“You mean let’s not touch each other?”
Yu-shin nodded. As if satisfied that they were on the same page, he bit the straw in his orange juice glass.
Jun-wan leaned back on the sofa with his arms crossed. That was what he had wanted too.
Jun-wan’s sexual orientation was clear. He was unquestionably hetero. Although he was in the unfortunate position of having to marry a man, he had absolutely no intention of having a sexual relationship. Fortunately, Kim Yu-shin didn’t seem to have impure intentions either, so there should be no problems with married life.
“I hope for the same.”
“It’s good that we communicate well. I think we’ll match quite well.”
“That’s something we’ll have to live together to know.”
Jun-wan spoke firmly without getting carried away. Yu-shin quietly took in Jun-wan with his eyes.
Regardless of what the other person thought of him, Yu-shin quite liked his prospective husband.
***
A few days later, Kim Sara returned home.
The family welcomed her with their whole bodies. Madam Hong, who had felt heartbroken even picking flower petals, soundly smacked her eldest daughter’s back, and Minister Kim was busy stamping his feet on the floor and shouting.
By the time Kim Sara entered Yu-shin’s room, her hair was more disheveled than a mess. Leaning against the door and gasping for breath, she looked exactly like a slave who had been hunted down.
“Wow… shit, Madam Hong’s hands are heavy.”
“Be grateful you didn’t go bald. Mom had even prepared hair clippers.”
Yu-shin replied indifferently. Surprisingly, Yu-shin didn’t show much resentment even with the culprit who caused this disaster right before his eyes.
“Yu-shin, noona really committed a mortal sin.”
“What an insincere apology.”
“How about… should I bash my head on the floor?”
When Kim Sara really made a motion to bash her head on the floor, Yu-shin picked up a spare cushion and threw it. Kim Sara, who dodged skillfully, sneakily approached her younger sibling.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would turn out like this.”
“It’s fine. Just live well since you got married.”
Yu-shin shook his head as if annoyed. But soon he had to surrender one cheek, caught by Kim Sara.
“Oh, how pretty, nom nom nom! Our peach.”
“Ah, you’re getting spit on me!”
“How can I give this pretty thing to that dark guy?”
“Park Jun-wan isn’t dark though? His skin is fair.”
“…You bastard, what did you just say? Park Jun-wan ssi?”
Kim Sara immediately glared. With her disheveled hair and bulging eyes, that appearance couldn’t be called pretty even as a lie.
Yu-shin adjusted his posture and combed his noona’s messy hair with his hand.
“I thought that person was fine.”
“What part! Which aspect!”
“He’s handsome.”
“Wowww.”
Kim Sara lifted her lower jaw sharply and sighed. Anyway, Kim Yu-shin was a hopeless face-lover. Since long ago, he didn’t even glance at ugly things and couldn’t resist pretty and handsome things.
“Do you know how obnoxious he is? Park Jun-wan, that guy is famous for being rude!”
“Then am I any better?”
“……”
“Why aren’t you answering? Are you offended?”
Yu-shin rolled his eyes sharply. The sharpened corners of his eyes momentarily brought Minister Kim to mind. As expected, bloodline cannot be deceived.
Kim Sara pretended not to know and played dumb, then stuck close to her younger sibling. Yu-shin is even taller than me, so why does he feel so small and delicate? Kim Sara felt quite upset, as if she had pushed her younger sibling, who seemed like someone she should protect forever, to the edge of a cliff because of her.
“…I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Who doesn’t know my personality is difficult?”
“No, not that…”
“Then what?”
“Getting married instead of me… I’m sorry.”
Kim Sara spoke sincerely. While tightly holding Yu-shin’s hand and even tearing up.
“Noona… is really sorry, and loves you.”
“……”
“You brat, when noona is squeezing out her feelings, you should at least have some reaction.”
“Disgusting.”
The touching moment didn’t last long. Seeing Yu-shin’s repulsion, Kim Sara rolled her eyes.
A solid fist flew toward his empty side and the sight of him dodging it smoothly was no different from any other siblings.
“Fight with Park Jun-wan and live well! Just try crying later with regret!”
