Contract Marriage with Memory Loss on Top - Chapter 29
Thump, Yeon-woo felt something falling near his feet. Wondering what it was, he tried to check below, but a USB inside the drawer caught his attention.
“Is this it?”
Yeon-woo, who was about to check towards the floor, stopped pushing the drawer in and picked up the object presumed to be the USB Ki-won mentioned. After intently looking at the front and back of the USB, Yeon-woo decided it would be better to call Ki-won and raised his cell phone.
After a couple of dial tones, Ki-won’s voice was heard before long.
– Yes, Yeon-woo.
“Hyung, I think I found a USB in the study, but I’m not sure. Is the black USB in the first drawer on the right the right one?”
– That seems to be the right one.
“Then I’ll grab this and come right away!”
– Come carefully, Yeon-woo. I’ll come down before you arrive if you call me.
“Okay.”
Yeon-woo hung up, put the USB in his pocket, and returned the drawer to its original state. And as he was about to leave the study, something bumped into Yeon-woo’s nose and flew to the doorstep as if sliding.
“Ah, right…”
He was about to leave in a daze and forgot that something had fallen. Yeon-woo hurriedly picked up the object.
“A key?”
What came into Yeon-woo’s grip was a small key. A very small key with a wooden handle. It had rust here and there as if it was made of cheap material. Yeon-woo, who couldn’t tell exactly where it was supposed to be stored, pushed the key into the pocket with the USB. He couldn’t just leave a key that might be important on the desk since people who manage the house would be coming soon.
***
“Thank you.”
As soon as he arrived in front of the company, Yeon-woo left a greeting to the chauffeur. Yeon-woo, who got out of the car, hugged his arms at the cold that hit him. Since it seemed he would go into the building right away, he didn’t dress thickly, so it was quite cold.
The headquarters where Ki-won commuted was always huge and dazzling. Yeon-woo entered with a quick pace, thinking that Ki-won was amazing.
As soon as he passed the entrance, Yeon-woo stopped and immediately called Ki-won. Yeon-woo was not an employee of the headquarters, so he could not reach the executive office without his help.
‘Why isn’t he picking up?’
He seemed to have said that he would come down if he called, but for some reason, he didn’t answer the call. Yeon-woo, who tilted his head, double-checked the time. Lunchtime would be over soon. Worried that he might not be able to deliver the USB at this rate, Yeon-woo headed to the information desk.
“Um… I was supposed to meet Executive Director Kwon Ki-won for a bit, but he’s not answering, so… Could you perhaps tell me which floor the executive office is on?”
When Yeon-woo timidly asked, the employee kindly smiled and guided him through the procedure.
“To meet the executive director, we need to check your appointment. Could you tell me your name? If it’s confirmed, I will guide you.”
“Pardon…?”
Yeon-woo, who didn’t know that he could only meet him if he had an appointment, couldn’t hide his bewilderment. It wasn’t a formal appointment, but a hastily made one. There was no way Ki-won would have told the employees separately. But it was also awkward to introduce himself to the employee, saying, “Actually, I’m Executive Director Kwon Ki-won’s spouse.” Yeon-woo’s face was not known as he had never been with Ki-won at official schedules. It was also awkward to let it be known now that they were divorcing soon.
“Ah… Well, it’s not a formally set schedule, so it probably won’t be on the list… My name is Seo Yeon-woo.”
As Yeon-woo couldn’t hide his troubled expression and was stammering, the employee answered again in a gentle tone.
“There are occasionally people who don’t have an official schedule set, so you don’t need to worry. I’ll contact the secretary’s office.”
The employee sent a glance telling him to wait a moment, then tried to contact the secretary’s office using the internal phone. It was roughly a question like, “A person named Seo Yeon-woo came, but did you hear anything separately from Executive Director Kwon?” Yeon-woo kept rubbing his fingertips and glanced at his watch. He was worried that he might not be able to deliver the USB at this rate.
“Thank you for waiting. You have been confirmed.”
At the employee’s words, Yeon-woo’s expression brightened in an instant. It seemed Ki-won had left some word with the secretary’s office. After that, Yeon-woo’s wait wasn’t long. An employee who came down from the executive office came out, saying he would guide Yeon-woo.
“Um… Where did the executive director go? He’s not answering the phone.”
Yeon-woo carefully opened his mouth. Trying to call Ki-won executive director instead of hyung felt awkward somehow.
“Just a moment ago, an urgent agenda requiring the executive director’s confirmation came up, so he went into the meeting room.”
“Ah…”
Yeon-woo gave a small nod. He must have been called to the meeting room even though it was still break time, it was a moment when he felt how busy of a person Ki-won was. Yeon-woo meaninglessly fidgeted his toes in the elevator going up to the executive office.
