BTL Ch 11

“Miss, you’re here?”

“Unnie!”

The moment the front door opened, Hayeon excitedly called out at the sight of a welcoming face.

“When did you get here?”

“I just arrived too. Come on in.”

With her gentle and affectionate greeting, Hayeon smiled shyly and clung to Jieun’s arm, who would soon be her sister-in-law.

“What? I didn’t hear you were coming.”

“I only found out when I got home too.”

Taegeon walked out of the master bedroom, shaking his head.

“You haven’t been in touch all day. Was it to surprise us with a visit?”

“Yeah.”

Jieun, with a faint smile, nodded and asked, “Looks like young master isn’t here. I don’t see him.”

“What? Chaeheon oppa isn’t home?”

The only person Jieun would call “young master” in this house was Chaeheon, so Hayeon’s eyes widened as she looked down the hallway, where Chaeheon’s room was.

“He’ll be here soon. Grandpa called him this morning.”

That morning, after more than a week in Korea, Chairman Kang Manho had gotten angry, complaining that Chaeheon hadn’t shown his face once. Unable to ignore Chairman Kang’s summons, Chaeheon had gone to the main residence around lunchtime.

Hayeon, with a disappointed look, tore her gaze from Chaeheon’s room and went upstairs, saying she’d change and come down.

“Should I ask him to go shopping with me this weekend?”

Hayeon opened her closet wide and seriously rummaged through her clothes. She couldn’t find a single outfit she liked. It was ridiculous that she had so many clothes but nothing to wear, but it was true.

“What’s with this lace? It’s so flowy, I’ll just look like a little kid.”

Ugh. And what’s with these cartoon characters? When did I buy these? They’re so childish. Hayeon kept grumbling as she pulled out a dark blue blouse. It was the most normal one, but she still couldn’t help regretting, ‘I should’ve bought at least one dress for indoors.’

After picking out clothes, her hair was the next problem. She tried tying it up, then half-up.

“…It’s probably better to just leave it down, right?”

Her hands busily brushed through her dark brown hair over her pale, slender neck. But that only lasted a moment. Hayeon sighed deeply when she saw herself in the mirror. Clothes were scattered all over the floor.

“What am I even doing?”

Just then. Knock, knock. Jieun’s voice called out from beyond the door.

“Miss.”

“Oh.”

She checked the time and realized it had been almost an hour since she entered the room. Hayeon picked up the clothes from the floor, roughly threw them onto the bed, and opened the door.

“You were taking so long, I came up to see if everything was alright. But…”

Jieun’s gaze swept over the messy room as she finished speaking.

“Were you having a fashion show?”

Hayeon winced, a hint of a smile in her voice, “Yeah, well… I didn’t have anything suitable to wear.”

When she added that it took her so long to pick out clothes these days, Jieun nodded in understanding.

“Right. Every morning is a battle with clothes for me too.”

Hmm. Jieun added, “So, how about we go to the department store together this weekend? I wanted to buy you an outfit anyway.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Wear it to the wedding. I’d be really happy.”

Jieun stroked Hayeon’s head, who was beaming, thrilled that their minds had met about wanting to go shopping together.

“Shall we go down then? The young master just arrived.”

***

The meal continued quite harmoniously.

Jieun spoke in her characteristic calm and gentle tone, and Chaeheon, in turn, politely and conscientiously responded to his cousin’s fiancée. And by his side, Hayeon occasionally chimed in, preventing any awkwardness.

“Oh, right.”

Jieun said, as if something just occurred to her. Taegeon, who had been smiling contentedly watching the three of them, looked at her.

“Young master, I heard you had a blind date last week? How was it?”

“Yeah. Tell us, Chaeheon.”

Taegeon, who had been hesitant to ask about the reluctant blind date, quickly chimed in.

“I heard Han Haein’s side wants to proceed with the engagement right away.”

It seemed Kang Jincheol had been itching to talk. A few days ago, he finally sought out Taegeon and rattled on about the engagement progress. He went on and on about how the chairman was also looking forward to it, boasting that they should get ready for a noodle party soon. It was so ridiculous.

But the phrase “Han Haein’s side wants to proceed” also meant that Chaeheon hadn’t given a definite answer yet.

And if it was the Chaeheon that Taegeon knew, engagement? No way. Taegeon could bet all his assets that by now, the events of that day had completely vanished from his memory. Still, he was curious.

