Married First, a Couple - Chapter 5

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Despite Do Joon’s low warning, there was no response from Tae Yeon. Only the sound of her steady breathing as if she was in a deep sleep filled the spacious living room.

Her soft brown wavy hair was covering her face. Without realizing it, Do Joon sat down next to her and reached out his hand to her hair. Then he gently pushed it back behind her.

Only then did Tae Yeon’s fair face reveal itself.

“Anyone who sees you would think you’re a completely different person.”

The woman in the photo Do Joon received from the US had heavy makeup on.

So she looked fierce, while the Tae Yeon sitting in front of him now was the epitome of innocence.

“Why do you live with two faces like that?”

Even though he knew Tae Yeon, who was lost in sleep, wouldn’t be able to answer, Do Joon couldn’t leave her side for a while.

Because it was fascinating to see his wife for the first time in a year and a half since their wedding. That’s why he thought he was staring.

As if being curled up on the sofa was uncomfortable, Tae Yeon furrowed her brows.

Seeing that, Do Joon got up from the sofa. Then he spread his arms and swiftly lifted her up.

He walked carefully, worried that Tae Yeon might wake up. If she opened her eyes and saw this situation, it would be easy to misunderstand.

Do Joon placed Tae Yeon on the spacious bed where two people could easily lie down and straightened his bent back.

Normally, he should have lain down next to her and gone to sleep, but strangely, he couldn’t. The warm sensation that touched his hands as he carried her from the living room to the bedroom still lingered.

Moreover, as he laid her on the bed, Tae Yeon’s silk pajamas had ridden up slightly. Discovering that her stomach was exposed, Do Joon quickly covered her with the blanket up to her face.

He had declared that he must share the bedroom out of pride, but Do Joon was also nervous.

Would he be able to fall asleep next to this awkward woman he had been apart from for so long?

After standing still in the middle of the bedroom agonizing for a while, Do Joon finally closed the door and went out. Then he moved his steps to the guest room on the second floor that Tae Yeon had mentioned.

When he opened the door, a neatly organized room appeared. The same scent that came from Tae Yeon was also present in this room. Thinking it would be better than lying next to her and falling asleep, Do Joon closed his eyes.

The first day of what would be an exhausting and difficult journey was passing like that.

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Tae Yeon slowly opened her eyes to the sound of the alarm ringing as usual.

It was the familiar ceiling and blanket, but she was startled and sat up. She looked at the spot next to her, but fortunately it was empty.

When she reached out and touched the place where Do Joon would have lain, warmth could still be felt. It meant he had been lying next to her until just a moment ago.

As she was feeling relieved, the bathroom door opened and Do Joon appeared with wet hair.

“Ah…”

Facing him, Tae Yeon turned her head again.

‘Why is he coming out like that?’

Do Joon was walking toward Tae Yeon wearing only a towel around his lower body. She closed her eyes tightly and clasped her hands together under the blanket.

The sound of Do Joon’s footsteps stopped, and his low voice poured over Tae Yeon’s head.

“Did you sleep well?”

“…Yes.”

Then, after hesitating for a moment, Tae Yeon asked with her head still bowed.

“Were you uncomfortable with anything?”

“Uncomfortable… If I say there was, will you solve it for me?”

At the mention of discomfort, Tae Yeon lifted her head to face Do Joon. Although she didn’t know what to do with the flesh-colored feast before her eyes as he was still undressed, the fact that he said this house was uncomfortable was more important.

“What made you uncomfortable?”

“Just, you know. The discomfort that comes from not being used to it.”

Tae Yeon couldn’t help but open her eyes wide as he spoke as if it was hard to understand.

“I mean sharing the same bed with my wife. I guess it’ll be fine once I get used to it a bit.”

“Ah…”

I see, that’s what he meant. Tae Yeon nodded her head in agreement.

Do Joon sat down on the bed and stretched his neck to look at Tae Yeon.

“You slept very well even with me next to you.”

“…”

“It seems I’ve already become comfortable to you in a day.”

“No!”

When Tae Yeon vehemently denied it, Do Joon laughed at the sight.

“You’re uncomfortable with me too.”

“Of course, since we haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

Tae Yeon said, looking at Do Joon’s face as if it was unfair.

“We’re seeing each other for the first time in a year and a half since the wedding. Even with a close friend, wouldn’t it be awkward if you met them after not being in contact for that long?”

“I don’t know about close friends since I don’t have any, but…”

Do Joon thought for a moment and made a suggestion.

“Then let’s try to make it less awkward.”

“Pardon?”

“We’ll be stuck together for almost 24 hours anyway, seeing each other at the company and at home.”

That made her realize the reality. The fact that he would be there wherever she went, whether it was the company or home, felt suffocating as if it was strangling her.

“How about spending an hour alone with me every day?”

“Pardon?”

“I need to get used to you too. And to do that, I think it would be good to forcibly spend time alone together, like doing homework.”

Was this how she had to pay the price for the freedom she had enjoyed alone all this time?

