Chapter 30. Inducing Jealousy
Lee Hyun smiled brightly, as though he hadn’t just said something outrageous.
“Of course, Han Yerin, your feelings toward me aren’t at that level.”
As if encouraging her to imagine it, Lee Hyun kindly painted a vivid scenario.
“If I were with another woman.”
“…….”
“Just the two of us.”
Yerin slowly bit her lip.
“In my office.”
Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
Of course, part of it was due to Lee Hyun’s detailed description of the situation.
But the real reason Yerin was showing signs of agitation was different.
It was because Lee Hyun kept closing the distance between them as he spoke.
Holding a wine glass in one hand.
The closer he got, the faster the tension grew.
“If I were to toast with her like this, just the two of us.”
Yerin’s feelings became complicated.
Was it because Lee Hyun had come so close?
Or was it because she was imagining such a situation involving Lee Hyun?
She couldn’t tell.
Unlike Yerin, however, Lee Hyun seemed completely at ease.
Slowly swirling the wine in his glass, he continued speaking.
“I’m just curious how you would feel about that, Han Yerin.”
“…….”
After hesitating for a moment, Yerin chose not to answer.
Instead, she snatched the wine glass from Lee Hyun’s hand and downed its contents in one go.
Her throat felt parched. Maybe she was thirsty, or maybe she just wanted to calm the strange feelings stirring within her.
“Oh dear.”
But perhaps she had acted too hastily.
More wine spilled out of her mouth than went in.
“Ah.”
Lee Hyun quickly pulled out some tissues and handed them to her, but by then, most of the wine had already soaked her blouse.
Why had I rushed like that?
Placing the now-empty wine glass down, Yerin accepted the tissues from Lee Hyun.
The wine had been substantial enough to thoroughly drench her blouse.
“Were you that upset?”
“Upset? No, I was just thirsty.”
Lee Hyun, finding Yerin’s flustered demeanor utterly adorable, couldn’t stop smiling.
“And the wine you were holding looked so delicious.”
“Oh dear. It’s all my fault, isn’t it?”
Lee Hyun, knowing full well what he was doing, confirmed it with his sly tone.
Unconsciously, Yerin shot him a glare as she wiped her soaked blouse.
“Well, imagining it like that did make me a little angry.”
“Really?”
Lee Hyun looked genuinely surprised.
Feeling his gaze on her, Yerin slowly lifted her head.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
‘Did I say something wrong again?’
Lee Hyun chuckled softly and stood up.
“Because I like it.”
“…….”
“More importantly, Han Yerin.”
“Yes.”
Lee Hyun quickly turned his back to her and exhaled sharply.
“Wait here for a moment.”
And with that, he disappeared somewhere in a hurry.
“What’s this about?”
Yerin craned her neck to look in the direction Lee Hyun had gone and called out to him.
“Lee Hyun?”
There was no response.
What? Did he just leave me here and go somewhere?
Thinking this, Yerin continued wiping her soaked blouse with the tissues.
Because her blouse was made of thin fabric, even the camisole she was wearing underneath seemed to have gotten wet.
“Ah, why did I rush so much?”
But it was too late for regrets.
When Lee Hyun returned, Yerin planned to tell him that her clothes were wet and it was getting late, so she’d better leave.
She waited quietly.
A moment later.
Lee Hyun returned, carrying something in his hands.
“What’s that?”
Without meeting her gaze, Lee Hyun handed her the clothes he was holding.
“You might need this.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“I’m not fine with it. Take it.”
Unable to leave him standing there with his hands outstretched, Yerin accepted the clothes.
But she really didn’t need them. She was planning to go straight home anyway.
Standing up from the sofa, Yerin quickly spoke.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
At her words, Lee Hyun’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You can leave, but wouldn’t it be better to change first?”
Then, he gestured with his chin toward a room near the living room.
“Feel free to change and come out.”
“I’m really—”
She was about to decline when Lee Hyun walked off somewhere again.
Feeling uncomfortable in her wet blouse, Yerin decided to move to the room he had indicated.
The room was a guest room.
After entering and locking the door, Yerin took a moment to look around.
It was furnished with a large bed and a dressing table.
Judging by the lack of use, it seemed no one had ever stayed there.
This made her even more curious.
“Is this a space he prepared for future use?”
Tilting her head in thought, Yerin hurriedly took off her wine-stained blouse.
As expected, even the camisole underneath was soaked.
The clothes Lee Hyun had given her included a black short-sleeved t-shirt.
Feeling uncomfortable about wearing wet clothes home, Yerin decided to take off her camisole as well and change into the shirt.
Even the shirt smelled like the pleasant scent that always lingered around Lee Hyun.
“What kind of cologne does he use?”
How could he always smell so nice?
As she pondered this, she realized that, though she had only drunk a small amount of wine earlier, she was beginning to feel a bit tipsy.
