Ch.377377. Not All Lies Are Bad

After promising a date that wasn’t really a date with Hwa Nabi, some time passed, and my sister’s wedding with my soon-to-be brother-in-law ended successfully.

The ceremony lasted a full two hours, but since the two were becoming a new couple, none of the guests complained about being bored. My sister and her fiancé, who had declared their undying love, announced they had become true spouses with a vow of a kiss in front of everyone.

People of all ages offered congratulatory messages and scattered flower petals. My sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law walked down the aisle amid exclamations and whistles from all directions.

No, not soon-to-be brother-in-law. Baek Sunghyun, who was now officially my brother-in-law, came straight to my seat right after greeting both families’ parents with my sister.

“I’m sorry. Brother-in-law, was I late?”

“Not at all. You arrived right on time. Congratulations on your marriage, brother-in-law. Congratulations to you too, sis.”

“…Yes, thanks.”

My sister, who became a bride in her thirties, seemed embarrassed by my congratulations and nodded with a flushed face.

Watching her, my brother-in-law smiled as if finding her cute and extended his hand to me for a handshake.

I warmly grasped his hand, held it as he shook it, and then gently let go.

“Really. Thinking about it again, I’m so grateful to you, brother-in-law. What would Jinwoo and I have done without you?”

“Uh… what? What do you mean?”

“You don’t have to pretend. I know everything from Jinwoo. She told me you said to her, ‘With that much sincerity, wouldn’t it be okay to meet him once?'”

“…Pardon?”

What’s this? Did I ever say something like that? I thought hard about what my brother-in-law said, but I couldn’t remember saying anything like that, so I tilted my head in confusion.

“I said that?”

“Yes. That’s what Jinwoo said. Ah, is it too long ago for you to remember?”

“Ah, well…”

It’s not impossible, but if my memory isn’t wrong, I never said such a thing to my sister. I didn’t tell her to meet him because of his sincerity; rather, I asked why she was meeting him and even made the outrageous comment asking if she was being blackmailed.

After pondering alone, I looked at my sister, silently asking with my eyes what was going on and if she really heard me say that. She mouthed something back.

‘Hey, Han Siwoo. Just go along with it!’

‘Huh? With what?’

‘I told Sunghyun that I met him because you suggested it. So please back me up…!’

‘What? There are other things to lie about, but why this…’

Is this some kind of female pride or something?

Learning the truth was absurd, but since my sister threatened harm to me with just her eyes if I didn’t back her up, I had no choice but to nod.

“Ah, no. Now that I think about it, that’s right. Yes, I did say that. I said, ‘With that much sincerity, wouldn’t it be okay to meet him once?’ And when my sister strongly refused, I told her he seemed like a good person, so she should keep seeing him.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know that part. Thank you, brother-in-law. I thought he was a good person from the first time I saw him, but the more I see him, the more I’m convinced he’s the real deal.”

“Yes, thank you…”

My conscience stings and burns as I tell this lie that I don’t mean at all. But I have no choice. To protect my sister’s pride and ensure my own safety, I have to resort to lying.

Tap tap. At that moment, Hwa Nabi, who had been listening beside me, tapped my shoulder. She leaned close to my ear and whispered just loud enough for only me to hear.

“Husband, did you really say that?”

“…I’ll tell you later, later.”

“By the way, brother-in-law. Did you hear? Before Jinwoo and I leave for our honeymoon, we’re gathering just the relatives for dinner.”

“Ah, yes. I heard. But will you be okay? I heard your schedule is tight and you’re leaving at 11 PM today. You’ll be very tired if you have dinner and meet all the relatives before leaving…”

This was advice from experience. After all, Hwa Nabi and I went on our honeymoon right after our wedding ceremony.

I didn’t notice during the wedding, but once we were alone and the tension eased, drowsiness overwhelmed me. I tried not to say anything to avoid ruining the mood, but I was actually quite tired.

So, hoping they wouldn’t follow in our footsteps, I expressed my concern. But my brother-in-law nodded with a smile, indicating it was fine.

“I barely managed to get a four-day vacation, so I have to endure even if I’m a bit tired. We’re currently working on a new project, so I don’t know when we’ll have another chance to be alone comfortably.”

“Ah, are you talking about that retort food? I think I heard something from my sister. What was it again? The one that heats up automatically when you press the button on the back, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. All our team members are racking their brains over it. Everyone’s working hard, and as the person in charge, I’m taking four days off. Honestly, I feel a bit uncomfortable even now.”

I see, I understand. Since my brother-in-law holds an important position in the company, he can’t relax as comfortably as we did when we got married. As someone who also works for a company, I fully understand his feelings.

