Contract Marriage with a Male Friend - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#15

The headquarters of a major newspaper lived up to its reputation.
Passing through the massive revolving doors, she found herself surrounded by marble flooring that gleamed with soft reflected light, and a soaring two-story ceiling that commanded admiration.
At the center stood an enormous metal sculpture bearing the Gusan Newspaper logo and lettering, while one wall displayed today’s front page in real-time on an electronic panel.
“Wow… So this is what a major newspaper headquarters looks like.”
Weaving past photographers with large cameras and reporters working furiously on laptops while holding coffee or taking calls, An Sui made her way to the information desk.
“Hello. I’m An Sui—I have an interview scheduled for today.”
“Yes, An Sui. Please go up to the tenth floor.”
An Sui hung the Access Card the staff member had given her around her neck, tapped it at the security gate, and headed for the elevator.
Standing quietly among the other passengers, An Sui cleared her throat.
‘At least the interview prep kept my mind off things.’
Ever since that parting with Beom Jin a week ago.
He kept creeping into her thoughts at the most inconvenient moments.
Just yesterday, she’d spotted a man at the Funeral Hall with a silhouette resembling his, and without thinking, her feet had carried her after him.

“Director, where are you going? We have more mourners than expected—I think we’ll need to prepare another pot of oxtail soup.”
“Oh… Yes, I’ll check with the Chief Mourner about placing an additional order.”
“Are you all right? You don’t look well. You seem more tired than usual.”
“No, no, I’m fine.”

…Looking like that, should I really be doing this interview? she wondered.
Ding!
The cheerful chime sounded as the tenth-floor doors slid open.
‘Now where do I go?’
An Sui had just stepped out of the elevator when she was about to call the reporter.
“An Sui?”
A tall man in a black suit approached with a smile.
“Oh…”
There was something oddly familiar about him.
Who was he?
“Do you remember me, perhaps?”
“Ah, so this isn’t our first meeting? I’m truly sorry, but…”
She usually remembered the families she’d worked with, but something about this man suggested otherwise.
Still, he had to be connected to the Funeral Hall somehow.
“My name is Ki Ju Won. We met a few weeks ago in Yongin with O Sang Chul… Do you remember?”
If he was someone she’d seen in Yongin with O Sang Chul…
“Oh! The blind date?”
Ki Ju Won smiled and nodded.
“Yes, the blind date.”
Oh no.
The words had tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them.
An Sui’s face flushed crimson as she bowed her head.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
“Ha, there’s nothing to apologize for.”
Ki Ju Won gazed at the flustered An Sui with an amused expression.
“I’m actually delighted that you remembered.”
“Oh…”
“When I reached out through O Sang Chul, I was worried—wondering if you might have been offended.”
“No, not at all. I’m grateful that you thought well of me.”
“Modest too, I see.”
The intensity in Ki Ju Won’s gaze seemed to deepen as he looked at her.
An Sui quickly changed the subject.
“But what brings you here? Does Gu have business at the newspaper as well?”
At her question, Ki Ju Won smiled meaningfully.
“Well.”
Well?
“Shall we head to the interview venue first?”
Ki Ju Won stepped aside as if to escort her.
“I’ll explain afterward.”
He clearly had no intention of explaining right now.
An Sui glanced at her watch and simply nodded.
After all, she was the only one at this enormous newspaper building on business, she thought simply enough.

***

“Well, that concludes today’s interview.”
“Thank you for your time.”
“Thank you? You’re the one who worked hard here. Director An explained everything in such thorough, kind detail over the past hour—it was tremendously helpful. Our newspaper’s readers will be delighted, I’m sure.”
At the reporter’s words, An Sui smiled with satisfaction.
She seemed to have answered well enough.
The interview should help the company too.
“So, would it be all right to contact you again later?”
“Of course, anytime you need my help.”
“Ah, then… do you happen to be free this evening?”
“This evening?”
The reporter nodded, his face growing shy.
“The interview went so well that I’m curious about so many more things.”
“Oh, well, I can answer those now.”
“Well, that is… you see…”
The reporter was stammering when it happened.
Buzz—buzz—
An Sui’s Mobile Phone vibrated.
Checking the screen, it was her team lead.
“Excuse me, I have a call coming in.”
“Oh, of course.”
Having asked permission, An Sui turned away and took the call.
“Yes, Team Lead.”
– Hey, An. How’d the interview go?
“Great. I just finished. You have perfect timing.”
– Haha, my nickname is the walking clock, you know.
“But what’s the matter? Did something happen at the company?”
– It’s not that.
At his next words, An Sui’s eyes went wide.
– The CEO of Gusan Newspaper wants to meet you.
“The CEO… wants to meet me?”
At An Sui’s response, the reporter flinched, then nodded as if he’d just understood something.
His expression carried both regret and resignation.
– Yeah, go up to the executive office now.
“Really… I’m supposed to meet the CEO?”
– Your reputation as a funeral director for Seonham Sanjo seems to have spread quite far.
“That’s a bit overwhelming…”
As An Sui trailed off, the team lead’s voice grew urgent.
– Do it for me and Yeon Su’s sake, will you? Just once? It’s hard for me to refuse. He just wanted to exchange greetings, he said. It won’t be difficult. I promise.
At her team lead’s pleading, An Sui exhaled softly.
There was no choice. It was a request from both her team lead and the CEO.
When An Sui had first joined Seonham Sanjo, the company was smaller, and there were few people her age.
The two men had come to regard her as a younger sister, cherishing her sincere, conscientious approach to every moment.

“Your eyes are different, An Sui. Both Yeon Su and I believe that only people with eyes like yours can carry on this work properly.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
“There seems to be a particular reason behind it. May I ask? I’m not forcing you—I just thought we might be able to help somehow.”

Their warm and tender concern had slowly melted the frozen wall around her heart.
For the first time—outside of Beom Jin—An Sui had opened up about her father to someone.
And from that day forward, CEO Pyo and his wife had supported her search for her father in every way they could.
How could she refuse such people’s request?
“Well, just for a moment, then.”
– Thank you, An! Our Seonham ace really is something special.
“Don’t say that. People might get the wrong idea about our company.”
– All right, all right. So, I’m counting on you, An.
The moment An Sui ended the call, the reporter spoke up.
“I happened to overhear. I’ll be happy to escort you to the executive office.”
“Oh… Thank you.”
The reporter kindly guided her to the fifteenth-floor executive office.
“Sir, An Sui is here.”
As the voice from inside told them to enter, the secretary opened the door.
An Sui bowed respectfully and stepped inside, then her eyes widened.
“President Gu?”
At her reaction, Gu Hae Shin, the CEO of Gusan Newspaper, broke into hearty laughter.
“How do you do? I’m Gu Hae Shin, CEO of Gusan Newspaper.”
Standing up from his desk, Gu Hae Shin approached and extended his hand for a handshake.
“Hello. I’m An Sui, and I work for Seonham Sanjo.”
“I know, I know.”
You know me? How possibly could you…?
At the clear confusion on An Sui’s face, Gu Hae Shin burst into warm, broad laughter.
“You’re quite honest and charming, I must say. Now I understand why my Ju Won fell for you at first sight.”
“U-Uncle.”
…Uncle?
Gu Hae Shin smiled contentedly at An Sui’s startled expression.
“I heard you’re an excellent funeral director—very sincere and professional. My nephew spoke so highly of you that I wanted to meet you myself.”
Uncle. Nephew.
It was only then that An Sui grasped the connection between the two men, her mouth falling open.
‘Team Lead, you really…!’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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