RB - 80

80. Your Prime of Life

Under the midsummer sun, the trees lining the streets were adorned with vivid green leaves. Though it was regrettable that the beautiful blossoms had faded, they were replaced by plump fruits that now gleamed where flower buds once bloomed. The freshness of the blue sky and lush greenery stretched out wherever the eye could see.

Jung-hyuk walked along, soaking in the vibrant colors. He had come solely to meet Han Seo-yeon, leaving behind the myriad complicated tasks still awaiting him. And finally, he held her close in his arms.

Jung-hyuk left a warm mark on the nape of Seo-yeon’s neck before lowering his gaze to her slightly swollen belly. With a relaxed tone, he said:

“You shouldn’t run around, Han Seo-yeon. There’s Taesung’s heir growing inside you.”

Seo-yeon blushed shyly. The living room lights highlighted her rosy cheeks teasingly. The fact that there was now a child between them felt strangely unfamiliar.

“Isn’t primogeniture the rule for Taesung? What if it’s a girl? Are you going to make the baby suffer?”

“The principle of primogeniture has already been broken. I’m the second son, yet I inherited. If it’s a girl, she’ll probably take after you, bold and fearless—something good for Taesung.”

Jung-hyuk gently touched Seo-yeon’s slightly protruding belly. Though not visibly noticeable from the outside, when he pressed lightly, the difference was clear. An indescribable joy seeped through his voice.

“I carefully created this, very meticulously. Inside Han Seo-yeon’s belly.”

His hand, which had been hovering over her lower abdomen, slowly moved upward. Gently caressing her perky breasts, Jung-hyuk flicked her nipple playfully. His fingers lingered there as if reluctant to leave, teasing her sensitive skin.

As Seo-yeon tried to wriggle free, their lips met.

A sultry breath escaped her parted lips. Jung-hyuk’s tongue eagerly explored her moist warmth, drawing in even her breath.

After lingering in each other’s embrace for what felt like an eternity, Jung-hyuk spoke in a low voice:

“They say pregnancy hormones make breasts grow bigger. It’s such a shame—I’ve already grown accustomed to this size. Just like how Han Seo-yeon has gotten used to my size.”

Jung-hyuk grinned mischievously. Seo-yeon playfully punched his chest with her fists. A wave of belated resentment washed over her for not coming sooner.

“Damn you, Shin Jung-hyuk.”

“Han Seo-yeon, you have a habit of saying things you don’t mean. Like saying the opposite.”

Without denying it, Seo-yeon nuzzled her cheek against his shirt. The familiar musk scent she loved wafted faintly. She didn’t resist but instead filled her lungs with it.

Jung-hyuk gazed at Seo-yeon’s face for a long time. If his gaze could leave marks, her face would have been entirely covered with traces of him.

“Should I really ruin everything? Daniel Shin is still far from becoming a doctor, right? I heard he’s being sponsored by Daniel Shin.”

Lifting Seo-yeon into his arms, Jung-hyuk kissed the tip of her nose. Then, with a serious tone, he added:

“You’re now the mistress of Taesung Group. You need to take responsibility. How can you talk about ruining things? Think about all the people Taesung supports. After childbirth, you should insist on leading the PR team. Isn’t that fitting ambition for Ace Han Seo-yeon?”

The idea of leading Taesung Group’s PR team appealed to her far more than the clichéd title of “mistress.” In a small, soft voice, Seo-yeon murmured:

“…Shin Jung-hyuk, don’t ruin anything.”

Seo-yeon then tightly embraced his neck. She could feel his steady pulse beating against her fingertips. Mao, the calico ball of fur, bumped his head against Jung-hyuk’s leg and rubbed his body vigorously, leaving tufts of fur all over his black suit pants. Only after satisfyingly purring did Mao leap onto the sofa.

“I only need one flirtatious cat in my life, Han Seo-yeon. What’s this?”

“What do you mean, ‘this’? Attorney Jung gave him to me. His name is Go Mao. He’s incredibly smart. I think he knows there’s a baby inside me. When it’s bedtime, he gently presses on my belly, kneading it like he’s giving it a massage.”

Affection dripped from Seo-yeon’s words. Jung-hyuk had plans to send her beloved younger brother, Kim Biryu, to Boston Medical School under the guise of “studying abroad” but secretly as a form of exile. Perhaps he was being punished for harboring such dark thoughts because a new rival had appeared so soon. A sigh of resignation escaped his lips.

“This is why people should cultivate kindness. Whenever I think bad thoughts, I always get punished.”

Though the exact nature of Jung-hyuk’s “bad thoughts” remained unclear, Seo-yeon found happiness in every moment spent with him. Over their intertwined breaths, the sound of Mao’s purring layered softly.

She had never imagined feeling such stability and peace from the man who had always swung her emotions between heaven and hell. Seo-yeon tightened her arms around him. If this happiness came after tragedy and was embodied by Jung-hyuk, she vowed repeatedly never to let it slip away.

