IMFOBO | CH 43 | Terrible Deed

As the two entered the dining room, the aroma of food washed over them like a wave.

Eun-cho’s jaw dropped at the sight of the table, so loaded with dishes it seemed the legs might break.

Despite the chairman’s initial resistance about trusting their relationship, the hospitality clearly suggested they were already being treated as family.

“Please, eat plenty.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

Eun-cho scanned the feast before her and spotted the seasoned ssukbujeongyi (edible wild plant). It was a side dish Tae-san enjoyed quite a bit, but the plate was too far for his chopsticks to reach.

She picked up some of the greens and placed them on his plate, completely unaware that Chairman Ryu was watching their every move.

“Next time, don’t invite my baby alone. I’ll definitely come with her.”

“Such a prickly fellow. We’re not going to eat her up, you know.”

“She’s too precious to look at alone.”

At Tae-san’s shameless remark, Mrs. Han, who had appeared girlish until now, seemed to twitch at her temples.

“Since we’re all here, I’ll tell you. I’m going to marry Eun-cho within three months. The sooner the better.”

“What? Why rush into marriage like you’re frying beans in lightning?”

Mrs. Han raised her voice in apparent shock.

She launched into a lecture about how important marriage is to a woman and how even a year isn’t enough time to fulfill those romantic dreams, but Tae-san paid no attention.

“Is there anything money can’t solve? Why act like an amateur, Mother?”

“How flippant!”

Tae-san ignored Mrs. Han’s disgust as he made a circle with his thumb and index finger, the universal gesture for money.

He completely disregarded her warning not to bring such vulgar talk into the sacred matter of marriage.

“You rascal, did you do something terrible to this teacher?”

A low, serious voice cut through the bickering between mother and son.

Terrible deed?

Eun-cho blinked repeatedly at Chairman Ryu’s earnest question.

‘Surely not…’

As she tried to understand what he meant, she looked down at her flat stomach in shock. It was a somewhat plausible misunderstanding, but a massive one nonetheless.

Just as Eun-cho was about to open her lips to clarify, Tae-san was quicker once again.

“Well, something like that.”

What exactly is “something like that”? How is it similar in any way?

There hadn’t been any attempt whatsoever to have a child.

Am I the Virgin Mary or something?

Confused, Eun-cho jabbed Tae-san in the side.

“Nothing works for me unless it’s Eun-cho.”

This madman was truly dropping bombs one after another.

What doesn’t work?

Such impure words delivered with a neat and proper expression.

Though the object of his sentence was curiously omitted, everyone present understood Tae-san’s explosive declaration.

A mischievous smile played across his face.

“Oh my…”

Tae-san’s sister-in-law blushed in surprise, while Mrs. Han watched Chairman Ryu’s reaction, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.

Chairman Ryu, with an angry expression, brought down his rice-specked spoon toward Tae-san’s forehead.

“You little brat! How dare you speak such nonsense in front of your elders?”

“Grandfather, I have a social reputation to maintain, too, you know?”

Tae-san skillfully dodged the spoon with practiced ease and smiled.

He crinkled his nose bridge brazenly, the very picture of nonchalance.

Despite his robust vigor for his age, Chairman Ryu trembled with rage at failing to land a hit on his grandson.

It was truly impressive how Ryu Tae-san, with his borderline insanity, could manipulate even the mighty Chairman Ryu to dance to his tune.

“At this rate, my son might become impo—”

“Hey! Can’t you stop? There’s nothing you won’t say when people are watching!”

“That’s why there’s such urgency.”

Mom, didn’t you say you wanted grandchildren?

Mrs. Han clutched her forehead as if with a headache and shook her head repeatedly at Tae-san’s additional comment.

“Where would I find another boy as virile as you!”

Ah, so Mother knows too. I see.

Well, it would be strange not to know at this point.

“Why? Isn’t this more realistic than spouting embarrassing love poetry?”

“Girls follow you around by the truckload! That’s what’s unrealistic! You brat!”

Mrs. Han, who had seemed like a delicate flower, exploded with rage.

Her voice was so powerful it rivaled a general’s command.

‘This turned into chaos in seconds.’

Before things got even more confusing, the situation needed proper clarification.

Trusting this man would only lead to disaster, so it was time to step in quickly.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but may I speak this time?”

All eyes of the Ryu family turned to Eun-cho at her cautious request.

Swallowing dryly at the sudden attention, she began.

“My grandmother raised me since I was little, but she’s very ill now. Tae-san is rushing because of my selfish wish to show her that I’ve started a family as soon as possible.”

