I'M (NOT) MARRIED || YUCHAE

TWELVE

chp. 12

"Finally home," Chaeryeong exhaled and shut the door behind her, lightly kicking off her shoes with exhaustion holding her legs hostage. She was close to collapsing on the floor due to how far she travelled today just for a client, but she had learned to get used to such request at work, she had to make money after all.

Many people often wondered what Chaeryeong, the daughter of one of the wealthiest family in their country, was doing, working at for a magazine. Though, she was only doing it as a hobby. She liked writing, especially for something that people will see in their daily lives, she liked the power of spreading specific information to the people around the world. It made her feel... significant.

Some would admire her for pursuing her hobby, and others would consider her mocking them for working a job like that.

However, Chaeryeong paid no heed to the opinions of others. She knew that her privileged background had opened doors for her, but she was determined to carve her own path in life. Working at the magazine allowed her to explore her passion for writing and connect with people from different walks of life.

As she walked in her cozy living room shared with the famous actor, a scent of familiarity embraced her. She could smell the cinnamon tea even from the front door.

'Yuna must be working.'

A few days had already passed since the masquerade party, and there was going to be another event for them to attend tomorrow at 12 PM. Chaeryeong had learned what each different type of tea signalled what the CEO was up to.

Cinnamon meaning work or something that required extra focus and probably caused stress. Green tea meaning that the CEO was in a relaxed and contemplative state, possibly enjoying some leisure time. Chamomile tea indicated that Yuna was winding down and preparing for sleep.

Entering the kitchen, Chaeryeong found Yuna hunched over her laptop, engrossed in her work. Her long, raven hair cascaded over her shoulders as she furrowed her brow in concentration. Chaeryeong couldn't help but admire Yuna's dedication and grace, even in the face of immense responsibilities.

"Hey," the writer said casually, flashing a light smile. The model looked up and nodded promptly before averting back to her computer screen. Chaeryeong felt a small pang of disappointment, but she had learned to get used to it as they swore to remain as professional co-workers.

However, don't co-workers genuinely smile at each other once in a while?

She pushed aside her emotions, setting her bag on one of her favourite stools; the one she sat in religiously over the past couple of days. It was automatically considered her favourite, she didn't know why.

Before she could start making dinner since it was her turn - which was something they both agreed on, taking turns each day - the actress spoke up, stopping her in her tracks.

"I made some cinnamon tea," she said, motioning to the steaming mug by her side without looking up. "Thought you might need some."

At least Yuna knew that co-workers cared for each other.

Chaeryeong felt a surge of warmth spreading through her body, a small smile slowly appearing on her face. "Thank you."

Yuna hummed in response, sparing her a small glance. "Long day?"

This was probably the longest Yuna had paid attention to her, or even talk to her. The masquerade night really changed things.

"Travelled all the way to Busan by train for a client," Chaeryeong accepted the mug, cradling it in her hands. The familiar scent enveloped her senses, providing a comforting and grounding effect that she hadn't felt in a while. She took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her body, melting away the fatigue that had gripped her.