“Mom. I’ll make a quick call and be right back. Take your time looking around.”

“Sure, Yeon-woo.”

Yeon-woo stepped out of the store to answer the call.

While holding the phone to his ear, he suddenly stopped.

‘Huh…? Ga-eul?’

Ga-eul was passing by in the distance.

But…

‘Is that man Ga-eul’s boyfriend?’

She wasn’t alone. Ga-eul was holding hands with a man much larger than her and walking side by side.

Her expression, turning to look at the other person, was fully revealed.

‘She smiles beautifully.’

Suddenly, the ringing phone was cut off.

However, such things no longer entered Yeon-woo’s mind.
Only the back was visible, and the man’s face couldn’t be seen. However, just by looking, it was clear—a suit from an expensive high-end brand, a watch, and even a tall stature.

With that kind of wealth, he could be someone I know.

‘Envious.’

I was never envious of what the man had.

I had sufficient wealth myself, lived without regrets, and wasn’t inferior to anyone. However, the man sitting next to Ga-eul, smiling brightly and sharing a pleasant time while chatting, made me envious.

Seeing that scene, Yeon-woo eventually swallowed the curse inside.

I can treat her well too.

No, I could make her happier than that guy.

Despite knowing that she had a boyfriend, this feeling showed no signs of subsiding.

It just kept deepening.

After finishing shopping, the cat tower that had been ordered online had arrived at home.

Ga-eul sat on the sofa, watching the cat tower being installed.

Of course, Ki-tae was the one doing the installation.

He looked at the assembly instructions and set up the cat tower by the window as Ga-eul wanted.

Ga-eul watched Ki-tae like that.

His figure installing the cat tower looked like a model.

Actually, the cat tower hadn’t caught my eye for a while.

‘Really handsome.’

Recalling the teasing behavior during the recent shopping, Ga-eul swallowed the words she didn’t want to say to herself. Yet, she still couldn’t take her eyes off him.

He usually stuck to a neat suit for work, but now he was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans.

Suddenly, the memory of when they strolled through the botanical garden came to mind. His outfit at that time was similar.

Every time he reached out his arms, his abdominal muscles peeked through subtly.

Maybe clothes do play a crucial role.

Even though it was just a white T-shirt, it looked cool. His broad shoulders emitted a manly charm.

Ga-eul pretended to fiddle with the instructions and once again looked at Ki-tae. Then, their eyes met.

“…”

“Yoon Ga-eul.”

Swiftly turning her head, it was already too late.

He stopped installing and leaned against the window, calling my name with a crooked smile.

“What’s with that mischievous look?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“You were checking me out just now.”

“No, I was looking at the cat tower.”

“Now you’re even lying.”

“…”

Whatever. Ga-eul sighed and, like before, boldly met his gaze. Then, he smirked and started approaching.

“What’s with that sinister look while I’m instructing you to install a cat tower? Enjoying the view of my body?”

At his unabashed words, Ga-eul failed to control her expression and blushed. With her fair skin, it was challenging to hide things like others.

Ki-tae, who was observing Ga-eul’s ever-changing expressions, swallowed his laughter inwardly. Then, he reached for Ga-eul’s hand and placed it on his stomach.
Ga-eul widened her eyes. Ki-tae shrugged and said, “Why do you keep stealing glances? It’s yours; if you want to see, just look openly.”

At his words, Ga-eul’s hand trembled slightly.

Ki-tae grabbed the hem of his shirt and, pretending to lift it, said, “Shall I take it off for you?”

“No!”

“I’m fine with it.”

In alarm, Ga-eul extended her hand.

It was amusing to tease Ga-eul. Provoking her like a challenge, Ki-tae quickly took off his top.

With no space to retreat further on the sofa, Ga-eul was trapped, unable to move. She rolled her eyes in all directions, with Ki-tae’s well-built abs fully exposed with no place for her eyes to avoid.

Her gaze kept going back to his abs.

While watching Ga-eul like that, Ki-tae chuckled inwardly.

Although he had already seen everything, Ga-eul, acting like a shy girl, looked too cute. Still, deep down, he kept glancing at her.

Ki-tae lowered his head, leaving only a distance that seemed like their lips would touch, and whispered, “Ga-eul, shall we install the cat tower later?”

“…Yes.”

“Beautiful, Yoon Ga-eul.”

Ki-tae gently kissed Ga-eul’s lips. Then, he bent his head further, and their deepening kiss drew them closer.

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

Sighing in frustration, Ki-tae put back on the T-shirt he had just taken off.

In the meantime, Ga-eul caught her breath.

“Representative, who is it?”

It was the first time they heard the intercom bell in the apartment. No one usually visited this house.

Looking up in puzzlement, Ga-eul’s disheveled hair was smoothed down by Ki-tae before he stepped away and answered.

“I don’t know either.”

Ki-tae approached the front door and opened it.

As the door opened, several department store employees, carrying shopping bags in both hands, bowed deeply.

“Team leader, here are the items you purchased during the day. Where should we put them?”

“Ah.”

Ki-tae uttered a word or two.

They were employees who had come to deliver the clothes Ga-eul had bought at the department store.

Ki-tae pointed to the room he used as a dressing room with a gesture.

“Put them over there.”

“Yes.”

The employees unceremoniously placed the shopping bags in the dressing room and then bowed again before leaving. Then, only the two of them were left in the situation.

Thinking of the shopping bags she had seen, Ga-eul asked, “Representative, what’s all that?”

Surely, it couldn’t be…?

Surely.

Although she wanted to think it wasn’t so, the brand logo on the outside was the same as the women’s clothing store I had visited earlier.

“Representative, are those all my clothes…?”

To my question, he nodded.

He picked up one shopping bag, took out a dress from inside, and held it up against his body. Soon, he wore a satisfied expression and gave a refreshing smile.

I appreciate the consideration, but…
“I only needed a few clothes to wear briefly when staying at Representative’s house…”

How much is all this? When Ga-eul couldn’t hold back and asked, he chuckled and walked into the dressing room. As if it was nothing, he said,

“Wear them all.”

How many times will the moment come when I have to resist this man in the future? Ga-eul felt a sense of distance that seemed somehow distant.