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Chapter : 12
“Are you crazy?”
Surprised by Seokjin’s unexpected action, Gaeun gave him a look of disbelief.
Her mother, standing beside her, also froze, unable to say a word.
Seokjin Ju, the mighty CEO of Jushin Retail, was going to spend the night in this tiny house, which was several times smaller than his own?
“…As you can see, the house is small. There are only two rooms: my room and Gaeun’s. Where would I put you to sleep?”
“You can sleep here.”
Seokjin pointed to the cramped living room.
“Mom, just a moment.”
Gaeun grabbed Seokjin’s arm and led him to the kitchen.
Speaking in a low voice so her mother wouldn’t hear, she scolded him.
“Seokjin, are you out of your mind?”
“As you can see, I’m perfectly sane.”
“No, it doesn’t make sense for a sane person to sleep in our house!”
Gaeun clenched her teeth as emotions surged, her face flushing with heat.
Yet, Seokjin’s expression did not change at all.
Seeing this, Gaeun began to doubt whether she was overthinking.
“Gaeun O.”
A low, strictly professional voice.
“If there’s something I must achieve, I will use every possible method to make it happen. What I must achieve now is marriage with you.”
Seokjin spoke in a dry, serious tone, as if giving work instructions to a new employee, with no emotion at all.
“Right now, your mother does not approve of our marriage. If I leave like this, she will probably tell you not to see me. Isn’t that right?”
“…Maybe yes, maybe no. Fifty-fifty chance.”
“In my guess, it’s one hundred percent. Let’s think simply. You own the brand that wants to enter our Jushin Department Store. If I reject it, claiming it doesn’t fit our image, will you just back down?”
“No.”
“Then what do you think you’d do?”
Gaeun realized what Seokjin was implying.
The method he chose to somehow persuade her mother, who would absolutely oppose them… was this.
Seokjin stepped closer to her in silence, his face near hers.
“It’s a very primitive method, but I will persist until it works. Starting with spreading out and lying down like this.”
“This is really sudden and difficult.”
“I can’t help it. I didn’t expect your mother to oppose me. I thought she would approve…”
What is this confidence…
Gaeun frowned at Seokjin.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Honestly, isn’t someone like me a good match for a son-in-law?”
“…There’s a saying: ‘Illusions are free.’”
“Illusions?”
“Nothing. Just saying. But, CEO Ju, sorry, I can’t do this.”
“Why not?”
“As my mother said, there are only two rooms. Even if you say it’s fine, you can’t just put a guest to sleep in the living room.”
Gaeun looked troubled.
She had gotten her mother’s consent, but she hadn’t expected him to suddenly visit their house.
Seeing his surprise at the small, old house, Gaeun for the first time felt what it meant to be embarrassed.
She had always known her house was below average objectively, but never felt shame in front of someone else.
Yet, seeing the elegant Seokjin standing there…
It was a mismatch. Like oil and water.
And at this moment, that thought became even firmer.
“Why not sleep in the bedroom?”
“And then?”
“In Gaeun’s room. There’s a bed, right?”
“Yes.”
Gaeun nodded.
Wait, what is this man saying? Sleep in my room?
Her face flushed even more.
“If you sleep on the floor, your back will hurt.”
“Why should I put you in my room?”
“Who said you couldn’t sleep in the living room?”
He meant she should send him home if she didn’t want him in the living room, yet she somehow interpreted it as sleeping in her room—he was impossible to understand.
“…You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
What audacity…
Even his gaze was piercing, as if nothing was wrong.
Gaeun sighed without realizing it.
“CEO Ju, please just go home for today.”
“I’ve decided to sleep at your house tonight. You’ll learn as we go, but I dislike changing my mind once I’ve decided.”
With a firm tone, Seokjin brushed past Gaeun’s shoulder.
Before she could stop him, his long legs had already reached her mother standing in the living room.
“Gaeun told me to use her room.”
“Our Gaeun?”
“Yes, ma’am. Then I’ll be indebted for one night. Which room is Gaeun’s?”
Awkwardly, Gaeun pointed to her room with her finger.
“Ah… here it is.”
“Why the sudden formality?”
Seokjin smiled softly.
“Must be nervous.”
“Mother, may we take a short walk?”
“Uh… yes.”
Even her mother seemed to give in to Seokjin’s boldness.
Seokjin entered, put his bag down, and naturally took Gaeun’s hand.
They looked like a real couple.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay…”
Gaeun showed her happiest smile to her mother and left, holding Seokjin’s hand.
Once outside, Gaeun quickly let go of his hand.
She felt bad for pulling away abruptly and awkwardly smiled.
But Seokjin didn’t mind at all.
“Let’s walk.”
“Yes.”
The streetlights along the dark alley cast a gentle glow, like soft lighting.
The quiet night amplified the sound of their footsteps, creating a strange atmosphere.
“Um, CEO Ju…”
Thinking this was her chance to refuse, Gaeun stopped and spoke.
“Why?”
“I’m really sorry, but I think it’s better to pretend this never happened.”
Seokjin looked at her as if to say: go ahead, say more.
“I was too impulsive. Thinking about it, we’re not suited for each other. Besides, I’m sure your family would strongly oppose me, so I don’t have the courage.”
“That’s why I must marry you.”
“Excuse me?”
Normally, you’d give up if the family opposed.
Gaeun wanted to understand his reasoning.
“As you said, my family will definitely oppose. They’ll say hurtful things to you in the process.”
“I don’t understand. Why insist on a marriage that will face opposition?”
“I need to sort out my family.”
The phrase confused Gaeun; she couldn’t understand how someone could be a target of “family sorting.”
“There are complicated circumstances. You’ll understand gradually.”
“Even if I don’t know, I think it’s better to cancel this marriage. It’s better long-term for both of us.”
“Your long-term plan is to have fun on a Maldives beach with some other man, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean by fun?”
Feeling slightly mocked, Gaeun frowned.
She didn’t care about future marriage; why would thinking like that be a problem?
“Sorry, my expression went too far.”
A face apologetic yet not truly sorry.
Gaeun decided to play along.
“No need to apologize. My dream is like Wendy Deng.”
“Wendy Deng?”
“Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife. She’s amazing!”
“She is…”
“Skip the process, focus on the result. Amazing result.”
Seeing Seokjin’s face stiffen, she felt satisfied.
People realize when their actions are excessive—just like Seokjin now.
Her wish to be like Wendy Deng was just a joke.
She wondered how Seokjin would react if he saw Wendy Deng’s beach photos.
“…Whether you become Wendy Deng or not, we’re not talking about canceling the marriage.”
“That’s…”
“Gaeun?”
“You said your family would oppose, right? I don’t see why we need to go against them so blatantly…”
Seokjin’s expression twisted slightly at the word “family.”
Gaeun couldn’t understand what complicated situation would make this normally proper man do such ridiculous things.
“I want revenge on them, and you just provide the reason.”
“Me?”
“Tomorrow evening, we’ll go to my house for greetings. You do as you like. If you make the chairman flustered, there’s a special bonus. If the rest of the family is shocked too, even better.”
Gaeun realized this was no ordinary family.
“Really, I can do as I please?”
Seokjin nodded.
If she acted to please his family, it would be difficult—but doing the opposite was easy.
It was a rare chance to speak freely against a chaebol family.
“What if your family complains to me afterward?”
“Then I won’t stay quiet… don’t worry.”
His expression gave her absolute confidence.
She had strong backing now—no need to hesitate.
“Really, I can do whatever I want?”
