Taecho had seemed to be in a good mood throughout breakfast, but now he was frowning again. Yeon-woo found herself studying his expression cautiously.

Had she scolded him too harshly about the bedding?

Still, she could hardly help it.

Despite scrubbing the soiled bedding as thoroughly as possible, the stains had not completely disappeared.

The memory of how the stains had got there sent a deep flush across Yeon-woo’s cheeks.

Besides which, she had had a disturbing dream the night before.

Perhaps that was why she was so sensitive to even the smallest things today. Now that she thought about it, there was nothing unusual about Taecho frowning.

In fact, it would have been the truly unprecedented sight to see him smile.

Nevertheless, she could not shake off the uneasiness weighing on her heart.

It was all because of that dream.

Yeon-woo stood silently in an unfamiliar place when something cold brushed against her face.

When she looked up at the sky, she saw snow falling.

It was not a gentle dusting, but a torrent of thick, heavy flakes.

She stood there, watching the snow settle on her face and shoulders, gradually covering her entire body before melting away.

Then she woke up.

“Ha……ah.”

Yeon-woo despised snow.

Heavy snowfall was especially unbearable.

Remembering the dream drew a heavy sigh from her lips.

“We should be going now.”

At the sound of Taecho’s endlessly deep voice, the corners of Yeon-woo’s drooping lips quickly lifted into a smile.

“You promised not to do any strenuous work, didn’t you?”

Yeon-woo approached her father.

“Oh, my beautiful daughter. Don’t worry about me.”

“Then you shouldn’t give me anything to worry about……”

“Come here.”

Interrupting her, her father opened his arms wide.

He was asking her for a hug.

Yeon-woo swallowed the lecture she had been about to deliver and nestled into his embrace.

“You must stay healthy. Understood?”

When she responded affectionately instead of scolding him, her father burst into hearty laughter.

No matter how many times Yeon-woo heard that warm, familiar sound, it would always have the same magic for her.

Like a steadfast tree, he had always been there, patiently waiting for her.

Yeon-woo desperately wished for him to stay healthy.

She wanted to fulfil the promise she had made as a child to make her parents happy.

She wanted to play the gayageum for him again and give him the chance to meet his grandchild.

Yeon-woo froze.

‘A grandchild?’

‘Taecho’s child?’

She stole a glance at him.

What if—just hypothetically—she gave birth to his child?

Would that mean they would not have to separate?

“Call us.”

“Yes. I will.”

After hugging her father, Yeon-woo stepped into her mother’s embrace.

The hand gently patting her back was so warm that a radiant smile spread across her face.

When she turned around, she discovered Taecho looking even more irritated than before.

‘……What is it? Why does he look like that?’

After receiving her parents’ farewells, they crossed the main gate.

The moment Yeon-woo stepped outside, the fragrance of wildflowers filled her nose.

“Have a good day at work.”

She had spoken rather harshly to him earlier, and his apparent displeasure continued to trouble her. Therefore, she deliberately softened her voice more than usual.

“……I’ll take you home. Get in.”

The autumn wind swept between them.

Yeon-woo’s eyes widened slightly.

“I brought my car.”

Although she did not particularly enjoy driving, she had brought it because of her father’s hospital appointment.

She turned her head to look for the parked vehicle.

“Driver Hong already took it.”

“He probably returned it to our garage.”

Yeon-woo looked at Taecho in confusion.

“Are you driving yourself?”

“Yes. Why?”

“……It’s nothing. You could simply go directly to work……”

She could not understand why he insisted on taking her home when he could leave for work from here.

Before she could finish asking, Taecho interrupted.

“I need to change my clothes.”

That was right.

He needed to change before going to work.

Only then did his decision make sense, and Yeon-woo nodded.

After climbing into the passenger seat of Taecho’s car, she fastened her seat belt and stared at him as he settled behind the wheel.

“What?”

“Don’t you keep spare clothes at the office?”

Her brother-in-law had once casually mentioned that Taecho kept extra clothing and underwear there.

“There’s nothing there I feel like wearing.”

“Oh……”

That explained it.

Of course, if he wanted different clothes, he would need to go back home.

Nevertheless, Yeon-woo still found it strange that he had sent the car ahead with the driver and chosen to drive her himself, even though they could easily have travelled separately.

Nevertheless, she liked it.

His hands looked so distinctly masculine wrapped around the steering wheel that she could not stop herself from stealing glances at them.

The memory of how those fingers had touched her made Yeon-woo bite her lip.

“Are you hot?”

“Pardon?”

She turned toward him with wide eyes.

“Your face is red.”

“Oh…… Yes. It’s a little warm.”

Like someone caught committing a crime, Yeon-woo quickly averted her gaze and pretended to look out of the window.

She could feel Taecho staring at the flushed side of her face, but she pressed her lips together and ignored it.

After stopping briefly at a traffic light, the car started moving again.

‘……Have I lost my mind?’

The memory of the previous night sent an unfamiliar heat spreading through her body. Restless and uncomfortable, she shifted discreetly in her seat.

She felt embarrassed all the way down her back.

She opened the window to let cool air into the car.

Yet this did nothing to ease the heat inside her.

Her toes curled involuntarily.

Although the unfamiliar sensations had frightened her, she eventually fell asleep, losing consciousness. However, she could no longer deny that she had ultimately enjoyed them.

Unable to cope with this realization, she worried her lower lip between her teeth.

After they arrived home, Taecho changed his clothes.

