SELA - 22

After work, Sa-hee arrived at her family home and was led to the terrace located in the center of the mansion. The terrace overlooked a lush, expansive garden, and several lights were placed around, creating a cozy atmosphere. Not only that, but the desserts prepared on the tea table for today’s occasion were so beautiful that they made her mouth water just by looking at them.

“Hello.”

Sa-hee greeted as she opened the door and entered.

“Hello.”

“Welcome, Secretary Yoon. Have a seat here.”

To her surprise, two voices responded. When Sa-hee raised her head, she saw two people: Young-shin and a woman who appeared to be about her age.

“Did you have trouble with traffic on your way? It’s right during rush hour.”

“Thanks to the car you sent, I arrived comfortably. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. You’re my guest, after all.”

Young-shin smiled as if dismissing any need for gratitude. Sa-hee sat down, placed her bag beside her, and straightened her back. No matter how cozy the atmosphere was, this was still a conversation with the lady of the house, Taesung’s mistress. She couldn’t relax.

“Hello. Do you remember me?”

Just as Sa-hee was about to take a sip of tea to calm her nerves, a question came from across the table. Their eyes met. Now that she thought about it, the woman didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar—she felt like someone Sa-hee had seen somewhere before.

Sa-hee gently touched the warm teacup with her fingertips, trying to recall.

“Ah, could it be…”

“My name is Moon Ji-young. We’ve met once before when I was with Oppa (older brother).”

“I remember you.”

As the memory clicked into place, Sa-hee immediately recognized who the woman was. Ji-young, whom she had already met, was Joon-young’s younger sister—the one who seemed to have feelings for Ji-hyuk.

“I already heard from Ji-young that you two had met before. Joon-young and Ji-hyuk were also there, right?”

“Yes.”

It seemed Ji-young had already told Young-shin everything about their previous dinner gathering.

“Anyway, dig in. I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I prepared some of my favorite things. I hope they suit your taste.”

“I’ll eat anything, Mother.”

Mother? Ji-young smiled warmly at Young-shin, addressing her as “Mother,” then pulled the tea and crêpe cake towards herself. Watching them for a moment, Sa-hee also smiled and brought the plate of lemon cream pie closer to herself.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s delicious. I’ve always loved pie.”

Sa-hee smiled brightly and took another tasty bite. Young-shin sighed in relief and sipped her tea.

“The reason I called you here today, Secretary Yoon, is because I have a favor to ask.”

Young-shin’s cautious voice echoed through the terrace, which had been silent except for the sounds of them enjoying snacks. Sa-hee put down her fork and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“I’ve made up my mind.”

“...”

“It’s Ji-young. I think she’s perfect as a match for our son to marry.”

Young-shin smiled kindly as she gently rubbed Ji-young’s arm. Ji-young, slightly embarrassed, gave a faint smile.

For a brief moment, Sa-hee’s heart sank, as if it had fallen to the soles of her feet, and the world turned black and white before her eyes.

“You don’t need to help with contacting those girls anymore. Just focus on Ji-young.”

“...”

“Please push them together, okay?”

Young-shin patted Sa-hee’s back and repeated her request several times. Caught off guard, Sa-hee nodded hesitantly.

“I heard you agreed to help. I’m counting on you from now on.”

“...Yes.”

Ji-young placed her hand over Sa-hee’s hand, which was resting on the table, and smiled. Sa-hee, acknowledging her agreement, glanced down at their overlapping hands.

“Even though Ji-hyuk is my son, he can be difficult, you know. His temper isn’t exactly mild either.”

Young-shin sighed unexpectedly. Ji-young quickly withdrew her hand and turned to sit properly.

“I think Oppa is great, though.”

“This one thinks no one could possibly dislike Ji-hyuk.”

“No, really. He may seem cold on the outside, but he’s actually warm-hearted and kind...”

Ji-young blushed as she spoke, and Young-shin laughed out loud. It seemed she was quite pleased with Ji-young’s response.

“His heart is warm, yes. But what good does that do? He shows no interest in women.”

“...”

“Or has he secretly found someone without me knowing?”

Young-shin, who had paused mid-sip of her tea, looked directly at Sa-hee. Realizing belatedly that the question was directed at her, Sa-hee snapped out of her thoughts. She could feel the pressure of Young-shin’s probing gaze demanding an answer.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“At least, not to my knowledge.”

