Married First, a Couple - Chapter 35

Tae Yeon tightly grasped her trembling hands.

First, she was grateful. It was a moment that made her previous thoughts about Do Joon not getting involved in her affairs seem foolish.

And there was one question that followed.

Why did he go this far?

As if reading Tae Yeon’s curiosity, Do Joon spoke in a low voice.

“Are you curious about my intentions?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I don’t like variables appearing between us. Would you understand if I said I want to block all external factors that stimulate Jin Tae Yeon?”

It was vague, yet somewhat understandable.

“I suddenly returned from America, so isn’t it already difficult for you to adjust? I judged that I alone am enough to give Jin Tae Yeon stress.”

“Ah… Thank you. I didn’t know you’d be so considerate.”

Do Joon unbuckled Tae Yeon’s seatbelt with a click. Then, narrowing the distance between them, he smiled slightly.

“Isn’t Jin Tae Yeon also making a lot of effort for me?”

“…”

“You understand that I sleep without clothes on. And you’re getting quite good at pretending to be an affectionate couple in front of others.”

Could he invest hundreds of millions just for that? It was a strange calculation.

“Let’s go in.”

Do Joon got out of the car first and opened the passenger door. They both got out of the car and headed towards the house together.

Gratitude and puzzlement. Tae Yeon’s heart was floating between the two.

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Tae Yeon, having finished preparing for work, stopped before getting into Do Joon’s car.

“Did you forget something?”

“No, I was hoping we could commute separately starting today.”

“Why?”

Tae Yeon shared the story about the emergency staircase couple that she had heard from Yoon Ji a few days ago.

Do Joon, who had been listening silently, raised the corner of his mouth as if intrigued.

“You didn’t see their faces?”

“No, thankfully. So I think we should be more careful at the company.”

“Let’s do that.”

As he said this, Do Joon opened the passenger door. Tae Yeon stared at him blankly as if to ask what he was doing.

“I’ll drop you off near the company.”

“No…”

“I’ll drop you off where no one knows, so stop arguing and get in my car.”

Tae Yeon reluctantly got into Do Joon’s car. After all, since they were going in the same direction, driving two cars wouldn’t be good for the environment.

As they headed towards the company, Do Joon casually asked.

“But why are you hiding your husband’s identity at the company?”

“Well, of course…”

“It seems you didn’t talk about your husband at all even before I came as the director.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

That this marriage had an expiration date and was racing towards its end.

Because there was nothing to gain by telling her coworkers about a husband she was going to part with.

However, she couldn’t tell Do Joon that. Tae Yeon just made up an excuse.

“I don’t like being talked about by others.”

“You want to live a quiet life?”

“Yes.”

“But the seat next to me, the married Jin Tae Yeon, is a position that receives all sorts of brilliant spotlights?”

Tae Yeon nodded and let out a sigh.

“I guess so.”

“I’ll make sure you don’t regret your choice, Jin Tae Yeon.”

It was a promise to make efforts so that she wouldn’t regret marrying him.

Tae Yeon just smiled faintly.

Meanwhile, they were getting closer to the company. As Do Joon moved the car to the shoulder, he asked one more time.

“Can you really get off here and walk?”

“Of course. When you weren’t around, I commuted just fine using public transportation.”

“It’ll be hot.”

“It’s not far to the company. I’ll get off here. See you later.”

Do Joon stared at the empty seat after Tae Yeon got out.

The faint strawberry scent she left behind lingered strongly in the car.

The traffic light changed, and Tae Yeon crossed the street. Then she glanced at Do Joon’s car, smiled brightly, and waved.

Do Joon also raised his hand and waved it beside his face.

His deep tan probably prevented Tae Yeon from seeing his face.

They were always together, and now they were apart for just a moment, but it felt strangely empty.

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Do Joon’s office.

Secretary Choi knocked and then entered with quick steps. He looked excited about something.

“Director, it’s here.”

“No way.”

“It is.”

Secretary Choi placed a familiar brown envelope on Do Joon’s desk.

Do Joon quickly opened the envelope and took out the photos inside.

Now that he knew, everything was clear. As expected, the person in today’s delivered photos was not Tae Yeon, but Tae Jin.

They looked similar, but now that he knew, there was a subtle difference.

The photo delivered to Do Joon today showed Tae Jin’s back view entering a club.

And in the next photo, Tae Jin was coming out of the club arm in arm with an unfamiliar man.

“What an interesting woman.”

It was a different man from the one in the previous photos.

“And quite busy too.”

Knowing that the woman in these photos wasn’t Tae Yeon, he didn’t feel anxious at all when told that photos had been delivered.

“Were there only photos today as well?”

“Yes. There were no messages at all.”

“Then we should provoke them.”

“What are you planning to do?”

Secretary Choi leaned in closer to Do Joon, curious.

“We need to set a trap.”

Do Joon’s fingers tapped on the photos placed on the table.

The places where the photographer sent photos from were usually locations that could create provocative situations.