While Tae Yeon was thinking that, Do Joon quietly whispered to her.

“The live-in housekeeper has already arrived.”

“What? Already?”

Hearing that fact, Tae Yeon’s face hardened. It meant the time to act like a sweet couple with Do Joon, whom she hadn’t even gotten close to yet, was imminent.

As if urging her to make a decision quickly about what he had proposed a little while ago, Do Joon pressed her.

An hour a day wasn’t that long anyway. Tae Yeon nodded her head.

“Okay. Just one hour.”

Do Joon got up from the bed first, looking satisfied. And before entering the dressing room, he whispered to her.

“Honey, hurry and wash up. We need to have breakfast together and leave.”

Tae Yeon pushed the blanket aside and headed to the bathroom. As if he still had something to say, Do Joon, who had been staring at her blankly, called her again.

“I have one more request.”

“Please tell me.”

“When we have breakfast together in a bit, I’d like you to look at me as if I’m the man you love.”

“Love… Pardon?”

Do Joon made an outrageous request and then grinned.

“You can do that much, right? I think it would be easy for you.”

“…”

“Then, expecting your perfect acting skills, I’ll go down to the first floor first.”

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After finishing her preparations for work, Tae Yeon headed to the kitchen. The new housekeeper noticed her and approached to greet her.

“Hello, Madam. I’m Choi Yeon Ok, and I’ll be helping with the housework starting today. Please feel free to call me Ms. Choi.”

“Yes, Ms. Choi. I look forward to working with you.”

Tae Yeon approached Do Joon, who was already sitting at the table. He looked at Tae Yeon and acted very friendly, completely different from when they were in the marital bedroom a little while ago.

“Having breakfast with you like this… I don’t know if I’ll be able to eat properly because my heart is pounding.”

“…”

He really seemed like a different person. When Tae Yeon was flustered and couldn’t say anything, Do Joon glanced at Ms. Choi and then placed a large piece of fish on top of her rice.

“Hurry and eat. I’m worried because you’ve lost too much weight while I was away.”

She had to say something, but the words didn’t easily leave her mouth. She gripped the spoon tightly and blurted out awkwardly.

“I… I’ll enjoy the meal.”

She immediately regretted saying that. It was an incredibly awkward greeting, like something you would say at a restaurant.

Nevertheless, Do Joon laughed heartily as if it was so amusing and responded to her words.

“Yes, hurry and eat. Even though I didn’t prepare it.”

Maybe it would be better to eat diligently so she couldn’t say anything. With that thought, Tae Yeon began to shove food into her mouth nonstop.

Staring at that, Do Joon picked up the glass of water next to her and handed it to her.

“Honey, you can eat slowly. Drink some water too so you don’t get indigestion.”

“Thank… Thanks.”

That’s how the uncomfortable breakfast ended.

As Tae Yeon finished brushing her teeth and came out, Do Joon approached her as if he had been waiting and put his arm around her waist.

And without warning, he kissed her cheek. Tae Yeon’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. Do Joon quietly whispered in her ear.

“I’d like you to give me a kiss too. Very naturally.”

It was all for the sake of being mindful of Ms. Choi. Even though she knew that, she couldn’t easily move.

The warm sensation from Do Joon’s arm wrapped around her waist was being transmitted, and it felt as if the soft feeling of his lips touching and leaving her cheek still lingered.

Tae Yeon bit her lip tightly, then seemed to make up her mind and stood on her tiptoes. Because Do Joon was so tall, Tae Yeon had to go up quite a bit to kiss his cheek.

Her lips touched Do Joon’s cheek and quickly parted. He pulled the corners of his mouth up in satisfaction and let out a sexy voice.

“I think I know too well why newlyweds don’t want to go to work.”

“…”

‘What is he trying to say now?’

Do Joon said something outrageous, mindful of Ms. Choi in the kitchen.

“I want to hurry and come home from work to spend time alone with you.”

Tae Yeon opened her mouth wide in shock. But she couldn’t stay like that for long. She forced a smile and slowly continued.

“M… Me too.”

Hah. Did she really have to do this every morning?

A deep sigh escaped.

As if he had done enough for today, Do Joon tightened his grip on Tae Yeon’s waist to pull her close and headed towards the front door together.

Hearing the sound, Ms. Choi hurried out to see them off.

After getting into Do Joon’s car and leaving the house, Tae Yeon let out a big sigh. She felt very stuffy, perhaps because the rice she had shoved in this morning gave her indigestion.

She lowered the window a bit to feel the refreshing breeze, thinking it would make her feel better, and stayed like that for a while.

Just then, the light turned red and Do Joon lowered the car speed and said.

“It seems like you have indigestion.”

“Yes. I didn’t have much to say, so I just shoved the rice in…”

Do Joon, who seemed like he wouldn’t care, hesitated for a moment, then changed lanes to the shoulder. He then turned on the hazard lights, parked the car, and got out.

“Where is he going?”

*

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When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem…

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Synopsis:

“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”

Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.

Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.

While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the  Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…

Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.

 

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