Kim Sara poured out words that couldn’t be distinguished as blessings or curses as she opened the door. Of course, she immediately got smacked on the back by Madam Hong who was standing guard in front of it.
“When will this girl ever grow up!”
“Ah, Mom! If you’re going to hit, at least hit evenly!”
Yu-shin let the noisy sounds wash over him as he sprawled on the sofa.
Actually, it still doesn’t feel real. Marriage, when I’m no less immature than noona.
At least it was fortunate that Park Jun-wan seemed like a mature person. Although it was a short meeting of less than an hour, his first impression wasn’t bad.
The suit fit well on his tall, sleek frame, and he looked splendid with his hair swept back. He was clearly the same age as Kim Sara, but he felt much more mature.
He had already heard that he was full of scholarly passion and crazy about his work. He didn’t look like a mad scientist, but it was clear he was a wise and intellectual person.
So what if he’s obnoxious? It’s not like we’re really going to date. Plus, Park Jun-wan didn’t seem like he would pay particular attention to him. They just had to live in the same house and each live the life they wanted. A show window couple. Whatever the meaning, the sophisticated ring of it stuck to his tongue.
“Mm, he passes.”
Yu-shin leisurely crossed his legs. The ankle resting on his knee swayed back and forth as if dancing.
I quite like the husband His Majesty picked for me. Not as an empty compliment, but we really do seem like we’ll become a splendid show window couple.
***
While the first meeting at the hotel took place, both families had heated discussions in a separately reserved guest room.
No matter how much they put their heads together and consulted, the answer was already decided. Moreover, the parties involved had also conveyed their intention to marry.
After that day, the two mothers embarked on wedding preparations. How to handle the newlywed home and where to book the venue, there was a world of things to prepare from engagement gifts to wedding gifts to the trousseau.
Originally, a yangban family’s wedding ceremony is a family celebration. But this time, given the nature of the matter, they moved quietly under the surface.
The problem was that the two families’ traditions were too different. The Cheongseon Park Clan was a scholarly family that valued integrity and incorruptibility, while the Hwaryeong Kim Clan was a prestigious household that had overflowed with gold and silver treasures for generations.
‘Listen here, madam. Even so, what’s this about an officetel! I can’t stand to see our Yu-shin living in such a tiny place!’
‘For just two people living together, does a hundred-pyeong detached house make sense? And the wedding venue is too extravagant. Scholars should value restraint as a virtue. The behavior of living luxuriously with family help at a young age will never be seen as a good image by the citizens. We should avoid actions that invite antipathy.’
Due to such differences in values, wedding preparations remained at a standstill. From the house issue to something as minor as living expense support, they clashed.
Thanks to this, nothing was decided except the wedding date. At this rate, they were going to hold the ceremony bare-handed.
When Madam Hong fell ill from stress, Yu-shin, unable to stand it any longer, personally requested a meeting with Jun-wan.
The second meeting took place at a cafe not far from the university where Jun-wan worked. The guaranteed time was only thirty minutes. Since he was someone who couldn’t make time because he was so busy, even this was appreciated.
Yu-shin had come to a franchise cafe for the first time. Perhaps because it was near the university district, the cafe was bustling with college students. Standing at the entrance and briefly observing the situation, Yu-shin also stood in front of the order counter like everyone else.
“Um… one hot chamomile tea, please. Tall size.”
He ordered carefully. The employee wearing a green apron beyond the counter stared at Yu-shin in a daze for a while.
“If you have a seat, I’ll bring it to you!”
“Thank you.”
Yu-shin bowed lightly. Just now, he didn’t even know he had received special treatment. Isn’t this what they do for everyone? Being accustomed to service, he didn’t think much of it.
He took a seat at a relatively quiet table. Not long after, chamomile tea along with cookies and a slice of cake were served. To Yu-shin, who looked wondering what this was, the employee said in a trembling voice that it was store service.
That’s a lot of service.
Yu-shin surveyed the three plates placed in front of him. Although he wasn’t particularly drawn to them, he couldn’t ignore the employee’s sincerity, so he had to at least pretend to eat. He broke off small bits from the edge of the cake with a fork. Honestly, it was incomparable to the desserts Yu-shin usually ate.
