Why are you giving me such trials?
I have to sleep in the same bed. I’m already nervous about being in my fiancée’s room, but in the same bed? Isn’t that difficulty level just absurdly high?
“I have to get on the bed. Is there no other way? Maybe it could activate just by being nearby?”
If this were a romantic comedy manga, I’d need to avoid public places like the subway just in case something unexpected happens, and if it were an adult manga, I’d have to be ready to unbuckle my belt…
I had to find a way to avoid this as much as possible.
“When there’s someone on the bed and someone approaches, it activates, you see.”
“Ah-ha.”
“D-Do you dislike it?”
No. The problem is that I like it too much and could accidentally mess up.
What to do?
Honestly, it’s at my limit.
It’s already too late to return to my private room. The fatigue I had temporarily pushed away due to my anxiety is creeping back. I was already a bit at my limit when playing Go. I want to collapse onto the bed right away.
Is there no other choice?
“Excuse me.”
Carefully, I entered the bed, a fortress that allowed no one entry except the owner.
“Eek!”
Why are you making me so tense? Now I’m feeling nervous too!
“I’ll lie down on one side.”
The bed was spacious enough for two people to do… whatever they wanted comfortably. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s okay, so I carefully lay down in one corner.
“Yes. D-Dynamic Shadowless Thief barrier activation.”
A small voice, barely audible, came from behind. A barrier? The atmosphere of the room has definitely changed.
Wait a minute.
“What did you just say…?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. You activated the barrier by getting on.”
That’s concerning.
No, I must have misheard it because I’m too nervous. I closed my eyes for a moment.
‘Let’s think of it as sleeping with a cute little sister.’
Right now, I’m not in a situation sleeping with my lover, but rather thinking I’m in bed with a cute little sister.
Every morning, I’d hear my brother’s wake-up call and, for some reason, see my little sister cooking while wearing an apron instead of our parents.
Wait a minute.
Isn’t that already a major heroine? Who knows when the big announcement about not being related by blood will come out? And besides, I wouldn’t even sleep in the same bed as my little sister.
No way. Operation change.
What to do? Right. Since I keep recognizing Miss Zhuge as a woman, that’s why I’m so tense.
‘Let’s think of the collection of Miss Zhuge’s funny expressions.’
I remember when she foolishly tried to diet like Miss Ha-yeon and got caught sneaking a midnight snack.
I can see Miss Zhuge restless and unable to butt in because Miss Ha-yeon and I were having a well-aligned conversation.
Visualizing her suddenly getting lost in her own world with just one little code of conversation, making funny expressions…
Alright.
I’ve calmed down.
“Are you Master Kang?”
When I opened my eyes, a pure smile of a silver-haired beauty was looking at me with concern.
No way.
Oh no, I’m doomed.
She’s so pretty.
The one that Jang Noya brought out as her secret weapon, she’s the kind of woman that if you asked who the prettiest in Hubei Province was, she wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
How did such a woman end up in the same bed as me?
Could I withstand it? Can I really endure this? Even when I ask myself, there’s no answer coming back.
“If you’re uncomfortable, it’s not impossible to change.”
Did she catch on to my turmoil? Miss Zhuge glanced away as she spoke.
“Change?”
“If I were to get in a box and sleep…”
“Please lie down comfortably.”
Where on earth did that box come from?
“Actually, it’s cozier than I thought.”
“If you get into the box, I’ll just return to my private room.”
“Ah, I’ll, I’ll clean it up.”
Why are you clearing it away as if you regret it? I couldn’t help but smile slightly. Yeah, Miss Zhuge really is Miss Zhuge.
—
They say that when you share a blanket, it means you share the most intimate space in the world. It means you share everything with the other person and allow both body and soul in a romantic relationship.
Put another way…
“Please take the blanket. I’ve brought my own.”
Even in the same bed, if we use separate blankets, it creates a barrier that can prevent at least a minimal accident.
Yeah. The blanket is the impenetrable wall of Jericho.
This time, I turned my eyes outside of the bed to try and sleep.
“Master Kang?”
Just as I was about to open the door to dreamland, a slightly scared voice spoke up.
“Yes?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. It’s just that there’s a big thing lying on the bed and it’s a bit… scary.”
I could sense a tremor in Miss Zhuge’s voice. At this moment, it wasn’t just me feeling tense.
“I will turn my head.”
As I turned my body to the other side, deep blue eyes welcomed me as if I was about to fall into them.
One foot was in dreamland, the other was on the bed. The two of us stared blankly into each other’s eyes.
