109

Stepping onto solid ground instead of the parking lot for the first time in a while, Do-won strode toward the main entrance of the building. His steps quickened, as if he were in a rush.

He entered the elevator and pressed the button. Even though the speed at which the elevator ascended made his ears pop, he felt inexplicably impatient.

Finally—ding. The elevator stopped, and the moment a small gap appeared between the doors, he moved swiftly.

His fingers punched in the code with urgency.

“You have to come quickly, okay? I’ll be waiting.”

The face that had looked up at him, lifting the end of his sentence like a plea for confirmation, had lingered in his mind the entire way home.

“Assistant Han.”

Do-won flung the front door open but froze at the scent that greeted him.

The aroma of food wafting from inside. The familiar, sweet pheromones welcoming him home. The warm glow of lights filling what had once been an empty house.

The air inside carried the scent of a complete home.

Somehow, a warm nest had taken root in his house.

It was something he had never once wished for. And yet, an indescribable feeling was slowly rising from deep within his chest.

“Oh! Team Leader? Welcome home. You really did come quickly.”

Yu-young hurried out from inside. He must have been cooking. Still in his work clothes, he had only put an apron over them.

As Do-won stood there, a slow smile spread across his face.

Yu-young must have rushed out in such a hurry that he hadn’t realized he was still holding a rolling pin like a club. Flour coated the surface, suggesting he had been rolling out dough.

Even though he grasped the situation at a glance, Do-won playfully teased him with a smile.

“What’s that? Did you grab it to fend off a burglar?”

“Huh? …Oh!”

Only then did Yu-young gasp and look down at the rolling pin in his hand. He must have run out without thinking.

“Getting greeted by a weapon is a new experience.”

“You startled me by coming so suddenly! And this isn’t a weapon—it’s a rolling pin. I was preparing dinner so we could eat together.”

His small pout was unbearably endearing.

Kicking off his shoes, Do-won strode in.

Yu-young instinctively leaned back as he approached, startled by his lack of hesitation.

But Do-won didn’t keep his distance. He pulled Yu-young into his arms without pause.

“…Team Leader?”

“Assistant Han.”

As the small figure nestled against him filled his body and heart, Do-won pressed a light kiss to Yu-young’s hair.

“…Thank you.”

The words slipped out before he even realized it.

Yu-young stiffened slightly, seemingly taken aback.

He shifted as if trying to pull away, perhaps to check Do-won’s face, but Do-won only tightened his embrace, pressing his face deeper into Yu-young’s hair.

“What… what for?”

Failing to free himself, Yu-young murmured into his chest.

It must have been confusing.

His team leader had suddenly embraced him and whispered something cryptic.

Do-won was just as surprised by his own actions.

But he meant it.

Even if he couldn’t explain it well, he had no intention of taking it back.

Because the gratitude he felt for this man standing before him was real—undeniable.

A warm, home-like scene was something he had never longed for.

He had lived his entire life believing he could go without it.

After all, he had never had a good memory associated with “family” since his birth mother passed away.

But the emptiness he hadn’t even realized existed had been silently, completely filled.

Perhaps, deep in his heart, he had craved it more than anyone.

A warm home that made him hurry back.

A house where a soft light and a welcoming voice awaited him.

And the person who would run to greet him, still dusted with flour, who he wanted to stay by his side for a long, long time.

Do-won’s lips curled into a smile as he murmured against Yu-young’s hair.

“There are things like that.”

“What things! You have to tell me too!”

“The smell is nice. Are we having handmade sujebi?”(traditional Korean dish made from hand-torn dough that is boiled in a soup.)

Do-won dodged the question, brushing a kiss against Yu-young’s cheek and ear.

Yu-young squirmed as if ticklish but still answered properly.

“Yeah. Do you like sujebi?”

“Of course. If you make it, I’ll like anything.”

After ruffling the back of Yu-young’s head a few times, Do-won slowly pulled away.

“I’ll go change and wash my hands.”

“Okay! It’s almost done, so hurry back.”

After quickly washing up, Do-won headed to the kitchen to help with dinner.

He expertly tore the rolled-out dough into thin pieces and dropped them into the simmering broth, waiting for them to cook.

Soon, two beautiful bowls of steaming sujebi were placed on the dining table.

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes, let’s.”

The homemade sujebi was truly delicious. The broth, made with a couple of chopped vegetables and beaten eggs, had the power to drive away all the chill brought in from the cold outside.

“Team Leader.”

“Yeah?”

“Did something good happen? You’ve been smiling nonstop.”

Only after hearing Yu-young’s question did Do-won realize—he had been smiling the whole time. More than any memory of eating an extravagant meal made with rare delicacies, he found himself happier in this moment, sitting across from Yu-young, sharing a simple bowl of sujebi.

Han Yu-young was the first person who made Do-won feel that being with someone was more comfortable than being alone. The only person who made him think it wouldn’t be so bad to spend a lifetime together.

