CHAPTER 10
Jeong-hyuk swiftly caught her.
A burst of prematurely blooming white floral scent filled his arms.
“Doctor.”
Rin braced herself against his chest, seemingly trying to stand up on her own.
But her weakened arm gave out, and she ended up sinking deeper into his embrace.
Jeong-hyuk instinctively tightened his grip for a moment, then shook his head as if to regain his senses.
Rin was extremely light and delicate.
He felt like if he applied even a little more force, she might break.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
From Rin’s soft floral scent, a strange blend of his own woody cologne mingled and rose from her.
Smelling his scent transferred onto her was… quite alluring.
So much so that his throat tightened with heat.
‘Am I insane? She’s just a kid…’
“Tell me. Is she really that kind of person?”
That kind of person?
Hearing Rin’s mumbled question as she struggled in his arms, Jeong-hyuk looked around.
‘…Ah.’
He instantly realized who she meant.
A woman, easily over 170cm, with a sleek figure wearing a deep V-cut mini dress, was staring right at them. Her features were bold and striking.
As soon as their eyes met, the woman gave him a seductive smile. As if she had been waiting for this moment forever.
He was so used to this sort of thing that Jeong-hyuk turned his head away with zero reaction.
Rin was staring at his face. Likely watching for a reaction.
That made him smile unexpectedly.
“So she is that kind of person…”
Rin mumbled in a lonely voice, interpreting his reaction however she wished.
“She’s not.”
“But you smiled the moment your eyes met.”
Her eyes were reddening. Was she that upset?
She looked so fragile and sorrowful… and if that look felt captivating…
Then I must be losing it.
“I smiled because of you.”
As he gazed intently at her, Jeong-hyuk gently cupped her cheek and slowly leaned down.
Rin’s eyes, viewed from up close, were still clear.
Like a transparent and beautiful lake that laid bare its depths.
Seeing his own reflection fill those eyes, he couldn’t help but smile again.
“Rin.”
Despite the intensity in his eyes, his voice was tender, and Rin’s slim shoulders trembled slightly.
As he looked into her eyes, Jeong-hyuk’s gaze dropped to her moist lips.
Her lower abdomen tensed at that heated look.
It felt like his deep gaze was stirring something deep inside her.
“If you drink like that, you’ll get drunk.”
“…”
“Seems like you already are.”
As his unusually dark eyes lingered on her lips, her throat suddenly felt parched.
A tingling tension danced through her body like teasing heat waves.
And they were just staring at each other—why did it feel this way?
Then, when Jeong-hyuk wiped the cocktail from the corner of her lips with his thumb and brought it to his own mouth—
Rin’s heart swelled, as if it might burst.
She barely managed to move her lips.
“Why would you… that’s gross…”
“What’s gross?”
He grinned and whispered.
“If something like this is already gross…”
“But still…”
“Didn’t you say earlier that you were ready to become a real married couple—even sleep together?”
Rin gasped.
“If we get married, there’ll be worse things than this.”
She tried hard not to show her surprise, but at this distance, she couldn’t hide it.
He chuckled and lightly tapped her nose.
“This is why people say you’re just a kid.”
Her reddened eyes filled with defiance—like an angry little deer. But a deer is still just a deer.
So harmless-looking, yet glaring at him like that…
Yeah, cute. He couldn’t deny it.
“It’s because I’m inexperienced.”
“Inexperienced?”
“If I’d dated more guys, you wouldn’t be laughing at me like this.”
Jeong-hyuk wasn’t the kind to dwell on a woman’s past. As long as her present was clean, what did it matter?
But the moment Rin said that, it felt like a cold thread of ice pierced his chest.
A faint but distinct pain.
Just imagining her having ever held another man this close, breathing the same air…
‘Strange.’
He always thought men who felt like this were pathetic—and now he was becoming one.
“Maybe I should date someone else first.”
Jeong-hyuk’s thoughts halted at Rin’s next words.
“Maybe I should go out with someone else first. Then I’d be more experienced… and maybe you—no, Jeong-hyuk—would see me as a woman. Not a child…”
“Even now…”
Even now, what?
