CEB - 32

32. A Night of Torment

‘I can’t see anything.’

Dan-jung lay straight, staring at the ceiling. But she was tense, her whole body stiff because Min-hyuk was lying next to her. In fact, she wouldn’t have been this nervous if she had just kept her bra on. To think she threw her bra off while drunk… Dan-jung was worried that Min-hyuk would think she was easy. If only she hadn’t had that nonchalant thought, ‘He’s my future husband, so what?’ she wouldn’t have done it. Dan-jung blamed herself, reflecting on her actions. But she couldn’t turn back time. ‘Oh well, whatever. Let’s just sleep. He promised to keep his word, so nothing bad will happen.’ Thinking that self-blame wouldn’t change anything, Dan-jung closed her eyes. But she had already woken up from her sleep, so closing her eyes and trying to sleep was useless. Besides, whether her eyes were open or closed, she couldn’t see anything, so Dan-jung gave up and opened her eyes again.

‘I’m more nervous because I can’t see.’

Min-hyuk, lying next to her, was too quiet, making Dan-jung wonder if he had fallen asleep. If he had, she could relax a bit and rest comfortably. So Dan-jung turned to look at him, trying to see if he was asleep. But only his silhouette was visible; she couldn’t see his face clearly. Dan-jung moved closer to Min-hyuk, little by little. Since she couldn’t see anything anyway, she didn’t hesitate in her actions. But when she was right in front of Min-hyuk’s face, she could clearly see his eyes looking at her, contrary to her expectations. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness.

Min-hyuk, who had been suppressing the urge to touch Dan-jung, stared intently at her face as she approached.

“...”

“...”

They stared at each other in silence for a moment. Dan-jung was flustered and speechless, and Min-hyuk was silent because Dan-jung was tempting him again. How was he supposed to take this? They weren’t supposed to sleep together for a hundred days, so why was she constantly provoking him? Min-hyuk broke the silence.

“…Choi Dan-jung.”

“Yes.”

“Why a hundred days of all things?”

“?”

“If it weren’t for that damned promise, I would have been intimate with you tonight.”

Min-hyuk’s angry voice clearly revealed his desire to possess Dan-jung. Dan-jung couldn’t have missed it. So she calmly explained why a hundred days.

“Even a bear endured a hundred days of eating garlic to become human.”

“…So, you’re telling me to become human?”

“N-no. That’s not what I meant. I think a hundred days is a time to endure to achieve something. Babies have their hundredth-day celebrations, and couples celebrate their hundredth day.”

“Is there a need to endure when it comes to sex?”

Min-hyuk couldn’t understand Dan-jung’s nonsense. He had felt sexual attraction to a woman for the first time, and he knew it could be love. But he was just frustrated as to why he couldn’t have sex.

“I don’t want to give my first time to someone who can’t even endure a hundred days.”

Dan-jung, emboldened by the darkness, conveyed her thoughts honestly and directly. In fact, most of the men Dan-jung had met couldn’t last a hundred days and left. Men constantly made advances, and if she didn’t have sex with them, they easily left. So, Dan-jung had been desperately waiting for a man who wouldn’t leave her, a man who would truly love her. And she hoped that man was Min-hyuk.

“...”

Min-hyuk was silent for a moment, deep in thought. In fact, he was quite surprised by Dan-jung’s words. She had clearly said she had never slept with a man. And now she seemed to be saying she had never had sex. Then what was the rumor about her being an easy woman?

“That rumor… about me being an easy woman.”

Seeing Min-hyuk’s reaction, Dan-jung realized he knew about her rumors. The malicious rumors about her had spread widely, even reaching Min-hyuk’s ears.

“It’s not true.”

As Dan-jung talked about the rumors that had tormented her for so long, tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m a very difficult woman.”

As Dan-jung sniffled, Min-hyuk’s hand reached out to her. Then, he gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I know. You’re a difficult woman, Dan-jung.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Dan-jung smiled faintly at his comforting words. Min-hyuk’s words seemed to wash away her resentment.

“But… it’s unfair if only I have to endure.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s endure together, Choi Dan-jung.”

As he said that, Min-hyuk’s lips instantly covered Dan-jung’s. Of course, Min-hyuk didn’t intend to take Dan-jung’s first time tonight. If she wanted, he could endure a hundred days. But Min-hyuk wanted to make Dan-jung feel the same way he did. He wanted her to want to touch him, kiss him, and imagine it every day. He wanted to show her how difficult and painful endurance was.

________________________________________

“Huh, huh.”

Dan-jung’s sensual breaths echoed in Min-hyuk’s dark bedroom. It was because Min-hyuk was kissing her with more dedication than ever. Was he always such a good kisser? Dan-jung felt like she was suffocating from just the kiss. Her heart was racing, her whole body was burning hot, and a strange sensation began to overwhelm her. Then, as if she couldn’t be satisfied with just a kiss, Dan-jung wrapped her arms around his neck. She wanted to be closer to him. But Min-hyuk, displeased with her arms around his neck, grabbed her wrists and pinned them to the bed, preventing her from moving. And he didn’t release her wrists, as if they were handcuffed.

“Didn’t you say it was unfair?”

Min-hyuk, now on top of Dan-jung, whispered in her ear, licking and sucking on her alluring earlobe.

