Picking up rice grains with chopsticks and putting them in her mouth, Soo Young’s gaze was directed towards Woo Jin.

The man, whose body maintenance was incomprehensible given he only stayed at home, had showered and was now eating his rice and side dishes well, emitting a different scent than the sweat smell from earlier.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

As he raised his head and asked, Soo Young was startled and exclaimed,

“I am eating!”

“I can’t hear your chopsticks. Or your chewing.”

“Do you really have some kind of superpower? How can you hear so well?”

“If you knew how noisily you eat, you wouldn’t ask if I have superpowers.”

At his words, Soo Young glared at him with narrowed eyes.

“…You’re lying, right?”

“About what?”

“That you can’t see.”

“Didn’t you see earlier when I showed you where I bumped into things? Or were you too busy having naughty thoughts again?”

“I wasn’t having naughty thoughts!”

Soo Young said, putting down her chopsticks with a clatter. But she seemed to have denied it too strongly, as he didn’t appear to believe her.

“Then why are you saying such nonsense again?”

“Because you talk just like someone who can see. Otherwise, how would you know if I’ve gained or lost weight?”

“Slim people move nimbly. They speak nimbly too. You’re generally sluggish and slow overall.”

He didn’t say that he liked her for being slow.

Usually, people tended to fumble in front of Woo Jin. They fumbled trying to offer unnecessary help, and fumbled trying to read the situation.

For him, who was already anxious due to lack of visual awareness, the other person’s fumbling only increased his anxiety rather than helping.

However, Soo Young had none of that. She didn’t particularly try to read his mood, and was relaxed about everything. She wasn’t constantly on standby for him either. Woo Jin found her comfortable in that way.

But he hated revealing such feelings more than dying, so he said something irrelevant instead.

“Your movements are slow, but you eat a lot. No wonder you’re bound to gain weight.”

In response, a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of her lungs was heard from across the table.

“Oh my! Look at this, look at this. You saying you can’t see is pure nonsense. How would you know if I eat a lot or a little if you can’t see?”

“I heard Ji Hyun saying you eat well, that the side dishes are disappearing quickly.”

Gasp! This was truly undeniable. Honestly, she had been snacking on the pan-fried meat even outside of mealtimes. She felt embarrassed, feeling like a poor child who had come to work at a rich household.

“S-still, I’m slim compared to how much I eat!”

“I’ve touched your face. Stop lying.”

Remembering how his fingers had traced her face then, Soo Young’s face turned slightly red.

“When you touched it, h-how did it feel?”

“Your cheeks were plump. You’re not at an age to still have baby fat, are you?”

Honestly, he couldn’t tell if they were plump or not. He just remembered the soft, warm feeling that remained on his fingertips.

Afterwards, he had stroked his other fingers with his thumb several times. To not forget that sensation.

Unaware of Woo Jin’s inner thoughts, Soo Young glared at him fiercely at the mention of her plump cheeks.

Meanwhile, she thought that she really should start exercising now. Was she already gaining weight with age?

She had been pleased that her employer was handsome, but it wasn’t all good. The handsome employer wanted even his employee to be handsome.

For a moment, she thought it was fortunate that he couldn’t see her. If he could see everything, she imagined how much he would brag while making comparisons, and the mere thought made her feel nauseous.

“Is that why you exercise so desperately?”

Soo Young grumbled as she asked. Woo Jin fixed his amber eyes on her with an expression that seemed to ask what she meant.

“No, it’s just that you seem to run until you’re about to die, why do you exercise like that?”

“To die.”

“What?”

“If I die while exercising, at least it’s not suicide, right?”

It was such a scary and sad thing to say, but the fact that he said it so casually made Soo Young feel even more scared and sad. She spoke in a subdued voice.

“Don’t talk about suicide so carelessly. Do you know how irresponsible that is?”

Following that, the sound of a spoon scooping soup was heard, but Woo Jin, on the contrary, stopped eating and looked quietly in her direction.

He had never cared about what he said before, but now he found himself reflecting on whether his words might have hurt her.

Woo Jin silently scooped rice into his mouth. As he did so, he focused all his attention on the sound of Soo Young’s spoon movements and chewing that came through the heavy silence.

