Married First, a Couple - Chapter 38

“Why on earth?”

“What do you mean why?”

Do Joon laughed mischievously as if wondering why this was even an issue.

“No, our budget was enough to book two rooms.”

“That’s right. We used the money for two rooms to book a suite instead.”

“Hah.”

Tae Yeon looked flustered, as if about to cry. She couldn’t argue since everything Do Joon said was correct.

“You know this will reach Chairman Cha’s ears too, right?”

“What if other people in the company find out!”

“No one knows except Secretary Choi. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Do Joon’s face asked if there were any other problems.

Hah. Tae Yeon let out a soft sigh. Seeing this, Do Joon casually asked.

“Ms. Jin Tae Yeon, you weren’t planning to secretly go out and enjoy yourself at night, were you?”

“What?”

What is he saying now?

When Tae Yeon was too surprised to respond, Do Joon paused unbuttoning his dress shirt and put on a serious face.

“What? I was just joking. Is it true?”

“Of course not.”

“Then there’s no reason for us to use separate rooms, is there?”

Do Joon scanned the spacious suite interior.

“If you’re worried it might interfere with work, don’t be. There are plenty of rooms.”

“We’re going to sleep here too…”

“Together. Wherever that may be.”

Tae Yeon’s face asked why he was going this far.

Of course, he had anticipated this reaction from her.

He could have booked separate rooms, but Do Joon deliberately chose not to.

He was concerned about Chairman Cha possibly hearing that they went on a business trip together but used separate rooms.

There were plenty of rooms in the suite, so they could sleep separately if she wanted.

Strangely, he didn’t want to let Tae Yeon go.

“Ms. Jin Tae Yeon. We’ve been apart for 1 year and 6 months.”

“Yes.”

“I think we need to work hard to close that gap.”

Do Joon smiled brightly and finished unbuttoning his shirt.

“I booked one room because I want to get closer to you, Ms. Jin Tae Yeon.”

“…”

“I want to watch the Busan night view together, not just the usual Seoul one.”

Tae Yeon’s pupils shook violently.

“I’m making an effort for us to become closer as a married couple.”

Tae Yeon couldn’t say anything. Do Joon took another step closer.

Tae Yeon quickly lowered her gaze to the floor as Do Joon’s well-defined abs showed through his open shirt.

“I’d like you to cooperate a bit too.”

“What kind of cooperation…”

“If we stay together without separating even for a moment, won’t we develop feelings that weren’t there before?”

This man keeps saying things that lead to misunderstandings.

Regardless of Do Joon’s intentions, this is how it sounded to Tae Yeon’s ears.

That he booked one room because he wanted to be with her.

That he wanted to spend time together watching the Busan night view.

Tae Yeon bit her lip hard.

It wasn’t that she disliked sharing a room with Do Joon.

She disliked how she kept misunderstanding his words lately.

And she was nervous about him finding out.

Do Joon tossed his shirt on the floor and approached Tae Yeon.

“Unfortunately, there’s only one bathroom.”

“…”

“If you want to shower together since you must feel grimy too, that’s fine.”

Tae Yeon’s mouth fell open.

“Shower… together?”

As if claiming he had no ulterior motives despite saying something outrageous, Do Joon raised both arms.

“I thought you’d want to wash up quickly too.”

“No, I’m fine, you go ahead and shower first.”

Tae Yeon hurriedly stretched out her arms and pushed Do Joon’s back. She shoved him into the bathroom and firmly closed the door.

Soon, the sound of the shower running filled the air.

“Hah.”

The shower sound was strangely sensual. Like that dizzying look Do Joon had given her earlier.

Tae Yeon quickly went to the living room and plopped down on the sofa. She felt oddly drained even though she hadn’t done anything.

Do Joon’s words kept ringing in her ears.

No matter how much she covered her ears and shook her head…

“It’s bound to be misunderstood!”

She didn’t like how Do Joon always created situations that could be misunderstood, then slipped away nonchalantly every time.

Even more disconcerting was how her heart fluttered like a reed at his every word.

[This is the timeline separator]

Turning on the shower, Do Joon let his laughter flow freely. There was no reason to hold back when alone.

Even with his eyes closed, he kept seeing Tae Yeon’s flustered face from earlier at the beach.

Her eyes wide with surprise, the cute way she squeezed them shut when he approached.

“I almost called her cute.”

He barely managed to hold back those words from escaping his lips.

Do Joon slowly caressed near his lips where Tae Yeon’s breath had touched as he washed his face.

It felt like nothing when he touched it himself, but it was different when Tae Yeon’s touch and breath reached it.

“She’s really a dangerous woman. I wonder if she knows it herself.”

Despite his words, Do Joon’s lips were full of smiles.

