Thrilled by Madness - Chapter 91

After breakfast, the adults left for the hot spring village with Hyunwoo.

Harrison Hot Springs is a hot spring area about a 2-hour drive from Vancouver. Everyone quickly put together a 1-night 2-day plan and hurriedly set off for the place.

In fact, it was the adults’ thoughtful consideration to let Seo Jun and So Yeon have time alone to discuss their future, rather than to enjoy the hot springs.

After seeing off Hyunwoo and his parents, Seo Jun and So Yeon returned home and came to the living room.

So Yeon handed Seo Jun some honeysuckle tea she had brought from the kitchen and casually asked,

“How’s your stomach? You seemed pretty drunk yesterday.”

“Why, did I make some mistake?”

So Yeon let out a heavy sigh, her slight tickling expectation completely shattered by his indifferent words.

“You don’t remember?”

“Well…”

“Huh…!”

So Yeon looked at Seo Jun with a crooked gaze. It was because of Seo Jun’s nonchalant attitude, which was so different from the hot and passionate night before and the lukewarm temperature now.

Oh, this is too much!

I’m the fool for getting excited about his suggestion to date!

He hasn’t said anything since this morning until now, was it because he doesn’t remember? Did this man really have a blackout?

“If you’re done drinking, give it here!”

So Yeon, in a sulky state, snatched the teacup from Seo Jun’s hand and went to the kitchen.

Her heart had been pounding until now from his confession last night. All her efforts to make eye contact with Seo Jun now felt foolish. After all, he didn’t even remember what he had said himself.

“Tch! What dating…”

Standing in front of the sink, washing the teacups with a clatter, So Yeon pressed her pouting lips tightly. Her eyes, full of disappointment, were now even reddening. She was very upset.

The day after tomorrow was Hyunwoo’s birthday.

On that day, they planned to have a modest dinner party with just a few close acquaintances.

As the engagement ceremony would be held in Seoul, So Yeon recalled Yeon Hee’s words that it would be an opportunity to introduce them and a farewell party for Hyunwoo. She deliberately tried to shift her thoughts in that direction.

As she finished washing the dishes, pondering how to organize Hyunwoo’s birthday party and what food to serve, So Yeon was about to turn around after turning off the water.

Whoosh!

“Oh my!”

Partly startled, but also lifted in the blink of an eye and seated on the sink, So Yeon leaned back, pushed by that unique oppressive atmosphere. Then, Seo Jun, who had moved forward just as much, looked down at So Yeon with his tall stature.

“…”

“W-why? What, do you have something to say? W-what’s going on?”

So Yeon, who couldn’t help but expect again even though her expectations had just turned to disappointment, stammered quite a bit.

Regardless of how the situation had turned out, she was just dying to see him again when he wasn’t visible, but trying to pretend otherwise with her rough tone made her tongue-tied.

Perhaps it was somewhat amusing to him when she, who didn’t seem like she would at all, would occasionally sting. Seo Jun stretched his lips sideways into a grin.

“Are you angry?”

“W-why would I be angry?”

“Then what’s with this expression?”

Seo Jun, who had pointed out So Yeon’s face full of discontent, lowered his head.

“Move, move! I’m not in the mood for this!”

He was a man with no middle ground, not only different from last night to today but also accomplishing whatever he set his mind to immediately.

So Yeon, her eyes wide open, pushed hard against Seo Jun’s chest, who was standing between her legs. However, Seo Jun narrowed the gap even more and tightly embraced So Yeon’s waist.

“See? You are angry.”

“So what if I am? You don’t even know why.”

“Why wouldn’t I know?”

“Hmph, forget it!”

“But I don’t want to.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can just answer as you ask, but Eom So Yeon will be extremely embarrassed. Still want me to say it?”

So Yeon’s sudden silence was due to his deepened gaze and low voice at that moment.

“I have nothing to be embarrassed about. What on earth…”

“Why are you doing this when you know? Why don’t we finish what we left unfinished last night, without regrets?”

“What do you mean by what we left unfinished last night? What…”

Could it be… he’s talking about falling asleep while kissing?

Her clear eyes, which had been staring intently at him, wavered. Her lips, which had been chattering earnestly, suddenly stopped moving.

Her heart, which had been upset and sulky, seemed to soften instantly. Her small pouting lips now held a shy smile as if it had never happened. She felt like she had become a single-celled organism. Isn’t this man the only one who can make her complex self so simple?

