[Home – Dining Area | 7:05 PM]
By the time Kim Bum came downstairs, freshened up and in casual comfy clothes, the smell of dinner had already taken over the house.
Y/N stood at the table, plating the last dish. Her speed in the kitchen was practically a superpower now. The dinner was simple — light, homemade, warm, and filled with love. She even cut vegetables like they personally offended her (a side effect of flustered rage).
He walked in, running a towel through his damp hair, and paused at the entrance, watching her quietly.
> She really cooked like a wife already...
A smug smirk made its way to his face.
> "You're really fast at this," he said, sitting down.
> "You're really slow at everything else," she muttered, then cleared her throat and said louder, "Eat before it gets cold."
She pointed to the chair across the table. Across, not beside.
He noticed.
He smirked wider.
She was keeping a safe distance.
Smart girl.
Still, he started eating with no complaints. His expression changed within seconds.
> "Yahh…" he said, mouth still half full. "Little fox… marry me already."
Pause.
Silence.
Even he went still.
His own words hit him like a brick.
His eyes widened. His brain screamed:
> WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?
He coughed, clearly shaken.
> "I-I mean—wait—What—Did I just—"
Y/N didn't even look up. She calmly continued eating, like he hadn't just proposed across the rice and curry.
> "Sure. Just confess properly first."
Boom.
Boom. Boom.
That was his heartbeat now.
> "D-Did you just say yes!?" he blinked, stunned.
Y/N still didn't look at him.
> "What did you hear?"
> "Y/N—say it again."
She took a slow sip of water, licking her lips just to test his patience.
> "Nope. I said it once. That's it."
His eyes narrowed.
> "Little fox… say it."
She gave him a sweet, innocent smile.
> "Make me."
Kim Bum.exe loading chaos mode.
He stood up from the chair.
She froze mid-bite.
Her eyes slowly lifted to meet his.
> "Mr. Actor… we should… finish dinner first," she said, inching away from the table.
> "Too late for that."
> "No. No. I should not have said that. I should not—"
He lunged forward.
> "YAHH!" she screamed and bolted from the room.
[Cue dramatic chase music]
She ran toward the hallway, clutching her spoon like it was a weapon. He chased, laughing like a man who had finally caught his prey slipping.
> "I JUST WANTED TO EAT!" she wailed. "YOU CRAZY MAN—STOP RIGHT THERE!"
> "Say it again and I might stop!"
> "NEVER!"
And just like that — the fox and little fox disappeared down the hallway, dinner forgotten, hearts racing, and smiles louder than words.
[Hallway – 7:19 PM | Seoul]
"Y/N-ah! You can't outrun me forever!"
His voice echoed through the house like thunder with mischief, and she was so done.
Y/N darted into the hallway, socks sliding on the polished floor, nearly crashing into a shoe rack.
She caught herself, barely, whispering frantic regrets under her breath.
> "Why did I say 'make me'? Why do I speak??"
Behind her, she could hear him getting closer. The heavy, fast steps. The slight laugh under his breath.
She bolted again, toward the living room.
> "I WAS JOKING! MISUNDERSTANDING! TAKEBACK—TAKEBACKKKKK!"
> "No takebacks!" he yelled gleefully. "You called me a cheater last time I won! Not again, little fox!"
He was fast.
Too fast.
She zigzagged left, he caught her sleeve.
She yelped and threw a pillow behind her.
He dodged it without slowing down.
> "Stop chasing meee!"
"Then say it!"
> "I'LL SUE YOU FOR HARASSMENT!"
> "SUE ME FROM THE WALL THEN—!"
He caught her.
Trapped.
Cornered.
She let out a final squeal as he grabbed her wrist and spun her gently—but with zero escape options—until her back hit the wall with a soft thump.
His hand braced beside her head, breathing slightly heavy from the run, face close enough for her to count his lashes.
> "Caught you," he smirked.
"Let me go," she pouted.
"Say it," he whispered, leaning in a little.
"No."
"Say it, little fox."
"I'd rather eat raw onions."
