Chapter 143 : Side Story 2: Jealousy #4

Doyoon just rubbed his nose against my nape, breathing hot and heavy into my ear like a speaker on full volume. Soft lips smeared along the line where neck meets shoulder. His arms and chest were a furnace around me.

Our joined parts were an absolute swamp. I tried to shift so he’d slip out—my body wouldn’t even twitch. He had me locked in his embrace like the thought of a single millimeter of space was offensive.

I gave up squirming on the living-room floor.

Just as I was about to pass out again, he nipped my earlobe.

“…I only came once. Hyung came twice.”

“Doyoon-ah…”

“That’s unfair.”

“I’m exhausted…”

“It’s fine. I ordered more tonics.”

Goddamn it. So that’s what the herbal medicine was really for.

I was going to cry.

But no one beats Choi Doyoon at puppy eyes.

Somehow he’d already rolled me onto my back, cushion now under my waist, arms planted on either side of my head like pillars.

He gave me the saddest, wettest look.

“Outside we can pretend to date other people… but inside the house you’ll still do it with me, right…?”

…

Yeah. My mouth is the problem. All my fault.

I checked tomorrow in my head. Saturday. Thank f*ck.

Doyoon’s face lit up with a victor’s smile.

Then his thick tongue was back in my mouth, and I already knew I was going to lose more weight.

Monday lunch at the family restaurant was quiet.

Me, Doyoon, Kwak Seon-woo, and Ah-young—everyone holding the same wedding invitation.

Seon-woo was dramatically fake-crying.

“First Bae Ji-an, now Ah-young… When is it my turn?”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

“We broke up ages ago.”

I ignored him and turned to Ah-young.

“Congrats.”

“Thank you! And… I really didn’t expect Director Choi to come. Thank you so much.”

Doyoon smiled. “I’m the one who’s glad I could make it.”

Ah-young hadn’t actually invited him—he’d heard she was getting married and insisted on congratulating her himself. I’d been secretly impressed by how proactive he was.

Doyoon added, “You worked so hard covering for Hyung when he was on leave.”

“That’s how I got promoted to team leader—thanks to Director Choi pulling strings.”

“I didn’t do anything. Team leader Kim was just that good.”

I felt proud watching him take care of her. Ah-young had carried my entire workload when I vanished. Even if I couldn’t go to the wedding, I was sending a fat cash gift.

I said it again. “I really owe you.”

She waved it off, then grinned.

“Anyway, I heard your one-act screenplay placed second?!”

Seon-woo jumped in. “The man disappears for a year and comes back an award-winning writer—who saw that coming?”

I laughed awkwardly. It felt good, though. Second place was insane—I hadn’t expected to place at all.

Now I was greedy for first. Human nature.

Ah-young asked, “So will it actually become a drama?”

“Only if a producer picks it up… for now it’s just prize money.”

Seon-woo snorted. “Prize money is pocket change for you anyway.”

Doyoon’s eyes instantly turned into sparkling puppy mode. If he had a tail it would be spinning.

I ignored the stare and changed the subject.

“Wedding prep must be crazy.”

“It really is.”

Seon-woo sighed theatrically. “If anyone knows any nice girls, hook me up. I’m lonely.”

Ah-young laughed—she was never setting him up with anyone.

Then he twirled pasta and said casually,

“Being single is trendy these days anyway. Even perfect Seunghyun-ssi is single. Makes me feel better.”

I rolled my eyes. “What does my love life have to do with yours?”

He pretended not to hear and turned to Doyoon with fake familiarity.

“What about you, Director? Never getting married?”

Classic deflection.

I smirked and cut my steak.

Then Doyoon glanced at me, winked, and answered.

“I want to.”

All three of us whipped our heads toward him.

Seon-woo actually squealed like a fangirl.

“FOR REAL!?”

My eyes nearly fell out.

What the hell, Choi Doyoon?!

I still had meat in my mouth—couldn’t speak.

Ah-young recovered first.

“Wow, I thought you never talked about personal stuff! People noticed the ring last year and started speculating, but hearing it from you is wild. Half the female staff went into mourning.”

The ring he wore every day was the one I gave him.

I swallowed hard, took a sip of water, and calmly asked,

“…They did?”

“Of course! Director Choi is insanely popular.”

Her eyes were shining like she was watching a dating show.

Doyoon mouthed to me, hidden from the others:

“I did good, right?”

My brain short-circuited.

So this is how he’s keeping his promise…

Seon-woo, noticing my suddenly pale face, grinned like a shark.

“Even Seunghyun-ssi didn’t know? Is she pretty? What’s she like? How did you meet? Spill!”

He’d gotten way too close to Doyoon during my year off.

Doyoon pretended to think, then smiled.

“…Insanely pretty.”

“KYAAAA!”

Just two words and Seon-woo lost his mind.

Ah-young was eating it up.

The mood was great—for everyone except me. I was internally screaming.

I elbowed Doyoon. “Hey.”

No one paid attention—they thought I was just teasing.

Ah-young: “How did you meet?”

She looked more excited than when she talked about her own fiancé.

Doyoon smiled softly.

“I’ve liked them since I was a kid. But they never saw me as dating material.”

Ah-young gasped dramatically. “Her standards were sky-high!”

Seon-woo: “Same chaebol family? Met at a yacht party as kids and felt destiny? Like in dramas?”

I almost choked on air.

Doyoon glanced at me again, shrugged, and said,

“Let’s just say… they work in the entertainment industry.”

“WHAAAAAT?! Actress? Idol? Anchor? Definitely anchor, right?”

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

This is how you’re playing it…?

My brain blue-screened.

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