AOA 115

The family room had only the two of us. Because it was far from the kitchen, the view was blocked. But my heart raced like I was doing something bad.

It had not been long since I started truly getting to know Baek Mugyeong. Compared to the early days of marriage, the change was dramatic, like heaven and earth. The atmosphere between us had shifted. This was much better than watching each other’s moods, being wary, and sharpening words.

Even so, when he suddenly closed the distance like now, I was still flustered. I could not help but doubt if this was really okay.

Choi Jaeha said I should just enjoy it. We only live once, so I should do everything I wanted without regret. He also added that men as handsome as Baek Mugyeong were rare.

I knew in my head that Choi Jaeha’s words were right, but I still was not used to it. Baek Mugyeong’s easy closeness was still awkward.

But unlike me, Baek Mugyeong seemed unbothered, and that made me feel upset for no reason. Maybe it was because he was older, or because he had more experience, but it felt like I was losing.

The moment I wondered if I should do something too, my body moved first. I grabbed Baek Mugyeong’s shoulders, pressed my lips against his, and licked them with my tongue. Then I quickly pulled away.

“Jeong Minchae-ssi?”

“I just wanted to.”

I could not say that I was copying what he had done. So I gave him back the line he always used.

“Understood. Let’s go then.”

The usually expressionless man smiled more often today. Just now, joy spread not only across his lips but also to his cheekbones and the corners of his eyes.

I was breathless. He no longer shone with a halo like before, but his gentle smile and the faint lingering scent of pheromones reached me vividly.

“Will you take my hand?”

I stared blankly at him as he held out his hand. Slowly, I regained my senses. But as soon as I imagined holding his hand and walking up to the second floor with him, embarrassment crashed over me.

I did not want to lose to Baek Mugyeong, but I still did not have the courage to hold hands.

I quickly hid both hands behind my back.

“I won’t hold hands. I’m too embarrassed.”

“How can you be embarrassed about just holding hands, when we’ll be doing far more than that?”

“That’s different. I’ll brush my teeth before going. Wait for me.”

I said the words quickly and turned around, leaving the family room. Without looking back, I rushed up the stairs in one breath. My heart pounded.

I made up my mind that I would make sure the sex was amazing.

***

Just like before the regression, the third Sunday of May was clear. Baek Jinseok’s birthday banquet was held at the mansion again.

A birthday banquet for the chairman of a chaebol group could not be anything but grand. Relatives of the family, executives of group affiliates, and people from politics and law gathered.

This year the banquet was supposed to be smaller because of the incident caused by Baek Yeongseop. But because Baek Jinseok said there was no need, it was held just as grandly as before.

The sight of Baek Jinseok’s birthday banquet was similar to before regression. Musicians occupied one end of the hall, flowers filled the space, and a famous opera singer performed a congratulatory song.

As it was a birthday banquet, food and alcohol overflowed. Since it was buffet style, chefs in white hats continuously prepared fresh dishes, and attendants carried food and drinks without stopping.

Baek Jinseok, the star of the day, was surrounded by people.

I thought my role would end with greeting Baek Jinseok together with Baek Mugyeong. But that was a misjudgment.

Before regression, I had been practically invisible. My biological father had dragged me around to make introductions, but since I had not manifested as an omega even half a year into marriage, I soon fell out of attention.

And during that time, Baek Mugyeong had left, which left me alone. I later learned the man had gone to the emergency room with a burn on his hand.

In any case, given the setting, Jeong Guhyeon did not pick a fight like usual. My stepmother also acted indifferent.

Im Songyoon had scolded me briefly, but since she was busy receiving guests as Baek Jinseok’s first daughter-in-law, she did not bother with me further.

Later, Baek Yeongseop appeared and spat out vulgar words. He asked unpleasantly how I managed my nights with Baek Mugyeong even though I had not manifested as an omega. Then he pried into matters about Baek Mugyeong and ordered me around in various ways.

After that, when an accident occurred and the banquet ended, I had been left abandoned like a broom left in the corner.

That was why I did not worry much this time. Especially since neither Jeong Guhyeon nor Baek Yeongseop were here. Just not seeing their faces made me happy.

