Body

Yunha blinked slowly at the sudden question.

“Have you ever kissed someone?”

The question was a bit random and puzzling.

Is he drunk?

Yunha furrowed her brows and examined his face carefully. As always, Mujin’s annoyingly handsome face came into view.

If there was anything different about him, it was the faint scent of alcohol lingering around him.

But still…

His dark eyes were staring directly at her.

It didn’t seem like he was drunk.

Mujin looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for an answer.

Yunha opened her mouth, hesitating for words.

If she said she had kissed someone, it would be an obvious lie. If she said she hadn’t, it would hurt her pride.

“Why do you want to know?”

She replied curtly.

Lowering her pride in front of Madam Song or anyone else was as easy as solving a basic math problem, but for some reason, she always got childish when it came to Mujin.

And judging by his faint smile, Mujin knew that too.

That only irritated her more.

She hated how she felt like a child whenever she was in front of him.

Mujin let out a refreshing laugh, and then silence fell between them again. The sound of insects chirping filled the night.

A spring breeze brushed past her hair.

Gazing absentmindedly at the grass, Yunha sneaked a glance at Mujin.

The white glow from the streetlamp illuminated his face.

His pale skin gleamed under the moonlight like fine porcelain, as if proudly declaring that he was raised as a gentleman. His well-defined features fit perfectly on his small face—thick brows, sharp nose, and firmly pressed lips.

It was as if a famous artist had painted him with a wet brush, surrounding him in a soft watercolor glow.

It was hard to take her eyes off him.

She had never wanted to kiss anyone before, but…

‘If it’s Choi Mujin…’

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Realizing her own thoughts, Yunha snapped her gaze away in shock.

Thank god Mujin couldn’t read her mind.

“Did you see enough?”

Mujin asked with a faint smile.

One corner of his lips curled up naturally.

His casual question made Yunha’s ears burn.

Whether he was being shameless or just someone who didn’t need to care about how others felt, she didn’t know.

Either way, he had a way of catching people off guard.

Flustered, Yunha nodded like a fool.

“Then it’s my turn now.”

At the same time, the small gap between them disappeared.

Yunha’s eyes widened in confusion.

“Hey, Choi Muj—”

Everything happened in an instant.

Before she could finish speaking, Mujin’s lips pressed against hers.

Stunned, Yunha froze and stared at his face up close.

The face she had only admired from afar was now right in front of her—without any distance between them.

She forgot how to breathe.

Her knees touched his, his fresh scent filled her senses, and his warmth seeped into her skin.

Her shoulders tensed in nervousness.

Is this a dream?

Just as she was about to question reality, Mujin pulled back slightly and looked at her dazed expression.

“You’re not going to close your eyes?”

“Ah…”

His voice was gentle, as if coaxing a child.

As if under a spell, Yunha’s eyes slowly closed.

With nothing to see, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the two of them.

Just Choi Mujin and her.

Only they existed in this moment.

She felt his hand gently cup the back of her neck.

Surprised, she parted her lips slightly, and in that moment, his warm, soft tongue slipped in.

A shiver ran down her spine.

The way his tongue moved, hesitantly yet curiously, told her that he, too, was experiencing this for the first time.

She knew she should push him away. She knew this was wrong.

But deep down, she wished this sweet moment would last forever.

She raised a hand to push him away—only to rest it on his shoulder instead.

That night, under the spring sky, they shared their first kiss.

⸻

Yunha’s eyes snapped open.

She blinked heavily and lifted her head.

Sunlight streamed in through the half-open curtain.

6:30 AM.

BEEP BEEP BEEP—

Her phone alarm rang, urging her to wake up for work.

Yunha slowly sat up.

Her mind was hazy.

“Ah…”

Turning her head, she looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror.

A tired face from late-night work, a more mature appearance than her teenage years, and…

Hickeys.

Her neck and collarbone were covered in them.

Still half-asleep, she touched the marks on her skin.

No matter how much she rubbed, the deep red imprints didn’t fade.

Memories of last night came rushing back, snapping her fully awake.

“It was just a dream.”

A dream about them—eleven years ago.

A time when neither of them knew anything about desire.

She recalled the warmth of Mujin’s lips in her dream.

Yunha let out a bitter laugh.

How ironic, to dream of their innocent past on the same night she had begged Mujin to stop out of sheer pleasure.

Lifting her head, she recognized the familiar ceiling.

Her old bedroom from high school.

Back then, she had believed that adulthood would change everything.

But reality was still the same.

At twenty-eight, Jeong Yunha was still Mujin’s secretary and watchdog.

The only difference?

She was now also an outlet for his sexual desires.

Even after all these years, nothing had changed.

And that made her feel empty.

‘Time for work.’

The past was the past. Reality was reality.

There was no time to dwell on a dream.

Yunha got up and got ready.

A light touch of makeup, a simple black H-line skirt, and a thin leather-strapped watch.

A modest, professional look that suited a secretary—dark and unnoticeable.

After checking her reflection in the mirror a couple of times, she was about to leave when—

“Secretary Jeong, are you heading out?”

A voice called from behind.

It was Chief Kim, the manager of household affairs.

“Madam Song has requested to see you before you leave for work.”

Yunha paused.

“Madam Song?”

Madam Song—the lady of the house and Mujin’s mother.

Yunha’s expression turned wary.

“Please let her know I’ll be there shortly.”

“Understood.”

Chief Kim left.

Yunha checked the time and took off her shoes.

The last time Madam Song had summoned her, it was about Mujin’s arranged marriage.

She wouldn’t call Yunha for a pleasant reason.

And after last night with Mujin, facing his mother felt even more unpleasant.

But she had no choice.

She switched to indoor slippers and headed to the second-floor parlor.

Standing before the large door, she took a deep breath.

Nothing good ever came from being summoned here.

Her body instinctively tensed.

She had no idea what this was about, which made it even harder to stay calm.

After a brief hesitation, she knocked.

“Madam, this is Secretary Jeong.”

A few seconds of silence.

Then, a poised voice responded.

“Come in.”

Yunha straightened her jacket and opened the door.

Inside, Madam Song sat on a lavish sofa.

The parlor, decorated with antique furniture from France, reflected her extravagant taste.

Yunha walked over gracefully, keeping her hands clasped politely.

A cold voice greeted her.

“Why are you just standing there? Sit down.”

“Yes, Madam.”

She quickly sat.

If she had taken a seat without permission, she would have been scolded for being arrogant.

She was used to this treatment.

But what unsettled her was Madam Song’s silence.

After staring at Yunha for a long moment, Madam Song finally spoke.

“Make time this weekend.”

“This weekend?”

“Yes. We’re going to the hospital. I’ve already informed Dr. Min.”

A hospital?

Yunha blinked in confusion.

Was this something she needed to arrange as Mujin’s secretary?

Then, Madam Song added—

“If your filthy womb is carrying Mujin’s child, we need to get rid of it immediately.”