TTY C4

<Chapter 4>

15 centimeters—the perfect distance for a kiss

Another round of cheers erupted, but Kang Ijun heard none of it.

All that filled his vision was her youthful face and those bold, fearless eyes.

“As for why I recommended him—well, he seems like the kind of man who can deliver such ecstasy that women would cry out regardless of time or place.”

Her clear, ringing voice echoed in his ears.

“Ah, despite the intense name, the taste is actually quite smooth. That’s why women absolutely love it!”

As if she had said everything she needed to, she spun around lightly. His gaze dug sharply into her annoyingly carefree retreating figure.

Unlike Ijun, who had fallen into silence, the debauched heirs of wealthy families, delighted by the rare entertainment, grew aggressively curious.

“Hey, I’m claiming her.”

“Out of nowhere? You didn’t even know she worked at ‘Time.’”

“Now that I look again, she’s seriously charming.”

“Isn’t she too young?”

The vulgar remarks spilling from the two men were abruptly cut off by a burning cigarette butt flying through the air.

“Argh!”

The man it struck screamed and jumped to his feet.

“Kang Ijun, what the hell are you doing? What if Hyuntae got burned?!”

Jihyuk shouted as well.

Or rather, it was more accurate to say Jihyuk was the only one brave enough to yell at Ijun.

“Filth needs to be burned away for me to feel satisfied.”

His voice was calm, almost gentle—as if nothing had happened.

“But it didn’t burn.”

Ijun even let out a faint chuckle.

His languid posture, lazy eye-smile, and soft grin—this was the usual Kang Ijun, popular with both men and women alike.

And yet, the previously decadent atmosphere chilled in an instant.

A strange, cold aura slowly spread from him.

Approaching the fuming Hyuntae, Ijun spoke playfully.

“You said you could seduce her in ten minutes, right? Then go ahead and try.”

But when Ijun stood right before him, Hyuntae lowered his eyes. For no reason, he felt like a guilty man.

“If you succeed, I’ll make sure your father’s company gets selected as a subcontractor for Haeseong.”

With that final remark, Ijun leisurely walked away.

But beneath his calm exterior, something was boiling fiercely.

It had been a while since he felt like this.

The unpleasant mood, arising from nowhere, left a bitter taste.

“Damn it, Baek Junhee.”

Why the hell are you here?

Exactly ten minutes after her reckless provocation toward Kang Ijun, the call came.

While waiting, Junhee kept repeating the answer she had given Seokhun.

— I’ll marry Ijun oppa.

When you thought about it, it wasn’t a losing deal.

Not only would her debts be cleared, but Seokhun had promised full support for her dreams.

And she’d be fulfilling her grandfather’s first and last wish—filial duty on top of everything else. Two birds with one stone.

But there was one thing she needed to change.

Control of this marriage.

Right now, Kang Ijun held it—but she would have to seize it herself.

If she lost that control, becoming a puppet wife was practically guaranteed.

Ijun might have taken her lightly when he proposed a contract marriage, but—

As she headed toward the parking lot, Junhee muttered under her breath,

“I’m not that easy, you know?”

Saying she wasn’t scared would be a lie. Her heart was trembling.

But it felt like a fight she had a real chance of winning—making the thrill even sharper.

— This is the place our son treasures as much as his life.

The contract they had written as a joke ten years ago, involving Ijun’s beloved Yangpyeong villa—

Through Seokhun, it had been notarized. The villa now belonged to Junhee.

— Can you make this contract actually take effect?

Seokhun had willingly handed his son’s weakness over to her.

Petty, maybe—but unavoidable. A direct confrontation would be disadvantageous.

Spotting the sleek black sedan, polished to perfection like its owner, Junhee took a deep breath.

Round one. Start.

The car door opened, and Junhee climbed in without hesitation. Ijun stared at her intently.

Even seeing her again, she still looked young.

Did I really get fooled by that face?

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Why did you call me?”

Feigning ignorance, she approached him as if nothing had happened—after talking about orgasms earlier.

Did she even know what that meant?

Looking at her innocent expression, he was dumbfounded.

There must be a nine-tailed fox hiding inside that girl.

“What are you doing here?”

“Can’t you tell? I’m working.”

His trademark lazy smile had long disappeared.

Now his expression was stern—like a disciplinary teacher catching a misbehaving student.

“A student should be focusing on her studies. Why are you here making cocktails?”

“Because my dream is to be a mixologist. I make cocktails and develop new ones. And don’t look at me like that—this is a promising professional career.”

