Ch.305305. But You’re Still Happy…?

“…that’s what happened.”

After returning home from the coffee shop, I told Hwa Nabi about what happened today after putting Woohee to sleep.

Right now, we’re sitting on the living room sofa. Hwa Nabi, who was rotating her ankle beside me, seemed deep in thought before placing her hand on my shoulder.

“Husband.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Your south gate is open.”

“Huh, really? Wait, why is this…”

As I hurriedly lowered my head to zip up, I realized something strange. It wasn’t open at all, but closed. I raised my head again to look at Hwa Nabi.

“Just kidding.”

“…Nabi.”

“What? Why? You were the one bragging about something weird first.”

“Huh? No, I wasn’t trying to brag. I just meant I rejected her well, so I wanted you to praise me…”

“Fine. You did very well. Stamp! Happy now?”

Chu. Hwa Nabi’s lips touched my cheek and pulled away. Surprised by her unexpected action, I awkwardly rubbed my cheek with my palm.

“That was praise, right…?”

“Anyway, you haven’t had lunch yet, right?”

“Yeah, I just had a few cookies.”

“Then I’ll prepare something now, so sit and wait.”

Hwa Nabi, unusually sharp today, strides toward the kitchen. Left alone on the living room sofa, I quietly got up and followed her.

In front of the kitchen counter. Hwa Nabi is filling a pot with water. She seems to be preparing some kind of stew or soup… I very carefully hugged her from behind.

“Are you here to disturb me?”

“I’m not trying to disturb you. I just forgot to tell you something.”

“What is it? More bragging?”

That wasn’t my intention, but somehow Hwa Nabi seemed to take it as bragging. If I leave it like this, she’ll get upset again, so I need to fix this quickly.

I cleared my throat and said in a soft voice:

“I put chocolate cake in the refrigerator.”

“…Chocolate cake?”

“Yeah, two slices. The clerk said they’re super sweet and delicious. Let’s eat them for dessert after lunch. What do you think?”

Not stopping at just words, I leaned down slightly and kissed her cheek. I could see her lips loosening up.

“I’m not really interested… but since you already bought it. Well, I guess we can eat it together.”

“Great, let’s do that. By the way, should I help you cook?”

“I’m making stew, so there’s not much you can help with.”

“Still, wouldn’t it be faster if I helped somehow? Even if it’s just chopping onions.”

I’m not trying to brag, but I’m skilled with knives. After I confidently said this, Hwa Nabi mumbled for a moment before bluntly saying:

“Then… go wash up first.”

“Wash up? Oh, you mean wash my hands?”

“No, I mean take a bath.”

“But I already showered earlier?”

“Not a shower, a bath. Fill the tub with water and clean yourself thoroughly.”

“It’s not even evening, why take a bath now? Is someone coming over?”

“No, it’s not that. I have an important announcement to make after dessert.”

“Important announcement? What’s that about?”

“…You’ll find out later. So go wash up first.”

*

As Hwa Nabi instructed, I washed thoroughly and came out. After drying my hair and changing clothes, I went to the kitchen to find the cooking already finished. The savory aroma rising suggested she had made doenjang jjigae.

“You made stew?”

“Yes, I made buchu doenjang jjigae. Is that okay?”

“Whatever you serve, I’ll eat.”

Going to the kitchen table to see the food directly, the stew was still bubbling. Looks delicious. Swallowing my saliva, I placed my spoon and Hwa Nabi’s spoon on the table.

“Let’s eat. Thank you for the meal.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

Following my greeting, she picked up her spoon first. I also took mine and tasted the stew first. It’s moderately salty, sweet, and spicy. I can’t handle this without rice.

“Wow, it’s really delicious.”

“Is it good?”

“Yeah, it’s good. You did a great job.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

After all, Hwa Nabi seems better at making stews than I am. That makes sense since I’m generally good at various dishes but not specialized, while Hwa Nabi excels at specific dishes. As I mentioned before, we have different specialties.

Our skills barely overlap, so we can enjoy a variety of dishes. That’s another advantage of living together. Ah, should I have mentioned this to Im Hansol too?

While tasting the stew and side dishes, I glanced at Hwa Nabi. Despite saying she had an important announcement, she was unexpectedly eating quietly. It seems the conversation will come after the meal is finished.

“Nabi. Here, ah.”

“…Yam.”

