The private dining room was silent enough that the clink of a teacup sounded loud.
A long table divided the two families.
At the head sat Madam.
Her presence alone controlled the room.
Calm posture. Cold gaze.
Every word she spoke carried the weight of final judgment.
On her right sat Yoo-Na, dressed flawlessly, fingers laced together as if she already knew the evening would go her way.
Next to her was Arisoo, elegant and composed, watching quietly.
Across the table sat the Kim brothers.
Ha-Joon leaned back slightly, calm but alert.
Beside him sat Min-Hyuk Kim, shoulders straight, clearly determined tonight.
On the other side were the guests.
Seo-Yeon sat quietly beside her father.
And beside her, legs crossed and eyes sharp, sat Ji-Ah.
The discussion had been polite.
Families.
Work.
Future plans.
But tension curled around the table like invisible smoke.
Finally Madam set down her teacup.
Her eyes settled on Min-Hyuk.
"When did this relationship begin?"
The question landed softly.
Min-Hyuk answered without hesitation.
"The first time I saw her."
He glanced at Seo-Yeon.
"At the airport."
His voice steadied.
"I noticed her immediately. After that… we kept meeting."
Madam studied Seo-Yeon carefully.
Slowly.
Her expression revealed nothing kind.
"I see."
Her gaze sharpened.
"But tell me something."
She leaned back slightly.
"Why are you dating an older woman?"
Seo-Yeon lowered her eyes.
Madam continued, almost casually.
"Don't young men prefer cute, shy girls?"
Min-Hyuk didn't even think before replying.
"No."
The answer was simple.
Firm.
"I prefer women who are calm. Simple. Quiet."
He looked directly at Seo-Yeon.
"That's her."
Yoo-Na let out a small laugh.
Soft.
Cutting.
"How interesting."
Everyone looked at her.
She tilted her head toward Seo-Yeon.
"I always imagined Min choosing someone more… suitable."
The word hung in the air like poison.
Ji-Ah's eyes narrowed.
Before she could speak, Mr. Park spoke first.
"My daughter respects Min-Hyuk very much."
Ji-Ah leaned forward immediately.
"And he respects her too."
Min-Hyuk cleared his throat.
Then said it.
Directly.
"I want to marry her."
The air froze.
Utter silence.
Madam blinked slowly.
"Marriage?"
Her voice carried disbelief.
"You are twenty."
Min-Hyuk nodded.
"I graduated early."
"I have a career."
He spoke steadily.
"And I want to marry young."
For the first time Ha-Joon spoke.
His voice calm.
"I support him."
Ji-Ah nodded quickly.
"Exactly."
"Age is just a number."
Seo-Yeon remained quiet, eyes lowered.
Madam's gaze moved slowly across the table.
Then it stopped on the sisters.
Her lips curved slightly.
Cold.
"Your family," she said, "is not exactly… comparable to ours."
Ji-Ah straightened immediately.
"Please don't insult our family."
Madam's eyes snapped to her.
The room felt colder.
"You dare speak to me like that?"
Ji-Ah didn't flinch.
"I'm asking for respect."
Madam stood.
The chair scraped across the floor sharply.
"The audacity."
Her gaze slid briefly toward Yoo-Na.
Then toward Ha-Joon.
She exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
She sat back down.
The room held its breath.
"Min-Hyuk may marry Seo-Yeon."
Min-Hyuk's face lit instantly.
But Madam raised a finger.
"Only if…"
The pause stretched painfully.
"…Ha-Joon marries first."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…What?"
Even Ha-Joon looked genuinely surprised.
"Mother," he said evenly, "I'm not ready to marry."
Madam's voice hardened.
"You are twenty-five."
"That is more than ready."
She rose again.
"My decision is final."
Then she turned slightly toward Yoo-Na.
"Once Ha-Joon marries this year."
A pause.
"To Yoo-Na."
Yoo-Na straightened proudly.
A victorious smile appearing.
"Then Min-Hyuk may marry Seo-Yeon."
With that, Madam turned and walked out.
Yoo-Na followed with a quiet smirk.
