Contract Marriage with Memory Loss on Top - Chapter 34

“Isn’t it about time for you to leave?”

Ki-won’s words, spoken with an expressionless face, were sharp as if piercing the other person. Even though it was evident that Ki-won was annoyed, Hyun Ji-un, who was holed up in the executive office, didn’t budge. Hyun Ji-un, who was once rumored to be Ki-won’s arranged marriage partner, simultaneously raised his eyebrows and shoulders.

“Isn’t that too much? We’re meeting as friends after a long time.”

Ji-un shamelessly grinned without getting up from the sofa he was buried in, even while receiving Ki-won’s glare.

“We’re not the type of friends who get excited every time we meet.”

“Ugh, just imagining it makes me feel a bit sick….”

Ji-un showed a pale complexion as if he was really feeling unwell. The exaggerated gesture of hitting his chest that followed was ridiculous. After making a rotten expression for a while, Ji-un sipped the tea that had been cooled to the right temperature and continued.

“Anyway! You know exactly why I came to see you, but you’re being shameless? Isn’t that too much?”

“Well.”

Regardless of what the other person said, Ki-won’s gaze was still fixed on the documents. Ji-un maintained a serene face as if he wasn’t affected, even though Ki-won had perfunctorily responded because he found the gaze waiting for an answer annoying.

“I asked you to come to the anniversary party? It’s an important event where key personnel gather, but what if you’re the only one who doesn’t come? There will be rumors that our companies are on awkward terms.”

Ji-un waved his arms busily and put emphasis between his words. It meant to focus on the conversation as he was getting to the point.

“They were already gossiping about the failure of the arranged marriage, and if this continues, there will be false rumors that the companies are on bad terms? This is for sure. 100%, 100%.”

“Hyun Ji-un.”

“What, why!”

“Get out.”

Ki-won briefly pointed to the exit door with his chin while keeping his gaze fixed on the documents. Ji-un pulled his hair as if frustrated by Ki-won’s attitude, then immediately started fidgeting his feet.

“Grandfather told me to bring you….”

“You should say it correctly, he didn’t tell you to bring me, but to bring someone from Yeonsung Group.”

“That’s the same thing! Your sister is busy managing overseas branches, and the chairman and his wife have separate schedules.”

Ki-won put down the documents he was holding and rubbed the bridge of his nose as if tired. The whining voice was so loud that he couldn’t read the text. He was starting to get annoyed by Ji-un’s behavior, who still acted immature despite his age.

This wasn’t the first time he had made such a request. He heard that Ji-un had been grilling the secretaries for not responding to the invitation sent a few weeks ago. Since Ki-won didn’t receive personal contact, it seemed Ji-un tried to convey the message through the secretarial office. Apparently, he had been so tyrannical in demanding them to deliver the message right away. This was the reason why the secretarial chief had been frequently contacting Ki-won recently.

“Please, just come once! If you don’t come, I might really die. You know our grandfather’s personality…. You know I tried to escape overseas to avoid grandfather back then, right?”

“Back then? Ah.”

Ki-won raised the corner of his mouth bitterly.

“Then why did you make a fuss about a non-existent arranged marriage?”

“How was I supposed to know it would become an article? Anyway, please.”

Ji-un put his hands together and took a pose as if pleading earnestly. Ki-won, who was watching it, put down the pen he was holding and created a moment of silence.

“It wasn’t just about coming alone.”

Ki-won slowly raised his head and stared at Ji-un, who was lying on the sofa. Ji-un, trapped in the pitch-black pupils, gulped as if nervous.

“It was a couple’s event.”

Ji-un, who was listening to the words spoken as usual, raised his eyebrows.

“So what! What’s the problem with that? Is a couple’s event such a big deal? Others are all agreeing, so why….”

“You should know that my spouse has never attended an official event before.”

“…I do know that.”

Ki-won coldly looked at Ji-un, who was answering timidly, and shook his head slightly. He had long realized that it was unproductive to continue talking to someone who couldn’t accept a rejection as a rejection. Ki-won clicked his tongue, unable to endure the tiresome flow of conversation.

“Ah, are you perhaps worried about being exposed? Well… your marriage was quite a hot topic….”

Ji-un, who nodded his head as if it was understandable, waved his hand. The added words were full of a tone saying not to worry.

“The event location is only known to those who received the invitation. Even if the location is leaked, reporters won’t be able to enter. It’s an event where only corporate people gather, so are you still uncomfortable?”

When Ki-won didn’t answer immediately and only blinked slowly, Ji-un added as if impatient.

