Chapter 63: A Weekend Outing to a Secluded Villa

The peaceful weekdays gave way to the weekend.

Han Jung-woo, who had been leaving work earlier than usual for several days—perhaps having finished his demanding tasks—seemed intent on staying home all day today.

Having woken up late, I spotted him already occupying the living room. I paused, contemplating a retreat back to my room.

Unless I intended to stay cooped up in my room all day, I would inevitably encounter Han Jung-woo. I simply didn’t want the bother of trying to avoid him.

‘Well, I have to eat too.’

Yawning widely, I descended the stairs, pretending not to notice him as I walked past the living room and into the kitchen.

On weekends, the live-in housekeepers always returned to their own homes. Consequently, they usually prepared enough food in advance to last us during their absence.

Sure enough, when I opened the refrigerator door, it was brimming with enough food to sustain us throughout the entire weekend.

‘I’ll just grab something quick.’

After a brief deliberation, I opted for a light salad for my first meal. As I turned to the dining table, a dark shadow fell over me.

Honestly, I was startled to see him approach so silently, but I quickly composed my expression, feigning indifference. He glanced at the salad in my hand and inquired,

“Are you going to eat?”

“Yes, I was just about to.”

“Then let’s eat together.”

It was too late for breakfast, yet too early for lunch. I had assumed he would have already finished his meal, but it seemed I was mistaken.

When I stepped aside, he stood before the refrigerator. Without hesitation, he chose the exact same salad as me.

Inevitably, I found myself sitting across from him at the dining table, sharing a late morning meal.

“How are you feeling?”

“So-so. Not bad, really.”

As I was nearing the six-week mark of my pregnancy, I had worried about morning sickness beginning soon. Thankfully, I was still fine.

My usual appetite was already small, and adding morning sickness to that would undoubtedly be detrimental to the baby. It was a genuine relief.

“You have an appointment at the obstetrician next Tuesday, don’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’ll send a driver at the appointed time. Don’t take a taxi; use that car to go and return.”

I had been concerned that Han Jung-woo might insist on accompanying me. However, judging by his indifferent expression and his words, he seemed to have no such intention.

After all, public opinion was only just beginning to shift, leaning towards the marriage rumors being baseless. If photos of me visiting the obstetrician were taken now, it would be impossible to contain the fallout.

Regardless, once the child was born, we would live separate lives. It was best for both of us—for Han Jung-woo and me—to be cautious for the sake of the future.

“I’ll be going now.”

Having finished my salad, I rose from my seat. He, too, discarded his half-eaten salad without a second thought and followed me out of the kitchen.

“Aren’t you bored just staying home?”

He asked, naturally falling into step beside me as I headed for the living room. Thinking about it, I realized I hadn’t truly gone out since arriving here.

Without a car, my movements were restricted, and I had no one to meet anyway. Consequently, I had naturally become accustomed to staying indoors.

Since I genuinely enjoyed being home, I was quite content. Yet, from his perspective, it seemed he found my inability to go anywhere regrettable.

“Let’s go out.”

He said, taking my hand.

****

While I changed my clothes, he retrieved the car from the garage. As I passed through the garden and emerged at the main gate, he was waiting for me, leaning against the vehicle.

He walked around the bonnet and opened the passenger door for me. Such chivalry wasn’t strictly necessary, but since he offered, I accepted and climbed into the car.

‘Perhaps I should have just stayed home.’

It was hardly the thought to have after getting dressed and settled in the car, but the prospect of an outing after so long felt utterly bothersome.

As I debated whether to get out even now, he returned to the driver’s seat, started the engine, and drove off.

“Where are we going?”

“Hmm, somewhere Yoo Seo-jin might like?”

Somewhere I might like? Nothing immediately sprang to mind. Of course, if it were the original Yoo Seo-jin from the novel, she would instantly suggest a department store brimming with luxury goods.

‘I wouldn’t like that.’

