Still Newlyweds
We were still newlyweds.
Now I'd done everything that needed doing.
All that was left was waiting for time to pass.
Strictly speaking, it was the company that was insanely busy, not me.
The big picture was all sketched out, and the contracts were signed.
By around next year, the factories we were building all over California would be complete, and the farms under construction would be finished too.
What did I need to do until then?
Just play hard, eat well, and keep my condition in top shape.
Saunter into the shop around lunchtime, show my face to the customers, chat a bit. During break time, trade dumb jokes with Dong-hyun and crack up laughing.
Then head straight home like clockwork to spend time with Lily.
That was the routine. For the foreseeable future, I planned to savor this sweet, peaceful bliss.
"Hiyah!"
"Whoa! Hubby's amazing!"
A battle cry echoed through the middle of the living room.
When she was home alone, Lily would get bored and just roll around scrolling on her phone. But together? There was always something to do.
Lately, I'd started feeling my thighs tremble every night in bed—no, during—and it was giving me a crisis. So home workouts it was.
The exercise? Squats.
Not just any squats, though. Squats while holding Lily in a princess carry, blasting my lower body.
"Hng...!"
My thigh muscles screamed, pulling taut.
Every time I dipped down and came up, my legs shook like aspen leaves, and my face burned like it was about to explode.
A groan slipped out before I knew it.
"Grrraaah!"
Damn. Should've kept up with exercise.
Where'd all that stamina from hauling soy sauce jars back in the day go?
But Lily, cradled in my arms, was thrilled like she'd hopped on some amusement park ride.
"Eek! One more! One more!"
She hugged my neck tight, kicking her feet excitedly.
She should've felt heavy, but her bright laughter somehow gave me a surge of strength.
Guess that's why they say spouses are a man's best friend.
Outsiders might think we looked ridiculous, but to us, it was pure magic—turning nothing into the world's funniest thing.
"Hrngchaa~!!"
I squeezed out the last dregs of strength from my nursing days and pushed up.
"Hubby fighting! My hubby's the best!"
Mwah.
The soft touch of Lily's lips on my cheek.
Aaah, buffing me up even during a workout. I really was one lucky bastard.
Of course, the muscle soreness hitting tomorrow morning? That was future me's problem.
"Aaah... If paradise exists, this must be it."
After the workout, I showered feeling refreshed and stepped out to find Lily waiting by the bed with a long towel.
"Hubby, lie down here!"
I sprawled out on the bed, savoring the pleasant ache in my thighs.
California heat meant I lounged around the house in just loose shorts. Lily rolled up the hem all the way to my thighs and spread the towel underneath.
Squelch, squelch.
A familiar sound.
Aloe soothing gel—the best for calming sun-tanned skin.
Lily squeezed a generous dollop onto my thigh and got to work with a proper massage.
"Ooooh..."
The cool gel hit my burning muscles, sending a thrilling chill racing through my whole body.
With her delicate little hands, Lily gently kneaded my thigh muscles and asked,
"How's that? Cool enough?"
"Yeah... feels incredible."
A woman's touch really was different.
Soft, plush palms gliding over my skin, slick with the slippery aloe. It felt amazing.
Aaah... wife service. I stared at the ceiling in awe.
"When'd you prep all this?"
"Hehe. You said you were gonna work out. They say you gotta loosen up the muscles after, or you'll get sore."
Something warm and fuzzy bloomed in my chest.
I was touched.
Just a casual offhand comment about starting home workouts, and she'd remembered, grabbing gel and a towel ahead of time. Her thoughtfulness was just too damn cute.
Now I got why women melt when guys remember the little things.
Lily kneaded firmly along the muscle grain with surprisingly deft hands.
"But you know how to massage?"
"Nope! Just learned from a YouTube video. For you, hubby."
What was I gonna do with this woman?
Too lovable.
She worked my thighs and calves thoroughly, then knelt at the foot of the bed, pulling my feet onto her lap and pressing into my soles.
"Mmm..."
The cool relief in my feet mixed with the naughty thrill of them resting on her thighs.
Watching her huff and puff with those tiny hands, totally focused, had me grinning ear to ear.
Is this the taste of marriage?
I didn't know from a woman's side, but from a guy's? Lily was wife goals.
Great homemaker, thoughtful, respected the breadwinner, and hell, she even brought in good money.
My first marriage? Ancestor warned me hard, I ignored it, and got burned.
Back then, cursing the heavens—maybe the ancestor went, "Aigoo, you idiot. But you're my blood. Here, a gift," and dropped Lily as payback.
Was it the post-workout testosterone surge?
Or the way she tenderly wiped off the gel with the towel after?
Anyway, naughty thoughts started bubbling up.
