Chapter 6. Getting to Know On Haru (2)
What would it have been like if it were me?
That question kept me awake all night.
For On Haru—who adores her father—being forced to return to her place as Cha Hyowon might feel just as repulsive as telling Shinrok to go on a trip alone with his father. Not every blood relationship is bound by warmth or happiness, after all.
And a gap of twenty-two years could turn even family into strangers. To people devoted to their own households, she would likely feel like nothing more than an uncomfortable intrusion.
Still, focusing only on Haru’s situation wasn’t an option either. I had my own reasons—my own plans—that I couldn’t abandon.
If I wanted to settle things with my father, I had to bring Haru before Kang Malja. Unaware of any of this, Haru kept doing things that made me worry from start to finish.
“Are you holding a memorial? Why aren’t you eating and just staring at it?”
Shinrok frowned at the unexpected behavior of the big catch right in front of him.
He had already set a small plate of kimchi stew in front of Haru a while ago, but she hadn’t even lifted her spoon. Wondering if he had chosen the wrong menu, he glanced at the wall menu and asked,
“If you don’t like kimchi stew, we can order something else.”
“I do like it.”
“Then why aren’t you eating?”
“…I’m waiting for it to cool. I’m not very good with hot food, so I usually wait a bit.”
So she had a delicate tongue—like a cat, perhaps. It wasn’t that she was picky, just something you’d only know if she told you. Even a private investigator wouldn’t have dug up that kind of detail.
“Maybe I should’ve ordered something like naengmyeon.”
“It’ll be fine once the steam dies down.”
Haru picked out the kimchi and meat first.
Maybe it was because he was finally sharing a meal with a woman he had only seen in photographs, but watching her chew with those small, cherry-like lips felt unreal. She broke into a bright smile, seemingly pleased with the taste. Thankfully, the exhausted expression from the past few days—after everything she had gone through—was gone.
“Does it suit your taste?”
Shinrok poured broth and ingredients over his rice and mixed it together. Haru, who was diligently eating even the complimentary fried egg and seasoned seaweed, nodded.
“It’s good.”
“Feeling a bit less angry?”
Haru pressed her lips together—a silent rebuke, as if to say, Do you think a single meal would be enough to calm me down?
“About your father’s surgery.”
As soon as he brought it up, Shinrok worried she might misunderstand—thinking he was trying to intimidate or pressure her using the surgery. So he clarified firmly,
“The liver transplant—I did that because I wanted to save your father. No matter what happens, I won’t use it to boast or threaten you.”
“Thank you… but why go that far?”
Her eyes were filled with confusion, as if she couldn’t understand why someone would help a complete stranger. It was a reasonable question—most people would’ve used the transplant as leverage.
“It would’ve been the perfect excuse for blackmail.”
See? Even she knew.
“Doing something like that would be too much.”
Shinrok curled the corner of his lips, recalling the years he had suffered under his father, Chairman Lee Jaepil. He knew that if he voiced those thoughts, they would become wounds he could never erase—even as he strangled himself with regret.
“But earlier… you said you came to find me on purpose. If it’s to turn me back into Cha Hyowon…”
“How about taking things step by step?”
No matter what he said, Haru seemed burdened. She tensed up.
“You’re an adult now, Ms. On Haru. You don’t seem like someone who would be easily swayed just because you meet Chairman Kang, so I’m giving you time to think.”
Shinrok leaned back slightly, as if to say I’ve taken a step back—now it’s your turn, and deliberately took a sip of water to give her space.
“You’re inheriting tens of billions. Wouldn’t it be nice to take that money, travel with your father, and move into a bigger, better house?”
“That’s not money I earned. I’ll live within my means.”
Back to square one.
“Is this really the era to talk about modest living? People with nothing to inherit would have their blood pressure spike hearing that.”
“We’re not that poor. It might look that way to you, Executive Director… but…”
Haru trailed off on purpose and took a sip of water. Her cheeks and the corners of her eyes flushed slightly, as if something hot was rising within her.
“My dad would still collect scrap even if he suddenly had that kind of money. And even if I asked him to move to a bigger house, he wouldn’t leave the one we’re living in now.”
