Chapter 20
“What do you think, Director Kang?”
“Pardon?”
“What do you think of Choi Iseo as our new NY art director?”
Director Kang, pushing up his slipping glasses, glanced around and replied in a quiet voice.
“To be honest, her qualifications are a bit lacking compared to other candidates, but after reviewing her portfolio, I can say she has a remarkable sense of creativity and originality. We’ve been stuck with similar designs and ideas for years, so having someone with a fresh perspective is actually a bit surprising. Her past experiences at different design firms will likely be helpful too.”
“I see…”
Hye-mi’s eyebrows twitched slightly as she listened, twiddling her fingers absentmindedly.
* * *
“Iseo, I’m saying this again. I really like you.”
“What’s gotten into you, talking all sweet like that? Fine, I like you too. Happy now?”
Iseo chuckled lightly at Jian’s words and kept downing the drinks in front of her.
Time passed, the lighting soft and warm, and Iseo’s flushed cheeks grew redder with each passing moment.
“Why are you drinking so fast?”
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah, right.”
As Jian reached to take her glass, Iseo gently brushed his hand away.
“Hey, Jian, seriously, don’t pull this act with anyone else. I can tell you’re joking, but your expression just now was way too serious. Any other girl would’ve thought you were really confessing.”
“I am confessing.”
Iseo’s gaze shot to Jian’s face at the unfamiliar tone of his voice.
“You’re not serious…”
“I am. I’m confessing, Choi Iseo.”
“Are you drunk or something? I’m the one who drank all this—have you gotten that weak while we haven’t seen each other?”
“I’m saying this because I’m not drunk. If I were drunk, I wouldn’t say anything. I don’t want to be the kind of guy who needs alcohol to confess.”
They’d known each other for over a decade.
And Iseo knew better than anyone that Jian wasn’t the type to joke like this.
That’s why she was even more shaken by the words coming out of his mouth now.
“If you’re not drunk and you’re not joking, then why are you doing this?”
“I’m telling you I like you. Why is that so strange?”
“I’m getting married soon. You were there, remember?”
“Just be honest. Are you really marrying for love?”
Whenever loan sharks came knocking, Jian would always appear like a guardian angel, protecting her from fear and danger.
He had a natural knack for fighting and was always the first to stand up for Iseo, ever since their school days.
Normally rational and calm, Jian would throw punches without hesitation if it was for her.
Somewhere along the way, he had become her best friend, her protector, even a father figure filling the void left by Choi Byeong-tae.
“Why can’t you answer? Is it not love?”
“I’m not saying anything because that question’s ridiculous. Of course I’m marrying for love. Who marries someone they don’t love? Jian, you’re really acting weird today.”
Maybe it was Jian’s piercing question, maybe it was confusion, maybe it was the mixed alcohol—but either way, a faint throb began at her temple.
“Ugh, I must be drunk. I’m feeling dizzy all of a sudden.”
“Is it because of money?”
“What?”
“Are you marrying because of money?”
Jian’s brows furrowed deeper as he looked at Iseo.
“That’s ridiculous…”
“When you suddenly disappeared with that guy, I went to your place, but no one was there. I couldn’t reach you. A few days later, someone else answered and said you’d moved.”
“T-that’s—”
“The sudden move, the way those loan sharks stopped showing up out of nowhere—it’s all connected to that man, isn’t it?”
“What are you even imagining?”
Jian’s cold tone—one Iseo had never heard before—made her expression slowly harden.
“If it’s really about the money, it’s not too late to stop.”
“You really—”
“Just say it’s not. Say it.”
It was too true to deny, and too painful to admit. The words wouldn’t come out, so she bit her lower lip instead.
She didn’t even want to imagine the pain Jian would feel if he ever found out the truth about her contract marriage—how it was all because of money and debt.
“Stop with the nonsense. Let’s just go.”
“How long are you going to keep running?”
“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear anything today. I get it. A friend you’ve known for over 10 years suddenly says she’s getting married—it’d make anyone feel a little weird…”
She didn’t want things to be awkward with him.
