Melting Slow

“Yes, I’m grateful that you accepted.”

He leaned over, extending his arm. Startled, Yeo-min instinctively pulled her shoulders in. A seatbelt was in his hand, stretching across her body.

“And we’re going to get married soon.”

His quiet voice was uncomfortably close. Yeo-min quickly lowered her gaze, struggling to remain composed at this distance where even her breathing might be noticeable.

“Having lunch together means nothing now. We’re going to be doing much more soon.”

Click. 

The sound of the seat belt locking in place echoed as Hwan moved away from her. Only then did Yeo-min finally exhale the breath she had been holding in.

“So, you do know what that ‘more’ includes, right? For the record, I’m not planning on living in a sexless marriage. If you plan to make that kind of condition, we can end it here.” 

Hwan immediately stepped on the gas, and the car smoothly exited the parking lot along with a satisfying roar of the engine. 

Not planning on a sexless marriage. The blunt remark caught Yeo-min off guard, and her lips went dry. It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered it, but it was still jarring to hear him mention it so casually, as if he were talking about a lunch menu.

“I know, Team Leader. I was just a bit nervous. Honestly, you and I aren’t that close.” Yeo-min replied.

“Not that close? I don’t know about that… You like it when I hug you.”

“What?” Yeo-min’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You used to run to me every day, whining, ‘Oppa, hug me.'”

“…….”

“You used to be so small, always jumping into my arms… But now that you’ve grown up, you’ve really changed. All formal, putting up a wall saying, ‘Team Leader, we’re not close.'” 

Yeo-min’s lips moved wordlessly, unable to respond. She found Hwan’s teasing smile infuriating. 

‘Why are you bringing up ancient history?’ 

It was a story she had intentionally kept buried. To him, the past seemed to hold little meaning now, and it felt almost pathetic to bring up something that had happened so long ago. She never expected him to bring it up first. To be honest, it surprised her a lot.

“When did I ever cling to you while crying? You were the one who opened your arms first, telling me to come in for a hug.”

“At least you remember. I thought you’d forgotten it all since you were such a little kid back then.”

The car had already emerged onto the street. Beyond the clear car windows, the blue sky and green branches filled the view.

“How could I forget?” 

How could she ever forget? The only person who had ever been on her side—Hwan oppa. Yeo-min held onto every fragment of what he had left her back then. His calm yet gentle voice, his gaze that was both cold and kind, the awkward touch as he patted her head.

Whenever she felt lonely, Yeo-min would pull out those fragments of Hwan that remained like ghost. Piecing together the memories, examining each fragment, it helped her endure. The loneliness, the sadness—everything. The man sitting beside her had no idea what he had meant to nine-year-old Yeo-min when he was thirteen.

‘Maybe that’s why I proposed to him.’ she thought. 

If it had been anyone else, she might never have made such an absurd proposal. Now, she finally understood why she had done it—why she had made that reckless suggestion.

‘Because it was Hwan. So…’

Yeo-min stared blankly out at the sky. It felt as if she was finally confronting a truth she hadn’t even realized herself. The sky suddenly seemed distant.

The place they arrived at was, surprisingly, a Korean restaurant. The menu was a traditional set with galbi and abalone stone pot rice. He seemed like someone who would only drink wine at a lounge bar, but he went ahead and ordered traditional liquor with a whole ginseng root in it. 

As a proper subordinate, Yeo-min tried to pour Hwan a drink, but he declined, citing that he was driving. Instead, he poured a single glass for her.

“I have to go back to work right after lunch. 

“You said you could drink a lot—three bottles of soju.” 

He remembers even that, Yeo-min thought to herself.

“Shouldn’t you be stopping your subordinate from drinking during the day instead of encouraging it, Team Leader?”

“Chae, you don’t understand. It’s because I’m the team leader that I can do this.”

“Ah, right.”

Rank really is power.

Yeo-min, holding the small glass, hesitated before reluctantly taking a sip. The hot alcohol flowed down her throat, warming her body. Daytime drinking with the team leader during lunch—what was she even doing?

