Contract Marriage with a Male Friend - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#36

Su-i cradled the mug in both hands, sipped her latte, and smiled with genuine contentment.
“Mm, the coffee here really is the best.”
“You’ve acquired a taste for it?”
“Absolutely.”
Su-i’s eyes narrowed with amusement.
Now when Beom-jin spoke, his jokes sounded like jokes.
‘How strange it all feels now.’
How had he managed to hide the fact that he came from a conglomerate family so completely?
No, wait.
That wasn’t the right question.
How had she believed the lie that he’d grown up in an ordinary household?
Even standing anywhere, light seemed to radiate from him.
No matter how many times she looked, an extraordinary aura poured from him constantly.
Su-i recalled the two people she’d met at the Department Store.
They too came from prestigious families, wore expensive, refined things—yet standing beside Beom-jin, they’d seemed utterly ordinary.
‘Even I, who’ve known him all this time, feel this way. I wonder what Chairman Oh and Team Lead Pyo truly think.’
She was lost in thought for only a moment.
Then warmth brushed her lips.
When she came back to herself, Beom-jin had wiped a foam mustache from his mouth and brought his lips to hers instead.
“What—what are you doing!”
“Isn’t that what you were asking for? Your stare was so intense I couldn’t take it anymore.”
Beom-jin laughed softly. Or maybe—
“Should I have used my mouth to wipe it instead?”
“Seriously!”
Su-i flushed, then quickly glanced around and spoke through gritted teeth.
“I told you never to say things like that in public.”
“What can I do? You’re too cute.”
Ugh, really…….
She covered her face with her hands, then leaned in and whispered carefully.
“Are you telling me there are watchers in this café too?”
Beom-jin paused, then slowly nodded, his gaze tilted with something like resignation.
“If you knew how thorough my family is, you’d faint.”
Tap. Tap.
He drummed his fingers against the handle of the mug in front of him.
“So instead of keeping my mouth shut, I show it through actions. In case you try to run away.”
Su-i studied his expression carefully before speaking.
“Is it…… difficult for you?”
He stilled.
At her words, Beom-jin took a deep, quiet breath, then washed his face with his hands.
His eyes, suddenly parched, seemed about to burst with churning emotion.
Ah, really—
Why did she always worry about him instead of herself in moments like this?
He fell deeper. His heart raced more.
If he fell any deeper into Su-i, if his pulse raced any harder, something truly terrible would happen.
He found himself thinking he might lock her away and keep her for himself alone.
But…….
Beom-jin laughed quietly.
He could never do such a thing.
He could never force Su-i to do something she didn’t want.
If she disliked anything even slightly, if tears appeared, he would scoop her up and run outside with her. He would.
“No.”
Beom-jin reached across the table and took her hand.
“It’s not difficult.”
He held it firmly, as if he’d never let go.
“Because you’re beside me.”
His gaze met hers with unmistakable sincerity.
As if it were the deepest truth.
“What—what are you looking at me like that for?”
“How am I looking at you?”
“…… I don’t know. Like a pervert.”
At her flustered complaint, Beom-jin smiled.
“Why are you laughing?”
“You’re adjusting well.”
Adjusting?
“You’ve gotten used to your perverted husband. You’re not even pulling your hand away now.”
“Ah…….”
“Before, you would’ve just complained with words, asking why I’d go to the trouble of cleaning you up. But now you sit still even when I wipe your lips.”
Su-i bit her lip inward.
She had to admit: in this short time, she’d grown accustomed to Beom-jin’s attentions.
Usually she only accepted his help when she was nursing a hangover.
“But is it really okay?”
Before her face could flush entirely, Su-i hurried to change the subject.
Beom-jin looked at her with an amused expression, as if asking with his eyes what she meant.
“Meeting them so suddenly. If you need more time—”
“No. I wanted to meet them as soon as possible.”
Beom-jin stroked the back of her hand gently with his thumb, a faint smile on his face.
“You said they’re like family to you.”
“…….”
“Meeting them properly as family is only natural.”
