Chapter 1 Part 2

“…disrupting business.”

As Minjoo continued speaking, Gi-hyun didn’t respond and simply opened the car door, sitting in the driver’s seat. Whether Gi-hyun was going to drive or not, Minjoo quickly turned around and headed back to the shop. As soon as she returned, the car slid away down the road.

Even after the car had disappeared, Minjoo couldn’t concentrate on work for a long time. Why had Gi-hyun appeared here? Was it really him at her doorstep this morning? Did he come to confirm that she couldn’t afford the rent? Whatever the reason, it was all painfully unsettling.

“Minjoo, haven’t you eaten?”

“I’m skipping for a bit. I’ll prepare the ingredients for a while.”

Avoiding eye contact, Minjoo replied to Mrs. Yoon’s question. Eventually, she even missed lunch, eating late. Skipping meals affected her evening work. Yet, if she didn’t focus on work, she feared Gi-hyun’s lingering gaze would haunt her thoughts.

***

Minjoo had a chaotic day from morning till evening, and her workday at the lunchbox shop didn’t end well. As soon as she finished, she headed to the Galbi Restaurant. Unfortunately, today she encountered unnecessary teasing while serving, and some customers even pressured her to drink. Despite politely refusing, stress began to build up inside her.

Late into the night, after finishing up with dishwashing and her closing duties, Minjoo left the shop with a drained expression.

At that moment, a loud honk echoed through the air. When Minjoo looked up, she noticed a car parked across the street from the shop. Initially obscured by darkness, she recognized the familiar silhouette of the car. Minjoo paused as Gi-hyun slowly got out of the car parked nearby, crossing the street with his long strides until he stood in front of her.

“…What’s going on?”

“I feel like we didn’t properly finish our conversation yesterday.”

“Was there something to finish?”

“It seems like this is your workplace.”

“…”

“I know a place nearby. Let’s sit down and talk.”

Minjoo felt embarrassed to talk about her job, but she didn’t want to be the subject of gossip among the people at the store. Gi-hyun gestured towards the car, and Minjoo quickly complied. As soon as she got in, Gi-hyun smoothly turned the steering wheel.

“You’ve been busy all day.”

“…?”

“Working at the lunchbox shop during the day and the Galbi Restaurant at night.”

Minjoo’s face turned bright red all of a sudden. The realization that Gi-hyun might have come to check up on her made her feel ashamed.

“Did you come to check if I can’t afford the rent?”

“…”

“You seem to have a lot of money. Looks like you don’t even need to work.”

Minjoo’s words were mocking, despite her sarcastic tone, he didn’t bother denying it.

“You have enough not to work.”

With that, Gi-hyun fell silent. He kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, gripping the steering wheel.

Quietly driving, Gi-hyun eventually stopped the car. Minjoo followed him out after he parked. It was a neatly arranged steel sheet restaurant. Though it seemed like a pub, as Minjoo hesitated, Gi-hyun walked inside. After some hesitation, she followed him in.

The place was small but neatly arranged with cleaned steel surfaces and dishes. Though Minjoo didn’t taste anything, it seemed like the kind of place customers would flock to, yet oddly, there were no patrons.

Gi-hyun greeted the owner and sat at a bar table set up in front of the steel sheets. Whether it was already reserved or not, the man who seemed to be both the owner and chef quietly started preparing. Minjoo struggled to adjust to the prepared atmosphere, staring at the empty chairs for a moment before reluctantly sitting next to Gi-hyun.

Naturally, chopsticks and basic appetizers, along with two glasses of draft beer, were placed in front of Gi-hyun and Minjoo. Gi-hyun drank the beer first, as if quenching his thirst. He opened his mouth for the first time since driving in silence.

“I heard from the former landlord that your mother has no money for hospital bills.”

Minjoo remained silent.

“Do you think you can manage by juggling part-time jobs? When will that ever be feasible?”

Though it was true, Minjoo didn’t feel the need to hear it confirmed by Gi-hyun. She swiftly picked up one of the beer glasses in front of her and drank it all at once. It was only after drinking more than half of it that she set the glass down with a clink.

“If you’re doing this because you want to have kids, why do you need me?”

“…….”

“If you need a baby, there are surrogate mothers, I’m sure you can find one.”

“If you’re the Cha Min-joo I know, you’ll be responsible.”

Park Gi-hyun dared to mention responsibility. Minjoo silently clenched her fists. The tips of her nails dug into her flesh. For the first time in her life, she gritted her teeth in shame and self-doubt. She downed the rest of her beer again. She emptied the glass in a flash.

“So if I give you a baby, it’s over?”

“…Sort of.”

“Can you prepay?”

