The Grand Temptation - Chapter 65

Meeting her gaze, he whispered softly.

“You look irresistibly pretty when you’re jealous. So be jealous. To your heart’s content.”

“What are you talking about?”

Instead of answering her question, Jeho pressed his body close. She felt his hot body temperature along with a sweet citrus scent. Yuri pushed against his chest with her hands, but his firm body didn’t budge an inch.

“Ha.”

A languid breath cut through the cold air and poured onto Yuri’s lips.

“I’m going to kiss you now, so turn your head if you don’t want it.”

At the sudden warning, Yuri jerked her head back and glared at Jeho. His brazen behavior made her blood boil.

“How can you say that when you were just with another woman…”

“That’s why I said turn your head if you don’t want it. I’m going to do it.”

Yuri glared at Jeho like she wanted to kill him. But she didn’t turn her head. Refusing the kiss here felt like she would be the one backing down weakly. Jeho lowered his head while pulling Yuri towards him at the same time, pressing their lips together.

The kiss that started softly soon lost control and became intense. He tilted his head slightly and dove in deeply. As thrilling sensations spread through the delicate mucous membranes, involuntary groans escaped amidst the suffocating heat.

“…Stop.”

The one who pulled away first was not Yuri, but Jeho. He exhaled roughly and painfully separated their locked lips.

“Ha, sorry. If I go any further here, I won’t be able to control myself.”

He cupped Yuri’s cheeks with both hands and whispered as if sighing. But as if he couldn’t bear it, he lowered his head again and kissed her. After a long while, he finally pulled away and muttered.

“But how much did you drink anyway?”

Jeho could taste the strong flavor of wine on Yuri. From her soft lips, her moist mouth, her gentle breath… It was as if she herself had become fragrant wine. She must have drunk much more than usual.

Are you out of your mind? Drinking carelessly in front of a wolf like Minwoo. His mouth went dry at the thought that he might have touched Yuri’s body.

The reason he hadn’t left even after finishing dinner was partly because Woo Gyeol came late, but mostly because he couldn’t leave first while Yuri was with Minwoo. He wanted to go into the room and drag Yuri out, but he couldn’t do that. It would cause trouble for Yuri.

“Nothing happened, right? That guy didn’t touch you?”

“Do you think I would have just let him if he did?”

Yuri shot back with an incredulous look. In fact, she was the most incredulous at herself.

Although she accepted the kiss because she didn’t want to avoid it, it wasn’t long before she became the one clinging to him as her body heated up. And outside too… Even though it was dark after sunset and there were no eyes watching in this secluded spot, it was still reckless behavior.

Yuri pushed Jeho away hard with both hands and escaped from his embrace. Then she moved her steps to the opposite side. But before she could go far, Jeho caught up and grabbed her shoulder. He spread both arms and hugged her from behind. Burying his face in Yuri’s nape, he murmured as if whispering.

“Take responsibility. I think I’ve gotten drunk because of the wine you drank. Or maybe I’ve gotten drunk on you.”

“What do you mean, take responsibility…”

Just as Yuri turned around with an exasperated look, a familiar face popped out of the window of a car passing on the opposite side of the road.

“Oh my! Jay oppa, you were still here?”

Claire, who spotted Jeho, got out of the car with a bright smile. Woo Gyeol could also be seen getting out of the driver’s seat behind Claire. Woo Gyeol seemed to be trying to stop Claire by grabbing her arm, but Claire firmly shook him off and ran across the street to Jeho.

“Woo Gyeol oppa said he just finished dinner. Let’s go for round two with us.”

Claire, who had started speaking with an excited face, was startled when she noticed Yuri standing behind. It seemed she hadn’t seen Yuri earlier because Jeho was blocking her view.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were with someone.”

Claire looked Yuri up and down carefully, then turned to Jeho with a questioning gaze. When Jeho nodded slightly, she finally broke into a bright smile.

“You’re Chae Yuri, right? I’m sorry. I saw you with Minwoo earlier and misunderstood that you were his girlfriend.”

Claire linked arms with Yuri very naturally and spoke rapidly. Thanks to her slightly awkward speech mixed with an English accent, she came across as cute rather than unpleasant.

“If you’re free, come drink with us. You can date Jay oppa anytime, right?”

Yuri couldn’t easily understand Claire’s friendly attitude. What’s this? Is it okay for exes to be this cool with each other?

Jeho, who had been quietly watching the two, formally introduced them to Yuri when Woo Gyeol approached.

“This is Claire Moon, whom I’ve known since childhood like a younger sister. And this is Han Woo Gyeol, my close friend and landlord until recently. He’s also Jasmine’s butler.”

As soon as Jeho finished the introduction, Claire quickly let go of Yuri’s arm and wrapped both arms around Woo Gyeol’s waist.

“And we’re lovers.”

Jeho frowned deeply at those words.

“What? Didn’t you two break up when Woo Gyeol came back to Korea?”

“Oh, no. We decided to stay as lovers while I’m in Korea or when Woo Gyeol oppa is in America.”

Yuri made a perplexed expression at the unexpected atmosphere.

As far as she knew, Claire was Jeho’s ex-girlfriend. So does that mean his close friend and ex-girlfriend are now lovers? And yet they casually call Jeho out to meet?

No matter how American the sentiment, she just couldn’t understand it. Yuri changed her mind about refusing and accepted Claire’s offer.

It seemed she needed to talk with Claire a bit more. Claire got back into Woo Gyeol’s car, and Jeho took Yuri to his car.

“You didn’t drink, did you? I see there’s a wine bottle.”

“I only poured it into glasses, didn’t drink a single sip. I have to drive.”

