# Chapter 15
I came back home. I still feel dazed.
Seo Hanryul’s appearance was so incredible that words weren’t necessary. But what was more surprising was that he turned out to be more temperamental than I thought.
In the novel, he seemed like someone with a strong heart despite his gentle appearance, a hard-working Candy-type character who never gave in to hardship. I didn’t expect him to curse in front of someone and show such an aggressive attitude like he was about to throw the first punch.
Well, considering Cha Jaehyun’s actions, it’s not surprising. In the novel, he seemed like a standardized, somewhat predictable character who rarely got angry. But seeing him get angry and curse with that handsome face in front of me made me realize that Seo Hanryul is human too.
‘Still, I think I acted pretty well today?’
I’ll compensate you as much as needed. What a trashy statement. But I felt like I had some talent for acting.
Starting from Han Woojin before and Seo Hanryul today. I felt like I was doing a good job acting as Cha Jaehyun. It was clear that Seo Hanryul only had ill feelings toward Cha Jaehyun, so there was no point in dragging out the conversation—it would only backfire. Rather, it would be better for the relationship to end with me remaining as trash till the end.
I told him I was sick of it and ended things. He should understand that I won’t bother him anymore. I’ll go to America, and Seo Hanryul can walk down his predetermined rosy path. A perfect mutual happy ending.
‘That feels good.’
I flopped down on the bed. As I lay on the bed, I could see Cha Taeha standing outside the half-open door. That’s right. He said yesterday that we should draw together. He acted all high and mighty, but he actually remembered.
“Come in! We have to draw together.”
“Forget it. It’s already late!”
Cha Taeha made a pouty face, looking upset. He must have been looking for me while I was out.
“Taeha, I’m sorry. I had to go out for a while today, so I came back late. Instead, let’s draw a lot more.”
“Forget it! I’m leaving.”
If he had actually intended to leave, he wouldn’t have been lingering outside my room. His declaration to leave was just a tantrum.
“Your Highness, can’t you forgive me just this once?”
After grabbing Cha Taeha’s waist as he turned to leave, I lifted him up to the ceiling. I was a bit nervous about what kind of reaction would follow, but I had already done it.
“Just this once!”
He neither yelled nor rejected me. Look at this kid, he’s definitely opened up to me a bit.
Cha Taeha started spreading the drawing tools he had brought on the floor. Seeing him smile slightly while pretending not to, I thought that a child is, after all, still a child.
“Taeha, thank you for playing with me!”
After we finished drawing, I touched Cha Taeha’s cheek lightly as I spoke. Finally, I got to touch these soft cheeks. It’s moving. Cute kid.
* * *
Before I knew it, it was the day before my departure. By staying quietly like someone who didn’t exist, being careful with all my actions as if I was practicing asceticism in the main house, I was able to spend each day quietly without any major incidents.
My daily routine consisted only of lying in my room, packing, and occasionally playing with Cha Taeha. I thought Cha Taehan might hit me at some point, but fortunately, we never encountered each other except during breakfast. Whether he was busy with work or not, Cha Taehan often came home late at night.
The same was true for Seo Hanryul. There had been no contact since our last meeting. Is it completely over? If it were me, I’d probably squeeze a lot of money out of Cha Jaehyun for mental and physical damages, but maybe because he’s the male lead in the novel, there’s none of that. It’s a clean breakup.
I’m a bit anxious because we parted on an uncomfortable note at the cafe last time, but thinking about it, there’s nothing bad for Seo Hanryul either. He must be really relieved that the stalker who clung to him persistently has disappeared.
“Now, goodbye to this place too!”
As I blurted out this thought aloud, I sensed someone outside. Did someone hear my self-talk? While feeling embarrassed, I checked and found it was Cha Taeha. I didn’t think we’d get this close on the first day, but now he even secretly peeks at me from outside my room door.
“Taeha, why are you standing out there? Come in!”
Taeha hesitated for a moment after hearing my words, then shuffled into my room. The child was acting unusual.
“Do you have to go? …Un…cle?”
His voice was too soft at the end, but I heard the word “uncle.” So he’s finally calling me uncle.
“Taeha, your voice was too soft, so I couldn’t hear. What did you just say?”
His new response was very cute. I wanted to tease him a little. I felt a bit annoyed remembering how he treated me like a cockroach at first.
“Ah, forget it! Just don’t go!”
He suddenly makes a sad face. This kid, after calling me “hey” so much, it seems he’s grown attached to me. I think I’ve also become somewhat close to this kid after playing with him for two weeks.
I was going to keep teasing him, but seeing his sad face made my heart ache. Still, I can’t not go to America because of him.
“Taeha, Uncle will come back soon. If Taeha listens well to his parents and grows up healthy!”
I told a white lie. But the situation flowed in an increasingly strange direction.
“Can’t you not go?”
Suddenly, the child started whining. I was taken aback, but immediately hugged the tearful child. The feeling of his small body leaning completely into me was fascinating. He once told me not to touch him, but now he’s become like a cat that has completely lowered its guard.
