A Relationship of Convenience - Chapter 40

A small pier with small fishing boats sparsely docked.

At the end of the long road cutting through the sea stood a small, shabby lighthouse, lonely.

After walking for who knows how long, struggling with the man who had finally let her down from his shoulder when she said she felt like throwing up, the beach was faintly visible in the distance.

The air, heavy with moisture, clung thickly.

Her shoulders, having lost the will to fight, drooped limply.

As she stared at the rolling waves, gazing far beyond the horizon, a large hand suddenly landed on top of her warm head.

“I heard a popping sound.”

Kye Da Hae looked up at the amused voice and irritably swatted away the man’s hand.

“So what if it popped? Want to taste it again?”

It’s not like he was rubbing salt in the wound. Her anger, which had subsided due to exhaustion, reignited.

“Why did you follow me here like this?”

“No overnight stays without a guardian.”

“Oh my?”

Kang Jae Kyung’s words were sincere. He would provide financial support as much as needed, but he wasn’t the type to come to such a place and mingle directly.

In fact, this was his first time.

Kye Da Hae, caught off guard, crossed her arms, sticky with sweat.

Even such flirting must be just a means of teasing.

She shouldn’t let herself be led along by a man whose true intentions were unclear.

Attaching meaning to meaningless words and getting excited would be a bit sad.

Kye Da Hae took a step back from the man who was still peering at her head, glanced indifferently at his face, and turned her gaze to the sea.

“Save the curfew checks for your future wife. Don’t worry about your temporary wife.”

She expected a counterattack, but he remained silent. Only the sound of his low breath mixed with the waves.

The silence was heavy. The stillness that neither dared to break was ended by the arrival of a truck, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“That’s right!”

A middle-aged man who emerged from the driver’s seat, pushing open the faded sky-blue door, raised both hands with a friendly smile.

“You must be the big shots from the company our Kiyoung works at? I’m Choi Kiyoung’s uncle!”

Our Kiyoung’s team leader bowed deeply in greeting.

Her uncle thanked them with a kind smile. He was grateful that they had come to this small fishing village. Then he nodded towards the docked fishing boat.

“I’m about to head out for some work, so don’t just stand there and get on board. I’ll be back before sunset.”

“What? Ah… We…”

“I’m not just saying this for no reason.”

Manager Choi had asked him, he said. To give them a sea drive.

Though grateful for the thought that made him even ask his uncle, she was quite reluctant and her feet wouldn’t move.

She wasn’t in the mood for a boat ride with Kang Jae Kyung either.

Meanwhile, a loud engine noise shook the ground.

Choi’s uncle, who had already boarded the boat, urged them to hurry, asking what they were doing not coming quickly.

“The thrill of rocking on the sea is incredibly exciting. Come on, hurry!”

Just as she was thinking she should refuse after all, trying to choose the right words. Suddenly, a presence approached from the side and wrapped around her shoulders.

“Then, excuse us.”

“What? No, wait.”

Helplessly dragged along by the large hand that gripped her, Kye Da Hae eventually boarded the boat.

The eyes that smiled brightly at the captain glared sharply at the man. He seemed not to care either way.

Saying that since things had come to this they might as well enjoy the sea view, he sat down in a suitable spot, and the boat increased speed towards the open sea.

In the place they had left. From the radio in the quiet neighborhood store, breaking news flows.

Typhoon rapidly moving north. Small craft advisory issued for all waters.

* * *

Whoosh! Splash, splash!

“I’m sorry, Team Leader. Why do I keep messing up like this?”

Sheer cliffs. Waves crashing as if to swallow the island. Nothing but grass, rocks, and sea as far as the eye could see.

“Why are you sorry, Manager? It’s not like you’re Poseidon.”

A remote island with only three households. Even those were uninhabited, used only for occasional visits like Choi’s uncle when there was work to be done.

In short, it could be considered an uninhabited island.

“They say the typhoon will pass by dawn. Boats should be able to sail by tomorrow afternoon!”

They were stranded here.

“Manager, please take good care of the team members. If we’re delayed tomorrow, please leave first. My phone might die soon.”

