Park Jimin Daring Wife || PJM ✔️ (COMPLETE)

C68

Seung Woo’s report barely scratched the surface about Jeong Jin-soo. In an attempt to dig deeper, he stumbled across a complicated code.

Park Jimin received the first half of the report and decided to be the one who would work on cracking the code.

- - - - -

The days passed by uneventfully and soon the birthday of Kim Young-ok, Song Areum’s maternal grandmother, approached. After discovering how close Song Areum was with the woman, Park Jimin brought an entire trunkload of gifts including camel-wool jackets, ginseng, abalone, a matching set of jade bracelets and earrings, porcelain teacups, and everything else an elderly woman would need.

Song Areum glanced out the window, her eyes warily landing upon the two additional cars behind them. There were usually discreetly following cars filled with Park Jimin’s private team and bodyguards trailing them, but today, there were more because of the gifts.

She glanced back at Park Jimin who was concentrating completely on his laptop, working diligently even on his off-day. His brows were creased while his fingers danced away on the keyboard, the speed reminding her of when she used to play the piano. Speaking of the instrument, she had not been able to play it in a while due to her busy schedule.

Song Areum admired Park Jimin whilst he was focusing hard at work. Her eyes lingered on his glasses, hanging off the bridge of his auspicious nose. With his light grey cardigan and white shirt that hugged his body splendidly, she could practically feel herself drool.

"What are you working on?" She asked him. She tried to keep quiet and let him work, but she was soon bored with browsing through her phone and staring out of the window. There was nothing but an endless array of highways and trees in front of her, all of which, looked the same.

"Not much." He absentmindedly responded, not realizing how neglected she was feeling.

Song Areum pressed her lips together and sulked at his reply. She leaned over and decided to find out what was more important than her. Everything was in a foreign language, well, not really. It was coding, but she didn’t understand what it was for.

"This is...?" She tilted her head.

"Work." He vaguely said, shutting down his laptop and placing it beside him.


Song Areum blinked. "Oh. Okay." She went back to her phone.

Park Jimin sighed. Such a passive and aggressive thing she was. He placed a hand on her shoulder, she shrugged his handoff. His lips twitched. He poked her cheek and she nearly bit his handoff.

"Don’t sulk. The coding doesn’t affect you, so you do not need to worry about it." Park Jimin chuckled when she glumly looked up.

"You didn’t talk to me the entire hour we’ve been in the car."

Some would it as being needy, but he saw it as progress. "You didn’t tell me you wanted to talk." He teased, watching as her eyes narrowed at him before they went back to her phone. "You wanted to talk, I made time for you. And now you don’t want it?"

Song Areum thought about it for a few seconds. She was being irrational right now. "Well, what should we talk about?"

Park Jimin laughed again. She felt her heart getting warm at the melody that was deep like the ocean and smooth as silk. "How about who is going to be at the banquet?"

"It’s not a banquet per se, more of a family gathering."

Park Jimin made sure that Moon Chae-won and her little spawn would not attend the birthday. Well, not that they wanted to anyways. Moon Chae-won was being a diligent wife by looking for her husband, but it seemed she was doing it elsewhere. Song Ara had some performance overseas and did not bother with her maternal grandmother.

From his reports, Moon Chae-won did not have a good relationship with her mother. The big dispute was over her treatment towards Song Areum. Kim Young-ok noticed the significant differences between the younger and elder grand-daughters’ upbringing.

After an argument that took place a while back where Kim Young-ok practically banned Moon Chae-won from the household, the two never made up.

"Well, who’s going to be there?"

"I’m not sure yet. Usually, many relatives would come. The majority of them, I can barely remember the names of." Song Areum vaguely said, her eyes drifting to the leather seat. She did not want to admit to Park Jimin that she never had a good relationship with her relatives. It was very rare that they spoke to her without the thought of using her for their own benefit. There were only a handful of people she actually cared about.


Park Jimin’s finger grazed her cheek, before sliding down to her chin and turning it to him. "We do not have to talk to them." His thumb brushed against her bottom lip, his eyes darkening a bit when she leaned forward. "Insignificant things are not worth your time."

He brought his lips down for a heated kiss that would match the burning summer sun of Menguo. As their lips were mere inches apart, a knock came from the heavily tinted windows.

He did not care but knew that she would. This entire morning, she was too busy checking over the gifts to spare some time for him. He did not get a kiss the entire day. He brought a hand behind her neck but was too late. She had turned her face to look at the window while his lips landed on her cheek. He resourcefully placed tiny pecks, trailing to her lips, sealing it with his.

