YDCFGD 11

Chapter 11

Just when Chairman Ryu’s talk about becoming in-laws had been shut down with a sharp rebuke, Chairman Joo went even further.

“…When Dogyeong arrives, how about we all go out to eat together?”

With that, the dining location was changed from Jaedamjae to a high-end Korean restaurant.

While the aides hurriedly made calls to arrange everything, I forced myself to swallow my awkward expression.

I thought Grandpa would stop this!

But thinking about it, Grandpa had always treated Ryu Dogyeong like his own grandson since we were young. He was bold for his age and had even been acknowledged as the successor of Seohae Group, so it was only natural that Grandpa found him appealing.

Now that Chairman Ryu himself was trying to pair his precious grandson with his granddaughter, Grandpa couldn’t help but be tempted.

‘So if Seohae bows first, he won’t refuse… Is that what this is?’

While I was lost in thought, Grandpa lightly tapped my arm. Then, scrunching up his nose, he said,

“Saeyi, you come with Dogyeong.”
“M-Me? Me?”
“It’ll be more comfortable if two people your age talk on the way.”
“Exactly! Having old men around just makes things awkward!”

As soon as Grandpa started, Chairman Ryu immediately chimed in.

It was quite a sight—these two who used to tear at each other as business rivals now acting all buddy-buddy in front of me.

“…I’ll do as you say, Chairman.”

When I reluctantly agreed, Grandpa looked satisfied and finally separated himself from Chairman Ryu. Then he shot me a strange glance.

‘W-What is it?’

His dignified face was gone. His eyebrows drooped slightly, and his lips trembled.

He looked like…

‘A puppy asking for praise?’

Yes. Exactly like that.

Surely he didn’t still think I liked Ryu Dogyeong and was trying this hard because of it, right?

“Ahem. Anyway, you two—cough!—try to have a good talk.”

…Yeah. He definitely did.

For some reason, he put extra emphasis on the word “two.”

After closing my eyes and rolling them around a few times, I walked up to Grandpa and whispered what he probably wanted to hear.

“…Thank you, Chairman.”

Apparently, I was right. His face brightened immediately. After clearing his throat a few more times, he poked Chairman Ryu in the side.

“We’ll go on ahead! Let’s talk about moving money around, old man to old man.”
“Ah, you mean the Sua Motors sale…”

The two chairmen headed for the restaurant first, leaving me alone in Jaedamjae’s reception room.

With both of them gone, there was no reason for me to stay there.

To move quickly, I decided to wait for Ryu Dogyeong at the front gate.

About twenty minutes later—

Dogyeong finally arrived and got out of his car. He looked more natural than last time, probably because he’d rushed over.

“…Where’s Chairman Joo?”

He asked as soon as he saw me.

I explained everything—except for the part where both chairmen thought he’d make a good match for me.

“…They told us to come separately.”

Dogyeong sighed with a troubled expression, then opened the car door.

Instead of getting in, he stared straight at me. Looking confused, he spoke.

“What are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“Get in. Here.”

So he’d opened the door for me.

I’d thought he’d just drive off alone, so it was unexpected.

I bowed slightly in thanks and got in. He took the seat beside me.

“Let’s go.”

After speaking to the driver, Dogyeong fell completely silent.

‘They told us to talk on the way, but…’

I didn’t really have anything to say either. It was awkward for me to start a conversation, so I stayed quiet too.

The car became dead silent.

Dogyeong was the one who broke it. He glanced at me, pretending to be asleep, and spoke heavily.

“…Joo Saeyi.”

His cold, low tone made my body stiffen.

I didn’t answer right away. It was instinct from childhood.

Whenever he called me like that, it meant he was angry.

In situations like this, pretending not to hear was the best option.

‘Did it work?’

Just then, he let out a deep sigh.

“…I know you’re not asleep. Stop blinking with your eyes half-open.”

I’d been caught.

I stiffened and slowly opened my eyes, checking his expression.

When we were young, he always looked scary when he stared at me. Now, his face was unreadable.

Unlike me, who’d lived away from the Joo family, he’d grown up as a successor and learned to hide his emotions.

“If you’re awake, answer.”
“…Yes.”
“Why have you been using formal speech with me lately…”

He trailed off, then spoke again without giving me time to reply.

“Forget it. I’ll just ask one thing.”

He paused, as if preparing himself. I could even hear myself swallow.

Roughly running a hand through his hair, he finally spoke.

“If I did something wrong to you, tell me. Right now.”
“What are you talking about…?”

That was the question?

He hadn’t done anything wrong.

No matter how I thought about it, Ryu Dogyeong had never wronged me.

I wasn’t avoiding him because I hated him.
Even though he was distant, he always took good care of me.

He tolerated me following him around just because I liked how handsome he was.

And…

‘You’d be crying here. Get up, Joo Saeyi.’

He was the one who comforted me when I cried every day after Mom died.

‘Crying won’t change anything. Not every adult will be kind to you.’

He was born before me and lost family before me.

‘Grandpa said water conducts electricity well, but ice doesn’t. So become cold and strong. Remember that, Saeyi.’

Yes. Because of him, I was able to stand again.

After that, I chose my own path—leaving the Joo family and bowing to Joo Sudeok.

‘Of course, that choice was a total failure…’

So if anyone was wrong, it was me.

I disappeared without a word from someone who had quietly stayed by my side.

‘Still, he probably didn’t care that much.’

Dogyeong would’ve lived well even without me.

In the future I experienced, he often appeared in the news, showing off his success.

So I didn’t need to worry about him either.

Shaking off my thoughts, I looked at him. He was waiting for my answer.

“No. You didn’t do anything.”
“Then?”
“In the first place, we weren’t close enough to hurt each other anyway.”

Don’t get too entangled with Ryu Dogyeong, whom Joo Sudeok wants as a son-in-law.

That was the choice I could make while struggling to survive and plan my revenge.

As soon as I finished speaking, I lowered my head.

He stayed silent for a long time.

Just as I was about to look up—

“…You’re keeping your distance from me.”

He spoke in an empty voice, his face wounded.

I had never seen that expression on Ryu Dogyeong before—neither in my past life nor this one.

The meal was extravagant.

Dish after dish of glossy Korean food was served.

But Dogyeong’s lonely expression in the car kept coming back to me. I barely knew what I was eating.

While drinking the plum tea served afterward, Grandpa spoke to him.

“Sudeok and Suyeon both seem to like you.”

Instead of answering, Dogyeong looked at me.

When I avoided his gaze, he gave a shallow, mocking smile.

“Not sure. I need to take care of my grandfather. I’m not old enough for marriage, and I’m not interested.”

That was very good news for me.

Since he’d politely said he wasn’t interested in women, Grandpa wouldn’t try so hard for me anymore.

“Is that so?”

Grandpa shrugged at Chairman Ryu.

“What should we do, Chairman Ryu? You wanted Saeyi so badly, but your grandson isn’t interested in marriage.”

At that moment, something changed in Dogyeong’s eyes.

Startled, he widened them and hurriedly spoke.

“…I think serving Chairman Joo would be an honor.”

Why are you changing your mind now?!

His ears turned red as he lowered his head.

‘Didn’t you say you weren’t interested?!’

I had no idea why he was suddenly embarrassed.

I quickly glanced at the two chairmen.

‘Ah…’

Like viewers deeply absorbed in a romance drama, they were smiling blissfully, without any dignity.

Suddenly, I had a bad feeling.

This kind of gathering would happen more than once.

Cold sweat ran down my back.