This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 513

In a moment, it seemed like the time spent sharing warmth with each other was much more delightful than mere desires.

Even after the kiss that felt like it would last forever ended, Yoonseo did not leave my thigh.

Thanks to that, I felt like I might go a little crazy.

To be honest, I couldn’t help but feel that way because during the week Yoonseo was away on her business trip, I was way too busy with various reasons, leaving no room for desire to pile up; unlike usual, I was surprisingly pent-up.

But in such a situation, something soft and pliable kept pressing against my thigh, making it impossible for me not to react.

However, giving in to desire like usual felt awkward because Yoonseo seemed to really enjoy this moment.

That was precisely why I had been desperately trying to pull my butt back.

I was only trying to preserve this serene moment, but perhaps my actions came across differently in Yoonseo’s eyes.

“Why? Is it uncomfortable?”

Before I knew it, Yoonseo had extended her arms, hugging my neck tightly and whispered in my ear.

Naturally, I couldn’t answer her question honestly.

To be frank, I was too embarrassed to say anything.

“No, that’s not it… I’m just worried you might be uncomfortable.”

“Really? I feel comfortable and good.”

Was it because she loved the thigh cushion that was beyond ergonomic and could be called the human itself?

With a cat-like expression that reminded me of a satisfied kitty, Yoonseo eagerly hugged my neck and began to slightly move her hips, rubbing against my thigh.

It felt like she was declaring, ‘This is mine!’—was that just my imagination?

Either way, in a situation that was already bordering on madness, getting additional stimulation made my already shaky reason wobble like a candle in the wind.

“By the way, it’s a bit disappointing…”

That was truly the reason I hastily tried to change the subject.

“Huh? What is?”

“Well, if I had known the business trip was abroad, I would have gone to pick you up at the airport…”

“…… It’s fine, I wouldn’t want to bother you with that.”

“No way? It’s not bothersome at all!”

“I’m the one who finds it bothersome. I am.”

Ah, that might be true?

It’s hard to guarantee what would happen in the future, but perhaps it really would have been bothersome.

After all, the effects of the last press conference had still not worn off.

But imagine if I had shown up at the airport.

Even if I had tried my best to hide my identity so that only Yoonseo would recognize me, there would have at least been someone who recognized me, and the moment that happened, the airport would have turned upside down.

Not to mention, I would have had to ask Chae-rim, who was already busy enough, if she could accompany me to pick Yoonseo up—

‘Thinking about it now, it might have been better to see her here…’

Still, I wished the reunion could have been at home instead of this hospital room.

That was the precise moment I had that thought.

It seemed Yoonseo was having a similar thought as well.

“Hey.”

“Yeah? What?”

“By the way, how long are you going to be here?”

Seeing her ask that made me feel that she might be concerned about me.

“Well… for now, they have lifted the isolation…”

“Then can’t you go home?”

“That’s true, but they want to run just a few more tests.”

“From the Association?”

“Uh, yeah… that’s right?”

“Is it something strange?”

Was she concerned that while she was away on her business trip, I underwent some kind of human experiment?

Seeing her tense brow made it seem like if I merely nodded, she would immediately charge into the Association.

“Why? What? Are you worried something weird happened to me?”

“No, well, it’s not like that…”

It wasn’t like that at all.

It was obvious she was worried about it.

“Am I a fool? Would I just sit back after something like that happened?”

“So, nothing significant happened then?”

“Yeah.”

Initially, the additional tests conducted were no different from routine health check-ups, so it should be fine to answer that.

“Ah, no, wait. Now that I think about it, something did happen.”

“What?! What happened?!”

“Ah… well, there’s this thing called sleep endoscopy, have you heard of it?”

“…? What’s that?”

It seemed like a term I had heard somewhere, but it felt oddly unfamiliar, and I was left momentarily flustered.

Yoonseo looked adorably contemplative as her eyes rolled around, trying to remember where she had heard that term.

“Uh… it’s something like that.”

Knowing I should probably stop here to avoid future troubles, I couldn’t help but tease Yoonseo further.

And the moment of doom came much faster than I expected.

No matter how much she tried to wrack her brain, she couldn’t remember where she had heard that word, so she decided to resort to the magic of the internet.

The instant she pulled out her mobile phone from her pocket, I reached out desperately to stop her… but it was already too late.

That was because by the time I started reaching for her, she had already typed the troublesome word into the portal search bar.

And as expected, the chilly north wind that blows outside the hospital room followed.

“Um… excuse me…?”

“…”

“Are you… mad…?”

“Well, what do you think?”

What do I think? Seeing Yoonseo smile sweetly while asking that seemed more frightening than welcoming her back.

“Back.”

“What…?”

“Back up against me.”

That’s why when Yoonseo demanded I lean against her, I could only comply.

And how long had it been since I obediently offered my back?

What came along my back wasn’t the expected sharp pain but instead—

“Seriously… there are jokes to be had…”

“Guah—?!”

It was that feeling where my side twisted, causing a pain that was much sharper than I had felt since entering the hospital.

Ugh…

I wasn’t a kid anymore, and I’ve grown up, but when will this guy’s prank ever settle down?

In a moment of anger, I slightly failed to gauge my strength, leaving me in a state of groaning and grabbing my side, which looked somewhat pitiable, but that didn’t mean my anger had calmed down.

Isn’t there a rightful way to joke around? How could one joke like that?

Thanks to that, my back felt warm while feeling a little embarrassed as well.

After all, this whole situation was caused by not understanding the term sleep endoscopy.

But still…

That part was unavoidable.

To be precise, it was a situation that couldn’t be helped.

Considering I had just heard the term, of course, it didn’t register.

Thus, I found it oddly relatable to understand the feelings of a celebrity who gets a question that sounds like, “Wait, how could you not know that?” and ends up getting it wrong on a show.

Surely, that must have been how they felt.

At that moment, as I turned away from Dogun, trying to calm the momentary prickling embarrassment, I realized he too had been observing me.

Thinking he perhaps took my earlier reactions too seriously, he slowly closed the distance and embraced me from behind.

What had once been a stubborn attitude soon faded away as if it had never existed at all.

However… I refused to let go of my arms.

“What are you doing? Let go.”

Instead of loosening my arms, I let out a cold voice.

Nevertheless, Dogun remained undeterred.

Swish—

Dogun’s hand quietly slipped under my top and began to gently rub my belly.

The ticklish sensation felt like a cat coming over to cuddle, and I almost burst out laughing but managed to maintain my cold tone.

“Stop touching other people’s stomachs.”

And what came in return was—

“Really? Should I really stop?”

His voice was teasing and pretty much insufferably smug.

“Gah… Seriously…”

I couldn’t help but find his smugness annoying…

This was why Chae-rim and Baeksulhwa lost their composure around him.

…Of course, I was no exception.