The 7-Day Contract (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7
“What brings you here, Hyung?”
Jeong Hyeok didn’t even glance at him and casually brushed off the hand pressing his shoulder.
“Why? Just came to offer my congratulations now that you’ve officially taken office as Executive Managing Director.”
“Right. It’s been over a month since you became Executive Managing Director, yet you didn’t bother visiting me even once—despite being a Managing Director yourself.”
Calling out his recent arrogance by pointing directly to the rigid hierarchy, Seung Hoon offered an embarrassed smile.
“Oh, right! I heard you’ve set your engagement date already? At thirty-four, it’s definitely a perfect age to marry. Looks like our Jeong Hyeok now only has success ahead of him.”
Chuckling softly, Seung Hoon lightly patted Jeong Hyeok’s shoulder.
“No need to be sad over a loveless marriage. Affection grows as you live together—trust me, your hyung’s been through it first.”
Unable to suppress a wry smile at this unsolicited advice from someone claiming seniority in marriage, Jeong Hyeok scoffed.
An arranged marriage—merely a type of business deal, commonplace among corporations.
It was absurd to layer personal emotions like affection onto such a simple exchange of giving and receiving.
Jeong Hyeok’s eyes, habitually rubbing his earlobe, flicked up briefly.
“Guess you still can’t really develop affection for Hyungsoo, huh?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, I just wondered—since you keep flirting with female employees at the office, maybe it’s because your loveless marriage makes you feel lonely?”
“…….”
Stung by the blunt remark hitting the bullseye, Seung Hoon’s cheeks flushed red. Coughing awkwardly to cover his embarrassment, he smoothly changed the subject.
“By the way, I heard the Chairman gave you quite the generous wedding gift—8% stake in the distribution division, right? Let me see… that brings your total shareholding to around 20%?”
“26.84%.”
“Huh…?”
Jeong Hyeok, who’d completely looked away from the documents, shifted his gaze toward him.
“26.84% in distribution, 15.29% in construction, 18.6% in electronics, 13.77% in apparel, and 32.52% in cosmetics. What about you, Hyung? Maybe 2% in construction and 1% in electronics?”
Seung Hoon’s expression visibly twisted.
“Hey, Cha Jeong Hyeok—what the hell are you doing?”
“Can’t you see? I’m bragging. You said your stomach hurts—I’m just making it hurt more.”
A sneer danced at the corner of the man’s mouth as he leaned back lazily, meeting Seung Hoon with calm, languid eyes.
Seung Hoon clenched his back teeth, utterly speechless.
It was deeply grating how this brat, born with a gold spoon studded with diamonds, strutted around with such arrogance.
Truth be told, Seung Hoon *had* felt sick—literally fell ill for days—upon hearing news of Jeong Hyeok’s promotion to Executive Managing Director.
What had Cha Jeong Hyeok actually done for Myeonghan? Nothing. He’d merely enjoyed what he was born with.
Hadn’t Seung Hoon himself diligently climbed the corporate ladder—from Assistant Manager upward, step by step?
All because Chairwoman Park, the Group’s top leader, had insisted even blood relatives must prove their competence.
Yet that same elder completely overturned her ironclad principle and shoved her grandson right above Seung Hoon’s head.
It was no different than publicly declaring Cha Jeong Hyeok the next-generation successor to Myeonghan Group.
Having provoked the situation himself, Seung Hoon now grew furious and yanked his tie irritably.
“You bastard—do you really think all this is yours just because you’re talented?”
Jeong Hyeok, still reclining leisurely, lifted his chin slightly higher. Though Seung Hoon stood physically above him, somehow Jeong Hyeok’s gaze felt like it was looking down from above.
“That’s my privilege. If you’re jealous, you should’ve been born a Cha too. Oh—wait, maybe you’re just incompetent? The old lady hates nothing more than parasites who just eat without contributing.”
“Are… are you seriously saying this to *me*?”
“Who else? It’s just you and me here.”
His voice remained calm and level, deliberately goading the entire time.
“I get that your stomach hurts—but is that the *only* reason I’m in this position? People with nothing lack understanding of responsibility’s weight. You *want* what I have, but you couldn’t bear it. It’d crush you.”
“Cha Jeong Hyeok! Enough already!”
Watching Seung Hoon’s face flush crimson and then pale, Jeong Hyeok sneered.
Crushing people who revealed such petty ambitions wasn’t even real work to him.
After all, his entire life had been spent learning nothing but how to monitor and trample such individuals.
