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Chapter 42: "It Seems Like I've Signed a Contract with the Devil"
The next morning, Soo-ho sat in front of the kitchen table, quietly eating his breakfast.
The kitchen was large and spotless—one of those places where you could cook and serve at the same time.
A middle-aged lady, perhaps in her late sixties, came in carrying several flasks from a large pulley bag.
She set them on the counter, then turned to Soo-ho.
"Eat the veggies and kimchi first before they spoil," she said kindly.
Soo-ho nodded slightly, scrolling on his phone while eating.
The woman opened the freezer, glanced back at him, and frowned.
"You didn't eat what I brought last time."
Soo-ho put his phone down and looked up, his calm face revealing nothing but quiet gentleness.
"I've been eating out," he replied.
Her face showed clear disapproval. "Were they not good?"
"No," he started, then quickly corrected himself. "I mean—they were good."
The lady sighed. "A cleaning lady should stick to cleaning and not bring awful things."
But before she could say more, Soo-ho spoke again—his tone suddenly serious, like someone confessing something important.
"They taste great."
She blinked in surprise at his sudden firmness.
"I mean it," he added softly.
Her face brightened into a smile. "Right?"
Despite her age, she looked far younger—her skin smooth, her hair still a deep brown with barely a trace of gray.
"Make sure not to skip meals, even when you're busy," she said.
Just then, Soo-ho's phone buzzed.
It was a message from Ju-kyoung.
He straightened in his seat before opening it.
> Ju-kyoung: I have something to say. Let's meet before school.
Soo-ho sighed quietly, pocketed his phone, and stood.
"I'll get going," he said.
"Wait!" the lady called after him. "Don't you want me to clean that room of yours?"
He turned toward his room door at the far left end of the living room, then looked back at her.
"Yes, but I'll do it myself," he said firmly. "Don't go in there."
Then he left.
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Ju-kyoung came down the stairs, her aura completely different.
Her mother froze mid-bite, her father chuckled, and Hee-Kyung smirked.
Something about her was darker now—whether it was the heavy makeup or the smoky eyeshadow, no one could tell. But she still looked hot.
Her mother blinked, startled.
"Hey—you! What did you do to your eyes?"
"You look like you got punched!"
Her father laughed. "Sweetheart, that's a makeup trend—smoky makeup."
Her little brother stared, speechless.
"Erase that before you go!" her mom said sharply.
But Ju-kyoung didn't flinch.
"Silence," she said, turning slowly. The whole room went quiet.
"Don't stop me now."
Her eyes burned with dramatic determination.
"I'm on my way… to end someone."
Then she marched out the door.
Her father grinned proudly. "You go, girl."
Her mother rolled her eyes. "As if."
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Ju-kyoung stood by the football field, watching Soo-ho walk in.
"Lee Soo-ho!" she called, walking toward him.
He stopped and turned.
Even from a distance, their gazes locked—sharp, electric, wordless.
The cool morning breeze brushed between them, carrying the unspoken tension.
"The end of fear… is ruin," Ju-kyoung thought, her eyes narrowing.
No one else was around—they had both arrived early.
In her mind, she imagined herself as a knight in shining armor, sword in hand.
Soo-ho stood before her, calm and unarmed, yet powerful with just his stare.
The sword has been drawn, she thought. There's no turning back.
"If you tell anyone about my no-makeup face," she shouted, "I will—!"
Soo-ho calmly pulled something from his pocket—the hairband he'd taken from her in the library.
"You will what?" he asked.
Ju-kyoung froze.
Her courage drained away, and before she knew it, she was on her knees.
"Well… I'm not saying I'll do something," she stammered, giving him her best puppy eyes. "But I'm begging you not to tell."
Soo-ho raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
Her voice cracked as she continued, "It might seem small to a good-looking guy like you, but for me—it's a matter of life and death! Please!"
"Seriously?" His tone was flat, his face unreadable.
He stepped closer, his gaze cold. "Why should I help you when you deceived me with two faces?"
Ju-kyoung's lips trembled. "Please," she whispered. "You're such a generous man. Have mercy on me, please. I'll do anything if you just keep my secret."
"Get up," Soo-ho said.
Her eyes widened with relief.
Yes! Savior Soo-ho! One of the two towers! she cheered silently as she jumped to her feet.
Then his voice came again, calm and deliberate:
"You'll do anything I say."
Her smile disappeared instantly. The angelic Soo-ho had turned into a demon before her eyes.
His gaze made her feel trapped—like she'd walked straight into his carefully laid trap.
"You'll do anything I say," his words echoed in her mind over and over again.
She stood there speechless as he walked away.
Ju-kyoung sighed heavily. "It seems like I've signed a contract with the devil himself," she muttered, rubbing her forehead.
Just the thought of what he might ask her to do made her shiver.
"Trying to fill a basket with holes would be easier," she groaned.
Then she screamed into the empty field, "What am I going to do?!"
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