Married First, a Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
“You never know what I might do.”
Even with Do Jun’s low warning, no answer came from Tae Yeon. Only the sound of her steady, deep breathing filled the spacious living room.
Her soft brown wavy hair was covering her face. Without realizing it, Do Jun sat beside her and reached out to her hair. He gently brushed it back behind her ear.
Only then did Tae Yeon’s fair face fully reveal itself.
“Anyone who saw you now would think you’re a completely different person.”
The woman in the photo he had received from America had worn heavy makeup.
That had made her look strong and striking, whereas the Tae Yeon sitting in front of him right now was the very picture of innocence.
“Why do you live with two faces?”
He knew a sleeping Tae Yeon wouldn’t answer, yet Do Jun couldn’t bring himself to leave her side for a long while.
It was their first time seeing his wife in a year and a half since the wedding, so he told himself he was just staring because she felt new and fascinating.
Perhaps curling up on the sofa was uncomfortable; Tae Yeon frowned in her sleep.
Seeing that, Do Jun rose from the sofa. He spread his arms and carefully lifted her up.
Worried she might wake, he walked very cautiously. If she opened her eyes and saw this situation, it would be perfect for a misunderstanding.
He laid Tae Yeon on the wide bed that could easily fit two people and straightened his bent back.
Normally he should have lain down beside her and gone to sleep, but for some reason he couldn’t. The warmth from carrying her from the living room to the bedroom still lingered in his hands.
Moreover, when he put her down, her silk pajamas had ridden up slightly. Her stomach was completely exposed, so the moment he noticed, Do Jun yanked the blanket all the way up to her face.
He had stubbornly declared they would share the bedroom, but truthfully Do Jun was just as nervous.
Could he really fall asleep next to a woman who felt this awkward after being apart for so long?
After standing in the middle of the bedroom lost in thought for a long time, Do Jun eventually closed the door and went outside. He headed to the guest room on the second floor that Tae Yeon had mentioned.
When he opened the door, a neatly organized room greeted him. The same fragrance he had smelled on Tae Yeon wafted through this room too. Thinking it would be better than sleeping beside her, Do Jun closed his eyes.
The first day of what would be an exhausting and difficult journey was passing just like that.
[This is the timeline separator]Hearing the usual alarm ring, Tae Yeon slowly opened her eyes.
The ceiling and blanket were familiar, yet she shot up in shock. She looked at the spot beside her—thankfully, it was empty.
When she reached out and touched where Do Jun would have lain, she could still feel some warmth. That meant he had been lying there until just a moment ago.
The moment she let out a sigh of relief, the bathroom door opened and Do Jun appeared with wet hair.
“Ah…….”
Facing him, Tae Yeon quickly turned her head away.
‘Why is he coming out like that?’
Do Jun was walking toward her with only a towel around his lower body. Tae Yeon squeezed her eyes shut and clasped her hands together under the blanket.
She heard his footsteps stop, then his low voice poured down over her head.
“Did you sleep well?”
“……Yes.”
After hesitating for a moment, Tae Yeon asked while still keeping her head lowered.
“Was there anything uncomfortable?”
“Uncomfortable…… If I say there was, will you fix it?”
At the word “uncomfortable,” Tae Yeon jerked her head up and looked at Do Jun. He was still unclothed, and the sight of apricot-colored skin right in front of her left her flustered, but more importantly, he had just said this house made him uncomfortable.
“What was uncomfortable?”
“Just, you know. The discomfort that comes from not being familiar with things.”
She couldn’t quite understand, so Tae Yeon could only stare at him with wide eyes.
“Sharing the same bed with my wife. I’m sure I’ll get used to it soon.”
“Ah…….”
So that’s what he meant. Tae Yeon nodded in understanding.
Do Jun sat on the edge of the bed and leaned forward to look at her.
“You seemed to sleep extremely well even with me right beside you.”
“……”
“It looks like you got comfortable with me in just one day.”
“No!”
When Tae Yeon vehemently denied it, Do Jun chuckled at the sight.
“You find me uncomfortable too.”
“Of course—it’s been so long since we last saw each other.”
Tae Yeon looked at Do Jun’s face as though she felt wronged.
“We only saw each other at the wedding, and now it’s been a year and a half. Even close friends would feel awkward if they didn’t contact each other for that long, right?”
“I don’t have close friends, so I wouldn’t know.
Do Jun thought for a moment and then made a suggestion.
“Then let’s make an effort so it won’t be awkward.”
“Yes?”
“Anyway, we’ll see each other at the company and at home. We’ll basically be together 24 hours a day.”
With those words, reality hit her hard. Just as he said, the fact that he would be everywhere—at work and at home—felt suffocating, as if something were tightening around her throat.
“How about we spend one hour alone together every day?”
“Yes?”
“I need to get used to you too. To do that, I think it would be good to force ourselves to have couple time, like homework.”
