A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 108

108. The Purpose of Marriage

Seven years ago, the driver who hit Jiheon and fled the scene consistently denied his wrongdoing. Because Kim Jingu had a prior criminal record, no one believed him.

Eunbi’s testimony was significant. However, she also harbored doubts about her memory, wondering if Kim Jingu truly wasn’t the culprit.

Then, she discovered that the police hadn’t taken her black box [car’s recording device]. Eunbi checked the video, just in case, and found that the culprit’s appearance was briefly captured.

The culprit was wearing the same clothes Kim Jingu had worn on the day of the accident. But it wasn’t Kim Jingu.

The Kim Jingu that Eunbi knew had a tattoo on the back of his left hand, but the man in the video didn’t. It was clear there was a conspiracy to frame Kim Jingu.

But Eunbi never revealed this. Her own appearance was also briefly shown in the video containing the culprit’s image.

She had run away as soon as she discovered the accident, a secret Jiheon and Youngmi should never know.

So Eunbi hid the truth, and Kim Jingu was eventually sentenced to prison. In the meantime, Jiheon’s health recovered, and Ms. Jang Youngmi regarded Eunbi as a benefactor.

Kim Jingu finished his one-year prison sentence and was released, but soon committed another crime and was sentenced to five years. It was a long time, and Eunbi completely forgot about Kim Jingu.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Dark night.

Eunyeop received Eunbi’s call and hurried to her house.

“Chae Eunbi, what happened?”

Eunyeop, who opened the door and entered without hesitation, grabbed his sister by the collar as she trembled under the blanket, demanding an explanation.

“Kim Jingu is not Jung Jiheon’s hit-and-run driver. There is another real culprit.”

Eunbi said, her face distorted by fear.

“The recording. Did you record it?”

“…….”

“You should have recorded it! Can’t you even do that properly?”

“How could I have time! Do you know how surprised I was?”

When Eunyeop shouted, Eunbi retorted.

“Who is the real culprit? Did you see his face properly?”

“…….”

“You said you have the video file.”

Based on the brief information he’d heard on the phone, Eunyeop made the demands Eunbi needed immediately. Eunbi got up. The black box memory card had to be somewhere, likely in a box with old USBs.

“Ah… it’s not here…”

Eunbi couldn’t find what she was looking for, so she overturned the box. Eunyeop also searched for the memory card, but it was nowhere to be found.

“You store something so important so carelessly?”

“…….”

“You really are useless.”

As always, Eunyeop’s criticism poured out. Nevertheless, Eunbi couldn’t say anything.

“Don’t you remember anything?”

“How can I remember something from seven years ago?”

“So, he was about the same height as Kim Jingu?”

“His height, build, and even his clothes were exactly the same. I’m still questioning my memory. If it weren’t for the tattoo on Kim Jingu’s hand, I would still be sure it was the same guy.”

Eunyeop was lost in thought at Eunbi’s resentful words.

A man wearing the same clothes as Kim Jingu and driving Kim Jingu’s car…

Then the hit-and-run accident was undoubtedly a planned crime. Someone had been planning to frame Kim Jingu for a long time. If it’s someone who would do that…

First of all, it was a priority to dig into Kim Jingu’s old grudges.

“Listen carefully, Chae Eunbi. This is a secret only you and I know. Got it?”

Eunyeop firmly instructed Eunbi.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

The living room, which had become a mess because of the balloon bomb [prank or decoration], became Yena’s playground. Jiheon postponed cleaning and called everyone to the table, which was full of Jungo’s favorite foods, thanks to Yena diligently providing information to Jiheon.

Jungo asked with wide eyes.

“Did you make all of this, Oppa [term of endearment for older brother or boyfriend]?”

“No. My mother made it…”

At Jiheon’s shy answer, Guksoon waved her hand.

“It’s because I didn’t have time. I just helped out from the side.”

Guksoon gave the credit to Jiheon, but Jungo could guess that Guksoon had done almost everything. Perhaps Jiheon was just flustered with everything spread out, like seven years ago, on the day he first rolled up his sleeves to try cooking.

“Mom, Jiheon is a good cook. Of course, he’s forgotten everything now, but he used to do it seven years ago, so if Mom teaches him, he’ll learn quickly.”

“You’re not thinking about learning yourself, but only about making others cook for you?”

“Mom always says it’s my fate to live well by getting good food. And Oppa is interested in cooking, right?”

Jungo was already imagining her mother-in-law and son-in-law cooking together happily in the kitchen. Jiheon seconded Jungo’s words without any hesitation.

“I’m happy to. If my mother teaches me, I can learn hard.”

“Oh, I couldn’t be more burdened.”

Even while saying it was burdensome, Guksoon’s lips stretched into a smile.

Yena also had a happy face throughout. After the meal, Yena roamed around the house again, making a mess. Jungo’s steps also became busy following Yena. Jiheon’s gaze, who was sitting face to face with Guksoon and talking, occasionally lingered on Jungo.

Yena, who had been playing tag with her mother, came running and shouted, breathing heavily on Guksoon’s lap.

“Grandma, I want to live here! This place is nice!”

“I know. Grandma likes it too, and the kitchen is really nice too…”

Guksoon’s eyes were drawn to the spacious kitchen above all else. It was as large as a restaurant kitchen, but it wasn’t complicated, so she liked it very much. In a kitchen like this, she felt like she would be happy every time she cooked.

