“Hyun Sook, where is Ji Hyun?”

Manager Kim visited the annex with uncharacteristically hasty steps.

“Why do you keep looking for Ji Hyun? I clearly told you she rests on weekends,” Hyun Sook replied in a grumbling tone, narrowing her eyes. Manager Kim let out a deep sigh.

“Who else would it be? Young master Seung Ho was asking where Ji Hyun is, that’s why.”

After having lunch on Saturday, Seung Ho spent time in the underground library until late afternoon before calling for Manager Kim. There was only one reason why Seung Ho, who rarely took interest in household affairs, would look for her. It was to summon Ji Hyun, who was the same age as him.

“Young master, what did you call for?” Manager Kim, who was old enough to be his mother, bowed respectfully, but Seung Ho did not lift his gaze from the book.

“Tell that kid to come here.”

She knew that ‘that kid’ Seung Ho referred to meant Ji Hyun. He strangely summoned Ji Hyun often but never called her by name.

He simply referred to her as ‘that kid’ or ‘this kid,’ as if she was someone expendable in the mansion. It was Manager Kim who found herself in a predicament. Not long ago, when Ji Hyun returned from running Seung Ho’s errand, her complexion did not look well.

Sensing something unpleasant had happened where she went, Hyun Sook told Manager Kim to exclude Ji Hyun from work on weekends going forward. This was accompanied by a sharp glare, telling her not to treat a part-timer like a regular employee.

“I apologize, young master.” Manager Kim’s mouth went dry from nervousness. Seung Ho shifted his eyes to look at the manager, as if telling her to get to the point.

“Ji Hyun has been excluded from weekend duties.”

“……”

Manager Kim had always found Seung Ho intimidating. Despite still being a young boy, there was something about him that exuded an extraordinary sense of pressure. Seung Ho gave the feeling of a predator at the top of the food chain.

Everyone whispered that once the small predator finished growing, he would surpass his elder brother Myung Ho and take over the company to become an even greater man than the previous chairman. Manager Kim agreed with those words as well.

Despite the cool environment optimal for storing books, cold sweat ran down her back.

The displeased look in response to her saying Ji Hyun could not come made her very uncomfortable. Enduring the suffocating silence, Manager Kim had a fleeting thought that she should have increased the hourly wage to make Ji Hyun work weekends if she had known this would happen.

“Ho- However, I will check the annex just in case.”

As she changed her words, Seung Ho’s ice-cold gaze finally softened a little.

“Do that.”

Hoping Ji Hyun would be at the annex, Manager Kim turned around.

“I don’t understand why he keeps calling for Ji Hyun these days,” Manager Kim rambled on with complaints and grumbles before asking Hyun Sook again with a dark expression.

“So, where is Ji Hyun?”

“She went out.”

“When did she leave? Where did she go?”

No matter how much she pressed as if ready to go searching right away, Hyun Sook remained unperturbed.

“I don’t know. She’ll be back by today. It’s the age to be out and about.”

Recalling the chilling gaze of Seung Ho, another person who should be out and about at that age according to her words, Manager Kim held her temples at the oncoming headache.

“If I get fired, it’s all because of you, Hyun Sook.”

“What?”

Ha Jun rested his arms on the table and stared intently at Ji Hyun sitting across from him, sipping her drink through a straw.

She had chosen a pink soda and also picked a strawberry macaron for dessert. How very Ji Hyun-like, he thought. Her distinct light brown hair and eyes made her look even more exotic under the light.

“Is it okay for me to treat you like this?”

Taking a small bite of the macaron, Ji Hyun looked at Ha Jun.

“Of course.”

Ha Jun grinned and downed the cola in front of him. His throat always felt mysteriously parched whenever their eyes met through those light-colored pupils.

From the moment they first met, she had captured his gaze. The instant he saw Ji Hyun looking around like she had been dropped in an unfamiliar place, he wanted to become close to her. He wanted to claim the spot beside her before any other shady ones could approach.

“Eat as much as you want. I’ll buy you more.”

Seeing Ha Jun speak confidently with his shoulders back, Ji Hyun furrowed her brows and shook her head slightly.

“It’s expensive here. Need to save money.”

He found it cute how she earnestly worried about his wallet. Most kids attending academies in this area had probably never worried about money even once. Ha Jun was one of them as well.

Naturally, he had rebelled against his parents who said he had to go to Seomun High School and came to Cheongmyeong instead. Thanks to that, life was comfortable.

Both in terms of hierarchy and checks, Ha Jun thought he would just diligently manage his grades at this mediocre school. His friends kept nagging at him to hurry up and come to Seomun, but he had no intention of going.

He had a funny friend named Mi Ri, and his relationships with classmates were not bad either. Ever since meeting Ji Hyun, he felt he had made the right choice coming to Cheongmyeong.

“Do you also attend an academy around here?”

At Ji Hyun’s question, Ha Jun snapped out of his thoughts.

“Yeah, my parents kept telling me to attend one.”

“Wasn’t Mi Ri around here too?”

