Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Flirtation Role-Play
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‘What should I do?’
Her heart was trembling.
Contrary to her bold declarations, Yeonhui was inwardly flustered.
‘This is my chance!’
The inspiration that hit her the moment she heard Jo Simhyang's request.
It was an opportunity to flirt with Yi Se-woong to her heart's content.
Things had gone smoothly up until she rode the momentum and set the stage.
‘Uh, what should I do?’
Her eagerness had propelled her a step forward.
But now that she was actually trying to make her move(?) on Yi Se-woong, her head was spinning. Still, she couldn't let it show. This time, she had to fully convey her charms to him!
‘There are too many women after darling!’
For example, that wench from the Moyong Family who dared to give darling a scented pouch. And Jegal Yeong, who hovered around him all day long under the pretext of work.
Those foolish women were only drawn to his handsome looks, but she was different.
His deep baritone voice that rumbled like an echo in a cave, his attentiveness in listening to others. His exceptional martial prowess paired with humility that never boasted. If asked why she liked Yi Se-woong, she could go on until the sun set.
She had completely forgotten that she herself had been dazed by his face for a good while when she first saw him.
‘I can do this!’
Yeonhui circulated her heart method to steady her mind for a moment. As the familiar thunder energy flowed through her body, she felt a bit calmer.
“Alright, darling. This place is now a quiet alley. Got it?”
It was a kind of role-play.
By spreading her arms to indicate the surroundings, she turned this into a seldom-traveled alley. She pretended to walk, and Yi Se-woong played along beside her.
“Listen carefully, sister. Women shouldn't approach rashly first. The key is to make the man want to come to you, right?”
“Yeonhui. Where did you even hear something like...”
“Darling, shh! Focus!”
Yeonhui warned Yi Se-woong and continued the act. The two walked side by side. She cupped her hands to her mouth and blew.
“Ah, my hands are so cold∼.”
“......”
“Isn't there anything warm around?”
Awkward acting. The stiffness infected Yi Se-woong for a moment, but at Yeonhui's glare, he quickly jumped into character.
“Yeonhui, are your hands cold?”
“Yes, darling!”
“Can't have that.”
Yi Se-woong reached out and took her hand. She beamed and naturally leaned on his shoulder. Soon, she locked pinkies with their clasped hands.
“See? When a man musters the courage to approach, you have to give him a proper reward!”
“Like that?”
“Of course. Think about it, sister. He steels himself with a pounding heart to hold your hand, and you lock pinkies. Wouldn't that feel rewarding? Heart-pounding!”
‘It's working.’
Though she'd half-forced Yi Se-woong into it, Jo Simhyang was listening intently with an impressed look.
“How about it? Darling. Heart fluttering, right?”
“......”
Yeonhui drew even closer, pressing right up against him as she looked up. For a moment, he felt his heart thump in his chest. But he decided it was just a natural reaction to the sudden closeness.
“Darling?”
“Yeah, it's fluttering.”
“Really?”
“Sure.”
Jo Simhyang let out an "ooh" of admiration, her eyes sparkling.
Yi Se-woong was going mad. And this was just the beginning.
“The tricky part is, you can't just wait forever! You have to know when to approach first at regular intervals.”
Yeonhui took a few steps back from Yi Se-woong and continued her explanation.
Tap, tap.
She closed the distance again. Approaching him hurriedly, she suddenly pretended to trip over something. As she lost her balance and fell, Yi Se-woong bent down to catch her. Good thing he made it in time. As he sighed in relief, something soft touched his cheek.
Mwah.
Softer than a ripe tangerine, moister than morning dew.
Yeonhui's lips.
“Kyaa!”
“Y-Yeonhui?”
“Sorry, darling. I tripped on a stone and...”
Jo Simhyang's cheer, Yi Se-woong's fluster.
Yeonhui winked playfully with one eye.
The three elements harmonized perfectly.
‘I-I did it!’
No matter how composed she tried to act. Her heart was already pounding like a drum. She was afraid the sound might reach Yi Se-woong.
She'd said she'd teach how to make hearts flutter, but she'd stepped right into her own trap.
So what?
Sister can take notes herself!
Yeonhui resolved to indulge her own feelings fully.
“Darling, it stings like I got scraped somewhere. Could you take a look?”
“Where?”
Yeonhui pointed to her nape. Worried she might really be hurt, Yi Se-woong checked her neck.
‘No scratches or anything?’
As doubt crept in and he looked at her, she smiled shyly.
“Hehe, now our eyes are at the same level like this. Facing each other... feels nice.”
“......”
“Did I make your heart flutter by kissing your cheek? Too bad!”
Yeonhui's momentum was like a horse with the reins cut loose.
Yi Se-woong had no choice but to desperately play along as she led. By midway, he seemed half out of his mind.
‘I can't take this anymore!’
Yeonhui was outrageous. Using Jo Simhyang's pure wish to get closer to her husband as a shield for this.
Fine, let's see how you like it!
A wall was nearby. Yi Se-woong reached out, propped against it, and pressed his body against hers, cornering her toward the wall.
Thud!
Trapped against the wall. His arms and shoulders blocked left and right, leaving no escape. He looked down at her and whispered.
