Chapter 2

A light rain had been falling over Cheongdam since late afternoon. The lights of luxury boutiques reflected off the slick streets, while a steady stream of black sedans pulled up in front of a traditional hanok-style restaurant that accepted guests by exclusive reservation only.

Han So-yeon stepped out of her car with an unusual calmness.

The simple black dress she wore was far from flashy. Her long hair was gathered into a low bun, leaving a few loose strands to flutter in the breeze. She studied the restaurant's sign for a moment before stepping inside.

A waiter immediately bowed. "Director Han, your family is already waiting."

So-yeon gave a brief nod.

The wooden corridor leading to the VIP room was so quiet that she could hear her own footsteps. When the sliding door opened, the aroma of warm tea mingled with the scent of pinewood.

Han Mi-sook was already seated beside an elderly man who still looked remarkably sturdy despite his completely white hair.

Kang Dong-hyun.

On his right sat someone who hadn't touched his teacup at all.

A dark gray suit.

A simply designed wristwatch.

A steady gaze that didn't shift even when the door had just opened.

So-yeon recognized his face, not personally, but from the business section of the newspapers that featured him almost every week. Kang Ji-hoon, the youngest CEO of Mirain Hotel.

"Please, have a seat." Kang Dong-hyun's voice broke the silence.

So-yeon pulled out the chair opposite Ji-hoon. There were no smiles or polite exchanges, only the sound of tea being poured into cups.

"Have you two met before?" Kang Dong-hyun asked.

"No," Ji-hoon replied briefly.

"Director Kang appears in the business news so often that it feels as though I've already met him," So-yeon remarked as she lifted her teacup.

Ji-hoon gave a slight nod. "Director Han appears in the news quite often as well."

So-yeon smiled faintly. "My recent headlines haven't been nearly as flattering as yours."

The remark drew a short laugh from Kang Dong-hyun. Ji-hoon, meanwhile, maintained his impassive expression.

The waiter began serving the dishes one by one. Yet no one seemed particularly interested in eating. It was obvious that this meeting wasn't about dinner.

Han Mi-sook set down her chopsticks. "Let's get straight to the point."

Ji-hoon glanced at his grandfather. "Is this about a business partnership?"

"Something like that." Kang Dong-hyun leaned back in his chair. "A partnership between our families."

Silence filled the room once again. So-yeon slowly set down her teacup.

"The merger?"

"No."

Han Mi-sook took a thin folder from her bag and pushed it toward the center of the table. On the first page, a single sentence was printed.

«Marriage Agreement.»

No one reached for the folder immediately. A waiter who had been about to enter with the final dish retreated after sensing the tension inside the room.

So-yeon opened the first page. Her eyes quickly scanned several points.

One year.

Contract marriage.

Confidentiality.

Rights and obligations.

She closed the folder.

"Is this a joke?"

"No," Han Mi-sook answered without changing her tone.

So-yeon stared at her mother for several seconds. "Jokes are usually funnier."

Across the table, Ji-hoon hadn't even opened his copy.

"I refuse."

The four words came out calmly. Kang Dong-hyun looked as though he'd expected that response.

"You haven't even read it."

"I don't need to."

"Why not?"

"I don't marry strangers."

"That's because you never want to get to know anyone." Ji-hoon stared directly at his grandfather.

Silence returned to the room. So-yeon held the folder shut with one finger.

"I'm not interested either."

Han Mi-sook folded her arms. "And your reason?"

"I can restore the company's reputation without getting married."

"How?"

"By working."

"The media doesn't report on financial statements."

So-yeon let out a quiet breath. "At least financial statements don't cheat."

For the first time since the meeting began, the corner of Ji-hoon's mouth moved ever so slightly. It was almost imperceptible, but So-yeon noticed.

"Did you just laugh?"

"No."

"That was definitely a smile."

"It wasn't."

"You're denying it with the exact same expression."

Ji-hoon picked up his glass of water. "I was coughing."

"So now coughing comes with a smile?"

Kang Dong-hyun cleared his throat before their exchange could turn into a longer argument.

"This contract isn't a punishment."

"It certainly sounds like one," they replied almost simultaneously.

They exchanged glances before turning away from each other.

Han Mi-sook took out a tablet. The screen displayed Hanseong's stock performance over the past few days before switching to another document concerning Mirain Hotel.

"You're both facing different problems," Han Mi-sook explained. "But the solution is the same."

"Not getting married is also a solution," Ji-hoon countered.

"Not for you." Kang Dong-hyun slid an envelope toward his grandson.

Ji-hoon opened it. A provisional appointment letter lay inside, with Kang Tae-min's name clearly printed as the candidate who would replace him as CEO if he failed to meet his family's conditions.

Meanwhile, Han Mi-sook handed So-yeon another folder containing reports of partnership cancellations from two foreign investors. There were no dramatic speeches. The figures on the pages spoke for themselves.

A waiter came in to replace the nearly empty teapot. None of the four paid him any attention.

Several minutes passed before Ji-hoon finally closed the envelope.

"If I agree..."

His grandfather didn't interrupt.

"...the contract will still be limited to one year."

"One year."

"No longer."

"No longer."

Ji-hoon nodded slowly before turning to So-yeon.

"What about you, Director Han?"

So-yeon leaned back in her chair. "Why are you asking me?"

"Because I have no intention of getting married alone."

His words made the tense atmosphere turn awkward for several seconds. Even Han Mi-sook lowered her gaze briefly to hide her smile.

So-yeon studied Ji-hoon for a long moment.

"What if I snore?"

"That's not my concern."

"What if I like singing at two in the morning?"

"I can wear earplugs."

"What if I cook?"

"We have a chef."

"What if I burn down the kitchen?"

Ji-hoon paused.

"That would become my concern."

So-yeon let out a short laugh. "So you can joke after all."

"I'm being serious."

His straightforward response only made her laugh harder. For the first time that day, the atmosphere in the room felt a little lighter, even if only for a moment.

Han Mi-sook took back the marriage agreement.

"You don't have to give us an answer tonight."

"When, then?" Ji-hoon asked.

"Tomorrow afternoon."

Ji-hoon stood first. "I'll consider it."

So-yeon rose as well. "So will I."

They left almost simultaneously. By the time they reached the parking area, the rain still hadn't stopped. A waiter hurried over with an umbrella, but there was only one available.

"I'm sorry, Director. The other umbrellas are currently being used by guests."

So-yeon looked at the rain, then at her car, which was still some distance away.

Ji-hoon took the umbrella from the waiter, who handed it over with both hands. Before So-yeon could ask for help, he had already stepped forward—not toward his own car, but to a spot right beside her.

The black umbrella opened above their heads.

"We're going in the same direction as far as the steps."

So-yeon glanced at him. "I thought you'd leave me out here to get soaked."

"I don't want tomorrow's headlines to say my prospective contract wife ended up in the hospital."

"And the media is once again—"

"And the media is a nuisance."

They walked side by side across the wet stone courtyard. Neither spoke again. Only the sound of rain striking the umbrella accompanied them.

When they reached So-yeon's car, Ji-hoon handed her the umbrella handle without another word.

"Thank you."

"Not necessarily."

"What do you mean?"

"We haven't decided whether we're getting married yet."

A few steps later, he closed the door of his own car. The black sedan's engine started with a low hum before the vehicle pulled away from the restaurant courtyard.

So-yeon remained standing for a moment, still holding the same umbrella. A small hotel-shaped keychain dangled from its handle.

It didn't belong to her.

And Ji-hoon didn't realize he'd left it behind until his car had already entered one of Seoul's main roads.