DH ✦ Ch 6

✦ Chapter 6 ✦

❦

“W-Who are you? Who are you to just barge in here…?”

Gayoung couldn’t even finish her trembling sentence.

She had a feeling she knew who he was. Probably a member of the GB family. It seemed the person who’d announced they would arrive tomorrow had decided to come a day early.

“Shin Hyunjae.”

The man stated his name.

“Do I need to explain that I’m the owner of this villa?”

His tone dripped with arrogance and authority. There was a clear hint of rebuke, as if to say, I own this place—how dare you use the word ‘barge in’ with me?

“Now tell me. Who are you?”

Cornered by his sharp demand, Gayoung lowered her head in distress.

“I’m the… of the couple managing this villa…”

She trailed off, unsure whether to say niece or daughter.

Hyunjae cut through the silence impatiently.

“They said the couple had a daughter studying abroad. Is that you?”

“…Yes.”

Gayoung answered timidly, stealing a glance at the man. Perhaps tired of floating in place, he moved his arms to paddle closer.

“You should’ve made your presence known if you saw someone. Why were you hiding over there—?”

“If you come any closer, I’ll scream!”

Her shout, full of fear, made Hyunjae stop. His annoyed gaze dropped to the water she was submerged in and came back up.

“You’re not wearing a swimsuit?”

Gayoung trembled so violently her teeth chattered. It wasn’t just fear—it was utter humiliation. She felt like prey, exposed and vulnerable with nothing but water for protection.

Hyunjae let out a baffled breath. He said nothing more, simply turned away and swam to the other side in freestyle strokes.

Gayoung watched him in stunned silence as he quickly reached the opposite end and climbed up the metal ladder. His wet, half-naked back made her squeeze her eyes shut in panic.

She counted to ten in her head, then cracked her eyes open—he was gone.

Gayoung started paddling toward the spot where he had climbed out. That’s where she had hidden her clothes on a sunbed. She wanted to minimize the time her body would be exposed above water.

But her body was so cold her limbs wouldn’t obey her. By the time she reached the center of the pool, she realized she had made a terrible mistake.

Her leg cramped up. The muscle in her calf twisted violently, and pain surged through her body like an electric shock.

She flailed her arms, splashing noisily, but it was no use. With her swimming ability, she was helpless in this crisis.

“H-Help…”

Even in this dire moment, she couldn’t cry out properly. A part of her still warned not to call for that man.

Her head slipped under the surface. She fought to stay afloat, managing to break the water momentarily only to sink again.

Water flooded her nose and mouth, and her life flashed before her eyes like a panorama. So this is what death feels like, was the only thought that crossed her mind.

While her consciousness faded into darkness, something chaotic unfolded.

And through that chaos, Yoon Gayoung came back to life.

If she had truly died, she wouldn’t have felt the pressure on her chest. She wouldn’t have coughed violently as a reflex.

Her upper body shot up as she twisted herself and vomited out water onto the ground. As her senses returned, a fresh wave of horror hit her.

Someone was patting her back, helping her through the retching.

She turned slowly, her body trembling in fear, and came face to face with the man.

“Are you okay?”

“Mother of God!”

Gayoung screamed and curled up into a tight ball. With her face buried in her knees, she heard the man cluck his tongue in disapproval.

Either way, this was death. Not by drowning—but by humiliation.

Yoon Gayoung and Shin Hyunjae were both in their most primitive states.

Which meant, while unconscious, she had been rescued by a naked Hyunjae, fully exposed herself to him, and received emergency treatment skin-to-skin.

There wasn’t even time to feel relief about surviving. The aftershock of shame overwhelmed her, and she trembled like a leaf.

Hyunjae dropped a piece of cloth over her head. Gayoung hastily pulled it down to cover her body from the neck down—it was his dress shirt.

“Can you dress yourself? I’ll call an ambulance, so wait here.”

Her reflexes made her glance up at the sound of his voice—only to freeze.

He stood like a water-drenched sculpture. From head to toe, large, stunning, and—she suddenly remembered—the entire thing. His body.

Despite exposing himself without a single barrier, Hyunjae showed no hint of discomfort. He simply looked down at her as if nothing unusual had happened.

Gayoung buried her face back in her knees.

