Chapter 07
Jian had been listless all week.
Fortunately, Dr. Jung was away at a conference in France, so her obstetrics and gynecology appointment had been postponed.
But aside from that, she had become certain that there would be no further progress in her relationship with her husband, and that left her feeling helpless.
He clearly hadn’t seemed like someone without desires.
Was she lacking in appeal? He must simply not be attracted to her enough to overcome a mere physiological urge.
Her pride was wounded, and she felt upset.
After class, Jian returned to Myeongheonjae and went out to the garden. Past the front garden and down the back path, there was a larger garden and a greenhouse.
The garden, which had been tended for a long time, brought peace of mind and body just by looking at it. Smelling the scent of earth and plants carried on the wind, Jian walked along the stone path.
Thinking no one was around, she stomped her feet on the dirt path, venting her frustration by blaming her husband, when she sensed someone nearby.
“Hello, Mother….”
She came face to face with her mother-in-law, who was emerging from the greenhouse.
She was dressed in an unfamiliar outfit—a straw hat, comfortable clothes, and even boots. In one hand, she held a shovel.
“Let me take that for you.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Do you manage this greenhouse yourself?”
Jian trotted up the steps and stood beside her mother-in-law.
Since there were five gardeners who maintained the garden year-round, she had naturally assumed they also took care of the greenhouse.
“Only these three greenhouses.”
“Three of them?”
“I started small, but it grew over time. More importantly, why are you here, Jian?”
“…Ah. I was just taking a walk.”
She couldn’t very well say that she needed time to sort out her feelings because she was agonizing over her mother-in-law’s son.
After all, the fact that Dogeon had married her was something to be grateful for—not just for Jian herself, but for her entire family.
That was how TS Law Firm had escaped its crisis.
“Dogeon is busy, so you must be bored, my dear.”
“Just… just a little?”
Jian pouted her lips. She couldn’t bring herself to say no.
She was upset that he wasn’t faithful to their marriage, hurt by it, and ultimately felt like she was lacking, which was eating away at her self-esteem.
“If you don’t mind, could I look around the greenhouse sometime? I’ll just look, without touching anything.”
Her mother-in-law had poured her heart into this place for a long time. Jian had passed through the garden many times, but she had never actually entered the greenhouse.
“Go ahead. Actually, I wouldn’t mind if you could revive some of the dying orchids while you’re at it.”
“You grow orchids too?”
“Yes. They’re tricky, just like my son. If you give them too much sunlight, water, or wind, they die. Over-fertilizing to be kind does the same. The more you try to get close to them in excess, the more they fail to bloom.”
“Is oppa—I mean, is Dogeon-ssi difficult?”
Her mother-in-law looked at Jian and smiled at that. Deep within her eyes was love for her son.
“He seems gentle and easygoing….”
“That’s how he looks to you?”
Jian answered “yes” with a smile. To her, Dogeon was a warm and gentle adult.
“He must act kindly toward you. That’s probably why he married you.”
What did it mean that he acted kindly?
“Come to think of it, him eating breakfast every day is probably him looking out for his wife. He’s been like that since he was young. Whenever I ate at Myeongheonjae, I’d get indigestion. So at some point, Dogeon started eating more heartily, the quiet one started talking about himself during meals, and he’d lighten the mood every time with grades that would please his grandfather. Thanks to him, I could eat comfortably.”
“He’s a considerate person.”
“That’s why I opposed this marriage at first, as you know. Rather than someone my son has to take care of, I wanted him to have someone he could lean on without worrying after a long, tiring day.”
“…”
“He has no one truly on his side here in Myeongheonjae. I hope you, my daughter-in-law, will be on Dogeon’s side. Trust him and support him.”
“Of course, Mother. I’m oppa’s wife.”
Her mother-in-law smiled, the corners of her lips stretching upward.
Having breakfast and dinner together every day for over half a year, her mother-in-law no longer felt as daunting as she had at first.
“I’ll do even better.”
The words slipped out from her heart.
“Dogeon… doesn’t trust people easily. And he doesn’t give his heart easily either.”
Unlike her delicate appearance, her mother-in-law seemed like a strong person. To be able to tend three large greenhouses and make flowers bloom…
Somehow, Jian felt closer to her than before.
“Let’s take five minutes.”
Dogeon set his tablet down on the conference table. The employees who had been called to the meeting relaxed their shoulders in relief.
As someone who valued efficiency within a short time frame, he was the type to push through meetings relentlessly.
He was a boss who couldn’t tolerate others’ mistakes. His demands were exacting, and he was merciless toward others.
Nevertheless, Vice Chairman Seo Dogeon was more trusted than President Seo Tae-hyung at Seon Group, thanks to his flawless results and the rewards that followed.
Born with a diamond spoon in his mouth, Seo Dogeon had no weaknesses.
Even after Dogeon’s father became chairman of Seon Group following the late chairman’s passing, and his illegitimate older brother, Seo Tae-hyung, gradually took control of the group, Dogeon quietly did his own work, present yet absent.
Silently riding the current, Seo Dogeon had grown so formidable that he now even threatened his own father.
“Vice Chairman, the PN Group founding anniversary event is at 5 PM. You’ll need to wrap up this meeting within 30 minutes.”
“Who’s attending?”
Director Kim Hyeon-woo handed Dogeon a tablet. Dogeon swiped through it with an indifferent touch.
“At 7, there’s a nearby—”
“I know. Chairman Han Yeong-soo’s book launch.”
Why bother with politics? One of Dogeon’s eyebrows lifted.
Why step into such a contentious and gossip-ridden place? It would be nice if he just settled for a National Assembly seat, but his ambitions were excessive. Surely he wouldn’t go so far as to scatter ashes?
“I hear the madam will also be attending.”
Meaning he intended to openly flaunt the connection formed through marriage with Seon Group. Using Jian.
A displeased gaze swept across the tablet.
“Since the founder of Ensom is coming to the PN Group event, check his landing time. Try to set up a meeting before he leaves Korea if possible. I’ll attend as well.”
“What about the book launch?”
“I’ll see about the timing.”
If they could secure an exclusive chip supply deal for their data center, they could gain an edge in the growing semiconductor market.
He had learned of the Ensom founder’s visit to Korea through a reporting line other than Director Kim. The Ensom founder was someone who had subtly proposed a marriage between his daughter and Dogeon before Dogeon got married.
They’d had a few encounters disguised as coincidences at international conferences, and Dogeon already knew the other party was expressing interest in him.
Since marriage was inevitable anyway, it made sense to choose someone who would benefit Seon Electronics and thus strengthen his position as the master of Myeongheonjae.
He had been exploring various possibilities, waiting for the right time for Seon to take the upper hand in negotiations.
“I don’t think I need to go on any more blind dates. If oppa is okay with it… I think I’d be fine with getting married.”
He couldn’t send Jian, who had smiled brightly in her ignorance, to someone like the wretched Seo Tae-hyung.
Cutting off one advantageous bridge after another from the many options available, Dogeon had chosen Jian.
He still wondered why he had gone that far. Even so, he had no regrets about his actions.
Dogeon looked around the restless room and tapped the table. All eyes turned to him.
“Director Jang, let’s begin.”
There was not a trace of emotion to be found on Dogeon’s expressionless face.
