“The first meeting”

As Jieun stepped inside the grand mansion, a maid appeared from the side and approached Seo Jin’s mother.

“Madam, everything is ready. She is here,” the maid said politely.

Seo Jin’s mother nodded. They walked together towards the front gate, where Seo Jin’s grandfather and a few other maids were already waiting to welcome her.

Jieun’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the house—its sheer size and the large number of maids working around the estate. She couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

“How could I ever become the wife of this mansion?” Jieun thought to herself, her mind racing. “This house is enormous, and there are so many maids. How could I ever fit in here?”

The thought lingered as she followed Seo Jin’s mother, trying to adjust to the vastness of the mansion she had stepped into.

Jieun stepped forward, holding the carefully selected gifts in her hands. With a polite bow, she offered them to Seo Jin’s family.

“I brought these as a token of respect,” she said, her voice steady but quiet.

Seo Jin’s mother smiled graciously and accepted the gifts. “Thank you, Jieun. You’re very thoughtful,” she replied warmly.

When Jieun looked up to greet Seo Jin’s grandfather, she felt a moment of tension. His presence was powerful, and she hesitated before speaking.

“Grandpa, I’m sorry. I haven’t seen you before, but I hope you understand…”

Before she could finish, Seo Jin’s grandfather looked at her and smiled gently, his voice calm but full of authority.

“Jieun, since your grandfather’s passing, life has been difficult for you. But now that you’re here, in my home, everything will be fine. You’re a part of our family now.”

Jieun felt a warm wave of relief, his words comforting in a way she hadn’t expected.

Just then, Seo Jin’s sister, who had been quietly observing the exchange, suddenly spoke up.

“Why not let them get married already?” she said with a teasing smile, making the situation a little lighter. “Just let them have a peaceful marriage already, okay?”

The room went quiet for a moment, and then Seo Jin’s mother chuckled softly.

“Let’s not rush things,” she said, though there was a glint of amusement in her eyes.

Seo Jin’s mother smiled and looked at her daughter, Ah Rin. “Ah Rin, why don’t you go and greet Jieun properly?”

Ah Rin nodded and walked over to Jieun, offering a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Jieun,” she said, her voice friendly and warm.

Everyone gathered in the living room, engaging in light conversation. The atmosphere was still a bit tense, but it seemed to ease slightly as they spoke.

Ah Rin, noticing the silence, decided to speak up. “So, today is the meeting for Seo Jin and Jieun, right?” she asked, her tone teasing but curious. “Isn’t it? By the way, Seo Jin is still at the hospital, isn’t he?”

Upon hearing Ah Rin’s words, Jieun couldn’t help but ask, “Why? Is he sick?”

Seo Jin’s mother smiled softly, shaking her head. “No, he’s not sick. He’s a doctor, so he’s probably just busy with work. I may have mentioned it before, but he hasn’t been home yet today. It’s possible he’s still at the hospital, dealing with emergencies or consultations.”

Seo Jin’s mother’s voice carried a sense of pride for her son’s profession, but Jieun couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned. She had no idea that Seo Jin was a doctor. She had expected him to be a businessman, not someone constantly dealing with patients and hospital work.

Just then, a maid entered the room and announced, “Madam, Seo Jin has arrived.”

Hearing this, Jieun felt her nerves spike. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but the thought of meeting Seo Jin in person for the first time made her feel uneasy.

Moments later, Seo Jin entered the room. He walked in, immediately going to his mother and giving her a warm hug. He then greeted his father with a respectful bow, and did the same for his grandfather, who smiled approvingly. Seo Jin then patted his younger sister, Ah Rin, on the head affectionately, making the family atmosphere feel a bit lighter.

Jieun stood there, unsure of how to act. When Seo Jin finally looked at her, she felt her heart race. What should I say? How should I act? she thought.

Seo Jin’s mother, noticing the tension, smiled at Jieun and said, “Jieun, this is my son, Seo Jin. Seo Jin, this is Jieun, the granddaughter of your grandfather’s old friend.”

Seo Jin paused for a moment, then nodded politely. “It’s nice to meet you, Jieun,” he said, his tone neutral but not unfriendly.

Jieun, still feeling nervous, bowed respectfully to Seo Jin, mirroring the courtesy he had shown her.

Seo Jin’s mother, noticing the exchange, smiled and spoke up. “Seo Jin, please show Jieun around the mansion and introduce her to everything slowly.”

“Of course, Mom,” Seo Jin replied. He then turned to his grandfather, who seemed a bit unwell. Ah Rin, noticing this, gently guided their grandfather inside.

Seo Jin and Jieun walked together toward the garden, where the quiet surroundings made it easier to speak. But as they approached, two maids appeared, which made Jieun feel uncomfortable. Seeing this, Seo Jin quickly dismissed them. “Please go inside,” he said, and the maids left, leaving the two of them alone.

Now alone, Jieun felt unsure of how to start a conversation. Seo Jin looked at her curiously.