“I-I’m fine.”

The emergency treatment had clearly been effective.

She no longer felt the trauma of drowning. All that remained was the suffocating desire to escape his gaze—even vanish into the ground if she could.

Unlike the trembling Gayoung, Hyunjae was chillingly composed.

“What exactly is fine?”

“There’s no need to call an ambulance. I’m okay now.”

“That’s not really your call to make, is it?”

“I know my body. I’m really, truly fine.”

She could feel his gaze pressing down on her. She imagined he was silently scolding her for being stubborn after nearly dying.

Gayoung muttered “I’m fine, I’m okay,” over and over like a mantra, silently praying that this man would just leave.

The brief silence was broken by his indifferent tone.

“As you wish.”

She could tell he was walking away. Not long after, the cicadas’ noisy cries were interrupted by the sound of the villa’s back door shutting.

Only then did Gayoung lift her head and scramble to find her clothes.

She wasn’t even sure how she made it back to the manager’s quarters.

The moment she got inside, she dashed to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror.

“You’ve lost it, Yoon Gayoung.”

Jumping into the owner’s pool was crazy enough—but swimming naked? She wasn’t even the spontaneous type.

She must’ve been possessed. What on earth had she been thinking?

After sighing in shame for a while, she took in her reflection and felt pathetic.

Pale face, wet and drooping hair, and a white dress like a ghost’s robe.

She looked exactly like a drowned ghost girl.

Gayoung filled the bathtub with hot water.

Soaking in the heat finally calmed her goosebumps and shivering. Even the pounding in her chest quieted a bit.

After bathing, she decided she had to leave the villa. She picked up her phone from the kitchen table, thinking of what excuse to give her aunt and uncle.

She had over ten missed calls—all from Soonhee.

Just as she was about to send a text, her phone rang again. The screen read ‘Aunt’. After a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly answered.

—Gayoung, is something wrong? Why haven’t you answered for four hours?

“Uh…”

Gayoung took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

“I filled the pool earlier. Forgot and left my phone in the quarters.”

—That explains it. Everything’s okay, right?

“…Of course.”

The most shameful episode of her life was destined to remain a secret forever. She faked composure, and Soonhee chuckled and got to the point.

—Gayoung, I got a call from the GB Construction Executive a few hours ago. That’s the grandson of the Chairman who was supposed to come tomorrow. His schedule changed—he’s arriving today. Has he shown up yet?

Shin Hyunjae. That man was the GB Group Chairman’s grandson.

Gayoung wasn’t even surprised. She’d already suspected as much. The sticky feeling of mortification just became more vivid.

“I’m not sure. Maybe not yet.”

—Then he’s probably on his way. When he arrives, could you prepare some banquet noodles for him?

“What? Banquet noodles?”

—I told him I’d have something ready since he hadn’t had dinner. You make amazing noodles, remember?

She used to cook for her aunt and uncle in high school. But the idea of serving Shin Hyunjae changed everything.

“Oh, I mean, I don’t really remember the recipe…”

Trying to wriggle out of it, she rambled, and Soonhee’s tone softened with concern.

—You don’t want to? Oh dear, what do we do… Can’t you manage just a single bowl?

“…”

—Actually, I didn’t tell him your uncle and I left the villa. I didn’t say you’re there alone, either. I blurted out that we’d have a meal ready and now I’m worried how he’ll take it if he finds out you’re alone.

“…”

—No, no. It’s not your job. I’m basically the help here, not you. Forget I asked. I’ll grab a taxi and head back. I’ll be there in an hour and a half.

“No, Aunt.”

Gayoung cut off her internal conflict with clarity.

“I’ll do it. I can handle something like that.”

She didn’t want to go to the main villa. She didn’t want to see that man again—it was practically a thriller scenario—but she couldn’t say no to her aunt’s request.

After hanging up, Gayoung scrunched her face and began preparing the noodles.

While making zucchini, carrot, and egg toppings in the manager’s kitchen, she hit a serious roadblock. There were no broth packs.

She texted Soonhee, who replied, “They’re in the main villa’s kitchen.”

After many sighs, Gayoung pulled herself together.

❦

There’s no way he’d be in the kitchen. I’ll quietly prep the food and vanish like a kitchen fairy.