Chapter 17. Cooperation

There was no affection in Lee Jun’s question. His precious pride had simply been wounded the moment he was rejected.

“You’re asking the wrong question.”
“It’s not about you—I just don’t plan on getting married at all.”

For the rest of her life, Yooa would be content with having had just Sejin. In this lifetime, she had no intention of meeting another man, having another child, or raising one.
She felt like she would be punished if she did.
She wanted at least one person in the world—herself—to remember Sejin. There was no way he could understand a mother’s heart like that. With that thought, Yooa gave Jun a fabricated smile.

“Still, I feel much better now.”

Jun felt satisfied knowing that she wasn’t rejecting just him, but all men. That lifted his mood, and with that boost, he asked a question he really didn’t need to.

“So, what kind of man do you like? Maybe not now, but one day you’ll want to get married, right?”

He lingered around her, saying people often changed their minds.
A noisy gust of wind came through the half-opened window.
The camper van was designed with a panoramic window behind the driver’s seat, allowing a 180-degree view of the scenery or night sky even while lying down.

Yooa had even mentioned in her report how much she enjoyed sitting on the bed, leaning against the giant body pillow, and starting her mornings there.

Maybe this was the spot.
The very place where she sat and looked outside.

Jun’s gaze drifted toward the bed before he turned and sat on the edge. He laced his fingers together on his knees and looked at Yooa.

“Do you have a lot of thoughts, or have you just never thought about it before?”

He was pressing her to answer his question about her type.
Yooa responded with a faint smile, and Jun frowned slightly, tapping his toes.

In the end, the one who wanted more would always make the move. Jun spoke again.

“I asked you what kind of man you like.”

Yooa stared at Jun—so alarmingly handsome that he seemed unreal.
From any angle, high or low, there was nothing to criticize about his appearance.

There was a time she admired and even liked this proud and refined man.
But now, with growing doubts and increasing unfamiliarity, she knew it was time to grow distant.

From a man who might’ve killed her child.
Who might’ve pushed her down the stairs.

“…A man who’s good at what he does.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Don’t make me say it again. It’s embarrassing.”

The curiosity and interest Jun showed had to end here.
She knew the meaning behind his questions, especially from someone who usually showed no interest in others.

So she decided to turn that interest against him—to drive him away.

“That’s too vague of an answer.”

Jun rubbed the back of his neck, looking tired.

She hoped his attention was purely physical. If that were the case, then she could douse his fire in one night.

“Fine, I’ll change my answer.”

Would acting like someone jaded make him lose interest more quickly?

Yooa turned slightly, placing her right elbow on the table and resting her chin on her hand.

“Someone who’s good at their job. Works hard during the day, and gives their all in bed at night.
If he’s like that, maybe marriage wouldn’t be so bad.”

Maybe the light above the table was too bright.

Jun looked at her alluring curves, glowing under the camper’s harsh lights, and discovered a fatal flaw in the design.

Even if a famous actress came to seduce him, he wouldn’t find her more attractive than Yoon Yooa at this moment.
His eyes scanned her quickly from top to bottom, and one part of his body responded—tight, uncomfortably so.

“That kind of guy—”
—Jun leaned toward her with a teasing grin.
“There’s only one guy like that in the world. Me.”

“Oh no, what a shame.”
“What do you mean, shame?
It just means you’re going to have a hard time finding a husband who isn’t me.”

Yooa realized her words had only provoked him.
She hoped that after one night, he’d get what he wanted and lose interest.

As Yooa slowly stood up, Jun’s gaze followed her upward.

“Show me, then.”
“What?”
“I need to know how good you really are.”

Yooa walked gracefully, like a cat, and sat beside him. She smiled, her eyes forming half-moons.

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to?”
“…Of course not.”

Jun instantly grabbed her waist and lifted her onto his lap.
Had she ever been this close to him before?

Her heart trembled in front of those dark eyes—so deep she couldn’t see the bottom.

“Hnn!”

Feeling his hot breath against her neck, Yooa instinctively leaned back.
But Jun didn’t like that; he placed a large hand on her back, keeping her from pulling away.

“Put your arms around my neck.”

She didn’t like the commanding tone in his voice, so she deliberately placed her arms on both his shoulders instead. Seeing her stubborn puffed cheeks, Jun burst into laughter.

“Just like before… I really can’t win with you.”
“Before?”
“Yeah. Don’t ask. You wouldn’t know.”

Lost in his own memories, Jun’s voice softened.

If she hadn’t known anything—if she’d only experienced his gentleness and soft tone—maybe she would’ve fallen for him.

But Yooa pushed against his chest, using both hands, and he lay back without resistance.
Climbing on top of him, she pulled off her peach-colored sweater sleeves and said:

“This is just confirmation.
So you can understand and feel for yourself why we can’t get married.”

It was something between two consenting adults, and Yooa was certain that after today, Jun wouldn’t seek her out again.
And she was equally sure she wouldn’t be able to satisfy him.

She didn’t know that her certainty only made him want her more.

“No one knows what the future holds, Yooa.”
“Don’t call me that.”

When she told him to stick to calling her formally, Jun responded by pressing down firmly on her thigh.
She thought she held the upper hand, but his relaxed demeanor made her bite her lip.

“You act like you already know everything, like it’s obvious. That should be annoying,
but why do I find it so attractive? Huh?”

It wasn’t even a real question when Jun asked what she’d done to him.
The next moment, his lips were on hers.

Each exchange of breath raised their body heat rapidly.

Thunk—her back hit the bed as Jun shifted positions, and his head slammed hard into the camper van wall.

“Pfft.”

Yooa let out a sharp laugh, folding in half with laughter she couldn’t hold back. Then, in a clear and bright voice, she said:

“I’ll have to add that to the report.
The ceiling needs to be a bit higher.”

Jun looked down at her, laughing to the point of tears, and slightly raised the corners of his lips.
Agreeing wholeheartedly with her comment, he lowered himself and rested his forehead on her shoulder.

With a pout like a sulky boy, Jun reached for the strap on her shoulder and muttered in a gravelly, beast-like voice:

“You’re not using me just to write a perfect report, are you?
After all, you can’t test how cozy a camper is all by yourself.”

“And if I am?”

When she said he could stop if he didn’t like being used, Jun let out a disbelieving chuckle.
Yooa looked calm, as if the power dynamic had flipped.

Jun, on the other hand, was losing his mind over the softness of her body under his fingers.

In a low, hoarse whisper, Jun murmured:

“Then I’ll gladly cooperate.”