154: Chapter 154: A slightly awkward silence

The sound of water in the master bedroom bathroom stopped.

Shin Se-kyung stood before the mist-covered mirror, looking at herself—hair damp and plastered to her cheeks, wearing a men's gray cotton T-shirt and dark blue sweatpants that were clearly too big for her.

The hem of the T-shirt almost covered her thighs, the sleeves had to be rolled up several times to reveal her wrists, and the waistband of the sweatpants had to be clutched tightly with her hand to keep them from sliding down.

The face in the mirror was still a bit pale, though her lips had regained some color. In her eyes lingered the aftermath of the shock from falling into the water, and... a trace of unfamiliar bewilderment.

She raised her hand, touching the soft, dry fabric on her body. These strange clothes, carrying the clean scent of sunshine, had rescued her from the cold, sticky dampness that had soaked her through, but they also made her acutely aware of her current situation.

In the home of a nearly strange, powerful young man, wearing his clothes, while outside was a torrential rain capable of drowning the world, along with two other guests who were also unexpectedly stranded and in a delicate relationship with her.

"Shin Se-kyung, pull yourself together." She said silently to herself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and rubbed her half-dry hair vigorously with a towel to banish the strange, faint woody scent—his scent—from her nose before pushing open the bathroom door and walking out.

The light in the living room was dimmer than before; emergency lights and a few floor lamps provided the main illumination, their warm yellow glow dispelling some of the gloom of the rainy day. The air conditioning had been turned on, sending out a comfortable warm breeze that drove away the damp chill from everyone's bodies.

Kim Sae-ron had also changed into a set of what were clearly brand-new, unopened pink children's loungewear with cartoon prints; the size was a bit big, but it looked very cute.

She was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a cup of steaming milk, sipping it in small mouthfuls. Her wet hair was wrapped in a dry towel, revealing only her flushed little face, her eyes slightly squinted from warmth and relaxation, like a satisfied kitten.

The shock Kim Sae-ron had felt earlier seemed to have been smoothed over for the most part by the hot milk and dry clothes.

Kim Sun-mi had changed clothes as well. She wore a high-quality dark gray women's loungewear set, simple in style and tailored to fit.

Her hair was pinned up with a simple hairpin, a few stray strands hanging at the side of her neck. Having removed her exquisite makeup, her bare face looked less sharp and more softly domestic, though her eyes remained clear and keen.

She sat in a single sofa, holding a cup of clear tea, her posture relaxed yet alert, her gaze sweeping calmly over Shin Se-kyung as she emerged from the guest room.

Shin Se-kyung's steps faltered under her gaze. She tugged uncomfortably at the hem of the overly large T-shirt and said in a low voice, "Ms. Kim, Sae-ron."

"Se-kyung Unnie!" Kim Sae-ron waved at her happily and patted the spot beside her. "Come here, there's hot tea! CEO Oppa brewed it, it's delicious!"

Shin Se-kyung walked over and sat on the other end of the long sofa as indicated by Kim Sae-ron, deliberately maintaining a polite distance from the mother and daughter.

There was indeed a pot of hot tea and several clean cups on the coffee table, along with a small plate of exquisite tea snacks.

She poured herself a cup. Holding the warm porcelain cup in her hands, the heat traveled through her palms to her limbs, making her exhale softly.

Song Tianhao walked out from the open kitchen on the other side. He had also changed into clean, comfortable dark loungewear. His hair was half-dry, with stray strands naturally falling over his forehead, stripping away some of the aloofness he usually displayed at the company and in public, and adding a touch of casual domesticity.

Holding a remote control, he walked to the audio-visual equipment in the center of the living room and operated it skillfully.

"The rain won't stop for a while, and there's no knowing when the power will be restored. The Villa has a backup power supply, but it only supports basic lighting and some appliances."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the three people on the sofa, his tone normal, showing no anxiety about being trapped. "It's boring just sitting here, let's watch a movie to pass the time. The media room is downstairs, but it's a bit enclosed, so let's just watch here with the projector, how about it?"

This suggestion broke the subtle, slightly awkward atmosphere of silence in the living room.

"Okay, okay! Let's watch a movie!" Kim Sae-ron was the first to respond; children were always easily interested in new things, especially on a rainy day with nothing to do.

Kim Sun-mi didn't respond immediately. She held her teacup, her fingertips gently rubbing the rim, her gaze lingering for a moment between Song Tianhao and Shin Se-kyung before nodding slowly: "That sounds good, sorry to trouble President Song."

Shin Se-kyung also nodded gently and said in a low voice, "I'll leave it to President Song to decide."