Song Areum’s eyes widened for a brief second before they fluttered shut. He tilted her neck to a better angle, perfectly aligning their open-mouthed kiss. He kissed her until she was breathless and on the verge of growing unconscious. In a husked and ragged voice, he muttered, "We will continue later."

Song Areum barely registered his words and if it wasn’t for the hand behind her neck, she would’ve slumped onto the window.

Park Jimin bit his bottom lip, highly pleased by the effect he had on her. Then his possessive brain wondered if there was anyone else who made her feel this way. His eyes ignited at the idea and without warning, he crashed their lips together.

She let out a small moan, her body arching towards his. His arm slithered around her, resting on her lower back, molding her lithe body into his. This kiss was rougher, a bit punishing, but too pleasurable for her to wonder why he was giving it to her.

If there was anything addicting in this world, it would be her spontaneous kisses, sometimes it was shy, tiny nibbles in response, and sometimes it was bold, daring, and matched his frivolous pace. Regardless of the type, he could never get enough of her.

She let out a quiet, pleasured sound. He made a growl deep in his throat, holding her to him until he felt every curve of her body. She tapped on his firm chest, begging him for air. He finally responded by pulling back only to trail kisses down her neck, slow and torturous, igniting a burning sensation low in her stomach.

"W-what..." She breathed out, confused while tilting her head to give him more access. She was too pleased to even realize the bright red marks he was creating with his nibbles, soft yet intoxicatingly warm open-mouth kisses, and the suckling that followed afterward.

"Park Jimin, I-I can’t think straight..." She said in a daze, her fingers nestling into his hair.

"That’s the purpose." He whispered against her jade-like skin. His lips trailed upwards, desiring another kiss.

THUD! THUD!

Another knock sounded outside the window, startling Song Areum and breaking her trance. Frightened at being discovered in such a compromising position, especially in front of her family, her body jumped. Her eyes widened and her heart raced. Even though she knew no one could see inside the car, she was still panicking.

Park Jimin’s hand traveled to the back of her head, pressing her face into his chest while the other caressed her tiny shoulders. "Relax." He whispered, when her breathing became a bit haggard. He could never understand why she was so scared of being discovered. Everyone already knew she was his, and he was hers. What was there to be worried about?

Regardless of the reason, he placed soft pecks at the crown of her hair, whispering comforting words to her until she finally calmed down, her body melting against his. He wanted to kiss her again, but the rude knocking continued. He thought that it would be a good idea to cut off the culprit’s hand. The idea was going to become a reality, for his anger aroused when she untangled herself from him. He hasn’t had enough of her delightful lips, soft and sweet, like a drug from which he could never abstain.

Song Areum was about to open the car door but found it locked. She took down the partition and glanced at Hyung Min in confusion.

"Would you like the car door to be opened now, madam?" He gently asked her, his eyes flickering to the bites on her neck. His face became a bit heated and he quickly averted them. His boss was truly too much.

"No." Park Jimin grunted, but Song Areum rolled her eyes. "Yes, please do it now."

The corner of Park Jimin’s lips quirked into a devious smirk. "How would you like it?"

"Huh?" Song Areum confusedly asked, watching as he moved her hair and used it to cover her neck. He then adjusted her collar, understanding she had a fear of being seen. If he could have it his way, he would force her to show it to the world. But she did not like that, and thus, he would not.

Park Jimin bent his head near her ear, his warm breath tickling it and sending pleasurable shivers down her spine. In a low, husky, and seductive voice, he rasped, "How would you like to do it?"

Song Areum’s body heated up at the way he spoke. She did not understand his words, but their close proximity was enough for her to unknowingly desire him. "I don’t understand..."

"Would you like to do it on these leather seats...or perhaps in our house on the bed, or maybe the kitchen counter? Or if you’d like, we can do it beneath the stars."

Song Areum’s face became red as a tomato as she pushed him off of her, embarrassed after she finally understood his meaning. "None of those places!" She hissed, turning her face away from him to hide the blush.

Park Jimin could not help but let out a loud laughter that wormed its way to her heart. Even if she tried to hide her face, he could still see the pink flush on her chest. "What about our future kids? How else would they be made?" He mused, reaching his fingers over to play with her hair. She swatted his hand and turned to the door, attempting to open it but found it still locked.

Park Jimin decided Hyung Min deserved a raise for this. A wolfish grin settled on his lips as his arms snaked around her body, locking themselves in front of her stomach.

