Chapter 46

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Rumors
-----------------------------------------------------------------

“Perfect timing. I just finished making my resolution.”

Was it okay for her to be that adorable?

Yi Yeon stared up at him, tiny fists clenched as if to demonstrate her resolve, eyes wide open. She was so cute An Do Hyun nearly bit her. A pleasant vibration rippled through his chest.

“Impressive. You even resolved to pull an all-nighter with me. I’ll go wash up quick.”

An Do Hyun’s lips curved into a playful smile as he gently caressed Yi Yeon’s cheek, her little fist still raised in the air.

A soft sigh escaped Yi Yeon’s lips as her cheeks flushed at his words.

“How can you turn my hard-fought resolution into something so naughty?”

“Want me to turn it into a naughty resolution?”

An Do Hyun plopped down beside her as he spoke.

Like the mattress rippling from his movement, Yi Yeon’s heart fluttered.

Ever since their first night together, Yi Yeon had been sleeping in An Do Hyun’s bedroom.

She’d thought she should sleep upstairs, but he absolutely refused to let her go.

Even when she insisted she’d just grab her pillow from upstairs, he swallowed her right back up.

As a result, the second floor had become nothing more than a dressing room for changing clothes. She couldn’t bear even a moment apart from An Do Hyun.

Turn it into a naughty resolution...

Today, too, An Do Hyun’s bombardment struck her heart dead center.

“So, what’s this hard-fought resolution of yours?”

“Do you happen to know?”

It was a statement without a subject.

An Do Hyun immediately caught the meaning in Yi Yeon’s serious gaze, the playfulness gone from her eyes.

“Yeah.”

“You know what it is?”

“Bullshit rumors?”

He’d heard of false rumors, but bullshit rumors? First time for everything.

He knew everything after all.

“Don’t pay any attention to that bullshit.”

An Do Hyun had known, but he hadn’t mentioned it for fear Yi Yeon would worry.

They were already married and in love—rumors like that were no issue.

The only problem was how to explain it to Gap Su, who’d told them to keep it secret until he could see grandchildren.

“That’s exactly why it bothers me.”

An Do Hyun’s brow furrowed at Yi Yeon’s words.

“We know the truth, but people who don’t will love gossiping. Especially about affairs and mistresses—it’s prime material for them.”

An Do Hyun lay back and brushed Yi Yeon’s hair aside as she chattered on. His touch was gentle, as if her small face might shatter in his hand.

Her bare face looked even smaller than the one he’d seen at the event, makeup and all. He couldn’t fathom how she’d gone around disguised like that.

“Stimulating stuff does draw people in.”

An Do Hyun’s gaze deepened as he looked at Yi Yeon. He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.

“What if... I stopped disguising myself?”

An Do Hyun’s caressing hand paused.

“I’d hate that.”

“We need to nip it in the bud before the rumors get even weirder.”

An Do Hyun scowled briefly, then buried himself in Yi Yeon’s arms.

Yi Yeon stroked the back of An Do Hyun, who had burrowed into her embrace.

They leaned against each other quietly for a while, only soft breaths filling the air.

“I’d hate it so much if other guys started eyeing you—it’d piss me off.”

An Do Hyun’s jealousy was in full swing today, too.

“I don’t like you being trapped in your wounds either.”

She hadn’t chosen disguise because she wanted to.

The real Yi Yeon probably wanted to live happily without it.

“It’s time to let go. Of the fake Yi Yeon.”

There was resolve in Yi Yeon’s voice.

She was notifying An Do Hyun that her decision was final.

An Do Hyun let out a low chuckle at her determined expression.

“That’s not why I blocked all those articles.”

An Do Hyun had been stopping reporters from publishing stories sniffing around his marriage.

He’d blocked them as much as possible to prevent Yi Yeon’s identity from leaking to the press. But now that she was ready to reveal herself openly, there was no need anymore.

“You’re gonna be exhausted from now on.”

“Then shall we enjoy the fame a bit? I’m an expert at that, you know. I quite enjoyed the disguise for those few years. Now I’ll toss the wig aside and bask in the fame as Vice President An’s wife.”

An Do Hyun couldn’t hide his expression, loaded with a bundle of worries.

He stared straight at Yi Yeon, who smiled all the brighter to ease his concerns.

An Do Hyun turned on his side, pulled her close, and propped her head on his arm.

“That damn wig was so stuffy and itchy. And my face is ridiculously small, so the glasses kept slipping down. I nearly lost them countless times! Pushing them up every time they slid was exhausting. Good riddance.”

An Do Hyun watched Yi Yeon silently, even as her exaggerated words trailed off.

Yi Yeon looked cool declaring she’d show her true self so casually, but it also tugged at his heart.

