54.
#A Fateful Connection?
Dawoon bit his lower lip and quietly took a deep breath at the words that turned his suspicion into certainty. He had to resist the urge to run away immediately.
A chuckle was heard, and when he turned, Hayun was smiling with a strange expression. Chairman Jeong’s eyebrow twitched slightly, seemingly displeased as well.
“Since you’re already here, let’s have dinner first.”
Although it was a suggestion to stop this and go eat, the word “already” at the beginning was very irritating. Congressman Choi Min-guk’s son and daughter-in-law visibly stiffened, but Congressman Choi himself laughed and agreed with Hayun’s words.
“Big brother.”
Haram, who had been quietly standing among the adults, tugged at Dawoon’s pants. Dawoon, who had completely forgotten about the child in this sudden situation, quickly bent his knee to meet his eye level.
“I’m not hungry yet.”
Haram said, almost whining, having realized they were about to eat from the adults’ conversation. He didn’t want to go for dinner. It was a bit earlier than his usual mealtime.
“If Haram’s not hungry, he can eat later. I’ll have them set aside a portion for him.”
Chairman Jeong, who would have scolded anyone else for such words as impolite, immediately responded generously to Haram. Haram turned to him and flashed a pretty smile.
“Can I go play in the playroom?”
He had been talking about the playroom since they arrived, and it seemed he had been holding back the desire to go because of the adults. When Chairman Jeong nodded, the child’s face lit up.
“Big brother, come with me.”
Haram pulled on Dawoon’s hand. It seemed better to play with Haram, even if it meant missing dinner, than to eat with this group.
“Dawoon should stay and have dinner with us. I’ll have someone look after Haram, so don’t worry.”
Chairman Jeong cut in before Dawoon could ask permission to go along. He wouldn’t let Dawoon leave since he had called Choi Yu-na here. Hayun chuckled at Chairman Jeong’s words, but quickly returned to his original expression, and only Dawoon noticed.
“Will you be okay?”
When Dawoon asked Haram, he looked back and forth between his grandfather and Dawoon before nodding. It was unclear whether he was reading the adults’ mood or if he was genuinely okay with it.
“Come whenever you get hungry while playing.”
With Hayun’s permission, Haram loudly replied “Okay!” and ran off towards the playroom without looking back. Chairman Jeong frowned, seemingly worried the child might fall while running, but he didn’t caution him not to run.
“Dinner is ready.”
Just then, the secretary came and said they could move to the dining room. Chairman Jeong and Congressman Choi Min-guk led the way, followed by Congressman Choi’s son and daughter-in-law, and then their two sons in order. Choi Yu-na was walking a few steps behind them. Dawoon and Hayun watched their backs from the very rear.
Seeing Choi Yu-na alone and apart made Dawoon feel bitter. Even at this gathering arranged because of her, she wasn’t receiving attention from her family. At least he was better off than her. Hayun was always by his side.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
Hayun asked in a low voice, and only then did Dawoon take his eyes off Choi Yu-na’s back.
“Nothing.”
At his answer that he was just looking ahead while walking, Hayun stared at him thoughtfully.
“What do you want to do?”
It was a question cut off at both ends, but Dawoon understood immediately. Given the situation, it was hard to pretend not to know.
“I’ve never thought about it. I wonder if anything would change even if I did think about it.”
He answered as calmly as possible. It was probably the same for Choi Yu-na. It was just the adults’ circumstances. He didn’t want to be swayed by it, but he also didn’t know how to escape it.
“Don’t think too much. Just answer simply. Do you like it or not?”
“…”
I don’t like it. The answer was already decided, but somehow the words wouldn’t come out. When he remained silent, Hayun stopped walking and gazed at him intently. Dawoon stopped too and looked back, and Hayun smiled faintly and patted Dawoon’s shoulder.
“I told you. I won’t let you be swayed.”
Hayun assured him, but Dawoon couldn’t believe those words at face value. Within the Haedo Group, Grandfather was an absolute authority. Neither his aunt nor Hayun had ever disobeyed Grandfather’s instructions. Would he be any different?
If I say I absolutely hate it, he might tell me to leave the family register.
Thinking that this might be the excuse Grandfather was looking for, as he had always seen Dawoon as a thorn in his side, made Dawoon’s chest feel tight.
“It seems Director Jeong isn’t seeing anyone? I haven’t heard any rumors at all.”
During the meal, Congressman Choi Min-guk’s daughter-in-law addressed Hayun. Hayun just smiled without giving a direct answer.
“If you haven’t found a suitable person, should I try to set you up?”