“Is there a jar of honey buried in that house or something?”
“Yes.”
Unbelievable.
Shinrok lost his appetite and gulped down cold water, while Haru soaked her rice in the stew and swallowed it eagerly.
“If I leave food, I’ll be punished, so I’m going to finish everything.”
Watching her, Shinrok rolled his tongue in his mouth, as if resisting the urge to smack her lightly.
“Eat slowly.”
“You seem done, so I’m matching your pace.”
With both cheeks puffed out, she looked like a clever little squirrel. It might’ve been easier if she had an airheaded charm, but she was rigid and incredibly stubborn—hard to deal with.
“You’ve got something on your mouth.”
She really required a lot of care.
He wasn’t the type to fuss over someone or trail after them, yet in front of Haru, he found himself setting out utensils and water, asking her opinions when choosing dishes. If she shook her head or pouted, he’d quickly adjust and pick something else.
In short, he was giving her special treatment—and she didn’t even notice, focusing entirely on finishing her meal.
“You got some on you again.”
This time, he dampened a tissue and handed it to her—then ended up wiping the back of her hand himself. She didn’t resist, which made it seem like she didn’t mind his attentiveness.
“You must be the princess type, Ms. Haru.”
Haru narrowed her eyes, looking at him as if wondering what nonsense he was about to say now. It was oddly cute.
“You’re high-maintenance.”
“That’s because I’m like Nolbu’s wife.”
Haru avoided his gaze, pouting slightly.
“Did Nolbu’s wife smear things on people like that?”
“She got rice grains stuck on Heungbu’s face.”
“That’s not smearing—that’s just rice sticking after getting hit with a ladle.”
“Forget it. I said it out of anger.”
“How am I supposed to forget something I heard?”
“Are you going to keep nitpicking everything I say?”
At his glare, Haru wiped her mouth with a tissue and said,
“Even if you gave me a trillion won, I wouldn’t go back. And I don’t want to ‘take things step by step’ either.”
“At least consider the effort I’ve put into finding you.”
“I’ll pay for the meal. To acknowledge your effort.”
Haru dipped her head slightly and stood up.
“Thank you for what you did for my father.”
She turned as if to say let’s never meet again, and Shinrok immediately stood up from his seat.
“Just come and say hello, that’s all.”
Outside the restaurant, Shinrok grabbed Haru’s arm to stop her.
“If you keep this up, I might just blurt everything out. I could tell the Chairman directly.”
“Go ahead.”
“I mean it.”
“Yes. But there’s something you should understand.”
Haru inhaled and spoke calmly,
“You’re an executive director of Sangil Group, yet you had to personally track me down and practically cling to someone who’s saying no. That must mean you have something to gain, right?”
Exactly—she wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.
For someone so small, the moment she revealed the claws she’d been hiding, her sharp gaze made something stir deep within him.
“If you ruin my happiness, I’ll ruin whatever it is you’re so desperate for.”
“Is that something you say to the person who saved your father?”
“You’re the one who pushed me this far.”
Haru’s lips trembled, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
“To me, being Cha Hyowon is nothing but pain. That’s how desperate I am.”
I’m just as desperate.
The frustration boiling up from deep within him made him rub his eyes and forehead at the same time, letting out a sigh.
“Take some time to think about it.”
“No.”
“Then what about me?”
Shinrok played his strongest card—offering himself.
“W-what are you suddenly talking about?”
Haru bit her lower lip and scanned his face with trembling eyes, trying to understand what he meant.
“Let’s date. As a man and a woman.”
“…What?”
“Let’s keep seeing each other.”
“No.”
Haru’s face hardened instantly. She pulled her chin in and twisted her upper lip as if she’d stepped on something disgusting. The hit to his pride made him let out a dry laugh.
It was the first time he’d met a woman so difficult to win over.
“My father is the chairman of Sangil Group, and I’m an executive director. And look at me—handsome, tall. How often do you find a man like that?”
“Still no.”
“Just agree. You can order me around all you want—just say yes. Why not? Why?”
This time, he placed his hands on his hips and leaned forward, eyes sharp—not threatening, but stubborn.
Haru puffed her cheeks slightly before answering,
“You look tacky.”
