Chapter 135. The Best-Selling Thing on Christmas
Chapter 135. The Best-Selling Thing on Christmas
A morning when white snow had fallen softly.
On the calendar, the date marked in red—December 25th—was truly just around the corner.
Leaning against the sofa, I passed the time drinking the coffee Laila had brewed for me.
─ Ding
Just then, a messenger notification chimed.
The sender was Serenia.
- I heard it's snowing in Han-guk right now! It's incredibly warm here!
Dozens of photos followed.
One showed Serenia holding a fork and knife, smiling brightly.
"Is that Her Majesty the Queen?"
"Yeah, she looks like she's enjoying herself."
Serenia, who had stayed with us for a while.
She'd said she wanted to see a little more of Earth.
And so she'd been dashing around here and there with her captain of the royal guard.
'Well, the captain of the guard was on par with any ordinary S-rank, so she wouldn't be in danger anyway.'
Thanks to swift cooperation from the relevant authorities, her overseas travels had gone smoothly as well.
'But seriously, what should I actually do for Christmas?'
While I was thinking hard about it, I heard Laila's voice.
Laila, wearing a pure white apron, quietly poked her head out from the kitchen.
"Hero, time to eat~"
'Shall I eat first?'
On the dining table sat a warm soup and various side dishes.
It was a neatly set table, like any ordinary household breakfast, yet it subtly brimmed with sincerity.
"The food Laila makes is always delicious."
At those words, Laila bowed her head slightly as if embarrassed, then smiled bashfully.
"Hehe, I'm happy too, since you enjoy it so much, Hero."
She carefully brushed back her hair with her fingers.
I gazed intently at Laila.
'I liked this...'
After finishing the meal, I brushed myself off and stood up.
"I'll do the dishes."
"Oh my, thank you~"
Laila flashed an innocent smile as she cleared the table, and I dried the plates with practiced motions.
'Ah... what should I really do?'
Dating Laila was my first experience with anything you could call romance.
Everything was clumsy and unfamiliar.
When I finished the dishes and returned to the living room, Laila had changed and was slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Oh, right, I'm going to pop by the mart up ahead!"
"Really? Want me to go with you?"
"Hoho, it's fine. I'll be right back."
Laila gave me a brief kiss on the cheek, grinned, and headed out.
After she left, I sat on the sofa, tilted my head back, and fell into thought.
'I was not going to let it pass by like a normal day this time either.'
The year before, I'd just been exhausted.
Laila hadn't said a single word about it, but she must have felt a little hurt.
"At times like this, I really have to listen to the advice of people with experience."
I took out my phone and sent a mass text to people experienced in dating and marriage.
The first person I contacted was Max.
- What are you planning to do for Christmas this year?
- Keuheuheu, for Christmas, you just have a nice meal, share a drink... and then spend some cozy private time together, right?
Textbook advice.
I knew the theory of that too.
The problem was I didn't know where to have that meal, where to drink that drink, or where to spend that cozy private time...
- Nudungji big bro, is there anything you've ever done for your wife on Christmas?
- We just eat together. Don't think you have to do something too special just because it's Christmas. Just doing a tiny bit more than usual is enough. You absolutely must not overdo it.
Decidedly realistic, married-man advice.
And I wanted to hear the opinion of a married woman (?) this time too.
- big sis, did your husband do something for you on Christmas? Or... did you do something?
Lucia's reply arrived faster than expected.
- LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL You're asking me this because you don't know what to do for Laila, right?
Her perceptiveness was uncannily sharp.
Then her sincere advice came right after.
- Well... book a restaurant with a nice atmosphere and give her a gift like a ring, earrings, or a necklace. How about a light handbag, something like that?
- Ugh... is that so... big sis, by any chance, about the restaurant...
She caught on even before I finished.
- LOL LOL LOL I'll send you a few links to places with good vibes~
After that, the chat scrolled upward as dozens of links came through.
'And I really would need a gift, after all.'
I got up and opened the wardrobe.
I took out some neat outdoor clothes, put on my shoes, and went outside.
I had sent Laila a message saying I'd be out for a bit because I had something to do.
"I'll book the restaurant while I'm on the way..."
Then, suddenly, something occurred to me.
'It's Christmas... isn't everywhere already fully booked?'
Just on the off chance, I contacted a restaurant.
A high-end restaurant renowned in the city center.
Reservations were notoriously hard to get, so I especially hadn't expected much for Christmas.
