“So you disliked me because I bullied you?”

Yuri closed her mouth with a reddened face. She didn’t know how to answer when asked so directly. But unable to lie, she eventually shook her head slowly.

“No.”

Pleased with the answer, he changed his position, overlapping his body on top of hers with a brief smile. Supporting his upper body with one hand, he wrapped her waist with the other.

“Then how shall I bully you this time?”

His body felt cold from the outside air. But his eyes were hotter than anything. He was cold yet hot, gentle yet rough. That duality made Yuri burn even more. Yuri spread her arms and embraced Jeho.

It was well past noon when the two left the bed.

When Yuri, who had finished showering, stepped into the kitchen, she saw Jeho opening the cabinet doors looking for something to eat. Since the house had been empty for a while, the refrigerator was completely empty. There were only soup cans, biscuits, a bag of potato chips and chocolate on the kitchen island.

“Should we order delivery?”

“No, that’s enough.”

Yuri approached Jeho from behind and hugged his waist. She didn’t want to be apart from him even for a moment. When she clung to him like a koala and wouldn’t let go, Jeho sighed and turned around.

“If you keep doing this, I’ll pounce on you again, food or no food.”

Despite the stern warning, when Yuri still wouldn’t let go, he picked her up and sat her on the kitchen island.

“Eat this and wait quietly.”

He said, opening a bag of potato chips and handing it to her. Feeling playful for a moment, Yuri put down the chip bag and put a piece of chocolate in her mouth instead. Then she closed her eyes and let out a loud moan-like exclamation.

“What are you doing?”

Jeho frowned, puzzled.

“I’m slowly melting it with my tongue. That’s how you properly savor the taste. Mmm.”

Mimicking exactly what he had said before, Yuri took out a potato chip from the bag and crunched it in one bite.

“You eat chocolate slowly, melting it, but potato chips should be eaten in one bite.”

After finishing her words, she slowly licked the chocolate and chip crumbs around her mouth, as if to show off.

A smile appeared on Jeho’s lips as he watched with his arms crossed. Did she know it was provocation, doing this on purpose?

“You’re so bad, Chae Yuri.”

Jeho stepped forward, trapping her on the kitchen island with his arms as he continued speaking.

“Eating delicious things all by yourself.”

At those words, Yuri smiled brightly and put a piece of chocolate into Jeho’s mouth. Then she gave him a potato chip. Jeho crunched the chip while maintaining eye contact with her.

The crunching sound felt strangely thrilling, and Yuri bit her lower lip gently. As Jeho’s gaze on her intensified and he lowered his head to kiss her…

Ring ring―

His phone rang. It wasn’t a specific notification sound, but Jeho took out his phone to check the caller. Seeing the number on the screen, Jeho’s expression hardened as he stepped back from Yuri. He pressed the call button and answered in a slightly subdued voice.

“Yes, Chairman.”

[This is the timeline separator]

As Jeho entered the chairman’s office, Chairman Kwon, who had been looking over documents, raised his head.

“I heard you suddenly went to America.”

“Yes. There was an urgent matter.”

Chairman Kwon took a seat opposite Jeho on the sofa. He often came to the office even on holidays, and today he had been there since morning.

“I see.”

Chairman Kwon just nodded briefly. Did he not know at all that his eldest son had been at death’s door? It was impossible to tell from his expression. Jeho cautiously tried to probe the chairman.

“Mother was in charge of hosting the charity party in Silicon Valley this time.”

“Hmm.”

Chairman Kwon didn’t show much of a reaction this time either. But he seemed a bit uncomfortable. Since Mrs. Yoon was a daughter-in-law who didn’t hesitate to speak her mind, their relationship wasn’t particularly good. To put it harshly, it was close to hostile.

“She was stressed because of the charity party, but she’s fine now.”

“I’m sure. Your mother is someone who could survive alone even if you put her in the African savanna. She’s lucky too.”

At the mention of luck, the corners of Jeho’s eyes raised slightly. But he soon returned to his usual expression.

“So what are you going to do about Minwoo? Are you going to fire him?”

Jeho had expected him to ask ‘What are you talking about?’, but Chairman Kwon remained silent, lost in thought. Jeho suspected that perhaps the chairman knew all about Minwoo’s situation as well. After a moment, Chairman Kwon opened his mouth.

“There’s no need to fire him or anything. I never expected anything from that kid in the first place.”

He closed his eyes tiredly and pressed the bridge of his nose with the back of his hand.

“The reason I asked to see you today was to tell you this.”

After pausing for a moment, Chairman Kwon lowered his hand from his forehead and slowly opened his eyes.

“The daughter of Congressman Chae is not acceptable.”

Jeho looked at Chairman Kwon silently, without showing any reaction.

“She’s a girl who went as far as the wedding with Minwoo. If you take her, public opinion about you will worsen. They’ll say you not only took your cousin’s position but his woman too.”

“I’m not interested in Minwoo’s position at all. And Yuri is not an object that can be possessed.”

When Chairman Kwon narrowed his eyes as if to ask what he meant, Jeho smiled gently, his eyes curving.

“Don’t worry. There won’t be anything to worry about.”

“I’m glad you understood. You can go now.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

As Jeho left the chairman’s office and headed towards the elevator, he encountered Minwoo in the middle of the hallway. He frowned unpleasantly upon seeing Jeho.

“I thought you were in America, when did you come back?”

“Yesterday afternoon.”

Minwoo glanced behind Jeho and seemed to realize he had come from the chairman’s office, his expression distorting.

“Did you come to see Grandfather?”

“Yes. What’s wrong with your face? Did you stay up all night?”

Minwoo’s eyes were bloodshot and his face was haggard. As Jeho said, Minwoo had indeed stayed up all night. He had parked his car in front of Congressman Chae’s house and spent the entire night there.

