Contract Marriage with a Male Friend - Chapter 48

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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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#48

Sui reported to the New Business Division on the twenty-eighth floor of Kangho Group Headquarters.
“Good morning, Team Lead. I’m Kim Ji-seop, and I’ll be assisting you from today onward. I look forward to working with you.”
A tall man with a sturdy build—practically a bodyguard type—greeted her with formal courtesy.
“Hello, I’m An Sui. Thank you for your support.”
Kim Ji-seop promptly produced a tablet with crisp, efficient movements.
“I’ll be managing your schedule and assisting with both internal and external duties. Let me brief you on today’s agenda.”
He swiped through the screen a few times, then turned it toward her for easier viewing.
“This morning you’ll review the operational status reports from each team within the New Business Division, and then have a light introductory meeting with the relevant department heads.”
“Understood.”
“This afternoon, we’ll head to the new Hannam-dong site and distribution center that Kangho Group is currently developing, and conduct a site inspection. Does that work for you?”
“Yes, please proceed with that schedule.”
Thus began her first day as Team Lead of the New Business Division.
Throughout the morning, her desk accumulated stacks of documents filled with unfamiliar terminology.
These were planning documents for the premium VIP hospice and Well-Dying business venture that Dok-go Hyung-jun, the chairman of Kangho Group, was ambitiously preparing—a perfect justification to silence those whispering about her background as a funeral director.
The chairman had evidently taken her into the family with this business in mind from the start, securing both pretext and practical benefit simultaneously.
‘Is this what gilding means?’
But there was little time for such reflection.
Sui spent the morning wrestling with the mounting stack of documents, grasping the broader flow of the company’s business, and exchanging awkward greetings with department heads who visited in succession. Before she knew it, lunchtime had slipped away.
In the afternoon, she climbed into Kim Ji-seop’s car and navigated through Seoul’s heavy traffic to tour the site.
Listening to briefings from the personnel on the vast grounds and taking meticulous notes left her neck and legs aching with fatigue.
With all her nerves tensed from adapting to her new environment, time flew like an arrow.
Before she realized it, dusk had fallen outside the window—it was already leaving time.
On the way back to headquarters after finishing the site inspection, Sui checked the messages that had accumulated.
They were all from Beom-jin.
[Did you have a nice lunch?]
[Baby]
[I’m going into a meeting]
[Are you swamped?]
[I’ll come pick you up. Let me know when you’re done]
[Miss you]
[What do you want for dinner? Should we grab something on the way home?]
She found herself smiling without realizing it.
‘He really does text well.’
It was the kind of situation that would make anyone’s eyes pop out if they heard about it.
In business circles, Beom-jin was famous for never taking calls except through his secretary.
The very thought of him sending messages whenever he had a spare moment—moreover, about trivial, everyday matters—was unimaginable.
“You seem to have received a pleasant message.”
“Ah, yes. It’s from my husband, Dok-go…”
Kim Ji-seop barely managed to keep his composure, just narrowly avoiding the reflex to ask, “What?”
“From Executive Director Dok-go…”
“Yes. He was asking what I wanted for dinner… Oh, but that’s probably too trivial to mention.”
“No, not at all. It’s lovely to see, the two of you together.”
Seeing Sui’s face flush crimson, Kim Ji-seop silently whistled to himself.
‘Executive Director Beom-jin asking about dinner menus…’
The Beom-jin he’d observed until now was someone who permitted no approach from others, with his cool gaze and cold demeanor.
He only spoke when necessary, and even then it was typically with sharp, cutting remarks that left his target torn to shreds.
And this was the same man who’d never so much as glanced at a woman in his entire life—yet he’d suddenly skipped over dating altogether and jumped straight to marriage.
‘He must be deeply in love.’
The day when ‘Beom-jin’ and ‘love’ could be used in the same sentence had finally arrived.
Kim Ji-seop made a silent vow.
He would be absolutely loyal to Sui going forward.
From the current situation, it was obvious that she would become the next lady of the household.
The very fact that the chairman had entrusted her with the important new business venture made that clear.
“We’ve arrived, Team Lead.”
They got out of the car as they returned to the underground parking lot of headquarters.
“You’ve had a busy first day.”
“You’ve worked hard too, Director Kim. The schedule was tight from day one, and I’m grateful for all your help.”
“Not at all. You’re so quick to understand everything that I barely had anything to do—I was almost embarrassed the whole time.”
It was half flattery, half genuine.
What Kim Ji-seop said to Sui was half compliment, half truth.
Her capabilities shown during the afternoon site inspection exceeded his expectations.
Perhaps because of her background as a funeral director, Sui had an uncanny ability to pinpoint exactly what was needed on the ground.
She possessed a keen eye that could penetrate the unspoken hardships of field workers and the blind spots in workflow—things you could never discern from a desk reviewing planning documents alone.
The field personnel themselves, not just Kim Ji-seop watching from the sidelines, had nodded in admiration more than once.
“I believe the chairman will be very pleased. A capable person has come aboard who truly understands his vision and can execute it properly.”
At the repeated praise, Sui’s face flushed warm.
“I… thank you for seeing it that way.”
Her heart beat in a pleased, steady rhythm.
It was gratifying to know that her effort at every moment had borne fruit.
“It’s thanks to your excellent support, Director Kim. I’m truly grateful.”
“You’re too kind. I’ll continue to do my best.”
As the two faced each other with warm smiles—
Whoosh—!
A car’s headlights suddenly flashed toward them like arrows.
As they both squinted and shielded their eyes, the sound of a car door opening cut through the moment.
‘What… what is this?’
Kim Ji-seop stepped forward to shield Sui.
He was serving as both her secretary and her personal security after all.
“Team Lead, please step behind me—”
“Baby.”
Both their eyes widened at the low, thick voice.
“I came to pick you up.”
Beom-jin approached them with long, purposeful strides.
Kim Ji-seop quickly stepped aside and bowed deeply.
“It’s been a while, Executive Director.”
“Has it? Our last meeting was at that ‘cleaning operation’ in Guri, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So you’re assisting my wife, Director Kim?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Beom-jin’s dark eyes bore down on the crown of Kim Ji-seop’s head as he bowed with such formal deference.
Kim Ji-seop was not only exceptionally competent at his job but also excelled at the ‘cleaning’ work of eliminating troublemakers—making him one of the few people their grandfather trusted implicitly.
Moreover… his appearance was quite striking.
There were rumors that he received plenty of love calls from wealthy heiresses.
Information he would have once ignored now needled him like a splinter under his fingernail.
And there was only one reason why.
“Sui.”
Beom-jin extended his hand.
“Let’s go home.”
Sui nodded slowly and took his hand. His long, thick fingers immediately wove between hers, gripping deeply.
“Thank you for your hard work today.”
“Yes, sir. Please drive safely.”
Kim Ji-seop did not raise his head until the car carrying the two of them had disappeared.
Or rather, he could not.
Recalling the look in Beom-jin’s eyes as he’d stared at him, Kim Ji-seop squeezed his eyes shut.
‘I think… I may have caused a serious misunderstanding…’

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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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