“Hehe.”
“Do you have something on your face?”
“Ah. N-Not that.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s just amazing that I can see your face even at night. Hehe.”
I feel like I’m going to die here.
This is ridiculous. Even her silly laughter is enough to steal my gaze.
“M-Master Kang. Umm…”
“What do you want to say?”
“Can I hold your hand?”
Why is she doing this to me? I stared blankly at Miss Zhuge, who shyly asked for one of my hands.
Why does it feel like Miss Zhuge has suddenly turned into a vixen? Is it just my imagination? On the bed, with each passing moment, I felt my heartstrings being forcibly undone.
No! I have to hold myself together!
‘Just go for it?’
We’ve come this far. If I fall, it’s already easier since I’m halfway down. Just touching her hand and it’s done.
I must hold on. She’s my fiancée! Even without getting a formal approval from the Zhuge family, I’m still in early access!
No way. I can’t fall. I’m on the bed. My mind is in a battle for survival between desire and reason.
“Master Kang.”
Her fingers lightly tickled mine, and the reinforcements of lust cautiously took my hand.
“Yes? Yes, yes, yes.”
No! Reason! It’s not time to fall yet!
I accidentally let out a shaky voice.
“Is it… hard?”
“……”
Yes. It’s hard. My reason is currently crumbling, and the count is rising. It feels like a referee needs to step in!
“I feel like I might be lacking…”
Today, the words spilling from Miss Zhuge’s lips, which seemed more beautiful than usual, felt like cold water on my thoughts.
“Huh? How can Miss Zhuge be lacking? What do you mean?”
Miss Zhuge bowed her head, avoiding my gaze.
What exactly is she saying? I was still clutching her hand tightly, waiting for her response.
“You used to whine to Miss Ha-yeon, complaining about things you didn’t like. But you keep saying it’s fine with me and just putting up with it.”
The pressure of uncertainty leaked from Miss Zhuge’s lips.
—
Uncertainty-filled blue eyes looked up at me.
If I lowered my head a little, our faces would almost touch. The world, draped in darkness, was eerily calm.
It was the perfect time for the two on the bed to intertwine their true feelings.
What should I say?
What should I say in response to her uncertainty? Yeah, if she showed sincerity, I could only respond with sincerity too.
“I’m a fortunate guy.”
In that moment, I barely restrained the urge to hold her cheeks and rub my face on hers, smiling softly at her.
“Excuse me?”
“Even if the barbarians try hard to fly and crawl, it’s not easy to succeed in this world. If you want to earn the same wages, you have to undertake more difficult and risky tasks, and even then, you’ll often get cheated.”
“Those from the Reunion society must be struggling a lot.”
I nodded.
“The inland region of Wuhan is relatively okay. The northern territories, which have faced countless conflicts with other ethnicities, or the coastal areas that were invaded by the Wokou, are full of people who react instantly if they hear the word ‘barbarian.’”
I roamed among the Central Plains, going through all sorts of hardships that were unspeakable.
“Master Kang?”
“When I first came to the Central Plains, I didn’t know it well. I just vaguely understood. The moment I was standing still and got hit by a stick, I thought, ‘Ah! This place is truly different from the world I’ve lived in!’”
What a damn year it was.
“R-Really?!”
“For a while, I wandered until I changed my path to becoming a storyteller. I had a knack for it, and people seemed to like it. Even if I was treated like a clown, it was better than being treated like a barbarian.”
If it hadn’t been for So-hee, I might never have been able to experience the storyteller life.
“……”
“Once I figured out that people liked hearing my stories, I started writing. People really liked it.”
“The Rise of the Tang Family…”
If it weren’t for Haryeon, I would never have even dreamed of publishing a book.
“But even that had its limits. The world wasn’t forgiving enough for the owner of a small bookstore. I came to Wuhan to grow my business, build networks, and forge my power.”
Being alone has its limits. If it hadn’t been for Miss Ha-yeon, I wouldn’t have been able to gain people who trust me and who I trust.
“Miss Zhuge.”
“Yes? Yes, yes.”
I looked at Miss Zhuge with the most precious gaze.
“I’m fortunate. I no longer go hungry, nor do I fear getting beaten. Also, I’m the only man who gets worried about you.”
If it weren’t for Miss Zhuge, I wouldn’t be here.
“Ah.”
“You just need to try a little harder. There have been countless times when I had to risk my life alone. I know how blessed I currently am, so how could I complain?”
