In every moment, Lee Ha-yul is manifesting his powers of observation, leaving no room for anything to escape his notice.
The scope of his observation is vast, measuring information so precisely that he could compare a person’s pores one by one.
He may not be able to create diverse applications like the powers of space, but he can operate it unconsciously, as naturally as breathing.
“Ugh…”
Lee Ha-yul didn’t notice Hong Yeon-hwa approaching.
He was caught off guard, realizing it only when she got close enough to place her hand on his waist, leaving him looking silly in surprise.
It’s a strange situation.
While he is maneuvering a split consciousness to prepare for the situation where his main consciousness has sunk, that split consciousness should have detected any incoming threats.
“No… I did sense it…”
He was wrong. Lee Ha-yul fumbled through his dazed memories.
His dazed main consciousness might not have noticed, but the split consciousness picked up on Hong Yeon-hwa’s approach.
However, it didn’t alert the main consciousness.
Because that split consciousness was focused on ‘threat detection.’
To Lee Ha-yul, Hong Yeon-hwa’s approach was not a threat.
It wasn’t just arrogance that she posed no threat to him, but rather the trust that she wouldn’t harm him.
Even if she was wearing armor.
Even if she was holding a weapon and approaching stealthily.
Even if she stabbed him with that weapon at that moment.
If Hong Yeon-hwa swung a weapon at him, there would surely be a good reason behind it.
Lee Ha-yul held onto that belief.
“Chop…”
His series of complex thoughts were interrupted as a kiss slipped in.
Her arms wrapped around his back, pulling him into her ample warmth, and a hand grasped his chin, demanding a kiss without mercy.
Thanks to their height difference, he found himself balancing on his toes to meet her lips.
“Chok…”
It was rather a forceful move, but Lee Ha-yul didn’t mind at all.
In fact, he stretched his arms wide to embrace Hong Yeon-hwa tightly, pressing his lips out as if to eagerly meld their bodies together.
‘Good…’
[Good]
He could feel the plush sensation of their bodies intertwined. His body felt heated from her warmth.
The sweet scent wafting from her skin made him dizzy, his thoughts clouded as if in a fog.
And as their lips touched, their breaths mingling, he felt like he might just be turning into a complete fool.
‘I’m happy…’
[Happy]
That was all he needed.
The complexity that had filled his head just moments ago—frustration, anguish, regret—was washed away, leaving only warmth and love.
– Whoosh…
The Gop-hwa presence that hadn’t yet faded slowly poked its head in. Cautiously pushing his emotions like a wary child.
His already silly brain felt like it was regressing into a delightful stupor.
If all the tasks he had to accomplish were completed, he thought he could spend his life buried in this affection…
“Hmm…”
Hong Yeon-hwa didn’t quite grasp the intricacies of Lee Ha-yul’s feelings.
But she could clearly see the negative shadow that had draped over his face gradually dissolving under the love she poured onto him.
Like a pure porcelain child being colored by her hue.
The prickly, guarded Lee Ha-yul now melted into her gentle gestures, coming to rest in her arms…
‘Wow, damn…’
He felt a twinge of guilt, like painting a pristine canvas with chaotic splashes of color.
…Of course, it wasn’t just that foul feeling pushing him forward.
Since entering the mansion, the atmosphere had felt a bit off.
And sure enough, left alone, he was now acting like a lonely puppy soaked in the rain, scrambling to cook something.
He could almost understand how Hong Yeon-hwa, who had never borne children, felt when leaving a child by the riverside. Surely, everyone around Lee Ha-yul had felt this way.
‘At least it’s good that this is easier to resolve.’
In fact, calming down a deflated Lee Ha-yul was quite simple.
A mere gentle pat on the head could smooth over almost anything.
Even when he rarely pouted, a sincere apology and a comforting embrace would usually coax him back into compliance.
With an invitation to lean on her and a pat on the backside, he would melt like butter.
Did he not wish to be treated like a child while also seeking such nurturing?
“Ha-yul.”
After some time lost in the kiss.
Hong Yeon-hwa, having indulged in the moist, warm, intoxicating feel, lifted her head shyly.
“Hek, heeek…”
No response came back.
With her mouth slightly open, a pink tongue peeked through, only releasing short, quick breaths.
Meanwhile, the delightful scent of cooking had faded away. Instead, the sweet aroma wafting from the embraced Lee Ha-yul was tickling Hong Yeon-hwa’s nostrils.
“Ha-yul.”
“Yes, yes…”
It was only after she patted his back again and called for him that he responded.
His unfocused gaze wandered up to meet Hong Yeon-hwa’s. His cheeks were pressed against her chest, making his voice come out all garbled.
‘Really, how is a person this beautiful…?’
Hong Yeon-hwa reached out with eyes dripping honey.
Her thumb rubbed beneath his eyes.
Soon, she caressed his nose, cheeks, dimples, earlobes, forehead, and eyebrows… touching every feature on his face with her hands.
‘I can’t take it…’
Lee Ha-yul’s looks had impressed her since the day they first met, but over time, that admiration only grew deeper.
Many superhumans are externally attractive due to their powerful physiques and magic, but Lee Ha-yul was in a different league altogether.
Even the most striking individuals she met at Shio-ram couldn’t help but gawk when Lee Ha-yul was around.
