TYW Ch 6

“You don’t like my past?”

“If I had met you sooner, I wouldn’t have gone through something like this.” Woogeon drank the wine rather slowly. His facial features were dissatisfied.

Rieul smiled thinly.

‘How could I not have hope in life?’

“Until I met Michael. I would make mint chocolate latte at home, and my grandmother would only be allowed to sleep in bed, not move around.” Rieul looked at Woogeon and smiled thinly.

“And I would eat beef skewers every day, even if I woke up from sleep. Then I would eat beef every day.”

“I know you don’t eat that much.”

“I eat well on my own.”

“Right, that’s how it is.”

“I want to find a king-like man, hold his hand, hug him, and have children who look like him to form a happy family. That’s my dream.”

“It’s because I’ve never had a happy family, I’ve never spent time with a happy family. Therefore, my dream is to have a happy family.”

Rieul felt ashamed of her life that was not good enough and looked bad, but couldn’t deny it. Rieul lived like that. With a life like that, Rieul might not be pleasing to Woogeon, but it was an unchangeable reality. So, Rieul was shy but honest.

“Am I like a king?”

“Don’t mock me.”

Woogeon smiled while saying that strange thing, then signaled to continue speaking.

‘Today is the first time, Woogeon saw a different expression.’

Rieul felt proud of herself.

“I want to have a happy family, but I lost my family early—So I want to have a happy family as soon as possible. If I could make my father happy and give me a husband like my own father, and give me good siblings and sweet women like our mother, I would be very happy.”

“A family can be formed after we spend more time together.”

“But I want to have a family as soon as possible. I want to make my father happy as soon as possible.”

“Rieul.”

“I want to have my first kiss on the beach at sunset. I want to kiss you on the beach.” Rieul looked at Woogeon with a dissatisfied look.

“Continue.”

“I want my first experience to happen on a snowy Christmas, and after I experience that with my partner, I hope that person will hug me tightly and say, ‘I love you, Rieul, I love you, Rieul.’“

Woogeon tilted his head slightly and looked somewhere on the table while smiling faintly.

“Plans don’t always go according to my wishes. Life has twists and turns. Sometimes the turns are so sharp that I can’t see ahead—So many of the plans I make often fail, and sometimes luck comes sooner than I imagined.”

“I want to hug Lee Woogeon on Christmas, but today is also okay.”

When Rieul conveyed the gist of the conversation, Woogeon’s eyebrows furrowed again.

“Unconvincing.”

“That’s how it is. Did you realize it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Lee Woogeon is an ideal figure. He’s so charming that no woman can ignore him. He’s very tall, like a god in Norse mythology. He’s handsome and makes many women’s hearts flutter. A man like that…”

“I have him. If this man wants to sleep with me today, I won’t refuse.”

“Rieul.”

“I honestly want to be Lee Woogeon’s wife and be happy every day—I’ve said, I fell in love with you at first sight. I have an attractive man who is everyone’s dream. He’s my husband. I really want to hug him.”

Rieul blushed and swallowed her saliva.

‘It feels like my heart is about to explode. Even though I said it gently, expressing these feelings also requires courage. When I say I like him, when he’s gentle every day, it feels like I want to cry.’

‘Do you know the feeling of wanting to cry because this heart is too full?’

‘Every day, I want to be an honest woman and whisper to you, Lee Woogeon.’

***

Since birth, my life has been like a race car speeding on the Autobahn’s fast lane—Not a slow lane that’s congested like most people, but a fast lane where if we don’t speed, we’ll get fined. Even at the age of eighteen, I was really driving on the Autobahn. At that time I felt this was my life, a life without obstacles and limitations.

Unlike parents who value each child’s uniqueness, the only person who limited my freedom was grandfather. That was only because he was worried I would lose control of myself, not for other reasons. So, basically I was free to do whatever I wanted.

Therefore, my life always ran smoothly without obstacles—However, when I got acquainted with my wife, Rieul’s family, I realized how harsh life can be. Her father was a doctor, her mother a nurse, but they lived in the shadow of a harsh grandfather-in-law. They even lived in slums and worked part-time from morning to night.

I was very surprised to hear her life story. I never imagined anyone living that hard—Even so, I admired Rieul for still being a good person despite living in hardship. I’m sure I wouldn’t have survived in that situation.

The current twenty-two-year-old Rieul must have had an even harder time before she met me and grandfather. I can’t imagine how she survived all that. I myself have never experienced such hardship. My life has always been smooth, at most only facing small obstacles.

