Too Natural to Be an Act

It felt as though she was buying the second volume of her life. No—she hadn't been reborn or anything, and yet this sense of living an entirely new life left her feeling dazed and unmoored.

'Yes. Come here. I don't want to leave you alone.'

Chaeyoon murmured the words blankly under her breath, pressing a hand to her forehead.

Until just recently, Taejun had always been an indifferent man.

Not a single tender word, and he rarely reached out his hand first. She had known he was a busy man, so she had swallowed down her disappointments and carried on. But the Taejun of late was so unfamiliar that it bordered on baffling.

What was truly strange, though, was that his tenderness never felt forced.

It was so natural that it only deepened her confusion.

It was the kind of change that made her wonder how a person could transform overnight.

Chaeyoon slowly bit her lip.

This was what she had wanted, and yet…

"It's not that he lost his memory—did his brain just break or something?"

The suspicion felt almost reasonable. What else could explain it?

"How can a person change this much?"

It was good, but it wasn't good through and through.

First things first. Get out of the house.

It seemed she would have to take a closer look at Taejun today. Until now, an awkward discomfort had kept her from even meeting his eyes properly. But clearly, she needed to observe him more carefully.

Something was definitely a little off. Even so, Chaeyoon dressed up to the nines.

It had been a long time since she'd been out, after all—but more than that, this would be her first real, proper date with her husband.

Chaeyoon descended the stairs with her heart considerably lighter. She was nearly to the first floor when she heard laughter.

She wanted to avoid them if at all possible, but it seemed there was no escaping it today.

Her eyes met Minjung's first. Minjung, mid-sip of her tea, lifted her eyelids sharply.

"Anyway, unnie, isn't that just hilarious? I mean, I…."

Jiyoung, chattering away in high spirits, noticed Chaeyoon a beat too late.

"What? Why are you going out at this hour?"

Jiyoung asked with a sour look on her face.

"Yes."

Minjung, who had swiftly scanned Chaeyoon from head to toe, spat out flatly,

"I see it's not a secret getaway this time. Considering there's nothing in your hands."

"Pfft."

Jiyoung, who had been bursting with laughter, snorted audibly before adding,

"Aigoo, unnie. At this point, aren't you getting a little too bold for your own good?"

Jiyoung stared openly and mockingly at Chaeyoon's stomach.

Chaeyoon had wanted to go out in a good mood without making a scene. But it always turned out like this.

These people could never rest until they'd poked at someone's feelings.

For a moment she wondered how she had ever endured living with them. Then came the crushing regret that she had endured at all.

The years gone by had been such a waste. She didn't want to hold her tongue any longer. No matter the circumstance, they would never have an ounce of respect for her or for Taejun.

"I'm not sneaking out anywhere. I'm going on a date with my husband. We'll be back after dinner. Oh, and Jiyoung unnie?"

Eyes narrowed, Chaeyoon stared at Jiyoung.

"I've been thinking this for a while now, but the way you talk makes you sound like such an immature little brat. Anyway, I'm off."

"What? A brat?"

Jiyoung shot up from her seat, sputtering with rage. But Chaeyoon pretended not to hear and walked right past them. It was childish, yes—but somehow deeply satisfying.

The meeting got underway earlier than scheduled, and Taejun found himself glancing at his watch throughout.

By now, Chaeyoon should have arrived.

He had taken every measure to ensure she could wait in comfort the moment she showed up. Even so, an inexplicable restlessness stirred in one corner of his mind. But he couldn't afford to let the meeting slip.

Moon Taemin would never simply hand over the outlets and duty-free business without a fight. He had to be fully prepared for him.

And then there was Moon Taesoo, whose response was impossible to predict.

Unlike Moon Taemin, Taesoo was no pushover. Just as Taejun had become CEO of Royoung Department Store through his own effort, Taesoo had earned his current position as Group Vice President of Royoung Group through genuine ability.

Taejun intended to use this opportunity to seize complete control of Royoung Group's entire domestic distribution network.

Not just the department store, but duty-free, outlets, hypermarkets, home shopping—and Royoung SCM as well.

In effect, he meant to claim the group's entire distribution arm. And to do that, the duty-free opening at Royoung Department Store mattered above all else.

At last, the meeting ended. Taejun headed straight for his office.

Dinner hour had long since passed. His steps toward the office kept quickening of their own accord.

"Sir, Madam is waiting for you."

"Good. Have the meeting materials sent to me tomorrow morning. You can head home."

"Ah—yes, understood. Then I'll be off."

Secretary Lee, reading the room, hurried to pack up and leave.

Taejun stepped into the office. Chaeyoon's back was the first thing his eyes found.

"Sorry. The meeting ran long."

Rising from her seat, Chaeyoon found herself gazing quietly at Taejun without quite meaning to.

Perhaps it was the meeting that had stretched into the late hours—a faint weariness had settled over his face.

"It's fine. I'm all right. But you look tired."

Taejun, who had somehow appeared at her side, looked down steadily at his young wife's face.

Their very first meeting drifted back to him.

He hadn't disliked that face, beaming with an innocence like a child who knew nothing of the world.

Neither had he minded the way she wore her feelings openly, never bothering to hide them.

That small face, with its round eyes rolling even rounder dark pupils as she smiled, had looked just like a little kid's even now. Sometimes she seemed hopelessly naive, but oddly enough, even that had struck him as adorable. Yes—he had found it immensely endearing. As if under a spell, Taejun cupped Chaeyoon's cheek in his hand.

The small face that fit into his palm was unbearably lovely. He rested his forehead against hers and chuckled low.

"What is it?"

To her quiet question, Taejun gave no answer. Instead, he brushed her cheek gently with his thumb, then slowly bent down. Soft lips met in a light touch.

Their lips layered and parted slowly, over and over. It was a kiss without any urgency. The careful brush of contact was so tender that Chaeyoon's heart fluttered with a maddening tickle for no reason at all.

Eyes closed, Chaeyoon swallowed a small breath.

As their breaths tangled, the tips of Taejun's fingers glided down her cheek once more. Without meaning to, Chaeyoon clutched lightly at his collar. His lips tilted at a slow, new angle and pressed deep.

"Mmh…"

This time their lips locked longer, deeper, more lingering.

As the kiss thickened, her body heat surged rapidly. Her pulse quickened, and Chaeyoon's head grew hotter by the second.

"Hah—"

Chaeyoon let out a hot puff of breath, and Taejun drank it in swiftly.

Startled by his sudden urgency, she stumbled backward—and his foot slid into the space between them. An arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her firmly into his embrace. Body pressed to body until they clung like one. Their most private places ground against each other.

"Nngh."

Unable to bear the heightened sensitivity, Chaeyoon let slip a soft, illicit moan. She couldn't think of anything. Only the desperate, singular wish to be held in Taejun's arms.

But she barely managed to remember where they were.

"Tae… Taejun. Wait, just—"

Chaeyoon wrenched her lips from his with what willpower she had left and looked up at him. He was a mess.

And she couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight.

She wanted to spend the night with him just like this. But she clung to the last fraying thread of her reason.

"If someone comes in…"

"…"

Taejun simply looked down at her, flushed and wordless. Her lips were a wreck. Her cheeks burned with arousal. He could tell she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

But she was right—this was the office. Everyone would have gone home by now, yet he had no wish to put her in an awkward position. No—truthfully, he wasn't confident he could stop if they went any further here.

"I know. Everyone's already clocked out."

Gently grazing her lips, Taejun pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

He had to stop here. The pounding of his own racing heart felt strangely unfamiliar to him. But it wasn't unpleasant—not at all.