When Sahee came to her senses, feeling a strange gaze, it was dawn.
Her body ached as if she had been beaten all night. She grimaced and opened her eyes, enduring the dull pain below her waist.
“What…”
Simultaneously, she gasped, forgetting the pain as she saw the figure in front of her. Jung Taeon, the CEO, was sitting by the bed with her sketchbook in his hand and a pencil.
“Are you awake?”
“…What are you doing?”
“Can’t you see?”
Taeon looked at Sahee intently before adding a few light touches to the sketchbook. Sahee quickly sat up, her face contorted.
In the sketchbook, which the man had deliberately opened, there were several short, jagged lines drawn like a child drawing the sun. It was hard to understand what this strange drawing meant.
“What is this?”
“It’s you.”
“Why is this me?”
Taeon didn’t answer and just looked down, using three sticks to fill in an angry expression within the jagged circle. He turned the sketchbook towards Sahee, looking at her with a satisfied expression, which was ridiculous.
“Ha… ugh.”
With a deep sigh, her waist stretched, and her tailbone ached. Sahee clutched the blanket covering her body and hung her head. Above her bowed head, she heard a short laugh.
“Does it hurt?”
“Are you enjoying this?”
“A bit?”
Taeon closed the sketchbook and tossed it onto the desk before standing up. As he approached, Sahee flinched and looked up at him.
Taeon nodded towards the bed.
“Lie down. I’ll take a look.”
“…”
“Why?”
“No, I’m fine now.”
Sahee quickly turned her head away. The memories of last night flooded back as their eyes met.
She couldn’t believe what she had done. The area between her legs, which had taken him in, was sore, and her eyes, which had cried all night, were burning.
One clear memory was that when she shook her head with a crying face, he soothed her by kissing her cheek. His voice, though doing whatever he wanted, was gentle. Like the smile of a man whose eyes didn’t smile, but only the corners of his mouth lifted.
Sahee pulled the blanket closer. She wrapped herself tightly, leaving only her face exposed. She hardened her gaze, determined not to give anything away.
Glancing around, she saw that his gaze was still on her. She felt strange. Even though they hadn’t exchanged a single word, her fine hairs stood on end, and her fingertips curled.
“Now…”
She was about to tell him to leave when the bed creaked as one side was pressed down. Sahee looked up blankly at the man who had climbed onto the bed. He casually unbuckled his pants.
“…”
Sahee’s lips parted.
Taeon, as if asking what the problem was, forcefully pulled off the blanket Sahee had wrapped around herself. She tried to hold onto the blanket, but he was relentless.
The dim morning light illuminated her bruised body. Sahee covered her upper body with both arms and awkwardly backed away. Seeing the red marks below her collarbone, Taeon laughed happily.
“Why cover up now after showing everything?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Maybe I am.”
There was no escape. With her back completely turned to Taeon, Sahee was caught by the waist. Pulled into his arms, she was dragged and lay beneath him like a dog. The crude words Jung Taeon CEO had muttered last night as he covered her from behind echoed like a warning.
“I, I don’t want to.”
Sahee shook her head vigorously, feeling the man’s weight on her back. Taeon reached down and firmly squeezed her full breasts.
“You said it was okay?”
“That was, ah…!”
As the sensation peaked, a heated sound escaped from her throat. Feeling her body helplessly aroused, Sahee placed her hand over Taeon’s.
She tried to push him away, but it was no use. He continued to rub her nipple between his fingers. Each time the erect tip was pressed, a strange sensation tingled in her lower abdomen.
“Uh, uh… It’s morning, it’s morning.”
“Yes, fuck, this is good.”
“Ha, ha, don’t…!”
Sahee pleaded, gripping Taeon’s hand tightly. Taeon buried his face in the back of her neck, taking a deep breath as he pressed against her.
The man’s hand, which had been roughly squeezing her breast, was now spreading one of her buttocks to the side. He rubbed the tip of his glans against the exposed area between her buttocks. The foreign sensation made Sahee’s body tense up.
“Do you remember how far I fucked you with my cock yesterday?”
