Spreading fish paste on Summer’s rice, he said,
“I’ll continue to have photo shoots for a while. I’ll shoot a few more ads. If I stop altogether, I might lose my touch. When the baby is born, I’ll take a break and do childcare together.”
“I’ll drive about once a week.”
“Summer.”
Taeseok intentionally put on a firmer expression, and Summer eventually fell silent. But he knew she hadn’t given up.
She’ll find a chance to speak again. Although he could have hired a driver, the idea of long-distance travel itself wasn’t appealing. He had no intention of allowing it.
“I absolutely can’t drive, so give up on that and talk about something else. What should we do about our newlywed house? Just live here?”
Summer felt a sense of ‘just here’ that made the place sound insignificant, as if referring to an ordinary location. Although she didn’t know much about real estate, this apartment was famous for being the most expensive in the country, priced at over 10 billion won.
“It bothers me. Usually, women want to set up their new homes in a new place. Have you thought about a house? Preferably a house, not an apartment? A neighborhood like Pyeongchang-dong or Seongbuk-dong. Yeah, it might be better to have a house when the baby is born.”
No, Summer had no thoughts. Because there was no need to think. Thinking about another newlywed house when they had an upscale apartment of over 100 square meters was absurd to her. It was an idea that Summer couldn’t comprehend.
“I like it here. It’s our first love nest…”
It was strange to explain the obvious. Taeseok, as if not completely convinced, told her to let him know if she changed her mind. They could buy a house right away.
“Well, a house isn’t like beer or ice cream.”
After finishing their meal, they went to bed with a prenatal education fairy tale book. Summer leaned against him as if seeking comfort.
“You shouldn’t lie down right after eating.”
“But you can.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll read books and exercise until I’m about to die.”
“Poor thing.”
“Thanks to that, I can show off my body to you.”
Although she knew he maintained it for photoshoots, Taeseok always talked nonsense in bed. He teased her after seeing Summer’s expression.
“Do you disagree? You know, there are parts that only you see. If you don’t understand well, now is the time to…”
“Enough!”
Hand claps and playful kisses went back and forth. Eventually, the joke ended only after Summer’s two cheeks were reddened. The prenatal education book fell to the floor.
“I’m sorry for not being able to go on a honeymoon.”
Taeseok continued the earlier conversation. It was a sincere remark thrown after the joke.
They gave up on taking a flight.
Although it’s okay now, unforeseen situations could happen during pregnancy.
Having gone through a crisis once, the two didn’t want to risk another danger. Some despair from the early stages of pregnancy still lingered like a nightmare in this house.
“It’s a decision for the baby. I’m really okay.”
“Instead, I want you to buy a house.”
In the end, Summer laughed bitterly.
“Why do you keep talking about selling a 10-billion-won house and going somewhere?”
“Who’s selling? Why sell? We have memories here. We’ll use this place too.”
“We’re barely a family of three, and you have several houses.”
“Do you want a big family?”
He started blocking her again. Summer raised her hand, pretending to sew his mouth shut. Taeseok, pretending to be exasperated, removed the cushion supporting her waist and laid her down.
“Why are you touching my lips? Did you touch them on purpose? Do you want to kiss? Is it a desire dissatisfaction?”
Summer made an awkward expression while narrowing her eyes. There was something to say, and Taeseok’s gaze was fixed on her slightly trembling lips. This is crazy. It’s a limit. What kind of look is this?
“…Oppa, stop teasing me! It’s not just you who finds it hard to endure.”
“Monster. Look at you talking.”
Taeseok grabbed Summer’s chin and pulled her in.
“You don’t really need to endure at least a kiss.”
Their lips met. That burning midsummer afternoon passed, emitting heat.
They checked each detail, making plans for the future.
Only about a month left until the wedding. With no bridal shower or honeymoon to prepare for, the to-do list had significantly reduced, practically focusing only on the day of the wedding.
“Not being able to meet, my friends understand.”
They had scaled back or canceled overly ambitious plans. Since the wedding itself was already a challenging schedule, they decided to rest sufficiently before it. They planned to meet friends after the wedding, during the post-pregnancy period or after the baby was born.
A few friends who really wanted to see them came over separately. Everyone understood Summer’s situation and supported the baby’s health.
“I’ve prepared return gifts, so just give me your friends’ addresses. Even if we can’t meet, we should express our gratitude.”
The gift Taeseok prepared was a luxury bag that cost well over 2 million won. Despite vehemently opposing the idea of going to such lengths, he insisted on giving these modest gifts to friends, arguing that they could afford it.
Modest. A modest bag in the upper 2 million won range.
“They need to realize we’re having an unbelievably magnificent wedding. Friends.”
They decided to meet friends from elementary, middle, and high school, including university classmates. Almost twenty friends who couldn’t meet came to mind. Summer hadn’t even calculated the expenses yet.
“Why is the great Seo Taeseok being smitten by this little one and willingly spending all his money?”
Under the lazy afternoon sunlight, Summer’s eyelids gradually became heavier. Mumbling, she fell into a drowsy state.
“When did I ever ask for anything different? I didn’t say anything……”
Her eyelids drooped.
“So, I want to give you even more.”
“……”
“I want to give you everything, whatever it is.”
Summer’s eyelids finally closed. She fell into sleep.
“Even if I’m looking at you, what can I do if I miss you.”
Taeseok let out a sigh-like breath.
“I love you.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead