Chapter 7.4

Seung-jo snatched the clothes Su-eon was gripping like a lifeline and tossed them far away. He grabbed both her wrists with one hand and pinned them above her head. As his face lowered toward hers, Su-eon turned her head to the side to avoid him.  

“No, stop it. I don’t want this.”  

“But you do.”  

He whispered as he pressed his lips firmly against the nape of her neck. His hand slid between her legs, parting the damp petals, and unhesitatingly rubbed the still-warm skin.  

Her body, still sensitive from the lingering pleasure, trembled slightly. Seung-jo’s eyes curved in satisfaction, as if to say, ‘See? I told you so.’ Seeing his smug expression, Su-eon’s face twisted in frustration.  

“I told you to stop. I said I don’t want this. Get away from me, you… you womanizer!”  

Su-eon struggled and pushed him with all her might. His steel-like body didn’t budge, and her flailing arms and legs only left her feeling sore. Still, stubbornness drove her to keep resisting, and Seung-jo, worried she might hurt herself, released her arms and quickly pulled her into his embrace.  

“Alright, alright. I won’t. I was just teasing.”  

“You’re so mean! You said it wasn’t just about my body, but…”  

Su-eon’s angry voice trailed off. Her long lashes fluttered as her damp irises sparkled and disappeared with each blink.  

“You’re right. I did say that.”  

Seung-jo’s voice softened as he gently shifted Su-eon, placing her on top of him. He held her tightly as she squirmed in his arms, her breathing heavy with anger. His hand soothingly stroked her back.  

“Do you think I’m easy? Why do you keep treating me so carelessly?”  

“I’ve never done that.”  

“You haven’t? That’s such a lie. You’re a womanizer, a total liar. You just go around doing this with anyone…”  

“It’s because you’re too beautiful.”  

He murmured as he rested his chin on top of her head.  

“…So, you’re saying it’s my fault?”  

“It’s my fault.”  

Seung-jo pulled Su-eon’s face tightly against his chest. A deep sigh escaped over the top of her head.  

“…What does that even mean? So, in the end, you’re saying you like my body more.”  

Her voice, tinged with disappointment, trailed off. Seung-jo let out a quiet laugh that sounded like a sigh. 

She’s so beautiful. 

From head to toe, there wasn’t a single thing about her that wasn’t beautiful. Her appearance was stunning, but her actions were even more so.  

Even back when she ran like her life depended on it, sprinting with every ounce of strength, she was breathtaking. When she crossed the finish line first without even cracking a smile, simply grabbing a bottle of water and turning away, she was mesmerizing.  

Even the cute letters she gave him, which didn’t match her cold demeanor, were beautiful. Pretending not to know and feigning ignorance afterward was beautiful too. She was so beautiful that he couldn’t resist touching her, yet she was the only one unaware of it. That obliviousness made her even more beautiful, making him reach out for her again. By now, the distinction between cause and effect had become meaningless.  

“All day today, I couldn’t focus.”  

Seung-jo’s low voice murmured as his hand gently stroked the nape of Su-eon’s neck.  

“Knowing you were here made me not want to work.”  

“…”  

“I think I was afraid you might not be here anymore.”  

“…What if I wasn’t?”  

“Then I’d have to chase after you.”  

Without hesitation, Seung-jo spoke. Su-eon didn’t say anything, lying quietly on top of him, feeling the way his hands touched her. She could feel the anger gradually leaving her body.  

Seung-jo lay on his back with one arm serving as a pillow, while the other arm wrapped around Su-eon, his fingers idly playing with her hair. His gaze rested on the moon hanging above the roof tiles.  

“It felt good. Coming home and finding you here.”  

“…”  

“The documents I approved today… I might have to review them again tomorrow.”  

Even as he said it, he laughed at himself, as if the thought was absurd. Su-eon, who had been pressing her cheek against his chest in silence, lifted her eyes slightly to look at him. When their eyes met, Seung-jo smiled warmly and stroked her forehead.  

Ah. This man is truly strong.  

The sudden realization flashed through Su-eon like lightning, settling deeply in her chest.  

Seung-jo acknowledged his weaknesses, faced them head-on, and didn’t hide his emotions. That was something only a truly strong person could do.  

To reveal one’s feelings first to someone else—Su-eon would never have done that. To her, it was akin to handing over a knife to the other person, giving them the power to hurt her.  

Feeling as though she had just received that metaphorical knife, Su-eon stared at Seung-jo. Then, with an awkward expression, she opened her mouth.  

“…Actually, I met my dad today.”  

“Mm.”  

“I went to talk about the house, but… he said he’s moving.”  

“Mm.”  

Seung-jo gently stroked her hair as he responded in his usual tender tone.  

“It felt like he already knew everything I was going to say.”  

“Mm.”  

“…It made me sad. Like I was being an ungrateful daughter.”  

Her father had looked at her with eyes that seemed to know all the resentment she harbored toward him for what had happened when she was young. Eyes that seemed to have heard the words she never dared to say aloud: Why did you bring me into this world like this?  

“I also felt pathetic. Resenting my parent at this age…”  

“So, did you cry?”  

“I didn’t cry.”  

When Su-eon answered firmly, Seung-jo just smiled silently.  

“A father would understand everything. That’s how it is between parents and children.”  

Seung-jo’s voice, soft as he stroked her hair, felt like it was siding with her.  

