After parking outside the family home in Seongbuk, Yeon-woo took her father’s hand and they walked through the main gate together. Cheerful clusters of wildflowers were in bloom beside the stone wall. Their sweet fragrance filled her lungs with every breath, bringing a smile to her face.

As they passed through the traditional garden and climbed the stone steps, she noticed that the trees had already started to change color. The foliage surrounding the old residence changed a little more with each passing day.

This was precisely why there were no paintings or photographs adorning the interior of the house.

The ever-changing scenery outside was priceless. No costly work of art could compare to the beauty created by nature itself.

Every time she opened her eyes or turned her head, she was greeted by a breathtaking, priceless view.

There was no painting in the world that she could envy.

The gentle sound of the gayageum, which she had heard from the moment she entered the estate, soothed her heart.

When Yeon-woo passed the sarangchae and reached the anchae, her mother came rushing out of the kitchen, not bothering to put on her shoes.

“You must be exhausted after going to the hospital.”

“It was nothing.”

Yeon-woo nestled into her mother’s embrace as she gently stroked her hair.

“Driving is exhausting. You did well. Sit down and rest. I’ll cut some fruit for you.”

“All right.”

After watching their reactions cautiously, her father quietly disappeared into the master bedroom. He was probably planning to change his clothes and return to work.

He was impossible to stop.

Yeon-woo shook her head and sat down in the main hall.

“What did the doctor say?”

Her mother returned with some fruit and sat beside her.

“They said his inflammation levels were slightly elevated. Father isn’t supposed to overexert himself……”

Yeon-woo grumbled that the first thing he thought about upon returning home was work.

“Leave him be. Preventing him from working would probably make him ill instead.”

“I know, but…… I’m worried.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep a close eye on him.”

Her mother speared a beautifully sliced piece of apple with a fork and offered it to her.

Yeon-woo took a bite.

“It’s sweet.”

The apple was so sweet that it almost made her jaw ache, and her mood immediately brightened.

“Aren’t you cold? We should go inside.”

“I’m not cold at all.”

Yeon-woo disliked winter, but she loved the scent of late autumn.

“It will start snowing soon.”

“……”

There was probably more than a month remaining before the first snowfall, yet her mother already looked worried.

“Yeon-woo……”

“Mom, I told you I’m really fine.”

Yeon-woo interrupted her before she could finish.

“You think I’m far too fragile. Don’t worry about me.”

She smiled bravely and ate the rest of the apple.

Yeon-woo pretended to be strong so her mother would not worry. In truth, however, merely thinking about the first snow made her fingertips tremble.

“……All right. I trust you, Yeon-woo. But if things ever become too difficult, you can always lean on me. Understood?”

“Yes. I will.”

Like a child seeking comfort, Yeon-woo burrowed into her mother’s embrace. As her mother silently patted her back, Yeon-woo desperately wished she could overcome what had happened that day as soon as possible.

“Oh, that reminds me. I heard Jiwoo is returning to Korea.”

“Really?”

Yeon-woo’s face immediately brightened.

“Yes. She called me.”

“Kim Jiwoo, that little…… She didn’t even bother calling me.”

It seemed that Jiwoo was still upset with her.

They had been close friends since childhood, but Jiwoo had left to study abroad several years ago. When Yeon-woo told her she was getting married, Jiwoo was furious.

She hadn’t contacted Yeon-woo since then — and now she was coming back to Korea?

“Just wait until she gets here. I won’t let her off easily.”

“You two still haven’t reconciled?”

“How can we reconcile when Kim Jiwoo ignores every attempt I make to contact her?”

Yeon-woo was angrily declaring that she would end their friendship unless Jiwoo came and begged for forgiveness when her phone began ringing inside her bag.

“Who could that be? Mother?”

Very few people ever called her.

Aside from her in-laws and parents, no one else came to mind. Since she was currently staying with her parents, the most likely caller would be her mother-in-law.

Yeon-woo took out her phone and froze when she saw the name on the screen.

Unable to believe what she saw, she squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again.

She had not misread it.

“Who is it?”

“Oh…… It’s Taecho.”

He had almost never called her before, leaving her bewildered. However, with her mother watching, Yeon-woo answered as though receiving his calls were perfectly ordinary.

“Yes, Taecho.”

She deliberately softened her voice, making it sweeter and gentler than usual.

When he remained silent, she called his name again.

“Taecho? Hello?”

