Was I hearing things?
Rin looked at Junhyuk with uncertainty, but the man before her remained composed, as if confirming that she had indeed heard correctly, without the slightest hint of hesitation.
“You just said…”
“You heard me right.”
“So, that means…”
“Yes, that.”
He drove in the wedge.
“Marriage.”
Suddenly, Rin recalled what had happened before she came to this blind date.
When Hwang Junhee summoned her to the study, as always, she tossed a white sheet of paper at her with little care.
“Uh, Mom. What is this?”
“Open it.”
Names, ages, occupations or positions, and family backgrounds were listed in order — it was a “blind date list.”
The first section was for candidates with both good qualifications and high possibility.
The second section had slightly lesser qualifications but still high possibility.
The third section had the best qualifications but the lowest possibility.
Unlike the first and second sections which had five or six names each, the last one had only a single name.
Tae Junhyuk.
The moment Rin saw that name, her grip tightened on the paper, leaving a crinkle.
“You’ll go through the list starting from the top of the first section. But I think it’ll be decided with the first meeting. CEO Oh Chungseon is quite fond of you. And we need the votes from that district his family controls.”
“But, Mom, this man’s age is…”
“Does his age matter right now? You should be grateful you can help the family and focus on that. No matter how I raise you, that lowly blood never fades, does it?”
“…”
“Honestly, the one I want the most is the last one. That stiff and arrogant brat did seem to care for you a lot. Plus, he recently got divorced.”
“…”
“I heard the Tae Group’s matriarch is looking for a new match for her son. But do you think people like us would even have a chance? His reputation took a hit recently, but that family is still formidable.”
“…Yes.”
“If you can’t manage to marry Tae Junhyuk, then obediently marry CEO Oh. That’s the only way you can repay us for what we’ve done for you.”
Coming out of the study, Rin made a promise to herself.
She would never marry Junhyuk.
If that ever happened, Hwang Junhee would use the excuse of family to make all sorts of outrageous demands.
She absolutely didn’t want to cause Junhyuk any trouble. At the very least, she wanted to remain a good person in his memory.
But then, a hollow laugh escaped her lips. That kind of resolution was pointless.
There was no way she’d end up marrying the heir of the Tae Group.
And yet… Junhyuk had just proposed marriage to her.
What on earth was going on?
“If you accept my offer, I’ll give you what you want.”
“Do you even know what I want?”
“Independence. Money. Freedom.”
Rin pressed her lips inward. Ah, that’s right. He said he overheard her talking to Yujin at the museum.
“You said you needed funds for independence, and ultimately, you wanted complete freedom. Didn’t you?”
“…”
“I’ll make it happen. So you can live outside your parents’ shadows.”
For a moment, Rin’s heart began to pound furiously.
If she could escape the grasp of Oh Suhwan and Hwang Junhee, then…
She could save her mother who was held like a hostage.
They could live together. Just the two of them.
That realization filled her mind completely.
If it was Junhyuk… he really might be able to make it happen. No matter how powerful Oh Suhwan and Hwang Junhee were, they couldn’t compare to the Tae Group.
“Can I ask you just one thing?”
“Ask.”
“Why… me?”
With her head lowered, Rin fidgeted with her clasped hands.
“We haven’t had any contact for the past six years. And now, suddenly, you show up and make a proposal like this…”
“Because you don’t disgust me.”
Rin looked up, confused by the unexpected answer.
“What do you mean, I don’t disgust you?”
Junhyuk paused for a moment.
Where should he begin? And how much should he say?
“Please tell me. I think I need to know that much… no, I want to know.”
Seeing Rin clutching her hands tightly under the table, clearly gathering all her strength to stay composed, Junhyuk let out a soft chuckle.
She had always been like that.
She seemed quiet and obedient, but whenever she was truly curious or had something to say, she would summon all her courage and look him straight in the eye.
So boldly.
“There are two reasons. First, you’re a woman who never saw me as a man.”
Rin was speechless at Junhyuk’s firm, unwavering tone.
But that’s not true. Not at all.
In fact… I liked you. Maybe I still do…
He had been the only one who treated her like a human being when she came to the main house at eleven.
He listened to her, praised her when she did well, and offered firm advice when she was wrong.
Some might scoff at calling that “special.”
But to Rin, those small things had been salvation.
Still, if she admitted any of that, she was afraid Junhyuk would withdraw his proposal.
She had vowed not to cause him trouble, especially not by marrying him.
And yet, the thought of Junhyuk withdrawing the offer and marrying someone else made it hard to breathe.
She couldn’t let that happen.
The only reason he smiled at her, called her by name, was because she never saw him as a man.
“Was I wrong?”
As Junhyuk studied her expression, his gaze sharpened slightly. Rin quickly denied it.
“No. You’re right. You of all people would know best.”
“Right.”
“What’s the second reason? What did you mean by I don’t disgust you?”
“If I tell you, you’ll have no choice but to marry me.”
“What?”
“Are you ready to hear it?”
“Why… would that be?”
“It’s a very personal reason. To others, it might even be seen as a weakness. And these days, a lot of eyes are on me. There are people watching, trying to exploit my vulnerabilities.”
Rin frowned a little, feeling somewhat wronged.
“Do I seem like the kind of person who’d go around spreading something like that?”
“No.”
The immediate response made Rin’s cheeks flush slightly.
“Th-then why…”
“You’ve always had a hard time resisting curiosity. You’d pretend not to care, but still dig around until you figured things out. That’s why.”
Junhyuk pulled a card case from inside his jacket and handed her a business card.
“If you want to know, call me anytime.”
He spoke in a low, whisper-like voice.
“I hope the call comes soon.”
As Junhyuk’s gaze lingered on her, Rin felt her breath catch for some reason.
She reached out as casually as she could, but their fingertips brushed over the card.
Startled, Rin quickly pulled her hand back. The white card dropped onto the table.
“You may not like me, but that reaction stings a little.”
“N-no, it’s not that. I was just surprised…”
Junhyuk chuckled like he was looking at a child, then reached out and took her wrist, placing the card in her hand.
“Here. Don’t lose it.”
“…Okay.”
“If you do, just come to the company. But if anyone sees you and rumors start flying, remember—you’ll have no choice but to marry me. The group is very sensitive to gossip these days.”
His red lips curled into a smile.
“Call me or come find me. Either way, I’m looking forward to your answer.”
After parting ways with Junhyuk, Rin left the hotel and got into the black sedan waiting at the main entrance.
Until she arrived at the main house in Cheongdam, she sat straight in the back seat, her head slightly turned to gaze out the window.
The driver was one of her mother’s spies.
Everything—from her posture in the car to who she called—would be reported back to her mother. All in the name of maintaining “dignity.”
But today, it was easier to endure than usual.
Because she could think about Junhyuk until she got home.
Just replaying their meeting made the time fly.
“We’re here, Miss.”
The driver’s words pulled her out of her thoughts, and her eyes trembled slightly.
Every time she heard the staff call her “Miss,” Rin instinctively flinched.
Because she knew her place.
She might be called “Miss,” but in this house, she was as good as nonexistent.
Even the people who called her that were well aware of it.
So every time she was called “Miss,” it felt like there was a mocking “—even though you’re not a real one” trailing behind.
“Than—”
She quickly shut her mouth before she could finish the word.
A week ago, she had said “Thank you” to the driver—and had gotten slapped by Hwang Junhee for it.
