Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Gradually Stained
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“Woojin-ah?”
Cynthia's voice rang out as she entered the house.
The distance between her and them was a mere three or four meters.
Kang Woojin and Yoo Harin, frozen stiff like blocks of ice, stared at each other in silent exchange.
“……”
“……”
No words passed between them, yet the two nodded faintly in unison, moving with perfect coordination as if they'd rehearsed it a thousand times.
Their actions synced seamlessly, swift and precise, like partners who'd trained together for years.
Clunk! Click!
Kang Woojin opened and closed the lower cabinet under the sink, and Yoo Harin slipped inside.
The space wasn't generous, forcing her into a cramped crouch, but right now, beggars couldn't be choosers.
'Phew…'
Once the door sealed shut behind her, Yoo Harin curled up tightly and let out a soft sigh.
“Hm?”
Then it hit her, belatedly.
'Why the hell am I hiding?'
Truth be told, she had no reason to.
She'd heard Kang Woojin and Cynthia weren't dating—yet, anyway.
And she hadn't done anything wrong herself.
It was all per their contract, just fulfilling his request.
Sure, the lingering taste of him in her mouth and the faint shame of satisfying someone else's lust tugged at her, but that didn't mean she needed to hide like this.
'Cynthia said she's been doing it too…'
Realizing this, Yoo Harin wore a complicated expression in the darkness.
'This makes it seem like I'm the one having an affair…'
She sighed again.
'…Actually, maybe it's for the best. Fewer people knowing me and Woo-chin's secret, the better.'
Kang Woojin had told her he'd sent Cynthia her photo.
Which meant Cynthia already knew one of Yoo Harin's secrets, per his word.
But that was separate from their contract.
Yoo Harin didn't want anyone else knowing about her sexual arrangement with Kang Woojin.
Rustle.
With that thought settled, she fumbled for her phone and sent him a message from under the sink.
[Hurry up and clean this up. Get her out.]
Once Cynthia left, she could slip away.
'Of all times, my battery's almost dead. Ugh, this sucks.'
She turned off the screen, frowning in annoyance as darkness enveloped her, ears attuned to the sounds outside.
“Oh? There you are. What're you doing in the kitchen, Woojin-ah?”
Unfortunately, Cynthia showed no signs of leaving anytime soon.
They'd seen each other daily without fail, and this was their first meeting in five whole days.
Cynthia beamed at Kang Woojin, adding curiously,
“Were you eating breakfast? Why're you sweating so much?”
But her delight was short-lived. Noticing something off about him, she tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.
After all, hadn't she declared last night that she'd inspect every inch of him?
“What were you up to?”
Her questions poured like a torrent, making Kang Woojin sweat bullets inwardly.
“Nothing.”
Outwardly, though, he played it cool.
“Doesn't look like nothing. What're you hiding~?”
Cynthia pressed with a playful smile.
Her face said she was amused, but there was an undercurrent of menace.
“Hiding? Nothing. Anyway, how've you been? School going okay?”
“Don't change the subject~.”
Cynthia's perceptiveness had sharpened lately.
No way was she letting this slide. She glanced around and said,
“Oh, right—there were some shoes at the entrance I didn't recognize. Someone here?”
Kang Woojin flinched.
So did Yoo Harin under the sink.
“Who'd be here? Probably those shoes you left last time. You know, the ones I picked up for laundry sometimes.”
“Then why're they at the entrance?”
“Must've left 'em out while cleaning yesterday.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Idiot. I don't own shoes like that.”
Cynthia cornered him bit by bit, her expression turning mischievously playful.
What was Kang Woojin hiding?
She worried he might've messed up somehow, but his flustered look was just too cute—and entertaining.
You always put me in awkward spots, Woojin-ah.
My turn to tease you!
The women's shoes at the door bugged her, but no way he'd brought some random girl home.
Even with his recent positive changes, the old Woojin barely had any guy friends.
Skipping straight to boldly dating a girl? Absurd.
But if he is seeing someone else…
If that were true, she wouldn't stand for it.
“Woojin-ah, you hiding some girl from me~?”
She probed half-jokingly, half-seriously.
“As if.”
He shook his head firmly.
