One Night with Her (1)
A sudden wave of nausea hit Lee Yena, and Park Siwoo nearly jumped out of his seat.
“Miss Yena, are you all right?”
“Ugh… yeah… I get like this sometimes.”
“Sometimes…?!”
Only then did he realize she had shown the same symptom before today.
Not long ago, during a phone call…
She had suddenly felt queasy then, too.
*She said it was just fatigue.*
He had never heard anyone claim that fatigue alone caused morning sickness. What worried him even more was the obvious possibility.
*Is it early pregnancy?*
He and Lee Yena had been intimate. Although it had been after a night of drinking, he was certain he had used protection. He had checked the night before—there had been an absurd amount of used condoms in the trash.
Therefore, the thought that he had climaxed inside her was impossible.
Yet why did it feel exactly like the first signs of pregnancy?
Park Siwoo asked carefully, “Have you been to the doctor yet?”
“Yes, I went recently. The doctor said it’s just fatigue… ugh.”
She doubled over with another wave of nausea.
Siwoo shot to his feet and hurried to her side.
“Miss Yena, let me take care of you today. You should rest.”
“Eh? I’m fine. The doctor said it’s nothing serious.”
“I’m the one who’s not okay. Please rest today and come to the hospital with me tomorrow.”
“I-I’m really okay…”
“Quickly.”
Siwoo slid one hand into the curve of each of her hips.
“Kyaa!”
Lee Yena let out a tiny, startled cry.
Her earlobes flushed pink in real time.
“Ah…”
For a split second, Siwoo realized what his body had done out of pure worry.
“I’m sorry, Miss Yena.”
The moment he tried to pull away, Lee Yena spoke softly.
“I… like it.”
“Like what?”
“Pick me up.”
She stretched both arms wide, her expression a mixture of expectation and shyness as she looked straight at him.
“…”
Siwoo blinked, then let out a helpless laugh.
He played along and lifted her easily, supporting her hips with both hands.
She was feather-light.
Once she was fully upright, Yena stood on her own two feet.
“Thank you.”
She gave him a bright, sweet smile.
Siwoo said gently, “Go inside and rest now.”
“Mm.”
She nodded and headed toward the bedroom.
Then she stopped mid-step, turned around with a mischievous glint in her eyes, and asked cheerfully, “Do you want to sleep together?”
“I’ll take the sofa.”
“Ehehe, good dreams!”
“You too, Miss Yena.”
With that, Lee Yena slipped into the bedroom.
If she had been herself, she would have insisted on doing the dishes first, but today exhaustion clearly won.
Siwoo cleaned up the wine and snacks instead.
* * *
The next morning.
Lee Yena had set her alarm thirty minutes earlier than usual, determined to visit the hospital first thing. Yet when she opened her eyes, she was already awake.
Siwoo stirred.
“Siwoo-ssi, you’re awake too?”
She had risen before him. She must have stayed up late last night.
“Miss Yena, you’re up so early. Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m usually a light sleeper. Here, eat. I made kongnamul-guk.”
“Thank you.”
Siwoo stood and walked to the dining table, eyes full of concern as he watched her.
Lee Yena placed the steaming bowl in front of him.
“Eat.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll just have a simple salad.”
She was truly the most disciplined woman he had ever met.
She took her own portion from the fridge and set it down at her seat.
Siwoo watched her for a moment, then picked up his spoon.
She never touched her food until she had eaten hers first—out of consideration.
*Slurp.*
Siwoo took a bite of the kongnamul-guk.
Her cooking needed no suspicion.
It was lighter and fresher than any chaehae-guk restaurant he knew.
“How is it?”
“It’s delicious. Thank you so much.”
“Fufu, what’s there to thank?”
Lee Yena giggled softly, then finally picked up her fork.
The meal began.
Siwoo normally disliked eating while talking, but not today.
“Miss Yena.”
“Hm?”
She nibbled her rabbit-like salad while answering.
This shy, unpolished side of her was shown only to him.
“…Finish your food first.”
“Ah, I’m fine.”
Lee Yena swallowed her bite in a hurry.
Siwoo spoke softly, “What time are you going to the hospital?”
“Right after breakfast.”
“Then I’ll drive you.”
Lee Yena waved her hands. “No need. People will stare, and I have an appointment somewhere else today.”
“Then…”
“I’m grateful, but I’ll go alone.”
“Understood.”
With that, Siwoo had no choice but to nod.
After they finished breakfast and washed the dishes together, Siwoo turned to her.
“Siwoo-ssi, I’ll change. You can look if you want.”
“Eh?”
“Fufuhung.”