[This is the timeline separator]

“You know what day Friday is, right? My sister-in-law will come to pick you up.”

To be precise, it was Mr. Kim the driver who would come to pick him up, but since it was 100% certain that Woo Jin wouldn’t even open the door, Yeon Seo had decided to come along.

Woo Jin’s brow furrowed, and he put down his spoon with a clatter as he said,

“I’m not going.”

“Why won’t you come? You should come and pour a drink too.”

“When did Father ever drink? Why force him to drink after death when he never drank while alive!”

“Woo Jin.”

“I’m not going. Tell Grandfather I’m not coming.”

“Woo Jin. Grandfather misses you too. He’s getting older now, his strength isn’t what it used to be…”

“You think I don’t know he glares at me like I’m the one who ate his son every time he sees me? Even his breathing is different!”

“Woo Jin, that’s a misunderstanding. Grandfather doesn’t do that.”

Ji Hyun said with a regretful expression, but Woo Jin stood up abruptly and left the kitchen.

Sighing, Ji Hyun looked at his untouched rice and regretted not waiting until after he had finished eating to speak.

Friday was the anniversary of his uncle’s death.

They hold a memorial service every year, so they could just lightly observe it at the columbarium, but Chairman Seol, knowing it would hurt his grandson, still made his daughter-in-law prepare a memorial table for his younger son.

No matter how much Woo Jin struggled with guilt, the Chairman argued that it couldn’t compare to the feelings of a father seeing his son’s memorial table.

Even before he became independent, Woo Jin wouldn’t come out of his room, and after becoming independent, he refused to attend altogether.

At first, Chairman Seol let it be, but as time passed, he became increasingly angry at his grandson.

So he ordered his eldest grandson and granddaughter-in-law to bring him somehow.

Ji Hyun’s heart was heavy, understanding both the grandfather’s feelings and Woo Jin’s feelings.

And above all, the thought that she was the cause of this situation weighed even more heavily on her chest.

[This is the timeline separator]

Originally, Soo Young had a fairly regular life, studying or reading at the library before going to her part-time job, but she was now sleeping late in the morning after staying up all night watching dramas the day before.

The newly released drama was based on a web novel and it hit all the right spots for her. She even impulsively ordered the novel online while watching the drama.

The only thing she didn’t like was the face of the male lead. He was made to look extremely handsome in the drama, but to Soo Young, the actor’s face was just ordinary.

Rationalizing that she must be seeing it this way because she had been looking at an inhumanly handsome face lately, she watched all 8 episodes of the drama in one night.

Enjoying a jobless morning until the sun was high in the sky, Soo Young was startled awake by the vibration of her phone.

“Oh… What… What is it…”

Half-asleep, she reached out for her phone and put it to her ear, then suddenly opened her eyes wide at the cheerful voice.

− Is this Kim Soo Young’s phone? Hello? This is Seol Ji Hyun.

“Ah, aah… Yes, hello?”

Her voice was hoarse, so she cleared her throat for a while at the end of her words.

− Um, are you busy right now?

“What? Ah, no…”

As she tried her best to sound normal to hide that she had just woken up, Ji Hyun spoke in a brighter but still apologetic voice.

− I know it’s still quite early, but could you go to Woo Jin a bit earlier today?

“What? Why?”

As she spoke, she noticed the time was already 11:30 AM. When did I fall asleep? I think I saw the sun rising when I went to bed.

− Woo Jin’s not answering his phone. My husband and I are out of town right now so we can’t go check… I’m sorry, but could you look in on him a bit earlier? Of course, I’ll make sure you get overtime pay.

“Yes. I understand. I’ll get ready and leave now.”

− Ah, thank you so much. When you see Woo Jin, could you just send me a text? Just to let me know if he’s okay…

“Yes. But is something wrong with Seol Woo Jin?”

Soo Young asked as she got out of bed and left her room. Her mother seemed to have gone to work, as the house was empty.

− Ah, I should tell you so you’re not caught off guard.

Huh? Caught off guard? Am I going to get caught up in something?

− Today is the anniversary of Woo Jin’s father’s death. He usually doesn’t attend the memorial service, but I pushed him to this time, and now he’s gone silent. As you know, he’s quite sensitive, so I’m worried about what he might be doing alone at home.

