Chapter 6: A Fragile Truce

“I’m not asking for instant forgiveness or anything.
Just saying we don’t need to be at each other’s throats anymore.”

Do Yoon’s brow furrowed slightly.
I pressed on, not giving him a chance to counter.

“What I mean is, when I do something like get you porridge, it’s not some scheme.
It’s definitely not to impress Grandfather either.
I just want you to take it at face value.
Even strangers do that much, right?”

I took a quick breath before continuing.

“If anything, I’d like to… get along with you.
If you’re okay with that.”

They say a pause before an important statement grabs attention.
Was that natural enough?

But a glance at Do Yoon’s statue-like face showed no reaction, as still as wax.

When the silence stretched past five seconds, I got the sinking feeling I’d messed up.
It was like the vibe in a meeting when someone pitches a terrible idea.
I blurted out.

“Sorry, that sounded like bullsh*t.”

“Even strangers do that much?”

Do Yoon’s voice was ice-cold.
He let out a scoff, dripping with disbelief.

“You’re the one who said we’re worse than strangers.
Told me not to act like I’m part of the Haewon family in public.
Said not to acknowledge you if we met outside.
Told me to live like I’m invisible in this house, to stay out of your sight.
And now you want to get along?”

I froze, closing my eyes briefly as his words hit.

Damn you, Choi Seung Hyun!

This guy barely saw the protagonist but still managed to drive nails into his heart.
Do Yoon continued, his tone flat but scathing.

“I don’t get why you’re doing this.”

It wasn’t confusion—it was anger, straight from the novel.
Sensing the shift in his mood, I stumbled, my tongue tripping.

“I, uh, back then I was young.
Immature.
Sorry.”

As soon as I said it, I realized I’d echoed Father’s jab from dinner.
Idiot, young?
You’re seven years older than him!
When are you supposed to grow up?

Cursing my lack of originality, I scrambled to explain.

“Look, it was overwhelming when Father suddenly brought you in as my brother.
It felt like a betrayal to Mom and me.
And when Grandfather accepted you, I felt… betrayed too.”

Sweat poured off me as I grasped for excuses.
Thankfully, I recalled a monologue from Seung Hyun in the novel’s epilogue.
Of course, the original Seung Hyun would rather die than say this to Do Yoon’s face.

Sure enough, the hostile air around Do Yoon seemed to pause.
My throat bobbed with a loud swallow.

“But that didn’t mean I should’ve been cruel to you.
You’re a victim in this too.
I was too self-centered, caught up in my own world.
I was out of my depth.
I’m sorry.”

This was my honest take from reading the novel.
If Seung Hyun had any conscience, he wouldn’t have tormented a kid not even twenty, especially one who’d lived on welfare with his dying mother.
Do Yoon’s eyes widened, like he was shocked.

After a moment, he exhaled thinly, his face back to its usual calm.

“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s got nothing to do with me.
But coming to me on a day like today, apologizing and saying you’ll live differently—it feels like you’ve got an ulterior motive.”

Oh.

“Is there a reason you suddenly need to apologize to me?”

His words hit the mark, and my heart jolted.
Truth is, I was desperate to clear the original Seung Hyun’s bad karma as fast as possible, to start this new life from a clean slate.
Like paying off a maxed-out credit card in one go.

“Uh…”

Caught off guard, I stammered like an amateur.

“Just… because I’m sorry.”

“Did Grandfather ask for a show of brotherly love as a birthday gift?
I don’t know what you’re getting out of it, but I can’t play along.
Sorry.”

Do Yoon stood abruptly.
Panicked, I reached for his wrist, but he flinched and swatted my hand away with a sharp motion, like brushing off garbage.
It was an unmistakable rejection.

He walked to the hairdryer, and soon a loud whir filled the room.
My face burned with embarrassment.
Unable to say more, I slunk out of his room like I’d been kicked out.

Back in my room, I turned off the light and lay down, my face still hot.

‘Too hasty.’

I replayed the novel in my head.
In the story, Bae Ji An’s tearful honesty melted everything.
Wait, no.
Wrong comparison.

I’m not the heroine, so what’s the point of her foolproof tactics?
If the heroine’s 100% sincerity worked, I’d need 200%.
Do Yoon grew up reading people’s intentions, a master at spotting genuine from fake.

It hit me where I went wrong.
Apologizing for things I didn’t even remember?
To him, I must’ve sounded like a slimy politician campaigning for votes.

Mortified at comparing myself to the heroine, I kicked the blankets a few times.

I woke up around 11 a.m.
Half-asleep, I shuffled to the dining room, where a single portion of breakfast awaited.

“Where’s everyone else?”

“Miss Seung Hee went to work, and young master Do Yoon left for school.”

“I see.”

Manager Jo answered kindly, and I mechanically spooned rice into my mouth.
As expected from a hotel chef, it was delicious.
No restaurant in Seoul could beat this house’s food.

“Take your time, young master.”

“Thanks.”

These past few days, I’d been staying up late, lost in thoughts—Do Yoon’s past, getting on his good side, what I need to do, my future, my ties with the family.
It was so much, my brain felt overloaded.

Befriending Do Yoon was priority number one, but I also couldn’t let Seung Hee and Do Yoon meet behind my back or get too close.
Because eventually, they’d team up and stab me in the back.

Chewing brown rice, I spoke up.

“Manager Jo, you probably heard, but my memory’s spotty right now.”

“Yes.”

“What was my usual schedule like?”

I needed to know what my daily life was like.

Surely it wasn’t just lounging around like a jobless heir every day.
Chaebol kids are always busy.
Seung Hee certainly was—barely home, hard to catch.
Do Yoon was the same, leaving at dawn for school and holing up in his room when he got back.

I was the only idle one in this house.
Even after last week’s hospital stay, a week later, I must have something to do.

But Manager Jo gave an awkward smile.
It was the same look a lead actor’s manager gave me when their star stormed off after fighting with the director.
My question must’ve been a tough one.

The answer came from someone else.

“A schedule?
You?”

It was Ms. Shin Mi Sun, elegantly dressed in a deep blue two-piece suit.
I choked on my rice, coughing.
She was an uncomfortable character, not just for the original Seung Hyun but for me as a reader too.

Mother started talking fast, like she’d been waiting her whole life to lecture me.

“I brought you back to Korea to learn the business, but all you do is chase girls and drink!
Get your act together.
You think Grandfather will approve of you like this?
If you won’t work, go back to the States and get an MBA!”

As she yelled, Manager Jo seamlessly blended into the background, a skill honed from years in this house.
I wanted to do something—go to the States, join the company, anything.
But instead of saying that, I channeled the original Seung Hyun.

“Why wouldn’t Grandfather approve?
I’m the eldest grandson.”

Mother glared at me, her expression a mix of disdain and something more complex.
She opened her mouth to retort but, too annoyed, stormed out.
The dining room fell into an even heavier silence.
Ignoring the outburst, I looked at Manager Jo.

“…So, I’m basically jobless?”

Her phone rang loudly.
Checking the caller, she looked troubled.

“Sorry, young master.”

“No, it’s fine.
Take it here.”

She nodded and answered.

“Yes, hello, sir.
Yes, about young master Do Yoon…”

Young master Do Yoon?

My ears perked up as I sucked on marinated crab.
Manager Jo’s voice grew quieter.