IH Ch 19

Chapter 19

When Jaei stepped outside, he was startled to see the potted plants left at the front door. There were two enormous trees, each as tall as himself. He couldn’t help but wonder if these could even be called potted plants.

“……”

With a stiff expression, Hwang Jaei picked up one of the tree-like plants in each hand. Turning his body sideways, he managed to awkwardly carry them through the entrance and into the living room, where he saw Hwang Suhyeon standing by the window.

Placing the pots where she had indicated earlier, Jaei squatted in front of them.

They were already as tall as he was—wouldn’t they soon grow to touch the ceiling? One had broad leaves, the other was slender but densely grown. Looking at them, Jaei frowned, wondering how he was supposed to take care of them.

“Do you like them?”

“……”

He firmly pressed his lips together at the question from behind. He made it abundantly clear with his silence that he didn’t like them, but Hwang Suhyeon paid it no mind.

“The pots come with built-in nutrient systems. You won’t need to do anything—they’ll grow on their own.”

That was, at least, a small relief.

Even when he was at home, he could barely manage to take care of himself. He had no time or energy to fuss over something like this.

“How did the job with the Association go this time?”

“Not great,” Jaei replied curtly. Suhyeon, as if expecting that answer, just smiled and said, “I see.”

Whenever Suhyeon visited, there wasn’t much to it. She simply came to check that her nephew, Hwang Jaei, was doing okay. She’d walk around the house, see if anything was missing or needed, and then lay out the food she had brought. They’d exchange shallow updates while eating and having tea, and then it would be over.

It usually took around two hours. If the conversation went well, it could last longer—but unfortunately, this was Hwang Jaei. His habit of giving one-word answers drained even the chattiest people of conversation topics.

“By the way, where’s that person?”

“……”

“I heard you brought someone into the house?”

His aunt knew everything about him as a rule. But when it came to “that one” in the storage room, there should have been no way for news to leak…

“Wi told me. He was worried.”

Kim Wi. Jaei thought of the overly slick-faced Association President.

From the way Suhyeon phrased it, it might have sounded like she was concerned about Jaei—but in truth, it was the opposite. Knowing what her nephew was like, she just wanted to check if the other person staying with him was alright. That wasn’t her reason for visiting today, but it had worked out that way nonetheless.

“Do you hate that I’m prying too much? Just bear with me a little, okay? I guess worrying comes with age.”

Asking him to think of it as just meddling, Suhyeon looked closely at her nephew. It was a face she used sometimes when trying to coax him, ever since he was little and stubborn. Though he found it uncomfortable, because of who she was, Jaei couldn’t treat her the same as others. He muttered shortly, “In the room.”

At the sudden chime of the doorbell, Dohwa quickly retreated into the storage room. He crouched down between the neatly arranged belongings. He didn’t know who had come, but there was no benefit to going outside. If he stayed quiet like this for a few hours, Jaei would probably call for him again. Maybe to eat. He hoped so. Would there be more cake this time? It had been really delicious.

“……”

When he saw the cake in Jaei’s hands yesterday, he had blanked out for a moment—because he had only ever seen such things through audiovisual materials. Even on screen, it had looked delicious, and it had tasted just as he imagined.

The moment he took a big bite of the strawberry on top, the burst of flavor and aroma had been incredible. The cake itself was soft and sweet. He hadn’t known things like that existed in the world. Unlike the place where he had been locked away, the outside world truly had so many different things.

His tiny face rested on his knees, expression calm. He stared hard at his toes with a frozen gaze before closing his eyes. He let the tension fall from his shoulders and prepared himself to wait in idleness. Then suddenly, there was a knock—knock knock.

Assuming it was Jaei, he remained still. If it was Jaei, he’d probably kick the door open soon anyway. But contrary to expectations, there came another knock knock, light and rhythmic. Only then did it occur to him that it might not be Jaei outside. He peeked his face out.

What is this? He didn’t have time to feel suspicious before the third knock came. Startled, he jumped up. He hesitated by the door, then carefully opened his mouth.

