Ch.376376. Don’t Just Laugh at Anyone. …Understand?

After all the guests had arrived at the wedding hall for my sister’s wedding, we had a brief break.

Woohee and Woocheon followed their older brother to wait at the family seating area, while Hwa Nabi and I were talking in the staff lounge on the first floor of the building that served as both wedding hall and hotel.

The topic of conversation was naturally supposed to be about what would happen after the wedding ceremony… or so I thought.

“Husband, have you stooped to charming young girls now?”

Instead, it was about my behavior from earlier.

I was just being kind, without any ulterior motives. She was my colleague’s child, so I treated her like I would our own kids. But according to Hwa Nabi, that was “charming” her or whatever.

If I had treated a woman my own age that way, I might understand.

Honestly, I had to laugh at the absurdity of being accused over smiling at someone nearly twenty years younger than me, but Hwa Nabi was serious about it, so I couldn’t argue back.

From my perspective, words wouldn’t help here. I leaned away from the wall and slowly approached Hwa Nabi. Then, just as I had done with Im Yuri earlier, I bent my knees slightly to meet Hwa Nabi’s eyes and spoke softly.

“Is our Nabi upset because oppa was being nice to another woman?”

“What are you doing right now…?”

“Ah, I thought this might help you feel better.”

“I-I’m not angry! I just meant, don’t just… to anyone…”

“Don’t what? Smile at them?”

“…Yes, that. Don’t smile so nicely at people.”

If anyone else told me not to smile, I might ignore them, but coming from Hwa Nabi, I’d have to comply. Still, I was curious about her reasoning. Usually, isn’t smiling considered a good thing?

I’ve often been told that I should smile more because my eyes look intimidating, but this is the first time someone has told me not to smile.

“Okay, I got it. But why shouldn’t I smile?”

“Husband, are you seriously asking because you don’t know…?”

“Yeah, I don’t understand.”

“…Haah.”

Hwa Nabi sighed deeply and fidgeted with her fingers.

She seemed reluctant to explain, but after I waited patiently, she finally spoke with a reluctant expression.

“Remember what Jinhee said earlier? About how many people misunderstood because of your smile.”

“Yeah, I remember. But why?”

Wasn’t that just a joke? I understood it to mean that since I’m a married man, there’s no point in getting excited about me.

When I asked without thinking much about it, Hwa Nabi’s expression became strange, suggesting it wasn’t just an empty comment.

“…Back in your college days, or even just a few years ago. You know, when random women would suddenly call and ask you out for meals. Remember?”

“Oh, did that happen…? I think it happened a few times like you said, but I don’t think it was that often.”

“No. It happened a lot. I personally witnessed it more than ten times.”

What? Did I really receive that many calls? It’s such an old memory that I honestly can’t be sure, so I tried to recall slowly, but then Hwa Nabi thrust her phone toward me.

On the screen was a memo app displaying dates, times, and the phrase [Days when husband received calls from women].

Wait, did she record every single time I received a phone call? When I silently questioned her with my eyes, Hwa Nabi nodded. I was surprised for two reasons.

First, women were apparently much more interested in me than I had thought. Second, Hwa Nabi had been watching and recording all of it.

It couldn’t have been easy to keep such diligent records over such a long period. I’m newly impressed by her dedication…

“Ah… well, yes, I did receive calls. But what does that have to do with my smiling?”

“Why do you think these women suddenly called you asking to have meals or drinks?”

“…I don’t know. Why?”

That’s the real mystery. I swear to heaven, I’ve never shown interest in any woman other than Hwa Nabi. She has always been and will continue to be my number one priority in life, and I can proudly say that.

Yes, I have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. That’s why I’m even more confused. If I were actually the type to flirt with any woman, I might have some idea.

I don’t even speak carelessly to women other than Hwa Nabi, so how did I end up being misunderstood like this?

“Husband. Think about it seriously. Why do you think?”

“I really don’t know, even if you ask like that. I only love you.”

“…Ugh, I know. I know very well that you only love me. But that’s not what I’m trying to say. I’m asking why someone who loves only me so devotedly would be misunderstood by others.”

I can’t know the answer if nothing comes to mind. I shook my head.

“I still don’t know even after thinking about it. Can’t you just tell me?”

“That’s… Ah, right now! Just now!”

“Huh? What?”

