Chapter 3.1

“Here’s your aperitif.”

Baek-geon clicked his tongue inwardly as he saw the champagne glass placed before him. He was already annoyed by the woman’s bad taste in choosing a high-end French restaurant for what could have been a simple tea meeting.

He had no interest in dining with strangers, and the strong perfume had already killed his appetite. He looked at the woman sitting across from him, who kept talking, with an irritated gaze.

“Ha, I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion. I just returned from France, and they made me stop by the duty-free shop at the airport to film an advertisement. You know Charles de Gaulle Airport, right? I was bored waiting to board, but there was a shop there, so I filmed myself picking out a caviar wallet.”

The conversation and time were utterly trivial. Baek-geon stifled a yawn and casually glanced at the woman.

The woman, who seemed extremely confident, was glamorous from head to toe. Even to someone like him, uninterested in brands or luxury, everything she wore was flashy and eye-catching.

What fatigued him the most was her overwhelming confidence, bordering on arrogance, coupled with the strong perfume scent. She incessantly flaunted her worth, citing foreign airports and advertisements.

What was her name again?

Baek-geon casually recalled the information he had received from his secretary. The new secretary, who replaced Jung-gyun, who had left after being thoroughly worn out, was surprisingly quick-witted and competent.

‘Seong Rui. Her original name was Yumi, but she changed it when she started working as an influencer. She’s the youngest daughter of Chairman Seong Myung-gon. Thanks to social media, she’s quite famous overseas, and these days she mainly works with luxury brand advertisements and sponsorships.’

He remembered the secretary placing a thick file on his desk.

‘You can see the detailed information on her hobbies and preferences in the separate document. I’ve reserved the place, so you can have some tea first and then move to another place for dinner.’

The seat he took after pushing away the thick documents labeled as materials was even more tiresome. If he had known what she liked in advance, he might have been able to stop her from talking. He gave a bitter smile at himself for refusing the competent secretary’s suggestion.

Everything about the woman seemed to Baek-geon to be nothing more than insignificant and irritating bravado. He was tolerating her graciously only because it was necessary.

Had she not been the daughter of the Chairman of Sungjin Construction, he would have declined this meeting long ago. In fact, she should have been grateful that he didn’t show his annoyance.

However, she didn’t seem to think that way at all. That’s probably why she smiled and presented her well-honed edge.

“Your appearance is decent, but your mindset is a bit cheap, isn’t it, Han Baek-geon?”

The woman, Seong Rui, smiled and bared her claws. Her glossy lips slightly relaxed.

“It’s rude to look at a potential spouse with such a dismissive expression, as if they’re nothing. It ruins the mood. Didn’t you learn that in kindergarten?”

“I didn’t attend, so I guess I’m at the bottom.”

Baek-geon retorted shortly and straightened his back. He lifted himself from the chair and clasped his hands on the table.

For a moment, the oppressive aura he exuded caused the woman’s lips to press tightly together. Baek-geon quietly observed as her wildly shaking pupils returned to their place.

“Is that so? That’s why you’re so rude? It’s a big problem. If you’re going to live with me, you need to have some basic manners. What should I do? Should I put a leash on you?”

Rui took a sip of champagne and looked into Baek-geon’s eyes. At that moment, the appetizer was also served. Having regained her composure, the woman became arrogant again.

“There are rumors that you’re a mad dog. I like that nickname. The rougher and more violent, the more fun it is to tame. You know that, right? Since you’ve probably tamed a lot of people yourself, Han Baek-geon.”

Rui’s eyes scanned the subordinates discreetly stationed around them. Both sides had quietly deployed their men to protect them.

Baek-geon’s eyes followed hers, slowly scanning the interior of the restaurant. He thought he caught a glimpse of Cheong-o’s face.

Suddenly, Cheong-o’s words about meeting Yoon-jae came to his mind. He had seemed excited, saying he could rest all day tomorrow.

No way, here?

However, Baek-geon soon dismissed the thought. No matter how oblivious Cheong-o was, he wouldn’t bring her to a place like this.