“Does your grandfather know you’re working here?”

Junhee raised her stubborn brows.

“Are you crazy? He’d collapse if he found out.”

“Then quit before he does.”

“Why should I? I don’t want to.”

“So you’re going to keep working here?”

“As long as you pretend not to know, it’s fine. You’re not going to tattle like some loose-lipped guy, right? Right?”

Her whining tone, like a younger sister throwing a tantrum, made his head start to throb.

He’d been relieved she wasn’t particularly feminine—but now she was leaning into the bratty little sister act.

“Baek Junhee.”

“What?! Why are you calling me?!”

Junhee, who had been composed all along, suddenly snapped.

It was Ijun who was caught off guard.

“You treated me like a kid the moment you saw me, then suddenly proposed. Then you threatened me with 2 billion won! And that’s not all—you came into my house without permission, saw my whole body, even touched me! Then you disappeared for a whole month without a word! And now you think you can interfere in my life?!”

She fired off her complaints in one breath, her small nostrils flaring.

Why does that look… kind of cute? Am I losing my mind?

“Sounds like you were waiting for my call.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I? Unbelievable.”

She even snorted, then added something even more absurd.

“The one who needs something is the one who calls, you know?”

“So you’re saying I need something?”

“You’re the one who proposed marriage, not me.”

She wasn’t wrong.

Still, she had no reason to be this confident—but she was.

Anyone watching might think she had chased him out of love and gotten proposed to.

“Since we’re on the topic, let me say more. If you propose, you should at least show basic manners. You seem pretty busy playing around with other women. Doing everything you want, sticking your nose into other people’s business, even ringing the golden bell just to look cool in front of them.”

“When did I ever—”

Wait. Why am I even trying to explain myself to her?

Ijun composed himself.

“I’ll apologize for interfering. But I didn’t look down on your dream. I just thought your grandfather wouldn’t like you working at a bar. There are plenty of other places to work.”

He couldn’t filter out the crude remarks his friends had made earlier.

As he struggled to find a way to explain, Junhee struck back sharply.

“Did you know that sexual harassment and assault happen more often in regular companies than in our bar? Drunk troublemakers get kicked out by the manager. And male customers don’t use status to threaten bartenders—they try to please them. It’s up to the bartender how much to accept or reject.”

“….”

“‘Time’ is famous for cocktails, not hard liquor. There are more female customers than men, and lots of couples too. Do you still think this place is more dangerous than an office?”

Her voice was firm, surprisingly persuasive.

“My main job is making cocktails and developing new flavors. And with so many pretty unnis around, what kind of idiot would hit on me?”

Only then did Ijun properly look her over.

Plain uniform, bare face, youthful and clear.

…She had a point.

But saying it out loud didn’t seem right, so he stayed silent.

Junhee suddenly leaned closer, right in front of him.

“…What are you doing?”

“Look closely. Am I wrong?”

“There’s nothing to look at.”

He turned his head away quickly.

Her clear eyes, like transparent water, made his heart stir.

“Answer my proposal.”

What’s with him acting like I’m something dirty?

Junhee grumbled inwardly, then answered without hesitation.

“I’ll refuse.”

“You’re giving me the document, then?”

“I’m not giving you that either.”

“Where is that confidence coming from?”

“The 2 billion you put on me? Seokhun ajusshi said he’d pay it back. So there’s no reason for me to marry you—or give you the document.”

His smiling face turned unexpectedly intimidating.

The courage she had scraped together drained away in that instant—

“Then I’ll be going!”

Junhee quickly jumped out of the car and ran toward the entrance.

The moment the door closed, she gasped for breath.

“Whew… I thought I was going to suffocate.”

And yet, an inexplicable thrill coursed through her.

“Ijun oppa, we’ll be seeing each other again soon.”

Her face, bright with a cheerful smile, looked utterly innocent.

The office door burst open as Ijun stormed in.

Seokhun, who rarely spent time there anymore, happened to be present—perfect timing.

“Seeing me after a month makes you that happy?”

Seeing the fire in his son’s eyes, Seokhun was secretly pleased.

Looks like our Junhee did well.

Ijun strode up to the desk and braced himself against it.

“Is it true you said you’d clear Baek Junhee’s debt?”

“Did I tell you to threaten her with 2 billion? I said to coax her gently and get her to agree to the marriage.”

“Because of you, both the marriage and the document are gone. So don’t ever bring up marriage to me again.”

