PSS - 16

Chapter 16: Assigning Meaning Where None Exists

A heavy silence settled between the two.

Soo-hyun’s face looked incredibly angry at first glance. His furrowed brows and tightly pressed lips only amplified the impression.

Hae-in swallowed hard, her lips trembling as she hesitated to speak. Now that she had started, what should she say next? Her words caught in her throat.

Could she interpret his actions as protection? Could she ask him to acknowledge those feelings, even slightly, and treat her kindly?

“Sunbae... I...”

Hae-in took a step forward and reached out to grasp Soo-hyun’s arm.

“Don’t touch me.”

As if brushing off an insect clinging to his sleeve, Soo-hyun swatted her hand away. He drew in a deep breath, exhaled sharply, and finally spoke.

“...Yes, Yoon Hae-in. I once felt some affection for you. I’ll admit it.”

Hae-in listened silently, her eyes fixed on Soo-hyun’s face.

“But the person you were back then is completely different from who you are now. You’re a totally different person.”

“What… do you mean?”

“You yourself said it—wipe away the past version of you.”

“I didn’t know back then! That you had such feelings for me…”

“Hah!”

Soo-hyun’s scoff cut her off mid-sentence.

He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. His expression seemed deranged, yet strangely sorrowful.

After a long moment, he spoke again.

“The reason I liked you back then was because I thought you were someone I could never have.”

“But I’m here now.”

“Yes, you’re here. And that’s why it no longer matters. It means nothing.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The moment Yoon Hae-in crossed this house’s threshold as Chairman Park’s proxy, everything changed.”

His tone, initially calm, grew increasingly heated until his voice rose sharply. When his eyes flashed with anger, Hae-in instinctively took a step back.

“You’re not my first love or anything like that anymore! So stop indulging in pointless fantasies and assigning meaning to my behavior!”

Startled by his sudden outburst, Hae-in instinctively shrank back.

After shouting, Soo-hyun paused to steady his ragged breathing, glaring at her with a menacing intensity that left her feeling raw and exposed.

Even if their union was contractual, this man was supposed to be her husband—the one she would share a bed with.

But the way he glared at her made it clear he had no intention of fulfilling any conventional role of a spouse.

To avoid falling into self-pity over her pitiful situation, Hae-in lowered her gaze. However, a large shadow loomed over her, quickly enveloping her entirely.

Soo-hyun leaned down close, whispering into her ear.

“You’re nothing more than an expensive toy sent by Chairman Park.”

At his chilling words, Hae-in froze like a statue. The eerie coldness in his voice sent shivers down her spine.

“Don’t overstep your bounds, and don’t think about using the past to manipulate me.”

With deliberate slowness, Soo-hyun cupped her cheek, then traced his fingers down her neck, gently parting the collar of her blouse near her collarbone. He pressed his thumb firmly against a spot there.

It was the same area he had bitten repeatedly just days ago, leaving it covered in red marks.

“...Hnn.”

Startled, Hae-in lifted her head to find Soo-hyun smirking faintly as he kissed the spot.

“I’ll play with you until I grow bored, then discard you.”

The hand gripping her shoulder tightened painfully, as if trying to crush her bones.

“...Ah!”

Her pained whimper escaped involuntarily. Soo-hyun released her shoulder.

Trembling, Hae-in clutched her shoulder with one hand. It throbbed painfully where he had gripped it so tightly.

“Just stay quiet. Don’t speak unless necessary, and focus on breathing. That’s all you need to do.”

His icy voice dripped with disdain above her bowed head.

“...”

Unable to respond, Hae-in stood silently, clutching her shoulder. After venting his harsh words, Soo-hyun seemed satisfied and quickly disappeared into the distance, leaving her behind.

---

“Mr. Im, I owe you gratitude for recommending that girl.”

After her grandson stormed off, slamming the door behind him, Yoon Hwa’s face radiated satisfaction. She chuckled gleefully, clearly pleased.

“Have I ever seen Soo-hyun care so much about anyone? If we handle this girl well, he’ll soon fall in line.”

Chairman Park smiled contentedly at Woo-sik, but inside, Woo-sik felt a growing sense of urgency.

Ultimately, his goal was to ensure that no matter whom Soo-hyun chose, none of these relationships would last. Only then could he marry off his granddaughter, Se-young, to Soo-hyun and solidify their bloodline connection with Taesung Group.

He had painstakingly reviewed dozens of candidates’ birth charts, selecting women whose fates clashed with Soo-hyun’s. Of course, to Yoon Hwa, he claimed he was searching for obedient and virtuous daughters-in-law.

