TEW 31

chapter 31

“And there’s something I want to do with you.”
“What… is it?”

Doheon smiled gently and brushed Yeonseo’s hair away.

“I can’t tell you in advance.”

Yeonseo assumed he was talking about some material reward. A compensation to neatly close their relationship. Anything lingering could only interfere with his plans.

Perhaps tonight could be the last night she would spend with him. She wanted to engrave every gesture, gaze, and strand of his hair into her memory.

Whether he knew of her feelings or not, he pressed his lips to her forehead.

After parting with him, would she meet Chaseoryeon openly again? She hugged Doheon’s neck tightly.

Then his heavy body pressed against hers, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want to be apart even for a moment. Sharing their hot breath, they held each other tightly.

She realized she was no longer afraid to reveal intimate parts of herself in front of Doheon. As their skin touched and their saliva mingled, no intrusive thoughts dared enter.

It felt as though, in this vast world, they were the only ones who could rely on each other.

After a passionate encounter, she lay with her head resting on his arm. His half-lidded voice slipped into her ear.

“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“I thought I knew a lot about you, but maybe I don’t.”
“You can ask.”
“Like… what you like, what you dislike.”

Yeonseo turned her head and gazed at Doheon silently. This was a question one might ask on a blind date, not in a moment like this.

“Are you really curious about that?”
“Yeah. Why? Don’t you want to tell me?”
“No.”

Yeonseo hesitated.

She wasn’t sure if what she said would even be useful to him. Doheon only wanted meaningful conversation, after all.

“Should we start simple… like colors?”
“…I like green.”
“Tell me more. Things you like.”

What came to mind in response to Doheon’s question was, in truth, him.

She wanted to say she liked him.

But she couldn’t answer that way. With their contract ending soon, revealing such feelings would only burden him, make her a nuisance.

“Hmm.”

Doheon watched Yeonseo thoughtfully as she pondered, smiling softly. Yeonseo recounted her memories in a gentle voice:

“The smell of my grandmother’s clothes, the soft sound of water by the lake, slushies on a scorching day, children laughing until they can barely breathe while playing in nature…”
“And?”

Yeonseo didn’t know why Doheon was so curious about her, but she continued.

Through her answers, she even discovered preferences she hadn’t realized herself. No one had ever tried to know her so intimately.

Their conversation lasted so long they lost track of where they’d paused. They drifted off to sleep while talking.

Before dawn, Yeonseo woke and quietly studied Doheon lying beside her.

How wonderful it would be if she could stay in this moment forever and remember him. She had to suppress the uncontrollable swell of her feelings again and again.

The formal MOU signing day with BXK had arrived. Yeonseo sat in the Seoguk Hotel conference room, watching the contract proceed smoothly.

“Seoguk Bio expects to lead the development of new drugs and anti-cancer treatments through this business agreement with BXK. The technologies held by both companies will create significant synergy.”

It was Doheon’s first time appearing in such an official capacity.

The conference room was packed with reporters. The flashes from cameras were so intense it was hard to keep her eyes open.

“I heard there were difficulties because BXK’s partner companies opposed the deal. Was that resolved?”
“Yes, there was a misunderstanding. We met with several representatives and resolved it through discussion. The time was tight, but it seems to have been concluded well.”

Questions about the BXK deal seemed to have been wrapped up. The reporters then started asking what they truly wanted to know.

“There are rumors that you’ve solidified your position as Seoguk’s next head. May I ask your thoughts on this?”
“The result of who will be the next head will be announced soon, but we’ll have to see until the end.”

Standing at the pinnacle, Doheon looked like a perfectly crafted figure.

His broad shoulders and long legs were impossible to hide even under the dark jacket, his deep voice, commanding gaze—everything was awe-inspiring, even if seen countless times.

Yeonseo lowered her eyelids, bowing her head, quietly leaving. She then went to the hotel café and ordered a cup of hibiscus tea.

She should be celebrating his achievement, but she couldn’t.

Opening her phone, she saw articles about him dominating the portal news pages:

[Seoguk’s Next Head Seoguk Doheon Strengthens Position with BXK MOU]
[Seoguk Doheon’s Official Moves as a Strong Candidate for Next Head]
[Is There a Man More Perfect than Seoguk Doheon?]

Comments marveled at his looks, some enviously mentioning Yeonseo.

• “Saw him in person, insane. Just someone from another world. Prince material.”

• “What did the wife do in a past life? According to classmates, she was ordinary.”

• “Wife’s family is just commoners. That face, that wealth, and a romantic at that—does it all alone.”

She had always known he was like someone from another world, but he felt even more distant than she imagined.

Just as she was about to sip her tea, the aroma hit her unpleasantly.

“Ugh.”

Was it because she was hungry? Or because she was preoccupied? Tea she had drunk many times before tasted strangely awful today.

She left the cup on the table and rushed to the bathroom.

“Huuugh, ugh.”

Even though she hadn’t eaten properly, her stomach rebelled. Acid rose to her throat.

After emptying herself, she stumbled to the sink. Her reflection was pale to the extreme.

At that moment, she heard footsteps. The area outside had grown chaotic.

Beating her chest, she left the bathroom. She saw Doheon leaving the hotel lobby, surrounded by reporters.

She wanted to watch him walk away, but nausea forced her back into the bathroom.

The reason she couldn’t simply congratulate him was clear: memories from last night lingered like afterimages.

“Then, Yeonseo, you’ll be free.”

The word free didn’t feel pleasant. It implied a farewell to Doheon.

Continuous nausea made working impossible. She contacted Director Choi, took a half-day, and returned to Myeongseonjae.

The living room, where she hoped no one would be, had an unwelcome presence. In the hazy smoke, sharp gray eyes glimmered—Seogangjae.

“I thought you’d be with Seodoheon today. Leaving work at this hour?”

Kangjae was lounging on the sofa, legs crossed. He flicked the cigarette he held into a silver ashtray.

Apparently, there was no one else besides Kangjae and the staff.

“Shouldn’t you have had a celebration? Want me to book a suite?”

He grinned as if friendly, but his gray eyes betrayed hostility, as if she were a toy.

“I just took a half-day because I wasn’t feeling well.”

Yeonseo stepped back and tried to leave quickly.

“Sit here. I was bored, so come play with me.”
“I’m not in the mood.”

Kangjae rose and approached swiftly.

“I said sit!”
“Ah…! Okay!”

A heavy force pulled Yeonseo’s arm. She stumbled briefly but regained her balance.

“Stop resisting so much, Yeonseo.”
“Huh?”

Even the slightest resistance seemed enough to provoke violence. Kangjae’s behavior, beyond rudeness, was terrifying.

“You’re nothing, damn it! Without Seodoheon, you’d be groveling to me! Huh? Isn’t that right?”

Her breath caught at his fierce gaze.

‘I knew this was his true self…’

“You’re really rude.”