But this house was too much of a burden.

“It’s too nice… but it’s a bit dizzy just looking out the window.”

It was so dizzy that it was hard to even look at the window. Even when she took the elevator up, her stomach kept churning, so she had to hold her breath.

“I’m sorry. Yena’s dad.”

“It’s okay.”

Jiheon also knew about Guksoon’s difficulties because he had heard about it from Jungo in advance.

“First of all, I’m going to try to find a house as soon as possible. They say an apartment in the complex next to Dobin’s house is available. Let’s go together tomorrow.”

Jiheon recited the subsequent plans step by step.

“And I’m going to register our marriage on Monday. We’ll prepare the wedding later.”

“Do we really have to have a wedding?”

A wedding that takes place when the child is seven years old. Moreover, a wedding that is bound to cause various rumors. Guksoon carefully asked, worried about the spotlight that would fall on Jungo.

“We will. We’ll do everything we have to do.”

Jiheon’s determination was firm without a moment’s hesitation. Guksoon felt relieved when her son-in-law answered clearly.

She could trust that Jiheon would protect Jungo well so that nothing difficult would happen to her. Even in the meantime, Jiheon’s eyes were occasionally directed towards Jungo.

After eating delicious food, cleaning the house, and talking about the future, it was already late at night. Jungo, who had been working on the weekend, was also tired. Yena fell asleep in Jiheon’s arms. Guksoon also got up.

“I’m getting sleepy too. Get some rest soon. I’ll take Yena and sleep in that room at the end.”

“No, Mom. I’ll take care of Yena…”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Jungo was about to take care of Yena, but Jiheon bowed his head first. Jungo looked at Jiheon with a start, feeling like he had cut her off.

Jiheon moved the sleeping Yena to the end room according to Guksoon’s instructions. And after taking care of Guksoon and Yena’s sleeping arrangements, he carefully told them other important things and politely greeted them.

As soon as Guksoon said she was sleepy, things progressed quickly, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Then good night.”

“Okay. Yena’s dad, you worked so hard today. You were great.”

“Thank you.”

“Congratulations, you two.”

Kind greetings were exchanged, and Guksoon waved her hand. Jungo’s cheeks turned slightly red in the atmosphere where the wedding had already taken place.

While Jungo was waving her hand in a daze, Jiheon bowed to Guksoon and carefully closed the door behind him. It was as skillful and streamlined as a hotel manager.

Turning around, he asked playfully.

“Are you sick somewhere? Your face is red.”

“Huh? No. Just.”

“…….”

“Ah, you really worked hard today. Oppa must be very tired.”

“No, I’m not tired at all.”

“Even if you say that, you’ll be tired, right? You’ll fall asleep as soon as you lie down.”

“Jungo.”

“…….”

“I have something to say.”

His expression suddenly became serious, and she became nervous too. Jungo’s eyelids, which had been half-closed while feigning tiredness, flicked open.

“What are you talking about? …Is it about my mother?”

“…….”

“Or is it about Chae Eunbi?”

“Anyway, let’s go inside.”

Jiheon grabbed Jungo’s hand. Unlike his soft voice, his grip was strong. Following Jiheon, who was taking big steps, Jungo also quickened her pace. Her heart was beating fast. Soon, they reached the bedroom.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and entered the bedroom.

Click, the door closes. The lights turn on.

“What’s wrong? Tell me quickly.”

“That’s…”

“Yeah. Yeah. Tell me.”

“I love you.”

Jungo’s eyes went blank, wondering if she had heard correctly. Her tense shoulders relaxed, but her eyes sharpened.

“…Are you kidding me?”

He just smiled leisurely.

“My heart almost dropped…!”

Before she could finish speaking, her body was lifted and then gently lowered. The soft bed sheet warmly wrapped around her back. And above her was Jung Jiheon.

Jiheon’s eyes, who had instantly positioned himself above her, showed no signs of fatigue. Rather, they were full of desire, as if it was just beginning.

He looked at her as if admiring delicious prey before devouring it. In fact, he had been looking at her that way all day, but she had been busy chasing after Yena and hadn’t noticed.

“I’ve been waiting all along to lay you down here.”

He lowered his body quickly, speaking explicitly. His heated breath lingered on her cheek before flowing along her neckline and collarbone. She squinted at the slight stimulation. Jiheon’s breath became even heavier because her face was so pretty.

After the secret meeting in Australia, many things had happened to them. Their hearts had connected, but their bodies had rarely touched. It had been a time with many responsibilities.

“What do you think marriage is? Do you just think it’s a joint childcare community?”

Every moment of raising their beautiful child together was precious and happy, but they couldn’t be satisfied with simply regarding each other as the child’s father and mother.

He was quite gentle in front of Guksoon and became a kind father who could do everything Yena asked for, but that wasn’t all. Jung Jiheon wasn’t actually a gentle or kind person.

“I think it’s this.”

The definition of marriage, which had been regarded as sublime, became sensual following his voice. A claim that was just like Jung Jiheon: obscene but closest to the essence. Jungo didn’t feel like refuting it.

The lips that awakened the truth licked her plump lips before moving on to the area that no one dared to touch, the area that only Jung Jiheon could touch.

She gasped and exhaled, twisting her body. The man, whose nerves were on edge even at her small trembling, raised his head and checked her face again.

He gained a strange comfort even in the midst of excitement.

This moment when she shakes him and drives him crazy is rather salvation for him.