How to Have a Baby Secretly

"…Stomach ulcer?"

Kang Jinwook looked at Sunwoo with disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, much like a student who had just solved a difficult math problem.

"Don’t lie to me. You said you were terminal. How does that suddenly turn into a stomach ulcer?"

Jinwook frowned deeply, his tone accusatory. He had heard something entirely different—so where did this ridiculous diagnosis come from?

"It’s not a lie."

"Then what about the two-month prognosis?"

"Ah, that…"

Sunwoo, unaware of what Kang Jinwook was truly thinking, lowered his head slightly.

In truth, Sunwoo wasn’t very good at lying.

Whenever he tried, his eyes would dart around, and his cheeks would flush red, making it painfully obvious.

So, it was better not to make eye contact or show his face too much when dealing with Kang Jinwook.

"That’s what the doctor said. I need about two months of rest to fully recover. If left untreated, the stomach ulcer could develop into something more serious, like a malignant tumor. So, I just need to continue treatment at the hospital I've been going to. Anyway, there’s nothing much to do…"

Would this be convincing enough?

Curious about Kang Jinwook’s reaction, Sunwoo cautiously lifted his head. His eyes met Jinwook’s, who had been staring at him the entire time.

Sunwoo quickly clammed up, his words dying in his throat. Kang Jinwook’s gaze was terrifyingly intense.

However, Jinwook wasn’t just glaring at Sunwoo—he was trying to figure out what Sunwoo was hiding.

The lie was obvious, yet Sunwoo refused to admit the truth. On top of that, he was stubbornly avoiding further tests, claiming there was nothing special about his condition?

No matter how Jinwook looked at it, Sunwoo’s condition didn’t seem as simple as a stomach ulcer. Something else had to be going on.

Jinwook’s eyes grew even colder. Meanwhile, Sunwoo, fearing that his lie might be exposed, kept his mouth shut, not daring to say more.

And so, the misunderstanding between them deepened further, though neither Sunwoo nor Jinwook realized it.

"Then we’ll see a doctor together."

After some contemplation, Jinwook’s tone became firm, as if he wasn’t willing to back down anymore.

What? See a doctor together? Sunwoo panicked and quickly responded.

"I told you, it’s fine!"

"Should I drag you there by force?"

Jinwook wasn’t backing down either. If Sunwoo continued to refuse, he would take him to the hospital immediately. Sunwoo was caught in a trap with no way out.

"Alright."

Sunwoo bit his lip and reluctantly nodded. It seemed he would have to contact the doctor in advance and ask for some help.

As their previously intense conversation reached a somewhat uneasy conclusion, Housekeeper Baek, who had been quietly observing the situation, finally spoke up.

"Then I’ll prepare your meal."

It was only then that Sunwoo realized they weren’t alone.

Jinwook watched as a flustered Sunwoo hurriedly sat down at the table, then took the seat across from him.

Before long, a woman dressed in a similar black suit to Housekeeper Baek, with a stoic expression, entered the room. She bowed politely before setting the table. The meal consisted of the salad and fruit Sunwoo had requested, along with a bowl of plain rice porridge.

"I made it lightly seasoned since you mentioned your stomach was upset. Please try it and let me know if it suits your taste."

The employee explained in a calm voice, making eye contact with Sunwoo.

"Oh, thank you."

Even though it was just plain rice porridge, something about it made Sunwoo’s appetite stir.

He picked up his spoon and took a bite. Fortunately, the porridge had no unpleasant smell.

"Oh."

Sunwoo’s eyes widened in surprise. For days, he couldn’t even stand the smell of food without feeling nauseous. What kind of magic was this?

He took another spoonful of porridge. It was mild, and he found that he liked it even more because of that.

Jinwook watched in silence as Sunwoo diligently finished the entire bowl of porridge.

When Sunwoo’s bowl was almost empty, Jinwook gave a silent nod to the employee standing by.

The employee quietly left the room and returned with another bowl of porridge.

"Oh! Thank you."

Sunwoo, who was already feeling a bit unsatisfied with just one bowl, gratefully accepted the second serving. He wanted to eat as much as he could while he still had an appetite.

Once again, Jinwook watched Sunwoo eat without saying a word.

Meanwhile, Housekeeper Baek and the other staff exchanged surprised glances, noticing the unusual softness in Jinwook’s expression. It was a side of him they had never seen before.

"I really enjoyed the meal."

Sunwoo, who had polished off two bowls of porridge and even finished the salad, gave a polite bow to the staff waiting at the side of the dining room.

"I’m glad you enjoyed it. Is there anything else you’d like? Perhaps some tea or coffee? Or maybe some fruit or cake?"

"No, I’m fine. I’m so full that I don’t think I could eat another bite."

Sunwoo smiled and declined the offer. Then, noticing Jinwook sitting across from him, he remembered he wasn’t alone and opened his mouth in surprise.

He had been so focused on eating that he had forgotten about Jinwook’s presence.

"Aren’t you going to eat anything, Executive Director?"

