CHAPTER 30……………………………..
Although she had dozed off briefly on the plane, Seoyoung’s shoulders stiffened again as she recalled the cold, tense atmosphere on the way here.
Part of her wanted to just sleep, but she didn’t want to do that without Hyukjin.
“This is probably going to take a little time, huh?”
Thinking of her usual half-body baths, Seoyoung went to the bathroom and started filling the bathtub.
Unlike her villa, there was no view of the Han River, but the small window overlooking the garden greenery wasn’t so bad.
Once the tub was filled to a comfortable level, she folded her hanbok neatly and stepped into the water, letting her body sink in.
“Ah, this is nice.”
The fatigue seemed to melt away, and her body felt refreshed.
Leaning back in the tub, Seoyoung closed her eyes.
The past few days of vacation felt like a dream.
She tried to hold onto her drifting thoughts and focused on what lay ahead.
After the weekend, the tense tug-of-war with Vice President Jungmin would resume.
Not knowing how much internal information had already leaked, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.
‘Maybe I should try using Hanho Construction instead.’
Hyukjin would likely agree without hesitation.
Even though his purpose had already been achieved through the marriage, he wouldn’t allow his pride to see his “real wife,” Seoyoung, in a difficult situation.
Curious about how much investigation had progressed during his absence, Seoyoung’s head began to droop slightly as she drifted off.
Soon, the soft sound of her breathing filled the bathroom.
“Hyukjin?”
Awakening from the feeling of floating, Seoyoung opened her eyes and looked up, still half-asleep, at the man holding her.
“What if you catch a cold sleeping in the bath? You’d be better off napping comfortably in bed.”
Only then did Seoyoung realize she had been in the bathtub.
Being in the bath meant she was wearing nothing but her underwear.
“Put me down.”
“Stay still. You’ve already seen everything anyway.”
Hyukjin, acting as if it were nothing, lifted her onto his knees and wrapped her in a large bath towel.
Seoyoung’s face, now perched on his lap, turned tomato-red.
She guessed he was only wearing his drawers.
Her face, already flushed from the warm steam, couldn’t meet his gaze as she saw his bare body before her.
Embarrassed, she turned her face and buried it in his chest.
As her lips touched his chest, a small crack appeared in Hyukjin’s composed expression.
He furrowed his brow slightly, tensing his muscles at her warm breath on his chest, and then moved toward the bed.
Recalling last night’s unfinished business, he felt his lower abdomen stiffen.
Suppressing his rising desire, he slowly laid Seoyoung down on the bed.
As soon as she was on the bed, Seoyoung pulled the blanket over herself and closed her eyes tight, imagining him in only his drawers.
“Sorry, but can I go to sleep first?”
Though fully awake now, Seoyoung deliberately spoke lazily, pretending to be drowsy.
No response came, but when she squinted, she saw Hyukjin frowning.
Their eyes met, and Hyukjin’s gaze narrowed.
Looking down, she gasped at his state, her heart racing as if he could lunge at her any moment.
Hyukjin leaned closer to her face.
Tense at the thought of a kiss, Seoyoung opened her eyes wider as his hand moved toward her face.
Contrary to her expectation that he might touch her lips, his large hand went straight to her forehead.
It seemed he was checking if something was wrong.
“You’ve been in the bath too long, your face looks red. Just rest. If you catch a cold, it’ll be troublesome for me too.”
Frowning, Hyukjin pulled the loosely draped blanket up to her neck.
Though it was early winter, the room had already warmed up, and the alpaca blanket was very cozy.
Feeling his gentle touch as he patted her, Seoyoung’s eyes slowly closed.
“Good night.”
Feeling Hyukjin’s cold lips on her forehead, she drifted off again, making small, soft noises in her sleep.
Watching her innocent face, Hyukjin slowly rose from the bed.
“She sleeps without a care in the world.”
Looking at her state, he retrieved his bathrobe and headed to the bathroom.
After heating her up last night, she had fallen asleep like a dazed child, and now, seeing her flushed and unsure, he found it cute, yet slightly irritating.
Even though he had a wife he could legally spend the night with, she left him alone.
Entering the already heated shower room, he turned the faucet to cold water.
‘Will I even get a proper night’s sleep tonight?’
Feeling the cold water, Hyukjin’s lips curved slightly.
He thought about how he should have just held her instead.
Her teasing hesitation wasn’t her fault, but that subtle push-and-pull made him ache all the more.
Monday morning.
“Congratulations, Director.”
Having hurried through her morning routine and a meal with the elders in the main building, Seoyoung’s complexion looked vibrant after a well-rested weekend.
“You look even prettier, probably because you’re newlywed.”
The secretaries in the director’s office handed her bouquets with congratulations.
“Did you rest well?”
Director Jin-ho greeted her with a broad smile.
“Thanks to all of you. Let’s start with the backlog of reports.”
“Shall I prepare herbal tea?”
The youngest secretary, Juhee, asked.
“Yes, please.”
As Seoyoung sat in her seat, Jin-ho came in carrying a thick stack of documents for approval.
“Anything unusual while you were away? What about Vice President Jungmin’s movements?”
Seoyoung asked what had concerned her most over the weekend.
“The shareholders’ mood is uneasy. It seems President Kang Jin-kyung is behind it. Securing their support before the next shareholders’ meeting is key.”
“So all my plans falling through was decisive, right?”
“Yes. Vice President Jungmin has been meeting individually with hotel executives to voice his concerns.”
“Sigh… What about detecting the information leaks?”
Seoyoung exhaled, holding onto a small hope as she looked at Jin-ho.
He avoided her gaze and shook his head.
“I’m sorry. It was quiet while you were away, so tracing the leaks wasn’t easy.”
“I suppose we’ll have to leak some credible information ourselves.”
“Yes.”
“Soon…”
As Seoyoung prepared to share her plan, a knock came at the door, and Juhee entered carrying a tea tray.
Always smiling, Juhee had an ordinary appearance, but her smile was very pretty.
Yet, perhaps because of the heavy atmosphere, she avoided eye contact and her usual cheerful smile seemed forced.
“Thank you.”
She set down the teacup, bowed slightly, and hurried out without looking at Seoyoung.
