Chapter 4
After afternoon classes, Jian went to Hannam-dong. Her grandfather had summoned her.
In this family, her grandfather was the law. Even her parents became like mutes who’d eaten honey in front of him, unable to protect Jian.
So Jian had feared her grandfather the most since childhood.
“I’m here.”
Her grandparents were already seated, and Jian knelt on a cushion.
Her cousins her age could comfortably cuddle in their grandfather’s arms, but that didn’t apply to Jian.
If it weren’t for Jian, he would have opposed her parents’ marriage to the very end.
Even after they married, her mother—who had only given birth to a daughter—was treated like a sinner. Whenever she came to Hannam-dong, she had to hear until her ears were calloused that she was utterly useless.
‘Should have been a son. Tsk, what use is that one?’
Her grandmother’s sharp voice would make Jian’s mother cover her ears, but she couldn’t be a shield.
“Go to the hospital with your mother.”
“…Excuse me? The hospital?”
“It’s been half a year since you got married, and you’re still not pregnant. Can’t even manage that one thing. Useless.”
“Well, Grandfather…”
“Other people get pregnant even on their honeymoons. Why are you like that?”
Startled by the scolding, Jian flinched.
“Just getting married should be enough…”
“What’s with all the talking? If you’d just give birth to a son smoothly, it’d be over. Tsk. Probably takes after her mother’s fate, carrying a girl’s womb again. Seon’s family also values sons.”
Jian clenched her hands resting on her knees.
“You have to do well for your parents to have it easy.”
Because her father had displeased her grandfather’s eyes, he was pushed out of the succession for TS Law Firm and now worked at the firm while watching his younger brother’s back.
It was also her grandfather who had stripped her father of his judge’s robe. He’d even used his son as a sacrificial pawn when the firm was suspected of bribery.
Her mother’s relatives also relied on TS. Not only financial support for her sick maternal grandparents, but even Jian’s cousins would reach out to her mother for help.
He helped with business, and when problems arose, he used his influence in the legal world to resolve them.
The only way to recover that debt was probably to sell Jian off at the highest price.
“She should learn from her mother. Your mother took off her panties well in front of my son, that’s how you got pregnant and married into this family.”
The harsh venom continued. About how her mother had seduced her father, who only knew how to study, took him in and out of hotels, and married him after getting pregnant.
How even when told to break up, she clung like a tick and wouldn’t let go—they’d never seen such a low-class household in all their lives. She hurled every kind of insult imaginable.
“Dr. Jeong at the obstetrics clinic—is it set for tomorrow?”
“Yes, Chairman. They’re asking if I should book you an appointment for the afternoon.”
“Tell them we’ll go tomorrow.”
After giving a brief instruction to the waiting secretary, her grandfather glanced at Jian.
“Wonder if that one will even conceive.”
“Grandfather, I have afternoon classes tomorrow.”
Smack! The back of her head stung and her vision went white. The sharp slap that flew to the back of her head made Jian’s body wobble.
“Where do you get off talking back? Your mother has no education, tsk. So rude in front of elders.”
To her grandmother, Jian was worth less than a neighborhood dog. She was hit for clinking her spoon against the tableware, and starved for not using chopsticks properly.
Sometimes she’d get her calves caned for bad posture while walking, and when she hung out with her male cousins, she’d get slapped across the face for being a girl mingling with boys.
When she was young, she’d beg her mother not to make her go to her grandparents’ house, but after seeing her mother and father receive similar treatment in front of her grandfather, she learned to keep her mouth shut.
Because she didn’t want to make things harder for her parents.
“I—I’m on my period right now, Grandmother.”
“Are you proud of not being pregnant? Huh?”
Her grandmother’s sharp fingers jabbed into Jian’s shoulder again and again. Each time her body was pushed back, Jian swayed.
If they ever found out she still hadn’t slept with her husband, all hell would break loose in the family.
