Arrange Marriage

CHAP 13

The wedding reception was in full swing, with laughter, clinking glasses, and joyful music filling the air. Mingyu’s cousin had just gotten married, and he and Wonwoo were seated at a beautifully decorated table, mingling with family and friends as they enjoyed the lively celebration. It was one of the rare moments where they could both let loose and simply enjoy themselves without the weight of responsibility or the shadows of the underworld looming over them.

Mingyu was in high spirits, grinning widely as he introduced Wonwoo to his extended family. It was obvious that Mingyu’s warmth and cheerfulness endeared him to everyone, while Wonwoo’s quiet, respectful presence surprised and intrigued the family members who had heard rumors of his formidable reputation.

Between dances, Mingyu’s aunts and a few older cousins began to circle the couple, their eyes twinkling mischievously. They shared knowing glances and sly smiles before one of the aunts broke the silence with a question that took both Mingyu and Wonwoo completely off guard.

"So, Mingyu,” she began, folding her hands with a warm smile, “now that you’re married, when can we expect some good news from you two?”

Mingyu blinked, momentarily stunned, and the tips of his ears turned pink as he absorbed her question. “Uh… good news?” he stammered, glancing at Wonwoo in a slight panic.

“Yes, dear,” chimed in another aunt, leaning forward eagerly. “You know… a little one? It’s time you think about growing your family, isn’t it?”

Wonwoo felt his own cheeks warm, though he managed to keep his expression composed. Mingyu, however, was struggling to keep his embarrassment under control, his blush deepening by the second.

“A baby?” Mingyu echoed, his voice coming out in a higher pitch than usual, which only made the aunts giggle knowingly.

“Of course! A child to carry on the family legacy,” one of them insisted. “You two are young, successful, and you clearly love each other. It’s about time, don’t you think?”

Wonwoo cleared his throat, managing a small, polite smile. “Well, we… haven’t really discussed it,” he admitted, his gaze shifting to Mingyu. The idea hadn’t crossed his mind in a concrete way, but seeing Mingyu so flustered sparked a mix of amusement and warmth within him.

Mingyu gave a helpless laugh, scratching the back of his neck. “We’re… still figuring things out, I think,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Wonwoo has a pretty busy schedule, and so do I.”

“Oh, come now,” one of the aunts said with a wave of her hand. “Everyone’s busy, but you make time for family. And we know that Wonwoo here is more than capable of protecting you both.”

The aunt’s words brought a chorus of laughter and teasing from everyone gathered around, and Mingyu covered his face with his hands, clearly mortified. Seeing Mingyu’s reaction, Wonwoo let out a soft chuckle, patting Mingyu’s back reassuringly.

One of Mingyu’s older cousins leaned over, grinning widely. “Don’t tell me the big, scary Jeon Wonwoo is too shy to talk about babies!” she teased, giving Wonwoo a playful nudge.

Wonwoo couldn’t hold back a smirk as he replied, “I wouldn’t say I’m scared… but I think Mingyu is even shyer than I am right now.”

Mingyu’s face turned a deeper shade of red, and he gave Wonwoo a small, half-hearted glare. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Wonwoo leaned in, his voice low but filled with warmth. “Only because you’re adorable when you’re flustered,” he murmured, causing Mingyu’s blush to intensify.

The aunts exchanged delighted looks at the couple’s obvious affection, clapping their hands together. “Ah, look at them! They’re perfect together,” one said, her voice full of joy. “Well, whenever you decide to give us a little one, we’ll be here to spoil them rotten.”

As the aunties moved on, laughing amongst themselves, Mingyu exhaled a sigh of relief, his shoulders finally relaxing. He turned to Wonwoo with a slightly exasperated smile, rubbing his flushed cheeks.

“Thank you for that,” he said, rolling his eyes but smiling nonetheless. “I don’t know why they were so eager to bring that up.”

Wonwoo shrugged, a soft smile gracing his face. “It’s family. They just want to see you happy, and to them, a baby represents that.”

Mingyu bit his lip, his expression softening. “You know… it’s not something I thought about until now, but… someday, maybe, I’d want that.”

Wonwoo’s heart skipped a beat at Mingyu’s quiet admission. Seeing the hope and vulnerability in Mingyu’s gaze, he reached over, giving Mingyu’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

“Then someday, we’ll talk about it seriously,” Wonwoo replied, his voice steady and sincere. “When we’re ready. Together.”

Mingyu’s face brightened, his eyes sparkling as he smiled at Wonwoo. “I’d like that,” he murmured, his hand holding tightly to Wonwoo’s.

As they shared that moment amidst the bustling wedding reception, Wonwoo realized that family, love, and even dreams of a future together were no longer concepts that felt distant to him. With Mingyu by his side, anything seemed possible.