Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

“What are you staring at?”

Ha-yeon asked without taking her eyes off her own hands as she was fixing his hair, seemingly unaware that Si-woo had been watching her intently.

“Just… it feels like time is passing by so quickly.”

When Si-woo spoke, Ha-yeon’s face immediately twisted in displeasure.

“If you’re trying to reminisce like an old man, stop it.”

At that blunt remark, Si-woo couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Right, I guess I am like an old man.”

But then Ha-yeon let out a brief laugh.

“If we’re talking in human terms, you’re more like a mummy.”

What could Si-woo say to such a pointed jab? So he just kept his mouth shut, but Ha-yeon continued to speak as she worked on Si-woo’s hair.

“How old were you when you got infected?”

“Twenty-six.”

“Then you’re only five years older than me.”

Si-woo looked at Ha-yeon through the mirror. Now that he thought about it, they did seem to be about the same age outwardly.

“Is that how it works?”

“Who cares about actual age these days? People go by how old you look.”

Of course, even by appearance, Si-woo had an otherworldly aura, as if he had endured centuries that could grant even inanimate objects a soul, so he didn’t exactly give off the vibe of a typical twenty-six-year-old. However, since there always seemed to be an insurmountable gap between him and the others, she purposely said it that way.

Surprisingly, Si-woo agreed calmly.

“It doesn’t feel bad. It’s like I’m really twenty-six again.”

It had been a long time since Si-woo had a casual conversation with Ha-yeon, and it felt different to him.

He had tried to get along with Ha-yeon in his own way, but it seemed that Ha-yeon, still going through some remnants of adolescence, couldn’t hide her annoyance… well, maybe not outright disgust, but she certainly didn’t bother to conceal her irritation. To be precise, irritation with Si-woo’s nagging.

Si-woo was aware that he had been a bit overbearing, but for some reason, he couldn’t remain detached when it came to Ha-yeon.

Then Ha-yeon looked up, pondering something, and spoke.

“No, wait. If this were the Joseon Dynasty, wouldn’t twenty-six be middle-aged?”

Si-woo was exasperated.

“Not quite middle-aged.”

Regardless of Si-woo’s response, Ha-yeon asked.

“What was a middle-aged guy like you doing not getting married?”

“That’s…”

Si-woo started to answer but then just closed his mouth.

Where should he even begin to explain what had happened to him back then?

Not that he intended to share the story anyway, but fortunately, Ha-yeon didn’t press further, perhaps not expecting an answer, like a hairdresser making small talk with a customer.

Ha-yeon stepped back to check the symmetry of Si-woo’s hair, running her fingers along the ends as if to ensure both sides matched.

Since their reunion, this was the first time Si-woo had looked at Ha-yeon so directly, and it felt strange.

Ha-yeon’s small, pale face was adorned with delicate features like they had been crafted by an artisan. Although she was dressed in a modern, boyish style, Ha-yeon looked like a classic beauty who would be more fitting in a dress with a golden crown.

Despite the resemblance to his father, Alex, which made it clear they were father and daughter, Ha-yeon gave off a different vibe. Alex was so strikingly beautiful that he seemed more like a statue, while Ha-yeon, perhaps due to the Eastern blood inherited from her mother, had a softer, more human quality.

Whenever Si-woo looked at Ha-yeon, who seemed like the epitome of all species, he couldn’t help but feel awe. Of course, if Ha-yeon knew what he was thinking, she’d probably make her characteristic disgusted face and respond with something like, ‘Are you crazy?’

If anyone were to ask which parent Ha-yeon took after in terms of personality, it was clear she was more like her mother, who was a bit more ‘tough,’ than her calm and reserved father.

At that moment, Ha-yeon turned around again. The sound of scissors cutting hair filled the room for a while, and then Ha-yeon brushed off Si-woo’s neck.

“All done. Go take a look.”

Si-woo stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. Although he had spent nearly his entire life with long hair, having been born in an era where even men wore their hair long, he couldn’t deny that having it cut short felt refreshing.

“You’re quite good at this.”

“I sometimes cut my father’s hair too.”

Now that he thought about it, the hairstyle was similar to the one Alex often wore. It seemed that Ha-yeon’s skills were limited since she hadn’t received professional training, but for an amateur, the result was impressive.

As Ha-yeon started to clean up, Si-woo turned around.

“Leave it. I’ll take care of it.”

“It’s no big deal.”

Ha-yeon replied, and she skillfully swept the hair off the floor. Watching her, Si-woo felt a surge of emotion.

“You even know how to clean up after yourself now.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ha-yeon suddenly straightened up, sighed, and ran her hand through her hair. Her expression, slightly furrowed, was like that of a boss looking at an employee who had just made a mistake.

“Just how old do you think I am?”

The way Ha-yeon glared at him with narrowed eyes was probably something some people would find sexy.

