The matchmaking session ended unexpectedly quickly.

“How was the matchmaking session?”

Manager Park, who was driving, asked. Naturally, Woo Jin thought of Tae Eun’s dark eyes.

She left without ever giving an answer. However, the impression she left on him in that short time was deeply ingrained and could not be erased.

−Why…… Why do you want to marry me?

When he said they should get married, he saw her already large eyes grow even bigger. He also saw her roll her eyes as if she couldn’t believe he called her pretty. Actually, he didn’t think that answer would work on her. But what can he do. That unbelievable reason is the truth.

“Damn. The unbelievable one is me.”

Not you.

The words popped out without him realizing it. And those words were sincere.

He had met countless beautiful women. Among them, Park Seo Woo was the undisputed top as a top star who appealed to men’s hearts. However, his heart that didn’t move even for such a woman flowed so naturally to Min Tae Eun.

Is it because of those eyes that weren’t unfamiliar? The woman looked more beautiful. Even her rebelling by asking why when he said they should get married. Even her face turning red with shame as she confessed infertility. And even her getting upset over the story about his grandmother. There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t pretty about her.

And that’s not all. The jumbled thoughts that were wreaking havoc in his head until he met her were sorted out in an instant. Because in that moment with her at the restaurant, he could focus solely on her.

For him who suffers from insomnia due to having too many thoughts, that moment of being enthralled by someone without any other thoughts was clearly healing.

With this, he reached one conclusion. The reason his heart never moved so much for the women he met until now may be because he has too definite of a type. And that firm type was Min Tae Eun.

It was an absurd logic, but these things had to fit together for this absurd situation to be convincing. Because only then could he explain this whole series of events under the premise that he wasn’t crazy, from the moment he saw the woman’s photo and chose her to the familiar feeling he read from her face upon meeting her for the first time.

Yes. I’m not crazy. It’s just that Min Tae Eun fits my type exactly.

A deep realization gained after 30 years.

Damn, I’ve been living life in vain until now.

But the woman was stubbornly resisting sitting next to him, a seat others would kill to have. It displeased him, but also felt brazen and made him want to make her submit even more.

“Manager Park, I want to send some flowers.”

“To, to the person you just had a matchmaking meeting with?”

“Yeah.”

“Really-lly?”

Manager Park’s voice cracks at the end as he asks again, showing how surprised he is.

“Ah, then what kind of flowers should we send?”

At Manager Park’s words, Woo Jin thought of Tae Eun. But picturing her elegant yet stubborn face made his heart grow cautious. A concern he never had even once before washed over him.

Does she even like flowers? If so, what kind?

It was more difficult than he thought. Worrying while sending a gift to a woman was a first for him, stirring up strange emotions.

Gosh, a difficult woman.

Were women always this difficult?

But he couldn’t give up. He had to do something. Because the woman’s voice he heard through the phone at the restaurant entrance was ringing in his ears. Her shout that if she doesn’t get an after application, he shouldn’t even think about coming home.

He needed to drive the point home.

“Hmm, how much should we send? If you’re going to propose, wouldn’t it be better to send a lot of flashy flowers?”

“No. Just moderately.”

“But still, if it’s a proposal, being flashy and plentiful is……”

“I feel like I’d get slapped.”

She was a woman who contained a huge storm in that small body. A woman who knows how to diversely express her emotions while perfectly controlling them.

So he didn’t know if an excessive gesture would come flying back as a slap. No one would dare slap Seo Woo Jin, but somehow, it seemed like this woman would do just that and more.

Looking at him through the rearview mirror, Manager Park exclaimed in disbelief, but Woo Jin firmly said:

“Manager Park, do I look like I’m joking right now?”

Hearing the answer that he doesn’t, Woo Jin turned his gaze out the window.

Unconsciously stroking his cheek once.

* * *

After the absurd and humiliating matchmaking session ended, Tae Eun couldn’t go straight home and wandered around the neighborhood for 30 minutes. She feared the aftermath if she went home like this.

But after being so tense while meeting the man, her whole body ached, and she couldn’t endure any longer and went home. It was a moment when she desperately needed even a wink of sleep, but she probably wouldn’t be able to fall asleep easily tonight. Ji Eun, who was waiting impatiently for the matchmaking results, would grill her.

Before that, she should drink a glass of cold water.

Heading to the kitchen, a familiar voice stops her in her tracks.

It was Ji Eun and her half-brother Ji Hoon.

“No, Mom. Do you really think Min Tae Eun can become the daughter-in-law of the Jang family?”

No matter how much of a half-sibling he is, he’s 7 years younger but never calls her sister.

The rude jerk.

“Wow, our mom’s dream is quite grand. How presumptuous.”

“Is that so? Did I dream too grandly? Son, but then again? She may not be much else, but her looks are quite striking. Who knows. Seo Woo Jin’s eyes may suddenly turn and an unexpected thing could happen.”

“That’s true. Min Tae Eun does have a strange charisma that captivates men. But still, the other person is Seo Woo Jin, Mom’s greed is too much.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s a win-win game for me either way.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“If Seo Woo Jin’s eyes suddenly turn and he marries Tae Eun, it’s good that we become in-laws with the Jang family. And even if Tae Eun gets cut off, I can use this opportunity to kick out that sly old thing along with that annoying old man. This time, your dad won’t be able to say anything either, right?”

“Whoa!”

“Isn’t this killing two birds with one stone? So I don’t care about the outcome. I just needed a justification.”

“Wow…… Chilling! Really chilling! Our mom is a total genius?”

In that moment, Tae Eun’s barely standing legs wobbled. She finally understood the real reason behind this absurd matchmaking.

Jung Ji Eun literally just needed a justification. A clear justification to cut off both her and Grandma simultaneously. It was a method so devious, just like Jung Ji Eun.

