An Instinctive Proposal (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
It was news to me that Tae Sung BioLogics was establishing a Jeju branch, and it seemed odd that only Tae Han and Yeon Woo’s names appeared on the attendance list.
“Do you know Director Kim Sung Won is from Jeju Island?”
Tae Han spoke, as if already aware of where Yeon Woo’s gaze had settled.
“My mother is in a nursing home in Jeju.”
“Oh….”
Yeon Woo, finally understanding, couldn’t find words to respond, so Tae Han gestured as if to say, “Now that you know, go see her.”
After handing him the tablet and returning to her seat, Yeon Woo glanced sideways at Sung Won next to her, then turned her eyes out the window.
The fluffy cumulus clouds below looked soft and inviting.
The research conference was still the main priority, yet her attention had already drifted to the upcoming site visit.
Upon arriving in Jeju, the three of them sent their bags straight to the hotel and headed immediately to the research conference.
Their designated session during Part 2, after Part 1 had concluded, was the Future Business Division’s renewable energy segment.
It was an agenda item Tae Sung BioLogics, already building a large-capacity hub, couldn’t afford to miss.
“Chairman, please sit here.”
Since they’d arrived late, Sung Won had reserved seats in the back and swiftly guided Tae Han to his place.
Yeon Woo followed behind him, scanning the room as she entered.
‘This looks just like the boardrooms I’ve only seen in movies.’
The semi-oval table was equipped with individual monitors and microphones. All attendees listened intently to the presentation with serious expressions.
The intensely focused atmosphere struck her as a refreshing shock.
Even after five years working as Tae Han’s secretary, there was still so much of this new world she hadn’t seen.
Quietly seated, Yeon Woo stared blankly at Tae Han as he read through materials Sung Won had prepared.
She felt slightly embarrassed about the resentment she’d briefly held—why had he brought her, someone who was about to resign, to this research conference?
“Yeon Woo, go get three lunch boxes. Remember the entrance we came through? Show your invitation across the way, and they’ll give them to you.”
“Yes.”
Yeon Woo quickly exited the conference hall before Part 2 officially began.
Just as Sung Won had said, boxed meals were being distributed opposite the entrance.
“Hello.”
She showed her invitation and signed the guest list.
But when she tried to carry the lunch boxes along with bottled water, her hands weren’t enough.
After a moment of hesitation, she stacked the three lunch boxes neatly and decided to carry those first.
At that exact moment, the smell of rice wafted through the tightly sealed plastic lid.
‘Ugh….’
Yeon Woo turned her head away as far as possible, struggling not to breathe.
Thankfully, she’d taken anti-nausea medication before boarding the plane—if not, she might have made a scene.
Although she’d successfully delivered both the lunch boxes and bottled water, her unsettled stomach wouldn’t calm down.
“Yeon Woo, aren’t you eating?”
A short while later, Sung Won beside her asked.
Hearing that, Tae Han, who had been chewing while flipping through documents, looked up and met her eyes.
“…Ah, no. I’m not really hungry.”
Unexpectedly receiving Tae Han’s attention, Yeon Woo—uncharacteristically flustered—answered quickly.
“I guess I enjoyed that sandwich on the plane a little too much.”
“It was tasty, sure, but you couldn’t possibly be full from just that. Wasn’t the portion way too small?”
Sung Won chuckled, teasing gently about how slim people always have their reasons, as Yeon Woo and Tae Han’s eyes met once more.
It wasn’t the first or second time their gazes had crossed, yet Yeon Woo abruptly turned her head away.
The research conference ended after three hours.
By the time they stepped out, the sunset had already begun to fall. Yeon Woo briefly marveled at the sky—so different from Seoul’s.
“Rest up. Make sure you eat dinner properly later—you skipped lunch, after all.”
“Yes. Don’t worry about me.”
Tae Han and Sung Won mentioned they had a brief meeting-cum-dinner lined up. With multiple companies attending the conference, it had been part of the planned schedule.
Yeon Woo offered Sung Won a reassuring smile, as he was clearly still concerned she hadn’t touched her lunch box.
If anything, she felt guilty for being left alone at the hotel.
Whether it was from constant tension or something else, as soon as she was left alone in her hotel room, a long sigh escaped her lips.
She’d fought desperately against nausea, terrified the lingering lunch box scent would trigger morning sickness.
After a shower, she felt lighter. Remembering she’d come to Jeju for training purposes, she pulled out the conference materials and sat down to study.
Even though she planned to resign, learning this now would let her pass on useful knowledge during the handover.
‘I’m getting kind of hungry.’
After reading the documents for a while, Yeon Woo rubbed her flat stomach.
She felt hungry, yet her unsettled stomach didn’t seem ready to accept any other food.
Since the sandwich on the plane had been fine, she decided to go out and buy something similar—just as she stood up,
the doorbell suddenly rang.
Certain no one would be visiting her, Yeon Woo opened the door with a puzzled look.
“Who…?”
Her eyes widened as she recognized the face appearing through the widening gap.
“Chairman?”
Tae Han, who should have been at dinner with Sung Won, stood outside her door for some unknown reason.
