Chapter 4 (Part 4)

As the end of the workday approached,

The youngest employee in the secretary’s office knocked and entered the office.

Do-jin’s gaze briefly turned to her before quickly dropping away.

“Managing Director. I brought the car.”

She glanced at his handsome face, which briefly answered with a “Yes,” as she placed the tea on the desk.

As she was about to bow and leave, Do-jin called her back.

“Can I borrow your phone for a moment?”

“Excuse me?”

She was startled but quickly said she’d fetch it from her desk and stepped out of the office.

Having recently arrived in South Korea, Do-jin was using his personal phone for work.

While thinking he should buy another phone as soon as tomorrow, she returned.

Taking the phone from her, he dialed Seo-hye’s number.

The ringing tone was very clear.

When he called with his phone, it said it was turned off.

“So this is being blocked.”

At his cold murmur, the secretary timidly responded.

“……Pardon?”

“Nothing. Thank you for letting me use it.”

After ending the call, Do-jin handed the phone back to her.

Even as she left the office, she had to stop several times, unsettled by her boss’s constant smirk.

***

Around eight in the evening.

Do-jin finished his work and left the hotel.

Seok-young, who had been waiting, swiftly opened the back door for him.

As his boss sat in the back seat, Seok-young quietly observed him, raising his gaze slightly.

The furrowed brow suggested he was in a bad mood.

Seok-young quietly closed the door and went to the driver’s seat.

“I’ll start driving.”

He pressed the accelerator and exited the hotel grounds onto a four-lane road.

Stopped at a red light, he glanced at Do-jin through the rearview mirror and cautiously asked,

“Managing Director, is there anything bothering you?”

“No.”

“You don’t look well.”

The conversation didn’t last beyond two exchanges.

Seok-young felt as if his boss’s low spirits were weighing down even his own shoulders.

In the uncomfortable silence, Seok-young drove as carefully as possible, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his hands nearly cramped.

“She blocked me.”

At the long-delayed response, Seok-young was startled and asked again,

“Excuse me? Blocked, you say?”

“Yes. Seo-hye blocked my number.”

Seok-young’s pupils shook as if there was an earthquake.

It was hard to believe the words coming from his boss’s mouth, and even harder to believe that Seo-hye had blocked Do-jin’s contact.

Seok-young pondered what he could say to improve his boss’s mood.

In the meantime, Do-jin requested a change of route.

“Let’s change the destination to Cheongun-dong.”

They had originally been on their way to the hospital of Do-jin’s father, Director Won Jae-jun, so Seok-young cautiously offered his opinion.

“Uh, Managing Director. If you go to see her right after being blocked, it might reduce your appeal… I mean.”

His voice trailed off significantly as he spoke. He wondered why he was giving advice on his boss’s romantic affairs.

He hoped he hadn’t heard him, but an unexpected answer came.

“Then when would be the right time to visit?”

“……”

“Seo-hye is a bit intimidating. She often acts in unexpected ways.”

Without realizing it, Seok-young nodded, recalling her.

She had a delicate body that made one think she might have majored in dance. Her face was small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, and she had the basic features of a beauty.

Every line of her features was so delicate and pure. Her skin was so pale it seemed almost white, contrasting sharply with her jet-black hair, reminiscent of a princess locked away in a castle.

A beautiful subject, so lovely that one might want to keep her hidden away just to look at her alone.

Seok-young had only seen her in photos while investigating her on Do-jin’s orders, and when he saw her in person during the last meeting in front of her house, he was genuinely surprised.

He immediately understood why Do-jin was so obsessed with Seo-hye, the younger sister, rather than the older sister.

She was a much more beautiful and artistic presence than her sister, who was said to be a dancer.

Besides, her personality didn’t seem very ordinary either.

Even in the car last time, she kept talking back to Do-jin.

If she knew how Do-jin, with just his gaze, overwhelmed high-ranking executives in the company who were much older than him, she would never act that way….

Or maybe she would, even after seeing that side of him.

She was a fascinating woman in many ways.

That’s why she occupied Won Do-jin’s mind even after work hours.

Seok-young quickly gathered his thoughts and made a suggestion.

“Then, Managing Director, should I turn the car around to Cheongun-dong now?”

However, there was no answer from Do-jin for a long time.

And then, as if he had made a decision, he told him to go to the hospital.

***

Do-jin entered the hospital building and went straight to the VIP ward.

Perhaps having heard from Jae-jun that Do-jin was coming, Mr. Cha came out just in time to greet him.