Living as herself should be natural, yet she had to steel herself with a resolution just to think about it.

The thought that she carried all those wounds made a sharp pain stab through An Do Hyun’s chest.

Yi Yeon traced the sharp bridge of An Do Hyun’s nose with her finger. It lingered at the perfectly upturned tip.

Amazed at how even the tip was flawless, she gave it a light press.

The face descending toward her halted, pinched by her fingers.

An Do Hyun’s eye corner twitched upward, interrupted by her fingertip.

“Trying to stop me?”

“Yeah. Why’d you put your hand there?”

Blocking his descending face with her hand had thoroughly pissed him off.

An Do Hyun had come to read meaning into every one of Yi Yeon’s touches, clinging to her love. He was always parched for it. No matter how much he drank, the thirst never quenched.

“Don’t interfere.”

An Do Hyun grabbed Yi Yeon’s hand from his nose and pinned it to the bed beside her.

He left his mark on Yi Yeon’s lips.

This cute, cool girl making her resolution was his.

The mark soon spread from her tempting lips to all over her body.

⋮

That morning, the usual alarm rang, no different from always.

Yet it felt heavier for some reason.

Yi Yeon silenced the alarm and ran her fingers through her tousled hair.

“Whew.”

She opened her eyes with a different mindset than usual.

She’d tossed and turned last night, so even after sleeping, the fatigue lingered.

Yi Yeon rose with a sigh, wriggling out of An Do Hyun’s arms, and headed upstairs to her bathroom.

She’d woken earlier than usual this morning—lots to prepare, but in a different way.

After a quick shower, Yi Yeon finished her basic skincare and reached for her makeup.

Not the eyeliner for freckles, but light foundation and a subtle coral shadow.

She applied foundation matching her skin tone lightly, then filled in the spaces between her neatly groomed brows.

Next came pale coral eyeshadow and a barely-there brown-tinted eyeliner to line her eyes.

Yi Yeon’s hands moved with care.

She curled her lashes with mascara, slathered on colored lip balm suited to her full lips, and tidied her hair.

The suit dress An Do Hyun bought fit her figure perfectly.

The light sky-blue long sleeves and waist belt cinched her waist, making her slim legs look even longer.

Yi Yeon hemmed the skirt just above her knees, then checked the mirror.

Her ears felt bare, so she added simple earrings.

Now, all that was left was heading to work.

She’s really stripping it all away perfectly.

Time to go down to An Do Hyun, who was waiting.

With An Do Hyun by her side now, she planned to let the past flow away in its own time.

She wanted to focus more on the life ahead.

Before leaving the room, Yi Yeon gave herself a final once-over.

She looked like the word “doll” was made for her.

As if such a being didn’t exist in this world.

Yi Yeon, fully prepared, finally opened the door and stepped out.

She stopped lightly in front of An Do Hyun in the living room.

“Ta-da. First day at work.”

It was her true self for the first time, so she boasted it was like her debut.

“We’re in trouble.”

“Why?”

“Everyone’s gonna go blind over Yu Yi Yeon.”

He said it without batting an eye. Yi Yeon covered her mouth shyly at An Do Hyun’s words.

“That... pretty?”

Her already big eyes blinked cutely.

“Nah, I meant they’d go blind because you’re so ugly.”

“What?”

Thanks to An Do Hyun’s morning teasing, much of her tension melted away.

An Do Hyun shot to his feet and wrapped his hand around Yi Yeon’s, who laughed with a delighted sound.

“Let’s go, Secretary Yu.”

Yi Yeon’s lips curved shyly at the title she hadn’t heard at home in ages.

She clasped the hand enveloping hers and headed to the car together.

She gripped the seatbelt tightly with both hands, trying to calm her lingering nerves.

“Haven’t even seen Su Jin yet.”

Appearing like this out of nowhere might startle her, so Yi Yeon picked up her phone.

[Su Jin, don’t freak out. You can’t be surprised when you see me.]

“The car must be in great shape today. We got here too fast.”

“It’s not the car—it’s me who’s in great shape.”

“Why?”

“‘Cause I get to hold your hand going up?”

“Even so, holding hands to work might be a bit much... There are eyes watching. Wouldn’t it be better to go up separately?”

“Haven’t you seen all the married couples holding hands into the office?”

It seemed utterly unlikely.

He just wanted to hold her hand going into work.

The waiting employee opened the passenger door.

Yi Yeon stepped out through the opening.

An Do Hyun, who’d exited the other side, walked over to her. His deep navy suit clung to him today too, flaunting the appeal of his toned muscles.

Yi Yeon took the initiative, slipping her arm through his as he approached.

Her hair, falling prettily at her side, fluttered in the breeze.

“Shall we head in together, Vice President?”