He doesn't bite!

❈ | chapter twenty four

Jiyu’s face reddened as she remembered their interaction, and if it wasn’t for Hyunjin’s self-awareness, she knew they would’ve kissed.

The thing is… she was ready to let him do whatever he wanted to her.

"You'll be the death of me… and I’m fucking immortal."

"What?" Jiyu breathed, her body shivering when Hyunjin’s arm wrapped tighter around her waist before he pulled away, smiling down at her.

"The song ended," he said as he brought her hand closer to his mouth, kissing the back of it. "Thanks for the dance, darling."

"Y… yeah… I… I'm tired so.. good night.." she mumbled before turning and running to the mansion.

"Then what’s the problem?" Jisung asked, confused. "He’s clearly into you, so…"

"We can’t… we just… can’t," she muttered. "I’ll hang up. See you," she said before hanging up, not giving Jisung the chance to protest.

Jiyu put her phone on silent mode, throwing it next to her on the bed before lying down, a sigh escaping her lips as she looked at the ceiling.

She couldn’t let her feelings win. She loved Hyunjin, but no woman could stand aging while their partner stayed the same.

Neither of them could give each other what they needed most: a normal life.

Love is not enough.

So she decided to ignore it.

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"God, why did I drink that much?" Jiyu groaned as she plopped on the couch next to Alessandra. Hyunjin raised an eyebrow as he put a cup of coffee in front of her before sitting on the chair.

"You didn’t drink that much," he said calmly, crossing one leg over the other.

"I did. I don’t even remember how we got home," she said as she took her coffee, trying to focus on it as she took a sip.

"You drove us home."

"Oh?" she looked at him, raising her eyebrows.

"Oh," he repeated, mimicking her gesture and raising his eyebrows.

She smiled a thin smile. "New skill unlocked. I can drive perfectly while drunk!"

Again, he mimicked her expression. "Cool!"

"Very!"

And Alessandra just sighed.

That little conversation, with its little confirmation between them—he knew she was acting dumb, and that she remembered everything. But he also knew she wanted that memory buried, so her wish was granted.

He knew it was for the better anyway.

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The next two weeks passed the same way, like nothing happened. Jiyu was a pro when it came to acting like everything was normal, and Hyunjin was no different.

It was the evaluation day of the project she had been working on for the last few months, and Minho’s first day back at work after his honeymoon.

Jiyu wore a beige blazer and wide-legged dress pants over a brown top, matching her brown heels and purse. She did a high ponytail, letting a few short strands loose.

“If I mess up today, make sure to check if Minho didn’t bury me underneath the company,” she said as she pulled a chair to sit at the dining table.