“Young Master, you’re here.”

At his warm welcome, Do-jin paused for a moment, raised his hand, and checked his watch.

Seeing Mr. Cha still at the hospital even though it was past quitting time, Do-jin asked with concern.

“You haven’t left work yet. Isn’t there a caregiver?”

“There is always a caregiver.”

“Then please leave on time. There’s nothing for you to do by staying late at the hospital anyway.”

“Why wouldn’t there be? I can keep the President company.”

“It’s something my father and I are very grateful for, but it must be hard for you, Mr. Cha.”

“You know the President’s personality, right? He’s not someone who makes things difficult for me. I’m here because I want to be.”

Do-jin looked at him with a faint smile.

How many employees could stay by the side of a boss who is physically challenged for seven years?

Moreover, Jae-jun was the eldest son of Seonghan.

Being the eldest son and paralyzed, it was a situation no different from being thrown into a lion’s den with his legs completely tied.

With Mr. Cha’s level of experience, he could have quit being Jae-jun’s secretary and moved on to become an executive secretary at the rapidly rising Seonghan Chemicals or the consistently stable Seonghan Electronics, but he didn’t.

By refusing to move to a better position and steadfastly staying by his father’s side, Do-jin was immensely grateful to him.

“Mr. Cha, I’m always grateful.”

“So sudden?”

“It’s a thought I’ve always kept. And it continues to be.”

“If you’re grateful, then have dinner with me after seeing the President, Young Master.”

“Of course. While I visit my father, just decide what you’d like to eat.”

Having finished the conversation with Mr. Cha, Do-jin moved to the hospital room, opened the door, and entered.

Jae-jun, who seemed to have been eagerly waiting for Do-jin, smiled so broadly that his eyes were buried in his eyelids.

“Son, you’re here.”

Do-jin went to the bedside and sat in the caregiver’s chair.

“What have you been doing?”

“I haven’t had a moment to spare. I’ve been talking nonstop with Mr. Cha about the Seonghan Resort pilot openings in Russia and the Philippines, and I was finally catching my breath.”

“Take it easy, Father. I’ll put more effort into the overseas expansion of the resorts.”

“Alright. By the way, about you, Do-jin. I was waiting to hear when you’d tell me, but it seems endless. I heard you visited the family of the person you’re supposed to marry, according to the Chairman.”

“It wasn’t even a formal greeting. And once things are properly settled, I’ll make sure to include you, Father.”

Jae-jun faintly furrowed his eyebrows and briefly turned his gaze to the air.

“……Properly settled, you say. Hasn’t your grandfather already decided?”

“The Chairman said to go with the eldest granddaughter, but I’ve communicated that I want to go with the second.”

“……”

“Don’t worry.”

“Why? Is the second one prettier?”

Do-jin frowned for a moment, then smiled softly and replied.

“That’s part of it.”

Jae-jun laughed helplessly, as if it was a headache.

“You rascal. Well, I’m sure you’ll handle it well. A father should be concerned about his son’s wedding, but with my condition like this… it’s hard for me to give my opinion. Are you upset about that?”

“Not at all. Marriage is just a bothersome formality, isn’t it? Even if you were fine, I’d have asked you not to get involved.”

Seeing Do-jin being careful not to burden him, Jae-jun smiled and subtly expressed his concern.

“Isn’t your grandfather angry for going against his wishes?”

“Of course he is. Even now, he’s probably trying to make the first-born do as he pleases. If it doesn’t work out, he’ll probably call off the marriage talks.”

“If it’s called off, that’s fine with me. Honestly, Father was too much. There are so many places to send my son to marry. There’s JC, the Seo-il Group. Right?  Setting aside all those prestigious family daughters for the granddaughter of a painter, what’s that about? No matter how famous, I never liked it. If I weren’t in this state, would your grandfather dare to do that? Just thinking about it makes me very angry.”

Do-jin chuckled softly.

“Don’t get worked up. I’m going to have a love marriage, Father. So when I bring a girl home later, please don’t look at her condition.”

“What… you rascal? Didn’t you say you were going to marry the second granddaughter of that painter’s family?”

“Yes, so regardless of the engagement my grandfather is pushing, I’ll date the second granddaughter of that family appropriately and then marry her.”

“…Do you have a photo?”

Silence lingered.

From behind, the sound of Mr. Cha chuckling could be heard.

“I’m curious about what she’s like to make my son act this way.”

Do-jin said he didn’t have one but promised to show her in person soon.