Villain wants to live as a commoner chapter 39

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Riiing.

“…”

The loud sound of the alarm woke me up, making me feel like dying. I bit my lip, noticing the dampness below.

Damn it.

‘What the hell was that dream…?’

There was a time when Baek Gunho was a regular in my dreams, but after deciding to give up on him four years ago, it had become rare for him to appear. And now, such an intense entrance.

It was probably a mix of getting confessed to by Lee Jooyun yesterday and being pissed off after arguing with Baek Gunho that led to such a dream.

Even so, dreaming such an embarrassing… fantasy-filled dream was ridiculous.

My face was burning.

Even as I rubbed my face dry and got out of bed, the memory of teasing Baek Gunho in my dream made me want to die of embarrassment.

At that moment, someone approached my room. I quickly composed myself as if nothing had happened.

“If you’re awake, hurry up and eat breakfast before heading to work.”

Baek Gunho opened the door and said casually. I nodded with an awkward “Uh-huh,” and quickly escaped the room.

When I came out after washing up, Baek Gunho was sitting confidently at the table with breakfast fully prepared.

The table was filled with all my favorite side dishes. It seemed like he realized that his words were harsh yesterday.

This was Baek Gunho’s way of offering a truce.

Baek Gunho was watching me from a distance, like someone feeding a stray cat and observing its reaction.

After some hesitation, I decided to sit at the table.

“Eat a lot.”

It was a subtle change that others might not notice, but it was his way of showing happiness.

I also started eating without showing any signs of lingering anger.

“Seo Heewon, did you see the article?”

“What article?”

“The one about the old man.”

I shook my head. I hadn’t seen anything other than the breaking news from yesterday.

“There’s some weird rumors going around, so don’t pay any attention to them.”

“What rumors?”

“Some people are making strange speculations because the Hunter Management Bureau reported that he was injured. It should be cleared up by the morning, so don’t worry about it.”

“Oh, okay.”

I took out my phone and sent the old man a message. He quickly replied, saying he had slept well and just woken up.

I was concerned about public opinion, but as long as the old man was okay, that was all that mattered. I quietly finished my meal.

“I’ll drive you today.”

“Aren’t you busy?”

“You’re more important.”

His mouth always spouted nonsense at the most inappropriate times. If I were really that important, he wouldn’t act out like this…

Even on normal days, hearing him say flirty things like that was annoying, but today, after having a strange dream, it was even worse.

Why can’t I just give up? I regretted rejecting Lee Jooyun’s confession yesterday.

The only things Baek Gunho had over Lee Jooyun were his rank and looks.

In terms of personality, perception, and social skills, Lee Jooyun was far better.

But even if I could go back to yesterday, I would probably reject Lee Jooyun for the same reasons. I really was a fool.

“Heewon, why do you look so down? Did something happen with your girlfriend?”

When I got to work, Manager Choi patted me on the back and asked. I sighed deeply, not even having the energy to laugh.

“It’s not my girlfriend, it’s because of a friend.”

“A guy?”

“Yeah.”

“Why waste your energy over a guy? Forget about it and cheer up, Heewon.”

I wished I could think as simply as Manager Choi. But all day, thoughts of Baek Gunho kept floating around in my head.

To shake him off, I refreshed the internet page.

I filtered out the rumors about the old man, as Baek Gunho had advised, and checked to see if there were any articles about Shin Chaeyoung, but nothing came up.

It seemed like the Management Bureau was blocking any news.

The end of the workday came quickly as I juggled work and web surfing.

“Get in.”

It wasn’t Lee Jooyun waiting for me after work, but Baek Gunho. I hadn’t expected him to wait for me on both my way to work and on my way back.

“I can go by myself.”

“Just get in.”

“Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“I’m doing what I need to do right now.”

Baek Gunho responded as if it was the most natural thing in the world, leaving me no room to escape. I had no choice but to get in the car.

“Let’s go to the hospital.”

“The old man was discharged.”

“What? Already?”

I asked in surprise, and Baek Gunho and I made eye contact. I awkwardly avoided his gaze.

“He’s all better now, so it’s fine.”

“…Okay.”

I mumbled in response, pretending to focus on my phone. Baek Gunho glanced at me briefly before starting the car.

“I’m going to make a call.”

I asked Baek Gunho for permission and called the old man.

— Is that you, Heewon?

The old man answered with his usual voice.

“Uncle, I heard you were discharged already. Where are you?”

— I’m at home.

“You should’ve stayed at the hospital longer.”

— I don’t need to stay in the hospital. It’s just noisy there, and I feel more at ease resting at home.

“But still…”

— I said I’m fine. Are you with Gunho?

“Yes.”

— Alright, take care on your way back. If Gunho hasn’t eaten, tell him to come up and have dinner with me.

“Okay, I will.”

Baek Gunho responded from the side. I hung up the phone, considering whether to say something to Baek Gunho, but I kept silent.

The memory of last night’s dream was still lingering.

“Seo Heewon.”

“Yes!?”

His sudden call startled me, and I almost jumped. Baek Gunho looked at me as if I was a strange creature and then said,

“Let’s stop by the mart.”

“Why the mart?”

“I thought we could pick up something to eat.”

“Oh, okay.”

Following Baek Gunho into the mart, I pushed the cart, trailing behind him.

In the past, I used to enjoy walking around the mart with Baek Gunho.

Picking out food together to eat at home made it feel like we were a newlywed couple.

It used to give me butterflies… but that was all in the past.

If I had to make a comparison, Baek Gunho and I were more like a couple in a rut than newlyweds.

Not that we ever were newlyweds, of course. It was just a silly fantasy.

“Do you want anything else?”

“No.”

“Eat properly. That’s why you’re losing weight.”

Baek Gunho scolded me as he filled the cart with an amount of food that didn’t seem possible for just three people.

I didn’t know how we were going to eat all that. But since both Baek Gunho and the old man had big appetites, I guess we’d manage.

After filling the cart, Baek Gunho led me to the snack aisle.

“Pick out something you want.”

“I’m good.”

“Don’t get mad later and say I didn’t buy you anything.”

“Do you think I’m a child?”

“You are a child.”

“I’m not eating.”

Even though I firmly refused, Baek Gunho ignored me and picked out a few snacks, tossing them into the cart.

“I said I’m not eating.”

He didn’t even pretend to listen.

We left the checkout with enough food to feed a large camping group.

When we got home, the old man greeted us with a surprised look.

“What’s all this? Were you that hungry?”

“Looks like Baek Gunho was hungry.”

“Well, then, he should eat a lot.”

The old man laughed heartily.

Baek Gunho changed clothes and started preparing the ingredients to make a seafood stew.

Baek Gunho was a good cook. If he hadn’t awakened, he could’ve opened a restaurant and made a fortune.

“Whoever marries Gunho in the future will be lucky. A husband who cooks this well.”

The old man kept praising the stew as he ate.

I flinched at the mention of a wife but smiled and glanced at Baek Gunho.

“Are you not dating anyone?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Stop telling me to date someone and go date someone yourself. Are you really not seeing Lee Ji-hye?”

I brought up Baek Gunho’s last rumored partner. He immediately frowned as if he was sick of hearing her name.

“We’re not seeing each other.”

“Stop clinging to me and start dating someone.”

If Baek Gunho dated someone soon, I might finally be able to give up.

I just couldn’t seem to let go on my own.

Though, if he really did start dating someone and began neglecting me, I might be more upset than I’d like to admit.

But it was something I’d have to face eventually.

“Hey, I heard you’ve been getting close to Moon Haeyoon Hunter lately. She seems like a nice person.”

Just then, my uncle mentioned an unexpected name.

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