IMFOBO | CH 13 | Different Proposals

Different Proposals

 

“Let’s not make this harder than it needs to be. Whether you like it or not, Ms. Lee Eun-cho, you’ll eventually want this.”

The chain of explosions set off by Ryu Tae-san was nothing short of catastrophic.

He had a reputation for not making empty promises, and sure enough, it took less than three days for her to be dragged along by his intentions. She never dreamed she’d be considering marriage with a man she’d only met about three times.

Why is it that whenever she’s with this man, it’s just one unexpected event after another? Her heart abandons its natural rhythm and starts pounding so hard that just keeping her wits about her feels like an accomplishment.

“No, I’m not leaving.”

As if he’d been hoping for that answer, his lips curled into a gentle smile. The slow way he used his thumb to wipe away the sticky lip gloss from her cheek was strangely sensual.

Or maybe it was the way his eyes hadn’t left her for a single moment. Those deep, abyss-like eyes had the power to steal her words.

Eun-cho forced herself to look away from Tae-san, pressing her lips tightly together. What kind of house is this? She can’t just give up and leave without a fight. But she couldn’t exactly kick out Ryu Tae-san either, not when he was already claiming ownership.

‘Not that he’d back down just because I told him to.’

Tak-soo’s threats to use legal eviction notices or even hire thugs to get her out were no longer empty words. They could very easily become a terrifying reality.

“I didn’t realize you were so skilled at coercion.”

“Is there really a need to be so prickly? I’d think Ms. Lee Eun-cho would consider me something of a benefactor. Or am I wrong?”

Benefactor… The word was ambiguous, but at least it sounded like he wasn’t planning to divide up the traditional house like raw fish or tear it down altogether. So, whether his taking over the house would be a blessing or a curse was still impossible to tell. If he hadn’t attached such a massive condition like marriage, just as he said, it almost could have been a real chance for her.

“If there’s something you want, ask me for it.”

The look in his eyes, subtly smiling, was surprisingly gentle. This was a man who was overbearing even to his own flesh and blood, Jeong-seok, yet for some reason, he was being lenient with her.

Although that leniency probably just came from the confidence—the arrogance—that she wouldn’t be able to refuse his offer anyway.

“Negotiations are always possible.”

With that response, Tae-san made it clear who held the cards. He maintained a refreshing smile, even while dominating the other party.

“Give me some time.”

“I can’t give you too much. As you can see, I’m not the most patient person.”

Eun-cho glanced at the bag in Tae-san’s hand. If anything, the small amount of luggage was a comfort. After all, it didn’t make sense for someone who worked in Seoul to stay here, so he wouldn’t be staying long.

‘It’s just a show of force. It’s the weekend, so I just need to hold out for two days.’

The man strode into the main building and nodded, as if telling her to show him to the room where he’d be staying.

Jeong-seok and Soo-ji were already staying in the detached house, which was practically a honeymoon suite, so Eun-cho didn’t go near that area. The detached annex hadn’t been used in a long time, and there were only three rooms in the main building. The room that Grandma used was separated by the main wooden floor, but the room she would give Tae-san was right next to Eun-cho’s room with a wall between them.

What bothered her the most was that there was a small doorway connecting the two rooms. Nevertheless, there was no other option besides this room. It was only two days; what could possibly happen?

“Then, rest well.”

He leaned forward and opened the paper-covered door, stepping inside. Watching the door swallow the large man whole, her mind still felt numb. She couldn’t believe what was happening. Only when Tae-san disappeared from view did she finally let out a shallow breath.

Eun-cho went into her room and stared blankly at the side door that connected to Tae-san’s room. Quietly approaching, she checked that the door was firmly closed, then hung a spoon on the round metal handle. It was a ridiculously flimsy and weak defense, but somehow, it made her uneasy heart feel a little more at ease.

“Hoo…”

Even though the heat had subsided a bit, it was still hot. Fanning her flushed cheeks, Eun-cho focused on the sounds coming from the next room.

The rustling of clothes, the vibrations of the floor, the sound of him sitting on the bedding—everything was transmitted without filter. 

The old traditional house was so poorly soundproofed that you could map out a person’s every move. 

Which meant that, conversely, if he wanted to, that man could know everything she was doing.

Euncho began to calmly sort out what had happened to her.

