Chapter 7
The car drove smoothly.
If it weren’t for the occasional voice from the navigation system, the silence would have been complete.
“You have arrived at your destination. Navigation has ended.”
The car stopped in front of an older-looking apartment building.
In-hyuk unfastened his seatbelt and waited quietly.
“Sleep well.”
He smiled faintly as he looked at Hae-yoon sleeping peacefully in the passenger seat.
She had sat perfectly straight the entire ride, trying hard to stay awake.
But in the end, sleep had won.
“Miss Yoon Hae-yoon.”
He waited another ten minutes.
Since she wasn’t showing any sign of waking up, it looked like they might stay in the car for hours.
Finally, he gently shook her shoulder.
“We’re here.”
Hae-yoon frowned slightly.
Just as In-hyuk was about to pull his hand away—
“Mmm… Just a little longer… I’m so sleepy…”
Hae-yoon covered the back of his hand with hers.
Her soft hand slid up to his wrist and gently stroked it.
Then she turned her head and rested her cheek on his hand.
The unexpected touch made one of In-hyuk’s eyebrows rise.
She must have mistaken him for someone in her sleep.
The person she was thinking of was obviously Min-gyu.
The thought that she was treating him the way she normally treated her boyfriend irritated him a little.
Just as he was about to pull his hand away—
“Grandpa… Today I was really…”
Grandpa?
The arm he had been pulling back stopped.
Hae-yoon bit her lower lip tightly and gripped his wrist.
She wanted to complain to Tae-soo, just as she always had.
She wanted to tell him how hard things had been.
“It was so hard… Really hard…”
Her cheek was pressed against the back of his hand.
Her soft, pale cheek rubbed gently against the veins on his hand.
She even turned her body sideways and leaned her whole face comfortably against his large hand.
Then…
Something felt strange.
It felt far too warm to be a dream.
The skin was soft.
Grandpa Tae-soo’s skin had been rough because of his age.
As soon as that thought crossed her mind, her tightly closed eyes slowly opened.
Her blurry vision gradually became clear.
“…Huh?”
She blinked.
Then she saw In-hyuk.
Her eyes moved back and forth between his face and the hand resting on her shoulder.
The moment she understood what had happened, she hurriedly pushed his arm away and pressed herself against the car door.
“W-What are you doing?”
She curled up defensively.
As she glared at him, In-hyuk frowned.
She had pushed him so hard that the back of his head lightly hit the window.
“That’s what I’d like to know.”
He raised his hand for her to see.
“I woke you up because we’d arrived home.”
Only then did Hae-yoon look outside.
She recognized her apartment building.
“So you comforted yourself using me while half asleep…”
“And now you’re treating me like some kind of pervert.”
“What exactly is going on here?”
As he calmly explained everything, Hae-yoon swallowed hard.
She finally realized what had happened.
Half asleep, she had mistaken him for her grandfather.
Tae-soo had always woken her by gently rubbing her shoulder or back.
“I-I’m sorry…”
She lowered her head and slowly moved back into her own seat.
“I thought you were my grandfather.”
Her face turned bright red.
She wished there were a hole in the ground she could crawl into.
Pressing the back of her hand against her burning cheeks, she quickly reached for the door handle.
“Thank you for driving me home. Please drive safely!”
She hurriedly opened the door and stepped one foot outside.
“I’ll contact you.”
Halfway out of the car, she turned back.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
“You can ask as many as you want.”
Leaving the door open, she sat back down.
“Why do you want to marry me?”
“I need this marriage.”
“…”
“The benefits I’ll gain from it are significant.”
“And the same applies to you.”
Hae-yoon had already guessed as much.
Even if it had been Chairman Gi-seop’s idea, there was no reason someone like In-hyuk would marry someone who had far less to offer unless there was something to gain.
Still…
Hearing him say it directly felt strange.
She wasn’t against marriages based on practical reasons.
It just didn’t feel good being the person receiving such a proposal.
“So if someone else could give you the same benefits, you’d marry anyone?”
