A Marriage So Lethal (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
Kang Woo exchanged formal greetings with Min Young, then entered the inner quarters together with Nam Tae—to briefly show his face before Chairman Lee, who was resting inside.
In his stead, Se Ah took over greeting Min Young.
In Min Young’s hands was a shawl made of soft fabric, its deep navy blended with wine red, creating a subtle yet elegant hue.
“The weather’s truly lovely today, isn’t it? It’s so unseasonably warm for autumn that I even took off my shawl.”
“It suits you perfectly, Min Young—both the shawl and the dress.”
Se Ah naturally complimented her as she looked at Min Young. The atmosphere was strikingly different from the previous day. The elegant dress suited her just as well as the tailored pantsuit had.
Thanks to the modestly scooped neckline, her slender neck stood out delicately. Her short, naturally C-curved hairstyle gave her the air of a newscaster. As she moved gracefully, the flowing velvet dress made her resemble a leading actress on the red carpet.
“You, Se Ah, are the one who’s absolutely stunning. Wow… Perhaps it’s your pure-looking features. How can a pearl necklace possibly suit you so well? And with that trench coat, you’re the living image of every man’s first love.”
It was slightly over-the-top, American-style praise—the enthusiastic “Wow!” interjection and the animated clapping of hands made her seem like an elegant New Yorker. Se Ah responded with an awkward smile before opening her lips.
“Thank you. When did you arrive?”
“About thirty minutes ago, I suppose.”
While speaking, Min Young naturally tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A flashy crystal bracelet on her wrist sparkled and caught the eye effortlessly.
“Oh—this bracelet’s too flashy, right? I was actually just about to take it off because it felt cumbersome.”
Min Young cheerfully shook her wrist. Back at the hospital, Se Ah had felt somewhat uneasy under Min Young’s direct gaze—their first meeting had left an odd impression. Now, however, she wondered whether she’d simply been overly sensitive.
Right—why get worked up over Min Young, an innocent party, just because of Nam Tae? What could a single woman possibly lack, to risk getting involved with a married man? It was undoubtedly just Nam Tae’s delusion.
Amused by Min Young’s playful gesture—twirling her wrist like she was teasing a close friend—Se Ah let out a soft chuckle.
“Honestly, I almost wore the same outfit as yesterday. But my father insisted I wear a dress—he wouldn’t stop nagging me.”
“Oh…”
“Just between us…”
Min Young leaned in closely to Se Ah’s ear, mindful of being overheard.
“My father’s such an old-fashioned conservative. A real stickler. He still believes women *must* wear skirts.”
“Oh.”
“Still… it feels so rewarding to be complimented by a beauty like you, Se Ah. Thank you.”
Though this was only their second meeting since yesterday, Min Young’s charisma was genuinely impressive. Her exceptional eloquence effortlessly drew people in.
“Madam…”
As Se Ah listened to Min Young’s cheerful chatter, a voice came from behind—Madam Yeong Cheon. Min Young subtly stepped aside.
“They’re asking you to come inside. We’ll only be having tea here.”
No matter how pleasant the weather, dining outdoors in November was simply impractical.
“Yes, I’ll be right in.”
At Se Ah’s reply, Madam Yeong Cheon turned and left first.
At that moment, in the dining room—
Because Chairman Lee had briefly stepped away, Kang Woo sat at the table with Nam Tae.
Nam Tae glanced around, then cast a displeased look toward Kang Woo. Despite clearly sensing his father’s dissatisfaction, Kang Woo remained indifferent—prompting Nam Tae, at last, to speak.
“What do you think this place is, that you brought Se Ah here?”
“Is there any reason my wife shouldn’t come?”
Nam Tae narrowed his eyes as he looked at his son.
“I only wished to introduce Se Ah to you.”
“Do you think I arranged this occasion just to share a meal?”
“And if not—surely it’s not *for my sake*, is it?”
Though his lips only curved faintly, Kang Woo’s tone and demeanor were unmistakably cold.
This increasingly defiant behavior from his son greatly frustrated Nam Tae. Yet he couldn’t outright scold him—Kang Woo wasn’t idle; he was capably building his own path, leaving Nam Tae no grounds to interfere.
Why, then, had his son begun this passive resistance of late?
More importantly—why had he become entangled with Se Ah in the first place? Nam Tae had intended to drop the whole “champion-the-people” political act after using it for years—so why stir up such trouble?
