Chapter 6
“Uwaaah…!”
Realizing there was no way to avoid it, Onyu instinctively covered her face with both hands. After all the effort she’d put into her skincare routine with daily face masks, she couldn’t let her face get buried in a pile of manure.
Just as she resigned herself to her fate, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her backward.
When nothing happened, Onyu slowly lowered her hands from her face.
“……”
A handsome man’s upside-down face suddenly dropped into her wide, blinking eyes like a stone into a pond.
“Are you okay?”
Only after the level, emotionless question did Onyu finally grasp the situation.
Kang Iwan had just saved her from falling into the compost heap. Now, her body was tilted diagonally into his arms, like a tango pose.
He stared down at her face in that position, making her feel increasingly awkward and embarrassed.
He was the kind of man who was too much to deal with up close. The type you’d admire from afar — everyone’s ideal or just nice to look at.
“Um…”
She was about to say, I’m fine now, so you can let go, when Iwan abruptly asked:
“Have you been drinking?”
“Ah… yes.”
Onyu, flustered, touched the back of her hand to her cheek.
“Is it that obvious? I didn’t drink that much.”
“Your face and neck are all flushed.”
His eyes quietly scanned over her face and neck.
“It doesn’t look like it’s from working in the field.”
Once he helped her stand upright again, Onyu gave a polite “thank you” and stepped back.
Iwan tilted his head slightly and stared at her from a distance, his hands shoved into the pockets of his suit.
Why’s he looking at me like that? It’s making me uncomfortable…
His piercing gaze made her frown ever so slightly. Remembering how she’d nearly fallen into compost a moment ago, she felt an extra wave of embarrassment.
“Was the alcohol also made with the peaches from this farm?”
“No. It wasn’t fruit wine — it was just beer.”
The unexpected question made Onyu shake her head.
“Peach beer?”
“No. Just regular beer.”
“……”
“I only had one can…”
Onyu trailed off as she touched her cheek again. Was it that obvious? Is that why he kept asking?
As she was lost in thought, her eyes shifting around—
“Na Onyu-ssi.”
The mellow, deep voice carried on the spring breeze and rang softly in her ear.
“Yes?”
As she responded, the tall man took a long stride toward her. Startled, she instinctively tried to step back, but Iwan stepped in even closer.
He came so near that their legs almost touched.
“The peaches from this house are excellent. You can smell them even before the harvest.”
“Sorry?”
His muttered comment, paired with a small smile, confused Onyu, but before she could ask further, he changed the subject again.
“Let’s do it together.”
“Do what?”
Not understanding, Onyu blinked. Iwan’s gaze swept from the peach orchard at dusk to the ancestral house beyond it, before resting once again on her face.
Watching her blink in the crimson sunset, he curved his lips into a meaningful smile.
“That quiet and secretive thing. Let’s do it together.”
A few days later.
With Secretary An and his team behind him, Iwan stepped into the headquarters of Sunin Group.
Today was his biweekly visit to HQ — and also the day he met regularly with his grandfather.
As soon as Iwan entered through the main gate and walked into the lobby, employees parted like the Red Sea and bowed their heads.
He was walking to the chairman’s office, occasionally receiving briefings from Secretary An, when a familiar voice called out:
“Executive Kang.”
Iwan stopped in his tracks upon seeing the young man walking toward him.
“It’s been a while.”
The man approached with a warm wave, but Iwan met him with a cold, unreadable stare.
Han Woomin — the son of Iwan’s aunt Kang Ranhee, who always seemed eager to tear him down — and Iwan’s maternal cousin.
With his friendly good looks, kind smile, smarts, and charming personality, Han Woomin was the ultimate “golden boy” and his mother’s pride and joy.
Everyone liked Han Woomin. Iwan, too, had trusted and followed him like an older brother for many years. Until “that incident.”
“You’re at HQ today, huh?”
“Yes.”
Iwan responded briefly with a formal nod.
