CHAPTER 7
Jeong-hyuk was slightly shocked.
It was because he realized that Rin had become the kind of woman whom even a decent grown man might desire.
Just because she looked like a child in his eyes didn’t mean other men would see her the same way.
That fact bothered him — a little… no, quite a lot.
Still, a kid is a kid. What the hell are they thinking, looking at a child like that?
He told himself that his irritation toward Gi-jun was only because of that, and tried to suppress the emotional turmoil rising within him.
Then, he gave a silent, bitter laugh.
After all, the man who proposed to that “kid” was none other than himself.
In that case, he had no right to criticize the man yesterday for acting immaturely for his age.
But he had his reasons.
He’d never thought of Rin as a woman, but he still had a compelling reason — one he hadn’t told her yet — why he had to marry her.
While he was briefly lost in thought, Rin continued her order.
“Then I’ll also get the pizza you recommended.”
“Of course. And for the wine?”
“Hmm, I’d like a recommendation for that too…”
Jeong-hyuk cut her off.
“No. I won’t be drinking wine.”
His voice was so firm and resolute that the waiter, startled, nodded and stepped away.
Rin spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.
“Why not drink wine?”
“I brought my car.”
“You could just call a driver service.”
“I have to drive you home.”
At those words, Rin suddenly remembered what Hwang Jun-hee had said.
“You don’t have to come home tomorrow.”
“Surely, he won’t throw out the woman carrying his child.”
And before she left home today, what had she said?
“Make sure you don’t come home early. If you fail, you’ll be spending the weekend in the storage room until Monday morning. And I’ll cut the money going to that crazy woman in half.”
“Mom, that’s—!”
“Naturally, we’ll have to move her to a lower-tier nursing home, right? You know how expensive the current one is. If you’re not doing your part, I don’t see why I should pay for it. Don’t you agree?”
Under the table, Rin clasped her hands tightly and took a slow breath.
She felt sick at Hwang Jun-hee’s view of the child as nothing more than a tool.
But… she couldn’t disobey.
Even though she had just reunited with her first love after six years — and only a day had passed — she still had to go along with the ridiculous demand to throw herself at him.
She wouldn’t be able to get pregnant today, of course. But even just spending the night with him would be enough.
If that didn’t happen, she’d have to pretend she did — or else Hwang Jun-hee might harm her mother.
Lifting her head slowly, Rin looked straight into Jeong-hyuk’s eyes and made a sorrowful offer.
“I don’t have to go home tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just what I said.”
Jeong-hyuk’s brow furrowed slightly.
He hadn’t expected Rin to say something like that.
But in her eyes, there was not so much shyness or nervousness, but more of a desperate resignation.
What was this? This strange, incomprehensible temptation.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
He unfolded the napkin on his lap and replied casually.
“Don’t fool around. Go home early. Just because you’re an adult now doesn’t mean you can stay out late.”
What she had braced herself for — a bold fastball — didn’t even seem to graze his nerves.
“I may have proposed to you, but that’s not what I wanted.”
Relief washed over her briefly, but then a deeper fear surged in.
Whether or not Jeong-hyuk accepted, Hwang Jun-hee would surely blame her if things didn’t go according to plan.
That would mean less money for her mother’s care, and her mom might end up living in a terrible place.
No matter what, she had to spend the night with Jeong-hyuk.
‘What should I do?’
Jeong-hyuk’s gaze grew darker as he looked at her troubled expression.
“There’s no way people who dote on their youngest daughter would tell her to sleep with a man, right?”
At his meaningful gaze, Rin bit the soft flesh inside her lip.
He must never find out the truth about her “family.”
Hwang Jun-hee and Oh Soo-hwan had put immense effort into crafting their public image.
If that image crumbled, Rin and her mother would suffer unimaginable consequences.
“No, my parents would never say something like that.”
“Then it’s purely your own decision?”
“…Yes.”
“Why?”
She wet her dry lips with a sip of water and couldn’t bear to meet his eyes, so she stared at his tie instead.
“Because we’re going to be husband and wife.”
Husband and wife.
That word landed heavily and hotly in Jeong-hyuk’s chest.
“I don’t know why it has to be me yet, but… I understand why you’re rushing the wedding.”
“…”
“It’s because of that rumor, right?”
“Rumor.”
His low, sunken voice clutched her heart tightly.
Her palms were damp with nervous sweat.
Facing that cold expression, she realized just how much he had been holding back for her all this time.
His gaze was sharp, too piercing to meet.
Still, she had to speak. If she wanted to get what she needed.
“If you don’t erase that rumor soon, it’ll be bad for you.”
The rumor.
