Boiling Desire (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15

Thursday lunch, the day before Ha Joon and Seo Ah were set to leave for Jeju Island.

Min Jung and Ji Young were having lunch together.

“How’s the exhibition preparation coming along?”

“Yes. You’ll come with Ha Joon to the opening party, right?”

“Of course. I already instructed Ha Joon’s secretary to block off the schedule.”

“Oh my! Really? I thought Ha Joon would say he’s too busy and wouldn’t come.”

“Even if he’s busy, it’s Hyoseong Gallery’s exhibition—he has to go.”

A smile spread across Ji Young’s lips. Her main reason for meeting Min Jung today had been resolved far too easily.

After all, Ha Joon was someone she could never meet privately, and even publicly, they barely saw each other.

She’d assumed Min Jung would distance herself now that Ha Joon was married, so seeing her unchanged demeanor quietly relieved Ji Young.

“That’s great. I actually had something about the exhibition I wanted to discuss—now we can meet comfortably.”

“What kind of discussion?”

“I’m thinking of donating some of the artwork to Taeseong Hotel after the exhibition ends. It might be nice to sell guest rooms together with exhibition tickets as a package…”

“Oh my! That sounds good! And you’d even donate the pieces?”

“Yes. It’s a win-win. It’ll also promote the gallery’s artwork.”

“Exactly. There’s only two months left—we should hurry, right? Maybe even start as early as tomorrow. Ah—wait, I’m going on a business trip. Right.”

“A business trip? Where to?”

“Jeju Island. I’ll be there until the weekend, so I’ll try to make time for you next week.”

Min Jung couldn’t hide her disappointment. Had she mistakenly suggested a two-night, three-day trip? If she’d stuck to a day trip as originally planned, she could’ve met Ji Young over the weekend at least.

“You’ll be working over the weekend too?”

“Well… it’s a busy period.”

Min Jung couldn’t bring herself to say it was a honeymoon trip with Seo Ah.

⋆

After parting with Min Jung, Ji Young headed home and sent a group message to her friends.

[Who’s going to Jeju Island tomorrow? I’m planning to stay through the weekend.] [Suddenly, why Jeju?] [Just going for some fresh air.] [Count me in!] [Me too!] [Me as well!]

And so, Ji Young booked a flight to Jeju Island—an unplanned addition to her schedule.

To see Ha Joon. Even if he claimed he was going for work, he’d still eat meals, and no matter how late, he’d surely have time at night.

Since the trip came together last-minute, they all agreed to fly separately and meet Friday night.

These friends were also alumni of Ha Joon’s university. Though it was hard to meet Ha Joon alone, with friends around, it’d be easier to invite him out.

The next morning, Ji Young headed to the airport early.

Since Ha Joon mentioned he was going to Jeju for work, he’d likely leave early—and she hoped to “accidentally” run into him.

There were quite a few reporters at the airport, as if a celebrity was arriving.

And that celebrity turned out to be Ha Joon and Seo Ah.

Ji Young was slightly startled to see Seo Ah with Ha Joon, but reassured herself it wouldn’t derail her plans—after all, their relationship was purely professional.

Yet, inside the plane, she witnessed something unexpected.

Ha Joon was covering Seo Ah with a blanket and lowering the window shade for her.

Seated a few rows behind, Ji Young couldn’t see what Seo Ah was doing or Ha Joon’s expression as he looked at her—but something felt deeply off.

The Ha Joon she knew would never show such manners.

And there weren’t even any reporters around!

‘No, it must be because there are still plenty of people watching. Ha Joon wouldn’t just act like this for no reason. Never…’

Ji Young kept rationalizing it inwardly, clutching her fists tightly.

Then, the article photos she’d looked up earlier popped into her mind.

Ha Joon smiling naturally as he looked at Seo Ah, holding her hand affectionately—could it be that he’d rushed into marriage because he genuinely liked her?

Anxiously, she chewed on her lips without realizing it.

⋆

Upon arriving at Taeseong Hotel in Jeju, Ji Young checked in and called a friend as she stepped out of her room.

“She didn’t even recognize me!”

—Gasp! How could she not recognize you?

“Right? If she wants to be a good wife, she should at least know the faces of people useful to her husband!”

—I still don’t get why Ha Joon married her. She’s not even a fellow alum! If she really wanted to support him, she should’ve transferred before the wedding announcement came out.

“She probably lacked confidence. I heard she was mocked behind her back even at her old school.”

—Yeah, probably ranked last in class every year. Heh.

Just then, Ji Young spotted Seo Ah entering a café.

⋆

As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Ha Joon went off to inspect the premises and arranged to have both lunch and dinner with Seo Ah at the hotel restaurant.

Meanwhile, Seo Ah headed to the hotel café to study for her exams.

But then, Ji Young approached.

“Oh? Meeting again already? Studying while Ha Joon works?”

How did she know? Seo Ah blinked in confusion, her lips parting slightly.

“Yes.”

“You must’ve been really flustered earlier because of us. Ha Joon always acts cold if someone’s beside him—even though he’s completely different when it’s just the two of them.”

Seo Ah’s heart plummeted. So he’s affectionate when alone? Why would she say that so casually—to his wife, no less?

“He’s like that with you too, right? Earlier, even holding hands looked awkward. But apparently, when they’re alone, they do even more—he’s just shy, so everything looks awkward in public.”

They do “even more” alone? How on earth would she know that? Did they used to date? Are they secretly still seeing each other?

