TMBF – 01 – Novelish Universe Translations

CHAPTER 1

“I heard the bread at this hotel is good.”

Coming from Beom Kwon-yeol—a man who had just exposed the corruption of a major bank’s director and forced a surrender in under twenty minutes—it was an oddly mundane and out-of-place remark.

Despite the sudden question, Chief Secretary Hong Se-gi answered as if accustomed to it.
“Yes, Managing Director. I brought some home to my wife last time, and she loved it. It wasn’t too sweet, but had a rich flavor.”

Kwon-yeol gave a slow nod before speaking again.
“You may head back first. I have somewhere to stop by.”

The meeting had ended far earlier than expected, leaving him with some time to spare.

After dismissing his secretaries, Kwon-yeol headed alone toward the bakery on the first floor.

Yoon Hee-jo would probably like it.

She didn’t enjoy overly sweet things, but she did like soft, mild desserts—this would suit her taste perfectly.

As he absentmindedly lifted his gaze while thinking about what kinds of bread she might like—

His eyes froze over in an instant.

“…What is that.”

There she was.

At a window-side table in the café along the way to the bakery, Hee-jo sat with that polished smile she wore when she wasn’t pleased but still had to remain polite.

And across from her—

Some idiot sat there, openly dragging his eyes over her smiling face and exposed figure with a vulgar gaze.

In that instant, a wave of disgust coiled around Kwon-yeol’s entire body, gnawing savagely at his reason.

Something hot surged up from his throat to the top of his head.

…This is fucking irritating.

His long legs moved toward them without hesitation.

—

“Miss Yoon Hee-jo?”

Hee-jo, who had been staring out the window, turned at the approaching voice.

“Hello. My name is Kim Shin-woo.”
“Ah… I’m Yoon Hee-jo.”

She offered a polite smile.

Kim Shin-woo’s ears flushed red as he blatantly swept his gaze over her clear eyes and slender figure.

I heard she lost her family when she was young?

But more important than that was her connection to the Beomho Group’s founding family.

It was widely rumored that even Chairman Beom Hoon-young—cold and terrifying as he was—would soften around Yoon Hee-jo.

Not to mention his children and grandchildren.

Just last month, she had even been invited to the family gathering celebrating the promotion of Beom Kwon-yeol, the eldest grandson, to Managing Director.

They said that when the Beomho faction rose from the shadows to become the Beomho Group, it had been nothing short of a bloodbath.

He didn’t know how such a delicate, pure-looking woman was connected to such a fearsome family…

But one thing was certain—

If he missed this chance, his family would never have any intersection with the Beomho Group again.

I have to marry her.

And if possible, he wanted to get her up to a hotel room as soon as he could.

Yoon Hee-jo was more beautiful than any woman he’d ever been with, and her figure was exquisite.

Though slender, her chest was fairly full.
Her waist was narrow, her hips wide, and her limbs long.

Swallowing hard, Kim Shin-woo crossed his legs and forced a gentlemanly smile.

“My mother praises you every day. She says her quality of life has greatly improved thanks to your knotting classes lately.”

“That’s only because Director Lee follows along so well.”

Hee-jo replied with a composed smile.

But she couldn’t stop the hollow feeling that crept in.

She taught traditional knotting classes at the Beomho Cultural Foundation Art Center, primarily for members of the owner’s family, executives’ spouses, and VIP clients.

Originally, the class had been taught by her mentor, Han Young-sook, a holder of an intangible cultural heritage designation for knotting—but due to a hand injury, Hee-jo had taken over.

Still, there were no complaints among the elite members.

After all, she was the sole disciple of the famously demanding master Han Young-sook—and a beautiful young woman personally vouched for by the Beomho Group’s founding family.

For people like Kim Shin-woo’s family, who barely had a foothold in the worlds of business and politics, she was an irresistibly appealing target.

Today’s blind date was the result of aligned interests—

His family’s desire to climb higher, and Madam Jin Seo-ryeong’s wish to remove Hee-jo from Kwon-yeol’s side.

Hee-jo knew that all too well.

That elegant and gentle Madam Jin Seo-ryeong saw her as nothing but a thorn in her side.

She must have noticed.

The feelings Hee-jo harbored for Kwon-yeol.

She had tried to hide them, but they must have slipped out when she let her guard down.

They say poverty, coughing, and love cannot be hidden.

It’s true.

If she could add one more thing to that list—

It would be base desire.

The kind the man in front of her was clearly harboring.

From the moment they met until now, he had been scanning her face and body with a lecherous gaze—it was impossible not to notice what he was thinking.

And he wasn’t the only one.

Most men looked at her that way.

They admired her connection to the Beomho family, and their eyes lit up at the mention that she had lost her entire family as a child—

As if they had found a luxurious toy they could handle however they pleased.

Well… they’re not entirely wrong.

A self-deprecating smile tugged at her lips.

Taking it as interest, Kim Shin-woo’s gaze grew even more shameless as it drifted over her chest and body.

…This is uncomfortable.

Her head throbbed.

She wanted to get up and leave immediately, but she couldn’t.

Eight years ago—

After her brother died, the Beomho Group had supported her.

She couldn’t betray them.

More than anything, she had to reassure Madam Jin Seo-ryeong, who constantly worried her eldest son might make the wrong choice.

Only then could Hee-jo remain by Kwon-yeol’s side a little longer.

Even if only as the younger sister of his deceased friend.

“I’ll be there instead of Yoon Hee-jae.”

They had only had each other in the world.

Her brother, who shielded her from their alcoholic father’s abuse.
Her brother, who brushed her hair in place of the mother who had run away.
Her brother, who worked desperately to keep her from being sent to an orphanage after their father died.
Her brother, who came home at dawn and still made her breakfast before leaving again.
Her brother, who always smiled brightly at her no matter how hard things were.

On the day of his funeral—

As Hee-jo wailed in grief, Kwon-yeol had said:

“I’ll be your father, your mother, and your brother.”

At that declaration, people standing behind them had gasped.

It was far too heavy a promise for the heir of the Beomho Group to make to a girl who was essentially an orphan.

But Kwon-yeol didn’t care.

He simply cupped her tear-streaked cheeks in his large hand.

The touch that made her meet his gaze was gentle—

Yet inescapable.

“I’ll become the entire world you’ve lost.”

And he kept that promise.

From anything requiring a guardian to managing her schedule and remembering her important dates—it all became his responsibility.

Of course, unlike Hee-jae, he wasn’t affectionate. He didn’t offer sweet words or embarrassing encouragement.

But he stayed by her side without a word.

Even after throwing himself into work and becoming busy, he never failed to treat her to a fine dinner on her birthday, always giving her a carefully chosen gift.

For someone known to be cold and distant, Beom Kwon-yeol showed this level of care to only one person—Yoon Hee-jo.

It was likely out of duty, and perhaps a trace of guilt.

He was that kind of man.

At times, she had even thought—

If she married and became independent, wouldn’t that finally free him?

Maybe… he wants this blind date too.

And so, Hee-jo could neither confess nor let go of the unrequited love she had carried for so long.

After the first anniversary of Hee-jae’s death—

She decided to hide her feelings and always smile.

To look happy.

Because wherever she went, her brother would be watching from above.

Maybe if she kept it up, she would one day truly become happy.