Husband Role - Episode 3

At Jung-hyuk’s suggestion that she see him, Eun-seol readily agreed that now was good. He immediately offered to come pick her up, but she vehemently refused, worried about being seen by her family. After hanging up, Eun-seol quickly changed her clothes.

 

As she slipped into her spring coat and left her room, the door across the hall opened.

 

It was the housekeeper, Mrs. Ma-san. Small and plump with a dark complexion, Mrs. Ma-san frowned as soon as she saw Eun-seol.

 

“Are you going out now?”

 

Before Eun-seol could answer, a shout of “Auntie—!” was heard. It was her aunt-in-law, So-hee’s voice.

 

Eun-seol and Mrs. Ma-san simultaneously looked up at the stairs connecting the interior.

 

“You know that wine we received as a gift from the VVIP last time, that one…”

 

So-hee’s eyes met Eun-seol’s as she descended.

 

Even at past 10 p.m., So-hee was perfect. Her short bob, pearl earrings, and ash-gray silk dress flowed elegantly along her slender figure.

 

“She says she’s going out at this hour,” Mrs. Ma-san tattled.

 

“Got a boyfriend?” So-hee asked coldly.

 

“I have an appointment,” Eun-seol replied calmly.

 

“Come upstairs for a moment.”

 

“Madam, I’ll go look for the wine,” Mrs. Ma-san said obsequiously. The wine cellar was below the basement, in the sub-basement.

 

“Alright.”

 

Following So-hee’s response, Eun-seol headed to the main house.

 

So-hee sat on the antique-style living room sofa and glanced up at the second floor, checking on Min-seo. When the upper floor remained quiet, she turned back to Eun-seol.

 

“Don’t just stand there, sit.” So-hee offered.

 

“I need to leave soon.”

 

“Alright, then.”

 

Eun-seol waited obediently for So-hee’s next words.

 

“If you’ve got a boyfriend, be honest. Shouldn’t I know about that? I’ve been working so hard to find you a match…” She rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache.

 

Recently, So-hee had been working tirelessly to get rid of Eun-seol, running around in every direction.

 

The reason she was so diligent was because of a condition set by her father-in-law, Bong-cheol.

 

Sensing that his dementia would soon worsen, Bong-cheol had sent his granddaughter, whom he had been caring for, to his eldest son’s family. That child was Eun-seol.

 

He had promised that if they took care of Eun-seol until she got married, he would give Dae-hyuk the position he had always wanted. This had already been written into his will and notarized.

 

“Knowing all that, you’re still slyly keeping your mouth shut?”

 

“I was going to tell you when there was progress.”

 

“…So, there is someone.”

 

So-hee, who had been muttering about still waters running deep, smiled brightly. She was beautiful but had a sharp impression, so even when she smiled, she didn’t look gentle.

 

“Is it because of that man?”

 

At the mocking question, Eun-seol asked, “Pardon?”

 

“You… you’ve been doing that every time you go on a blind date, haven’t you? Asking the man to say he rejected you. Did you think that would work forever?”

 

Eun-seol had no other choice. The men So-hee presented were usually from wealthy families, but that was it.

 

Some had a history of violence, others were divorced men raising half-siblings, or they were nearly twenty years older, far from ordinary.

 

The last blind date was with the son of a medical supply company. On the surface, he seemed relatively normal.

 

But Eun-seol didn’t like him.

 

It was because when an old man wandering through the lounge accidentally stepped on the man’s foot, he had shouted.

 

‘Has the old hag gone senile?! Trying to grab someone when you’re all old and decrepit, wandering around a place like this!’

 

Just her bad luck.

 

As soon as she heard those words, Eun-seol spoke. She asked him to say that he had rejected her.

 

The man suddenly grabbed Eun-seol, asking why, and Eun-seol couldn’t help but retort.

 

‘Do you think you’ll be young forever?’

 

That seemed to be the root of the problem.

 

“Yes, I’m seeing someone,” Eun-seol said. Even if nothing came of it with Jung-hyuk, she couldn’t be pushed into marriage by So-hee.

 

“Well, that’s good then. Now, even if you run away from home, you’ll go to that man’s house, so we won’t have to go through the trouble of looking for you.”

 

As So-hee said, she had tried to run away from home a few times. But because she was short on money, the places she could go were very limited.

 

Old motel rooms or bathhouses.

 

The dizzying moans that could be heard through the thin walls of the motel room or the middle-aged men who offered her indecent proposals at the bathhouse flashed through Eun-seol’s mind.

 

Eun-seol realized then that temporary escape would only make the future more bleak.

 

Therefore, she had to choose her marriage partner herself.

 

“I’ll formally introduce him next time.”

 

“Suit yourself.”

