A Madman in Love

Because her father worked under his mother, Seo Jaehee had developed a bizarre logic: since Suin’s father was his mom’s subordinate, Suin was automatically his “lackey.”

From the very first moment they met, Suin found Jaehee completely intolerable.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Scoffing, she wrinkled her nose and marched back into the guesthouse.

That night, during the small welcome gathering for Suin’s family held by the estate staff, the topic of conversation that dominated the evening was none other than Seo Jaehee.

“The number one in Hyesung is our Chairwoman, but I’d say the number two has to be the young master. No one can beat him.”

“Mr. Lee, you’d know best, wouldn’t you? You’re the Chairwoman’s personal secretary.”

“Mr. Lee doesn’t talk about work at home. All I knew was that the Chairwoman’s son is the same age as our Suin.”

“Mr. Lee sure is discreet. No wonder the Chairwoman trusts him so much.”

“But why do you call the Chairwoman’s son the second-in-command?”

“Because he’s the golden child of the Hyesung family. A brat whose antics reach the heavens.”

As the seventh-generation heir of the Hyesung family, Jaehee had been doted on endlessly by his grandmother, Kim Myeongrye, and his meek father, Professor Seo Seongyeok, while his busy mother ran the family conglomerate.

Described as unruly, headstrong, domineering, and a certified troublemaker, Jaehee was someone no one could control.

What a headache, Suin thought, overhearing the conversation.

That night, she mentally decided to make him “Enemy Number One” and vowed to avoid him at all costs.

The next morning, her plan was thoroughly crushed.

“I’m walking to school starting today.”

Jaehee, who had always been driven to school by a chauffeur, suddenly declared he was done with cars.

“It’s dangerous! What if you run into bad people?”

“I’ll just kick them.”

Despite his grandmother’s anxious protests, Jaehee’s stubbornness prevailed. After all, he had leverage.

“She’s walking by herself too. I’ll walk with her.”

“With Suin?”

“Yeah. I’ll even show her the way.”

“Oh, my sweet boy. When did you grow up to be so kind and reliable?”

“You raised me well, Grandma.”

Swooning from her grandson’s smooth flattery, Kim Myeongrye’s eyes misted over with emotion.

For a moment, even Suin thought he might be a decent person.

I thought he was insufferable, but maybe I misjudged him. He’s actually kind! she mused, berating herself for her initial impression.

“Hey, lackey!”

The moment they stepped outside the tall walls of the Hyesung estate, Jaehee’s true colors showed.

“What?”

“My bag.”

“What?”

“Is ‘what’ all you can say? Hurry up and carry my bag.”

Without waiting for a response, Jaehee shoved his bag into her arms and strutted ahead confidently.

“Why should I carry your bag?”

Furious, Suin threw it to the ground.

Jaehee glanced at the discarded bag, smirking arrogantly.

“It’s your job. I’m the leader, and you’re the lackey.”@@novelbin@@

“Why would I—”

“You live in my house, don’t you? Or would you rather move out?”

“You… ugh, how petty.”

That was the moment Suin was convinced she saw devil horns sprouting from his head.

Determined, she planned to beg her parents to move out of the estate.

That plan fell apart by the afternoon.

The reason?

Her new bed.

“Oh… this is the hardest decision of my life.”

It was her first-ever beautiful bed—a pink princess bed that fit perfectly in her newly decorated room, courtesy of the Chairwoman.

There’s no helping it.

Faced with such overwhelming practicality, Suin chose to endure. She couldn’t give up her lovely room or the cozy guesthouse.

Thus began her life as Seo Jaehee’s unwilling lackey.

“Hey, lackey! Ball!”

“Okay.”

“Hey, lackey! Homework!”

“Okay.”

Jaehee used her as his personal shuttle for everything—carrying his bag, doing his homework, fetching balls, and sometimes even running out to buy him ice cream. Suin executed every task perfectly.

“Lackey, did you finish my homework?”

“Yeah. Here.”

“Good job. Want me to praise you?”

“When someone helps you, you’re supposed to say thank you, not offer praise,” she retorted, always making sure to correct him with a sharp tone.

***

Reuniting with the thirty-year-old Seo Jaehee, who was three times more difficult than his ten-year-old self, drained Suin completely.

Even though she had only spent a short time in the director’s office, it felt as if all her energy had been sucked dry. Her body creaked under the weight of the tasks left to do, including a mountain of handovers still waiting to be addressed.

“It’s done.”

