What happened next was a blur. A fist flew in from nowhere, striking the man’s face. He screamed and fell like a log.

A familiar voice called her.

“Are you okay?”

It couldn’t be. How could he be here?

Yul Li pushed aside her tangled hair. It wasn’t a mistake. Je Ho was indeed there. Seeing him, her legs buckled from relief. Je Ho quickly caught her.

“Please go upstairs. I’ll handle the rest here.”

Manager Kim, who had arrived at some point, spoke.

“Yes, please take care of it.”
Je Ho supported Yul Li as they headed towards the stairs. Manager Kim, grabbing the sprawled drunk by the collar, quickly handed him over to the club guards who had rushed over. The club atmosphere, momentarily disturbed, soon returned to its usual state with the music blaring.

Returning to the VVIP room, Yul Li collapsed onto the sofa, her legs shaking uncontrollably, her heart pounding wildly from the shock.

“Drink this. It’ll calm you down.”

Je Ho handed her a glass full of whiskey. Despite having had several drinks already, Yul Li silently accepted it and drank.

A wave of tears followed as she set down the glass, covering her mouth with her hand, struggling to steady her ragged breathing. She didn’t want to show her tears to him anymore.

“I’m sorry. I should have come earlier…”

“Come earlier?”

Instead of answering, Je Ho hugged her tightly, stroking her hair and back, trying to soothe her. When her body remained tense, he cupped her face with both hands, kissing her forehead, bridge of her nose, and gently her tear-stained eyes.

Yul Li slowly inhaled and closed her eyes. Je Ho might think she was just stiff from the recent ordeal, but the real reason was different.

The touch of the stranger had been disgustingly offensive, especially when his hand, creeping up her thigh, made her feel nauseous. It also brought back thoughts of Min Woo.

Min Woo hadn’t yet been overly physical with her, just an arm around the shoulder or light hugs. But after marriage, living alone with him, there was no guarantee he’d remain a gentleman.

Had she not reunited with Je Ho, she might have accepted Min Woo at some point. Even in a marriage of convenience, there would be pressure for offspring, and eventually, like many other arranged marriages, they’d end up having children without affection, just cohabiting.

But now, everything had changed since she realized her feelings for Je Ho. Marriage without love would be hell.

To think she’d only realized this now!

She certainly didn’t love Je Ho but was physically attracted to him, and fond feelings were growing. With these emotions, she couldn’t marry Min Woo.

Breaking off the arranged marriage now would cause chaos, and she’d face immense pressure from inside and outside. She might never escape the grasp of Congressman Chae. But she had no choice.

“I need a hug.”

On the verge of tears again, Yul Li wrapped her arms around Je Ho’s neck.

“Hug me so tight I can barely breathe. Please…”

Je Ho obliged, tightening his embrace. Yul Li’s head fell back under the pressure, her tear-moistened eyes slowly blinking.

“It feels like bugs are crawling on me.”
The touch of the still-lingering man haunted Yul Li, evoking discomfort. She grabbed Je Ho’s hand and guided it to where the man had touched her.

“Touch me. Erase that dirty feeling…”

Je Ho raised an eyebrow, surprised by her unexpected request, but complied silently. His touch was like fire, utterly different from before, sending shivers of pleasure instead of disgust.

The man’s touch faded, replaced solely by Je Ho’s. Yul Li lifted her head to meet his eyes, where a slowly spreading flame of passion seemed to lurk.

“I’m not trying to seduce you now.”

“I know,” he replied in a husky voice.

“It’s me who’s seducing you.”

He whispered, almost like a sigh, and pressed his lips against her neck.

Though saying he was seducing her, Je Ho was exceedingly careful, frustratingly so. Perhaps he knew exactly how to seduce a woman – the more cautious and slower he was, the more it made the other person desperate, eventually making them make the first move.

His lips, having lingered on her neck, slowly moved up to her earlobe, cheek, nose, and forehead, but deliberately avoided her lips. Unable to wait any longer, Yul Li tilted her head to kiss him, but Je Ho softly smiled and turned his face away.

She let out a breath of unfulfilled desire, her breathing quickening. Je Ho held her face and leaned her against his chest.

“You’re drunk. That’s why you’re acting like this.”

No, I’m not drunk!

Yul Li buried her face in Je Ho’s chest and shook her head vehemently.

She was more clear-headed than ever, having decided not to marry Min Woo. But Je Ho seemed not to believe her. The scent of whiskey lingered on her, and her face was flushed.

As Je Ho gently stroked her back, she looked up at him sharply.

“Don’t treat me like a child. Don’t pat me like that.”

“How should I then?”

What should I say? She hadn’t thought that far.

As she hesitated, biting her lip, Je Ho chuckled. Annoyed by his seemingly mocking reaction, Yul Li boldly grabbed his hand and brought it back to her body. His eyebrows narrowed at her bold move, but he didn’t pull away.

“You’ll regret this when you’re sober…”

He warned softly as he caressed her skin.

“I’m not drunk.”

“Alright, let’s say you’re not.”

Je Ho leaned in, forehead against hers, thumb gently pressing on her plump lips, whispering softly.

“If I were to go further right now…”

With a simple push, Yul Li’s back hit the sofa. Je Ho, with a leisurely movement, climbed on top of her, his arms enclosing her fragile body, pressing her down gently.

“How far do you think we can go?”