They’d call in her father and mother to discuss child-rearing, and Jian would be summoned for days on end to hear endless venomous words.
If they threatened her using her mother’s family as leverage, her mother would, for the sake of her own family, apologize to Jian and ask her to sacrifice.
“I’ll pick a day next week.”
Just as her grandfather called for his secretary again, Jian let out a deep sigh. She’d gotten through today, but next time she’d definitely be dragged to the obstetrician by the wrist.
What should I do?
She supposed she needed to sleep with her husband as soon as possible. Getting pregnant could come after that, but still…
When are you coming?
It was his wife.
It was the only reason he felt married—that there was someone waiting for him at home, someone who asked how he was doing.
After forming a consortium for a government project, he’d been in meetings all evening. Seon Industries, which had been managing the project, was excluded, so YK Group would set the direction and Seon Electronics would provide the technology and funding.
“That Seo Do-gun bastard never gets tired. Aren’t you exhausted?”
Cha Jun-hyuk, who’d come out of the same meeting room, asked as he lounged lazily on the sofa. Jun-hyuk, who’d risen to department head at YK Group, had to secure his position this year no matter what.
“Why do old men talk so much? It’s so frustrating.”
Jun-hyuk downed his shot of straight liquor and pressed his throbbing temples. He’d already loosened his tie, and when his secretary’s phone rang, he flipped it face-down on the table so the screen wouldn’t show.
“That bastard’s got a rabbit-like wife, that’s why he’s so energetic. That thief. How did he get Han Jian… Tae-yun, you tell me too. Isn’t Seo Do-gun completely shameless?”
“Completely shameless.”
Tae-yun agreed briefly.
“They’re a full zodiac cycle apart?”
“No. A full cycle plus one more.”
At that, Do-gun suddenly felt parched and reached for his glass. He popped an ice cube into his mouth and swirled it around.
“She’s practically a baby, isn’t she?”
“She is a baby.”
“So what are you planning to do?”
That was the problem. It would be normal to not have any plans.
Just thinking about the lively Han Jian bustling around the house had started to make him pay attention, made his gaze follow her.
He scoffed at her defenselessness, yet his still-vigorous body seemed to recognize her as a woman.
And that was troublesome.
Are you coming very late? I can’t sleep, so I’m thinking of taking Tteok for a walk. Don’t be surprised if I’m not home!
Han Jian was the only one who sent him moving emojis.
He scrolled through her messages, looking at the cute characters she’d sent. Jian liked sharing when she went to school and what she ate. Sometimes she’d send photos of beautiful scenery.
I went shopping and bought this because I thought it’d look good on you. Look, doesn’t it look even better like this?
She’d held the tie she bought up to his neck in front of the mirror, pleased with herself. So he’d loosened the tie he was wearing and leaned his upper body toward her—and Jian had made a sulky face.
I don’t know how to tie a tie.
Of course he wouldn’t have known that.
Jian always smelled of fragrant flowers. Sometimes it was a sweet peach-like scent—the smell seemed to change depending on what plants she’d been handling that day.
Especially when she came back from the greenhouse, she’d carry the scent of soil and grass, which often brought him peace of mind.
It’s late. Don’t wait up, go to sleep.
After replying, he put down his phone. His friends were looking at him with lecherous eyes.
“She really grew up pretty, I saw her at the wedding. Even if it weren’t you, Seo Do-gun, plenty of people would’ve had their eyes on her. Come to think of it—CH, and you too Tae-yun—aren’t you both TS Law Firm’s partners?”
“Yeah. I excluded her because she was too young.”
“Right. You should’ve excluded her too, like Kang Tae-yun did. Gonna devour her whole?”
This shameless bastard. The unspoken implication was clear enough for Do-gun to hear.
So what? At Do-gun’s poker face, his friends threw a few dried snacks at him and jeered.
Now that they’d relaxed a bit, the serious talk they couldn’t have during the meeting began.
