Side Story 2.2

“Why would I do something as petty as that?”

Baek-geon, feeling a pang of guilt, masked it with a stern expression as he looked at her. However, Yoon-jae wasn’t one to back down.

“That face you’re making now—it’s exactly like Yoo-na’s when she stubbornly refuses to sleep or eat and only wants to play.”

Baek-geon flinched. Their nearly one-year-old daughter was notoriously headstrong, always insisting on doing only what she wanted.

Her stubbornness often left their babysitters at their wit’s end. Yoon-jae had frequently been left to deal with the aftermath, and Baek-geon had spent countless moments wondering how to curb their daughter’s obstinacy.

In truth, Baek-geon was well aware. He knew that their daughter had inherited his stubbornness. What pained him was the thought of Yoon-jae inevitably having to endure the struggles that came with it.

“Admit it—you were jealous, weren’t you?”

Yoon-jae laughed again, her smile as bright and warm as blooming peach blossoms. Baek-geon found himself utterly captivated by that smile. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he leaned in and murmured softly.

“If making you smile means being jealous every day, then so be it.”

Yoon-jae laughed once more. Baek-geon whispered into her ear again.

“But be ready to face the consequences of smiling like that.”

What could he mean by that? 

As Yoon-jae pondered, her ears slowly turned a deep shade of red. Baek-geon, watching her flushed earlobes, felt an overwhelming urge to bite them. Suppressing the thought, he began greeting the incoming guests.

Most of the attendees were company executives and members of affiliated organizations. Their rugged faces and large builds contrasted sharply with their deferential bows as they entered.

“CEO, we’ve arrived.”

Booming voices accompanied men bowing at a perfect 90-degree angle. As soon as they raised their heads, Baek-geon’s subordinates scolded them.

“Ugh, those idiots. I’ve told them to fix that habit, but they’re still at it.”

Standing at a distance, Cheong-o reprimanded the men while keeping an eye on Yoon-jae. She offered him a small smile as she spoke.

“It’s fine. Just let them be as they are.”

Her calm response eased the atmosphere considerably. Baek-geon then guided Yoon-jae inside.

“Leaving you outside isn’t a good idea—you keep talking to other men.”

“Cheong-o Oppa isn’t just any man.”

“If his last name isn’t the same as yours, he’s another man. Not that it matters to me since I’m the one who married you.”

Cutting off the conversation decisively, Baek-geon wrapped an arm around her waist and led her around the hall. As they moved, people stood and greeted them respectfully.

For Yoon-jae, it was an unfamiliar and overwhelming experience. She wasn’t used to people treating her with such reverence, as if they were ready to kneel and kiss her feet.

Among them were likely individuals who had once spat at her and hurled insults. While it was probably due to Baek-geon’s imposing presence, it was still a shocking and disconcerting experience for Yoon-jae.

She realized she had unconsciously hunched her shoulders, a fact Baek-geon pointed out.

“Stand tall and proud. Whatever you did in the past doesn’t matter. Being my wife is all that counts. If anyone dares to question it, just say the word, and I’ll deal with them.”

It was both intimidating and oddly comforting. Yoon-jae couldn’t help but smile, her lips twitching with amusement.

“Smile even brighter. No one can criticize a smiling face. If you carry yourself confidently, no one will dare to challenge you.”

Finding his words reasonable, Yoon-jae smiled radiantly. It was a smile that captivated everyone’s attention.

Unbeknownst to her, most of the guests that day unanimously agreed that the bride was truly beautiful. She only heard about it later when Cheong-o, acting as if his own sister had been praised, excitedly shared the news during a visit to their home.

*

After the meal, with the guests’ congratulations ringing in their ears, the couple got into a car. Yoon-jae curiously examined the small bouquet handed to her by a staff member.

“Should we have gone with a bigger one? Or maybe we should’ve had a full ceremony?”

Baek-geon asked as he accelerated. For their private honeymoon, he had dismissed the chauffeur and chosen to drive himself.

“No, I was just looking at it because it’s so pretty. It’s even lovelier than I expected.”

Shaking her head, Yoon-jae placed the bouquet on the back seat. Without a word, Baek-geon turned the steering wheel, pulling into a drive-through coffee shop.

“Let’s grab some coffee.”

“Are you feeling sleepy? If so, maybe you should rest…”

“We can drink coffee as we go. It’ll take some time anyway. What do you want? An Americano?”

Speaking casually, Baek-geon placed their order as Yoon-jae decided on her drink. Holding the freshly brewed Americano, she looked out the window with a childlike excitement.

“There’s a sandwich in the back seat too. Butler Song said he packed it earlier.”

“I’m not hungry. We just had a meal, didn’t we?”

“To say something like that when you didn’t actually touch anything.”

No sooner had Baek-geon finished speaking than Yoon-jae’s stomach let out a loud growl. Embarrassed, she turned her head away.

She had been so tense that she hadn’t eaten anything. It amazed her how Baek-geon, amidst the many guests, had noticed that she hadn’t touched a bite.

“When did you even notice that?”

She mumbled to herself, embarrassed. Baek-geon let out a quiet chuckle.

“I keep track of your every move.”