Her thoughts tangled and unraveled, coming together only to scatter again.

Just making sense of the sudden situation was overwhelming—she couldn’t rush into any decisions.

This was Lee Eun-cho’s life on the line. Even if it was just for a year, she couldn’t guarantee how this decision would affect her life. Ryu Tae-san was like a tidal wave about to engulf her.

‘This is frustrating.’

It seemed like she needed to get away from that man to make a proper judgment. Eun-cho quietly slipped out of the house to get some air.

“Haa…”

Just being out of the same space made her feel like she could breathe a little easier. Eun-cho slowly strolled through the neighborhood alleyways, which she could navigate with her eyes closed. There wasn’t a place that didn’t hold memories.

She passed the persimmon tree where Grandpa used to pick bright red persimmons for her, the platform where Grandma and her used to prepare vegetables, and the sacred tree where she made wishes every New Year.

These were all precious memories that she couldn’t bear to lose. Fragments of my childhood that had shaped her into the solid person she was today. Could she lose all of this? Was it right to let go of the opportunity to reclaim this traditional house, which was Grandma’s life and everything to her? But…

‘What about me? What about my life…?’

Eun-cho sat on the porch swing inside the apple orchard and sighed softly. From the time her grandma, who had raised her, became ill, she naturally thought it was my turn to take care of her.

But paying off her aunt’s debt was a different matter. So, against my will, she drifted like a buoy on the waves, enduring whatever came my way.

Spring with its profusion of apple blossoms, refreshing summer, autumn, and winter. It had come to the point where she had to weigh all these memories against marriage and choose one. The more she thought about it, the more absurd it felt.

“It feels unfair to get married without even having dated once.”

For a brief moment, the face of salvation flashed by, only to be replaced by that cold voice asking if she wanted to play at love.

Ryu Tae-san.

The moment she closed her eyes, the man’s face became even clearer—those slightly upturned long eyes, the sharp bridge of his nose, and his well-balanced lips.

‘He is my type.’

The man, who was handsome without a flaw in his appearance, was an expert at spewing venom as soon as he opened his mouth.

‘Like a poison dart frog.’

Having such ridiculous thoughts made her feel a little better. But in the end, it all came back to Ryu Tae-san.

‘One year…’

A period that could feel long or short, depending on how one looked at it.

Grandma had to return to this house no matter what.

No matter how much she calculated, there was no way out. Realistically, there was no way for Eun-cho to get the house back without going through Ryu Tae-san. Besides, even if she included the money she was supposed to receive from her father, reclaiming the house within a year was impossible when considering her grandmother’s hospital bills.

Eun-cho covered her face with her hands and lay down. As she let out a sigh, she could feel the hot breath moistening her skin.

The countryside, with its lack of streetlights, was enveloped in even deeper darkness at night. Breaking that silence, a small voice was faintly heard.

“……?”

As the surroundings became quieter, even the smallest sounds seemed loud. Due to the nature of the countryside, where night comes early, people rarely came out. Especially since the elderly tend to go to bed early.

Eun-cho tried to minimize her presence as much as possible while looking up at the sky. She didn’t want to be disturbed during her deep contemplation, so she just hoped that they would quietly pass by each other without noticing each other.

Even the low-lying clouds in the dark night sky were as hazy as her own heart.

It was then.

“Marry me.”

The sound that traveled through the silent night air was quite low yet clear. Without even seeing the face of the man proposing, Eun-cho knew who he was.

A man she had liked for a long time in her young heart. An immature, unrequited first love that she had never confessed—now a presence so unattainable that even harboring feelings for him felt like a sin.

Jin Gu-won, who was once like a fever to her, was proposing to Tae-hee.

Secretly under the dim moonlight.

To witness a scene like this, of all things—

If God truly exists, He must have a cruel favoritism.

She really has no luck.

Eun-cho got up to leave, unable to listen any longer. She tried not to look in that direction, but…

“Okay.”

At the sound of that unhesitant reply, her eyes turned involuntarily, only to see Tahee’s lips curve into a dangerously seductive smile.

Their eyes definitely met.

At that moment, a dry twig snapped sharply beneath her shoe.

The sudden noise in the silence made Guwon start to turn his head, but Tahee cupped his face and pressed her lips to his—

Just like a scene from a cheap, third-rate movie.

Like a scene from a cheap, third-rate movie.