TKFT 02

Chapter 02

Stomach… stomach…
Jian’s eyes trembled violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
Her lips, unable to finish that crude word, quivered uncontrollably.

“Quite a sight, that expression. I’ll take it as an answer.”

Yoo Geon, wielding the verbal skill of someone doomed to fail at matchmaking, twisted a smile and stood from his seat.
He left, brushing off the uneasy feeling that clung to him as nothing more than a fleeting mood.

But then, something “unexpected” happened that would render all of that effort meaningless.
In the end, he proposed this marriage to Jian, the last candidate for the matchmaking—
A loveless, contractual marriage, where they would only list each other as spouses on the family registry.

“…And so, on this 60th anniversary, I will work with even greater responsibility to create a glorious future for CH Group. Thank you.”

Summoning all his focus to withstand the distraction of his wife’s beauty, Yoo Geon finished his opening speech.
After he received applause and stepped down from the stage, a series of formalities followed.
When the reception began, allowing people to eat and mingle freely, a swarm of attendees surrounded Yoo Geon.

“Congratulations on being selected as the lead for the government E-City project.”
“We’re considering introducing CH’s AI-based construction automation system as well—how effective is it in actual application?”
“When building the new hotel on the Gangnam site, please consider our Italian marble products…”

Yoo Geon maintained a relaxed expression while responding to the seemingly endless questions—but his eyes kept flicking toward Jian.

“What’s going on? Why is Eun Jian sitting there all alone like an abandoned sack of rice? My own wife, at my company’s party, looks like an uninvited guest… Is she even eating anything?”

Seeing Jian isolated like that made his chest tighten.

“Can a woman really exist who satisfies every preference of CEO Cha?”
“She’s ruthless… you need that kind of ruthlessness to claim the seat next to CEO Cha Yoo Geon.”

At that moment, Yoo Geon heard whispers of jealousy about Jian.
His brows narrowed, a vein popped at his jaw, and the already broad chest under his suit expanded further, stretching the fabric.
The sudden intensity of Yoo Geon’s presence made those trying to draw his attention swallow nervously.

“Um… CEO? Are you uncomfortable…?”
“…Excuse me for a moment.”

Unable to contain himself, Yoo Geon pushed through the crowd toward Jian.

“It’s the first time she’s attending a party with me; if I don’t take care of my wife, who knows what rumors might spread?”

Rationalizing to himself, he wrapped one arm around her slender waist.
Instantly, a strange heat spread through his body.

“Damn…”

He struggled to suppress his bodily reaction and forced a soft smile onto his face.

“Tired?”

He asked gently, glancing at the people around them.
The whispers had stopped, and everyone now looked at him and Jian with envious eyes.
Hmph. Yoo Geon snorted softly.

“Such insignificant people… Hopefully, this makes Eun Jian a bit more comfortable. What if she thanks me too much? Nah, no need for that.”

He shifted his gaze to Jian with subtle anticipation.

“…No. Not tired at all.”

Jian snapped her head away and replied dryly.
Her delicate body shrank slightly, as if trying to avoid contact with him as much as possible.

“What the…?”

A strange twist of feeling stirred in Yoo Geon’s chest.

At their newlywed home in Itaewon, Jian went to the dress room attached to her bedroom.
Yoo Geon had immediately gone to the study after entering the house.

“Phew.”

As she removed her dress, a loose sigh escaped Jian’s lips. She finally felt some relief after taking off the form-fitting dress.
Before Jian could take off her bra to put on her bathrobe, her phone vibrated—it was a call from her father, Eun Pil-beom.

“I was going to call after showering… Dad, you’re always in such a hurry.”

Jian muttered with a bitter smile.
Despite his rough exterior and awkward expressions, Pil-beom was a doting father at heart.
He was the CEO of EunKwang Tech, a mid-sized company supplying HVAC and plumbing components for buildings.
Though invited to today’s banquet as a relative by marriage, he could not attend due to prior important work.

‘If you can’t stay at the event, just make an excuse that you’re not feeling well. Everyone’s jealous of Cha Yoo Geon anyway… No need to stubbornly stay for appearances.’
‘If Cha Yoo Geon disapproves, I’ll just leave everything and come back. Divorce isn’t even a concern these days. I can just live with her, what’s there to fear?’

To reassure Pil-beom, Jian picked up the phone while changing clothes.

“Yeah. Was it over? Any issues?”

Despite years in Seoul, Pil-beom’s accent and speech were still evident.

“Yes, Dad. Nothing happened. I met many well-known people in politics and business; it was interesting.”

Though she actually felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, Jian spoke brightly on purpose.
But her cheerful voice wasn’t entirely forced…

“And Yoo Geon really took good care of me. Everyone was envious.”