She said it with conviction. At Minjoo’s words, Gi-hyun gestured to the young chef who was cooking. The chef handed Gi-hyun an envelope that was sitting on a shelf. He handed it back to Minjoo.

“Read it when you get home.”

“…What is this?”

“A contract.”

She didn’t even ask if he was serious. As if he was already prepared, Gi-hyun continued smoothly.

“I’ve included two copies, so you can stamp one and give one to me. Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow?

The food was served just as Minjoo asked a question. A bowl was placed between Minjoo and Gi-hyun. It was a delicious beef steak and grilled octopus. Minjoo hadn’t eaten all day, and it was just what she craved.

“Eat.”

Gi-hyun placed the bite-sized pieces of meat and fried garlic on top of Minjoo’s bowl. Minjoo’s brow furrowed. Kihyun took a sip of his beer without a care in the world.

He’d played with people’s minds before, but this time, he’d gone too far. I didn’t even want to eat at the same table with him. Her chopsticks slipped from her fingertips, and she used that as an excuse to get up from her seat.

“Don’t you dare leave your seat again.”

Gi-hyun’s voice rang out sternly. He was referring to the last time she’d run out of the lounge café. Gi-hyun put a new pair of chopsticks in front of Minjoo.

“Fatten up.”

Gi-hyun’s dark eyes bore deep into Minjoo’s skinny body.

“Building a body is part of the deal.”

Unlike his eyes, his mouth was as blank as it had been when he was twenty.

“If you want to give birth to a strong child, you have to be strong yourself, don’t you think?”

***

Minjoo’s house was in a narrow alley that a large sedan couldn’t fit through. Gi-hyun deftly turned the wheel and made a smooth entry. He unlocked the car only after Minjoo agreed to let him park on the main street. Of course, Minjoo didn’t say anything until he dropped her off.

She got out of the car without saying goodbye and walked up the stairs, feeling Gi-hyun’s eyes on her back the whole way, but ignoring them as she opened the door to her single room.

Minjoo stepped into the room and looked out the window. Gi-hyun’s car was still standing there, and after taking in the view for a moment, she turned on the light to go through the papers. Picking up the envelope, Minjoo looked out the window again, concerned about the car that was still there. Gi-hyun’s car was gone.

When she relaxed, she leaned back against the wall and opened the envelope without changing her clothes. Two identical bundles of paper came out, and studied each one carefully.

[Pregnancy and Childbirth Contract]

Minjoo’s hands shook at the graphic title. She breathed steadily and read the words one by one.

[Cha Minjoo (referred to as ‘Party A’) and Park Ki Hyun (referred to as ‘Party B’) wish to establish mutual terms necessary for a pregnancy and childbirth agreement.]

‘Party A’—such a term. It was a term that made Minjoo, who had lived her whole life as ‘Party B,’ laugh bitterly. She focused on the next line.

[Article 1 – Purpose of the Contract

This contract specifies the legal relationship between ‘Party A’ (Cha Minjoo), who agrees to allow ‘Party B’ (Park Ki Hyun) to utilize Party A’s pregnancy and childbirth rights necessary for the production of offspring.

Article 2 – Rights Establishment

Party A transfers the rights to pregnancy and childbirth to Party B, who shall have exclusive and exclusive rights regarding the child.

Article 3 – Management of Offspring

Party B holds the authority over the pregnancy and childbirth of the child, and is responsible for the production and childcare expenses.

Article 4 – Use of Rights

Party A must cooperate promptly with Party B in utilizing the pregnancy rights.

Article 5 – Duration of the Contract

The term of this pregnancy and childbirth rights contract is three years from the contract date. However, if Party B does not become pregnant within three months after the expiration of the contract period, the contract will automatically renew annually under the same conditions.

Article 6 – Exclusive Use

During the valid term of this contract, Party A shall not engage in s*xual relations with others.]

She didn’t think it was a legally valid contract in the first place, but when she saw the specifics listed, it gave her goosebumps. She couldn’t read any further and threw the contract away.

She curled up in a ball on the cold floor of her room, not bothering to put a blanket on. Sleep came quickly, perhaps fueled by the beer.

***

Minjoo slept, but due to stress, her face was even more swollen.

Nevertheless, she had to go out, so she came down the stairs quickly. Fortunately, there was no black car in front of the house today.

It was fortunate that there was nothing to worry about from the morning. Minjoo went to the store while holding her aching head. Mrs. Yoon, who saw her, worried that she didn’t look good. Minjoo didn’t want to show her troubled mind, so she forced a smile and helped with work. It was a time when she was concentrating on work.

“That car parked here again? Damn bastard!”

Mrs. Yoon, with bright eyes, cursed outside the store. Sensing whose car ‘that car’ was, Minjoo deliberately pretended not to hear because she didn’t want to go out. She diligently picked up the side dishes.