Her breath caught in her throat. It had only been one night, not enough to get used to it. The moment when pain and pleasure fiercely intertwined was still vivid. His ridiculously large and long cock had ravaged her insides…
“No, ah…!”
In her fear, she flailed her arm back, and at that moment, he forcefully pushed into the gap between her thighs. Sahee’s head was pressed into the pillow, her breath stolen.
The man’s thick hand kneaded her raised buttocks and then spread them wide, teasingly. The dense pubic hair rubbed against her soft skin.
Sahee’s eyes welled up with shame. Between her thighs, the plump slit… each time the thick shaft moved, the hole gaping widely. The veins on his cock scraped her clitoris, and each time the tip of his glans brushed against the hole, fluid dripped out.
“Uh, uh. I ca, can’t, huh. I can’t.”
Taeon laughed as he moved his hips, his breath rough. He followed her helplessly tilted head, pressing his cheek against hers, his voice gentle.
“I won’t.”
“You are, huh, ah, ah.”
“Sahee, you’re overreacting. I haven’t even put it in yet, ha…”
“Ugh…”
His large hand gripped her buttock firmly. The friction between her thighs sent a burning sensation through Sahee. The tender skin of her thighs turned red, and each time he moved, a wet sound echoed.
When the man pushed his hips deep, and the tip of his cock reached her dry stomach, she flushed with embarrassment. She hated how aroused she was. The sight of his relaxed face made her lower abdomen tingle. It was as if her insides were tightening around him.
“I don’t like it. It’s weird, uh, uh…”
As Sahee sobbed and muttered, Taeon’s movements became rougher. Her hips twisted on their own. Unfamiliar sounds escaped through her gritted teeth.
In the moment of shared climax, the hot breath of the disheveled man in her ear made her feel like she was melting.
****
While Sahee lay sprawled on the bed, Taeon emerged from the small bathroom attached to the room.
Sahee opened her eyes at the sudden humidity filling the room, only to quickly shut them again at the sight of his naked body.
“Please go now.”
Just as Sahee managed to speak, someone called for him from outside.
“CEO.”
Startled, Sahee opened her eyes wide. Taeon, who had been approaching her, met her gaze briefly before turning away.
Sahee hurriedly curled up, covering herself with the blanket up to her head. Taeon chuckled and looked back at her.
Even after the door closed, Sahee couldn’t remove the blanket. She could only guess at the conversation from the muffled voices she heard.
The sound of footsteps approached again. A thud rang out clearly as something dropped onto the bed.
“What are you doing today?”
Taeon asked while putting on the suit his secretary had brought.
Sahee, hidden under the blanket, said nothing—only breathing heavily. She wanted to rest. She wished he would leave quickly, her eyes blinking in silence.
Then Taeon abruptly pulled the blanket down, revealing Sahee’s face. Helplessly exposed, Sahee looked up at him with trembling eyes.
By morning, the man—now sharply dressed in a navy three-piece suit—had erased all traces of the previous night’s indulgence. The impeccable fit of his suit, leaving no room for disorder, felt unjust to her. Even the glimpse of her bare shoulder beneath the blanket added to her shame.
As she tried to pull the blanket tighter around herself, her chin was seized. Taeon’s thumb roughly brushed her dry, chapped lower lip.
“Judging by your look, breakfast is off the table.”
“…”
“Send me a message about what you had for lunch.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Then I guess we’ll have dinner together.”
“I said no.”
Sahee brushed Taeon’s hand away and turned to face the wall.
Taeon frowned as he looked down at her. Her reddened, swollen eyes closed as her defiant voice broke the silence.
“Come at night.”
The pride clinging to her bruised expression was almost laughable. He nearly smirked—but instead, a flicker of pity stirred in him at her pale, wilted appearance. Clicking his tongue, Taeon turned to leave.
As he switched off the bedside lamp and walked out, his gaze briefly paused on an envelope lying neatly on the desk—its logo bearing the mark of an arts foundation.
****
The film house was in chaos.
Sahee, intending to tell Madam Chun about her trip to Seoul to meet her friends, found herself swept into the commotion.
