“Mash!”

At Jun-woo’s command during dinner, Soo-hyun turned his head.

Jun-woo, who had only made sounds like “mwa-mwa,” could now make sounds quite similar to words. He was now 18 months old.

He could walk quite well now, and even do something resembling running. Of course, it looked more like his legs were going ahead and his body was barely keeping up to maintain balance.

His antics were so cute that watching him all day wouldn’t be boring. These days, Soo-hyun was making a bit of an effort to come home early to have dinner with his family.

For Hae-in, who had been with Jun-woo all day, Soo-hyun was feeding Jun-woo his dinner.

“Mwah!”

Jun-woo’s expression was quite serious, unlike yesterday.

He raised one arm like a speaker, demanding something from his dad, and raised his voice, making the same sound as before.

“Jun-woo-yah, why don’t you try eating with a fork instead of your hands?”

As he tried to put a fork in Jun-woo’s hand, Jun-woo frowned again, shouting “Mash!”

“Jun-woo, what’s wrong?”

Hae-in, who had briefly left her seat, returned to the table and asked Soo-hyun.

“I don’t know, he was eating well and suddenly started saying something.”

“Eung?”

When Hae-in looked at Jun-woo, he looked back at his mom and said “Mash” once more.

Only then, as if realizing something, Hae-in said “Ah” and disappeared into the kitchen before reappearing. What she brought was finely chopped chicken thigh meat coated in sauce.

Jun-woo’s expression brightened immediately upon seeing it, and he suddenly pounded the table with his little hand, repeatedly shouting “Mash, mash!”

“Is the name of that food ‘Mash’?”

Soo-hyun, who didn’t understand the situation, looked at Hae-in with a puzzled expression, and Hae-in burst into laughter.

“No, no. Jun-woo somehow knows the word ‘mash’.”

As soon as she placed the chicken dish in front of Jun-woo, he started grabbing it with his hands and eating voraciously.

“He knows the word ‘mash’?”

Is it real or a joke? Soo-hyun looked at Hae-in with a doubtful face, and Hae-in giggled and continued.

“When he frowns and says ‘mash,’ it means it’s not tasty, and when he smiles and says ‘mash,’ it means it’s delicious. He probably wanted me to bring him his favorite food.”

“What?”

Soo-hyun gave an absurd laugh, watching Jun-woo, whose lips were sticking out in a triangular shape, diligently picking up and eating the chicken.

“This little guy is already picky about food?”

“What’s wrong with that? Even babies can have preferences.”

Soo-hyun, watching Jun-woo eat, asked Hae-in.

“Does your mother still prepare Jun-woo’s food these days?”

“She still does a lot, but it seems to be getting a bit much for her. I don’t know who Jun-woo takes after, but he’s quite picky. He eats anything Grandma makes well, but if he doesn’t like something, he criticizes it sharply. It’s been embarrassing more than once or twice.”

“That rascal Jun-woo should eat what Grandma makes well. Think of all the effort she puts in.”

Soo-hyun picked up a piece of the chicken dish in front of Jun-woo to put it in his mouth, but suddenly paused.

“Ah.”

Hae-in, who had been watching from the side, hurriedly stood up and pulled the baby chair Jun-woo was sitting in towards her.

Didn’t Soo-hyun particularly dislike chicken dishes?

Hae-in still remembered. That Soo-hyun had trauma related to food.

Because of memories related to his biological mother, even if meat dishes were on the table, Soo-hyun would always take away the chicken from his rice.

The reason she hadn’t put chicken on Jun-woo’s plate today was also out of consideration for Soo-hyun, who would be feeding him.

It wasn’t like Soo-hyun came home early every night, and if there was a need to feed Jun-woo chicken, it could be done in the morning or at lunch, so she had done it on purpose.

It was her mistake to thoughtlessly take out the sweet soy sauce-glazed chicken wings, which happened to be Jun-woo’s favorite.

“Um, I’m sorry. I forgot again...”

“No, no.”

As she apologized, Soo-hyun shook his head and seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then he smiled wryly and looked back at Hae-in.

“It wasn’t because I was upset, I wasn’t even conscious of it. That Jun-woo was eating chicken.”

“Ah, really?”

“Not at all, I didn’t realize it at all, and then it suddenly occurred to me, so I paused in bewilderment.”

“Ah. If that’s the case.”

“Ha, can you believe this?”

It wasn’t that Soo-hyun couldn’t eat chicken at all, but it always brought back unpleasant memories, so he avoided it as much as possible.

He had forgotten it without even realizing it, to the point where his past self would have been dumbfounded.

“Haha. This is...”

Soo-hyun gave a hollow laugh and then watched Jun-woo, whose lips were smeared with sauce, pick up the last piece and put it in his mouth.