“You just turned your head and smiled! That smile, that’s why!”

“My smile is the problem…?”

What is she talking about? Is she saying there’s something wrong with me smiling?

Not understanding, I rubbed my nape in confusion, and Hwa Nabi quickly approached me, holding my cheeks with both hands and pressing them gently.

“This, this smile! This beautiful smile with deep dimples is what makes women misunderstand! Husband, your smile is too pretty!”

“…Wha? Wush are you shaying?”

(Translation: What? What are you saying?)

I can’t speak properly with my cheeks being held. I tapped Hwa Nabi’s shoulders to signal her to let go, but she continued regardless.

“Like this! Smiling so beautifully at just anyone! That’s why women misunderstand!”

“How do you know that, Nabi?”

“How do I know? Because I’ve been watching it happen for years! It was like that in school, in college too. Would it be any different in your professional life? Huh? I can tell without even seeing. That office assistant who contacted you probably misunderstood because you unknowingly smiled at her!”

“…”

The day after I firmly rejected her invitation for drinks, the office assistant quietly submitted her resignation. Could that have been the reason?

I’m shocked that Hwa Nabi knew the reason when even I, who worked right beside her, didn’t. While I was speechless from the revelation, Hwa Nabi continued to squeeze my cheeks.

“Do you understand? This is why you shouldn’t smile so freely at just anyone. Your very existence is like pheromone perfume that attracts women, and if you don’t keep the cap on properly, the scent leaks out. Got it?”

“Pheromone perfume ish all fake though…”

(Translation: Pheromone perfume is all fake though…)

“It’s a metaphor, a metaphor! Anyway, do you understand what I’m saying? If you do, nod twice.”

I nodded twice as instructed, and she finally released my cheeks.

I gently massaged my stretched cheeks and asked what I’d been wondering about.

“Okay, I understand why I shouldn’t smile, but… isn’t it okay to smile at children? They’re not my age, and there’s no chance of misunderstanding, so children should be fine, right?”

“No, not even children.”

“Hmm, why?”

“…I don’t like it.”

“What? What don’t you like?”

“…Are you going to make me say it twice? I said I don’t like it! I don’t like you smiling at others!”

“Ah…”

She could have said it normally, but she shouted so suddenly that I was startled.

But my surprise didn’t last long as I soon understood what she meant.

So basically, she doesn’t like me being kind and smiling at others, right?

If she had just said that from the beginning, we wouldn’t have had to go in circles. She must have been too embarrassed to admit it honestly. As evidence, her cheeks were flushed red.

“Nabi.”

“…What is it?”

“If you’re jealous, you can just say you’re jealous. Why express your feelings in such a roundabout way? It just takes longer to understand.”

“What are you talking about? It’s not because of jealousy! I was simply explaining kindly because you didn’t understand what I was saying.”

“Ah, so this was your kind explanation? I think if you had just said you don’t like seeing me smile at others, we could have resolved this in one go.”

“That’s… just your opinion.”

Yes, that’s my opinion. So I can think as I please and make my own judgment.

I kissed Hwa Nabi’s flushed cheek. At first, she closed her eyes thinking I was going to kiss her lips, but when my lips touched her cheek instead, she opened her eyes in surprise and looked at me with a slightly flustered expression.

Then she tried to pretend she hadn’t been expecting anything, quickly managing her expression. But it was too late—I had already seen everything.

“Why did you close your eyes, Nabi?”

“D-dust got in my eye. It was because of dust.”

“Dust? Let me see, I’ll blow it away for you.”

“N-no need. I already got it out.”

“What do you mean no need? If something got in your eye, we should check. Open your eyes, let me see.”

“…Husband.”

Hwa Nabi narrowed her eyes and glared at me. Though she didn’t say anything, her accusing gaze seemed to say, “You know everything, so why are you doing this?”

Not wanting to annoy her with my teasing, I smiled and pulled her into a hug. She pretended to dislike it at first but soon hugged me back with a reluctant air.

“Nabi. After my sister’s wedding, should we go on a date for the first time in a while?”

“Hmm… with the kids? Where?”

“No, we’ll put the kids to bed and have our date. Let’s watch a movie at home. How about that?”

“Hmph, okay. What movie do you want to watch?”

“Anything is fine as long as I’m watching it with you, but I’d prefer something sexy.”

“…Geez, this man, really.”