The look in Do Joon’s eyes as he gazed at Tae Yeon seemed to be holding back many things.

His deep, quiet eyes shone for a moment before he let out a short sigh.

Then he let go of Tae Yeon’s wrist, who was still smiling brightly at him. That sight was very refreshing.

He had only ever seen her tense in front of him. Was she a woman who knew how to smile like that?

Tae Yeon’s eyes slowly closed.

“Huh. Jin Tae Yeon.”

And then, as if she had fallen asleep, there was no response no matter how long he called.

“You touch me like that. And now you fall asleep in this situation.”

Do Joon muttered to himself, but Tae Yeon remained motionless, sound asleep.

Sitting in front of her, waiting for Tae Yeon to wake up, it had been about 30 minutes.

Do Joon roughly pushed up his bangs with one hand, then seemed to make up his mind and grabbed Tae Yeon’s bag. If they stayed in this room any longer, things might go differently than he had originally intended.

“Let’s go home. Wake up.”

At his words, Tae Yeon rose from her chair. Perhaps due to the wine she had drunk in such a short time, she staggered, unable to walk properly.

Do Joon looked down at her and chuckled. Then he whispered softly in Tae Yeon’s ear.

“This is purely to get you out safely.”

Do Joon put his hand around Tae Yeon’s slender waist. Then he pulled her firmly, allowing her to lean on his shoulder.

“Let… go. I can go by myself.”

Tae Yeon mumbled, but Do Joon pretended not to hear and started walking.

Secretary Choi, who had been waiting outside, asked in surprise at Do Joon’s unexpectedly quick exit.

“Director, have you already finished dinner?”

Then he shifted his gaze to Tae Yeon leaning on Do Joon’s shoulder.

“No, the lady…”

“She got drunk on two glasses of wine.”

Secretary Choi reached out his arm to help support Tae Yeon, but Do Joon ignored his gesture.

As if he disliked any other man’s warmth touching his woman, no matter who it was.

“Just open the door.”

“Yes, Director.”

Secretary Choi opened the back seat door, and Do Joon looked inside and said,

“Can you get in? Or should I carry you in?”

At the mention of carrying her, Tae Yeon seemed to snap to attention and waved her hands.

“I can get in.”

After Tae Yeon got into the back seat, Do Joon didn’t immediately get in, but gave some instructions to Secretary Choi.

And a moment later. Secretary Choi returned with a hangover remedy in hand.

Getting into the car, he handed it to Tae Yeon and asked worriedly,

“Are you alright?”

Tae Yeon took the hangover remedy, took a sip, and smiled apologetically.

“Yes. I felt drunk for a moment. But I’m slowly sobering up.”

“Let’s go.”

On the way home with Do Joon.

Tae Yeon suddenly seemed to remember something and made an “Ah-” sound.

“What is it?”

Tae Yeon glanced at Secretary Choi briefly and made an awkward face. Realizing what she was about to say, Do Joon spoke first.

“Secretary Choi already knows everything about us.”

“Ah…”

Well, he had been by Do Joon’s side for several years.

Still, she was worried all the same. What if he accidentally told other company people about her relationship with Do Joon?

As if reading even those thoughts, Do Joon pre-empted her.

“Secretary Choi is a very tight-lipped person. So you don’t need to worry unnecessarily.”

“That’s a relief.”

By then, Do Joon’s car had arrived at their newlywed home.

As soon as they got out, Mrs. Choi, who hadn’t gone to sleep yet, came out to the yard to greet them.

“You’re back?”

Tae Yeon tensed up immediately. She had completely forgotten that they had to act like a loving couple in front of Mrs. Choi.

In contrast, Do Joon looked at her with a very calm face. And just like he had done at the restaurant, he put his hand on Tae Yeon’s waist and gave her an affectionate look.

He was truly a man of many faces. Unlike when he looked at her coldly, at times like this he made her feel as if he had really become a caring husband.

Do Joon looked at Tae Yeon and whispered in a warm voice.

“You must be tired. Let’s go in and rest together.”

“Yes, Do Joon.”

Seeing Do Joon doing his best, she wanted to do the same. No, she felt like she had to.

Tae Yeon smiled awkwardly, pulling up the corners of her mouth. Mrs. Choi opened the front door, allowing the two to enter comfortably.

Do Joon looked at Mrs. Choi and said,

“Mrs. Choi, you can rest now.”

“I’ll bring up some honey water for the lady.”

Do Joon strongly dissuaded Mrs. Choi as she was about to head to the kitchen.

“I’ll do it.”

“You, Director?”

“Yes. I want to take care of my wife myself. So please go home now.”

Mrs. Choi bowed her head and headed to the annex.

Even after Mrs. Choi had left, Do Joon still had his hand on Tae Yeon’s waist. As the door clicked shut, Tae Yeon whispered softly.

“Mrs. Choi has left.”

“I know that too.”

Do Joon made a face as if he regretted it, then slowly removed his hand.

‘Did I see that wrong?’

As Tae Yeon tilted her head in confusion, Do Joon really went to the kitchen and took out some honey. Tae Yeon asked,

“Are you really thinking of making honey water for me?”

“That’s right.”