The words came out unconsciously, and he froze.
Rin, leaning against his chest, looked up at him with moist, dreamy eyes.
Faced with that hazy gaze, he couldn’t finish his sentence and swallowed it deeply.
He felt like if he said it out loud, something irreversible would happen.
“…You’re drunk. Let’s go.”
“No. I want to stay here a bit longer.”
Her speech turned informal—proof she was definitely drunk.
Two cocktails and she ends up like this…
And now she’s making me feel all confused.
“Don’t push it.”
Trying to suppress his emotions, Jeong-hyuk spoke firmly. Rin bit her lip.
She looked like a scolded puppy. He wanted to smile at how cute she was—but held back.
Back when he tutored her, she often bottled her emotions and pretended to be fine, and he’d scold her the same way.
“If you keep saying things that go against your true feelings, one day you’ll lose track of them. Then you’ll be lost.”
“But… what if everyone else will be okay as long as I’m the only one who endures it? What then?”
“If ‘everyone’ doesn’t include you, then ignore them. You’re the most important one.”
“I’m the most important…”
“Your thoughts. Your feelings. Your emotions. Don’t ignore them. If you disregard yourself, others will too.”
Back then, she had that same expression.
Like a lost puppy in the rain. Like a child watching her owner walk away, abandoned.
Cute, but also sad and wistful—he had to fight the urge to reach out to her.
To pat her head.
Or… just hold her close.
He swore—back then, all he wanted was to comfort a lonely child.
He’d never felt this hot inside, or this sensitive to her touch. Not like now.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
“Then… just finish your cocktail. You haven’t even taken a sip.”
She pointed at his untouched martini with pleading eyes.
‘She really doesn’t want to leave.’
Come to think of it, Rin had once said her family was so strict she’d never even stayed over at a friend’s house.
So this moment—late at night, in a jazz bar beneath a hotel—must’ve felt thrilling and free.
Still, she had to go home.
He had no intention of following through on Rin’s idea to pretend they were a real married couple.
He’d only played along at the restaurant to scare her a bit.
She seemed caught up in a burst of pride or impulse.
And no matter how arranged this marriage was, her parents wouldn’t make exceptions.
They were the type to be especially strict about their youngest daughter.
And… if he didn’t take her home now, something might really happen.
Jeong-hyuk took a sip of the martini.
Strangely, it didn’t taste as strong as usual.
“Is it good?”
Maybe it was her gaze.
“I want to try it.”
“No. It’s strong.”
“Just a sip. Please?”
Rin tugged at his sleeve, pleading. Jeong-hyuk sighed.
Once she got stubborn, she didn’t stop. And now she was drunk too.
She probably wouldn’t leave without tasting it.
Should he let her have a small sip? She was already drunk anyway.
She’d get scolded by her parents either way.
“Here. Just a little.”
“Really? Yay!”
“But don’t gulp it down like before.”
“Okay. I won’t.”
“Slowly.”
Jeong-hyuk handed her the glass he was holding. He kept a close eye on her in case she tried to down it again.
But Rin obeyed.
Slowly, carefully, she tilted the glass.
The clear liquid touched her lips.
And by coincidence…
Her lips landed exactly where his had just been.
An indirect kiss… is that what this was?
‘Ugh. Seriously, how childish.’
Just thinking the term made his whole body tense, and his throat parched with sudden thirst.
Something was definitely off. Maybe he’d been swept up in the mood too.
While Jeong-hyuk was briefly lost in thought—
Rin’s hand trembled and the liquid trickled down her chin.
“Ah. I spilled.”
She wiped it with the back of her hand. Her light pink lip gloss smudged slightly.
Jeong-hyuk was overwhelmed by a strange feeling.
Why did that look—that—feel so sensual?
‘…Damn. Sensual? From a kid?’
This was bad.
He took the glass from her and set it on the table.
“That’s it. We’re leaving.”
“Already? I want to stay a bit longer…”
“No. It’s too late. Your parents will worry.”
The next moment, Jeong-hyuk’s dark pupils widened.
Because Rin suddenly burst out laughing.
