The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 60

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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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60.
I nearly choked on my rice when his hand suddenly appeared in my face.
Why was this man touching my face in the middle of a restaurant without warning?
Did he not realize how dangerous his face and reckless behavior were to someone actively eating?
“Let’s go if you’re finished.”
My cheeks were still burning like this, and he’s playing innocent? Does he have no shame?
Seong Do-ah was just about to stand up, glaring at Cha Kyung, when it happened.
A server carrying food behind Cha Kyung missed a step.
Before he could even register what was happening, the tray was already tilting sharply toward Cha Kyung’s shoulder.
“Wh—whoa!”
Her reflexes were faster than she thought.
Do-ah stretched across the table almost on pure instinct and swatted the edge of the falling tray away from his shoulder.
Crash!
Dishes and a stone bowl clattered across the floor with a tremendous noise.
Fortunately, not a single drop of broth splashed onto Cha Kyung, but Do-ah’s hand had plunged into the scalding soup, her white skin flushing crimson with the burn.
“I—I’m so sorry!”
The server set down the tray and flustered about. Do-ah wrapped her wrist and forced a smile.
“It’s fine, really—it’s not that bad.”
It wasn’t fine. But the server looked like he was about to cry, so she couldn’t bring herself to say it hurt.
That was when Cha Kyung gripped her right hand.
“Ah……”
“Don’t move.”
His voice had dropped to a low murmur, cold enough to send a chill down her spine.
As he examined her hand, watching it redden with each passing moment, he clicked his tongue sharply.
“What was that about? Are you out of your mind? Why would you block it with your hand?”
“It was just a reflex—I didn’t get badly hurt.”
You need to learn how to actually take care of yourself first.”
“Really, it’s fine.”
“We’re going to the hospital. Get up.”
“But we’re already at the hospital……”
“Are you joking right now?”
His tone was harsh, but Do-ah didn’t mind it.
The joy of having someone genuinely worry about her outweighed any fear his words might have carried.
Her heart swelled like fresh-baked bread, warm and soft in her chest.
* * *
After having Do-ah treated in the emergency room, Cha Kyung practically forced her into a taxi despite her protests and sent her home. Then he returned to the Hospital Ward.
Kyung-sun, lying in the hospital bed, looked up at Cha Kyung as she spoke.
“You said you hated her.”
Cha Kyung sat down in the chair beside the bed and asked in return,
“What do you mean.”
“Seong Do-ah. When you first met her, didn’t you say something about not believing in superstition and never wanting to see her again? Now you’re so worried about her being hurt?”
Cha Kyung said nothing.
“I was right about what the fortune-teller told me. She said the woman who caused that commotion in the Lobby was your destiny.”
“Catching a mouse by walking backward, then. Lucky accident.”
“You haven’t had a single accident since you met Do-ah. You used to brush death once a month, remember?”
“I nearly died at the Amusement Park. Have you forgotten that?”
Cha Kyung cut in sharply, and Kyung-sun clicked her tongue.
“But you survived because of Do-ah. Because she was there with you. What did the fortune-teller say? That Do-ah would save your life. That she’s your Guardian Spirit.”
“I don’t believe in superstition. I won’t believe in it going forward either. And I didn’t meet Do-ah because of superstition.”
Cha Kyung spoke flatly, but Kyung-sun simply looked at him and smiled.
“Believe it or not, what does it matter? I’m just glad you found such a lovely Guardian Spirit.”
Cha Kyung’s gaze shifted to the window, as if to deny her words.
But in his mind, the image of Do-ah’s pale hand pushing away that falling tray kept returning, lingering.
* * *
His phone rang at nine o’clock at night.
Do-ah sat up from the sofa where she’d been watching TV. The screen showed “Cha Kyung Executive.”
She set down the remote and immediately pressed the call button.
“Cha Kyung.”
— What are you doing?
“Watching a drama at home. What about you?”
