Listening from the Other Side

Jeongyun moved closer to the kitchen, carefully hiding his presence.

There, the source of the problem—Jin Seha—was talking with Gyeongseon, the housekeeper who took care of Jeongyun’s household chores.

They were clearly meeting for the first time, yet their voices sounded warm and familiar, as if they’d known each other for years.

To be honest, Jeongyun didn’t like seeing Jin Seha chatting away with Gyeongseon first thing in the morning, as if he’d known her forever.

Still, instead of making his presence known and interrupting them, Jeongyun pressed himself against the wall and hid even more carefully.

There were a few reasons for that.

First of all, he wondered if the shameless scammer might speak honestly when Jeongyun wasn’t around.

The guy was sly enough that he wouldn’t normally spill his true feelings to someone who’d worked in this house for a long time.

But maybe, just for a split second, he might let something slip if he let his guard down.

There was no real reason to be nervous, yet Jeongyun swallowed dryly once.

That wasn’t the only reason he was hiding like a stray cat.

“Still, it’s the first time I’ve seen Do-ryeon-nim let someone else stay in the house….

He must have taken a liking to you, Seha.”

Gyeongseon’s voice, speaking to Seha, was bright and friendly.

It was a tone Jeongyun had never heard from her before.

She was even speaking casually to Seha.

She was always polite to Jeongyun.

Even though Jeongyun was younger than Seha, she had always addressed him with a composed voice and a respectful expression.

Since Jeongyun was her employer, it was only natural that she’d find it hard to be casual with him.

Knowing that, the situation still felt strangely unfamiliar.

“Taken a liking to me?

I could get kicked out tomorrow, even after greeting you like this today.”

“Come on, no way.”

“I’m serious.

So please help me not get kicked out, ma’am.”

“Oh dear, what ma’am.

Just call me ajumma.”

“That won’t do.

You’re practically my senior.”

“You’ve really worked a lot, haven’t you.

You’re smooth with words too.”

Their laughter filled the spacious kitchen.

The friendly sounds felt almost jarring in a house that was usually wrapped in silence.

Jeongyun didn’t like having people over.

Even family members—including his grandmother—were no exception.

He loved them, but constantly facing their eyes filled with worry and sorrow was exhausting.

Seeing his grandmother reminded Jeongyun of his deceased parents.

The eyes of parents who’ve lost a child always carry wounds too deep to be erased by any amount of wealth or luxury.

And Jeongyun found it unbearable to witness those traces.

Because everyone tiptoed around Jeongyun’s already fragile state, even other relatives gradually stopped visiting.

Now, aside from Donghyun, hardly anyone came by at all.

That was why the light, casual conversation echoing through the house felt so awkward to Jeongyun.

What he couldn’t understand was why, despite feeling uncomfortable, he was holding his breath and listening so intently.

Strangely, the sound wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

No—he did dislike it, but at the same time, it wasn’t something he wanted to stop hearing either.

It felt confusing, but that was the honest truth.

Then Seha’s voice, now devoid of laughter, reached his ears again.

“So, by the way, is there any food Do-ryeon-nim especially likes?”

At the word Do-ryeon-nim, Jeongyun flinched without realizing it.

Unaware of that, Gyeongseon replied.

“Food the young master likes?”

“Yes.

I heard a bit from the secretary, but I thought you’d know better, since you’ve been taking care of him up close.

Like something that instantly puts him in a better mood just by eating it, or….”

Seha asked quietly, as if he were seeking some kind of secret information.

Gyeongseon stopped smiling and was just about to answer when—

“Who said I’d eat your food?”

A chilling voice cut in from nearby.

As if he hadn’t been the one to tell him to do it in the first place.

Seha kept that thought firmly inside his head.

Afraid his thoughts might slip out of his mouth, he chose his words carefully before speaking.

“Well… you told me to handle the housework before….”

As he said that, Seha put on a thoroughly cowed expression.

He hadn’t forgotten his realization that, in front of Jeongyun, he needed to look hurt and miserable at all times.

At Seha’s answer, Jeongyun—who had been striding into the kitchen—paused for a moment.

Seha lifted his gaze slightly to check Jeongyun’s expression.

