Impossible Romance - Chapter 15

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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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15.

Why?
I hadn’t even thought to knock—I’d just flung the door wide open.
But more importantly, why was Kwon Seok-ha home at this hour?
My body froze as my thoughts tangled into a chaotic mess of confusion and embarrassment.
“If you’re done looking, close the door, would you?”
Kwon Seok-ha stood with his chest proudly displayed, water droplets cascading down his sculpted form. Yet his expression betrayed not a hint of embarrassment.
“Oh, yes.”
My face burned crimson as I hastily shut the door. The heat flooding my cheeks was so intense that my mind spiraled into complete chaos.
But thinking about it rationally, this was his fault.
‘He said he uses the bathroom in his room!’
I stood there looking flustered, about to escape to my room, when Kwon Seok-ha emerged.
“Go ahead and shower. I’m done.”
His casual tone made me question my own ears. We weren’t siblings reunited after four years—we were a man and woman who had shared genuine affection—yet he spoke with such effortless naturalness.
“I’ll do it later.”
Perhaps because I’d just seen him naked, I answered without meeting his gaze directly.
“You bought cup noodles? Let’s eat.”
Kwon Seok-ha, with only a towel wrapped around his lower half, picked up one of the instant noodle cups. It was one of several I’d purchased over the past few days.
‘I should have known better than to buy anything at all.’
I thought bitterly about his shameless audacity.
“You’ll eat some too, right?”
Kwon Seok-ha switched on the electric kettle, either oblivious or unconcerned.
“By the way, Director Kwon.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you have an external meeting today? I thought you’d be out late.”
I was asking why he was home at this hour when our eyes met. Seeing him stare directly at me, that vivid image of his naked form flashed through my mind again.
My face flushed hot as I lowered my head in embarrassment. Of all places, my gaze landed near his waist.
“Hey, where are you looking? Are you disappointed you only got a quick glimpse earlier?”
Kwon Seok-ha, perceptive as always, wasn’t about to let that slide. He teased me mercilessly.
“…No, that’s not it. Actually, you said you don’t use the bathroom out there. So why did you use it?”
My embarrassment quickly turned to indignation, and I lifted my head sharply to face him. Besides, this wasn’t even the first time I’d seen him naked.
I’d seen him by accident at the villa when we were children.
“You’ve been devious since childhood, and you haven’t changed. Ahn Joon-hee.”
Kwon Seok-ha slowly approached, toweling his still-damp hair with deliberate pats.
“Please don’t keep changing the subject, Director Kwon.”
My eyes widened as I swallowed hard.
“It’s my apartment—do I need your permission?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Enough. So are you satisfied?”
Before I knew it, he had closed the distance between us, tilting his head down toward me.
“Satisfied? What do you mean?”
I lifted my head sharply to challenge him, but in that instant, I understood exactly what he meant.
“Don’t dodge the question. You know perfectly well what I’m asking.”
Kwon Seok-ha turned my own words back on me as he stepped closer. A fresh, clean scent of body wash drifted from him.
“That? I could never be satisfied with just that!”
I bristled, my voice rising defensively. I knew Kwon Seok-ha actually enjoyed seeing my raw emotions like this, yet I panicked and lashed out anyway.
Realizing my mistake too late, I bit my lower lip. I should have simply ignored him and gone to my room.
His large palm appeared above my head. It wasn’t a gentle caress—instead, he waved his hand back and forth just above me, as if I were standing beneath a small eave.
“You’re being cheeky.”
“What?”
I raised my hand to swat his away, but he lifted his higher, making it impossible for me to reach.
“You’re cute, but stop fooling around and let’s eat.”
He lowered his hand and finally ruffled my hair.
I scowled at him. This was no different from when I was a child running errands for the young master.
“You won’t find a man taller than me anywhere. And don’t even think about going out looking to prove it.”
“I’m not looking for anything like that.”
My face flushed crimson as I stammered a few words, and just then, the electric kettle finished boiling.
Kwon Seok-ha tore open two cups of instant ramen and poured the hot water.
“Fine. Eat this.”
He gestured toward the ramen with his chin and sat down at the dining table.
I stood there for a moment, hesitating. Part of me wanted to retreat to my room, but I sensed that wouldn’t be the right move.
It was a kind of power struggle. In moments like this, I needed to appear stronger than Kwon Seok-ha and act as though his words hadn’t affected me at all.
“Fine.”
Having finally composed myself, I sat across from him and pulled the ramen closer. I resolved never to fall for his provocations again and waited silently for three minutes.
Kwon Seok-ha ate his ramen without paying me any attention whatsoever.
“I’m not that handsome, so stop staring and eat, will you?”
Kwon Seok-ha must have had eyes in his forehead. He noticed my gaze fixed on him even as he ate and made that remark.
“I wasn’t. I was just reaching for water.”
I suppressed the sharp flare of irritation rising in me and poured water from the bottle into a glass. Then I opened my ramen cup and began eating.
The sound of slurping ramen filled the quiet room, growing warmer with each passing moment. I kept my head down, focusing entirely on my meal.
No matter how firmly I resolved not to fall for his provocations, whenever he said something to needle me, I couldn’t maintain my composure. I slipped back into childhood, into those carefree days of bickering with him. Before I realized it, my defenses had crumbled.
‘This is exactly why I shouldn’t be near him.’
After finishing my ramen, I stood without looking at Kwon Seok-ha. But somehow, he was already standing directly in front of me, solid as a wall.
“What are you doing, sir?”
“Call me like you used to when we’re at home. I hear ‘sir’ enough at the Company.”
Kwon Seok-ha pulled me into his embrace, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Water droplets from his still-damp hair traced down his neck.
“You really want to hear me call you ‘young master’ that badly?”
I asked from within the prison of his arms, my eyes glinting with scathing contempt.
“No, not that.”
He smiled brightly, as if he hadn’t noticed the shift in my eyes.
“Not that? You can’t mean…”
“Yes. Call me oppa.”
Kwon Seok-ha traced his finger gently across my lips before sliding it inside. My soft lips parted as his long finger pushed deeper.
My eyes widened. I was about to bite down on his finger when Kwon Seok-ha spoke.
“If you bite, I’ll bite your lips right off.”
He had read my intentions in my eyes alone. I kept my mouth open, the tension draining from my jaw.
I had no choice.
Sharing a space with him was already overwhelming—biting his finger would be tantamount to inviting a kiss. And with Kwon Seok-ha, even without a kiss, he was the type of man who would press his lips against mine as payment for a bitten finger.
“It’s not working.”
He withdrew his finger from my mouth and placed it in his own, sucking softly.
My eyes widened in shock, but I quickly collected myself.
“Director Kwon! Whether it’s here at the apartment or at the Company, you’re still Director Kwon to me. There won’t be any relationship beyond that between us. Once I can reach my brother, I’ll be leaving, so please understand that.”
“Fine. Then you call me whatever you want. Do as you please. What else can I do?”
Kwon Seok-ha spoke as if he had stepped back, but I couldn’t let my guard down. This playful man had tricked me more than once since childhood.
And every time, it was I who got dragged away and scolded. It was merely an extension of our relationship. There was nothing thrilling or hopeful about his provocations. I couldn’t allow myself to feel that way.
“I should get going now. Director Kwon.”
I spoke in a clipped tone.
“No goodnight kiss for Director Kwon?”
Kwon Seok-ha grinned mischievously.
“I don’t think that will be happening.”
I brushed past Kwon Seok-ha and headed toward my room.

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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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