Chapter 64

Did I put too much emphasis into that announcement? Even Yebin, who had been chatting with someone else near Haena, jumped in surprise and turned to look at me. Haena nuna's face, which had been full of irritation, was now flushed with shock.

"...What?"

The guy asked again, as if confirming he'd heard right. Haena nuna grabbed my arm, trying to stop me, like she knew exactly what I was about to say. But I ignored her restraint and glared right into the eyes of that vice president prick.

"I'm Haena's boyfriend. If you keep sticking to her like a leech, I'll show you your sister squealing under me. Curious? Keep leeching and find out."

I plastered on my most sinister Golden Sun smirk. The ultimate chill super alpha-male, Golden Sun Kangmo Im. Damn, I've leveled up.

Right as I was exuding that badass aura—

Thwack!

My vision flashed white for a second.

"You crazy bastard!"

Haena nuna's voice boomed around us, making the whole area feel like an ice age had hit.

In the car heading home, I sat next to Lea, who looked utterly confused, pressing an ice pack to my face for a cold compress. My eye was swollen shut like a black-eyed pea.

"Oppa, you okay?"

Hearing Lea's worried voice made even the pain feel better. Heh heh heh. I stroked her head and said, "I'm fine."

Lea tilted her head with a big question mark on her face. "Then I can't sit on your face until you're all better?"

"Ahem..."

Caught off guard by her bouncy comment, I mumbled, "That should be fine, right?"

"Yay! What a relief!" Lea cheered happily.

That was her worry? Despite Lea's antics, Dana imo was unusually quiet, just staring at her smartphone instead of jumping in with some sex joke like usual. We were riding back together like on the way there: me, Dana imo, and Lea in one car. Yebin and Haena nuna had gone separately.

Right now, being alone with Yebin must feel ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like sitting on a bed of nails for Haena nuna. I could text her to say nothing and smooth it over, but honestly, watching Haena Im squirm was too tempting to pass up. So I'd deliberately told Yebin to treat Haena nuna like 'mom' Choi Yebin would.

Haena nuna's getting grilled hard right now... Heh heh heh.

She'd basically assaulted someone at her own business launch party. Sure, Yebin would handle the cleanup so no scandals erupted, but dodging her interrogation? Impossible.

Yebin had heard my shout too. Haena nuna could play it off as her little brother defending her, but then why hit him? No matter how harsh my words were, striking back was a whole other issue. We all knew Haena nuna wasn't the type to handle things emotionally like that. If it was just because I trash-talked the guy, it'd question her business chops. If not, there had to be another reason—and Yebin, ever the sharp corporate chairwoman, would sniff out that something was up between us.

Of course, that was from Haena nuna's clueless perspective. Yebin already knew about us to some extent, and it wasn't an issue for her at all.

As I mulled that over, a text pinged from Haena nuna.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Sounded serious. I replied, [What's up?]

Instant response: [Should I just say it?]

I knew what she meant but played dumb: [Say what?]

Her reply was lightning-fast: [Our... relationship...]

Just four words and three dots, but packed with agony. Why are you so cute, Haena Im? Her punch packed heat, though. Not just spicy—pure x500 Cheongyang chili.

I'd thought it wouldn't matter much, but seeing her agonize like this, trying to get official family approval, made my heart race unexpectedly. Like, who cares about formal recognition? But actually getting it? Thrilling. Plus, watching Haena nuna fret over it was irresistible.

Heh heh heh. Hamster Haena sighting after ages?

Just like last card game night, the family sat around the living room table in the same spots. Haena nuna beside me, Yebin across from her.

"...Say it."

Yebin glanced at me nervously, then unleashed her charismatic chairwoman voice on Haena nuna.

Haena nuna trembled unnaturally as she faced Yebin. "...I... I... am... dating... Kangmo. We're... officially together. P... please acknowledge it."

Gone was her usual cool, confident tone—she was shaking, breaths ragged. She barely finished and squeezed her eyes shut.

Dana imo smirked at me, corner of her mouth twitching. Lea looked blank. You do know what 'dating' means, right?

Yebin mouthed at me: 'What... do... I... do?'

I rubbed my bruised eye with an egg. "Yeah, it's true. Please acknowledge it."

Honestly, I wasn't tense at all—this was Haena nuna's freakout. Yebin was my slave, Dana imo knew, Lea... well, she tried acting clueless, but we're family; no talent for it. I just stated it flatly.

Man, my eye throbs. Gotta stop provoking Haena nuna. Though it cleared out that vice president and all the leeches. One eye for banishing them? Worth it.

Haena nuna was super tense—hands clenched on her knees, shaking visibly. Eyes still shut tight. I knew the reactions already, but for her, this was huge.

Her massive chest squished together from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her tensed arms—not just sexy, but cutely so in the moment. Heh, good call telling Yebin to play 'mom'.

This was peak hamster Haena, sexy-cute overload.

The silence stretched.

"Fine... do as you like."

Yebin checked me, I nodded to wrap it up, and she approved calmly.

Lea burst out, "Waaah! So unnie and oppa are gonna be mom and dad?!" Classic Lea. Dana imo just smiled silently. Haena nuna seemed most shocked—herself.

Must've taken guts. She hid it well, but stress city. Her shocked face melted to joy, then— incongruously—tears.

"Sniff... Th... thank you."

Haena nuna and I crashed in her room. Party had drained me; no full sex—just explained my outburst, then some lover's French kissing.

Now officially a couple, no more sneaking for naps here. Maybe crash here permanently?

I dozed off using her thigh as pillow, egg-massaging my bruise.

...

Exhausted from the outing, I passed out dreamless. Woke to Haena Im in my face. Unfamiliar room disoriented me briefly, but morning Haena? Massive win. Mood boosted.

Fell asleep on her thigh, now on pillow—she must've moved ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me. Strong girl confirmed. Eye still hurt. Need compensation.

Haena nuna slept in just undies beside me. I waved hand in front of her face, then reached for her chest. Soft, squishy—always feels amazing.

As I groped and admired, a notification popped up.