SIDE STORY 1

It’s been about three months since Dojun proposed. The breezy spring air had turned into a scorching heat. 

It had barely been 5 minutes since they left the restaurant and started walking on the street, but the soles of Seoyeon’s flat shoes felt like they were melting on the hot asphalt.

“Manager, isn’t Oreum Director Chung’s reservation at 2 o’clock?”

They were on their way upstairs after having lunch with Chae So-hee. Seoyeon nodded in response to her question.

“Do you want me to go in today?”

Sohee asked with a worried expression. 

Should I say the manager couldn’t make it because she was sick? Or should I say she went out on business? 

Seoyeon blinked her eyes, thinking of various excuses instead.

“No, I’ll go in. They made a separate reservation for me, so it wouldn’t be right to suddenly change it.”

Seoyeon said, removing a strand of hair stuck to her neck with her hand. As they stood at the intersection, someone distributed round plastic fans to promote their store’s opening. Seoyeon waved the fan slowly. The lukewarm breeze brushed against her chin.

It was the season where cicadas could be heard everywhere. The leaves of the trees swaying in front of her were a deep green. Standing in the rising heat, waiting for the signal to change, she suddenly remembered the night when she and Dojun first intertwined their bodies.

Dragging her exhausted body out into the dark night, a white breath rose, and snow was falling in the villa’s garden.

Meeting in the season when snowflakes fluttered and reached the season filled with warmth.

Dojun, who suddenly appeared in Yoon Seoyeon’s otherwise safe and uneventful life, had only been with her for a mere eight months. He was the person she had spent the shortest time with in her 30 years of life, and the most recent connection she had made.

So, to put it another way, Hwang Dojun had become the person who shook up Seoyeon’s life in just eight months.

“Seriously, why would they make a reservation with you when they clearly know you’re dating the Vice President?”

Sohee grumbled while vigorously waving the plastic fan. Seoyeon replied with a cool expression.

“Um…spite?”

Sohee laughed in agreement with Seoyeon’s words. Seoyeon also smiled briefly. In retrospect, it was already spectacular enough that Hwang Dojun had become her boyfriend, but it was even more unbelievable that he had asked her to marry him so quickly.

So it must be even more so for others.

Unlike Seoyeon, who wanted to keep their relationship as quiet as possible, Dojun didn’t want to hide it. He never went inside the store, but he casually picked Seoyeon up at the hotel entrance and always held her hand as they walked. Even in front of people, he’d casually brush Seoyeon’s cheek or tuck her hair behind her ear.

When people would say, ‘Hey, look’, Dojun would always say, ‘What’s the big deal?’.

It was his way of saying that his feelings and desires should take precedence over people’s gazes, and to get used to it. He meant that she should get used to the fact that he would never hide his affection, but to Seoyeon, it sounded like he meant that she should get used to the way people looked at her.

“People really are nosy about other people’s business. Why do they bother coming and asking, instead of just minding their own? People can be so shameless.”

Customers looking for Seoyeon suddenly increased. Sometimes, she received startlingly straightforward questions. Unbelievably, it was all thanks to an article on an internet media platform.

The internet media outlet was notorious for invading the privacy of celebrities and famous people, but they published an article titled “The Second Woman of Hanseong Group’s Grandson”.

The main content was speculating whether Seoyeon, who is currently dating Dojun, is a candidate for remarriage, and it even mentioned Dojun’s past marriage which ended in divorce after less than a year.

In between, there was also a description of Seoyeon, which was nothing more than a name-dropping with the description of “Beautiful heiress working at H brand, the daughter of a Hanseong executive.”

She predicted that rumors would spread. Even though it was inevitable once it became known, Seoyeon had hoped it would gradually and quietly become known. However, following Dojun’s intention that there was no need to hide after the article was published, the group officially acknowledged it, and Seoyeon became the undisputed fiancée of Hwang Dojun.

Even though she wasn’t a celebrity, Seoyeon found herself becoming a topic of interest among those around her, even though ordinary people might not care about conglomerate stories. As personal shopping reservations for Seoyeon increased among acquaintances, today was finally the day she would meet Director Chung Eunhee.

“How about moving to the main office, so you don’t have to deal with people like Director Chung?”

When they reached near the hotel entrance, Sohee asked. Seoyeon just smiled without saying a word.

“You weren’t going to stay at the store much longer anyway, so why don’t you ask the executives to move you?”

Sohee said as she waved the fan, sending a breeze toward Seoyeon. She replied to Sohee as she looked at the approaching store.

“I’m thinking about it. The VIP room is already set up, so when Director Chung comes in later, please take her inside.”

As they opened the store door and stepped inside, a cool breeze poured down from above. Sohee finally started to feel alive, enjoying the air conditioning. It was time to prepare for the afternoon shift.

* * *

As Dojun walked out of the gate at Gimpo Airport, he glanced at his wristwatch. It was 3 p.m. The only remaining schedule was a meeting with the head office management support department regarding the “Home By Home” acquisition merger. If everything went well, he might be able to leave on time for the first time in a while.