The spark had ignited when Chae Yoonbok’s phone call with a loan shark was overheard by Park Jisun.
Park Jisun, who had just returned from a day-long prayer ritual on the mountain, had been uneasy and went to check on Chae Yoonbok. That was when she stumbled upon him—prostrate and pleading into the phone.
“I’ll repay it. I promise. I’ll repay it soon. I’ll talk to my mother-in-law. Just this once…”
Hearing it all through the door, Park Jisun burst in—and Chae Yoonbok was forced to confess everything.
His gambling.
Spending Chae Hyunji’s marriage fund.
Trying to recover his losses with more loans—only to end up with a debt of 2.5 billion won.
The real reason behind Chae Hyunji’s broken engagement.
Park Jisun’s enraged voice rang through the main hall, and the entire family was summoned to her room. Even Madam Chun had stepped in hours ago to mediate.
As dinner time approached and Madam Chun remained absent, someone had to assist in the kitchen.
Hearing soft sobs nearby, Sahee glanced over and saw Cheoljun clicking his tongue in disapproval.
“What a mess. I didn’t think Chae Yoonbok was like that.”
“…Right.”
“Madam Chun and Hyunji’s shaman once speculated about the breakup, saying that if there was trouble, it was probably Hyunji’s fault. Turns out, they weren’t entirely wrong—it was all tied to Chae Yoonbok’s energy.”
Cheoljun’s uncle shuddered like he’d been spooked.
Recalling how Cheoljun had scoffed at such beliefs while preparing the ancestral attire not long ago, Sahee replied, “Didn’t you say that even after twenty years at the film house, you didn’t believe in that stuff?”
“Consider me a believer as of today. Those shamans are the real deal. No wonder people call them divine. If I were Chae Yoonbok, I’d have felt a chill the moment that door opened.”
A debt of 2.5 billion won.
Even hearing words like “gambling” and “creditors” felt surreal.
It seemed like something from the 9 o’clock news—not the film house. With so many misfortunes converging here at once, perhaps this place didn’t need rituals for the Jungmun Group’s prosperity, but exorcisms for itself.
Sahee, too, felt conflicted, haunted by her own reckless deeds. As the lingering soreness reminded her of the previous night, she pulled a cart over.
If her grandmother ever found out about her secret tryst with Jung Taeon, a mere summons wouldn’t be the end of it.
Shaking off the thoughts, Sahee began unloading dishes for the detached quarters. Just then, the lady in charge of food prep approached Cheoljun.
“Cheoljun.”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“If Madam Chun isn’t around, who’s going to serve them today? Weren’t you planning to just help with the meal prep and leave early for your date?”
Caught off guard, Cheoljun’s mouth dropped open.
“Uh… couldn’t you go, ma’am?”
“Nope. Not happening.”
“Why not?”
“I’m scared.”
“Scared of what!”
“I just don’t like rich people. They look down on you for no reason—even without saying a word. That’s why I quit my last job. The madam is nice enough, but that CEO guy gives me the creeps. Didn’t Madam Chun get scolded by him recently?”
“Ma’am…”
“Don’t give me that pitying look. You can reschedule your date, can’t you?”
“But last week I got yelled at for being late because of work…”
“Well, I don’t care! I’m not going!”
“I have to get married, you know.”
“Fine, I’ll serve the madam—but you handle the CEO.”
“He eats so late because of work! I’d be stuck there two hours just standing around!”
The horror stories about Jung Taeon, the CEO, were widely known. And the reactions from the other staff were no different.
Not everyone had the slyness to slip away like Uncle Bang, or the seasoned grace to handle anything like Madam Chun. Most people just waved the idea off with a flat “not me.”
Before the blame could shift again, Sahee quietly began stepping out of the kitchen.
“Why doesn’t Sahee go?”
“Sahee?”
“She’s helped out in the detached quarters before, back when Madam Chun was sick. Even if she makes mistakes, she’s the shaman’s granddaughter. Better her than us.”
“…”
“And let’s not forget—our Sahee has quite the nerve.”
Hearing this, Sahee frowned and turned around. One of the workers, realizing they’d gone too far, coughed awkwardly and avoided her gaze.
