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Chapter 1 …
Fake Boyfriend Crossing the Line
“Are you seriously telling me to get married for such a ridiculous reason?”
Inhyuk let out a long sigh as he rubbed the deepening crease between his brows.
Despite his grandson’s reaction, Giseop calmly continued.
“Yes. I’m just grateful that I finally have a chance to repay such an old debt.”
“And why exactly am I the one who has to pay off your debt, Chairman? This country doesn’t even have guilt by association.”
Inhyuk wasn’t one to back down. He countered every word without yielding an inch.
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Giseop decided to change tactics.
Without warning, he drooped his eyebrows dramatically and clutched at his chest.
“That poor child lost the last remaining family she had—her grandfather. I want to become her family.”
“Then just adopt her. I’d gladly welcome her as my aunt instead.”
Shrugging, Inhyuk offered his alternative.
“Or she could be my younger sister.”
“No! Haeyoon’s roots belong to my elder brother! I can’t take that away from her!”
So he was conservative when it came to things like that, yet had no problem arranging someone else’s marriage however he pleased.
Even that irritated Inhyuk.
Just as he was about to point it out, Giseop spoke first.
“It would only hurt that child too, so absolutely not!”
Inhyuk burst into an incredulous laugh.
The reason they were having this absurd conversation was because of Giseop’s endlessly repeated story about his ‘life savior,’ one he never failed to bring up at company events, in the corporate newsletter, during interviews, and even at private gatherings.
“After the war, when I’d lost my entire family and wandered alone, my elder brother took me in. If it hadn’t been for him, there would be no Do Giseop today! And no DY Group either!”
It was a story Inhyuk had heard so many times his ears could practically bleed.
At a time when people were even selling off their own relatives just to survive, that generous man had accepted Giseop as family.
“If only I hadn’t lost contact with my elder brother…!”
After Giseop moved to Seoul, his benefactor’s family had suffered a terrible tragedy and scattered in every direction.
Since then, they had remained out of contact.
Had that not happened, Giseop would have had countless opportunities to repay his debt personally.
To Giseop, it remained a deep wound.
“They couldn’t possibly have been unaware of DY Group… They probably couldn’t bring themselves to look for me because they didn’t want to become a burden… and they endured everything alone…”
“Anyway, I have no intention of taking responsibility for your debt, Chairman.”
Inhyuk quickly cut him off.
He could already tell the story he’d heard hundreds, if not thousands, of times was about to begin all over again.
Giseop sniffled for a moment before narrowing his eyes and dabbing away the tears gathering with a handkerchief.
“Then I’ll revise my will. I’ll transfer my shares to you as well.”
For a brief moment, Inhyuk hesitated.
Giseop smiled inwardly.
Inhyuk had the mindset of a businessman.
There was no way he’d pass up a deal that benefited him.
Sure enough, unlike before, Inhyuk no longer reacted so sharply.
“Even so, I won’t do it.”
Yet he still wasn’t swayed.
“Whatever debt you owe, Chairman, you should repay it yourself.”
His expression plainly revealed that he felt this conversation had been nothing but a waste of time.
“Do you even know how old I am?”
Inhyuk, who had been absentmindedly checking the time on his watch, looked back at him.
“At the very least, I should live long enough to see my grandson get married! I need to see you settle down with a proper woman before I can die peacefully!”
So now he was playing the age card.
Inhyuk gave a short laugh.
“Congratulations, Chairman. Looks like you’ll live a very long life since you won’t be able to close your eyes.”
“What? Do Inhyuk!”
Just when it seemed they’d been having a calm conversation, Giseop finally lost his patience and shouted.
Fuming, he grabbed the back of his neck and collapsed dramatically against the sofa.
“Oh dear… Oh dear…!”
Having watched his grandfather’s fiery temperament for thirty-three years, Inhyuk didn’t even blink.
Even seeing his grandfather practically fall backward, his expression remained completely calm.
“I know you don’t have high blood pressure.”
Giseop had even held his breath to complete his performance.
Finally, he straightened himself and cleared his throat.
“Ahem…! I’m only asking you to meet her at least once. Our Haeyoon is gentle and very pretty. If you meet her, you might change your mi—”
“It sounds like you’re finished, so I’ll be going.”
“Inhyuk! Do Inhyuk! Then what exactly would make you agree to get married? Huh?”
Leaving Giseop’s desperate calls behind, Inhyuk walked out of the study.
* * *
“Ah.”
Haeyoon had been waiting outside the study after hearing voices inside.
When the door suddenly opened, she instinctively stepped back.
A man as tall as a doorframe emerged.
There was an overwhelming aura about him that naturally dominated those around him.