"What do you want to watch?" Song Tianhao used the remote to bring up the movie list. A huge projector screen slowly descended, occupying an entire wall. The screen listed a dazzling array of films, from classic old movies to the latest blockbusters, from serious art films to light comedies—the categories were clear, and the quantity was staggering.

"Wow! So many movies!" Kim Sae-ron widened her eyes and curiously leaned toward the screen. "Mom, let's watch that one! The one we didn't finish at the cinema last time..."

"Sae-ron," Kim Sun-mi interrupted her daughter gently but firmly. "The host is being polite by letting us choose. We should let President Song and Ms. Shin choose first." Her tone was soft.

Kim Sae-ron said "Oh" and shrank back onto the sofa, somewhat disappointed, but her eyes were still shining as she looked at the screen.

Song Tianhao looked at Shin Se-kyung: "Se-kyung-xi, is there anything you'd like to watch? Don't be shy."

Shin Se-kyung's gaze swept quickly over the dazzling titles, finally landing on a familiar animated movie poster.

It was a globally popular family-friendly animation, telling a warm story about family, dreams, and courage. It was one of the few movies from her Girls Generation days that allowed her to completely relax. Almost unconsciously, her fingertips moved slightly.

Almost at the same time, a low but still visibly excited whisper came from Kim Sae-ron beside her: "Ah! It's that one! The one with the little flying house! Mom, can we watch that one?"

The little girl's finger also pointed to the same spot on the screen.

Shin Se-kyung and Kim Sae-ron were both stunned for a moment, looking at each other, then at the screen, and then their gazes met briefly in the air. Shin Se-kyung saw pure expectation and joy in Kim Sae-ron's eyes, while Kim Sae-ron saw a flash of similar softness in Shin Se-kyung's eyes.

Song Tianhao's gaze shifted between the two, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Looks like we have a consensus." He clicked the remote, and the poster for that animated movie was magnified; the gentle, warm theme music began to flow out.

"We'll watch this one." He made the decision, his tone gentle.

The lights were dimmed further, leaving only the softest ambient lights in the corners. The huge projector screen lit up, and colorful, imaginative images began to flow.

Outside the window, the torrential rain continued to pour, the sound of the rain becoming the movie's most natural white noise background, strangely making the room feel even quieter, safer, and isolated from the rest of the world.

On the spacious L-shaped sofa, the four of them each occupied a corner. Kim Sun-mi still sat in her single sofa, her posture elegant. Kim Sae-ron hugged a soft cushion, sitting cross-legged on the end of the long sofa near her mother, eyes fixed on the screen without blinking.

Shin Se-kyung sat on the other end of the long sofa, leaning against the armrest, her body slightly curled, holding her now lukewarm teacup. Song Tianhao sat on the single armchair to the side, at a right angle to the sofa, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, allowing him to see the screen clearly while still keeping an eye on everyone's state.

A strange tranquility permeated the living room. There was only the laughter from the movie, the melodious soundtrack, and the ceaseless sound of rain outside the window.

The scent of tea, the faint fragrance of fabric softener on clean clothes, and the subtle, fresh smell of shower gel from different people lingering in the air mixed into a complex and intimate scent.

The movie was wonderful, with dense punchlines and sincere emotions. When it got to a funny part, Kim Sae-ron couldn't help but giggle, her body rocking back and forth.

She initially tried to lean toward her mother subconsciously, seeking resonance to share her joy, but Kim Sun-mi sat ramrod straight; although there was a smile at the corner of her mouth, her posture maintained a distant elegance.

Kim Sae-ron paused, her little head turned, and she naturally leaned toward Shin Se-kyung on the other side, resting her chin on Shin Se-kyung's arm and pointing to a funny scene on the screen: "Unnie, look! That dog is so silly!"

Shin Se-kyung's body stiffened slightly. She wasn't used to being so close to people, especially this kind of sudden, childish snuggling. But the little girl's warm, soft body leaned over, carrying the scent of milk and sunshine, along with complete trust.

She looked down and saw Kim Sae-ron's bright, smiling eyes—there were no impurities in them, only pure joy.

Her stiff body slowly relaxed; she didn't pull away, just gave a soft "Hmm," turned her gaze back to the screen, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved into a faint, almost invisible arc, following that carefree smiling face.

Kim Sun-mi's hand holding the teacup paused for half a second. Her gaze swept over her daughter's little head resting in the crook of Shin Se-kyung's arm, then over Shin Se-kyung's profile—which was slightly stiff but ultimately didn't push her daughter away. The scrutiny deep in her eyes faded a little, replaced by a complex, indescribable expression.

She lowered her gaze and took a sip of the tea that had long since gone cold.

