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Tae-ryeong’s heart sank when her husband called that name. So easily, and so tenderly, he uttered it. Tae-ryeong whispered, her voice trembling, “Don’t call me by that name.”
Even Jin-woo, who liked her, couldn’t break free from stereotypes. If you inherit dirty blood, no matter how cleanly you live, to people you’re still just dirty blood. So, what about you? After knowing what kind of woman I am, who my father is, and my relationship with the real Yoo Tae-ryeong, would you still say you love me? Would you still tenderly call me by that name, like now? That’s why I’d rather you not know. Your voice tenderly calling the name Joo Se-hee. So that in the future, even if you call that name coldly, I can remain calm. So, don’t call that name tenderly.
“That’s a name you shouldn’t call. Then I...”
Overwhelmed, Tae-ryeong stopped speaking and bit her lip tightly. Her husband quickly apologized, his expression flustered.
“I was wrong. So don’t try to force yourself to say it.”
He looked deeply up at her with tender eyes, as if he’d accept anything, and whispered slowly and softly, “I told you, I’m very patient. I’m confident I can wait as long as it takes.”
She looked down at the cool sensation slipping between her fingers and saw the ring. Even in the faint darkness, the intricately crafted pink hue sparkled. Her husband placed his large hand over her small, clenched fist.
“But I need an answer to my proposal today.”
Her lips wouldn’t readily open. With just one look from this man, one ordinary word, one gentle tone... her heart felt a chill and pounded. She crumbled too easily, melting into a puddle.
“I got married without ever dating.”
Kang-joon made a rather wronged expression, as if wondering what she was about to say.
“Then you’ll have to take responsibility for my dating life too.”
Tae-ryeong looked dumbfounded. As if she had ever dated. Marriage, first kiss, first night—everything about him was her first. But it wasn’t for him. Her husband had inflamed and burnt her, burnt that night, burnt her. Suddenly, Tae-ryeong glared at him, feeling resentful.
“If you’ve never dated, then why did you kiss me and sleep with me? Were you a bad boy, Kang-joon? Were you that disloyal?”
As she questioned him meticulously in a soft voice, Kang-joon looked slightly embarrassed. Regardless, Tae-ryeong, overcome by belated resentment, didn’t stop.
“How much experience do you have to be so easy and skilled with physical affection? I didn’t even know that... I wasn’t innocently liking you.”
She wasn’t even aware she had crossed a line with her words.
“Everything about you is my first, and I’m angry that I’m not your first.”
Tae-ryeong yanked her hand away from her husband’s grasp. The one month she had decided to be utterly greedy for. During that time, she wanted to whine, get angry, be jealous, and act petty. She felt she could. She felt she could do anything to Seo Kang-joon.
“I’m too resentful to date you, Kang-joon.”
Pfft, a low chuckle escaped him. She looked at him in disbelief and saw him barely suppressing his laughter.
“Do I seem like a skilled man to you, wife?”
At that question, Tae-ryeong momentarily blanked. She wondered when she had said such a thing.
“That night, did you like it too, wife?”
“What...”
“Can’t you tell me how much you liked it?”
His face, whispering intimately and sensually, was a little mischievous. Belatedly, Tae-ryeong’s face flushed. She thought she might have said something similar.
“I want to go home.”
Tae-ryeong stood up and turned as if to flee.
“Where are you going?”
His low, chuckling voice brushed her ear, and her husband hugged Tae-ryeong from behind.
“You have to answer me.”
“...I already answered.”
I’m too resentful to date you, so let me tease you a bit.
“You have to say you like it and take responsibility.”
“No, why would I...”
“Because it’s my first time too.”
Tae-ryeong, who had turned in his arms to glare at her husband who was saying something absurd, widened her eyes. Chop—. Her husband lightly kissed her defenseless, parted lips.
“Thanks for thinking I’m a player.”
His dark eyes, looking down at Tae-ryeong, sparkled exceptionally. His next words were whispered intimately, his lips close to her ear. Love, kisses, that night, me—everything about me is all your first.
“...Lie.”
As Tae-ryeong mumbled in disbelief, his smiling lips approached again.
“I am quite excellent, aren’t I?”
His low voice, whispering with lips almost touching, was pleasant to hear.
“Especially in instinctive matters.”
He was so good at saying embarrassing things.
“And I plan to try harder in the future. And make you enjoy yourself even more.”
It was a moment she learned another of this man’s habits. When he strongly emphasized something, he spoke informally. The problem was that his informal speech wasn’t rude; it was more persuasive.
“So please accept it now, wife?”
When he used honorifics, the problem was how sweetly, meltingly, he spoke.
“No.”
But Tae-ryeong refused once more. She always wanted there to be one difficult thing for him, who was always consistently, effortlessly good at everything. She wanted that to be her.