"What are you—"

"You’re still red, let me cool you off." He lied, turning her hair to the side and ready to lavish her neck again.

"Park Jimin, we’re blocking the cars behind us." She wriggled away from him which made him kiss her cheek.

"Alright, my love. Anything you want." He adjusted her hair again, ensuring she was fully covered.

Hyung Min saw it as a sign to unlock the doors.

Song Areum slapped Park Jimin’s hand and he finally unclasped it from her. She climbed out of the car with a light blush on her face and saw the long line of impatient cars behind her. It was a wonder that they did not angrily beep their horns. Her eyes landed on the person knocking on her door. She realized he must’ve been a newly hired servant of the house, given his young age. She was confused by his dazed stare.

Park Jimin stepped out of the car shortly after, his scathing glare was enough to send the servant’s eyes over anything except her. He possessively wrapped his arms around Song Areum which made her roll her eyes. ’Men.’

"Why were you so angry back there?" She quietly asked him, a hand resting on top of the one clenching her hip.


Park Jimin cleared his throat. "I wasn’t."

"What? Did you have an internal argument with yourself?" She teased, not knowing she had hit the bullseye.

Park Jimin let out a rough, "No."

"Sure you didn’t." She giggled, a bright smile resting on her lips.

She did not notice an elderly woman watching her from a distance, studying the pair. "What a dashing young man he is." She commented to the woman standing beside her.

"His background is even more dashing." The woman responded, breathless upon seeing him. His entire being was a force to be reckoned with. His prominently charismatic features were guarded and emotionless. He gave off a very unapproachable aura that rivaled with that of a King, or perhaps, an Emperor was a more suitable comparison. He disregarded all of the desperate and awestruck expressions of the other women there, eagerly drinking in his appearance. The entire time, he only looked at Song Areum as he walked up to the small flight of stone stairs.

Moon Jin-Ae, like everyone here, knew exactly who that man was. When your face was plastered as the "Most Desirable Man in The Country" on various magazines every month, you’d have to live under a rock to not know who he was. She could not believe her niece’s luck when she snatched a catch like him, but because it was Song Areum, she would support their relationship.

"Yes, he is a Park..." Kim Young-ok calmly replied, hiding the doubt in her voice. Her heavy heart worried for her little granddaughter. She would be treading in dangerous waters if she married into the Park family. If she could, she wanted Song Areum to marry someone more lowkey, equally wealthy, but able to give her a life filled with peace.

"She’s very happy." Moon Jin-Ae’s shoulder dropped in relief. When she caught wind that Areum’s boyfriend was none other than Park Jimin, she became anxious that Song Areum was perhaps forced into the relationship. It was not rare for the Elders to forge contracted marriages.

"And that is all that matters." Kim Young-ok rested her finely aged hand on the cane. Moon Jin-Ae came forward to help the aging woman to her feet, behaving like the filial daughter she always was.

Song Areum’s eyes scanned the perimeter, in search of her beloved grandmother. She was always hidden underneath a tree somewhere, preferring to observe everyone from a distance.

"What are you looking at?" Park Jimin curiously asked, his eyes following the direction she was looking for. Song Areum saw a group of elderly women, but Park Jimin saw the group of men beside them.

"Your man is right here." He sulked.

"My man is unnecessarily possessive." She retorted.

"I didn’t do anything yet."

"But you thought about it." She teased, glancing up at him, her heart skipping a beat when she saw he was looking at her the entire time.

"Only once or twice."

"Only?" She laughed, reaching up to give the child a pat on his cheek. Love truly makes you a weird person. She found this side of him endearing.

"You shouldn’t worry so much. It’s not good for you, and our relationship. I’m not going anywhere." She gently said, turning her body so that she could clasp her arms around his waist.


Park Jimin’s frigid and icy expression melted at her gesture. He instantly hugged her back. "I know." He said, even though a part of him was still fearful. He was still worried that he would wake up one day and she would be gone, like a midsummer dream. At the horrendous idea, his hands clenched, thus, harshly squeezing her waist.

She sighed. "Why do I have a feeling that you overthink more than I do?"

"It’s good to overthink."

"Oh, really now? I thought you said it was not good for me."

"It’s only good when I do it." He cheekily said, grinning down at her.

Song Areum rolled her eyes. "How biased."

"Only because it’s you." He hummed, bending down to place a chaste kiss on her cheek until he saw someone approaching them from the corner of his eyes. Seeing that it was an elderly woman dressed in burgundy, he straightened himself and pulled away before his lips landed on her.

