It seemed that having more things to protect made him more fearful. Perhaps that’s why. Throughout the way back home, Taein was anxious.
“Then I’ll protect you like that.”
Nokhyun lightly kissed Taein’s forehead. With Nokhyun’s words, the uneasy feeling that had been bothering him disappeared like melting snow.
“It might be harder that way.”
“I’ll endure it. I chose you.”
At Nokhyun’s words, Taein let out a small laugh.
At first, he just wanted to keep Taein by his side.
But now, he had bigger desires than back then.
He hoped for a future full of happiness for Taein, who had been through a particularly difficult time.
A peaceful daily life without sadness or hatred, even if something difficult happened, he could blow it away with a can of beer. Nokhyun sincerely wished for such a life, filled with Taein, Sihoo, and their family.
And protecting Taein, Sihoo, and their family was Nokhyun’s responsibility.
Three years later.
Nokhyun was in a dilemma because Sihoo, who never left his side, was causing him a headache.
“Daddy!”
Sihoo was a daddy’s boy. Thanks to him, Taein was at ease, but Nokhyun found it challenging.
Whenever he went outside, Sihoo would incessantly make video calls, and when he was at home, he would bring toys and storybooks constantly.
It seemed like he enjoyed playing with his dad more than his siblings, both older and younger.
With three storybooks in hand, Sihoo sat on Nokhyun’s lap, showing a firm determination not to leave until all three books were read.
“You’ve already read this more than ten times.”
“It’s fun! Read it again!”
“Instead, today you’ll sleep alone. Okay?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Sihoo nodded vaguely. Nokhyun sighed and began reading the book. He couldn’t relax, knowing that if he missed even a single line, Sihoo, like a ghost, would notice and point it out.
He’s so good, too good…
He hadn’t given the newlyweds a chance to be alone together.
Taein didn’t mind at all, and only Nokhyun was bothered by the child clinging to him.
A work call came just in time. Nokhyun answered the call as if it were a relief. When he returned, Sihoo pointed with his hand to the part Nokhyun had been reading.
“You know how to read Korean, right?”
Sihoo shook his head.
“You seem to know, though. Do you want to try reading it alone?”
Seeing Sihoo not sitting still, he pulled Nokhyun’s hand, leading him to sit on the sofa.
Nokhyun began reading the storybook again. He had already read hundreds of them. Reading storybooks seemed to strain his vocal cords.
When he finished reading the three books, Sihoo brought a puzzle.
Nokhyun decided to use a trick.
“Since we always solve it together, let’s have Sihoo do it alone today.”
“Together, together!”
Sihoo picked up puzzle pieces with hands like bracken and forcibly placed them in Nokhyun’s hands.
Let’s just quickly finish this.
Nokhyun concentrated and quickly completed the puzzle.
“Now we’re done, right? Let’s take a nap with Dad.”
Watching the completed puzzle, Sihoo, who had been squinting, ran to his room and came back with a box.
“W-what’s that? What is it?”
“Auntie gave it to me.”
It was a whopping one thousand-piece puzzle.
Why would Jung Ikkyung give that to a child…!
At that moment, salvation arrived home.
“Brother-in-law!”
It was Arin and Jung Don.
Arin and Jung Don, who had washed their hands, came over to see Sihoo with their eyes wide open.
“Our cutie, did you have a good time?”
He’s alive.
Nokhyun heaved a sigh of relief.
Arin and Jung Don began solving the puzzle with Sihoo.
Nokhyun quietly stepped back.
“Daddy! Let’s do it together!”
However, Sihoo, who wouldn’t let go of Nokhyun easily, was not to be swayed.
The housekeeper looked at Nokhyun with sympathetic eyes.
[I might leave work early today. Around seven?]Nokhyun, who was absentmindedly reading the text message from Taein, opened his eyes wide.
“Kids, let’s go to the playground.”
Nokhyun made a promise.
He pledged to make sure to put them to bed by seven, no matter what, since he had exhausted all his stamina.
The meeting that had started in the morning finally ended in the afternoon.
Taein wanted to quickly return to the house where Nokhyun and Sihoo were waiting.
“Then, let’s call it a day. Let’s go home!”
Upon Taein’s words, the employees smirked.
“We have a company dinner today.”
“…Today?”
Taein’s pupils shook left and right at Joon-ri’s words.
He had decided to leave early…
“Originally, isn’t a company dinner more fun without the CEO?”
“No!”
The employees shouted in unison. Taein was even more confused.
Why did he forget it was a company dinner?
“My husband, I mean, my child is waiting at home…”
“The CEO’s husband and Sihoo are having a good time right now,” Joon-ri said, peeking at her phone. It seemed like it was something Jungdon informed her.
What could he do about it? Taein quickly sent a message to Nokhyun.
[I forgot it was a company dinner. I’ll only attend the first round and leave right after! I’m having dinner.]Taein moved to the company dinner location with a gloomy face.
“I really will eat just a little today.”
As if making a promise to Heewon and Youngwon, Taein put a well-cooked piece of meat into his mouth.
The juices burst like a party inside.
“Wow, it’s delicious.”
Taein, who had said he would eat just a little, lost control of himself under the influence of the beef.
“CEO, let me pour you a drink!”
The youngest employee, Gibum, offered Taein a drink.
“I can’t today…”
“Ah, I’m not forcing you.”
When Gibum looked disappointed and put the bottle down, Taein nodded.
“Just one drink, give it to me.”
When Taein extended the glass, as if waiting, Gibum poured soju and beer for him.
The taste of a shandy after a long time was truly excellent. Taein quickly emptied the glass and filled it again.
In this way, Taein drank a total of three glasses of shandy and returned home. He slipped into the house stealthily.
The inside of the house was surprisingly quiet. No one was in the bedroom. Taein cautiously opened Sihoo’s room. Nokhyun and Sihoo were peacefully sleeping on the small bed.
When he tried to close the door again,
“I’m not sleeping yet, Taein.”
Nokhyun checked if Sihoo was sleeping, got up, and said.
The two of them cautiously came out, gently closing the door in case Sihoo woke up.
“You came home early from work just to attend a company dinner?”
“Ah, corporate life…”
“Is corporate life only for Seo Taein?”
“Sorry, I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths.”
Taein quickly apologized and kissed Nokhyun on the cheek.
“Did you even drink alcohol?”
“…Should we sleep separately today? Would you like to sleep with Sihoo?”
“What are you talking about.”
“…”
Nokhyun just hugged Taein.
“I’ve been waiting for how long.”
In Nokhyun’s sparkling eyes, Taein sensed it.
Tonight, I won’t be able to sleep at all.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
