BYB 32

Chapter 32

He had heard from Owner Cha that running both the beer shop and the convenience store was difficult, so he occasionally hired part-timers. That was why he’d pushed Eunho forward, saying a regular employee would be better than a part-timer.

His daughter was working as the manager.

“Should I look into it?”

He was curious. But—

There was no way he could demand to know why Owner Cha used his daughter as the manager. He was the one who had foisted his son onto the owner for an absurd reason, and Cha Woncheol had simply accepted him. There was no obligation to tell him who was helping out in the shop.

Hmm.

He thought it might be understandable, given that young people these days change jobs frequently, but considering how much Cha Woncheol had cherished and raised his daughter, it was somewhat puzzling. He wouldn’t have sent her to such a good university, making her study hard, just to have her behind the counter of a tiny beer shop—he wondered what the story was.

Suddenly, his nerves pricked strangely.

He recalled a spirited little boy who used to lift up a chubby-cheeked toddler with gentle eyes. A memory from long ago. Back when Cha Woncheol’s family and his own family would often meet to socialize.

During that time, Song Dongyoung had kept Eunho’s mother, Han Yeojin, by his side by telling her he would soon end things with Woo Younghui. Call it selfish if you like. His marriage to Woo Younghui was loveless, and he couldn’t live without Han Yeojin.

Holding the hope that they could become a real couple, they were briefly happy. And within that happiness, Jiwoo’s family was often present. Because Eunho’s biological mother Han Yeojin and Jiwoo’s parents, Cha Woncheol and Kim Sohyun, had grown up together as childhood friends in Hanju City, they would meet frequently.

—Because I’m the older one! So I’ll help Jiwoo!

The only one who would catch Jiwoo when she threw a tantrum about climbing up the slide backward was six-year-old Song Eunho. Even though there was no need to go that far, Eunho wouldn’t listen. Remembering how fondly and preciously he’d treasured that little baby, never letting go of her for a moment, his heart grew strangely heavy.

—Oh my, isn’t he saying he’ll marry Jiwoo when he grows up?

—I’m all for it. Yeojin, raise our future son-in-law well. I’ve called dibs.

Eunho’s biological mother Han Yeojin and Jiwoo’s mother Kim Sohyun looked at each other and laughed happily. Not wanting to ruin the mood, Song Dongyoung smiled along, but the bothersome joke left him feeling sour inside.

Even back then, he felt oddly no affection for his first son, Song Juhyo. Was it because he was the son of a woman he didn’t love? That was why, to Song Dongyoung, his only son was Eunho.

He wanted to leave everything to Eunho. He wanted to perfectly design Eunho’s life. But Cha Jiwoo? Ha, absurd.

There was no way he would ever bring a daughter from an insignificant commoner family into the family as a daughter-in-law. Song Dongyoung had harbored twisted feelings ever since then.

His brow darkened.

“…Representative?”

Surely not—Jiwoo and… No, that couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible.

Song Dongyoung steadied his mind. He had a fairly good grasp of his sons’ relationships with women. Unlike Song Juhyo, who led an excessively promiscuous private life, Eunho had shown so little interest in women that it was almost a concern for the next generation.

He’d lived that way for over thirty years—it didn’t make sense that he’d suddenly explode with desire after going to Hanju City.

“No, there’s no need to look further. Good work. You may go.”

There was no way those childhood feelings still remained. So it would be fine.

After sending the secretary out, Song Dongyoung began his work, reviewing the pending approval documents.

For Eunho, who would one day take over Songhwa, a powerful in-law family was paramount. Even after inheriting the succession, he’d be worn down by stake battles for a while, and the one solution to all those disputes was ultimately an arranged marriage.

In fact, he already had someone in mind. Song Dongyoung planned to proceed with Eunho’s marriage as soon as his divorce from Woo Younghui was smoothly concluded. His goal was to have Eunho establish his foundation before Juhyo did.

As it had always been, Eunho would absolutely obey Song Dongyoung’s commands. Even if it was marriage, nothing would change. Even if it was an unreasonable and unfair order, he had trained him to follow it unconditionally. Song Dongyoung firmly believed that was the best choice to give Eunho’s life wings.

What kind of trouble could happen on just a two-month business trip? That boy was a Buddha.

He nodded to himself.

—

* * *

—

At the same time. That Buddha-like boy was casting lustful glances and stealing a woman’s lips. The way he devoured her was sharp and beast-like.

A small room used as storage next to the kitchen.

The air was hot with the sticky, clinging heat of the man and woman. Eunho parted the woman’s lips and sensually swept across her tender mucous membrane. The two wrapped themselves tightly around each other, mingling their breaths. Their breathing tangled, damp exhalations crossing.

