Arisoo clapped her hands lightly once, energy shifting again.
"So," she said brightly, "the wedding. It should be elegant. Not excessive. Media will come either way, so we control the narrative."
Do-Hyun looked relieved. Nisa looked overwhelmed. Seo-Yeon looked excited.
Before anyone else could volunteer, Ji-Ah spoke gently.
"I'll handle it."
All eyes turned to her.
Arisoo leaned back slightly. "You will?"
"Yes," Ji-Ah said calmly. "Venue coordination, guest lists, press filtering, décor themes, cultural balance between both families. It's manageable."
Manageable.
As if she were talking about rearranging flowers, not orchestrating a society spectacle.
"How?" Arisoo asked, curious now.
Ji-Ah began explaining smoothly, outlining timelines, vendor connections, controlled press releases, layered security. Her tone was steady, precise.
She didn't exaggerate. She didn't hesitate.
Everyone looked impressed.
Everyone except Madam.
Madam Kim's expression did not change.
But her fingers tapped once against the table.
Not approval.
Not disapproval.
Something colder.
She did not like it.
Not the competence.
The position.
Arisoo noticed. She noticed everything.
Min-Hyuk raised his hand playfully. "Since we're reorganizing lives, I have a question."
Arisoo turned to him slowly.
He cleared his throat. "You're… staying long?"
She shifted her attention to Ha-Joon instead.
"How many people are currently living in your house?"
"Six of us," Ha-Joon replied evenly.
She nodded. "Good. Make space for two more. My son and I will move in."
Silence.
Even the air paused.
"Five years old," she added casually. "He prefers dinosaurs and hates broccoli."
Ha-Joon did not argue.
"Understood."
Arisoo's gaze then slid to Ji-Ah.
"Since you're working under Ha-Joon's household structure, you'll take care of Nikki. And oversee the wedding."
Ji-Ah blinked once.
Of course.
"Alright," she said smoothly.
Madam finally spoke.
"Why," she asked coolly, "are you and your sister living in Ha-Joon's house?"
The temperature dropped.
"And what exactly is the arrangement?" she continued. "Are you unable to afford your own residence?"
There it was.
Not loud.
But sharp.
"People often move close to wealth for… convenience."
Seo-Yeon stiffened.
Nisa looked uncomfortable.
Min-Hyuk straightened.
Ji-Ah, however, smiled.
Polite. Calm. Almost amused.
"We're very grateful for the hospitality," she said gently. "Though I assure you, if money were our goal, we would have aimed much higher than shared housing."
A pause.
Ha-Joon's mouth twitched.
Almost a smile.
Arisoo's lips curved slowly.
Feisty.
Ji-Ah continued, still respectful. "We work. We contribute. We manage our own expenses. Living arrangements don't define ambition, ma'am. Results do."
Silence.
Clean.
Controlled.
Madam held her gaze.
Ji-Ah held it back.
No tremble. No flinch.
Across the table, Arisoo leaned slightly toward Ji-Ah and whispered just low enough,
"I like her."
Ji-Ah smiled.
Then she turned her head slightly toward Seo-Yeon.
Seo-Yeon looked composed. Spine straight. Expression neutral.
But Ji-Ah saw it.
That flicker.
The confusion.
The disappointment she tried so hard to bury.
Her eyes kept drifting toward Min-Hyuk.
Min-Hyuk, suddenly fascinated with his plate.
He would not meet her gaze.
Ji-Ah's smile softened just a little.
Poor girl.
At the head of the table, Madam adjusted her napkin and shifted the atmosphere with a single sentence.
"The wedding will be public."
Of course it would.
"The media will attend," she continued. "They will focus on the second son of a renowned business family. It will be strategic."
Her eyes sharpened.
"I do not want distractions."
The word hung.
Her gaze moved to Min-Hyuk.
"A boss and his employee," she said calmly, "should remain exactly that."
Seo-Yeon's fingers tightened around her chopsticks.
Min-Hyuk swallowed.
Ji-Ah tilted her head slightly.
"With respect," Ji-Ah said smoothly, "professionalism is a choice, not a title. Two competent people can work together without damaging reputation."
It wasn't rebellion.
It wasn't submission.
It was balance.
Madam looked at her for a long second.
Arisoo watched with open amusement.
Then Arisoo suddenly turned toward Ha-Joon.
"Why isn't he the one getting married?"
The question sliced cleanly across the table.
Ha-Joon blinked once. "The timing—"
"You need a bride too," Arisoo cut in casually, reaching for her glass. "You're not planning to live in spreadsheets forever."
Ji-Ah nearly choked.
No one had ever said that to him. Not like that.
Her lips pressed together to hold back laughter.
Ha-Joon's expression remained controlled, but the faint tightening of his jaw betrayed him.
Madam rose from her seat.
Instantly, everyone else stood.
"Dinner is finished," she said. "We will return home."
No one argued.
They watched as Madam walked toward the exit, Arisoo beside her, sapphire fabric flowing like confidence itself.
As they reached the door, Do-Hyun leaned toward Ha-Joon and whispered,
"Is she going home with you?"
Ha-Joon nodded once.
"Yes."
Do-Hyun exhaled slowly.
Then he turned to Nisa. "Let's go."
And the two of them followed after Madam and Arisoo.
The room, once heavy with strategy and tension, finally exhaled.
Seo-Yeon stood still for exactly three seconds.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then she turned to Min-Hyuk.
Her smile was gone.
"Just Seo-Yeon?" she asked softly.
Min-Hyuk blinked. "What?"
"That's all I am?"
Her voice wasn't loud. It was worse. Controlled.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "It wasn't the right timing."
"For what? My existence?"
He glanced toward the door where Madam had exited. "You heard her. Media. Image. Employee."
Seo-Yeon laughed once under her breath. Not amused.
"So I'm convenient at work… but inconvenient at dinner?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You know how my mother is."
"Yes," she replied. "I just learned how you are."
Ouch.
Min-Hyuk reached for her wrist. She pulled it back gently.
"In dramas," she said quietly, eyes glossy but steady, "this is where the guy says, 'I'm sorry, I was protecting you.'"
He swallowed. "I was."
She shook her head.
"No. You were protecting yourself."
That landed.
For a second, he had no clever reply.
She inhaled slowly, regaining composure. Chin lifted. Pride restored.
"Enjoy your strategic silence, Director."
Then she turned and walked out, heels clicking with restrained heartbreak.
Min-Hyuk stood there, staring at the empty space she left behind.
Ji-Ah watched the entire exchange like someone reading subtitles only she could see.
She turned to Ha-Joon.
"Well," she murmured, "that unfolded beautifully."
Ha-Joon exhaled faintly. "He shouldn't have done that."
"No," Ji-Ah agreed. "He shouldn't have."
There was no judgment in her tone. Just fact.
She glanced toward the exit where the others had gone.
"Your house population just increased by two," she added lightly. "And possibly one dinosaur-obsessed child."
Ha-Joon almost smiled again.
Almost.
Ji-Ah tilted her head toward the door. "We should follow them before Arisoo redesigns the entire living arrangement without us present."
Ha-Joon gave a small nod.
And together, they walked out after the others.