Even though she had done nothing wrong, he somehow made her feel intimidated.
On top of that, she could feel his persistent gaze fixed on her for some reason.
Without realizing it, her toes curled, and the muscles in her legs tensed.
“You’re Yoon Haeyoon, correct?”
Startled by his low voice, she lifted her gaze.
One of Inhyuk’s eyebrows rose slightly.
So the old man hadn’t exaggerated just to catch his attention.
Just as Giseop had said, Haeyoon was beautiful.
Not that beauty alone was enough to make him want to marry her.
Still, she was more impressive than he’d expected.
Holding out his hand, he introduced himself.
“I’m Do Inhyuk.”
Haeyoon quickly extended her own hand politely.
If his surname was Do, then he must be Chairman Giseop’s family.
Judging their relationship based on his age, she accepted his handshake.
“Hello. I’m Yoon Haeyoon.”
An awkward silence settled between them.
She lightly bit her lip.
“You came to see Grandfather, didn’t you?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Go on in.”
Inhyuk stepped aside.
The firmly closed door came into view.
After hesitating briefly, Haeyoon gave him a polite bow, knocked, and opened the door.
Only then did Inhyuk finally take his eyes off her and turn away.
Watching him walk off, Haeyoon entered the study.
“Chairman.”
Giseop was still sitting on the sofa, pressing firmly against his throbbing temples.
The moment he heard Haeyoon’s voice, however, he immediately brightened and sprang to his feet.
“Oh, Haeyoon! You’re here!”
It was a radiant smile that hadn’t appeared even once while talking to Inhyuk just moments ago.
At his gesture, Haeyoon hurried over.
Giseop gently stroked the back of her hand before guiding her to sit beside him.
The reason Haeyoon had become connected to Do Giseop, the owner of DY Group—a man she had never imagined crossing paths with in her lifetime—was because of her grandfather, Yoon Taesu.
After Taesu passed away, she had found a letter while sorting through his belongings.
The letter explained his relationship with Giseop.
It was filled with apologies, saying he hadn’t contacted Giseop because he feared his difficult circumstances would only burden him, so he had left behind only this letter.
He also wrote that he had missed Giseop all his life.
It was, in every sense, a final letter.
Haeyoon believed it should be delivered to Giseop.
After much deliberation, she contacted DY Group.
That was how her connection with Giseop had begun.
“Haeyoon, you know I think of you as my own granddaughter, don’t you?”
Giseop said he owed Taesu an enormous debt from the past, and after Haeyoon was left completely alone without any family, he insisted on taking responsibility for her.
Even though she repeatedly told him she was already twenty-eight years old and could take care of herself, Giseop refused to back down.
“Haeyoon, I simply want to become the dependable family you can rely on—just as my elder brother once became for me.”
It was true that Taesu had worried about leaving Haeyoon alone without any close relatives and had asked Giseop to look after her.
But those words also came from Giseop’s sincere heart.
His warmth reminded Haeyoon so much of her grandfather.
Just as she sniffled, her nose tingling—
“So.”
His wrinkled hand gently patted the back of hers.
“Have you ever thought about getting married?”
“…Excuse me?”
The question came completely out of nowhere.
Reacting a beat too late, Haeyoon slowly raised her head.
Marriage?
To whom?
It was an absurd thought, but after he’d just said he wanted to become her dependable family, then immediately brought up marriage…
For one brief, bewildering moment, she wondered if he meant himself.
“My grandson.”
“Oh. O-Oh… your grandson.”
What in the world had she just imagined?
Embarrassed by her own misunderstanding, she let out an awkward laugh.
Mistaking the meaning behind her laughter, Giseop hurriedly explained.
“Haeyoon, the world isn’t as kind as people think. Even if they don’t do anything extraordinary for you… even if your relationship exists only on a piece of paper… everyone needs a family.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m really fine. Besides, I’ve honestly never once thought about getting married.”
“Then you can start thinking about it from now on.”
“…Chairman.”
“Grandfather! I’ve told you to call me that!”
Giseop had told her several times that he disliked the formal title because it created distance between them.
Perhaps because of his position as the owner of DY Group, Haeyoon still couldn’t completely treat him comfortably.
“How about meeting my grandson just once? He’s a decent fellow. Quite handsome too. He’s tall as well.”
“I already met him outside.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“…Did you talk to him?”
“Yes.”
Haeyoon nodded.
It had only been for a moment, but if that counted as a conversation, then yes.
The instant she answered, Giseop’s expression darkened.
Slapping a hand against his forehead, he let out a deep sigh.
“Oh dear… That rascal only looks presentable when he keeps his mouth shut.”