She didn’t want to lose her best friend just because they got tangled up romantically.
She wanted him to stop asking, because this contract marriage couldn’t be undone now.
She swallowed all the words rising to her throat.
“I should go.”
As she tried to stand, Iseo stumbled from the alcohol.
Someone caught her arm just before she collapsed.
Her vision blurred. As she lifted her head, she saw a vague silhouette.
* * *
Secretary Min entered the CEO’s office quickly.
“Sir, I’ve confirmed it.”
Taeseok frowned deeply as he looked at the photo on his phone.
Watching him carefully, Secretary Min asked cautiously.
“You’re not planning to go there yourself… are you?”
“Send me the location.”
Taeseok reached for his jacket and stood up, but Secretary Min quickly blocked his path.
“Sir, are you really planning to go like this?”
“…”
“If you must go, you can’t go like this.”
Taeseok’s brow twitched at the secretary’s defiance.
“Ever since your engagement announcement, the Chairman’s monitoring has intensified. The headquarters is already on high alert, trying to find even the smallest blemish about you or your fiancée. If a photo of this gets out, it’ll be a scandal.”
“You worry too much, Min.”
“Wouldn’t it be wiser to avoid unnecessary attention?”
Taking the shopping bag Secretary Min handed him, Taeseok headed out without another word.
* * *
“You again…”
Taeseok stood before Jian, wearing jeans, a black polo shirt, and a black cap pulled low over his face.
“It’s you again.”
“I told you before—my name is Han Taeseok.”
A cold gaze, an icy tone.
As tense words passed between them, Iseo looked up at Taeseok.
“Han Taeseok?”
Jian moved closer, trying to pull Iseo’s arm away from Taeseok’s grip.
“Let go of her. We can talk.”
“She’s going to be my wife.”
“You’re not married yet. Nothing’s final.”
Through her blurry vision, Iseo saw a strangely dressed Taeseok—so different from usual.
“So it really is you, Han Taeseok.”
“What happened? You said you were going to an interview. This doesn’t look like a company.”
“I did go to the interview. I came here after, to grab a drink with my Jian.”
The casual use of “my Jian” slipped from her drunken lips, completely unaware of the impact it might cause.
This was no time to smile.
Taeseok pulled Iseo into his arms.
“Just one question. Where exactly is Iseo living right now?”
“Even best friends don’t share everything.”
Taeseok’s lips curved upward slightly.
“Do I really owe you that kind of explanation, Mr. Lee Jian?”
His voice, emphasizing each syllable of Jian’s name, clearly showed his displeasure.
“What do you even know about Iseo?”
“More than you, probably. Even the parts you’ll never know—I know those too.”
At the slightly sharp, irritated tone in Taeseok’s voice, veins bulged in Jian’s clenched fist.
“I’m sure you have lots of questions, but as you can see, Iseo’s drunk. I’ll arrange a proper dinner sometime—let’s talk then.”
With those final words, Taeseok helped Iseo out of the restaurant.
Jian’s gaze followed their retreating figures.
His eyes trembled, and blood welled at the lip he bit so hard.
Outside, Taeseok quickly helped Iseo into the car.
Her slightly parted lips released warm breaths, heat rising from the alcohol.
“Hey, Choi Iseo.”
But she didn’t respond. Her eyes remained closed.
After facing Pilsoon, enduring the interview, and now Jian’s sudden confession—it was no wonder her body felt so heavy.
Taeseok gently reclined the seat and covered her with a coat from the backseat.
He studied her face in silence.
Her flushed cheeks, the deep color of her lips—it all made her look like someone else.
Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.
This marriage contract—they were about to begin something that could become dangerous.
As he stared at the woman who would become his wife, Taeseok’s gaze deepened.
The word “wife.”
A strange term. An unfamiliar emotion.
Taeseok’s slender fingers slowly reached for Iseo’s lips, releasing warm breath.
For the first time, a breeze named Choi Iseo was stirring his once-immovable heart.