“Instead of wasting time like this, at least pretend to reflect on yourself. It’s only been a few days since the old lady clutched her neck in distress over the stock price drop caused by your sexual harassment scandal at the PR department. Push it once more, and your position won’t just be shaky—it’ll vanish.”
An arrogant glare pierced Seung Hoon’s humiliated, distorted face.
“So listen well, Managing Director Ji Seung Hoon—stop crawling up like a pathetic worm. Learn some self-preservation. And maybe pick up how to properly flatter your superiors. Getting rid of a contract-based hire like you? That’s not even a real task.”
★ ★ ★
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Si Woo!”
Amidst a warm, cheerful atmosphere, the birthday song rang out rather noisily.
Adults wearing flashy conical party hats showed no hesitation in acting silly before the day’s guest of honor.
Si Woo’s cheeks puffed out like a toad’s.
“Waaaah!!”
Though he’d merely blown out five candles, applause and cheers erupted as if he’d won an Olympic medal.
This was followed by the gift-giving ceremony.
The first presenter was Sol Yi—who would leap out of bed even mid-sleep at the mere mention of Si Woo.
“Happy birthday, our Si Woo, from your auntie!”
“Thank you, Auntie. Si Woo loves you.”
After bowing deeply at the waist, Si Woo accepted the neatly wrapped box and gave a shy, beaming smile. At his endearing expression, honey practically dripped from Sol Yi’s eyes.
“I love you so, so, *so* much! How about becoming my son, Si Woo? Be Auntie’s boy, okay?”
Blinking innocently at her coaxing, Si Woo immediately shook his head.
“Nope! Si Woo is *Mommy’s* son!”
He quickly scrambled onto Da Jung’s lap, wrapping his tiny arms tightly around her neck—as if to prevent her from being stolen away.
Rejected, Sol Yi’s face instantly fell.
“Ohhh? Is Auntie feeling neglected now?”
When she pretended to sniffle, the clever five-year-old quickly hopped off his mother’s lap and trotted over to hug Sol Yi.
His small, biscuit-scented hands gently stroked her cheeks.
“It’s okay—*sniff!*—when Si Woo grows up, he’ll take care of Auntie too!”
“Hah!”
Sol Yi’s tear-filled eyes swirled with emotion.
This was why rote learning was terrifying. After constantly singing “I’ll support you in old age” in front of the child, Sol Yi had finally received a definitive promise—from a mere five-year-old—that he’d care for her later in life.
Si Woo stood straight again and bowed deeply once more.
“Auntie! Um… thank you for raising Si Woo. Please keep raising me well in the future too!”
“Waaah! Auntie’s so moved!”
Sol Yi pulled Si Woo into a tight hug and rubbed her cheek vigorously against his.
“You’re just too adorable! Who could Si Woo possibly have inherited this cuteness and handsomeness from, hmm?”
At her silly remark, Suk Hee nudged her daughter’s side sharply.
Setting aside his sweet charm, it was obvious just from his fine features alone that he hadn’t taken after Da Jung.
He must’ve resembled his father—but since neither his father’s name nor surname was known, the comment cast an awkward chill over the room.
“Who could he resemble? He’s handsome because he looks like his mom, right? Isn’t that so, Mommy’s boy?”
Da Jung smoothly deflected the comment and patted Si Woo’s bottom. Unlike her naïve younger self, the Da Jung who had now become a mother exuded calm confidence and poise.
Do Jun, who had been quietly holding his place, also stepped in to lighten the mood.
“Happy birthday, Si Woo. Here’s your present from Uncle.”
Kwon Do Jun.
Da Jung’s senior from university—and the dependable, gracious president of Hanbit Architecture, who reliably ensured their livelihood by sending Da Jung her monthly salary without fail.
“Thank you, President Uncle!”
Si Woo bowed deeply at the waist. After watching with quiet satisfaction, Da Jung finally presented her own gift.
“Thank you, Si Woo, for growing up healthy and strong.”
“Mommy, I love you!”
Si Woo lunged into her arms and planted a kiss on her cheek in reply.
Si Woo had grown into an affectionate, lovable child—naturally polite, cheerful, energetic, and radiating pure, unshadowed brightness.
If Si Woo continued to thrive just like this, Da Jung felt she could ask for nothing more in life.
As they postponed cutting the cake to set the dinner table, the doorbell suddenly rang. Sol Yi stretched her neck forward like a meerkat and asked,
“Who else is coming?”
“Hmm… no one else was expected…”
Da Jung, who’d been in the kitchen, stepped out into the living room and wiped her damp hands on her apron. Her slightly furrowed brow checked the security screen.
Her mouth fell open slightly. The face on the screen belonged to an unexpected guest. After a brief moment of panic, Da Jung hurried to the front door.