Uncle Bang, on the other hand, looked practically thrilled.
****
Clatter, clatter.
The uneven wheels of the cart echoed down the hall.
In the end, Sahee lost the battle of public opinion. Though she grudgingly took the task, the older kitchen helper offered to serve the madam herself. Even so, the weight on Sahee’s shoulders didn’t change.
“Hyunji was crying her heart out earlier. The shaman must be feeling troubled too. From what I hear, the fiancé’s family is pretty well off. It’s hard to accept a gambler as an in-law. Even after the marriage—who would clean up the mess if he caused more trouble? That’s just human nature, you know.”
Recalling the faint sound of Chae Hyunji’s sobs while she prepared the food, Sahee nodded absently.
Despite all the secrecy, today’s events ensured that the news of the broken engagement would spread across the neighborhood long before any wedding ever could. With locals hired to serve the Jungmun Group guests, it was inevitable.
Letting the chatter about Chae Hyunji flow in one ear and out the other, Sahee glanced over at the cart slowing beside hers.
“Ma’am.”
“Yes?”
“Go on ahead.”
“Why?”
“The food will get cold. The CEO doesn’t mind eating late, but the madam probably does.”
“You think? Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“Yes. Please go ahead.”
“Alright then. Take care, Sahee.”
Watching the helper speed ahead, Sahee pushed her own cart forward.
The distant memory of Jung Taeon’s voice—“Is there no one else at the film house who can work besides you?”—resurfaced in her mind, making each step heavier than the last.
But what choice did she have? Like it or not, the film house was her home. Whether he came or went, as long as she relied on this place, she was one of its people.
She repeated that fact to herself again and again, gripping the cart tightly and pushing forward. Even so, the rush of tension refused to leave her body.
****
When she knocked on the door, her face was stiff.
Knock, knock. After a moment’s hesitation, permission to enter came from within. Parking the cart beside her, Sahee opened the door.
The first gaze she met was Secretary Kim’s. His eyes briefly flickered with surprise, as though he hadn’t expected Sahee to be the one bringing the meal.
Sahee felt just as awkward. The sound of Secretary Kim’s voice from outside the door that morning resurfaced in her mind, and heat crept up her neck.
“Ah… hello.”
At his greeting, Sahee gave a brief nod in return, her gaze darting to the man buried in documents on the sofa. In the process, her eyes met Secretary Kim’s a few more times.
“Tell her to leave it and go.”
The moment Taeon spoke, without even looking up, his tone sharp, Sahee instinctively followed the order.
She stepped forward but had to turn back for the cart she’d left behind. As she did, Taeon, who had been focused on his documents, suddenly lifted his head at the sound of her footsteps, frowning in her direction.
Their eyes met. Time seemed to freeze, and Sahee hesitated in place. Please stay here, she thought, willing Secretary Kim to remain. But as if reading her mind, he clapped his hands lightly and excused himself.
“Well, I’ll step out to eat then.”
“That’s probably best.”
As Sahee looked at him with a flicker of unease, Taeon watched her, his gaze slightly crooked. Secretary Kim smiled innocently, pretending not to notice anything. He even helped push the cart into the room before leaving without another glance at Sahee.
Left in the silence, Sahee turned back to Taeon. Reclining on the sofa, he watched her intently.
“What are you doing? Get to work.”
“…Yes.”
All she could manage in response was that small word, as memories from the previous night flooded her mind.
Sahee opened the cart and began setting the prepared dishes on the dining table one by one. His gaze remained calm, almost indifferent.
She’d braced herself for him to be angry, but perhaps it was better this way. Maybe, having spent the night together, none of this mattered anymore. The thought brought relief but also left her feeling oddly unsettled. She bit her lip, chewing softly at the tender skin to quiet her restless thoughts.
The sound of his approaching footsteps reached her ears just as she placed the final plate on the table. His steps were steady, deliberate, and when he was directly behind her, she felt his presence loom.
“You didn’t come here to do something cute for me, did you, Yeon Sahee?”
Startled, Sahee barely had time to turn before Taeon wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. She inhaled sharply in surprise.
