YDCF 11

Chapter – 11

Back when Chairman Ryu’s mouth needed to be shut with a scolding for mentioning in-laws, Chairman Joo had now gone a step further.

“…When Do-kyung comes, shall we all go out for a meal?”

At his words, the dining location changed from Jaedamjae to an upscale Korean restaurant.

While the attendants hurriedly made calls to prepare for the two chairmen’s visit, I struggled to hide my awkward expression.

I thought Grandpa would stop them!

But on second thought, Grandpa had always treated Ryu Do-kyung like his own grandson. The kid was confident for his age and recognized as the heir to the Seohae Group—so it was only natural he’d be admired.

Seeing Chairman Ryu’s cherished grandson being personally paired with his granddaughter, it made sense that Grandpa would be pleased.

‘So, if Seohae comes forward first, there’ll be no refusal. Is that it?’

Lost in thought, Grandpa tapped my arm. Then, scrunching his nose, he said,

“Sae-i, you should ride with Do-kyung.”

“Me…?”

“It’ll be more comfortable for two people of the same age to chat on the way.”

“Yeah, having all the old folks around would just be awkward anyway!”

As Grandpa spoke, Chairman Ryu immediately jumped in.

Though they were rivals in business, always at each other’s throats, seeing them act friendly and arm-in-arm in front of me felt surprisingly fresh.

“…I’ll follow your advice, Chairman.”

Resigned, I agreed. Grandpa, satisfied, finally pulled Chairman Ryu aside. Then, with a strange expression, he glanced at me.

‘What… is that?’

The stern face I knew was gone, replaced by slightly drooping eyebrows and trembling corners of the mouth. Just like…

‘A puppy looking for praise?’

Right, that was exactly the expression.

Could it really be that he was going out of his way because he thought I liked Ryu Do-kyung?

“Hmph, anyway, the two of you, ahem! Try to have a good conversation.”

…Yeah, I think I guessed right. Somehow, he emphasized “the two of you.”

I closed my eyes, rolled them a few times, and approached Grandpa. Whispering what I thought he wanted to hear:

“…Thank you, Chairman.”

Seeing my response, Grandpa’s expression brightened. After a couple of coughs, he nudged Chairman Ryu’s side.

“We’ll head ahead! Let’s discuss our separate business later, us old folks.”

“The, the matter about Sua’s car sale…”

The two chairmen went off to the restaurant, leaving me alone in the Jaedamjae reception room.

With the chairmen gone, there was no reason to stay in the reception.

I decided to wait for Ryu Do-kyung at the front gate of Jaedamjae to ensure a quick departure.

About twenty minutes passed.

Ryu Do-kyung finally arrived, stepping out of his car. He seemed more natural than the last time, perhaps arriving in a rush.

“…The Chairman?”

The moment he stepped down, he asked me.

I explained the situation, leaving out the part about the two chairmen insisting that someone like Ryu Do-kyung would make a fine partner.

“…They said we should come separately.”

Ryu Do-kyung let out a sigh, looking somewhat troubled, then opened the door to the car he had arrived in.

Instead of getting in alone, he stared at me for a long moment, a slightly puzzled expression on his face. Then he said,

“What are you doing?”

“Pardon?”

“Get in, here.”

Ah, so he’d opened the door to let me ride with him. I had thought he’d just drive off alone.

Bowing his head slightly in thanks, I got in, and he took the seat next to me.

“Shall we go?”

After speaking to the driver, Ryu Do-kyung remained silent.

‘They said we should have a conversation on the way…’

I also had nothing particular to say, so we kept quiet. It was awkward to start talking first, and as a result, the car was deathly silent.

The one who broke the silence was Ryu Do-kyung. Watching me pretend to sleep, he finally parted his lips.

“…Joo Sae-i.”

His cold, low tone made me freeze.

I didn’t answer immediately. It was instinctive—I had learned from a young age that whenever Ryu Do-kyung called me that way, it meant he was upset.

At times like this, the best thing was to pretend not to hear.