"Wow, that’s a first." She chuckled, turning around after realizing his eyes were set elsewhere. Her eyes landed on her petite cousin. His eyes landed on a couple of approaching women.

"I assume that’s your grandmother." Park Jimin whispered.

Song Areum was confused. "No, that’s my— Oh." She coughed a bit, her face becoming red again. When her eyes finally landed upon her grandmother and aunt, her eyes turned a lighter shade of amber. She easily maneuvered her body away from his and rushed to her grandmother.

"Halmeoni !" She squealed, stopping herself just a small inch before their bodies collided. She collected herself and reached over to hug one of the two women in this world that raised her.

"Areum, it warms my heart to see you." Kim Young-ok’s voice was as adoring and tender as Song Areum always remembered it to be.

"I’m sorry I didn’t come back that much."

"All that matters is that you are here." Kim Young-ok smiled and it reached her eyes with laugh lines beside them.

When Park Jimin approached the three, a shadow covered over them. He awkwardly cleared his throat, "Happy birthday."

Song Areum blinked. She had never heard him sound so uncomfortable... was that nervousness? She swiveled around and sure enough, his deep, obsidian eyes, unreadable to everyone except her, were unceasingly swirling. He was nervous, but he hid it very well.

"Young man, my birthday is tomorrow."

"Pft." Song Areum tried to hide her laughter when she saw the panic that arose in Park Jimin’s eyes.

He cleared his throat. "Happy early birthday." His voice was as unyielding and cold as ever. He could never adjust it the way he wanted to. It only softened when he spoke to Song Areum.

"Halmeoni, you shouldn’t tease him. He tends to overthink like me." Song Areum grinned. "It is your birthday today."

Kim Young-ok’s smile widened as she innocently tilted her head, the way Song Areum always did. She cupped her ears, "Hm, child? I can’t hear you. I’m growing old, you see, my hearing is deteriorating." Then her eyes shifted to Park Jimin. "My brain is also rotting away. I think I said it was tomorrow, I meant today. Phew, when you’re as old as me, you sometimes get your dates mixed up."

Park Jimin swallowed. His eyes drifted to Song Areum who was far too amused by the teasing. "I see." He robotically replied.

Why was it that both of her cherished grandparents always teased him? First, it was Song Yun Gak and now it was her grandmother...

Kim Young-ok’s eyes lingered on the wide array of hidden men that mingled in the crowd. So many guards...

When Park Jimin flicked his wrist, a few guards came forward carrying grand gifts. "I wasn’t sure what you preferred."

Kim Young-ok glanced at them with disinterest, "I prefer great-grandchildren."

Song Areum’s eyes became as wide as saucers, "Halmeoni!"

"How many?" Park Jimin calmly responded, the left corner of his lips tilted into a pleased smirk.

"How many can you give me?" Kim Young-ok happily questioned, a fond smile on her face. Great-grandchildren... How lovely. It was a dream of hers to live long enough to see them.

"As many as she can healthily bear."

Song Areum pinched his arm, warning him to not speak anymore. The more he did, the more false hope he was giving her Halmeoni. She only wanted two or three kids, despite the policy going on. As long as one had money, they can give birth to as many as they’d like.

"Oh, goody!" Kim Young-ok gleefully clapped her hands, her smile deepening, revealing the fine lines on her weathered-out face. She reached one hand out, soft from all the years of never using it for hard work.

Park Jimin grabbed it and was a bit surprised when she yanked him forward with great strength. Even so, he only moved ahead for a small step or two.

"Auspicious nose and eyes." She muttered before turning his hand over to trace the lines on his palm. "Hm..."

Song Areum knew her grandmother had a lot of interest in palm reading. It was something Kim Young-ok practiced in her spare time and when one was as old as her, she had plenty of free time.

Kim Young-ok’s eyes narrowed when she saw the fine lines on Park Jimin’s palm. She dropped it. An air of disapproval surrounded her. "Where is that Wei Hantao boy? He had favorable lines."


The air became chilly, even though it was 37 degrees celsius today. Park Jimin was giving off a murderous vibe, the calm tides in his eyes became a violent storm.

"He’s...elsewhere." Song Areum strained a smile. "Halmeoni, look over Park Jimin’s lines again. Perhaps it’s the sun..."

"Problems in marriage and a shallow Ring of Saturn  on his palms. Hmph. Unfavorable." Kim Young-ok frowned, upset that her granddaughter was born with great lines, yet her partner was not. "I like the Wei boy better."

