Chapter 7
“My daughter!”
At the sound of his daughter’s voice, he immediately sat up.
The child, rubbing her eyes as she entered, was wearing a white one-piece pajama dress and holding a rabbit doll. She had walked in without a thought, but the moment she saw Haruka, she froze.
“Who are you?”
The child asked in a tone full of hostility.
Haruka knelt down in front of her, lowering herself to meet the child’s eye level.
“Hi, I’m Haruka.”
“Haruka?”
“I’ll be working as your dad’s aromatherapist.”
Despite Haruka’s gentle explanation, the child looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
Perhaps she didn’t understand what “aromatherapist” meant, because Jin Seowoo puffed out her cheeks.
It seemed that just the presence of a pretty woman in her father’s room was enough to make her wary.
“Daddyyy—!”
Seowoo, on the verge of tears, ran over and hugged Jin Seonghan.
Her warm scent wrapped around his bare upper body.
The affectionate smile on Jin Seonghan’s face showed just how deep his fatherly love was.
As he stroked his daughter’s small head, he looked at Haruka with cold eyes.
“That’s enough. You should leave. I need to put my princess to bed.”
At the firm dismissal, Haruka had no choice but to withdraw.
She bowed her head slightly in place of a farewell and left the room.
As she stepped out into the detached building, the late spring night air enveloped her.
On her way back to her quarters, she suddenly stopped and turned around.
The light in Jin Seonghan’s room was still brightly lit.
For a moment, the face of the child—prettier than in the photo Ryota had once shown her—flashed through her mind.
“…She’ll lose her father too.”
After all, that child was part of the plan as well.
A long-buried sense of guilt began to stir, but Haruka chose to ignore it.
Then her gaze drifted upward.
Her eyes stopped at the farthest room on the second floor, its curtains drawn.
A breeze carrying the faint scent of wisteria flowers brushed past.
Her heart remained calm. It didn’t race like it had during yesterday’s reunion.
“You… told me to come in, didn’t you?”
You’ll regret those words, Jin Yihan.
The shadow of the twenty-one-year-old Jin Yihan could no longer hold her back.
Her feet began to move again.
And so, her first night in the mansion ended in emptiness.
4:30 a.m. Haruka’s mornings always began earlier than others’.
After finishing all her preparations, she lit an aroma candle.
Sitting quietly in front of the mirror, she closed her eyes and slowly took a deep breath.
This was a routine that had become almost obsessive since she began living as Haruka Suzuki instead of Yu Haru.
It had started as Baek Jinha’s suggestion, but now it was like an alarm marking the beginning of her day.
‘Haruka Suzuki. Don’t forget what you have to do.’
For over thirty minutes, she steadied her mind as if hypnotizing herself.
When she finally opened her eyes, her gaze in the mirror was utterly cold.
A little past 5 a.m., Haruka left the staff quarters and headed toward the annex.
She deliberately avoided looking at the pergola where wisteria flowers were in full bloom and quickened her pace.
The kitchen, already busy with breakfast preparations, was bustling under Manager Jo’s direction.
“Good morning, Manager Jo.”
“Ah, Miss Haruka. Why are you here so early?”
Instead of answering right away, Haruka handed over a prepared envelope.
“What’s this?”
“A list of ingredients the vice chairman should avoid while undergoing aromatherapy.”
Manager Jo quickly skimmed through the contents.
Most of the listed items were acidic foods.
A hint of skepticism flickered in his eyes.
“Do we really need to be this careful with food for scent therapy? I’ve never heard this from previous aromatherapists.”
“Vice Chairman suffers from severe insomnia. Quality sleep plays a vital role in improving all bodily functions. That’s why relieving his insomnia is our top priority. He should also refrain from excessive drinking, but beyond that, everything he inhales and consumes must be managed.”
Haruka added a gentle smile as she continued.