“Yes?”

Maybe he should have said, Who is it? But this wasn’t his house, and asking who are you felt strange. He waited anxiously for a reply. Soon, a soft voice with a trace of laughter reached him from beyond the door.

“Hello. If you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce myself in person. Could you open the door?”

“……”

He just had to open it.

Dohwa blinked his large eyes, searching for a response. Then a familiar voice from outside said, “Just open it.” It was Hwang Jaei. Finally relieved, Dohwa gripped the handle with both hands and turned it slowly. He leaned in to peer through the small gap.

There stood a woman of similar height to him. A beautiful woman with a pristine, immaculate presence. She was the second stranger he had seen since coming here—after someone named Johan. Staring at her in curiosity, the woman also looked at Dohwa and smiled gently, exclaiming softly. Her cold demeanor softened slightly, showing a faint smile.

“The kid’s so shy, he doesn’t know how to treat guests. He thinks everyone’s just like him. But if you’re the host, you should treat guests properly. By the way, do you like the food?”

“……”

With one hand cupped around the rice bowl and cheeks puffed full of rice, Dohwa looked at Hwang Suhyeon. He resembled a hamster caught sneaking food. Amused, she squinted her eyes and pushed the side dishes closer.

“It’s nice to see you eating so well. Eat more afterward too. I brought plenty.”

Dohwa rolled his big eyes, nodded, and tugged his hair forward. Though the fine, soft strands looked uncomfortable as they obscured his face, he continued trying to hide behind them. All the while, his bulging cheeks never stopped moving.

At first, when he saw the well-prepared meal on the table, he had frozen up in surprise. But once seated, he ate more eagerly than anyone. It was almost concerning how fast he was eating—but he still chewed ten times before swallowing. Watching him, Jaei, who sat with arms crossed, leaned forward and tapped the table with his finger.

“Hey.”

At the low voice, the little hamster raised just his eyes. His mouth still full, he continued to chew without pause.

“Don’t just rush it like that. Chew properly ten times. Or would you prefer twenty?”

The hamster flinched, nodded in understanding, and began chewing more slowly. Then, without looking at Jaei again, he scanned the food in front of him and reached for the meat.

Holding his chopsticks like a spoon, he struggled to pick up a piece. Clicking his tongue, Jaei picked up a piece of meat and placed it on the edge of the plate. When he nodded toward it, Dohwa quickly stabbed it with the tip of his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.

His eyes widened slightly—apparently it suited his taste. He seemed only to eat the meat and rolled omelet. He didn’t even touch the marinated perilla leaves, kimchi, bean sprouts, or spinach. Just like someone else.

Hwang Suhyeon watched as Jaei repeatedly told Dohwa to chew properly, finding it amusing. Perhaps feeling her gaze, Jaei straightened up and began eating the food in front of him as well. Maybe because he had someone to eat with this time, it felt different. Before, he always gave the impression he only ate reluctantly to avoid upsetting her.

Suhyeon glanced again at Dohwa, seated across from Jaei. Though his clothes were oversized, it was clear how thin he was. His long, unkempt hair half-covered his face, which had delicate, fine features. Anyone would call him beautiful.

Then came a scraping noise—Dohwa was still scooping eagerly at his empty bowl. Apparently one serving hadn’t been enough.

“Would you like another bowl?”

“……”

Startled, Dohwa looked at Suhyeon and gave a small nod. Then, shyly, he raised his hand to cover his face again. Smiling brightly, Suhyeon gave him a larger portion than before.

“So young, and yet so bashful.”

“……”

His eyes sparkled for a moment at the mountain of rice in front of him, but at the word young, he lifted his head slowly. Suhyeon moved the side dishes he seemed to favor closer and asked,

“How old are you? Eighteen? Are you an adult yet? Or…”

“He’s older than me.”

“……”

At that blunt reply, Suhyeon froze. She looked back and forth between Jaei and the seemingly childlike Dohwa, and her face stiffened.

“You—”

She was about to say are you trying to fool your aunt?, but a low murmur cut her off.