Now that he thought about it, there was no food in front of Jinwook. But Jinwook simply raised an eyebrow and then stood up.

"If you’re done eating, let’s go."

"Where?"

"The hospital."

Jinwook’s short question was met with an equally short answer.

"The hospital? At this hour?"

Sunwoo deliberately pulled out his phone and pretended to check the time.

It was summer, so the sun hadn’t fully set, but it was well past 7 PM. Surely, the clinic hours were long over by now.

‘He’s so bossy. Why is he in such a hurry to go?’

But whether Jinwook noticed Sunwoo’s internal grumbling or not, he just stared at him intently.

Under Jinwook’s cold gaze, Sunwoo meekly followed him out of the dining room. In the living room, Secretary Gwak was already waiting.

When Secretary Gwak saw Sunwoo following behind Jinwook, he briefly showed a look of disapproval, but quickly masked his emotions.

"I’ve made the arrangements."

Secretary Gwak’s words were met with a simple nod from Jinwook, who then walked across the living room.

The three of them entered the elevator together. Sunwoo stood slightly behind them, leaning against the wall. He had something to do in secret.

Sunwoo pulled out his phone from his pocket and opened the messaging app.

He found the doctor’s profile at the top of his contacts and opened the chat to type a message.

[Doctor, this is Choi Sunwoo! I’m on my way to the hospital now, but I have someone with me. Please help me out.]

Jinwook’s gaze shifted toward Sunwoo, who was hunched over and furiously typing on his phone, his eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion.

He opened his mouth to ask what Sunwoo was doing.

"Executive Director."

At that moment, the elevator doors opened. Secretary Gwak called Jinwook’s attention, gesturing for him to step out first.

Jinwook clicked his tongue in irritation and stepped out of the elevator. A car was already waiting in the underground parking lot. The driver standing by opened the back door as they approached.

"Get in."

Jinwook commanded Sunwoo, who was following half a step behind him.

With a reluctant expression, Sunwoo climbed into the car. Jinwook followed, naturally pushing Sunwoo further into the seat behind the driver.

The car started moving. As they emerged from the underground garage, the surroundings became visible.

‘No wonder I didn’t notice before—I was asleep on the way here. This really is a rich neighborhood.’

The mansion where Jinwook lived, and the other houses in the area, all looked incredibly expensive.

Some were even built on gentle hills, with a view of the Han River flowing below.

The car sped along the Han River and crossed a bridge. While Sunwoo stared blankly out the window, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

He discreetly pulled it out and glanced at the screen. There was a reply from Dr. Han Soojin.

[Sunwoo, don’t worry and just come.]

Unlike someone else, she was truly a kind person. Sunwoo pouted his lips slightly as he glanced at Jinwook’s reflection in the window.

It wasn’t long after crossing the Han River that the car pulled into the hospital parking lot.

"Get out."

Jinwook stepped out of the car first and curtly ordered.

Sunwoo silently grumbled but followed him out of the car.

Despite it being after hours, the hospital was still bustling. Jinwook walked briskly through the crowd, heading straight for the consultation room.

Without even knocking, Jinwook swung the door open.

"Welcome."

Despite the rude entrance, Dr. Han Soojin greeted them without a hint of surprise, even smiling softly.

"It’s been a while, Sunwoo."

She also greeted Sunwoo, who followed Jinwook into the consultation room.

"Yes, Doctor, I’m sorry for coming so late when you must be ready to go home."

Sunwoo couldn’t hide his apologetic expression, lowering his head slightly as he felt guilty about dragging her into this because of Jinwook.

"Not at all. I had some work to do, so I was planning to stay late anyway. Please, have a seat."

At Dr. Han’s invitation, Sunwoo sat in the chair in front of her desk.

Jinwook, like a sentinel, stood by the door with his arms crossed.

Dr. Han glanced briefly at Jinwook before turning her attention back to Sunwoo with a gentle smile.

"How are you feeling, Sunwoo?"

"I’m fine."

Although he had been startled by Jinwook’s insistence on coming here, he felt better than yesterday, having slept well and eaten properly.

"Any dizziness or nausea?"

"No, the dizziness has subsided. I’ve been eating mostly fruits and vegetables because of the smell, but today I managed to eat some rice porridge too."

Sunwoo replied, recalling the porridge he had eaten without any discomfort today.

"That’s good to hear. It’s important to keep your meals regular. Make sure to get plenty of rest, avoid stress, and take care of yourself."

"Yes, I’ll do that."

Whether it was intentional or not, Dr. Han didn’t mention anything that might hint at Sunwoo’s pregnancy. She simply offered the kind of advice one would give to a sick patient.

"I heard it’s a stomach ulcer? Are you sure?"

At that moment, Jinwook, who had been silently observing the conversation, interjected.

Sunwoo and Dr. Han’s eyes met in mid-air.

"Did you say it’s a stomach ulcer?"

"Yes."

The two exchanged a brief, silent conversation through their eyes.

Soon, both Sunwoo and Dr. Han shared a subtle, knowing smile—a smile that only co-conspirators could wear, which quickly vanished.