The tip of Su-i’s nose tingled as she pressed her lips together.
The way he spoke so matter-of-factly, with such certainty—it was exactly…….
‘Like a real husband.’
She’d forgotten for a while, swept up in his recent passion.
But Beom-jin was truly a tender person.
Especially toward the adults who treated her kindly, he conducted himself with impeccable courtesy.
So they were often mistaken for a pair well-suited to each other.
‘No matter how much it’s just a contract, I really did make the right choice marrying Beom-jin.’
Even after the contract ended, she would never regret this moment.
Just then, the bell chimed and the door to Lilac opened.
“Chairman Oh, Team Lead Pyo.”
Su-i rose from her seat, and Beom-jin stood with her, moving to her side.
“Oh, Su-i.”
His welcoming expression lasted only briefly before Chairman Oh Sang-chul froze at the sight of Beom-jin.
Team Lead Pyo Yeon-soo, who’d followed him in, also paused—but only for a moment.
She soon smiled and, with a gentle touch, guided her startled husband forward.
“I’m so sorry for the sudden visit. We happened to be nearby, and I thought it would be nice to say hello. So we came on impulse…….”
“No, you did well. The review finished ahead of schedule, actually. Yeon-soo’s meeting was cancelled too, so we were just headed back to the office.”
“Oh, oh, so, so—sorry is the last thing we should say. Somehow today I just wanted to greet you here at this café, didn’t I? Ha ha ha.”
At Chairman Oh’s stiff laugh, Pyo Yeon-soo nudged his arm gently, giving him a look.
Seeing that, Su-i relaxed slightly and smiled, placing a light hand on Beom-jin’s back beside her.
“This is my…… fiancé, Beom-jin Dok-go.”
Her voice trembled slightly from embarrassment, but Su-i introduced him without hesitation.
The man she was going to marry.
“Hello. I’m Beom-jin Dok-go. I’ve heard much about you both. Thank you for cherishing Su-i.”
The imposing man, who seemed to command the very breath from those around him, bowed deeply without a moment’s hesitation.
Thanking them for caring for her.
Even in that small gesture, his affection for Su-i was palpable.
“I’ve seen you coming and going with Su-i sometimes. Even from a distance, I always thought: what a fine, handsome man.”
Pyo Yeon-soo gazed at the two of them, her smile warm and pleased.
“Standing together like this, you really do make a beautiful pair.”
“Thank you for seeing us so kindly.”
“This may be overstepping, but please take good care of Su-i. We’ve come to think of her as a sister.”
“Not at all. I look forward to caring for Su-i going forward.”
“Don’t you worry! Su-i and I will protect her with everything we have—so rest assured……!”
“Dear?”
Pyo Yeon-soo stepped on her husband’s foot firmly while lifting the corners of her mouth in a smile.
“Shall we lower our voices a bit? We don’t want to embarrass Su-i, do we? Understood?”
“Ugh, yes, yes—understood.”
At the sight of the two of them, Su-i and Beom-jin exchanged silent smiles.

***

The unexpected first meeting ended in success.
“Take your time saying goodbye and come back up—no rush, we’ve nothing urgent today anyway.”
“Thank you, Chairman.”
“Wait, you’re leaving already? I haven’t even told you half of how well Su-i does at her—”
“Dear? Do you realize how many minutes you’ve been talking while sitting here?”
At his wife’s look, Chairman Oh finally pressed his lips together.
“Sorry. This mouth of mine runs away when I’m nervous.”
“Not at all. It was lovely.”
“Let’s see each other again soon.”
“Yes, we’ll arrange a proper dinner next time.”
“There’s so much more I wanted to say…… Oh, I know! Su-i, shall we see you this evening? Let’s meet again soon. With your husband, you’re practically family!”
Unable to hide her reluctance, Pyo Yeon-soo dragged her husband away, cutting short his attempt to launch into more conversation, and left the café.
The bell chimed as the two of them left Lilac and began walking side by side toward the Office.
“They seem like good people.”
“Yes, they do.”
“He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
A deep, weighted silence fell between them.
“I hope that affection doesn’t change too quickly.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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