TSS 13

TSS

Posted by Elsa, Released on September 7, 2025

Chapter : 13

It wasn’t because of her mother constantly emphasizing premarital purity or anything like that. Even the phone call she had received today made her feel she needed to hurry the marriage.

She had thought so naively. But when she casually visited the wedding hall, Geon-hyung’s expression twisted severely.

“This is just….”

With a displeased look, Geon-hyung chewed on the mint candy in his mouth with a crunch.

This was the third wedding hall on the list Tae-seon had given her. In other words, this was the third time Geon-hyung’s mood had been flipped upside down.

Well, candy isn’t so bad as a replacement for cigarettes. This might even become a habit.

“So, basically… during the ceremony, the ceiling opens….”

The employee continued explaining, but flinched at the loud sound of the candy breaking. Inside, he had been repeating the same thing for the fifteenth time.

Damn it, I should’ve switched this free candy for coffee or something.

The employee discreetly pulled the candy bowl closer to himself. Honestly, at first, he thought it was good—less waste, less cost.

Until the gangster-looking man suddenly appeared, crushing candy in his mouth.

“Whatever,” Geon-hyung muttered in a low voice.

“Why ruin the innocent ceiling too?”

“Well… nowadays we don’t do it often, but… maybe… balloons…?”

“That’s environmental pollution. Don’t you know sea creatures die from eating balloons?”

“Oh, right… yes, that’s true… but even if it’s not balloons, it gives that outdoor wedding vibe, so it’s well-received…”

“Then why not just hold it outdoors?”

“Well, brides wearing dresses find outdoor weddings unexpectedly difficult. Plus the weather… that’s another problem, and in winter….”

“You want to postpone it to winter?”

Geon-hyung’s voice rose slightly. Watching the employee flinch, Ha-yeon sighed.

“…Understood. Then, when can we make a reservation?”

Perhaps feeling a sense of understanding, the employee’s face flushed instantly, though he still answered cautiously.

“It varies by household, but popular dates can be fully booked even a year in advance.”

“A year?!”

Geon-hyung’s voice rose again. This was already the third time, yet it was still astonishing.

The startled employee continued speaking, only looking at Ha-yeon, like a racehorse wearing a blindfold.

“Ear… early as 8 or 9 months may be possible.”

“Eight months?”

“Recently, even popular wedding halls like ours, which trend on social media, make that difficult.”

The employee continued mechanically without even glancing at Geon-hyung. His words caused Geon-hyung’s brows to furrow mercilessly. Another crunch of candy echoed.

After a long moment of chewing, Geon-hyung muttered unexpectedly to himself.

“Tae-seon, you’re dead.”

Did he only choose popular halls? Even after hearing about the whole premarital purity thing?

Whether it was deliberate or not, Tae-seon’s life was already in danger.

“Then… roughly, when would you expect…?”

Hearing Geon-hyung muttering so menacingly, the employee couldn’t look away. Feeling cold sweat down his back, he awkwardly smiled. Geon-hyung’s sharp eyes pierced him as he said one word.

“Three months.”

“Th-thr…”

Even three months was too long. Geon-hyung glanced sideways at Ha-yeon and continued.

“This month.”

“Th… this month…”

The employee’s Adam’s apple bobbed dramatically. Sweeping the sweat off his forehead, he squeezed his eyes shut.

“This…!”

After ten years in sales, he had to speak up, maintain integrity. It would make later damage control easier.

With a trembling voice, the employee said:

“Not just ours—any wedding hall would be impossible.”

A brief silence fell. He had spoken, ready to face the consequences. Growing anxious at the quiet, he squinted.

Geon-hyung, arms crossed, looked surprisingly calm.

“Impossible, huh….”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Unless it’s a date everyone avoids, 2–3 months might be possible…”

“So there are dates to avoid, then?”

“Yes, though it’s tight.”

“…Even if money is spent?”

Money?

The employee’s half-lidded eyes suddenly widened. Finally, after ten years of honest sales, he might get rewarded.

“It depends on… how much money?”

The employee guessed cautiously. Geon-hyung, now even smiling slightly, replied.

“How much would it take?”

The employee’s heart raced. Now he understood why male leads in romance novels and dramas say things like this—and why people swoon.

Such a fierce-looking, tall, well-built, handsome man saying this made him feel something stir, even in a man.

“How much can you manage…?”

Blushing, the employee asked. Ha-yeon, watching beside him, couldn’t hold back and stood.

“…Thank you. We’ll think about it too. Can we take a catalog?”

“Oh, yes, of course.”

The employee, having regained composure, stood to escort them.

“We’d be honored to be part of your happy day.”

“Yes. As soon as possible.”

“Yes, yes. If conditions match, maybe even tomorrow… though that might be difficult. Anyway, please contact us.”

“Tomorrow too?”

Hearing this, Geon-hyung, leaving the office with Ha-yeon, perked up. But Ha-yeon frowned and called him back.

“Geon-hyung, let’s go.”

“Tomorrow’s possible, huh… uh.”

Ha-yeon hurriedly grabbed his hand as he turned back toward the office. Geon-hyung quietly followed her.

“If… if you liked it here, sorry.”

Holding hands silently until they reached the parking lot, Ha-yeon spoke awkwardly. Geon-hyung deliberately replied calmly.

“Not really.”

“That’s a relief… but it was pretty. I just… got curious about other places too… there’s quite a variety of wedding halls.”

Ha-yeon added, her face red, almost like a hurried excuse. At that moment, she even felt grateful to Tae-seon.

But.

“So, three months from now is impossible.”

“Then when do you want to have it?”

After touring a few more halls, Ha-yeon’s voice carried a hint of frustration. Yet when Geon-hyung asked, she went silent. She seemed more excited about seeing the halls than anything else.

But Geon-hyung persisted mischievously.

“When do you want it?”

Her flustered expression was amusing. Ha-yeon, trying to pull her hand away, wiggled her fingers. Geon-hyung firmly held her hand.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Let go, please.”

“Not until you answer.”

“You weren’t planning to let go anyway.”

“You’re perceptive. Fine, I get it. You wouldn’t let go even if I told you to.”

Ha-yeon tried to pull free, but she couldn’t overpower him. Ignoring him, she walked toward the car in the parking lot.

Geon-hyung followed her stride-for-stride. He seemed satisfied just holding her hand.

“Uh.”

His dazed voice came from behind, but she ignored it. It was probably teasing her. Who’d fall for it?

“Ha-yeon. Wait.”

“I told you to let go!”

No chance. Ha-yeon kept walking without a sound.

“…Uh.”

Eventually, Ha-yeon stopped. Geon-hyung had let go of her hand. She felt empty despite asking him to release it, as if they had always walked hand-in-hand. A few more steps, and still, he didn’t follow.

“Why… why?”

Ha-yeon slowly turned with a frightened look. This was only the second time. They had met just twice, yet the thought that Geon-hyung might be gone made her anxious.

Geon-hyung, arms crossed, narrowed his eyes at her.

“Walk.”

“Why…?”

“Walk.”

His expression was serious, and Ha-yeon reluctantly started walking. Soon, she heard a harsh mutter behind her.

“Damn it.”

Startled, she turned. Geon-hyung, brow furrowed, strode toward her. Ha-yeon instinctively stepped back.

Being tall, his stride was long. Soon, her arm was caught, and she looked embarrassed.

“Let go, please.”

“What?”

“I said, let go…”

“Since when?”