Chapter 56: Family Schemes and Firm Resolve

I checked my watch—8:30 p.m. Tidying up, I said.

“We’ve killed an hour. That’s enough, right?”

“Yeah, bye. Let’s never meet again.”

“You go first. I’ll take the fall. Tell Chairman Joo I was trash.”

Ju Ria grinned.

“You’re better off never regaining your memory.”

“Compliment?”

“Totally.”

She laughed, her heels clicking as she left, just as she’d arrived. Watching her go, tension drained from my body. I lingered on the sofa, then grabbed my coat and scarf and headed out. The dramatic encounter left me paranoid, feeling like people were staring.

I didn’t call Choi Young Gil. The desperate one always calls first—universal truth. Sure enough, just before I got home, Father rang, yelling.

<What did you say to Ria? She called crying!>

Ju Ria’s acting skills were top-notch. She was mocking me minutes ago, yet I couldn’t picture her crying. Boredly, I asked.

“…What’d she say I said?”

<That you called her a pretentious artist wasting family money, beyond saving. True?>

Wow, she went hard. Her determination to avoid me was clear—100 points. Sighing, I replied.

“If I did, why’s it your problem?”

<Are you insane? Don’t you know how much Chairman Joo adores her?>

I snorted, incredulous. He tricked me into a blind date without a hint of apology, only angry I’d ruined his plan. Coldly, I shot back.

“Don’t set me up like this again without my consent. It pisses me off.”

<What’s this attitude? How am I supposed to face him now?>

I tsked inwardly. Fine for me, but shouldn’t he explain why he deceived me? He must’ve known I’d refuse if he’d been upfront. I didn’t want to pity original Choi Seung Hyun, but craving love from this man would twist anyone’s personality. Good thing I was in the car—I didn’t want Do Yoon seeing me angry.

“I never asked for this. If you pull this again without asking, I won’t stay quiet.”

<Seung Hyun, your manners—>

I hung up. Staying quiet wouldn’t change much, but I refused to seem weak to him. He thought I’d roll over at his word—not anymore. I’m a different person now. I had no expectations of him, except maybe that his doomed fate in the novel would come sooner.

I took a deep breath, calming myself before entering the house.

As expected, Do Yoon rushed to the door.

“Hyung! You’re back?”

“Yup. Eaten?”

“Yeah, you?”

“Stomach’s off, didn’t eat.”

His face darkened.

“No wonder you look pale. Taken meds?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing. Craving ramen.”

“Ramen’s bad for you. I’ll make something else.”

“That’s a myth. Not eating what you want causes sickness.”

Still, he sat me down, whipping up perfect ramen with green onions, eggs, and even kimchi from the main house. I’d planned on cup noodles, but this was heavenly—cup noodles forgotten. This was happiness. As I slurped, Do Yoon cautiously asked.

“What happened today? Father calling you to a hotel usually means others were there…”

“Hmm…”

I ducked, sipping broth to hide my expression. His perceptiveness never failed.

I considered mentioning the blind date but decided against it. It wasn’t important, and Ju Ria and I agreed to never meet again. Plus, Do Yoon would overreact, thinking she was into me. He had this weird belief every woman liked me. Even if true, Ju Ria was the exception, for obvious reasons. Smiling, I said.

“Nothing happened.”

“Good then.”

He smiled back, easing my rattled heart. Seeing him happy calmed me. I wished I’d spent the evening dining with him instead of wasting it. If Father or Grandfather pulled this again, I wouldn’t let it slide.

The next day, neither called—Mother did.

<Why’d you mess things up with Ria? Couldn’t you try harder?>

“…You heard too?”

<Heard? I suggested it.>

My jaw dropped.

“What? Why would you do that?”

<When my only son wastes time with some stray, how could I not worry?>

It clicked—this tied to Lady Shin’s visit to my place.

“I told you I’m not interested in the chairman seat…”

<Chairman Joo kept praising you, so I mentioned you liked Ria before. I didn’t make it up.>

My face burned. How far had this humiliating history spread?

“You knew about that?”

<What don’t I know about you?>

I sighed, barely containing my frustration.

“Don’t do this again. We were both mortified. I don’t like her anymore.”

She really wasn’t my type—I preferred kind, gentle types, like puppies or bunnies. But Mother ignored me.

<You’re just embarrassed from her rejecting you as a kid. I get it.>

“No, don’t get it. I don’t like her.”

How pathetic did she think I was, trying to hook me up with someone who rejected me? Then, calmly, she said something chilling.

“What?”

<You know Grandfather’s obsessed with media. Newspapers and news shape public opinion, even now. Ria’s the Koryo Ilbo’s prized daughter. They launched a broadcast channel years ago. Grandfather thinks if you’re staying in entertainment, tying to their family’s best. You’re similar ages, studied together—perfect, right? Spin it as a love marriage for press. Chairman Joo wants a good match for Ria now she’s back, and your specs are hard to beat.>

My jaw dropped in the office hallway. What a grand scheme.

Casually? This was a strategic alliance, swapping a contract for a marriage certificate. No wonder her voice was unusually bright.

<When you were stuck on entertainment, I saw no future, but things are working out. Grandfather adores you. I was so worried you’d keep clinging to Do Yoon. Speaking of, how long are you living with him? He’ll make dating Ria hard.>

Panicked, I said.

“Mom, I’m serious—Ria hates me more than I hate her. We don’t match at all.”

She went silent.

<…Think carefully. You won’t find better than Ria among Grandfather’s picks.>

No, don’t pick anyone!

But she hung up before I could say it.