Chapter 91

The vacation home nestled in the mountains was rather lonely.

Its owner only used it to escape the urban chaos for a brief stay, so its serene atmosphere was certainly appealing.

But to the caretaker couple living there permanently, the silence was too familiar, and at times, they yearned for some human company.

The nearest village was still quite far without a car.

Their main task was to maintain the house, which involved little interaction with others.

Most people claimed this solitude was the hardest part, but then again, anything in excess was difficult to manage.

Living too isolated could make one long for human interaction.

Thus, to the couple who often missed human connection, unexpected visitors arrived.

It had been a while since they had any guests, and their loneliness quickly turned into utmost hospitality extended toward the visitors.

“Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable to sleep in your outdoor wear? I’ve brought some more comfortable clothes for you.”

Truly, neither of the two had any intention of staying overnight, thus they lacked toiletries and spare clothes.

Thankfully, toiletries were purchased and stocked at the vacation home, and though the caretaker offered clothes, they weren’t ideal.

“Feels like these clothes were tortured.”

“With just us guys, why don’t we just sleep without much fuss?”

The clothes were somehow suitable for the slightly taller Wooseung, but Jun, with his imposing height and build, couldn’t fit into the caretaker’s clothing.

“I’ll crank up the heating.”

“Thank you.”

And so, Jun ended up sleeping merely in his underwear, unaware of the consequences to come.

Let us now look at the layout of the vacation home.

In the garden, there was a golf putting practice area, a barbecue spot ideal for grilling meats, and not too far away, the annex where the caretaker couple resided.

On the ground floor of the main house were a gorgeous dining room from which one could admire the view, a compact kitchen, a cozy living room, a pine tree wood sauna, and a bathroom with a tub.

Also, there was a bedroom with two beds and its attached bathroom.

The second floor boasted a small movie theater and a spacious master bedroom with a king-sized bed. Another bedroom housed two regular beds, each having their own en suite bathroom.

The caretakers firmly believed that guests should stay in the main house rather than the annex.

With a relaxed mindset that life spaces wouldn’t merge if they just didn’t go upstairs, four people ended up sleeping under the same roof after sharing a night of drinks.

And nothing happened during the night!

No drugs were involved, and surely nothing untoward should occur from just having a few drinks.

In the early morning, the caretaker, as excited as a dog who had unexpectedly met its long-missed owner, was overjoyed to entertain their impromptu guests, Jun and Wooseung.

“Wouldn’t you like to enjoy a bath using the pine tree wood sauna and bathtub?”

The caretaker had such a strong professional ethic. Even during the periods when the owners weren’t visiting, he refrained from using the facilities in the main house.

Even though the owner was known to be generous and understanding if he found the caretakers had used the main house, the caretaker adhered to strict rules.

What did it mean?

The vacation home facilities were unused for around 330 days out of 365.

What a waste!

And here were unexpected guests!

The caretaker’s instinct wouldn’t let him refrain from recommending the sauna.

“But this is someone else’s vacation home, and we don’t have extra clothes to change into.”

They hadn’t planned to stay overnight, so their luggage was incomplete.

Wouldn’t it feel awkward slipping back into damp undergarments after a wash?

One wouldn’t feel the satisfaction of cleanliness, right?

“Knowing you’d say that, I’ve bought fresh underwear for you.”

“Really? At this hour?”

“I went to the convenience store earlier this morning.”

Neither Jun nor Wooseung knew how far the nearest convenience store or village was; the caretaker had driven a considerable distance.

The caretaker’s commitment to sauna use was indeed sincere.

“If you’ve gone through such lengths…”

It would be rude not to oblige.

The two were half-forced into bathing.

The bathroom, too, had been designed with a stunning view through a large glass window, just like the dining room.

Only because the vacation home was located deep in the mountains, where there were no people, villages, or roads nearby, was such a design feasible.

If located in the city, it would simply expose one’s nakedness to neighbors.

After lightly washing their bodies, they entered the sauna, drenched in sweat, then jumped into the tub after a cooling shower, enjoying a full sauna experience.

“Don’t look this way.”

“I wouldn’t look even if you asked me to.”

The pine-scented wooden bathtub was perfect for a couple, but a bit too small when occupied by two large men, awkwardly sitting face-to-face.

“Mountain villas are unexpectedly cool, aren’t they?”

“I think it’d be awesome to bring the family here.”