When Yuri looked at him suspiciously, he grinned at her.

“Hmm, does kissing a girlfriend who drank wine count as drinking?”

At his teasing tone, Yuri silently turned her head to look out the window. Jeho quietly gazed at Yuri for a moment, then pressed the start button and drove off.

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The four of them moved to a nearby lounge bar with a nice atmosphere. Woo Gyeol and Jeho drank non-alcoholic beverages since they had to drive, while only Yuri and Claire had alcohol.

Yuri, who had already drunk a lot of wine at the restaurant, tried to drink as little as possible. As a result, Claire alone kept downing drinks.

As if a bit tipsy, Claire’s words grew longer.

“Yuri, did you think I was Jay oppa’s ex? Oh, no! He is just like a brother. I’ve never ever thought of him as a man.”

Claire, excited, explained quickly in English.

“The reason I fell for our Woo Gyeol oppa is because he’s so sweet, unlike Jay oppa. Specifically, once on a rainy day, I got soaked because I didn’t bring an umbrella. My hair was all dripping and messy… Jay oppa just tossed me a dry towel and that was it. Woo Gyeol oppa gently brushed back my wet hair and asked if I was cold.”

“Is that really such a big deal…”

Woo Gyeol, who had been listening silently, blushed shyly. Claire leaned on his shoulder and looked up at him with loving eyes.

“He tells me I’m pretty every time he sees me, and pats my head. Jay oppa would never say I’m pretty, even as a white lie. He’d say why would he say that when I’m not his girlfriend. That I should hear those words from my boyfriend later. Hmph.”

Yuri couldn’t agree with Claire’s words. Because Jeho was the one who approached her first and brushed back her loose hair even when they were nothing to each other.

But she couldn’t ask Jeho why while looking at him. Rather, she avoided his gaze and brought the cocktail glass to her lips. Her cheeks flushed red for no reason. Yuri whispered to herself that it was just because of the alcohol.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Hey, you X. How could you? You should have made her come here with me, how could you just let her go! Huh?”

Minwoo, now sober, yelled at his assistant. What an opportunity he had managed to arrange, but he completely wasted it without even getting to use it properly.

He definitely put the drug in Yuri’s glass, so he couldn’t understand why he was the one who collapsed. It was a drug that made you lose consciousness naturally, as if drunk. Colorless and odorless, so it wasn’t easy to detect.

When did the glasses get switched? No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t figure out the reason.

“Ah, shit.”

Minwoo held his head with both hands and lay back down on the bed. It was truly regrettable to have let Yuri go quietly, but he had at least shown her Jeho with Claire, so it was half successful.

She probably went home alone, fuming? Should I go to her officetel even now?

But his head was splitting as if the drug’s effects still lingered, so he couldn’t move his body at all. He’d probably be in this state until tomorrow afternoon.

“Damn… sh… it.”

Minwoo muttered curses like sleep-talking and drifted back to sleep.

[This is the timeline separator]

She had worried it would be an awkward gathering, but thanks to Claire’s constant chatter, the atmosphere was quite comfortable. In contrast to the talkative Claire, Woo Gyeol hardly spoke at all. Was he naturally taciturn?

Recalling their conversation outside the restaurant earlier, it seemed there may have been a small argument, though she wasn’t sure. Was that why? He occasionally stiffened his expression as if uncomfortable.

While the two men went to get their cars from the parking lot, Yuri casually asked Claire.

“Isn’t it hard being apart?”

“Of course! It’s definitely hard. But I can’t let go of Woo Gyeol oppa. And he feels the same. It’s less painful than breaking up completely.”

Claire’s face, which had been bright all along, darkened for a moment as if realizing reality. But she quickly smiled brightly again as she looked at Yuri.

“But it’s okay because I’m happy right now. I’m staying for over a month this time. I plan to be with Woo Gyeol oppa as much as I want until I get sick of him.”

As Woo Gyeol’s car arrived first in front of the building, Claire hugged Yuri goodbye, saying they should meet again. Woo Gyeol, who had gotten out of the car to open and close the passenger door for Claire, simply nodded slightly at Yuri as a farewell.

After Woo Gyeol’s car left, Jeho’s car soon appeared. Yuri quickly got into the car before Jeho could get out and open the passenger door like Woo Gyeol had. Jeho seemed amused by this and twisted the corner of his mouth. But he said nothing and drove off.

“We’re going to my place today. If you refuse, I’ll kidnap you.”

“Okay. Let’s go to your place.”

“And I’ll torment you all night as punishment for misunderstanding.”

After a moment of silence, Yuri asked in a calm tone.

“Even if I apologize?”

“Words alone aren’t enough. Don’t you agree?”

He said softly, his eyes curving.

That night, after arriving home, Jeho really did push her to the limit as if tormenting her.

Was it because of the alcohol? Or because she was drunk on emotions? Even the lightest touch made Yuri’s whole body tingle. She felt like she couldn’t breathe, and the heat enveloping her body made her vision turn white.

“You seem a bit different today?”

He must have noticed the change too, as he stroked Yuri’s sweat-soaked hair and asked in a worried voice.

What should I do?

Yuri remained silent, burying her face in Jeho’s chest. She had to clench her molars tightly to keep unwanted words from spilling out.

To crumble so easily…

She was furious at herself for being so foolish and pathetic.

“Yuri?”

At the gentle voice calling her name, the emotions she had been holding back burst forth. She had struggled so hard not to fall for him, tried so hard to maintain distance, but it had all been in vain.

She had fallen in love with him. No, she was already in love with him.

The moment she realized she had fallen in love, her body and heart reached their peak, and Yuri finally burst into tears.

What should I do now.