A beaming smile spread across her entire face in an instant.

“Weren’t you saying you couldn’t remember?”

“Are you crazy?”

Seo Jun scattered his lowered gaze and mischievous smile all over her small face.

“I was so excited. I liked you so much. Twice.”

“Huh…!”

I’m the crazy one!

So Yeon’s face instantly turned bright red as she realized she had completely fallen for the trick of this sly fox.

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During the day, the little guests invited to the birthday party came and went.

Following that, the hands preparing for the garden party were busy without a moment’s rest. As the evening approached, acquaintances invited to Hyunwoo’s birthday celebration and farewell party began to gather at Professor Eom’s residence.

“I seem to be the latest. The hospital work ended later than expected.”

“Hospital work is always like that, isn’t it? But you’ve arrived just in time.”

As the last group of guests entered the foyer, Eom Eun Hyuk moved with them to the garden terrace.

The people gathered at the well-prepared outdoor table were doctors who had been living like family with Professor Eom in Canada and their wives, all of whom had been very fond of and cherished Hyunwoo, adding more meaning to the farewell party.

Of course, everyone knew well that this gathering should be kept secret.

When extending the invitation, Professor Eom had casually requested that today’s event not be made public, explaining that Hyunwoo’s biological father was quite a celebrity. As such, everyone had gathered here curious about who the child’s father might be.

“Well, now that everyone’s here, let’s introduce ourselves. This person is…”

Professor Eom introduced Chairman Tae and his wife to the guests while subtly revealing that Tae Seo Jun was Hyunwoo’s biological father.

Everyone offered congratulations and praises without reserve. However, their wide-open eyes and gaping mouths couldn’t find their place for a while.

It was because they immediately recognized who Chairman Tae was with his extraordinary aura, and Tae Seo Jun with his unparalleled handsomeness.

To be more specific, they were surprised once by the news that Professor Eom, a medical doctor who had lived only for medicine, was forming an in-law relationship with Chairman Tae, one of Korea’s top conglomerates. They were surprised again by the news that Tae Seo Jun, a member of the royal family and a top star, would soon marry Eom So Yeon, a rookie actress from an ordinary family.

It might be very bewildering to accept this tremendous fact itself, but that was resolved by the flowing time and Chairman Tae’s boisterous conversation.

It took less than 10 minutes for the dumbfounded people to create an atmosphere of enjoying their meal with light jokes and laughter mixed with Chairman Tae.

Vancouver’s summer, touching autumn.

The nights during this season are much cooler than the days. But today, the evening breeze was warm. Moreover, the scent of roses blooming in late summer heightened the excitement of the party, making it seem like there couldn’t be a better day.

As everyone was happily eating, drinking, and chatting, no one noticed the mischievous child hiding under the table. Except for the gazes of two people who had been discreetly watching their son all along. Seo Jun and So Yeon had been observing Hyunwoo’s movements under the table for a while.

“It’s way past Hyunwoo’s bedtime. What should we do?”

“Shall I get him out?”

“I’d be grateful if you would.”

When So Yeon gently requested, Seo Jun chuckled.

“Huh, what’s there to be grateful for? It’s only natural that I step in for my son’s matters.”

“Alright, now’s the time!”

“You little rascal!”

Seo Jun quickly reached his long arm under the table as soon as So Yeon signaled that she had sensed Hyunwoo fidgeting at their feet.

“Eek! I’m caught!”

It was at that moment when Seo Jun’s hand seemed to grasp the child’s clothes.

Hyunwoo, with his playful spirit activated, simultaneously escaped Seo Jun’s grasp and from under the table, moving like lightning to the outside of the terrace. Then, like a squirrel, he quickly ran to the back of the garden, swiftly disappearing from people’s sight.

“Oh, my!”

“What if he falls like that? Quick, go catch him!”

“Such a small thing, but so fast?”

“Isn’t Hyunwoo just too cute?”

Ho ho ho, hehe.

Everyone was busy laughing as they watched Hyunwoo run away. Meanwhile, Seo Jun moved his long legs quickly, closely following the child.

A few minutes later, Hyunwoo, who was promptly caught and brought back, looked quite disheveled. His clothes and face were covered in dirt, probably from crawling on the ground while trying to hide.

So Yeon, who bit her lower lip as if scolding the child, stretched out both arms towards Hyunwoo in Seo Jun’s arms.