‘Did it work?’

He let out a deep sigh at that moment.

“…I know you’re not asleep. Stop blinking with your eyes half-open.”

Caught!

I instinctively hunched my shoulders. Glancing at him, I saw his face. Back then, he used to look terrifying, but now his expression was unreadable.

Unlike me, who grew up away from the Joo family, he was raised as an heir, learning to hide his emotions.

“Eyes open, answer me.”

“…Yes.”

“You keep using formal speech where it’s unnecessary…”

He started complaining but didn’t give me a chance to respond before continuing.

“Enough. Just one question.”

He paused, making me swallow nervously.

Ruffling his hair as if restless, he finally spoke.

“If I’ve ever wronged you, tell me. Now.”

“W-what do you mean…”

A question?

There was no wrong.

No matter how I thought about it, Ryu Do-kyung had never wronged me. I wasn’t avoiding him because I disliked him.

Even though he could be cold, he always cared for me.

He even accepted me following him around just because I liked him. And more than that…

‘I knew you’d be crying here. Joo Sae-i, get up.’

He had comforted me through my mother’s death, when I cried every day.

‘Crying won’t change anything. Not all adults are kind to you.’

Ryu Do-kyung, who was older than me and had lost family before me.

‘Grandpa said water conducts electricity well, but ice does not. So become cold and strong. Joo Sae-i, remember that.’

Yes, thanks to Ryu Do-kyung, I was able to rise. I chose my own path afterward, leaving the Joo family and bowing to Joo Soo-deok.

‘Though that choice was a mistake…’

So if I had to blame someone, it was me. Leaving silently without a word to someone who quietly stayed by my side.

‘Still, he probably didn’t mind much.’

Ryu Do-kyung would have lived fine even if I disappeared. In the future I experienced, he often boasted through news articles.

So I didn’t need to worry about him.

Shaking off distractions, I looked at him. His eyes were waiting for my answer.

“No, nothing like that.”

“Then.”

“We weren’t even the type to make mistakes against each other.”

Avoiding excessive entanglement with Ryu Do-kyung, who Joo Soo-deok was trying to groom as his son-in-law.

That was the choice I could make as someone struggling to survive and plan revenge.

I bowed my head deeply after speaking. Ryu Do-kyung remained silent. Just as I was about to lift my head to check his face,

“…You’re keeping your distance from me.”

He said it in a hollow voice, looking hurt.

I had never seen him like that in either my past life or this one.

The meal was luxurious. Glimmering Korean dishes were laid out in succession.

But I couldn’t stop recalling Ryu Do-kyung’s lonely expression in the car. I barely remembered swallowing my food.

Sipping the plum tea served as a palate cleanser, Grandpa spoke to Ryu Do-kyung.

“Soo-deok and Soo-yeon seemed to like Do-kyung as well.”

Instead of answering, Ryu Do-kyung looked at me. When I avoided his gaze, he let out a shallow, mocking smile.

“Well, I must respect my grandfather. I’m not at an age to discuss marriage yet, and I have no interest.”

That was a very welcome answer.

Ryu Do-kyung politely expressed that he wasn’t interested in relationships, so Grandpa wouldn’t have to push himself for my sake anymore.

“Is that so?”

Grandpa shrugged toward Chairman Ryu.

“What about Chairman Ryu? He fancied our Sae-i, but the grandson himself has no interest?”

At those words, Ryu Do-kyung’s pupils widened. Eyes opening in surprise, he hurriedly spoke.

“…It’s an honor to serve Chairman Joo.”

Why the sudden reversal…!?

Ryu Do-kyung’s ears turned red as he bowed deeply.

‘Wait, didn’t you say you weren’t interested in anyone?’

I quickly turned my head to check the expressions of the two chairmen.

‘Ah…’

Like viewers completely absorbed in a romance drama, they were smiling blissfully without concern for appearances.

Suddenly, I had a premonition. There would be more occasions like this.

Cold sweat broke out along my back.