Chapter 40…………………………………….
“Yes! That’s a great idea.”
Chairman Cha slapped his knee.
Hyukjin had said he was the one who fell in love first and decided on the marriage.
At first, it had seemed like he might be scheming just to avoid going on blind dates, but unexpectedly, the two actually looked quite good together.
For a couple who married for love, their newlywed phase felt a bit lukewarm, but it wasn’t as if they looked unhappy either.
Still, it was strange how Hyukjin stiffened every time the topic of grandchildren came up.
Whether it was Seoyoung, unable to say anything and just blushing, or Hyukjin abruptly telling them to stop and shutting it down—it was odd.
Come to think of it, it was also a little puzzling that someone who seemed so reluctant about marriage had gotten married so quickly after a single meeting.
Everyone had welcomed the outcome wholeheartedly since it was what they wanted, but the speed had undeniably been fast.
And yet, when it came to grandchildren, it was all just talk—there was no sign that they were even considering it.
Still, the three of them decided to think positively.
Since there didn’t seem to be anything wrong in their relationship, even if Hyukjin was difficult, persuading Seoyoung alone might be enough for them to get the grandchild they wanted.
“Let’s take this opportunity to see whether they’re really living well—and whether they’re actually making an effort.”
“Yes. Since Seoyoung said she’d try, we should also prepare some herbal medicine for her.”
“That’s a good idea. It would be better if her mother-in-law spoke to her separately.”
“Yes, Father. I’ll do that.”
And so, the three of them joined forces to persuade Seoyoung—leaving Hyukjin completely out of it.
Click.
Late at night, the door to Seoyoung’s bedroom opened quietly.
As expected, she’s asleep.
Hyukjin slipped inside, gently closing the door and walking as silently as possible.
After a quick wash, he changed into pajamas and went to the bed.
Seoyoung, asleep without realizing anyone had come in, seemed to have assumed he wouldn’t be coming back. She was sprawled comfortably, her legs stretched out toward the center of the bed.
It was obvious at a glance—the same posture she usually slept in, hugging his waist like a bamboo pillow and even hooking a leg over him.
Hyukjin clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“And she sleeps like this—how am I supposed to get any proper rest?”
Muttering under his breath, he quietly climbed onto the bed.
Careful not to wake her, he lay down close beside her and turned to face her.
Propping his head on his arm, he slowly took in her sleeping face.
“She sleeps well.”
His gaze lingered on her tightly shut eyelids, then fixed on her lips, which occasionally moved as if she were dreaming.
Unlike him—who was sensitive to the slightest movement—Seoyoung slept so deeply that someone could probably carry her off without her noticing. Once asleep, she rarely woke up.
It had been the same on their honeymoon.
Hyukjin woke at the slightest noise, and even Seoyoung turning over beside him was enough to rouse him. She, on the other hand, only opened her eyes once the alarm rang or morning fully arrived.
For someone as sensitive as him, sleeping with a woman who even had a habit of throwing her leg over him was far from easy.
Especially these days, when she hugged his waist and pressed close like this, it made falling asleep even harder as he struggled to rein in his rising desire.
The real problem wasn’t the lack of sleep—it was his body’s reaction.
It had been his idea to make that bet, but Seoyoung’s ignorance about male desire was a problem too.
With such an innocent-looking face, she fearlessly burrowed into a man’s arms, even rubbing her face against him in her sleep—it was pure torture.
At first, she’d shown some discomfort, but now she hugged his waist without a second thought.
On nights when he lay awake or barely got any sleep before going to work, seeing Seoyoung sleeping so peacefully, without a care in the world, often made him let out a dry laugh.
He’d never thought marriage would be part of his life.
Yet the wife he’d unexpectedly gained was surprisingly compatible with him—not bad at all.
And she’s kind of cute, too.
Though Hyukjin had been used to being alone, Seoyoung’s habit of clinging to him had become familiar enough that it no longer felt uncomfortable.