It had been a grueling effort to win his first election. Fearing public outrage if word spread of his son’s one-night stand with Se Ah, he had forced the marriage.
And now—as if that weren’t enough—had genuine affection even taken root? Anger surged within him.
“To think I arranged this gathering out of consideration for you…”
“I manage my business affairs on my own. Don’t make arrangements on my behalf.”
“If you’re truly that capable, then why come at all? Shouldn’t you be buried in work at the office?”
“Chairman Lee summoned me. Aligning with whoever stands to benefit you most—isn’t that only natural for a businessman?”
In short: he deemed his father inferior to Chairman Lee. Though their bloodline ran true, Kang Woo calmly turned the tables with his words.
Kang Woo lightly wiped his hands with the damp towel Madam Yeong Cheon had brought. As she withdrew, Nam Tae leaned toward him again.
“Why haven’t we heard any news of a child yet? It’s not as if your marital relationship has already cooled due to work, is it?”
Nam Tae probed, feigning anticipation for a grandchild.
“Marital matters are known only to the two of us. As for children—that depends on my own capability, as the man.”
Kang Woo’s deliberately ambiguous remark left Nam Tae anxious.
Just as Nam Tae opened his mouth again, Chairman Lee returned. Shortly after, Se Ah and Min Young entered the dining room, and introductions were made.
Thus, the meal began.
“Managing Director Lee—does the food suit your taste?”
Mid-meal, Nam Tae addressed Min Young warmly, like a considerate father.
“Yes, Congressman Cha—the food is absolutely delicious.”
“You must be accustomed to excellent home-cooked meals, so I worried it might not suit you.”
“It’s even better than at home. Our family’s cook is outstanding, yet this surpasses that.”
At Min Young’s praise, Madam Yeong Cheon—who had been standing aside—bowed slightly in gratitude.
In many ways, Min Young possessed a remarkable talent for winning people over. Even Se Ah, observing her, felt drawn to Min Young’s confident demeanor. *Businesspeople truly are different*, she thought—even if she disliked admitting it, she could see why Nam Tae might desire her.
Suddenly, she wondered about Kang Woo’s inner thoughts. *She’s so lovely, intelligent, and effortlessly charming—could he possibly find Min Young appealing too?*
But she quickly dismissed the pointless thought. Coming all the way here only to display such insecurity would be tantamount to surrendering to Nam Tae—and he, of all people, was likely praying for just that.
The conversation at the table flowed around Min Young. Every remark she made drew hearty laughter from Nam Tae, and even Chairman Lee—her prospective father-in-law—appeared quietly pleased.
Though the discussion largely revolved around business, it also branched into spirited debates on politics and society. As Se Ah had no opening to join, she simply listened with a quiet smile.
“Oh dear! We’ve only been discussing such heavy topics. You must’ve been bored, Se Ah—so much unfamiliar talk.”
Min Young wore an apologetic expression, even pressing her palms together as if begging forgiveness.
“It’s fine. Please feel free to continue your conversation.”
“No, no—we should keep the topics light at gatherings like this, yet we’ve been stuck on business.”
“I’m genuinely enjoying it. Thank you for your consideration.”
Up to this point, everything was fine. Min Young’s thoughtfulness stood out clearly.
“Hmm… Se Ah, you give off a vibe like someone who only reads books—such a pure image? Someone who’d only pick up novels or poetry collections. Have you ever played video games?”
“No—I enjoy games too. I’m interested in diverse content, not just literature.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So please speak freely—I may not know everything, but I’m familiar with some topics and find it all genuinely engaging.”
“Oh! Then may I ask you one question? Since you say you like games too.”
All attention suddenly turned to Se Ah—Kang Woo’s gaze, in particular, felt especially intense.
“Yes.”
“What do you believe is the key future direction for the gaming industry?”
“Well… I’m not a professional, so—”
She attempted to deflect with a modest smile—but Min Young pressed on.
“Heh heh—Managing Director Lee, have a little mercy. How can you ask such a difficult question? And Se Ah—”
“Yes, Father.”
“Eat. That’s enough.”
Nam Tae’s eyebrows shot up sharply, his eyes narrowing—a first warning: *Stop speaking foolishly and just eat.*
“Let’s eat. All this nonstop business talk is making me feel queasy.”
“I’m no expert, but may I offer a brief opinion, just in simple terms?”
Se Ah declined Kang Woo’s attempt to lighten the mood with a joke.
