“Strike While the Iron is Hot” — That must be what this situation was calling for.
As soon as Juran heard Nayoon’s story, she contacted the Songsung family that very day, and before long, a formal family meeting was arranged.
When Nayoon’s secretary informed her of the news, she paused in the middle of flipping through documents.
She had expected things to move quickly, but not this suddenly.
“Are you alright, Director?”
At her secretary’s concerned question, Nayoon gathered her thoughts and looked up.
“Of course. Thank you. You can go now.”
The secretary bowed with a faint trace of pity in her eyes before leaving. She couldn’t quite hide her sympathy—feeling sorry that Nayoon was going through with the marriage just as the family had planned.
Most people wouldn’t know, but those who had seen this family up close were aware—if only vaguely.
That Nayoon was the sacrificial lamb of this household.
Staring at the door that had shut with a heavy thud, Nayoon’s gaze shifted as her phone began to buzz insistently.
It was Gu Jae-ha.
At the sight of his name, her puzzled expression slowly cleared.
“Yes, I’ve answered.”
— “It’s me. Gu Jae-ha.”
“Yes, I know.”
Her voice was calm, followed by an even-toned question.
— “Did you hear the engagement meeting has been arranged?”
“Yes, I know.”
— “Good. We probably have a lot to talk about. Let’s meet for a bit.”
“When…”
— “What time do you finish work?”
Nayoon glanced once at the towering pile of documents on her desk, then at the clock.
It was 2 p.m.…
The silence stretched only for a moment before his voice filled the gap.
— “Let’s meet at 6 on the dot.”
Since joining the company, Nayoon had never once left work at six.
Overtime was the norm, and ever since becoming an executive, she’d lived by the minute.
A 6 p.m. end to the day felt unthinkable.
She hesitated. No matter what, she couldn’t just abandon her workload.
She was just about to say no, when he spoke again.
— “If not, that’s fine. But wouldn’t that mess things up for us? I think you know which matters should come first.”
At his gentle yet firm push, her gaze drifted back to the mountain of paperwork.
She knew full well what should come first.
“It’s fine. I’ll make it.”
— “Alright. See you then.”
A faint chuckle accompanied his words as the call ended.
Staring at the disconnected phone, Nayoon tilted her head slightly.
Why does he keep calling like this?
Why is this man so… considerate toward me?
Even if it didn’t feel like it, his actions clearly showed kindness.
His face floated into her mind, but she quickly pushed it away and brought the stack of documents in front of her.
Her new goal: finish everything before six o’clock.
Work still mattered.
The clock’s minute hand pointed to 5:55 p.m., and at that exact moment, Nayoon closed the final file.
With not even a minute’s rest, she had pushed through and just barely finished all her tasks.
She immediately pulled out a mirror to check her reflection.
She looked a bit tired, but there was no time to worry about that. After a quick adjustment to her hair, she packed her bag and headed out.
Her secretary stood up in shock, and Nayoon called out as she passed.
“I’m heading out first. Wrap things up and go home early.”
Her quick steps led her to the elevator. Checking the time—just about two minutes left.
She passed the 15th floor, then the 10th, 7th, 4th…
Just one minute left. When the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, she crossed the lobby.
Exactly 6 p.m. As she exhaled a quiet breath and stepped outside, she saw Jae-ha.
Leaning casually against a black sedan, he looked up and smiled the moment their eyes met.
The gentle smile stirred something inside her, and Nayoon’s pupils flickered with a strange emotion.
She quickly looked away, while Jae-ha straightened up and approached.
“You should’ve taken your time. What if you hurt yourself rushing like that?”
Smiling warmly—as if putting on a show for anyone watching—he gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Nayoon was startled by the gesture, but followed him without resisting. At his nod to get in, she masked her confusion and stepped into the car.
The soft leather seat embraced her tired body, and a light citrus scent filled the air.
As Jae-ha entered the driver’s seat, Nayoon quickly sat upright and fastened her seatbelt.
“You came early?” she asked.
“A little,” he replied as the car began to move.
Something about his tone irritated her. She couldn’t pinpoint it—it was just… something.
“You didn’t need to come pick me up.”
“Is it uncomfortable?”
“Not that… I just thought it would be a waste of your time.”
At her hesitant response, Jae-ha chuckled.
“I find it amusing.”
Amusing?
Nayoon blinked in surprise, then seemed to understand.
They were supposed to be meeting with marriage in mind. So this… was dating.
The car joined the congested rush-hour traffic, inching forward in stops and starts. Soft music played from the speakers.
The atmosphere felt suffocating, but Jae-ha didn’t seem bothered at all. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the wheel.
She found herself wondering how he could act so unaffected.
“You said we were dating with marriage in mind… but the family meeting came about suddenly.”
“Well, that’s probably better for you, isn’t it?”
Stopped at a red light, Jae-ha turned and looked at her—seeking confirmation.
“I do prefer things to move quickly.”
“Do you want revenge on Chairman Jin and his wife?”
His blunt question froze her.
Her heart thudded loudly in her chest.
“I just had a feeling. So it’s true.”
“Were you testing me?”
Her sharp gaze shot toward him, but he answered casually.
“I need to be sure if I’m going to help you. Besides, you haven’t heard my condition yet, have you?”
Nayoon’s hazy thoughts began to clear. If he was willing to help, she couldn’t ask for more.
And come to think of it, he hadn’t told her his terms yet.
Her gaze turned firm.
“Help me. With revenge.”
“Alright.”
His calm reply came after a long look. He turned back and resumed driving.
“Now that I understand your goal, mine’s simple.”
Now it was time to hear his conditions.
“It’d be nice if things ended with just a blind date, like you said before.”
She thought that would be fine—until he added:
“But the chairman… wouldn’t let that happen.”
At the unexpected mention of his father, Nayoon felt her heart drop.
She’d completely forgotten.
The chairman of Songsung Group had spent decades volunteering and giving back to society.
Before his wife—Jae-ha’s mother—passed away, the couple had gone everywhere together, helping others.
They believed that giving back was the natural order of the world.
“Our chairman insists I marry for love. He’s very strict about that.”
Songsung’s romantic history was widely known.
Gu, the company heir, had once fallen head-over-heels for a completely ordinary woman—Jae-ha’s birth mother.
Despite opposition from both families, they had married anyway.
Because of that, Gu was cast out of Songsung, and started a business from nothing.
He built it up from the ground and eventually returned to Songsung as its successor—once the family accepted his wife.
Though he gained a son and daughter, he lost his beloved wife.
That’s why love and affection were incredibly important to Chairman Gu—and that extended to his son.
His number one condition for marriage: love.
The problem? Jae-ha didn’t have anyone who fit that requirement.
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Nayoon said flatly.
Jae-ha respected his parents, but love was a separate matter.
He had no interest in giving or receiving love from a woman.
“Still… let’s say it does make sense.”
Nayoon blinked slowly.
She was usually quick-witted, but today, every word Jae-ha spoke seemed to tangle her thoughts.
“…Sorry, what?”
“I’m saying, let’s pretend I fell for you at first sight.”
She tilted her head slightly, and he glanced sideways at her.
“That’s why I dropped everything, left work, and came to pick you up.”
That’s how special she was—at least in this story.
Not the kind of love or affection his parents had talked about. Not in a romantic sense.
But enough.
His lips curled into a cool, confident smile.
