By Zephyria 
===
As he climbed back up to the room he had left in frustration and perched on the edge of the bed, his heart raced wildly. He felt that he couldn’t let everything end like this. Even if he couldn’t solve it completely, if he could just buy some time—even just a little, a tiny bit of time… if only that were possible.
He was just an ordinary, boring college student who didn’t fit in with the world of chaebols. Perhaps if the other person met him, their mind might change. No matter how arranged a marriage was, they surely couldn’t do it with just ‘anyone.’
Yes, he thought it would be better to meet and plead for a little more time. It would be even better if the other person was disappointed in him before that. Just meeting would provide his father with a justification, allowing him to buy even a small amount of time.
Having organized his thoughts, Eun-won took a deep breath, pressing his hand firmly against his still racing heart.
It felt like he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight either.
The atmosphere at the dining table was heavy. No, ‘heavy’ wasn’t enough to describe it. His father’s eyes were hollow, looking as if he might collapse at any moment, and the Madame was barely swallowing water, her eyes swollen from crying.
Eun-won, who had been staying in the living room since early morning for fear that his father might leave early and they would miss each other, stirred his soggy cereal and cautiously spoke up.
“…I heard you two arguing in the early hours of the morning.”
Two startled gazes snapped toward him. Looking at his father’s stiff expression, Eun-won let out a small breath and composed himself.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop… I couldn’t sleep, so I went out to the garden, and I heard it on my way back in.”
“…I see. I’m sorry. For showing you such a pathetic side of us. Don’t worry about that conversation. Just forget it.”
“…I… I’ll meet them.”
At the calm declaration, both of their eyes widened. Eun-won put down the spoon he had been using to stir the cereal and met the eyes of the Madame and his father in turn.
“What…? What do you mean by that…?”
“I’m not saying I’ll marry them… But… if it’s just a meeting to see each other’s faces… I think it would be okay.”
“No, there’s nothing good about getting entangled like that. There’s no need for it. I have no intention of solving this by putting you forward. I’ll act as if I didn’t hear this.”
“If I meet them, I can buy at least a little more time… I’ll try asking them.”
According to the script Eun-won had presented, time was indeed what was needed most right now, so his father did not deny it and simply looked at Eun-won.
“I’ll try to speak with them properly… And besides, they might change their mind once they see me.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“An arranged marriage… that’s something people who fit that world should do. But I’m… just an ordinary student, and honestly, I’m not someone who fits with a great family like Sewon. They might be so disappointed when they see me that they’ll say they won’t marry.”
Eun-won tried his best to speak brightly. He didn’t want to add to the gloomy atmosphere. He wasn’t at peace, and he was also very worried and depressed, but he didn’t want to show that side of himself.
“…You’re working so hard to protect the company, so I want to… be of some help, even if it’s just a little. Please let me meet them, okay?”
At Eun-won’s request, his father let out a trembling breath and stalled for time, pretending to be conflicted, before speaking.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? It might be a more difficult setting than you think. You might hear insulting words.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You might end up getting hurt.”
“I’m really okay. I’ve heard plenty of strange things and met plenty of strange people while working part-time… I can brush things like that off easily.”
Seeing Eun-won give a thin smile, the Madame burst into tears, approached him, and hugged him tightly.
“I’m sorry, Eun-won… I’m so sorry. Because we are so pathetic, we’re placing such a burden on you… I’m sorry.”
Unaware that she was putting on a tremendous performance, Eun-won comforted the Madame and let out a long sigh. Now that he had decided to meet, he actually felt more at ease. Eun-won hoped fervently. He hoped that the other person would be greatly disappointed upon seeing someone as insignificant as him.
Without imagining that ‘that person’ would be the man who had rubbed a candy inside his mouth like a pervert.
* * *
Cha Se-jin, having drunk a mixture of coffee and whiskey prepared by Kang Seo-hoo—something that couldn’t be called coffee, nor quite alcohol—sank deep into the sofa.
“Why have you been so quiet lately?”
“Preparing for marriage.”
“Hey, are you serious?”
“Yeah. I told you I was. I’m getting married.”
From the perspective of Kang Seo-hoo, who had naturally taken Cha Se-jin’s previous words as a joke, this quite serious declaration of marriage was bound to be shocking.