The things Park Yoon-hwa had left behind were disappearing one by one without him even being conscious of it.

________________________________________

Soo-hyun was sitting on the bed, briefly checking emails from overseas branches, when Hae-in, who had already put Jun-woo to sleep, came into the bedroom.

“Is Jun-woo already asleep?”

“Yes, he fell asleep quickly today.”

Soo-hyun placed the tablet PC he was holding on the bedside table and put his arm around his wife’s shoulder as she got under the covers.

“I don’t know who Jun-woo takes after, being so picky about food.”

He takes after me.

Soo-hyun was about to say it but paused for a moment. Instead, he turned and buried his face in Hae-in’s neck.

“...You know, what if our second child is also picky like me?”

“Second child?”

“Uh-huh.”

Soo-hyun’s lips left a brand on Hae-in’s soft skin. As Soo-hyun’s lips, already full of heat, began to explore her neck, Hae-in’s arms, which had been resting on Soo-hyun’s chest, trembled.

“Do you want a second child?”

The end of her questioning voice curled up softly.

As his tender tongue lightly brushed over her soft skin, Hae-in arched her back, her eyes half-closed. Between the smooth silk of her camisole, Hae-in’s knees bent.

“Your opinion is more important than mine. I’m for it anytime, but...”

Soo-hyun’s hand gently slid down Hae-in’s waist. Gripping his wife’s slender waist, Soo-hyun turned over, lifting Hae-in onto his body.

“I still remember Yoon Hae-in, the top graduate of the business school. It’s a waste of talent. While I think it’s only natural to recruit such a great talent to our company...”

His long fingers traced up her spine like playing the piano.

“Ah.”

Hae-in’s gaze was dreamy, soaking into the sensations that stimulated her.

“I’m also curious about what you want.”

Soo-hyun’s excitement was fully felt on her prone skin.

The man, fully aroused, didn’t move rashly and focused on awakening the woman’s body lying on his.

“Actually, I...”

“Uh-huh.”

Uh-huh, hurry and answer. Soo-hyun cupped Hae-in’s cheeks and pulled her face close to his. He slowly lowered his lips to her ear, whispered something seductive, then lightly bit her earlobe and blew into her ear.

“Keueung,” Hae-in exhaled deeply and stretched her body, and Soo-hyun chuckled and turned back over, climbing on top of Hae-in again.

He swept back the scattered hair on her round forehead, then traced her small, pretty nose with his index finger before gently tapping the tip.

“I think I liked when Jun-woo was a baby too much. I did.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m a bit sad now. It feels like he’s grown up so quickly.”

“And?”

“Sometimes when I see him playing alone, I also wonder if he needs a sibling...”

Soo-hyun didn’t even listen to all of Hae-in’s words before kissing her cheek.

“Ah, then the reason for me to hold back completely disappears.”

“Were you ever holding back?”

Hae-in pouted cutely, as if reproaching him, and Soo-hyun smiled awkwardly.

“I think I hold back nine times out of ten, I’m disappointed you didn’t know.”

“Huh?”

“Ah, if I had my way, I would have gotten you pregnant ten times already.”

“Wh-what did you say...”

Hae-in, startled, widened her eyes and looked at Soo-hyun, but before she could finish her sentence, Soo-hyun’s lips covered hers.

His wet lips enveloped Hae-in’s tongue and stirred deeply inside her mouth.

Hae-in simply let out a short “ah” and then inhaled. Her whole body was already languid from the fleeting pleasure. The places where Soo-hyun’s hands had touched were filled with heat, as if burned.

Soo-hyun slowly pushed up her pajamas. The feeling of the silk fabric slipping over her skin and the movements of his long fingers that toyed with her body made Hae-in feel a dizzying sensation, as if the ceiling was far away.

Her back arched high and then fell back down repeatedly. Soon after, an unbearable, intense pleasure washed over her like a wave.

Ah, please stop. Stop. Ah, no.

Hae-in waved her hands at Soo-hyun as if begging, but there was no way to stop him.

At the tingling sensations that also poked her every now and then, Hae-in twisted her body endlessly. When she slipped her body, wanting to escape, Soo-hyun stubbornly chased after her and held her so she couldn’t move.

“Ah.”

Hae-in finally burst into tears. She even felt like her own self was collapsing.

The strength in her legs, which had been tense, slipped away, and she simply sprawled out. Only then did Soo-hyun, wearing a satisfied smile, reveal his face.

Soo-hyun spoke softly to Hae-in, who was taking rough breaths.

“Are you okay?”

“Eueung. I feel like all my strength has left me.”

“That’s a big problem.”

“Why?”

“The night has only just begun.”

“Ah.”

Before she could even swallow her surprised breath, the man’s body forcefully pressed down on Hae-in.