When The Phone Rings

Chapter 24

He doesn't know that the blackmailer is me, so why is he saying such things?

Heeju's face clearly showed signs of confusion.

"There will be no divorce."

Sa-eon's icy voice cut through the air. He frowned as if even the thought of it filled him with irritation.

"Scandals, rumours or any kind of pathetic failure is intolerable. I can't stand the thought of my name being tarnished. It's just the way I'm made."

The intensity in his gaze was almost obsessive, laced with a cold, biting determination.

"But still...

How could anyone spend their whole life with someone they didn't even love?

The image of her father, reduced to an empty shell of himself, surfaced in her mind like an old scar.

I can't do this.

She clenched her fists under the table as a symbol of determination.

"So you better get ready."

"For what...?

"Prepare to protect what's yours - your livelihood, your place."

"...!"

"Don't just spit it out. Make sure you swallow it all."

He pushed the plate forward, urging her to eat.

"From tonight you'll sleep in my room."

"...!"

Heeju couldn't breathe.

"If we continue to live like this, we'll just end up blaming each other as guilty spouses. Troubles can easily tear us apart. I'm sure even the teenage Hong Heeju has learned this from somewhere."

He looked at her with a mischievous, knowing expression.

Suddenly he got up from the chair and moved closer to Heeju.

"When I took your phone, I happened to see something interesting."

"..."

"You seem to have saved my number under a rather amusing name."

The realisation seemed to hit her.

"Oh no!

"'Business Husband.'"

He pronounced the words slowly, almost savouring them.

It was a name she had cynically chosen to remind herself of her situation, to keep her expectations and disappointments in check. Hearing it out loud, however, made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"Well, I suppose I should live up to this 'business relationship'."

"...!"

"Come with me to the 70th anniversary of the 'Sankyung Daily'. We should put on a decent show."

Without warning, he lifted the hem of his shirt.

The sight of his hard abs filled her vision. As Heeju instinctively turned her head away, he caught the back of her head.

The edge of his shirt, carrying his scent, brushed roughly across her lips.

"Let me wipe the milk from your lips like a baby..."

Baek Sa-eon rubbed away the white traces on her upper lips with deliberate movements.

His expression was indifferent, but his hands were strangely meticulous.

Heeju was stunned, her eyes glued to the sharp lines of his abs and the visible dip of his pelvic bones. Unconsciously, she swallowed the temptation.@@@@

Sa-eon's eyes darted to the clock and with a frustrated click of his tongue, he backed away.

Without hesitation, he turned and walked towards the bedroom, crumpling his dirty shirt roughly in his hand.

"..."

Once alone, Heeju touched her burning lips. He had rubbed them so thoroughly that the skin around them had turned red.

***

After Baek Sa-eon left for work, Heeju finally felt the tension drain out of her body.

He chuckled, as if wishing for something easy to achieve. And that turned out to be their first mission.

- "Record him cursing. Then I'll trade with you."

***

"I... It's just so vulgar, so vulgar!"

As Heeju opened the door and walked in, Director Han Joon groaned theatrically. She knocked lightly on the door to get his attention.

Why did you call me?

She signed the question and the director immediately got up from his seat.

"Where were you rushing off to yesterday?"

"..."

"Was something wrong?"

"Everything is fine.

Heeju smiled faintly, hiding her true feelings.

The director handed her a file.

What is that?

"Work. I thought you didn't want to be unemployed forever."

"..."

"It's lyrics for a pop song. Have a look."

Heeju took the file and began to leaf through it quietly.

But as soon as she read the first line - no, the very first word - her face turned red. Her mouth fell open in shock and Han Joon sighed heavily.

"It's for the international concert I mentioned."

[ WXXXXX in this house / Wet AXX PXXXXX ]

She couldn't even bring herself to read the lyrics.

"Do you think you can handle it?"

"Absolutely not!

Heeju waved her hands with a pale face.

I have never seen or interpreted content like this before - ever!

"That's why I wanted new people to participate."

[ FuXXXXX with XXX XXXX ]

Ahh!

This was beyond hot - this was scorching hot!

Heeju quickly crumpled up the papers in her bag. Every single word, every line of the lyrics was provocatively explicit and shockingly creative.

The thought of standing on stage and interpreting such content in sign language made her head spin. Just as she was about to run away, Han Joon stepped in her way.

"Okay, W-Wait!"

He blocked her path and gestured for her to calm down.

"In that case, take a look at this while you're here."

He held a tablet in front of her narrowed eyes.

The emblem of the Blue House gleamed on the screen. Heeju, who had been ready to protest, clamped her mouth shut.

It was a recruitment notice sent by the Blue House to sign language centres all over Seoul.

The title, bold and prominent, read: 'Sign Language Interpreter Placement at the Blue House'.

When she saw it, a strange feeling of heat rose in her chest.

Noticing the change in her expression, Han Joon grinned.

"I knew you'd like it."

I don't like it at all," she retorted.

But all she got in return was a sneer.

"Come on, ever since Baek Sa-eon was a presenter and hosted debates, you've been using political clips to practice your signing. I know everything."

"...!"

"This is a rare opportunity and you know it."

"But...

But the person blackmailing the Blue House spokesman is me...