“……A meal?”
“Why. Have you eaten?”
“No, it’s not like that……”
“Then follow me. I’ll buy.”
Surprised, Autumn stood still in her spot, watching as Ki-tae walked ahead.
‘Why is he suddenly offering to buy me a meal?’
Autumn followed him a beat later. His one step was equivalent to her two, so she had to walk briskly to catch up with him.
And yet.
‘This is the first time I’m having a meal alone with the president…’
She had only planned to convey her gratitude and leave, but somehow she ended up having dinner together.
She had eaten with President Han’s family before, but eating alone with Ki-tae was almost a first-time experience. Autumn felt a bit tense, worrying that the meal might be awkward.
She glanced up at him as they walked to the gallery parking lot, then quietly got into his car. Before he started the car, Ki-tae frowned slightly and casually said,
“Why did you carry all that yourself, silly?”
“I just wanted to say hello to the president.”
“Why bother.”
‘Have someone else do it next time,’ he instructed nonchalantly, then turned his attention back to the road, starting the car.
“…….”
“…….”
He was silent, focused on driving, and Autumn wasn’t close enough to him to comfortably chat, so she just pretended to look outside.
Then, she stole a glance at his side profile, focused on driving.
‘Is he worried about me…?’
As soon as she became conscious of her own thoughts, Autumn suppressed the emerging smile.
It was ridiculous to think that his actions were out of concern for her. He had never done anything like that in the past nine years.
‘No way,’ she thought, turning her gaze back outside.
After a while, still staring straight ahead, Ki-tae finally asked,
“What do you want to eat?”
“I eat anything really. Whatever you prefer…”
Autumn politely responded, but he cut her off.
“Not that. Anything you can’t eat or dislike?”
“There’s nothing like that.”
“…….”
“Really.”
She had nothing particular in mind and nothing she disliked.
She was being honest, but he sighed and looked at her disapprovingly.
“You don’t think of anything but painting.”
“No…! It’s not like that, I really eat anything.”
“You don’t have an immediate answer when asked what you want to eat.”
He still seemed displeased.
Others always liked her compliant nature…
Autumn responded with an awkward smile, not used to someone criticizing her for not expressing her opinions. It felt a little strange.
Since she said she eats anything, they ended up at a restaurant in a five-star hotel.
‘Maybe I should have specified something I wanted to eat…?’
Feeling a bit overwhelmed but having already said she was easygoing about food, Autumn quickly followed Ki-tae inside.
Guided by the staff, she found herself seated at a table by the window with a clear view outside. Autumn couldn’t help but exclaim in awe as she looked out the window.
“Wow…….”
The night view was stunningly beautiful, making it impossible to look away. Had she ever been in a building this high before?
Soon, she was lost in the view outside.
The yellow lights below were spread serenely, emitting an elegant glow. The lights reflected in the river were endlessly beautiful.
It was a landscape she wanted to paint.
The lights leading to the back path of the main house resembled the soft glow of the lamps outside, making Autumn smile instinctively.
Watching her, Ki-tae casually asked, “Do you like it?”
“Me? Yes…….”
Her smile broadened in response to his question, but then she trailed off. While she was admiring the view outside, Ki-tae had also turned to look out the window.
His faint smile, as he observed the scene, caught her attention. Although the beautiful lights continued to adorn the outside view, Ki-tae, blending in like a part of a painting, captured Autumn’s gaze.
His profile, along with the landscape, entered her sight.
It was hard to look away, almost as if she wanted to capture it in a painting.
Lost in thought, Autumn was brought back to reality when Ki-tae, having shifted his gaze away from the window, asked her, “Want a drink?”
She glanced at the glass he tilted towards her. The red wine rippled invitingly. She asked tentatively, “Is it good?”
“Depends if it suits your taste.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Autumn nodded. Soon, a glass of red wine, filled halfway, was placed in front of Ki-tae. Taking the wine glass awkwardly, she was questioned by Ki-tae, who seemed puzzled.
“Never had wine before?”
“No, I haven’t really had the occasion. When I meet friends, we usually go to local bars and drink soju or beer.”
That was also infrequent. Ki-tae simply nodded at Autumn’s answer and sipped his wine. She followed suit, taking a small sip.
‘Oh… it’s good.’
Contrary to her cautious first sip, Autumn easily finished her glass. Watching this, Ki-tae called over a passing waiter to refill her empty glass.
“Drink some more.”
“Thank you, President.”
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.
