TKFT 17

Chapter 17

A few days later.

“Ah… you came early.”

After work, in front of the elevator at the underground parking lot of the VIP ward at S Hospital, Yoo Geon awkwardly muttered when he ran into Jian.

“Y-Yes. I came a bit early in case Grandmother might be waiting…”

Ever since the kiss incident, Jian felt more fluttery than before whenever she faced him, so she lowered her gaze slightly and nodded.

‘Grandma suddenly said she wants to see you. After work, let’s stop by the hospital for a bit together.’

He had contacted her just a few minutes before she got off work, which was why she had come here.

The two waited for the elevator in awkward silence.

Jian stole a glance at Yoo Geon reflected in the elevator doors.
He was looking up at the elevator indicator.

With his perfectly fitted suit, one hand tucked casually into his pants pocket, and his head slightly raised, he looked like a model.

‘Who’s kissed someone as handsome as Cha Yoo Geon? Me…!’

Hehe. Jian lowered her head to hide her sly smile, enjoying the pounding excitement in her chest.

Yoo Geon, who had been staring at the indicator and muttering things like, “Why is the elevator taking so long?” also glanced at Jian’s reflection in the elevator door.

She was standing neatly with her head slightly lowered, wearing slacks, a blouse, and a tweed jacket, holding the camel-colored bag he had given her as a birthday gift.

‘Now that I look at her like this, she really does look like someone just starting her career. Cute… and elegant too, like a refined young lady from a noble family…’

Because of that, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Ever since the kiss incident, it was still difficult for him to look directly at Jian—especially during meals, when her lips moved softly and enticingly as she ate.

Unable to resist the urge to watch her eat, he had started eating with her again, but even then, Yoo Geon would bury his face in his rice bowl and silently eat, only sneaking occasional glances to check whether she was eating well.

But now, seeing her fully like this for the first time in a while, he couldn’t pull his gaze away.

While Yoo Geon was busy secretly watching her reflection—

Ding.

At the sound of the elevator arriving, Jian lifted her head—and their eyes met through the opening elevator doors.

Startled, Yoo Geon suddenly grabbed her hand instead of jumping back.

“I-It’s here. We should get on quickly. Right? This is a hospital. If we move slowly and delay the elevator, someone might not make it in time to see their loved one’s final moments…”

Trying to hide the fact that he had been staring at her, Yoo Geon rambled nonsense while still holding her hand and hurried into the elevator.

After pressing the floor button, he repeatedly tapped the close button like an impatient Korean until the doors shut.

With his heart still pounding, he just hoped the elevator would quickly reach Soon-young’s hospital floor.

Then suddenly, he realized he was still holding Jian’s hand.

Swallowing a scream, Yoo Geon quickly let go.

“Oh—sorry. I f-forgot.”

His heart felt like it might jump right out of his mouth.
The sensation from before seemed to return, making his whole body grow warm.

“N-No, it’s okay…”

‘You could’ve kept holding it…’

Jian shook her head while hiding her true feelings.

‘Why let go like you grabbed something you weren’t supposed to… seriously, that’s so disappointing…’

As she looked down regretfully at the hand he had just held, the elevator arrived.

Perhaps still worried about delaying someone’s final farewell, Yoo Geon quickly stepped out first, while Jian followed behind him with a slight pout.

“Did our Yoo Geon and Jian come?”

When they entered the hospital room, Soon-young greeted her grandson and granddaughter-in-law warmly.

“Yes, Grandmother. Have you been well?”

Setting aside her disappointment with Yoo Geon for the moment, Jian gently held Soon-young’s wrinkled hand and greeted her.

People often say in-laws are uncomfortable, but Jian didn’t dislike visiting Soon-young.

Rather, she felt drawn to her kindness and warmth.

Moreover, Soon-young seemed to be someone very special and precious to Yoo Geon. Jian had sensed that from the very first time they visited together.

‘Grandma, this is Ms. Eun Jian. The person I’m going to marry.’
‘Y-You’re really getting married?’
‘Of course. Did you think I was lying?’
‘You kept saying you wouldn’t marry… oh my…’
‘Why are you crying when your grandson is finally getting married? Come on, don’t cry, Soon-young.’
‘I’m just… so happy… I’m sorry, acting like this in front of my future granddaughter-in-law… Nice to meet you. Please take good care of our Yoo Geon… Thank you… truly…’

Feeling the love between them had moved Jian deeply.

And that was when she began to understand.

Why Yoo Geon—who had once abruptly left their blind date—suddenly contacted her and proposed marriage.

It was probably because his beloved grandmother wished to see him married, and he wanted to grant that wish.

“Well, of course I’ve been well. Oh my, Jian, your face looks the best I’ve ever seen! And your cheeks look a little fuller too.”

Smiling brightly, Soon-young gently stroked Jian’s cheeks.

Objectively, Jian was still very slim, but Soon-young was speaking comparatively—she simply looked healthier than before.

Soon-young had heard that Jian had once been hospitalized due to poor health, so seeing her recovering well made her want to encourage her warmly.

‘Anyone can see she’s getting healthier.’

Standing beside them, Yoo Geon smiled quietly.

Even though it was still hard for him to look at Jian directly, he never neglected monitoring her eating habits during meals.

Thanks to that, Jian had gradually begun eating more and steadily gaining weight.

‘I may be on a forced diet, but as long as Eun Jian stays healthy, that’s enough.’

Both Yoo Geon and Soon-young felt pleased seeing Jian look healthier—

But Jian’s heart suddenly dropped.

She remembered a conversation her coworkers had recently had.

‘I saw my grandmother at her 80th birthday party last weekend, and she said I looked like I’ve been eating well—that I looked good with the weight I gained.’
‘Oh no, that’s serious. Grandmothers usually say we look too thin no matter what. So if they say you look good with weight gain, it means it’s already bad.’
‘Exactly. I’m doomed. Starting my diet today.’

Alarm bells rang loudly in Jian’s head.

‘I have been eating more lately… but for it to be noticeable…’

Her weight had increased by about 3.5 kg compared to before.

But she had rediscovered the joy of eating—and more than anything, she loved eating together with Yoo Geon.

Since she had also started exercising, she thought it would be fine and that it wouldn’t show much.

But now—

“Jian, keep eating well and gain some more weight, okay? If there’s anything you want to eat, tell Yoo Geon. He’s not the type to ignore his wife’s cravings. Right, Yoo Geon?”

“Of course, Grandma. If Jian says she wants something, I’ll go into the mountains at midnight and even catch a wild boar if I have to.”

Yoo Geon answered confidently.

But Jian was still trapped in shock.

As soon as Jian returned home after visiting Soon-young, she searched through her dressing room drawers and found the knit top she had bought that spring.

It was the top she had worn to her blind date with Yoo Geon—a fitted piece that clearly showed her figure.

She had chosen it deliberately to match his taste.

Now, with autumn approaching, she tried the spring outfit on again.

“…Gasp.”

Jian’s mouth fell open in shock.