A Madman in Love-Chapter 51

A secret meeting through fingertips.

Even a fleeting touch like that was enough to set every nerve in her body on edge, heightening her senses.

Though Suin made her way to the garden lounge and Jaehee headed toward the elevator, the shared warmth of their brief connection lingered.

Each step she took on the marble floor felt lighter, as though she were walking on air.

“Ihyeon!”

Her thoughts snapped back to reality when Ihyeon waved at her from the garden lounge entrance, holding up two cups of coffee.

***

[Have you reached out to Suin yet?]

"Here are your two iced Americanos," said the café worker, just as a voice in Ihyeon’s earpiece overlapped with the announcement.

[You can’t afford to delay. If you miss the timing, Lee Suin will drift further away. You need to find a reason—any reason—to meet her as soon as possible and sort things out.]

Ihyeon took the coffees without responding, walking away from the counter to put some distance between himself and prying ears.

Only once he was out of hearing range did he reply.

“Ajin, stop pressuring me.”

[I’m doing this for you, you know.]

Her words might sound altruistic, but Ihyeon knew better. Behind her supposed concern for him lay her own desires.

“Rushing won’t change anything.”

[The worst thing you can do in love is be lukewarm. What’s the point of watching from the sidelines if you never get to hold her in your hands?]

“I’m thinking things through carefully. I don’t want to put Suin in a difficult situation.”

[That damn Lee Suin.]

Ajin’s frustration boiled over. Despite their shared goals, Ihyeon’s constant concern for Suin grated on her nerves. Her voice turned sharp, nearly accusatory.

[Take care of yourself first. Don’t let someone else blindside you. I’m hanging up.]

The line went dead before he could respond.

Ihyeon sighed deeply, the weight of the conversation settling on his chest.

He understood why Ajin felt upset. It wasn’t just the bitterness of not possessing the man she adored—it was the ache of being unloved. That kind of longing left a deeper wound than mere rejection.

Her overreach, her attempts to control, all stemmed from that emptiness. And Ihyeon, aware of his own selfish desires, couldn’t bring himself to judge her too harshly.

“Haah...”

He exhaled sharply, filling his lungs with fresh air before turning toward the garden lounge.

Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.

Just then, a small gasp reached him from the stairs below.

“Director Seo Jaehee...”

Ihyeon’s gaze followed the sound, landing on the unmistakable figure of Seo Jaehee standing near the security desk. Opposite him stood Suin.

“...”

At a glance, it was an ordinary scene—an executive and his secretary engaged in a professional exchange.

Neither of them displayed anything inappropriate. There was no lingering gaze or subtle gesture to suggest anything beyond a workplace interaction.

‘It’s just my imagination, right?’

But Ihyeon knew better.

The glimmer in Seo Jaehee’s eyes as he looked at Suin spoke volumes.

That man was unmistakably in love.

If only it were a figment of his imagination, a baseless suspicion. But there was no denying it.

“...”

As their brief conversation concluded, the two parted ways.

Suin’s expression remained as composed and professional as ever, which offered Ihyeon a small measure of relief.

He descended the stairs, positioning himself at the garden lounge entrance to wait for her.

The moments felt drawn out, like an eternity, but finally, Suin approached.

“Chief Lee!”

Feigning casualness, Ihyeon waved his hand playfully, eliciting a soft smile from her.

For a moment, his rationality slipped.

Her radiant smile tugged at something deep inside him, stirring a possessive longing. He wanted that beautiful expression to belong to him and only him.

Not Seo Jaehee, not any other man—no one else should have her.

[What’s the point of watching from the sidelines if you never get to hold her in your hands?]

Ajin’s pointed words replayed in his mind.

She’s right.

Nothing worth having comes without effort.

Determined, Ihyeon steeled himself.

If I want her, I can’t just wait for fate to hand her over.

***

"You’re right on time."

"Thanks."

Suin responded to Ihyeon’s gesture of offering her coffee with a warm smile.

As they walked toward the garden lounge, Ihyeon discreetly sent a message on his phone. Then, with natural ease, he led Suin to a secluded bench surrounded by trees and bushes.

"You didn’t force yourself to make time for this, did you?"

"I was actually planning to contact you. I heard you spoke with my mom yesterday."

"You heard about that?"

"Yeah. If it’s for two sites, what’s the headcount like?"

"About 170 people per site, so roughly 350 people in total. There might be slight variations depending on the attendance that day, but that’s the approximate number."

"So at least 350 sets of macarons, huh?"

