CLABC 16

Chapter 16

Uh, e-excuse me. Excuse me?”

“‘Excuse me,’ really? Isn’t that a bit cold a way to address the man who’s going to be your husband?”

“No, I mean—well, yes. Husband… no, not my husband yet.”

Bora felt that Kangyun’s eyes, watching her ramble with a face gone bright red, were a little mischievous.

“I—I have something to say too!”

“What is it? If it’s not something really important, let’s talk about it later. But why does your gaze keep drifting downward, Bora?”

Finding Bora’s flustered expression cute, Kangyun teased her even more.

No—don’t point there.

Bora squeezed her eyes shut, hesitated for a moment, then blurted it out.

“I—I believe in remaining a virgin until marriage!”

“…Pardon?”

Kangyun asked back in a slightly higher voice, as if the thought had never even crossed his mind.

“…It’s too much in this day and age, right? But it’s really true.”

“Huh?”

“What? Are women who keep their virginity until marriage that rare?”

Bora asked, lifting her eyes demurely.

“No, that’s not it.”

Kangyun looked confused for a moment, then chuckled softly and sat back down.

“So that’s why you were so surprised by the clause about marital relations.”

“Yes… Of course, I am sorry if I fall short of your expectations, Kangyun….”

Kangyun watched her plump, cherry-tinted lips close and part slightly, then sighed and casually crossed his long legs.

“You don’t need to apologize. If anything, I should be the one saying sorry.”

“Why would you be sorry…?”

“If you end up unable to protect the purity you’ve kept because of a contract marriage, it feels like I’d be doing something wrong….”

“B-but we’d be husband and wife, right? Ever since I was young, my dream has been to share my real first night with my husband after marriage!”

“…I see. Understood.”

“Th-then, if you could calm yourself down a little right now… I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

Shaking his head, Kangyun lifted his glass and drained the remaining wine in one gulp.
Bora swallowed hard as she watched the red wine pass his lips and his Adam’s apple bob.

He’s actually understanding about this. If it were Han Gangmun, he would’ve ignored my opinion and done whatever he wanted.

Feeling inexplicably guilty, Bora bit her lip and glanced at Kangyun.
Meanwhile, Kangyun wet his parched mouth with wine.

He’d only mentioned sexual compatibility as a joke, intending to tease her a little, but her declaration of premarital chastity had shocked him more than he expected.

Of course, he was much older than Bora, and naturally had far more dating experience. And among all the women he’d dated, not a single one had insisted on remaining a virgin until marriage.

So he had never imagined those words would come out of Bora’s mouth.

Savoring the bitter aftertaste of the wine, Kangyun looked at her.

Beautiful women really aren’t easy to have.

“Ughhh… Tosun!”

After getting home, Bora collapsed face-down onto her bed, hugging Tosun tightly as she kicked her feet wildly.

“Ah, how embarrassing. Why did Kangyun have to say something like that all of a sudden!”

The reason she couldn’t make it past 200 days with a senior she dated briefly in college was also because of this—her belief in remaining a virgin until marriage.

He’d scoffed, asking what premarital virginity even meant in this day and age, and whether she belonged to some religious sect.

When she said she wanted to spend her first night after marriage with her husband, he’d tilted his head, unable to understand.

A few days later, he told her, ‘I don’t think you love me as much as I love you, so let’s break up before things get any deeper.’

After breaking up with that senior—who claimed to love her but said he couldn’t date without a physical relationship—most of her other breakups had happened for the same reason.

But Bora’s beliefs were firm.

She didn’t know how intoxicating or thrilling sex was supposed to be, but if it really was that amazing and magical, why was it strange to want to share it only with the man she’d spend her life with?

And in recent years, she’d been so focused on the silver-town business that she hadn’t had the time or energy to meet men or date.

So, half by choice and half by circumstance, she’d become a virgin—but Bora didn’t regret it.

“Ah, whatever. They say even if it’s just acting, once you’re married you have to do it at least once a week! Aah, what do I do… I’m so nervous….”