He was used to holding back by now. Strangely, when he stood in front of Tae Yeon, an unfamiliar desire swelled up from deep inside.

“This is trouble.”

Tonight was going to be another long night.

[This is the timeline separator]

After ordering room service for dinner, they each went to empty rooms to catch up on company work.

As time passed.

Do Joon lost interest in work and came out of the room first. It was the first time in his life that work had felt boring.

The door to Tae Yeon’s room was tightly closed.

“Does she still have work left?”

When he knocked on her door, her voice rang out telling him to come in.

“I was thinking of having some wine.”

“Go ahead.”

“I want to drink together.”

It seemed a bit sad to let Do Joon drink wine alone, so Tae Yeon came out of the room.

Red wine was already prepared on the terrace along with fruit appetizers.

“I’ll just have one glass.”

“I know. That you’re not good with alcohol.”

They both poured wine into their glasses and took a sip while looking at the Busan night view.

The grand goal of having just one glass always crumbled when with Do Joon. It was because he only chose wines that perfectly matched her taste.

Today too, watching Tae Yeon sipping without putting down her glass, Do Joon asked with satisfaction.

“Does it suit Ms. Jin Tae Yeon’s taste?”

“Yes. I like Shiraz wine.”

“Me too. Our tastes match well.”

When Tae Yeon only took another sip of wine without saying anything, Do Joon continued the conversation.

“It would be more accurate to say that all the foods you like suited my taste.”

“Which one did you like the most?”

“The tteokbokki we ate when you met your friend before. I was surprised it was tastier than expected.”

“Right?”

Hearing that Do Joon also enjoyed something she liked, Tae Yeon smiled brightly. So she unknowingly made a promise.

“Let’s go together next time…”

The words in her heart flowed out without passing through her head.

Though Tae Yeon trailed off, Do Joon quickly seized the chance.

“Anytime.”

After silently drinking wine for a while, Do Joon stared at Tae Yeon’s face and moved to sit beside her.

“What are you doing?”

Do Joon silently reached out his hand.

His fingers landed near Tae Yeon’s lips.

Her already red lips looked even more tempting with wine stains.

“There’s wine on your lips.”

“Oh, I’ll do it myself.”

“I already did it.”

Do Joon wiped the wine from the corner of Tae Yeon’s mouth, but this time he didn’t wipe his finger on a napkin and put it in his mouth instead.

It wasn’t a big deal, but because Do Joon did it, it felt strangely sensual.

The wine was clearly emphasized by its bitter taste. But the wine on Tae Yeon’s lips was sweet.

Do Joon tilted his head and spoke.

“Did the wine I chose today taste like this?”

It was an action to wipe the wine stains around Tae Yeon’s lips, but his eyes were imagining more than that.

Tae Yeon avoided his gaze and gently bit her lower lip.

She vividly remembered Do Joon’s breath touching her on the sandy beach.

Do Joon seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Do Joon placed his hand next to Tae Yeon’s hip and pulled his body even closer. The scent of soap wafting over included a hint of alcohol.

Do Joon rubbed his finger around Tae Yeon’s lips where wine had been moments ago. A sensual feeling spread from her lips.

His intense gaze was a bonus. Her face grew hot from feeling his gaze.

Do Joon’s low voice poured over Tae Yeon’s face.

“Ms. Jin Tae Yeon.”

“Yes…”

She couldn’t easily open her mouth because his face was so close.

“I’ve become curious about something.”

“Go… ahead.”

“If I hadn’t gone to America right after our wedding ceremony.”

Hearing Do Joon’s words, Tae Yeon lifted her eyelids and met his gaze. His black pupils were darkened as if burning with fire.

Revealing his desire, Do Joon asked.

“Would we have become close like other couples?”

Tae Yeon also fell into thought.

If there hadn’t been a 1 year and 6 month gap between Do Joon and herself.

Would this situation not have been awkward?

After briefly pondering, Tae Yeon nodded slightly.

“We would have. At least we would have shared 1 year and 6 months worth of memories, whether good or bad.”

Do Joon seemed to agree with Tae Yeon’s words.

“I’ve been thinking about how I want today in Busan to be remembered.”

Looking into Do Joon’s eyes felt like falling into a deep swamp.

It was like entering a lake so deep you could never escape or get out.

“Whether it should be remembered trivially like children’s play.”

“…”

“Or as a passionate time.”

Do Joon passed the choice to Tae Yeon as if saying he would do as she wished.

“What are you saying? What do you mean by children’s play…”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Just drinking wine like this and going to bed uneventfully.”

She wondered what he meant by a passionate night.

Though she could imagine, she wanted to hear Do Joon’s thoughts from his own lips.

“And the opposite?”

“Are you curious?”