MDQ Ch 34

Kang Kimoon and I sat facing each other at the dining table. The ladies who had confirmed I was still alive had already gone back to their homes.

Without asking why I had cried, Kang Kimoon simply began eating.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t asked how I knew him, where I had come from, or who I was.

He had only given me a space to rest and prepared a delicious meal for me, as if all he wanted was for me to regain my strength.

I thought that must be his way of showing consideration. Otherwise, how could the meal he prepared taste this good?

The food, infused with care, was neat and, above all, warm.

Feeling the warmth of Kang Kimoon himself seep into me made me choke up again. It was as if my tear ducts were truly broken.

Only when the meal was nearly finished did Kang Kimoon finally speak.

“For someone who said he didn’t come here to die, you sure cried a lot.”

“Sorry for the trouble.”

“If you’re sorry, then eat better. You’re all skin and bones.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Seemingly finished with his meal, Kang Kimoon propped his chin on his hand and watched me. Even as I ate, I kept sneaking glances at his face.

‘I couldn’t tell yesterday with half his face covered, but he really is handsome.’

As a manager, I had met plenty of celebrities. Kang Kimoon looked far more like a celebrity than most of them.

His somewhat sharp features didn’t come across as cold but gave off an overwhelming aura. Perhaps it was because of the quiet ease he exuded.

The languidness he carried like a habit seemed to soften his otherwise stern impression.

“Here, eat this too.”

He even placed a side dish on top of my rice, showing an odd sort of tenderness.

“Thank you.”

I ate it without hesitation.

His eyes, watching me without missing a thing, grew even lazier. They were the kind of eyes that made even me relax just looking at them.

But the low voice that followed tightened my chest again, “You’re so obedient.”

“…”

Though he smiled gently, his words were firm, “What if I’m a bad guy?”

I answered without much hesitation, “You don’t seem like one. A truly bad person doesn’t warn you that he might be bad.”

Naturally, my father came to mind. He had used me, all the while hiding his malicious intent.

I knew very little about Kang Kimoon, and it hadn’t even been a full day since we met, but I had a hunch he was a kind person.

His only response was a smile.

He didn’t explain or excuse himself, just jerked his chin toward my bowl as if to tell me to keep eating.

---

It was true when Kang Kimoon said I wouldn’t be staying there for free.

The moment I finished eating, he handed me the smallest of his clothes to change into and took me to the chili field behind his house.

“You have to work as much as you eat.”

He demonstrated picking peppers a few times, then went to the opposite side.

I found myself starting the work without protest. At first, I was careful, worried I might damage the peppers, but as I went on, I got the hang of it.

Repeating the labor oddly lifted my mood. With every layer of peppers piling up in the basket, I felt a strange satisfaction.

More than anything, I liked how my mind wasn’t clouded with a tangle of thoughts. The sweat soaking my back felt refreshing today of all days.

After working for hours with my back bent, I finally met him in the middle of the field.

I proudly held out my basket, now full of peppers.

“Did I do it well?”

My eyes carried the hope that I had earned the price of a night’s lodging and a meal. Without realizing it, the corners of my mouth lifted higher.

Kang Kimoon didn’t answer. Instead, he tore off his gloves and brought his pale, farmer-unlike hand to my forehead.

He brushed my sweaty bangs aside with surprising roughness.

“So? Do you still want to die?”

At this point, even if I said it had been a misunderstanding, who would believe me? So I shook my head instead of offering excuses.

“No.”

Though I hadn’t thought of dying here, I had once been consumed by the urge.

“Good.”

He gave the short reply and patted my shoulder, as if proud that I had chosen life over death.

“And good work.”

A bright smile spread across Kang Kimoon’s face.

Bathed in sunlight, that smile shone, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud in return.

I forgot completely that I had been sobbing just moments before.

---

After finishing the labor, we returned to Kang Kimoon’s house. There were some items left at the front door.

He picked them up with practiced ease and brought them inside. I wondered what was in the black bags.

As soon as curiosity crossed my mind, he peeled off his sweat-soaked shirt and said, “They’re yours, so check for yourself.”

But instead of checking, my eyes were caught by his body first.

For a lyricist, his physique was unbelievably good. His muscles were finely sculpted, almost like a work of art.

I stared at his torso as if admiring it, until our eyes met. Embarrassed, I quickly looked away and stammered, “This is… mine?”

Before he could ask why I had been staring, I opened the bags.

Inside were eggs, meat, and men’s clothes. I immediately recalled what the lady had said about pitying me for wearing only one outfit.

“My clothes were too big for you, so this works out.”

Kang Kimoon said it casually with a smile, then went upstairs.

I stood there blankly, lifting up the clothes the lady had left.

Just as she said, they were perfectly new, without a flaw. Looking at them quietly made my chest sting for some reason.

---

Time in the countryside seemed to pass faster than in the city.

I had only taken a short nap after washing off the sweat, yet when I opened my eyes, it was already evening.

The delicious smell that wafted into my nose told me Kang Kimoon was cooking.

Rubbing my eyes, I walked into the kitchen. Having done nothing to help with breakfast, I felt guilty about freeloading again at dinner.

“You’re up? Don’t worry about helping. Just sit at the table.”

But Kang Kimoon spoke as if reading my mind.

“Still…”

“If it really bothers you, you can do the dishes later.”

“Yes! Then I’ll do the dishes.”

Soon, a meal even richer than breakfast was laid out. It must have been thanks to the meat the ladies had delivered.

I was hungry from skipping lunch, so I gratefully ate the food.

Afterwards, even as I did the dishes, Kang Kimoon didn’t go upstairs.

He stayed, sitting at the table as if he had something to say, his eyes fixed on my back. That stare prickled against me.

Only when I finished did he speak.

“When are you going back?”

“Ah.”

The warmth of this place had made me forget the reality I had been facing.

I didn’t know where I could even return to, so I bit my lip.

Seeing that, Kang Kimoon spoke again, as if to soften his question, “I didn’t mean you should leave.”

“Sorry?”

“Sit down. Let’s talk.”

I nodded and sat back at the table.

“You can stay here while helping me with my work.”

“Really? Is that okay?”

The heaviness I had felt a moment ago lifted instantly. I realized I wanted to stay here longer.

Maybe I just wanted to avoid my hellish reality for a little while longer.

“Sure. Just know that I’ll only be staying here for a month.”

“Yes. I don’t plan to stay longer than that, either.”

“So, what’s your name?”

“…”

“We’ll be seeing each other for a month. Shouldn’t I at least know your name?”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

I didn’t have the courage to say my real name.

Whatever deal he and the company had made, I was certain he knew the name of the lyricist accused of plagiarizing his work.

But I couldn’t avoid answering either. Under his expectant gaze, I finally forced myself to speak.

“Lee Hyunwoo.”

Lee Hyunwoo was my brother’s name.

However, I didn’t regret saying it. I decided I would borrow my brother’s name for a month.

After all, my connection with Kang Kimoon would last only that long.