The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 301
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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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Part 2, Side Story 19
“….”
Cheongha swallowed hard, lifting her gaze to meet Saeon’s eyes.
Those blue eyes that always yielded to her now shimmered with a faint tremor, fixing upon her with unwavering intensity.
‘The things Baek Saeon and I must do together for the successor….’
She was not ignorant of what that entailed.
A flush of heat swept across her face for a moment, yet unable to retreat now, she suppressed her turmoil and responded with deliberate nonchalance.
“There’s nothing I can’t do.”
Saeon’s eyes, which had been fixed upon her, grew noticeably more rigid.
He seemed somewhat irritated by the casual manner in which she had deflected his words. Had one asked what angered him so, he could not have answered with clarity, yet….
“You can?”
“Y-yes. I can do anything….”
Whoosh—
Before Cheongha could finish her sentence, Saeon tilted his head down toward her face.
“…!”
Startled by the sudden proximity, she flinched without thinking, her fingertips trembling.
Pfft—
Witnessing this, Saeon let out a brief, mocking chuckle.
“There it is.”
So she could do it, did she? Clearly, it was all bluster.
“Stop spouting nonsense about contractual marriages and such. Leave.”
Saeon spoke to her with eyes grown rigid and cold.
“No.”
Yet Cheongha remained unmoved.
“I said I could do it. So why are you so certain I cannot?”
“What?”
“Isn’t it you who lacks confidence?”
“It’s not I who lacks confidence, but you….”
In the moment when her provocation caused him to furrow his brow and tilt his head sharply toward her.
Soft—
Something small, soft, warm, and tender pressed against his lips.
“…!”
Saeon froze entirely, his shock complete.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump—
‘What was that just now? My, my lips…?’
Whoosh—
The moment realization struck, his face flushed crimson as though it might burst.
Saeon turned his head away sharply, one hand covering his lips.
He swore—truly, genuinely—that he had never intended to kiss her in this moment.
He had merely meant to frighten and drive away this woman who so constantly vexed him with her absurd words….
Cheongha was equally startled by the breath that suddenly brushed against her.
The two of us fell silent in an instant, avoiding each other’s gaze amid palpable embarrassment.
Yet my heart continued to pound relentlessly, growing only more intense with each beat.
It was Cheongha who broke this delicate silence first.
“I’m, I’m sorry.”
She avoided my gaze, looking down at her feet while fidgeting with the strands of hair that had fallen across her face.
“For being so stubborn….”
I slowly lowered the hand that had covered my face and turned to face her.
Watching her awkward and flustered expression, a sudden surge of heat rose within me.
“Apologize?”
“S, Saeon…?”
At my heated tone, Cheongha lifted her head with a bewildered expression.
In those blue eyes fixed upon me, flames burned with intense longing.
In that moment, her heart sank.
Was Saeon angry?
No, it wasn’t quite anger—it was something different….
“You shouldn’t apologize yet, Cheongha. We haven’t exchanged anything between us.”
Then he cupped her cheek and drew her close.
Her body trembled, but he extended his other arm, pinning her firmly between himself and the desk, refusing to let her escape.
“….”
“….”
His large palm swept across her tense nape—rough yet remarkably tender in its touch.
Slowly, their lips met once more.
Between their clumsily joined lips, hot breath intertwined, and searing warmth passed between them.
The two of us remained locked together long after that moment.
* * *
That day, Saeon wrote a reply to the marriage proposal Cheongha had brought and sent it to the Cheongryong Family, and the distant Blue Sea Dragon Palace in the Eastern Lands was thrown into absolute upheaval.
“I always knew you’d cause trouble one day, but you certainly haven’t disappointed your father.”
The Azure Dragon Clan Head held his head in exasperation at his eldest daughter’s actions and those of her companion, yet personally oversaw the preparations for their marriage.
“I apologize, Father.”
“Enough. Yuha told me why you ultimately sought to escape your Direct Lineage Duty.”