Song Areum wrapped her arms around Park Jimin’s biceps when she could feel his thirst for blood. "Halmeoni, he is not a good man."

Kim Young-ok heaved a sigh. No man is good. Some are better at hiding it than others. "Areum, come here."

Song Areum glanced upwards at Park Jimin whose gaze was so icy, it turned this place into Antarctica. She sighed and slowly untangled her arms from him.

Kim Young-ok grabbed her lovely granddaughter’s wrist and then showed her hand to Park Jimin. "You see this palm, young man? It’s too good for you to ruin it."

"It’s missing a ring." Park Jimin bit out, ready to snatch her hand back.

"Hmph, a ring? How about you worry about your own marriage line." Kim Young-ok kept Song Areum by her side. She did not like this man.

Park Jimin finally understood what it was like to be an unfavorable candidate. She must’ve felt this sort of rejection by Park Mujian. His eyes flickered to his woman. "A positive and a negative can balance each other out."

"A positive and a positive is double the goodness." Kim Young-ok bitterly replied, turning her head to the side and walking off with Song Areum in tow. She dragged the young woman behind her, refusing to let go of her wrist.

"Halmeoni...His lines are not bad." Song Areum quietly whispered, glancing back to see Park Jimin was accompanying them every step of the way. His porcelain smooth fingers were curled into fists, turning his honey-toned skin a pale, white color.

"They’re not good enough for you." Kim Young-ok patiently replied before stopping in front of a good friend of hers.

"Areum, meet Madam Ren. She has a son who’s currently the leading Vice President of his father’s toy company. I’m sure you remember playing with Tiantian dolls right? They manufacture it."


Madam Ji Hye’s eyes brightened at the sight of Song Areum’s petite face and extremely flattering features. Paired with her background, Ji Hye could die happy if a Song became her daughter-in-law. "My son is turning twenty-eight this year. Having a toy company will be beneficial when you have children." She laughed, grabbing Song Areum’s hands.

Madam Yoo also came in for the kill. "If second-son Vice President is not to your taste, my son is an entrepreneur who has started his own company. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, Anion Technology."

"Park Enterprise owns major shares in Ren Toy Inc. Anion Technology’s proposals are weak and boring. They will not last long." Park Jimin coldly said, yanking his woman back into his arms, angered that she was snatched right in front of him.

Every family here was a joke to him. He could squash them like a bug. Pathetic. No one here was worthy enough of Song Areum.

Kim Young-ok frowned at the boy’s possessiveness. She sharply turned to her granddaughter and was disappointed to see the woman did not mind the treatment.

Everyone became quiet when he stepped into the scene. No one was stupid enough to directly go against him, even if he was significantly younger than everyone here. His charisma and fearsome reputation were enough to erase the lines of superiority.

"At the least, their lines are better." Kim Young-ok bit out.

’Damned lines, they were simply creases on one’s skin, formed at birth. Such a pointless thing.’ Park Jimin gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching and unclenching. His fingers dug into her skin, whilst his grasp on her hip became unbearably rough.

Song Areum grabbed his hand and decided to lock their fingers together. "Park Jimin’s eight characters of birth time are very favorable. Do not worry so much about the unwritten future, Halmeoni. It is not good for your health."

When she saw her Halmeoni’s lips dip into a disapproving frown, she quickly added on, "I’m sure our children would love to play with their maternal great-grandmother. You have to maintain your health to match their unruliness."

Kim Young-ok’s eyes brightened again. Great-grandchildren... With the face of her darling Areum, what a dream it would be. "You’ll bring them to me?"

"As long as you allow it, of course." Song Areum gently said, smiling a bit.

"Come and visit me at least once a month. Have someone bring the children once a week. It’s lonely in this house."

Song Areum tried not to laugh. The house was indeed large, but there was always liveliness inside of it. She was pretty sure her other cousins had given her Halmeoni many great-grandchildren who frequented the house. "I will."

Park Jimin’s anger was softened by her words. He wanted children as soon as possible, but he did not want to pressure her. Speaking of which, he was always the one stopping their intimate interactions from going too far... He wondered if ever he did not control himself, would she allow them to take their relationship to another level?

- - - - -

Ring of Saturn: An inauspicious line on the palm that symbolizes imprisonment, constraint, difficulty, obstacle, frustration, and etc. Often live a hard-life and are prone to hot-tempers. Shallow lines indicate a person is uncommunicative. Broken lines indicate serious influences and a probability there will not be a tough future ahead.

