Chapter 16
“Huh… Why?”
Seol tilted her small face in confusion.
“You’re getting influenced.”
And not in a good way.
What? Secretary Oppa? Is he out of his mind? Seriously, does he even have a conscience?
The thought of Seokjin saying, “Then should I marry her?” with that sly grin made Taejoo’s neck tingle uncomfortably. He forced himself to hold back his annoyance.
“So, are you going to answer his calls for me?”
“…”
When Taejoo stayed silent, Seol’s lips pouted slightly.
What’s there to think about? she thought, beginning to feel a bit disappointed.
“If you’re not going to deal with it, don’t worry about it.”
One of Taejoo’s eyebrows lifted at her sharp, sassy remark. Arms crossed, Seol turned her head away in a huff.
Taejoo rubbed his face roughly, struggling to figure out how to end this without upsetting Seol too much. He’d tried to think of a way to explain things without hurting her feelings, but it seemed like that was impossible.
“Yoon Seol.”
Taejoo, now resolute, looked her directly in the eyes.
“Has the chairman told you anything about me? What kind of person I am?”
“It wasn’t the chairman; Secretary Oppa told me. He said you’re a very, very famous playboy.”
“…Yeah, that’s true. So don’t come looking for me like this. You’re just getting in the way.”
He spoke coldly, deliberately being harsh as he faced her directly.
He thought she’d cry, but Seol seemed unfazed. After a moment of silent contemplation, she lifted her head. Her transparent eyes met his with clarity and determination.
“I already know everything, Teacher. I know there’s someone you can’t forget.”
“…”
“I saw it, the picture in your wallet.”
…Ah, that picture. Taejoo’s expression shifted slightly.
“Oh! I didn’t snoop! I just saw it by accident!” Seol quickly clarified, anxiously watching Taejoo’s reaction.
Realizing where her misunderstanding stemmed from, Taejoo almost laughed.
Someone I can’t forget… It wasn’t entirely wrong. The woman in the picture was his mother, after all. But he didn’t feel the need to correct her misunderstanding.
“So… That’s why you’re acting like this, isn’t it? Drinking all the time and…”
Seol’s voice trailed off, her head lowering in a dejected manner. She looked genuinely concerned for him, almost as if she were on the verge of tears.
Maybe it was his hangover, but looking at her like this made the half-finished bean sprout soup in his stomach churn uncomfortably.
A heavy silence fell between them.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Seol’s head shot up, her eyes wide. Taejoo didn’t bother denying it.
When he was younger, his parents had passed away suddenly in an accident. He’d tried to keep those memories buried deep, but they always resurfaced when he let his guard down.
“Now that you understand, give it up and—”
“Then marry me, Teacher. Let’s have a contract marriage.”
Seol’s determined voice interrupted him, and she bit her lip firmly.
Taejoo raised one eyebrow in disbelief.
“What did you just say?”
“A contract marriage.”
She enunciated every syllable.
“Keep your first love in your heart. I can accept that.”
Seol clasped her hands together over her chest, her face sincere.
Taejoo almost burst out laughing in sheer disbelief. She was acting like some saint, determined to take on the burdens of a “playboy” and save him.
Then, realization struck him.
This kid wasn’t just determined—she was cunning.
“Do you even know what a contract marriage is, Yoon Seol?”
Seol pouted her lips indignantly.
“Teacher! Are you looking down on me just because I didn’t go to a fancy university? I’m about to graduate high school, you know! Of course, I know! A contract marriage is that thing rich people do all the time. Business-related!”
She rattled off confidently, taking a quick breath as if to emphasize her knowledge.
Ah, so this is how it’s going to go?
Taejoo folded his arms and tilted his head.
“Business-related? What exactly do I gain from marrying you? There’s nothing in it for me.”
Seol’s round eyes widened in shock as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.
Just as Taejoo expected.
But then, Seol surprised him.
“Wait, no! There’s a lot in it for you!”
After a brief pause, Seol raised her hand assertively.
“Your grandfather said he’d marry you off to someone else.”
Taejoo’s expression darkened immediately, a deep scowl forming on his face.
“Ha.”
He could see it now—how the chairman had manipulated her feelings. No wonder she’d come running at him full force from day one.
Using her like this? Really?
“So marry me, Teacher. Isn’t that better than marrying some random stranger? I’m practically saving you.”
Seol winked, even mimicking finger guns as if shooting live bullets.
“Admit it. You’re grateful, right?”
She even scrunched her nose playfully.
“You don’t have to waste your time drinking or dating other women anymore, and you can be healthier too! I get to marry you, so it’s a win-win. It’s killing two birds with one stone, a perfect deal, right?”
“Just stop there.”
Taejoo sighed, pushing her “finger guns” away.
“Teacher.”
Seol suddenly grabbed his hand as it pulled away, her expression serious.
“It’s my dream. To have a shotgun wedding and retire from the entertainment industry.”
She quickly added and pulled up an article on her phone, showing him a piece about an actress who retired early after marrying.
“She’s my role model.”
Seol had gone beyond just being bold—she was in a league of her own.
“Sorry, Yoon Seol. That just makes this less of a business deal.”
Taejoo’s faint smirk disappeared completely.
“To be clear, marriage isn’t in my plans. Kids even less so.”
Seol’s expression crumbled like shattered glass.
“I’m sorry I can’t help you achieve your dream. But good luck.”
“Teacher, wait… Am I being dumped right now?”
“Yes. You are.”
Squeak, squeak, clack.
The sound of plastic pieces clicking together filled the quiet room. A pair of long fingers turned a cube without hesitation, aligning each color perfectly.
“What brings you here?”
The chairman’s narrowed eyes fixed on an unexpected guest. Taejoo sat lazily on the sofa, one arm resting on the back and his legs crossed casually.
“Do you not know?”
Taejoo placed the now-solved cube on the table with a firm click.
“I thought you cared more than this. Guess I was wrong.”
The chairman’s eyes twitched slightly in response to the cold tone.
“Contract marriage? What a joke.”
Taejoo scoffed.