“Come here.”

“Hyunwoo doesn’t want to sleep!”

But Hyunwoo clung tightly to Seo Jun’s neck, trying his best not to be separated from him.

“Still, you need to sleep early to play again tomorrow. The crow might ask to be friends, mom will wash you, come here.”

“No!”

“Hyunwoo, you should listen to mom.”

“No, no!”

So Yeon tried to gently persuade the child in a motherly manner, but it was of no use.

“Then, shall this grandfather put you to bed?”

“That’s right. Our Hyunwoo likes it when you read him a book, so that would work.”

Yeon Hee added a word to Eom Eun Hyuk’s suggestion and tried to separate Hyunwoo from Seo Jun, but the child only burrowed deeper into his father’s broad embrace.

“No, no, no!”

Yeon Hee and Eun Hyuk, who had never seen Hyunwoo being so stubborn before, exchanged embarrassed looks with Chairman Tae and his wife.

It was then.

Seo Jun, firmly embracing Hyunwoo with both arms, said,

“Please leave Hyunwoo to me. So Yeon, could you please prepare some clothes for the child to change into?”

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Seo Jun took the fussy Hyunwoo to the bathroom and began to undress him.

But the process wasn’t smooth.

“No, no.”

Although it might be natural since they were father and son, Hyunwoo, who had to entrust his body to Seo Jun, stood still against the bathroom wall, not moving an inch.

“I’ll wash you quickly, come here.”

At least when Seo Jun reached out his hand, Hyunwoo moved a little with hesitant gestures. Not missing that moment, Seo Jun grabbed Hyunwoo as if catching him and quickly removed his pants and t-shirt.

“Eek!”

But Hyunwoo tightly grasped his last remaining underwear with both hands and struggled with Seo Jun. He absolutely didn’t want to lose that one piece.

“Why? Are you embarrassed?”

“Yeah.”

“Even though we’re both men?”

“Yeah.”

Even a young child has a sense of shame. Newly realizing this, Seo Jun couldn’t hold back a chuckle that escaped. Seo Jun, raising his thick eyebrows in a round shape, asked patiently.

“How about this? If daddy showers with you, you won’t feel embarrassed. What do you think?”

“Uh…”

After rolling his black, round eyes a few times, Hyunwoo finally seemed to make up his mind and nodded.

“Okay. So we’re bathing together?”

Seo Jun took off his shirt and approached the child. At that moment, Hyunwoo’s eyes expanded as large as they could, as if his eyeballs might pop out.

“Hup!”

Covering his mouth with both hands, Hyunwoo looked back and forth between himself and his father without making a sound. From height and size, there was no comparison, but the difference between his soft body and his father’s body that looked as hard as a rock was like heaven and earth.

It might seem too surprising, but to Hyunwoo, his father looked the biggest and coolest among all the men he had seen.

“This is what a man looks like. You’ll become like me when you grow up.”

At Seo Jun’s words, Hyunwoo puffed up his reddened cheeks, convinced that no one could beat his father’s tremendous presence.

‘You don’t even have a dad, right? Such a tiny thing acting up!’

‘….’

Hyunwoo suddenly remembered.

The kindergarten friends who looked down on him for not having a father. And himself, who couldn’t say anything because he was indeed smaller than those children.

“Really? Will Hyunwoo become like mister when he grows up?”

“Of course. You resemble me too much.”

“…”

Don’t make me laugh! Our dad is much cooler than your dads! He’s as tall as a giant! When I grow as big as our dad, I’ll teach you all a lesson!

Even though he only shouted this in his heart, Hyunwoo was excited.

Perhaps men connect more when they even open up their bodies. Until he was cleanly washed and wrapped in a fluffy towel, Hyunwoo obediently followed Seo Jun’s touch with tightly closed lips.

The father’s place that was always empty and taken for granted.

Hyunwoo was immensely happy that the once hollow place was now fully filled as he bathed with his father.

After leaving the bathroom, Seo Jun laid the child on the bed and patted him to sleep.

Hyunwoo, who fell asleep in a moment, was tightly holding his father’s large hand. Seo Jun watched Hyunwoo with deep eyes until the strength of the small hand holding his finger loosened. And while caressing his son’s small hand, he made a firm promise.

I’m sorry for not knowing about you, son.

But now, I will never let go of your hand.

No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side.

This father will protect you.

That’s what he promised.