The sliding door opened, revealing a welcome face.
“Sorry! I’m a bit late,” Jiwoo entered, quickly scanning the room.
“Is it because I’m late that the atmosphere is like this? Oh dear, I apologize.”
“Jiwoo, you’ve become even prettier.”
“Mom! You’ve become prettier too,” Jiwoo warmly embraced Soohyang.
Jiwoo, who sat down next to Gu Hwan, alternately glanced at Hyunwoo and Gu Hwan, sensing a previous conflict.
“Hmm… Did you two clash again in my absence?”
Sori felt as though she was walking on thin ice in this unfamiliar atmosphere.
“You two, really. It’s impolite to act like this in front of your sister-in-law and mother-in-law.”
Such words from Jiwoo?
Sori’s fingers tensed as she observed the room, and everyone seemed equally surprised by Jiwoo’s words.
Jiwoo then solemnly placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly twice.
“I apologize on behalf of my brother, Sori, or rather, my sister-in-law, and our in-law.”
The tension eased with laughter from Soohyang and Sori, thanks to Jiwoo’s intervention.
However, Sori’s embarrassment wasn’t over yet.
The meeting was supposed to be a substitute for a wedding ceremony between the two families, as far as Sori knew.
This belief remained until Jiwoo and Soohyang united in advocating for a wedding.
Jiwoo, bolstered by Soohyang’s support, pressed the issue.
Sori’s face became a blushing mess.
“Brother, for a woman, a wedding dress is a dream. You can’t skip the ceremony.”
“Soohyang added, “That’s true. We, as actresses, get to wear them often, but Sori hasn’t had that chance.”
“We don’t need to rush. Let’s start with a photoshoot. The wedding can wait. The shoot is what matters.”
“Don’t worry if you two are busy. I know a good wedding planner,” Soohyang offered.
Sori thought desperately, “Mom, please stop.”
“Mom, I know some good companies too,” Jiwoo chimed in.
Sori fretted over how Hyunwoo would react, her palms sweaty and her stomach churning.
She thought they were fine with a quiet relationship and didn’t need such fanfare.
Then unexpectedly, Hyunwoo agreed.
“Cough cough.” The surprise cough came not from Sori, Soohyang, or Jiwoo, but from Gu Hwan.
Hyunwoo, usually unyielding, had agreed to a wedding under their persuasion.
Gu Hwan looked both pleased and slightly betrayed, while Jiwoo and Soohyang exchanged triumphant winks.
Hyunwoo maintained a blank expression, constantly urging Sori to eat more.
Gu Hwan’s face turned to one of embarrassed pout, feeling like he’d been betrayed, even though he was also pleased.
Jiwoo and Soohyang were giving winks as if they’d contracted an eye disease suddenly.
Hyunwoo, expressionless as usual, kept urging Sori to eat more.
Sori just wanted to escape this chaotic meeting and go home.
After Jiwoo’s late arrival, everyone, except Gu Hwan, moved to a nearby wine bar. Despite it being a ladies’ night out, there was one man determined not to be the evening’s water boy again – Hyunwoo.
“Oh brother. Even if you like Sori, don’t be so obvious.”
“Jiwoo, don’t be harsh. If anyone should leave, it should be me, the oldest,” Soohyang interjected.
“Mom, it’s been a while since we all got together.”
Jiwoo cooed at Soohyang, whispering in her ear about a scheme to ensure Sori and Hyunwoo spent a heated night together.
Soohyang and Jiwoo giggled together.
Hyunwoo tried to eavesdrop, but the bar noise made it impossible.
Sori, noticing Hyunwoo’s attempts, teased, “Why whisper in front of us? Should we whisper too?”
“Go ahead,” Jiwoo said, leaning closer to Soohyang.
“Professor, a moment please,” Sori gestured. Hyunwoo, still with his arm around her, tilted his shoulder towards her.
“Make sure not to take me home if I get drunk tonight. No water, no coming to my call.”
Was this a prelude to her planning to drink and get drunk?
Hyunwoo looked at her sternly, apparently displeased.
“Aye. I do have a conscience, you know.”
Sori playfully punched his shoulder, making him laugh softly. He whispered back into her ear.
“I said I’d kick you out, remember?”
“Cheeky.”
Their alternating whispers, irrespective of the content, presented a charming scene.
Soohyang, watching from across, smiled softly.
“Today, I’m in a good mood too,” Soohyang announced, raising her wine glass.
“To my daughter and Professor Seo. For a successful wedding!”
“Mom, embarrassing…”
“What’s embarrassing? To the toast!”
Sori bowed her head, lifting her glass as Soohyang’s voice grew louder.
“Mom’s getting more whimsical with age,” Sori muttered under her breath.
Hyunwoo watched Soohyang with a concerned look, which she returned with a reassuring glance.
“Professor Seo, you should raise your glass too.”
Reluctantly, Hyunwoo lifted his glass.
Clink! The toast was a bit noisy.
The faces of the women he was responsible for making happy were all beaming with joy.
So he decided, just for today, to not nag. Let them enjoy their happiness to the fullest.
And with that, Hyunwoo excused himself to return to the hospital for a while.
“Okay, see you later, Professor Seo!”
“Brother, come back soon.”
“Don’t worry about me, Professor!”
You’re my biggest worry, Sori.
Leaving the excited trio behind, Hyunwoo deliberately stepped away.
Two hours later.
Upon returning, Hyunwoo pressed his forehead in disbelief.
The three drunken women were wailing in front of the bar.
“Oh, mom. Don’t cry at Sori’s wedding, okay? Uwaaa.”
Jiwoo, clinging to Soohyang and shedding dark tears, and Sori, sitting next to her mother, were both sobbing.
“Heuk, mom. We…we have to go out more often. You hear me? Huhuhu.”
Soohyang, the more composed one, was comforting her two ‘daughters.’
But soon, with Soohyang at the center, both daughters symmetrically erupted into louder cries.
“Why. Why are you doing this, Jiwoo?”
A flustered Hyunwoo approached Soohyang, trying to console Jiwoo.
“Oh? O-oppa!”
Jiwoo suddenly stood up, lunged at Hyunwoo, and embraced him tightly.
“Oppa, you’re not leaving us, right? Our oppa wouldn’t leave us, huhuhuk.”
The waiting valet drivers and customers at the building entrance glanced at Hyunwoo, scanning him up and down.
Hyunwoo looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and covered his eyes with his hand.
“No, I’m not leaving, Jiwoo.”
Sori, previously nestled in Soohyang’s arms, added the final nail in the coffin from behind.
It was the most embarrassing day of Hyunwoo’s life.
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.