Panting, Jiwoo eventually turned her head away. But Eunho immediately caught her and pushed forward again, hotly. Biting her lower lip lightly as if asking why she was running away, Jiwoo trembled.

“Th-this is enough…”

It was too sweet and addictive—he couldn’t stop.

“We’re out of… time…”

He knew. Damn it, he knew all of it, but his body had to listen to his brain’s commands. Ignoring the woman’s protest, Eunho swallowed her breath again. Grabbing the back of Jiwoo’s fleeing head with one hand, he showered her with kisses.

“Ch-Chunsam-ssi.”

Finally pushing him away, Jiwoo looked up at Eunho with wet eyes. Even though they’d separated, their lips weren’t touching, but their faces were so close that she could feel all of the man’s breath.

His eyes, desire laid bare, gleamed vividly. Her heart raced again at that raw gaze, but Jiwoo forced herself to keep a blank expression. Then, afraid he might latch on again, she even held her breath.

She really had to work now, and soon Minhyuk would be coming in for his shift. She couldn’t delay any longer.

Eunho swept his thumb across Jiwoo’s lips and let out a short sigh.

“Sweet, Jiwoo-ya.”

“…”

Wiping her lower lip with his thumb, he said in a low voice. Then, as if he absolutely couldn’t hold back, he lunged at her again. Jiwoo was horrified and pushed him away.

“Stop…”

“I know. You need to get ready for business.”

Eunho gave a self-deprecating laugh and hugged Jiwoo.

“I wish time would stop.”

Three days into dating the woman.

Eunho poured out his emotions honestly, like a man with no tomorrow. Perhaps because he’d suppressed them for so long, there were many times when his desires were simply unbearable. In fact, he was already half out of his mind.

“Let’s go out now.”

“Yeah. Just a moment.”

Biting Jiwoo’s earlobe lightly, Eunho spoke.

“Why is your ear sweet too?”

“Hng, st-stop…”

“Don’t make that sound.”

“…”

“Just hearing your voice gets me going.”

Eunho’s body was explicit and blunt. Jiwoo gasped, flustered, and pushed him away. Eunho stepped back at her weak gesture, letting out a dissatisfied sigh.

“Let’s do it again later.”

Their positions had switched. Eunho was chopping cabbage while Jiwoo wiped the tables. After Jiwoo cut her hand, Eunho had declared he would take charge of the knife.

Jiwoo was touched by his consideration—but only for a very brief moment.

She quickly realized that Eunho’s knife skills were far worse than hers. Seriously. He was terrible at it himself, yet all this time he’d been criticizing her for being clumsy? What was that about?

Eunho was currently spilling half the cabbage onto the floor.

Oh no. He’s doing it again…

Jiwoo eventually stopped wiping the table and approached Eunho.

She was the type to clearly separate public and private matters. Kissing was kissing, and work was work. Right now, they were on duty. She was the manager, and Song Chunsam was the employee.

Ah, not just an employee—an incompetent employee.

“Chunsam-ssi.”

Eunho diced the cabbage carelessly and looked at Jiwoo absentmindedly.

“About the way you address me. That name is really uncomfortable, so when it’s just the two of us, let’s use other expressions. Like ‘honey’ or ‘darling’…”

“Excuse me. Song Chunsam-ssi.”

Jiwoo put her hands on her hips and frowned.

Eunho didn’t immediately notice her expression and kept dicing the cabbage. Cabbage pieces flew in all directions.

Chop, chop, chop.

Eventually, a single piece of cabbage traced an arc through the air, hit Jiwoo’s cheek, and fell.

“Song Chunsam-ssi!”

Good heavens.

Eunho stopped chopping and looked at Jiwoo.

“Yes.”

“What are you doing?”

“As you can see.”

Eunho pointed proudly at the cutting board.

“I’m handling the dangerous work instead.”

Jiwoo let out a long, deep sigh and said to Eunho.

“Don’t you see the floor?”

“What about the floor?”

Eunho finally looked around. The floor was scattered with about as much cabbage as was on the cutting board.

Ah…

“I’ll clean the floor later. I can’t do two things at once.”

Chop, chop, chop.

“That’s not the point!”

Eventually, Jiwoo exploded.

“I told you to chop, but you’re just throwing the cabbage away! Half of it is going to waste! If this is how it’s going to be, I’ll do it myself. Step aside!”

“Ah, that.”

Eunho shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“It’s because cabbage is a hard vegetable.”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s nothing I can do. I don’t have the ability to catch every piece that flies off. No matter how good I am.”