Episode 20
Seol-hee couldn’t believe what she was hearing, so Manager Kim nervously repeated himself.
“I’m sorry, Miss. But Chairman Bong-soo directly told the congressman that he’ll leave all decisions about marriage to
his grandson and won’t interfere anymore.”
“My father never told me that.”
“Well, I think… maybe he felt uncomfortable telling you directly and asked me to pass on the message instead.”
Manager Kim wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed his head deeply. Even though it wasn’t his fault, he
looked like he wanted to run away.
Seeing how he couldn’t even meet her eyes, Seol-hee finally realized this wasn’t a joke—it was real.
But she didn’t want to believe it. All she could think was, “Why?” Just a few days ago, Bong-soo had been all smiles
and said, “If Seol-hee joins our family, I’d be thrilled.” And now, out of nowhere, he changed his mind without any
explanation. Of course she felt frustrated.
Seol-hee suddenly stood up and started pacing while biting her fingernails.
“This doesn’t make sense. What the heck is going on?”
“Miss, I think maybe—”
“Wait. You’re not about to tell me to give up on him, are you? Because I’m not going to.”
To Seol-hee, all men in the world were boring and beneath her. She never blocked anyone from approaching her, but
it was never serious—just temporary flings. None of them were worth sticking around for.
“But now, I finally found someone who matches me. And you want me to give up?”
No way she’d let that happen.
Her life had always been dull. But that changed when she met one man at a corporate anniversary party. She hadn’t
even wanted to go, but her cousin Cheol-min dragged her there. And that’s when she saw someone who made her
heart race for the first time.
She was so overwhelmed she couldn’t even lift her head. When she asked Cheol-min about him, he said the man was
the grandson of the KJ Group chairman.
Right away, Seol-hee told Cheol-min she wanted to meet him.
“Do you really have to do this? I’m not thrilled about it.”
“Why not? Isn’t this the first time I’ve ever said I want to be with someone seriously? He’s got a solid background
too. And you’re the one who told me to get married. Did you change your mind?”
“No, I didn’t change my mind. I’d be happy if you got married.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Cheol-min looked a little awkward as he rubbed his chin.
“Honestly, after the chairman dies, Tae-jun’s going to be useless. I want you to be with someone who can really
support you.”
He frowned with concern. He and his wife wouldn’t always be around, so he wanted someone who could protect Seol-
hee in their place. But Tae-jun wasn’t that person. And the rumors about him didn’t help either.
“You know he’s kind of an outcast in his family. That’s going to be hard on you later.”
“I don’t care.”
“Seol-hee, seriously—”
“Hearing that just makes me want him more. And we can help him. If we help boost his image, that solves the
problem, right?”
“Hmm…”
“Think about it. If he becomes your son-in-law, it’ll raise your influence. You’ll be more powerful in the party, and
maybe even become president.”
How many parents in the world could say no to their daughter when she begged like this? Cheol-min was no different.
In the end, he had no choice but to support her.
Seol-hee was willing to do anything to have Tae-jun.
Even when they finally met, and he just silently ate with a bored look on his face and didn’t answer her properly, she
didn’t feel sad. Because she was sure—sooner or later, he would be hers.
Bong-soo was on her side, and she believed Tae-jun would do anything Bong-soo said.
“But now? This is so unfair. I smiled and tried to win over that old man for nothing… And now he tells me to back off?”
She looked deep in thought, then turned and headed to her room. After a few steps, she shouted back at Manager Kim.
“I’m going to KJ. Call the chairman ahead of time and buy a gift he’ll like.”
“Miss…!”
“No back talk. Just do it. And don’t tell my father.”
Manager Kim couldn’t stop her. When Seol-hee made up her mind, nothing could stop her—especially if it was about Tae-jun.
Soon after, Seol-hee arrived at the KJ Group building. She had already contacted Bong-soo, so she planned to go
straight to his office.
“There’s nothing I can’t do if I want it.”
Her high heels clicked across the parking lot as she headed for the elevator with a serious face. But just then, a
familiar voice came from behind.
Seol-hee turned quickly in disbelief—and there he was. The man she had been dying to see. A smile formed on her
lips.
She raised her hand to call out to Tae-jun, but then she noticed a woman walking toward him.
“You left me behind! I said let’s go together…”
It was a woman she’d never seen before. Maybe a coworker? But something felt off. It didn’t feel like a typical boss-
and-employee relationship. When you like someone, you can tell just by how they look at each other.
“You should blame your short legs.”
“What?!”
The woman glared at Tae-jun, clearly annoyed. Tae-jun just laughed—like, really laughed. He looked so happy.
Seol-hee couldn’t believe her eyes. Her fists clenched.
“What the… Tae-jun is laughing?”
She had seen him many times—on blind dates, at parties, and all kinds of events that she made sure he’d be at. But
not once had he ever smiled. All he ever gave her was a tired, annoyed look, like everything was boring. He’d just eat
quietly and look away.
So she truly believed Tae-jun didn’t know how to smile.
But now…
Seeing him smiling so brightly in front of someone else?
Who was that woman?
Seol-hee stared at them until Tae-jun was out of sight.
“Miss.”
“Manager Kim. I want to know everything about that woman. Everything. I mean it. Even the little stuff—where she
lives, what she eats, all of it.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
Seol-hee clenched her teeth and turned away, her face hard.
A few moments later…
Ha-yoon was out of breath. The man walking ahead of her didn’t slow down even once to match her pace. He glanced
at her struggling, then walked even faster.
She finally had to stop, crouching down and gasping for air.
“Can’t you slow down?! Gosh. You walk way too fast.”
“You’re just too slow, Miss Ha-yoon. Hurry up.”
His tone was firm, but he had a teasing smile on his face.
Ugh, seriously. Can’t he just slow down?
Even though they were headed to the meeting a whole hour early, he was in such a rush and kept nagging her to walk
faster.
He glanced back at her again, then checked the metal watch on his wrist and said in a calm voice:
“Hurry up. If you don’t, I’ll leave you behind.”