“And besides, I know some real ungrateful kids. Compared to them, you wouldn’t even qualify to hand out your business card. So don’t worry.”  

“What is that supposed to mean? Is that supposed to comfort me?”  

“I’m just stating the facts.”  

“That’s no help at all.”  

Su-eon grumbled.  

“You’re an incredibly lovable daughter, you know.”  

“…Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”  

Suddenly at a loss for words, Su-eon fiddled with the area near Seung-jo’s collarbone, her fingers brushing against it awkwardly.  

Seung-jo looked down at her face with an expression that seemed to say, *How cute.*  

“So, why were you upset earlier?”  

“Oh, that.”  

This time, Su-eon spoke in a much calmer tone than before. Now that her drowsiness had completely dissipated, the unnecessary sentimentality she had felt earlier had also vanished.  

“I was just thinking about how many women you’ve pinned down on this veranda before me. That thought annoyed me for a moment.”  

Seung-jo tilted his head down and stared at her face, as if he had heard something completely unexpected.  

“Why are you looking at me like that?”  

“…So, you were jealous?”  

“Is that how it sounds? Ah, but I’m fine now. We’re both adults, after all. It’s only natural. We’re not kids.”  

Seung-jo frowned.  

“It’s not natural at all. What kind of jealousy ends in ten minutes?”  

“Really? Then I’ll think about it later. For now, I need to get up.”  

Su-eon replied casually as she lifted her head. Her body ached all over, and it was unbearable. Hanoks were nice, but the wooden floor of the veranda wasn’t.  

Seung-jo grabbed her chin firmly and turned her face toward him.  

“I’ve never brought anyone here before. And I’ve never done anything crazy like that on the veranda.”  

“Well, that’s a relief. The wooden floor really isn’t it, Senior. My back is—”  

Seung-jo pressed her cheek sideways with his hand, silencing her words.  

“And you. You said I was the first man you brought home.”  

“Well, yes, but… the situation was a bit unique back then.”  

“Still, it means I’m special enough for you to bring me home, doesn’t it?”  

“There’s no need to go home to—”  

Again, her lips were pressed shut like a fish’s. Seeing the serious look on Seung-jo’s face, Su-eon decided to keep quiet.  

“I’m jealous.”  

Seung-jo tilted his head slightly as he muttered.  

“I feel really bad right now.”  

“…You’ll feel better in ten minutes.”  

Su-eon lightly patted the back of his hand as if to console him. Watching her, Seung-jo let out a disbelieving laugh before standing up with her in his arms. Startled, Su-eon grabbed onto his shirt to cover herself.  

“Put me down. I can walk.”  

“It’s fine. You said your back hurts from the floor.”  

Carrying her, Seung-jo pushed open the sliding door to the inner quarters and stepped inside.  

“Are you mad?”  

“Don’t worry. It’ll pass in ten minutes.”

“Don’t be childish.”  

“Hm? So, next time, you’re suggesting we do it outside instead of at home?”  

Su-eon let out a small laugh and pressed her lips firmly against the nape of his neck.  

“…You’re sly.”  

With a scoff, Seung-jo hugged her even tighter.  

After setting Su-eon down in the room, Seung-jo began picking up their scattered clothes. He picked up a photo card that had fallen to the floor.  

“What’s this?”  

It was a picture of pretty boys with colorful hair smiling brightly.  

“Why are you carrying around photos of boys?”  

Startled, Su-eon stopped midway through getting dressed and reached out hastily.  

“They belong to Chief Jung.”  

“They came out of your pocket.”  

Holding the photo cards above her reach, Seung-jo inspected each one.  

“There are nine of them. Are they idols or something?”  

“I don’t really know. Chief Jung likes this group, and I got them with a drink purchase, so I kept them.”  

Flustered, the lies flowed easily.  

“Hmm. So, Chief Jung has a thing for boys who look this young?”  

Looking at their soft, baby-like skin, Seung-jo muttered to himself. Su-eon felt a pang of guilt.  

“They’re not that young.”  

“But you said you didn’t know.”  

“That’s what I mean. Just give them back. I’m going to give them to Chief Jung.”  

If they got scratched before being put in a binder, it would be a problem. Watching Su-eon scurry around awkwardly while still half-dressed, Seung-jo narrowed his eyes.  

“How many times has Chief Jung been to Bukchon?”  

“She said she’s been there a few times.”  

“How many is a few?”  

“Give it to me quickly, or you’ll leave fingerprints on it.”  

Seung-jo raised one eyebrow and smirked sharply, the corners of his mouth curling up.  

“…Are you seriously worried about me leaving my fingerprints on an idol’s face?”  

“No, that’s not what I meant.”  

Seung-jo tossed the photo card onto the table with a flick of his hand and then suddenly scooped Su-eon up in his arms, heading toward the bed.  

“Ah! Don’t just throw it like that… Senior!”  

Laying Su-eon down on the bed, Seung-jo unzipped the pants he had been clumsily wearing.  

“It’s been ten minutes, and I’m still not in a good mood.”  

“…”  

“Are you going to make me feel better?”  

Glancing sideways at the photo cards spread out on the table, Su-eon groaned softly and reached out her hand. Her fingers brushed against the smooth fabric of his pants.  

“…Fine, but just a little.”  

Seung-jo cupped her cheek, pulling her closer as he exhaled a languid breath.  

“Yeah, just a little.”