Jinhwa’s hand was softer, warmer, and stronger than Seo Yeon had imagined. This situation of shaking hands and conversing with someone she had admired her whole life felt like a dream to Seo Yeon, as if she were floating on clouds.
Originally, she had planned to say just one thing and then politely excuse herself so as not to be a nuisance, but suddenly she felt greedy.
As if enchanted by something, Seo Yeon gathered her courage and said,
“When I first started playing piano, I nurtured my dream by listening to your performances, teacher.”
At that, Jinhwa’s eyes, still holding Seo Yeon’s hand, trembled slightly. She looked as if she might cry. As Seo Yeon thought something was strange, Jinhwa’s expression brightened as she replied.
“Is that so?”
Jinhwa placed her other hand, which had been in the air, on top of Seo Yeon’s hand.
“Thank you. Thank you.”
Jinhwa’s voice trembled as she spoke. After that, contrary to her original resolve to never bother the teacher again, they ended up talking for quite a long time.
“So you’ve stopped playing the piano now?”
Somehow, she ended up talking about how she quit playing piano. Jinhwa’s expression became incredibly sympathetic. For some reason, Seo Yeon felt sorry to answer affirmatively and hesitated, when Seong Jun, who had been silently listening to their conversation, chimed in.
“She plans to start again soon.”
When did I? Surprised, Seo Yeon turned her head to look at Seong Jun. But despite Seo Yeon’s questioning gaze, Seong Jun merely shrugged his shoulders as if to say “What’s the problem?”
‘He always does whatever he wants…’
As Seo Yeon was sending a dissatisfied look, she heard Jinhwa’s joyful voice.
“Really? That’s wonderful. You’ve made a good decision.”
Seeing such a delighted face, she couldn’t bring herself to say that nothing had been decided yet. At this rate, since she couldn’t lie to the teacher she respected, she thought she might have to start again someday, whether she was ready or not.
As she was pondering this, Jinhwa’s voice came from right in front of her.
“Then, then… When you start again, if it’s alright with you, may I help you in any way I can?”
There was a hint of nervousness in her voice. Seo Yeon’s eyes widened in disbelief at the unexpected offer.
In her previous life, she hadn’t had the thought or luxury to attend Sung Jinhwa’s last solo recital.
But now, not only had she conveyed her long-held admiration, but Jinhwa had even offered to help her first. It all felt like a dream.
“If you would do that, I would be truly honored and grateful, teacher.”
Jinhwa, who had been waiting for Seo Yeon’s answer with a tense face, finally smiled.
Seo Yeon thought it strange that the teacher seemed even happier than herself, who was receiving help, and smiled along with her.
*
On the way home.
Taking advantage of a red light, Seong Jun turned his head to check his wife’s face. A somewhat dazed expression. She had been in that state ever since finishing her conversation with pianist Sung Jinhwa.
“Are you that happy?”
As if to say ‘Do you even need to ask?’, Seo Yeon nodded her head quickly. Finding it cute, a small laugh escaped from Seong Jun’s lips.
He hadn’t known before that his wife was so expressive with her emotions. It seemed she had a passionate side when it came to things she liked.
Then again, without such passion, she wouldn’t have once been introduced in the media as a promising pianist.
Indeed, choosing a piano recital as today’s date location seemed to have been a good decision.
“She seems to have a warm heart as well as skill.”
Seong Jun nodded.
“She certainly seemed like a good person.”
Seo Yeon brightened at Seong Jun’s answer.
“You think so too, right?”
“She really does seem like a wonderful person. The way she greeted us warmly despite it being our first meeting, and offering to help me – it must be because she’s such a kind person.”
Seo Yeon, who had been so delighted, asked with a slightly confused expression.
“But do you think she was sincere?”
Seong Jun was dumbfounded. He recalled the look in Jinhwa’s eyes as she gazed at Seo Yeon with obvious regret when they parted earlier. How could that not be sincere?
“She earnestly asked you to contact her and even pressed her business card into your hand. Did all those actions seem fake to you?”
Seo Yeon jumped at Seong Jun’s words.
“No! How could you say it was fake. I never thought that. It’s just.”
“Just?”
“What if it was just out of courtesy, and I end up bothering her by contacting her without realizing it?”
Seong Jun stared silently at his wife, wondering what she was saying. The wife he knew was a woman who thought of others’ feelings before her own more than anyone else.
As if her life’s greatest concern was whether her actions might inconvenience someone. For such a woman to worry that she herself might be inconsiderate was laughable.
Considering whether to tease his wife a bit, Seong Jun saw her somewhat serious face and decided to play the role of a sincere counselor, just for today.
