For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 123

“Miss, isn’t your stomach too weak? How many times have you had indigestion now? Give me your hand. I’ll tie this for you.”

“Uuugh.”

While I was groaning, Okhee brought out thick thread and started tying it tightly around my thumb. At first, Feyden had freaked out when he saw this folk remedy, but now, he would come over first and massage my arm to help draw the blood down.

He used to scoff, saying there’s no way pricking a thumb for a drop of blood could cure indigestion, but after he once experienced it himself and felt the effects, he became a complete believer.

Seeing the enthusiastic Feyden and Nari standing by with a cloth to wipe away the blood made me giggle even in the midst of my discomfort.

“If someone saw this, they’d think I had a serious illness.”

I tried joking around, but no one played along. Their faces were so somber, it was like they genuinely believed I was seriously ill.

“It’s really just because I didn’t eat enough before. I’m not sick! It’s just that your food is so delicious, Aunt Okhee. I stuffed myself and ended up with indigestion.”

I tried to explain myself, but when I mentioned not having eaten enough, their expressions grew even darker.

“You’re fifteen and still this skinny. What were your parents doing to let you get like this? Didn’t your parents feed you?”

“No. My mother passed away early, and my father was basically absent.”

“……”

I answered simply as Feyden continued his massage, which felt halfway between a massage and venting his anger, and his hands suddenly stopped.

He should have kept going. I felt like I was about to burp.

I glanced at him, signaling for him to keep moving, but he was biting his lip and furrowing his brow as if he were really angry.

“Feyden?”

“Aren’t you angry?”

“Huh?”

“That’s abuse, you know. Why are you smiling about it? You… ha.”

“Well, it’s all in the past anyway. Both of them are gone now. I barely even remember.”

Come on. Massage here a little more.

When I urged him, he let out a long, deep sigh, suddenly shot up, and stormed out of the room.

“……?”

Did I say something wrong?

I looked at Nari and Okhee, eyes wide, but their faces weren’t bright either. They looked as if they were holding back tears…

“It really doesn’t bother me…”

I guess they all think I had a really pitiful childhood.

I quietly shut my mouth because it seemed like Nari was about to burst into tears at my muttering. No matter how much I tried to explain, I must have looked like a kid trying to act tough.

After I’d had my blood drawn from both hands and feet and slept for a while, I woke to find a pile of snacks stacked at my bedside.

Next to them was a crumpled note, Feyden’s ugly handwriting scrawled across it.

[ Eat and get fat. ]

Why would you give food to someone with indigestion?

A smile slowly spread across my lips as I wondered where he’d found all those rare treats. Nurungji sprinkled with sugar, sweet red bean jelly, dried persimmons.

***

“It’s Jin.”

Ah. When did I fall asleep again?

I groggily sat up and checked outside the window. The bright half-moon was hanging low in the sky.

When I told him to come in, the door opened quietly. His careful movements didn’t match his large build and hands.

Because of the low ceiling, Jin had to stoop his head awkwardly. The lantern cast a long shadow on the left side of his face, making his high nose bridge stand out even more.

“Jin, what’s up? Oh, please, sit down.”

My voice came out all raspy and hoarse from throwing up so much. The stomach acid must have hurt my throat. I really shouldn’t have tried to force down so much food. Regret rushed in too late.

It seemed Jin had come to help me.

“I brewed some medicine. It’s a decoction good for acute indigestion and the stomach.”

From the strong herbal smell that filled the room as soon as he entered, it seemed he’d been boiling the medicine since earlier in the day. Just thinking about Jin fanning the fire for hours in the early summer heat was moving, even if it was at Okhee’s insistence.

Even though I’d told him to sit comfortably, seeing him kneeling so politely made me awkwardly kneel as well. I carefully accepted the medicine pot he offered with both hands.