Because of our huge life differences, Rieul often says that life is hard and it’s better to accept the situation than to keep fighting. She even once said that four thousand won was very meaningful to her, because she never had a lot of money. I myself have never lacked money, so I don’t understand how she feels.

When she first declared her love, she seemed to hope I would be carried away and agree. But I’m not like that, my wife.

“Rieul, I’m easy to handle. Because you’re a pure woman and act as if I’m also a pure man, so I seem very easy to you.”

Woogeon touched the bottom of the wine glass with his palm and turned it.

“I can’t be too good of a man.”

“If I acted like a heartless villain to you, I would have taken you to bed a long time ago. What could you say?”

Rieul’s face turned red with embarrassment and discomfort.

“I’m an expert in level-appropriate education. There are people who must be dealt with according to their level. Right now, you’re at that level.”

Woogeon continued while looking somewhere on the table.

“I know you’ve lived hard and I respect that. So, I also want to stop pressuring you with age, but I can’t. We have a 9-year age difference. I don’t want to treat you carelessly.”

Rieul’s face, which was initially full of embarrassment, now turned into a sad expression.

“For lovemaking, it can be anytime—However, in a house full of adults like this, I feel a bit difficult. I don’t like living a newly married life with a burden. By the adults around us. I hope we can protect our rights a little.”

Because Woogeon was not affected at all, Rieul looked restless and confused. That made Woogeon smile amused.

“And honestly, I feel a little burdened and don’t hate this situation. When we hold hands with pure and sweet feelings, I’m careful even for just one handshake, thinking many times before hugging you, and hesitant when I want to kiss you. Things like this are very enjoyable—Something like this won’t happen again.”

Rieul, who now looked confused and curious with her slightly sullen face, looked at Woogeon. Woogeon raised both eyebrows.

“I’m not that stupid.”

“For now, pretend to remain innocent—I like you, Rieul. This feeling hasn’t been felt for a long time, so it’s enjoyable. Using a mask in front of women and almost hiding my bad nature while remaining obedient.”

“Patience won’t be that deep. It’s just, I’m like that—There’s also a slightly scary part.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve fallen in love with you regardless of who you are. But, do you feel you can handle any kind of man I am?”

His young wife’s face looked confused and couldn’t understand his statement. Woogeon chuckled and raised the wine glass while bringing it back to his lips. He sipped the wine that flowed into his throat.

“What do you mean? After all, Woogeon is my husband.”

“Look, Rieul—Accepting someone is difficult. We never know what that person is hiding— Even though I’m a man who has no flaws, many women leave because they can’t handle me. The assumption that because I’m attractive, our relationship will be perfect, must be discarded.”

“I don’t understand at all.”

His young wife showed an innocent expression that couldn’t understand his statement.

“That’s understandable. I find such a process troublesome, so if someone I don’t think is compatible acts like that, I don’t want to know them at all. If we’re close, and then one of us feels unable to handle the other and leaves, it will be very sad.”

“Woogeon… We are now husband and wife.”

Rieul looked at him with an expression full of regret. Seeing his wife’s expression, Woogeon couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes, I know. But, Rieul, don’t rush.”

When he called her by the name “Rieul,” the woman’s face in front of him turned red to her collarbone. Truly, there are various ways to make someone feel fascinated.

“I’m not thinking of running away, but thinking of ways to make you unable to run away.”

Rieul’s wife looked confused by his words. Woogeon laughed softly and sipped the wine again.

“I’m trying to make you bound to me so you can’t run away. This way, you’ll feel too bound to think about anything else. So, I beg you, don’t ruin this situation.”

Woogeon showed a smile with furrowed eyebrows.

“Woogeon.”

Woogeon smiled broadly and looked at Rieul with a meaningful gaze. He sighed before continuing the conversation.

“I understand what you’re trying to convey to convince me. I also understand your feelings. I know grandfather’s time is short, but please, don’t force me to act hastily.”

“If I rush, I’m afraid I’ll ruin you too deeply”

***

The two, sitting in a car driven by a personal driver, barely exchanged words. Woogeon, who was looking out the window as if pondering, looked so tired that Rieul was reluctant to start a conversation. The sound of third-person music and soft chanson songs flowed from the classic radio in the car.

Throughout the journey home to Wooheonwoo, Rieul tried to understand Woogeon’s words just now, but she didn’t understand at all. Rieul always thought that she had never met a man as handsome and cool as Woogeon, even in Seattle. Initially, she was interested because she heard stories from her grandfather, then fell more in love after seeing Woogeon’s photos and videos. When they met in person, she was immediately captivated by Woogeon’s handsomeness and warmth.