“Mi Ri? In the building next to the next one, I think?”

Ha Jun closely observed Ji Hyun’s expression as she looked around. He had a ridiculous worry that she might feel a distance because of this.

Many things proved that she was not in a position to attend an academy. For example, her faded hoodie, her worn-out sneakers…

Nevertheless, Ji Hyun always shined.

“I should tell Mi Ri to join us next time.”

When Mi Ri’s name came out of Ha Jun’s mouth, Ji Hyun’s eyes lit up.

“Should we?”

When that girl Mi Ri had nagged Ji Hyun to attend the same academy, he had been secretly anxious. It was obvious how much the Seomun High guys would covet her if they found out. Fending off those approaching Ji Hyun was already tiresome enough at school.

“I should get going.”

Having finished her drink, Ji Hyun got up from her seat.

“Already?”

“You need to study.”

Ji Hyun’s face was resolute, as if thinking Ha Jun was slacking off. Even so, she looked like a small rabbit…

“Choi Ji Hyun, don’t you know me? I’m incredibly good at studying.”

Ji Hyun laughed at his arrogant pose with his shoulders raised high. The corners of Ha Jun’s mouth also curled up. He knew well that she only smiled like that in front of him and Mi Ri.

“I know. I know very well.”

He found her coy reply cute as well. Ha Jun grabbed Ji Hyun, who was about to leave.

“I’ll go with you. I’ll take you home.”

“No, it’s okay. You hurry and go to the academy.”

Ji Hyun waved her hand. Knowing her disposition of not being able to stand causing burden, Ha Jun reluctantly nodded.

“Okay. See you at school then.”

Ji Hyun turned around, her long hair fluttering. Watching her figure fade into the distance, Ha Jun shouted.

“Don’t take any detours, don’t follow any strangers, and go straight home!”

Ji Hyun waved her hand as if responding. With an uneasy feeling that she might disappear like a faint illusion, Ha Jun could not take his eyes off her for a long time.

Ji Hyun experienced firsthand that heaven and hell were separated by a fine line.

On a languid afternoon, she had felt happy drinking delicious coffee at a cafe and meeting her friend Ha Jun, but the moment she saw Seung Ho standing at the main gate of the mansion, her mood plummeted.

With his arms crossed and body leaning at an angle, he was glaring at Ji Hyun returning home with sharp eyes. The instant she tried to pass by pretending not to see him, a low voice caught her ankle.

“Where have you been?”

“Just out for a bit…”

Ji Hyun furrowed her brows, trying to convey that she didn’t want to answer, but Seung Ho persisted.

“So where?”

“I don’t think I need to tell you that…”

Ji Hyun trailed off. She didn’t want to use honorifics with him outside the mansion. Bowing her head inside the house was enough.

Looking at his face with the corners of his mouth raised crookedly, she lowered her eyes, feeling like the word ‘servant’ would spill from his lips at any moment just like that time.

As if judging that it would be difficult to expect any more answers from her, Seung Ho scrutinized Ji Hyun up and down with a fierce gaze.

“Then I’ll get going.”

As she quickly moved her steps toward the main gate, Seung Ho was one step faster. Ji Hyun’s wrist was easily caught by him.

How long had she been outside? Feeling the chill from his firm grip, Ji Hyun shuddered.

“What is this… Ah!”

In an instant, Seung Ho pulled Ji Hyun forcefully in front of him and pressed his lips close to her ear.

“I think you are gravely mistaken about something…”

“…”

“As long as you live in this house, you have no right to remain silent to my questions.”

Ji Hyun was appalled. It was an arrogant remark unfit to come from the mouth of a teenage boy.

Seung Ho continued without batting an eye. His low and ominous voice rang in Ji Hyun’s ears.

“You are an employee of this house and I am the employer, so I believe I can give this much advice. What do you think?”

She could not understand why he was so angry. Just because she was an employee did not give him the right to mistreat and disregard her. As if displeased by her attitude of listening quietly, Seung Ho touched on Ji Hyun’s Achilles heel.

“What, you don’t believe me? Then should I personally show you the positions of an employer and employee?”

Ji Hyun swallowed. She instinctively realized that the employee Seung Ho was referring to right now was not herself, but Hyun Sook.

She did not want to hear any more of this crazy talk. She turned her head and glared at Seung Ho head-on.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

A sneer of delight bloomed in Seung Ho’s eyes as he looked at the angry Ji Hyun.

“Finally showing your face properly.”

“Like you said, I am an employee, not a maid. I’d appreciate it if you refrained from anachronistic remarks.”

“Is that so?”

Unlike his highly sarcastic tone, Seung Ho’s gaze toward Ji Hyun was ice-cold.

“Then fulfill your duties as an employee. Then I, as the employer, will also do my best.”

“I have never failed to fulfill my duties.”

As if finding her prompt response irksome, Seung Ho pushed Ji Hyun against the wall.

“You really think so? Then you are mistaken.”

Lifting Ji Hyun’s chin with his long fingers, he approached, looking her straight in the eyes.