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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: She's Properly Drunk
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Her jawline, hidden beneath her hair, was soft and delicate.
Her fully exposed face looked even smaller than Do Hyun's hand.
Do Hyun shifted his gaze from her face back to her outfit.
It was clearly the getup she'd been wearing while preparing food for him and Yi Yeon.
Do Hyun gazed steadily at her like that.
Yi Yeon's eyes sparkled in surprise upon seeing him.
Those eyes felt unfamiliar, even after all these years of knowing each other. They hadn't been this bright and sparkling before.
The subtle difference had been nagging at Do Hyun lately.
Seeing Yi Yeon frozen like a statue in her ridiculous outfit made him chuckle again.
She didn't look half bad, diligently cooking and waiting for him like that.
Feeling better, Do Hyun decided to tease her.
It was the first time he'd felt this strange flutter, and it made him feel awkward about himself. Worried someone might notice, he hastily buried the emotion.
The budae jjigae Yi Yeon had made was as delicious as its appetite-whetting aroma.
Before long, empty liquor bottles appeared.
This time, Do Hyun's eyes went to the clothes she'd changed into.
Long sleeves even at home? In this summer heat?
Do Hyun had never seen Yi Yeon in short sleeves. Not even comfortably dressed at home.
'Well, it's not like we've run into each other that much while living together.'
Did she have some scar she wanted to hide?
He asked casually, but Yi Yeon's unexpected answer came back.
She said it matter-of-factly, but the reason wasn't ordinary.
A wolf in uncle's clothing had groped her, and suddenly anger surged up from deep inside him.
Why was he getting so mad?
Strong possessiveness? She was his wife in name only, but they were married now, so it felt like someone had touched his wife.
Even thinking that way, a dull ache lingered in his chest.
"What a pathetic creep, embarrassing all men."
That was the calmest response Do Hyun could come up with.
But then he heard that even her longtime male friend had confessed to her, and his eyebrows shot up openly.
Why were they all swarming her? How overflowing with charm was she that even a guy friend of years had been into her for so long?
Do Hyun's eyebrows bristled wildly as he listened quietly.
One guy, two guys... What if even a third and fourth showed up?
Just show up if you dare.
'Ha, An Do Hyun, what the hell are you thinking.'
Do Hyun unclenched his briefly fisted hand.
He figured these thoughts were just drunken ramblings from the alcohol. By morning, he'd forget them all.
Was it because Yi Yeon had shared her past with him?
Do Hyun found himself chattering to her about wounds he'd never told anyone before—ones he'd buried deep and never wanted to unearth.
It was a secret he'd never uttered, but he felt it was okay to tell Yi Yeon.
'The anniversary's coming up soon.'
His mother's death anniversary was approaching. A chill filled Do Hyun's eyes before he knew it.
Of course, Yi Yeon fell asleep before he could finish telling her.
Oblivious to the world, she'd collapsed defenselessly in front of him.
How was he supposed to move this woman?
Do Hyun ruffled his hair, frustrated by his increasingly tangled thoughts.
He poked Yi Yeon's arm one last time.
As expected, not even a twitch.
Ha. Do Hyun let out a small sigh.
He couldn't drag her up to the second floor, and barging into a woman's room felt wrong.
Before, he would've just left her there and gone to his own room without a second thought.
She'd wake up and find her way eventually.
That's what the old Do Hyun would've done, but his eyes kept catching on the back of her head, lying so uncomfortably.
"This is driving me crazy."
He couldn't give up his own bed, so the only option was to carry her to the guest room on the first floor.
Do Hyun reluctantly scooped her up in his arms.
"You're so light."
He'd clenched his molars expecting some weight since she ate well and seemed gluttonous.
Do Hyun relaxed his jaw.
As he walked to the room, all his attention was stolen by Yi Yeon cradled in his arms. He barely registered how he even made it there....
Through his right arm around her back and his left supporting her knees, her slender body pressed against him vividly.
Do Hyun looked down at the sleeping Yi Yeon.
She slept with the most peaceful expression, utterly relaxed.
The unique scent of her lotion wafted up subtly, tickling the tip of his nose.
Do Hyun entered the room and gently laid the bundled-up Yi Yeon on the bed.
As he set her down, she squirmed uncomfortably before settling into a comfortable position, her lips curving up.
Her oversized hood slipped to one side, revealing her slender neckline.
His gaze halted on her pale, milky skin.
From her delicate jawline to the smooth curve of her neck, as his eyes traced it, Do Hyun's dark pupils deepened.
"She's properly drunk."
Why couldn't he tear his eyes away?
Yeah, she was totally wasted.
Or maybe just a fleeting curiosity.
Do Hyun tried to shake off the nonsense and turn to leave when her glasses caught his eye.
They looked pretty uncomfortable.
Should he take them off? Or leave them?