"Okay. You asked for it."
And then—he attacked.
His fingers dug into her sides and stomach—tickling with zero mercy.
She screamed, wriggled, slapped his arm, gasped for air, and laughed uncontrollably.
> "Yahhh! Stop—stop! YOU EVIL ACTOR!" she cried, laughing so hard her legs nearly gave up.
"SAY IT!!"
"NOOOOOO!"
"SAY. IT."
"OKAY! OKAY! YOU WIN—!"
He stopped.
Dead silence.
Both panting.
He leaned closer, lips near her ear.
> "…Say it."
Y/N sucked in a breath, cheeks flushed from the chaos, eyes glaring at him through narrowed lashes.
> "…Yes."
"…Yes what?"
"Yes, I'll marry you."
"…Properly."
"Yes, I'll marry you, Kim Bum. You big, annoying, cheating, dimpled fox."
He froze.
Then.
He.
Exploded.
> "WOOOOO!!" he shouted like a 6-year-old who just won a candy race.
"I GOT A YESSSSS!!! FINALLY!!! I'M THE LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE!"
He was literally bouncing in place.
Y/N just stared at him, arms crossed, lips twitching.
> "Cheater," she muttered.
"Strategic fox," he corrected, still bouncing.
"I want a rematch."
"Nope. Lifetime deal. No refunds."
"…You're impossible."
"And yours."
He grinned so wide, she thought the dimples might actually explode.
And even if she didn't say it again—her smile, her soft eyes, the way she nudged him lightly with her elbow…
It was clear.
He was hers.
And she was already doomed.
[Dining Area – 8:02 PM | Seoul]
He was still smiling.
Actually, beaming.
Arms resting lazily on the back of the chair, eyes glued to her like she was the final scene of a drama he never wanted to end.
Meanwhile, Y/N was just trying to eat without combusting from secondhand embarrassment.
> "Kim Bum. Eat."
He didn't move.
> "You said yes."
She sighed, cutting her grilled tofu neatly, refusing to meet those absolutely dangerous eyes across the table.
> "You've repeated that five times now."
> "Six," he corrected proudly. "And I'm still not over it. You said yes. I win. Lifetime contract. No returns."
> "You're lucky I'm hungry or I'd be tickling you back right now."
> "Please do. I'd still win."
Y/N shook her head, the ghost of a smile creeping up. She passed him the rice bowl and gently nudged his elbow.
> "Eat, fox. You've got that live TV interview tomorrow, remember? New drama launch?"
He blinked. Reality finally crept in.
> "Ah. Right. Ugh. I almost forgot."
> "You almost forgot national television?" she teased, finally looking at him with one brow raised.
He gave her a soft grin and tilted his head.
> "Can you blame me? My fiancée just agreed to marry me. Do you know how distracting that is?"
Y/N blushed instantly, nearly choking on her bite.
> "Don't say it like that—"
> "Fiancée~" he sang softly, leaning forward. "My little fox is gonna marry me~"
> "I swear, I'll put chili in your mango juice next time."
> "Still worth it."
She rolled her eyes, laughing despite herself. Then, in a gentler tone, she added:
> "I also have my first intern class tomorrow, remember? Don't distract me. It's my first official day at the hospital."
He straightened up a little, immediately switching tones to sincere support.
> "Right, I remember. I'll drop you in the morning. No arguments."
> "You don't have to—"
> "Ah-ah. No backing out, little doctor. I want to. Let me."
She looked at him for a second longer, then gave in with a nod.
> "Alright. But only if you promise to stop grinning like that and eat properly now."
> "Deal," he said instantly—then added cheekily—"after one last thing."
She looked up just in time to catch him sliding his pinky finger across the table.
> "Pinky promise. You'll call me during your lunch break."
She rolled her eyes again but still linked her pinky with his.
> "You're so clingy," she muttered.
> "And yours," he repeated with a wink.
And finally—finally—he picked up his chopsticks and started eating like a good fox. Still smiling, of course.
Some things just wouldn't change.
And honestly?
Y/N didn't want them to.