The next day. It was around three o’clock in the afternoon when Yeonwoo, having left the hotel, returned to Domyeongjae.
“Hey, new girl. Did you do well?”
As she entered the main building, Eun-ja, who was sipping a mix coffee, called out to her. Yeonwoo, who had stopped by the dormitory to drop off her bags and change her clothes, gave a slight nod.
“Yes. I’ve returned.”
“Oh my. Staying in a fancy place, eating gourmet food, wearing beautiful clothes, and playing princess. Must be nice, new girl.”
Eun-ja gestured for her to come closer, eager for the details. Eun-ja, who was inherently fascinated by other people’s business and prone to dramatic embellishments, clearly hoped Yeonwoo would recount every moment in vivid detail.
However, Yeonwoo merely set the clothes from the Domyeong Boutique on the reception room sofa and walked past her in silence. Eun-ja pouted, her expression sour.
“Honestly, was your mouth made of gold? How do you expect to survive here with such poor conversational skills? If you’ve come back, you should at least describe what you ate and what happened—that’s the bare minimum.”
“Nothing special happened. As for the meal, I didn’t even know what the menu was. I just ate.”
“What about the clothes? They’re pretty, aren’t they? How were they? Didn’t the foreigner give you a double thumbs-up?”
“Ah, well, yes. It was decent.”
She couldn’t bring herself to admit she had sought out different clothes. She didn’t want to dash the expectations of Eun-ja, who had chosen her original outfit with such heart and soul.
Eun-ja looked as if she were about to snap at Yeonwoo’s dismissive attitude, but she only sighed. Truly, even if one wanted to look kindly upon the new girl, she was as cold and tasteless as a stone.
“Oh, here comes the Manager.”
As Eun-ja muttered, Yeonwoo turned. Manager Moon entered the main building, her gaze sweeping over Yeonwoo, who immediately offered a bow.
“The Managing Director returned early this morning. Why are you only arriving now?”
“I wasn’t aware he was leaving so early. I left at the time I was told, but I was informed the Managing Director had already departed.”
“If you are sent to serve someone, you should keep your wits about you.”
“I’m sorry.”
Manager Moon scanned Yeonwoo from top to bottom. Eun-ja, sipping her coffee, raised an eyebrow at the sharper-than-usual tone.
“There’s plenty of work to do. Go. You’re on duty today.”
“Yes, Manager Moon.”
As Yeonwoo disappeared, Eun-ja grabbed the sleeve of Manager Moon’s jacket.
“Why is our Manager so angry?”
“What are you talking about? What anger?”
“Are you sure? It sounds like rage is bubbling right out of your throat.”
Manager Moon shook off her hand.
“Get up and move yourself. Are you planning to drink all the coffee in Domyeongjae? How many cups a day is that? Get up, quickly.”
Sparks flew, and Eun-ja stood up sluggishly.
“Why is the Manager taking it out on me? I was just sitting here….”
“Is sitting still something to brag about? Did you come here to play? Stop idling.”
“Goodness, I got it. I was just taking a short break.”
Just as Eun-ja rose, grumbling under her breath, Yeonwoo returned to the main building and set two small boxes and a bakery bag on the table.
“What’s this?”
Yeonwoo replied quietly.
“It’s bread from the hotel basement; I heard it’s quite popular. I bought it for you. The boxes are souvenirs—they sold those there, so I picked them up. It’s nothing much, just some health bracelets.”
“Oh my. A health bracelet? I’d been wanting one—how did you know, new girl?”
Eun-ja tore open the packaging with lightning speed.
“They offered to engrave initials, but I brought them as they were. I heard that if you engrave them, the beads break easily.”
“Initials? What’s an initial? Is it someone’s name? What kind of name is that?”
No one laughed at Eun-ja’s nonsensical chatter. Manager Moon stared down in silence, and Yeonwoo bowed again.
“Thanks to you, I’ve returned safely. Thank you for your concern. I’ll be going.”
Yeonwoo turned away. Eun-ja, captivated by the gift, used a syrupy, affected voice.
“Oh my, Manager. Look at this. They call such a flashy, pretty bracelet a health bracelet. My goodness, it’s lovely.”
Despite Eun-ja’s fuss, Manager Moon said nothing. She simply stared, her expression uneasy, at the bracelet Yeonwoo had left behind.
*
Seongheon, having returned from the hotel, did not move a single step from Unseondang until the weekend ended. He ate his meals in solitude, and the doors of Unseondang remained shut until Monday morning.
When Yeonwoo, who had closed her eyes only after finishing her night shift, headed to the main building, Seongheon had already left for work earlier than usual.
On a weekday morning, the main building staff was consumed by the chaos of preparing lunch for the field workers. Even the talkative Eun-ja moved without complaint, her hands working in rhythm as they navigated the dozens of cast-iron pots in the backyard.