“Ah, I see… Yes…”

Soo Young, having lost her own father, could somewhat understand Woo Jin’s feelings. How did he pass away? I hope it wasn’t suicide like my father. After hanging up, Soo Young’s mood became gloomy.

[This is the timeline separator]

As expected, there was no sign of anyone in the living room. As she approached Woo Jin’s room, she knocked carefully. However, there was no sound from inside.

She knocked again, but still no sound. Feeling it wouldn’t be right to just enter, Soo Young called the number from the morning again.

After a moment, Ji Hyun’s voice came through.

“Yes. I’m here, but it seems like no one’s home?”

Surprised by Soo Young’s words, Ji Hyun exclaimed.

− No one’s there? Are you sure?

“Yes. There’s no response when I knock.”

− Soo Young.

“Yes.”

− I’ll take responsibility for what happens, so could you please enter Woo Jin’s room?

“Is that okay?”

− Yes. Please go in. Don’t hang up the phone.

At Ji Hyun’s words, Soo Young swallowed hard and carefully opened the door. As it was her first time entering this space, and knowing the owner’s personality, she took a deep breath, feeling nervous.

She knew the house was big, but it was truly large. Woo Jin’s room was as big as a living room. Moreover, the room had everything.

On the left wall was a large black bookshelf, packed tightly with spiral files.

Opposite was an equally large black desk and chair. On the desk were a laptop and unfamiliar equipment like a typewriter and printer.

Further inside were a refrigerator, an enormous air purifier, a humidifier, and strangely, what looked like an oxygen respirator.

Looking at the room that had everything, Soo Young nodded, thinking this was why he didn’t come out of his room.

Even further in, facing front, was a large bed, also black in color.

It seemed strange that despite being unable to see, he had all his furniture in such a dark color, but like the furniture in the living room, it looked extremely luxurious.

Beyond the bed were two more doors. One was a sliding door, the other a slightly smaller regular door.

− Is Woo Jin not there?

As Soo Young remained silent while looking around the room, Ji Hyun’s voice came through the phone, checking.

“No. I’m in the room, but no one’s here.”

− Is he not in the bathroom either?

“Bathroom? I’m not sure which is the bathroom…”

− The door on the side of the bed is the bathroom. Could you check there once?

“Yes, just a moment.”

Soo Young knocked on the small door.

“Seol Woo Jin, are you in there?”

− Can you hear any sound?

“No. I can’t hear anything.”

− Try going in.

“What? Okay…”

Hesitantly, Soo Young opened the small door and went inside. In the large bathroom, bigger than Soo Young’s room, a long bathtub was visible at the far end.

As she approached the bathtub, she saw a cartoon character lying in it. Completely naked.

As she involuntarily gasped, Ji Hyun’s urgent voice came through her ear.

− Is Woo Jin there?

“…What? Yes… But…”

Suddenly, amber eyes appeared, and then hot water splashed all over her.

“Kyaa!”

− Soo Young?

As Soo Young screamed, Ji Hyun urgently called her name.

The amber eyes glared at her as if about to devour her, and a roar erupted from Woo Jin’s mouth, unlike any voice she could have imagined from him.

“How dare you come in here!”

Soaking wet, Soo Young frantically escaped the bathroom. As soon as she reached the living room past the bedroom, she slipped on the wet floor.

She fell hard on her bottom, but there was no time to feel the pain. Feeling as if a monster was chasing her, Soo Young crawled desperately to the other side of the sofa.

“Huff! Huff!”

It felt like her breath was caught in her throat, but to check if he was chasing her or not, she slightly raised her face over the sofa.

Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t chasing after her. Well, he can’t see, so he probably can’t keep up with my speed.

Sitting on the floor, leaning against the sofa and catching her breath, she was less worried about being scolded by Woo Jin later, and more flushed as the scene she had just witnessed kept coming to mind.

It wasn’t just his face that was handsome. He wasn’t just thin either. No wonder he ran on the treadmill like his life depended on it.

Soo Young buried her face in the sofa and pounded her fists against it, writhing.

God! Thank you!