CHAPTER 40…………………………………………………
Chohi was used to going home alone.
After finishing her work at the academy, she would often walk through dark alleys by herself.
It was natural. Her older brother worked later than she did, and no other family member could come to pick her up.
Sometimes, the streetlights along the way were off. In those moments, she would clutch her pounding heart and hurry home as fast as she could. Going home as if being chased was nothing unusual.
So, the fact that someone had come to pick her up felt strange. It was the first time it had happened, yet strangely, it felt pleasant.
Would this be what it feels like to have a real husband?
Chohi shook her head.
Husband… what a ridiculous thought. Where could such a fantasy come from?
This was all acting. Nothing real.
Playing the role of a kind husband was Dowoon’s job. He had come to meet her because he probably wanted to hear the story a little sooner.
Chohi tried to compose herself, speaking quickly.
“The matter has been wrapped up. I’ll probably be invited to the next meeting. And there’s another important piece of information I learned—”
“I’ll hear the story later. You must be tense, so rest a bit on the way.”
Dowoon cut her off. His hand rose in front of her, shielding her view, as if to truly make her rest.
“Close your eyes too.”
“Weren’t you eager to hear the story quickly?”
“Couldn’t wait that much?”
“…Then why did you come? You said we could meet at home.”
“I came because you must be tired. Isn’t that obvious?”
Though he spoke casually, Chohi felt her face heat up.
“Do you dislike that I came to pick you up?”
“N-No, it’s not that…”
“Good. Then rest now.”
At Dowoon’s words, Chohi felt the tension she had been holding for days finally melt away. Her eyelids grew heavy on their own as her body relaxed.
“Then… excuse me.”
With that, she softly closed her eyes and leaned against Dowoon’s shoulder.
She fell asleep, feeling his firm yet warm body and familiar scent.
Chohi remembered the first time she went to the Minamoto house, how nervous she had been.
At that time, since they were in the same house, he could help her immediately.
But at the Hiranishi house, Chohi had to go alone. Naturally, she would be even more tense.
She wasn’t a formally trained agent, after all.
Still, she was the woman he had put in harm’s way. He had to take responsibility.
So Dowoon waited outside until she finished her task, thinking she might collapse from exhaustion, in which case he would have to catch her.
{Madam, I came to get you.}
Sure enough, though she tried to appear calm, her face was pale.
Her lips were chewed raw, a clear sign of her nervous habit of biting them when tense.
“Then… excuse me.”
As she leaned on his shoulder, it felt as if time had stopped.
She had leaned on him first. The moment her head touched his body, his blood rushed to his thighs in embarrassment.
Oh no.
“Ha…”
Dowoon let out a helpless sigh.
It was a completely innocent contact. She had leaned on him out of fatigue, perhaps.
Yet, his body had heated uncontrollably at such a pure gesture. Not even a teenage boy would normally react this way.
Thoughts he could not put into words flared in his mind.
Her rhythmic breathing filled his ears.
If this defenseless woman knew what he was thinking, he might have slapped himself in shame.
He shook his head and tried to erase those impulsive thoughts.
“Even if I’m shameless and lustful, there’s nothing to say…”
He clenched his fists, then relaxed them, repeating countless thoughts in his mind.
“Am I really crazy…?”
It was a time when he had to admit he was. Fortunately, as soon as he thought that, the rickshaw stopped.
Dowoon looked down at Chohi, sleeping soundly, cheeks flushed.
He had to wake her… but he couldn’t.
Like handling a baby, he carefully slipped his arms under her knees and back and lifted her gently. She was light.
He even walked carefully, fearing she might wake.
When they entered the house, Madam Sunhwa appeared.
“You’re back—”
“Shh.”
Dowoon silently shook his head at her.
Passing the startled Madam Sunhwa, Dowoon carried Chohi to the master bedroom on this floor. He gently laid her on the bed.
He raised his hand to check her lips, bitten raw, but then clenched his fist and lowered it.
“…I’ll have to put some medicine on it.”
With that, Dowoon left the room immediately, fearing he might do something irreversible if he stayed any longer.
When Chohi woke the next morning, after a night of heavy sleep, the sun was already high.
She found Dowoon in his study and calmly recounted everything from her conversation with Minamoto the day before.