Halfway through the movie, the plot entered a slightly poignant flashback segment. A gentle soundtrack played, and the protagonist wept silently in the moonlight over letters left by a deceased loved one. As Kim Sae-ron watched, her eyes reddened slightly, and she sniffled quietly.

Shin Se-kyung noticed the subtle change in the little girl's emotions in the crook of her arm. She hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand, and with somewhat clumsy movements, gently patted Kim Sae-ron's back. Once, then again. Very lightly, with a clumsy sense of comfort.

Kim Sun-mi raised her eyes again. This time, in the gaze she directed at Shin Se-kyung, the hard shell of scrutiny seemed to crack a little more.

"This child had a night shoot yesterday, didn't finish until the early hours, and got up early today, so she didn't get enough sleep." Kim Sun-mi spoke softly, her voice gentle amidst the movie soundtrack and the sound of rain, explaining to Song Tianhao and Shin Se-kyung, as if talking to herself. She stood up, wanting to move her daughter, who was already drowsy, over to her side.

"It's okay, just let her be." Shin Se-kyung whispered, her voice so soft it was as if she were afraid of disturbing something. She adjusted her sitting posture to let Kim Sae-ron, who was leaning against her, curl up more comfortably.

The little girl seemed truly sleepy; her eyelids began to fight, and under Shin Se-kyung's rhythmic patting, they slowly closed, and her breathing became even and long.

Kim Sun-mi's movement to stand up stopped there. She watched her daughter fall asleep beside Shin Se-kyung without any defenses, then looked at Shin Se-kyung's side profile—slightly bewildered, yet trying hard to maintain her posture without moving. After a moment, she sat back down, said nothing more, and just cast her gaze toward the screen, light and shadow flickering on her face.

Song Tianhao took in all these subtle interactions. He didn't speak, just got up quietly, walked aside, took a soft, thin fleece blanket from a cabinet, and walked back.

He came to the sofa, bent down, and his arm naturally reached over Shin Se-kyung to gently drape the blanket over the sleeping Kim Sae-ron. His movements were very light, with a practiced meticulousness, as he carefully tucked in the corners of the blanket to ensure no cold air would get in.

The distance was instantly closed.

Shin Se-kyung could almost feel the warm breath he brought when he leaned in, carrying the scent of fresh shower gel. His sturdy arm was right before her eyes, the sleeves of his loungewear rolled up to his elbows, revealing his smoothly contoured forearms. When he tucked in the blanket, his fingertips inadvertently brushed the back of her hand resting at her side.

It was like a tiny electric current, suddenly darting up from the back of her hand, along the veins of her arm, and striking her heart.

Shin Se-kyung's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and she held her breath. She could even see his lowered eyelashes casting a small, faint shadow under the changing light and shadow of the screen. He looked at the sleeping Kim Sae-ron with focus, and his side profile looked exceptionally clear and... gentle in the dim light.

After tucking the blanket in, he straightened up as if he had just done the most ordinary thing, his gaze sweeping calmly over Shin Se-kyung's head, which had instantly lowered and was almost buried in her collar, then he nodded slightly to Kim Sun-mi, who was looking at him, and walked back to his seat to sit down again.

Song Tianhao's gaze turned to the screen, as if that brief closeness and physical contact had never happened.

Shin Se-kyung, however, felt that the small patch of skin on the back of her hand that he had inadvertently brushed felt as if it had been scalded by a hot iron, continuously radiating heat. That fresh, faint scent of soap seemed to still linger at the tip of her nose.

Her heart was beating a bit chaotically, drumming in her chest. She gripped the teacup tightly, but the cold porcelain wall couldn't lower the heat in her palms. She could only bury her head lower, using the shifting light and shadow of the screen to hide her suddenly flushed cheeks and chaotic heartbeat.

In the movie, the protagonist finally overcame their inner fear and took a brave step toward their dream. Stirring music played, and the screen became bright and full of hope.

Kim Sun-mi picked up the cup of tea that had long since gone cold on the table and took a slow sip.

The slightly bitter chill slid down her throat. Her gaze moved away from the brilliant victory scene on the screen, swept over her daughter's peaceful sleeping face beside Shin Se-kyung, swept over Shin Se-kyung's lowered, flushed ear tips, and finally landed on the young man sitting at the junction of light and shadow, his posture relaxed yet seemingly in control of everything.

He watched the movie quietly, his side profile calm and unruffled in the light and shadow, as if that thoughtful gesture just now, that accidental approach that stirred the water, was just a natural expression of his gentlemanly demeanor, without any deeper meaning.

Outside the window, the torrential rain had turned smaller at some point, but it was still pattering, continuous and unending, tapping against the glass window.