Chapter 037: Late Return
Chapter 037: Late Return
**
As I worked while waiting for time to pass, each second dragged by, and my heart grew heavier.
Glancing at the clock, I realized I was over two hours past my usual arrival time, yet Yumi hadn’t called.
I picked up my phone and checked the time repeatedly, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle.
Wait… hadn’t I installed real-time monitoring at home? I could try accessing it via my computer now; I’d finished the setup today but hadn’t tested it yet.
I entered the IP address as instructed, but it wouldn’t open.
Damn it…!
I’d left so abruptly today that I’d forgotten the final step in setting up the monitoring system.
I shut down the computer and glanced at the clock.
Would tonight be spent in complete blindness?
Watching the seconds tick by, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease.
Yumi had always been obedient, but when her temper flared, she could be quite fierce…especially given the magnitude of this misunderstanding between us.
Overall, the fault lay entirely with me.
Perhaps it was because she loved me so deeply that she felt compelled to scold me so harshly.
It was precisely because she cared that she was so furious.
In my mind, I kept defending Yumi, taking all the blame onto myself. Truthfully, I was just looking for an excuse to go home and apologize to her.
I was afraid that if this kept up, it would give that guy Jihoon an opening.
Glancing at the clock, it was almost nine o’clock. I knew Yumi definitely wouldn’t call me tonight.
Fine, she won.
I got dressed, tidied up, and prepared to rush home.
Under the hotel clerk’s puzzled gaze, I checked out and hurried home with my things. The whole drive, I rehearsed what to say to Yumi, how to mend things between us.
This incident wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small either.
After ten minutes, I finally arrived home.
As I approached the door, I reached for my keys to unlock it.
But then I remembered what Yumi had said in that video a couple days ago… that she’d sleep with Jihoon if I wasn’t home.
Did she assume I wouldn’t be back tonight?
Was she sleeping with him?
To avoid any new misunderstandings between us, and to create a better chance for reconciliation, I decided not to barge in so abruptly.
“Knock knock…”
I began tapping lightly on the door.
There was no response inside.
I knocked again, and this time I heard the bedroom door open and hurried footsteps.
But after waiting a moment with no sign of the door opening, I knocked once more.
The room fell completely silent.
I felt puzzled.
Had I misheard the sounds earlier? Were Yumi and Jihoon not home after all?
My goal of stirring the snake had been achieved. I pulled out my key and unlocked the door.
The familiar scent of home washed over me, but the entire room was pitch-black. I cautiously flipped on the bedroom light, feeling like a thief.
No choice…if it weren’t for Jihoon, that little wolfdog, I wouldn’t have backed down so easily this time.
After turning on the living room light, I noticed the door to Yumi and my bedroom was slightly ajar, while Jihoon’s door was tightly shut.
I slowly approached Yumi’s room. She was alone inside, her eyes closed, seemingly fast asleep.
I changed my shoes and watched her. Her breathing was steady, her cheeks flushed…she truly seemed to be in a deep sleep.
So what was that sound of a door opening and footsteps I heard when I knocked earlier?
I turned off the living room light and returned to the bedroom.
Yumi was still fast asleep.
Taking advantage of her slumber, I quickly activated the “master control” for our home surveillance system.
Only then did the equipment truly come online; without the master control running, remote monitoring was impossible.
After setting everything up, I intended to talk to Yumi.
But seeing her sleeping so soundly, I found myself sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her.
She wore that conservative nightgown, sleeping deeply.
As I drew closer, I caught a distinct scent… the aroma of red wine.
I quickly lowered my head, pressing my nose close to her lips. There was indeed a distinct scent of red wine on her mouth.
Had Yumi been drinking?
I immediately shook her head gently. Under my vigorous shaking, she merely turned her head, mumbled a few words, and fell back asleep.
Why would Yumi be drinking tonight?
Wait…
If Yumi drank and is sleeping so soundly, would Jihoon really be that honest?
I flicked the bedroom light to full brightness and inspected her nightgown. Sure enough, I spotted something off.
Her nightgown looked disheveled, with the center button undone at the chest, revealing her bra underneath. Her pajama bottoms were similarly askew.
Normally, the waistband should have sat evenly around her slender waist, but now it was slightly askew at the front and back.
Of course, maybe I was overthinking it…perhaps she’d just rolled over in her drunken stupor.
But after reviewing the surveillance footage these past few days, I knew Jihoon’s character. He wouldn’t pass up such a golden opportunity.
I undid Yumi’s nightgown, intending to examine her breasts. Parting her bra, her nipples came into view.
But Yumi seemed to be sweating…her body was damp, her nipples wet.
It was impossible to tell if Jihoon had kissed them. I leaned in close to sniff her nipples.
There was indeed a peculiar scent…a faint, almost masculine breath odor.
I pulled her pajama bottoms down slightly and discovered her vulva was soaked, her pubic hair sticky with moisture.
Something was off.