When I Reach You (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7
From behind her turned back, she thought she heard the man’s amused snort.
“Just come in—I’d rather avoid the hassle.”
What’s the big deal about something this trivial?
At the man’s near-muttered words, Eun Jae gulped.
Then, as if urging her on, his voice rang out again.
“Aren’t you coming in? How long do you expect me to stand here like this?”
“Ah, yes, yes, yes—I’ll, I’ll come in. I’m coming in right now.”
Prompted by his words, Eun Jae slowly pivoted back around to face the front door once more.
She lifted her palms to block her view and stepped inside his house—a desperate attempt to avoid looking directly at him.
Seon Woo followed behind her, lightly patting his soaked hair with the towel he held. Watching her scurry ahead in brisk, hurried steps, he couldn’t help but chuckle, absurdly amused.
Strange—every time he looked at this woman, laughter kept leaking out.
Yesterday she’d kept him waiting; today she arrived a full ten minutes early, catching him completely off guard.
Perhaps it was precisely because she was so utterly unpredictable.
Seon Woo clicked his tongue inside his mouth and deliberately looked away.
Arriving first in the living room, Eun Jae fidgeted awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck as she searched desperately for somewhere to rest her gaze.
Though this was only her second visit, the house remained stubbornly unfamiliar, impossible to get used to.
Just then, a large shadow suddenly loomed up behind her, stepping briskly forward—then, carelessly, a pair of pink slippers landed with a soft *thud* at her feet. They matched the pair he himself had been wearing.
Perhaps it was the scent of shower gel—but the moment he drew near, a cool yet sweet fragrance wafted toward her.
“Put them on—you said your feet were cold.”
She didn’t think she could possibly look straight at a half-naked man. Without replying, Eun Jae quickly slipped her feet into the slippers.
At the sight, one corner of Seon Woo’s mouth twitched upward briefly—then just as quickly fell again.
“I’ll finish up and be right out—go ahead and sit down.”
The moment he disappeared, Eun Jae let out the breath she’d been holding in tension.
The first time she’d met him, his presence had chilled her to the bone, tying her nerves in knots.
His expression—dry, seemingly long since stripped of emotion—but every now and then, when that faint smile slipped through, it left her spellbound, unable to look away.
She recalled his expression: impassive, yet somehow languid.
Was it because of his particular aura?
“Aura? No—it’s just because you’re half-naked, that’s why.”
Still muttering in complaint as she glanced briefly around her, the man reappeared in the living room.
He strode out wearing navy trousers and a designer-logo denim shirt, now topped with a navy tie—neat and polished, unlike before.
He leisurely swept his still-damp hair back and settled first at the table, not forgetting the courtesy of pulling out the chair opposite for her.
Taking his silent cue to sit, Eun Jae cleared her throat with a soft *khm khm* and lowered herself into the seat.
As if he’d been waiting, he pulled the document resting on the table close to himself, then folded his arms atop it.
“What is it that Ji Eun Jae needs right now?”
“Me? I don’t need anything.”
“Don’t need anything, huh?”
You’re the only one who doesn’t seem to realize.
When Eun Jae answered with a genuinely perplexed look, Seon Woo couldn’t suppress a smile.
“How Ji Eun Jae intends to repay her debt…”
Leaning in with equal intent, Eun Jae folded her arms and tilted her upper body toward him, clearly listening carefully.
At last—it felt like she’d finally circled back and reached the summit. Now, she just needed to do *that one thing* he was about to say. Then, no more dealings with him afterward.
“What Ji Eun Jae needs most—I’ll provide it. In return, you’ll give me what *I* need. How’s that? Simple enough, right?”
Huh? It *is* simple—but why would *you* be the one to give me what *I* need?
Are you seriously offering me a favor when *I’m* the one who’s supposed to repay you?
Utterly unable to grasp his meaning, Eun Jae asked, puzzled:
“What exactly do *I* need?”
She was just about to protest—*I don’t need anything, how would you even know what I need?*—but he cut her off before she could speak.
“How much longer do you plan to keep running from loan sharks?”
“Oh—that…”
Yes, she needed *that*—but why would *you* be the one offering to handle it?
*She* was the one who’d agreed to repay the favor, yet *he* kept insisting on doing things for her.