Only at 10:35 PM did Suin finally shut down her laptop.

“What about organizing the director’s office?”

Jaehee’s belongings, shipped directly from New York, were still piled high in his office.

But Suin couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Because it was Jaehee’s stuff.

“Forget it. I’ll do it tomorrow.”

Normally, her diligence defined her life. But this time, she abandoned her duties, grabbing a can of beer from the refrigerator and perching on the windowsill of the secretary’s office.

Click.

She opened the can, gazing out at the cityscape, where buildings burned with vibrant colors against the dark night. That’s when his voice echoed in her ears—low, rich, and impossibly smooth.

“Lee Suin, the adult.”

It was ridiculous.

The moment she had a breather, her thoughts wandered back to Seo Jaehee.

“What on earth is that guy playing at?”

Suin let out a bitter laugh.

“What’s he scheming this time…?”

The fact that he was unpredictable was amusing in its own way. What was truly bothersome, however, was that she couldn’t shake the image of his bewitching gaze.

“Just get used to it,” she muttered, gulping down the rest of her beer.

Her thoughts drifted to her eighteen-year-old self, who had resolutely ignored him back then.

After all, it’s Seo Jaehee.

***

*Jaehee at Ten Years Old*

As the golden child of the Hyesung family, Jaehee was perpetually bored.

The elite path he had been forced to walk since he could talk was monotonous, and the vast Hyesung estate was devoid of playmates his age.

Even when he pulled pranks on adults, they simply coddled him with “Oh, you’re so cute!” making it all the more tiresome.

But then, a girl his age moved into the guesthouse.

“I’m Lee Suin.”

Her small, symmetrical features, the way she jutted her chin stubbornly, and the slight wrinkle of her nose when she frowned—all of it was inexplicably adorable.

“Lackey!”

So, he made her his subordinate.

Although Suin often wrinkled her nose in irritation, she was surprisingly competent, completing every task he gave her.

Jaehee was sure his reign as her leader would last forever.

That was, until puberty came knocking.

***

*Jaehee and Suin at Fifteen Years Old*

After finishing his shower, Jaehee frowned at his reflection in the mirror.

“Damn it, I’ve got armpit hair.”

While some of his friends already had full bushes, he wasn’t used to the sight of dark hairs sprouting sporadically through his skin. It felt both disgusting and embarrassing.

“Guess I can’t wear short sleeves anymore.”

Grumbling, he pulled on a short-sleeved shirt, followed by a button-up, and slung his bag over his shoulder as he headed downstairs.

Kim Myeongrye, who had been waiting for him, hurried over.

“My sweet boy, where are you off to so early on a Saturday morning?”

“Academy. Special lecture.”

“You should’ve told me earlier! You didn’t even eat breakfast…”

“It’s the middle of summer, and you’re wearing a shirt? Aren’t you going to be hot?”

His father, Professor Seo, also came to see him off, but Jaehee, caught in the throes of adolescent rebellion, only offered a half-hearted shrug.

“I’ll manage.”

“Take care, sweetie! Eat something, okay?”

“Good luck, son! You’ve got this!”

Their doting gazes followed him as he walked away. Having already outgrown his parents in height, his retreating figure filled them with pride.

Jaehee, however, found it all exhausting.

If not for the looming wrath of his mother, Chairwoman Woo Ilhwa, he would’ve skipped the lecture and gone straight to a PC café.

“Should I just ditch it?”

As he debated, he reached the grand gates of the estate—and that’s when he saw her.

It had been a long time since he’d last seen Suin, now that they attended different schools.

“Lackey…”

The word almost escaped his lips, but then Suin raised her arms to gather her long hair, pulling it into a ponytail.

His eyes were drawn to the nape of her neck, now fully exposed.

The pale skin there glowed softly in the morning light.

And then—

A glimpse of white.

A strap, peeking out from under the slightly off-shoulder neckline of her T-shirt.

“……!”

Jaehee froze in place.

He stared, blinking slowly like a dumbfounded calf, as Suin tucked the white strap back under her shirt, adjusted her bag, and finally noticed him standing there.

“Oh? Seo Jaehee!”

Her face lit up with a bright smile as she waved at him.

Jaehee’s cheeks burned, a sudden heat spreading across his face.

Without a word, he ducked his head and strode past her, practically running out the gate.

“Hey! Seo Jaehee!”

Suin called after him, but he couldn’t turn around.

He just kept walking, his mind consumed by a single thought:

My lackey…

My lackey…

She’s wearing a bra!