In truth, Tae Seo had wanted to press the matter when he encountered her in front of Jae In’s house earlier. But Tae Seo was a hunter who knew his timing. He knew exactly when and where to bite to cut off the breath.
So for now, he had to hide his claws, even if it pained him, to keep Jae In from being inconvenienced, settling for giving Ji Seung Hee a little scare.
“Daring to meddle with someone after living like that.”
Tae Seo frowned with deep eyebrows and glanced behind him. Jae In, who had woken from her evening nap, was sitting on the sofa pondering over what takeout to order.
―Director, may I ask you something? It’s a personal curiosity.
“Go ahead.”
―Why don’t you tell Yoon Jae In the whole story about your engagement? If you had been upfront from the start, it might have been a bit easier….
“What does that matter?”
―…Excuse me?
“Am I supposed to say, ‘Hey, I’m actually your betrothed. Some 30 years ago, grandparents we’ve never met promised our marriage.’ Would a man approaching with such talk be charming?”
―…No, that would be distasteful.
“It’s ridiculous every time I hear it. At least I got to hear it directly from my grandfather. Why would I even mention that to someone who doesn’t have a single good memory of her father’s side?”
Having clarified Manager Jang’s query, Tae Seo turned his head again. The sight of her still worrying about what to eat was so endearing that he found the situation both amusing and pleasing.
“I want Yoon Jae In’s heart in its entirety. Childhood engagements and betrothals decided by grandparents shouldn’t matter.”
―…Director.
“Yes?”
―Have I ever told you that you’re admirable?
“I know it from the way you look at me.”
―…
“You’re giving me a look of annoyance right now, aren’t you?”
Tae Seo chuckled quietly, recalling the expressions Manager Jang occasionally couldn’t hide. Having had a deep sleep with Jae In had refreshed him completely. Waking up to find Jae In looking at him first made it even better.
“That’s something we can talk about later, laugh about it after some time has passed, saying, ‘Actually, it turns out you and I are definitely meant to be,’ as a joke.”
―That’s true.
“Does it annoy you that your boss always makes sense?”
―…You’re impressive.
“Sorry to bother you on the weekend, but hearing Manager Jang’s voice, it sounds like you’re enjoying this?”
―I won’t deny it.
Tae Seo chuckled again, placed the carton on the tray, and turned towards where Jae In was. Their eyes met and Jae In smiled. Tae Seo reciprocated with a smile that was almost a wink.
When they had awakened, the two had spent a long time just looking at each other without words. For Tae Seo, it was a peaceful quiet he had never experienced before. Since it was the first time he had ever woken up with someone, he sensed that today would be a day he’d remember for a long time.
How long had they gazed at each other? Who laughed first was unclear. After meeting Jae In, Tae Seo learned that laughter, like a yawn, was contagious.
“I will only take away your weekend for this week. I’m sorry.”
―Just remember that I work as much as I receive.
“Of course, I know. Keep a close watch on Jeong Jae Hoon and Jo Dae Hoon. And the labor union side of Hyunyang Construction is…”
―We are in continuous contact.
“You’ll be busy starting tomorrow. What about Amber?”
―She will arrive tomorrow morning.
“Compile the materials Ted gave you and stand by.”
―Yes.
After confirming that Manager Jang was his person, Tae Seo had connected her with Ted in New York.
At that moment, Manager Jang was taken aback to learn that Tae Seo was the co-representative of E&K, which had swallowed up significant corporations in the Eastern and Southern United States. Facing his vast network and financial power, she said it seemed she had lined up well.
Since then, Manager Jang had been exchanging information directly with Ted and had expanded her scope to assist Tae Seo. That’s why she understood his instructions to stand by immediately.
Today, after finishing their conversation, Tae Seo intended to move immediately in the direction Jae In wanted.
“Have you decided what to eat?”
They had planned to spend the day at Jae In’s house, enjoying their date. They also had to be prepared for any unexpected situations considering Jeong Jae Hoon or Jo Dae Hoon, and Jae In was reluctant to go out with her face all puffed up.
“How about samgyetang?”
“Let’s see…”
His head kept tilting towards where Jae In was, his shoulders drooping. His body’s center of gravity shifted towards her. His hands and ears, his eyes, the tip of his nose, his lips naturally captured her presence.
In a short span, Yoon Jae In had captivated Kang Tae Seo, and he found himself helplessly drawn to her.
“Well, Yu Ri is not a child. If she’s hungry, she’ll eat. Should I really be worrying if my grown daughter doesn’t eat? You coddled her so now she’s fragile!”
Dae Hoon, displeased and closing his eyes while on the phone with his wife Seung Hee, sighed after seeing the anxious expression on Manager Kim’s face.
Dismissing the need for further idle chatter, Dae Hoon instructed to pay a visit to Kang Sun Art Center, perhaps with a gift for the elders in tow. He ended the call with a click of his tongue, urging to hang up and not to disturb his important meeting.
Rising from his seat after finishing the call, Dae Hoon straightened his attire. Accompanied by Manager Kim and the other executives who were waiting outside the chairman’s office, they headed towards the main conference room of Hyunyang Construction.
“Welcome. I appreciate the effort it took to come all this way. I’m Jo Dae Hoon.”
Dae Hoon extended a businesslike smile along with his hand. The woman, looking at his hefty palm, smiled charmingly as she shook it.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Amber Young.”
“Oh, you speak Korean?”
“She’s been practicing Korean greetings for this occasion,” the interpreter added.
Dae Hoon nodded with satisfaction, smiling warmly, and the woman with her long red hair pinned up also responded with a crinkled-eye smile.
One of the co-representatives of E&K, which had expanded rapidly across the entire United States from the East Coast, was surprisingly young. Dae Hoon, realizing she was about the age of his daughter, gestured to a seat with respectful courtesy.
“Please, take a seat.”
While age might not be critical, experience was not to be undervalued in his book. With a sense that things might resolve more smoothly than anticipated, Dae Hoon smiled gently.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
