#47.

Late in the afternoon, Kim Eun-ju headed to the apartment management office with an uneasy heart. Her face was shadowed as she hurried along, pushing her child in a stroller. Arriving at the management office, Kim Eun-ju spoke to Lee Han.

,Lee Han-ssi, it’s me. Do you happen to have time right now?

Lee Han greeted Kim Eun-ju with a welcoming smile.

,Eun-ju-ssi, welcome. Of course, I have time. You brought Jin-woo too.

He approached the child in the stroller and greeted him affectionately.

,Jin-woo-ya, hello? You’re getting bigger and bigger.

The child smiled brightly and reached out his hand when he saw Lee Han.

Kim Eun-ju felt relieved at the sight of Lee Han. His kind and gentle demeanor gave her a sense of trust for some reason.

The two of them settled down in a corner of the management office. Kim Eun-ju spoke first.

,Lee Han-ssi, I’m having a really hard time these days. Hyun-woo-ssi keeps coming home late, and I’m anxious.

Lee Han looked at Kim Eun-ju with a serious expression.

,Eun-ju-ssi, don’t worry too much. Hyun-woo-ssi is a good person and a devoted family man. I’ll keep a closer eye on things.

Kim Eun-ju let out a sigh of relief at his words for a moment. But Lee Han’s next words pushed her back into the swamp of anxiety.

,But if you happen to find anything, please let me know right away. So I can help you.

‘Could Hyun-woo be doing something bad?’

A seed of doubt began to grow in Kim Eun-ju’s mind. At the same time, a strange sense of anticipation arose from the fact that Lee Han was trying to help her. Just then, the child in the stroller started to fuss. Lee Han quickly picked up the child and soothed him.

,Jin-woo-ya, is Daddy late because of work? Here, ururullu… peek-a-boo.

Lee Han made a funny face and soothed the child. In an instant, the child started laughing with a bright face, *kyareureuk*.

Kim Eun-ju felt both surprised and grateful as she watched Lee Han soothe the child.

‘How can he be so affectionate…’

After finishing her conversation with Lee Han, Kim Eun-ju put the child in the stroller and left the management office. But her mind was still complicated. Suspicion about her husband and trust in Lee Han were mixed together, and she fell into confusion.

‘Am I suspecting Hyun-woo too much?’

Kim Eun-ju soothed the child and slowly walked home. The evening sunset was painting the alleyways red. Walking through it, Kim Eun-ju let out a deep sigh. She couldn’t know what would unfold in the future.

Only one thing was clear: Lee Han’s presence was gradually permeating her life. Lee Han, who fueled her suspicion of her husband but also gave her affection and trust. Kim Eun-ju was slowly falling for the hand of friendship he extended.

–

Inside the management office, Lee Han looked at Park Min-ah with a serious expression.

,Min-ah-ssi, how has Lee Hyun-woo been lately?

Park Min-ah paused for a moment, lost in thought, then replied.

,Lately, I feel like he’s putting up a wall against me. He doesn’t treat me as comfortably as he used to.

A faint smile spread across Lee Han’s lips.

,He’s a sincere man. I like him even more.

Park Min-ah looked puzzled.

,Uh… weren’t I supposed to seduce him? Didn’t you tell me to get close to him?

Lee Han smiled gently and approached Park Min-ah. His eyes held a tender yet strangely passionate heat.

,Why would I tell Min-ah-ssi to embrace another man?

A happy smile appeared on Park Min-ah’s face at his words. As if a long-standing question had been answered. She hugged Lee Han without hesitation. Lee Han quietly embraced Park Min-ah. His breath swirled around her ear.

,Min-ah-ssi just needs to trust and follow me.

,Yes…

As Park Min-ah whispered her reply, Lee Han’s lips sought hers. The soft kiss grew deeper and hotter.

A strange heat began to circulate in the office. The two of them seemed to forget everything around them as they explored each other’s lips and tongues.

As Lee Han’s hand caressed Park Min-ah’s waist, her breath grew rough. Pieces of clothing were shed one by one, and hot skin rubbed against each other.

The desk shook, and breathless moans filled the office. After exploring each other’s bodies for a long time, the two reached their climax. Lee Han held Park Min-ah tightly and gasped for breath.

,Min-ah-ssi… our relationship must not be told to anyone.

Lee Han whispered in her ear. Park Min-ah nodded weakly. She was already completely bound to Lee Han. Her eyes seemed to say that she would follow his every word. The heat in the office subsided, and the two of them gathered their clothes in silence. Lee Han lightly kissed Park Min-ah on the cheek and stood up.

,Go now. Go home carefully, and don’t forget what I said.

Park Min-ah looked at Lee Han with a regretful expression before disappearing out the door. Lee Han remained alone, staring out the window. An inscrutable smile played on his lips.