 

Eun-seol bowed and stepped back. As she headed to the front door, she heard Mrs. Ma-san muttering.

 

Why does she stick around like a leech when she’s dropped out of school? She should just get married quickly.

 

She hadn’t ‘dropped out’ but was on ‘leave of absence,’ but she didn’t feel the need to correct her. After all, she was an outsider to the people in this house.

 

 

Eun-seol was a little late. By the time she arrived at the hotel, the meeting place, it was almost midnight.

 

She hadn’t received a single message from Jung-hyuk until then. She even wondered if he had forgotten their appointment.

 

She took the glass elevator to the designated floor and headed to the business center that Jung-hyuk had mentioned. It was her first time in a place like this.

 

She walked down a hallway lined with profound paintings and stood in front of a red door. Knock, knock. The door opened after two knocks.

 

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Eun-seol quickly apologized, and Jung-hyuk looked down at her with indifferent eyes.

 

“I just got here myself.”

 

At his meaning not to worry about it, Eun-seol nodded.

 

“Come in.”

 

Eun-seol followed him inside.

 

Unlike the last time she saw him, Jung-hyuk was dressed casually. He wore a simple cotton t-shirt and black slacks, and a large trench coat hung on the wall.

 

The business room was very unfamiliar, but it subtly smelled like Jung-hyuk. Eun-seol’s heart fluttered for no reason at the mature and heavy scent.

 

“Here.”

 

Jung-hyuk said, pointing to something like a conference table. Eun-seol quickly headed that way.

 

Behind Jung-hyuk, who had already taken a seat, the night view of Seoul unfolded like a panorama.

 

With the softly spreading lights behind him, he seemed perfectly in sync with the quiet darkness.

 

Even though he was dressed comfortably, he still felt difficult and distant.

 

“Have you had dinner?” Eun-seol asked cautiously.

 

“What time do you think it is?”

 

She had asked out of courtesy, and Eun-seol felt a little embarrassed.

 

“Ah, right.”

 

As she laughed awkwardly, Jung-hyuk asked this time.

 

“You?”

 

His eyes as he asked that were very dark and calm. It was an expression that was impossible to read.

 

“I already ate too.”

 

As if to disprove her lie, her stomach rumbled loudly. Embarrassed, Eun-seol waved her hands, saying she was fine, but her face was already red.

 

Jung-hyuk, who had been silent, got up and picked up the receiver. After ordering room service, an employee soon appeared pushing a cart. A Korean set meal was neatly arranged on the tray.

 

“What about you, sir?”

 

She asked, feeling uncomfortable eating alone. Jung-hyuk pointed to the cart with indifferent eyes. Inside the second compartment of the cart, a tray with simple fruits and bread was visible.

 

“I was feeling a little hungry too,” Jung-hyuk added.

 

Eun-seol felt the air suddenly heat up. She was clever. There was no way she wouldn’t notice Jung-hyuk’s consideration.

 

He had clearly given her a scolding, saying, ‘What time do you think it is?’ That meant that Jung-hyuk had already eaten.

 

Nevertheless, the reason he ordered for two was to make sure she didn’t feel uncomfortable eating alone.

 

It suddenly occurred to her how meticulous he was behind his cold expression.

 

“Thank you for the meal.”

 

Jung-hyuk picked up his cutlery instead of replying. Eun-seol glanced at Jung-hyuk and then picked up her spoon.

 

She hadn’t realized she was hungry because of the tension, but once she started eating, it was incredibly delicious. Especially the sea urchin seaweed soup. It was deep in flavor and filling.

 

Her habit of eating everything well made her forget the situation and kept pulling food into her stomach. She didn’t even realize that Jung-hyuk was watching her with amusement.

 

“You eat well,” Jung-hyuk said, handing her a glass of water. Eun-seol wanted to say something, but her cheeks were full, so she couldn’t say anything. As she quickly chewed and swallowed, he emphasized, “Slowly.”

 

Jung-hyuk even seemed to be smiling a little. Of course, it must have been her imagination. Eun-seol had never seen Jung-hyuk smile even a little.

 

In the end, Eun-seol emptied her bowl cleanly, put her hands together in a prayer-like gesture, and said, “Thank you for the meal.”

 

“Shall we get down to business now?”

 

The plate in front of Jung-hyuk, who asked, was almost untouched.

 

Eun-seol realized once again that her guess was correct.

 

And she quickly nodded. It was because she had unintentionally made Jung-hyuk wait.

 

“Then present it,” he said in a stern tone, crossing his arms.

 

“What can I gain from marrying you?”

 

Eun-seol immediately realized that she had to pass this test to get what she wanted.

 

She took one of the items from the list she had thought of in advance,

 

“First,”

 

and spoke it out loud.

 

“I will respect your promiscuity.”