“From what I saw, she’d probably lose sleep from disappointment if you don’t contact her.”
“Why was she so kind to me?”
“She must have liked you.”
“But we just met today?”
Seong Jun briefly glanced at the puzzled Seo Yeon as he answered.
“You may not understand this, Han Seo Yeon, but there are people in this world who fall for someone at first sight, without reason.”
“…”
Ignoring Seo Yeon’s face that seemed to ask ‘How can such a thing exist?’, Seong Jun continued.
“Why are you hesitating? Since you’ve already taken the first step, why not push a little further? Aren’t you tempted by the title of being pianist Sung Jinhwa’s first disciple?”
Seo Yeon pondered deeply at Seong Jun’s words.
“I’ll have to work hard not to disappoint the teacher.”
Seong Jun’s eyes and the corners of his mouth curved gently. Today was supposed to be their first date since getting married.
Though he felt somewhat bitter about being thoroughly ignored by Seo Yeon, seeing his wife’s excited face made Seong Jun happy too. At that moment, he had a thought. He wanted to keep seeing his wife’s joyful face like today.
“Um… Seong Jun.”
As Seong Jun was surprised by his own thoughts, a cautious voice came from the passenger seat. Seong Jun responded.
“Yes?”
“Thank you so much for today. I had a really great time thanks to you.”
“Didn’t we already finish talking about this earlier?”
At his gruff tone, Seo Yeon replied in a coy voice.
“I’m so grateful that I want to say it again.”
“You keep saying you’re grateful, but it’s just words.”
“Do you want something from me?”
“Why? Will you do it if I say I do?”
Seo Yeon nodded enthusiastically.
“Of course. If it’s something I can do.”
While keeping his gaze forward, Seong Jun reached out his hand to Seo Yeon.
“Hand.”
“What?”
Seo Yeon’s eyes wandered in confusion. After a moment of expressionlessness, Seong Jun turned the steering wheel and said,
“Let’s hold hands.”
Seo Yeon’s cheeks reddened for no reason.
“We’re not children.”
Out of awkwardness, her words came out brusquely. Seong Jun, who had been looking straight ahead, turned to Seo Yeon.
“If you’re not planning to go back on your word, just give me your hand already.”
“…”
Well. Even elementary school kids these days probably hold hands freely when they’re dating. It’s not like we’re doing anything extraordinary, no need to be nervous. As Seo Yeon thought this, she was startled by her own thoughts.
No way, am I nervous about holding hands with my husband? This is ridiculous.
“Here. Happy now?”
Rebelling against her pathetic thoughts, Seo Yeon grabbed Seong Jun’s hand.
Surprised by Seo Yeon’s unexpectedly bold action, a laugh escaped Seong Jun’s lips. As Seo Yeon quietly looked down at Seong Jun’s large hand holding hers, she asked,
“Doesn’t it interfere with your driving?”
She didn’t know why such a thought suddenly occurred to her, but at this moment, Seo Yeon recalled her husband’s final moments.
Perhaps his driving appearance had triggered some kind of trauma for her. Thinking that her question was an attempt to find an excuse to pull away, Seong Jun smiled faintly.
“Why? Worried we might have an accident?”
Seo Yeon added,
“I just thought it might be better to focus solely on driving while driving.”
“You’re talking as if we kissed or something, but we’re just holding hands.”
“That’s the most dangerous thing while driving. I’d like to live a long life, so please drive safely.”
“Alright. I’ll drive you safely to the very end, Han Seo Yeon.”
Seo Yeon replied a beat late.
“Drive safely even when I’m not around.”
After saying that, Seo Yeon immediately turned her head to gaze at Seong Jun. And her eyes, taking him in, began to tremble slightly.
In truth, she still couldn’t believe it. That Seong Jun, so healthy right before her eyes, would be gone in an accident two years later. Of course, she had no intention of letting her husband go like before, but she wanted to start giving him little warnings from now on.
‘He’s going to be the father of our child, I absolutely won’t let him go.’
But Seong Jun, oblivious to Seo Yeon’s anxious feelings, didn’t respond to her words.
He seemed to think it was a topic that didn’t require an answer. Instead of replying, he tightened his grip on Seo Yeon’s hand a little more. By now, her hand was intertwined with his.
‘Ah…’
As if that wasn’t enough, he began to caress every part of her captured hand with his own. A ticklish, tingling sensation spread from her fingers throughout her body.
It was at that moment that Seo Yeon’s closed lips trembled slightly. Earlier she had chided him about holding hands like children, but now Seo Yeon felt as if blood was rushing to her ears.
______
In This Life, I Won’t Be Foolish To Lose You Again (Female-dominant)
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]