Chapter – 23
“Not long ago. But I’m not worried. You know, Yugeon bought the recipe from the owner there.”
“The recipe…?”
Pilbeom’s eyes widened even more.
“Yes! He made a deal with the owner just so he could make it for me. So except for the owner, Yugeon is the only other person who can make that tteokbokki. Lately he makes it for me at home all the time. It’s so convenient—we don’t even have to go out to buy it.”
Because Jian was defending him, Yugeon felt his nose sting.
To think she would stand up for someone as lacking as him like that.
She was already pretty, but today she seemed to shine even brighter. How could she even be so kind-hearted?
Of course, it wasn’t because he was so wonderful—it was probably to ease her father’s worries during their first holiday visit after marriage.
At Jian’s words, Pilbeom’s displeasure seemed to soften a little.
“So my husband is the best. Anyway, we’re steaming the songpyeon now, right? We should taste them. While they’re cooking, we’ll be in my room upstairs. I want to show Yugeon something. Let’s go, Yugeon.”
Jian changed the subject and helped Yugeon escape from Pilbeom’s side.
The two went up to Jian’s room on the second floor.
The moment the door closed, Jian let out a deep sigh.
“I’m sorry. My dad said something unpleasant…”
She fidgeted with their clasped hands as she apologized.
“…It’s fine. From a father’s point of view, I think it’s something he could naturally say.”
If anything, Pilbeom’s words made Yugeon reflect once more on his own shortcomings.
“By the way, is this Eun Jian’s room? It’s nice.”
Yugeon looked around at Jian’s room, which he was seeing for the first time, deliberately shifting the topic.
It was a warm, cozy, and charming space—just like Jian. Even though it was his first time here, it felt strangely familiar.
“Do you… not have a photo of your mother?”
“My… mom’s photo?”
“Yeah. Since we’re married, I thought it would be good to know what she looks like. You never know.”
Now that they were alone, Yugeon asked.
“You’re right. Just a moment. I’ll bring the album.”
Even if their marriage was contractual, Jian felt happy that he was showing interest in her family.
She hurried out of the room and returned with an album.
At some point, he had sat down on the edge of her bed, waiting for her.
“That was fast. You could’ve taken your time.”
The way he smiled lightly made Jian’s heart pound so sharply it almost hurt.
At the desk in this room, she had written him letters.
Looking out at the night sky through the window, she had thought of him.
Lying on this bed, she had dreamed of him.
And now, the boy she had only ever held in her heart was sitting in her space, waiting for her.
It felt like a dream.
With a fluttering heart, Jian carefully approached him and sat down beside him, opening the album.
“This is my mom.”
She pointed to a photo.
In the slightly faded picture, a woman was smiling while holding a fair, beautiful baby in her arms.
“You really resemble her.”
Since Jian didn’t look much like Pilbeom, he had expected it—but mother and daughter looked even more alike than he imagined.
“Yes. People who knew my mom say that a lot—that I look like her.”
Jian smiled softly, pleased by that fact.
To Yugeon’s family, they had only said that Jian’s mother died of kidney disease.
But the more specific truth was that while pregnant with Jian, she had developed preeclampsia, which damaged her kidneys. She endured dialysis for a long time before eventually passing away.
If she hadn’t had a child—if she hadn’t had her—her mother might still be alive, smiling beautifully like in that photo.
That thought still made Jian’s chest ache.
But unlike before, she no longer drowned in that grief. She no longer saw her own existence as a mistake.
And that was all thanks to Yugeon, whom she had met as a child.
“You’re right. Even in the other photos, I can see you in your mom’s face.”
Yugeon flipped through more pictures.
“Oh, look at this one—you’re crying your eyes out. Your mom looks flustered. Were you a little troublemaker?”
“A troublemaker? I was such a gentle and good kid…”
They traced through Jian’s childhood memories—memories that had until now been shared only between father and daughter.
“Your father looked stronger when he was younger. And a bit more… intimidating than now.”
“Yes. Back then, kids would cry just seeing him.”
“Hmm…”
It was understandable.
In one photo, Jian—about three or four years old—was sitting on Pilbeom’s lap. It looked almost like she had been kidnapped by a man from the underworld.
Behind the chubby-cheeked, bright-eyed, adorable little Jian, Pilbeom loomed like a mountain, his fierce expression practically saying, If you want to save the child, try defeating me first.
The two of them spent a long time looking through the album.
Jian felt happy, sharing her memories with him.
“Look at this. You must be in kindergarten here. You’re already eating tteokbokki.”
“Yeah. I’ve loved it since I was little.”
Yugeon couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“You’re stuffing your cheeks so full they look like they’re about to burst. This is killing me. You were so cute even back th—”
…Wait.
What did I just say?
Startled by his own words, Yugeon quickly glanced at Jian.
Jian looked just as shocked, staring at him with wide eyes.
Even back then…?
So that means… even now?
“W-well, what I meant was…”
What exactly do you mean, Mr. Cha Yugeon?
So does that mean I’m cute to you even now?
Jian leaned closer to him, silently urging him to explain.
Under her intense gaze, cold sweat broke out on Yugeon’s back.
This is the woman who once called me a homewrecker or something. And now I’m telling a woman who supposedly likes someone else that she’s cute? Go on—explain yourself.
That’s what her eyes seemed to say.
How was he supposed to take back a truth that had slipped out so carelessly?
For a businessman, the ability to handle unexpected situations was essential.
And Yugeon was usually excellent at that.
With his flexible, free-spirited personality and sharp mind that never lost sight of the core issue, he always found his way out of trouble.
So why do I turn into such an idiot in front of her?
Her clear face was dangerously close.
Especially her red lips.
Those lips he had once brushed against before.
Step back, Eun Jian… If you keep looking at me like that… If your lips are that close…
He had only just managed to regain his composure lately, but if she kept coming closer—
His mind went blank, his gaze drawn to her lips as if by a magnet.
Heat surged through his body, a dangerous impulse rising to his throat.
Knock, knock.
“What are you two doing? The songpyeon are done. Come down and eat.”
Pilbeom’s voice came with a knock from outside the door.
“Yes, Father-in-law! Understood. We—we should go down. Shall we?”
Yugeon sprang to his feet like a coiled spring.
Dad, why that timing of all times…
Disappointed, Jian stood up as well.
As she followed him down the stairs, she glanced at his back.
His broad back looked strong—one she wanted to lean against.
Tall and solidly built, he seemed like a great fortress.
Just looking at him made her heart flutter. It wasn’t just infatuation; it was an objective fact.
An ordinary man with 100 trillion in assets vs. penniless Cha Yugeon.
Any woman would clearly choose the latter.
That’s how impressive he was.
Could someone that amazing really find her even a little bit cute?
Jian’s heart began pounding again. A faint smile curved on her lips.