“Ah, that.”

Chaeheon sighed softly and slowly closed and opened his eyes. At his lukewarm reaction, Hayeon, who had been anxiously watching Chaeheon, visibly relaxed. It was clear enough for a ten-year-old to know that he wasn’t interested in Han Haein based on his attitude that day. Still, she couldn’t help but feel increasingly anxious as time went on.

She didn’t know what conversations had transpired between Chaeheon and Han Haein, and there was always the possibility that they would agree to an engagement due to some intertwined interests. But it seemed her worries were unfounded.

It was fortunate that Kang Chaeheon was so indifferent that he could even forget his cousin’s wedding. Chaeheon spoke to the three people looking at him.

“No interest.”

He had already settled the matter at the main residence earlier that day.

Kang Manho, who had shown great interest in the blind date’s outcome, was disappointed by Chaeheon’s unyielding attitude but didn’t say anything more. Chairman Kang Manho knew his grandson’s personality quite well.

Taegeonhummed, crossed his arms, and nodded. “Alright, if that’s what you want.”

Then, he suddenly looked at Chaeheon with a serious expression.

“What we talked about before… have you thought about it?”

“Huh? Before? What was that?”

Jieun looked quizzically between Taegeon and Chaeheon. Taegeon answered Jieun’s question without taking his eyes off Chaeheon.

It wasn’t a secret to her anyway.

“I asked him to come to Korea and help me out.”

“Ah.”

Jieun glanced at Chaeheon as if trying to gauge his reaction, then remained silent. It wasn’t a topic for her to interrupt.

Hmm. Chaeheon exhaled slowly and leaned back. Then he nodded lightly.

“It’ll take about a year to wrap things up and come over.”

Taegeon’s face brightened at Chaeheon’s words.

“Then…!”

“I’m not coming back permanently. Once things here are settled, I’ll go back.”

He didn’t have just one or two businesses. There was nothing in Korea valuable enough for him to leave all of them behind. So, his plan was to just help Taegeon clean up the mess his damn father made and then leave Korea forever, never to return.

Hearing Chaeheon’s reply, Taegeon grinned, not daring to push for more. Watching Taegeon, Chaeheon recalled the conversation he had with his grandfather.

Kang Manho had smiled bitterly at his words about not returning to Korea and asked, “Are you truly not interested in the company?”

“Even if I were, you wouldn’t give me that position, would you?”

Kang Manho smiled faintly and nodded at his sarcastic remark. No matter how much Kang Manho doted on Chaeheon, it wasn’t enough to overturn the succession plan. And he had just returned after refusing his grandfather’s offer to stay for dinner, saying he wouldn’t bring up the topic again.

He was idly rubbing his glass, recalling his conversation with his grandfather, when…

“…So,”

Hayeon, who had been quietly listening to their conversation beside Chaeheon, leaned in, her face flushed.

“You’re going to live in Korea?”

At the sudden intrusion of her delicate features, Chaeheon, unusually flustered, leaned back and nodded.

Hayeon’s eyes widened, curving into a bright smile. With an obviously excited expression, she clenched both fists under the table.

‘Yay!’

Even though it came with a one-year prerequisite! Even though there was a grace period! Still, Hayeon was satisfied that this wouldn’t be the last time.

Jieun narrowed her eyes when she saw Hayeon trying to suppress her twitching lips. Her gaze, which had been on Hayeon, now landed on Chaeheon.

His initial flustered reaction was momentary; he was already back to nonchalantly tapping on his phone as if nothing had happened. He seemed completely oblivious to Hayeon sneaking glances at him.

“Hmm.”

Taegeon, checking his schedule on his tablet, looked in the direction Jieun was looking and tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

There was no need to call Chaeheon indifferent.

Jieun smiled sweetly at her fiancé, who was utterly clueless about anything not related to work, and asked, “Are you free this week?”

“Yeah, I think so. I don’t have anything specific planned.”

“Really?”

Jieun looked at Chaeheon.

“And you, young master? You don’t have anything to do, do you?”

It was a question that demanded a “no,” even if he did have something to do.

As Chaeheon slowly nodded, a satisfied smile appeared on Jieun’s lips.

“Then both of you, clear your schedules this weekend. We’re going to the department store.”