The Eyes and Ears of This House
“What?”
Do-yeon’s tightly sealed lips parted in surprise.
As if reading her fluster, Mo-jun immediately added,
“Being careful never hurts. This house has more eyes watching and ears listening than you’d think.”
He adjusted his hold on her shoulder again. The touch remained gentle, yet somehow firmer than a moment before.
“…….”
She had no desire to dig in her heels over something pointless. Chairman Kang’s earlier request still lingered, and Do-yeon herself loathed creating unnecessary exhaustion for either of them.
Still, she needed to understand. Exactly what was he thinking, acting this way? Only then could she decide whether to play along or not.
“It’s not a love match anyway. We don’t have to pretend we’re head over heels or anything…….”
“Ah, I told the Chairman I fell for you at first sight.”
She had even lowered her voice out of respect for his caution, yet Mo-jun cut her off with perfect nonchalance. The face meeting her eyes looked so fresh and unbothered that it left her even more speechless.
“I forgot to mention it beforehand.”
And then he kept spouting the most outrageous things. She ought to have snapped that he couldn’t possibly call that an explanation—yet the moment that perfectly arranged face settled into a polished smile, her words stuck in her throat.
Somehow he always seems to paper things over with his looks the second he starts losing ground. Do-yeon’s eyes narrowed.
The real problem was that the strategy worked rather well. She barely managed to stop herself from pressing a hand to her forehead right then and there.
“Why would you tell a lie like that?”
Having quickly steadied her breath, Do-yeon climbed the last of the stairs while staring straight at Mo-jun’s face.
—But why are you, Mr. Kang Mo-jun, handling the compensation? You’re not even the one involved.
—I’m a member of Muyoung too, and conveniently unmarried, with a ready-made marriage sitting right in front of us that only needs the groom’s name swapped.
She didn’t know him well, yet from their first meeting until now Do-yeon had always thought of Mo-jun as a straightforward, clear-cut man.
That was why deciding on this marriage hadn’t been difficult. At the very least she had trusted that he would never casually overturn a mutually agreed arrangement.
“Well. If you’re going to steal someone else’s bride, you need a reason of that caliber, don’t you?”
But right now she couldn’t begin to guess what he was scheming.
Belatedly sensing her gaze, Mo-jun stopped where he stood. A face that somehow felt more unfamiliar than at their first meeting closed the distance in a sudden rush.
Do-yeon flinched back on instinct.
“And how can you be so sure it’s a lie?”
“…….”
The eyes asking the question in a near-whisper glittered with suspicious light. The hand that tugged her shoulder again, cutting off any retreat, left her completely speechless.
Love at first sight.
That their genre was never romance had been something that didn’t even require agreement—so what kind of absurd joke was this?
It was absolutely impossible.
The moment she reminded herself of the purpose of this marriage, the uncomfortable flutter that had swollen inside her settled with almost ridiculous speed.
“If you’re going to run a con, consult me first next time. That way I can play along properly.”
Having recovered her calm expression, Do-yeon lightly brushed Mo-jun’s hand away. Even though his face looked as if he still had more to say, he withdrew without protest.
Neither of them spoke another word until they reached the door of the couple’s bedroom.
“Rest. I’ll come get you at the right time.”
Contrary to her expectation that they would enter together, Mo-jun opened the door for her and then pulled his phone from the inner pocket of his jacket. Something urgent seemed to need handling.
Do-yeon gave a small nod and stepped straight into the bedroom. Whatever headache he was dealing with, a sigh from Mo-jun slipped through the narrowing crack of the door as it closed.
Thirty minutes before the appointed time.
The two of them arrived at the main house’s dining hall remarkably early. On the marble table large enough to seat twelve, meal preparations were already well underway.
“Welcome, Young Master.”
The couple was greeted by a housekeeper of modest height and warm features. The woman, who looked no older than her fifties, offered a greeting that was both respectful and kindly.
Unbothered by guests who had arrived far too soon, she immediately introduced herself.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Madam. I’m Kim Seon-mi, the director overseeing the household affairs of the main house.”
“Baek Do-yeon.”
Do-yeon returned the greeting with a smile of her own.
In all likelihood, Director Kim was the person who knew the main house’s affairs best. Leaving a favorable impression on someone close to Chairman Kang could only help.
“Please call if you need anything.”
Director Kim guided the couple to a sofa set arranged to one side of the dining area.
Watching her disappear with quick steps after serving them each a cup of tea, Do-yeon felt the tension she had set aside earlier quietly rise again.