Her visit had caught him off guard, but he regained his composure quickly.
'Good thing Harin doesn't want Sia knowing either. Just get past this.'>
The two women meeting now would be disastrous.
Forget the situation itself.
Yoo Harin aside—bound by contract—Cynthia, whose affection he'd carefully built, would be crushed.
'Disappointment would be the best case.'
Considering the main plot event looming, it could spell total catastrophe.
“Hmm.”
Suddenly, Cynthia crouched to peer under the table.
“……What're you doing?”
“No one's here.”
Tension spiked.
“Fridge wouldn't make sense, right?”
Grinning impishly, she flung open the fridge door.
“It doesn't, so why check?”
“Your reactions are hilarious.”
“Jeez……”
“Where next~?”
“You look thrilled.”
“If you hate this, just spill. Before I search everywhere.”
“I'm telling you, nothing to hide.”
“Liar.”
With that, she began patrolling the first and second floors.
“Wow, you actually cleaned up nice?”
Inspecting the house was a bonus.
“Right? Told you I deep-cleaned.”
“Wait, closet maybe?”
Kang Woojin facepalmed as she yanked open a wardrobe.
“Just tell me straight. Woojin-ah, got a girlfriend? That girl from the other night?”
“No.”
“Then what're you hiding? And those shoes?”
“Shoes? Probably from sorting the storage. Yeon-hee noona or Eun-seol's. They used to live here.”
Having brainstormed, he name-dropped his half-sisters/step-sister, forcing Cynthia to back off a step.
“Ohhh?”
Her suspicions lingered, but she eased up.
Thud!
It was then.
Thump!
A dull noise came from the kitchen.
“What was that?”
Cynthia's eyes widened as she bolted toward the kitchen.
A do-or-die moment.
'Ugh, my legs are numb…'
Oblivious Yoo Harin muttered softly, shifting her uncomfortable position amid the house's tense quiet.
“How long do I have to stay like this? Fix it already.”
But her gripe didn't last.
“Huh? I swear I heard something. Burglars, Woojin-ah?”
Cynthia's voice drew nearer again.
And not just that.
Scanning the kitchen, her gaze locked on the sink cabinet.
As she'd noted, no other hiding spots.
Step.
If it were a burglar, that'd be the spot.
The cabinet wasn't huge, but big enough for a person.
And she hadn't checked it earlier.
Step.
Cynthia inched toward the sink.
Creak.
The moment her hand grasped the handle.
“Sia.”
Kang Woojin spun her around.
“Huh? Whyyy?”
Without hesitation, he kissed her puzzled expression away.
“Mmph?!”
His tongue slipped past her lips, swirling inside her mouth.
“Nng……”
Bunny-eyed in shock, Cynthia soon melted into it, responding eagerly.
“Mmm……”
Her voice carried a sultry heat.
Smack, slurp.
Their tongues tangled, wet sounds echoing.
Smack, schlurp, muah……
Their lips met and parted repeatedly.
“Wh-what was that all of a sudden?”
Breathless and flushed post-kiss, Cynthia asked.
“Sudden? I've been holding back since you got here.”
“Holding back…?”
He nodded, nodding toward the tablet on the table.
“Truth is, I was watching porn before you showed up.”
“W-what, porn…?”
“Embarrassing, but you're prying, so…”
“That's why you're sweating? You watch that stuff…?”
“Yeah. Most guys do.”
“I sent you those pics.”
“Jerking off to your pics would be weirder, no?”
Cynthia imagined it unbidden.
Kang Woojin pleasuring himself to her photos.
“Haaah……”
She couldn't meet his eyes.
Her face burned; she couldn't lift her head.
“Sia?”
“A-anyway. Don't watch that stuff anymore.”
The sink cabinet? Forgotten.
“No more porn?”
“Mhm. I hate it.”
“Hate what?”
“You… doing that to other girls…”
Topic perfectly diverted, he kissed her again.
“Got it. Won't.”
Then pushed further, deeper.
“But…”
You'll help me instead.
Swallowing the rest, his hand slipped under her dress.
“Hyah?!”
Cynthia jolted, then leaned into him with heated gasps.
Creeeak—
Unaware the cabinet door had cracked open just a sliver.