The short answer was very firm. As Tae Yeon approached him, not knowing what to do, Do Joon said without turning around,

“You can sit at the table and wait.”

At those words, Tae Yeon, who had been approaching to stop Do Joon, had no choice but to move back and sit at the table.

She was full of questions. Mrs. Choi had gone to the annex and wouldn’t return until before work time tomorrow.

There were only two people in this house, herself and Do Joon.

Yet, for Do Joon to act like such a caring husband to this extent…

As she was thinking, Tae Yeon was startled and covered her mouth with both hands.

Hearing the sound she made, Do Joon came over with the honey water and asked,

“Why are you so surprised?”

Do Joon set the honey water down on the table. Then he gestured with his chin as if to say ‘drink it’.

As Tae Yeon still didn’t say anything and remained still, Do Joon raised his eyebrows and asked,

“Don’t tell me you suspect I’ve put poison in here?”

“No! Rather…”

Tae Yeon kept scanning the kitchen, looking for something.

She looked at the ceiling, then under the table, and when she couldn’t find what she wanted, she made a perplexed face.

“Why are you so anxious?”

Tae Yeon gestured with her hand for Do Joon to come closer.

“Huh.”

Do Joon let out a quiet sigh as if he found it ridiculous. Yet he still obediently approached Tae Yeon and offered his ear. Tae Yeon whispered in his ear,

“You didn’t install CCTV in this house, did you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, Mrs. Choi isn’t here, but you’re making this for me…”

Do Joon couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out loudly. Then he leaned back deeply in his chair and laughed again.

“What’s wrong?”

“You.”

“Yes?”

“You must have watched too many movies.”

“I didn’t?”

“You didn’t.”

“There’s no wiretapping device either, right?”

This time too, Do Joon tilted his head back and laughed, and Tae Yeon bit her lip as if embarrassed.

“That’s a relief.”

And she reached for the honey water Do Joon had made. As she took a sip, a sweet aroma filled her mouth.

Seeing her drink it well, Do Joon asked curiously,

“Why on earth did you think that?”

Tae Yeon, who had been embarrassed, honestly confessed.

“Because you said you’d make this when no one was around…”

Do Joon seemed taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected that.

“What do you think I am? In your mind, I seem to be trash that only moves to show off to others.”

“No, that’s not what I meant at all.”

Do Joon slowly licked his lips. Then he spoke in a pleasant baritone.

“Couldn’t Tae Yeon do this much for me too if I drank?”

“Of course!”

She had no intention of doing so at all, but now she couldn’t bluntly say no.

Having received honey water from Do Joon, she had to return the favor equally.

Do Joon nodded as if pleased and pulled at the tie he had been wearing all along.

“Jin Tae Yeon.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Even though we married without any feelings, just for business, I hope we can do our best during the time we spend together.”

“Of course.”

Tae Yeon firmly grasped the cup of honey water Do Joon had given her with both hands. The warmth from the honey water felt comforting, as if it were Do Joon’s own.

“I’m sorry I came in without contacting you.”

“It’s okay.”

“I was so busy preparing for my return that it happened.”

Do Joon, feeling stuffy, unbuttoned one, then two buttons of his shirt that was tightly constricting his neck.

Thinking that Do Joon might end up taking off all his clothes right here, Tae Yeon’s heart raced. She hurriedly drank the honey water.

“What kind of date would you like to have tomorrow?”

He seemed to be trying to coordinate their schedule in advance, as they had agreed to spend an obligatory hour together every day.

“I don’t have anything particular I want to do.”

At those words, Do Joon’s eyebrows twitched. Then he threw a probing question at her.

“Are you saying you’ve had so many dates with the man you love that there’s nothing you want to do with me?”

“No!”

Tae Yeon quickly put down the cup of honey water she had been holding.

“It’s just that it’s a weekday. When I get home after work, I’m so busy resting and falling asleep. I’m also a bit weak physically…”

When Do Joon said nothing and maintained an expressionless face, Tae Yeon spoke a bit more.

“How about having dates where we go somewhere on weekends?”

And as soon as she said that, she regretted it.

No matter how much they were married, Do Joon might not want to spend weekends with her.

Tae Yeon opened her mouth to take back those words.

“Ah, you must be busy on weekends too, Do Joon.”

She expected him to agree, but what came out of Do Joon’s mouth was completely different.

“I’m not busy.”

“…”

“Then how about this?”

Do Joon seemed to have finished thinking in a short moment and came up with another suggestion.

“The days we can’t have dates on weekdays, we save them up and use them all at once on weekends.”

“What?”

“That way, neither you nor I have to feel rushed on days when we’re busy with work.”

At first, it seemed like nonsense, but soon she agreed with his words.

“That sounds good.”

Not knowing what kind of ripple effect this proposal would cause later, Tae Yeon innocently replied that it was good.

Excited by the hope of being able to postpone tomorrow’s date right away.

As Tae Yeon finished her honey water and was about to get up, Do Joon added one more thing.

“Jin Tae Yeon.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Wouldn’t it be good if everything was fair?”

What does he mean? As she was trying to understand his words,

Do Joon got up from his seat and approached her.

“What you did to me, I want to try it too.”