Recalling their secret rendezvous at the apartment, Yoon-jae’s ears flushed red. She pretended not to hear and took a sip of her coffee, only to flinch in surprise.

“It’s still hot. Drink it slowly.”

Baek-geon spoke gently as he switched lanes. Their car had already exited the ring road and was heading toward the tollgate.

Once they passed the tollgate and entered the highway, a sense of joy naturally bubbled up. The time spent traveling felt even more delightful than actually arriving at their destination.

“If you’re tired, let me know. I can drive.”

Her tone had grown more casual without her realizing it. Yoon-jae spoke to Baek-geon comfortably. He nodded while waiting at the tollgate and gestured toward the sandwich on the back seat.

“Eat it quickly.”

Yoon-jae unwrapped the sandwich and brought it to his mouth. Baek-geon glanced at her and, with a pleased expression, took a big bite.

The two shared the sandwich amicably. As the food filled their empty stomachs, their moods softened considerably.

Spending time together, embarking on an exciting trip like an ordinary couple, felt refreshingly new. They hadn’t had the luxury to do so before, making it all the more special.

Seeing Yoon-jae’s visibly cheerful expression, Baek-geon drove at a relaxed pace. They stopped at a rest area overlooking the mountains and enjoyed some snacks.

“Do you want to try this?”

Yoon-jae shyly offered him walnut cookies. Baek-geon naturally opened his mouth, accepting the treat she handed him.

Spending time together outdoors made her realize they were truly a family now. Yoon-jae found it remarkable how Baek-geon had become such a significant presence in her life.

Watching Yoon-jae’s happiness, Baek-geon felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He was now certain he had fully won her over.

“If I’d known, I would’ve held a proper wedding ceremony.”

Hearing his muttered words, Yoon-jae widened her eyes.

“Is something wrong?”

Relieved she hadn’t heard him, he shook his head and stood up.

“Should I get you some citron tea? Or cocoa?”

“I’m fine, I already had coffee. I should save room for something delicious later.”

Yoon-jae smiled brightly. Still concerned, Baek-geon went into the rest area’s store and bought an assortment of drinks and snacks.

He placed the bag on Yoon-jae’s lap in the passenger seat before starting the engine again.

Her cheeks turned slightly pink. Though he had always been attentive, she could now clearly feel how much he cherished and loved her.

Holding the bag silently, she stole glances at Baek-geon as he drove. Just looking at him filled her with warmth.

Seeing his profile reminded her of the child they had left behind that morning. Yoon-jae hurriedly pulled out her phone and made a call.

“Yes, it’s me. How’s Yoo-na? Is she doing well? She’s not crying, is she?”

• Oh dear, she’s eating and playing just fine without her mom. Lately, she’s been obsessed with her toys, fiddling with them all the time.”

Ms. Yoon replied nonchalantly.

• Don’t worry and enjoy your trip. You’ve been staying home all the time, taking care of Yoo-na. I’m here, and so is Butler Song. Yoo-na’s starting to walk and talk, so it’s not too challenging anymore.”

Coming from a seasoned caregiver, her words were reassuring. Yet, leaving everything to them didn’t sit well with Yoon-jae, and she couldn’t help but worry.

Besides, Yoo-na had developed a strong attachment to her mother, which made her even more anxious. While she liked her father, it wasn’t to the same extent, which added to Yoon-jae’s concerns.

“Could you show me what she’s doing?”

• Sure. Yoo-na!”

At Ms. Yoon’s call, Yoo-na waddled over. The child stared intently at the phone before letting out a delighted exclamation upon seeing her mother’s face.

• Ah, ah-boo! Mama, mama!”

“Yes, Yoo-na. It’s Mommy. Did you eat well?”

• Mama. Ah-boo. Ah.”

Even her clumsy words made Baek-geon beam with satisfaction.

“Daddy’s here too, Han Yoo-na. Can you hear Daddy’s voice?”

• Ah-boo.”

When Yoo-na smiled brightly and called for her father, his face lit up with joy. Watching him, Yoon-jae spoke softly.

“Maybe we should’ve brought Yoo-na along.”

“That’s not possible. It’s our honeymoon.”

Baek-geon immediately responded with a serious tone. Yoon-jae rolled her eyes in disbelief.

“Hang up quickly. If she starts crying because we’re not there, it’ll only make things harder for the caregivers.”

Reluctantly, Yoon-jae ended the call. She glanced sideways at Baek-geon and mumbled.

“What kind of honeymoon is this? We’re just taking a day off after the meal.”

“That’s exactly what a honeymoon is.”

Baek-geon replied nonchalantly, as if he had been waiting for her comment.

“And it’s not just for one day, so prepare yourself.”

“What?”

“It’s not just one day. It’s three days.”

Yoon-jae stared at him, dumbfounded.

“Who decided that?”

“I did. If I left it up to you, you’d insist on going back after just one day. What kind of trip is that?”

The situation was escalating. Yoon-jae opened her mouth to protest, but he ignored her.

“Just sit back, snack on something, and enjoy the view. We’ll reach the ocean soon.”

Though she pouted and turned to look out the window, her face lit up as soon as the ocean came into view, just as Baek-geon had said.