Lee Yena giggled and skipped into the bedroom.
A moment later she emerged wearing rumpled loungewear and a loose half-sleeve hoodie.
“Does my look give it away?”
She twirled once in front of him, showing off her full chest, slim waist, and long legs.
Even without the mask and hat, her elegant, untouchable presence screamed celebrity.
Siwoo smiled faintly. “You’re beautiful.”
“Ehehe, thank you. I’ll be back soon.”
“Please be careful.”
“Mm. See you in a bit.”
She waved cheerfully and left the house.
Alone for the first time in a while, Siwoo sank into the sofa and turned on the TV.
He had finally planned to watch the news.
*Hmph.*
The news was still chaotic.
One tragedy after another poured across the screen.
It was starting to wear him down, so he reached for the remote.
Right then, one headline caught his eye.
**[Japan’s Premier Conglomerate: The President’s Daughter of Mitsubal Heavy Industries Arrives in Korea Today.]**
The reporter’s voice accompanied a close-up of her face.
Gray, vacant eyes. Dull, colorless hair.
She looked like a half-breed of Lee Yena and Kim Yuna—striking yet somehow empty.
Just living life without direction.
Like a machine stripped of purpose.
*Successor education must be difficult.*
Siwoo watched the screen for a second longer, then switched it off.
At the same moment, his phone rang.
010-XXXX-XXXX.
Unknown number.
But in the entertainment industry, people often kept multiple lines, so he answered even spam calls.
“Hello.”
A slightly accented Korean voice replied.
[Ah, annyeonghaseyo? Is this Guitar Hero’s number?]
A question mark appeared on Siwoo’s face.
If the pronunciation was anything to go by, she was Japanese.
*How did a Japanese person learn my identity? How did they get my number?*
He lowered his voice. “Who are you?”
[I am Ishikawa Mio of Mitsubal Heavy Industries.]
“Mitsubal Heavy Industries?”
[Because Miss Yena loves Guitar Hero so much, I contacted you directly.]
So she was the woman from the news earlier.
“…”
Siwoo exhaled in disbelief.
How had the president’s daughter of Japan’s top conglomerate come to know him?
Before he could process that, loud noises crackled through the line—something crashing, followed by rapid Japanese.
“What’s happening?” he muttered.
Then a cute voice came through clearly in Korean.
[Can you hear me?]
And a voice like an anime seiyuu, sweet and light.
[It’s my first time speaking to you. I am Ishikawa Mio.]
Siwoo was stunned.
*Is it really Ishikawa Mio who likes me?*
This was enormous.
In a country of one hundred million, that meant an enormous pie.
The money K-Pop earned in Japan was staggering.
That was why every entertainment company had desperately tried to secure Japanese capital.
Japan was the first overseas stepping stone for Korean entertainment.
*Is this a chance?*
If everything was true, perhaps he could receive support from the most successful corporation in Japan.
That alone would secure the Japanese market.
*Swallow.*
Siwoo swallowed hard.
At that exact moment, Mio spoke again.
[Can you hear me? I’d like to meet you.]
“But how can I prove you’re really Ishikawa Mio?”
*Ring!*
The phone rang again.
He checked the screen—there was a text message.
It was a photo.
Ishikawa Mio holding a sketchbook with “Guitar Hero” written on it.
*It really is her.*
Siwoo murmured, “Where should I go?”
* * *
[Miss Yena, I have some business and will be out for a while.]
Siwoo had messaged Lee Yena before leaving.
He drove to the hotel.
Because she was the daughter of a wealthy family, he had chosen Korea’s best hotel.
*Never been here before.*
Siwoo felt a surge of pride at how far he had come and stepped inside.
The hotel was in a skyscraper in Songpa-gu.
The largest in Korea, and the lobby inside was breathtakingly bright.
Siwoo wandered the lobby for a moment, then pulled out his phone.
[Where are you?]
[Standing in front of the desk.]
The voice on the other end belonged to her bodyguard.
*Of course. She wouldn’t come out personally.*
Thinking that, Siwoo headed to the desk.
Sure enough, a man in black stood there.
“Park Siwoo-ssi?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Follow me.”
He led the way.
Ishikawa Mio was staying on the top floor.
[You may enter.]
The bodyguard opened the door with a card key.
Siwoo nodded instead of answering and stepped inside.
As expected of a luxury hotel.
After removing his shoes, he entered the spacious living room.
At the same time, a shy voice called out.
“Ah, hello.”
He turned and saw Ishikawa Mio standing with her cheeks flushed, watching him.
She bowed her head like the heroine of a youth drama and said softly, “I’ve loved Guitar Hero’s songs for a long time.”