I PICKED UP A CHILD IN A DUMPSTER-Chapter 123: the drama once again unfolded.

Si Hon had already turned back to the shelves.

Like nothing had happened.

Again.

Back to her Mihu.

Aeloria didn’t say anything at first.

She just looked at Mihu.

Directly.

Silently.

Her gaze stayed there a second too long— long enough for the air to shift, for the weight behind it to settle in. Then, without breaking that stare, she started moving forward, her steps measured and steady. Seong and Suha were still ahead, but Aeloria didn’t stop, didn’t slow, closing the distance like it had already been decided.

Step. Step. Step.

"What are you looking at?"

She stopped right in front of Mihu, her voice calm— but not soft. Up close, there was no trace of that earlier flustered reaction, no lingering embarrassment. This was different. This was the version of her she actually carried— sharp, strict, and edged with quiet authority.

Mihu flinched.

Hard.

"You’re lucky," Aeloria continued, her gaze narrowing just slightly. "Someone’s watching. And that... Si Hon, was his name? I promised h-him— u-using my name— that I wouldn’t hurt you."

A small pause.

Then she leaned in, pressing her forehead lightly against Mihu’s. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Not aggressive.

Not violent.

But unmistakably dominant.

"But others are entirely different."

Mihu stiffened, her body locking up as she nodded quickly— small, careful movements, just enough to show compliance without risking anything more.

"I-I’m sorry... boss..." she said, her voice coming out soft, slightly shaky, her eyes glistening just a little as she struggled to keep herself together.

Aeloria held the position for a second longer... then pulled back.

Her expression eased— not fully, but enough.

Her hand lifted, settling lightly on Mihu’s shoulder.

"Yes. Exactly..." she said, tone calmer now, almost approving. "Good girl."

Mihu nodded immediately.

Once. Twice. Again.

Fast.

Then—

"Finally." The voice came from just a few steps away.

Both of them turned.

Seong stood there with her arms crossed, her gaze already directed past them— toward Si Hon, who had once again returned to the shelves like none of the earlier chaos had anything to do with him.

He was scanning another book, completely unaware, or at least acting like it.

Seong tilted her head slightly.

"Done flirting with some random princess?"

Si Hon flinched.

Subtle.

But real.

Mihu, however, didn’t miss what happened next.

Beside her, Aeloria’s expression changed— just slightly. Her eyes twitched, irritation slipping through the cracks as her attention shifted fully toward Seong now.

"I just noticed," Aeloria muttered, more to herself than anyone else, her tone cooling. "Who’s that red haired girl...?"

Meanwhile, Seong had already moved on, stepping closer to Si Hon and casually patting Suha’s head as if the situation wasn’t even worth tension.

"I’m just joking."

Suha immediately lit up.

"Ohhh, okay!!!"

Crisis resolved.

Apparently.

Seong straightened again, crossing her arms as her gaze returned to Si Hon, scanning him up and down like she was evaluating something she hadn’t quite decided on yet.

"ಠಿ⁠_⁠ಠ ...So?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "How is it?"

She was about to continue— but she didn’t get the chance.

Because Aeloria moved.

Again.

This time, faster.

She stepped in without hesitation, closing the space between herself and Si Hon before placing a hand flat against his chest. Not pushing. Not forceful. Just there— firm, steady, enough to establish presence without saying it out loud.

Her chin lifted slightly, posture straightening as her gaze locked onto Seong with a quiet certainty.

"I..." she began, pausing only for a brief second before continuing, her voice steady despite the faint color still lingering on her cheeks. "He just helped me pick a book."

A small pause followed.

Then her tone sharpened.

"Who even are you?" Her brows knit just slightly as she looked at Seong su, up and down, not dismissive— but clearly not welcoming either. "You’re just his teammates. ಠಿ⁠_⁠ಠ"

The air shifted again.

Subtle.

But heavy.

And from just behind them—

Mihu watched everything unfold with wide, sparkling eyes, her brain once again spiraling into overdrive as the situation escalated into something far more dramatic than it probably was.

Then, from somewhere beside her—

"Suha don’t know what’s happening..." the small voice came, quiet but clear. "...but this is getting good."

Mihu’s attention dipped downward, landing on Suha, who was practically vibrating with excitement as she watched everything unfold. The energy was contagious— too much, maybe, but Mihu didn’t even try to hold it back.

Instead, she crouched down beside her, placing a hand lightly on Suha’s shoulder like she was about to explain something very important.

"It’s called..." she began, lowering her voice slightly, slipping into that oddly serious, "teaching" tone, "...a woman your dad is ch— some woman versus your mom."

She paused, clearly adjusting mid-sentence.

Then nodded once, confidently.

"In short?" she added, pushing her glasses up slightly with a smug little tilt. "It’s a romance. (⁠⌐⁠■⁠-⁠■⁠)"

Suha turned to her immediately, eyes lighting up like someone had just unlocked a new genre she didn’t know existed.

"Woah... that’s... cool!"

She started bouncing slightly, hands shaking with pure excitement, completely sold on whatever explanation she had just been given.

Behind them—

A loud sigh cut through the air.

Seong.

She stood there with her arms crossed, gaze fixed directly on Aeloria, who was still standing close— too close— to Si Hon, her hand resting flat against his chest like it belonged there.

"I’m..." Seong started, her voice steady at first.

Then it cracked.

Just slightly.

"I..."

For a second, it looked like she wasn’t going to finish.

Aeloria noticed.

Of course she did.

A faint smirk curved onto her lips as she stepped even closer to Si Hon, closing the gap just enough to make a point without saying it outright.

"Exactly," she said smoothly, her tone laced with quiet dominance. "You’re just a random."

That did it.

Seong’s eyes twitched— just slightly, but enough to show the shift. Whatever she had been holding back snapped into place, her expression settling into something firm, resolved. And then, without hesitation, without building it up or softening the delivery, she said it.

"I’m his wife."