“Oh my! Don’t worry about us here. I’ve spoken to my uncle… The lodging is quite humble, isn’t it? And there’s probably nothing to eat.”

“It’s not humble at all. It’s charming and nice. Oh, there are cards on the living room table, so don’t hesitate to use them. Just try not using them.”

“Huuung…! Team Leadeeer! Waaah!”

“Team Leader! Let’s meet again safely! You got that?”

A smile spread across her pale, wet face at the adorable cries of her team members coming through the receiver.

2% battery remaining. Complete disconnection from the outside world was not far off.

Kye Da Hae put down the blackened phone on the floor and tightly wrapped the blanket she had thrown over herself.

The wind had been ominous, and the calm sea had suddenly transformed into a monster.

Less than 5 minutes after docking, torrential rain poured down like a waterfall, and even large trees swayed in the howling wind.

Familiar with such situations, Choi’s uncle led them into the house.

There was no chance of returning today anyway, so they should plan to spend the night here, he said.

The interior, long untouched by human hands, was cold and cool, belying the summer season.

The man who had seated her in the room disappeared with the uncle only after wrapping the blanket tightly up to her neck. He said they were going to check on the firewood to heat the floor.

Sniff.

“He’ll catch a cold…”

Rubbing her itchy nose where mucus had formed, Kye Da Hae peered at the tightly closed door.

She was worried about the man who had gone out without even wiping off the rainwater.

Even with the blanket over her, her teeth were chattering from the cold…

“…Sniff.”

Thinking she should lend a hand after all, Kye Da Hae was about to reach for the doorknob when Kang Jae Kyung entered through the door that opened from the outside just a moment sooner.

Raising his head after ducking to pass through the low doorway, he briefly exhaled and furrowed his brow. Soon, his rough hands wrapped the blanket tightly around Kye Da Hae’s body.

“Uh… Why…”

At the same time, another presence approached from the hall. Soon, the captain in a blue raincoat poked just his head through the doorway.

Kang Jae Kyung’s actions just before seemed intended to cover her underwear showing through her wet clothes.

His judgment and actions were impressively quick.

“The missus must be cold, your husband chopped all the firewood without even taking a breath.”

Saying that while he looked like a young master, he had the strength of a farmhand. As he added that the missus must be very fortunate, the man nodded in agreement.

For some reason, even soaked to the bone like a drowned rat, his simple responsiveness was cute, and Kye Da Hae let out a small laugh.

“I’ll be sleeping next door, so make yourselves comfortable. If you need anything, come find me.”

“Oh, then don’t you need to start another fire? Stay here with us. We…”

“No way! I may look simple, but I know better. Hehehe! Have a good night, you two.”

Kang Jae Kyung’s expressionless head nodded, saying he would.

After the uncle left, he looked down haughtily and bumped her shoulder.

“You heard him, right?”

“Grow up, will you.”

Kye Da Hae let out a breath that was either a sigh or a laugh as she watched the man stretch his lips attractively into a relaxed smile.

She was handed loose pants and a brightly patterned t-shirt as a change of clothes. He said the uncle had given them.

He said they were boiling water in the fireplace, so while a shower might be difficult, she should be able to at least wash her face with warm water.

Nodding slightly as she crossed the threshold, Kang Jae Kyung immediately followed.

“Why are you following me?”

“I’ll help. The pot lid is hot and heavy.”

“Oh, no thanks.”

Kye Da Hae frowned deeply in displeasure but ended up returning without washing. The man was still standing in the same spot, arms crossed and chin raised. As if to say, “See?”

“Even the New Year’s Eve bell must be lighter than that.”

She had struggled with the pot lid because she hated seeing that smug expression, but it was beyond her in many ways.

Not only was it heavy, but they had put in so much firewood that it was boiling like lava, making her hesitant to even try grabbing it.

With no medical facilities and unable to leave right away, it would be a big problem if she got injured from unnecessary bravado. She had no choice but to ask for his help.

The man approached with leisurely steps, draped the towel he was holding around his neck, and put his arm around her slender shoulders.

Tilting his head slightly to meet her eyes, he smiled faintly.

“Should oppa do it for you?”

“…”

…Why is he really like this?