As Eun Jae scratched her forehead, trailing off uncertainly, he continued:
“You know Jung Mi Ran is being forcibly discharged next week, right?”
“What? No—how can they just kick out someone who’s sick?”
And how do you even know my mother’s name? Did you run a background check already?
“That’s just how it is. No money, no stay.”
He stated it so calmly, so matter-of-factly, that Eun Jae was left speechless.
Right—he was correct. Without money, you *are* thrown out.
Ever since the loan sharks started chasing her, she’d been forced to halt all work. The little cash she had left was rapidly dwindling.
Which meant—this man was now essentially offering to settle her debt for her.
But why?
What could he possibly demand from her in return for covering such a massive sum?
Could she truly offer him something of *that* much value?
A grim premonition rose in her chest. Swallowing hard, Eun Jae parted her lips—chapped red from biting them repeatedly—and asked:
“What is it *you* need, Professor?”
“Can’t you drop that *professor* nonsense already?”
Eun Jae carefully studied his gaze as it met hers, then replied:
“Then what *should* I call you? *Ajusshi*?”
At that, his neatly combed eyebrows sharply arched upward.
“*Ajusshi*?”
“Can I ask you just one thing?”
“If it’s pointless, don’t even bother starting.”
“How old are you?”
“Seriously—so unnecessary.”
*Tsk.* He clicked his tongue, scowling deeply, clearly very displeased.
“I’m *not* at the age where I should be called *ajusshi*—at least not by my face. How old are *you*, anyway, that you keep calling me that?”
“Twenty-seven.”
Unable to find a proper retort, Seon Woo abruptly turned his head away and crossed his legs.
“Lucky you—you’re young.”
“So… thirty? Or… thirty-one?”
“Go higher.”
Eun Jae’s eyes widened in surprise—she hadn’t expected *that*.
“Thirty-two?”
Judging by his face alone, he looked believably in his twenties. Still, he *was* a professor, so she’d assumed he must be at least thirty.
“Three.”
“*Hiss?* Oh my god—you *are* an *ajusshi*!”
“Just six years’ difference—how is that *ajusshi*?”
*Just* six years? I entered middle school the same year you entered university!
His frown deepened, unrelenting—the age talk had clearly struck a nerve.
Now that she thought about it, it really *had* been a pointless question. Wanting to steer things back on track before he seized on yet another dig, Eun Jae quickly returned to her original query:
“So—what is it you *need*, Professor? Please just say it quickly—I’m not exactly free right now.”
“A wife.”
His words sent a cold splash through the room, instantly silencing everything.
Only the low hum of the air purifier continued faintly in the background.
*Did he just say… what he needs is a…?* For a moment, Eun Jae wondered if she’d misheard. No—she *had* to have.
Staring fixedly at him, she blinked rapidly, as if silently asking, *What did you just say?*
His calm, deep eyes met hers unwaveringly.
*Surely I misheard.* Tilting her head in confusion, Eun Jae asked again:
“What did you say you… need?”
“I need someone to become my wife.”
His answer dropped instantly—as if he’d been waiting for her question.
This time, the word pierced her ears with crystal clarity—and her mouth hung open, unable to close.
“You heard me.”
Oh my god—it *wasn’t* a mistake?
Flushed and bewildered, Eun Jae pressed him:
“*Ajusshi*, that’s not something *I* can possibly—”
“No.”
Apparently still irritated by the *ajusshi* remark, he cut her off mid-sentence, jaw clenched tightly as he continued:
“You’re more than enough—for this.”
Enough for *what*, exactly?
“No, really—I don’t want to ruin my life like that.”
Eun Jae’s eyes widened as she retorted—and Seon Woo, frowning deeply, snapped back, clearly annoyed:
“So marrying me ruins your life?”
Wasn’t that obvious?
They’d met only twice—or rather, three times—and she had no idea who he truly was. How could she possibly leap straight into marriage?
“Why have you been speaking informally since earlier?”
“You called me *ajusshi*, didn’t you?”
“No—but why get angry *again* over that?”
“I’m *not* angry.”
Her head spun. Heat rose fiercely to her face. She’d feared something like this—but never imagined *this* would be his demand.
After a long, speechless pause, Eun Jae’s tightly sealed lips slowly parted:
“Just tell me to clean, do laundry, wash dishes—I’ll do any of that, as much as you want. But what did you say you need? A *wife*?”