“Going to see Grandpa?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, let’s grab lunch afterward. We’ve been so out of touch.”
“I already have plans.”
“Oh, really?”
Woomin smiled awkwardly, brushing off the flat-out refusal hidden beneath Iwan’s polite tone.
“Chairman is waiting, so I’ll get going.”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
As Woomin stepped aside, Iwan gave a small nod and walked on.
“Unbelievable. He’s so arrogant just because the chairman favors him.”
“Executive Director, why do you always let him treat you so rudely?”
Barely a few steps behind Iwan, Woomin’s secretary and a few executives grumbled loudly enough for him to hear.
“He’s just got a rough personality. He’s actually quite deep,” Woomin replied mildly.
But while Woomin didn’t seem to mind, his entourage was practically fuming.
“You’re too nice, that’s why he walks all over you.”
“Exactly. Someone needs to teach him a lesson. That’s the only way to enforce proper hierarchy.”
“Enough already. He can hear you.”
Only after Woomin stopped them with a troubled look did they reluctantly fall silent.
What a joke.
Iwan scoffed silently.
“That’s too much. The Vice President is still right here.”
“They’re doing it on purpose. Trying to provoke our VP.”
Secretary An grumbled with a scowl, and another employee chimed in, equally worked up.
Sure, Iwan could be harsh, cold, and a little blunt at times. But talking behind someone’s back while they’re still within earshot? That wasn’t gossip — that was practically confrontation.
“Let them be. I really am a damn bastard, after all.”
Iwan said with a faint smile. People around him exchanged awkward glances.
How could someone be so blunt in their self-awareness? It was the others who were left feeling embarrassed.
“Let’s go.”
With that cue, everyone quickly adjusted their expressions and followed behind him.
They used to be practically inseparable… What happened between them?
Secretary An tilted his head as he watched Iwan’s broad shoulders move ahead.
He had been Iwan’s aide for five years but had watched over him much longer as a staff member of the chairman’s office.
So he knew how close Iwan and Han Woomin used to be.
Was it because of that incident two years ago? But… shouldn’t Vice President Han be the one holding a grudge? Why is our VP the cold one?
With those unresolved questions lingering in his mind, Secretary An wore a deeply thoughtful expression all the way to the chairman’s office.
“Welcome, my beloved grandson!”
“Hello, Grandfather.”
Iwan greeted Chairman Kang with a faint smile as the older man welcomed him with open arms.
While a staff member brought out tea, Iwan subtly studied his grandfather’s complexion.
Tall and fit for his age, with fierce eyes — despite being over eighty, his grandfather still looked vigorous.
And for that, Iwan was truly grateful. If he lost his grandfather, he would be no different from a true orphan.
“So, you went down to Daebak-ri?”
Once Iwan finished reporting on business affairs, Chairman Kang looked at him sharply.
“Yes.”
“And did you meet the people of the Na family?”
“Yes.”
“What did you think?”
The chairman leaned forward eagerly, as if he couldn’t wait for an answer.
“They’re not going to be easy.”
“Right? They’re not easy at all, are they?”
Chairman Kang snorted triumphantly, as if he’d expected this all along.
“What’d they say? Something about family heritage and tradition and how they absolutely won’t sell?”
“They didn’t say ‘absolutely’… but it’ll take some time.”
Iwan made no mention of the lottery. His grandfather was probably hoping he’d fail anyway — no need to give him a reason to gloat.
“If it’s not going to work, better to quit early and just go on a blind date. The Na family and the people of Daebak-ri aren’t ones to be taken lightly. You think I gave you that job for fun?”
As expected, Chairman Kang tried to nudge him toward giving up. But Iwan set down his teacup and sat up straighter.
“That’s why I’ve decided to go all in.”
“All in? How?”
“I’m going to infiltrate enemy lines.”
“What?”
Seeing his grandfather blink at the unexpected response, Iwan revealed his plan.
“I’m going to live in Daebak-ri for a while.”
