Chapter 19
There was the sound of water.
It was Seungwoo taking a shower.
He really hadn’t left. He even had Juseok bring his clothes before going into the bathroom.
‘Does he really intend to sleep there or what?’
The extra bed was small—barely enough for Yunseo to sleep. Out of courtesy, she felt like she should give up her own bed.
As she ran a hand through her hair, the bathroom door suddenly swung open.
Seungwoo stood there in a bathrobe.
Yunseo couldn’t help but glance at his well-built chest, taut abs, and strong arm muscles visible beneath the robe.
Seeing her quickly look away, Seungwoo slightly furrowed his brows.
“Why?”
“Ah, n-no. Nothing.”
“You always say nothing.”
Seungwoo sat on the edge of the extra bed.
He had said he’d bring a proper bed. Yet, for some reason, it hadn’t arrived.
Yunseo watched him stretch his long legs outside the bed and finally spoke.
“President, just sleep here instead.”
“What?”
Seungwoo looked at Yunseo’s bed.
It wasn’t a VIP room, but a special room, so her bed was larger than a normal hospital bed.
Seungwoo paused, wearing a thoughtful expression, then nodded.
“Alright.”
Yunseo felt relieved. It might be uncomfortable to curl up on the small bed, but she’d slept even tighter in the past when her family of four shared a single-room apartment.
“Okay, then.”
Yunseo moved to the extra bed. But then, an unexpected word struck her ears:
“Together.”
She turned her head. Seungwoo’s expression looked almost normal.
“Sleep together, on that bed.”
“Huh?”
Yunseo went pale.
“Why? Isn’t that what I meant? This bed is really uncomfortable for me too.”
She knew it wasn’t about that. How could someone so perceptive not notice? She shook her head.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I was saying I’d sleep on the extra bed.”
“Making you sleep on the extra bed to get scolded again? You really seem to be trying hard to get me in trouble.”
Could it really happen like that?
Yunseo bit her lip in embarrassment.
But why weren’t you flustered like me? You should be the one most uncomfortable. So why…
“Have you figured out the answer yet?”
Seungwoo said that as he lightly climbed onto the bed.
He was right. Showing marital discord here wouldn’t help. A husband sleeping on the patient bed while letting his wife take the extra bed wouldn’t get him any praise.
“Then… come closer.”
Yunseo curled her body to make more space for him. But Seungwoo, instead of taking the space, turned sideways, freeing the area she made.
“Still can’t understand what I mean?”
He tapped the empty space beside him.
“Come here.”
At that moment, Yunseo’s heart sank.
She wasn’t doing this out of love. It was just for show. But it looked like he was truly coming toward her. She wanted to believe he was calling her because he liked her.
“No.”
“Again, no? Come. Quickly.”
Finally, Yunseo gave in. As she edged closer, Seungwoo reached for her shoulder, pulling her toward him. She ended up in his arms.
She had been held many times before—during intimacy—but now, fully clothed and only lightly touching, she felt more flustered than ever.
“President, I—”
I like you.
I like you so much I could go crazy.
Please stop. Even your actions for show make me go insane. My heart freezes and burns over and over.
Carefully, she raised her eyes. Seungwoo brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. Was this just an act?
Or not?
What if everything she believed about him wasn’t the truth? What if he had liked her all along? What if he thought of her as much as she thought of him?
Seungwoo’s lips touched her forehead.
Yunseo closed her eyes. It shouldn’t be real, but she just wanted to believe it. That he loved her.
Yunseo woke with a start.
It was morning.
Something pressed against her, so she looked up—Seungwoo was still holding her against his chest.
‘Ah.’
She felt awkward.
His scent tickled her nose. His firm chest was right in front of her eyes. She saw it rise and fall with every breath.
Under the sunlight, his form was even more pronounced, and Yunseo squeezed her eyes shut.
‘What do I do?’
Closing her eyes didn’t help. Without seeing, his scent was stronger—woody cologne mixed with his natural smell. She imagined him standing coldly in a crisp suit.
This isn’t good.
Yunseo tried to sit up.
But as she moved slightly, Seungwoo, who she assumed was still sleeping, shifted too. His arm went over her body.
He pulled her tightly to him.
“Ugh!”
His chest, which she had only looked at, was now in front of her face. Buried in his body, she jolted.
“President!”
Seungwoo’s eyes remained closed. But perhaps he heard her—his arms loosened slightly.
Yunseo gasped. Why was he acting like this? Why this behavior now?
“Choi Yunseo, patient…”
A nurse entering the room saw the two under the same blanket and froze.
“Shall I come back later?”
Flustered, she spoke. Seungwoo opened his eyes suddenly, almost as if he’d been awake the whole time, and casually got off the bed.
“No, continue your work.”
He casually lay on the extra bed.
“Oh, I was supposed to have a bed brought in here today. Sorry, there must have been a mix-up. Let’s check your blood pressure and temperature.”
The nurse fussed briefly, checked Yunseo’s vitals, and left.
The room fell silent.
“Are you awake?”
Yunseo spoke first. Seungwoo, sitting on the extra bed, lifted his head.
He usually handled the aftermath of their nights together neatly, leaving no trace of emotion, meeting her in the morning as if he were a completely different person.
But today, it didn’t go as planned.
The narrow, hard bed seemed to be the problem. She barely slept and her fatigue was heavy.
“Sleeping habits.”
He said briefly and stood.
“You’re supposed to rest until today. Lie down until evening. After I leave work, I’ll handle your discharge personally.”
Sleeping habits? What kind of excuse is that? And if it’s about sleep, why answer properly when the nurse came?
Before Yunseo could ask, Seungwoo entered the bathroom and left, giving her no chance to speak further.
“I’ll step out for a moment.”
Juseok said, and Seungwoo nodded.
“Okay.”
Juseok had already arranged permission to leave. They needed to meet the person Seungwon sent. Just now was the scheduled time.
He vaguely said it was for family business.
“Take your time. Don’t worry about this side.”
“Thank you for allowing me. I’ll handle it quickly.”
Seungwoo watched Juseok leave and blinked tiredly.
He hadn’t slept properly last night.
He couldn’t sleep next to her.
The scent from her, subtle but unique, not found in any perfume, was sweet to him.
He wanted to hold her and act on his desires, but he couldn’t. Watching her without being able to touch—that was the most frustrating.
No one else was around. Nobody would say anything.
Last night had been the greatest trial and suffering in Seungwoo’s life. Yet, strangely, it was also pleasurable. He couldn’t even name the feeling properly.
“Crazy man.”
He sighed lightly.
Then his phone rang loudly.
It was the general manager. Urgency in the call made him answer quickly.
“Yes, speak.”
[President, you need to come quickly. There’s a situation in the lobby, and your judgment is required.]
If the general manager called like that, it must be serious. Seungwoo immediately stood.
The lobby was chaotic. Normally quiet and clean, it now resembled a busy market—because of one woman.
“Is this man here or not?!”
“I’m sorry… we don’t know—”
“You know, and you’re acting like this!”
Jia was pale, trembling, while a woman pointed at her. In her other hand, she held the end of a middle-aged man’s tie.
The man on the leash was a ‘No Info.’ customer who had repeatedly caused affairs at the hotel.
