Chapter 39……………………………………………
Now that he thought about it, the look in her eyes when she saw the two of them fall onto the cot after accidentally tripping over their feet had been exactly the same.
A look that seemed to say, So my suspicions were right.
He couldn’t understand why she’d harbored such doubts in the first place, but that wasn’t the real issue.
That idiot Hyukjin probably hasn’t even realized it yet, has he?
Minwoo had roughly grasped what kind of misunderstanding Seoyoung had fallen into, but he decided not to share his thoughts.
It didn’t seem like Hyukjin would really listen even if he did, and since Hyukjin was convinced it wasn’t the case, whether it was a misunderstanding or not was something he could deal with himself.
They’re just a contract couple anyway. What could possibly happen?
In the end, Minwoo brushed it off lightly, just like Hyukjin had.
“Aren’t you getting on?”
Hyukjin, already inside the elevator, held the door-open button and called out to Minwoo.
“I am.”
Shaking off his stray thoughts, Minwoo quickly stepped inside.
He glanced at Hyukjin’s expression, but from his tightly pressed lips and forward-facing gaze, he couldn’t read any emotion at all.
Why am I worrying about them anyway?
Having had to cancel his plans because of unexpected overtime, Minwoo grumbled inwardly as he imagined how annoyed his lover would be.
“Oh my, Young Madam. You said you’d be having dinner out—what happened?”
Madam Yoon’s eyes widened when she opened the front door and saw Seoyoung.
“Something suddenly came up.”
“Oh dear. I thought you wouldn’t be eating at home today, so I didn’t prepare a meal.”
“It’s fine. I can just put something together with what we have. It’s been a while since I’ve had ramen anyway.”
“Oh no, no. That won’t do. The Madam has been so insistent that we make sure you eat properly.”
Madam Yoon waved her hands, shaking her head firmly. Then she quickly checked the time.
“Everyone should still be before dinner, so how about going to the main house and having dinner with the elders tonight?”
“The main house?”
“Yes. They’ll have made plenty of food, so adding one more bowl of rice won’t be any trouble at all.”
A crease formed on Madam Yoon’s forehead as she waited for Seoyoung’s answer.
She wanted some quiet time to collect herself, but faced with Madam Yoon’s worried expression, Seoyoung eventually nodded.
“That sounds good. Then I’ll change clothes and head over—could you let them know in advance?”
“Of course. Please get ready and come right over, Young Madam.”
With a relieved look, Madam Yoon hurried out through the entrance.
Smiling at her retreating figure, Seoyoung went upstairs.
Thinking about it again, tonight did seem like one of those days when being with others would be better than eating alone.
She was also deeply grateful for Madam Yoon’s thoughtfulness.
Chairman Cha watched Seoyoung scoop up her soup with a satisfied look.
“Come and eat with us more often. Maybe it’s because I don’t have many years left, but these days I find it quite nice to eat noisily with family. I even think about retiring, spending my days watching children run around the yard.”
At the mention of grandchildren yet again, Seoyoung’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Father, really. Please don’t put so much pressure on them. Our daughter-in-law might get indigestion while eating.”
Seunghoon scolded Chairman Cha with a reproachful look.
“Oh dear. That wasn’t my intention, but I suppose it could sound that way. Don’t worry about it—eat up, Seoyoung.”
“Yes, Grandfather. To keep you from feeling lonely, I’ll try to eat at the main house more often from now on.”
Quickly smoothing her expression, Seoyoung offered a bright smile to the embarrassed chairman.
“Good. Thank you. As expected, daughters are definitely better than sons.”
Nodding as he spoke, Chairman Cha smiled broadly, then his eyes soon clouded with regret.
“When I was young, all I did was chase after money, always out and about. I barely even knew how my children were growing up, let alone properly caring for them.”
His moist eyes shimmered in the light.
