Chapter 25. Restoring Order (1)

Translator: Lili

To survive, she needed allies.

The only possible option was Secretary Baek, but as Chairman Shin’s loyal subordinate, the chances of him siding with Sera were nonexistent. Even so, she figured she could at least take advantage of his basic human empathy.

“Mr. Baek, it’s me. Do you have a moment to talk?”

Throughout the call, Sera kept her tone light and cheerful.

***

At five in the morning, Lee Rowoon left his house for his usual fasted run. After about forty minutes, he returned, immediately took a shower, and changed into the suit he had picked out the night before. Then, he headed down to the dining room for a light salad-based breakfast.

It was the same fresh morning routine as always.

“Good morning.”

“…”

It would have stayed that way—if Shin Sera hadn’t suddenly appeared.

Yawning widely, she plopped down across from him with careless ease. Lee Rowoon shot her a sharp glare, then gestured toward the dining room entrance with his chin.

“Get out.”

“I’m hungry too.”

For someone who had never bothered to wake up early for breakfast before, he had no idea what kind of game she was playing. Almost as if it had been prearranged, Mrs. Oh, the head housekeeper, appeared and set the table.

Before long, steaming white rice, radish soup, savory short ribs, and an assortment of side dishes were laid out on the table. Sera’s eyes sparkled as she picked up her spoon.

“Wow, this looks delicious.”

Lee Rowoon watched her with a look of pure distaste. It was early morning, and yet she had no trouble stuffing herself with such a heavy Korean meal. She shoved a heaping spoonful of rice into her mouth and chewed down on the glistening short ribs with relish. As if she found him hard to understand, she gave him a puzzled look and asked,

“With that body of yours, do you really think you can survive on just that? How can a person live on grass alone?”

“…”

Her overly familiar tone irritated him, but Lee Rowoon couldn’t outright call her out on it. The lingering discomfort from the Raum Group party still hadn’t faded.

Even someone as viciously stubborn as Shin Sera must have been shaken by what happened. He had heard that she had skipped work for several days, locking herself in her room. According to the staff, aside from her outpatient treatments, she had barely left her room at all.

Regardless of his dislike for her, Lee Rowoon knew he had been a coward for not stepping in that night. At that moment, protecting her had been the right thing to do.

He always wanted to live with integrity, yet there were times when his emotions got the better of him, revealing his own immaturity. His rigid sense of righteousness made him feel ashamed of his own pettiness.

The growing discomfort finally pushed him to get up from his seat.

“Why aren’t you eating more? Don’t tell me you’re avoiding me because I make you uncomfortable?”

Sera, her cheeks stuffed with food, flashed him a grin. Hit right on the mark, Lee Rowoon scowled and snapped back,

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

“If that’s the case, don’t bother worrying about me.”

Her tone was so casual, as if she were doing him a favor. His frown deepened. It was childish, but stepping away now would feel like admitting defeat.

Even though he had the odd sensation that she was baiting him, Lee Rowoon eventually sat back down. He continued eating, casting her a sideways glance as she focused on her meal.

Something felt off. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was definitely something different about Shin Sera.

Logically, she should have lost her mind after what happened. And considering she had skipped work, she probably had.

So why was she acting so composed?

“You…”

After hesitating, Lee Rowoon finally spoke.

“Are you okay?”

“Me? What do you mean?”

Sera blinked at him with an innocent expression.

‘Damn it. That was a stupid thing to say.’

Regretting his words instantly, he clamped his mouth shut. But then, she smirked as if she had figured something out.

“Oh… Are you talking about the party? What, are you suddenly feeling guilty? Are you regretting just standing there watching while I got beaten up?”

“As if.”

Lee Rowoon scoffed, but deep down, her words unsettled him. Every time he recalled that night, an unpleasant tightness gripped him.

He didn’t want to feel any guilt for someone so worthless. And yet, the fact that he had avoided his responsibility left behind an uncomfortable residue.

“I know. That no matter what happens to me, you don’t care. Maybe you even found it satisfying.”

Sera spoke as if reading his thoughts. Her tone was light, almost like she was joking.

“It’s not like it’s the first time people have treated me like a joke. I don’t care that much either.”

She was trying to hold on to her pride. But what showed on her face wasn’t confidence—it was deep, ingrained defeat.

For a moment, the wounds she carried were starkly visible. Lee Rowoon found himself unexpectedly caught off guard by it.

Noticing the shift in atmosphere, Sera stood up from her seat.

“Ah, I’m full. I’ll get going now.”

Lee Rowoon stared down at her unfinished meal. Despite her seemingly hearty appetite, she hadn’t even eaten half of it.

Just as he frowned, sensing something off—

“Ah…!”

Sera, as she was leaving the dining room, suddenly stumbled.

Reflexively, Lee Rowoon shot up and grabbed her arm. The sudden pull caused their bodies to collide.

And in that instant, the mask of indifference she had carefully maintained shattered, revealing her raw, vulnerable emotions.

Lee Rowoon froze in shock.

Unbelievably, her eyes were red—like she was desperately holding back tears.

“Move.”

Sera shoved him away, stumbling backward. She quickly covered her face as if to shield herself and limped out of the dining room.

He stood there blankly, staring at the empty space she had left behind.

‘Had Shin Sera… ever cried before?’

Tears didn’t suit her. No matter how many times she was trampled on, she never cried. Instead, she screamed. She raged. She burned with hatred.

That unexpected moment of vulnerability shocked him. The sight of tears clinging to her long lashes was burned into Lee Rowoon’s mind. 

For the first time, Shin Sera seemed like a regular human being, and the realization left him strangely unsettled.

***