"Yeah. Your mom seemed a bit overwhelmed by the quantity, though."

Ihyeon’s subtle anxiety showed in his restless movements. He twisted his back, stretched it out, and finally crossed one leg over the other, draping an arm casually over the bench.

His eyes darted toward the garden lounge entrance as if expecting someone.

"Actually, I wanted to ask your mom for even more. Maybe three sites."

"Three sites? That’s impossible."

"Can’t we make it work somehow?"

"No way. It’s already an eight-piece set. Three sites are out of the question."

"I just want to show a bit of sincerity, even if it’s just as a dessert concept. They look great, too."

At that moment, a familiar silhouette flitted into view near the flowerbeds.

Ajin had arrived. Spotting them on the bench, she quickly ducked behind a tree, trying to remain hidden.

Sensing Suin’s attention might shift, Ihyeon quickly pulled out his phone to show her a photo.

"Look at this."

It was a picture of macarons he had taken during a visit to a café, intending to use it for a proposal presentation.

"I especially liked this little cloud-shaped one."

"Those are really labor-intensive. Did you ask my mom to include these too?"

"Yep. She agreed."

"You’re so selfish. Of course, she’d say yes!"

Meanwhile, Ajin raised her phone’s camera behind the tree, capturing the scene without a flash.

Oblivious to Ajin’s presence, Ihyeon lightly tapped Suin’s shoulder.

"Don’t worry. I’ll help out however I can."

"And what exactly would you do?"

"I can help with the packaging."

Suin, thinking his offer was genuine encouragement, didn’t push his hand away.

Encouraged by her reaction, Ihyeon leaned in closer, his face mere inches from hers, and flashed a playful grin.

"I’m good at this stuff, you know."

"Enough. My mom’s already excited about the project. She’ll handle it just fine."

Her cheerful and sincere smile made him feel guilty for his ulterior motives, even as their eyes naturally met.

"Has she decided?"

"She said she’d hire some part-timers to help."

"That’s good to hear. I’ll have to thank her."

While Ihyeon spoke, Ajin snapped another photo, then gave him a subtle "okay" sign with her fingers from behind the tree.

Noticing Ajin’s signal, Ihyeon pulled his hand back from Suin’s shoulder and straightened his posture. He placed a bit more distance between them, his gaze falling bitterly.

What kind of person am I...

Trash.

***

Suin finished her tasks earlier than usual that day.

With Jaehee’s hospital appointment scheduled for 5 PM, she needed to leave by 4:30 at the latest.

"I’ll take Director Seo to the hospital myself, so you can head out early, Jongin."

"You’re sure, Chief Lee? I can take him to the hotel after his appointment."

"He got hurt because of me. It’s only right that I handle this myself."

"Understood."

Jongin nodded, sensing Suin’s determination.

Right then, Jaehee stepped out of his office, with Jongin trailing behind him.

As they all got into the elevator, Suin was about to call the driver when Jaehee stopped her.

"Let’s take your car. I have somewhere to go after the hospital."

"Where?"

The hotel? Suin’s suspicious gaze prompted a knowing smirk from Jaehee.

"Not right away. Maybe later."

There was no time to protest as a group of employees piled into the elevator.

"Good afternoon, Director Seo, Chief Lee."

"Hello."

Exchanging pleasantries, Suin clasped her hands in front of her to prevent any mischievous attempts from Jaehee.

His gaze, however, lingered on her with mild dissatisfaction.

***

Seo Jaehee was exceptional in every way.

Even his recovery surprised the doctor, who removed his stitches with ease, remarking on his rapid healing.

"I’ll drive," Jaehee said confidently as they left the hospital.

"Where are we going?"

"You’ll see. Just get in."

Though curious, Suin didn’t press further and got into the car.

The destination turned out to be unexpected—a small kindergarten nestled in an ordinary residential area.

Jaehee parked by the colorful playground fence and circled around to open the passenger door for her.

"Get out."

"Why are we here?"

"There’s something I want to show you."

Confused but intrigued, Suin stepped out and glanced at the kindergarten’s nameplate.

―Solbit Kindergarten.

She still couldn’t piece together what this was about.

"Come on."

Jaehee gently nudged her forward, guiding her down a narrow alley. They stopped in front of a two-story house with a small front yard.

The interior, though empty, retained a cozy, lived-in atmosphere as if it hadn’t been long since someone moved out.

"What do you think?"

Standing behind her as she surveyed the unfamiliar space, Jaehee’s voice broke the silence.

"Huh?" She turned to face him, only to be met with his soft smile.

"This will be our house."