fun for me.”

“You’re joking, right?”

But seeing Yeong’s serious face, Miju nudged Hyesun anxiously.