Though it pricked her conscience to mention her sick grandmother in this situation, it was a plausible and appropriate excuse.

“Oh my, is your grandmother very ill?”

“Yes, she’s currently undergoing chemotherapy for stomach cancer.”

It was a flawless justification for rushing the marriage.

Something no one could dispute and everyone would immediately understand.

Mrs. Han reacted with great surprise, while Chairman Ryu merely nodded slightly, as if he already knew.

Even though she had long accepted her grandmother’s illness, speaking about it aloud still made her chest ache.

Despite the difficulty, it was a necessary step.

After enduring harsh treatment, her grandmother would absolutely need to return to their ancestral home in Cheongnim-ri.

She could endure this much.

“Tae-san, take good care of her.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Was this approval? She was still uncertain.

At Chairman Ryu’s instruction, Tae-san answered promptly as if he’d been waiting for it.

“Help with the wedding preparations, you and Se-yeon.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Understood, Grandfather.”

At the Baekwoon household, Chairman Ryu’s word was absolute.

No one could question the directives of the family patriarch, who held complete authority over the Baekwoon Group.

In that moment, Tae-san smiled subtly, as if everything had gone according to plan.

The chairman’s words had indeed been approval.

After the storm passed, things became rather ordinary.

Every dish was impeccably delicious, and contrary to stereotypes about the wealthy, the Baekwoon family members were warm and close with each other.

Sharing delicious food and asking about each other’s day, the table was filled with the distinctive liveliness of a large family.

Had Jeongseok been there as well, it would have been even more vibrant.

For Eun-cho, who had lived quietly in the countryside with her grandparents, this was an unfamiliar atmosphere.

‘How on earth did someone like Ryu Tae-san come from such normal people…’

Like a protruding nail, the man stood out even among his family members.

What else would you expect from a mutant?

“I really never thought you would get married.”

“I know. I couldn’t imagine my son bringing home such a respectable young lady.”

Could she naturally blend in with these people? Eun-cho was suddenly struck by this unfamiliar sentiment.

After all, marrying Ryu Tae-san would make her family with them for the foreseeable future.

“We’ll be weekend spouses for a while. Eun-cho will continue her practice at the oriental medicine clinic in Cheongnim-ri. I have no intention of forcing her to fit into my lifestyle.”

It was none other than Tae-san’s voice that broke Eun-cho’s small reverie.

Chairman Ryu immediately frowned at his resolute tone.

“If that’s the case, why bother getting married?”

“Grandfather, would you ask someone else’s precious daughter, who studied so hard, to just stay home and keep house?”

“Hmph.”

What era do we live in, after all?

The chairman swallowed a faint groan at this pointed remark.

Having witnessed the difficult university years of his youngest grandson, who was also an oriental medicine doctor, he couldn’t easily counter the argument.

Ryu Tae-san was proving to be an ideal contract partner, beyond Eun-cho’s vague expectations.

He was meticulously implementing the terms they had secretly agreed upon.

He behaved as if determined to preemptively block any possibility of interference or questioning about their relationship.

“I’m afraid someone might snatch Eun-cho away. I need to stamp my seal on her first, declaring she’s mine.”

“Huh, this guy.”

“Even now, there are pesky flies buzzing around her that really irritate me.”

His voice was strangely low. As if he were serious.

Eun-cho couldn’t recall doing anything that would bother Ryu Tae-san regarding romantic matters.

Just as she was feeling puzzled, Tae-san’s hand covered the back of hers.

The sensation of his firm palm was vivid.

His hand was so large that her small one disappeared completely beneath it.

Her heart fluttered.

Almost making her forget they were in front of his family.

“Please cooperate with us.”

Even Chairman Ryu shook his head at Tae-san’s characteristic declaration.

Even this formidable grandfather had given up on his grandson.

The wedding would be at a hotel affiliated with the Baekwoon Group; their marital homes would be Tae-san’s villa in Hannam-dong and the ancestral house in Cheongnim-ri; the honeymoon would be scheduled after their busy period ended; and he would handle all the trivial matters himself.

Tae-san tied up all the complex wedding procedures right then and there.

Even Eun-cho, the bride-to-be, was left speechless.

Witnessing firsthand how assertive this man could be when his own interests were at stake…

She wasn’t entirely happy about it.

She felt nervous, then suddenly afraid, then fearful of how easily she was being swept along by this man.

And when he no longer needed Lee Eun-cho, he would discard her cleanly.

Just as he had done with all the women who had been by his side before.