The Chaebol Family’s Youngest Daughter Doesn’t Hide Her Acting Skills - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 57

 

Ryu Dokyung cleared his throat and scolded me for no reason. After enjoying himself calling me princess, now he’s acting like this.

 

“Don’t just stand there blankly, go in and lie down. I’ll bring the meal tray in myself.”

 

“No, I’ll do it. How can I make a guest…”

 

“What’s a patient going to do? Stop talking nonsense and go in.”

 

Ryu Dokyung pushed my back to send me into the room and skillfully headed to the kitchen.

 

He used to visit here often in the past, but this was his first time coming since we met again, yet his movements were quite natural.

 

Click. The room door closed.

 

I stood behind the closed door and blankly pressed my chest. Father’s words about “utmost devotion” echoed in my ears.

 

Ryu Dokyung, who came running with all that luggage just because I caught a simple cold.

 

‘…Why is he acting like this, making people confused.’

 

While I was flustered, something deep in my chest felt strangely ticklish.

 

Was it because I was sick, or for some other reason? It felt like my fever was rising even more.

 

***

 

Ryu Dokyung had prepared an amazing spread. Steaming abalone porridge and neat water kimchi. Anyone could see it was a carefully prepared meal.

 

I crouched in one corner of the bed and looked up at him nervously.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

“Eat it all. Don’t leave anything.”

 

When I actually picked up the spoon, my throat felt scratchy. Would it be okay to swallow this…?

 

More than anything, it was burdensome because Ryu Dokyung was looking down at me with his arms crossed like he was monitoring me. When I just fidgeted with the spoon hesitantly, Ryu Dokyung’s brow immediately furrowed.

 

“What. Don’t you even have the strength to move a finger?”

 

“No, it’s not that…”

 

“Hah, really.”

 

He clicked his tongue briefly, then sat down right next to me.

 

“What. Should I feed you?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

When I opened my eyes wide in surprise, Ryu Dokyung casually unbuttoned his shirt cuffs as if it was nothing.

 

“You wanted to be treated like a patient. I’ll do it for you.”

 

When did I ever say that?

 

Before I could even protest, he rolled up his shirt sleeves to reveal his solid forearms. At that natural movement, I waved my hands frantically in shock.

 

“No! I’ll eat it myself!”

 

“Now you’re speaking informally?”

 

“…I’ll eat it myself. Please.”

 

How desperate must I have been to suddenly drop the formal speech like that?

 

There was no way Ryu Dokyung could understand my feelings about having to open my mouth for my ex-boyfriend who knew all my embarrassing history.

 

“Stay still. Don’t spill it.”

 

He lightly ignored my resistance and took away the spoon. After cooling the hot steaming porridge with his mouth, he brought the spoon to my lips.

 

“Ah, say ah.”

 

“Ugh…”

 

“I won’t put the spoon down just because you’re whining. Won’t you open your mouth?”

 

My dignity, waaah…

 

At his threatening gaze, I eventually gave in and opened my mouth. The savory abalone porridge slipped into my mouth.

 

“Chew. I’m not going to steal it from you.”

 

When I inadvertently chewed and swallowed the porridge, only then did Ryu Dokyung’s lips relax with satisfaction.

 

He confirmed that I ate a couple more spoonfuls before finally putting the spoon back in my hand.

 

“You eat well.”

 

Well, it’s so delicious…

 

The Jukseonsae chef is amazing. Did he know when he made it that this porridge was for me to eat, not Ryu Dokyung?

 

Anyway, abalone porridge made by high-class personnel. I should immediately submit this to Black Stone White Stone cooking show…

 

“Keep eating.”

 

Ryu Dokyung seemed relieved as he crossed his arms again and slowly looked around my room.

 

When I was little and lived at Jaedamjae, he frequently went in and out of my room.

 

But that was then and this is now. He probably doesn’t even remember.

 

His gaze slowly swept over the bookshelf. He seemed to be looking for something. Then his gaze stopped at the desk.

 

“…There aren’t any old photos.”

 

He said it casually in passing, but there was bitterness in his voice.

 

“Yes…”

 

I buried my nose in the porridge bowl and hastily looked for an excuse.

 

“I moved them all to albums when I was living outside before. I haven’t taken them out yet since moving back in.”