With brisk steps, Dojun raised his phone and called Seoyeon. After a few rings, Seoyeon answered the phone.

— Yes, this is Yoon Seoyeon.

A neat voice was heard. It felt like Seoyeon was answering the phone as if she were dealing with a customer. 

Had she distanced herself again in just a week?

With a chuckle, Dojun spoke to Seoyeon.

“It’s me. I’ve arrived at the airport.”

• Yes. I see.

Seoyeon’s response was brief, as if there were customers in the store. Walking between the opening automatic doors, Dojun spoke.

“Not eager to see me?”

• I’m attending to a customer.

“Can’t you come out for a moment to talk?”

• No. It seems difficult at this moment.

“Tch, so stiff.”

Dojun muttered and glanced at Secretary Kang. Gesturing that the car was waiting over there, Secretary Kang took the lead. As they stepped out of the shade, the scorching sun poured overhead.

“What time can you get off work?”

• I’ll check and send you a message.

Suddenly, Dojun felt hot at her calm and gentle voice. No matter how long it’s been since he last saw her, for him to get aroused by her professional-sounding voice – he found it quite ridiculous. Stopping in front of the car, Dojun let out a brief laugh. Secretary Kang opened the backseat door.

“Okay. Let me know later.”

As Dojun bent to get into the car, he said to Seoyeon.

• Yes. Take care.

Before he could remove the phone from his ear, the call ended. 

Take care. 

It felt like being 80 years old. Still, it made him smile, realizing that even in front of customers, Seoyeon had chosen her words carefully.

“Secretary Kang.”

Dojun leaned back against the seat and called out to Secretary Kang sitting in the front seat.

“Yes, Vice President.”

“I need you to compile a report on the Leta rights and email it to me.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And arrange a meeting with Heritage Kim Sooyoung Branch Manager.”

“Sure. When do you want to schedule it?”

“As soon as possible.”

Beyond the car window, a mountain with dense foliage came into view. He briefly glanced at the rapidly passing scenery before picking up his tablet. Just as he opened the documents that had been emailed to him, his phone rang. It was Chairman Hwang Ilhyun.

“Yes, Chairman.”

• Are you in Seoul now?

“I just arrived and I’m on my way out of Gimpo Airport.”

• I was thinking of having dinner together. Bring Manager Yoon along.

“Today?”

• Why? Don’t you have time?

A furrow formed on Dojun’s forehead. They barely had enough time together, and now he had to have dinner at Yeonwoo Mansion with Seoyeon whom he hadn’t seen in a week. 

Do I have to go through the torture of seeing Yoon Seoyeon for the first time in a week and not being able to touch her?

Dojun thought for a moment.

“If you have something to say, let’s talk over the phone. If it’s not urgent, we can meet later.”

• It’s so hard to even have a meal together. You always demand I give you a date, but the moment I want to see your face, you immediately say you don’t want to.

Chairman Hwang complained. At the mention of a date, the corners of Dojun’s mouth subtly lifted.

“Well, Grandfather, you insisted on setting the date yourself.”

• Fine, let that slide for now. But did you forget something? When do you plan to set the wedding date? There’s never a case where the wedding date is decided like that.  I talked to Vice President Yoon and got a good date, so you should talk to Manager Yoon.

“When is it?”

• Let’s see… October 24th. November 17th. December 28th. One per month.

I guess my point about not wanting to pass the year was well taken.

October 24th. Dojun engraved the earliest date in his mind.

“I’ll discuss it with her and get back to you.”

• Take some time to visit Yangpyeong and officially set the date for the engagement ceremony too.

“Got it.”

• There’s more to do than you thought, so try to find a day when you have some free time.

He recalled his first marriage. 

Was there so much to do? 

Besides taking measurements for the wedding attire and attending on the day itself, there didn’t seem to be much else.

• This is your second marriage, but it’s her first, so you’ll need to be more thoughtful, and pay more attention. And make sure to consider Manager Yoon’s feelings at least.

The words “I’m already paying a lot of attention” were about to burst out of his throat. If it weren’t for the difference in status between him and Seoyeon, they would have been married already.

He’s been resisting the urge to ignore the wedding and just pick up Seoyeon’s body and move her into his house for months. The tedious and boring procedures they were going through, registering their marriage and all, were purely for Seoyeon’s sake and her household.

“I’ll pay attention.”

With that, he ended the call. 

By the way, did Seoyeon have any thoughts about marriage at all? 

She hadn’t even brought up the topic of marriage, despite answering yes when he suggested living together. Even when the article broke and Dojun said he would officially acknowledge it, she only said to do so, nothing more.

In the end, the hasty one makes the first move.

It’s nothing new. Between Yoon Seoyeon and Hwang Dojun, it was always Dojun who couldn’t hold back. He smirked mischievously when a message came in with a chime.

[I’ll leave work at 8 p.m. I’ll come to Hannam-dong.]

It was Seoyeon. Dojun couldn’t help but smile back.