Was this how she had to pay for the freedom she had enjoyed alone all this time?
As Tae Yeon was lost in that thought, Do Jun quietly whispered to her.
“The live-in helper has already arrived.”
“Yes? Already?”
Hearing that, Tae Yeon’s face stiffened. It meant the time to act like a lovey-dovey newlywed couple in front of a stranger she wasn’t even close to was fast approaching.
Do Jun urged her to decide quickly about the proposal he had just made.
One hour a day isn’t that long. Tae Yeon nodded.
“Alright. Exactly one hour.”
Seeming satisfied, Do Jun got up from the bed first. Before entering the dressing room, he whispered to her.
“Honey, hurry and wash up. We need to eat breakfast together and leave.”
Tae Yeon pushed the blanket aside and headed to the bathroom. Do Jun, who had been staring at her, called her again as if he still had something to say.
“There’s one more favor.”
“Please speak.”
“When we eat breakfast together later, I’d like you to look at me like you’re looking at the man you love.”
“Love…… Yes?”
Do Jun made the huge request and then smiled brightly.
“You can do that much, right? It should be easy for you.”
“……”
“Then I’ll head downstairs first, looking forward to your perfect acting.”
[This is the timeline separator]After finishing getting ready for work, Tae Yeon headed to the kitchen. The new helper noticed her, approached, and greeted her.
“Hello. Madam. Starting today, I’m Choi Yeon Ok, here to help with the housework. Please feel free to call me Madam Choi.”
“Yes, Madam Choi. Please take care of us.”
Tae Yeon walked over to Do Jun, who was already sitting at the table. He looked at her and acted completely different—much warmer—than he had in their bedroom earlier.
“Eating breakfast with you like this… My heart is pounding so much don’t know if I’ll be able to eat properly.”
“……”
He really seemed like a different person. When Tae Yeon was too flustered to say anything, Do Jun glanced at Madam Choi and placed a large piece of deboned fish on Tae Yeon’s rice.
“Eat quickly. I was worried because you lost so much weight while I was away.”
She should say something, but her mouth wouldn’t open easily. Clutching her spoon tightly, she forced out some awkward words.
“I…… I’ll eat well.”
She immediately regretted it. It was the kind of stiff greeting you give at a restaurant.
Still, Do Jun laughed heartily as if he found it hilarious and played along.
“Yes, dig in. Though I didn’t prepare it myself.”
Maybe it would be better to just focus on eating so she couldn’t speak. With that thought, Tae Yeon started shoveling food into her mouth without pause.
Do Jun stared at her openly, then picked up the water glass beside her and handed it over.
“Honey, you can eat slowly. You might get indigestion, so drink some water too.”
“Thank…… Thanks.”
And so the uncomfortable breakfast came to an end.
When Tae Yeon finished brushing her teeth and came out, Do Jun approached as if he had been waiting, wrapped an arm around her waist.
Without any warning, he kissed her cheek with a light “mwah.” Tae Yeon’s eyes widened as if they might pop out. Do Jun whispered quietly into her ear.
“I’d like you to kiss me too. Very naturally.”
It was all for Madam Choi’s benefit. Even knowing that, Tae Yeon couldn’t move right away.
Warmth was still coming from Do Jun’s arm around her waist, and the soft sensation of his lips seemed to linger on the cheek he had kissed.
Tae Yeon bit her lip hard, then made up her mind and stood on tiptoe. Because Do Jun was so tall, she had to stretch quite a bit to reach his cheek.
“Mwah—” Her lips touched his cheek briefly and pulled away. He raised the corner of his mouth in satisfaction and let out a sexy voice.
“Now I totally understand why people don’t want to go to work during their honeymoon.”
“……”
‘What is he going to say now?’
Mindful of Madam Choi in the kitchen, Do Jun dropped a bombshell.
“I want to hurry home from work and spend time alone with you.”
Tae Yeon’s mouth fell open in shock. But she couldn’t stay like that for long. Forcing a smile, she slowly continued.
“I……Me too.”
Ha. Did she really have to do this every morning?
A deep sigh escaped her.
Perhaps thinking today was enough, Do Jun tightened his grip on her waist, pulled her closer, and headed to the front door together.
Hearing the noise, Madam Choi came rushing out to see them off.
Once they got into Do Jun’s car and left the house, Tae Yeon let out a huge breath. Her stomach felt heavy, probably because she had stuffed in breakfast so hastily.
She lowered the window a little to feel the fresh breeze, hoping it would help, and stayed like that for a while.
Just then, the light turned red, the car slowed, and Do Jun spoke.
“You seem to have indigestion.”
“Yes. I didn’t really have anything to say, so I just kept shoving food in…….”
Do Jun, who had seemed like he wouldn’t care at all, hesitated for a moment, changed lanes to the shoulder, turned on the hazard lights, parked, and got out of the car.
“Where is he going?”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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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