“Oh! Can I borrow Ha Joon for lunch? I’m thinking of donating the Hyoseong Gallery exhibition pieces to Ha Joon’s hotel—I’ll decide after seeing how he handles things. Dinner might be tricky, but lunch should be fine, right?”

Seo Ah couldn’t say a word. It wasn’t just a casual meetup—it seemed beneficial to Ha Joon’s hotel. Though she disliked the phrasing “decide after seeing how he handles things,”

“What, not okay? Should I borrow him for dinner instead?”

Ha Joon wasn’t an object—why keep saying “borrow”? Seo Ah’s delicate brow furrowed slightly.

“Actually, I came here because I’m meeting my alumni friends for dinner tonight. It’s just girls, so it’s fine, right? If Ha Joon comes back late, please understand—just for today.”

Without waiting for Seo Ah’s reply, Ji Young walked off.

Seo Ah couldn’t comprehend her. If she was going to do whatever she wanted anyway, why even bother asking?

Ha Joon had promised to have both lunch and dinner with her today—could she still trust him…?

⋆

That night,

Seo Ah spent the entire day alone.

She barely ate lunch at the café and skipped dinner entirely. She didn’t want anyone to see her pitifully ordering room service while her husband was out enjoying himself with female friends.

And not just any hotel—this was Ha Joon’s hotel, where he served as managing director.

Everyone knew they were here on their honeymoon.

She’d expected they wouldn’t have lunch together—after all, Ji Young was offering to donate valuable Hyoseong Gallery artwork, which clearly benefited the hotel; Ha Joon would naturally treat her to a meal. Though why Ji Young had to come all the way to Jeju just to discuss it baffled her.

Still, she’d hoped they’d at least have dinner together.

—“I’ll decide after seeing how he handles things.”

Did that mean she’d only donate if they had dinner too? Surely she wouldn’t demand anything… more?

—“When they’re alone, they do even more—he’s just shy, so everything looks awkward in public.”

Ji Young’s words from earlier kept replaying in her mind, spiraling into unsettling fantasies—images of Ji Young and Ha Joon doing “even more” together.

Suddenly, she remembered the photos Young Joo had shown her back in France—

Photos of Ha Joon being physically close to not just one woman, but several.

—“Actually, I came here because I’m meeting my alumni friends for dinner tonight. It’s just girls, so it’s fine, right?”

Of course it’s fine—friends meeting, no reporters around to care, not even a private setting. Or maybe he’s paying them off to keep quiet?

⋆

At that very moment, Ha Joon—having missed lunch while working—was skipping dinner too, when suddenly the police chief, a close friend of his father, arrived, forcing him to join for a meal.

This chief also happened to be Ji Young’s father.

The chief had wanted Seo Ah to join, but Ha Joon didn’t want to bring her into a room with five men, all his father’s acquaintances.

Over the late dinner, drinks naturally flowed—but Ha Joon, who disliked such gatherings, kept looking for an excuse to leave.

While briefly stepping out to the restroom, Seok Hoon hesitated, then spoke up.

“Madam didn’t order room service for either lunch or dinner today.”

“What?”

[Seems I won’t make lunch. Order room service and eat.] [Let’s have dinner a bit late. I’ll wrap up as fast as I can and contact you.] [An important guest showed up suddenly. Order room service. I might be late, so don’t wait—just go to sleep.]

Those were the messages Ha Joon had sent her today.

“She had something light at the café for lunch, but hasn’t left her room since.”

Ha Joon checked his watch—past 9 p.m. Had she really eaten nothing all day? Was something wrong? Was she sick?

He returned to the chief’s room.

“Chief, I’ll head upstairs now.”

“Already?”

“We’re here on our honeymoon—I feel bad leaving my wife waiting too long.”

The chief was baffled. He never imagined hearing such words from Ha Joon. How could he refuse after that? Ha Joon could’ve used countless other excuses—why pick such a corny one?

Ha Joon himself was just as surprised. In his urgency, the words slipped out before he could stop them.

But they weren’t false—they were the truth.

He went straight up to their room.

But—

Seo Ah was curled up on the sofa, crying bitterly.

A bottle of wine and a glass sat on the table; her face was flushed, whether from the alcohol or from tears.

“What’s wrong! Why are you crying!”

As Ha Joon quickly moved to sit beside her, her expression crumpled further, tears streaming down her cheeks like chicken droppings.

Flustered, Ha Joon gently pulled her into his arms—

“Go away! Hweeeng~.”

Seo Ah, fueled by alcohol, pushed him away with all her might.

Ha Joon didn’t budge—but he thought he understood why she was crying. Had leaving her alone all day caused this?

He knew she’d transferred from a French university to a Korean one without graduating, citing loneliness.

If they’d been in Seoul, she could’ve met friends—but for a moment, he’d forgotten they were in Jeju. If only he’d brought Young Joo along.

But did she really have to cry this hard? She wasn’t a child—

Ha Joon cupped her small face in both hands, wiping her tears with his thumbs. Was it weird that even her crying looked cute? Why did his heart feel so ticklish?

Seo Ah strained to pull his hands away, still shedding those chicken-dropping tears.

But then—

Tchk!

Ha Joon lightly kissed her lips.

Startled by his sudden action, Seo Ah froze completely.

She snapped back to her senses. She must look a mess right now! It wasn’t just tears—her nose was probably running too! This wasn’t the time for this!!

Panicked, Seo Ah yanked harder at his wrists—

But it was useless.

Ha Joon kissed her again.

And this time,

he didn’t pull away.