Then Ji-hyung intervened without consulting him further, pushing Hae-in aggressively onto Chairman Park. Normally, Park would have sought Woo-sik’s final approval, but this time, he bypassed him entirely, conspiring with Ji-hyung instead.

For Woo-sik, who had always meddled in Park’s major life decisions, this was deeply unsettling.

Quickly strategizing how to plant seeds of distrust regarding the prospective daughter-in-law in Park’s mind, Woo-sik knew he couldn’t risk angering her directly.

“It’s all thanks to you, Chairman. As you know, my only wish is for those two to bear fruit successfully.”

His serpentine tongue delivered words tailored to please Park, who listened with a satisfied smile, oblivious to the manipulation.

“However, as I mentioned before… her fate won’t last long. If she doesn’t conceive within a year, we’ll need to bring in someone new. Moreover...”

“Go on.”

Encouraged by Park’s prompting, Woo-sik continued cautiously.

Yoon Hwa excelled in business but became irrational when it came to family matters—a fact Woo-sik exploited to maintain his position as her closest advisor.

“There are two ominous deaths looming in her birth chart.”

“With her brother on the brink, one of them must refer to him.”

Anxiety clouded Yoon Hwa’s face as Woo-sik’s eyes gleamed maliciously.

“The other could be her husband. We must tread carefully...”

“What?! Didn’t you confirm everything thoroughly? Why are you bringing this up now?”

Woo-sik calmly placated the irate Yoon Hwa.

“But she has excellent maternal qualities and will be easy to manage. I’ll prepare contingencies for any risks, so rest assured.”

“Hmm.”

Dissatisfaction lingered on Yoon Hwa’s face. She scowled deeply, rubbing her temples, and waved Woo-sik away.

After bowing respectfully, Woo-sik exited the room. Everything he’d told Yoon Hwa was a lie. Hae-in and Soo-hyun’s compatibility was actually excellent. Ji-hyung had deliberately concealed this fact when pushing Hae-in forward.

Her birth chart, compatibility, academic record, and conduct—all set her apart from the other candidates who had come and gone through interviews.

“Now that marriage seems inevitable, I’ll need to devise another plan.”

Lost in thought, Woo-sik hurried back to his quarters.

---

Hae-in’s journey home felt unusually long.

Traffic delays contributed, but the emotional toll of what she’d endured weighed heavily. All she wanted was to return home quickly. Her heart raced with impatience.

Every visit to the Taesung estate left her feeling like mold was spreading across her soul.

While the family’s incomprehensible ways troubled her, Soo-hyun’s treatment of her as something beneath contempt hurt the most. She hadn’t expected affection, but his cruelty still shocked her.

Standing before her front door, Hae-in took a deep breath. Checking her reflection in her phone’s camera to ensure her eyes weren’t red, she prepared herself to enter.

Once inside, she called out casually, masking her turmoil.

“Mom!”

“Hae-in-ah, come sit down.”

Her father, bustling around the kitchen alongside her mother, carried utensils to the dining table and greeted her warmly.

“What’s all this?”

The table was laden with dishes unlike anything they usually ate. Given how busy her mother was, preparing such elaborate meals seemed impossible.

“People from Taesung sent these over. They probably want their future daughter-in-law well-fed.”

“Our Hae-in has gotten too thin.”

Listening to her parents’ exchange, Hae-in sat down quietly.

“Dad, aren’t you going to work?”

“I’m resting today. I hurt my knee rushing to a client call last night.”

Her father winced as he settled into his chair, then smiled at her.

“Hae-in-ah, you’ve been visiting that house often lately… Are you okay?”

His gentle gaze pierced her heart, and tears threatened to spill. Behind his simple question lay layers of emotion—guilt, regret, and the bitterness of failing as a provider.

Understanding each other’s emotions without words was a family trait, so Hae-in quickly masked her feelings.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

She turned her attention to the table.

“Wow, really? They sent all this? These dishes look like they belong in high-end restaurants!”

“The chairman said to make sure you eat well. Thoughtful, isn’t he?”

At her mother’s words, Hae-in suddenly felt nauseous. Chairman Park’s gesture wasn’t out of genuine concern for her—it was for the sake of his future bloodline.

She was merely a tool to continue the Taesung lineage.

“It looks delicious. Let’s eat together, Mom, Dad.”

Suppressing the lump in her throat, Hae-in picked up her spoon, forcing herself to push aside unnecessary emotions.