DW 07

DW

Posted by cinderella, Released on October 13, 2025

Chapter 7

Thud—

The spot where he had twisted earlier throbbed painfully.

Do-ah’s normally smooth brow creased instinctively.

“I can’t even put on a patch.”

During the peak season of brewing alcohol, even the scent of a patch was considered a disturbance. Anything that could mix with the fragrance had to be avoided—cosmetics included.

He’d hastily wrapped a bandage inside his sock, but without proper treatment, the ankle wasn’t going to heal on its own.

Now, [ Lee Hwa-do] had to prepare dinner for the household, and doing so in this condition was anything but easy.

The workers numbered twenty in total. Today’s dinner team included Jeong-ja, Do-ah, and two others. Preparing a meal for twenty was no small task. In his current state, it felt almost impossible.

“Do-ah, your ankle looks a bit off. Did you get hurt?”

Sumi, the woman in charge of Yeowol High, asked.

Do-ah tried to hide it, but Sumi’s keen eyes caught him immediately.

“I just twisted it while going to the storage earlier,” Do-ah said calmly.

“Tch… should I call Mr. Go later? Maybe get it treated with some acupuncture?”

“It’s fine. A hot compress will do.”

“Then I’ll have to prepare an extra table.”

Jeong-ja, who had just entered the cold room, chimed in.

“What do you mean, another table?” Sumi asked.

“Guests at the annex. Some very respectable young men, with quite the grievances against Daesung Judo.”

“Ah, just like us then,” Sumi replied.

Do-ah, overhearing this conversation, tilted his head in curiosity. There weren’t many men in the village to be called “young men.” Only Mr. Bang’s son and the second village doctor qualified.

His speculation about the pumpkin side dish quickly focused on one face—a man whose features seemed better suited for television than Yeohwa-ri.

“Could it be…?”

No, surely not. He had been told to leave earlier—there was no way he had come inside [ Lee Hwa-do].

“Do-ah! The pumpkin’s burning!”

“Ah, sorry!”

“You usually don’t take your eyes off the fire, but you’re acting strange today. I’ll manage this, you take care of the soup.”

Do-ah moved to the boiling pot as instructed. Floating above the simmering broth was the face of a handsome man.

—Who are you to tell me to leave or stay?
—Do you think this whole place belongs to you?

The arrogant voice lingered in his ears. Gripping the ladle tightly, Do-ah stirred the soup with force. He resolved to chase this man out if it was really him.

Do-ah’s instincts were always right.

“How shameless.”

Despite calling the village miserable, the man from the orchard appeared right before her eyes. The small, circular tray he held trembled slightly in his hands.

“You ignored my warning.”

Her tone turned sharp as soon as she set the tray down.

“I did ask you to leave earlier.”

“I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I was hungry, and my words came out wrong.”

“So, that’s why you said such terrible things about our village?”

“…It wasn’t my true intention.”

Then, a peer standing nearby jumped as if pricked and hurriedly intervened:

“Really, it’s true… normally, this friend—uh, this person—gets extremely irritable when hungry. Like a wild animal, growling and aggressive. Honestly, he’s completely crazy when hungry.”

The man, who had been chatting non-stop, covered his mouth with a soft “heh” in surprise. Do-ah clicked her tongue lightly and then turned to him, a slight, composed smile brushing her lips—a smile too casual to express real apology.

“As you heard, I overreacted. I truly apologize for earlier. Please, eat first.”

“…Alright. Just finish your meal, and then leave immediately.”

Do-ah decided to retract her anger. There was no point arguing with someone who had been rude only because he was hungry. He was leaving anyway; more words would only reinforce the village’s reputation for harshness.

The moment Do-ah turned to descend the stepping stones,

“Ah!”

Her injured ankle gave way from sudden strain. She swayed, helpless.

A firm arm wrapped around her waist, stopping her from falling. Her back pressed against a broad chest.

“Safe.”

The smooth whisper tickled her earlobe. The source of the heartbeat was unclear. Was it hers? Or his, transferring warmth through touch? Her thought process froze at the unfamiliar sensation.

In an instant, he seated her on the wooden floor, carefully checking her injured ankle.

“What are you doing?”

“You hurt your foot in the orchard, right?”

“No… it’s fine…”

He noticed the bandage slipping over her sock and his expression darkened.

“It looks swollen. Are you okay?”

Her cheeks flushed as if a private secret had been exposed, her heart racing. The first touch of someone else’s hands felt uncomfortably hot.

“I’m fine,” she said, pushing his hands away and standing quickly.

As she took a few steps, his worried voice followed her.

“If you leave it, it’ll last quite a while. You should treat it properly.”

The table was quickly cleared.

The dishes were simple: fresh spring greens salad, thick Do-dari mugwort soup with miso, and tofu grilled with egg. The toasted sesame aroma made the meal irresistible.

For Kwon-ha, who usually wouldn’t touch anything, this was an unprecedented delight.

“Why is it so delicious?”

Chopsticks couldn’t stop moving, and rice was running short. Kwon-ha, who normally hated feeling full, found the experience strange yet addictive.

“Really delicious, sir,” the secretary said, finishing his bowl.

“Address me properly,” Kwon-ha interjected, his tone sharp, causing the secretary to stumble over words.

Kwon-ha felt a peculiar irritation. This cursed Yeohwa-ri seemed to have a magic of its own, changing people’s personalities. Just seeing her left a deep impression in his mind. Perhaps that was why instinct had preceded reason.