Impossible Romance - Chapter 34

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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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34.

The weather had been unpredictable lately, and this rain hadn’t even been in the forecast—neither of us had brought an umbrella. The downpour that arrived in early autumn, just after summer’s end, was cold and crisp.
The sudden deluge drenched Jun-hee’s hair and streamed down her cheeks. Her white blouse, helpless against the onslaught, was soaked through.
The moment Jun-hee looked up at Kwon Seok-ha in alarm, the rain pelting down on her head ceased. He had removed his coat and held it high above her, shielding her from the downpour.
Jun-hee’s eyes widened in surprise as she glanced between the coat above her head and him. Given how tall he was, when he lifted the garment to wrap around her, she felt herself nestled entirely within his embrace.
My heart began to race without reason. I couldn’t explain why, but one thing was certain—I didn’t want Kwon Seok-ha to see this emotion written across my face.
I forced my expression into the coldest mask I could manage and quickened my pace.
“You don’t have to do this. Go on ahead.”
“Should we run together?”
Kwon Seok-ha pretended not to hear my quiet refusal.
Knowing his stubbornness, I said nothing more and simply walked. There was no way I could send him ahead in this situation.
Kwon Seok-ha glanced down at Jun-hee nestled against him as they walked, deliberately slowing his pace. Yet his long legs meant that even at this reduced speed, her quickened breathing as she struggled to keep up was transmitted directly to him through their contact. The sensation brought a subtle smile to his lips.
Seeing Jun-hee enveloped within his large coat awakened a fresh wave of desire. The fresh scent of shampoo from her hair, washed this morning, mingled with the smell of rain and tickled his senses.
Ever since he’d heard that Han Seon-young had taken Jun-hee away, his mind hadn’t been at ease. He’d wanted to soothe her worries after work, but she’d fled as if making an excuse about a prior engagement, and he hadn’t been able to stop her.
If he tried to hold her back, Jun-hee would only run further away. He’d learned this painfully during those four years apart.
Whether it was his mother or anything else—he wanted to protect her fiercely from all of it, to cherish her more than anyone in the world. Yet Jun-hee herself wouldn’t give him the opening. Now that he’d finally managed to keep her by his side, he couldn’t bear the thought of her slipping away again.
But when he’d returned home after work, Jun-hee wasn’t there. He knew she was meeting a friend, but he’d grown anxious—what if she simply disappeared? He’d left the apartment and waited for her outside, wandering the streets.
When she didn’t appear at the parking lot, he’d stepped outside the building. Still no sign of her, so he’d lingered near the bus stop. As he walked, he’d drifted further and further from home.
Yet she still hadn’t appeared, and somehow he’d ended up here. But if he admitted he’d been waiting, she’d surely hate it, so he kept that truth hidden.
“Executive Director, you’re getting soaked.”
Jun-hee’s voice pulled Kwon Seok-ha from his thoughts.
“Are you worried about me?”
“No.”
Jun-hee answered coldly and stretched her leg forward as if trying to escape his embrace. But in that moment, water had pooled into a puddle. Unable to see it clearly in the darkness, she stepped directly into it, and the splash soaked both of them up to their thighs.
“Ugh!”
A short cry escaped Jun-hee’s lips as the water drenched her.
“I can certainly tell you’re not worried, but that doesn’t mean you had to add to the mess, does it?”
Kwon Seok-ha reproached her, looking down at his soaked pants.
“…That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry.”
Jun-hee’s expression grew flustered, and she turned her head away. She hadn’t done it on purpose, but stepping into that puddle had created an unfortunate misunderstanding. The rain was now falling even harder than before.
“This won’t do.”
At Kwon Seok-ha’s words, Jun-hee turned to look up at him. He removed the coat they’d been sharing and draped it entirely over her head.
“No, why? I’m fine.”
Jun-hee shook her head in protest. In that brief moment, the warm heat radiating from the coat spread through her entire body.
“I don’t want to wear it once it’s damp.”
He spoke the excuse playfully, then took her hand and walked forward. Jun-hee had no choice but to continue to the officetel with him, unable to return his coat.
Occasionally, Kwon Seok-ha glanced down at Jun-hee and gently arranged her wet hair. The sudden downpour had soaked them both thoroughly—so much so that his efforts to tidy her hair seemed almost pointless.
Yet Jun-hee found comfort in the warmth emanating from his fingertips. This day had been fraught with anxiety and uncertainty because of Kwon Seok-ha’s presence, and now, feeling this emotion from simply having him beside her, I was astonished at myself.
In the downpour, Jun-hee suddenly felt the urge to cry. If she were to reveal her honest emotions before Kwon Seok-ha right now, the rain seemed like it would conceal her tears.
At that thought, the rain pouring down felt like tears themselves. Perhaps that’s why—watching the heavy downpour, she felt oddly relieved.

