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Chapter 04
3. No Divorce in My Plan
The air above the table felt slightly awkward.
That awkward tension made them focus more on swallowing food than tasting it. The problem was—Yeoreul felt like she was the only one experiencing it.
Ahhan moved his cutlery without concern for the atmosphere. He had no expression, no words. His face was so dry and indifferent that it was impossible to read his thoughts.
“It’s good.”
At Yeoreul’s attempt to break the silence, Ahhan looked up.
“Mm.”
She waited for more.
“It is.”
After a short pause, he added it as if it were an afterthought. His handsome face showed almost no effort in changing expression.
He returned to eating calmly, as if awkwardness were something he didn’t understand at all.
It seemed like he simply didn’t want to talk much. Yeoreul frowned slightly, regretting speaking at all, and quietly put a piece of sliced meat into her mouth.
Ahhan lifted his head and looked at her. His light walnut-colored eyes were so clear they looked almost transparent.
Yeoreul moved with extreme caution—walking carefully, looking carefully, even swallowing carefully.
The girl in the summer uniform had very pale skin.
Her clear, transparent gaze was the same as before, but something was different.
Ahhan thought he understood what that difference was, and set down his knife. Then he drank some water, his throat suddenly dry.
“School?”
He spoke.
Startled, Yeoreul straightened her posture.
“Ah… I have a break period.”
She barely swallowed her food and answered cautiously.
“You’re not even married yet.”
Ahhan spoke flatly.
“You planning to divorce already?”
The unexpected opening made her lose her words.
“You decided quickly.”
Seeing no response, his expression faintly hardened.
“Why?”
He genuinely didn’t seem to understand.
“Do you dislike me?”
Who would like marrying someone they barely know?
But he acted as if he didn’t know that at all.
“Let me tell you in advance.”
Ahhan looked at her, still expressionless.
“In my plan, there is no divorce.”
His tone was calm and soft, almost as if he were doing her a favor by informing her.
“No matter what happens.”
His green-brown eyes were deep and unwavering, yet full of light.
Yeoreul quietly reconsidered the idea of their nominal marriage.
The marriage had been forced and confusing, but she had never treated it lightly.
“I was planning to work hard on my own too. I didn’t mean I wanted a divorce.”
The words came out more honestly than she expected.
“On my own?”
“Yes. I want to become a fashion designer after graduating.”
Her tone became more serious as she spoke about her field.
“I’m preparing a portfolio to join a design team. I entered a year late due to circumstances, but I ranked top when I was admitted, and my grades aren’t bad.”
Ahhan remained silent.
Yeoreul, who looked like a small wildflower on the outside, was surprisingly vivid inside.
“Even after marriage… I’ll keep working hard.”
Standing in front of someone who already had wealth and power, she suddenly felt childish and lowered her voice.
“Mm. That’s impressive.”
Ahhan said it quietly.
Yeoreul looked at him in disbelief.
After that brief answer, he resumed eating.
As she replayed his words, Yeoreul’s expression slowly brightened. Because he spoke so little, even a single sentence felt precious. The quiet exchange gave her room to breathe.
Ahhan tilted his head slightly, as if trying to interpret her suddenly smiling expression.
Why is she smiling?
He thought about asking—but didn’t. He preferred watching over speaking.
He observed her smiling face carefully. Slowly, his heart began to beat.
During the afternoon schedule, a polite knock echoed.
“Secretary Jeong here, sir.”
Soon after, the door opened and the secretary in charge of receiving guests entered.
Ahhan looked up.
“Chairwoman Ma Seok of J Department Store has arrived.”
Behind the secretary stood his mother.
“Could you step outside for a moment?”
Seok addressed the executive assistant standing beside him.
“I’ll pass on the tea.”
She then turned to the secretary as well, subtly requesting space.
Her tone was thin but firm—there was an unspoken urgency.
Ahhan signaled the assistant to leave.
Soon, the room fell into appropriate silence.
Ahhan stood, gave a light bow, guided his mother to a seat, and then sat on the sofa himself.
Ma Seok, daughter of Chairman Ma of J Group and mother of Woo Ahhan, was a refined and intelligent woman.
When the mother and son appeared together, their presence overwhelmed others. Their aura was both classic and sophisticated, powerful yet timeless.
“You’re busy, I see.”
Ahhan smiled lightly.
“A little.”
He nodded slightly.
“I didn’t expect you to come so suddenly.”
That was the first thing he said to his mother after deciding to get married.
“Hah.”
Seok let out a restrained laugh, her long brown hair swaying.
“So you act surprised that I came?”
While abroad, she had heard the news about her son and was stunned.
He made a life-changing decision and continued his day as if nothing had happened.
“When were you planning to tell me? About the marriage?”
Ahhan’s lips curved gently.
“I was going to tell you.”
“You said you weren’t getting married. You clearly said you had no intention of marrying.”
Seok spoke carefully, trying to maintain composure.
“I did say that. But now I do.”
His steady gaze met hers.
“Well, that’s… surprisingly good news. Fine. Get married.”
She opened her bag and spread out photos of potential brides on the table.
“But choose someone else. Not the girl at the very end. Not her.”
Ahhan said nothing.
“She’s still an unstable college student, and her father’s reputation is terrible. Honestly, it’s unbelievable. It’s practically newsworthy. Why should our family be involved with someone like that? If something happens later—no, I don’t even want to imagine it.”
Seok, unusually emotional, pointed at one of the photos closest to Ahhan.
“Ahhan, I like this one. I approve the marriage. I wanted to tell you that from the beginning. If you’re getting married, choose her.”
“I understand your opinion and respect it,” Ahhan said calmly.
“But I already concluded matters with Director Lee. A promise must be kept.”
Though phrased like a question, it was clearly final.
“That’s not why you’re doing this, is it? Why suddenly decide to marry?”
Seok couldn’t understand why her son—who showed no particular obsession with work or ambition beyond natural talent—would suddenly choose marriage.
Then she saw the photo.
That girl…
Her lips moved in silent realization.
A university student in her early twenties. When she saw her face, her hands trembled.
She recognized her.
A memory surfaced—years ago, her son’s first request. More like a warning than a request.
“Middle school student.”
He had said only that one line.
And that alone had been enough.
“You were serious… all along?”
Seok muttered quietly, exhausted by time itself.
But Ahhan was no longer listening. He was looking out the window.
To her, he always felt unfamiliar when he sat still like that.
“What kind of son are you, really?”
“I’m sorry I’m not a good son.”
He said it calmly, even smiling faintly.
“Don’t pretend. You never reveal what’s inside you.”
“I’m simply reducing inconvenience.”
“For the family’s sake.”
His tone was gentle, but firm.
Once Ahhan made a decision, even his parents had no choice.
“Did you know?”
Seok asked sharply.
Ahhan’s expression didn’t change.
“I only saw a man quickly look away when he saw me.”
“Ha.”
He had never been with a woman. Not because he was pure—but because he had no desire.
A kiss without desire held no interest for him.
He would sit by café windows, thinking:
It wouldn’t matter who I met. They’re all just passersby.
To him, every encounter felt interchangeable.
If that was the case, there was no need to meet anyone at all.
If fate existed, one simply lived as best as possible within it.
Relationships without purpose were a waste of time.