When I fed her some side dish as usual, she accepted it well, but she didn’t put any food in my mouth. This isn’t like her. I wonder if she has something serious on her mind.

Feeling I shouldn’t joke around, I quietly continued eating.

About twenty minutes later, after finishing lunch, we cleared the table. Then I took out the two slices of chocolate cake from the refrigerator and placed them in front of each of us.

“Nabi. Do you need something to drink?”

“…Husband.”

“Hm, yes?”

“You know…”

“Yeah?”

“I need your sperm.”

“Hmm… sperm, right.”

I absentmindedly agreed while cutting a piece of chocolate cake. I stabbed it with my fork and put it in my mouth, chewing slowly, when suddenly it hit me.

…What did she just say?

“What did you say you need…?”

“I said I need your sperm.”

“Well… okay. I understand you need sperm, but why? What are you going to use it for?”

“What do you mean what for? You don’t think I’d eat it, do you? Obviously for producing a second child… mmph.”

“…What’s wrong with her.”

Since she was saying strange things in broad daylight, I quickly took a piece of my cake with my fork and pushed it into Hwa Nabi’s mouth. She chewed with a happy expression, apparently enjoying the sweetness, then swallowed and licked her lips.

“Wow, it’s too sweet. Husband, I want some milk.”

“Are you going to keep saying weird things…? Woohee might hear, what milk are you talking about?”

“Huh? What are you saying? What does wanting milk have to do with Woohee hearing?”

“Oh, are you actually talking about real milk…?”

“Is there fake milk and real milk? Husband, are you feeling sick or something?”

Ah, so she really was talking about milk. When she mentioned a second child earlier, I naturally thought it was that kind of expression.

Left with nothing to say, I slightly averted my gaze. Hwa Nabi stared at me quietly, then seemed to realize something and smirked.

“Husband, you weren’t thinking of a different kind of milk, were you?”

“…Well, why not? I could misunderstand. You’re always asking me for ‘delicious husband milk’… mmph.”

Something was suddenly pushed into my mouth. This time, Hwa Nabi had pushed cake against my lips.

Since she gave it to me, I couldn’t spit it out, so I slowly chewed and swallowed the cake. It’s sweet enough for the aroma to fill my nose, but not inedibly so.

“Tsk, Woohee might hear you.”

“You’re the one who knows that but still says such things? …Anyway. What was that about a second child just now? Was that just a joke?”

“No, I’m serious. I want to have a second child soon.”

“Why so suddenly? Nabi, you said before that you couldn’t raise two children.”

“I did say that then. But I’ve changed my mind. If you’re okay with it, I want to try for a second child soon. It might be difficult to get pregnant while breastfeeding, but we can try more often to make it happen.”

“…I can cooperate, but what made you change your mind?”

Apart from everything else, I’m very curious about that. What made Hwa Nabi’s attitude change so suddenly?

I cut a piece of my chocolate cake with my fork and offered it to Hwa Nabi. After quickly eating it, she chewed, swallowed, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before speaking.

“Husband, you know about the military service law amendment from early this year, right?”

“Military service law? Yeah, I know about it.”

She seems to be talking about what my brother was involved in. What was it again? A law that exempts men over 20 who have two or more children from military service?

It was an unimaginably radical law for an era with a 98% male conscription rate, and the news reported extensively on it. I remember being surprised that it passed despite facing tremendous opposition when it was first proposed.

“But why bring that up? It doesn’t apply to us. The condition is two or more children, but we only have Woohee…”

“That’s why we should have one more. Before your draft notice arrives.”

“Um… Nabi. I don’t think that’s something we should decide on the spot…”

“Husband.”

Cutting me off, Hwa Nabi grabbed both my hands.

Looking straight into my eyes, she said seriously:

“I absolutely hate the idea of you going to the military, you know?”

“…Huh?”

“After waiting three years since my first year of high school, you want me to wait two more years? I can’t wait. No, I won’t wait.”

“These days it’s not two years but one year and six months—”

“Is that important right now? Husband, can you live without seeing me for one year and six months?”

“No, I couldn’t.”

“Exactly. I feel the same way. So let’s have another baby quickly. A sibling for Woohee, our second child.”

“Wait, hold on. Nabi, I understand how you feel. But even so, this is too rushed a decision…”

“…Ugh, why are you talking so much? Husband, you just need to do exactly as I tell you…!”