“How would that be ‘anyone’?”
“You’re the only person who can give me those benefits.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Someone that unique isn’t just anyone.”
The benefit he wanted could only come from Hae-yoon.
Because she was the only woman Chairman Gi-seop personally approved of.
“The boyfriend you said prevented you from marrying me is no longer an issue.”
Remembering Min-gyu made Hae-yoon frown.
“As for Hong Si-yeon…”
“We’ll write it into a contract.”
“A contract?”
“If Hong Si-yeon and I are involved in the kind of improper relationship you think we are…”
“I’ll immediately agree to a divorce and even help you file for an annulment.”
“…”
“In addition, I’ll pay you one billion won as compensation.”
Hae-yoon’s eyes widened.
“And although I can’t tell you now, the moment we’re married, I’ll reveal my relationship with Hong Si-yeon to you.”
At that moment, Hae-yoon became certain.
In-hyuk and Si-yeon definitely were not romantically involved.
His confidence said everything.
A businessman wouldn’t casually bet that much money otherwise.
“So…”
“Can we go ahead with the marriage?”
Originally, In-hyuk had decided not to bring up marriage again today for her sake.
But Hae-yoon had started the conversation herself.
That suited him.
Dragging things out wasn’t his style.
He calmly waited for her answer.
What he wanted was finally within reach.
Waiting a little longer didn’t matter.
Several moments passed.
Finally, Hae-yoon spoke.
“But…”
“I don’t love you.”
“…What?”
Love?
For the first time, wrinkles appeared on In-hyuk’s normally smooth forehead.
“Who gets married like this?”
“Some people marry based only on practical reasons.”
When she kept staring at him, he slightly lifted his chin.
“I’m Do In-hyuk.”
Those four words carried many meanings.
His family background.
His appearance.
His wealth.
Everything.
After thinking quietly for a moment, Hae-yoon tilted her head.
“So?”
To Hae-yoon…
None of those things really mattered.
She wasn’t an overly romantic person.
But she considered herself an ordinary woman.
She knew some people married for practical reasons.
She simply wasn’t one of them.
She didn’t expect a passionate movie-like romance.
But she believed marriage should at least have some quiet affection.
She didn’t think that was asking for too much.
“Honestly…”
“Your background makes me feel pressured.”
Even after saying, “I’m Do In-hyuk,” his expression didn’t change at all.
She expected his ears to turn red from embarrassment like before.
But this time they didn’t.
Instead…
He genuinely looked confused.
“I think I’ve made my position clear.”
Hae-yoon hoped this would truly be the last awkward meeting between them.
“Then let’s date first.”
“…What?”
She wondered if he was joking.
But his expression was completely serious.
She tilted her head.
“Do you like me?”
“If that’s what you want…”
“I’ll start trying from today.”
“Can someone really force themselves to like another person?”
“Why not?”
Hae-yoon frowned.
Is he joking?
Am I supposed to laugh?
She seriously wondered.
While she was distracted—
In-hyuk leaned a little closer across the passenger seat.
“I can gladly become the kind of man that matches your taste.”
Holding the passenger seat with one hand, he leaned even closer.
Hae-yoon’s fingers twitched nervously on her lap.
Just then—
A loud ringtone suddenly interrupted them.
Startled, she hurriedly searched through her bag.
Still close beside her, In-hyuk narrowed his eyes before looking at the phone in her hand.
Team Leader Lee
It was the Management Team leader.
She answered immediately.
“Hae-yoon! Are you with Actress Si-yeon right now?”
The loud voice echoed through the phone.
Hearing the conversation, In-hyuk frowned.
“Uh… No. Why? What happened?”
“Quick! Check the internet! Everything’s blowing up right now!”
Hae-yoon immediately ended the call and opened the news.
She didn’t even have to search.
As soon as she typed Hong Si-yeon, countless articles appeared.
[Actress Hong Si-yeon ♥ DY Group Executive Director Do In-hyuk… A Budding Romance?]