“So, you’re sitting alone, huh?” he asked casually.

Jieun let out a small sigh. “Ah, yes. I sit alone.”

Seo Jin then asked, “Where are your mom and dad?”

Jieun paused before replying. “My mom and dad aren’t around. I’ve been raised by my grandfather since I was young. And now, my grandfather is gone too, so I’m all alone. I’ve always been by myself.”

Seo Jin was silent for a moment, processing her words. Jieun continued, “You probably live with your parents, right? In the same house?”

Seo Jin shook his head. “No, I have my own house.”

Jieun’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your own house?!” she exclaimed, shocked. “Your own house… like your own personal house?”

Seo Jin gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable.

Seo Jin let out a small sigh and said, “I rarely come home. I spend most of my time at the hospital, so I bought a house near the hospital to make things easier for me.”

Jieun didn’t respond, simply nodding in understanding.

A quiet moment passed between them. The two of them weren’t sure what to say next, and the silence felt heavier by the second.

Seo Jin gestured toward a nearby bench in the garden. “Let’s sit,” he suggested.

They both sat down, keeping a noticeable distance between them. Even as they sat there, neither of them spoke. The atmosphere was slightly awkward, but neither of them tried to break it right away.

Then, at the exact same moment, they both spoke.

“Where did the idea of marriage come from?” they both asked in unison.

Surprised by their timing, they exchanged glances. Then, once again, they both answered at the same time.

“It was Grandpa’s dream.”

A small chuckle escaped Jieun’s lips, and even Seo Jin’s usually serious face softened just a little.

For the first time, the tension between them eased slightly.

Jieun looked at Seo Jin curiously and asked, “So, you’re also getting married just because of your grandpa?”

Seo Jin let out a small sigh. “There’s no other option,” he replied, his tone neutral but firm.

Hearing this, Jieun hesitated for a moment before asking, “Did you have any love life in the past?”

Seo Jin wasn’t expecting that question. He was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond. After a brief pause, he said, “Right now, we’re not even that close. Do we really need to talk about my love life?”

Jieun frowned slightly. “Not close? What are you talking about? We’re about to enter a relationship. We’re supposed to become husband and wife. That means I have the right to know about your past.”

Seo Jin’s expression hardened. He didn’t like being pressured, especially about something so personal. His jaw tightened slightly as he looked at her. “Our relationship hasn’t even begun yet,” he said coldly. “And if it bothers you that much, I can just say no. I don’t have to marry you.”

Jieun was taken aback by his sharp response. She hadn’t expected him to react so strongly. A small silence fell between them, and for the first time, Jieun wondered if this arranged marriage was going to be even more complicated than she had imagined.

Jieun frowned slightly and said, “I just asked about your love life. No need to overreact.”

Seo Jin remained silent, his face unreadable.

In her mind, Jieun sighed. I only asked a simple question, why is he reacting like this?

After a brief pause, Seo Jin finally spoke. “Why did you agree to this arranged marriage?”

Jieun looked at him and answered honestly, “Because ever since I was young, I always believed I would marry the person my grandpa chose for me.”

Seo Jin raised an eyebrow. “No matter what kind of guy it was?”

Jieun nodded without hesitation. “Yes, because my grandpa would never choose the wrong person for me. I trust him completely.”

Seo Jin observed her for a moment, slightly surprised by her unwavering faith in her grandfather’s decision. Unlike him, who was being forced into this, Jieun seemed to genuinely believe in the marriage arranged for her.

For the first time, Seo Jin wondered—was she really okay with this? Or was she just trying to convince herself?

Just then, a maid rushed toward them, her face pale with worry. “Seo Jin, Grandpa had another heart attack! We need to get him to the hospital immediately!”

Seo Jin and Jieun stood up instantly, their conversation forgotten. Without wasting a second, they hurried inside.

Seo Jin quickly checked his grandfather’s condition. His pulse was weak, and his breathing was unstable. Wasting no time, he took out his phone and called an ambulance.

Jieun stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Her heart pounded in fear as she watched the scene unfold.

When the ambulance arrived, Seo Jin and his father got in with the paramedics, ensuring Grandpa was taken care of on the way. Seo Jin’s mother and Ah Rin prepared to follow them in their own car.

“Jieun, come with us,” Seo Jin’s mother said, gesturing for her to get in the car.

Without hesitation, Jieun nodded and got into the car with them.

Once they arrived at the hospital, the doctors immediately took Grandpa in for emergency treatment. The entire family stood outside the treatment room, their faces filled with worry and exhaustion.

Jieun stood quietly, feeling a strange sense of fear settle in her chest. She had only met Grandpa today, but the thought of losing him felt terrifying.

A few minutes later, a doctor walked toward them, his expression serious. “His condition is critical,” he said gravely. “I don’t think he has much time left. If you want to talk to him, do it now… He could pass away at any moment.”

The weight of his words crashed down on everyone, filling the air with heavy silence.

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