Both of them came home, looking like soaked mice.

Se Ah was relatively better off. Kang Woo was dripping water from head to toe. His cardigan seemed as if it would pour water if wrung out like laundry.

“Wait a moment.”
Before she could ask why, Kang Woo turned his back to her. He took off his cardigan, put it in the laundry bin, and walked straight to the dressing room.

Looking at his wide, translucent back, Se Ah shivered. She didn’t want to trail water all the way to the bathroom, but she had no choice.

She was about to step forward after setting down her handbag and convenience store plastic bag when Kang Woo came back out. In his large hand, he held a long bath towel and winter pajamas.

When Kang Woo reached out, Se Ah extended her hand to receive the towel.

“……Thank you.”
“For what?”
His hand met hers, colorlessly, reaching upwards. He placed the long towel over Se Ah’s head.

“Ah.”
He was teasing her wickedly. Her vision obscured by the wide hem of the towel, Se Ah flailed her arms. Amidst this, Kang Woo dried Se Ah’s hair with the towel. From him, a moist woody scent arose.

“I’ll do it.”
Kang Woo’s palm firmly supported Se Ah’s back, pushing her away from his chest. She swiftly raised the towel, stretching her neck to glare at Kang Woo.

“Violation of the contract.”
“……”
With his mouth firmly shut, he continued what he had been doing. Although she wasn’t entirely pressed against his chest, they were close enough to feel each other’s breaths. No matter how hard she tried to push him away, it was useless.

“Your face is paler than white, right now.”
“……That’s why I said I’ll do it.”
“Just stay still for a moment.”
“So now you completely ignore the contract conditions? You just do as you please, really.”
Her words faded even as she spoke angrily. If she continued to speak, she feared she might reveal her trembling heart.

Holding the edge of the towel, Kang Woo touched Se Ah’s cheek. Instead of the warmth of his hand, the soft texture of the fabric grazed her cheek.

Water drops fell from his damp fringe to her thick neckline. His lips, which were worrying about her, were also painfully chapped.

“……Now that you’re done, go change your clothes, Kang Woo.”
Turning her head away from him, Se Ah looked elsewhere. Kang Woo spread another dry towel widely and wrapped it around Se Ah’s shoulders.

“Are you attracted to me?”
Out of nowhere, Se Ah looked at him. Only then did Kang Woo tilt the corner of his mouth, looking at Se Ah who was making eye contact.

“What did you say?”
“Are you attracted to me?”
“Did the rain hit your head and make you lose your mind, Kang Woo?”
“If not, you wouldn’t have pushed me away this hard. Isn’t this an overreaction?”
“Is this the standard of a showwindow couple? Acting like men as soon as we enter the house. Even though we agreed to it.”
Despite her fierce words, she wondered if she had been too harsh. Even her own invocation of the term “showwindow couple” wasn’t particularly pleasant. What a pretty phrase…

Last time, even a mention of being a couple in name only had made his eyes quiver intensely. But this time, he didn’t flinch at all.

“Even kindergartners do this. What’s the big deal about helping to dry your hair? We’ve done more than that.”
“That was in the past.”
“Being a showwindow couple doesn’t mean emotions and instincts disappear.”
“……”
“At least, that’s how it is for me.”
Kang Woo straightened his leaning upper body. His gaze fell unabashedly from Se Ah’s hazel eyes to her tightly shut lips. His blatantly suggestive gaze lingered longingly on Se Ah’s lips.

“Better to be accused of selling one’s conscience than regret a missed opportunity.”
“……”
“I look forward to waking up every morning. To spend another day with my contract wife.”
Before Se Ah could retort, Kang Woo handed her the pink pajamas. When she didn’t accept them, he wrapped them into her arms.

“If you’re not seducing me, you should go in and change. There’s a limit to how much I can hold back.”
Only then did she become aware of her own soaked clothes. She tried to pass him, pretending to be indifferent.

“Good night.”
His sweet goodnight greeting, which he had been whispering every night lately, brushed past her ear.

((()))((()))((()))

The next day, Kang Woo visited Han Sung University Hospital. He was summoned because Hyun Suk was being discharged.

Hyun Suk was seated on the hospital bed. She had taken off her patient’s gown, neatly combed her hair, and even nicely applied makeup, which made her complexion look good.

“Is it Mrs. Yeongcheon?”
“She increased her luggage meanwhile. I asked her to bring it down earlier. Because the driver is waiting at the front gate.”
“I have plenty of helpers, why did you call me? You’ve been refusing even when I came.”
“Just. I wanted to see my son.”
While feigning indifference, Kang Woo looked around the sickroom. In case Hyun Suk had left anything behind.

Sure enough, a ring with emeralds and diamonds set on it was visible on the bathroom sink. He picked it up and silently handed it to Hyun Suk.