As soon as Sajun answered, she started in on him.

“Kang Sajun, didn’t I clearly tell you to contact me in advance! I also have my own……?”

The moment Sajun stepped out of the car, Taehee stopped talking.

In a white T-shirt, jeans, and a cap pushed down, Sajun looked part college student, part model.

Still, his appealing visuals shook Taehee’s sight.

Her heart and mind wavered too. Showing up like this was truly unfair.

“…This is really, really the last time.”

She couldn’t help but go out.

She swore it wasn’t because of his looks.

He was already at her doorstep, so she couldn’t help it.

[You’re coming out, right?]

“Give me time to change clothes. Wait for 5 minutes.”

She grumbled as she turned away, then caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror on the dresser.

Her hair was a mess from sleep, and her eyes were puffy.

Looking out the window again, she saw Sajun from head to toe, looking sharp.

“No, wait 20 minutes.”

She had changed her mind.

After ending the call, Taehee quickly sat at her dresser.

She thought of lightly fixing her hair and applying sunscreen. Just a touch of makeup, going for the ‘effortlessly chic’ look.

But what to wear? A dress would be too much, and her current clothes didn’t seem right either.

Another dilemma began.

It certainly wasn’t about looking pretty for Kang Sajun.

It was just not to be overshadowed by him, that was all.

Finally, after more than two weeks of silence, Mrs. Jang sent the list of potential suitors.

On a languid Saturday afternoon, Seontae, sitting at the dining table drinking coffee, checked the email from Mrs. Jang and slammed his fist on the table.

“This old fox, what does she take Songhyun Electronics for!”

Seontae’s eyes trembled with agitation, knowing his tendency to get easily excited.

Okhee, not startled, calmly asked.

“What’s wrong, dear?”

As Seontae didn’t respond, Okhee’s gaze shifted to the brightly lit laptop screen.

She pulled the laptop towards her as the contents on the screen seemed intriguing.

The more she reviewed the list of potential suitors, a subtle smile spread across Okhee’s lips.
There were no impressive families for business collaboration, and the investments were merely substantial cash handouts. The men’s backgrounds were also mediocre.

That’s why Okhee was quite satisfied. It was a level perfectly fitting for Mintaehee.

“Dear, I think the third suitor seems the best, don’t you? He may not invest in the company, but he’s willing to buy Songhyun stocks to support you. And he’s offering a billion won in cash. That’s more than enough for Taehee.”

But Seontae looked at Okhee with a terrifying gaze.

“Do you think I’m selling Taehee for money? I want to arrange a marriage between powerful families, not this! I want a prominent family that could be a strong backing, not these nobodies! Why would I send Taehee, lacking nothing, to marry a divorced man from a family of swindlers?”

Okhee’s expression became complicated. Since when did he care so much about Taehee?

“A strong backing will come from our Yeonseo. So Taehee should just receive financial help, right?”

“No, it has to be Taehee.”

“What do you mean by that?”

As Okhee’s eyes sharpened, Seontae quickly softened his expression, trying to appease her.

“Think about it, our Yeonseo is too gentle and kind. She’s our precious daughter, so she should marry a man she likes and live happily.”

“And what about Taehee?”

“Taehee is tough, isn’t she? Have you ever seen her cower before me? Without sending her to any academy, she became top of her class and student council president. Even now, she’s successfully employed as a deputy manager.”

Seontae had always thought this when he saw Taehee since she was young.

Who did she take after to be so capable, tough, and sharp?

She lacked affection and approachability, and even though she was his daughter, he didn’t feel affectionate towards her.

But when he watched her, he felt proud.

He would certainly be praised for raising a child like her.

Of course, Seontae’s love was for Yeonseo, not Taehee.

But Yeonseo was too delicate and submissive to men, like a flower in a greenhouse.

Such women cannot wield power over their husbands.

That was why it had to be Taehee, not Yeonseo, to marry into a prominent family and make an impact.

“Remember Yoon Jehyun from college who couldn’t leave Taehee? His family was problematic, but he was a decent guy. Look at Sajun, he only keeps Taehee by his side. You need to be tough like Taehee to control and influence your husband. That’s how you get the in-laws to heed your requests.”

“So, what you’re saying is, send Yeonseo to an ordinary family and choose a better family for Taehee?”

Okhee’s eyes moistened as if she was the most pitiful person in the world.

“No, Hye… ahem, Okhee. I need to be powerful to send Yeonseo to a good family without being outclassed. Taehee needs to earn money for us, and Yeonseo needs to receive all that we have. And Yeonseo’s standards are high, why would she like an ordinary guy?”

“Really?”

Okhee finally smiled softly with moist eyes.

Of course, Seontae’s real intention was that there was no better son-in-law than Sajun.

In this world, most marriages were strategic, and couples lived as for-show, enjoying their own lives behind the scenes. Sometimes they even cared more for their extramarital partners and ended up divorcing to remarry them.

Seontae himself was such a case.

So, the conclusion was, ‘Maybe our Taehee could do the same.’

There was no doubt Sajun was interested in Taehee.
So the conclusion was, ‘Maybe our Taehee could do that too.’

It was clear that Kang Sajun was interested in Taehee.

The fact that he only kept Taehee by his side, even when she dated Yoon Jehyun, and the fact that he himself initiated their breakup, and that she occasionally answered his calls, all indicated as much.

Considering Taehee’s personality, she could easily push away a wife and secure her place, and even more so if she becomes pregnant.

After finishing his thoughts, Seontae smiled and quickly embraced Okhee, reassuring her.

“Of course! How much I love you and our Yeonseo. It’s all for the sake of our family, you know?”

Thinking he should contact Sajun about this.

Sajun had often visited this house.

It was always Mintaehee who initiated the contact, and during their phone conversations, he would casually stop by, claiming to be in the neighborhood. He would also occasionally do errands for her.

Of course, Mintaehee didn’t know. Those coincidences were manufactured, and circling her neighborhood was part of Sajun’s driving route.

Every time, Mintaehee would come out in just a few minutes, hastily tying up her hair, wearing the same outfit she had on at home, slippers dragging on the ground.

So today, he didn’t mind that one minute had turned into twenty.

Waiting for the sound of slippers, Sajun sent a one-liner message in the group chat with his newly acquired phone.

[Agreed to have a meal and watch a movie. Spare time: 20 minutes.]

Short pieces of advice from self-proclaimed love experts began to pour in real-time.

Sajun, with an indifferent look, noticed one particular piece of advice.

[Keep an eye out for what she might need and casually, nonchalantly take care of it. Women are more charmed by such gestures than overt ones.]

If he was to take care of her, why did it have to be nonchalantly?

Women were indeed difficult to understand.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

There was no sound of slippers.

At the unexpected voice, Sajun’s gaze slowly lifted.

He pocketed his phone and narrowed his eyes to focus his vision.

To see Mintaehee, who was now right in front of him.