“With whom?”
“I’ll tell you if you can keep your mouth shut.”
“If I were the kind of bastard who blabbed everything, you wouldn’t be hanging out with me.”
As Kang Seo-hoo said, both he and Do Hae-jun were very tight-lipped. Having been in trouble many times due to rumors, they utterly loathed people who spoke recklessly.
“Baum.”
“Baum? If it’s Baum… the construction company?”
“Yeah.”
“Who is it there? They’re all dead. At the equestrian center. What, are you having a ghost wedding?”
“Ah, fuck. You want to die?”
“Then what is it?”
Cha Se-jin, cursing at the irritating sound, took another gulp of the coffee-whiskey mix. This time, with whipped cream mixed in, the moderately sweet taste made his body relax.
“The Chairman’s hidden son. It’s still off the record.”
“No, but why would you marry someone like that? What’s so desperate that you’d do that?”
“My dad has staked everything on the resort. He said it’s impossible without Baum.”
“Ah… right, the resort. Baum is damn good. They did our corporate building too.”
The feeling of caffeine and alcohol spreading simultaneously felt quite good. Loosening his tie halfway, Cha Se-jin rested his long legs on the table.
“But that’s that, and are you okay?”
“With what?”
“Even if it’s arranged, it’s a bit much to do it with someone who’s totally not your type. Have you seen the son? Have you met already?”
“Not officially.”
“Then did you see him unofficially?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“You’re digging too deep into another man’s private life.”
As Kang Seo-hoo tried to lean in closer, unable to contain his curiosity, Cha Se-jin waved him off with his foot and picked up the phone on the table as it rang. Seeing the word ‘Mom’ on the screen, he quickly lowered his legs and answered.
“Yes, Mom.”
-Yes, Se-jin. When will you be home?
“I can leave now. Why, Mom? Is something wrong?”
-Baum contacted us. They want to arrange a meeting.
Surprised by the unexpected news, Cha Se-jin suddenly sat up straight from his reclined position.
“What kind of meeting? A meeting to discuss the marriage? Or a meeting between me and their son?”
-A meeting between you and the Baum son. It seems they’ve made up their minds as well. Let’s talk about the details when you get home.
“Okay, I’ll head back right now. Yes, goodbye.”
Waiting for his mother to hang up, Cha Se-jin sprang from his seat the moment the call ended. He then called a designated driver, who always arrived within five minutes regardless of where he was.
“What’s going on, all of a sudden? They asked to meet?”
“Yeah. Hey, I’m really getting married.”
“Dammit, tell me more. I’m dying of curiosity.”
“Later.”
“Ah, seriously, what is it!”
Giving a smirk to Kang Seo-hoo, who was shouting from behind not to leave him curious, Cha Se-jin left the penthouse. He hoped that when he closed and opened his eyes, he would already be home.
* * *
The appointment was set faster than expected. This was due to the proposal from Sewon’s side, stating that there was no benefit in stalling. Since Baum had also lied to Eun-won, saying the news embargo would be lifted next Wednesday, they were pleased that the meeting was scheduled for just two days later.
In a situation where everyone was eager, only Eun-won was uneasy. Watching the Madame, who prepared the clothes for him to wear without even telling him who the other person was, he had been so nervous all morning that he couldn’t even swallow a sip of water.
“It suits you well. You look pretty. You don’t have to be too nervous. Like you said, it’s just a meeting to see each other. A meeting to buy time. I thought having a meal would be too burdensome, so I intentionally avoided that time… Um… just think of it as going out for a cup of coffee, Eun-won.”
“Yes…”
“And thank you so much. Thanks to you, your father’s expression has softened a bit. Oh, if you’re uncomfortable going alone, shall I go with you to the front?”
“No. I can go alone.”
“Alright then. Driver Oh will take you there safely. Our Eun-won will do great, so I’ll wait without worrying.”
“…Yes.”
He answered that way, but as the appointment time approached, he couldn’t help but feel nervous. He tried to soothe his heart several times, telling himself it was no big deal, that it was literally just a meeting, and that they would just talk briefly to buy time and then part ways, but his fluttering heart would not easily calm down.