A Home, A Shadow

‘Huh? Did someone just call my name?’

The inside of my ear felt itchy.

It almost sounded like someone had called me desperately, but since I had my AirPods in and was listening to music, it was probably just my imagination.

“Is something wrong, young master?”

“Ah, no. I must’ve heard something wrong.”

Today was the day Janggun was finally getting discharged.

The small bundle in my arms wriggled and licked my hands and arms, unbearably cute and lovable.

“Bark bark!”

“Ah, there we go. Janggun, you did well enduring treatment all this time.”

Good boy, good boy. My baby, how are you this adorable and precious?

As I stroked his soft fur that fit perfectly into my hand, I showered him with endless praise.

Janggun had recovered at an unbelievable speed.

He ate well, took his medicine without fuss, and most importantly—he followed me closely.

“I hope you like going to our home.”

I lifted him up and rubbed my cheek against him.

He barked in response, but it didn’t sound like he disliked it, so I relaxed.

“I prepared your dog house, and a nice yard for you to run around in. I didn’t know what kind of food you’d like, so I got all kinds. I’ll take you on lots of walks too.”

“Bark bark!”

It felt like he was answering me, and I loved that.

The thought of becoming his family made me genuinely happy.

“I’ll take good care of you. Let’s live well together.”

“Bark!”

The warmth of the small life in my arms felt comforting.

It made me feel like my days ahead would be fuller, richer.

‘But… didn’t I feel something sharp earlier…?’

Was that just my imagination too?

I rubbed the goosebumps on my arms and tilted my head.

That uneasy feeling—like someone had called me—lingered faintly.

But I brushed it off.

‘Who would even look for me out here in the countryside?’

I had already cut off all relationships tied to Seong Chanyeong as the villain.

If anything, I was someone people would rather avoid than seek out.

‘Guess I just miss my real family.’

There was no one here who would look for me.

Nothing here truly belonged to me.

‘Even the life I’m living now… it’s all thanks to Seong Chanyeong’s money, not mine.’

That thought hit me like a wave, dragging me down.

This world felt fake to me—

But maybe, in this world, I was the one who was fake.

‘What are my real family doing right now?’

I wondered.

I hadn’t been in an accident.

I had just gone to sleep at home, like any normal day—

And then the world changed.

‘If I could go back… that would be nice.’

Right then—

“Bark! Bark bark!”

“Ah, Janggun.”

Janggun, who had been resting quietly in my arms, suddenly started licking my hand.

Then he climbed up against me.

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable? Does something hurt?”

“Bark bark!”

Is he asking to be held?

When I carefully picked him up, he immediately started licking my face all over.

In seconds, my face was covered in slobber.

“Hey—ah, that tickles.”

“Bark!”

“Janggun, I’m not a snack. Do you want treats?”

“Woof!”

I wasn’t an animal communicator, but his tone sounded just slightly different—like he was saying, ‘That’s not it!’

Animals couldn’t understand human speech, obviously—

But I couldn’t help asking anyway.

“Janggun… are you comforting me because I look sad?”

“Bark!”

This time, it really felt like he said, ‘Yes!’

His fluffy white tail wagged energetically from side to side.

Cute.

‘So this is real animal therapy.’

No wonder Mom and Dad always fussed over Deulbo, calling him their precious baby all day long.

Were they serious when they said he was better than their actual seven kids?

Thinking about my useless siblings, it suddenly made perfect sense.

“Sniff… yeah, Janggun. You’re better than people. Way better.”

“Woof?”

In this world, the only things I could trust were Seong Chanyeong’s ridiculous amount of money and Janggun.

Well… and Secretary Choi, plus the kind workers.

“Let’s live long and healthy together, Janggun!”

“Bark!”

“Young master, we’ve arrived home.”

‘Ah.’

I had completely forgotten about Mr. Kim driving beside me.

My ears burned in embarrassment.

‘I’m definitely kicking my blanket later over this.’

Mr. Kim looked at me with the gentle eyes of a benevolent monk.

No—

More like a grandfather watching his grandchild act cute for the first time.

“Um… sir. This is just because Janggun is too cute.”

“Of course. I understand.”

He agreed too easily, which somehow made it even more embarrassing.