"Areum, come and accompany me to our table." Kim Young-ok did not wait for her granddaughter to reply. She grabbed Song Areum’s hand, pulling her away from Park Jimin for the third time today.

Unlike many of the grandmothers eyeing the young man in hopes of introducing their granddaughters, Kim Young-ok did not like Park Jimin a bit. A relationship with that man would be simply too dangerous — she knew of his background. Ruling over the Wangs from behind the curtains was none other than this Matriarch, who refused to let anything come in harm’s way of her grandchildren — especially Song Areum.

"Halmeoni, where is Park Jimin going to sit?" Song Areum questioned upon realizing the chair beside her was occupied. That was strange. She had informed her grandmother in advance that Park Jimin would be coming. How come there was not a seat reserved for him? Unless, she did not like him even before the meeting...

"Oh him? He can sit at the table in the corner." And far away from you. Kim Young-ok thought to herself, hiding the smile on her face.

She ignored the chilly air from behind her, turning summer into winter. She was not daft. He was a Park and any inch of disrespect towards them would not be tolerated — no matter who they were, unless, it was Song Areum. For her, Park Jimin was willing to bend all sorts of rules as long as she could remain nestled in his arms and within his reach. She seated him in a place that was far from the main table, but still in a respectable area surrounded by esteemed guests.

"Halmeoni." Song Areum squeezed Kim Young-ok’s hand to grab her attention when she was seated down. "Who is sitting beside me?"

"You’ll find out soon enough." Kim Young-ok gently stroked Song Areum’s cheek before she allowed herself to be whisked away by the other guests.

Park Jimin placed his hand behind Song Areum’s chair, standing in front of her. "She does not like me."

Song Areum strained her smile as she grabbed the one hand resting on his side. His rough, calloused skin met hers and she gripped his hand tighter. "Just a bit, but she’ll warm up to you. Don’t be angry."

Park Jimin’s thumb brushed her chin, stroking her soft skin. He was irked and displeased at the old woman’s treatment towards him. No one was that audacious and bold to blatantly disrespect him. He could see where Song Areum got her behavior from, combined from the one she learned from Song Yun Gak, Song Areum was quite a fearless little thing.

Captivated by her eyes, with lightened hues because of the crystal chandelier above her and her skin that glistened in a healthy glow, he could see the love she had for him tucked between the folds of her eyes. He was at a loss for words.

She loosely wrapped her arms around him, resting her head upon his body. She could feel her grandmother’s dissatisfied stares, combined with the envious and scheming ones of others. She did not pay attention to the latter.

Park Jimin’s heart melted at her gesture. He caressed her hair before he nodded his head. In a mellow and calm voice, he whispered, "Alright, my love." He bent down and kissed the top of her head, gave the area a pat, and then stood to his full height to play with her hair. He was mindful of the people’s curious and nosy eyes upon him, but as long as she did not care, he did not either.


- - - - -

The dinner had started.

Song Areum sat down on her chair with the desire of personally speaking to her grandmother, but the minute she sat down, the gossiping aunties struck up a conversation with her. She was placed just one seat away from her grandmother, but with how talkative these women were, she knew she would have no way into the conversation.

The seat beside her was pulled out and down sat a man. She sighed. So her grandmother truly was attempting to set her up with another man.

"It’s very nice to meet you, Song Areum." He began, turning around to charm her with a thousand-watt smile. "I’m sure my mother must have already introduced me, but I am the Vice President of Ren Toy Inc."

A tall presence approached him from behind whose murderous chill was like a hand that strangled his throat.

"Scram." Park Jimin snarled, hands tucked inside of his pockets, with the appearance of a triad leader. His soulless eyes landed upon the man and he did not need to be told twice.

He left his seat and went elsewhere, presumably towards his mother.

Kim Young-ok glanced up, a disapproving frown on her face, but Park Jimin surprised her by pushing the chair into the table. He did not plan on sitting down beside her.

Kim Young-ok felt a bit nervous when Park Jimin’s dark, sinister eyes pierced hers as if warning her to back off. He then bent down to give Song Areum a peck on her cheek and walked back to his table, leaving a heavy silence in the atmosphere.

The seat next to her remained empty the entire dinner.

Soon, the lively chatter resumed when waiters came out with plates of food.

- - - - -


Song Areum approached her grandmother with a single question, "Putting the lines aside, there are other reasons you do not like him. Am I right?"

Kim Young-ok turned around to face her granddaughter whose piercing stare resembled Song Yun Gak.