Yes, Jeong-hyuk knew that damned rumor that clung to him all too well.
Despite the group expanding steadily and him not yet ready for marriage, his parents were aggressively pushing for it — specifically, for him to remarry.
Because of the rumor that he liked men.
That it was the reason for his divorce.
He’d found it so absurd he hadn’t even responded — and now it had become accepted as fact.
“If you marry me, the rumor will vanish overnight. It’ll also protect Taesan Group’s public image. Even when you were promoted to executive recently, the stock price wavered.”
Tap. Tap. Jeong-hyuk tapped the armrest with his index finger, raising an eyebrow as if telling her to keep going.
“You’re pouring billions into PR because image matters. Once it falls, it’s hard to rebuild.”
She wasn’t wrong. Regardless of his competence, the PR team was struggling to contain and explain the rumor. The cost was significant.
“If you accept my proposal today, you could bury the rumor by tomorrow.”
If people saw them entering and leaving hotels together even before the wedding, the rumor about him liking men would disappear.
“You’re right.”
Jeong-hyuk gave a slight scoff as he looked at Rin, who instantly tensed at his agreement.
She had charged in fearlessly, but now that he was going along with it, she froze — showing just how young she still was.
Strangely, it reassured him.
The discomfort he felt earlier when he realized she had become a woman — it faded.
“The difference between me and that old guy who said those disgusting things to you yesterday…”
Jeong-hyuk leaned his elbow on the chair arm and laced his fingers.
“…is that I don’t want from you what he wants.”
“What… do you mean?”
“Let’s be a couple in name only.”
A couple in name only?
“I mean, we’ll act like a couple only when others are watching. We don’t need to when we’re alone.”
“That’s…”
“If you want.”
He paused, then continued.
“I can divorce you too. But I’d like us to stay married for at least two years.”
That would be enough to dispel the suspicion surrounding him.
“I’ll try to meet whatever expectations you have. Getting divorced leaves a mark on your life, after all.”
Rin was so surprised she couldn’t speak.
Divorce. It hadn’t even crossed her mind.
But then her eyes sparkled.
If she could earn the money to become independent… she could gain true freedom.
Maybe Jeong-hyuk could help her make that happen.
“Of course, if you want to stay married, I don’t mind either.”
After a moment of thought, Rin spoke.
“Can I answer about the divorce later? It’s hard to decide right now.”
Jeong-hyuk nodded.
“Sure. Just let me know anytime. I’ll respect your decision.”
He vaguely thought,
She probably wouldn’t choose divorce.
Right now, she might want to escape her parents’ shadow, but once she stands alone, she’ll realize how dangerous the world is.
She’d lived a sheltered life.
Then, Jeong-hyuk suddenly recalled the past.
He too had noticed how much Rin’s family seemed to adore her.
To the point that even outsiders, even Rin herself, found it uncomfortable.
He had sometimes seen Rin at family gatherings.
Others admired and envied her family.
Her father, Oh Soo-hwan, was a beloved anchor-turned-MC with a gentle, gentlemanly image.
Her mother, Hwang Jun-hee, was born into the powerful Ajeon Group, launched her own successful brand, and was now a National Assembly member.
Her two much older brothers managed the business she inherited from her mother.
Between them, the youngest daughter Rin must’ve been deeply cherished.
But Jeong-hyuk could tell — something no one else saw.
That Rin always seemed tense around her family.
She looked more relaxed even when she was with him — a stranger.
So once, he’d asked her:
“It’s because there are so many people. I was shy when I first met you too, remember?”
“True. But I thought you’d feel more at ease with your family around.”
“Ah, it’s just… Even if they’re strangers to me, they might be important to my parents. I don’t want to mess up and hurt their work or reputation.”
“That’s surprising. I figured they’d indulge you since you’re the youngest.”
“They’re always worried I’ll get spoiled and become a burden to others.”
Every family had its own ways. It wasn’t his place to judge.
“Still, they treat me well at home.”
Rin had hurriedly added, as if trying to excuse them — probably afraid he’d think badly of her family.
“Yeah, I know.”
“It’s true…”
“I believe you. Just the other day, your father was bragging about how cute his youngest daughter is.”
“My… dad?”
“Yeah. I ran into him at a hotel restaurant. He said you take after your mom and are absolutely adorable.”
He even clearly remembered how Rin’s expression had subtly shifted at that moment.
He thought it was strange then… but probably just his imagination.
It must be different when she’s with her family.
“I already told you what I want,” Rin said, snapping Jeong-hyuk out of his thoughts.
“Be with me tonight.”
Jeong-hyuk paused.
“Let’s practice acting like a real married couple — tonight.”