“You know how much corporate people like to pretend to be noble. What would those people do, take pictures of your husband? They’ll just think, ‘Oh, so that’s what the spouse Kwon Ki-won had been hiding looks like,’ and that’s it.”

Ji-un, who suddenly sat up from lying on the sofa, approached Ki-won while putting his hand in his inner pocket, not missing the opportunity.

“I bet you just threw away the invitation, right?”

What Ji-un placed on Ki-won’s desk was an invitation to Sugang Corporation’s anniversary party. It was the same content that had reached Ki-won’s hands a few days ago.

“I’ll give it to you again, so if it really doesn’t work out, even if it’s just you, Kwon Ki-won… huh?”

Ji-un, who stopped mid-sentence and exclaimed, raised one corner of his eye. His gaze was directed towards the slightly open desk drawer. Ki-won’s gaze also turned to a similar place as if to check what had surprised Ji-un.

“Damn, you’re still taking this?”

Ji-un’s voice was more agitated than ever. What he held up was a white pill bottle. It seemed that a large amount had already been consumed, as the weight was much lighter compared to the container.

“What are you doing?”

Ki-won snatched back the pill bottle Ji-un had taken out and placed it in the drawer as if throwing it. Ki-won, who brushed up his disheveled bangs, didn’t hide his displeasure.

“Does your spouse know you’re in this state?”

“Get out.”

“If you keep taking this, your body will….”

“I said get out, Hyun Ji-un.”

In an instant, the atmosphere in the executive office changed fiercely. Ki-won spoke in a low, sinking voice as if giving a final warning. Ji-un let out a small sigh at the flow that felt like talking to a wall. Ji-un, who raised his hands as if surrendering, kept spewing complaints even as he moved towards the exit. It was clear that if he hadn’t been ordered to leave, he would have continued to chatter and spout nonsense for at least dozens of minutes.

“Hey, you really have to come, okay?”

Ji-un, who seemed unable to let go of his lingering attachment even while leaving the executive office, repeated the action of retracing his steps several times. The will to hear Ki-won’s definite answer was lingering at his toes. Ki-won rubbed the back of his neck as if holding back his anger and gritted his teeth.

“I got it, so go.”

“Oh, okay! Then I’m leaving!”

Ji-un’s complexion brightened in an instant. You should have answered sooner. Ji-un, who was whistling, instantly forgot about the pill bottle he found in the drawer and disappeared in a flash. Since his business was gone, it was evident that he didn’t want to stay by Ki-won’s side either. Ki-won, who inhaled deeply, slowly looked around the executive office that had suddenly become quiet.

Peace had finally arrived, but the unpleasant feeling didn’t completely disappear. The reason wasn’t far away. Ki-won looked down at the drawer containing the pill bottle with calm eyes. The gloom clinging to his shadowed face was not light. Ki-won, who wiped his gaunt face, released his emotions along with the breath escaping through his teeth.

Ki-won signed the approval documents as usual and stacked the finished work one by one on the right corner.

‘This is….’

When he finished organizing the documents, what Ki-won discovered was the USB Yeon-woo had brought. Seo Yeon-woo…. Ki-won, who recited Yeon-woo’s name inwardly, pushed the USB deep into the drawer. If he could keep Yeon-woo by his side, he could do any childish act as much as he wanted. No matter what it was.

It was when Ki-won leaned back in his chair after catching his breath. A call came from Yeon-woo. It was just a moment ago that he had sent a text saying he was tired. What could be the reason for the call? Ki-won, who finished a brief thought, immediately picked up his cell phone.

“Yes, Yeon-woo. Didn’t you say you were tired?”

– Hyung, hyung….

The answer that came to the usual question was not ordinary. Ki-won, who felt something was off, straightened his posture and listened through the receiver. Judging by the silence, it seemed to be at home, but there was no easy guess as to why he was acting this way.

“What’s wrong, are you sick somewhere?”

– Home….

The sentences continued to be incomplete. Ki-won, who had the cell phone on his shoulder, turned on the PC screen and immediately checked the CCTV inside the house. Yeon-woo was sitting on the sofa, shivering. He also grabbed his lower abdomen, and Ki-won was convinced that it wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Ki-won, who grabbed the car key, opened his mouth while crossing the executive office.

“I’ll go home. Wait for me, Yeon-woo.”

There was no answer. Only small, rough breathing could be heard. It was around then that Ki-won’s steps gained speed. The call wasn’t disconnected, but no more words could be heard. When he reached the parking lot, Ki-won was almost running. The composure had completely disappeared from Ki-won’s face.