Epilogue 1: Spicy Prenatal Care

Standing in front of the shoe rack, Ji-soo took out her flats but swapped them for a pair of 5-centimeter heels. Ever since their visit to the hospital last week, Tae-ha had been acting like a relentless nagging motor. The majority of his complaints revolved around heel height and skirt length.

If even a sliver of her knee peeked out, her phone and office messenger would explode with messages all day long, testing just how far he could torment her.

And yet, after summoning her to his office under the pretense of concern—asking if she was okay while wickedly unbuttoning her blouse—he’d pop off several buttons. Though she hadn’t checked, there were likely countless buttons scattered around his desk, each one capable of making her blush.

“Today’s the day of your business trip, so…”

With Tae-ha gone on a work trip spanning the weekend, Ji-soo had an unprecedented sense of freedom. From the heels she wanted to wear right now to tomorrow’s PR department dinner plans.

Tae-ha had always been particular about Ji-soo meeting others or spending time outside work hours—but since the pregnancy, his behavior had intensified.

He had transformed into a human calculator, analyzing every minute detail of Ji-soo’s daily schedule and relentlessly pestering her.

<The company messenger says Team Leader Han Ji-soo left at 6:15 PM, but why did you arrive home at 8:47 PM? Shouldn’t you explain this to me?>

When she pleaded for him to ease up, he’d say, “It’s for our little ‘Bouncy.’ How can Mommy be so careless?”

This constant micromanagement inside and outside the office made Tae-ha’s rare extended business trip feel like a godsend.

In front of the full-length mirror attached to the shoe rack, Ji-soo adjusted her outfit. Whether it was due to joy or hormones, her makeup looked flawless today. Smiling softly, she touched her still-flat stomach—next week marked eight weeks, and there was no visible sign yet.

Vrrrr. Her phone vibrated inside her bag. It was probably Tae-ha, having just arrived at the airport.

Whenever he went on a business trip, he always brought back gifts for Ji-soo. He always asked what she needed, and she usually requested snacks that local children enjoyed.

“It’s me. I’m heading out now. Are you at the airport?”

Ji-soo pressed the elevator button while answering Tae-ha’s call.

-Do you need anything?

“Chocolate or caramel. Lately, I’ve been craving sweets—I think I might gain weight.”

She heard his light, cool laughter. Knowing that he wouldn’t bombard her with morning texts, excessive protection, or possessiveness during his flight made her feel a twinge of loneliness.

Ding. The elevator doors opened, and Ji-soo stepped out.

-I’ll buy you a new bag for every kilogram you gain here.

Hmm, this man somehow combined impossible and undesirable things to leave her speechless.

“No matter how much I eat, the reason I don’t gain weight is mostly because of Vice President Cha…”

Before she could finish, Ji-soo walked out of her studio apartment to find Tae-ha waiting in his car, talking to her on the phone. Despite seeing him just hours ago, running into him unexpectedly filled her with immense joy—so much that she momentarily forgot about her short skirt and high heels, which he detested.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the airport by now?”

Ji-soo approached Tae-ha with a bright smile, asking playfully. His face softened as his gaze lingered on her exposed knees and slender ankles.

Heavy makeup, a short skirt, and high heels—only then did Ji-soo realize she’d committed the trifecta of things Tae-ha hated.

“You’re in trouble, Han Ji-soo.”

“What about your business trip…?”

Before Ji-soo could deflect, Tae-ha pulled her waist toward him. Leaning her against the car, he trapped her shoulders between his arms.

“There’s no one to impress, so why are you dressed so beautifully for work? It’s infuriating.”

His handsome face wore a gentle smile, but his growling tone was cold. As he pressed closer, Ji-soo tilted her head slightly upward. Their breaths mingled heatedly as their lips brushed dangerously close.

“I only meant to see your face briefly before leaving, but this won’t do.”

Tae-ha hastily opened the car door. Since everything revolved around his schedule, missing the next flight didn’t bother him—but Ji-soo wasn’t the same. Even though she’d left home early, she still needed to get to work. Plus, getting into the car now might mean taking half a day off later.

“Let’s just see each other today, okay? Didn’t the secretary’s office say this trip was important?”

Desperately trying to avoid getting into the car, Ji-soo clung to Tae-ha. Her clumsy attempts at coquetry often worked surprisingly well—judging by how his body tensed and his eyebrows twitched.

“Han Ji-soo. You already used the business trip excuse yesterday.”

After waiting for her late-night work to finish, he’d whisked her into the car and taken her to his place. But ever since their hospital visit, Ji-soo had strictly avoided him, treating the doctor’s advice like a sacred family motto.

Thus, Tae-ha had become a widower enduring self-imposed celibacy.

Even though a deep kiss alone left her breathless, Ji-soo refused to let her guard down.

“When you come back… we’ll do it then.”

