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Chapter : 13
“Do as you like.”
“Don’t you regret it?”
Ga-eun, feeling as if her bluff had been seen through, deliberately acted nonchalant.
“You just have to make sure you’re not frozen by pressure and unable to speak.”
“…Don’t you remember?”
When Ga-eun asked, Seok-jin looked at her blankly, as if asking, ‘When?’
“You were the one who said everything you wanted when we first met, Mr. Ju. With that kind of courage, I’m sure you won’t be pushed around by the rest of your family either.”
“…I look forward to it.”
“You may look forward to it.”
“Very well then.”
Ga-eun lifted her head to look at him. Seok-jin’s face, even from below, had a charm that could make anyone lose their breath. She had always thought he was handsome from the side and front, but looking up at him like this was mesmerizing.
She wondered if his thick eyebrows had been transplanted individually. She couldn’t take her eyes off them.
If he didn’t speak, she would have thought his posture was that of a model in a painted portrait.
Sometimes she felt like God liked to be unfair rather than just balanced. Some faces were mass-produced like common products, but someone like Seok-jin seemed crafted with utmost care.
And then, to give him wealth and ability on top of that… Ga-eun glanced at the dark sky above his face and blamed God.
Suddenly, she realized she had been staring at his face for too long in silence.
Yes, she should ask anything she needed.
“What should I do in front of my family?”
“You just need to get your father to say he can never allow this marriage.”
“You just need to get your father to say he can never allow this marriage.”
Seeing Seok-jin’s serious expression, Ga-eun laughed lightly.
“Isn’t that too easy? The moment I greet him, I think he’ll say this marriage is impossible until I die…”
“Well, he’s a hard person to read.”
“Even if he’s hard to read, isn’t it certain he’ll oppose me?”
“I hope so.”
Seok-jin turned his head forward and started walking slowly.
Walking beside him, Ga-eun tried to guess his thoughts but couldn’t.
Does this man really want this marriage?
His face had been serious and tense all the way, not joking.
It seemed like he was worried about whether she would succeed in getting approval tomorrow.
No way… The Ju-sin Group would never accept someone like Ga-eun as the bride of their youngest son, the rumored favorite.
All Ga-eun had to do was endure the sharp words and situations flying at her tomorrow.
“I’ll say we met during volunteer work.”
“Volunteer work?”
“I volunteer at an orphanage. I also sponsor it.”
“…How did you know? Oh, right, you said you researched me before.”
Seok-jin neither confirmed nor denied it.
How far had he investigated? He probably knows about Han-kyung too… Does that mean he might see me as easy prey?
Thinking about Seok-jin’s research made Ga-eun suddenly angry.
She felt completely exposed in front of him, while he seemed buttoned up to the neck.
All she knew about him was that he was the president of Ju-sin Retail. Nothing more.
“I only looked into what I thought necessary.”
Seok-jin’s voice softened slightly, as if sensing her discomfort.
But Ga-eun’s frustration from the information imbalance did not disappear.
“What kind of person is Ju Seok-jin?”
Had she been too direct? Seok-jin slightly raised his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes.
Should she have asked about his hobbies or specialties? Or maybe a one-minute self-introduction?
Seok-jin pulled his gaze from her face and walked on.
“What do you want to know about me?”
“…As much as you investigated me.”
Seok-jin stopped walking. Her words seemed like a heavy punch.
“…As much as you investigated me.”
“Of course. You probably dug up every little detail about me, yet Mr. Ju would only give me minimal, useless info. That’s unfair.”
“How much do you think I’ve looked into?”
Seok-jin’s face showed no reaction. That’s what made business people so scary.
Ga-eun realized she was losing the mental battle.
“…Probably everything.”
“Why do you think so?”
“So, how much did you really investigate?”
“I only checked a little. Your education, family background, and long-term boyfriend. That’s all.”
“Then how did you know I didn’t exercise?”
“If you did unusual exercises like Muay Thai, I would have received reports.”
What? So she had fallen right into Seok-jin’s trap?
Ga-eun felt foolish for being so easily manipulated.
“Wow, Mr. Ju, you’re really scary.”
“Me?”
“You seem like someone who sets a bait and waits to see who takes it.”
“Whatever. Let’s go home.”
Afraid of looking petty if she argued, Ga-eun started retracing her steps.
She could hear Seok-jin following, but didn’t look back.
Even if it was childish, it felt necessary.
People with nothing usually have pride in the smallest things.
“…Eun-ah…”
Arriving home, Ga-eun froze at a figure crouched in front of the door, making groaning sounds.
“…Oh… Eun.”
The figure sat in the middle of the gate. She couldn’t avoid him.
He was definitely drunk. If drunk, why not just go home? Why bother at someone else’s door?
As Ga-eun approached, the stench of alcohol was strong. She wrinkled her nose and reached out to shake him awake.
“It’s dangerous.”
Seok-jin grabbed her wrist and moved forward, shaking the drunk man’s shoulder instead.
“Hey there.”
“…Huh?”
The drunk man lifted his head. Ga-eun recognized him and almost cursed, stopping herself because of Seok-jin.
It was Han-kyung.
Seeing Ga-eun, Han-kyung smiled foolishly and tried to hug her.
“…!”
Not only Ga-eun was surprised. Han-kyung almost hugged Seok-jin standing in front of her. He quickly let go, shocked.
“You! Who are you!”
Drunk, off-balance, Han-kyung pointed at Seok-jin.
Seok-jin didn’t react. He brushed off Han-kyung’s hand from his arm with displeasure.
“Hey! O Ga-eun!”
Han-kyung noticed Ga-eun standing behind Seok-jin and moved toward her, speaking excitedly.
“You… Ga-eun… you… how could you… it hurts so much.”
Ga-eun looked at him with pity.
Han-kyung always acted this way—drunk, saying strange things to gain sympathy instead of properly apologizing.
Humans never change…
“If you’re too drunk to move yourself, you go home. You don’t come to my woman’s house.”
“Your woman?”
Seok-jin’s words shocked Han-kyung. He stepped back instantly.
“Why do you keep calling her your woman?”
Ga-eun blushed. He had said it so casually while she stood behind him.
“Stop using her name.”
Goosebumps ran up her arm. Where did he learn such things?
“What’s your relationship with Ga-eun?”
“Me?”
Fearing he might say something strange, Ga-eun stayed close.
Seok-jin smiled warmly, resting his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m the one marrying Ga-eun.”
“If you’re the one marrying Ga-eun…”
Han-kyung’s pupils widened. Seok-jin smirked.
“I’m Ju Seok-jin, as in the news article.”
“Really… it’s you?”
Han-kyung, shocked, looked at Ga-eun, silently demanding an explanation.
“…Yes.”
Seok-jin, displeased with her hesitation, laughed windily while scrutinizing Han-kyung.
“This was the guy.”
“Excuse me… isn’t that a bit harsh for a first meeting?”
“Ah! Sorry. I spoke roughly to someone I should thank.”
Ga-eun couldn’t understand how Seok-jin could call someone like Han-kyung ‘thankful.’
“Thank you very much for leaving my Ga-eun alone.”