Instead of leaving immediately for work, however, he remained inside, glancing around as though searching for something.

“Are you looking for something?”

“……No. Nothing.”

Yeon-woo silently wondered why he hadn’t left yet.

He would usually be at work by now.

Unlike Yeon-woo, who was anxious about being late, Taecho appeared completely unhurried.

Finding this strange, she tilted her head.

Instead of leaving immediately, Taecho sat down on the sofa.

Yeon-woo approached him.

“Will you be home late today?”

“Why?”

“I’m having lunch with Mother and Taehyun. I think we may have dinner together as well.”

Yeon-woo had originally planned to meet only her mother-in-law, but they later decided to include Taehyun.

She had also finished embroidering his handkerchief, so today would be a good time to give it to him.

“I won’t be particularly late.”

His curt tone extinguished the warmth that had begun to blossom in Yeon-woo’s heart, leaving her feeling utterly indifferent towards him.

She and Taecho never exchanged messages or spoke on the phone.

Whenever she sent him a message, he ignored it. Calling him was equally pointless, as he never answered.

That was why his call the previous day had surprised her so much.

Since he had recently started coming home early, she had simply informed him in advance that she was going to meet his mother.

Feeling irritated by the loose strands of hair falling around her face, Yeon-woo gathered them into a tight ponytail.

Then she felt a piercing gaze upon her and flinched.

There was only one person who could be staring at her. Like a malfunctioning machine, she slowly turned her head towards him.

Their eyes met.

Taecho was watching her intently.

With excruciating slowness, he tilted his head to one side.

…!

The next instant, his hand closed around the back of her neck.

He closed his large hand around the nape of her neck, which was exposed by her tied-up hair, and pulled her towards him.

Her body moved forward with surprising ease. By the time Yeon-woo had come to her senses, she was already sitting on his lap.

Leaning back on the sofa, Taecho appeared perfectly at ease.

He was so composed that no one would have guessed Yeon-woo was sitting on him.

However, in stark contrast to his relaxed demeanor, his gaze was dangerously intense.

Yeon-woo quickly lowered her eyes.

She tried to slip from his lap, but his arm, locked firmly around her waist, refused to let her go.

“Y-you need to go to work.”

“I can afford to be a little late.”

His lazy voice made Yeon-woo’s throat go dry.

“But if you’re late……”

“I told you it’s fine.”

“Ah!”

Taecho suddenly touched her beneath her dress, making Yeon-woo’s entire body jolt.

She had changed into comfortable clothes immediately after returning home, never imagining this would happen.

Now she deeply regretted it.

Her shoulders trembled as she struggled to breathe.

“Ah……!”

With shaking hands, Yeon-woo clutched his shoulders.

She repeatedly shook her head, but his teasing only became more persistent.

“Why? Were you already waiting for me?”

His impossibly low voice clung to her ear.

“No. That isn’t……”

“Then what is this?”

The corner of Taecho’s lips lifted as he whispered beside her ear.

“You’re affected by me, yet you’re still pretending otherwise.”

Yeon-woo’s whole body turned red.

Realizing exactly what he meant brought tears to her eyes.

When she suddenly turned her head away, Taecho laughed quietly.

How could he tease her when it was all his fault?

He had tormented her relentlessly the previous night. It was terribly unfair of him to mock her reaction now.

Her eyes burned with frustration.

After silently observing her, Taecho raised one corner of his mouth.

“……”

“Don’t look so wronged. You touched me too.”

Yeon-woo blinked.

Then blinked again.

She had heard his words, yet her mind could not comprehend them.

‘……What had she supposedly done?’

“You touched me thoroughly, so why are you acting like this?”

“Wh-when did I ever do that?”

Yeon-woo rarely raised her voice, but this time she shouted.

“In Seongbuk. On your father’s birthday.”

Taecho caught her wrist and abruptly guided her hand downward.

“You touched me like this while you were asleep.”

Yeon-woo’s hand came to rest against the front of his trousers.

The contact alone seemed enough to stop her breathing.

“Liar! Don’t lie to me!”

Yeon-woo tried to pull her hand away, but Taecho pressed firmly against the back of it, preventing her from moving.

“I knew you would deny everything. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“You’re lying! I would never……!”

Had she truly touched him there?

Had she actually done such a thing in her sleep?

“That’s impossible!”

Why was he telling her such an outrageous lie?

The unmistakable evidence beneath her palm was intimidating. Yeon-woo knew very little about men, but she could not believe that anyone could have such an overwhelming presence.

The moment Taecho released her wrist, she tried to climb off his lap.

However, he stopped her with absurd ease, pulling her closer before burying his face against her br*ast.

“Ah!”

“You smell like me.”

Did she smell like him?

Taecho took a deep breath, looking strangely satisfied.

Was he suggesting that his scent lingered on her, even after everything he had done the previous night?

His intimate touch and languid smile made him appear dangerously seductive. Meanwhile, Yeon-woo’s entire body had turned scarlet, yet not the slightest hint of color appeared on Taecho’s face.

For some reason, that realization made her spirits sink.

That was when it happened.

A metallic sound reached her ears.

Yeon-woo slowly lowered her gaze.

She saw Taecho unfastening his belt and lowering his zipper.

Then he moved his hand inside his trousers.

“What are you……? Gasp!”

Yeon-woo’s pupils trembled violently.

“Lee Yeon-woo!”

The room suddenly spun around her.

“You’re fainting again?”

Before he could catch her properly, Yeon-woo collapsed.