She deliberately avoided eye contact, only reciting the facts without emotion.
If she had looked into his eyes, she might have felt that strange sensation from yesterday again.
Fortunately, Dowoon, focused on the information, did not notice she wasn’t meeting his gaze.
“Yuhwa-hyeon, huh…”
“I don’t know exactly where it is, but they said they frequent that area. Maybe there’s something there?”
“If that’s the place… yes, that might be possible.”
Dowoon muttered words she could not understand.
“You’ve done well. This information could be very useful.”
“And I heard the Opera House opening ceremony is coming up. Did you receive an invitation too, Dowoon?”
“Yes. I wasn’t planning to go. Why?”
“I think it’s better to attend. They said the other ladies will gather there, including Mrs. Minamoto. There might even be a meeting among them, so we need to make sure to be seen.”
“I see. If you think so, I’ll send a reply that we’ll attend.”
Dowoon nodded at her suggestion. It seemed he trusted her judgment now and accepted it without objection.
He opened his desk drawer, took out the invitation to the Opera House opening, and put it in his left inner pocket, probably to reply later.
Seeing him prepare to leave, Chohi asked,
“Going out?”
“Yes. I have people to meet now that everything is settled. Why?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Are you feeling unwell? Your face is red.”
Dowoon frowned and raised his hand toward her cheek.
What to do? Too close to dodge.
Chohi stood still, waiting, and his hand froze in the air.
His gaze wavered like a candle flame.
“…Why aren’t you moving?”
“Huh?”
“In situations like this, shouldn’t you push my hand away?”
“Oh.”
Chohi realized what she had been doing—waiting for his touch. Totally unlike herself.
She slapped his hand away with a small delay. His hand flailed in the air.
Like in a play, she scolded him again slowly.
“Wh-what are you touching!”
“Ahem. Well… this is normal.”
Dowoon cleared his throat repeatedly, feeling awkward about reaching out. Then he fumbled around the desk, opening drawers and looking for something.
“…This is a problem.”
“What?”
“Where’s the invitation? It was definitely here.”
He opened the drawer again, searching inside.
Hadn’t he just put it in his inner pocket? Chohi stepped closer to him in a panic.
Feeling her presence, Dowoon stopped. When she reached toward his chest, he reflexively leaned back, embarrassed.
“Here—”
When Chohi reached again, he stepped back further.
“…What’s going on?”
“It’s here.”
Chohi pointed at his chest. She had just placed the invitation inside his inner pocket.
“On the chest? What are you saying?”
Dowoon clutched his chest with his right hand, looking as if she had shot him.
“The invitation.”
“Invitation?”
“Yes, the invitation.”
“Oh…”
Finally recalling he had put it in his inner pocket, Dowoon straightened up. Today, unlike his usual sharp appearance, he seemed unusually flustered, like a screw had come loose.
“Ahem. Thank you.”
Then, as if nothing had happened, he continued,
“Ah. There’s still time before the opening, so why not rest a bit?”
“Rest?”
“You’ve been busy, haven’t you? Gathering information, attending to Lady Na. Even acting at home must be tiring. You can spend a few days elsewhere. I know a suitable place—”
“I’m fine. It’s not uncomfortable here anymore.”
“…Not uncomfortable?”
“I’m fine. I can rest at home too. I’ll go into town a few times. It’s fine if I see Mr. Boki more often. I also want to read books.”
“…Very well.”
“Then I’ll go.”
Chohi smiled at Dowoon.
He made a strange expression—half like smiling, half embarrassed.
Before she could look again, his face returned to normal.
“See you tonight. Don’t follow strangers.”
“That won’t happen. Go ahead.”
Dowoon gave a short nod and left the study.
“Phew, that’s a relief.”
Stretching, Chohi smiled contentedly.
She had delivered the information to Dowoon, resolved the matter with Mrs. Minamoto, and unexpectedly had free time.
First, she planned to visit Mr. Boki.
She wanted to thank him for helping deliver the clothes with Park Jin’s assistance.
Chohi prepared to leave and headed toward the old district once again.
If you want, I can also make a polished literary version that keeps the emotional nuance and flow more naturally in English, rather than a literal translation. It would read more like a novel.
Do you want me to do that?
