Life Becomes Amazing After Marriage

 Chapter 26 : Want To Make A Bet?

  

  “Is this perhaps a date invitation?”

  

  “It is a date invitation.”

  

  “I knew it!”

  

  When the nanny confirmed her words, Kang Bada jumped up. With a playful smile, she said, 

  

  “So he likes me?”

  

  “I think we’ll have to see about that.”

  

   “…Why?”

  

  Kang Bada’s mood quickly soured.

  

  Seeing her like this, the nanny chuckled softly.

  

  It was unusual for her to be so open about her feelings.

  

  “Don’t just laugh!”

  

  “It’s probably a thank-you for allowing him to take your picture. That’s perfectly normal between business associates… or rather, it’s expected.”

  

  “…Really?”

  

  “The order matters.” 

  

  “What order?”

  

  “The order in which you called the young lady. You can gauge his level of interest based on that.”

  

  Order, order.

  

  Kang Bada muttered to herself, lost in thought.

  

  She understood what the nanny meant, but she had no way of verifying it.

  

  “Then let’s just call the mobile carrier…”

  

  “Miss.”

  

  “No?”

  

  “No. If the young master finds out later, he might be upset.”

  

  “Ugh…”

  

  Kang Bada held her chin.

  

  She racked her brain, but no ideas came to mind.

  

  She couldn’t just snoop through his call logs.

  

  “It’s so hard.”

  

  “Why don’t you ask him directly?”

  

  “Absolutely not.”

  

  “Why?”

  

  “Then it’ll be too obvious that I like Ha-Neul. I heard that men don’t feed fish they’ve already caught.”

  

  It was a difficult question to answer, so the nanny remained silent for a moment.

  

  What kind of advice should she give in this situation?

  

  “Perhaps you should change your clothes first?”

  

  “Ah! What should I wear!?”

  

  “The outfit the young master picked out for you last time would be fine.”

  

  There were still about two hours left until their appointment, but it was very urgent compared to usual.

  

  With the nanny’s help, Kang Bada quickly got ready.

  

  “How about rolling up your sleeves a little to show off your bracelet?”

  

  “You’re the best, Nanny!”

  

  Having finished her preparations, Kang Bada checked her appearance one last time before leaving the house.

  

  “I’ll be back.”

  

  “You don’t have to come home tonight.” 

  

  “…Nanny!”

  

  “Just in case, you know.”

  

  With a playful joke, Kang Bada glared at the nanny before turning to leave.

  

  *Vroom!*

  

  As if to match her mood, Scarlett roared to life.

  

  …

  

  …

  

  …

  

  “Bada-ssi!”

  

  As soon as she entered the cafe, Kim Ha-neul raised his hand.

  

  When she saw him, Kang Bada’s heart skipped a beat.

  

  Kim Ha-neul was smiling so brightly.

  

  She had never seen him like this before, and she was completely unprepared.

  

  ‘He’s so cute-!!!’

  

  Although he wasn’t always like this, it was usually more of a Doberman image than a Golden Retriever.

  

  ‘So cute…’

  

  Trying to calm her racing heart, Kang Bada walked towards the table as if nothing was wrong.

  

  “I ordered our drinks already.”

  

  “Oh? Mine too?”

  

  “Vanilla cream cold brew, tall size. Is that right?”

  

  “Oh, yeah.”

  

  What, he remembered?

  

  Surprised that he knew her exact preference, Kang Bada tried to act nonchalant.

  

  “So, what’s up?”

  

  “There’s something I wanted to show you, Bada-ssi.”

  

  With a meaningful smile, Kim Ha-neul pulled a small box from under the table.

  

  He then carefully took out a large sheet of paper from inside.

  

  With a smooth motion, he spread out the paper, revealing a poster so big it covered the entire table. Kang Bada’s eyes widened in surprise as she took in what she was seeing.

  

  “This is…”

  

  “It’s an illustration of the ‘Princess’ character, modeled after you. But I’m guessing you’re not too familiar with the Princess?”

  

  “I looked it up.”

  

  “Oh, you actually read it?”

  

  “Just briefly.”

  

  In truth, she had been checking it obsessively right up until five minutes before it was posted, but she couldn’t bring herself to say that she saw herself as the Princess.

  

  “I had to rush to a nearby print shop, so it’s not as good as the original, but I really wanted to show it to you in person.”

  

  “Is this why you asked me to meet?”

  

  “…You don’t like it?”

