Chapter 6………………………………
“Do you hate that it’s your first time?”
A faint smile curled at the corners of Hyeokjin’s lips.
Just one kiss had turned her into a flustered, innocent girl who couldn’t even look him in the eye—yet her tone was oddly defiant, the complete opposite of her timid reaction.
His gaze slid down from Seoyoung’s trembling eyes to her stiffened body.
She was still wound tight with tension, trying desperately not to shake. It was… kind of cute.
She’s got guts, I’ll give her that.
Her boldness only drew him in further.
When he said he needed to test their “bed compatibility,” he hadn’t actually expected her to come here literally intending to go through with it.
I thought she’d try to negotiate her way around it instead.
From the report on Hyun Seoyoung, he’d already grasped what kind of woman she was. She didn’t care for men, was a workaholic—which he actually liked—and her company’s desire for the Jeju land was just an added bonus.
Sure, the land was ideal, but if he really wanted to, he could find other options.
But while Hyeokjin was thinking that—
Seoyoung was having a completely different misunderstanding.
He must think I’m being too lukewarm about this. Should I be more… active?
She assumed his question meant he disliked inexperienced women.
If he was serious enough about “testing compatibility” before marriage, then maybe he preferred confident, skilled partners.
This is a contract, after all. Maybe he plans on enjoying himself while the marriage lasts.
Seoyoung had always excelled at anything she put her mind to.
So even if she lacked experience, something as simple as a kiss shouldn’t be impossible.
And he’d just demonstrated how he liked it.
Recalling romance-movie kiss scenes she’d watched before, Seoyoung lifted her head.
Rising onto her toes, she held his face with both hands and pressed her lips to his.
Hyeokjin’s eyes widened slightly in surprise as she gently bit his lower lip and sucked—just as he had done.
Her unexpected initiative caught him completely off guard, and the corner of his mouth lifted higher and higher.
Eyes shut tight, Seoyoung didn’t see his expression. Instead, she tilted her head and cautiously slipped her tongue between his lips.
Just like he had, she traced along his teeth, hesitated, then shyly wound her tongue around his.
She was a very diligent, hardworking student.
He had been planning to tease her a little since she looked so nervous, but her sudden boldness genuinely surprised him.
Then his eyes curved in amusement.
She was trying so hard, but her inexperienced tongue movements made it obvious it was her first real kiss.
Finding it unintentionally adorable, he barely contained a laugh.
Releasing her lips, he cupped her face and spoke in a low voice, his eyes darkening:
“No. I actually like it—very refreshing.”
His deep voice held the faintest hint of laughter.
“Put your arms around my neck, Miss Hyun.”
Just as his hand behind her head tightened, his warm tongue slipped past her lips again.
Any kiss she’d initiated earlier seemed like child’s play compared to this—his tongue swept along her teeth then curled around hers, pulling her into a deep, consuming kiss.
“Mmph—”
More intense than before, leaving her no room to breathe, she quickly looped her arms around his neck.
Hyeokjin pulled her waist tighter, slowly stroking down her back.
Something hard pressed against her lower abdomen.
She flinched, and he let out a low chuckle against her lips.
Her first kiss wasn’t sweet—it was overwhelming.
As the kiss deepened, she strained harder on her tiptoes, her grip around his neck tightening.
When she finally gasped for breath, he released her.
His eyes no longer held any trace of a smile—only thick desire. Their lips were slick with each other’s saliva.
Watching her pant breathlessly yet again, he brushed his thumb over her wet lips.
“I see I have a lot to teach you.”
Her watery brown eyes lifted toward him.
“And you’re even more of a turn-on than I expected.”
He pulled her waist in tighter, making it unmistakably clear what he meant.
Her face flushed a fiery red.
A primal instinct screamed that she’d be in serious trouble if she stayed like this. Startled, she pushed his shoulders and stumbled back a step.
He let her go without resistance.
“I–I’m going to… wash up.”
Just get it over with.