“Now that you’re relaxed, how about we talk about our marriage?” Hwan said, tapping the table lightly and resting his chin on his hand.

Yeo-min was a little surprised, wondering if he’d given me a drink to loosen me up. Was he really being that considerate of her? He had been kind when they were young, but after they met again as adults, he had always been so strict and unyielding.

Seeing Yeo-min’s confusion, Hwan got straight to the point.

“Are you planning to invite your parents to the wedding?”

“I should, right? If they don’t come, people will gossip. I don’t want to do anything that would give people a reason to criticize you, Team Leader.”

“Even if they gossip, they’ll forget about it in a month.”

The food began to arrive, each dish placed on the table. Hwan gestured to the server to place the meat closer to Yeo-min.

“Are you really okay with it? Inviting people who let it happen, your little sister marrying your boyfriend, and all.”

Yeo-min nodded slowly.

“Yes, it’s fine. I don’t want to bring any trouble to you, Team Leader.”

She was grateful that he even asked about this. It wasn’t that he was comforting her or taking her side, but somehow, just knowing he cared enough to ask made her feel reassured.

“Alright. I plan to decide the date for the family meeting on my own. Since the Chairman is busy, we’ll have to work around his schedule, so I hope you understand.”

“Yes, that’s fine.” 

Yeo-min agreed easily. After all, Chairman Yoo, the head of the company, was likely the busiest person.

“What about informing the company?”

“I’d prefer to do it slowly after the date is set. I don’t want the hassle of work interruptions or extra attention.”

“Alright.” Hwan nodded shortly, as if he understood, and gestured toward the table nonchalantly. 

“Now, eat.”

Under his non-command command, Yeo-min slowly picked up her chopsticks. Just as her chopsticks reached for the side dish, Hwan cut in sharply.

“Start with the meat.”

“Yes.”

“And the abalone.”

“Team Leader, you should eat too.” He wasn’t eating, just making her eat. 

“I’m strong enough. I’m fine.”

Yeo-min lowered her gaze a bit, looking him over. Though his suit fit him perfectly, the way his arm muscles bulged slightly when he lifted his glass was noticeable. The firm chest hidden beneath his buttoned shirt. Suddenly, the memory of Hwan in a bathrobe in the suite came to her mind. Feeling embarrassed, Yeo-min quickly looked away. She had just imagined something inappropriate about him, despite his composed appearance in his suit.

“I’m strong too.”

“No, you’re too skinny.”

“How would you know, Team Leader?”

Yeo-min grumbled, rubbing her arm. She might look slim on the outside, but after sitting at her desk all day, she’d gained some extra weight here and there.

Hwan chuckled.

“How could I not know? I even took off your stockings.”

“……”

“And fortunately, your chest is pretty big.”

Yeo-min buried her head into the table. Keeping her expression under control, she started eating as he had said. She didn’t want to show that she was flustered while he remained completely unfazed. She still had her pride, after all.

But it was hard for Yeo-min to eat easily with someone on her mind. Even a small bite made her feel full, and she was just glaring at the grilled meat.

“Chae Yeo-min. Are you still stuck in your nine-year-old self?” 

Out of nowhere, Hwan made a cryptic comment. Yeo-min instinctively lifted her head. Her eyes met his, Hwan staring at her calmly.

“Be a little more selfish.”

“……”

“What I mean is, don’t say things like ‘I don’t want to trouble you, Team Leader.’ If you don’t want to do something, then don’t. I don’t have some flawless image that can’t handle a few scratches anyway.”

“…I think I’m doing okay in that regard. I did propose to you as I pleased, didn’t I?”

“Not enough. If you want to stand beside me, be more shameless and confident. I don’t intend to keep a timid wife who worries about what others think by my side.”

“I understand.”

Yeo-min gave a vague nod and aggressively picked up a piece of spinach with her chopsticks.

‘Do whatever you want; enjoy the role of my wife more boldly.’ It was clearly meant well when you looked deeper into the meaning, but his tone was anything but affectionate. He could be kind at times, but at moments like this, he was just too sharp. Yeo-min lost her appetite and put her chopsticks down.