  

  Ha-neul’s eyes turned hesitant, looking a bit like a nervous puppy, which Bada found adorable. If he had a tail, it would’ve probably been drooping.

  

  ‘How could I not like it?’

  

  Bada had already seen the illustration in the email Ha-neul sent her. She even had it framed and hung in her room after getting it professionally printed. But that wasn’t what mattered. What was important was that Ha-neul had invited her here for the first time, specifically to show her something he had created with her in mind.

  

  ‘…His expression is just too sweet.’

  

  She wished she could capture that moment in a photo and frame it too, though it pained her that she couldn’t. Trying to keep her emotions in check, Bada spoke up calmly.

  

  “It came out beautifully. I really like it.”

  

  “The model was exceptional, after all.”

  

  “Hm! But did you come up with the pose and outfit for the illustration?”

  

  “Yeah, I did. I based it on the photos you sent me and the vibe you usually give off…”

  

  Ha-neul enthusiastically explained, his childlike joy showing through as he talked about his work, especially when someone appreciated it. Bada didn’t mind this side of him; in fact, it often made her feel like she was a proud mom, smiling warmly. But there was one thing that bugged her.

  

  “…But do I usually come across as that stern?”

  

  The illustration showed the Princess looking down at the protagonist with a rather cold expression, giving off a vibe that was more strict and demanding.

  

  “Haha… Do you want to see the sketch I made?”

  

  Ha-neul, who wasn’t good at lying, was clearly flustered as he tried to change the subject. Although Bada had some idea from the novel’s depiction of the Princess, it was still a bit of a shock to realize that this was how Ha-neul saw her.

  

  She thought she had been warm and friendly, but it stung to realize there was still a gap between them.

  

  ‘Don’t rush it.’

  

  She reminded herself not to scare him off, like dealing with a timid animal. She had read online that if you act indifferent, the other person will eventually come to you.

  

  “Can I take this illustration with me?”

  

  “Of course.”

  

  Determined to keep something meaningful, Bada carefully rolled up the poster and put it back in the art tube. Even though the print quality wasn’t as high as a professional’s, it was special because Ha-neul had printed it himself with her in mind.

  

  ‘I should switch out the one I have hanging.’

  

  Once they cleared the table, Ha-neul pulled out a tablet from his bag.

  

  “These are the sketches I made.”

  

  “…You drew these yourself?”

  

  “Yeah.”

  

  “…”

  

  Bada was momentarily speechless as she looked at the screen Ha-neul handed her. It showed countless sketches of her face from different angles, all incredibly detailed.

  

  They were mostly done in black and white, with light and shadow creating depth, almost like they were photographs. The quality was so impressive that Bada couldn’t help but wonder why Ha-neul wasn’t a professional artist.

  

  ‘…Why is he a writer and not an artist?’

  

  His skill was remarkable, but more than that, Bada felt a wave of embarrassment.

  

  ‘Did he really study me this closely?’

  

  Besides the photos she had sent him, the sketches included a wide variety of her expressions and poses. The pages seemed endless.

  

  Eventually, the sketches expanded to include her full body.

  

  From simple casual outfits to elaborate medieval noble attire, the drawings showcased a range of styles, each one appearing in sequence like a slideshow. It was clear how much effort Kim Ha-neul had put into these illustrations.

  

  “This is… really something.”

  

  Bada couldn’t help but let out a genuine compliment. The embarrassment she initially felt was gone, replaced by admiration. She could see how seriously Ha-neul took his work, and it was impressive, regardless of any personal feelings she might have had.

  

  *Swipe, swipe—*

  

  Bada, now holding the tablet, began flipping through the pages, almost mesmerized by how Ha-neul saw her through his sketches.

  

  “Huh?”

  

  *Thud—*

  

  Her hand suddenly stopped. Sensing something was off, Ha-neul glanced at the tablet to see what had caught her attention.

  

  Immediately flustered, Ha-neul reached out to take the tablet back, but Bada was quicker. She gently pushed his hand away, keeping hold of the device.

  

  “Bada-ssi, let me explain…”

  

  “Quiet.”

  

  “I can explain everything—”

  

  “Quiet.”

  

  At Bada’s sharp look, Ha-neul clamped his mouth shut. She continued flipping through the pages, scanning each image with a critical eye.

  

  “Huh.”

  

  “Mhm.”

  

  “Oh, really?”

  

  With each word, Ha-neul grew more anxious, feeling like he’d done something wrong. He shifted nervously, unsure of what she might say next.

