Flower Fiancé Chapter 115

“I’ve said all I need to say, so you can go now. If you want to eat anything, tell your mother. She’ll take care of it.”

“I can do that much myself. He’s my person, so I’ll take care of him.”

When Choi Moohyuk said this flatly, Chairman Choi raised one eyebrow, looking rather displeased. The silent exchange of glances between them was filled with chill.

Ji Yeonwoo felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. It seemed like Chairman Choi had gone out of his way to prepare those things, but with just one word from Choi Moohyuk, the atmosphere had frozen again, and it weighed on his mind.

He wanted to bring the two of them closer together. He was thinking about what he could do to make that happen, at that very moment. Choi Moohyuk gently covered and held Ji Yeonwoo’s hand.

“…Thank you for the gift you prepared for us. I’ll make good use of it, Father.”

Hearing the noticeably softened voice, Ji Yeonwoo looked up at Choi Moohyuk. The cold expression was gone, replaced by a handsome smile on his good-looking face.

Ji Yeonwoo turned his head to look at Chairman Choi. Chairman Choi’s dark eyes moved slowly from Choi Moohyuk to Ji Yeonwoo, then he let out a small chuckle and rose from his seat.

Carrying the side dishes they had been given in both hands, they walked through the garden toward the parked car, and Choi Minhyeok, who had been following behind, spoke as if he still couldn’t believe it.

“Well, well, I’ve lived long enough to see everything. What’s gotten into Father?”

At those words, Choi Moohyuk paused briefly.

“He even looked into herbal medicines after hearing about the pregnancy. He must have been that happy about having a grandchild.”

As he turned around, he heard Choi Minhyeok’s voice, nodding his head as he spoke.

“Father must be getting old too, that’s all.”

Choi Moohyuk slowly surveyed the main house, still brightly lit, then looked at Ji Yeonwoo standing beside him. The two exchanged a wordless glance and smiled, lifting the corners of their lips.

∞ ∞ ∞

Ji Yeonwoo, who had fallen asleep using Choi Moohyuk’s arm as a pillow, woke up in the early hours of dawn. Lying still, blinking his eyes, Ji Yeonwoo reached out and picked up his phone. Turning on the screen, the bright light revealed the time—1:35 AM.

“Mmm, Mr. Yeonwoo?”

Feeling the fidgeting presence in his arms, Choi Moohyuk groggily opened his eyes. Habitually picking up his phone to check the time, he propped himself up on one elbow, half-rising.

“Why are you awake already? Is something uncomfortable?”

He asked in a languid, sleep-laden voice. Ji Yeonwoo, gripping the blanket that had been pulled up to his chest with both hands, glanced cautiously and spoke.

“No, it’s not that…”

“Hmm?”

“Hyung, you know.”

Hesitating, Ji Yeonwoo slowly slipped down under the blanket.

“What’s wrong? What is it? Tell me.”

“The truth is, I want to eat plums.”

Hearing that, Choi Moohyuk’s eyes widened.

“Plums? At this hour of the night?”

Ji Yeonwoo, half-hidden under the blanket, nodded with only his eyes showing.

“I kept wanting to eat them ever since I saw the plums at the main house. For a few days, I could stand it, but…”

“There were plums at the main house?”

“Yes. On the dining table… But it’s okay. There’s nowhere to buy them at this hour anyway… I think I’ll just sleep and we can go buy some together tomorrow.”

Ji Yeonwoo spoke carefully, then let out a small yawn and rubbed his sleepy eyes. Choi Moohyuk stared at him intently, then lowered himself over the exposed face after gently lifting the blanket. Giving him a loud, smacking kiss, he got down from the bed without hesitation.

Choi Moohyuk left the bedroom and returned in the blink of an eye, changed into different clothes, car keys in hand.

“Wait for me. I’ll go buy the plums.”

“R-Right now?”

“You said you wanted to eat them.”

“But the stores would be closed by this time.”

“These days, there are convenience stores that sell fruit too. I’ll find one.”

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Choi Moohyuk stroked Ji Yeonwoo’s hair as he lay there, then patted his belly over the blanket and spoke.

“Daddy’s going to buy you plums. Just wait a little.”

Speaking as tenderly as if there really were a baby beside him, Choi Moohyuk turned his gaze to Ji Yeonwoo.

“If you’re sleepy, go ahead and sleep first.”

