Secret Cohabitation Love (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
The secretary had barely finished speaking when Chairman Kwon appeared.
“Did you wait long?”
“No, Chairman.”
Butler Jang pressed her hands tightly against her sides and bowed deeply. When her hand brushed against Ha Eun’s, Ha Eun followed suit and bowed as well.
Who is this? Ha Eun tried to recall while keeping her head lowered.
The face seemed familiar—on the verge of recognition—but she couldn’t place it. Who was it? Where had she seen them before?
Ah, right—the TV! Could this really be Chairman Kwon Ki Hoon?
She’d seen his face countless times in economic news articles and magazines while searching for Kwon Tae Ha. Not to mention regular news coverage, of course.
Although Ha Eun had thought her benefactor resembled Chairman GK Kwon, she hadn’t fully accepted it in her mind.
Because it was just too implausible.
She’d assumed her benefactor was, at best, the owner of a small or mid-sized company or perhaps the chairperson of a welfare foundation—if not just a local dignitary.
But Chairman Kwon Ki Hoon? Then her prospective spouse—could it really be—
Her bent back snapped upright like a spring, and she scanned the entourage standing firmly behind Chairman Kwon. Predictably, Kwon Tae Ha slowly emerged from behind the chairman.
This wasn’t a dream. If the man she was to marry wasn’t one of the secretaries standing like a shadow behind Chairman Kwon, then he was unmistakably Kwon Tae Ha.
“Your name is Yoo Ha Eun, correct?”
His voice sounded distant, as if heard underwater. Ha Eun, who had nearly fainted, barely regained her senses when Butler Jang squeezed her hand firmly.
Butler Jang mouthed the word “name.”
“Yes, yes. I’m Yoo Ha Eun, Chairman.”
“You seem quite startled.”
For the first time, a satisfied smile flickered across Butler Jang’s face.
“Please sit down, Chairman. You must be tired from coming here. Was traffic bad?”
“It was fine.”
Butler Jang pulled out the seat of honor for Chairman Kwon, but he shook his head and declined.
“Today’s meeting is meant for our children to meet, so let’s sit facing each other. And Butler Jang, don’t act like a servant today. …… Tae Ha.”
When Chairman Kwon turned and called his name, Tae Ha stepped forward.
Tall and slender, with firm lips, a neat forehead, intelligent and perceptive eyes, and a fearless gaze.
“Kwon Tae Ha.”
Truly, Kwon Tae Ha—the very man she’d admired ever since seeing him once at a party.
If she told him she’d read every article about him, even those not featuring his photo, and that because of him she’d gained a decent grasp of economics—would he believe her?
If she said she always bought two copies of any magazine with his picture—one to keep beside her bed and the other to carefully cut out and pin to her wall—would he believe that too?
Would it sound too foolish to confess she’d bookmarked every online article featuring him and reread them whenever she thought of him?
Marrying him meant sharing the same bed.
Every day, she’d be held in his broad chest, their lips would meet, and then—
Her lower abdomen suddenly flared with heat, swelling intensely. Her legs went weak, making it hard to stand.
Feeling her heart might burst, Ha Eun’s knees buckled.
“Ha ha, you really are shocked.”
Butler Jang quickly supported Ha Eun and helped her into a seat.
“I’m sorry, Chairman. My child seems unable to believe it.”
“Well? You’re meeting for the first time today—does your benefactor meet your expectations?”
A gentle smile had already softened Chairman Kwon’s face. Having heard good things from Jung Woo and seeing how innocently flustered Ha Eun was, he thought she wasn’t bad at all.
“Uh… I’m just so surprised right now I don’t know what to say. It feels like a dream.”
Her excited tone made Butler Jang worry she might slip up, so she reached under the table and tugged gently at Ha Eun’s coat. But Ha Eun didn’t even notice.
“Your honesty is commendable. Good.”
“Thank you, Chairman.”
Butler Jang answered in her stead.
“I already know all about your sponsorship, and now you know who your fiancé is. All that’s left is for you two to get to know each other. Isn’t that right, Butler Jang?”
“Yes, Chairman. It feels far too generous—I’m unsure if we should accept so readily…”
Butler Jang paused and glanced at Tae Ha.
His expression carried a faint smile, but it wasn’t genuine amusement—just polite decorum.
Having observed him for so long, she understood that much.
“If Young Master Tae Ha is agreeable, we’re ready anytime.”
Tae Ha maintained his courteous smile.
Honestly, he was a little surprised.
Of all the excellent marriage prospects offered by political and business circles, his father had chosen Butler Jang’s daughter.
Why? Did his father have some leverage over Butler Jang?
At the very least, a strategic marriage should benefit the company somehow—but this?
She wasn’t what he’d expected at all.
He had zero interest in women, no one he loved, and had never fantasized about love-at-first-sight romance from a single meeting.
The company always came first. So long as his spouse upheld proper etiquette and fulfilled their duties, and the marriage benefited the company, he was fine with anyone.
But this marriage didn’t fit that category.
He wouldn’t object only because his father was pushing for it and because he knew his father would never do anything to harm Tae Ha.
He could go through with this marriage—
It wouldn’t benefit the company, but marriage wasn’t important to him anyway. So long as she wasn’t deceitful, it was fine.
Song Eun Seo.
Tae Ha suddenly shook off the name that surfaced in his mind.
“Then Butler Jang, shall we leave and let the kids stay alone? If you’d feel slighted, we could at least have a cup of tea before going?”
