The Baby's Travel
When she could no longer accurately judge what was what, Min Tae-yeon's decision was simple. To hold off. It was a good decision, one that allowed her more time to make a clearer judgment. So far, she had lost nothing by holding back. She believed that being cautious was a virtue that was absolutely essential in social life.
“I’ll think it over.”
At that, Choi Hyun-seo looked straight at her and nodded.
“Think it over carefully. It could be a good opportunity, or it might not. In my opinion, it seems like a good opportunity for you, Miss Tae-yeon. Your mother is ill, isn’t she?”
Her mother was suffering from severe kidney disease and undergoing dialysis. Thanks to that, a great deal of money had gone toward hospital bills, medication, and various other treatment costs.
Even though her salary was that of a high-ranking corporate executive, there had been nights when she had worked part-time at a cocktail bar until late.
Even without all that, Min Tae-yeon felt the gap between her and Choi Hyun-seo widening. She couldn’t help but feel increasingly insignificant before his eyes. No matter that it wasn’t her fault, no matter that poverty wasn’t something to be ashamed of, that feeling right now was impossible to escape.
“Have you looked into everything about me?”
“When I make a scouting offer, it’s standard procedure to research the other party. As far as I’m concerned, the conditions I’ve offered seem quite reasonable for Miss Min Tae-yeon. There doesn’t seem to be anything that would damage my public image either. If there’s any difficulty in carrying out the contract, I’ll provide additional compensation at that time.”
Unlike his utterly businesslike tone, the conditions were remarkably bold. It wasn’t even a contract marriage; it was a suggestion to quit her job and become his wife.
“Think it over and make a good decision.”
Min Tae-yeon couldn’t sleep that night. She had secretly loved him for so long yet had never been able to look him in the eye. The night they had spent together was six months ago. He probably hadn’t even noticed her, let alone imagined she worked at the same company.
Yet today he had suddenly called her in for a job offer. Not any old job, but one that involved raising his own child.
The night six months earlier was a memory she couldn’t even recall. But perhaps he remembered. Still, she thought it best not to mention it, since the matter had gone unaddressed then.
As she continued to deliberate, two days later she went to see him. Her mother’s condition had grown worse, and the hospital bills were mounting.
Setting aside her family situation and all the other superficial reasons, she wanted to live with Choi Hyun-seo for a while. Even if it was just a job like marriage, she wanted to experience a life with him. When she arrived at his office, he was already watching her with a relaxed expression, as though he had foreseen everything.
Before him, Choi Hyun-seo clasped both hands together and pressed his thumb firmly against his unseen index finger as he made his decision. It felt like a fresh-faced female student standing before her teacher.
“Director, I’ll resign.”
“Excellent. I think you’ve made a good decision. I believe it’s the best decision for your mother and for you.”
He reacted exactly as he had when the prepared contract had been signed. Perhaps it was the ideal appearance of an employer who had hired someone to perform the role of wife.
“Director, then what do I do first?”
“Write your resignation letter first. And I’ve already deposited the advance payment into your account right now.”
A notification immediately sounded on her phone. A sizable sum had been deposited, an amount she could not even touch. Tae-yeon stared at the deposit alert on her phone and let out an involuntary sigh. The money had arrived because the contract had been completed, which meant she now had to carry out her duties faithfully.
So right now, the most important thing was to know what the next task would be.
“I’ll submit the resignation letter to the department immediately. And…?”
“Live comfortably until I call you again. Spend the money I’m giving you on living expenses.”
It was a job of idleness, but it felt strangely unsettling. Tae-yeon looked at Hyun-seo with a worried expression.
“My mother will worry. She’ll ask where the hospital bills come from if I keep doing nothing.”
The only family they had in the world were mother and daughter. She couldn’t deceive him. Unlike the anxious Tae-yeon, however, Choi Hyun-seo simply solved the problem in the simplest way possible.
“I’ll send someone to your mother. She’ll be on a business trip to the overseas branch. For about a month?”
“Really overseas?”
“Whatever you like. I can send you overseas, or I can send you somewhere no one else goes. You’re already seven months pregnant, so in three months you’ll give birth. You won’t want anyone to see the swelling of your belly.”
In short, he wanted her to stay hidden until the baby was born. So she needed to be in a place where she wouldn’t be noticed. Tae-yeon thought for a moment, then agreed with his words. What a clever man.
“In that case, I’ll go overseas. I can rest to my heart’s content and come back.”
“Don’t use social media much and think of yourself as pregnant. You don’t have to hide the pregnancy with anything around your belly, but I hope you avoid unnecessary contact with people. And, as stated in the contract, don’t ask about anything unnecessary. Are there any additional conditions you need to meet?”
