“We’re back.”
“Oh, Ms. Yoo, you’re home? Shall I prepare something for you to eat?”
“No, that’s all right.”
Yoo Sia slipped off her shoes and cast a quick glance around the living room.
“What about your parents?”
“My mother has already gone to bed, and my father isn’t home from work yet.”
“I see.”
Unusually light on her feet, she made her way to her room.
The housekeeper, watching her retreating figure, felt something was off. She knew Ms. Yoo was always energetic and cheerful, but tonight…
She seems strangely elated.
Once inside, Sia hurriedly washed up and sat on her bed, a shy smile lingering at the corners of her mouth.
What should I do…?
She threw her arms around the teddy bear that looked like Son Jin-seong.
I actually asked him to marry me…!
Though her cheeks burned with embarrassment, the smile never left her lips.
Just imagining building a sweet, loving home with Jin-seong made her heart race.
But the pleasant daydream didn’t last long.
…Huh?
She lifted the hem of her pajamas and stared at her stomach. It was as slim and flat as ever, yet…
It almost seems to be poking out a bit…?
Of course, it was only in her head. It wasn’t even time for a bump yet.
Gently, she placed her hand on her belly. There was no discomfort or unease—quite the opposite. Thinking that a new life was taking root inside her felt mysterious and deeply moving.
Am I really going to be a mother…?
That thought brought with it some worry—could she do it well?
But then she reminded herself:
I’m a chaebol, after all.
Once the baby arrives, dozens of aunts will fuss over every detail from start to finish. I won’t have to lose sleep over the kids or tiptoe around the house like ordinary people.
And most important of all:
It’s going to be a boy, isn’t it?
In this family, “having a child” obviously means “having a son.” Sia had long accepted that thought as fact. After all, all of Chairman Yoo’s great-grandchildren born to his grandsons had been boys.
He’ll probably look just like Assistant Manager Son…?!
A smile spread across her lips at the thought.
Holding a chubby newborn in her arms, dusting baby powder onto pudgy little cheeks—just imagining it made her happy already.
And when he was older, they’d hold hands and go to the ballpark… Son Jin-seong and their son playing catch while she watched from the sidelines…!
Her heart fluttered with delight.
For days she’d felt queasy and irritable from nausea, but knowing it was part of giving life made her feel proud instead.
I’m already so excited.
Still, she couldn’t help feeling anxious. She’d boldly told Son to trust her, but…
…Will he agree?
No matter how spoiled she’d been by her grandfather and uncles, they wouldn’t let her marry that easily. And it’s a premarital pregnancy. Her father would be shocked. She had no idea how Chairman Yoo would react.
First things first: get both families’ permission…!
“You sure meet the most high-maintenance women,” someone’s words echoed in her mind.
At the time she’d been suspicious, but now she had to admit he was right.
She’d ended up accepting a proposal without a second thought.
…He didn’t even have to do it himself.
But what did it matter? As long as you end up in Seoul, it doesn’t matter which road you take, right?
These days, she’d heard, men rented hotels festooned with balloons, set heart-shaped candles, even presented Chanel bags—and still got compared to others. She’d always thought it unnecessary, but after experiencing a simple, heartfelt proposal in his modest one-room apartment, she was even more convinced.
Rather than an over-the-top “event,” hearing his sincere words in that humble space had moved her more.
But reality remained reality.
We’ve agreed to marry… but there’s so much to overcome.
Looks like mountains from Jirisan to Hallasan, Baekdusan to Seoraksan. I’ll start with the smallest hill first.
“I think I should go and greet my father.”
“Yes, I think that’s best.”
Rather than at your family’s mansion filled with chairmen, managing directors, and directors, it made more sense to start by asking permission at my humble home. If my father supports us, I’ll feel more confident.
“But…”
“Yes?”
“There’s a company dinner tonight.”
“Oh, right. But it’s fine—I’m a strong drinker, so I can drive tomorrow without any problem.”
“That’s not the issue…”
Sia touched her belly.
…Oh!
She’d forgotten.
Could I use that as an excuse to skip?
“That’s happened before, hasn’t it?”
Of course, if she said she was pregnant, they’d excuse her from the dinner. But…
Would it make sense for an unmarried woman to say she was expecting?
Sia was known in the office for her beauty. Announcing a pregnancy would spark rumors at once, especially since the man responsible was her senior in the same department.
This would be a disaster.
Until both families gave their blessing, she had to keep it secret.
Then she’d have a problem at the company dinner…
Large corporations fall into two categories: the stiff ones in Jongno, and the flexible ones in Pangyo. HR Group belonged to the former. With its headquarters in Gwanghwamun and its roots in construction and heavy industry rather than IT, corporate culture was hardly different even at HR Media.
