A Madman in Love-Chapter 84

"The Vice Chairman and I both agreed it was just a momentary mistake, didn’t we?"

Suin firmly retracted the resignation letter in front of her, meeting Kim Seoncheol’s turbulent gaze without wavering.

"An internal investigation has already been scheduled regarding Director Choi Gwangseon’s corruption, but you are merely his divorced ex-wife, and you voluntarily reported the illegally acquired land, didn’t you?"

"But Chairman Woo…."

"I understand it’s humiliating. But please, don’t resign in disgrace like this."

Her stance was unwavering.

"I’m well aware of everything you’ve done for Hyesung Group. If not for you, Hyesung wouldn’t be where it is today—whether it was when the previous chairman suddenly passed away or when an inexperienced person like me took this seat."

"Chairman Woo…."

"So, please, stay and protect Hyesung until your official retirement. Let me see you off with the gratitude you deserve."

"Chairman Woo… Ha, I really have no face left to show you…."

Kim Seoncheol’s nose wrinkled deeply as he listened to Woo Ilhwa’s heartfelt plea, her sincerity utterly devoid of pretense.

"T…thank you…."

The tears he had desperately held back finally spilled over, his trembling hands falling onto his lap in resignation.

***

Hyesung Group’s anniversary had arrived.

While it was a day off for most office workers—except for the site construction workers who had tight schedules—Suin had no such luxury.

"Mom! We’re out of packaging boxes. Where are they?"

"In the storage room!"

Jin Sukyung, overwhelmed with preparing macarons for the anniversary event’s meal truck, was working tirelessly, and Suin was just as busy helping her.

"I’ll go get them, Mother! Just tell me where the storage room is!"

Ihyeon was no different.

Though site supervisors had already been assigned, and he only needed to receive reports in the afternoon, he still showed up in the morning to help.

And then there was one more person.

"Mother? Why is Deputy Baek calling my mother ‘Mother’?"

Seo Jaehee—useless for anything except being full of jealousy.

Even after being repeatedly told not to come, he had stubbornly barged in, focusing entirely on keeping a watchful eye on Ihyeon rather than actually helping.

He picked fights over every little thing.

To him, Ihyeon’s mere existence was an eyesore.

"Mother is mine."

"Yes, yes, of course."

Unlike Jaehee, who was fuming with irrational possessiveness, Ihyeon, having already figured out his single-minded personality, responded smoothly, unbothered.

He simply trotted over to Jin Sukyung.

"I’ll be back with the boxes."

"On your way, grab some piping bags too."

"Yes, Mother!"

It was Suin who felt a surge of annoyance.

She was already fed up with Jaehee’s possessiveness over her, and now he was trying to claim her mother too.

"Why is my mom yours?"

"Because Lee Suin is mine, and your mother gave birth to Lee Suin. So, logically, she’s mine too."

What kind of twisted logic was this?

"I never said I was giving you all of me."

"Which means I’ve already gotten a certain amount, doesn’t it?"

It was impossible to argue with someone who had no sense of shame.

As she glared at him, he squinted one eye in a playful wink. She let it slide, simply because he looked cute.

"Mother! I brought the packaging boxes and the piping bags."

"Ah, thank you!"

By the time Suin turned back, Ihyeon had already returned from the storage room, handing the items to Jin Sukyung and efficiently folding boxes, stacking them neatly in front of Suin.

As expected of someone from the site support department, Ihyeon had an excellent work ethic and quick hands.

"Mother, do you need me to do anything else?"

"No, that’s all."

Having finished folding the boxes in no time, Ihyeon casually moved toward Jin Sukyung again.

She waved him off, looking at the three of them with a sigh.

"It’s pretty much done, so you all should just go."

"No! I will stay and help Mother until the very end!"

Ihyeon declared confidently.

"Deputy Baek can stay and finish helping. We’re leaving."

Jaehee, shameless as ever, seized the opportunity. Without a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed Suin’s wrist.

"Ah!"

"Huh?"

Ihyeon, startled, hesitated for a moment.

And in that instant, Jaehee had already pulled Suin away, dragging her out of Café Lime.

She barely had time to react before she found herself waving back at Ihyeon as she was whisked away.

"This isn’t how it was supposed to go…."

Left standing alone like an abandoned island, Ihyeon blinked, dazed.

***

"What the…?"

Seo Jaehee had dragged her straight out of the café, shoved her into his car without explanation, and now their destination turned out to be W Hotel.