Even after entering the Parking Lot, neither of them stopped walking. Only after stepping into the Private Elevator did they realize they had been holding hands the entire time.
Inside the Elevator, the scent of rain mingled with late summer and early autumn hung in the air. It was the smell of hot passion and the season that cooled it, all tangled together.
Jun-hee turned her gaze away from Kwon Seok-ha, looking at the Elevator wall as she slowly withdrew her hand.
In that instant, her wrist was caught. Pulled by his firm grip, she looked up at him.
“Why…?”
Her bewildered question dissolved numbly into his lips. Kwon Seok-ha lowered his head and captured her lips. The tender kiss, contrasted against the rough rain and wind outside, was so warm it made her want to cry.
Jun-hee hesitated but met his lips anyway. Thinking of Han Seon-young, she accepted his kiss as if unmoved. Or perhaps that was just an excuse. Either way, she kissed him while pretending not to be thrilled.
Kwon Seok-ha’s large hand wrapped around her lower back and pulled her closer. Just as their moistly interlocked lips parted deeper, the Elevator’s arrival chime awakened them both.
Kwon Seok-ha’s lips withdrew plainly. In his gaze upon Jun-hee, there was no trace of the excitement or desire that had been conveyed moments before.
‘Right. He was always this kind of man.’
Just as Jun-hee stiffened her face further, fearing her own excitement might have been detected, Kwon Seok-ha stepped out of the Elevator and pulled her into his embrace as if snatching her by the waist, standing before the Entrance Door.

Beep beep beep beep.
His fingers punching the keypad password seemed more urgent than usual.
Cradled in his arms, she stared blankly at his fingers’ movements like a fool—perhaps from having been caught in the rain too long. Jun-hee neither refused nor resisted; rather, she made no move to leave his embrace, finding it easier to be drawn along by his hand.
Click.
The sound of the Entrance Door opening was as unhesitating as Kwon Seok-ha’s actions. Even as they stepped through the wide-open door, he did not release her from his embrace.
Rainwater dripped from her hair, her clothes, even her shoes. It seemed as though she was pouring out all her emotions, just as she had wished the rain were tears.
Only after stepping into the Living Room did Kwon Seok-ha turn to look at Jun-hee’s face. His palms, caressing both her cheeks, were hot, and her eyes gazing back at him shimmered even more intensely.
“Stay here.”
His tender voice enveloped her ears.
He, who had touched her as carefully as if handling a small child, hurried into the Bathroom and moved busily about. Even as the storage cabinet opened and water sounds rang out loudly, Jun-hee obediently remained standing at the edge of the Living Room, just as he had said.
Kwon Seok-ha emerged from the Bathroom shirtless. Since everything was soaked through with rain, it was the better choice. He approached with quick steps, holding a towel, and placed it over Jun-hee’s head.
Jun-hee stood there looking up at him. As he patted her hair dry with both hands, the amount of rain she had caught was simply enormous.
“Let’s wash up. This won’t do.”
His voice, hoarse with rising heat, carried a quiet urgency beneath it.
As Jun-hee’s eyes lit with confusion at his meaning, he removed the coat draped around her body. The white blouse, soaked through by rain, clung to her skin in its drenched state, but she felt no shame.
“You’ll catch a cold.”
He answered the reason Jun-hee hadn’t even asked, lifting her effortlessly. Small puddles formed on the Living Room floor in the wake of his footsteps.
Splish splish—the sound of wet footsteps echoed across the Ground as they headed toward the Bathroom. Inside, hot steam was rising from the Bathtub.
Kwon Seok-ha set Jun-hee down directly into the Bathtub. As hot water rushed in, his hand remained on the blouse buttons, his eyes fixed on her.

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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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