“You rascal!”

While scolding, the old woman raised the corner of her mouth in satisfaction. It was true that her granddaughter was too precious to be paired with just anyone.

“I’ll give them a push soon.”

“Where? Da Hae’s house? The newlyweds’ home?”

“Both.”

It was a joyous occasion that she had changed her seemingly unbreakable mind and gladly accepted the marriage, but somehow there were many unclear aspects.

Even if Kang Jae Kyung had performed some great feat, she wasn’t the type to give her heart so easily, as if roasting beans over lightning.

The rumors and public opinion were good, so after just watching for a while, she eventually assigned someone to follow them.

Just one week. The reports from that week were quite a sight.

They hardly ever went to their newlywed home, and even on days they did, they would often sneak out again at dawn.

There couldn’t have been any other reason for this. It meant these troublemakers were playing games.

She had only guessed that marriage was an extreme measure chosen to avoid the arranged meetings.

She must have judged that even if she demanded a divorce later, someone of the Samyeong Group’s grandchild’s status wouldn’t make a fuss.

Confronting them with evidence of tailing would be amateur behavior. It was clear they would use that as a weapon to cause a scene, so Jung Soon never created such an opportunity in the first place.

However, she was in the process of devising a plan to keep the two of them together.

When a good man and woman stay in the same house, history tends to be made.

“Nothing progresses unless an old person steps in.”

Progress? The long-cherished project was already finished, so she wondered what other progress he was talking about. As she stared blankly, the old woman stretched her wrinkled lips into a benevolent smile.

“Ah, if they’ve formed a partnership, there should be some results!”

For example, a great-grandchild who takes after her grandson.

Chairwoman Bae, recalling her shared wish with Kang Cha Dol, suddenly turned her arrow towards Oh Se Dong.

“Are you not making a match, or can’t you make one?”

“With my status, how could I… Aack!”

Slap! The skinny palm sharply struck the gown-covered back.

The stinging sensation was as spicy as the taste of hell series, causing an involuntary groan.

“You fool! What’s wrong with your status? Is being an orphan a flaw? Don’t you dare utter such nonsense again. If you put down my child, this Bae Jung Soon will chase you to hell and tear you apart.”

“Kuh, Boss’s charisma. Indeed, a top woman.”

Oh Se Dong chuckled and gave two enthusiastic thumbs up. Then, complaining of back pain, he naturally lay down using Jung Soon’s leg as a pillow.

Jung Soon clicked her tongue but stroked the affectionate puppy with a loving hand.

Blinking lazily, Se Dong called out softly, “Grandma.” Grandma responded, “Yes, dear.”

“If I’m so pretty and nice, why wasn’t I a candidate for Da Hae’s match?”

“Huh?”

Faced with the unexpected question, Chairwoman Bae put on a deliberately troubled face and obviously tried to change the subject.

Se Dong’s lips protruded a bowlful when no answer came to what was meant as a joke. Just as he was about to say forget it, don’t say anything-

“Well, you see.”

“…?”

“Da Hae said…”

As the usually straightforward Chairwoman Bae hesitated, rubbing her philtrum, Se Dong tilted his head curiously.

“She said you don’t like women.”

“…”

Se Dong’s jaw dropped like a figure in a screaming painting.

The old woman chuckled. She waved her hand leisurely, comforting him that it wasn’t a flaw at all.

Se Dong suddenly raised his upper body and firmly grasped his thin shoulders. He opened his eyes wide as if to say listen carefully.

“I like women. Tremendously so. I’m even quite the playboy.”

“It’s alright, I tell you.”

“No, it’s not alright, it’s…”

“If you’ve never dated, you might be scared of women, that’s all!”

“Sca…”

The self-proclaimed playboy couldn’t finish his words.

…General Kye, how do I handle this?

He abandoned his goodwill of willingly becoming a double agent. He didn’t know what intuition Chairwoman Bae was acting on, but he hoped she’d get caught on something and be taught a lesson.

* * *

In the middle of June, when quite hot winds were blowing. The tail end of spring had disappeared, promising to return next year.

As if to live up to the forecast that this summer would be unusually hot, the early summer days were deepening into blue.