Having dinner with such a person filled his heart with warmth, almost to the point of overwhelming him. Looking at Yu-young’s mischievous smile as they sat across from each other, Do-won felt more fulfilled than ever before.

After finishing their meal, they stood side by side to do the dishes. Do-won had asked if he wanted to sit together and watch TV for a while, but tonight, Yu-young simply couldn’t handle it. Making an excuse about being tired, he hurried into his room.

His mind had been in disarray since yesterday. Well, ever since he started living with Do-won—or rather, ever since Do-won appeared in his life, his thoughts had always been a mess. But yesterday and today, it was particularly bad.

Maybe a bath would be the best way to clear his head. Rushing into the bathroom attached to his bedroom, Yu-young turned on the hot water and picked out a bath bomb. It was a Christmas-themed, tree-shaped bath bomb from a limited holiday collection.

‘Christmas is coming soon. I can’t believe it’s already that time of year.’

As he sat in the fluffy green bubbles, Yu-young let his thoughts wander. This Christmas, he would probably spend it with Do-won. No matter how busy he was, if Yu-young asked him to spend at least the day together, maybe he’d agree. It was a little embarrassing, but he really wanted to spend Christmas with Do-won.

‘What do married couples usually do on Christmas?’

Decorate a tree together, bake a Christmas cake, make cookies, watch movies… things like that. Just imagining it made his fingertips tingle with excitement. Letting the pleasant anticipation wash over him, Yu-young continued daydreaming in the warm water.

‘And if we get bored staying home… where should we go? Usually, people watch movies, go out to eat, and then… and then…’

His thoughts trailed off as he leaned back against the tub, his eyes slowly closing.

‘…And at night, they might go to a hotel or something… Wait, hold on, hold on!’

Suddenly, Yu-young bolted upright, splashing water everywhere. He must have lost his mind. His imagination had run wild—no, it had completely spiraled out of control. The loud splash echoed in the bathroom, almost as if scolding him to get a grip.

No matter how deeply he had immersed himself in this whole “married couple” act, this was going too far. How could he so easily have such shameless thoughts? Cursing his overactive imagination, Yu-young pressed his burning face into his wet hands.

‘But, in a way, it’s kind of Choi Do-won’s fault, isn’t it?’

The arrow of blame, which had been flailing in all directions, finally landed on Do-won. This was all his fault. He was the one who said not to fall in love, that this was just a mutually beneficial arrangement. And yet, he kept messing with Yu-young’s feelings, constantly being affectionate and drowning him in sweet touches.

‘Yu-young.’

The way Do-won had gently called his name echoed in his ears. The moment it replayed in his mind, his toes curled involuntarily. Just the softness of that voice alone made his spine tingle.

This is seriously bad… Yu-young clenched his eyes shut. His thoughts naturally drifted to what had happened last night.

Why had Do-won touched him?

He had been drinking, sure, but he wasn’t the type to lose control because of alcohol. Besides, if anything, Yu-young had been more drunk than him. Do-won had seemed almost completely sober.

Even so, the atmosphere last night had been undeniably dangerous.

With pheromones swirling and desire simmering just beneath the surface, every touch had sent a shudder through his body. Wherever Do-won’s hands landed, it was like sparks of electricity ran through him, awakening sensations he had never felt before.

Do-won’s hands, as they touched him, had been unbelievably gentle—yet firm. He had stroked his face, his neck, his shoulders… and then, without hesitation, reached the most sensitive part of him.

There was no denying it.

The arousal, the pleasure he had felt last night—it was real.

For the first time in his life, someone had touched him there, and his body had responded so shamelessly to Do-won’s hands. The long, elegant fingers that had caressed him made his lower abdomen melt with heat.

And then there were the words Do-won had murmured in that deep, restrained voice before stopping.

‘Let’s have our first time when we’re both sober.’

“I’m losing it.”

Yu-young let out an involuntary shout, pressing his wet hands against his burning face again.

That meant… someday… he actually intended for them to do it?

No wonder he couldn’t think straight.

At this rate, if another moment like last night happened, he was going to throw the contract out the window and make a massive mistake. The promises they had made—to avoid imprinting, to not have children—were already fading in importance in his heart.

‘…I’m seriously out of my mind.’

What was Do-won thinking?

He knew now that Do-won wasn’t the type to do things just for fun, to casually indulge his desires.

So then, why was he touching him like this? Why was he being so affectionate?

Yu-young wished Do-won would just tell him what he was feeling.

Or maybe… he should be the one to say it first.

But what if he did—and Do-won took a step back?

With a loud splash, Yu-young slid further down into the hot water, leaving only his face above the surface. He stared up at the ceiling, exhaling a breath that had turned warm from the heat of the bath.

Even in the soothing water, his thoughts only continued to deepen.