Chapter 39. Confession
Everyone has a time when their cheeks are chubby, right? Yooa retorted, asking if he really thought she didn’t know he used to tease her about how round her face was as a child.
It was because the servants whispered that her dad was overcompensating for her mother’s absence—so he gave her all the food.
He would say that just watching her eat made him feel full even without eating himself, laughing heartily. But behind the scenes, he’d quietly take digestive medicine on those days.
“Sometimes, when I see the kinds of food Dad often brought home, I remember those days when I lived on digestive pills. And just when I forget, you, Lee Jun, go out and buy them again.”
Even though it must have been a hassle to stop somewhere on the way home, Lee Jun always brought Yooa desserts or drinks she would like.
She’d told him many times that it was too much and he didn’t need to, but he acted as if it was his only joy, making it hard for her to stop him.
“I’ll try to cut back from now on. But… I think I understand how your father felt.”
“Huh?”
“It makes me happy seeing you eating well and becoming all round and plump. You’re fair and full of life.”
“Excuse me?”
“…It’s a compliment.”
Her large eyes flared as if sparks were flying. Realizing she was about to explode, Lee Jun quickly changed the subject.
Yooa, while pure and delicate, had a fierce side. She couldn’t tolerate injustice and would lose her temper if someone crossed the line.
Even Lee Jun, who feared nothing and had no hesitation, couldn’t handle it when she truly got mad.
“I hope the child we’ll have someday is as bright and full of life as you.”
Lying next to her, he gently pressed her frowning forehead until it relaxed, his voice cheerful with laughter.
Lee Jun whispered that he always lost track of time when he was with her.
“You… want to have a baby?”
In their past life, it had happened naturally. During their intense intimacy, Yooa had even suggested he get therapy, thinking he was using sex to relieve stress.
So she never once felt like he actually wanted a child.
Back then, when he first held Sejin, he’d simply said that he would feed, clothe, and educate the child well because it was his blood.
Yooa had thought he was disappointed and resolved to give Sejin all the love herself.
But now that she’d come back and saw things from a new perspective, she realized her misunderstanding had caused the distance between them.
“No… I mean, yes. Yeah.”
Lee Jun, who had always been awkward at expressing emotions, had meant it as a promise to do his best as a father. She could finally see it clearly now.
“I think I do want that.”
Maybe he was surprised at himself too. Lee Jun rubbed his sharp jawline with a large hand.
He had never seriously thought about it, but Yooa’s question caught him off guard. After some thought, he realized that he did want to have a child with her.
When their eyes met again, he gave her a small, soft smile.
“This is kind of embarrassing to say…”
Leaning toward her, resting his head against her upper body, he turned his face and looked at her. The warmth of his chest made Yooa’s heart pound.
“A child that’s half you and half me. No—actually, a child that’s just like you.”
“Ah…”
“Just thinking about that child being born makes me feel overwhelmed.”
Yooa was happy to realize he truly wanted a child with her. The thought that Sejin was born from love and happiness brought tears to her eyes.
Lee Jun gently brought her hand to his chest and asked if she could hear how fast his heart was beating.
“Here. Feel it.”
“I think… maybe it’s better not to.”
Yooa pulled her hand back slightly, embarrassed that she might catch his pounding heartbeat through the thin shirt.
Though he was probably talking about a child after marriage, the word baby made Yooa think of something else.
Would Sejin still be our child? Could he still be our first? How wonderful that would be.
“Are you mad?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then why won’t you look at me?”
Just thinking about Sejin brought tears to her eyes. But today, they were happy tears.
She had thought the child hadn’t received any love from his father, but now she saw that Lee Jun simply lacked the ability to express it. In his own way, he’d cherished Sejin.
It made her feel even happier than hearing “I love you,” and her throat tightened.
As Yooa sniffled and burst into tears, Lee Jun panicked.
“Did I go too far ahead on my own? If you don’t want this, I won’t pressure you. I promise.”
He worried he’d forced something on her—like pregnancy and childbirth—so he got off the bed, unsure of where to place his large body. He fidgeted nervously, spinning in place and glancing at her.
“I’m fine as long as I have you.”
Even in distress, his handsome face didn’t falter. Yooa couldn’t help but laugh softly through her sniffles.
“Are you done crying now? Hm?”
“But… Lee Jun.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t you think something’s missing before asking to have a baby?”
His eyes—dark and deep like obsidian—shook ever so slightly. Yooa raised the corner of her lips at his bewildered face.
Is this how he felt when teasing her?
Just the thought that this expression was something only she could see made Yooa feel even more fond of him.
“Yooa.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, I’ll do whatever you ask me to.”
“That’s not the right answer.”
“I don’t know… So could you just tell me?”
Even as he whimpered that he’d rather stay late at work and invent a whole new product, his beauty shone through.
Yooa gently swept her fingers through his hair as he knelt by the bed, resting his arms on it. Then, pretending to be annoyed, she said:
“You forgot to confess.”
“What?”
Lee Jun stared blankly, as if struck in the head.
“Ah… You’re right. I forgot the confession.”
Watching him malfunction like a broken toy was unexpectedly fun.
Yooa narrowed her eyes and thought, As long as we have Sejin, I won’t wish for anything more.
“I’m sorry, Yooa. Can I… do the confession properly later? In a nice place, with proper preparation and planning?”
“What is this, a product launch?”
Was he really saying he didn’t want to confess in a camper van while lying in bed?
Yooa shook her head and tapped the spot beside her on the bed.
Thankfully, he got the hint and quickly sat beside her, very close.
“I don’t want a room overflowing with floral scents or ten rings on each finger. I want to be here, rubbing cheeks together, chatting quietly, and when you feel that I’m lovable… I want the words to come out naturally.”
“Yooa, I love you.”
“Huh?”
“I just thought you were lovable right now.”
He brought his face close, asking if he did it right. Even if she wanted to be annoyed, she couldn’t. The moment their eyes met, even the last bit of mischief melted away.
Yooa gently pushed his shoulder.
“Lee Jun.”
“Yeah?”
Leaning over to his ear, she whispered:
“I’ll give you a choice.”
“A choice?”
Spellbound by her radiant smile, he froze as her next words struck like lightning.
“Do you want to do it? Or have it done to you?”
“What?”
As he stared in shock, Yooa blew a warm breath by his ear.
He always made the first move, but being in the opposite position for once was unexpectedly fun.
Ah… so this is what it feels like.
Every moment with Lee Jun was joyful. Being able to love and be loved freely gave Yooa the courage she normally wouldn’t have had.
“Tonight… I’ll take the lead.”
