Kang Woo belatedly recognized Secretary Choi. Secretary Choi made a gesture with his mouth and hands, indicating he was leaving first, then quickly disappeared.

Se Ah, unaware that Kang Woo had come and that Secretary Choi had left, suddenly turned around. She was smiling innocently, like a five-year-old child.

“So, Secretary Choi… be careful. Huh? Where did Secretary Choi go all of a sudden?”

Se Ah, puzzled, scratched her cheek. Kang Woo quietly approached and gently tapped her shoulder. Instead of being startled, she started to smile as soon as she saw him.

“When did my husband come?”

Kang Woo rubbed his nose in surprise.

“How much did you drink?”

He cursed himself for only being able to express his concern in such a way.

“Hmm… one, two, three, four.”

Counting on her fingers awkwardly, Se Ah unintentionally acted cute.

“You should have told me if you were drinking.”

“Were you worried?”

Fortunately, Se Ah understood immediately.

“Of course.”

“So you were worried. My lovely husband.”

Se Ah stood on her tiptoes and stroked Kang Woo’s cheek. As he slightly bent down, his sharp eyes and half-smiling lips came closer.

Beside him, now looking so strong, it seemed like an illusion that a six-year-old boy from a photo was standing there, crying.

“The most beautiful and precious… my husband.”

“Why is your tongue so twisted?”

Kang Woo spoke gruffly as he hugged her around the waist. His hands couldn’t reach her back, so he just patted the hard muscles of her waist.

With her gentle touch, Kang Woo felt his ears getting warm.

“You’ve worked hard…”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ll hold you.”

Se Ah clung tightly to Kang Woo’s stomach with a slurred voice.

Kang Woo, pretending to be reluctant, pulled Se Ah into a warm embrace. He held her as if he wanted to crush her with love, but carefully, fearing she might actually break.

Then he noticed people passing by. He hadn’t expected to display such affection in the middle of the street.

Kang Woo finally let Se Ah out of his embrace. Her cute nose was red.

“Let’s go. It’s cold.”

Kang Woo deeply covered her with the hood of her coat. He wrapped the scarf he had brought from the car around her neck, covering up to her cheeks.

“It’s suffocating. My mouth is all wrapped up.”

Se Ah tried to pull down the edge of the scarf.

“We’re near the company. Don’t regret it tomorrow.”

“I don’t care about that anymore. I’ve decided to stop being timid.”

“Yeah, right.”

Kang Woo brushed it off and gently pressed her cheek.

“But where is the car?”

“In the parking lot right behind.”

Fortunately. Kang Woo followed her as she walked ahead, not staggering alone. He kept a proper distance behind her.

They arrived at the parking lot. Kang Woo opened the passenger door.

“Be careful not to hit your head.”

Kang Woo placed his palm above Se Ah’s head to prevent her from bumping it.

But then Se Ah came out of the car again.

“Let’s not go home… How about we go somewhere and have just one more drink together?”
Se Ah straightened a finger and flicked her shoulder, her head swaying from right to left.

“No. It’s late.”

“Come on. We haven’t had a drink together since graduation day.”

“Later. You’re already drunk.”

Se Ah pulled Kang Woo’s hand off the car door and closed it with a thud. She gently pulled down the corner of his narrowing eye with her index finger. Kang Woo silently laughed, astonished.

“Then… I’ll give in on this.”

“Say it. You must want something.”

“…….”

“Negotiations should be bold, not hesitant.”

“Call me ‘noona,’ then I’ll get in the car right away.”

Kang Woo’s eyebrow raised quizzically at Se Ah’s words.

“What?”

“If you don’t call me ‘noona,’ I won’t get in the car?”

“That’s too unreasonable. Get in the car.”

Se Ah slapped away Kang Woo’s stern hand reaching for the car handle.

Annoying yet amusing and cute, this unnecessary quarrel.

Something they should never do outside.

His large upper body leaned down. Se Ah’s eyes were caught in his intensely possessive gaze.

“It’s better not to drink next time. You’re too tempting.”

“Stop flirting and just say ‘noona.’ Noo. Na.”

“Stop being so cutesy.”

Without further delay, Kang Woo scooped her up. His large hand simultaneously opened the car door.

Se Ah, looking like a startled rabbit, received a quick kiss on her lips to quiet her fuss.

“Let’s go, noona.”

Four o’clock in the morning.

Kang Woo, watching Se Ah sleeping soundly, quietly sat up. The dim blue light shone on her fair and clear face.

“When did she kick off the blanket again?”

He chuckled softly to himself.

Seems like he’s becoming more comfortable. Her sleeping habits are getting worse.

He pulled the soft blanket up to her neck.

He felt betrayed when he accidentally found birth control pills yesterday.

He was about to confront her for not wanting a child yet but stopped, thinking it might start an unnecessary fight considering Se Ah’s personality.

Why won’t she fully accept him? The thought that he’s still insufficient for Se Ah was bitter.