*Ding.*
Upon opening the door, Jung Ae stood there sternly, dressed immaculately in a clean, traditional silk jacket and skirt.
“…Oh, Mom. Come in. Everyone’s waiting.”
Though she opened the door wide in invitation, Da Jung couldn’t hide her awkwardness.
It had already been over half a year since they last saw each other, and this was Jung Ae’s first visit to Da Jung’s new home.
Considering her distaste for apartment complexes—often complaining she felt dizzy just looking at them—she must’ve had quite some trouble finding the place.
Had she given advance notice, Da Jung would’ve met her at the terminal—but this happened every time.
Frustrated once again by her mother’s baffling behavior—which inevitably made her feel like a neglectful daughter—Da Jung’s discomfort deepened.
“Oh my! Si Woo’s grandmother is here!”
Suk Hee clapped her hands and rushed out with evident delight, but Jung Ae merely offered a curt, indifferent nod in return.
Though they’d lived as neighbors and known each other for over a decade, Jung Ae had never been particularly warm-hearted.
Quickly pulling Si Woo close beside her, Da Jung prompted gently,
“Si Woo, say hello to your grandmother.”
“Um… Hello, Grandma.”
After a reluctant greeting under the light pressure of her hand on his head, Si Woo awkwardly hid behind Da Jung.
The only response his grandmother gave him was a cold, fleeting glance.
Even as dinner was being served, Jung Ae refused to mingle and remained seated heavily on the sofa.
Though glad her mother had come, Da Jung couldn’t shake her unease as she arranged the table with seaweed soup and side dishes.
★ ★ ★
Everyone seated around the table observed the appetizing spread in awkward silence—because Jung Ae stubbornly remained unmoved on the sofa, ignoring even the announcement that dinner was ready.
Sensing the tension, Da Jung stepped into the living room and gently suggested,
“Mom, please come eat.”
“I’m fine.”
Without even glancing her way, Jung Ae waved her off dismissively.
Da Jung had assumed her mother’s very presence signaled some softening—but Jung Ae’s gloomy mood showed no sign of improvement.
“Mother, please join us for the meal.”
Trying to ease Da Jung’s embarrassment in front of the guests, Do Jun also spoke up. When Jung Ae still remained silent, Suk Hee finally stepped in, took her hand, and gently pulled her toward the table.
“Si Woo’s Grandmother—please, don’t be like that. Come on over.”
“Oh, I’m *fine*, child!”
Snapping irritably, Jung Ae shook Suk Hee’s hand away.
Da Jung silently swallowed a sigh. Her mother’s stubbornness and difficult temperament were exhausting—yet at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel pity for her.
The once-graceful beauty of her youth had vanished; only the deep rings of time remained etched across her mother’s face.
Perhaps her mother’s rigid, old-fashioned ways stemmed from the relentless hardships she’d endured over the years.
As time passed, the atmosphere grew increasingly frigid.
The guests’ smiles had long faded since their arrival.
Consequently, despite the well-prepared meal, they only picked at their food and ultimately left earlier than expected.
Outside the front door, Do Jun smiled faintly and pinched Si Woo’s cheek lightly.
“Yoo Si Woo—next time we meet, you’d better have grown *this much* more.”
“Yes, sir!”
Tucked in his mother’s arms, Si Woo’s reply rang out spiritedly.
Da Jung glanced back briefly into her wide-open home. Even while she stood outside to see the guests off, Jung Ae hadn’t once appeared at the door.
Though understandable with Suk Hee and Sol Yi, Da Jung still felt deeply embarrassed and apologetic toward Do Jun for having witnessed such a scene.
“Senior… You came all the way here and couldn’t even rest on the weekend—I’m really sorry.”
“No need to apologize. *I’m* the one who’s grateful you invited me—and the seaweed soup was delicious. You did well.”
Perhaps mindful of Jung Ae’s presence, Do Jun said no more and merely gave Da Jung’s shoulder a light, reassuring pat.
Though they’d known each other for over ten years, Do Jun had always remained, for Da Jung, a steadfastly kind and dependable person.
While Sol Yi subjected Si Woo to affectionate kiss-torture, Suk Hee gave one final reminder:
“Please gently ease your mother’s heart.”
“Don’t worry—I’ll see you off.”
When Da Jung returned after escorting the guests, Jung Ae was still sitting sullenly in the same spot.
Da Jung wordlessly peeled a piece of fruit and placed it before her mother, then returned to the kitchen and slipped on her rubber gloves.
Only the clinking of dishes during washing filled the space. Da Jung felt suffocated by her mother’s silence.
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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