‘The feeling is strange…’
His heart that was beating a little had somehow become rough enough to echo in his ears. He already knew the difference between Ki-won and himself, but coming to the company in person, the impact was big. It was more so when he picked apart points like how he couldn’t easily meet him without an appointment and how he had a separate direct secretary’s office. It may be natural since he was the successor of a large corporation, but the fact felt new to Yeon-woo.
It felt like an invisible wall was taking place between Yeon-woo and Ki-won. That wall was so solid and high that it was tiring to even look up at it.
Ding-. The floor arrival sound rang and the elevator doors split open to the sides. At the same time, Yeon-woo’s eyebrows that were slanted shot up in an instant. It was because Ki-won was standing beyond the doors.
“Hyung…?”
Ki-won’s appearance was different from usual. His bangs that were always neatly set were strangely disheveled and there was a slight perplexity in his expression. It was as if he had hurriedly left the meeting room as soon as he heard that Yeon-woo had arrived. Yeon-woo’s lips slightly quivered, then a deflated sigh soon escaped.
“Sorry, I thought there would be time left until you arrived.”
At Ki-won’s words, Yeon-woo approached him, saying it was alright. The secretary lightly bowed his head towards Ki-won and Yeon-woo as if he had fulfilled his purpose and left to do his own work.
“You can come slowly…”
“How could I, when you would be waiting?”
At the story naturally said as if water was flowing, Yeon-woo slightly bit his lower lip. It sounded like Ki-won had run over only for him, so he almost laughed. Ki-won’s way of speaking sometimes made people confused. He probably doesn’t use this way of speaking with just anyone. At the sudden thought, one side of his chest fluttered.
‘Is it too obvious a thought…?’
When he pondered deeply, the answer came out easily. Ki-won was a person with manners. He may have had a habit of leading the conversation in a gentle and soft tone for the other person. Yeon-woo rubbed the back of his neck and laughed awkwardly. It was a moment when he became embarrassed that he felt like he had become something.
Yeon-woo, who had been following where Ki-won was going, intently looked up at his disheveled hair. As if sensing this gaze, Ki-won slowly met eyes with Yeon-woo.
Yeon-woo, who had been thinking all sorts of thoughts inside, flinched as soon as his eyes met Ki-won’s. Since it was an appearance of being surprised no matter who saw it, Yeon-woo hurriedly pointed to his forehead as if making an excuse.
“Your hair is disheveled, hyung.”
“Is it?”
Ki-won, who had stopped walking, naturally lowered his body. Yeon-woo, who was watching that appearance, rolled his eyes as if grasping the man’s intention.
“It’s hard to check without a mirror.”
Ki-won grabbed Yeon-woo’s hand and pulled it towards his head.
“You touch it for me, Yeon-woo.”
It was a simple request. However, even before Ki-won’s words were completely finished, Yeon-woo’s face flushed red. As soon as he saw Ki-won, who he always only looked up at, lowering his body and making a request, his heart raced fiercely. Feeling as if he had just come back from running, Yeon-woo couldn’t hide his perplexity.
“Huh? Yeon-woo.”
Ki-won urged the frozen Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo wanted to cover his mouth right away. He felt like strange exclamations or gibberish might pop out if he wasn’t careful. He knew Ki-won was handsome, of course, but seeing him lengthening his voice and making a request was not only new but stimulating.
“Hic…! Wa, wait a moment! Why the sudden hiccups…”
Yeon-woo’s shoulders heaved strongly. Hiccups that came at the wrong time filled the hallway. Yeon-woo covered his reddened face with his palms and kept shrugging his body. These d*mn hiccups showed no signs of stopping.
Still, he should fix it for him. Yeon-woo stroked Ki-won’s bangs while hiccupping. Only after Yeon-woo’s hand was removed did Ki-won stand up straight and wrap his arm behind Yeon-woo’s waist.
“Your hands are cold? Wear warm clothes when coming.”
“Ah, that… I’m coming by car anyway…”
Yeon-woo, who rambled incoherently, tried to get rid of the hotly rising heat. It was embarrassing that he turned into a red radish whenever he got a little surprised or his emotions fluctuated.
Like that, when they were about to enter the executive office, Yeon-woo, who felt a presence from the hallway, tried to move away from his side. However, this action was just a meaningless movement. It was because Ki-won, who was wrapping around Yeon-woo’s waist, strangely put strength into it.
“Let’s go in first, you haven’t eaten, right? I prepared something you can eat simply.”
Yeon-woo unknowingly nodded.