Knowing how great the fruits of my efforts would be, how could I complain?
“I feel like I’m causing you too much trouble.”
Did she think that suffering due to association with the Man Geum Battlefield was her responsibility? It’s actually an incredible opportunity. I smiled softly.
“Miss Zhuge, you don’t need to apologize to me. It was my choice. Rather, I wish that you would say all the tough things.”
“Me?”
Miss Zhuge looked at me in surprise.
“Yeah. I’m also the same, I want to hear my lover’s true feelings.”
Sometimes, I want to say some unpleasant things too. Miss Zhuge has never been one to say that kind of thing, after all.
To be honest, I wanted to hear it.
If Miss Zhuge says something unpleasant to someone, it means that she’s opening her heart up to that person.
“Ah… I-I will!”
Did she immediately understand what I meant? Miss Zhuge’s expression was laced with hesitation, but her eyes were already sparkling.
“Yes, please speak without reserve.”
“U-Um, I feel like you’re making me work too hard.”
“Ah… Hahahaha.”
I had no words to respond to that.
“I like drawing, but all the paperwork is really a pain.”
“I’m sorry.”
As I apologized, Miss Zhuge flailed her arms in surprise, her head lowered as her hands fidgeted.
“Ah. I-I didn’t mean that. But it’s just… the time spent with Master Kang is a little… precious.”
“Thank you.”
For some reason, I felt embarrassed too.
“I think it would be good if Master Kang also said he was having a hard time.”
“Honestly, this situation is hard right now.”
My heart fluttered.
“Huh? I-I’m sorry… Wait?!”
I can’t hold myself back any longer.
Miss Zhuge’s face was getting closer. Does she know what’s about to happen? Her eyes shut tightly.
Why does she tilt her chin up?
“Huhhh.”
“Huh?”
Contrary to the expectation of the eagerness of a baby bird waiting for food, my lips aimed for her forehead instead.
On that forehead that had just been reddened from a slap earlier.
I felt sorry for Miss Zhuge, but for today, that is all the affection I could give her.
‘At the very least, I should start by letting them know.’
Having come this far, I received countless women’s support. After promising the future, I parted ways. Becoming the successor of Man Geum-jeon and getting formally recognized by the Zhuge family, it would be proper to inform them first.
I first need a reply from Haryeon. I don’t know what message I’ll receive, but for So-hee, while I’m scared to let her know the truth, it would be better for me to inform her myself rather than hear it from someone else.
I hope Miss Ha-yeon returns in time as well.
“Ugh! Huh?!”
Caught by surprise at an unexpected movement, I pinched Miss Zhuge’s cheek lightly. It felt nice and squishy.
Petting her gently, I tried to sleep again.
Regrettably, there was nothing I could do. I felt like if our lips touched, I wouldn’t be able to endure it afterwards.
—
Since earlier, my gaze had been captured by her lips, and they began to draw closer. Miss Zhuge had finally sensed that moment arriving.
‘Eek! No more betrayal than this! But, if Miss Ha-yeon shows up first to interrupt, I would accept it and apologize.’ No, it can’t be like that!
If Miss Ha-yeon shows up now, I would acknowledge her; she could interfere, and I would apologize. Just for a moment, to savor the most thrilling reversal in my life, Miss Zhuge tightly closed her eyes.
“Huhhh.”
Of course, the moment I was expecting did not come.
“Huh?”
With deep affection, my gaze and touch reached her.
The way I touched her felt like I was cherishing someone more than anyone else, distinctly different from the gentle touch of my mother in my childhood.
I feel regretful, but at the same time relieved. While still uneasy, Miss Zhuge’s beating heart gradually calmed down.
“Master Kang…”
Her lover had no answer—it had fought through and eventually slipped into dreamland.
Miss Zhuge stared blankly at the sleeping face of Kang Yoon-ho, lost in thought.
It’s so amazing.
The author whose book she adored the most, the young master who turned heads of passing women at least once, a man who shared interests similar to hers and truly understood her better than anyone else.
That man really existed.
Even though it seemed like he was suffering because of her, and she felt like he was pushing himself too hard, he laughed them off, even when facing life-threatening situations.
He effortlessly succeeded in impossible tasks.
Miss Zhuge’s face lit up, transforming into a unique expression, as she gazed at the lover asleep before her.
Just wait a little longer.
As Master Kang said, just a bit more patience is required. Miss Zhuge gathered her feelings, filled with courage, and carefully pulled out the title she had held close to her heart.
“K-Keep going, Master Kang!”