I thought he would go back to his room cleanly after hearing my words, but seeing his whimpering face made me feel uneasy too.
“Uncle likes Taeha so much too that I don’t want to go, but I’m leaving for a while to study. Taeha studies too, right? Uncle is just going away for a bit to learn more. If you want to visit Uncle’s place, you can come anytime.”
With Cha Taehan watching with those intense eyes, it’s absurd for Cha Taeha to visit America. But calming the child’s heart was the priority. I cut a corner of paper slightly, wrote my phone number on it, and handed it to the child.
“Contact Uncle! I’m so happy that Taeha called me Uncle today.”
“Are you really coming back?”
“Of course. We’re not saying goodbye. We’re just apart for a while and will meet again as better people!”
“Then promise me.”
Cha Taeha held out his hand to me. We made a promise and sealed it with a stamp on his small, fern-like hand. It’s a cute, childlike action full of innocence.
“Today… can’t I sleep with Uncle?”
It was an unexpected request. Sleeping together seemed a bit risky. What if Cha Taehan found out? I couldn’t think of any contingency plan. If Cha Taehan came home late and saw his son sleeping with me? That would be a truly hopeless situation.
I should refuse, but as if he sensed my thoughts, he suddenly looked at me with bright eyes like Puss in Boots. As if he might burst into tears at any moment.
I just couldn’t refuse. I thought he was just an ill-mannered six-year-old. The child seems more cunning than I thought. This really doesn’t seem like a good idea.
As I continued to deliberate, he came next to me and started rubbing his head against me. Where did he learn this from?
“Hah… Okay. Fine. But you have to come quietly.”
After hesitating for a moment, I reluctantly gave an affirmative answer. Cha Taeha smiled with satisfaction and immediately ran to his room. Hey, I told you to be quiet! I wondered if I had made the wrong decision as my heart started pounding.
“Uncle, I’m here.”
Before I knew it, Cha Taeha was in front of me with a pillow.
‘I hope no one saw him?’
It’s just one day before I leave, so if I’m careful, we can get through this without incident. Judging by his current attitude, Cha Taeha doesn’t seem likely to cause a commotion either.
I rationalized that it would be okay. If I told him to go back now, he might suddenly cry and cause an even bigger problem.
“Taeha, come over here.”
After organizing my thoughts for a moment, I had Cha Taeha lie on my bed. After lying side by side on the bed, I gently stroked the child’s head.
Cha Taeha earnestly told me that I must come back to him, saying that promises must be kept in a stern voice. I smiled and answered that it was obvious.
I felt guilty, but it wasn’t really a lie. After all, it’s obvious that Cha Jaehyun would return to Korea when he returns to his own body. We chatted about various things and then fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
Finally, it’s D-day. I left the main house at dawn and now I’m on a plane to America. Fortunately, no one seemed to know that I slept with Cha Taeha last night.
It still doesn’t feel real. All I could vaguely recall were the words Chairman Cha Taesan said to me this morning.
“Cha Jaehyun, this is your last chance. Live your life properly.”
That was the last thing Chairman Cha Taesan said. His gaze was sharp and very stern. But there’s no problem. I’m confident I’ll do my best in America.
I never thought the day would come when I’d actually ride in first class, which I’d only seen on the internet. I felt like I was walking on a pink cloud. Everything was perfect except for one uncomfortable thing—Han Woojin was sitting next to me.
I had barely spoken with Han Woojin since the plane took off. The only thing he said was “Young Master, is there anything uncomfortable?” right after takeoff.
At a glance, the two of us didn’t even talk, making it hard to believe we were traveling together, and the atmosphere flowing between us was very strange. But I thought it wasn’t bad not to speak with the uncomfortable Han Woojin.
When lunchtime came, the flight attendants started serving food.
‘A full-course meal on a plane. Money really is good after all.’
To think I could enjoy such luxurious food in the sky. After the flight attendant finished serving the person in front, she arrived at my seat.
“Sir, I’ll serve you the appetizer first. Today’s appetizer is scallop with carrot purée. For drinks, would you like water, wine, or juice?”
“Wine, please.”
I hadn’t had a drink in a while, so I answered without hesitation. I originally ended up in this strange place after blacking out from alcohol, and yet here I am craving alcohol again. I thought I was quite hopeless, but I wanted to gulp down some sweet alcohol after such a long time.
“Yes, sir. I’ll pour it for you right away.”
Just as the flight attendant was about to pour the wine into the glass.
Jolt.
The aircraft shook violently due to sudden turbulence. In that moment, the flight attendant dropped the wine bottle, and the wine spilled directly onto my pants. In an instant, my pants were soaked with red liquid.
“Sir, I’m truly sorry.”
The flight attendant’s face immediately turned pale. It wasn’t just her face. The atmosphere in the entire cabin became tense.
Han Woojin also looked at me with a stiff expression, holding his breath. It was as if everyone in this space was like an audience holding their breath, waiting to see what action I would take.