"Take a stroll with me through the gardens." Kim Young-ok’s voice sounded older to Song Areum. In her years of absence, she did not realize just how old her grandmother was getting. She did not want such a thing to happen, but time was running out faster than she could chase it.

Song Areum glanced back where Park Jimin was standing in a corner, watching her like a hawk. Rarely touching his food during dinner and never indulging in the conversations people tried to strike up with him; all of his attention was dedicated to her. No matter where she went, she was within his line of sight.

Song Areum’s head tilted to the large french doors that lead to the gardens. Then she folded her elbows and allowed Kim Young-ok to place a hand on the nook of her bent arm. Together the two strolled down the Millenium Path Garden, a place she frequented in her youth. The peach blossoms had yet to shed their petals, presenting a wondrous world of pink and white, a tranquil and breathtaking scenery to witness when the wind picked up.

"In the viewpoint of a bachelorette, Park Jimin is a well-sought out one. Many would kiss the ground he walked on." Kim Young-ok started off. Her fingers brushed against a petal that softly fell off a leaf. "But you are not like that. You do not cling onto him nor do you chase him. He likes that because you are different."

She sharply turned around. "But what about your other characteristics? What happens when this push-and-pull game ends? What shall happen to your relationship then? " She answered her questions for Song Areum. "He will grow old of this game. He will grow old of your feistiness." She spoke from experience.

In her youth, her behavior greatly resembled Song Areum’s. The Head of the Wang Monarch was deeply infatuated by her because she was different from the rest. When women did everything to please him, she did everything to annoy him.

He chased after her, tripping over his legs, and when he finally conquered her, he soon became bored with her. The game was, after all, over. The chase was done. What was still left to do?

His feelings towards her were intrigued that a woman half his size could have that much confidence bottled up inside of her.

He did not love her.

He loved the idea of conquering a stubborn little thing like her. And look at where it landed her; a marriage tainted with affairs. After placing Kim Young-ok in his house, like a trophy, he sought after other trophies who would also give him a hard time. In order to secure her position, Kim Young-ok birthed him many children.

"You can tell me all you want that he is a different man from my husband." Kim Young-ok did not hide a lot of secrets from Song Areum. When Song Areum was younger, Kim Young-ok had already told her everything there was to know about her relationship with Patriarch Wang.

Song Areum knew what her grandmother was referring to. Even now, her maternal grandfather was nowhere in sight. It was his wife’s birthday, but he was trying to conceive another’s birthday. "He loves me and I love him."

"Love... what a wonderful yet tainted word. A person’s heart can be changed like a light switch. Once he sees someone who gives him a harder time than you, will his heart remain true? You are beginning to relent to him because of your feelings. You’ve been acquired by him."

"Do not make the same mistakes that I have made, child." Kim Young-ok gave Song Areum’s hand a gentle pat. "I do not want to see you bear the same pain and frustration I did in my youth."

"Love always fades as time goes by." Song Areum responded. "When people become more familiar and comfortable with each other, passion often fades faster between couples that have been together for two months in comparison to two decades."

It was the inevitable truth. Sometimes there will be lucky ones who love each other to their very last breath, but those were quite rare. For example, the love between Song Yun Gak and his wife. Even after her death, he still wore his wedding ring.

"At the very least, you’re able to recognize the stage of your relationship now is only the beginning. It’s just puppy-love. Once you pass through this stage, everything will be harder for you and your relationship." Kim Young-ok sighed. "Areum, I always have your best interests at heart." She fondly brushed away the strands of hair irritating Song Areum’s face.

"Find someone who loves you for who you are, not because you give him a hard time and are ’different from the rest.’ Once you do, he’ll fall for the real you, not the one you portray."

Song Areum kept her mouth shut. The real her? Park Jimin saw all of it and yet, he continued to embrace her. Even when she pushed him away, he’d hug her tighter. It was a double-edged sword. He was heavily infatuated with her and because of it, she could never love another. She was pretty sure that there would be dead bodies piled up in front of her front door before she could even think about entering a relationship with another man.

"And who’s to say, those men also won’t get tired of me once they have unraveled the mystery of discovering who I am?"

Kim Young-ok’s lips curved upwards. "Indeed, there is also that problem."

When her grandmother was not looking, Song Areum glanced over her shoulder. Leaning by a wide and ancient tree was Park Jimin whose arms were folded over his chest. When their eyes met, her heart fluttered. He winked. She smiled.

"In the end, I want you to consider my words. Be wary of men like him, especially the one so powerful, from whom you could never escape." Kim Young-ok said. "If you plan to leave, leave now and never look back. Run while you still can."