Why did her chest feel pricked with needles? Ji-hyuk, at this point, had no connection or relationship with her.

Thinking back to his inexplicably dry demeanor recently, her mood plummeted instantly.

“Well, if there were someone, either I or his father would have known by now.”

“...”

“No matter how many good girls we introduce him to, he shows no reaction. It’s frustrating. Whether we try this way or that, it’s useless. That boy is hard to please. Even if we set something up, he ends up canceling.”

Young-shin wrinkled her brow and shook her head, placing her hand on her knee.

“One time, I sent a girl to his office, thinking that might work. Oh, but that evening, he stormed in and caused such a scene! He was glaring, making threats—it shocked both the president and me.”

At that moment, the name “Cha Jung-min” flashed through Sa-hee’s mind. She had shown up unannounced, without an appointment. But Sa-hee hadn’t realized that Ji-hyuk had been so angry that he confronted his elders.

“The deal was that he wouldn’t break off arranged meetings if we stopped sending girls to his workplace. But how can I stop those who come on their own accord? As Secretary Yoon knows, some still show up. I got scolded by him even back then.”

Sa-hee’s gaze fell on Ji-young, who had been silently listening. Ji-young’s expression had briefly darkened. Her cheerful smile had disappeared, replaced by a furrowed brow and a tightly bitten lower lip. Jealousy flickered in her eyes.

“At my age, it’s all so tiresome. After a certain point, I figured I’d just leave it to him to decide. That’s when I happened to meet Ji-young’s parents at a gathering. They were such pleasant, good-natured people.”

Young-shin’s face glowed with smiles as she praised them. Ji-young, catching Young-shin’s approving glance, quickly erased her somber expression and curved her eyes into a smile.

“A few days later, Ji-young came to see us first. She wanted to meet Ji-hyuk. She was so shy and nervous that she could barely speak properly, yet somehow found the courage.”

“I don’t know where I found the courage either.”

Good parents, an excellent family background, a beautiful daughter, and a humble approach—these were all qualities that naturally appealed to Young-shin.

In contrast, Sa-hee came from a single-parent household with no wealth, troublesome siblings, and her only notable achievement being a prestigious secretary position at a large company. How dare she ever consider Young-shin’s son? The memory of Young-shin’s past scolding echoed loudly in Sa-hee’s mind. It was impossible not to compare herself. No matter how hard she tried to avoid it, her heart ached. Her wounded soul felt as if it were rolling over a bed of sand.

“I really like Ji-young. She’s pretty, polite, and adorable. Honestly, you can tell a lot about a child just by looking at their parents. So, I trust Ji-young completely.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

“The adults have already discussed everything. Ji-young made up her mind long ago. Now, all we need is for Ji-hyuk to follow through. By now, you should understand why I’ve explained everything to you, Secretary Yoon, in such detail.”

“Yes. I understand.”

With difficulty, Sa-hee managed a small smile and nodded. Young-shin and Ji-young exchanged glances, satisfied.

“Should I offer you some compensation?”

“Huh? No, absolutely not.”

“But still, you’re helping us.”

Ji-young’s sudden mention of compensation jolted Sa-hee awake. She waved her hands frantically, showing reluctance. She had never, not even once, expected financial or material gain in return for her decision to help.

“I truly mean it. This isn’t something I’m doing for personal gain.”

“Oh, it’s fine. Just tell me what you need. I’ll pay you, not Mother.”

“I simply want to help. There’s no need for that.”

“Actually, I don’t understand. If it’s not for money or any benefit, why are you helping us?”

Ji-young stared at Sa-hee with genuine curiosity. Young-shin also waited quietly for Sa-hee’s response, equally intrigued.

But what could she say? How could she explain that she hoped Ji-hyuk’s fate would change if he formed a relationship with a good person, allowing him to avoid death and live happily for a long time?

“That’s…”

Unable to come up with a plausible excuse, Sa-hee remained silent like a fish out of water. Finally, Young-shin broke the silence.

“There’s no need for formalities. People often act like this. They refuse money to save face, but honestly, what’s cleaner than money? It’s straightforward—give and take, and it’s done. So, accept it.”

“No.”

“Please accept it. And moving forward, I’d like you to do as I instruct.”

“What?”

“I think Ji-hyuk and Ji-young should cross paths more often. If you know of any places where they could meet, Secretary Yoon, please guide Ji-hyuk there.”