–

Late at night, in the security office of the apartment complex. Lee Han’s eyes, his face illuminated bluishly by the monitor light, were full of concentration. He was carefully examining the CCTV footage, looking for the scene he wanted.

Lee Hyun-woo and Park Min-ah appeared on the screen of one of the many cameras. The two of them were standing next to the landscaping trees near the back gate of the apartment complex, under the soft glow of the streetlights. Lee Hyun-woo’s expression was blank, and Park Min-ah was approaching him and saying something.

Lee Han captured the screen. Then he called up the photo in an editor and repeatedly zoomed in and out. As if taken with a telephoto lens from a distance, the two people’s appearances were somewhat blurry and difficult to recognize.

,Lee Hyun-woo is probably devoted to Kim Eun-ju. But that’s not important. Because it’s enough if the person who receives it doesn’t think so.

A faint smile appeared on Lee Han’s lips as he muttered to himself. He removed Lee Hyun-woo’s cold expression and left only the image of Park Min-ah approaching Lee Hyun-woo. As if the two of them were having a secret rendezvous.

After finishing the editing, Lee Han looked at the monitor as if admiring his work. In the blurry photo that looked like it was taken from a distance, Lee Hyun-woo and Park Min-ah looked quite close. It even felt like they were having an affair.

,The key is when to give this to her…

His eyes, shadowed and then brightened, reflected the monitor light. An unknown elation could be felt in his tightly closed lips.

–

On a hot summer day, Kim Eun-ju pushed her stroller into the apartment management office. She let out a sigh of relief at the cool air conditioning. Lee Han greeted Kim Eun-ju with a welcoming smile.

,Eun-ju-ssi, welcome. It’s very hot today, isn’t it?

Lee Han spoke kindly.

,Yes, it’s really hot. I came here to rest for a while.

Kim Eun-ju replied, placing the stroller next to the sofa.

Lee Han handed her a cold coffee and offered Kim Eun-ju a seat. She sat down in the chair with gratitude. The two of them began to chat while sipping on the cool drink.

,You seem to be having a hard time these days. What’s wrong?

Lee Han asked with genuine concern. Kim Eun-ju hesitated for a moment before starting to confide in him.

,I’m having a hard time because I keep arguing with Hyun-woo. I feel a little relieved when I talk to Lee Han-ssi.

Lee Han nodded at her words and comforted her.

,I’ll always be here to listen. Come and talk whenever you’re having a hard time.

Kim Eun-ju felt grateful for his kind words. Lee Han’s presence was giving her comfort during a difficult time.

–

At dinner time, Kim Eun-ju and Lee Hyun-woo were sitting across from each other at the table. But only an awkward silence flowed between them. Kim Eun-ju was lost in thought, fiddling with her food, and Lee Hyun-woo was eating with a tired expression.

,I had a lot of work at the office today. I’m really tired.

Lee Hyun-woo said with a sigh.

,Yeah.

Kim Eun-ju replied curtly. Lee Hyun-woo felt bitter at his wife’s indifferent attitude. He put down his spoon and looked at Kim Eun-ju.

,Eun-ju-ya, let’s talk. It’s too hard to live like this.

,I’m having a hard time too. Let’s just rest for a while.

But Lee Hyun-woo couldn’t say anything more when he saw Kim Eun-ju not looking up and answering. He got up from his seat. He headed to the room without saying a word. Kim Eun-ju’s shoulders slumped as she was left alone at the table.

–

During the day, Kim Eun-ju took her child for a walk in the apartment complex in a stroller. Her footsteps naturally headed to the management office. It was a familiar path.

,You’re out for a walk with your child again today. Come in and rest.

Lee Han greeted Kim Eun-ju with a welcoming smile.

,Thank you, Lee Han-ssi. I feel comfortable when I come here.

Kim Eun-ju replied with a smile. The conversations she had with Lee Han were comforting to Kim Eun-ju. She gradually opened her heart to his kind and warm attitude.

,Hyun-woo-ssi seems to be having a hard time too. He must be stressed because he has a lot of work at the office these days.

,Yes, but… I have a hard time understanding.

Kim Eun-ju complained. Lee Han gently held her hand.

,Of course. You must be having a hard time with childcare and housework. But if Hyun-woo-ssi can rest comfortably when he comes home, things will get better. If you care for each other, your relationship will get better.

While advising her to understand her husband, Lee Han comforted Kim Eun-ju as if he was caressing her heart. She was gradually falling for him because of his appearance.

,I feel a little relieved when Lee Han-ssi says that. I’ll try to understand Hyun-woo a little more.

,Eun-ju-ssi, cheer up. I’ll always be cheering you on. Come whenever you’re having a hard time.

Kim Eun-ju smiled at Lee Han’s kind words. Meeting him had become a part of her daily life. As she grew distant from her husband, Kim Eun-ju was getting closer to Lee Han.