After caressing his cheek, Choi Moohyuk pressed a kiss to his forehead and went out. The sound of the door closing with an electronic beep was heard.

Choi Moohyuk’s face, as he had stepped out without showing any sign of tiredness, flickered before his eyes. Part of him regretted mentioning it and worried, but the sight of him readily getting up and going out also felt reassuring.

His resolve to stay awake and wait proved futile—he closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the time was already approaching 3 AM. The spot beside him was still empty, and there was no sign of anyone inside the house.

‘Why isn’t he coming back? It would have been fine if he couldn’t find any and just came home.’

Sitting up in bed and surveying the empty room, Ji Yeonwoo put on a cardigan over his pajamas and went out to the living room. Tucking the cardigan neatly to keep out the early morning chill, he sat down on the sofa. His body felt languid, perhaps because of the late hour, but he didn’t feel like going back to the bedroom.

No matter how he thought about it, the fact that over an hour and a half had passed since he left and he still hadn’t returned weighed on his mind. He didn’t want to rush him, but the thought that he might have gotten into an accident or been injured somewhere made him turn on his phone screen, which he held in both hands. Pressing speed dial number 0, he brought the phone to his ear as the dial tone rang.

[Yes, it’s me. You’re still awake?]

Choi Moohyuk’s voice came through the phone. His voice seemed a little husky, perhaps because of the early hour.

“I couldn’t sleep. Are you going to be very late?”

[I’m almost there.]

Behind Choi Moohyuk’s voice, he heard the familiar electronic chime of an elevator.

“Huh? You’re in the elevator?”

[But why can’t you sleep? Were the plums so crave-worthy that you couldn’t sleep?]

His voice, tinged with laughter, was full of playfulness. Getting up from the sofa, Ji Yeonwoo slowly walked toward the front door. Leaning against the wall that separated the entrance from the living room, he heard the front door open. Choi Moohyuk came in, patting his dew-dampened hair and shoulders, and smiled at Ji Yeonwoo standing before him. In his hand was a black plastic bag, presumably containing plums.

“It’s not the plums—it’s because hyung wasn’t here. I’m saying I can’t sleep alone anymore.”

Ji Yeonwoo wrapped his arms around Choi Moohyuk’s waist and hugged him. His empty hand stroked down the back of Ji Yeonwoo’s head and along his spine. Through the thin pajamas and cardigan, a chill emanated from his touch.

Releasing his arms from around his waist, Ji Yeonwoo pulled back. He took the hand that had been stroking him. The hand that was always warm was slightly cold.

“It must be chilly outside. Your hands are cold.”

Holding his rough hand in both of his own, Ji Yeonwoo blew warm breath onto it. Watching this quietly, Choi Moohyuk, as if unable to resist, grabbed the back of his head and kissed him. Biting his lips and rolling his tongue, exploring every soft membrane inside his mouth, Choi Moohyuk pressed a short kiss and pulled back.

“It’s late. Let’s eat the plums and go to bed quickly.”

He said, gently stroking his white, soft cheek. Ji Yeonwoo tilted his head back, meeting his eyes, and nodded.

Choi Moohyuk brought out plums thoroughly washed with baking powder, arranged on a plate.

“They say the skin has a lot of nutrients, so try eating them with the skin on.”

“Yes. I’ll eat well.”

With sparkling eyes, Ji Yeonwoo immediately bit into a plum. As if proving that his craving at this hour was real, Ji Yeonwoo devoured half the plum in no time.

“Is it good?”

Sitting across from him, Choi Moohyuk asked, watching Ji Yeonwoo eat with relish. Ji Yeonwoo, who had taken a big bite of the plum, nodded, chewing with his cheeks moving.

“You’re so pretty when you eat well.”

He smiled silently and wiped the juice from the corner of Ji Yeonwoo’s mouth.

∞ ∞ ∞

Six months later.

A healthy baby boy arrived at Choi Moohyuk and Ji Yeonwoo’s home.

The child’s name was Geon.

Choi Geon had a face that was an exquisite blend of the manly, handsome Choi Moohyuk and the pretty, doll-like Ji Yeonwoo.

The newborn baby was so small and fragile that they hardly dared to touch him. He couldn’t open his eyes properly, and aside from crying, he couldn’t communicate at all, but that red, bloody little being had never looked so pretty and lovable.