This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 204

As Dogun, with Yoonseo on his back, arrived right in front of Yoonseo’s house, chaos was unfolding in real-time, aided by Chae-rim’s help.

Given Dogun’s position, balancing Yoonseo on his back while staring at the entrance of her house, he had no clue about the situation inside.

Well, it was understandable.

At this very moment, all of Dogun’s attention was entirely fixated on the front door of Yoonseo’s house.

No need to elaborate.

He was already at Yoonseo’s doorstep.

Yet, despite the bitter cold wind howling around, he stood outside like some hero from a tale, pondering why he was still there.

“This is… a bit awkward…”

Now that he thought about entering, a myriad of worries flooded his mind.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know the password.

Why wouldn’t he know it? After years of knowing each other.

Had they really just been acquaintances for a decade? They had roamed each other’s homes like they owned them.

Of course, Yoonseo was the primary visitor, but he had also visited a few times.

So naturally, he knew the password for the front door.

It might sound odd to say, but the password for Yoonseo’s front door was notoriously simple.

Yet, staring at that tightly shut door felt like crossing a line he wasn’t sure he should tread.

I mean, honestly…

Even if it was Yoonseo’s house, it was still someone else’s house, and opening that door without permission?

Especially at this hour?

After considering it all, that just didn’t feel right.

And ringing the bell to summon someone inside? That also felt wrong.

How Yoonseo managed to sell something to her uncle, given the situation, was beyond him. But given the circumstances, he was sure her uncle would likely be pacing around waiting for her return, lights bright in the living room, just didn’t feel present today.

From the darkness inside, it seemed like he was sleeping.

Given the time, that was probably the case.

What kind of courage did she have to persuade her uncle, who could fall asleep after just two cans of beer?

“Wow…”

It was quite the feat.

He was almost astonished by it.

But, well, that wasn’t the main point right now.

Not wanting to just open the door but unable to ring the bell left him at a loss.

No matter how he thought about it, there seemed to be only one way to get out of this situation.

“Hey, hey! Wake up!”

Shouting at a volume only Yoonseo on his back could hear, he began to shake his body.

As much as he wanted to toss her onto the cold ground to wake her up, it felt a bit cruel to do that to someone who could somewhat be blamed on him for being tipsy.

So, he had no choice but to wake her up while carrying her.

To his relief, it didn’t seem like his attempt was in vain.

“Ugh…”

Moments ago, Yoonseo had been snoozing soundly, right next to his ear, emitting soft snoring, but now a sound slipped from her lips.

Perhaps she wasn’t pleased with being interrupted mid-sleep, as her tone suggested she was somewhat pouting at him.

Though he couldn’t check for sure, being partially hunched over and carrying her meant he couldn’t turn his head back too far, but she was likely scrunching her innocent brow in annoyance.

Thinking that, he shook his body again with more vigor this time.

He was practically vibrating like a gym machine, moving his body restlessly.

What should have been a comfortable rest was now a chaotic shake, so Yoonseo, using him as a bed, surely couldn’t sleep peacefully.

Maybe because her mind started to drift back to reality thanks to his antics, the cold atmosphere around them felt even more invasive, hitting her abruptly.

“Ugh… Why is it so cold…”

After shaking one last time, Yoonseo instinctively started to seek warmth.

The issue was… the warmth closest to Yoonseo was none other than him.

“Ugh…”

Was her hand particularly cold?

She squeezed tightly around Dogun, her grip icy, and as soon as it happened, the chilly air rushed in under his clothes and stuck to him.

That sensation felt like… becoming sober without having touched a drink.

“Hey! Oh Yoonseo…!”

The sudden shiver sparked a drive in him to urge Yoonseo even more.

After pushing and shaking her between moments of lucidity and drowsiness, they finally crossed the threshold into her room, and a wave of relief washed over him instantly.

That was to be expected.

He had done everything possible to rouse a child who had stifled both under the cold and the weight of sleep.

But stepping into the warm indoors, a sigh involuntarily escaped his lips, and his tension melted away.

Despite wanting to lay her gently down on the floor, it wasn’t like Yoonseo had chosen to be this way, so he held himself back.

Thus, dragging his reluctant body, he headed toward the bed.

As soon as he reached it, he aimed to set Yoonseo down, but… the attempt was just fine until Yoonseo unexpectedly pulled at him.

He hadn’t expected her to grasp him just then, yet somehow, he jerked forward as if he’d been caught on a fishing line.

Now he was awkwardly positioned over Yoonseo as he attempted to lay her on the bed.

Throwing all caution aside, he focused on sitting back up.

But as he tried, was it from the shock of feeling as if he was going to tumble onto the bed that it finally jolted his senses awake?

Yoonseo’s tightly closed eyes fluttered open, revealing her eyes from beneath the lids.

And in that moment, the action he was mid-way into halted and froze him in place.

Was it about timing?

Or was it just that he was in a position that might easily be misconstrued?

It was just as simple as lifting himself to his feet, yet he couldn’t accomplish such a straightforward task.

Amidst this, Yoonseo’s eyes blinked rapidly, silently urging him.

“Hehe…”

That sound slipped from Yoonseo’s lips while they maintained that forced eye contact.

A mysterious smile spread across her face right afterward.

Something felt different… it was as if he were seeing someone other than Yoonseo.

He knew the typical Yoonseo, always raucous and playful, but what was this?

As he hovered above Yoonseo laying on the bed, hand planted, he found himself in a slight state of confusion when suddenly Yoonseo, who had been silently looking up at him, moved for the first time.

As she shifted upward, Yoonseo’s face inched closer.

And in that brief moment, the narrowing gap caught him off guard, causing him to stiffen, as something soft, warm, and a tad heated brushed against the side of his lips.

It only lingered briefly before it vanished.

“Hehe… I did it too…”

She murmured that vague remark, leaving him utterly baffled.