“No, Chairman. We can have tea at home. You’ll be heading back to the office, won’t you?”
“No. I’ve made a restaurant reservation for us to have a meal together. Butler Jang, you like braised crab in soy sauce, right?”
* * *
Only the young man and woman remained in the room. Once everyone else left, the space fell utterly silent.
Too nervous to lift her head easily, Ha Eun kept her gaze down.
“My face isn’t going to wear out—why do you keep staring at the floor?”
Ha Eun, who’d been fixated on the floor, finally raised her eyes. Tae Ha looked at her calmly, with an unreadable expression.
Calm. Definitely not the enchanted gaze of a man smitten—but since he met her eyes, it wasn’t a red flag either.
If anything, she wanted to believe it was a green light.
What should she do? What could she do to turn this into a perfect green light? How could she win his heart?
She grew anxious.
So desperate that her mind went blank, Ha Eun absentmindedly fidgeted with her coat’s waist tie.
Then, suddenly, she remembered Butler Jang’s words:
[Still, your counterpart is a man.]Ha Eun gathered her composure, placed her hand on the ribbon knot of her coat, loosened it, and unwound the belt while offering a plausible excuse.
“I feel a bit warm. Is it okay if I take this off?”
As Ha Eun removed her coat, her shapely figure was clearly revealed. Tae Ha, whose eyes had followed her theatrical gesture, suppressed a wry smile.
“Did you know today’s purpose beforehand?”
“What do you mean?”
“This meeting.”
“To be honest, I knew there was a marriage prospect, but I didn’t know it was you, Kwon Tae Ha. Really. What about you?”
Ha Eun widened her eyes and blushed.
“I knew there was a marriage prospect, but I didn’t know I’d be meeting them today.”
“Then what did you think this meeting was for?”
“A business lunch with my father. But it seems the counterpart changed.”
Tae Ha raised an eyebrow and smiled. Whether it was out of politeness or genuine amusement was unclear—but the fact he smiled mattered to Ha Eun.
“You must have a good relationship with your father. I only have my mother, so I’ve always dreamed of that—being loved by my in-laws, cherished by my husband, preparing his breakfast every morning to see him off, and going to the hospital together when we have a baby.”
Her voice rose sharply at every syllable containing a “go,” grating on Tae Ha’s ears—but he maintained his courtesy.
“That’s your dream?”
“Yes, maybe it’s a bit old-fashioned. Since I’ve only had two family members, I love noisy celebrations during holidays or birthdays. And, to be honest, my position is uncertain—I could be disinherited anytime, you know? I’m an adopted daughter.”
“Does that matter?”
The man was flawless.
“Some people have hesitated because I’m adopted.”
Ha Eun’s eyes instantly grew misty.
None of her friends knew she was adopted, and she’d never volunteered the information because she hated being pitied. But if feigning vulnerability could help, a small lie like this came easily.
“People aren’t all the same.”
“I grew up mostly alone, and didn’t spend much time with my mother, so I’m a bit weak when it comes to love. But you seem kind—I was genuinely touched.”
Though clearly meant as a compliment, Tae Ha’s lips, which had been curved in a polite smile moments before, now formed a perfectly straight line. That slight change made his entire demeanor icy cold.
“Drop the buildup and state your conclusion.”
“What?”
“Since we’re meeting for the first time, I’d prefer to be clear.”
His words carried a chill so intense that Ha Eun’s shoulders stiffened involuntarily.
“I don’t want you holding false hopes. If you’re expecting love, reconsider this marriage.”
This wasn’t a gentle suggestion—the “do it” in his tone held uncompromising firmness.
“There are things I can give you, and things I can’t. If you desire what I can’t give, go elsewhere.”
Butler Jang’s warning—“He’s well-mannered but not someone to underestimate”—now made complete sense.
“Let’s end here for today. It seems my father arranged this because I couldn’t spare time.”
“But still…”
“I dislike wasting time on unconfirmed plans. If you’d like, Ha Eun, you can stay and eat. I’ll place an order for you.”
“I dislike it.”
For the first time, Ha Eun looked directly into Tae Ha’s eyes. She had to pull herself together. If she kept going like this, she’d lose what she wanted—now it wasn’t just Butler Jang’s desire, but her own.
“I won’t expect your heart to change. But isn’t it okay to hold onto the hope that maybe someday…? Do I really not appeal to you?”
It was a bold question, but Tae Ha answered without hesitation.
“Does it matter whether I find you appealing or not? We’re not marrying for love or romance anyway.”
“But if we’re going to live together, wouldn’t we need to adjust to each other? Shouldn’t we get to know each other’s hobbies, preferences—at least that much?”
“Are you expecting me to adjust to you?”
Ha Eun bit back her trembling lips and asked. Whether he realized or not, Tae Ha continued dismissively,
glancing at his wristwatch as if deeply annoyed.
“I’ll uphold proper etiquette and duty. That’s all I’ll do.”
He drove the point home like a firmly hammered nail.
Ha Eun steadied herself again and asked. If Tae Ha left now, she couldn’t predict when—or if—they’d meet a second time.
“Um, Kwon Tae Ha—if we leave without dinner, won’t the chairman ask why we came here for nothing?”
Tae Ha put on his suit jacket, which he’d removed earlier, and replied with a gentle smile.
“Surely, you’re not afraid of that, are you?”
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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