Congressman Choi Min-guk cleared his throat loudly, cutting off his tactless daughter-in-law’s meddling. It was clear that trying to set up just anyone with Jeong Hayun, the heir to the Haedo Group, would put one out of favor with Chairman Jeong. Congressman Choi Min-guk thought that Hayun not being linked with anyone meant that Chairman Jeong was carefully choosing his match. It was absurd to try to introduce someone in such a situation.
“These days, people tend to marry later, so there’s no need to rush.”
Chairman Jeong answered without looking at her. It was like a warning not to mention Hayun’s marriage prospects anymore.
“Well, that’s true. Someone as handsome and capable as him will surely meet a good person soon.”
“Would you like to come to our gathering? It would be good for building political connections.”
Even Congressman Choi Min-guk’s grandson tried to engage Hayun in conversation. Sitting among them, Dawoon continued eating silently. Glancing up, he saw that Choi Yu-na, sitting opposite him, looked equally out of place.
I wonder if she might choke like this.
While he was used to this atmosphere, Choi Yu-na probably wasn’t. He started to worry about her.
“I don’t lack connections.”
Hayun answered in a light tone. The face of the person who had spoken turned bright red, not expecting such an outright rejection. Hayun smiled at him briefly before turning to look at Choi Yu-na.
“Did you get home safely the other day?”
Hayun’s question drew everyone’s attention. Jeong Hayun met Choi Yu-na? The same question appeared on everyone’s face.
“Ah… Yes, thank you for that day.”
Choi Yu-na also seemed surprised, not expecting Hayun to address her like this here.
“You two have met before?”
One of Choi Yu-na’s brothers turned to her and asked. Choi Yu-na just nodded. This time, even Dawoon was a bit taken aback and turned to look at Hayun.
When? Why did you meet senior?
Although he must have felt the staring gaze, Hayun didn’t turn to look at Dawoon. His gaze remained fixed on Choi Yu-na.
“It’s quite a coincidence to meet again like this.”
Hayun continued, smiling. At the word “coincidence,” Chairman Jeong’s eyebrow twitched. Congressman Choi Min-guk glanced at Chairman Jeong and then turned to look at Dawoon.
“It is indeed a coincidence. I was surprised to hear that not only are you at the same university as Dawoon, but you’re even in the same broadcasting club.”
He tried to shift the attention to Dawoon.
“Indeed. If others heard, they might think it was done on purpose.”
However, it was Hayun who answered. Even as he said this, his gaze remained fixed on Choi Yu-na. Dawoon frowned slightly and then quickly smoothed his expression. On purpose? It sounded like he was saying it for Choi Yu-na or her family to hear. But the university and broadcasting club were entirely his own choices, and Choi Yu-na happened to be his senior.
“It must be a coincidence, of course. Although being here today isn’t a coincidence.”
Because Hayun was speaking with such a smiling face, the sting in his words took a moment to register. The faces of Choi Yu-na’s family, including Congressman Choi Min-guk, all stiffened at once.
“It’s the adults’ job to create good connections.”
Congressman Choi Min-guk quickly recovered, smiling leisurely as he picked up on Hayun’s words. Hayun met his gaze with a smiling face.
“With Dawoon?”
He openly asked about the topic that everyone knew was the purpose of this gathering but had refrained from mentioning out loud. Dawoon clenched his fist under the table. He had been planning to pretend not to know as long as Grandfather didn’t say it directly, but Hayun’s words made it impossible to gloss over.
“Aren’t they still too young?”
Hayun continued eating leisurely while speaking about the topic that had set everyone on edge.
“There’s nothing wrong with making a preliminary arrangement when a good person is nearby.”
Chairman Jeong retorted. He was treating the idea of matching Dawoon and Choi Yu-na as a foregone conclusion. Hayun turned to Chairman Jeong and smiled faintly. That smile looked so perfectly drawn that it felt even colder.
“If it’s such a good match, wouldn’t I be better?”
At these casually thrown words, Chairman Jeong’s hand stopped mid-meal. Congressman Choi Min-guk also looked at Hayun with a surprised expression. Even Choi Yu-na’s eyes widened, unable to blink. Her father’s mouth soon opened in apparent joy.
“If you like our Yu-na, we wouldn’t have any objections!”
As Choi Yu-na’s father spoke up, Congressman Choi Min-guk frowned for the first time.
“Do you dislike the age difference?”
Hayun asked Choi Yu-na with a charming smile.
“I…”
“Jeong Hayun!”
Before Choi Yu-na could answer, Chairman Jeong’s shout made everyone flinch.