“You’ve known me since I was little, but do you have any idea how much time has passed? Is it because you don’t age that you have no sense of time passing?”

Though Ha-yeon’s tone was sharp and rational—enough to come across as intimidating to some—it only made her seem endearingly pouty to Si-woo, who couldn’t help but smile a little.

“You’re right.”

Suddenly, Ha-yeon grabbed Si-woo’s ear and gave it a hard tug.

“So stop making that face right now.”

Si-woo’s head was pulled to the side, but it didn’t particularly hurt.

“What face…?”

“The one where you look at me like I’m some cute little animal.”

Si-woo figured anyone who’s ever owned a cat would understand the feeling: when a prickly cat hisses at you, but instead of being deterred, you just want to pet it until its fur stands on end.

Anyway, realizing how obvious his expression must have been, Si-woo feigned ignorance.

“I’ve never done that.”

Ha-yeon narrowed her eyes with determination.

“There you go again. You act all respectful, treating me like some kind of master, but deep down, you look down on me, don’t you?”

Despite Ha-yeon’s slightly bratty behavior, the fact that she was whining like this made her unbearably adorable to Si-woo. He couldn’t hold back a smile and tried to speak.

“Of course not. How could I ever look down on—”

“Shut up.”

Ha-yeon tugged on his ear a bit harder, causing Si-woo’s head to tilt even further as he bent to the side, laughing.

“It hurts.”

Despite all of Ha-yeon’s efforts, Si-woo’s playful smile, which showed that he found her endearing, was unmistakable. Annoyed and frustrated, Ha-yeon yanked Si-woo closer until he was right in front of her.

“Take a good look. How could you possibly think that I’m…”

But just then, Si-woo, trying to steady himself, placed a hand on the sink beside Ha-yeon, inadvertently trapping her between his arms. The two were suddenly so close that Ha-yeon, startled by the proximity, tried to back away, but her hips bumped against the sink, causing her to stumble. Before she could even think about catching her balance, Si-woo’s arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her. Reflexively, Ha-yeon grabbed onto his arm.

Startled by the sudden situation, Ha-yeon looked up at him. How had they ended up in this half-embrace?

Beneath his still disheveled hair, which hadn’t yet been tidied after the haircut, his shadowed, red eyes gazed down at her. Si-woo also seemed a bit surprised by the situation, but whatever was flickering in the depths of his eyes was something Ha-yeon couldn’t quite grasp.

Realizing she was still holding onto his arm, Ha-yeon quickly let go.

“You didn’t need to catch me.”

Si-woo released her, offering a slight smile.

“My apologies.”

Ha-yeon frowned, then, with nothing more to say, curtly turned and headed out of the room.

“I’m hungry. Make me something to eat.”

Once Ha-yeon had left, Si-woo looked at his hand. While watching her, a strange chill had run down his spine, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Ha-yeon rubbed the back of her neck, frowning. There had always been one big reason why she felt uncomfortable around Si-woo, and that was…

Just then, she heard Si-woo following her out. Startled, Ha-yeon tried to act natural, as if she had been heading to the sofa all along. While he cooked, she stared intently at the TV screen, trying not to think about what had just happened.

After a while, Si-woo announced that dinner was ready.

“Your dinner is served.”

Ha-yeon sat down at the table. For a time, the only sound was the clinking of utensils against plates, until Si-woo, perhaps trying to lighten the mood, asked.

“Besides that friend Myung-jin, do you have any other friends?”

Ha-yeon frowned, her tone suspicious as she asked.

“How do you know Choi Myung-jin?”

“You mentioned it before. You said you’d put her to work when I offered to help you move.”

‘Did I say that?’

Si-woo’s face looked a bit hurt as if his expression had given away that she didn’t remember. Feeling slightly awkward, Ha-yeon muttered.

“You used to have me under surveillance, so…”

“You were so upset about that back then that I stopped. And ‘surveillance’ is a bit harsh. It was for your safety…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

Sensing that he was about to start nagging again, Ha-yeon quickly cut him off. Though Si-woo wasn’t fully satisfied, he let it go.

Though Si-woo claimed it was all for her safety, there was a time when Ha-yeon had been so furious with him for having someone follow her around to keep tabs on her that she vowed never to see him again. She had extracted a promise from him that he wouldn’t do it anymore, but even so, she couldn’t help but wonder if this nagging worrywart had truly stopped.

‘He doesn’t seem to know about my activities with the Merry Men, so maybe he did stop…’

If he had known, he would have undoubtedly tried to stop her. More than that, he probably would have involved her parents.

Looking at Si-woo, who was eating his meal with an innocent expression as if he knew nothing, Ha-yeon couldn’t help but shake her head. Though the atmosphere had turned a bit awkward for a moment, it was clear that Si-woo was still just the same old nagging figure.