As Yeonwoo was bustling about, Manager Moon approached her.
“Take off your apron and come with me.”
“Me? Where to?”
Yeonwoo immediately untied her waist ribbon. Seeing the deep lines of hardship etched across the Manager’s face, she braced herself.
“Go to the field with Manager Hwang. The woman who usually serves the rice couldn’t make it today. Go and take her place.”
“…Yes? The field?”
Manager Moon nodded, her hands busy organizing the food containers.
“We leave in ten minutes. This is the Managing Director’s lunch, so keep it separate.”
Manager Moon handed Yeonwoo a cloth-wrapped, wide container. Yeonwoo looked up, startled.
“Should I deliver this to the Managing Director and then go serve the rice?”
“The workers will serve their own rice; you just need to handle the soup. See how many people there are and serve accordingly. Don’t be too generous, but don’t be stingy, either.”
“Yes. I understand.”
It wasn’t a difficult task, yet a sudden, sharp tension flared at the thought of leaving Domyeongjae again. But surely, it was just a trip to the field canteen. Nothing could happen. She steeled herself—she had managed the hotel grounds without issue; she shouldn’t be anxious.
“Why are you still standing there? We don’t have time.”
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
Yeonwoo bowed to Manager Moon. Clutching the lunch, which contained an elaborate eight-dish meal, she climbed into the truck driven by Manager Hwang ten minutes later.
The country road, long untraveled, felt oddly refreshing. Yeonwoo rolled down the window, letting the breeze catch her hand.
*
As the staff began moving the supplies into the canteen, Yeonwoo took Seongheon’s lunch and headed toward a nearby office.
It was a makeshift structure, and as she stood before the door to knock, her heart hammered against her ribs. She steadied her breath and raised her hand.
A secretary opened the door.
“Who is it?”
“Hello. I’m from Domyeongjae. I’ve brought the Managing Director’s meal.”
“Ah, the meal. Come in.”
Yeonwoo stepped inside. Behind the secretary’s desk stood a tightly closed door, where Seongheon surely waited.
“I wonder if he’ll even get a chance to eat today.”
The secretary glanced at his watch and gestured for her to enter. Yeonwoo knocked once more and heard Seongheon’s voice.
Her stomach churned at the sound. She took a long, shaky breath and turned the knob.
“Managing Director. I’ve brought your meal.”
Seongheon, eyes fixed on a stack of documents, looked up. Finding it impossible to hold his gaze, Yeonwoo walked to the sofa and set the lunch down.
“Manager Moon said to ensure you have a hearty lunch since you skipped breakfast.”
“What brings you here?”
“I came to deliver the meal. They were short-handed.”
Seeing Seongheon here felt jarring. Perhaps it was the environment—the heavy machinery and the sandstorms visible through the open window—that shifted the air. With his sleeves rolled up and his shoulders hunched over files, he exuded a rugged, aggressive energy, far removed from the cold stillness he carried at home.
Seongheon stared at her, as if she were a ghost Photoshopped into the rough, industrial landscape. He remained silent for a long time before speaking.
“It feels like it’s been a while.”
It had only been two days.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes. Thanks to you.”
“‘Thanks to me’ implies you’re better off when I’m not around.”
Her pulse raced in her fingertips. Yeonwoo fidgeted, her hands trembling.
“Uh… I have to help with the work, so I’ll be going. Enjoy your meal….”
“You make it difficult to say ‘nice to see you’ for fear you might tremble.”
Whether he was teasing or simply being petty, the words stung. Yeonwoo finally met his gaze.
When no retort came, a wave of regret washed over her. She turned to leave.
“Please enjoy your meal, Managing Director.”
“Right. Work hard. I’ll see you at Domyeongjae.”
He meant to say he was too busy to eat, or perhaps to apologize for the unnecessary trouble, but the words died on his tongue. He had a meeting shortly. He had to let her go.
Meeting her at the field site felt like an unexpected, bitter gift. As Yeonwoo stood with her head bowed, unwrapping the lunchbox, the door swung open. The secretary poked his head in.
“Managing Director. He’s here.”
“Show him in.”
Before Yeonwoo could escape, a man walked through the door. Yeonwoo, already turning, pivoted in a hurry to leave.
The man bowed his head low, then raised it, his eyes widening as he caught sight of Yeonwoo.
“Managing Director Nam Seongheon, greetings… wait, Yeonwoo?”
A familiar voice. My name.
Yeonwoo froze, the air caught in her lungs. She stood there, staring as if she had stopped breathing.
“Yeonwoo? Wow, you were here?”
The floor beneath her felt as if it were splitting open, swallowing her whole. She squeezed her eyes shut, surrendering to the crushing despair that she would never, ever escape this man until the day she died.
“Wow. You… you were here. Huh? Yeonwoo?”
It was Cha Yoonseok.