I thought it would be over quietly after greeting Baek Jinseok and standing by for a while. But that was too naive a thought.

“First time seeing you since the wedding.”

“They say you’re a college student? My, our executive director turned out to be a thief.”

“How about golf?”

Surprisingly, people’s attention poured onto me. Compared to before, when greetings were the most I ever exchanged, this was a huge change.

It was not hard to figure out the reason.

Everyone connected to the group knew that Baek Yeongseop had been exiled to Tongyeong. They also understood what it meant. The successor structure, which had seemed firmly secured through Baek Jaehan and Baek Yeongseop, was starting to shake.

People were sensitive to shifts in power. Among the third generation of Daesong, the one who stood out the most was Baek Mugyeong. Now that Baek Yeongseop had fallen out of Baek Jinseok’s favor, it was beyond question. Thanks to that, I, his spouse, also received attention.

After being put through all that by people, I finally met Baek Jinseok. The problem arose there.

“I have some connection with Artist Bae Jongho. When he was learning painting, I got him some expensive paint.”

Baek Jinseok suddenly brought up his relationship with Bae Jongho. Then he continued, saying that Bae Jongho had called him recently.

Not long ago, the news had spread that Bae Jongho, a renowned senior artist in Korea, and Kim Youngcheol had submitted paintings to an exhibition under pseudonyms. Rumors also spread that I was the one who bought the painting. I had hoped the matter would fade quietly, so I did no interviews. Instead, I decided to have the painting displayed at Cheongam Museum of Art.

I thought it would end there, but suddenly Baek Jinseok mentioned that I was the buyer. Since I could not guess his intent, I only gave a polite smile.

“Our grandson’s wife has good taste, doesn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

“An excellent eye.”

When Baek Jinseok sought agreement, the people beside him laughed and chimed in. If the chairman of Daesong Group said so, no one would object.

“Minchae.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“You study humanities at school, right?”

“Yes.”

“Learn art too. You can take it slowly. A person should keep learning for life. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Here, the right answer was to say yes. I replied dutifully, but my mind was tangled. The chairman of a conglomerate telling his grandson’s wife to study art was too sudden. And saying it in front of so many people made it even stranger.

“But when are you two going to give me a great-grandchild?”

“Th-that is…”

I was caught off guard by a question I had not expected here.

Baek Jinseok was smiling with the face of a kind grandfather. But the eyes of the people around him gleamed suspiciously.

“Children are heaven’s blessing, aren’t they, Grandfather? You may need to wait a little longer.”

When I could not continue out of shock, Baek Mugyeong cut in quickly. As if to show we were on good terms, he gently pulled me into his arm.

I glanced at Baek Mugyeong once, then lowered my eyes. At times like this, saying nothing and staying still counted for half the response. But my head grew complicated.

Baek Jinseok had always pressed subtly for a great-grandchild. He had even arranged a hotel room so we could stay together.

But he had never brought it up outright at a gathering like this.

Why now?

I felt a bad premonition.

“Hahaha. Maybe it’s too much to rush you when it hasn’t even been a year since the wedding?”

“Yes. That’s too much.”

Without hesitation, Baek Mugyeong said it was too much. Since Baek Jinseok was smiling, the mood did not turn sour. People around chimed in, saying it was too soon, rushing would only make it worse, the grandson was still young, and his spouse was even younger, so a great-grandchild would come soon enough.

“Alright. I just have to wait a little longer. But since I’m old, I want to see a great-grandchild quickly. That way, I can give a nice gift, right? Hmm?”

“Chairman, when you say a nice gift…?”

This time too, when Baek Jinseok spoke in a meaningful tone, an impatient person asked what it was. Even I, who had been silent with my head down, looked up and spoke.

Receiving everyone’s gaze, Baek Jinseok answered in a cheerful voice.

“Curious?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a secret, a secret. But one thing’s certain. It’s something very big and very good. Mugyeong, if you want a nice gift, you’d better put in the effort. Understand?”

Baek Jinseok smiled broadly. But the people around us each showed surprised faces. Most of them had figured out what the big, good gift meant. Some laughed, while others looked grave.