He was probably mistaken. In fact, it wouldn’t matter even if he did bring her. He quickly dismissed the thought and tried to focus on the woman in front of him.

“Still, it shows, doesn’t it? The suit doesn’t fit well, so it’s a mess. Just building up your body makes it look unattractive. Well, I guess I should be grateful you didn’t unbutton your shirt? There are so many people who think their body is a sketchbook and draw all sorts of things on it.”

Rui, smirking as she appraised the subordinates, smiled as she glanced at Baek-geon.

“At least you look sleek on the outside, Han Baek-geon, so it’s a bit better. I’ll be teaching you a lot, so learn as quickly as possible. I hate when my husband shows off a backstreet attitude.”

“Why should I?”

“There’s a sense of dignity, isn’t there?”

Rui’s smile towards the man who kept deflecting her was now fierce.

“I’ve told you who I am, haven’t I? To stand by my side, you need to have that level of class. Don’t you know about maintaining dignity?”

She sighed, took a bite of the dish, chewed carefully, and shook her head.

“No matter how much of a mad dog you are, Han Baek-geon, that kind of bluff doesn’t work in front of me. Just live under control. It won’t be bad for you either.”

“Does this look like a bluff to you?”

Baek-geon smirked crookedly and stabbed the plate a little hard with his fork. With a clinking sound, Rui’s eyes changed.

Baek-geon’s appearance and aura weren’t something easily approachable. When the man, who rarely showed emotion, exuded a threatening atmosphere, the air became chilly in an instant.

“If I let myself be caught, can you tame me?”

He leaned slightly forward and stared at Rui. His black eyes, showing no emotion, fiercely ensnared her.

He laughed savagely and violently cut the freshly served steak, putting it in his mouth. The red juice that seeped out made Rui’s lips clamp shut.

Baek-geon watched with amusement as the woman’s throat bobbed busily. It seemed she was finally scared by the oppressive atmosphere.

Only after her trembling pupils slowly returned did Rui’s mouth open. She looked as if she had resolved something firmly, her face becoming solemn.

“Don’t scare me so pathetically. We both know, don’t we? You’re trying to become a live-in son-in-law because you want something from my dad, and my dad wants to profit by selling me off. In fact, you want more than my dad, so you’re coming in submissively.”

It wasn’t a bad judgment. Baek-geon finally listened to her words.

“So just think of everything I’ve said so far as a lovely request from your future bride. Honestly, it’s kind of cute that I’m saying this, isn’t it?”

“Cute?”

Baek-geon scoffed. Rui’s complexion changed. Her face turned pale from the pressure of dealing with an overwhelming opponent.

“How ridiculous.”

Baek-geon unclasped his hands and swung his palm through the air. The action, which seemed like he was about to hit her, made Rui flinch and avert her gaze.

After venting his frustration by swinging at the air a few times, he felt a bit relieved. Baek-geon picked up his glass and took a sip of wine. The wine, as dark red as blood, was bitter and astringent.

“It hasn’t even been thirty minutes since we met, and you’re already pushing my buttons. Should I curse at you to make you come to your senses?”

As he muttered to himself, Rui seemed to regain her spirit and smiled sweetly.

“Still, you’re answering me consistently, aren’t you? I’ll be satisfied with that for now. Would I be full after just one meal? We’ll get to know each other gradually as we live.”

Baek-geon found it genuinely ridiculous. Her determination to ensure the marriage happened, despite being scared, was absurd.

Even her quick recovery was laughable. Seeing her shamelessly smile so quickly made it clear she was perfect for a job exposed to public attention.

The problem was himself. Every time he saw her unblemished, confident demeanor, he felt an impulse to twist it.

It wasn’t irritation. Nor was it inferiority. It was simply the distorted remnants that inevitably surfaced when witnessing such a scene.

“Seong Yumi. Since we both know enough, let me tell you, I absolutely cannot tolerate anyone who messes around without manners in front of me. I don’t care if it’s a woman. You understand? To me, a woman is either a reckless fool who gets knocked down or someone who submissively serves.”

“Of course.”

Rui let out a hollow laugh like a sigh.