Why should he care if she was uncomfortable? But his feet wouldn't move. Deciding to just set them aside, he carefully removed Yi Yeon's glasses and placed them on the bedside table.
It was the first time he'd seen her without them.
In the dark room, faint light from the window illuminated her dimly.
Her thick lashes extended long. Her straight nose bridge rose smoothly, and her small lips moved faintly. Why did she look....
So pretty.
Was it because her eyes were closed?
Was this what they meant by celebrities getting that lighting glow? Yi Yeon was getting the full window glow.
"Mm."
Startled by Yi Yeon stirring—though there was nothing to fear—Do Hyun hurriedly closed the door and left.
He squeezed his eyes shut to dispel the alcohol-fueled illusion.
Do Hyun headed to the bathroom, thinking he needed to wash up properly to sober up.
* * *
Yi Yeon buried her face in the checkered blanket and grimaced at the sunlight streaming through the window.
"Mm, what time is it?"
Yi Yeon groped around for her phone.
Huh, but what's with this blanket texture?
Yi Yeon slowly relaxed her furrowed brow. As she gradually lifted her eyelids, an unfamiliar room came into view.
"What?"
Where was this?
Yi Yeon snapped awake.
Ha, last night....
She vaguely remembered feeling sorry for young Do Hyun at the dining table, but why couldn't she recall anything after?
'What the hell happened!'
Yi Yeon fumbled to check her clothes.
Fortunately, her wig and outfit were still on properly.
Looking around the room again, she realized it was the first-floor guest room.
'Did the Vice President carry me here?'
No way.
The Do Hyun she knew wasn't the type to kindly escort a drunk woman to bed.
Did she get too wasted to go upstairs and mistake this for her room?
That was the only possibility. Yi Yeon concluded she'd either crawled in on all fours or stumbled in on two feet.
Yi Yeon turned her head in a circle and spotted her glasses on the table.
When did she take those off?
She shook her head vigorously, deciding not to speculate.
Anyway, what time was it now?
"Work?"
Yi Yeon hurriedly searched for the phone she'd been groping for earlier.
No matter how she patted around, the phone wasn't appearing.
'Ha, must've left it outside.'
Determined to find it, Yi Yeon jumped up and headed for the door.
Wait! What about her state?
She almost flung the door open thinking it was the second floor.
Yi Yeon went to the attached bathroom instead.
In the mirror, her face—rubbed raw against the blanket—had long lost its freckles and spots.
"If I'd gone out like this."
She definitely would've gotten caught.
Yi Yeon put her glasses back on and fixed her hair.
But the problem remained unsolved. There were no tools in this room to redraw her face.
"Has the Vice President left for work?"
She didn't even know the time, or if Do Hyun had gone in!
"What if I'm late?"
No idea!
Yi Yeon wrapped herself head to toe in the blanket, peeking out only her eyes as she rolled them, plotting her path.
'Dash to the kitchen, grab the phone, then dash back upstairs.'
Operation Dash first.
At the door, Yi Yeon squeezed her eyes shut, praying Do Hyun had left already, and flung it open.
As she braced to run, she spotted movement from the sofa.
Her heart sank with a thud.
No way....
"Why are you here? You scared me!"
Yi Yeon whipped around, facing away from Do Hyun.
"Why'd you burst out of the room like that? You scared me too."
Unlike the frantic Yi Yeon, Do Hyun's voice was calm and leisurely.
Who'd expect him to be sitting there?
Operation Dash had failed anyway.
Yi Yeon backed toward the kitchen like a crab, keeping her back to Do Hyun. She snatched her phone from the table and headed for the stairs to go upstairs.
Ha, she was late. She'd woken up right when she should've been leaving.
The clock she'd checked immediately upon grabbing the phone confirmed it.
Her head still spun a bit, the alcohol not fully gone.
"Why the rush?"
Do Hyun's leisurely voice came from behind her.
'But why hasn't he left for work yet?'
"I'll be late like this."
She had so much to prepare.
"No worries with me here."
Right? So that means....
"You mean I can take my time getting ready and come down?"
He'd wait without leaving until she did?
Desperation filled Yi Yeon's voice.
"Didn't you say yesterday Secretary Yu was really heavy?"
Yi Yeon's plea was neatly ignored.
She nearly turned around at his words.
Why did they connect like that?
"Um... Did you carry me? You, Vice President?"
"Yeah."
Do Hyun confirmed it again, making Yi Yeon's ears burn. Imagining being held by him brought a wave of embarrassment.
"Thank you."
Yi Yeon dipped her head slightly then lifted it as she spoke.
"You should."
Yi Yeon responded with an awkward smile and stepped away to prepare for work. But Do Hyun wasn't done talking and stopped her.
"I'll make breakfast instead of budae jjigae, so take your time and come down whenever."
It was a tempting voice, inviting her to exploit the high-and-mighty Do Hyun to her heart's content.