“But now the company is fairly well established, and I’ve grown old. I’m thinking it may be time to hand my position over to my son and retire to the back rooms. What do you think, Seunghoon?”
Chairman Cha turned his gaze to Seunghoon, who was seated diagonally to his right.
At the sudden talk of retirement, Seunghoon’s eyes widened.
“What are you saying, Father? You’re still in such good health—retirement is unthinkable. There’s still so much that requires your direct involvement.”
Even at the mention of handing over the chairman’s seat, Seunghoon put down his spoon and spoke earnestly.
“No. It’s right that you become chairman at this point. Before I die, you need to establish yourself as soon as possible.”
“But—”
“I’ve already made up my mind. Accept it and prepare yourself. If we’re to entrust major affiliates to Youngjin and Hyukjin, you need to have authority first.”
“Ha… all right. Since you’re so firm about it, I’ll do my best.”
The Seunghoon who had just been adamantly opposing his father’s retirement finally bowed his head, his eyes now resolute.
“Oh dear. It seems I’ve brought up a heavy topic again. Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
Waving his hand lightly, Chairman Cha addressed Mihyun and Seoyoung, who had stopped eating to watch the exchange.
“Yes.”
Seoyoung and Mihyun resumed moving their chopsticks.
After that, only light conversation flowed around the table.
In the warmth of the family meal, Seoyoung felt her own heart growing warmer as well.
They’re so different from my relatives.
An aunt who kept a wary eye on her orphaned niece, an uncle who claimed to be too busy to care properly, and even a cold grandmother who insisted that ability mattered more than sympathy for her poor granddaughter.
Thinking of her own blood relatives, Seoyoung looked at the people before her with even warmer eyes.
Though it would be a long time before a divorce, just imagining parting from them already made her feel sorrowful.
Would it be ridiculous if I suggested keeping this marriage even if we meet other people?
The thought made her smile bitterly. But seeing the elders enjoying their meal, she quickly lifted the corners of her mouth again.
After tea and snacks, once Seoyoung had returned to the detached house—
Chairman Cha sat facing Seunghoon and Mihyun on the sofa, his brows drawn together.
Sensing his seriousness, the couple exchanged puzzled looks.
“Father, is there something that’s been bothering you?”
“Yes. Didn’t you notice? Seoyoung’s expression dimming from time to time.”
“Oh, I noticed too. You did as well, didn’t you?”
Seunghoon nodded and turned to Mihyun.
“Yes. I heard she went out saying she had dinner plans with Hyukjin, but came back because she wasn’t feeling well. Maybe that’s why she seemed down.”
Mihyun also gazed toward the window facing the detached house, her expression worried.
“When I said we were waiting for grandchildren, that’s when I first thought something was off with those two. Don’t you know anything at all?”
Perceptive as ever, Chairman Cha tilted his head suspiciously, slowly tapping his fingers against his thigh.
“We don’t know anything either. But they did seem quite affectionate—surely nothing serious has happened?”
At Seunghoon’s words, Chairman Cha shook his head, deep wrinkles forming on his forehead.
“Nonsense. By the time something becomes visible, it’s already grown far beyond control. Company matters are the same. I don’t think we can just sit back and watch this.”
His brows tightened, as if he’d made up his mind.
“What? What do you mean by that? What are you planning to do?”
Chairman Cha was the bulldozer type—once he decided on something, he always followed through.
Knowing his father’s temperament well, Seunghoon frowned. They hadn’t been married long; wasn’t this worrying too far ahead?
“I’m thinking of sending Madam Kim to the detached house for a while to keep an eye on things.”
“Madam Kim?”
“Yes. Unlike Madam Yoon, Madam Kim lives on-site, so wouldn’t it be easier for her to observe what’s going on?”
“That’s true, but… would Hyukjin accept it?”
Mihyun, who had been quietly listening, interjected.
“Couldn’t we persuade Seoyoung? Even if Hyukjin doesn’t listen to us, he usually does whatever his wife asks.”