The door closed.
Silence swallowed the room.
Mr. Park looked toward Ji-Ah slowly.
Ji-Ah looked at Min-Hyuk.
Min-Hyuk was staring at Ha-Joon.
Desperate.
Pleading.
Ha-Joon avoided his gaze.
Then stood.
Without a word.
He walked out.
Ji-Ah watched him for a moment.
Then she gave the others a small polite smile.
"Well…"
She stood.
"…this escalated quickly."
And followed him out.
The hallway outside the dining room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Footsteps echoed across the polished floor as Ha-Joon walked away from the dining hall without looking back.
His pace was steady.
Controlled.
Behind him, heels clicked quickly against the floor.
"Sir!"
The voice belonged to Ji-Ah.
He didn't stop.
Didn't even slow down.
"Sir!"
Still nothing.
Ji-Ah hurried forward and grabbed his wrist, forcing him to stop.
She turned him around to face her.
"What was that?"
Ha-Joon looked down at her hand on his sleeve, then slowly at her face.
"What was what?"
Ji-Ah stared at him, baffled.
"Your mother."
She gestured toward the dining room behind them.
"That whole… until you get married thing."
Her eyes scanned his face.
"Does she seriously think you look like someone ready to get married?"
Ha-Joon sighed quietly and slid one hand into his pocket, studying her expression like she was an interesting problem.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
Ji-Ah leaned back slightly, arms crossing.
"I mean you don't even like anyone."
She waved a hand in the air.
"Any girls."
Then she blinked suddenly.
"Oh wait."
She pointed dramatically.
"Yoo-Na."
Ha-Joon's expression went flat.
"I will not marry Yoo-Na."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"In fact, I will not marry anyone."
Ji-Ah tilted her head.
"Why?"
He didn't answer.
So she answered for him.
"Oh wait, I know."
She started counting on her fingers.
"You hate sharing your space."
"One toothbrush in the bathroom is already too much."
"Your closet probably has a dress code."
"And if a woman leaves one sock on the floor you'd call a board meeting about it."
Ha-Joon's eyebrow twitched slightly.
Ji-Ah kept going.
"You'd probably schedule romance like a business appointment."
"Tuesday, 4:30 PM. Emotional bonding."
He looked offended.
Deeply offended.
But said nothing.
Ji-Ah shrugged.
"See? Marriage would be a disaster."
Then her expression softened a little.
"But at least do it for your brother."
The air changed.
Ha-Joon stepped closer.
One step.
Then another.
Until they stood inches apart.
His voice dropped.
"Are you worried about my brother…"
His eyes searched her face.
"…or your sister?"
Ji-Ah blinked.
Ha-Joon continued quietly.
"My mother insulted your family."
"Did that hurt your pride?"
Then his voice turned sharper.
"Tell me something."
He leaned slightly closer.
"Why would my brother even love Seo-Yeon?"
Ji-Ah froze.
"Someone with that kind of… background."
The words landed like a slap.
"So poor."
Ji-Ah stared at him in disbelief.
Then her face twisted in anger.
"How could you say that?!"
Her voice echoed down the hallway.
"Min-Hyuk loves Seo-Yeon!"
Ha-Joon stepped back again, his expression returning to that distant calm.
"Do not involve yourself in this matter again Park Ji-Ah!!."
His tone was final.
"It ends here."
He turned to leave.
But Ji-Ah's voice cut through the hallway.
"Fine!"
He stopped.
"So does our friendship!"
He slowly turned his head.
Ji-Ah pointed at him angrily.
"Don't talk to me again!"
"I'm leaving!"
Ha-Joon's eyes narrowed.
"If you violate the contract," he said quietly, "you will go to jail."
"I don't care!" she shouted.
"I'll stay anywhere!"
Her finger jabbed toward him.
"Anywhere but where you are."
Then she turned and walked away.
Fast.
Angry.
Her footsteps fading down the hall.
Ha-Joon stood there.
Still.
For a moment he almost called out.
His lips parted slightly.
But no sound came.
Instead he looked down at the floor.
Then turned the other way.
And walked off.