“Then you should meet the relatives quickly and get to your honeymoon soon, right?”

“That’s right. I need to finish up quickly and leave. That way, Jinwoo and I can spend time together leisurely.”

“Sunghyun, what are you saying in front of my brother…?”

My sister seems embarrassed, perhaps showing her newlywed side, and seeing her like this honestly gives me mixed feelings.

How should I put it? I understand intellectually why my sister is acting this way, but emotionally, it’s hard to accept.

I can tell she’s happy, but it’s a bit awkward to watch, so I averted my gaze and nodded in understanding.

“I understand. Thank you for your consideration. You should go see the other relatives, right?”

“Yes, I should. Then, brother-in-law, see you later.”

My brother-in-law takes my sister and walks to the table where other relatives are. I quietly watch the two of them walk away, then say a word to our children and Hwa Nabi.

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes. But where are we going?”

Woohee asked boldly. I gently embraced her, lifted her up, and kindly explained.

“It’s one o’clock now. We should go eat, right? They’re serving meat at the restaurant here, meat.”

“Ah…! Dad, I’m not a child anymore! You shouldn’t keep hugging me like this…!”

“Woohee, do you know? Among people who claim they’re not children, there’s no one who’s actually not a child.”

Ah, that’s not true. There’s an exception—Hwa Nabi.

Hiding such thoughts, I tried to walk forward, but as if she sensed it, Hwa Nabi, holding Woocheon’s hand, came close to me and glared.

“What? Did you just think something strange again?”

“Dad, did you think something strange?”

Woocheon chimes in at Hwa Nabi’s words.

“…What are you talking about? What strange thoughts? It’s nothing like that, let’s go.”

“No, it’s suspicious. Be honest, you were thinking something strange behind my back, weren’t you?”

“That’s right, you were thinking something strange, weren’t you!”

“No, I’m telling you I wasn’t…”

*

Schedule ended, current time 9 PM.

After having a late dinner with relatives including my brother-in-law and parents, our family returned home late at night, all complaining of fatigue.

It’s understandable since we had to come out early because Hwa Nabi and I were at the reception desk. The children, having been out since 8 AM until now, went straight to dreamland after washing up.

Thanks to that, Hwa Nabi and I, feeling more relaxed, took our time washing up and were now lying down comfortably, chatting. The topic was, of course, today’s wedding of my sister and brother-in-law.

“Husband, watching your sister’s wedding, didn’t it remind you of our wedding?”

“Yes, it did. It was already 8 years ago, but it felt like just yesterday.”

“Huh, really? What a coincidence. I felt the same way.”

Hwa Nabi whispered and snuggled into my arms.

Her soft chest pressed against my side, creating a strangely pleasant sensation. Wanting to feel it better, I hugged her back, stroking her back as I replied.

“When I stood in that position, I was really nervous. But watching from a distance, strangely, I didn’t feel nervous at all. Was it the same for you?”

“Hmm… really? It was the opposite for me. Seeing your sister holding the bouquet, thinking ‘I was like that back then,’ my heart started racing. It felt like I was standing there instead of your sister.”

“What? You felt like you were standing there? Don’t tell me you imagined marrying another man instead of me?”

I jokingly asked and pulled her close, making her giggle and tap my chest as if ticklish.

Being in thin pajamas, certain body parts were pressed together, making the embrace feel even better.

“Mmm, no. Of course I imagined standing there with you, husband. How could I imagine otherwise?”

“No, I can’t believe you. Show me proof.”

“Proof? Alright. How should I prove it?”

“I’ll believe you if you let me touch your chest.”

“Huh, pervert.”

Though she calls me a pervert, she slightly pushes her chest forward from below as if saying I could touch it if I wanted.

I was about to actually touch her but stopped, thinking if I did, we’d end up doing something else instead of talking.

“Hmm, okay. Nabi, I understand your sincerity.”

“You believe me without touching?”

“Yes, I could feel your sincerity in your attitude.”

After exchanging jokes, we laughed playfully, then suddenly our eyes met, and we gazed at each other quietly.

Her emerald eyes, beautiful like jewels, look even prettier today.

“Mmm, what’s this…?”

What does she mean? I was about to ask but followed Hwa Nabi’s gaze downward.

Just looking at my woman’s eyes had caused something to assert its presence beyond my control.

“Does it get big now just from looking at my face?”

“…You must look too sexy.”

“What does ‘looking sexy’ specifically mean?”

“Well, probably…”

“Uh… huh? Huh, mmm, where are you touching? Huh, wait…! The kids might not be asleep yet…!”