He wanted her to ask nothing about the unborn child or its biological mother. In any case, knowing wouldn’t change anything. This was business, and she had been paid in return for fulfilling the employer’s conditions.
The only thing that still bothered her was…
“Director, does that mean we’re going to have a normal married life? I mean…?”
She wasn’t even sure what she was asking. But Choi Hyun-seo understood her meaning perfectly.
“Do you mean, for example, husband and wife relations? It’s true that we must present a perfect image of a married couple publicly. It won’t be easy. My mother has had rather high expectations of her daughter-in-law. That said, I’m not saying Miss Min Tae-yeon doesn’t qualify. My mother’s expectations for a daughter-in-law are simply quite firm.”
She didn’t need to be told. Everyone knew what kind of expectations the haughty Oh Jin-hee held for her son. There would likely be enormous opposition and pressure before the wedding as well. Tae-yeon couldn’t help but feel her breath catch.
She couldn’t hide her expression at that moment.
“Manager Min, are you really that worried?”
“Ah, Director, what if I can’t endure it?”
“I’ll handle the middle ground as much as possible. I don’t know what you mean by ‘can’t endure,’ but the contract period is at least two years. If it gets too difficult, you can claim damages. I’m fully prepared to pay them.”
In other words, if she acted inappropriately toward her in-laws or caused them emotional pain, she would be compensated with money. Yet if this wasn’t a marriage of love but simply a job, couldn’t she endure anything?
She told herself it was a job, yet in her heart she was wandering somewhere between subtle expectations, love, and the middle ground between them. Even as she realized this, she signed the documents.
Choi Hyun-seo placed the papers in his desk drawer, locked it with a key, and turned it. The click of the lock sounded to Tae-yeon like the sealing of his own heart. With a heavy heart, she lowered her head. Hyun-seo asked her.
“Where would you like to go?”
“Europe. I’ve never been on a trip.”
“Then that’s where you’ll go. Not to any dangerous places. I’ll call, and you’ll come back immediately. For the childbirth.”
“Understood.”
“This contract must never be leaked, so please manage it carefully.”
“Yes.”
Even so, Min Tae-yeon couldn’t stand up right away. She was waiting for him to say something else. Something about that night six months ago. But he looked at her oddly and asked.
“Is there anything you want to say?”
“No. Nothing, Director.”
“Then take this.”
He handed her one card.
“For travel expenses and living costs from now on, use this. The salary will be paid separately.”
“Thank you.”
“Ah, and once the baby is born, we’ll handle the family relationship.”
“Yes.”
Tae-yeon felt dizzy yet hopeful at the same time. She had no sense of what this contract and job offer actually meant. Living in the same house as Hyun-seo, caring for the baby, and being his wife for at least two years in name. In her heart, she wanted it to last a lifetime.
* * *
After finishing work, Min Tae-yeon set the table for her mother and said,
“Mom. I think I have to go overseas.”
“Overseas?”
Kyung-ja, whose face looked dry and pale, gazed at Tae-yeon with concern.
The structure of the rooftop room with a west-facing window was such that the evening was unbearably hot. She turned on the old air conditioner that hummed as it spun, and set the spoon down.
“Yeah, Mom. That’s how it turned out. Come eat.”
“My kidneys are sensitive, so the food tastes terrible.”
“I know. Even if it tastes bad, what can you do? Come on, try it.”
Tae-yeon took a bite and smiled brightly.
“It still tastes good, Mom. The shiitake mushrooms have such a wonderful aroma. Eat, please.”
When Tae-yeon offered her the spoon, Kyung-ja smiled and picked it up.
“See? The meal you prepared yourself, and I’m eating it properly so I can stay healthy. If Mom’s gone, you’ll be all alone, Tagyeon.”
“Don’t say that, Mom. But, Mom, if I go on a business trip, I might not be able to call often.”
“In this day and age, just use KakaoTalk.”
“Right, Mom? I’ll call you on KakaoTalk. You eat well by yourself and go to the hospital properly. If anything difficult happens, call Cho-hee. She’s like a daughter to you, Mom.”
“She’s busy with her own job. How can she take care of her friend’s mom too?”
Tae-yeon nodded at Kyung-ja’s words. It was true. It would be too much to ask Shin Cho-hee to handle her mother.
“Then ask No-eul-ssi, Mom.”
“All right. That might be better. I’ll ask No-eul. Don’t worry too much. No-eul is fond of you, so he’ll do anything for you. I hope he really becomes my son-in-law one day.”