“Chae Yeo-min.”

“Yes.” 

Why again.  

Yeomin answered stiffly, raising her head. 

His handsome forehead was slightly furrowed.

“Why are you putting your chopsticks down already? You barely ate.”

“This much is enough for me.”

“Do I need to feed you myself?” He pushed a meatball toward her, his face expressionless. 

Unable to open her mouth to take it, Yeo-min reluctantly picked up her chopsticks.

“I’ll eat more on my own.”

“Good choice.”

Yeo-min hid her disgruntled expression and chewed the meat reluctantly. In retrospect, nothing had changed since they were kids. He was still the same thirteen-year-old boy who told her not to starve and peeled a tangerine for her. Of course, his words were much sharper now.

***

Chairman Yoo, seated on the sofa, was pressing Chief Secretary Jung Joon-Gyu.

“Did Hwan say anything about when he’s bringing his bride over?”

Chairman Yoo was getting anxious. Not long ago, Hwan suddenly notified him—he was getting married. Just like that, and within half a year, no less.

“It hasn’t been long since Hwan mentioned it, Chairman.”

“I wouldn’t be satisfied even if he brought her over tomorrow night!”

The young man had declared his intention to marry soon, yet seemed far too carefree about it.

“I’m already coordinating your schedule for the family meeting, Chairman. Please be patient.”

Bah.

Clicking his tongue, Chairman Yoo threw aside the newspaper. No matter what he read, all he could see was Yeo-min’s face—the woman who was soon to be his granddaughter-in-law. 

‘If only Hwan would hurry up and bring Yeo-min over to formally introduce her, then we could set a proper date for the wedding, and I’d finally be at ease.

Chairman Yoo abruptly brought up Yeo-min. He had never seen her grow up as he had told Vice President Chae. He often saw Chae-Nari at parties or gatherings, but her older sister Yeo-min seemed almost erased from view.

‘How beautiful she must have grown up….’ 

When Chairman Yoo asked about Yeo-min’s well-being, Vice President Chae felt uneasy. He remembered how Yeo-min had left in tears, venting her anger over Kim Seung-jae and Chae-Nari.

–  Yeo-min was busy with her studies when she was a student, and now she’s preoccupied with work, so she doesn’t pay much attention to family matters, Chairman. But why are you suddenly asking about Yeo-min…?

“I just want to see Yeo-min soon.”

– You mean… my daughter?

“Perhaps you don’t know.”

– What… are you talking about? 

Chairman Yoo found Vice President Chae’s reaction quite satisfying. It seemed like Chae really had no idea. It was clear that Hwan had given his grandfather, and only his grandfather, an early heads-up.

“It looks like you don’t know. Hwan and Yeo-min have been seeing each other, all sweet on their own. Well, that’s how young people are these days. They keep plenty of secrets from their parents.”

– I see… 

“My impatience made me call right away. Since there must be a reason the kids haven’t said anything, you should pretend you don’t know for now, Vice President Chae.”

– …Understood.

“Good. We’ll see each other soon at the family meeting. We’ll decide the wedding date on that day, if possible. I’ve already kept some hotel dates open so they can have the ceremony within half a year.”

– Understood, Chairman.

After hanging up the call, Chairman Yoo nodded and, with a satisfied expression, spoke to Chief Secretary Jung.

“Chief Jung, it seems Hwan gave me the news first. Even though he acts indifferent, he takes care of his grandpa first.”

“Yes, Yoo Hwan seems to care for you the most, Chairman.”

“That’s right, he certainly does.” Chairman Yoo laughed heartily and reopened his newspaper. 

“A marriage they’re entering into because they love each other—they’ll surely be happy. By the way, when is Min-young coming back to Korea?” 

Suddenly remembering, Chairman Yoo asked about Hwan’s stepmother.

“The second madam will be arriving in two days. Should I let her know in advance about Hwan?”

“No need. I’ll tell her when she gets here. She’ll be thrilled to hear that her son is getting married.”

“She’ll be very happy.”