PARK SEOHAM couldn't believe that the Joo Woori he knew was now living in a one-room— a tiny room on the rooftop of a house that looked like a villa.
It must be a lie.
"Are you trying to look pitiful in my eyes?" Park Seoham asked, clenching his jaw tight. "Joo Woori, if you think this is enough to make me—"
"Then would you like to come in and check if it's really my house or not?" Joo Woori asked, cutting him off. "I only have cold barley tea that I personally brewed, though. If you're alright with it, then let's go."
"You know how to brew tea?"
"Yes, but I only have the cheap kind. So, don't expect too much."
"You drink cheap tea when you used to only drink expensive matcha?"
"That was when we were in high school," Joo Woori said. "So, are you coming or not?"
Park Seoham immediately unbuckled his seatbelt. "Let's go."
You can't fool me this time, Joo Woori.
To be honest, Park Seoham couldn't believe that Joo Woori was living in that one-room.
That can't be right.
Joo Woori's family used to live in a mansion. Plus, she also had a two-bedroom apartment that served as her painting studio.
But you're telling me that she lives in a tiny room now?
Joo Woori and her entire family flew to the US with all the money her parents had stolen from their innocent victims.
She can't be poor after her parents scammed so many people.
But Park Seoham was starting to believe Joo Woori's 'lie' about living in that house while watching her climb the external staircase leading to the rooftop naturally.
Since the villa had an external stairway, there was no need to access the main house.
So, Joo Woori's claim of renting the rooftop room and not the entire house seems true.
"We're here," Joo Woori said while punching her passcode on the keypad attached to the door. "Welcome to my house, Seoham-ssi."
Joo Woori entered the 'house' first.
House, my ass. This is just a tiny room!
Park Seoham clenched his hands tight when he got inside the 'house.'
It was just a loft room, at best.
"We have the bathroom on your left," Joo Woori said. For some reason, she suddenly started giving Park Seoham a house tour that he didn't ask for. "On your right, you can see my little kitchen. And there's my washing machine under the sink."
Park Seoham just rolled his eyes, and then he opened the door to the bathroom.
"Oh, do you need to use the toilet?"
"No."
Park Seoham just wanted to check the bathroom.
Of course, it was small— it had a toilet seat, a sink with a small mirror, and a stand-up shower.
"You don't have a bathtub?"
"Don't ask silly questions, Seoham-ssi. Do you think a bathtub will fit my tiny bathroom?"
Park Seoham could only sigh while closing the bathroom door.
Just a few steps more, and they had already reached the living space.
The space above, the loft, was obviously Joo Woori's bedroom.
Under the loft was the dining area— just a table for four and a standard refrigerator.
So basic.
The living room looked pretty cozy, though.
Instead of a sofa, there were huge and comfortable-looking bean bags around the coffee table. The decorations in the living room made the tiny space look cuter and more spacious than it truly was. Everything from the rugs to the lamps was very Joo Woori-like.
To be fair, the space was small, but it didn't feel cramped because of the interior.
It just looked very basic.
The most 'expensive' thing Park Seoham found in that room was the large TV attached to the wall.
"I want to show you my bedroom, but I'm afraid you might hit your head on the ceiling," Joo Woori said worriedly while looking up at Park Seoham. "You know that you're very tall, don't you?"
"I'm not interested in seeing your bedroom, anyway."
"Okay. Take a seat, then," Joo Woori said while walking towards the refrigerator. "I'll get you some barley tea."
"Where do you paint in this tiny space? And where are your art materials?"
"I don't paint anymore."
"For real?"
"I have never picked up a brush ever since I dropped out of high school," Joo Woori said casually. "I still draw, though— I just don't paint anymore."
Oh.
Park Seoham should be happy, but he couldn't celebrate Joo Woori's downfall.
She deserves all of this, so why…?
***
"HOW DOES it taste?" Joo Woori asked after watching Park Seoham take a sip of the cold barley tea that she handed to him. She was sitting across from him, so she could watch his reaction. "It tastes good, doesn't it?"
"It tastes like cold barley tea," Park Seoham said bluntly while putting the glass on the table between them. "What else is it supposed to taste like?"
Aigoo.
Someone is grumpy.
"Seeing as you're not interested in making small talk, then let's just talk about business," Woori said, since she didn't want to waste Park Seoham's time more than she already had. "I was informed that I'll work without pay."
"Do you have a problem with that?" Park Seoham asked sarcastically. "You owe my family a huge debt, don't you think?"
"I know, and that's why I'm not complaining. I have one condition, though."
"Tell me."
"I can only be your manager during weekdays."
"Why?"
"I have work on weekends."
"Do you really believe you have the right to ask for such conditions?"
"You can just say no," Joo Woori said, forcing a smile. She knew that she owed Park Seoham a lot, but that didn't mean she couldn't get hurt by how he treated her. "No need to be mean."
Park Seoham looked at her in disbelief, and then he sighed. "Fine. You don't have to work for me on weekends. But you have to live in my house on weekdays."
"Did your previous manager live at your house…?"
"Of course not."
"Then why do I have to live with you during weekdays?"
"To make sure you're not going to run away again."
Aigoo.
"Fine."
"Wait, why are you agreeing so easily?" Park Seoham complained. "Do you trust me that much?"
"Not really," Woori answered, being completely honest. "But I'm ready to receive any kind of punishment you deem fit."
"You should have done that eleven years ago."
"I figured I wouldn't be useful to you back then."
"And you're useful to me now? How?"
"I've gained necessary life skills that might help you," Woori said, slightly proud of herself. "I can also cook and do household chores now."
"Then I'm looking forward to it," Park Seoham said coldly, and then he flashed Woori a business smile. "You'll be my manager and my maid, Joo Woori."
***
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