“Huh.”

Dan-jung was excited that Min-hyuk’s lips were on places other than her lips. Then, as if he couldn’t be satisfied, Min-hyuk placed his lips on Dan-jung’s white, long neck. From right below her ear, down… Min-hyuk’s lips trailed down her neck, heading lower and lower. And Min-hyuk’s lips finally landed on the t-shirt Dan-jung was wearing. A moment later, when Min-hyuk bit down on Dan-jung’s chest, Dan-jung moaned at the pleasure he was giving her. But she couldn’t do anything because her hands were restrained.

“Heh.”

Min-hyuk looked at Dan-jung, who was shuddering and moaning sensually, with a satisfied expression. He wanted Dan-jung to be as tormented as he was tonight.

________________________________________

“Ah… my head hurts.”

Dan-jung, upon opening her eyes, rubbed her temples vigorously to soothe the pounding headache brought on by her hangover.

Suddenly, flashes of last night’s events came rushing back to her like a panorama unfolding in her mind.

The memory of herself pleading to be called “Dan-jung-ah,” kissing and then vomiting, and making lewd noises all night was utterly mortifying. But what shocked her most was Min-hyuk’s behavior—so unlike his usual self, it had been startlingly wild.

He had tied her hands and kissed various parts of her body while she moaned, looking thoroughly satisfied with her aroused state. Did he have sadistic tendencies? The thought of Min-hyuk’s relaxed expression as he gazed down at her made her uncertain how to feel about him now.

But even more pressing than that was how just recalling the events made her body react heatedly. Dan-jung placed her hand where Min-hyuk’s lips had touched—her lips, earlobes, neck, and chest. Though a thin t-shirt had separated her skin from his lips, she could still vividly feel his touch.

Remembering his breath mingling with her own lewd moans sent shivers of pleasure through her, and she wished he had gone further. Honestly, she had been desperate for him. She felt embarrassed now about the bold promise not to engage physically for a hundred days.

[This is my limit, I think.]

However, contrary to her wishes, Min-hyuk untied her hands and went to sleep. Watching him coolly retreat after her passionate arousal left Dan-jung flustered. Thankfully, though brief, she clearly remembered the look on his face as he pulled away—a face full of unbearable restraint.

Behind his calm exterior, there was no doubt that he harbored the same desires as she did.

“I want to see that expression again.”

Oddly enough, the fleeting memory of Min-hyuk’s expression sent a thrill through her. Just then, Min-hyuk entered the bedroom after finishing his preparations for work.

“Are you awake?”

“Yes.”

At the sound of Min-hyuk’s voice, Dan-jung instinctively sat up, her face flushing red. As she moved, her breasts faintly showed through her white t-shirt.

“I didn’t have the heart to wake you since you were sleeping so soundly. Breakfast is ready, and you should head to Arirang by 2 p.m. for the family meeting.”

Min-hyuk quickly glanced away as he explained the day’s schedule.

“Yes, I understand.”

Nodding, Dan-jung noticed her exposed chest and hastily pulled the blanket up.

“See you later. And remember, Secretary Im will be waiting outside the house after 10 a.m. Take the car for a comfortable ride.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Dan-jung tried to act nonchalant, but her heart was pounding furiously. However, Min-hyuk seemed completely unfazed, treating her with detached professionalism.

How could he remain so composed and businesslike? Had he already forgotten the intimate moments they shared last night?

Dan-jung felt disheartened that Min-hyuk didn’t even offer a tender glance or a morning kiss. Of course, she knew he wasn’t an ordinary man, but that didn’t stop her from feeling disappointed.

________________________________________

Min-hyuk had countless tasks piled up due to his efforts to push forward with his marriage to Dan-jung. Fortunately, Secretary Oh had volunteered to handle the wedding preparations, so Min-hyuk decided to trust him with those matters.

“This is the renovation schedule for the Standard rooms, and here’s the list of selected contractors. Also, we’re planning the grand opening party for the Jeju Hotel in mid-October during the maple season. The theme will be classic to match the season.”

Secretary Oh began listing off overdue reports and updates as he handed them over.

“The Jeju Hotel party will likely be my wife’s first social event. Please ensure everything goes smoothly, Secretary Oh.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Alright, you may leave.”

Even as Min-hyuk reviewed the documents, Secretary Oh hesitated, lingering awkwardly. There was one particularly difficult matter he needed to report.

“Um… Mr. Min.”

“Yes?”

Min-hyuk looked up at Secretary Oh, who wore an extremely troubled expression.

“There are strange rumors circulating about Madam at the hotel.”

“Tell me.”

Recalling how distressed Dan-jung had been over rumors the previous night, Min-hyuk bristled at the mention of gossip.

“It’s… they’re saying that Madam used to date a man named Lee Si-woo, but betrayed him to marry you.”

“…”

Min-hyuk’s brow furrowed deeply at Secretary Oh’s absurd report. He knew very well that this was nothing but baseless slander.

Clearly, someone was deliberately trying to malign Dan-jung’s reputation.

“That’s false. Investigate the source of these rumors thoroughly and report back to me as soon as possible.”

Min-hyuk didn’t want Dan-jung to suffer any more from these groundless rumors. He couldn’t tolerate his wife becoming fodder for gossip—it offended his pride.