Soon the members of Muyoung would gather here. She had exchanged brief greetings at the wedding hall, but what kind of reception awaited the woman who had thoroughly scrambled the family tree remained anyone’s guess.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Nothing.”
The profile quietly gazing out the window was as composed as ever. Yet Do-yeon only held the teacup; she never brought it to her lips.
“You don’t have to answer every question.”
Mo-jun’s gaze swept over her rigid cheek as he closed the distance and sat nearer. The tip of the look that turned toward her wavered ever so slightly.
“When you’re in a tight spot, just quietly look at my face. I’ll handle the cleanup.”
He lowered his voice further into a whisper and gently took the teacup from her hand. The fingertips that surrendered it so unexpectedly were cold enough that Mo-jun’s brow furrowed a fraction.
Just as Do-yeon seemed about to say something and Mo-jun gave a small nod of his chin—
“Vice Chairman, Chairman Kang of Distribution has arrived.”
Director Kim delivered the unwelcome news.
An irritated crack seemed to flicker across that marble-smooth face before Mo-jun immediately straightened the upper body that had been leaning toward Do-yeon. The motion of rising from his seat and offering his hand was clean and free of any excess.
Uneven footsteps drew steadily closer.
“Smile.”
“…….”
“You’re the new bride, after all.”
Barely moving his lips, Mo-jun whispered. The instant Do-yeon consciously lifted the corners of her mouth, a group of people appeared in the arched entrance.
Do-yeon carefully scanned the four faces. Led by Vice Chairman Kang Ki-young—Mo-jun’s uncle—came his wife Hyeon-ju, followed by their eldest son Hyeong-jun and his wife, all walking toward Mo-jun and Do-yeon in turn.
“You’ve arrived.”
As Mo-jun offered the greeting, the couple bowed their heads to Ki-young and his family.
“Yes, yes. Did you rest well after the ceremony?”
“We did. Thanks to you.”
Even while the conversation continued, Do-yeon deliberately kept her gaze lowered. She was only a stone that had rolled in from outside; she had no wish to lock eyes with anyone and invite unnecessary attention.
Hyeon-ju, however, seemed to think differently. Do-yeon clearly felt the woman’s gaze sweeping over her without any attempt to hide the discomfort.
—Be good to the madam of Muyoung Distribution.
—She’s not Kang’s real mother, but if you have to pick, she’s the closest thing to a mother-in-law you’ll have in that house.
Right up until a few days before the wedding, Ju-ran had spoken of Hyeon-ju again and again.
Don’t take that woman lightly. She’s the one in the best position to make your life miserable in that house.
She had repeated the words so often—whether curse or warning—that Do-yeon’s father had finally shouted at her to stop because he couldn’t stand listening anymore.
When they had exchanged a fleeting greeting at the wedding hall it hadn’t particularly bothered her. Why, then, were Ju-ran’s words rising again now?
“Still, for newlyweds, isn’t the honeymoon a bit short?”
“It’s fine. We can travel anytime.”
“True enough. Pointless thing to say to someone in the leisure business, haha.”
While the men traded light small talk, Do-yeon quickly shook off her wandering thoughts.
Only after Director Kim guided her to the seat beside Mo-jun did the stiffness in her shoulders ease a little. Fortunately, the place was a fair distance from the head of the table that clearly belonged to Chairman Kang.
She had barely drawn a quiet breath when—
“Nephew.”
The conversation paused for a moment, and an elegant voice crossed from the opposite side as if it had been waiting. Mo-jun turned his face toward his aunt instead of answering.
“When someone calls you, you should answer, nephew.”
Yet Hyeon-ju was not looking at Mo-jun.
The surroundings fell silent in an instant. Sensing something odd, Do-yeon lifted her gaze a beat late—and a cold stare shot straight into her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were calling me.”
Do-yeon offered an immediate apology she didn’t mean. Beneath the table she felt Mo-jun take her hand.
From the way everyone simply watched without a word, she could roughly guess what they were thinking. But Do-yeon truly felt nothing at all.
He has his own nephew, so why call me however she likes and pick a fight? Is she just having a bad day?
“You understand now, don’t you?”
“Yes, Aunt.”
To the immediate, pressing question, Do-yeon answered without looking away, offering a slight smile—the business smile she used while working.
Hyeon-ju’s face crumpled at once.
“Normally one pays formal respects before the wedding—that’s the proper order—but the two of you were in such a rush that the procedures weren’t followed properly, were they?”
After only a moment she quickly rearranged her expression and launched another attack, sweeping her gaze over Do-yeon and Mo-jun with eyes that made plain how thoroughly displeased she was.
“It’s not as if you’re children who caused some accident, acting so frivolously.”