“Of course—I’m truly eager to hear your thoughts, Se Ah.”
Min Young rested her chin on both hands and stared intently at Se Ah. *Hmmph*—Nam Tae’s forced cough sounded in protest. Meanwhile, Kang Woo’s gaze remained fixed solely on her, brimming with interest.
“It may sound obvious, but I believe the path forward lies in strengthening creative planning and marketing competitiveness. Nowadays, companies build cohesive worldviews and expand them across Seasons 1, 2, 3, and beyond—this reduces initial development costs while retaining existing users and attracting new ones. Additionally, we should actively leverage promotional teasers and social media. Recently, one company’s marketing strategy stood out—they launched a separate SNS account for a popular in-game character, making the character feel authentically alive.”
“Now that I see it, Congressman Cha’s daughter-in-law clearly possesses deep insight into the gaming industry.”
After a brief silence, Chairman Lee chuckled heartily. Nam Tae, who had been frozen in surprise, belatedly joined with a hollow “Heh heh.”
“She’s my alma mater classmate. She majored in Korean literature, which fuels her strong interest in content.”
Kang Woo spoke with dignified grace, elevating Se Ah.
“Congressman Cha clearly holds great trust and affection for his wife. You’re truly fortunate—to have such an exceptional daughter-in-law and such a harmonious couple.”
“No need for such praise. Let’s continue our meal, Chairman Lee.”
As everyone resumed eating, Nam Tae silently issued a second warning—dragging a finger across his lips in a slicing motion. Undeterred, Se Ah ignored him completely, showing no trace of fear.
“Madam Yeong Cheon.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“We’ll have tea outdoors, so please prepare some refreshments—and summon Director Lee.”
“Yes, sir.”
They held tea time outdoors.
As hostess, Se Ah periodically checked whether anything was lacking. Noticing the teapot of black tea was nearly empty and the snacks had run out, she rose to fetch more.
After observing Min Young sipping tea quietly, Nam Tae turned to Chairman Lee.
“Oh, by the way—I actually have something to give you, Chairman. Shall we step into the study for a moment?”
“Very well.”
Naturally, only Kang Woo and Min Young remained at the table. Min Young watched, curiosity gleaming in her eyes, as Kang Woo removed his jacket and placed it on the adjacent seat.
In a light-gray striped shirt with only a navy tie, his masculinity radiated strongly. His broad frame, lean and clean-lined, made the shirt fit exceptionally well.
“Congressman Cha must run hot—your constitution seems warm.”
“It’s a bit warm, yes.”
Kang Woo lifted his wrist to check the time, then slightly twisted his torso to glance toward the inner quarters.
Min Young didn’t miss that precise movement.
Back at the hospital, when she’d unexpectedly run into Kang Woo, she’d approached him cheerfully to greet him as an acquaintance. Though the encounter had been sudden, his demeanor had remained unchanged—polite, reserved, and as stoic as ever.
Yet the moment Se Ah appeared, his composed gaze had utterly softened. His tightly closed lips had loosened effortlessly.
Beyond seeing him as merely a capable and attractive partner, a subtler emotion flickered—*what might this unshakable man’s private, unfamiliar side look like?*
How had he ended up marrying his father’s former ward—and was their relationship truly as solid as it appeared? A quiet, secretive curiosity about the couple swelled within her.
Just as Kang Woo, silently fiddling with the rim of his teacup, straightened his posture—
“How’s married life? As someone who married earlier, I’d love to hear your thoughts—and offer some advice, if you’d like.”
Min Young posed the question as if to hold him back. At that exact moment, Se Ah entered view, carrying the teapot and refreshments.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
Most Commented This Week
The Villain Has Gone Mad For Me (Completed Main Story)
I’m The Lowest-Ranking Daughter Of A Martial Arts Villain (2 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Became the Assassin Family’s Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story)
The Duke Only Needs My Child (Completed Main Story)
Men of the Harem (137 Chapters Left to Complete)
At the End of Ruin, There You Are (56 Chapters Left to Complete)
She’s a Villainess but her Husband is Handsome (Completed Main Story)
People Aren’t Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete)
Summer Must Die (16 Chapters Left to Complete)
My Discarded Fiancé Returned (Completed Main Story)
I Received The First Time Of My Extraordinary Superior (9 Chapters Left to Complete)
Regret With All Your Might (Completed Main Story)