As Ijun turned sharply, Seokhun spoke leisurely behind him.

“Just go on one last blind date.”

Ijun narrowed his eyes.

“Why? Don’t want to?”

“Do you think I would?”

The tension between father and son tightened.

“I only decided to marry because it was Baek Junhee. But you ruined that. I’m leaving.”

Without hesitation, Ijun turned toward the door.

Once he met Junhee, his decision had solidified.

Obsession. Possessiveness. Madness.

Any woman who desired him would end up like Yoon Eunseo.

A marriage with another woman—

It would be like living every day haunted by nightmares.

If he were to marry, it had to be someone like Baek Junhee.

But he had already lost her.

And finding someone who didn’t harbor ulterior motives toward him wouldn’t be easy.

“This really is the last time. If it fails, I won’t bring up marriage again—or interfere in your personal life.”

At those words, the stubborn son finally turned back.

“Add one more condition. Increase the investment in Haeseong Korea by 50%. Then I’ll go.”

Sharp, as always.

“Fine.”

Sitting back on the sofa, Ijun smiled faintly.

“Let’s draft a proper contract, Father.”

For some reason, Seokhun felt like he’d been played.

Still, as he prepared the contract, he silently prayed—

Please, Junhee… succeed.

Ijun arrived at the meeting place twenty minutes early.

Basic courtesy for the woman who would likely be his final blind date.

If he arrived early, he could leave right on time without fault.

He knew Seokhun had approached nearly every eligible family.

But none were willing to marry their daughters into Haeseong.

Rumors said anyone who married Kang Ijun would die possessed by a ghost.

Of course, Seokhun didn’t know that every single one of those daughters had approached him anyway.

— If you’re okay with it, I can convince my parents. I’ll even pretend to die if I have to. Just get rid of Cha Songhwa.

They all looked at him the same way Yoon Eunseo had.

— Sorry, but I’m not ready to settle down with one woman yet. I’m satisfied with my life.

He rejected them politely, over and over.

One nightmare had been more than enough.

If he handled this last blind date well, Seokhun would stop pressuring him—and he’d secure generous investment funds.

Climbing the stairs, Ijun made a call.

“Manager Park, I’ll be out at exactly six. Have the car ready.”

Then—

“Hey, you’re already here?”

A bright, high-pitched voice fell over him.

Click—clack.

The sound of heels against stone stairs followed.

Drawn upward, his gaze landed on long, pale legs.

Black sheer blouse. Short red skirt.

Provocative outfit—yet the face peeking at him was youthful and familiar.

“…Baek Junhee?”

“Impressive manners. Showing up twenty minutes early.”

Ijun didn’t bother asking why she was there.

It took him less than thirty seconds to figure it out.

“That price you put on me—2 billion, right?”

Junhee met his gaze and smiled.

She clearly had something up her sleeve.

“So?”

“That must’ve come from Father.”

He decided to play along—for now.

“And if my value is 2 billion… what’s yours?”

“What do you need that for?”

He hated wasting time.

Yet strangely, with Baek Junhee, it didn’t feel like a waste.

Unpredictable. Sparkling.

Never boring.

“Go on.”

“If I value you at 3.4 billion… will you marry me?”

As expected of Baek Junhee.

Completely unexpected.

Leaning casually against the wall, Ijun placed a cigarette between his lips—but didn’t light it.

“Father must be backing you.”

“Then what? I’ve got more than enough money. Offer me something else.”

He remained completely in control.

“If you’ve got nothing, there’s no reason to continue this.”

His smile deepened.

Junhee’s eyes sharpened.

Fine. Of course she wouldn’t.

He reached out and ruffled her hair.

“Nice meeting you, chestnut.”

Then—

She waved a sheet of paper in front of him.

“….”

The situation from their first meeting replayed—

But reversed.

Now she held the power.

“How about this?”

The amusement slowly vanished from his eyes as he read.

“This doesn’t interest—ah!”

Bang!

Her back hit the wall.

In an instant, she was trapped between him and it.

“Smarter than I thought. Impressive.”

His gaze darkened.

“Did you want to marry me that badly?”

Fear gripped her.

She quickly looked away.

“Then why play hard to get?”

His lips drew dangerously close.

“15 centimeters.”

Her whole body stiffened.

“The perfect distance for a first kiss.”

Closer still—

“Between people who are going to get married.”

Before she could react—

Instead of the softness of lips, it was the heat of his breath that rushed between them, overwhelming and dizzying.