First, Se Ah’s lawyer announced the terms of the contract. Se Ah found this atmosphere uncomfortable, and it wasn’t easy for her to open her mouth.
On top of that, the lawyer advised her to avoid any potentially disadvantageous remarks. She didn’t exactly know what that meant, so it was more comfortable to keep her mouth shut.
Her eyes inadvertently drifted towards Kang Woo. He was on the opposite sofa.
What was he thinking right now? His expression didn’t reveal much. He was attentively listening to her lengthy and detailed requests without a single grimace. Of course, it was her lawyer speaking on her behalf.
Her gaze gradually descended from his delicately arched eyebrows and moderatesized eyes that seemed to tell tales even when quiet, to his firm, proudlooking nose and lips maintaining their composure.
Unexpectedly, Kang Woo’s chin tilted slightly and their eyes met.
“Do you have something to say?”
It felt strange to say she had nothing to say. After all, she had just been caught stealing glances at his face.
“Should I bring some drinks?”
Se Ah spat out any words she could in a calm tone. Her lawyer, who was sitting next to her, forced a smile.
“Madam, you seem nervous.”
“A little. And it seems tiring for you to keep talking. I will bring some drinks.”
Se Ah briefly left her seat. Throughout, her lawyer worked tirelessly for her client’s rights.
The distance from the living room to the kitchen was so short that their voices were faintly audible. Se Ah didn’t care and added some lemon syrup to the soda water and floated a few ice cubes in it. She also divided some fruit and neatly placed it on a plate.
Returning, Se Ah put the iced tea in cocktail glasses and snacks on the tea table.
“My, the glasses and plates are so pretty, Madam.”
“Do you think so?”
Se Ah blushed as her lawyer acknowledged her. This was the only thing she had brought into this marriage as her dowry. It might not have been valuable in Kang Woo’s family standards, but by her standards, it was quite expensive.
Kang Woo’s eyes were completely fixed on Se Ah, who was smiling brightly.
“You even carved the lemon into shapes? Ah… you’re really adorable.”
Despite being a woman herself, the lawyer had a fascinated tone. She then turned her head slightly and glared sharply at Kang Woo. It was as if she was asking how much he must have hurt such a patient and adorable wife.
“Let’s continue.”
On the other hand, Kang Woo responded in a businesslike manner.
“While talking with Madam, I noticed she had a desire for a career. Apparently, she graduated from a prestigious university’s department of Korean Literature and has won several awards in renowned contests. It would be a waste to let such extraordinary talent go unused. Hence, she wished to find a job.”
At her lawyer’s praise, Se Ah forced an awkward smile. Kang Woo, who was quietly listening, seemed lost in thought.
“Also, in matters such as attire and outings, participation in classes or gatherings, Madam wished to have her personal opinions respected.”
“Ah, the reason I included that condition was not because Mr. Kang Woo forced me.”
In case there was any misunderstanding, Se Ah explained. To be honest, she had felt stifled because of Nam Tae, not because he had forcefully demanded anything.
To be more frank, Kang Woo didn’t know much about her life. Except for the occasional dinner together, he had only seen her sleeping face.
After quietly exhaling, Se Ah opened her mouth again.
“Just that I will be a lot different from before, so I’m mentioning it here. And to avoid explaining it again later. Besides, Mr. Kang Woo is also busy, isn’t he?”
Kang Woo lifted his eyelids slightly and looked at Se Ah quietly.
“I didn’t know you wanted to work. Nor that the clothes I gifted weren’t your style.”
His tone was neutral, but it seemed like his gaze was slightly shaken for a moment. It was too subtle for others to notice, but she saw it. There was a hint of confusion and disappointment.
“It was just a bit uncomfortable for activities. And adding this clause means… you don’t have to send gifts through Secretary Choi or others.”
Apart from anniversaries and birthdays, Kang Woo frequently gave her gifts. One morning, she found a pile of shopping bags on the tea table or sofa and at first, she was confused. When she realized they were his gifts, she thought positively about it.
He must have been too busy to give them to her the previous day. He was a blunt person, so it must be hard for him to express affection.
But then, I found out that there had been someone taking care of our anniversaries for me. I found out by chance during a call with a personal shopper who had called to check the size.
I would have entrusted it to someone else because it’s annoying, and I thought it was a formal gift.
All he needed to say was, ‘Shall we have dinner together?’
Half the fault was mine for suppressing what I wanted to say in order not to fall out of Nam Tae’s favor.
“If you agree, I will include it in the clause.” Breaking the heavy silence, Attorney Go looked at Kang Woo.
“I agree.”
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.