Tae-ha scrutinized Ji-soo’s face slowly. After chasing her from morning till now and hearing what he wanted, he should have been satisfied—but his gaze remained fixated on her.

“Are you really planning to keep working at the company?”

“They say moving around is better than staying at home.”

Ji-soo knew why she insisted on going to work. She lacked a legitimate reason to take maternity leave since they postponed the wedding until after the birth. Legally and physically, Han Ji-soo was still unmarried.

Tae-ha, who wasn’t accustomed to waiting, struggled to understand this situation. But since Ji-soo wanted it, he endured—for her sake. Accepting her condition was the only way to hold onto her. This was the tether keeping her tied to him.

Though dissatisfaction flickered across Tae-ha’s face, Ji-soo smiled sweetly. She knew how weak he was to her smile, just as she was drawn to his handsome features.

“Today, Vice President Cha, you look especially handsome. Almost too good to send away.”

Not teasing—she was deliberately provoking him before planning to escape. It irritated him to no end.

“Oh? Then I shouldn’t disappoint.”

Grabbing Ji-soo’s wrist holding the phone, Tae-ha pinned her wriggling body in place. With the gaze of a predator eyeing its prey, he lowered his head. Today, her crimson lips seemed particularly infuriating—he devoured them hungrily.

“Hng.”

Despite the steady stream of people passing by her apartment and the road during rush hour, the two clinging to each other paid no mind to their surroundings.

The hand gripping her waist slipped beneath her jacket, clutching her blouse. Sensing danger, Ji-soo shook her head slightly and tried to pull away.

Drunk on Tae-ha’s stimulation, her limbs went limp. Even the phone in her hand dropped with a thud.

The screen lit up briefly before fading.

Tae-ha wiped Ji-soo’s wet, panting lips and picked up the fallen phone. Seeing the name displayed, his eyes widened slightly.

A few days ago, at Tae-ha’s request, they’d deleted all contacts stored in each other’s phones. So why did his expression harden?

How could anyone demand deleting even the number of a favorite chicken shop simply because the owner was male? When Ji-soo protested, he’d replied, “If you want chicken, call me.”

“Morning or evening, does it matter? Do you really intend to call me at all hours?”

Ah, she’d forgotten. She’d saved Tae-ha’s contact as “Mealtime.” Once again, Ji-soo smiled brightly at him—a foolproof, irresistible smile.

“If you let me go now, I’ll change it to ‘Sweetness.’”

“I prefer Mealtime. I can enjoy it every day.”

Reluctantly releasing her, Tae-ha let his hands drop from her body, but their lips remained entwined, unwilling to part.

“Sweetness works too. You’re dripping with sweetness.”

Like savoring the last drop of honey, Tae-ha held Ji-soo’s lips in a lingering kiss until the red flush faded.

________________________________________

Ji-soo’s rebellion, disguised as Tae-ha’s business trip, ended after just one day. The following week, when Tae-ha returned, he showed up at the dinner venue where Ji-soo was headed. Fortunately, she was scheduled to join late due to remaining tasks, so none of the employees noticed.

As a sulky Ji-soo got into Tae-ha’s car, raindrops began pelting the windows. Staring at the droplets, Ji-soo muttered softly—though loud enough for Tae-ha to hear.

“We were supposed to eat something delicious today—ribeye. Eating beef at a team dinner is rare, you know?”

“There’s something I have to eat on rainy days.”

“What? Nothing beats ribeye.”

“I’ll buy you chicken feet.”

Coincidentally, Ji-soo had been craving spicy food lately. How did he know? She hadn’t dared tell him, knowing he couldn’t handle spice.

Stopping at a red light, Tae-ha smirked. Did she regret teaching him about good things? Ji-soo shot him a sharp glance, and Tae-ha responded with a grin.

“You can’t handle spicy food. You grew up too delicately.”

“Thanks to someone, I’ve tasted so much spice that I can eat it well now.”

Though Ji-soo chuckled, knowing it was a lie, her prediction turned out spot-on.

The man who claimed to slurp down fiery gochujang (spicy paste) like porridge struggled over a single tiny chicken foot, downing two bottles of soju and sweating profusely.

“Looks like Vice President Cha hasn’t had enough spice yet.”

Clearing away his plate of chicken feet, Ji-soo placed a bowl of steamed eggs in front of him.

“Do you really think this tastes good? Are you sure?”

“Yes. Bouncy likes it too.”

Mixing bean sprouts and rice into the spicy chicken broth, Ji-soo answered casually.

“Spicy prenatal care, huh? Isn’t this going to result in an overly intense baby?”

“Mom handles the spice, Dad handles the sweetness. After eating, we’ll taste the sweetness together.”

Ji-soo flashed a seductive smile as she scooped a large spoonful of rice into her mouth. Somehow, she had a feeling she’d continue to win with that smile.