He had intended to catch Yuri when she came home and at least talk to her. But she never came home. He couldn’t believe that Yuri had spent the night out.

While he was desperately trying to find Yuri, he suddenly received a call from Chairman Kwon saying he had something to discuss and to come to the company.

He came fuming, only to run into Jeho, whom he thought was in America. The suspicion arose, ‘Could the reason for Yuri’s overnight stay be because of my brother?’, but he tried hard to deny it.

“Did you handle the Philippines situation well? I heard it was serious enough to postpone the wedding.”

Instead of answering, Minwoo glared fiercely at Jeho before walking past him towards the chairman’s office.

[This is the timeline separator]

“…Ah.”

Yuri clutched her hungry stomach and opened the cabinet door. Jeho had said he’d be back in 2 hours, but it seemed impossible to wait until then. But it also felt wrong to order delivery alone in someone else’s house.

“Where was that soup can?”

As Yuri opened cabinet doors one after another, she found a teapot and a container of sotae tea. Suddenly, Shin Daeri’s words came to mind.

―By the way, isn’t the tea at Jeho’s house too bitter?

―Sotae tea, was it? Probably.

Yuri quickly closed the cabinet door. And she shook her head, trying to push Shin Daeri’s words out of her mind. She didn’t want impurities to intrude on happy moments. Yet thoughts kept coming, one after another.

―Shin Dahee… knows, she must be angry.

Did he really say that last night? She wasn’t sure since she heard it while half-asleep. She wasn’t certain if it was a dream or real.

Just then, her phone next to her rang. Checking the caller, it was Jeho’s new number that she had thought was an unknown number and didn’t answer before.

“Hello?”

[What do you want to eat? I’m on my way back, so I’ll buy it now.]

Yuri was about to say anything is fine, but realizing that was actually a harder answer, she quickly chose a menu.

“Any sandwich with avocado is fine.”

[Okay. I’ll be there soon.]

He must have been near the house, because in less than 20 minutes, Jeho returned with a sandwich bag in hand. He said he bought various kinds since he didn’t know which sandwich she would like. Yuri chose the avocado tuna sandwich among them. As Yuri unwrapped the packaging, licking her lips, Jeho asked.

“By the way, aren’t you going to ask?”

Yuri, who had taken a bite of the sandwich, rolled her eyes as if to say what do you mean.

“Why I went to America so urgently, what I did in America, why I didn’t contact you during that time. You must have a lot you want to ask.”

Yuri chewed her sandwich silently. Only after swallowing all the food and pouring milk into the cup in front of her did she answer Jeho’s question.

“No. We agreed to meet only when you’re in Korea, right? You just need to focus on me when you’re here.”

Jeho tilted his head to the side as if surprised, and Yuri took a sip of milk before continuing.

“In exchange, you only meet me here. No other women.”

“Only when I’m in Korea?”

“Yes.”

Yuri nodded as she bit into her sandwich.

“Oh my, I like possessive people.”

Jeho muttered as if talking to himself as he unwrapped a roast beef sandwich.

“I’m the type who would break a guy’s hand if he touched my woman, not just in Korea, but anywhere, even on Mars, not just Earth.”

“That won’t happen. I’ll mostly be in Korea, and one man is more than enough for me with just you.”

“Does that mean men are overwhelming? Or that I’m overwhelming?”

Yuri looked at Jeho and blinked slowly. To tell the truth, it was hard for her to handle the very idea of someone else jumping into her life.

If possible, she would have put up walls and pushed him away from the beginning. Unfortunately, she had missed the timing, but it would still be safer to keep some distance.

“Both.”

Yuri put down the half-eaten sandwich and stood up.

“I should go now. I signed a contract for an officetel yesterday. I’m planning to start moving from today.”

“Officetel?”

Yuri briefly explained to Jeho, who wore a puzzled expression, what she had discussed with Congressman Chae.

“I don’t have much to move anyway. It’s a hotel-style officetel with furniture included. I’m planning to just take my clothes and personal belongings first. And then move a little at a time when I have time.”

“Then I’ll help you move too.”

Jeho also stood up, following Yuri. Yuri, who was putting the milk cup in the sink, turned around with a surprised face.

“Aren’t you busy?”

“It’s the weekend, what do I have to do?”

He whispered softly as he hugged Yuri from behind.

“I should spend time with my woman.”

The words ‘my woman’ made Yuri feel subtly excited, and she lowered her head and smiled. Relieved that he couldn’t see this expression of hers.

[This is the timeline separator]

With Jeho’s help, the move finished faster than expected. Since she had already told Mrs. An and Yuri, there was no need for further explanation. She had already told them last night that she would be staying at the newly contracted officetel.

“Whenever you run out of side dishes, come and take more anytime.”

Mrs. An said as she handed over containers of side dishes prepared for Yuri.

“And drop by the house at least once or twice a month.”

It was hard to tell if she really meant it or was just saying it, but Mrs. An did look genuinely upset. As Yuri came out of the house, Jeho got out of the car and received the side dish containers from Mrs. An.

“Is this the last of it?”

“Yes.”

It felt strange to finally achieve the independence she had dreamed of. She had been willing to endure an unwanted marriage to leave home, but to have it happen so easily. It felt a bit hollow.

“Are you staying here tonight?”

Jeho asked, looking into the bedroom as they were finishing up organizing the belongings.

“Yes, I brought all the bedding sets too.”

At her words, Jeho thumped the bed a couple of times and made a displeased face. Compared to his Texas king-size bed, the single bed inside looked as small as a child’s bed.

“The bed size seems too small.”

“Why? Isn’t it just the right size for sleeping alone?”

“How disappointing.”

He asked in a tone of disappointment as he stared at the bed.

“Were you planning to sleep alone tonight?”