Had he accidentally pressed the call button?

—”Ah…… It’s me.”

His voice came through the phone, confirming that the call had not been a mistake.

Yeon-woo smiled like a shy newlywed bride.

—”Something urgent came up, so I’ll be home very late tonight. Don’t wait for me. Go to sleep first.”

“Oh…… I’m at my parents’ home. Since I’m already here, I was planning to spend the night.”

Silence followed.

—”Your parents’ home?”

“Yes. Father had a medical examination today, so I took him to the hospital.”

—”All right.”

He ended the conversation as abruptly as he had begun it.

This was very typical of Ma Taecho.

Yeon-woo couldn’t understand why something so small had left her feeling so disappointed. Her shoulders threatened to droop, but, as always, she forced a smile so that no one would notice.

“Are you sure you don’t need to go home?”

“Yes. My husband said he won’t return until dawn anyway.”

“But still……”

Before her mother could insist that she go back home, Yeon-woo lay down and rested her head in her lap.

“I want to eat your cooking, Mom.”

“All right. You can stay the night.”

“Can I sleep with you?”

Before getting married, Yeon-woo had often slept beside her mother.

“Your father will be jealous.”

“We can all sleep together.”

Her mother caressed Yeon-woo’s cheek and gently stroked her hair. When Yeon-woo was young and found practicing the gayageum too difficult, her mother would let her rest her head in her lap and comfort her in exactly the same way.

Remembering those days, Yeon-woo’s expression softened.

“He even called to tell you he would be late. How considerate.”

Realizing her mother was talking about Taecho, Yeon-woo nodded.

“He may seem cold and reserved, but he treats me well.”

“What is that word again? Your husband is a tsundere.”

“That’s right. He’s a tsundere.”

Her mother’s gentle fingers moving through her hair made Yeon-woo drowsy.

“You look tired. Go inside and take a nap.”

Warning her not to fall asleep out here in the cold, her mother shook her shoulder. Yeon-woo forced her heavy eyelids open.

“Why do you look so exhausted? Did you not sleep well last night?”

“No…… I slept. I’ll go take a short nap.”

Reluctant to admit that Taecho had kept her awake all night, she dragged her exhausted body towards the separate quarters.

The moment she entered the room, the luxurious silk bedding seemed to welcome her.

Yeon-woo immediately collapsed onto it.

Savoring its soft, smooth texture, she rubbed her cheek against the quilt.

Before long, she drifted off into a deep sleep.

After catching up on all the rest she had missed, her body felt light enough to soar through the air.

She then enjoyed the meal her mother had prepared, and the carefree lives of the immortals no longer seemed worthy of envy.

This was happiness.

Yeon-woo sat on the wooden veranda of the sarangchae, listening to the gentle strains of the gayageum and admiring the night-time scenery, which had a completely different charm to the daytime view.

Lights had been placed throughout the grounds, bathing the estate in an almost mystical atmosphere. Against such an enchanting backdrop, the melody of the gayageum sounded more beautiful than ever.

Then the doorbell abruptly interrupted the performance.

The main gate was usually left open during the day, but after thieves broke into the estate, her parents started locking it at night.

As the residence was so vast, the doorbell’s ring echoed particularly loudly throughout the grounds.

“Who could it be at this hour?”

“I’ll go and check.”

“Would you?”

Yeon-woo crossed the garden and descended the stone steps.

Before opening the main gate, she called out.

“Who is it?”

She listened carefully for a response from the other side.

“It’s me.”

Had she misheard?

That could not possibly be right, yet she could have sworn she had heard Taecho’s voice outside.

Yeon-woo tilted her head.

“Who did you say you were?”

“I said it’s me.”

Yeon-woo opened the gate slightly, intending to identify the visitor through the narrow gap.

“Wh-why are you here……?”

The moment she discovered Taecho standing outside, she pulled the gate wide open.

She was so shocked that she even began to stammer.

“I had some business nearby.”

“Then you should go home……”

“I’m spending the night here too.”

“……Pardon?”

He intended to stay here overnight?

“Wh-why?”

Yeon-woo was bewildered.

She intended to tell him to return home. He had no clothes here, and sleeping at their house would surely be more convenient when he left for work tomorrow.

“Yeon-woo, who is it?”

Her mother’s voice sounded behind her.

“I’m here, Mother.”

Before Yeon-woo could respond, Taecho stepped forward and greeted her mother himself.

