CHAPTER 75

After finishing the calculations, Sieun slipped the card onto her finger and flashed a smile.

“Unnie? It’s you, right?”

I don’t think we were supposed to be that close.

Sip. Yeonseo thought as she sucked up the remaining juice with her straw.

“Sis, you know me, right? What are you doing here? Oh, you’re here to see Taeheon, aren’t you?”

“How have you been?”

They hadn’t met for quite a while, probably since Mrs. Kang’s funeral. Sieun cried the most during the funeral. Perhaps her emotions ran deep; Sieun couldn’t control her sadness even on the day of the burial.

Yeonseo naturally recalled memories of Mrs. Kang, and her mood sank slightly. It wasn’t easy to healthily forget someone who had left this world. Maybe there was no such method.

“What’s up! Why are you smiling like that, Unni?”

“Huh? How did I smile?”

“Is it a sad smile? Does Taeheon oppa mistreat you, by any chance?”

Sieun sat down across from Yeonseo even though she hadn’t asked to sit down.

The way she casually tossed the bag aside showed she had some experience. When Yeonseo glanced at her curiously, wondering why she would casually toss a bag that looked so valuable, she shrugged.

“By the way, your complexion is really bad, is it because you’re pregnant?”

Sieun cupped her hands in front of her, attempting to represent the roundness of Yeonseo’s protruding belly. Then, as she truly saw Yeonseo’s stomach, her eyes widened.

“Wow, it’s real.”

Yeonseo smiled again, a little embarrassed.

“I don’t know what to say. It looks tough but beautiful.”

She was impossible to hate. Sieun is as cute and funny as ever.

“At first, I thought you were dating Seungbin oppa. Oops. I shouldn’t mention that name.”

Seungbin’s name was also something she hadn’t heard in a while. Realizing her slip, Sieun pressed her lips together, glanced around cautiously, and lowered her voice.

“Actually, Taeheon oppa sternly told me never to mention that name again. Ugh…”

“Taeheon?”

“Yeah. At grandmother’s funeral before.”

Seungbin’s memory was nothing but unpleasant.

“I didn’t realize then that you and Taeheon were in such a relationship, so I thought, ‘Where’s Seungbin, why did he leave you alone?’ When I snapped out of it and asked where he was, I got scolded.”

That was when Yeonseo and Taeheon broke up, so she had no idea what Taeheon was talking about with Sieun.

“Our family and relatives were there at the time, and they were all surprised because they had never seen Taeheon take care of people like that……. They asked me if you broke up with Seungbin and started dating Taeheon.”

With an intrigued look, Yeonseo sipped her juice, enjoying the story.

“After that, Taeheon took care of you so much that everyone realized that you were not dating Seungbin, but Woo Taeheon.”

In other words, Seungbin was the one who played the drums alone, and Yeonseo was the victim. She had worried about how it would affect Taeheon’s family who didn’t know the truth, but now she realizes it doesn’t matter.

“So, that’s what happened.”

“I’m surprised, but I still like the way things are now, and to be honest, Taeheon looks much better with you.”

“Thanks.”

“That’s why you’re so smart. Seungbin can’t even set foot on Korean soil because he’s hated by the adults, but Taeheon is thriving, and he has so much more.”

Sieun made a circle with her finger, narrowing her eyes. Yeonseo, with a wry smile, said, 

“Ms. Sieun, what brings you here?”

“Oh my, don’t call me Ms. Sieun. Between us! Call me Sieun from now on, okay?”

“Pfft.”

Caught off guard by Sieun’s energetic demeanor, laughter finally erupted.

“Unnie, I’m seriously telling you. You’re Taeheon’s wife, right? If I seem resentful to him, will I end up like Seungbin-oppa? Rumors have been spreading that he’s pampering you….”

“What rumors?”

Suddenly, a low voice came from the bedside. The voice belonged to Taeheon.

A few steps behind him was Secretary Shin.

“Huh? Oppa.”

Sieun was startled, as if she had seen a ghost. She picked up the bag she had thrown carelessly and then whispered something to Yeonseo, patting her on the back.

“We should eat together next time, and you can tell me about your baby.”

“Why would Yeonseo eat with you? Don’t be silly and go on your way.”

“Yeah, yeah. I was going to go anyway.”

Sieun grumbled and bowed to Yeonseo once again. Yeonseo also raised her hand and waved slightly.

“Goodbye.”

“Oh, but Unnie.”

Sieun, who was about to leave, turned back and grabbed the table.

“Is it a boy or a girl? Can I touch your belly? Eek!”

As Sieun reached for Yeonseo’s belly, Taeheon grabbed her wrist and twisted it outward. Yeonseo was surprised, too.

There were a surprising number of people who wanted to touch her stomach. Sieun was just as eager to ask and touch as a noblewoman. Each time she did so alone, Taeheon’s unusual reaction was also a first for Yeonseo.

