Gyeong-eun kept the basket holding Seong-ho's clothes as far from her face as she could and, walking toward the laundry room, said to him,

"Hurry and wash up. Twice—no, shower three times. If the smell doesn't come out completely I won't let you near me, so wash yourself clean. I'll do some laundry in the meantime."

Finishing, Gyeong-eun, perhaps finding the rising smell hard to bear, quickened her steps.

Seeing her, Seong-ho smiled without a word and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

Having washed for a good long while, Seong-ho came out, raised his arm to sniff, and walked to the kitchen.

"Even after washing, the smell doesn't seem to have come out entirely. I'll sleep in the study for the time being."

Gyeong-eun, who'd been reheating the food the housekeeper had made, came over to Seong-ho and pressed her nose in.

Sniff, sniff.

Moving over here and there across Seong-ho's body and smelling, Gyeong-eun said,

"No. This much is fine."

"It'll still be uncomfortable. I'll sleep in the study."

"You won't."

Gyeong-eun shook her head and said in a firm voice,

"They say even when a married couple fights they shouldn't sleep apart—and we haven't even fought, so why would we sleep apart?"

"Didn't you say so a moment ago, Gyeong-eun? That if I smelled, you wouldn't let me near you."

"That's a story for when you smell."

Gyeong-eun brought her nose to Seong-ho's body again and smelled.

And shaking her head, she said,

"You don't smell. So sleep beside me."

At Gyeong-eun's words, Seong-ho smiled broadly and sat at the table.

Seeing Seong-ho no longer being stubborn, Gyeong-eun turned around.

"Wait just a bit. It's ready."

Gyeong-eun carefully carried the bubbling stew and set it down before Seong-ho.

And dishing up side dishes and rice, she held them out to Seong-ho and sat across from him, chin propped on her hand.

"You're hungry. Hurry and eat."

"What about you, Gyeong-eun?"

"I've eaten, so don't worry and eat. Go on."

"Then I'll dig in."

Seong-ho first took up his spoon and tasted the stew.

And scooping a…