TKFT 25

Chapter – 25

She didn’t forget to pull the blanket up to his chin either, so that the cold wouldn’t seep into her slender body.

The frown between Ji-an’s brows slowly relaxed.

Seeing her sleep peacefully, Yu-geon smiled faintly, just like he had been doing these days.

Watching Ji-an eat well and sleep well had become his daily source of comfort.

The next day, Ji-an and Yu-geon went to Pil-beom’s house once more and spent the holiday together.

On the morning of Chuseok, they visited Chairman Cha’s home.

“Eat a lot, daughter-in-law.”

During the breakfast with the couple and the chairman, Chairman Cha placed some braised short ribs, carefully deboned and prepared for easy eating, onto Ji-an’s rice bowl.

“Thank you, Father,” Ji-an replied shyly with a gentle smile.

Her adorable expression seemed almost unbearable to the chairman, whose lips curved up to his ears as he looked at her fondly.

‘He kept talking about getting married, and now he’s completely smitten with his daughter-in-law.’

Yu-geon snickered and cut in between them.

“What about me, Father? Your son has a mouth too.”

“You can eat as much as you want or not. Oh, try this one too, daughter-in-law.”

The chairman replied curtly and placed another side dish onto Ji-an’s plate.

‘Same everywhere. These old men are completely head over heels for Eun Ji-an.’

Ha—Yu-geon laughed in disbelief.

“Since Father personally put it on my plate, it tastes even better.”

After finishing her food, Ji-an said sweetly, smiling with her eyes curved like a pretty crescent.

Her gesture left Yu-geon completely stunned as well.

…Well, I guess it can’t be helped. She’s that pretty. I completely understand how the old men feel.

With his heart pounding from Ji-an’s sparkling smile, Yu-geon thought.

Ji-an’s mouth was her mouth, and Yu-geon’s mouth was just a snout during the meal.

After finishing breakfast, the three moved to the spacious living room where sunlight streamed through large windows and enjoyed tea and snacks.

“Here, daughter-in-law. Try this. It’s made by a master artisan, so it should be delicious.”

Chairman Cha handed Ji-an some traditional Korean confectionery using a fork.

It had been specially ordered from a master intangible cultural heritage artisan for Ji-an’s first visit to her in-laws after marriage.

“Oh my, really? Thank you. Wow, it tastes so refined. It’s the best han-gwa I’ve ever had.”

“That’s good. Eat a lot.”

“Yes, Father.”

The daughter-in-law and father-in-law laughed heartily while facing each other.

Yu-geon, who heard their quiet laughter, let out a small breath-like laugh and put a piece of the confectionery into his own mouth.

Well, it was a good taste. If Ji-an liked it, he planned to order it for his own house too.

The three of them enjoyed tea and confectionery while chatting for quite a while.

Then, during a brief lull in the conversation, Chairman Cha cleared his throat and spoke after glancing at the couple.

“By the way, do you have any good news? For example, the fruit of your love… like a grandchild… a baby…?”

“Cough…! Cough, cough…!”

“A… baby?”

At Chairman Cha’s question, Ji-an, who was drinking green tea, choked.

And Yu-geon felt as if he had been struck at the back of his head.

That’s right… now that I think about it…

They had planned to have a child.

Perhaps to fulfill what might be the last wish of Sun-young.

But since Ji-an had someone else she loved, Yu-geon couldn’t bring himself to hold her, so he decided to first win Ji-an’s heart.

Then Ji-an collapsed, and his priority became making her healthy again.

Somehow, after that, his original goal—making Sun-young’s great-grandchild—became blurred.

Instead, only two things filled his mind: keeping Ji-an healthy and winning her heart.

When did it start? Why did it become like this?

That her mere recovery was becoming his happiness.

That simply being close to her had become his greatest goal.

“You are currently forgetting the ultimate objective. You must not forget the fundamental goal of sustainable value creation and growth.”

Wasn’t he the one who once thundered such words during an executive meeting?

When had he forgotten the core purpose?

Yu-geon, who had gone blank, finally came to his senses at the sound of Ji-an coughing beside him.

“…Why are you putting pressure on her like that? If you put pressure on your daughter-in-law during her first holiday, which daughter-in-law would like it?”

Yu-geon said, handing Ji-an a tissue while giving Chairman Cha a look.

“Oh, right. Sorry, daughter-in-law. Did I startle you? I just thought, seeing you two sitting side by side like this, you look really good together… And if a child were born between you two, the baby would be very lovely… I’m sorry, daughter-in-law.”

“Oh, no, it’s okay, Father. I’m fine.”

Ji-an smiled gently while wiping her mouth with a tissue, anxious but polite.

“Ah, don’t mind what I said earlier. Just continue getting along well with Yu-geon. That’s the best thing; what else matters?”

After all, a child would naturally follow.

Chairman Cha held Ji-an’s hand tightly with both of his and made a request, swallowing the rest of his words.

“Yes, Father. I will continue to live happily with Yu-geon.”

Ji-an nodded bravely.

Thinking that this was also truly her own wish.

After that, the three went to the hospital together to visit Sun-young.

Sun-young was very happy that her son-in-law, grandson, and grandson’s wife had all come to see her.

Seeing her like that, Yu-geon felt a slight sting in his chest.

It felt like he had pushed Sun-young’s wish to the back of his mind, and he felt sorry toward her.

Even until the last day of the Chuseok holiday, Yu-geon felt troubled.

…I must have been too absorbed. The mission was too unfamiliar.

Lying on the bed and staring into the dark empty air, Yu-geon rationalized.

He had never thought about wanting to win a woman’s heart before; instead, women had always clung to him first.

It was annoying enough to make him irritated.

For him, trying to seduce a woman was already difficult, and it was even harder because she was someone who had someone she truly loved.

He had always done everything easily, but he didn’t want to admit this.

I should pull myself together now. So I don’t forget what’s most important.

Huffing in frustration, Yu-geon shifted his body and glanced at Ji-an behind him.

She seemed to be already asleep. Her slender back was quiet.

What are you really, Eun Ji-an…? Where did such a beautiful and difficult-to-get woman come from to confuse me like this?

Unaware that Yu-geon was staring at her, Ji-an was lost in her own thoughts.

At the chairman’s question about a baby earlier, she was initially startled, but later it felt bitter like the aftertaste of tea.

There’s no chance of having a baby… we haven’t even kissed once.

It had been four months since they started sleeping side by side like this.

Even though they were of the opposite sex, sharing a bed for a whole season, nothing had happened. That realization made her feel strangely sad.

I only like Yu-geon more and more… If I said that the person I love is Yu-geon… what would Yu-geon say?

Ji-an imagined it.

“Miss Eun Ji-an, did you forget the contract? This marriage is a contract marriage without love. Are you getting sentimental because I’ve been a little nice lately? That was all just because of the contract anyway. You were prepared for the response to your confession, right? Get a divorce immediately.”

“Aaaaah,” Ji-an almost screamed.