Chapter 43………………………………..
After the meal and even some tea were served, Mrs. Kim excused herself, telling them to rest comfortably.
Seemingly intending to stay until the two went to bed, she instead headed to the kitchen rather than returning to the main house.
Watching her leave, Hyukjin’s lips curved in a crooked smirk.
“Ha! That’s way too obvious.”
His small chuckle carried a faint hint of reproach. His eyes, which had held amusement, quickly turned serious as they settled on Seoyoung.
“Can we talk now?”
Seoyoung flinched and lowered her head when their eyes met, quickly lifting the teacup as if that had been her plan all along. Anything to avoid his gaze.
“Yes. Please go ahead.”
She took a small sip from the cup, her gaze still lowered.
“It seems basic to look each other in the eyes when having a conversation.”
Today, Hyukjin was unusually sharp.
Was it the morning incident that put him in a bad mood?
Seoyoung set down her teacup, lifted her head, and met his eyes squarely.
“Is that okay? I’d like to finish quickly since I’m tired.”
“Do you know what I’m going to say?”
Hyukjin leaned casually against the sofa, his posture relaxed.
His nonchalant demeanor, signaling he wasn’t in a hurry to finish, caused Seoyoung’s brows to furrow. Her heart raced at the thought of what he might say.
“Then hurry up.”
She couldn’t be dragged along any longer. After all, she already knew the matter. If he wanted to officially acknowledge their relationship like this, she could simply listen. Once acknowledged, she could turn away naturally.
“The elders called me this morning.”
Seoyoung’s brows shot up at the unexpected revelation.
“They want a grandchild.”
Her eyes, prepared to feign surprise, genuinely widened.
“That’s…”
Wasn’t this already settled? Hyukjin had repeatedly assured her that he would handle it regardless of the elders’ wishes.
Seoyoung’s narrowed eyes showed her confusion.
Hyukjin raised his hands innocently and shrugged.
“Of course, I have no intention of having children. Now or in the future.”
Lowering his hands, he glanced toward the kitchen and nodded.
“But I think we need to put on appearances. After all, they even sent Mrs. Kim from the main house like that.”
Only then did Seoyoung realize the situation and opened her mouth slightly.
“Oh… that’s why…”
Her eyes trembled as she glanced toward the kitchen.
That morning, Mihyun had called.
—Mrs. Yoon said she had some work at home, so she would temporarily send Mrs. Kim to the annex.
Having already seen Mrs. Kim that morning, Seoyoung hadn’t thought much of Mihyun’s words. She had simply hoped Mrs. Yoon’s household matters were managed well.
Mrs. Kim’s cooking reminded her of her mother, which made it even more welcome—but now she realized there was another intention.
“I heard Mrs. Yoon had to step out briefly due to some matters at home…”
Hyukjin let out a small laugh at Seoyoung, who half expected this might be the case.
Seoyoung soon realized it had been wishful thinking on her part. Perhaps Mrs. Kim had been concerned about her canceling dinner with Hyukjin yesterday.
Her husband leaving work early, and Mrs. Kim not returning after dinner—the meaning was clear.
Had she been too relaxed because they were so warm, like her own parents?
She had tried not to show it, but seeing their slumped shoulders, perhaps it had worried them.
Now she regretted not managing her own emotions better.
Seoyoung pressed her lips together for a moment before speaking.
“So, how are we going to put on this act?”
Given how things had unfolded, a solution needed to come first.
“As you know, Mrs. Kim lives and eats here every day. Sending her to the annex means she’ll be watching our actions from morning till night. So we need to look more like a newlywed couple.”
“That doesn’t seem too difficult.”
Seoyoung nodded as if it were no big deal.
Hyukjin’s eyes narrowed.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. She won’t come into the bedroom anyway, right?”
Hyukjin let out a small laugh at that.
“True, but what if she presses her ear to the door? Even then, we can’t know.”
Hyukjin, suddenly serious, shrugged and crossed his legs.
Even though they were in this together, he seemed unusually relaxed, almost enjoying it.
“So,” he lowered his voice.
“I was thinking we should properly act like a newlywed couple from now on. How does that sound?”
“Act?”
Seoyoung’s eyes widened at the mention of acting. How exactly?
Hyukjin shrugged as if he understood her question perfectly.
“I’ll handle it, Seoyoung. Just follow my lead.”
Seeing his confident expression, Seoyoung nodded obediently. She didn’t think he would do anything beyond a kiss or similar.
“Alright. So, that’s everything we need to discuss?”
Seeing Hyukjin nod, Seoyoung relaxed slightly, relieved that the topic she had been avoiding hadn’t come up.
Oddly, she was more nervous than he was, though he was the one who should have been cautious.
“Shall we head upstairs now?”
Hyukjin rose first, and Seoyoung followed him to the second floor.
Something about his cheerful demeanor made her uneasy.
In the bedroom, dressed in pajamas and with the lights off, Seoyoung lay next to Hyukjin, who was wearing only shorts, feeling flustered.
“What are you doing?”
“Yes?”
“You should hold me like usual.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Now.”
Thinking about touching bare skin made her hesitant.
But Hyukjin’s insistent gaze pushed her to slowly reach out while lying on her side.
Seeing his broad shoulders, deep collarbones, and firm pectoral muscles made her swallow hard.
Lowering her gaze, she saw the well-defined washboard abs.
Closing her eyes tightly, she placed her hands on his waist, feeling the heat radiating from his body.
“You need to come closer.”
Hyukjin pulled her waist closer, despite her hips pulling back.
The sudden proximity startled Seoyoung, and she pressed against his chest instinctively.
“Breathe.”
Seoyoung had been holding her breath without realizing it and only exhaled when he spoke.
Her long exhale made Hyukjin flinch slightly. He had intended to provoke her, but it had made him tense instead.
Damn it, seriously.
But he couldn’t back down now.
He was curious if the girl who treated him like a body pillow could behave this way even now.
Taking a deep breath, Hyukjin pulled her even closer, his hands gripping her hips.
Startled by the sudden pull, Seoyoung felt his hardness pressing against her and instinctively pushed against his chest.
Meeting his gaze, she quickly tried to explain herself.
“This is… too close!”
“Hold on. I plan to do something even more daring than this.”
“What? More than this…?”
Hyukjin grabbed her head and tilted it down, capturing her lips in an instant.
Her eyes widened as he deepened the kiss.
Gently sucking and nibbling her lips, he whispered softly.
“It’s about time you got used to kissing.”
He stroked her wriggling back like a fish, pressing closer again, leaving her no room to breathe.
Their lips met, and their breaths mingled.
Her face was cradled firmly in his hands, the tension palpable.
