Chapter 38: Do whatever you see fit, master

Chapter 38 - Do whatever you see fit, master Shin Jin-Yeok looked at me for a while and then at Min-Cheol, smiling innocently. "This is such a surprise." He said and stepped closer. "It hasn't even been a week and yet you've managed to pull a stubborn child like Kang Min-Cheol to your side. I'm impressed." Ah, was that a compliment? I don't know anymore but I could feel his severing eyes on me, as if he would rip me apart. His outside appearance couldn't fool me anymore. No matter how marvelous his voice sounded or how otherworldly handsome he was... He was still a dangerous man that I had to be careful with. It would only end badly for me if I got him to hate me from the get-go. "M-master," I called, slowly turning around to face him with my head slightly bowed. I couldn't even look him in the eyes. "I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. I didn't mean to be presumptuous and say such things in front of you. I... I got ahead of myself and spilled my inner thoughts without realizing how rude it was." I bowed my head even more. "Please forgive me." "Don't apologize, Hyung," Min-Cheol pressed on harshly. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm sure that old man knows that as well. Right?" He turned to Jin-Yeok. "Tell Hyung he didn't do anything wrong." But Shin Jin-Yeok did not respond. Rather, he was amused by the turn of events and how Min-Cheol was supporting me. It came as a shock to Cha Hyun-woo so it would only be normal to think he was equally shocked by the change. 'Is he already thinking of ways to deal with me?' I wondered and pressed my lips together. I was getting anxious, but if I didn't calm myself, my Pheromones might leak, and who knows if it was already leaking. "If I displeased you," I said, inwardly cursing myself for what I was about to say because it was like digging my own grave. "...you can take it out on me, master. I know I am at fault here." "You want me to take it out on you?" Jin-Yeok asked and I gulped. Not willingly, though. "Then, would you like me to 'punish' you for your slip of the tongue?" He asked and I shut my eyes. Min-Cheol didn't look happy about this. The smile he always put up, even when he was seriously upset by the people around him, had disappeared, leaving a disgruntled expression as he glared at Jin-Yeok, who was making me uncomfortable. "Do whatever you see fit, master," I said. Phew, the role of a slave wasn't easy. I had to walk on eggshells around my masters and fear to make a mistake. "Is that right?" He reached his hand towards me and pinched my chin, raising my head to look him in the eye. His green eyes were rather glazed as he gazed at me as if he held no interest in my existence in the slightest. "Then, should I ask you to take off your clothes and run around the mansion barefooted twice?" My eyes slightly widened. "Would that suffice for a punishment?" He wasn't joking. This man seriously wanted to punish me. This was what I her for letting my little achievement get the better of me. I pressed my lips together and then parted them lightly, saying, "As you wish." Still, I had to save my skin and not get on his bad side any longer. "What do you think you're doing?" Min-Cheol grabbed his hand. "Do you know Hyung just recovered from a fever yesterday? If you make him run around naked in this cold weather, he's bound to fall sick again." Jin-Yeok looked at Min-Cheol's hand holding his and then at Min-Cheol, who was furious. His gaze said, 'And why are you so concerned?' but he did not voice it into words and said, "A punishment is not supposed to make you feel okay. It's meant to hurt, so if he gets a fever then he would remember his mistake for the rest of his life and not repeat it." This man was scary. I couldn't help but shiver. He was so thorough in giving out punishment. I needed to think. Did something similar happen in the novel? No, there was nothing noticeable of the sort. Since Jo-Pil never tried to talk his way out of things and instead demonstrated his unwillingness by shutting his door or refusing to eat, they simply did the dead and went their separate ways. But since I dared to engage in such a conversation and even say something like, 'I feel like I'm in danger' in his presence, I made it known to him that I wasn't someone easy. So, maybe he wants to put me in my place by instilling fear in me. He wants to make it very clear that I could very much end up dead if he wills it as my 'punishment'. I gulped. Then, I should be rather grateful he was only making me do this much. "L-little Min," I called. "It's fine." I said, forcing out a smile. "I'm not going to die, and running around naked won't hurt me either. I'm more fit than I look." Yeah, in my original body, I was. But I doubt Jo-Pil's body in this current state would be able to run around the yard of this large mansion without collapsing. Well, if I did then I'd escape running for another lap and spend the rest of the day in bed. It was worth it. "I will take this punishment, master," I said to Jin-Yeok. "A-and from now on, I will make sure to be careful," "Hyung," Min-Cheol called, looking at me worriedly. If I let Min-Cheol intervene in this circumstance, I'll only end up having Jin-Yeok watch me with contempt. So, better to ease him now and try my best to stay out of his sight. I reached for the buttons on my nightwear and was about to undo the first one when Jin-Yeok chuckled. "Oh my," he exclaimed and laughed. "Don't do that. I only meant it as a joke but to think you took it seriously," I stared at Jin-Yeok, confused. He meant what as a joke?