Chapter 34. A Precious Person

“Mr. Kang Ijun!”

“In the world we live in, throwing yourself at someone and begging them to marry you? That’s just pathetic.”

“Ha!”

Ji-hye’s face turned red and pale in turns—she had never been looked down on or treated with contempt like this before. She was so flustered she couldn’t even speak, but Ijun drove the point home.

“I know someone who acts expensive. But it’s not about pretending to be aloof. It’s about wanting to treat them as precious, no matter what. That’s how you raise your own worth.”

They both knew the “precious” person he was referring to was Yoon Yooa. In criticizing Ji-hye for being immature, he was also indirectly expressing how deeply he valued Yooa.

“Raise your value. Whoever is pulling your strings—I don’t know—but this is advice I’m giving out of pity.”

And then he added that his aunt Ju-hee should stop interfering, making Ji-hye’s face burn with shame.

“You’re really blunt, Mr. Kang. I admit I was wrong to come unannounced, so I won’t report this conversation to my father.”

She continued, her lips trembling, wanting to salvage her pride even a little.

“You said you don’t want dinner, so I’ll go. Next time… I suppose I should reach out for a lunch appointment instead?”

She was asking for a chance to redeem herself. It was almost endearing how she tried to keep a thread of connection alive.

But Ijun, clearly uninterested in any of her suggestions, just smirked faintly.

“There is no ‘next time’ for you, Ms. Sung. I only give advice once. Haven’t you heard the rumors? I’ve got the temperament of a wild dog.”

“Ah…”

“Come back again, and I might bite—hard.”

There was no reason or value in giving her false hope.

“Driver, head to Hanseo Daily’s headquarters.”

“Yes, Executive Director.”

Ijun tapped the top of the car window lightly as a signal. With a final parting message—”Go home and enjoy your dinner”—the driver pulled away. Ji-hye’s loud, undignified shrieks faded into the distance.

“Phew.”

The moment Ji-hye disappeared, he started missing Yooa. The day had ended in such a miserable way that he wanted to at least wrap it up on his own terms.

He wanted to erase the headache-inducing stench of perfume clinging to him with the soft scent of Yooa’s skin. He wanted to fill the emptiness in his heart with the warmth of her gentle voice.

By the time he slid into his long-parked white car, his heart was already by her side.

“I really… only care about you.”

Just thinking of her helped him finally breathe a little easier.

***

Was the air different next to her?

Yooa, who had been waiting outside, ran toward Ijun.

“You’re late.”

Wrapped in a fluffy, cloud-like blanket around her shoulders, she clung to his arm, clearly cold.

He draped his jacket over her shivering shoulders as she sniffled, and she smiled shyly. That harmless, sincere smile softened Ijun’s expression too.

“There was… an issue. One I hope never to experience again.”

“Oh? But you solved it, right?”

“I hope so. I did my best, at least.”

He gently urged her inside, telling her not to wait outside anymore. Yooa, half-pushed by him, climbed into the camper van.

Compared to a house, it was small—but it felt cozy. Cold, yet comforting. Did she realize that?

“Ah! Cold!”

Yooa shrieked as Ijun slid his hand under the soft, light-gray ribbed knit top she wore. He’d meant to tease her a bit, but once he felt the warm, soft skin beneath, his large hand began to wander on its own.

“Ijun, wait! Just a minute.”

“Just a little.”

“Come on, doing this right when you arrive…”

“Yeah, sorry. Just let me hold you like this for one minute.”

She felt his weight settle behind her—not overwhelming, but heavier than usual. His unusual urgency worried her.

“What happened?”

He sat her on the bed and began undoing the buttons of his dress shirt without answering. His clear intent to distract her was obvious. Yooa, now bundled up in a blanket, cried out in protest.

“Are you not going to tell me?”

When she pushed away the lips brushing her neck, he gave up and collapsed beside her with a sigh. Then he gave her a condensed version of what had happened with Sung Ji-hye.

He didn’t bother mentioning nonsense like “our world” or “people should marry within their class”—because it was nonsense.

“Ms. Sung Ji-hye… isn’t she the daughter of the Hanseo Daily president?”

“How did you know?”

He had only said she was sent by his aunt, never mentioning a name. But Yooa knew anyway. Ijun looked surprised.

“I’ve heard the name so many times.”

“Sung Ji-hye?”

Yooa suddenly realized how much faster everything was happening compared to four years ago.

Sung Ji-hye was someone Ju-hee had in mind for Ijun, and she’d often brought up the name “Hanseo Daily president’s daughter” in front of Yooa, intentionally or not.

Ju-hee clearly hoped Yooa would take the hint and step away on her own. But as far as Yooa knew, Ijun had never even met Sung Ji-hye during their marriage.

Her face hardened.

“…It’s complicated.”

Wondering if Secretary Kim had missed something important, Ijun rechecked the messages he’d received. Then, figuring that if Yooa knew, the woman must be some SNS influencer or something, he sighed and hugged her tightly—blanket and all.

This time, Yooa leaned into him without resistance.

“I think I finally get why people buy camper vans.”

“Why?”

“Because holding you like this… it hits differently.”

He muttered that maybe he should trade his king-size bed for a double, because a smaller bed made cuddling better.

Having Yooa always within reach and holding each other tightly—he liked that.

“You and me… I think we’re only complete when we’re together.”

His soft whisper that his resting place was next to her made Yooa smile. She leaned her head against his shoulder, wiggling her toes against her knees.

“You think about stuff like that?”

“…You act like I never think.”

“You’re a workaholic. If it’s not the office, then…”

Ijun’s brows furrowed, unsure what she was about to say.

Maybe being face-to-face would’ve made her hesitate, but with her face turned away, she gathered courage.

“…Thoughts full of testosterone?”

As her wriggling feet kept brushing him, Ijun bit his lip.

See? Yoon Yooa knows me too well.

He grinned and pulled her down beside him.

“Ah! Ijun!”

Startled, she tried to sit up, but the blanket tangled her limbs and slowed her down. She huffed and puffed, realizing she’d fallen into her own trap.

“What’s the big deal? Scared I’ll pounce on you?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Not that?”

When he echoed her words with a teasing tone, Yooa pouted, then whispered softly.

“…I’m scared I won’t be able to stop myself.”

Her burning red cheeks looked as sweet and tempting as ripe fruit.

Ijun touched his forehead to hers, eyes curling into a crescent moon.

The rabbit-like Yooa, flustered and restless beneath his gaze, was just too lovable.

“Yooa.”

He tilted his head and whispered that he hoped she wouldn’t hold back. That either way, he was happy.

Every time she moved, the faint scent from the blanket felt so comforting, he wanted to bury his nose in it.

Then, as Yooa slipped out of the blanket and leaned into him, Ijun wrapped her tightly in his arms, pressing his heated body against hers.

“When you look at me like that… I can’t help wanting to meet your expectations.”