“Father-in-law, and brothers-in-law, please listen carefully to what I am about to say. Yunjoo, my wife, your father’s daughter and your younger sister—she is now my person. Please treat her as the mistress of Juon, no matter what. Everything Yunjoo does is the same as what I do, and she stands equal to me. I think you all know why I came. I came to tell you that this is the last time I will say this. I felt it should be said with Yunjoo present, so I am saying it now.”
Kangwook had finished speaking, but no one said a word. Her father and brothers wore heavy expressions, and her brother-in-law watched the scene like a spectator. Yunjoo could feel her mother and older sister looking at her in silence. To the two of them, Kangwook’s actions were nothing short of enviable and remarkable. The gazes that had been fixed on Kangwook—on this man who declared a woman his equal—now shifted to Yunjoo.
‘Yunjoo, I’m so glad.’
Her mother gave a small nod of relief, and her older sister looked at her with eyes full of envy.
‘Yunjoo.’
Seeing her sister’s pained, envious gaze, Yunjoo could offer no words of comfort. Watching the two of them, Yunjoo found this was not a moment she could simply feel at ease and content. Choi Kangwook had issued a warning to everyone: don’t touch what is mine. And unlike his warning, a warning light flickered on inside Yunjoo’s own heart.
‘Why is this man doing this for me? Does he mean everything that’s been happening lately? The warm hand that held mine, the simple words asking me to eat—does he mean all of it? Why would Choi Kangwook?’
* * *
After landing at the airport, they boarded the private jet she had only ever heard about. She couldn’t understand why she kept forgetting who this man was. He owned a private jet, and yet she had been treating him like some ordinary person with the same name. Once they were on the plane and seated, Kangwook spoke to Yunjoo.
“I noticed you didn’t have much luggage when we left. Are you planning to buy what you need over there?”
“No, I packed everything I need.”
“If anything comes up, buy it with the card. This trip to Hong Kong is for my work.”
He recalled the bewilderment he had felt when he first realized Yunjoo wasn’t spending his money. He truly hadn’t known she had been using her own card and her own money for personal expenses. This time too, Kangwook made a point of getting ahead of it, in case she tried to avoid using his card again. He didn’t want her spending money she had earned pulling all-nighters.
He now knew well enough that if she wanted something, she would handle it with her own money. He didn’t fully trust that a simple, compliant answer meant she would actually follow through, but he felt he had to say it anyway.
“Alright. I’ll handle it.”
“Okay, then rest for a bit. I have some things to look over.”
“Sure, don’t mind me. Go ahead and work.”
Yunjoo turned her gaze toward the window, but Kangwook’s eyes lingered on her a moment longer before finally moving to the documents. It was their first trip together, and he couldn’t quite focus on his work.
Cha Yunjoo was that kind of woman—difficult, demanding, and complicated, yet warm and quick to smile, carrying pain beneath it all. Accepting that his heart was moving toward her made everything feel easy, because he could simply give her what he wanted to give. He could always find some excuse to give her what he wished to.
He already knew why he needed to hold on to Yunjoo. Now it was time to explain to her why he couldn’t let her go. That was why he had brought her to Hong Kong. The short flight brought them to Hong Kong, and the city made Yunjoo’s eyes sparkle with excitement.
Her eyes came alive, bright and shining. Watching her, Kangwook felt an inexplicable unease stir inside him. And when they arrived at the hotel, Yunjoo couldn’t contain her excitement. We’re really here. We’re really in Hong Kong.
They passed through a lobby that could make you think you had walked into an exhibition hall, then stepped into the elevator. She felt certain she wouldn’t be able to stay this quiet if Kangwook weren’t right beside her. But the moment Yunjoo stepped into the room, she began to tense up.
Kangwook watched her eyes dart around anxiously and smiled without a sound. She had already been on guard, worried he might catch a glimpse of her feelings, and when she heard the quiet laugh, she turned and her dark eyes locked onto him. Kangwook caught Yunjoo’s gaze the moment it flew his way.
“There are two rooms, so you take that one over there.”
“Oh, okay.”
A wave of relief washed over her. Yunjoo checked the room Kangwook had pointed to, then turned back to him.
“But isn’t this room bigger?”
“Yeah.”
“Then you should take it.”
“I told you to take it because the view is better. Go open the curtains and see if you still feel the same way. You might end up regretting it.”
At his words, she went into the room and pulled open the curtains that had been drawn shut. Oh my god! The view was so breathtaking it knocked the air from her lungs, and Yunjoo completely forgot Kangwook was standing behind her.
“Wow! Oh my god.”
The words she had been thinking tumbled out before she could stop them, and she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, but there was no way Kangwook hadn’t heard her.
‘Ugh! So embarrassing. I’m mortified.’
She squeezed her eyes shut and was busy scolding herself when she heard Kangwook’s voice.
“Still feel like giving up the room? Say so now if you do.”
“No, sorry, but I’m keeping it.”
Yunjoo said it with a sheepish grin, and Kangwook’s shoulders shook as he let out a low chuckle. Thinking he was laughing at how unsophisticated she had been, Yunjoo bristled and her voice rose.
“Why are you laughing? Fine, yes, I’m unsophisticated! I’m not as refined as the women you used to see!”
At her words, the laughter faded from Kangwook’s eyes and they took on a cold edge, his expression hardening. The pleasant mood turned frigid in an instant.
“Cha Yunjoo, that’s a dangerous thing to say. I don’t bring women on my business trips, and I certainly don’t give up my room for them.”
Kangwook’s voice dropped to a low register that felt almost threatening, and his eyes churned with something unreadable. It was the first time Yunjoo had ever picked up a signal of danger from him. She rolled her eyes at the sight of this suddenly dangerous man.
“Well, I mean. What I said was…… I just…….”
No matter how hard she racked her brain, the words wouldn’t come. It simply hadn’t been something she should have said. If she kept saying things like that, Kangwook might get the wrong idea. And more than anything, it wasn’t something she actually felt.
“What is going on in that head of yours, Cha Yunjoo, provoking a man in a hotel room?”
“When did I do that?”
His voice was low—and not just low, but something else entirely, something that rattled her heart in a way she couldn’t put into words. The gaze that met hers had gone completely dark, rippling with something unreadable, and the distance between them was slowly closing. Kangwook moved toward her, slow and steady, and Yunjoo’s mind began to go blank.
She had never felt this kind of tension with a man before. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do. All she could do was hold her breath and watch him approach. And then Kangwook, who had been advancing on her without the slightest hesitation, stopped.
“What are you thinking about? Cha Yunjoo.”
“Mr. Kangwook…….”
The man standing close enough for his breath to reach her asked a question that didn’t seem to want an answer, but Yunjoo felt she had to say something. She tried to speak, mumbling, but the words just circled inside her mouth without coming out.
He was suddenly right in front of her, and she couldn’t meet his eyes, her gaze darting every which way to avoid his, her face burning hot. She had no idea what to do in this suffocating moment, and Kangwook watched every bit of her flustered state.
The woman who had once been so composed and quiet had finally shown her true self, and since then, Kangwook hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her for a single moment. No matter what he said, she never backed down—sharp-tongued and unapologetically bold. But she had one weakness, and it was him, standing close.
Kangwook savored that. Teasing Yunjoo had become its own pleasure. Watching her eyes dart and dance in every direction was a joy that belonged to him alone.
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Tillda
What a disgusting display of power. And sure stallion, you don’t your room to other woman, it’s just your d*ck that you’re sharing. Girl, stop staring and speak-up ffs!