Let’s Go to My House
“Just the two of us… to talk?”
Jeho muttered to himself, tilting his head. He guessed Yulri wanted to discuss the newlywed house design, but he couldn’t help being curious about what exactly she would say.
The past few days had been exhausting for him. Hearing that Manager Yoon, who had been overseeing the overseas construction project, was in Gyeongnam, he had impulsively followed Site Manager Kim on a business trip. Manager Yoon had managed key information, and when issues arose in the overseas project, he abruptly resigned and disappeared.
When Jeho finally met Manager Yoon, his face full of frustration, the man had refused to speak despite Jeho’s earnest persuasion. Returning empty-handed, Jeho felt as if a boulder pressed heavily against his body and mind. But the moment he saw Yulri in the office, that stifling weight vanished entirely.
Was it because of her?
“Only if you want…”
Despite feeling utterly exhausted, Jeho willingly accepted Yulri’s suggestion.
“There’s a quiet café in front of the company. Let’s go there.”
“No, let’s not. Your car isn’t fixed yet, right? I’ll drive you. We can talk in the car on the way.”
“Alright.”
Yulri followed without objection. As she was about to step into the elevator, she froze for a moment, worried that the memory of that strange dream might surface if she shared the confined space with him. But avoiding him was impossible, and she reluctantly stepped inside.
Okay, don’t panic.
Yulri inhaled deeply, forcing herself to focus on the lights below as the elevator descended. Yet the memory of that hot, lingering kiss from her dream kept replaying in her mind, making her heart pound.
“Do you look unwell?”
“Huh?”
Startled, Yulri instinctively stepped aside. Jeho looked at her curiously, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out the truth.
“Ah… I had a dream. In the elevator…”
What am I even saying?
Snapping back to herself, she quickly corrected her words.
“…It was a dream where I was falling. That’s all.”
Jeho accepted it as it was. He wrapped his hand around her shoulder as if to reassure her.
“Don’t worry. That almost never happens in real life.”
“Right… what happens in dreams doesn’t happen in reality.”
Surprisingly, his practical words calmed her trembling heart. Yes, it was just a dream…
When they arrived at the underground parking lot, Jeho opened the passenger door for Yulri and closed it after she got in.
“So, what is it that you wanted to say?”
As they drove out of the alley, Jeho spoke first.
“I hope it’s something I’m thinking about…”
When Yulri hesitated, he muttered to himself:
“There’s a man who keeps catching your eye… and making you think about him. Something like that, right?”
At that moment, the stoplight turned red. Jeho stopped the car and turned toward Yulri. She met his gaze, awkwardly smiling.
“That’s half true, half false.”
“Really?”
The corners of Jeho’s eyes lifted slightly.
“There is someone I can’t help thinking about.”
“Really? …Who could it be?”
Yulri gave him a side glance, annoyed at his knowing-but-pretending-not-to-know attitude. Then she answered calmly:
“These past few days, I’ve been thinking about you, Kwon Jeho. But after all, we almost got married once.”
He may not have had personal feelings for her, but she did. Every time she thought of him, her heart raced. Even though she opposed the idea of an arranged marriage, she didn’t want to push him away. Honestly, her feelings still wavered.
Under these circumstances, starting married life in a house designed by Jeho was absolutely impossible.
“Could you… cancel the newlywed house design? I’m asking you sincerely.”
Jeho’s playful expression stiffened at her direct request—he hadn’t expected her to speak so bluntly.
“Why? Would it make you uncomfortable?”
“Not uncomfortable exactly…”
Ring—
Her phone vibrated. It was Minwoo calling.
“One moment, please.”
Yulri excused herself and answered the call.
“Yes, Minwoo?”
[Where are you? Home? Office?]
She glanced at Jeho, who seemed uninterested in her conversation, and drove off as the light turned green.
“On my way home.”
[Oh? Working late?]
“Yes, a bit. Why? What’s up?”
Not wanting to waste time on unnecessary chatter, Yulri got straight to the point.
[Ah… I just wanted to confirm tomorrow’s wedding attire fitting time.]
Yulri frowned. The wedding planner must have already sent the schedule via email and message. Still, he called to check—probably worried she might suddenly show up at the office like yesterday.
“7:30. Can you make it to the fitting tomorrow?”
[Of course, I’ll be there.]
Once he confirmed she wasn’t coming, his voice brightened. She ended the call and prepared to continue driving, and before she knew it, they had arrived at her home.
Jeho parked, speaking in a low voice:
“I’d like to give my answer tomorrow, if that’s alright. I’m a bit tired today…”
“Of course. That’s fine.”