“….”
“In a way, this is a good outcome for everyone. So you must live happily.”
At her father’s affectionate blessing, so unlike his usual severity, Cheongha shed tears.
“Yes, Father. I will be happy, I promise.”
And so the day of their marriage finally arrived.
Saeon, one of the day’s principal figures, could not fathom how the ceremony that began in the morning had passed.
When I came to my senses, I was in the ceremony hall, and when I came to them again, it was already over.
And now I stood before the Bridal Chamber, dressed in light ceremonial garments.
“….”
A gulp.
Staring at the closed door, sweat pooled in the palm of his clenched fist.
Ever since that day when I had kissed her on impulse—though “impulse” hardly captured how eagerly I had pursued it—Saeon had been avoiding Cheongha, and she, sensing his reluctance, had refrained from seeking him out.
But now, the moment I could no longer evade was drawing near.
Saeon carefully placed his hand on the door handle, and even that small gesture allowed him to sense her presence within.
The presence of the small girl I had known for so long….
Now unmistakably that of a mature woman who had remained at my side throughout the entire wedding ceremony today….
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Merely sensing her presence sent my heart racing wildly. At this rate, I would become the first tiger in Western Lands history to die from a ruptured heart.
‘No. Calm yourself, Baek Saeon. A tiger’s heart is sturdy enough that it won’t burst so easily….’
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump—!
‘Is, is this really going to be alright…?’
Saeon stared down at my frantically pounding chest with a grave expression.
My heart was already racing this violently from merely sensing her presence—if I opened the door and our eyes met, I might truly lose consciousness.
Yet I could not remain outside, delaying further out of fear.
With a sharp motion.
Saeon threw open the door and strode into the room with determination, only to freeze upon discovering her seated before the desk.
She had been breathtakingly beautiful in the azure wedding robes of the Eastern Lands worn during the day, but now, dressed in lighter garments as night fell, she was utterly….
“Well, welcome, Saeon.”
Cheongha smiled awkwardly and waved her hand.
“….”
Instead of answering, Saeon felt his Adam’s apple bob softly as he swallowed quietly.
With each step closer to her, I felt every muscle in my body stiffen rigidly.
On the desk sat a wedding feast prepared for two.
As Saeon, now seated beside her, reached toward the wine bottle to break the awkward silence, Cheongha reached for it simultaneously, and their fingertips brushed.
A startled flinch.
Saeon jerked his hand away in surprise.
His obvious reaction of being conscious of her only made the atmosphere in the room even more strained.
“….”
“….”
The two drank their cups in silence.
Having received instruction for the wedding night before the marriage proposal, both of them understood clearly what should come next.
At last, Saeon turned toward her with apparent resolve.
Then, moving closer and with utmost care, he approached her.
The sweet fragrance emanating from her made his Adam’s apple bob softly.
But just before their breaths intertwined.
He suddenly squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head deeply.
“Saeon…?”
“Just a moment….”
His face flushed crimson up to his ears as he covered it with one hand, releasing a sound of distress.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere…?”
“No, stop! Don’t come near me!”
As Cheongha reached toward him with a worried expression, Saeon urgently pushed himself away from her and cried out.
“…?”
At his strange reaction, Cheongha blinked her eyes in bewilderment.
But of all things, those round blue eyes gazing at me were so dizzingly beautiful.
He bolted upright!
Saeon sprang from his seat and looked at her, then….
“Wait, I need some air…. I’ll just get some fresh, cool air and come back.”
With those words, he fled without hesitation.
Left alone in the room, Cheongha stood dumbfounded.
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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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Are you seriously making fun of us?! Please, just release the chapters in the correct order! Since when do people read novels backwards?! This is ridiculous. And to make matters worse, this is the ONLY novel I’ve come across on this website that has this problem. Why is this happening only with this novel? Please fix the chapter order and upload the correct chapters!