Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: A Place to Stay
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I stayed up almost all night like that, and the next day, I dragged myself to work in the exact same state.
Squeezing every last drop of nonexistent stamina to finish my shift, I was changing in the break room when the female part-timer next to me pointed at my clothes.
"Huh? Sis, isn't that A brand?"
"What?"
"Whoa, it really looks like it. Isn't this the limited edition? I heard people are asking a fortune for it secondhand, and here you are wearing the real thing. Did you buy it?"
"......No. It's a friend's."
"Must be one hell of a rich friend. I'm so jealous~."
"......"
This must be how Grand Master Wonhyo felt when he drank from that skull without realizing what it was.
To return the clothes, I headed straight to yesterday's officetel right after clocking out.
I hadn't washed them. Sure, laundering and returning them would be the polite thing, but handing over something this pricey made me too nervous about screwing it up.
I pressed the button for the floor I remembered in front of the huge glass door, and it swung open right away amid Ju Yeon-woo's hurried voice.
As the entrance opened, the security guards—one with a walkie-talkie earpiece—said they'd gotten word from upstairs and held the elevator for me.
The day before, in my frazzled state, I'd breezed past after a face check, but now, clear-headed, the solemn atmosphere hit me: the lavish lobby, the glittering hallway. It felt a bit awkward.
"You're here?"
The door swung open before I even rang the bell after stepping out of the elevator.
Unlike his cafe look, Ju Yeon-woo was casually dressed in a plain white tee and cardigan.
"How'd you know I was here?"
"I heard your footsteps."
The soundproofing in this fancy place must not be great.
"Oh, right—about those clothes you lent me the other day—"
"Come on in. Not too cold out? You seemed to like sweets, and a friend just dropped off some Memorria cake. They say it's super famous?"
"Memorria cake? Yeah, insanely popular."
Not just the price tag—getting a reservation was a nightmare in itself.
Everyone was begging them to open chain stores, but they refused to compromise on quality.
I'd tried snagging one multiple times and failed every time, so my eyes naturally drifted toward it.
"I don't really like cake, and it's way too much for me alone...... If you're okay with it, want some before you go?"
There was a hint of awkwardness in his inviting tone.
Yeah, I did need to explain the laundry thing. And I hoped there was some cream tart.
"Oh...... Sure, I actually have something to say anyway. Mind if I come in for a bit?"
I stepped inside as if drawn by an invisible force.
The place, a mess from last night's chaos, was spotless after just one night.
When he asked what I'd like to drink, I glanced toward the kitchen and spotted a commercial-grade coffee machine that had no business being in a home.
Was that there yesterday? Recalling my hectic previous visit jogged my memory of the clothes he'd handed over.
"Oh, right. Here're your clothes back. I was gonna wash them first, but I got worried about damaging something this nice, so I just brought them as-is."
"Those are yours now."
"No, really, it's fine."
"If they don't suit your taste, I can get you something else. Uh, what was your name again......?"
Ju Yeon-woo trailed off, clearly fumbling for how to refer to me.
"Oh, we haven't properly introduced ourselves. Kim Yu-jeong."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-five."
"I'm twenty-three...... Mind if I call you noona?"
"I don't mind...... but do you have to?"
"It feels friendlier that way."
His smile as he said it was like something out of a painting—more the vibe than his looks.
"Your complexion looks rough. Did something happen yesterday?"
"Oh...... Just struggling to find a new place to crash. Same-day bookings jack up the price, you know."
"Didn't you say you were staying at a friend's?"
"Well...... she's not home. Phone's busted, no contact...... I'll head back later."
I sliced into the nearest cake with a fork. Something moussy or jammy clung stickily to the tines.
Ju Yeon-woo lightly tapped his fingers on the sofa armrest.
He stared at me quietly for a moment before asking,
"If...... you don't have anywhere solid to stay, how about crashing here? I've got plenty of empty rooms."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, I hardly ever come home. And when I do, I stick to my room...... The building security's top-notch too."
After rambling on, Ju Yeon-woo glanced away slightly and ventured carefully,
"If that doesn't work for you...... how about I book you a place instead? I did say I wanted to repay you. Security around here's decent."
I eyed the one-night price on the hotel screen he showed me and instinctively frowned.
How many grand is that......? Was he a magpie repaying a past-life debt or something......?
I wondered if it was fair pay for saving his life.
If I were still Amelia, I'd have taken it without a second thought.
That's how it was in the Hermann Empire.
Kisen had let me—a runaway countess's daughter—stay at his place just for helping with a magic headache on first meeting. A noble even offered half his fortune for saving his sick daughter.
But now I was Kim Yu-jeong, and this world felt too vividly real to dismiss as "another dimension."
"I can't pay this back."
"You don't have to. I owe you."
"Still, this is......"
It just felt off.
For saving him, I'd already more than covered it by ruining his 8-grand coat and getting that risky intel slip.
He'd leaked classified stuff just because I saved him.
We went back and forth a few times.
This cautious guy wouldn't budge on this point.
No matter what, those hotel recs were overpriced. Who pays that per night?
But wouldn't you feel uncomfortable? Better to stay here.
It's not uncomfortable for me. You'd be the one inconvenienced by me.
"I hardly ever leave my room anyway."
The debate ended with me staying at Ju Yeon-woo's place.
"The price is too much" shifted to "If you stay here, no extra cost—sounds good?"
I was about to say I could just book my own place when my bank balance flashed in my mind.
"......"
So...... adorably realistic.
Reality wasn't far off. My wallet proved it.
"Alright...... I'll impose on you for a few days."
Screw principles—my situation demanded it.
Decision made, I accepted the access card key he offered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Maybe because of the high foot traffic, the motel refunded most of my same-day cancellation fee.
'Yeah, it's only a few days anyway.'
Big house, like renting a private room in some Airbnb from the host.
That casual mindset lasted until I got to the cafe and realized something was wrong.
What I'd forgotten: Ju Yeon-woo had been showing up at the cafe daily lately.
"Off at 10 tonight, right?"
He'd dropped by late afternoon and was still there.
Even treating him like a stranger as usual, crisis hit 10 minutes before close.
Ju Yeon-woo spoke to me.
"Wha— whoa— oh......"
The female part-timer—who'd been chattering about how nice the eye candy was just five minutes ago—gaped like a fish taking bait, staring at me.
Feeling her intense, quizzical gaze, I was relieved tomorrow was my day off.
"Ah, yeah...... That's when we close."
"Cool, I'll wait. I brought the car today—"
"Crazy."
I clapped a hand over his mouth and checked reactions.
'......Did she hear?'
The part-timer's face lit up like Archimedes shouting Eureka over buoyancy.
'She heard.'
I sighed inwardly.
After that, it was smooth sailing—for her. She'd handle cleanup herself, so I should head out first, she insisted, shoving me out.
Ju Yeon-woo naturally escorted me to his car.
"Just to check—you're not here to pick me up, right?"
"Times lined up perfectly. Same destination."
"True, but......"
I trailed off, pinching my brow.
He might've meant it innocently, but I'd suffer for it for days.
"Next time, just go ahead without me."
Walking would be better. I nodded firmly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With permission to use whatever I wanted in the house, I decided to relax a bit since it was happening anyway.
First thing I did with free rein: movie time. The TV was so huge and top-tier, I'd wanted to try it since day one.
The flick was a thriller horror called And Then There Were None. I got the okay, dimmed most of the living room lights, and plopped on the sofa.
Ju Yeon-woo, watching from afar, got curious and sat a polite distance away.