“What, are you trying to rile me up?”
His tone was oddly relaxed. Though his words were harsh, it wasn’t difficult to sense that he was in a good mood.
“…There was an issue at the main house, so I had no choice but to come.”
“You’re telling me there was no one else?”
“It’s just… no one likes you, CEO.”
“What?”
Taeon let out a disbelieving chuckle.
Sahee froze. The other workers’ discomfort around him had slipped out in her flustered state.
“And you?”
“Me… I…”
Before she could finish, he laughed softly, clearly amused. His fingers brushed lightly against her waist, making her stiffen. The more she squirmed to escape, the tighter his hold became.
“That’s right. Yeon Sahee, you’re the only one who thinks I’m easy to handle.”
His large hand slid down to lightly tug at the hem of her long skirt. Alarmed, Sahee slapped her palms against the dining table and turned to glare at him.
“What… what are you doing?”
“Just checking if everything’s okay.”
His hand slid under her skirt, traveling up her thigh with shameless ease, his gaze unapologetic. Sahee quickly reached behind her, trying to stop his arm.
“Ah!”
In that instant, Taeon’s hand firmly grabbed her buttock, pushing her forward. The dining table she was bracing against shook with a clatter.
“Keep it down.”
Sahee’s head dropped forward, her face pressed down. Out of her line of sight, his touch grew more invasive. He tugged at her underwear as if to tear it and forcefully spread apart the intimate barrier. His thick finger began to circle the tight, tense entrance, teasing it with deliberate pressure.
“You’re swollen.”
His casual tone sharply contrasted with the brazenness of his actions. Sahee could vividly picture the hand of Jung Taeon—the absurdly large, well-proportioned fingers with thick joints and long, even proportions—just from the sensation alone.
The traces of their previous intimacy still lingered on her body, making it impossible to remain unaffected. When his fingers, slick with moisture, found her clitoris and pinched it lightly, a gasp climbed up her throat. She clamped a hand over her mouth in a hurry to muffle her voice.
“Mmnh.”
When she opened her eyes, his arm had come back around to the front. Between her legs was damp with arousal, and even the insides of her tightly pressed thighs were wet.
As if he wasn’t already wreaking enough havoc, he playfully slapped at her from behind. The table wobbled with each jolt, and the neatly set dishes shifted out of place.
This man was insane. No, he was definitely out of his mind.
Her arms trembled. Her legs were already too weak to hold her up, and if not for the arm locked around her waist, she would have collapsed entirely.
“If you haven’t eaten yet, should I let you go have your meal?”
Taeon kissed the top of her head as though asking an ordinary question.
“You seem pretty starved, Yeon Sahee.”
“I, I… ugh…”
“What? Did a little rubbing make you wet yourself like a child?”
She couldn’t fight back against his low, mocking words. When she turned her head to glare at him, his sneering expression briefly twisted. Their eyes met, and her body trembled violently.
As she slumped into his arms, Taeon caught her effortlessly. His lips roughly pressed against her tear-streaked eyelids.
“Damn it…” His low curse buzzed in her ears, sending a wave of disarray through her mind.
Would he really do it here? Fear surged, and Sahee grabbed at his arm in desperation. He was breathing heavily, his gaze sharp and burning.
“I’ll come at night, so just go for now.”
The suppressed heat in his voice was scorching against her ear.
****
She fled the annex as though escaping.
By the time she reached her room, it felt like all her strength had been drained. She slid to the floor, unable to stand, her back pressed against the door. She didn’t even have the energy to change her clothes or wash up—she just buried her face in her hands, trying to calm her erratic heartbeat. The damp traces he’d left on her body filled her with mortification, even as she sat there.
She had spent no more than fifteen minutes in the annex. No matter how much she scrubbed with hot water, she couldn’t erase the fact that it had taken only fifteen minutes for her to reach her peak.
And even fifteen minutes was generous, she realized, once she accounted for her hesitation at the door and the time spent setting the table. The realization was utterly humiliating.
The memory of his voice—asking if she was starved—made her feel even worse. She couldn’t bear to think about the touch of Jung Taeon’s hands anymore. It filled her with dread.