I didn’t know what Secretary Choi had told the staff, but they seemed to like me a lot.

‘The real Seong Chanyeong probably never experienced this kind of warmth.’

Again, my thoughts drifted to what was real and what was fake.

But I was real too.

So where was the real Seong Chanyeong?

Did he really die from a suicide attempt?

Or was he somewhere else?

I wouldn’t know unless he appeared.

“Janggun, let’s get down. This is our home now.”

“Bark!”

Leaving those unanswered questions behind, I stepped out of the truck with Janggun.

My now-familiar countryside home felt welcoming.

“Alright. From now on, this is your home.”

“Bark bark bark!”

Janggun happily ran around inside and outside, his short, chubby legs moving nonstop.

It was a relief—he seemed to like both.

‘Good thing I prepared both options.’

Normally, countryside dogs stayed outside.

But just in case, I had prepared for him to live indoors too.

Money wasn’t an issue.

I just wanted to match whatever made him happiest.

“Woof!”

After running back and forth between the room I had set up for him inside and the neatly arranged yard outside, Janggun finally flopped down in the yard, exposing his belly.

He looked completely satisfied.

“Do you like it there?”

“Bark!”

“Alright. Then you can stay there from now on.”

Just as I turned to go inside and close the door—

Janggun suddenly dashed over and grabbed onto my pant leg.

“Whine… whine…”

“Huh… you don’t want to be alone?”

“Whine…”

The way he looked at me—with those pleading eyes like Puss in Boots—

If I left him, I’d feel way too guilty.

“Alright. Let’s switch between indoors and outdoors.”

“Bark bark!”

‘It’s probably because he was captured before… he’s still anxious.’

I still remembered him falling off that truck.

Even though I hadn’t done anything special, that was probably why he trusted me so much.

I gently stroked his soft white fur.

“It’s okay, Janggun. No one’s going to hurt you anymore.”

You’re safe here.

It almost felt like I was saying that to myself.

Away from the dangerous Alphas, away from Seo Eunsu, away from the Seong family—

Just trying to find some happiness here.

‘…I feel like crying.’

The silence of the house, now empty except for us, settled in.

Unless I returned to my original world—

It would always just be the two of us.

That loneliness stung enough to make a few tears slip out.

Just a few.

As I wiped them away—

Rustle.

A sound came from outside.

‘Stray cats?’

I didn’t think much of it.

They often came around this time looking for food.

Normally, I’d get up and open a can for them—

But today, I didn’t have the energy.

“Whine… whine…”

Janggun circled around me, sensing my unease.

It irritated me that I couldn’t even act strong as his owner.

“I can’t be like this.”

I wiped my tears roughly and stood up.

Putting on work gloves, arm sleeves, and rubber boots, I stepped outside.

‘When I feel like this, simple labor works best.’

When I was younger and sick, I spent long days staring out of hospital windows.

Being unable to move much led to depression.

So my mom would give me small tasks.

Simple work.

“Mom, what’s this…?”

“Garlic.”

“No, I mean… why garlic?”

She handed me a bundle of freshly harvested garlic and two small knives.

“We’re peeling it together.”

“It’ll sting my eyes.”

“Just try. Time passes faster doing this than sitting around bored.”

“…Okay.”

My mom ruled the house.

With her strong, farm-trained body, there was no arguing with her.

“Ugh… it smells strong.”

But as I focused on peeling each clove, I forgot my sadness.

“Next time, onions.”

“No onions… bring peas instead.”

“Alright.”

Looking back, that was her way of showing love.

And since then, whenever things got hard—

I turned to simple labor.

‘Alright. Time to focus on farming and forget everything else.’

Dwelling on the past would only hurt me.

Better to think about my strawberry seedlings waiting for me.

“Bark! Bark bark!”

“…You want to come too?”

“Bark bark!”

Janggun kept circling me insistently.

If I didn’t take him, he’d just whine at home.

“Alright, alright. Let’s go together.”

I clipped a sturdy leash onto him and headed toward my field.

“Hm?”

Something felt off.

There were too many footprints in the soil.

‘Wait… weren’t these just mine and Janggun’s from earlier?’

A chill ran down my spine.

“W-Wait… a ghost?!”

…No way.

Right?