“Taeheon.”

When Yeonseo quietly called, Taeheon let go of Sieun’s wrist. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he held it too tightly.

“Son, if you have any more questions, contact Secretary Shin.”

“What? Isn’t that too much?”

“Sieun, mind your manners.”

Taeheon lowered his head and glanced at Sieun. It was a signal for her to leave.

Sieun stepped back from Taeheon’s glare, then scurried to the counter. Her ordered drink was ready. Silence settled over the place where Sieun had swept.

Taeheon took his fingertip to Yeonseo’s ear and touched it before withdrawing.

“I was passing by and heard you were here.”

“How did you know…?”

“There are a few prying eyes here, and most of the executives know that you’re my wife.”

After attending several important events with Taeheon, her face became recognizable.

“Well, what if there’s a rumor that I eat a lot of cake?”

Taeheon smirked and brought his hand up to rub the corner of Yeonseo’s mouth. Just by looking at her face, it didn’t seem like she was pregnant. That was a constant worry for him.

Yeonseo rarely came to the company. Even when she did, she waited for him in the parking lot or outside the lobby. This was the first time they had come to a cafe together to order food.

That worried Taeheon. She must be very hungry.

“Why did Sieun come here?”

Yeonseo asked as she watched Sieun leaving the cafe.

“Sieun is the head of the marketing department. Unfortunately, she’s always like this, don’t pay her too much attention.”

“She’s cute.”

“Just be lenient enough. Secretary Shin, what’s the rest of the schedule?”

“I’ll send the documents by email. Please check them by midnight today.”

“Okay, then.”

“I’ll be up first, ma’am, and you can take a look at it as well.”

“Yes. Goodbye.”

Secretary Shin greeted both of them, picked up Yeonseo’s tray, and left the table first.

Through experience, Yeonseo knew that insisting on cleaning up would be futile. She had to uncomfortably watch Secretary Shin tidy up the cup she had used from a distance.

Then, she felt the gaze of employees reaching this side. She glanced over at Taeheon, wondering if she should say hello or not.

Since it was a private time, it seemed inappropriate to intrude, so she couldn’t step forward to greet them.

“Taeheon, I think people are looking here because you’re here.”

“Come up to the office from now on.”

She nodded. It was still difficult to be bold under such scrutiny. The presence of her husband, occasionally appearing in the news or on online platforms, was not easy to blend in with.

A few days after his proposal, Taeheon publicly announced their marriage. They had already held a family-only wedding, explaining that it was to avoid unnecessary noise.

They had planned to have a small wedding after having their child. Unexpectedly, Taeheon’s parents readily agreed to this idea.

Thinking that the wedding wasn’t just about the two of them, she had expected some opposition. However, Taeheon’s parents turned out to be surprisingly lenient.

When Yeonseo stood up, Taeheon casually put his arm around her waist.

“I told you to wear your coat.”

“I forgot. I was a bit distracted…”

“Have you been busy with something?”

“Taeheon, this is the first time I’ve seen you properly in ten days.”

Taeheon arched an eyebrow and Yeonseo playfully teased him from his side.

“I wanted to see you even a bit sooner. I rushed, so I forgot some things.”

“You sound so cute, in a place like this.”

Taeheon rang the bell in his low voice and opened the door to the cafe. Taeheon had been in the United States for the past ten days. Although he arrived this morning, he only stopped by home just to show his face and had to come to the company again.

Unable to wait until he finished work, Yeonseo ran to the office first.

“We should at least eat. I made a reservation at that place we used to like.”

“Hmm, Ciaellino?”

Ciaellino was an Italian restaurant where one of Taeheon’s friends was the owner and chef. Taeheon stopped in the middle of opening the car door at Yeonseo’s words.

“Why?”

“Were you wanting to go there?”

“I heard it was a good place to eat… Isn’t it?”

“I made a reservation for Dakbaeksuk (Chicken Soup).” 

In truth, there were more than one or two places they had enjoyed, and she couldn’t decisively pick just one. So, recalling the most recent memory, she had made a mistake. Seeing Taeheon reaching into his inner pocket as if to make a new reservation, she corrected herself.

“No, let’s go for Dakbaeksuk. Sounds delicious.”

Having Dakbaeksuk in a place with a strong atmosphere and charm, eating Kalguksu (noodle soup), and finishing with crispy rice were unparalleled in taste. Already craving it, Yeonseo clung to his arm, preventing him from making a call.

“Order Dakbaeksuk, please.” 

Taeheon suppressed a wry smile, then bent down to lightly nibble her lips before letting go.

“Why do you do things like this?”

“I do it to receive your affection.”

Taeheon gazed at Yeonseo in silence for a moment, then slowly turned the ignition.

“Get in first.”