“I won’t date...!”
Instead of an answer, a flurry of small kisses rained down on her face. Her forehead, the bridge of her nose, her eyelids, the tip of her nose, her cheeks, even the back of her hand and each finger. He persuaded her with his entire body, as if daring her to resist. She tried to stubbornly resist out of pride, not wanting to give in to physical affection. That was until another couple appeared in the distance.
“Other people are coming.”
As the couple grew closer, Tae-ryeong grew nervous. She thought of herself as tough, but in this situation, she was definitely not.
“Kang-joon, stop.”
As she pleaded, her husband finally stopped kissing her. Kang-joon took Tae-ryeong’s hand, who couldn’t even lift her face due to embarrassment, and walked briskly. They arrived at the parking lot in an instant. Kang-joon, sitting in the driver’s seat, leaned over and reached out his hand. His eyes, which cradled her face and intently met hers, had changed. The relaxed quality had disappeared, and his dark eyes deepened ominously. With that gaze, he patiently demanded an answer one more time.
“Answer.”
His low, husky voice resonated in her eardrums like a growl. Tae-ryeong finally raised the white flag to this persistent, stubborn “roar.” They only had a month left. Whatever it was with him, she would accept it for a month.
“Let’s date.”
Only after getting her answer did her husband’s lips meet hers. Tae-ryeong, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck, accepted his hot, tender kiss.
________________________________________
The car stopped at a red light, and Tae-ryeong instinctively tensed. She knew what her husband would do. Her intertwined hands on the console box were subtly pulled. Her body naturally leaned towards the driver’s seat, and her husband leaned towards the passenger seat.
“This is dangerous while driving.”
“What’s dangerous about a red light?”
“If they honk from behind...”
“I’ll handle it fine.”
His smiling lips finally approached. Their lips softly met, and a gentle warmth enveloped her. Her husband pulled away and whispered mischievously, “See? I handled it just fine.”
As soon as her husband sat upright, the light turned green. It was strange, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. Tae-ryeong fixed her gaze on the window again. In reality, she wasn’t looking at the scenery outside, but at her husband reflected in the dark window. Her husband’s posture while driving was perfectly upright and elegant, without a hint of disarray. It was hard to believe he was the man who had just given her such a sensual kiss. Her husband continued to do that afterwards. Whenever the light changed and the car stopped, he would suddenly kiss her, just like this. Sometimes long or short, sometimes light or deep. It was always Tae-ryeong’s turn to blush.
________________________________________
The car stopped in the Han River Park parking lot. Tae-ryeong got out of the car before Kang-joon could even open the door for her. The wind blowing today was strong. But even that wind felt good as it cooled her flushed face. With light steps, Tae-ryeong quickly approached the river. The dark river, holding light, was beautiful, and the forest of buildings at the end of the river was magnificent. Wanting to see it with her husband, Tae-ryeong, who had been walking ahead, spun around. She smiled brightly and beckoned to her husband, who had been quietly following her with his hands in his pants pockets.
“Kang-joon, come quickly.”
The bright smile spreading across his wife’s face made Kang-joon dumbfounded. He hadn’t known, because she always only showed a quiet smile, that she was a woman who could smile so brightly. He was seized by a strong impulse to remember that smile and always make her smile. By working harder, loving her more, and making her happy. Just then, a couple walking behind Tae-ryeong came into view. The couple, clinging to each other and looking only at each other without watching where they were going, seemed about to collide with Tae-ryeong.
“Someone behind you.”
Just as he was about to say, be careful when they come, the man from the couple collided with Tae-ryeong. Her slender body couldn’t withstand the impact and swayed, causing Kang-joon’s eyes to waver.
“Hey, why don’t you look straight...”
The man, who had been speaking roughly, stopped. It was because Tae-ryeong, who had precariously regained her balance, looked up at him.
“It’s a mutual fault, but yours is greater, so will you apologize first? Then I’ll apologize too.”
But at Tae-ryeong’s words, the man’s face twisted, and he approached her threateningly.
“Mutual fault, what are you talking about, you...!”
Kang-joon, who arrived just in time, smoothly stepped in, completely blocking Tae-ryeong from the man’s sight.
“Eyes are on your face, not the back of your head.”
Looking at his broad back, her heart oddly fluttered. Because of her husband’s tall height, broad shoulders, and solid physique, which was enough to overwhelm the burly man.
“Then the person walking forward should have been more careful and avoided it.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t speak informally, don’t glare, and apologize to my wife.”
Unlike his calm yet polite voice, Kang-joon’s eyes were chillingly cold.
“So that we don’t have to call a lawyer or go to the police station over something that could be resolved with a single word.”
