Hauen stood in front of the Mirae building, wondering why her teddy bear had suddenly called her out for shopping. Shopping…? All of a sudden? My man must be up to something. The curiosity sparkled in her eyes as she walked in.
The receptionist spotted her instantly, posture snapping into warm professionalism.
"Hello, ma'am. How can I help you?" Her tone was polite, but there was soft familiarity; everyone in the building knew their boss's wife.
"I'm here to see my husband," Hauen replied with a polite smile.
"Of course, mam. Sir is in his cabin. This way, ma'am." The receptionist led her down the corridor towards his cabin.
"Thank you," Hauen said.
With a polite nod, the receptionist stepped away, leaving Hauen at the door.
She pushed it open just a little and peeked inside.
There he was… completely absorbed in a file, looking nothing like her soft, shy husband. This version of Suho looked sharp, collected, the kind of man people would hesitate to disturb. It made her smile.
"May I come in, sir?" she asked theatrically.
His head snapped up immediately, and the transformation was instant. His whole face brightened. The intimidating aura is collapsing like sugar in warm tea.
"Please come in, Mrs. Kim," he said, smiling.
She walked in, letting the door close behind her. "What's up, Teddy? You called me all the way here. Did you miss me already?" she teased, stepping up to him with that signature playful glint.
Suho didn't even pretend otherwise. The moment she stopped near his chair, he tugged her gently onto his lap.
Hauen let out a little laugh, wrapping her arms around his neck. He hugged her immediately, warm and needy, head settling comfortably against her chest.
"Well… kind of. I missed my Hauenie…" he murmured, voice low and muffled.
Her smile softened. This man went from cold boss to clingy husband in two seconds.
He looked up then, eyes sparkling like he'd been waiting all day to see her.
She pecked his lips softly, slow, affectionate.
"So? Why did you call me here? And what's with the sudden shopping plan?" she asked, cupping his cheek.
He straightened a little, still holding her but switching into little serious mode.
"Actually, I have something to tell you," he began, tone gentle but firm. "There's a party tomorrow. An important one. Haraboji got an invitation from an American millionaire, and he wants me to attend for him."
Hauen blinked. "Ohhh…"
"And," he continued, "Haraboji asked me to attend that party with you. It's going to be a golden opportunity for us to build some strong business connections."
"Ohhk… but why me?" she asked, teasing but curious.
Suho's lips curved with a little pride. "Because first of all, you won't let me go alone. And second… you're my support. I've got a smart wife. Why would I waste a chance to fla—" he paused, then corrected himself with a grin, "—to bring her with me?"
She smiled, brushing her thumb across his cheek. "The first reason is fine. The second one is a bit too much."
"It's not," he countered gently, eyes earnest. "You don't know what you're capable of yet. Just come with me. Meet knowledgeable and successful people. You belong in that room, too."
She gave him a dramatic salute. "Yes, boss."
He giggled, a soft sound, and leaned in to peck her nose. It was such a feather-light, affectionate kiss that her heart did a small somersault. Then he buried his face in her neck, arms wrapping around her like he had been waiting all day to exhale right here.
"You said we are going shopping, and here you are behaving like a pookie bear again," she teased.
"Stay still," he mumbled into her neck, voice lazily sweet. "I worked enough today… I need to recharge before shopping."
Her laugh came out soft and warm. She kissed the crown of his head and hugged him close.
He hummed, settled against her like a satisfied kitty who had finally found his warm spot.
Shopping
The mall felt like a quiet little planet of its own that evening, all glass shine and golden lights. Suho walked beside Hauen with that focused, almost business-like calm he slipped into whenever something mattered to him. And tonight, apparently, dressing his wife perfectly for an elite party mattered more than anything.
He held her hand loosely, thumb brushing the back of it as they stepped into the boutique.
He guided her inside the women's section, where the racks looked like they were holding stars wrapped in silk. He didn't even hesitate. One glance at a row of gowns and he started scanning through them like a trained curator.
"Try this," he said, handing her a pearl-white dress. "And this one. And this emerald one… actually, try all three."
She blinked. "All three?"
"You need options, Hauena..." He said.
So she disappeared into the trial room, and Suho waited outside, arms crossed, posture sharp, eyes darting to the mirror where he could see her silhouette moving inside the room. Whenever she stepped out in a dress, his gaze sharpened. He walked around her, adjusting a strap, untucking a strand of hair, tilting his chin as if evaluating a precious artifact.
"This one is good," he said of the emerald dress. "But you'll look breathtaking in the black one." He said. There wasn't even a pause, no second-guessing, just quiet certainty in his voice. And for a moment, the confidence in his words lit a soft warmth across her cheeks.
He turned to the staff. "Bring the latest collection in black. Not the displayed one. The ones from the back."
"Yes. Sir." The staff ran. Of course they did.
Finally, after trying a few sets of outfits, he finalized a few sets in different styles.
And now, he took her straight to the jewellery section. And if he had been focused before, he was a storm-eye now.
He moved like someone who had done this a hundred times. Talking to the staff as if he built the jewellery industry himself, asking for specific cuts, specific stone clarity, specific designs that brought out the gentle lines of her collarbones.
Hauen stood there, unable to look anywhere else but at him. Butterflies burst into her heart.
The way he leaned forward, elbows on the glass counter. The way he checked the lock of a necklace. The way he compared pendants against her skin undertone without even needing to place them against her skin.
A quiet warmth bloomed in her chest. He must've learned all this in his past relationship… But here he was now, choosing pieces for her with a kind of devotion that made her feel cherished rather than compared.
At one point, he lifted a delicate diamond choker and turned to her.
"Hold still," he murmured.
He gathered her hair in one slow sweep, letting it fall over one shoulder. His fingertips brushed the back of her neck before the cool metal touched down, a tiny shiver sparking beneath her skin. He clasped it carefully, fingers warm, steady, and almost reverent as they skimmed her nape.
The choker settled like moonlight against her collarbones. His touch lingered a beat too long, as if he wasn't quite ready to let go. He stepped back, eyes lifting to meet hers in the mirror.
"This," he murmured. "This one was made for you. It goes really well with the black dress."
Her breath stilled.
He chose two final sets. Each elegant. Each perfect. Each was undeniably chosen by her Teddy.
Later, they moved to the men's collection. Suho browsed with the same sharp taste, selecting suits with precision, matching ties and cufflinks as if styling was a language he'd been fluent in since birth.
Then Hauen pointed at one suit. Dark teal. Simple. Clean. "It would look good on you," she said.
Suho glanced at it. It clearly wasn't his style. Still, he didn't think twice.
"Pack this one too," he told the staff.
She stared at him, the corner of her lips curling, soft, knowing, touched.
"You didn't like the color," she said.
"Maybe," he admitted calmly. Looking at other suits, "But you do. That's enough."
Her heart drummed a soft rhythm against her ribs.
He didn't look at her when he said it. He didn't need to.
She already knew. He would wear it proudly. Because she chose it.
And she silently thanked every twist of fate, including the people who once walked out of his life, for handing this gentle, quietly devoted man to her.