Now, after getting married, Woogeon is a good and caring husband. Rieul wondered, what did she not know about Woogeon? A man who sometimes sounded cold and realistic, but in the end always loved Rieul. What does ‘unable to handle him’ mean? Does that mean Woogeon has committed physical violence? Or maybe he’s a rude and cruel man?

Why did so many women run away from Woogeon? What was wrong with his previous love relationships? Of course, Woogeon is also an ordinary human and must have made mistakes. But.

Rieul slowly turned to Woogeon. Her husband was leaning on the back seat, closing his eyes, and looked very tired.

“I’m not looking for a way to run away from you. Instead, I’m thinking of ways to make you unable to run away from me.”

‘Her husband, is he no longer thinking about divorce?’

“Starting tomorrow.”

Woogeon said that while closing his eyes and speaking in a relaxed tone.

“The personal shopper will come soon?”

“What is a personal shopper?” Rieul asked, and Woogeon opened his closed eyes and laughed softly.

“I want you to wear fresh and feminine clothes like now, but also want you to wear clothes that suit my style sometimes.”

“I will also prepare an assistant.”

“Assistant? I, I’m always with grandfather, so there’s nothing I need to do.”

“But it will be good for you.”

Woogeon said that firmly and closed his eyes again. The car drove at the right speed in the heart of Seoul.

Except for the house workers, everyone in the house had gone to work, so only Rieul and her grandfather were at home.

In the afternoon, an assistant named Han Hyejin who worked as Rieul’s secretary came with a personal shopper Lee Chaeyoung. Lee Chaeyoung brought various clothes for Rieul.

Rieul felt a little awkward every time Lee Chaeyoung took out clothes from the portable hanger and showed them to her. She often saw girls in Seattle wearing clothes like that.

‘Does Woogeon also like this style?’

“This kid is very fascinated.”

Grandpa laughed heartily.

“Is that what Woogeon meant?”

“That’s right.”

“But he also said incomprehensible things yesterday.”

“What did he say?”

“Woogeon…”

“What did Woogeon do?”

Rieul felt that sharing Woogeon’s personal affairs was a matter of privacy, so with a slightly sullen face, she ended up saying nothing. She was worried that her grandfather would mock her if she talked about it.

“If that kid is bothering you, tell grandpa. That kid needs to be taught a lesson at least once every three days to come to his senses.”

Hearing her grandfather’s words, Rieul smiled thinly. Initially, when grandpa mocked Woogeon, she felt awkward, but lately, she felt very relieved. At that moment, Rieul’s cell phone vibrated and rang. Not many people would contact Rieul, only her husband, Lee Woogeon, her grandfather, and her parents-in-law.

Her husband’s name, Lee Woogeon, appeared on the phone screen.

“Yes, this is Rieul.”

Let’s have dinner together tonight. See you at the Achasan wine bar at 6 PM.

“Okay.”

When Rieul looked at her grandfather, her grandfather smiled casually.

After hanging up the phone, personal shopper Lee Chaeyoung hung up some clothes for Rieul on four mirrors.

One of the dresses was a fit dress with a halter neck that showed off her shoulders and long sleeves that draped down to her wrists, a beige long dress that was very tight and only had half sleeves that were rather embarrassing to call half sleeves, and a khaki fit dress with long sleeves.

“These clothes, are these the best?”

“Vice Director Lee Woogeon asked to choose clothes that suit Madam’s taste.”

“That kid is indeed strange, any clothes are fine as long as they’re worn, ha ha.”

Although grandpa spoke in a rough tone, his face showed that he was happy.

Rieul changed her clothes in the temporary dressing room with the help of personal shopper Lee Chaeyoung.

This was the first time she wore clothes with such a tight cut and emphasized her curves. Even without looking in the mirror, she could feel the clothes on her hips and chest sticking tightly. Rieul came out of the temporary dressing room. Grandpa made a sound of surprise.

When she looked in the mirror, she saw a mature woman wearing a tight black halter neck dress. Neat and soft shoulders, relaxed arms, and a slender waist and rounded hips, and large breasts were very striking.

“I’ve made it according to your size because you said your height is small. It fits perfectly, Madam.”

When Lee Chaeyoung said so, grandpa also responded by saying it was very beautiful.

The woman in the mirror was not the innocent twenty-two-year-old Rieul, but a mature woman. Although her height was small, she was impressed to be able to appear with such an open and sensual impression.