Mentioning a lawyer and the police station, the couple fled. Only then did Kang-joon turn around and ask gently, “Is your shoulder okay from the collision?”
“Yes. But you didn’t have to intervene, Kang-joon. I can handle this myself.”
Kang-joon sighed at his wife’s stubborn gaze, calmly conveying her intention. I know you’re a capable woman, I know it. But it pains me to see you act as if you’re used to handling things alone.
“When I’m here, why do you need to handle it alone?”
I wish you’d lean on me, and I wish you’d act spoiled. Such an indifferent woman who doesn’t know my feelings at all.
“Use me generously. I’m your lover and your husband, we’re a couple.”
You don’t use me enough, I’m practically rotting away.
“And from now on, don’t leave my side by more than 30 centimeters. And hold my hand tightly.”
At Kang-joon’s serious words, Tae-ryeong looked slightly dumbfounded.
“I’m not a child.”
“I’m refraining from carrying you in my arms, so listen to me.”
“...”
“Or, I can carry you on my back.”
His wife, who had been moving her lips as if to say something, widened her eyes. The hair tie that had held her hair high had snapped. Just then, the wind blowing from behind his wife made her abundant hair flutter, covering her small face. Her small hands fumbled, trying to push away the hair covering her face. Finding the sight adorable, Kang-joon took his wife’s hand.
“I told you to use me. I’ll do it, so just stay still.”
Tae-ryeong reluctantly closed her eyes. She felt his hands gently stroking and brushing up her hair, strand by strand. As the curtain of hair covering her vision disappeared, Tae-ryeong slowly opened her eyes. Her husband’s eyes, meeting hers at eye level, were close.
“Do you know? You’re beautiful with your hair tied up, but it’s much prettier when it’s down.”
Despite her husband’s subtle wish for her to keep her hair down, Tae-ryeong rummaged through her handbag.
“It’s uncomfortable with my hair down.”
Because I’m Yoo Tae-ryeong now. But no matter how much she searched, she couldn’t find anything to tie her hair with.
“Wait.”
Her husband held Tae-ryeong’s hair with his right hand and untied his necktie with the other. After struggling awkwardly for a long time, he finally succeeded in tying Tae-ryeong’s hair with his necktie. Stepping back, her husband smiled with a proud look.
“The tie suits you well too.”
His tender gaze sucked Tae-ryeong in infinitely, like a black hole. Into the eyes of a man in love, who seemed to accept anything she did, who only looked at her and held only her. The moment their eyes intertwined, joy accompanied by guilt flooded her. The guilt of loving a man she should never love, and the joy that he loved her. You wouldn’t know. That you are my guilty pleasure. Tae-ryeong opened her mouth, whispering in a trembling voice, “Thank you, Kang-joon.”
Thank you for loving me, for letting me love, and for that, thank you so much.
“And...”
She had no intention of saying this until the moment she left. She had wanted to keep it carefully to herself. But thinking that she might never be able to, she felt she had to. Right now, so she wouldn’t regret it later.
“I love you.”
It was the moment the last wall in her heart crumbled.
________________________________________
The car stopped at a red light, and Tae-ryeong automatically tensed. She knew what her husband would do. Her intertwined hands on the console box were subtly pulled. Her body naturally leaned towards the driver’s seat, and her husband leaned towards the passenger seat.
“This is dangerous while driving.”
“What’s dangerous about a red light?”
“If they honk from behind...”
“I’ll handle it fine.”
His lips, with a hint of a smile, finally approached. Their lips softly met, and a gentle warmth enveloped her. Her husband pulled away and whispered mischievously, “See? I handled it just fine.”
As soon as her husband sat upright, the light turned green. It was strange, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. Tae-ryeong fixed her gaze on the window again. In reality, she wasn’t looking at the scenery outside, but at her husband reflected in the dark window. Her husband’s posture while driving was perfectly upright and elegant, without a hint of disarray. It was hard to believe he was the man who had just given her such a sensual kiss. Her husband continued to do that afterwards. Whenever the light changed and the car stopped, he would suddenly kiss her, just like this. Sometimes long or short, sometimes light or deep. It was always Tae-ryeong’s turn to blush.
________________________________________
The car stopped in the Han River Park parking lot. Tae-ryeong got out of the car before Kang-joon could even open the door for her. The wind blowing today was strong. But even that wind felt good as it cooled her flushed face. With light steps, Tae-ryeong quickly approached the river. The dark river, holding light, was beautiful, and the forest of buildings at the end of the river was magnificent. Wanting to see it with her husband, Tae-ryeong, who had been walking ahead, spun around. She smiled brightly and beckoned to her husband, who had been quietly following her with his hands in his pants pockets.
“Kang-joon, come quickly.”