Rather than letting herself be swept away, she decided it was better to move quickly. Holding her burning face, she turned.
But again—he grabbed her arm and gently spun her around.
His eyes flicked toward the contract on the table.
“Sign the contract first.”
* * *
Leaving the suite, Seoyoung leaned against the hallway wall, steadying her shaky legs.
She hadn’t even been inside for a full hour.
After agonizing all the way to quitting time, she had called Hyeokjin. He’d given her the hotel address and said they should “strike while the iron is hot.”
Not a café.
Not an office.
A hotel.
His intention was obvious. His robe-clad greeting only confirmed it.
He genuinely seemed prepared to test compatibility first.
She had wondered—what if, after everything, he decided they weren’t compatible?
So she tried to think lightly.
Out of all her friends, she alone lacked experience—why not use this opportunity to get rid of that “first time,” she’d reasoned.
But unlike her, who needed a bit more mental preparation, he looked ready to pounce the moment she stepped in.
She had braced herself on the way, telling herself it wouldn’t be a big deal.
But seeing him in person had made her palms sweat from nerves.
Yet contrary to everything he’d implied, after a single kiss they simply signed the contract.
He’d even said they had plenty of time and could slowly get to know each other—leaving her confused.
“Why? Are you disappointed? Want to test it right now?”
He’d added, almost to himself, I am a little disappointed, then subtly gestured toward his own waist.
She’d instinctively glanced down and then quickly shook her head.
Even that one kiss had her so flustered that she could barely keep up with the situation.
Still, she felt hugely relieved that he didn’t insist on sleeping together immediately.
Afraid he might change his mind if she lingered, she told him they’d talk later, grabbed her copy of the contract, and hurried out.
Hand pressed to her still-thumping chest, she bit her lip.
She was normally indifferent to things between men and women—friends even called her clueless in that area—but she knew very well he’d been teasing her.
Why did every harmless word from him sound so lewd and embarrassing?
Her face heated again just thinking about it.
Straightening her posture, Seoyoung headed to the elevator and pressed the button.
Moments later, the doors opened and a tall, handsome man stepped out.
He gave her a slight nod. A document case hung from his hand.
He scanned her once, a faint frown forming, then walked straight toward Hyeokjin’s suite.
Watching him go, she quickly stepped inside the elevator as he turned his head.
Was that Cha Hyeokjin’s secretary?
His face looked familiar.
Where have I seen him…?
Tilting her head, she recalled the file Oh Chief had given her earlier.
The part she reread because the compatibility-condition was so unbelievable.
Many women tried to get on his good side, but despite looking like a playboy, he had no scandalous rumors and showed little interest in women.
Which made the “bed compatibility” condition even stranger.
And now, they’d only kissed and signed—so things turned out okay.
But… was it really logical to sign a marriage contract without fulfilling the supposedly essential condition?
Realizing she hadn’t pressed a button, she selected B3, then recalled the secretary.
If he was Hyeokjin’s secretary, he would already know Hyeokjin’s schedule.
So why appear now of all times?
She could have still been inside the room.
Was he joking all along?
She’d fully expected they’d sleep together tonight.
But they didn’t—just a kiss.
And the secretary arrived like it was normal business.
Yet something still felt off.
Unless…
Her eyes narrowed.
The way the secretary looked at her—uneasy, almost uncomfortable—suddenly struck her.
The report said the secretary, Lee Minwoo, was also extremely popular, always by Hyeokjin’s side, and often rumored to be “too close” to him—some even suspected they were more than coworkers.
Hyeokjin had brought him from the U.S.
There were plenty of women who wanted Hyeokjin, but he had no rumors whatsoever.
At the time she’d dismissed it as nonsense.
But now… she wasn’t so sure.
They’d transferred between departments together.
Moved companies together.
Minwoo even acted as his driver at times.
And if the rumors were true…
If he wasn’t interested in women at all—
If the “compatibility test” was merely a way to scare off potential brides—
Was the real intention simply to avoid women entirely?