CEO Kang Jae Kyung had been having a series of busy days.

The metaverse-based mobile service launched early this year was receiving a hot response, and they were planning an overseas version, which seemed to be why overseas business trips had become more frequent.

After that night that happened like an accident. They started checking on each other more often.

Having meals or taking walks together for no particular reason had now become quite familiar.

Like ordinary couples do. Still, there was no change in the fact that it was a contractual relationship.

These days, they occasionally exchange messages due to the time difference. It’s been about two weeks. It’s also been about two weeks since she started reaching for her phone first thing in the morning.

She really enjoyed reading his texts about his daily routine.

The trivial things like describing the cloudy and clear weather. Typical greetings asking about meals and health. The best among them was undoubtedly the photos.

More precisely, his fingers caught in the corners of the photos.

The photo he sent saying he found shoes designed by Team Leader Kye had terrible composition and seemed hastily taken while walking quickly, given the sense of speed.

That’s why she laughed. Somehow, she could imagine that big man doing so with an indifferent face.

He said he was taking a plane at dawn, so she’d probably see him tomorrow.

…Would she?

Da Hae leaned back in her chair, tilting her stiff neck backward and casting her gaze out the window.

A tiny airplane passes through the distant sky.

Aside from tomorrow’s meeting, she wanted to fast-forward time because of the event she had to attend this very evening.

Bae Jung Soon’s order to at least show her face at S Corporation’s foundation anniversary event, as she couldn’t attend due to an important schedule, and of all things, it had to be S Corporation.

It was clear that not only Kim Yeon Woo, the second daughter of that house, but also many K-club people would be in attendance, eagerly rushing to scratch at her.

As she was staring endlessly at the setting afternoon sun, the phone placed at the edge of her desk vibrated long. It was Lady Bae Jung Soon. Like mother, like tiger.

Knowing the purpose without hearing it, Da Hae answered before the caller could ask.

“8 PM. Samsung Station Convention, 11th floor. Dress up elegantly.”

-I’ll send a driver, so take that.

“Traffic will be terrible at that time. It’s close, so I’ll walk.”

-What the hell?

“So don’t make the driver come for nothing.”

As soon as the sentence ended, an displeased voice burst through the receiver.

Clicking her tongue and saying who did she take after to be so stubborn, she again recommended taking the driver. When there was no response and she just listened, the old woman sighed deeply.

-It would be nice if Kang went with you. Of all times, he’s on a business trip.

“…Why go together unnecessarily, we’re not a package deal. I’ll just greet the chairman and leave right away.”

Although she doesn’t want to run into Kim Yeon Woo of S Corporation, it’s right to show her face at an event like this since her father, Chairman Kim, usually takes good care of her grandmother.

-You’re newlyweds, it’s not good to be out separately so much.
There are many other important things to do…

“Are we going to be eternal newlyweds? I’m hanging up. Enjoy your meal.”

Without hearing the grumbling words coming through, Da Hae ended the call, stretched big, and grabbed the keyboard again.

Although it’s really not great to go alone to a place crowded with people she doesn’t want to see, since the situation wouldn’t change even if they went together, she decided not to regret Kang Jae Kyung’s absence.

Going quietly and leaving quietly. That’s Kye Da Hae’s specialty.

* * *

The campus was crowded with students before dismissal during exam period.

Sporadic exclamations erupted along the path that had been filled with complaints.

The emblem of the all-black sedan that smoothly came to a stop with the late afternoon sun at its back was rare to see on the street, so students who recognized it kept exclaiming things like “crazy” and “killer,” typical exclamations for that age group.

The envious gazes peering at the driver’s seat changed to admiration in an instant.

The cold handsome face of the department and the naturally impressive physique. The navy three-piece suit that perfectly enveloped it.

The leisurely demeanor of the car owner as he stepped out was enough to cause that.

“Isn’t that Kang Jae Kyung?! The CEO of the company that made ‘Swordsman of Wind and Rain’!”

“Wow… so handsome. I’m researching Samyeong Entertainment for a marketing assignment. The CEO’s face must have been a factor in their success.”

Amidst the spectacle of students recognizing him and even taking photos, Jae Kyung lightly gestured towards a student hurriedly running towards him.