“Darling...?”
“Stay still.”
His rough voice burrowed into her ear. Her legs went weak. What now? Should she close her eyes?
Yeonhui barely suppressed her racing heart and surrendered to Yi Se-woong's rampage. His face drew closer, his hand approaching as if to touch her any second. Their breaths grew ragged in the heated moment—
“A-Are you serious?”
“......”
“Darling, any more than this... N-No!”
It was practically done. She'd kept provoking like he wouldn't take the bait anyway, but when Yi Se-woong actually stepped up first, she crumbled pathetically.
“There seemed to be a bug on the wall.”
“Ahaha, I see. I almost misunderstood!”
The two hurriedly defused the situation. But their voices were too flushed with excitement to hide the lingering heat.
Clap, clap!
“You two are really overflowing with chemistry!”
Jo Simhyang clapped without thinking. She was purely impressed. Admiration even gleamed in her sparkling eyes. Having gotten too immersed in the two, her own face was red as a persimmon. At the sight, the pair hurriedly pulled apart.
“S-So, how was it? Sister. That should be plenty to learn from, right?”
“Yeah. So just pretend I'm not here and keep going.”
“Oh come on. You're embarrassing me!”
Yi Se-woong could only resent Yeonhui, who now blushed and acted shy after having her fill.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It was dangerous.
At first, he'd planned to just go along moderately with Yeonhui. He felt sorry for Jo Simhyang, who'd looked dejected because of his slip-up. And he'd benefited a lot from her when he met Namgoong Jin before.
‘She's dead serious today, huh?’
Yeonhui's momentum was unusual. Her seduction started with awkward acting but grew more natural and intense with each repetition. Not in a sexual way, but in terms of embarrassment factor.
‘How has he held out until now?’
The coquettishness she'd thrown at him before, begging to be held, seemed like child's play. Yeonhui acted without hesitation. He hadn't realized she could be this aggressive.
‘I'm going crazy.’
The problem was, he didn't hate it. His heart, pounding so loud it seemed audible.
Mwah.
From the moment Yeonhui's lips touched his cheek. It had accelerated wildly.
‘She wants to do this for real?’
His mind was a mess.
Yeonhui kept flirting up close. Did he have to keep taking her attacks like this? He wanted to shatter that relaxed expression on her face, cheeks flushed red.
Thud!
He pinned Yeonhui against the wall. She stopped resisting at his "stay still," seemingly resigned. Her downcast eyes hid her shyness. Her lips glistened moistly, as if glossed. That defenseless sight stirred an irresistible impulse.
“N-No!”
Yeonhui's desperate cry. It helped him regain his senses. Had he gotten too immersed in the ongoing role-play? Or drunk on the sweet atmosphere. It was a relief.
“You two are really overflowing with chemistry!”
Except he'd forgotten Jo Simhyang was watching.
Why did that happen?
Only after being left alone in the room did regret flood in.
I want to die.
Putting on a public display of affection with Yeonhui in front of others was social suicide. He couldn't forget Jo Simhyang's sparkling gaze as she watched them.
‘How am I supposed to show my face!’
Ah, whatever. He didn't want to run into anyone from the Namgung Family for a while. If Jo Simhyang blabbed about that spectacle to anyone, he wasn't sure he could keep living.
“You. Er, no. Brother-in-law. Long time no see.”
But life doesn't go as planned.
Not even ten minutes after resolving that, he ran into him.
Jo Simhyang's husband and Yeonhui's third brother, Namgoong Jin.
“Yes, brother-in-law. How have you been?”
“Well enough. Nothing much on my end. Well, there is a bit of a problem.”
“A problem? Is that why you sought me out?”
“You could say that. Spare a moment?”
What's this guy's issue now?
Fine, he's already here. Might as well hear him out.
“I heard from Second Brother. After receiving your help, our marriage grew even stronger, and we're expecting our third child.”
“.......”
“I was arrogant enough to yell at you like you were beneath me, but shamelessly... I came because I have a favor to ask.”
No way.
Tell me it's a lie.
I listened quietly to Namgoong Jin.
“My wife is too good for me. I'm utterly hopeless at this sort of thing... I couldn't make her as happy as the love she gives me.”
“......”
“Seeing how you cherish Yeonhui, I realized. Seeing her happy like that... isn't that the right way a husband should treat his wife?”
“......”
“Could you tell me? The courage to love your wife without caring about others' eyes. The secret to it!”
Yeah. So this is what I think it is, right?
Jo Simhyang wanting her husband to take the initiative. Namgoong Jin wanting to take the initiative with his wife.
You two were actually on great terms.
You love and treasure each other so much that you even come to a much younger guy like me for advice. That close.
Why come to me?
You shouldn't have.
I didn't need to put on that shameful display for an hour in front of Jo Simhyang. You two could just have an honest talk. What's with the lack of communication between husband and wife? Is marriage a joke? Is love child's play?
‘Namgoong Jin, you've humiliated me.’
It's all this guy's fault. A Namgung Family son who can't even express himself to his own wife, causing this mess?
I'll pay back every bit of humiliation I suffered.
“Do you have the resolve for it, brother-in-law?”
It was time for revenge.