Unexpectedly, watching Eun Jae recoil in such obvious distaste stung Seon Woo’s pride.
No—he *had* anticipated it.
Even *I* think it’s absurd—so how ridiculous must it sound to *you*?
Still, being treated like a worn-out rag like this—he *was* somewhat taken aback, admittedly.
After a brief pause to collect his thoughts, Seon Woo lifted one corner of his mouth.
“I think you’re misunderstanding something—I’m not doing this because I’m madly in love with Ji Eun Jae or anything.”
It’s simply because you’re the only person I *can* reach.
It’s because right now, you’re literally my only option.
It’s preferable to sitting through endless, indefinite blind dates while waiting for someone like you to appear.
“It’s easy—repaying a favor. I’m not unilaterally demanding anything; I’m proposing an exchange: you give me what I need, I give you what *you* need.”
“No—I agreed to repay the favor, not to *marry* you.”
“Your idea of marriage and mine are different.”
Seon Woo pushed the document before him briskly toward Eun Jae.
“Think of it as a kind of business arrangement—you’ll probably grasp it faster that way.”
Eun Jae looked down at the paper slid before her. It was a marriage contract.
“A business exchange—giving each other what we need.”
So *this* was what he meant by “something I need to prepare”?
A marriage contract—of all things. Unbelievable.
This man was even crazier than she’d thought.
Eun Jae glared up at him, dissatisfied—but his expression remained perfectly impassive as he continued:
“One year. If things wrap up sooner, I could release you even earlier.”
He kept laying out terms designed to make Eun Jae’s ears perk up:
The advance payment would clear her debts; the final payment—delivered as a kind of consolation fee one year after the marriage ends—would fund her café.
“The S Coffee we went to last time? Their CEO’s an acquaintance of mine—I’ll make sure they treat you well. After all, your father-in-law is at our hospital.”
The moment you stamp this contract, you’ll no longer need to flee from loan sharks—or worry about your mother being kicked out of the hospital.
“Moreover, your mother will gain eligibility for the highest-tier medical care. Isn’t that an unbeatable offer?”
Truth be told, just escaping the loan sharks would already feel like breathing freely again—and with her mother’s situation added to the mix, her resolve trembled helplessly, like a candle in the wind.
“One more thing: I’ll file for annulment. We’ll revert everything as if nothing ever happened. After that, we simply live as though this never occurred.”
As though it never occurred…
Eun Jae quietly mulled over his final words. From start to finish, there were no hidden traps—only the *title* itself was the issue.
“Ji Eun Jae—I’ll take care of you for one year.”
“…”
“Give it to me.”
The entire proposal revolved solely around *her* needs, meticulously arranged.
“Even if it’s more than 200 million—or far beyond—I’m prepared to pay. Because to me, Ji Eun Jae is worth that much.”
Is my seemingly worthless, drifting life truly so valuable to you?
“I’ll do everything in my power to ensure you’ll never regret choosing this path.”
To any observer, it was clear *he* was the one making the request—and he was now waiting for *her* answer.
“What’s your reason for going this far?”
“Once we’re married, Yeonrim will belong to me—and I couldn’t bear it if you refused me something so essential.”
“Ah.”
“To me, that hospital—it’s practically my entire world.”
In short: *I’m* merely the means to obtain that hospital.
Eun Jae swallowed the bitter smile rising in her throat.
“I know—it’s a difficult decision.”
He picked up the water glass before him and drained it in one go before continuing:
“Those men you bumped into outside the restroom last time—they looked extremely dangerous.”
She knew. She knew that if caught next time, things would turn *truly* dangerous. She had no idea what they might do—or what might be done *to her*.
Still—don’t pretend to worry about me.
You’re only doing all this because you need *that one thing* from me.
Seon Woo watched silently as Eun Jae, still unable to answer, kept nervously gnawing on her lower lip—and exhaled a short breath.
“Today, I’m simply asking for Ji Eun Jae’s opinion. I’m not demanding you agree immediately.”
So don’t rush to refuse outright—
“I’ll accommodate whatever you want, no conditions.”
Just give it some deeper thought.
“Because this marriage is *that* critical to me.”
We both desperately need something—and we can exchange them.
His gaze, fixed steadily on her, radiated utter desperation.
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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