Is This Woman Yoon Ji-won?
Hyun-seo's gaze settled on Tae-yeon with a subtle, unreadable expression as she spoke. Of course, Tae-yeon hadn't taken his words about having a second child at face value either. In the workplace, one had to deal with countless people—good or bad.
Especially at meetings with clients, unless it was about something written into the contract terms, you could say whatever crossed your lips or give a vague excuse to get through the moment.
But the two of them were sleeping together, making love, eating, and raising Yun-woo every single day right now.
Tae-yeon knew it was supposed to be for the sake of having a baby, not just pleasure, yet the more time they spent together in bed, the more she wondered.
Was this really just a contract, or had it become genuine family life?
In the midst of her confusion, Tae-yeon was working hard to stay steady.
And then he had said it so tenderly—
"Tae-yeon-ah, we really should have a second child."
She wanted to know. Was the real Choi Hyun-seo different from what she imagined, or the same?
Her eyes fluttered slightly with complex emotions as she looked up at him.
Hyun-seo climbed on top of her and pressed his nose against hers, rubbing the tip.
"What do you think, Director Min?"
"I... ah..."
Don't ask at all. Then kiss me to stop me from asking— what is this?
Still, the kiss dug in sweetly, his tongue teasing hers until her chest swelled and her lower belly throbbed.
But she didn't want to let him win that easily.
As soon as the kiss ended, Tae-yeon stared straight into Hyun-seo's eyes and said, "I think Director Hyun-seo was just saying what would please the chairman and the madam."
"If we really have a second child, we'll be... real spouses. Not a contract."
She said it while hoping he would like her words and agree to become real spouses.
At the same time, she wanted him to say no and mean it, because she truly wanted him to have a second child.
"You figured it out. What are you asking then, Director Min?"
He proved his understanding by quickly slipping on a condom and yanking her ankle toward him.
With both hands spreading her legs wide, her soft body was laid bare right before his eyes.
"Ha... ah! Ueh..."
His lips devoured her with even more intensity, sucking hard until her tender flesh was stripped away.
No other thoughts remained.
* * *
As spring ripened, the season when the kids wanted to go outside had arrived.
Yun-woo begged every day to go out.
'If it were another family, they would take the kids to a theme park or a trip with their mom and dad.'
Tae-yeon kept telling herself that Yun-woo wouldn't feel cramped in the big garden home, yet the thought still slipped in.
"Still, shouldn't we go somewhere and take a family photo? All we have are pictures from home. This is too much."
That evening, after a long night, Tae-yeon knocked on Hyun-seo's room door.
Remembering how she had once walked into his study and the night had turned into sex, she dressed neatly.
"What's the matter?"
"I have something to say, Director."
"Go ahead."
"It's about Yun-woo. Still, shouldn't we take him to a theme park or somewhere outdoors and capture a photo?"
"Why?"
"Um... families with kids all go out in spring like this. You have to show the baby and the kids a lot of things."
"There's even a news story. Miss Min Tae-yeon can go anywhere."
"Of course, but if there's not even one photo taken at a theme park with Mom and Dad, when Yun-woo grows up he'll wonder."
"Dad just said he was busy."
Hyun-seo didn't seem to agree at all.
Tae-yeon stepped forward, gripping the table, and said firmly, "Let's do it properly. You said you want to raise him in a perfect home. Why won't you cooperate? This isn't my fault."
"So is Yun-woo not perfect right now?"
"Of course."
"Taking one photo at a theme park will make him perfect?"
"It will be much closer to perfect."
Tae-yeon said it proudly.
Hyun-seo tilted his head, watching her steady tone.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Look it up. How can you not take the kids anywhere for a trip until they grow up?"
"Then how about the theme park? Let's go to a villa and take a family photo at a nearby arboretum."
"Oh, great. But can you do that?"
Tae-yeon's sparkling eyes made Hyun-seo reply lazily.
"I hate crowds. Yun-woo can't ride anything at a theme park yet. Let's just take one photo at the entrance of a nearby theme park and go."