Unlike the original Yoo Seo-jin, I loathed crowded places. Especially after the marriage rumors, more people recognized Han Jung-woo, meaning we would be the center of attention wherever we went. That made it even worse.

Although public opinion had quieted down since the rebuttal articles were published, tenacious individuals were bound to follow us anywhere.

Fortunately, Han Jung-woo was not a celebrity, so the paparazzi wouldn’t be too aggressive. Still, I couldn’t afford to be completely at ease.

“I don’t like department stores…”

“It’s not a department store, so you don’t need to worry.”

My unfinished sentence found its answer, so I ceased speaking. But if not a department store, then where?

As my curiosity grew, the car, having completely left the city, began speeding down a secluded road.

“You can sleep if you’re tired.”

“Not really. I’m not tired.”

Despite my words, the endlessly repeating scenery gradually began to bore my eyes. As I leaned deep into the seat, gazing out the window, a low humming reached my ears from beside me.

‘He really didn’t need to resemble him in *this* way too.’

Seon Woo-jung was terribly tone-deaf. Judging by his appearance, one would assume he could sing a sweet ballad better than any professional singer, but in reality, he couldn’t even carry a children’s song.

Fans adored this ‘human’ side of him, finding it endearing that even their seemingly perfect idol had flaws. This characteristic, naturally, also applied to Han Jung-woo, as he was a character modeled after Seon Woo-jung.

Author Choi Yoon-hee, who was quite fond of this particular trait, had wanted to include scenes of Han Jung-woo humming throughout the drama. However, Seon Woo-jung had vehemently opposed it.

After much persuasion, they agreed to delete all humming scenes except for one. Of course, Seon Woo-jung whined all day, still unwilling to even do that single scene.

‘My stomach is churning.’

If only I could plug my ears, it might be better, but regrettably, I had rushed out without even a simple pair of earphones. In the meantime, the atrocious humming had shifted to a different tune.

It was truly agonizing.

****

After driving for a considerable time, the car gradually slowed.

My eyes were half-closed from exhaustion, yet I hadn’t managed to fall completely asleep. If only I had slept deeply, I wouldn’t have had to endure that damned humming. It was truly regrettable.

“Let’s get out.”

He switched off the engine and was the first to exit the car. I, with heavy eyelids, moved sluggishly, taking an eternity just to unbuckle my seatbelt.

“Yoo Seo-jin.”

Before I knew it, the once-bright sun was preparing to dip below the horizon. Backlit by the crimson sunset, he extended a hand to me as I stepped out of the car.

Hesitantly, I took his hand. We walked down a deserted path, deeper and deeper into the forest. Eventually, a villa appeared in the distance.

‘This place…’

Though I didn’t know its exact location, this villa had certainly appeared in the drama. However, it was Jung Hee-soo, not me, who had come here with Han Jung-woo in that story.

“It looks quite old on the outside, but I assure you, it’s well-maintained.”

He seemed to have misunderstood my silence, thinking I was worried about entering the dilapidated villa.

Indeed, the exterior of the villa bore the marks of being untouched by human hands for a long time. Yet, I suspected the interior was ready to welcome visitors at any moment.

“Let’s go inside.”

Holding his hand, I stepped into the villa. He fumbled along the wall, pressed a switch, and the interior instantly brightened. Unlike its shabby exterior, the inside was impeccably clean.

“Sit here. I’ll go get us something to drink.”

He led me to a sofa in front of the unlit fireplace, then went to the kitchen. Sitting on the single-seater sofa, I stared blankly at the fireplace, which still bore faint traces of soot.

“There’s only water, is that alright?”

He returned shortly, offering me a mug. I carefully took it, gazing down at the shimmering water within.

“Why did we come here?”

“The sea is too far, and this was the only quiet place I could think of that Yoo Seo-jin might like.”

His answer was remarkably simple. The sea was too distant, and this was the only quiet spot that came to mind. That was the sole reason for our visit.

I took a sip of water from the mug and looked up. As if he had been waiting, he smiled, his eyes crinkling.

“So, do you like it?”

I nodded honestly.

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