- Just moments ago, a reservation for a private room was canceled. If that would suit you...
- Ah, then please book that one for me right away.
- Thank you. Since you are a couple, might there be any special event our establishment can prepare for you?
True to their impeccable service, they asked me about various things.
From basic food ingredient allergies all the way to which hand I primarily used.
- Ah... I haven't thought of anything yet, unfortunately.
- Hoho, then please feel free to contact us at any time before your meal.
After finishing the reservation, I headed to the department store.
As soon as I entered, I made for the largest, most glittering luxury boutique.
"Have you received a waiting notification, by any chance?"
A robust man in a suit, wearing an earpiece, blocked my way.
"...No?"
"Then, if you would enter your waiting number through the kiosk..."
'...This had never happened before?'
I wasn't particularly offended.
I was just flustered because this was a first.
Following the staff member's guidance, I entered my number into the kiosk and waited a short while.
Then several other staff members approached from a distance.
"So, Song Hoon, valued customer...!"
"?"
"We, we apologize... Our staff member here is new, so..."
I looked at them impassively, taking a sip of coffee.
Then, as if sensing an unspoken pressure from my expression, they spoke even more urgently.
"Normally, when a customer arrives by private vehicle, we verify the license plate..."
"No, it's really fine. I was just looking around the area."
Somehow, thanks to their consideration, I was able to enter the shop directly.
And they didn't leave my side, helping me with various things while I shopped.
"I'm looking for a gift to give my girlfriend."
At my question, they all beamed radiant smiles.
And with the perceptiveness of seasoned professionals, they quickly grasped what I wanted.
"Ah, for a Christmas gift for a significant other, how about something like this..."
The staff member disappeared for a moment, then returned wearing white gloves and carrying a luxury box containing jewelry.
It was something I hadn't seen before, not kept out on the display shelves.
"This is far too flashy..."
What I wanted wasn't garish, attention-grabbing splendor.
I was looking for a 'light' that would suit Laila.
"Hmm... if it's an item to match your significant other's needs..."
He brought out another item.
A necklace and earring set woven with a transparently gleaming sapphire, a refined ruby, and a delicate thread of gold.
In the light, a subtle blue radiance bloomed from it, and I felt a sense of mystery and elegance at the same time.
"By any chance, could you also recommend some clothing?"
"I will summon the staff member in charge right away."
With the help of another staff member, I also picked out a brooch of a subtle rose color with a mother-of-pearl pattern, a soft scarf in a matching color, and a winter coat adorned with pure white fur trim.
"I sincerely hope your shopping was satisfactory."
"It was very satisfactory. My 'wife' will like it too."
As if my praise pleased them immensely, their lips stretched from ear to ear.
At a gesture from the middle-aged woman standing in front, the woman behind her brought something forward.
"What is this?"
"You clearly... said 'wife', did you not?"
"Yes."
At that, the middle-aged woman smiled softly and handed me a bouquet.
"If you give her this as well, your lady wife will be very, very happy."
"I-is that so?"
"Yes, for I am also someone's wife. Is it not said that a woman knows a woman's heart best?"
"Then I'll just pay for this as well..."
"No. This is a small token of gratitude from our side."
Her thoughtfulness lifted my mood.
Leaving the deliveries in their hands, I exited the department store with a carefree stride.
'My wife, huh...'
Someone might think, seeing such a short romance, 'Already getting married?'
'I'd really like it if she became my wife now, instead of just my girlfriend.'
---
Time passed, and finally, Christmas Day arrived.
Laila kept sneaking glances at Song Hoon.
She wasn't worried that Christmas might pass by without anything special.
It was just...
'Puhuhu... Pretending like nothing's up on the outside was so adorable...'
Her Hero was desperately trying to act nonchalant, and she found that overwhelmingly cute.
He kept glancing at her subtly, his lips parting and pressing together as he tried to gauge the timing.
─ Bolt upright...!
'Hehe, how could his serious face be that cute too?'
Song Hoon approached her with a resolute expression.
"L-Laila... how about we go on a date today? Dine out and all...?"
She struggled to suppress the corners of her mouth, which were slowly creeping upward.
'I was a master of life on Earth by then too!'
She knew exactly what Christmas signified.
And she also knew the reason why her boyfriend, the Hero, was saying these things.
'It's definitely... that condoms sell the most at Christmas time, right?'
Of course...
we had no need for condoms or anything of the sort♥