At that moment, Lee Ha-yul seemed lost in his own world, unaware of his own appearance.
But if he were to walk the bustling streets for just ten minutes, he would undoubtedly realize his own charm.
“Ha-yul, do you have plans for your birthday celebration?”
“Ah… birthday…?”
Lee Ha-yul mumbled as he enjoyed the unfamiliar touch tracing his face.
The birthday celebration. A yearly event held at Shio-ram as the year ends.
A noteworthy event even in the original story.
Since it was a festival, it also allowed the students some time off.
Any small incidents or sub-quests experienced during that time could significantly boost their likability levels.
Moreover, the birthday celebration included a trip to the Tower of Growth.
The peculiarity being that everyone, regardless of their grade, was allowed in… and there was a special event for special admission students.
From what Lee Ha-yul remembered, the entrance ceremony was supposed to happen on the third day of the five-day event.
“Spend the last day with me. We’ll eat something delicious the next day.”
“Last day…?”
“Yeah, on the last day. I’ll treat you to something good.”
“Something good…?”
Lee Ha-yul tilted his head, his gaze lifting.
He could see Hong Yeon-hwa looking down at him with a smile, filled with both shyness and excitement.
He tilted his head again.
‘Birthday…? Is there something I need to do…?’
His dazed brain scrambled through his memories…
– Bam!
“Eek…”
Lee Ha-yul straightened up. A thrilling sensation danced up his spine, and then warm breath brushed against his ear.
“Answer.”
He trembled at that commanding tone, nodding dumbly in response.
“Yes, yes, I’ll do it… I’ll stay with Yeon-hwa…”
Without any proper thought, he was simply agreeing.
Clearly, his reason and heart had melted, leaving him in a flustered state.
They hadn’t even swapped tongues, and just mere kisses like this had him in such a state.
Normally, he’d wait for a proper answer in a sane mindset, but now, Hong Yeon-hwa was a bit greedy and pressed for an answer from the weakened Lee Ha-yul.
“Good, that’s right… you’re sweet.”
“Yup… chuu.”
Hong Yeon-hwa beamed with a satisfied smile as she gently patted his back.
And like a reward, she leaned down again, kissing him.
The delightful sensation returned, and Lee Ha-yul’s stiff body started to soften again.
Soon, the gentle patting like soothing a child had his eyes slowly fluttering shut.
– Tap
“Chuu… chuu…?!”
His gradually relaxing eyelids flew open wide.
The soft, warm sensation of kisses tapping against his lips jolted him awake.
As he squirmed, strong hands subdued him. The hand gripping his chin was now pressing down on the back of his head, while the other still held his back firmly.
“Chup. Chuu…?!”
With multiple kisses tapping against his lips, his eyes clenched shut from the sheer intensity.
Honestly, this wasn’t the first time.
Whenever he went to bed with Hong Yeon-hwa, those dismal kisses would tease him repeatedly.
He had managed to endure until now.
Opening his lips and mixing tongues felt like a point of no return…
– Tap Tap
“Hmm…”
But even his patience was reaching its limits.
No matter how sturdy a wall is, if it keeps getting knocked on, gaps will eventually form.
And for Lee Ha-yul, this was inevitable.
With someone pouring affection onto him and coaxing gently, it was only natural for him to start yielding.
“Ugh…”
Eventually, his lips began to part.
‘They’re opening.’
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes shone with delight.
In that moment, memories flashed before him like a panorama. Days spent suppressing insatiable desires and reflecting on the mistakes he made back at the Main House.
Days spent holding back urges that felt like they would burst any moment…!
Now, that was all coming to an end. Once his lips parted, the rest would surely follow. His mother, Choi Ji-yeon, had taught him as much.
The timing was just right. Although it was semi-obligatory, they had made plans for the birthday celebration.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s mind was flooded with hope and anticipation in that moment.
– Hey! Ha-yul~! I’m here!
‘Oh.’
The voice that shouldn’t have reached her ears rang out in that precise moment—at least, it shouldn’t have been heard right now.
The unnecessarily well-equipped mansion conveyed the guest’s voice to its owner as they reached the Main Gate.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes turned wide with surprise.
“…Whoa!”
Lee Ha-yul’s momentum shifted too. The melting warmth in his eyes immediately clouded with rationality.
Fumbling with a sharp intake of breath, Lee Ha-yul snapped back to reality and firmly pushed Hong Yeon-hwa’s shoulder away.
“Ah, ah, ah…! Eek…! No way…!”
His face turned as red as an apple, and he began to fumble like a malfunctioning machine, pacing back and forth.
– Screech!
A strange cry escaped him, shooting through the air like an arrow.
The speed of that reaction was unimaginable.
It wasn’t just simple reflexes but a swift combination of body-movement magic and acceleration abilities.
As a result, Hong Yeon-hwa’s hair whipped around as though caught in a storm.
Once the wild strands settled, Lee Ha-yul’s scarlet eyes blinked blankly from beneath the disheveled hair.
“Damn it.”
From the lips that had pretended to be shut tight slipped a brutal curse.
Nothing in this world goes as planned.
Born as the heir of the Gop-hwa Clan.
Living a life where everything was within reach; doing whatever she wanted, obtaining whatever she desired—Hong Yeon-hwa was the cherished golden child of the Gop-hwa family.
And once again, she was reminded of life’s cruel lessons.
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