Though she wanted an answer immediately, she didn’t push. As Yulri got out of the car, Jeho drove off. She stood still, watching the car retreat, then turned in the opposite direction from her home.
She needed to walk a bit to clear her chaotic thoughts. She feared falling asleep and having another strange dream.
Lost in thought, Yulri walked aimlessly. How long had she been going? Eventually, she left the quiet residential streets and reached a bustling apartment complex. Thinking it was time to head home, she rounded a corner—and a child, probably an elementary student, brushed past her.
Their arms bumped slightly, but the child, engrossed in a mobile game, didn’t notice.
Walking like that is dangerous…
As she moved to warn the child, a motorcycle roared from somewhere, heading straight toward them. Yulri reflexively dodged, but the child didn’t see it.
“Hey! Watch out!”
Yulri grabbed the child just in time, and her body twisted toward the motorcycle. Anticipating a collision, she tensed—but a strong hand pushed her back toward the building. The event happened in an instant, leaving her unsure of what exactly had occurred.
When she regained composure, she found herself crouched against the wall, clutching the child safely. The threatening motorcycle was already gone.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
A familiar voice above her made her slowly look up. Surprisingly, it was Jeho, frowning and looking angry as he surveyed the scene.
…Why are you here?
She hadn’t expected him to appear. The man who had left saying he was tired had suddenly returned.
“What are you doing here?”
“Is that important right now? Are you hurt? Are you okay?”
His voice trembled as if he were holding back his anger.
“…I’m fine.”
Jeho exhaled in relief, carefully lifting her by the shoulders. His face remained stern, but his touch was gentle.
Once reassured she was unharmed, he turned his attention to the trembling child.
“Are you okay, little one?”
The child nodded quickly, frightened.
“Next time you play on your phone while walking, I’ll take it away.”
“Yes.”
The child, realizing his mistake, bowed slightly and ran into the apartment complex like a nimble squirrel.
Yulri turned back to Jeho. She was about to ask why he was here, but before she could speak, he held out her phone.
“You left it in the car…”
She realized she had forgotten it after ending her call with Minwoo.
“…Thank you.”
Jeho gave her a displeased look as she took the phone.
Only upon arriving home did he notice her phone on the passenger seat. He had turned the car around to return it. On the way to her home, he saw Yulri walking nearby, stopped the car, and followed her—just in time to prevent a dangerous accident.
If I had been even a moment later… The thought sent shivers down her spine.
It wasn’t the first time this had happened. At the mall, she had acted the same way. As an adult, it was natural to help, but thinking she could have been hurt made her blood boil.
“Is that your habit? Running into danger without thinking? Even knowing you could get hurt?”
Yulri glanced at Jeho’s tense face, a subtle mix of concern and frustration.
It was strange. Even though the words were similar to those spoken by Councilman Chae, the feeling was completely different.
—Is that your habit? Running into danger knowing you could get hurt?
Chae had said that to his wife, So-yeon, Yulri’s biological mother, proudly. He seemed to care more about public approval than her safety.
Jeho’s reaction, however, was different. He seemed displeased that Yulri risked herself for the child, his face rigid and unyielding.
Was it concern? Or just annoyance at the trouble it caused?
Yulri’s eyes caught a red stain spreading across his white shirt.
“…Are you bleeding?”
At her raised voice, Jeho glanced at his shoulder. The sight of blood brought a sharp pain.
Damn!
The wound from the previous accident hadn’t fully healed and had reopened.
“Jeho, are you hurt too?”
“I’m fine.”
When Yulri moved closer, he raised a hand to stop her.
“It’s nothing. Just a small reopening of the wound.”
Ah—the wound from the mall accident…?
Unlike before, she wouldn’t let him ignore it. Swiftly, she pulled a handkerchief from her bag and pressed on the blood to stop it.
“Keep pressing until it stops. Give me the car keys—I’ll drive you home.”
Jeho didn’t respond, so she spoke firmly:
“This happened because of me, so let me do at least this much.”
He finally gave a helpless shake of his head and handed her the keys.
Her home was only ten minutes away by car. Following the GPS to the apartment parking lot, Yulri got out and opened the passenger door for him.
“You won’t go to the hospital like last time, right? I’ll disinfect it. You can’t do it alone.”
She spoke with the same determination as before.
Jeho didn’t get out, frowning as he sat in the car. Perhaps in the rush, she hadn’t realized that proper treatment might require going inside. He paused, considering her insistence.
“Alright, then.”
Finally getting out of the car, Jeho spoke leisurely:
“Let’s go to my house.”