Jung Ji Eun didn’t torment Tae Eun for no reason. When Ji Eun punished and cursed at her, there was always a clear reason that even her father Min Kyung Hoon had to agree with, and so Ji Eun’s actions were justified. The problem was, all those reasons were manipulated by Ji Eun.

Ji Eun was always like this. She was a nouveau riche who suddenly struck it rich, but Ji Eun was deeply immersed in playing the role of an elegant chaebol wife as if it was in her bones. Her acting was also of professional level. So to the outside world, Ji Eun was a generous madam who took in and raised her husband’s daughter from a different mother and even took care of his ex-wife’s mother, but in reality, she was nothing but a low-class third-rate actress.

And once again, Ji Eun had taken the stage using her as material.

Her teeth clenched.

To think she only considered this matchmaking as a lifeline for Min Kyung Hoon’s political advancement. Even after going through so much with Ji Eun, she fell for it again.

Tae Eun returned to the living room with staggering steps, leaving the hallway connected to the kitchen. Then, Mrs. Yang who was helping with household chores saw her and was surprised.

“Oh my, when did you get here? Madam was waiting for you.”

At Mrs. Yang’s voice, Ji Eun and Ji Hoon came out from the kitchen and saw her. And finally, the opening of the stage that Ji Eun had scripted rose.

“What, you’re back already? What time is it now? How can you end a matchmaking session like roasting beans in a flash of lightning?”

“Mm. Got rejected, didn’t you? It’s so obvious even without seeing. Men don’t waste time and money on women they’re not interested in.”

“Really? First, sit down.”

Ji Eun pointed to the sofa with her chin. Just in time, her barely standing legs seemed about to buckle, so Tae Eun sat on the sofa without a word.

“Say it yourself. What was the result? Did you get an after application? What did Seo Woo Jin say?”

At Ji Eun’s question, she tightly clenched her hands resting on her knees.

What should she say in response?

Actually, up until the moment she left the restaurant, the man’s will to marry her remained unchanged. But because he wasn’t a man she could handle, she returned without answering.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Were you really rejected?”

“I’m telling you she was, Mom. Why do you keep asking? Can’t you tell with one look?”

“Are you crazy? Didn’t you hear what I said about not crawling back home if you don’t get an after application? How dare you crawl back in here after getting rejected? Aigoo! So infuriating!”

Ji Eun’s acting, clutching her chest, began.

Words piled up inside her throat, trying to spill out, but Tae Eun remained silent. From experience, she had learned that provoking Ji Eun in moments like this only makes her explode more.

“This, this…… crazy…… Can’t even eat the meal I prepared with my own hands! How did it become like this! Get out, right now! Right now!”

Ji Eun shouted hysterically, putting on a stellar performance. But then, the sound of the doorbell rang. Mrs. Yang hurriedly came out and opened the front door, glancing at the living room atmosphere.

“Madam, there’s a guest here.”

The person they naturally assumed to be Min Kyung Hoon was not Min Kyung Hoon.

“Guest? What guest? There’s no one who would come……”

“Hello. I am Park Jae Hoon, the secretary serving Jang Won Group’s Executive Director Seo Woo Jin. I apologize for the late hour. But our Executive Director said he had something he must convey to Ms. Min Tae Eun, so I’ve come to visit despite the rudeness.”

Ji Eun’s eyebrows that had shot up at the unexpected guest quickly found their place. And Tae Eun was just as surprised.

Why on earth is that man here?

“Oh, did you say you came from Jang Won?”

The astonished Ji Eun quickly composed herself and went to the entrance. Ji Eun, who was spitting venom at Tae Eun just moments ago, showed the most benevolent smile in the world as she looked at Secretary Park, perfectly possessed by the role of a madam.

“By any chance…… did our Tae Eun make some mistake to Executive Director Seo?”

“No, not at all. He was worried because she left without having dinner as she wasn’t feeling well today. This is abalone porridge made by the main chef of our Jang Won Hotel. He said to make sure she eats it before going to bed.”

“Oh, oh my…… to bring something like this……”

The surprised Ji Eun stuttered, unable to finish her words.

“And it felt wrong to come empty-handed, so this is for the family.”

Secretary Park brought a large gift he had prepared outside into the house. A luxurious fruit basket, top-grade short ribs, wine, and even a rare wild ginseng set that’s hard to obtain.

Ji Eun’s mouth fell open. She looked at Tae Eun as if asking what is going on. But she had nothing to say either. She also never imagined a situation like this.

“Ah, and these flowers, he said to make sure to deliver them directly to Ms. Min Tae Eun.”

At Secretary Park’s words, Ji Eun motioned with her eyes to Tae Eun standing far away. As she approached and received the flowers, Secretary Park grinned as if he had completed his mission.

“Well then, have a good night.”

Secretary Park withdrew. But the place Secretary Park had come and gone from was almost a crucible of excitement.

Ji Eun’s face was flushed red, a stark contrast to just moments ago when she looked ready to devour Tae Eun. Ji Hoon beside her was also in an uproar.

“What! Whoa! Whoa! Did Min Tae Eun pull it off?”

“No, that’s not it……”

She had to say it. The moment their anticipation and false hopes faded, the aftermath would be hers to bear alone.

But before she could finish speaking, Ji Hoon discovered a small card among the bouquet and pulled it out.

“Whoa! Jackpot! Mom! Min Tae Eun got proposed to! Proposed!”

“Oh my! Really? Really?”

The surprised Tae Eun snatched the card from Ji Hoon’s hand and looked at it.

The strong handwriting presumed to be the man’s pierced into her eyes like a needle.

– I don’t think I got an answer yet. You’ll marry me, right?

It was an unmistakable, clear proposal.