Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Chapter 65
‘Should I go to Nam-hee-dong alone?’
Cold sweat ran down her spine at the thought of encountering such people again.
‘He told me not to go anywhere alone… but I can’t trouble someone who’s working by calling them.’
What to do? As she was pondering this, a voice came through the phone.
[Hello.]
Startled, Ga-eun hurriedly brought the phone to her ear.
“He-hello? Hello, Artist Ja-myeong. This is Gye Ga-eun, the head curator at Jane Art Gallery. The reason I’m calling…”
[Ah yes. Come to Insadong. There’s a traditional tea house called ‘Friend.’ Come there.]
Click. The call ended just like that.
What… how did this happen?
She’d heard he was extremely averse to meeting people.
He spoke as if he’d been expecting her call.
‘I heard he acts on his whims. Maybe he just called me over regardless of who I am.’
Still, it was an opportunity.
She wouldn’t have to go back to Nam-hee-dong, could focus on work instead of various worries, and if things went well, might even be able to hold an exhibition with Artist Ja-myeong’s works.
After staring blankly at her screen for a moment, Ga-eun came to her senses, quickly called a taxi, and headed to Insadong.
Throughout the journey, she reviewed Artist Ja-myeong’s career and works once more, then steeled herself before entering the café.
“Hello.”
In response to her greeting, the owner, wearing a knit vest over a checkered shirt, smiled and gestured toward the interior.
“Thank you.”
The owner nodded silently. Ga-eun bowed in return and headed inside.
Though small, the interior didn’t feel cramped thanks to its high ceiling, with neat jujube wood tables and chairs comfortably scattered throughout.
A small window with a white frame lined the wall, where a remarkably well-built elderly man sat drinking tea.
‘Was Artist Ja-myeong so physically imposing…?’
When she’d seen him from afar at an exhibition a few years ago, he’d appeared rather slight.
Nevertheless, since he was the only person inside, Ga-eun approached the elderly man and bowed.
“Hello, Artist-nim. I’m Gye Ga-eun from Jane Art Gallery. If I may…”
When she raised her head to look at the elderly man, her eyes widened.
“So it’s you. The young lady who’s to marry my eldest grandson.”
How did this happen?
Why… was Chairman Kwon Soon-yeol sitting here?
Seeing Ga-eun freeze, Kwon Soon-yeol smiled lightly and gestured with his chin toward the seat across from him.
“Sit down.”
“Ah… yes, Chairman.”
“So you recognize me.”
“Because you mentioned eldest grandson… And Artist Ja-myeong, whom I saw from afar several years ago, seemed to have a slimmer build than you.”
“I’ve been in the media quite a bit. There was also the foundation anniversary earlier this year.”
“Ah, yes. I saw that, of course.”
“Don’t I look better in person than on screen?”
Chairman Kwon Soon-yeol gave a faint smile.
Contrary to expectations, he had a gentle demeanor.
She hadn’t expected him to make such jokes to ease her tension.
Perhaps rumors couldn’t be trusted after all.
“You must be quite surprised. Finding me here instead of Ja-myeong.”
Ga-eun lowered her eyes in acknowledgment.
” Ja-myeong and I are old friends.”
She looked up at Kwon Soon-yeol with wide eyes at this unexpected revelation.
“Some crazy fellow who’d run away from a rich family to pursue art was getting robbed while drunk. I helped him out, and would you believe it – he asked to be friends with a thug?”
A smile crossed Kwon Soon-yeol’s lips as he recalled the old days.
“It was the first. Someone extended an empty hand in friendship to me. Usually, hands extended toward me were people asking for money, honor, or someone’s life.”
That pure goodwill was a first. What an absurd fellow.
Though his words were dismissive, his eyes were full of affection for his friend.
“I heard you went to Ja-myeong’s house yesterday. You couldn’t even see their face, and got roughed up by some idiots, they say.”
“Ah… Si-heon told you about that…”
“No. Si-heon doesn’t know.”
Ga-eun’s eyes widened in an instant.
“Neither that I know about yesterday’s events, nor that I’m meeting with you today.”
A fierce flash of light crossed Chairman Kwon Soon-yeol’s usually benevolent gaze.
“And tomorrow comes, Si-heon still mustn’t know.”
Ga-eun drew in a shallow breath. The pressure from Chairman Kwon was suffocating.
Just like when she was in front of that man, Kwon Si-heon.
Grandfather and grandson were alike in how they didn’t bother hiding that their hearts were ice-cold despite their smiles.