— I’m on my way home from work.
“Working late?”
— At this hour, I haven’t even made it to the overtime threshold.
It’s already nine—if that’s not even considered overtime, just how much does he work normally?
He’s going to ruin his health.
Do-ah spoke with concern in her voice.
“Please take care of yourself. Health is everything.”
A short laugh came through the phone.
— You sound like my grandmother.
“It’s wisdom earned through age!”
— I’m taking care of myself fine. But there’s something else that’s the real problem.
“What? Is something wrong?”
She asked, her voice growing tense.
— Hearing your voice made me want to see you.
Do-ah’s face turned red as a ripe tomato. Her heart raced.
“M—me too.”
— So shall we meet?
It’s already nine.
Washing, makeup, getting ready—it’d be almost ten by the time she left.
Thinking of tomorrow’s commute, she should have said they could see each other next time.
But she wanted to see him anyway.
“S—sure. Where should I go?”
— You don’t need to come out.
“What?”
Didn’t he just ask to meet? Did I mishear?
— I’m already in front of your apartment.
* * *
How had things come to this?
Just moments after Cha Kyung arrived with Macarons from a famous shop, the atmosphere had been warm and bright—but now……
“C—Cha Kyung.”
As she backed away, the edge of the dining table suddenly pressed against her waist.
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you a bit too close?”
Despite her protest, Cha Kyung approached her like a predator closing in for the kill.
His large hand cupped her chin gently.
In those cold, ice-like eyes, an inexplicable heat flickered and danced.
“We’re dating……is this not allowed?”
At his languid, heated voice, Do-ah finally surrendered and squeezed her eyes shut.
Moments later, his hot lips consumed her.
Heat that started at her lips traced down her jawline and settled at the nape of her neck.
Her hands, unsure where to go, clutched at the front of his crisp shirt.
“Cha Kyung, wait—!”
“Should I stop?”
At the low vibration that resonated beside her ear, strength drained from her legs.
Do-ah managed to breathe out an answer.
​”……No. Don’t stop.”
​That was the last thing reason had to say.
His solid arms lifted her waist and pulled her close.
As they moved from the table to the couch and then to the bed, there wasn’t a single gap between them.
In the darkness, the friction of fabric and the sound of buttons hitting the floor seemed unusually loud.
Her fingertips traced across his collarbone with a subtle tremor.
In that moment, his breathing caught roughly.
The realization that a man synonymous with controlled seduction was holding his breath because of her filled Do-ah with a strange sense of conquest.
Meanwhile, his lips descended from her shoulder, down to her chest.
​”Oh……!”
​Do-ah’s toes curled involuntarily as she dragged her nails across the sheets.
Streetlight filtering through the window gap shattered like fragments across the defined muscles of his back.
The rapid beating of his heart transmitted through his forehead to hers. Had he always been this warm?
Do-ah threaded her fingers between his and interlocked them tightly.
A night so long and desperate she never wanted to let go.
​
* * *
Morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains.
‘Mmm, what time is it? ……Oh my god!’
The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was Cha Kyung’s sculpted face.
Do-ah nearly swallowed a scream and tried to slip out of bed like a cat burglar.
In that instant, an iron grip caught her wrist.
“Oh my god!”
The scream finally escaped her lips.
“Where are you going? You look like you’re about to flee in the dead of night.”
He spoke in a rough, sleep-tinged voice.
“Sleep a little longer.”
Do-ah steadied her startled heart and answered.
“I need to get ready for work.”
“Call in sick.”
Do-ah laughed. He had some nerve, talking about someone else’s company like that.
“Will you tell your own employees the same thing, sir?”
“You’re not even one of my employees, so what does it matter.”
Muttering thus, Cha Kyung pulled her back down onto the bed and pressed a brief kiss to her lips.
​”I don’t want to let you go. Shall we just get married?”
Cha Kyung stared directly into her eyes and spoke in a low murmur.

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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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