“I should leave quickly.”
Feeling that she might end up embarrassing herself if she stayed any longer, Han Yerin hurried her steps.
Lee Hyun was sitting on the living room sofa, waiting for her.
“I’ll have your clothes properly cleaned and return them to you.”
“Alright.”
As Yerin approached the sofa to grab her bag, Lee Hyun asked,
“You’re not leaving already, are you?”
“Pardon?”
“We haven’t properly celebrated the start of our relationship yet.”
“But we already…”
Yerin stopped herself mid-sentence.
Her empty wine glass had been refilled.
“It didn’t really feel like a proper celebration, did it?”
“…….”
That much was true.
“You suddenly snatched the wine and spilled it all over your clothes.”
“That was an accident…”
“An accident, was it?”
“Excuse me?”
Lee Hyun, who had been lounging on the sofa, stood up and strode toward Yerin.
Yerin swallowed nervously and took a step back.
“I almost misunderstood it as you trying to seduce me.”
“No, I would never…”
As the words left her mouth, she realized how absurd the situation was.
From his perspective, it could indeed look like she had taken the wine and poured it all over herself.
Suppressing the laughter that threatened to escape, Yerin tried to explain the situation.
However, she couldn’t bring herself to admit the real reason—that she had acted out of frustration, not wanting to hear any more of Lee Hyun’s jealousy-inducing remarks.
“The wine just looked so delicious.”
“Did it now?”
“Yes.”
“And how did it taste?”
“It was delicious. It’s just my kind of wine.”
“What about it did you like?”
“It has a rich body and a rather deep aroma.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Lee Hyun leisurely walked back to the sofa and sat down.
He stared intently at the two glasses of wine that were now filled.
“Then, shall we savor this delicious wine slowly?”
Having no choice, Yerin sat down.
Of course, she could have insisted on leaving, but she couldn’t bring herself to ignore the hopeful gaze Lee Hyun directed at her.
‘Alright. I’ll just finish this glass and leave.’
As Yerin sat beside him, Lee Hyun slowly raised his glass.
“Thank you for accepting my proposal.”
“Thank you as well for making such a good proposal.”
Their glasses clinked softly in mid-air, producing a clear sound.
Though their relationship was fake, the deal they had struck was mutually beneficial and straightforward.
Yerin took a sip of the wine.
Compared to the wines she had tasted before, this one had a richness that perfectly matched her preferences.
Without realizing it, she kept taking sip after sip, her eyelids growing heavier with each one.
“Ah, I shouldn’t get drunk…”
She tried shaking her head vigorously, but it was already too late.
Before she had even finished half the wine in her glass, her eyes began to lose focus.
Unlike Yerin, who was sipping away, Lee Hyun didn’t touch his wine at all.
He had to drive her home later, after all.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes!”
“You don’t seem alright at all.”
Her eyelids kept drooping, and she repeatedly closed and opened her eyes.
Still, her responses were surprisingly energetic.
Lee Hyun reached out to take the wine glass from her hand.
But Yerin, seemingly enchanted by the taste of the wine, gripped the glass tightly, refusing to let go.
“It’s mine.”
“I know. Just put it down for now.”
Though Lee Hyun suggested placing it on the table, Yerin stubbornly clung to it.
“You gave it to me to drink.”
“I did, but… sigh.”
Who would have thought her alcohol tolerance was this low?
Lee Hyun regretted his earlier decision to propose a toast.
In the meantime, Yerin took another sip of the wine.
“It’s delicious.”
Clearly enjoying it, she beamed, her eyes forming crescent moons.
“Oh dear.”
A sigh escaped Lee Hyun’s lips.
“If you look this pretty even when drunk, isn’t it unfair?”
Lee Hyun slowly ran his tongue over his lower lip, looking conflicted.
He needed to stop her from drinking more, but she didn’t seem willing to give up the glass.
If he tried to forcibly take it, she might get hurt.
As he pondered what to do, Yerin attempted to take another sip of the wine.
“Wait a moment.”
Lee Hyun quickly spoke up.
“How about we have a little conversation instead?”
“A conversation?”
Fortunately, Yerin seemed intrigued and placed the wine glass on the living room table.
‘Phew.’
He needed to prevent her from drinking any more. But forcibly taking the glass away might hurt her, so he had to come up with a safer solution—engaging her in a wholesome conversation.
Lee Hyun fetched a glass of water and placed it in front of her.
He wanted to move the wine glass far away, but he couldn’t.
Yerin was watching him intently, as if worried he might take her wine away.
She resembled a child anxiously guarding their candy.
“Let’s talk first, and then you can drink again. How does that sound?”
“Fine. But don’t move it.”
“I won’t touch it, I promise.”
Yerin smiled faintly and leaned sideways against the sofa.
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