Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: House Hunting with Seo-ah
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“Are you two newlyweds?”
“...Pardon?”
The real estate office we'd stepped into to scout out a place for Seo-ah and me to live together.
I'd only ever passed by the agency before, so this was my first time inside. No sooner had I sat down, glancing around curiously, than the male staff member hit us with that question, leaving me flustered.
“Oh, you're not? These days, so many young newlywed couples come by.”
“Ah, ha. We're just a cou—”
The moment I started telling the truth, a sharp stab in my side made my mouth move on reflex.
“...but! We're planning to become newlyweds someday. Ha ha ha...”
It wasn't the pain that made me say it. No, it was the fear of what would come after picking the wrong option—and Seo-ah's icy stare boring into me from the side.
Luckily, it seemed I'd chosen right. Seo-ah's hand gently stroked the spot she'd just pinched, and I let out a relieved sigh.
The inner voice whispering 'Then why don't you say it yourself?' to Seo-ah was unanimously voted off the island and banished to the farthest corner of my mind within a second.
—This jerk's trying to get me assassinated...!
Through a few incidents, I'd learned that maintaining a peaceful relationship with your lover sometimes required the courage to swallow your grievances silently.
I simply took Seo-ah's hand, which was softly rubbing my side,
interlaced our fingers, rested them on my knee, cleared my throat with a light cough, and looked at the staff member. A small, satisfied laugh came from beside me.
Of course, the staff member's gaze on us screamed 'Why are these kids doing this here?'—the same look Kim Seung-hyun and Park Jae-hwan would give.
I had no choice but to grit my teeth and ignore it.
Seo-ah's slender fingers wriggled in my hand, squeezed it tight, played little games—transmitting her good mood straight to me.
If a bit of embarrassment could make Seo-ah happy, then fine.
“...So, what kind of place are you looking for?”
—Pro move.
The staff member's expression, as if he couldn't hold back any longer, still wore that same friendly smile from when we'd arrived.
Sadly, the vein bulging on his forehead told a different story.
Is this the smile of capitalism...? I pondered grimly as I mulled over what we wanted. That's when Seo-ah's voice piped up from beside me, like she'd been waiting for this exact moment.
“A studio in a building that's not too old, with good heating and water systems, and options like air conditioning...”
All I could do was nod along, thinking 'Oh yeah, that's right. We need that.'
She laid out the requirements one by one to the staff member with such detail that I wondered when she'd researched all this. Staring at her, she seemed to shine so brightly my eyes hurt.
I bobbed my head up and down while Seo-ah and the staff member went back and forth, tapping away at the tablet PC for a bit.
“Ha ha, your gir... er, fiancée really did her homework. Honestly, it makes our job easier when customers are this specific. The toughest cases are when they say nothing at all, just 'Show me a cheap, good studio.'”
Oof... Even I, who knew zilch about real estate, could sympathize. The staff member's laughing face carried a tragic undertone, like he was smiling through pain.
“Any specific requests from the guy... oh dear, the groom-to-be?”
...Seo-ah?
He'd glanced at me mid-sentence earlier and hastily corrected himself. Now he did it again, and I shot a suspicious look her way.
There sat angelic Seo-ah, beaming innocently as if to say 'What's wrong?'
Nah, Seo-ah wouldn't.
Sometimes, it's better not to know the truth.
I pinched her soft cheek with my free hand, then turned back. Now the staff member looked outright vein-bulging, smile gone.
“Ahem. My conditions?”
“......Yes.”
Swallowing the urge to ask 'Why are you looking at me like that?', I thought it over. Tonight's events flashed in my mind, and I spoke up.
“Good soundproofing would be great.”
“...”
“...”
After saying nothing until then, my one request—soundproofing—suddenly plunged everyone into synchronized silence. Now I was the flustered one.
No, wait—that's not why... Okay, it kinda is, but still! Seo-ah already covered everything else...!
The staff member's gaze turned even chillier, so I met it with my own indignant stare. Then, from our clasped hands, I felt Seo-ah's fingers wiggle, writing something on my knee.
'♡'
That adorable signal melted my frustration, tugging my lips into a smile. I glanced over—her head was bowed in shyness,
but through her silky hair, I spotted her dainty ear, flushed even redder, perfectly mirroring her mood.
“......We have about three places that match what you described. Want to go see them now?”
“...Yes.”
Maybe eager to shoo us out, the staff member's words sped up a tad—or so it seemed, but I chalked it up to imagination as we stood.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Hmm...”
The first place was in good shape but too cramped for a big bed, per Seo-ah, so it was out quick.
She liked the second and third equally, so after the staff member left us with the tablet to deliberate—finger on her lips—she said photos weren't enough to decide. We'd gone back from the third to the second, circling the room and staring at the screen.
Me? I was hugging Seo-ah from behind, playing human teddy bear and space heater.
I liked both too, and her opinion came first anyway.
Definitely not because I was getting lazy (important).
I'd tried slipping my hands free so she could think uninterrupted, but her frosty glare froze me like Medusa.
Now, 30 minutes later, I was still in position, kneading her addictively soft belly.
She rarely let me touch there, so I made the most of it, waiting without boredom. Finally, she looked up, decision made.
“Jun-woo.”
“Yeah?”
I rested my chin on her shoulder as I replied. She flinched at the sudden closeness,
but soon rubbed her cheek against mine affectionately. The soft sensation on my cheek lifted my spirits.
“I think the second one's better... What about you, Jun-woo?”
“I like both, but can I ask why the second?”
“Well... It's closer to the station, cheaper rent, nice shops nearby...”
“That's all?”
She hemmed and hawed like she was hiding something, so I pressed curiously.
“...And the soundproofing's the best.”
“Oh.”
Her head dipped bashfully as she pinched my innocent hand around her waist. I couldn't hold back a laugh.
No matter how many times I saw it, that irresistibly lovable sight never got old.
I couldn't resist nipping the ripe, fruit-like ear peeking through her soft hair—even redder now.
“Hyah...!”
“Second place wins on the most important feature, huh?”
“...Mmm.”
I licked and nibbled her earlobe, teasing until lewd little moans escaped and she leaned into me. I held her tight.
“'Cause someone makes such loud noises.”
“...Hey, whose fault is that...?”
“And I don't want anyone else hearing us. Not even a little.”
Just imagining someone overhearing our lovemaking made my blood boil in reverse.
Those cute, sultry sounds were
mine alone to hear and savor in this world.
No sharing with anyone—absolutely not.
My treasure.
I laid my heart bare, and Seo-ah blinked in surprise for a moment.
Then she spun in my arms, cupping my cheeks with both hands.
Her face flushed pink with shyness, eyes gazing at me like I was the most precious thing. She whispered,
“I'll only ever make those sounds for you, Jun-woo... forever.”
“...I know. I just hate the idea of anyone else hearing.”
“Mmm, me too. Only for you...”
Her voice trailed off with a so...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “We have to go with the second one, right...?”
Our hot breaths mingled on each other's skin, growing ever clearer,
our shadows merging into one on the wall.
“Should we test the soundproofing for real?”
“...Right here, right now?”
“...Am I the only one struggling to hold back?”
One hand supporting her waist, the other slipping under her clothes to grip that soft flesh, I asked.
“Jun-woo, ah, hey... You know that means... we have to be quick...?”
“...We'll see.”
“Sheesh... ♡”
That day, we signed for the second place.
The test results sealed the deal.