Without a word, he handed her a white plastic bag. To her surprise, it contained a sandwich, salad, and medication.
“I told you to get your body in shape before coming to Jeju. What is this after telling me not to worry?”
His voice was sharp. Apparently, he’d noticed she hadn’t eaten her lunch.
The moment she saw the contents, Yeon Woo’s eyes flickered briefly—and her heart stirred deeply.
But then she recalled something he’d told her not long ago:
“I’m only being nice because I’m scared you’ll quit. It’s the only way I can fight back.”
That memory quickly steadied her wavering emotions.
“You’re not really worried about me.”
Tae Han’s thick eyebrows twitched slightly. Yeon Woo lowered her eyes.
“Still, I’m sorry for causing you concern. I’ll eat the sandwich properly.”
Yeon Woo accepted the bag obediently. Though its weight moved her again, she turned firmly away.
She didn’t know what expression Tae Han wore as the door closed behind her.
—Yeon Woo, are you feeling okay?
A call came from Gyu Bin around dinnertime. He said he’d been busy shuttling between Seoul and Cheonan.
—You can still come down to Cheonan next week, right? Mom misses you.
“I’ll go. I want to see Auntie too.”
But she was starting to worry about the meal. She definitely wouldn’t be able to avoid eating anything.
“Though maybe I’ll just pop in briefly. Work’s been really hectic lately….”
—Really? Then don’t push yourself. We could just meet in Seoul—Mom’s staying there right now anyway.
“Should I do that?”
That sounded better.
They quickly made plans to meet for coffee on a weekday in Seoul.
—But nothing serious is going on, right?
Gyu Bin asked.
—If anything’s wrong, just tell me. I’ll be in Korea for a while, so I can help if I can.
“Wrong? Nothing like that.”
Yeon Woo answered casually, but Gyu Bin pressed on in a slightly subdued tone.
—Even with your chairman?
A silence settled between them. Yeon Woo forced an awkward laugh, pretending not to understand.
“What about the chairman?”
Gyu Bin replied, his voice filled with concern.
—You looked really uncomfortable around him last time. Both Mom and I are worried something might have happened.
“Oh, no! Nothing happened.”
Except that she was pregnant with his child.
Only now did the full weight of reality hit her dizzyingly. She still hadn’t told Sun Ok.
“In any case, please don’t worry about that.”
—Got it.
Perhaps sensing her discomfort through her voice, Gyu Bin readily backed off.
After chatting a bit longer, Yeon Woo ended the call and walked over to the window.
Unlike Seoul, Jeju’s night was dark and clear.
When she noticed the half-moon hanging beautifully in the sky like a painting, she couldn’t help but grab a jacket.
She’d heard the sea was nearby—she might as well take a walk.
‘Should I call Mom and tell her?’
She doubted she could say the words face to face.
What would happen if she told her the baby’s father was Tae Han? Maybe it’d be better to say it happened by accident during a night out at a club.
Either way, she dreaded the shock Sun Ok would inevitably face.
Unless she planned to give up the baby, she couldn’t hide it forever—it was a real dilemma.
Lost in thought, she walked down the path connected to the hotel until the beach soon came into view.
The small beach was quiet, though a few tourists—likely hotel guests—strolled along just as she was.
It was a lovely scene: a bright moon above and crystal-clear sea below.
Yet Yeon Woo, too burdened to fully enjoy even such beauty, finally dialed the number after some hesitation.
In this moonlight, she felt she might find a little courage.
—Sweetheart, were you busy today? How’s Jeju?
As soon as the call connected, Sun Ok’s warm voice came through. Normally, her gentle tone wouldn’t have fazed Yeon Woo, but now it pierced her heart.
“I only attended the research conference, so I’ve been free. What are you up to, Mom?”
—Watching a drama.
“Have you eaten dinner?”
—Of course. Have you ever seen me skip a meal?
Sun Ok giggled.
Hearing her so cheerful, knowing that brightness would soon be swallowed by darkness, Yeon Woo’s heart grew unbearably heavy.
“Mom, I….”
—Oh, by the way, your chairman sent us some premium Hanwoo beef this afternoon.
“What?”
—The department store called, and I was so surprised. Turns out he sent it personally. Said he was sorry for showing up at our house so suddenly.
Yeon Woo stopped walking. Emotion surged up in her all at once.
“Mom, don’t eat that.”
—Why not? I was planning to grill it when you visit this weekend. I already called your secretary to thank her.
“I’m resigning. So please don’t accept any gifts from the chairman.”
Sun Ok fell silent, clearly stunned.
Yeon Woo exhaled softly and spoke again.
“Don’t worry too much about it. I’m just thinking of moving to a better company.”
—Did something happen to you?
Sun Ok’s tone instantly turned serious. Maybe a mother’s intuition really couldn’t be beaten.
If so, Yeon Woo thought, now was the time. If she was going to confess, this was the perfect moment.
“Mom, actually….”
“Secretary Seo.”
But a voice called her from behind.
Startled, Yeon Woo turned around while still holding the phone to her ear.
Tae Han stood there, staring directly at her with dark eyes.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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aah, serim really messed up.
claimed to know everything but in reality know nothing.
allergic reaction could be really dangerous.