Hotels, clubs, and expensive luxury stores were mainly places where Tae Jin appeared with men.

“If we knew in advance where Jin Tae Jin was going, it would be easier to catch that bastard.”

Do Joon tapped the desk with his long fingers.

To find out Tae Jin’s whereabouts, he needed Tae Yeon’s help.

After sending Secretary Choi out, Do Joon called Tae Yeon’s desk.

Shortly after, Tae Yeon entered Do Joon’s office holding a diary.

“What’s the matter, Director?”

After confirming that Tae Yeon had closed the door with a click, Do Joon sat on the sofa in the center of the office.

Tae Yeon also sat next to him and took the photos that Do Joon handed her.

“More photos came?”

“Yes. Does your elder sister go to clubs often?”

“I know she goes occasionally.”

“It seems she has several boyfriends too.”

Tae Yeon’s face showed that she didn’t know much about that.

Do Joon asked casually.

“Is there any way to know your elder sister’s schedule?”

Although she didn’t directly contact Tae Jin, if she wanted to, she could find out her schedule.

“This club, it’s where elder sister’s close friends often have birthday parties.”

Do Joon nodded.

“I’ll check if there’s another party there.”

“Good. If someone is following Jin Tae Jin, they probably know her schedule too.”

“Yes.”

Tae Yeon stared at the photos for a while and then asked Do Joon.

“Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“Well, there are so many people who want to check me. Unless there’s clear evidence of who’s behind this among them, I can’t move rashly.”

“I see.”

Do Joon put down the photos and asked Tae Yeon.

“How are your parents these days?”

It had been a few days since Do Joon had threatened President Jin.

Surprisingly, neither President Jin nor Tae Jin had contacted them first, as if his words had worked.

“Strangely quiet.”

It was especially surprising that the people who had been constantly calling to the point where their phones were burning up since Do Joon returned to Korea were now as quiet as if they had disappeared from the world.

To repay that kindness, she wanted to help Do Joon catch whoever was sending these photos as much as possible.

“Let me know if you need any help, Do Joon.”

“I will.”

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After hearing that Chairman Cha had bought Tae Yeon’s birthday gift, the two headed to Baek Sang Jae after work.

Chairman Cha had been waiting for them for a long time, as he crossed the yard and opened the door himself as soon as he heard the doorbell.

“I was told you’ve had dinner, so I asked for tea to be prepared.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as Tae Yeon sat down, Chairman Cha picked up the many shopping bags placed beside him and handed them to her.

“This is too much…”

“It’s my daughter-in-law’s birthday, how can I give gifts so late when I couldn’t even rent an island for a party?”

“It’s alright, father.”

“These are just small gifts, so I hope you won’t refuse them.”

“Thank you.”

Tae Yeon opened the shopping bags one by one that Chairman Cha handed her.

There were not only one-of-a-kind luxury bags made by famous French designers but also plenty of expensive accessories.

While Tae Yeon was opening the gifts, Do Joon briefly left his seat to take a call he received from the company.

Chairman Cha, after confirming that Do Joon had left, casually opened his mouth.

“Our son must be quite lacking, right? He’s probably making you feel upset since he’s never considered a woman’s heart.”

“Not at all. Do Joon treats me very kindly.”

“How could that be? He’s such a blunt fellow.”

Chairman Cha clicked his tongue and then looked at Tae Yeon with loving eyes.

“I’m always on your side. So if Do Joon ever upsets you, feel free to tell me anytime.”

Tae Yeon smiled brightly, grateful even for just those words. Chairman Cha silently looked at Tae Yeon.

Although she hadn’t met Chairman Cha many times, each time he sincerely took care of Tae Yeon.

Seeing the handwritten letter he had personally written and put in the bag, Tae Yeon couldn’t close her mouth.

She almost cried, having never received a handwritten letter from President Jin and Hye Sook before.

Hearing Do Joon coming back in after his phone call, Tae Yeon quickly composed herself.

“What were you talking about while I was gone?”

“Nothing much.”

“You didn’t make Tae Yeon uncomfortable, did you?”

“No, really. Father and I didn’t say much at all.”

Do Joon drank the hot tea in front of him in one go and stood up. While buttoning his suit jacket, he spoke firmly to Chairman Cha.

“We should leave now as we might be tired for tomorrow’s business trip.”

“I see. You two are going to Busan together?”

“Yes. We need to visit the factory together to check on some things.”

“Don’t make my daughter-in-law feel neglected.”

“She’s my wife.”

The two exchanged fiery glances as they asserted their ownership.

When Tae Yeon gently shook Do Joon’s arm, he finally turned his gaze to her.

Do Joon took the paper bags Chairman Cha had given as gifts in both hands and left the house.

He gestured with his chin for Tae Yeon to hold his arm when she said she would carry them herself.

Hesitating, Tae Yeon gathered courage and linked her arm with his, and Chairman Cha, who was seeing them off, showed his gums in a wide smile, clearly pleased.

Both of them were immersing themselves in the act of appearing like a perfect couple.