Blushing, Jian twisted her body proudly.
Her long-time first love, now husband, had protected her from malicious glances and words at the party, cutting through the crowd to shield her.

‘Even if it’s a contract marriage, I’m glad I did this. He was just like a prince… just like when I was a child…’

Though Yoo Geon didn’t remember, the memory was vivid for her.
Her heart raced uncontrollably earlier, and she had been too flustered to properly answer his question about being tired.

While Jian basked in the sweet thrill…

“Hmph. Taking care of your own wife is obvious. If you can’t do that, you better watch out.”

Pil-beom’s snort dampened her excitement.

“Dad! What are you saying now…”

“Don’t be grateful for obvious things. Pay attention instead. Make sure he doesn’t treat you poorly, or…”

Pil-beom went on a long lecture. Jian sighed quietly and unclasped her bra. She just wanted to wash up and rest.

“Don’t just idealize your first love. Be realistic. Understood?”

“Yes, Dad. Thank you for always looking out for me. I love you. I’ll hang up now.”

After ending the call with a playful goodbye, Jian’s bra slipped to the floor.
At that moment, she sensed someone nearby.

She turned sharply—

“Ah…!”

Yoo Geon stood at the entrance of the dress room.
He was in nothing but his underwear, and she came face-to-face with the impeccably suited man.
Did he mistake the room for somewhere else?

Flustered, Jian quickly covered her chest with her arms—but her ample curves could not be fully concealed.

“…Ah.”
“….”
“Excuse me.”

Yoo Geon apologized simply and left the dress room.
Blinking, Jian steadied herself by gripping the nearby accessory display, still too stunned to move.

Yoo Geon stormed into the study and slammed the door.
Leaning against it, he slid down to the floor, his face flushed.
The image of the previous scene was burned into his mind.
Suppressing a shout, he buried his hands in his hair.
His body, straining against his suit trousers, caught his attention.

“Crazy… I just calmed it down!”

The reason he came to the study immediately after returning home was to cool the rising heat that he couldn’t suppress while alone.
Even after shaking her hand off in the car post-party, his desire wouldn’t subside.
It had happened repeatedly since Eun Jian appeared—seeing her after a shower, or hearing her faint sigh behind him on the bed.

Earlier, he had barely subdued his rising urges in the study.
Then came a sudden call that required him to speak to Jian.
He went to the bedroom but didn’t find her—only sounds from her dress room.
He thought she might be on the phone, so he waited.

“…I love you. I’ll hang up now.”

That phrase pierced his ears.
…Love? For whom?
Her dry tone at the banquet collided with that sweet voice, and something inside Yoo Geon snapped.
He found himself striding toward the dress room—
And there, he saw it.
Eun Jian’s… naked body.

“From the East Sea to Mount Baekdu… f-fuck…”

Bang! Bang! In self-loathing, he slammed his head repeatedly against the door.
He muttered the national anthem five times before calming down enough to sit in the recliner.

“Never happened in puberty… why now…”

He looked at himself resentfully and washed his face dry.
Something had clearly gone wrong since Eun Jian appeared.

Afterward, Yoo Geon left the house alone and headed to the hospital.

“-Yoo Geon, can you come see me? I really want to see my grandson and granddaughter-in-law.”
“Don’t apologize. Wait for me. Your handsome grandson will come quickly.”

It was a call from his grandmother, Lee Soon-young, who was recovering in the hospital after colon cancer surgery.

“Soon-young, your grandson’s here.”

Yoo Geon entered her VIP hospital room, grinning.
Though sharp in work—acknowledged as a future leader of Korea’s economy and feared in the office for his incisive insight—he was simply a doting grandson before his grandmother.

“Oh, Yoo Geon is here?”

Soon-young greeted the already 31-year-old Yoo Geon like a child.

“Grandma, did you secretly eat something good? How did you suddenly rejuvenate overnight? People would believe you’re my sister, not my grandmother.”

Sitting by her bed, Yoo Geon pretended to be astonished.
“Ah, nonsense. Anyone can see you’re still my wrinkly grandmother. Don’t tease me, In-seok.”

Soon-young waved her hands but smiled broadly, clearly enjoying his words.

“So, you came alone? Where’s Jian?”

“Ah, she… wasn’t feeling well, so I told her to rest. Maybe she ate something at the company party that upset her stomach.”

The playful Yoo Geon from earlier had stiffened, trying to control the sexual tension from the earlier scene.

“Your granddaughter-in-law must have struggled, unable to eat comfortably. Or… could it be—?”

“Hmm? Could be what?”

“Is she pregnant?”

Soon-young’s eyes sparkled.