As he smoothly finished parking, Suin shot him a look of disapproval.

"Seriously?"

"It’s our day off. We should relax."

"You’re actually going to let me rest?"

"Of course. Rest all you want. In my arms."

It wouldn’t be Seo Jaehee if he didn’t add something suggestive at the end.

"Get out."

"No. We were just here yesterday."

Ignoring his urging, Suin stubbornly remained in the passenger seat.

"Let’s go somewhere else today."

"Another hotel?"

"No! Somewhere else that isn’t a hotel!"

"Like where?"

"When people go on dates, they have so many options! Movie theaters, amusement parks, hell, even a park! But why is it that we only ever end up in a hotel?"

Suin’s frustration burst out.

She could understand his overwhelming desire to be physically close to the woman he loved, but this was excessive.

"We just went on a trip the other day, didn’t we?"

"And that trip also ended up in a hotel!"

"And you liked it."

Despite her complaints, Jaehee remained as shameless as ever, even smirking mischievously, completely unfazed. He was an expert at getting under her skin.

"Just for today, let’s take a break from this."

But still, he was a man who cared about her feelings.

As Suin pouted, he gently coaxed her out of the car, wrapping her in his arms.

Before she knew it, the frown on her lips had melted into a smile.

With a resigned sigh, she let herself be led into the hotel.

Jaehee still had Room 2403 under his name.

Since he practically lived at the hotel, he even received VVIP customer discounts.

At this point, he might as well just buy a place of his own.

Beep—

As he swiped the key card to unlock the suite, he suddenly wrapped both arms tightly around Suin from behind.

Then, with a nudge of his knee, he lightly tapped her between the legs.

"Inside."

"Mm…"

Suin let out a short noise of surprise before instinctively moving forward.

The two of them walked as one, legs entangled like a single creature with four limbs.

As they passed the softly lit entrance and entered the suite’s spacious living room, she was hit with an unexpectedly rich floral scent.

She smiled at the pleasant aroma—

And then.

"……."

She came to a complete stop.

The entire suite had been decorated with soft pink peonies and elegant white lisianthus flowers.

Even the white tablecloth covering the dining table was pristine, with a neatly arranged collection of gift boxes sitting on top.

This was unmistakably…

A proposal setup.

As if confirming her realization, Jaehee slowly unwrapped his arms from around her and stepped toward the table.

Among the presents, he picked up a small box containing a diamond ring.

Then he turned to face her.

"Lee Suin."

His voice carried a slight trace of nervousness.

"Let’s get married."

His red lips parted slightly before he dropped to one knee before her.

"Marry me."

From his posture to his voice, everything about him exuded gentlemanly elegance—a perfect formal proposal.

"……."

Suin’s throat tightened.

Seo Jaehee is proposing to me…

Her heart bloomed like the soft pink flowers surrounding them, pounding wildly as a radiant smile spread across her face.

"Yes."

The overwhelming emotions left her capable of only a simple answer.

As she took the ring from his hands, Jaehee stood, and Suin instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Neither of them needed to say who initiated it first. Their lips met hungrily, biting and intertwining as they melted into a deep kiss.

A soft smacking sound broke the momentary silence as their lips parted, leaving only a thin trace of warmth between them.

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Jaehee’s voice was slightly giddy as he murmured,

"But…"

Suin immediately sensed something suspicious in his hesitation.

And then.

"I have to go to the military."

It hit her like a slap to the back of the head.

Her mind blanked.

"What? Military?"

"Yeah."

Jaehee nodded without hesitation, as if this was nothing. Then, before she could explode, he hurriedly rushed through his explanation like a man trying to get through a minefield.

"I do have U.S. citizenship, but if I want to live in Korea with you after marriage, I need to complete military service."

"And?"

"So… I enlisted. I start next month."

"WHAT?"

The second bomb dropped.

Suin’s eyes went wide in utter disbelief.

Jaehee simply grinned brightly at her, as if he had just told her he was going on a short vacation.

Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he leaned in and whispered.

"You’ll visit me, right?"

"Ha!"

Who the hell said she was waiting for him?

No way. She was going to dump him and move on!

Furious, she shook her head violently, rejecting him outright.

But before she could pull away, a large hand grabbed the back of her head, holding her still.

Then, he pushed his tongue into her mouth without warning.

Suin bit him, hard, making Jaehee grunt.

Seriously? At my age… I have to be a military girlfriend?!

Seo Jaehee.

This crazy bastard.

*The END*