****
[Don’t come.]
[I’m tired and plan to sleep early.]
She left a message for Jung Taeon while packing her things. After much hesitation, she finally pressed send.
For a moment, she considered explaining that she would be heading to Seoul the next day but decided against it. Acting like they were in a relationship would only make her feel ridiculous.
Sahee checked her messages with Madam Chun. She had already asked Uncle Bang to relay her plans and had sent a separate message to Madam Chun herself, but there was no reply yet—likely because the situation at the main house hadn’t settled.
Sahee placed the square-shaped 18-inch suitcase on the small wooden porch and returned to her room, sinking onto the bed. Her phone buzzed, and the vibration sent a jolt through her chest.
Awkwardly, she turned her head, grabbed the phone, and checked the caller ID.
[Kim Juhwan]
The tension swelling in her chest deflated like a punctured balloon. With a sigh, she answered the call.
“Hello?”
— Sahee, you’re still coming tomorrow, right?
“Yes, I’m going.”
— It was decided so suddenly I was worried you might not have arranged transportation.
“No worries. I’ve got it sorted.”
— That idiot Park Minjae. He kept putting off our plans because he wanted to go to the pro baseball opener with his girlfriend. Now he’s broken up with her and is suddenly desperate to meet. He’s definitely planning to get drunk and cry. Be careful around him. These days, he’s always drinking—even in the studio. I can’t tell if this place is a bar or a workspace.
“I’ll make sure to keep my distance.”
— Yeah, you should. Anyway, what time are you arriving?
“Around four. I’m leaving after lunch.”
— Have you arranged a place to stay?
“I booked something near Gangnam.”
— Are you sure you don’t need me to pick you up? I can at least come to the terminal…
“It’s fine. I’ll just grab a taxi.”
At her firm refusal, there was a brief silence on Juhwan’s end, followed by a quiet sigh.
Though he meant well, she didn’t want to rely on him too easily. Sahee knew Juhwan was a genuinely good person, but she couldn’t live depending on others’ kindness for everything.
That’s why she tried not to lean too much on Madam Chun or Uncle Bang either. She was grateful for their help, but if she had to do things alone eventually, it was better to start now.
— …Have you given any more thought to studying abroad? Yoojeong and Philip are really fired up about it. You should be too.
“Hmm…”
— I figured. Think about it more seriously tonight, okay?
“Sure. Thanks for the call.”
Sahee meant it.
Most of their peers grumbled that Juhwan acted too much like a mother, but deep down, they appreciated his meddlesome care. Sahee felt the same. It didn’t happen often, so maybe he wasn’t immune to the sentiment either—he let out a short groan of discomfort.
— Enough. That’s cheesy. See you tomorrow.
“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
The short call ended, and oddly enough, thinking about tomorrow lightened her heart. Saying yes to the trip to Seoul had been impulsive, but now it felt like good timing.
Spending a day away from the temple might help her clear her thoughts. Maybe she’d be able to face Jung Taeon more calmly afterward. A night of noisy drinking and pointless chatter might even help ease the complicated emotions swirling inside her.
Glancing again at the unanswered messages on her phone, she eventually set it aside. Just then, she heard a knock.
Or was it a knock? Maybe not the door itself, but something nearby.
Sahee paused and looked toward the door, which stood silent, no shadow in sight. It had sounded like someone tapped the suitcase she’d left outside. Her eyes narrowed, and for no reason at all, her heart began to pound.
If it were Madam Chun or Uncle Bang, they would’ve called out, “Sahee? Yeon Sahee?” Yet the phone remained silent. No voice followed.
Summoning her resolve, Sahee pushed herself up from the bed. Her legs wobbled, but she steadied herself against the wall and opened the door. Through the crack, her eyes met his. Jung Taeon stood there, gaze tilted and sharp.
“You’re going to bed early, are you?”
“…”
“Planning to slip away in the dead of night?”
Stepping outside, Sahee pulled the suitcase closer and cautiously looked at him.
“Why are you here?”
“Because I was worried.”
“…”
“Why aren’t you asleep?”
“I was just about to.”