“Just as foods have combinations that work well together, aromatherapy also has incompatible pairings. If used incorrectly, it can become harmful—just like food. It’s all for maximizing the synergy of the therapy, so I ask for your cooperation, even if it’s a bit inconvenient.”
“You’re more professional than you look.”
At the rude interruption, everyone turned their heads.
Their gaze landed on Jin Yihan, dressed impeccably in a suit.
Surprise spread across their faces.
It wasn’t someone who would normally appear in the annex kitchen at this hour—not even for Manager Jo, who had worked in the household for years.
“P-President.”
“Why are you all so startled?”
Regaining his composure, Manager Jo asked calmly,
“Is there something you need?”
“Do I need a reason to be here?”
“My apologies.”
Despite his polite response, his expression seemed to say, ‘You always have until now.’
Haruka, too, was caught off guard by Yihan’s sudden appearance, but she maintained a calm exterior.
She quietly stepped back.
At her subtle movement, Yihan’s gaze shifted toward her.
Still looking at her, he spoke casually,
“I just felt like eating a home-cooked meal.”
“Then would you like to dine with the vice chairman?”
Yihan gave a slight nod, and the staff grew even busier.
Amid the bustle, only Haruka and Yihan stood in stillness.
She stubbornly kept her eyes lowered, staring at the floor.
Even so, she could feel his gaze lingering on her.
Wherever his persistent eyes touched, a strange heat spread—impossible to ignore.
Despite being surrounded by others, Haruka felt as if the two of them were alone, her chest tightening.
“…I’ll be going now.”
After giving her greeting, she turned to leave.
Just as she was about to step out of the dining room—
“Wait.”
Yihan’s low voice stopped her.
A restless pulse coursed through her veins like a warning.
As she halted, his footsteps approached.
Swallowing her breath, she turned around, still avoiding eye contact.
“Yes, President.”
“What you said earlier—tell him directly.”
“I’m not sure what you mean…”
“That’s rude.”
Cutting her off, his large hand suddenly reached out.
He gently grasped her chin and murmured,
“When you speak, you should look the other person in the eyes.”
At his provocation, Haruka’s eyes lifted.
Their gazes met briefly.
The air between them tightened, dense and charged.
Thump. Thump.
A pulse beat where their skin touched.
Uncertain where the rhythm came from, Haruka spoke,
“Let go.”
He released her and stepped back.
“What you told Manager Jo—tell the person involved directly. Vice Chairman Jin Seonghan hates things being said behind his back.”
“…What exactly do I hate?”
A new voice cut in, breaking the tension.
Jin Seonghan, dressed in workout clothes, was coming down the stairs.
At the sight of him, Haruka bowed politely.
Ignoring her greeting, he walked over to Yihan.
“What brings you here so early?”
“Just came. Thought I’d have a meal.”
“What?”
Seonghan laughed in disbelief.
Clearly, he was thinking the same as Manager Jo earlier.
“Fine, whatever. But what were you talking about just now?”
He glanced at Haruka as he asked.
“Let’s talk while we eat.”
Yihan slung an arm over Seonghan’s shoulder, steering him away.
Seonghan smirked and went along.
As the two men passed her, Haruka turned in relief—
but froze again at Yihan’s voice.
“Where are you going?”
With a faint smile, he gestured toward the dining room.
“The person involved should explain it herself.”
Soon, a meal for three was prepared.
Seeing the steaming seafood stew, Haruka let out a quiet sigh.
“Go ahead and eat. We’ll talk after.”
At Yihan’s suggestion, she reluctantly picked up her spoon.
She avoided the stew filled with seafood, only picking at the side dishes.
“Don’t you like seafood stew?”
The sudden question came from Yihan.
“No.”
“Then try it. It’s quite good.”
At that, her eyes wavered slightly.
As she slowly put down her spoon and raised her gaze, her mind raced.
She thought she had erased everything about Yu Haru—
but there was one thing she couldn’t change, just like her eyes.
‘My medicine is in my room…’
This was an unexpected crisis.