 

“Really?”

 

Ryu Dokyung stared at me intently. That gaze was so intense that I just gripped the spoon tightly for no reason.

 

“Then the ones with me.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Are the photos taken with me also in the album?”

 

My heart sank with a thud. I didn’t expect him to ask about that specifically.

 

‘As if they would be there.’

 

Actually, I couldn’t even put them in an album.

 

During the long time I lived alone with Father after leaving Jaedamjae, Ryu Dokyung was the person I missed most but also had to avoid.

 

Because if I looked at photos, I might want to see his face. I might want to hear his voice. I might want to meet him. I might want to whine and depend on him like before.

 

So the photos taken with Ryu Dokyung weren’t in albums but stored in the most unreachable place.

 

Because I didn’t have the confidence to take them out and look at them.

 

I pressed down the words I had to swallow inside. I couldn’t say all this now.

 

I tried to act nonchalant and shook my head with my mouth closed. It meant no. It might have looked like I lost them.

 

“…”

 

At my denial, Ryu Dokyung’s brow furrowed briefly. Was he disappointed? He let out a short bitter laugh.

 

“Hah.”

 

A dry hollow laugh cut through the silence in the room.

 

“…I’m the only one who kept your photos again.”

 

A corner of my chest ached. Because it sounded like he thought of me even during the time I wasn’t there.

 

He erased the bitter expression from his face and turned around.

 

“Finish eating and take your medicine. I’m going to see the Chairman.”

 

As he was striding toward the door, he hesitated while holding the doorknob. With his back turned, Ryu Dokyung’s lips moved.

 

“I’m going to copy and send you the photos.”

 

“…”

 

“When you receive them, keep them in your room. Don’t bury them away.”

 

That’s the price for the porridge. He added briefly.

 

With those words, the door closed.

 

By photos, he must mean the ones we took together before.

 

I don’t understand his intention in wanting me to keep them. What exactly does Ryu Dokyung think of me?

 

Even after the door closed, I stared at the spot where Ryu Dokyung had been standing for a long time. Was it because I ate too much porridge? Suddenly my throat felt choked up.

 

***

 

Outside the window, I could see Ryu Dokyung about to exit Jaedamjae’s main gate in the distance. It seemed he was going to have a conversation with Grandfather and return to Jukseonsae.

 

Just as I turned my head with lingering attachment.

 

“Hey, Ju Sae-i.”

 

A sharp voice flew in from outside the door. I could tell who it was without having to check.

 

Ju Suyeon. My same-age cousin, the enemy’s daughter, the main culprit who bullied Woon Seong-ha, the one desperate to get rid of me… There are too many expressions to describe her.

 

I hid the medicine bag and shopping bag that Ryu Dokyung left behind my back.

 

Since Ju Suyeon seemed to have marked Ryu Dokyung as her fiancé candidate. If it looked like we had a strange relationship, only I would be humiliated.

 

But it was already too late, as Ju Suyeon had entered my room without permission and was glaring at me with her arms crossed. Her eyes blazed with jealousy and contempt.

 

“Why did Dokyung oppa come here? And what’s with all that luggage he packed?”

 

In times like this, a direct approach is best. If I just let it slide, she’ll misunderstand on her own, get irritated, tell Uncle, Uncle will keep me in check, I’ll fail again and die, the country will collapse, the world will suffer hardship…

 

“Can’t you tell by looking? I came to visit someone who’s sick.”

 

“A sick visit? That’s ridiculous. You must have pulled some trick on oppa. Did you whine and beg him to come while pretending to be sick?”

 

But Suyeon, Ryu Dokyung wouldn’t come even if you whined and begged while pretending to be sick… Does she never learn?

 

Ju Suyeon strode over and roughly shoved my shoulder. My feverish body swayed, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.

 

Ju Suyeon’s face up close was completely twisted with anger. The moment I saw that expression, a sense of déjà vu flashed through my mind.

 

‘…She resembles him.’

 

Those greedy eyes that had no hesitation in trampling others.

 

Uncle Ju Suduk from my previous life, who had driven my father and me to death. That terrible man’s face seemed to overlap with Ju Suyeon’s face.

 

They say blood is thicker than water. It seemed she had inherited even that ugly nature completely.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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