Still, suppressing his desire remained just as difficult.
“You’re pretty.”
Her long eyelashes, straight nose, and the small, red lips beneath it all looked especially beautiful tonight.
She didn’t dress up much, but Seoyoung was quite pretty. She could easily put in more effort, but true to someone buried in work, she seemed largely uninterested in her appearance.
He didn’t dislike that. In fact, he preferred how natural and unforced it was.
As Seoyoung turned in her sleep, she reached out as if feeling for something. When her hand found his waist, she pressed her body close to him.
A short, incredulous laugh escaped him.
“So you really do think of me as a body pillow.”
Even as he laughed, a sigh followed.
She was utterly defenseless.
Her hand around his waist was one thing, but today again she’d hooked one leg over his thigh, pressing close enough to stir his desire all over again.
“I can’t just devour you like this—damn it.”
The fact that even this looked cute to him made him wonder if he’d lost his mind.
Clicking his tongue, Hyukjin wondered why he’d even come back to suffer like this.
Originally, he’d planned to nap in the small office room after working late—if only Seoyoung hadn’t suddenly left like that.
Her wide, startled eyes, her unusually rushed voice, the way she’d turned away in a panic…
He’d told Minwoo it was nothing, but she wouldn’t have left like that without misunderstanding something.
“She’s not misunderstanding anything, right?”
Minwoo’s words kept bothering him. Seoyoung’s flustered face replayed in his mind.
That was why he’d hesitated—and eventually come back, fully prepared to get little sleep.
And yet, Seoyoung was sleeping so soundly, completely unaware of his presence, shamelessly draping her leg over him.
He tried to think about when he’d started seeing her this way—but quickly gave up.
“Mm.”
Because Seoyoung burrowed into his chest.
Exhaling slowly, he decided to stop thinking altogether.
He slipped his arm beneath her neck, making a pillow, and pulled her into his embrace. Then he closed his eyes and imagined countless sheep—
Doing his best to ignore the reaction below his waist.
Beep-beep-beep-beep—
The alarm rang, and Seoyoung’s eyes flew open.
After last night’s bad mood, she’d had all kinds of strange dreams.
A dream where Hyukjin left Minwoo and came to her.
A dream where she clung to him, rubbing her face against his chest.
As those thoughts surfaced, Seoyoung blinked a few times, then quickly shook her head hard.
I guess it really shocked me.
She rarely dreamed at all, yet she’d dreamed of Hyukjin and Minwoo—and even of Hyukjin holding her.
She’d thought of this marriage as nothing more than cohabitation, but she’d been more affected than she realized.
Taking a small deep breath, she moved to get up—then casually turned her head and froze in shock.
“Hyukjin…?”
The man who’d asked her to bring him clothes because he was working late was lying right beside her.
He seemed to be sleeping deeply—unusually enough, he was even snoring softly.
Did he always snore?
Come to think of it, she’d never woken up before him, so she wouldn’t know.
Thinking how tired he must be to snore like that, Seoyoung carefully climbed out of bed, trying not to wake him.
Even when she showered and came back, he still hadn’t stirred.
“Should I wake him?”
Checking the time, she hesitated, then stepped closer and looked down at his face.
She knew he was handsome, but for a man, his eyelashes were quite long. Her gaze lingered on his straight, high nose.
And beneath that—his tightly closed lips.
Seeing them reminded her of the kisses they’d shared.
Suddenly embarrassed, Seoyoung cleared her throat softly and straightened up.
Just then, Hyukjin grabbed her arm.
“Ah!”
Startled, her eyes widened as she fell forward, almost straddling him.
“Did you sleep well?”
Still with his eyes closed, one arm around her waist and her face pressed to his chest, he murmured in a sleepy voice.
“…Yes. I slept… well.”
Her face pressed against his bare chest visible through his pajamas, Seoyoung swallowed hard as she heard his heartbeat.
Their position was uncomfortable—and embarrassing.
After all, her face was pressed right against his bare chest.
