The rich aroma of anchovy broth filled the air as various clams and a whole squid were plunged into it. After the blunt employee instructed them to keep boiling it without reducing the heat and returned to the kitchen, Dajeong and Jae-ho were left alone at the table.
Dajeong idly stirred the pot with a ladle.
“You’re supposed to wait,” Jae-ho lightly chided her.
“If there’s nothing else to do, just look at me.”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“Why? I’m the guy who said he’d give up his entire fortune for you.”
Nonchalantly, the man uttered heart-thumping words. Dajeong was still half-convinced she was dreaming, sitting in this old seafood noodle shop across from Jae-ho, while he seemed to have already adapted to the situation.
His laid-back posture, with his arms crossed while staring at the pot, was too casual. Yet, the slight smile hanging on one corner of his lips was fatally charming, causing Dajeong to catch her breath momentarily.
The bubbling of the boiling soup and distant news playing in the background filled the air.
The employee returned, added noodles and vegetables, and instructed them to eat after 5 minutes before disappearing. A woman in her fifties, seemingly the employee, kept glancing back at Jae-ho, apparently recognizing his familiar face. Dajeong grew anxious.
“Is it okay? She seems to recognize you.”
“Maybe.”
“She kept looking over.”
“She’s probably just impressed by my good looks.”
As Jae-ho expertly stirred the noodles, he served a bowl for Dajeong, and she did the same for him. Looking down at her plate, she thought, “Jae-ho’s cooked noodles. Should I take a commemorative photo?”
She quickly shelved the wandering thought and asked Jae-ho, “What if she did recognize you? I’m a bit scared. Should we just take it to go?”
“Scared? Like a scandal?”
“Yes.”
Jae-ho chuckled softly.
“It’s all ready now, why pack it up?”
Unbeknownst to her, guards hired by Chief Executive Jong would be around. If any suspicious photos were taken, it would be their job to deal with it discreetly. The reason Jae-ho’s personal life was so well-hidden was due to Taemyeong Group’s meticulous management.
In Taemyeong Group’s strategy office, there was even a dedicated team for managing Jae-ho’s public image. Every interview he gave was thoroughly vetted by this team.
Even though Jae-ho himself led a clean personal life, the Group’s management helped maintain his perfect image. So, a scandal in a countryside noodle shop was the least of his worries.
And the employee’s attention wasn’t really significant. She had already forgotten about Jae-ho and was busy changing the TV channel. There were no other customers in the shop who seemed to be interested in taking photos.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Trust me.”
“But still…”
“I’ll wear a hat and mask when we go to the market later. Right now, it’s okay. Let’s eat quickly.”
Jae-ho found her anxious eyes endearing. He already missed the feel of her small, soft, and unexpectedly warm palm. He had imagined, after parking, to just pull her close and press their lips together. Just the thought of touching her hand made his blood boil; how sweet would her lips be? That brief thought alone made his lower abdomen heavy.
“It’s hard to keep up with Yun Dajeong.”
His inner thoughts slipped out.
“Ah, sorry. I’m a slow eater.”
Jae-ho smiled faintly.
“No, not like that. Take your time. Don’t want you to get indigestion.”
After finishing their meal, they returned to the car. Jae-ho adjusted his hat several times to Dajeong’s satisfaction. He didn’t want to wear sunglasses, but she insisted, so he chose the darkest pair and put on a mask. Only after turning Jae-ho’s world completely dark did Dajeong finally smile.
In a world that seemed entirely black and white, Dajeong’s smile overlaid with Yun Woojeong’s, causing Jae-ho’s heart to throb.
Boldly, he pulled Dajeong’s shoulder and embraced her. Her startled breathing tickled his ear.
“Why are you… all of a sudden!”
“Let’s speed things up a bit.”
“!”
“If you dislike it, tell me. I can let go.”
Despite her panicked breaths, Dajeong did not push away but quietly stayed in his arms. Heat rose from her neck.
Woojeong, if you were alive, grown up, would you have looked like this?
Jae-ho, now a high school student, decided to stay the quietest kid in class.
A child of an unwed mother. Poor family background. Petite stature. These factors made Jae-ho an introverted student by default. He was a late bloomer, only shooting up in height during the latter half of his sophomore year, so in his freshman year, he was no taller than a middle schooler. His appearance was also quite ordinary, so he was confident he could pass unnoticed.
One student in the class particularly stood out.
Right from his self-introduction, he exuded confidence. His name was Yun Woojeong. His hobbies included basketball and reading, and he had a younger sister.
Oh wow.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