Jeongyun still looked cold, but Seha’s trained eye—honed through years of service jobs—didn’t miss it.

He looked flustered.

…He forgot.

It was a near certainty.

Cha Jeongyun didn’t seem to be following some elaborate plan to kick him out.

Rather, he appeared to act on impulse, saying whatever came to mind at the moment.

From Jeongyun’s perspective, maybe he hadn’t felt the need to make some grand plan just to get rid of a bug-like scammer.

What was strange was that, to Seha, it looked exactly like a childish kid throwing a tantrum without thinking.

It was hard to believe that a mighty third-generation chaebol could be that immature and simple.

“…How dare you talk about me when I’m not around?”

The sudden shift in the direction of his anger only made Seha’s absurd theory seem more convincing.

Still, Seha tried not to dwell on it.

If Jeongyun realized what he was thinking, he might really get dragged out of the house by the hair.

“S-sorry.”

“I’m sorry too, Do-ryeon-nim.

I just wanted to let him know, hoping it might make you even a little more comfortable….”

Seha’s apology—spoken with deliberate stammering, though he wasn’t actually that sorry—was followed by Gyeongseon’s sincere apology.

Jeongyun fell silent again.

Seha stole another glance at him.

Once more, he looked oddly flustered.

Is it because even the housekeeper apologized?

Before Seha’s unbelievable train of thought could deepen further, Jeongyun spoke.

“There’s no reason for you to apologize, ajumma.

That bastard is the problem.”

“Ah….”

Hearing such language directed at someone standing right there, Gyeongseon’s face turned pale.

Ironically, the one being called “that bastard,” Jin Seha, looked perfectly calm.

Jeongyun continued.

“The secretary probably told you already, but your pay will be issued without any issues.

You’ve worked hard for a long time, so think of it as a vacation and rest comfortably until I contact you again.”

“Thank you very much for taking such good care of me.

Then, if possible… could I at least know roughly how long the break will be?”

At Gyeongseon’s question, Jeongyun’s gaze snapped to Seha.

When their eyes met, Seha hurriedly lowered his gaze.

At that moment, the image of Jin Seha putting on a ridiculous act to calm him down last night suddenly resurfaced.

Clenching his fist at the unpleasant memory surging up, Jeongyun spat out his words.

“Who knows.

I guess it depends on when that scammer shows his true colors and gets out….”

“…….”

“I’ll try to kick him out as quickly as possible, but he’s shameless and sly, so I can’t say how it’ll turn out.”

“Yes, yes….

I understand….”

Gyeongseon replied in a voice that sounded on the verge of tears.

No matter her intentions, every word only led to Seha being insulted, so her reaction was only natural.

Feeling guilty, Gyeongseon cautiously glanced at Seha.

Just as expected, his expression looked dark.

In reality, Seha was diligently acting gloomy.

With that expression, yet entirely unshaken inside, Seha spoke to Jeongyun.

“So, um….”

“……?”

“Should I cook, or should I not?”

Jeongyun stared at Seha without answering for a moment.

This—this was exactly what made him suspicious.

What was the point of looking hurt when his eyes, meeting Jeongyun’s directly, showed no sign of being cowed at all.

His voice sounded sufficiently cautious, but to Jeongyun it felt like he was really saying, So are you telling me to do it or not?

Whether that was because Jeongyun himself was twisted, or because Seha truly meant it that way, there was no way to know.

Maintaining his surly attitude, Jeongyun replied.

“I don’t know if I can trust the food you make.

How do I know you won’t put something in it and try to kill me?”

At this point, Gyeongseon wanted to go home, money be damned.

To her, Seha seemed polite, well-mannered, and earnest.

She couldn’t understand what circumstances led the young master to treat him so cruelly.

She had no intention of stepping in for a man she’d met for the first time today, but watching this was deeply uncomfortable.

She worried they might even come to blows.

In the taut, stretched tension, Jin Seha spoke.

“Oh, come on.

If you’re not safe, I don’t get paid either.”

Gyeongseon’s eyes widened as she looked at Seha.

Strictly speaking, it was a fair point.

And Seha was still maintaining a respectful attitude.

Yet for some reason, watching him made Gyeongseon’s heart shrivel up with unease.