Even though they couldn’t enjoy activities outside like barbecuing or golf practice because of the weather, imagining this home with all the desirable features seemed quite appealing.

Wooseung had been preoccupied with how to make the most of his newfound wealth, questioning what exactly he would do with it.

The idea of owning such a charming villa began to seem quite appealing.

Not a mansion or castle but a modest villa like this could be a good choice.

‘I think a villa by the seaside for fishing or swimming would be excellent too.’

Maybe, does Seol So-ah’s father own a seaside villa as well?

Victory was caught in a reasonable suspicion.

“These guys are probably filthy rich.”

Wooseung recalled their conversation from the night before.

Mr. Kim, the chauffeur, had only been temporarily borrowed and wasn’t assigned permanently to the children as a personal driver.

So, they weren’t that wealthy, right?

…Still, wasn’t having a full-time chauffeur an indicator of wealth?

The concept of a villa caretaker seemed strange.

Instead of delegating the work to a service agency, they simply had a couple live there permanently.

“Maybe their genes are good because they’re that rich.”

It was unclear which genes Jun was referencing, but Victory immediately understood.

That made him genuinely curious about their mother.

How did two siblings end up looking so good, each with a different type of beauty, making him even more curious about their mother.

“Shall we finish washing and leave?”

When Jun stood up to get out of the tub,

Click.

The bathroom door suddenly opened.

“Hm?”

A startled feminine voice.

“Ah!?”

A surprised male outburst.

Bang!

The door closed again quickly, but the big man had lost something very precious in an instant.

This event may seem far-fetched but was fate brought on by a string of coincidences.

Firstly, the sunlight streamed through the glass, so they didn’t turn on the bathroom lights, making it difficult to notice anyone inside.

Secondly, Seol So-ah had entered the bathroom to fill the tub with water without yet disrobing, since filling such a large basin took time.

She therefore missed seeing the clothes piled in the changing area.

Thirdly, So-ah had no idea the two men were even in the villa.

Because of her drunken blackout, she had forgotten about the heavy rain that led to their decision to stay over, and assumed only Seol Yun and herself were in the home.

Explanation over.

“Mi, I’m sorry!”

Apology followed by a hasty escape.

“Hmph.”

As long as it wasn’t me!

Victory was trying hard not to burst into laughter with what felt like a Level 99 No-Laughing challenge.

In contrast, Jun was utterly frozen, experiencing one of the top five most awkward moments of his life.

“Thinking about it, shouldn’t the bathroom door be locked?”

“You came in last.”

“Tch.”

Upon reflection, it seemed he himself was the culprit!

Or at least an accomplice.

There are certain questions in the world that should never be asked.

For example, the question two people who met So-ah for the first time yesterday were dying to ask, about her “disguise.”

Were the displays during the drinking party all part of a calculated act?

What exactly was she using to create that illusion of a fuller bosom?

Such questions, no matter how curious, should stay unspoken.

And today, too.

How could someone carelessly walk into a bathroom with two people inside?

Wouldn’t noticing clothes left in the changing area or the steam from the bathroom be enough?

Of course!

But the three decided to remain silent, fearing any further disruption to the mood.

And Seol Yun, observing them, simply had a question mark on her face.

The menu for their breakfast was the seasonal specialty, clear cod soup.

The fresh cod, which would otherwise taste fishy, had been packed at a renowned restaurant at dawn.

‘These girls don’t have ordinary tastes.’

Given the passionate efforts of the caretakers, it was unlikely the menu would’ve been anything the two didn’t enjoy.

If this high-end clear cod soup appealed to these two, then maybe they did share such preferences.

Though they seemed perfectly suited for hearty dishes like pizza from a charcoal oven, Rosé pasta, or individually portioned brunch items, somehow even dishes like hot pot and sashimi made sense.

Yet this clear cod soup suggested a full-blown taste for older male preferences…

“By any chance, do you like pork ribs, cutlet, and pig trotter soup?”

“Out of the blue, why?”

“Not really, just that I figured you might.”

“I do like them, but how did you know?”

“Hmm…”

“I think sister has a taste for older men’s food.”

“Really?”

With a bright smile that surpasses the morning sun,

Seol So-ah appeared oddly pleased.

“Why does she look so proud? Did she take that as a compliment? Why?”

And Victory and Jun couldn’t figure out why she seemed pleased.

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