---

Almost a month after the kidnapping incident, Jinhyuk appeared noticeably thinner.

News of Jinhyuk leaving for Boston with his eldest brother, Shin Junhyuk, had reached Seo-yeon’s ears. The radiant summer sunlight shattered atop Jinhyuk’s head. Whether dazzled by the light or stirred by the compassion she had harbored in her heart, Seo-yeon found herself shedding tears without realizing it.

“Are you not eating properly and wandering around? Why are you so thin, Mr. Jinhyuk?”

Jinhyuk’s gaze fell on Seo-yeon’s slightly rounded belly. Had he not known about her pregnancy, he might have overlooked it, but her once-flat stomach now showed a gentle swell.

Jinhyuk realized that Seo-yeon was now tied to him in a different kind of “family” bond. Since this wasn’t a permanent farewell, he should be grateful for this familial connection—or perhaps view it as a milder form of punishment. Complex emotions swirled in his eyes.

“You’ve been through so much. Miss Han, you need to eat well.”

“We both quit our jobs, so calling me ‘Miss Han’ feels awkward.”

Jinhyuk considered terms like “sister-in-law” or simply “sister,” but those felt even stranger. Smoothing his dry lips with his fingers, he chuckled awkwardly. After hesitating several times, he finally spoke:

“…When the baby is born, I’ll call you something else.”

Checking the time, Jinhyuk realized it was time to say goodbye if he wanted to catch his flight. Sensing his impending departure, Seo-yeon spoke in a wistful tone:

“Mr. Jinhyuk, I guess it’s time for you to go. How long will you stay in Boston?”

“A year, at least. There’s no better place than Boston for Junhyuk’s treatment, and somehow the Taesung Foundation there ended up in my hands. It was Father’s last wish, so I must manage it well. By the way, I heard Kim Biryu wants to go to medical school. Maybe we’ll cross paths.”

Jinhyuk hesitated briefly before attempting to hug her. For a fleeting moment, guilt struck him—how taboo and unethical such an action would now seem. Sensing his hesitation, Seo-yeon smiled faintly and extended her hand for a handshake.

Jinhyuk slowly clasped her hand. Such a delicate, small, soft hand had saved countless lives. She truly was a saint. Though overwhelmed, Jinhyuk suppressed his emotions and asked:

“Do you think I can really do this? Without you, Miss Han? Do I fit into charity work?”

Releasing his hand, Seo-yeon responded warmly:

“You’ll do wonderfully. You saved your eldest brother, Shin Junhyuk. You’ve rescued me multiple times and transformed Kim Hyunae’s life. You’re a just person.”

Jinhyuk mulled over the texture of Seo-yeon’s words. Him, a just person? How was he supposed to process that? He swallowed his unspoken confession like a pill and buried the lingering red emotions deep within.

“I should go now. I won’t look back.”

With those words, Jinhyuk turned and walked away. Seo-yeon stood rooted to the spot, watching his retreating figure for a long time. True to his word, Jinhyuk never looked back, and that fact brought her some comfort.

Jinhyuk’s shrinking figure eventually became a dot and disappeared. Yet Seo-yeon lingered, wanting to hold onto his image for as long as possible. She stayed in place for a while longer, praying for Jinhyuk and Junhyuk.

“Please grant them only happiness. Let them no longer suffer.”

Though an atheist, Seo-yeon desperately sought God in that moment.

Waiting outside for Jinhyuk were Attorney Jung and Shin Junhyuk. Junhyuk strode forward and grasped Jinhyuk’s hand. Their eyes met, and Jinhyuk sensed a fierce “will to live” in his eldest brother’s gaze. Let’s live together, let’s live well, Jinhyuk. That’s what Junhyuk seemed to be saying.

Though their past was riddled with tragedy, it couldn’t crush the futures of Junhyuk, Jung-hyuk, Jinhyuk, and Han Seo-yeon. They were too young, too radiant, and above all, innocent victims.

Hwayangyeonhwa (花樣年華)—the most beautiful and happiest time of life. Jinhyuk wanted to tell Seo-yeon: Every day I spent with you was my prime of life. She had protected him when he was eight, tormented by Professor Sung’s abuse, unable to sleep. She shattered his delusions of being a monster. Whenever he was at his weakest, Han Seo-yeon was always there.

That woman, Seo-yeon, had arbitrarily saved him and just as arbitrarily left. Though Jinhyuk didn’t want to be abandoned, he consoled himself:

My brother, Shin Jung-hyuk, will live facing Seo-yeon, but I will live looking in the same direction as Han Seo-yeon. People who face each other must stay close, but those who look in the same direction can achieve their goals even from afar. We will live in each other’s memories for a long time. So, I’ve won.

[Main Story - End]