Chapter 7
My Man
A faint sound slipped through his lips.
…?
It was somewhere between a sigh and a small laugh—soft enough to make Yeoul’s lashes tremble as her eyes fluttered open.
So close.
If he leaned in just a little more, their lips would have touched.
But Ha Geon-woo stopped.
“That’s enough.”
The short words, spoken lightly, almost playfully, hung in the air as he reached out and gently tousled Yeoul’s hair before straightening his posture.
She blinked, watching him move away, her eyes wide in confusion.
His quiet laugh, his offhand remark, the distance he suddenly created—all of it left her unsure what it meant.
One thing’s for sure.
To Geon-woo, she wasn’t a woman.
That laugh of his—it was the kind you’d give to a younger sister you found endearing.
Right. Of course. Nothing that comes out of Kim Seung-tae’s mouth is ever true anyway.
Six years of marriage had taught her that well enough.
Every word that man ever said was worthless—trash that couldn’t even be recycled.
So his claim that Geon-woo liked her? Also trash.
“Se–senpai…?”
Before she could fully process her thoughts, Geon-woo stood up and started walking out of the suite toward the elevator, still holding her hand, forcing her to follow.
She blinked and called out to him, startled, but he didn’t answer.
Too many strange things had happened today—one after another, with no chance to predict what came next.
But when she realized where they were heading—her own home—her mind went blank.
Just moments ago, they’d been driving down an unfamiliar road.
And then, after a single curve, a familiar street came into view.
Her neck snapped toward him in shock.
“That road we took—it’s a shortcut,” he said casually, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
Yeoul almost shouted, That’s not the point right now!
He was deliberately avoiding the answer she actually wanted.
“I remembered your place,” he continued. “I dropped you off once when Seung-tae brought you home.”
Again.
He always picked the most irrelevant thing to respond to.
It made sense, though. During her dates with Seung-tae, Geon-woo had always been there, tagging along. Of course he’d know her address.
Still, that wasn’t what she’d asked—or what she wanted to know.
So why was he dodging it? What was he trying to do?
Her thoughts tangled together until, before she realized it, the car rolled into her apartment complex and stopped in front of her building.
Then Geon-woo turned to her.
“Get ready for school.”
“…School? Why?”
Her confusion deepened.
“You lost time coming to see me,” he said. “So you should go practice now.”
He pressed the elevator button the moment they stepped inside the building.
“I’m in a hurry,” he murmured, staring at the numbers lighting up one by one on the display.
His voice sounded oddly tight. He didn’t elaborate.
When the elevator doors slid open, they stepped inside together.
“Geon-woo…?”
She watched him press the floor where his car was parked and called his name, hoping for some explanation.
But he didn’t respond.
Like before, his gaze stayed fixed on the changing numbers.
Where on earth is he taking me this time?
In less than an hour since meeting him, so many bizarre things had happened that she’d given up trying to predict anything.
All she knew for certain was that Geon-woo was deliberately avoiding her eyes.
Forget it, Yeoul. You made it all the way to a hotel. Wherever he’s taking you can’t be worse than that.
Strangely, she was sure he wouldn’t take her anywhere dangerous.
Maybe that was why—
She quietly decided to follow him.
Wait… this place—?
Ah, right.
I’m twenty-three.
She’d remembered that she’d gone back in time to before her marriage, but she hadn’t recalled what she used to be doing at this hour.
The betrayal she’d suffered from Seung-tae had erased even her passion for practice—something she’d once loved more than anything.
Six years… it really does change a person.
She hadn’t picked up her instrument once since marrying.
Only now did she realize the gap that time had carved between her body and her memory.
Her hands still remembered the motions, but her mind didn’t.
“Give me your phone,” Geon-woo said, holding out his palm.
Still half dazed, Yeoul handed it over without thinking.
He glanced down and began tapping quickly on the screen.
“The choice is yours,” he said as he handed it back.
“The choice…?”
She looked at the phone—and froze.
Her eyes widened like lanterns as she turned to him in disbelief.
Is this really the same Ha Geon-woo I know?
Shock after shock—it felt like a string of fireworks bursting one after another, leaving her speechless.
She looked down again.
There, in the contact name field, were three words:
‘My Man.’
He hadn’t saved his own name, or “Geon-woo sunbae.” Just… My Man.
But that wasn’t even the biggest surprise.
He hadn’t pressed save. He’d left the button for her to decide.
“…I don’t understand,” she whispered. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“At the hotel, I wanted you to want it—but I was afraid the decision would hurt you, so I stopped. Now… I want you to choose me, even if it hurts.”
“Geon-woo…”
Her voice trembled.
He’d avoided every question so far, so hearing such a direct answer hit her like a blow.
“This time, it’s real,” he said.
He nodded toward the phone in her hand.
“How you keep me close—what kind of place I have beside you—that’s up to Kang Yeoul.”
For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of unease beneath his calm expression.
“Which means,” he added quietly, “I don’t want to hold you that way again.”
“…!”
His words wrapped around her like a warm breeze under sunlight.
And in that instant, she finally knew.
Out of all the garbage that ever came out of Kim Seung-tae’s mouth, there had been one thing—just one—that was actually true.
“I came to you because I want to leave Seung-tae,” she said.
“I know.”
So she had to be honest.
She knew why she hesitated to press save.
But Geon-woo didn’t even think twice.
It’s fine, his eyes seemed to say.
He was comforting her—telling her not to feel guilty for using him.
“If it’s what Kang Yeoul wants,” he said firmly, “then I’ll do it. No matter what.”
His voice was low but resolute.
“As long as it means I get to be with you.”
His steadiness shook the walls she’d built around her heart.
Maybe that’s why—
Like someone under a spell, she pressed the button.
Saved.
The confirmation flashed briefly before fading.
Geon-woo’s lips curved.
“So,” he said softly, “I guess I’m finally Kang Yeoul’s man.”
He looked almost giddy, like a man whose lifelong wish had just come true.
Yeoul couldn’t help letting out a small laugh.
Maybe flustered by her reaction, Geon-woo stiffened and stepped out of the car.
She turned her head to follow him, confused—
Only to see him walk around the hood, open her door, and hold out his hand.
“Go get ready for school,” he said.
Yeoul placed her hand lightly over his.
And he tightened his grip, firm and sure—
As if he never intended to let go.