Tonight?
Time to switch from service industry to manufacturing?
Wife served me devotedly—now hubby's turn to reciprocate.
Here we go~
I bolted up from lying down and snagged her waist.
"Eek!"
Positions flipped in a flash.
Me on top now, Lily flat on the bed with wide eyes.
"Hng..? What's this?"
She looked totally baffled by the sudden shift.
I brushed her hair back, whispering seriously but playfully,
"Lily, thinking about it... I've been slacking on my efforts lately."
"Efforts?"
"Yeah. Feels like prime time for Ji-hoon Junior—our MK-2."
She caught on, her face lighting up.
Shy but excited, she grinned.
"Really? You'll make a baby with me?"
Lately, she'd been bingeing baby videos.
Even shopping, she'd linger over baby shoes.
She was craving a second kid big time.
I'd never held my own blood yet, so I couldn't imagine the joy, but the hyungs said nothing beat a child's happiness.
We'd gotten checked at the hospital recently—no issues, both healthy.
Meant it was just up to the heavens.
For Lily, who'd been moping those few days, today I had to give 200%.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered,
"Today... you gotta make a baby, okay? Promise."
That mix of teasing and desperation.
I swallowed hard and nodded.
"Yeah, I'll do my best."
I dove deep into her embrace.
We were still a passionate newlywed couple.
Lily and I loved these languid moments.
The "campaign" had kicked off at midday.
Married life: the ultimate workout and peak affection.
Outside the window, dusk had fallen.
I leaned against the headboard, catching my breath. Lily nestled between my legs, her back to my chest.
Regulating our breathing together, basking in the serene afterglow of our intense session.
We fiddled silently with our intertwined hands, reliving the ecstasy.
Languor spread from where our skin touched.
"Hoo..."
I tucked her sweat-damp white hair behind her ear and poked her side playfully. She kicked her feet between my legs, giggling wildly.
"Ah, that tickles! Stop it!"
"You like it."
We bantered with silly pokes and small talk.
Her earlier words popped into my head, so I asked,
"Hey Lily, why the sudden baby fever? We could enjoy more newlywed time. Just us is plenty fun."
She placed my hand on her belly and murmured,
"Hmm... It's the fruit of our love. And... babies are healthier if mom gives birth young!"
Her eyes were dead serious.
She was spot on, a hundred times over.
Just decades ago, popping out kids in your early twenties was standard.
Korea says mid-thirties isn't late anymore—but that's bullshit.
It's biology vs. society. Scientifically, kids come out healthier when mom's younger. Odds plummet past thirty, entering "elderly primipara" territory, yet people deny it with teary excuses. Pathetic.
Why do men instinctually chase young women?
And women preferring rich providers? No need to shame that—it's survival instinct.
Men wanting healthy offspring from young women? Instinct, not sin.
No reason to bash each other's wiring.
But call out late births? They foam at the mouth. Yet hunting rich guys is "realistic." Classic do-as-I-say hypocrisy. Felt like flipping them off: eat shit and shut up, fighting biology.
But Lily was different.
She knew her body best—her albinism genetics.
Desperate not to pass weaknesses to our kid, she wanted to birth young and raise 'em strong.
As her husband, I was grateful... and a bit heartbroken.
Gotta make more money.
Why I wasn't taking dividends yet, reinvesting like mad to scale up.
Not for riches.
For funding foundations researching genetic stuff like albinism.
To erase any hardships for our kids—or Lily—with cash if needed.
Grrrowl—
Silence shattered by thunder from my gut.
Worked out, then "worked out" more—stomach had every right to rumble.
She felt the vibration against her back, looked up at me.
"...Hubby, hungry? I'll rinse quick and make dinner!"
She started to rise, then hesitated, plopping back down.
Worried about washing away the precious "baby seeds." She fidgeted in my arms forever.
Too cute—I chuckled and hugged her.
Grrraaah. Let's move?
"Nah, Lily. Dinner's simple tonight. I'll handle it."
"Huh? Really? I can do it..."
"Just pulling banchan from the fridge. Go shower quick."
I patted her firm butt and nudged her toward the bathroom.
"You're good—go wash up, princess~"
"Hehe, got it! Be right out!"
Lily grabbed a towel and headed in; shower sounds started.
I swung my legs off the bed to head to the kitchen.
But.
Shake shake shake—
"......Huh?"
My thighs quivered like crazy, ignoring my brain.
Squats wrecked my lower body, plus marathon "cardio"—legs jelly made sense.
"Ha... gotta hit the gym for real."
Payback for slacking.
Gripping the wall, barely steadying myself, I vowed.
Tomorrow: up at dawn for a run.
To be a dad? Lower body was life.