"Really?"
Tae-yeon asked with wide eyes, excited.
"To me it looks like Yun-woo wants to go, but it's really Min Tae-yeon who wants to. Do you want to go on a trip with me?"
She wanted to.
Not just the daily bed thing where they called each other Director and exchanged glances.
"That's impossible. Who likes traveling with their boss?"
"I see. Fine. Then let's go to the villa in Gapyeong and take a family photo at the nearby arboretum."
"Great."
Tae-yeon was thrilled. No matter how hard she tried to play it cool, she couldn't stop her lips from curving.
"You like it?"
"Yes, I do."
"If you like it that much, I should have something good for you too."
"Don't you like going on trips?"
Wait, could such a person exist?
"Yes. I don't. What's the point of going somewhere useless, wasting time, taking photos, and all that? I'm just following because you reported on perfect family life. So I should have something good too, right?"
"What would you like?"
"Um... give me Min Tae-yeon coupons."
"What?"
"Five Min Tae-yeon coupons that let me have sex with you whenever I want."
Recently Tae-yeon had been turning him away.
Since the conversation about having a second child, she wouldn't let him near her, wouldn't sell herself, and had blocked him from the bedroom many times.
That time apart had been long, so Hyun-seo wanted to enter her bedroom whenever he pleased.
"Five pages?"
"Yes. Five. No haggling."
"No, this is for Yun-woo. Why me? Three."
Tae-yeon spread three fingers and glared at him.
Hyun-seo stared back, then nodded.
"Deal. Then let's go this weekend."
He was probably doing it right, but it felt stupid.
At the same time he looked happy.
Perhaps it was because of this man that she was truly becoming strange.
* * *
They spent two days at the villa, took photos at the arboretum, and returned.
The very next week was Yun-woo's first birthday.
More people than at the hundredth-day celebration were invited to the birthday party.
Not just the immediate family, but friends of Chairman Choi and Oh Jin-hee, and Hyun-seo's old classmates as well.
Tae-yeon couldn't greet everyone, but she spotted one person she remembered clearly.
The woman from the bathroom at the hundredth-day event who had talked about Choi Hyun-seo.
The same woman who had spoken about Yoon Ji-won.
Tae-yeon went up to Oh Jin-hee and asked quietly, "That lady over there... did you see her at the hundredth-day thing too? Who is she?"
"Ah, Su-yeon? She's Hyun-seo's old classmate."
"Yes."
Then perhaps she would tell me about Yoon Ji-won?
The woman Hyun-seo loved.
The mother of Choi Yun-woo.
But before she could ask, Oh Jin-hee turned and went to greet someone else.
Still, one thing was clear.
Yun-woo's mother was Yoon Ji-won, and Yoon Ji-won was Hyun-seo's university classmate.
They had loved each other, but the woman had gotten cancer and died.
While thinking that, Tae-yeon looked at Kim Su-yeon and their eyes met.
Tae-yeon was startled but smiled gently.
Kim Su-yeon came over, with a stunning woman beside her.
"Happy birthday."
"Thank you."
"She's Hyun-seo's old classmate. I saw her at the wedding once, but I don't think you remember?"
Tae-yeon answered kindly right away.
"I remember. You were there at Yun-woo's hundredth-day too."
"Right. You do remember. And this is my friend. She's also an old classmate of Hyun-seo, and she was away in a foreign country for a long time."
"Yoon Ji-won?"
"Yes. She got married and stayed abroad. She only returned recently, so we came together."
The woman was beautiful like a bright spring day.
As Tae-yeon greeted her, Yoon Ji-won said, "Congratulations on your marriage. We've been married for ages, but we still don't have a child."
"She's Hyun-seo's first love."
Kim Su-yeon's casual words made Tae-yeon even more flustered.
But she smiled professionally.
"Really?"
"I hope you don't get jealous of an old first love?"
"I am jealous. But if it's a stunning woman, I have no choice. It really feels like a first love."
Tae-yeon looked at the woman in front of her and smiled brightly.