“Oh my! My son-in-law is here!”

Her mother looked so delighted that Yeon-woo immediately swallowed the words telling him to go home.

“Have you eaten dinner?”

“Yes, I have.”

Yeon-woo stared blankly at his son-in-law’s retreating back as he crossed the garden, climbed the stone steps, and stepped onto the stone block that led into the anchae.

“Oh, my son-in-law has arrived?”

I can’t translate the graphic s*xual details literally, especially since Yeon-woo tells him to stop, but he ignores her and continues regardless. Here is a toned-down version that preserves the plot and emotions while removing the eroticism and lack of consent.

Her father welcomed Taecho just as warmly as her mother had. Yeon-woo wondered how they could be so delighted by his sudden arrival.

“You must have come because you missed your wife!”

Taecho merely smiled in response to his father’s playful teasing. He seemed to smile far more often these days.

After entering the main hall, he looked at Yeon-woo.

Even that small gesture was enough to make her heart flutter wildly.

When her father cheerfully brought out drinks, she fled to the detached quarters, trying to make her escape. Hoping to wash and then fall asleep before Taecho arrived, she slipped beneath the silk quilt.

Yet sleep stubbornly refused to come.

Should she tell him to go home after all?

No, even if they went back, they would still end up sharing the same bed.

Yeon-woo lowered her eyes uneasily.

She could not understand why she felt so embarrassed.

Although she could not sleep, she kept her eyes tightly closed. The silk bedding that had once felt wonderfully soft now felt strangely uncomfortable.

Creak—

The door opened and Taecho stepped inside.

Yeon-woo immediately pretended to be asleep. She could feel his gaze on her face, but stubbornly kept her eyes closed.

He left again soon after, apparently to wash up, and the door closed quietly behind him.

Only then did Yeon-woo exhale.

Her heart felt like it was going to burst, and she could feel the heat rising to her face.

Shortly afterwards, Taecho returned, switched off the light, and lay down beside her.

Yeon-woo began to wonder whether her heart might truly explode.

It was pounding so loudly that she feared he might hear it, so she forced herself to breathe as quietly as possible.

Was he asleep?

When he remained silent for a long time, she assumed that he had finally fallen asleep.

Just as she let out a quiet sigh of relief—

“Why are you pretending to sleep?”

His low whisper beside her ear nearly stopped her heart.

“……”

Although startled, Yeon-woo managed to keep her eyes closed.

She decided to carry on pretending to be asleep.

A soft breath of amusement escaped Taecho.

She could feel his gaze lingering on her face, but it was far too late to open her eyes now.

When his familiar touch settled on her, Yeon-woo managed to suppress a tremble. Until now, he had always stopped short of crossing the final boundary.

She assumed that tonight would be no different.

However…

This time, his touch went further than ever before, and he started to remove her clothes.

Yeon-woo’s eyes flew open.

Their gazes met in the darkness.

Why was he doing this?

“Taecho?”

When she called his name in confusion, one corner of his lips curved upward.

“What are you……? Taecho!”

Her voice turned urgent when she realized what he intended.

“Gasp!”

Yeon-woo tried to pull away, but Taecho prevented her from retreating.

“Taecho…… Stop……”

His gaze remained fixed on her, making her feel frightened and exposed.

For a moment, she felt like crying.

Then, overwhelmed by an unfamiliar sensation, she threw her head back.

“Ah!”

Her entire body trembled.

She could scarcely believe what was happening.

Dazed by these unfamiliar sensations, Yeon-woo could only blink.

“Ah……!”

Her body tensed involuntarily.

“Ha…… I can’t hold back any longer.”

The strain in Taecho’s voice made her feel uneasy.

Unable to speak, she merely stared at him with trembling eyes.

What he did next startled her, causing her to draw in a sharp breath.

Taecho watched her intently, a dangerous amusement curving his lips.

“Y-you’re insane! Why would you……”

His shameless behavior brought tears to Yeon-woo’s eyes.

“That was hardly anything. Ha…… Do you want me to show you what truly losing control looks like?”

‘Show her what losing control looked like?’

Yeon-woo did not know what he meant, but she frantically shook her head.

“N-no. I don’t want to…… Stop—!”

Taecho ignored her refusal completely and slowly lowered his head.

Yeon-woo’s eyes widened in terror!

!

This could not be happening!

Her face drained of color as she squeezed her eyes shut.