Chapter 8.1

Chapter 8.1

Kwon Yeonwoo leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips. His gaze, fixed on Haewon, was filled with lax confidence.

“So if I say that, will you just meekly give in?”

Yeonwoo’s casual counter-question momentarily flustered her. She quickly composed her expression, revealing nothing, and fixed her gaze back on him. In the silence, their eyes met.

For a brief moment, Haewon intently took him in. Every flicker of his eyes, every subtle shift in his expression, the very direction of his fingertips and feet.

Once her assessment was complete, she smiled softly, a gentle warmth spreading across her features like blooming petals. It was an expression Yeonwoo had never seen her wear.

“No reason why not.”

Yeonwoo tilted his head, seemingly surprised by her answer. Haewon approached him, her gaze locked on his, and positioned herself in front of his seated thighs. She rested a hand on Yeonwoo’s bare shoulder and asked,

“Are you really infatuated with me? Do you like me that much?”

“Hmm…”

Yeonwoo glanced at the slender hand on his shoulder, then lifted his eyes to meet Haewon’s. His deep, rich chocolate-brown eyes silently held her gaze.

“I wouldn’t risk my life for just anyone.”

“Your life…”

Haewon looked down into Yeonwoo’s sparkling eyes, then her hand flowed naturally to cup his cheek. The air around them grew warmer, suddenly. She traced his smooth, porcelain-like skin with her thumb, a corner of her mouth lifting.

“Interesting.”

Yeonwoo’s tongue flicked across his lower lip. Keeping his eyes on Haewon, he reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist. The slight crease between his brows made him look strangely parched.

Haewon watched him intently, not missing a single detail, then took another step closer. As she moved between his splayed legs, their thighs brushed. She felt the muscles in Yeonwoo’s inner thighs tense hard at the contact.

She’d noticed it yesterday, too. His body was incredibly firm. Quite a contrast to his delicate face.

Haewon let the hand that had been on his shoulder slide to the back of his neck, then lightly settled onto one of his thighs. The towel wrapped around her body rode up, fully exposing her pale thigh.

Yeonwoo looked at Haewon, an expression of surprise on his face.

“Hotter than I expected.”

Hearing his voice drop even lower, Haewon’s lips curved into a smile. She glanced down, noticing the front of his pants was already bulging.

She casually wrapped her arms around his neck and asked,

“If I sleep with Mr. Kwon Yeonwoo, can I get out of here?”

“Hmm. I think I’d rather not let you go.”

As he spoke, he pulled Haewon’s waist tightly against his body. Pressed flush against him, she swallowed hard. Through the towel, his body felt undeniably hot and firm.

“We can meet outside. Anytime.”

“Outside…?”

Yeonwoo let out a small laugh and slid the hand wrapped around Haewon’s waist upwards. It traced her spine, caressed her soft back, then moved to the nape of her neck.

As his hot touch teased her sensitive skin, her vision momentarily blurred. Haewon lazily opened and closed her eyes, leaning further into Yeonwoo. Her thigh had long since been surrendered to his other hand.

“Ha…”

Seeing Yeonwoo’s brows furrow as if he could no longer hold back, Haewon slowly tilted her head. As their lips drew closer, the air around them thickened. Their bodies, pressed together, grew hot with anticipation.

He was an easier man than she expected.

Haewon chuckled inwardly. Just before their lips could meet, she reached out and snatched the small knife tucked into his back pocket.

“…!”

In an instant, Haewon pressed the knife to his throat and pushed herself away from him. Yeonwoo, belatedly realizing what had happened, let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re really doing this?”

Haewon looked at Yeonwoo, her smile gone. She had no intention of sleeping with him. She merely wanted to confirm what kind of man Kwon Yeonwoo was, and she needed the knife tucked in his back pocket.

This approach was familiar to Haewon. She knew perfectly well how her looks affected men.

“Where are my clothes?”

“In the shower stall.”

Even with the blade at his throat, Kwon Yeonwoo remained unperturbed. He simply looked up at Haewon, without a trace of tension, an expression of genuine regret on his face.

“When do you plan to leave here?”

“Once it’s a bit quieter outside? But you’re being too much. Do you usually charm people this easily?”

“What was the real reason you saved me? Am I also part of your plan?”

“You really don’t listen, do you?”

Yeonwoo let out a shallow sigh. In a swift motion, he pushed his hips back, creating distance, then struck Haewon’s hand holding the knife. The unexpected force left Haewon no chance to resist, and she dropped the knife.

“Ah!”

She clutched her hand and glared at Yeonwoo. He rose from his seat and said,

“I told you, I’m infatuated with you. Even though I don’t know your name or age.”

The fact that he’d so easily wrested control from her was infuriating. And then, she finally understood.

The reason Kwon Yeonwoo remained calm even when his life was threatened was because he knew he was stronger than his opponent.