Chapter 4

When she turned her head, she saw her younger sister, Yeon Bora, with her face pressed close to the car window.

Bora had placed the side of one hand against the window and leaned in close, apparently trying to get a look inside the car.

Caught completely off guard by the sudden situation, Eum swallowed nervously.

“I should get going now. Thank you for today.”

Eum hurriedly put down the jacket and opened the door. She opened it only as much as necessary, worried that rainwater might splash inside.

“Eek! Unni?”

Sure enough, the moment Eum stepped out, Bora hopped over and linked arms with her.

The raindrops hanging from the tip of Bora’s umbrella splattered onto Eum.

“You look so pretty today!”

Bora’s eyes were already large like her stepmother’s, and the colored contacts made them look even more doll-like as they sparkled with excitement.

“But whose car is this?”

Apparently, because the windows were heavily tinted, she hadn’t been able to see all the way to the driver’s seat.

Bora normally never initiated conversations with Eum at home, so there was no doubt that she was acting this way because she was conscious of the car’s owner. Even Eum had to admit that Jihoon’s car looked extremely sleek and expensive.

“You said you had plans today. Is it your boyfriend?”

Her intentions were obvious, but Eum answered without showing it.

“It’s not like that.”

“Then that’s great! We’re on our way to see a movie right now, so come with us! Mom and Dad are already waiting at the theater.”

“It’s okay. You three go ahead.”

As she answered, Eum quietly slipped her arm out of Bora’s grasp. The rainwater continuing to fall onto the top of her head was cold.

“Aw, that’s disappointing. You never hang out with us! Come on, let’s watch a movie together. They say it’s really good. You need to take your mind off studying, too…”

“Don’t you know I’m preparing for the entrance exam?”

In the end, Eum couldn’t hide her discomfort. She rubbed the back of her neck with one hand. Rain dripping from Bora’s umbrella ran down her cheek and slipped inside her collar.

“Oh…”

Bora stared blankly for a moment.

“I’m sorry, Unni. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay. You’re angry with me, aren’t you? Right?”

Even though Eum said it was fine, Bora refused to let it go and followed after her.

“Eum.”

Then a voice that should not have been heard in this situation stopped her in her tracks.

Before she could even turn around, a soft jacket suddenly fell over her head. A familiar scent enveloped her in an instant, shielding her from the cold rain. The warmth was so comforting that her heart gave an aching throb.

“It looks like the rain’s getting heavier again.”

The sound of the rain and Jihoon’s voice blended together, clinging to her ears.

Jihoon met Eum’s slowly raised eyes, which looked as though she couldn’t believe what was happening, and adjusted the jacket over her head.

“Bring it back on Monday.”

“But it’ll get wet in the rain…”

“If you know that, then get inside quickly.”

He nodded toward the apartment building. Unable to look directly at him, Eum gave a small nod.

Jihoon quietly watched her for a moment before turning to leave.

“Chairman!”

It wasn’t Eum who called out to him. It was Bora.

Jihoon tilted his head slightly, as though only then noticing her presence.

“Don’t you remember me? I’m Yeon Bora.”

“And?”

“I gave you some snacks in front of the school store before! I bumped into you, so I gave them to you to apologize. You don’t remember?”

“Are you saying you’re a student at our school?”

Jihoon swept his rain-soaked bangs back with an annoyed gesture as he spoke.

“Sorry about that. I meet dozens of kids like you every day.”

With that, Jihoon cut off the conversation as though he had no intention of continuing it and got into his car.

As he drove away without a care, Bora’s face flushed bright red.

But Eum had no time to pay attention to her sister. Still covered by the jacket, she hurried inside the building.

Even after getting into the elevator, and even after entering her room, the jacket remained draped over her head.

She was completely intoxicated by his scent.

The long-awaited Monday finally arrived.

Having skipped breakfast as well, Eum left home earlier than usual. The journey to school, which had always felt so heavy, now seemed as light as if she were walking on clouds.

Before going up to her classroom, Eum went to the chairman’s office.

She knocked with a pounding heart, but there was no response. When she tried the doorknob and found that it wouldn’t open, she realized he probably hadn’t arrived at work yet.

“I came too early…”

In her excitement, she had completely forgotten what time Jihoon usually came to work.

On Sunday evening, Changshin had been at home. He must have heard everything that had happened at the restaurant, but he hadn’t said a word to her. He hadn’t scolded her or even given her a warning.

Could it be that Jihoon had really hidden her behind him and protected her? She couldn’t help wondering.

Eum looked down at Jihoon’s jacket, which she had carefully draped over her arm.

She hadn’t been able to concentrate on studying all weekend. Her eyes kept being drawn to the jacket hanging on the wall.

She had actually tried it on, too, but it was so big around the shoulders and sleeves that she looked like a little child wearing her father’s clothes. It was the moment she truly realized just how big Jihoon was.

“What are you doing?”

How much time had passed?

The voice she had been waiting for came from behind her.

Eum turned around, and her face immediately blossomed into a bright smile.

“Teacher!”

Just like a puppy waiting for its owner.

Jihoon, of course, was anything but enthusiastic in return.

“Why am I your teacher?”

“This—the jacket you lent me. I couldn’t wash it. I had to sneak it out…”

“Thank you for not washing it.”

If she had washed it, he would have had the hassle of throwing it away and having another one made to match.

He unlocked the door and entered the chairman’s office, and Eum naturally trotted in right behind him.

“Why are you coming in?”

“Huh?”

“Go. Back to your classroom.”

He wondered if his tone had been too cold, but the girl was too inexperienced at controlling her emotions and too eager to rush forward, so she needed to be handled firmly.

“There’s still plenty of time.”

“But you’re an entrance-exam student. Is that really what you should be saying?”

“Hmph. I’m only doing it because I like it.”

This immature girl was fooling around without even realizing how her words sounded.

“I mean, I like that your scent is in this room.”

“Quiet. Get out.”

“No.”

“The only answer you’re allowed to give me is ‘Yes.’”

Only then did Eum pout, but apparently she still had no intention of leaving, because she even leaned back against the sofa.

Unable to tolerate her shameless behavior any longer, Jihoon let out a deep sigh and stood up.

If she wouldn’t leave on her own, he had no choice but to make her leave himself.

He strode over, grabbed Eum by the arm, and forcibly pulled her to her feet.

“Ahh! Why?”

“If you keep fooling around, I’ll report you to the police for trespassing.”

“I’ll be quiet. I won’t talk to you or anything…!”

But as Jihoon tried to drag her out, Eum’s foot caught on the leg of the table.

Just as she sensed the danger and was about to scream, a strong arm pulled her firmly around the waist.

Thump.

“Ah…”

Eum couldn’t move.

Jihoon’s scent had rushed over her from such close range that it felt as though her entire heart were being soaked in it.

“I-I’m going!”

With her face burning, Eum finally ran out of the chairman’s office.

Only after Eum disappeared did Jihoon let out a relieved sigh and collapse onto the sofa. All this commotion just because he had returned a jacket.

Then he felt something underneath him. Turning his eyes toward it without much thought, he noticed that one of the jacket pockets was bulging.

He reached inside and pulled out a lollipop. There was also a sticky note folded into the shape of a little letter.

♥Thank you, Teacher♥

The innocent sweetness so characteristic of her age finally drew a quiet chuckle from Jihoon.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

A moment later, Minjae poked his head inside.

“Executive Director. Um, Mr. Yeon Changshin, your former teacher, is here to see you…”

The sudden arrival of the unexpected guest was puzzling for only a moment.

“Please marry my daughter.”

An earnest plea followed.