The bright smile spreading across his wife’s face made Kang-joon dumbfounded. He hadn’t known, because she always only showed a quiet smile, that she was a woman who could smile so brightly. He was seized by a strong impulse to remember that smile and always make her smile. By working harder, loving her more, and making her happy. Just then, a couple walking behind Tae-ryeong came into view. The couple, clinging to each other and looking only at each other without watching where they were going, seemed about to collide with Tae-ryeong.
“Someone behind you.”
Just as he was about to say, be careful when they come, the man from the couple collided with Tae-ryeong. Her slender body couldn’t withstand the impact and swayed, causing Kang-joon’s eyes to waver.
“Hey, why don’t you look straight...”
The man, who had been speaking roughly, stopped. It was because Tae-ryeong, who had precariously regained her balance, looked up at him.
“It’s a mutual fault, but yours is greater, so will you apologize first? Then I’ll apologize too.”
But at Tae-ryeong’s words, the man’s face twisted, and he approached her threateningly.
“Mutual fault, what are you talking about, you...!”
Kang-joon, who arrived just in time, smoothly stepped in, completely blocking Tae-ryeong from the man’s sight.
“Eyes are on your face, not the back of your head.”
Looking at his broad back, her heart oddly fluttered. Because of her husband’s tall height, broad shoulders, and solid physique, which was enough to overwhelm the burly man.
“Then the person walking forward should have been more careful and avoided it.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t speak informally, don’t glare, and apologize to my wife.”
Unlike his calm yet polite voice, Kang-joon’s eyes were chillingly cold.
“So that we don’t have to call a lawyer or go to the police station over something that could be resolved with a single word.”
Mentioning a lawyer and the police station, the couple fled. Only then did Kang-joon turn around and ask gently, “Is your shoulder okay from the collision?”
“Yes. But you didn’t have to intervene, Kang-joon. I can handle this myself.”
Kang-joon sighed at his wife’s stubborn gaze, calmly conveying her intention. I know you’re a capable woman, I know it. But it pains me to see you act as if you’re used to handling things alone.
“When I’m here, why do you need to handle it alone?”
I wish you’d lean on me, and I wish you’d act spoiled. Such an indifferent woman who doesn’t know my feelings at all.
“Use me generously. I’m your lover and your husband, we’re a couple.”
You don’t use me enough, I’m practically rotting away.
“And from now on, don’t leave my side by more than 30 centimeters. And hold my hand tightly.”
At Kang-joon’s serious words, Tae-ryeong looked slightly dumbfounded.
“I’m not a child.”
“I’m refraining from carrying you in my arms, so listen to me.”
“...”
“Or, I can carry you on my back.”
His wife, who had been moving her lips as if to say something, widened her eyes. The hair tie that had held her hair high had snapped. Just then, the wind blowing from behind his wife made her abundant hair flutter, covering her small face. Her small hands fumbled, trying to push away the hair covering her face. Finding the sight adorable, Kang-joon took his wife’s hand.
“I told you to use me. I’ll do it, so just stay still.”
Tae-ryeong reluctantly closed her eyes. She felt his hands gently stroking and brushing up her hair, strand by strand. As the curtain of hair covering her vision disappeared, Tae-ryeong slowly opened her eyes. Her husband’s eyes, meeting hers at eye level, were close.
“Do you know? You’re beautiful with your hair tied up, but it’s much prettier when it’s down.”
Despite her husband’s subtle wish for her to keep her hair down, Tae-ryeong rummaged through her handbag.
“It’s uncomfortable with my hair down.”
Because I’m Yoo Tae-ryeong now. But no matter how much she searched, she couldn’t find anything to tie her hair with.
“Wait.”
Her husband held Tae-ryeong’s hair with his right hand and untied his necktie with the other. After struggling awkwardly for a long time, he finally succeeded in tying Tae-ryeong’s hair with his necktie. Stepping back, her husband smiled with a proud look.
“The tie suits you well too.”
His tender gaze sucked Tae-ryeong in infinitely, like a black hole. Into the eyes of a man in love, who seemed to accept anything she did, who only looked at her and held only her. The moment their eyes intertwined, joy accompanied by guilt flooded her. The guilt of loving a man she should never love, and the joy that he loved her. You wouldn’t know. That you are my guilty pleasure. Tae-ryeong opened her mouth, whispering in a trembling voice, “Thank you, Kang-joon.”
Thank you for loving me, for letting me love, and for that, thank you so much.
“And...”
She had no intention of saying this until the moment she left. She had wanted to keep it carefully to herself. But thinking that she might never be able to, she felt she had to. Right now, so she wouldn’t regret it later.
“I love you.”
It was the moment the last wall in her heart crumbled.
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