Escape? Run? Did she even want to do any of that? Once all of the problems were resolved, she planned on settling down with him and having children. Starting a family of her own was something she always wanted, but her previous fear of having children got in the way. Meeting Park Jimin had changed that about her.

Song Areum did not want to talk back. She could only nod her head and listen on.

- - - - -


"Are you leaving so soon? Why not stay the night? Your cousins are staying here, it would be a good opportunity to see them while you can."

’I don’t want to see any of them.’ Song Areum kept her thoughts to herself.

"I have work tomorrow." Song Areum said while standing by the car with Park Jimin right beside her. She had originally planned on staying a bit longer, but that was before she announced herself as the CEO of Muera to her employees.

"It’s always work, work, work with youngsters. If not work, it’s busy vacationing in Milan and shopping till you drop." Kim Young-ok bitterly said.

"Halmeoni, I will come and visit you again soon. Do not worry." Song Areum’s lips quirked into an amused smile. "My job is never more important than you, but I have to work hard in order to save up for a family. Children are very costly to raise."

"Hmph, if that’s the case, I expect frequent phone calls and a visit every month. Preferably, I would like you to come alone." Kim Young-ok briskly said, never once sparing a glance towards Park Jimin, not that he cared. For Song Areum’s sake, he remained calm and collected, a rigid and an unbreakable expression on his face.

"You’ll see me every time she comes." Park Jimin spoke up, earning a glare from Kim Young-ok.

Song Areum chuckled, patting his chest. "He has work."

"Not when you’re involved." Park Jimin wrapped his fingers around her hand, pressing a kiss to her fingertips, then lacing her fingers with his. He tugged her a bit closer.

Kim Young-ok glowered at him with her upper lip curled in disdain. Smitten puppy.

- - - - -

Park Enterprise, the next day.

"Boss, your code worked. We got through the security. Everything about him, beyond the surface, has been recovered." Seung Woo informed Park Jimin. Originally, he had sent in a brief report about General Jeong Jin-soo because not much was known about him. All of his files and background information were deeply hidden and when Seung Woo was able to hack into a system, he discovered a code. It was extremely complicated and only his Boss was able to crack it so quickly.


Park Jimin opened the report and intently absorbed every detail. By the end of it, the sides of the paper were crumpled from how tightly he clenched it. "Tighten the security around Song Areum immediately. If she wants to go somewhere, have everything within a ten-mile radius monitored." He commanded. He did not think Jeong Jin-soo would be a very powerful opponent until the details were all revealed today.

"Yes, sir." Seung Woo typed the command into his tablet and less than five minutes later, more people joined the forces set to ensure her safety. There were always people accompanying her and nearly all of them were out of sight. Combined with the people that Song Yun Gak assigned to trail her, she was, without a doubt, one of the most heavily protected women in this country.

Park Jimin knew she was the type of woman who was too stubborn to be accompanied by physical bodyguards by her side. That was why he specifically made sure they were kept hidden and would only appear when needed. She wanted her freedom and he was trying his best to give her that. The only thing he could never give her was distance from him.

"Elder Won will want to see my grandfather with evidence. Make sure he never does."

Seung Woo obediently nodded his head. "Sir, we have found the culprit that sent the voice recordings and spied on Elder Park. What shall we do with him?"

"Find out how long he has been spying on Elder Park for and what he has heard. Then dispose of him."

"Yes, sir." Seung Woo typed into the tablet again.

"Also, in regards to Young Miss Jennie’s issue, we have found a bank account. It showed a record of significant amounts of money being wired into separate accounts, most likely paying everyone involved. However, we have not tracked down the owner of the account yet."

"You have a week." Park Jimin responded, picking up his pen to begin working.

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

Seung Woo paused what he was doing and briefly glanced at the door then back to his boss. He was confused. People rarely knocked on his door since not many were allowed entry here except for his private assistants, which currently only consisted of him. Eun Ha Won was part of the team, but she was removed, so it was mainly Seung Woo knocking.

Park Jimin pressed a button and in strolled Eun Bi Won cladded in a black blazer, white top, and black dress pants.

Seung Woo was a bit taken back by her presence, but he figured it was time for a new secretary to be introduced. It was more efficient to have two people as it would allow for a check and balance system.

"Show Eun Bi Won around the office." Park Jimin commanded without looking up from his papers. He could easily pass the work onto trustful employees like Seung Woo, but he preferred to do it himself. That way, he was deeply immersed in the company’s affairs and knew everything that was there to know.