  

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Bada looked up from the tablet with a smirk, as if she’d found something amusing.

  

  “You drew all of this?”

  

  “…Yes.”

  

  “Even the underwear?”

  

  “…”

  

  The tablet held some rather bold drawings. While they seemed to be part of his anatomical studies and clothing design, they were detailed enough to resemble her.

  

  Though the faces weren’t fully detailed, it was obvious the figure was based on Bada, with a body shape very similar to hers, which made things a bit awkward.

  

  “This is a misunderstanding. I only included such details to ensure the clothing design was accurate, nothing more…”

  

  “You didn’t have any other intentions?”

  

  Bada’s eyes narrowed, her gaze growing sharper. Ha-neul realized he might have made things worse. If he claimed he hadn’t been interested at all, it could imply she hadn’t caught his eye in the slightest.

  

  Feeling a bit cornered, Ha-neul quickly tried to change his approach. His mind raced to navigate this tricky situation.

  

  “It’s an objective fact that you’re very attractive. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any thoughts like that.”

  

  “Hm! So?”

  

  “But I’m a professional. I don’t let personal feelings interfere with my work.”

  

  “For someone who keeps emotions out of it, these poses and outfits seem pretty…”

  

  “I try to keep personal feelings out.”

  

  Bada let out a small laugh at how quickly Ha-neul corrected himself. She noticed how he seemed more endearing than usual today.

  

  ‘He must be really happy.’

  

  He had likely reached a milestone today. Though Bada had never published her own work, she could tell he was thrilled, and that excitement made him a bit clumsier than usual. But to her, that only added to his charm.

  

  “I’ll let this slide today. But in return, send me all these files.”

  

  “What? Why do you want them?”

  

  “I’m curious to see how I look through someone else’s eyes.”

  

  “Well, if that’s the case…”

  

  Ha-neul nodded, agreeing to her request. Meanwhile, Bada couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She had just gained some valuable insight.

  

  “Is this really Ha-neul-ssi’s taste?”

  

  It was bolder than she expected, but she didn’t mind it. Given how tricky it must have been for a guy like him to draw such detailed women’s lingerie, he must have had some kind of reference. If she could figure out what he used and find the exact item, she could surprise Ha-neul when the time was right.

  

  “I’ve sent it.”

  

  “Thanks.”

  

  Ha-neul quickly fulfilled her request, and Bada made sure to save the images securely, just in case. After double-checking that everything was properly stored, she found herself thinking. Since he’d given her something so significant, she wanted to return the favor.

  

  “Is there anything you want?”

  

  “Hm?”

  

  Maybe that was a bit too forward. Ha-neul looked puzzled by the sudden question. Realizing she might have been too abrupt, Bada added more.

  

  “Well… you got first place in Today’s Best, right? That means you worked really hard, so I want to do something nice for you!”

  

  *Nice,* she thought, sounded a bit awkward, especially when talking to Ha-neul, who wasn’t a kid. But it was too late to take it back now. If she did, it would just make things more awkward, so she decided to go with it.

  

  “Anything you want?”

  

  “Come on, it’s just first place on Today’s Best. It’s not that big of a deal.”

  

  “It IS a big deal! You were first out of thousands of entries. Doesn’t that mean you’ll win the contest?”

  

  “That’s probably not gonna happen. The ranking isn’t as important as the sales numbers, but I might have a shot at one of the top awards.”

  

  Ha-neul, who was usually so confident, seemed a bit unsure whenever they talked about his web novels. It was probably because his efforts hadn’t really paid off yet. She hoped he could change that with this contest.

  

  “Then how about we make a bet?”

  

  “A bet?”

  

  “Let’s bet on whether you’ll win the grand prize or not. I’m betting that you will.”

  

  “You’re going to regret that.”

  

  “Well, we’ll see.”

  

  “Alright, you’re on.”

  

  Ha-neul agreed, and Bada, feeling pleased, continued.

  

  “The loser has to grant the winner a wish.”

  

  “Anything?”

  

  “Anything.”

  

  “You sure about that?”

  

  “What do you mean?”

  

  “Do you even know what I might ask for?”

  

  Ha-neul gave her a playful grin, the kind he usually had when he was up to something. Normally, that would’ve made Bada a little nervous, but not today. She met his gaze with a calm smile of her own.

  

  “Scared?”

  

  For a moment, the usually composed Ha-neul’s expression wavered, and that little victory was all Bada needed.

  

  And just a few days later, as if it had been planned all along, Ha-neul won the grand prize.