Her heart was still pounding from the shock of seeing the clause about marital relations in the contract.

“I should shower and sleep… but it’s such a hassle…. I really used up too much energy today.”

After spending half the day on wedding photos, feeling tipsy from wine, and then being shocked by the clause—and by the sight of Kangyun’s large, imposing thing—her eyelids kept drooping.

Try as she might to keep them open, Bora soon drifted off to sleep, hugging Tosun.
Tosun’s long ears gently draped over Bora’s head as she slept soundly.

“Ha… I’m dying.”

As soon as he got home, Kangyun headed straight for the bathroom, practically tearing off his clothes before turning the shower on full blast.

Cold water poured down forcefully from head to toe.

“Get a grip, damn it.”

From the restaurant, to dropping Bora off at home, to finally reaching the family house, Kangyun had exhausted himself trying to keep his lower body under control. Frowning, he looked down at himself, showing no sign of calming down.

“You’re completely in heat.”

What man wouldn’t react when faced with such a beautiful woman? But this was too much.

“Whew… premarital virginity…. Fine. Then it can’t be helped.”

Bora would soon be marrying him anyway, and after marriage, as her husband, he would have both her body and her heart.

Her heart?

Setting aside the body, could he really have her heart in a marriage formed purely for mutual benefit?

Kangyun felt drawn to Bora, and even thought he might truly come to love her as his wife. But he couldn’t be sure how Bora felt.

He knew she favored him more than Han Gangmun, and that she understood his situation and wanted to help him.

But was that because of the money she’d receive in return for the contract marriage—or because she felt attracted to him as a man? That part was unclear.

Does it even matter?

Either way, Bora and he were already in the same boat.

No matter what, they had to live as husband and wife for three years, and during that time they’d do their best for each other. For now, that was enough.

“Fuck.”

Startled, Kangyun froze when he came out of the bathroom and saw Gangmun’s half-lidded gaze fixed on him.

“Did you drink again? This is my room.”

“I know, asshole.”

“Then why are you in here? Why do something you never do?”

Kangyun, who’d been in a good mood all day thinking about Bora, spoke with irritation for the first time.

Gangmun snorted as he stared at Kangyun’s broad, solid back while Kangyun roughly dried his wet hair with a towel.

“I heard you did a wedding shoot today?”

“Why are you so interested in my business?”

Ignoring Kangyun’s cold reply, Gangmun flopped down onto his bed.

“Go sleep in your own room. Why are you being such a nuisance?”

“Hey, Han Kangyun.”

“What.”

“You’re really funny.”

“What is? If you’re drunk, get out.”

“You… you’ve really changed.”

“How so?”

“You’ve never been cruel to me. You always adjusted to me, always gave in. You think I don’t know? I know everything.”

“If you know, then stop messing with me and get out. I’m tired.”

Kangyun tapped Gangmun’s shoulder.
At that, Gangmun’s dull eyes sharpened as he suddenly sat up and glared at him.

“But now—why now? Why are you coming at me now? We’re grown up, and you already took everything that was going to be yours. Why are you stealing what I already laid claim to?”

Kangyun silently looked down at Gangmun’s blazing eyes.

Thirty-six years.

For thirty-six long years, he’d lived without even breathing properly, catering to this idiot’s moods.

A movie line suddenly came to mind: If kindness continues, people start to think it’s their right.

You pathetic bastard. You should’ve known your place when I was being nice.

Just because his blood was considered inferior, he’d lived like a dog in this house, abandoning all pride.

Cracking his stiff neck, Kangyun grabbed Gangmun’s arm, lifted him easily, and shoved him toward the door.

“You’re asking why now? Han Gangmun, I think you’re mistaken.”

Opening the door and pushing Gangmun out, Kangyun leaned down and whispered while staring at his furious face.

“I’ve hated you since the day I was born. So live your life without touching me again. And if you ever lay a hand on Bora again…”

Gangmun flinched and stumbled back at Kangyun’s low, deep voice, growling like a howl.

“I really won’t let it slide next time.”