PB 2

Chapter 2

“Um… excuse me, sir?”

“Ah.”

Yeon-shi, lost in thought for a moment, came back to her senses. She accepted the plate of rice cakes placed before her and stood there, slightly dazed.

“Thank you. Did you just open this place?”

“Yes. The flower shop down there.”

“Oh, I see. I noticed some construction going on recently, so it must be that place.”

Normally, the idea of this man running a flower shop might have seemed a little odd, but somehow, it suited him.

His sharp eyes carried a subtle sadness, something hard to describe.

Those moist, gentle eyes gave off a protective aura. Though his build was as solid and firm as Hyun-soo the detective, his gaze had a softness that belied that strength.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

“I’ll enjoy these rice cakes. I’m a bit busy now, so I can’t offer you tea.”

If she had the time, she would have shared tea with him, but the afternoon deliveries awaited, and every second counted. Still, she worried that her words might have come across too curtly.

Surely he wouldn’t think I’m being rude?

It was a worry only Yeon-shi had—the man didn’t seem to notice at all.

“That’s fine. I wouldn’t want to disturb you while you’re busy. Well then, get back to work, cupcake owner.”

Nodding politely as if acknowledging her words, he left the shop without hesitation. Yeon-shi couldn’t take her eyes off his retreating figure.

“Is it really okay…? But… how can someone’s shoulders be so broad?”

His shoulders seemed twice the size of hers. Just standing across from him, everything about him seemed large, as if he were built from constant exercise.

When his features, blurred by the light behind him, came into view, she couldn’t help but exclaim. His smile was enchanting, and his face… well, it was incredibly beautiful.

Not delicate or effeminate, just striking for a man. Even wearing a plain white shirt and jeans, he carried himself with the elegance of a celebrity.

Yeon-shi quietly brought a piece of rice cake to her mouth while watching his profile through the glass wall. Perhaps because this village rarely saw outsiders, any new face naturally drew attention.

She chewed slowly, keeping her eyes on his back until he disappeared from view. Even a simple steamed rice cake coated in red bean powder tasted surprisingly good.

“Actually… not bad at all.”

Glancing at the clock on the wall, she realized it was already approaching 2 PM.

“No wonder it tastes good—I haven’t eaten anything all day.”

Finishing the rice cake, she placed the plate back on the table and returned to the kitchen, muttering:

“Might as well finish what I started.”

She carried the plate back to the kitchen.

Ho-je chuckled softly as he left the cupcake shop. He pictured Yeon-shi, flour dusting her face, staring at him intently.

Women he met for the first time always stared like that. Everywhere he went, people watched him, and he often saw women giving him admiring glances. Such reactions were common, and he usually felt nothing.

But the cupcake shop owner was different. Her pretty, expressionless face left an impression. Her delicate features were like a finely crafted doll.

At first, she reacted like any other girl, but soon pulled back, drawing a line between herself and the stranger. That was interesting.

Most people would ask him for autographs on sight.

“Could it be… she didn’t recognize me?”

He was surprised that someone didn’t immediately know who he was. He was famous enough that a simple online search would reveal his face instantly.

His pride was slightly hurt—but then his face relaxed.

“Not everyone needs to recognize me.”

He didn’t need to engage anyone, not even be recognized by strangers. A simple acquaintance, like a local shop owner, was enough.

This curiosity about someone new was… unfamiliar to him.

“I’m no longer a Han-Yu Group model. No need to care.”

There was no longer any need to manage his image or hide from others to avoid trouble with the group.

He hoped to live a quiet life running a flower shop in Heonin Village.

Turning his back on the cupcake shop, he headed toward the flower shop. A few people had gathered outside. He paused, slightly hesitant.

He clenched his fists tightly, then rubbed his sweaty hands on his thighs.

“Hmm…”

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he opened the door to the flower shop.

Inside, customers admired the freshly bloomed flowers and placed orders. Some requested flower baskets, while others bought a single flower just to brighten their day.

Smiles spread across their faces as they left with flowers, and Ho-je’s expression softened slightly.

He expected people would only ask for autographs, but seeing them happily take flowers gave him a quiet sense of satisfaction.

As night fell, he cleaned up the shop to prepare to go home. He brought the potted plants inside and tidied the space.

After locking up, he put on his mask and pulled his hat low to hide his face.

Walking down the softly lit street in front of the flower shop, his hands deep in his pockets, he felt a quiet peace.

The subtle chirping of insects, a sound unheard in the city, calmed his mind.

Passing by the park, he noticed someone moving cautiously nearby. Squinting, he realized it was the cupcake shop owner.

“Cupcake…?”

She didn’t even notice him approaching, so absorbed was she in what she was watching.

Ho-je lowered himself quietly to follow her line of sight. There, two people were kissing deeply.

Astonished, he stared at the woman, his voice low and rough:

“Huh… the cupcake owner has this kind of hobby?”

“Um…!”

Startled, Yeon-shi covered her mouth, also blocking Ho-je’s lips, and crouched lower.

Why is she covering my mouth?

He tried to move her hands away, but she shook her head desperately, eyes pleading for him to stay still.

With tears glinting at the corners of her eyes, he couldn’t refuse.

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you hear something?”

“I… I don’t know… Did you hear something?”

The couple inside the park looked around briefly, sensing a disturbance.

“There’s no one here.”

“Maybe we imagined it…”

They resumed kissing, and Yeon-shi couldn’t look away.

Her hands finally moved from Ho-je’s mouth. A fleeting, sweet scent—a hint of her work with cupcakes—wafted past his nose.

Yes. A pleasant sweetness.

He watched Yeon-shi quietly observing the couple. Her face carried a shadow of sadness.

Why is she watching that? Not that I’m a pervert…

Even on the day she first arrived in the village, Yeon-shi had shown unusual behavior.

Late at night, she had leaned against a tall ginkgo tree outside the flower shop and said:

“You’re my friend now. My one and only friend.”

“You must never betray me, okay?”

Ho-je had thought she was a peculiar girl. The world had many kinds of people, after all.

Perhaps he even felt a kinship—he, too, had no real friends.

Always alert, always guarded, his “friends” had mostly been business connections.

Feeling empty inside, he naturally gravitated toward plants. Being surrounded by flowers offered a quiet, healing comfort.

He liked watching quietly—but watching other people kiss? That was… different.

“Hey, isn’t this a bit much?”

Ho-je asked cautiously. Yeon-shi replied matter-of-factly:

“I know.”

She… knows?

He squinted at her, studying her strangely.