Still, attitudes toward drinking had softened recently—they no longer forced drinks on people who never drank. But everyone knew Sia could hold her liquor; after all, their relationship had started because of alcohol.
Quitting drinking suddenly?
The scene was all too predictable.
“I’ll handle it somehow.”
“Manager Ma, I’ll have a cola today. I’m not feeling well…”
“Oh, come on, what’s with not feeling well?”
“Are you refusing drinks as an intern?”
As expected, the old-timers pushed alcohol. Manager Ma, especially, flickered with eagerness, sliding a brimming glass of soju toward her.
“You’ll still be working with us after your internship, won’t you?”
He was dangling her performance review over her head.
Manager Ma. No matter how you score me, I’ll still be working under you—your boss’s boss, no less.
But she couldn’t reveal her identity as Chairman Yoo’s granddaughter. After all, she’d taken the one-year internship to learn company culture.
So she had to step in herself.
“I’ll be your champion!”
“Oh? Assistant Manager Son?”
“Yes!”
She snatched the glass from his hand and downed it in one.
“Wow! Our Assistant Manager Son is a real man’s man!”
“Assistant Manager Son’s drinking double today?”
“Yes, I’ll pick up the slack!”
“Good, good. Boss! Bring glasses for these soju shots!”
On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward my hometown, a catchy new pop song played on the radio. I was at the wheel, with Yoo Sia in the passenger seat.
“…I can drive, you know.”
She spoke with concern. “You really drank a lot last night.”
“I’m fine. I’m sober now.”
“But you drank six bottles of soju by yourself…”
We had planned to leave in the morning, but to avoid any risk of being over the limit, we first ate lunch and waited until my hangover was completely gone before setting off. We were a little late, but fully recovered, so no problem.
“If you feel tired, let me know. I’ll take over.”
“All right. I’ll ask you on the way back.”
After a long drive, we arrived at a small shopping district in Ulsan. I parked and spotted my father’s chicken shop in the distance.
“Hey, that’s Golden Chicken.”
Sia said cheerfully. “It’s our brand.”
“Oh, you’re right.”
It occurred to me then that my father’s chicken franchise was under HR Food.
“Shall we go in?”
“Wait a moment.”
I stopped and took a deep breath. “My heart is racing…”
Sia gave a half-laugh. “Why are you nervous? I’m not the one meeting your parents.”
“Exactly…”
I didn’t understand why I felt more nervous than when I gave presentations in front of executives.
Before I knew it, words tumbled out.
“Dad, I’m getting married.”
A plate of steaming fried chicken and seasoned chicken sat before us.
“Hungry?”
My father had even closed the shop’s shutters. “We’re not open today, so eat comfortably.”
“Are you sure we can?”
“You two coming by means I should rest for a day anyway. You should’ve told me in advance so you’d dress nicely.”
Father and I had never been the warmest pair. I wasn’t the clingy type, and he, a true Gyeongsang Province native, was taciturn.
Thankfully, Sia was greasing the conversation.
“Not at all, sir. You look great as you are.”
“Is that so…?”
My father slipped into dialect without realizing it. “Of course!”
Her politeness seemed to put him at ease.
“Dig in while it’s hot.”
Sia laughed and pulled on a plastic glove. “Thank you for the meal!”
“Do you want a cola? Or maybe a cold draft beer?”
“No, I’ll get it.”
“Sit down, Sia.”
He gently pressed her shoulder to keep her seated, and I stood. “I’ll have a cola to go.”
“The cups are on that shelf.”
“Got it.”
My father looked at Sia with a pleased expression.
“Sir.”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to marry him.”
I’d expected surprise, but he answered matter-of-factly. “You already told me that, didn’t you?”
“I’d like your blessing.”
“Then hurry up and arrange the wedding.”
Sia cocked her head as if uncertain, but she continued nibbling her chicken leg.
“But, sir.”
“Yes?”
“Sia here is a third-generation chaebol.”
“My word?”
“No, I’m serious.”
“My…?”
“She’s the youngest granddaughter of HR Group, an only child.”
My father stared at Sia, hardly believing her.
“Really?”
Embarrassed, Sia nodded shyly. “Yes…”
He knew I wasn’t the type to lie about something like that. After a moment’s thought, he gestured for me.
“Go wash your hands and come back.”
“I’ll wear gloves to eat.”
“Still, go wash up.”
“All right.”
While I stepped away, my father gazed at Sia with a solemn expression.
“Sia, right?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Just asking… has that girl gotten some leverage on Jin-seong?”