Episode 57. Dream

Juhee asked if he knew that she had been buying up shares of both Taekyung Group and GRIP Company through a loan shark in Myeongdong. It was a sharp jab, saying that if he was going to hand everything over, he should complete the stock transfer to her.

Chairman Kang wiped the smile from his face at Lee Jun’s words.

“I’m not dead yet.”

Chairman Kang felt a pang of guilt.

Lee Jun was right. Everything he had done so far with Yooa clearly pointed to him having chosen Lee Jun as his successor.

He had even been planning to instruct Secretary Kang to wrap up the succession work this week. That is, if his grandson hadn’t barged into his bedroom this morning — where he was still sound asleep — whining and begging to move up the wedding.

“So impatient.”

“Where do you think I got that trait from?”

“…You little rascal.”

Clicking his tongue, Chairman Kang still couldn’t hide the upward twitch of his lips. Despite himself, he didn’t dislike this cold and composed grandson of his. He scooped up a large spoonful of the rice in front of him and muttered,

“My dream now is to see my great-grandchild.”

Saying he couldn’t afford to look wobbly at the wedding hall while walking in holding Yooa’s hand, he emptied his second bowl of rice.

***

Since the date had been moved up, the couple had to hurry. The wedding planner responded quickly, despite the sudden change.

Because of personal connections, the wedding planner had ties with them, and with this being the heir of Taekyung Group’s wedding, she was determined to provide the best service and convenience to the bride and groom.

“I don’t know what to choose.”

“Just go with what feels right.”

It had already been an hour of Yooa scrolling through wedding dress styles on a tablet, trying to pick one so the planner could make appointments at similar boutiques.

In the executive office, Lee Jun was working while Yooa flipped through the tablet. Despite having a wedding planner, choosing the ring styles, tuxedo, and hanbok still required their own involvement.

Yooa had said she could handle it herself, but Lee Jun insisted on doing everything together.

<I don’t want you to choose alone. No matter how busy I am, I want to be with you. Isn’t that what marriage is about?>

So they decided that Yooa would come to the office with him every day.

The wedding planner was thrilled, saying it made communication smoother and more efficient when both were together.

“Hoo,” Yooa leaned her head back. After looking at so many dresses, they were all starting to look the same. Her head felt overloaded from all the blending styles, and she sighed deeply.

“Want some coffee?”

“I had a cup in the morning. I’d like chrysanthemum tea now.”

She had been cutting back on coffee for a few days now. One cup in the morning was fine, but after that, the oiliness and acidity of the beans started to irritate her stomach.

Thanks to Lee Jun’s care, who had brought her various teas as a coffee substitute, Yooa had become attached to chrysanthemum tea. Naturally, the executive office also had her favorite brand, and Lee Jun personally poured her a full mug of hot water.

“How about this one? It’s easy to move in, and it emphasizes the waistline, so it’ll show off your figure. Ah, wait — then maybe not this one.”

Taking the opportunity to help her, Lee Jun sat beside Yooa to lighten her mental load.

“Why not?”

“Because I want to see it alone first.”

He selected one of the dresses Yooa had marked as a favorite, snapped a screenshot, and sent it to the wedding planner. Then he turned off the tablet, freeing her from the cycle of indecision.

“I didn’t know I was this indecisive.”

Last time, her marriage with Lee Jun had passed so quickly that she didn’t even have time to choose anything. This time, she had wanted to pour her preferences into every choice — but instead, she was left with a headache.

Maybe Lee Jun had known that back then, and that’s why he had made things easier for her.

“We’re all imperfect, that’s what makes us human. I’ll make up for your indecisiveness. Just leave the hard stuff to me, Yooa.”

“Then… could you choose the tuxedo and wedding ring too? I just don’t want anything too big or flashy. Something I can wear daily without it being overwhelming. Okay?”

The 5-carat diamond ring, the guide ring, and other gifts Lee Jun had bought her before were all too big and flashy. Yooa had found it burdensome even to wear them out.

That had caused misunderstandings between them, leading to a few arguments, and whenever she did wear the wedding ring, her aunt would sneer and call her the vulgar daughter of a gold-digging servant.

“Okay.”

Lee Jun’s easy agreement to her preferences made Yooa feel elated.

Just then, the wedding planner called. She was fast, having no other couples to focus on but them.

When asked whether they would rent or purchase the wedding dress, Lee Jun responded, “Buy it.”

“Wait — hold on. I’ll call back later.”

Snatching the phone, Yooa hung up in a panic.

“It’s better to rent. I’m only wearing it for the day, and it’s too bulky to store in the closet.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to wear a new one? Someone else might’ve worn it before.”

“So what? Happy brides wore it, so it might bring good energy too.”

She said she’d only be wearing it briefly for photos anyway, so it didn’t matter to her.

That was Yooa — a woman like this.

Lee Jun smiled faintly, though still a bit disappointed, and suggested,

“What if we keep it and pass it on to our child?”

“Do you think the child will be a girl?”

Did he want a daughter?

Yooa was taken aback at this unexpected thought from Lee Jun.

Although they couldn’t choose the gender, he said it would be nice if they had a cute daughter who resembled Yooa.

She thought of Sejin, who looked just like Lee Jun, and replied with a bittersweet smile.

“Hmm, I think our first will be a boy.”

“How do you know that? Would you prefer a boy?”

“I don’t care either way… I just know. Our first child will be a boy.”

Lee Jun tilted his head, asking if that was a dream of hers — to have a son first. Yooa bit her lip, still unable to tell him everything.

But soon, she would. Until then, she had to pretend not to know anything.

Staring quietly at Lee Jun, she changed the subject.

“Even someone like you, who has everything, do you still have dreams?”

“Of course.”

“What is it?”

Yooa leaned in close. Her sparkling eyes and sweet scent made Lee Jun’s ears turn red. He reached out and pulled her into his arms.

“Yoon Yooa.”

“Yes?”

“You’re my dream.”

Since they were in his office, Yooa squirmed and told him to let go quickly, but Lee Jun rested his chin on her head.

“Waking up and going to sleep with you. Sharing everything — what we did today, what we thought. The little and ordinary things. That’s my dream.”

It hit deeper than any declaration of love. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. Blushing, Yooa squirmed in his arms, shy and flustered.

“…Lee Jun.”

“I told you already, didn’t I? That I’m like a madman who only sees you.”

“No, you never said that.”

“Did I say I’m like a damn mutt that only chases after Yoon Yooa?”

“That one, yes.”

Isn’t that the same thing?

Lee Jun asked if meaning wasn’t more important than words. As long as the result was good, the process didn’t matter — and he lifted Yooa’s chin.

Come to think of it, he had never once heard her say she liked or loved him.

His impatience showed in his gaze, and Yooa’s lips dried up.

“I’ll say it if you move back a bit. Wait, ah… What if someone comes in?”

“It’s my office. Who’s going to come in without permission?”

Lee Jun laughed, scratching his neck. Then he leaned back on the sofa, trapping Yooa between himself and the cushions so she couldn’t escape.

“Lee Jun, ugh—!”