Side Story 1
01. The New Bride, Baek I-hae
“The day has actually come when I’m holding a wedding invitation from you.”
Ye Eun-seol gazed down at the card in his hand, his expression a complicated blend of wonder and nostalgia. Baek I-hae met his eyes and gave him a soft, playful smile.
Her belly hadn’t yet swelled noticeably, but she wore a loose, comfortable dress. With her long brown hair cascading down her back and that mischievous grin on her face, Ye Eun-seol couldn’t help but let out a reluctant chuckle.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just… knowing that you’d be the one most genuinely happy for me about my wedding. It feels strange, that’s all.”
“…You’re not wrong.”
Ye Eun-seol scratched his cheek, unable to deny it.
On the invitation were the names Baek I-hae and Seo Do-gyeom.
“I never thought a day like this would really come.”
He stared at the cover photo of the two of them. Watching his fingers idly toy with the corner, Baek I-hae spoke cautiously.
“Even if you regret it now, I’m not giving him up.”
“Hey…”
“Kidding.”
At Ye Eun-seol’s horrified expression, Baek I-hae burst into bright, ringing laughter.
“Anyway, congratulations. Reconciling with Seo Do-gyeom and even getting married… you’ll be happy. I know you will.”
“Thank you.”
It had only been a few weeks since Baek Yong-jo had kidnapped her.
‘Everything exploded after that. Corruption scandals, videos of him assaulting subordinates—everything hit the news.’
On top of that, evidence of him running an organized crime ring, extorting and murdering ordinary citizens, all came to light. Public outrage had been ferocious, and Baek Yong-jo could no longer hold on to his former position.
Even now, thinking of him being led away to prison still brought a cool satisfaction to her chest.
“I’m glad everything with Baek Yeong wrapped up well, too. Chai Ryeong-ssi pretended not to care, but she was clearly worried.”
“That’s thanks to you. From the outside, people probably thought Baek Yeong-oppa just coasted into a cushy company position because of family ties.”
Thanks to Ye Eun-seol’s help, the truth—that Baek Yeong had been a victim of domestic violence—had come out, and the negative public sentiment toward him had quieted somewhat.
He couldn’t escape criticism entirely, but it was better than before.
“When I see things like that, I realize how much the Baek faction really loves him. Even I-ryeong unnie mocked him to his face but was secretly worried.”
“Yeah. That’s why it annoys me. In the end, she grabbed me by the collar and told me to fix it myself.”
Ye Eun-seol grumbled as if he’d been accused of owing her a debt. When on earth had he and Chai Ryeong become so close?
Watching him tuck the invitation away, Baek I-hae asked,
“Are you okay? I heard you’re taking over the company Baek Yong-jo used to run.”
“Not right away—I only just became an adult, and I’m still learning. For now, my father will handle things with me.”
“That’s a relief, at least.”
“Oh, right—my parents said they’d like to have dinner together sometime.”
At Ye Eun-seol’s casual suggestion, it was Baek I-hae who flinched. She blinked slowly, wondering if she’d heard correctly, then asked,
“…Me? Why me, all of a sudden?”
Were they planning to scold her?
Hadn’t Ye Eun-seol told his family he’d been interning at Baek Yong-jo’s company because it belonged to his father’s friend? Maybe there had been important business ties.
Reading the unease in her eyes, Ye Eun-seol waved his hands quickly.
“It’s nothing bad. They were only outwardly friendly for business reasons, but my father said Baek Yong-jo always made him uncomfortable.”
“Really? I was worried they might resent me.”
“Of course not. The fault was entirely his. Plus, thanks to everything, a competitor is gone and the acquisition went smoothly—so they probably want to treat you to a meal.”
If that was it, then fine.
Baek I-hae nodded in understanding. She was too busy with wedding preparations to make it happen soon, but she added that they could arrange something later.
***
After handing Ye Eun-seol the invitation and stepping outside, she spotted Seo Do-gyeom waiting for her.
‘Good heavens, why won’t these rose-colored glasses ever come off?’
It was a face she saw every day, a face she was now going to marry—and still, how could he be this handsome?
If Ye Eun-seol had been beside her, he’d have rolled his eyes in exasperation at the thought. Baek I-hae inwardly squealed with delight.
Feeling her presence, Seo Do-gyeom turned his head. Their eyes met, and without thinking she stopped walking, eyes widening. The corners of Seo Do-gyeom’s eyes curved gently.
‘Ever since the Baek Yong-jo incident, the status window doesn’t appear anymore.’
But now, just looking at his face told her exactly what he was thinking.
That gaze—it was unmistakably the look of someone who found her utterly adorable. Thankfully, it seemed he was just as deeply infatuated as she was.
A little of Baek I-hae’s lingering grievance melted away.
“Did you give him the invitation?”
“Yes. You’re back earlier than I expected. Did things go well with your uncle?”
“No, we’re still going in circles.”
Seo Do-gyeom let out a rare sigh. Baek I-hae slipped her arm through his and said,
“I didn’t realize there’d be so much competition.”
Traditionally, the bride entered on her father’s arm, but Baek I-hae had no parents. In such cases, it was perfectly acceptable for the groom, Seo Do-gyeom, to escort her instead… except.
‘I’ll do it.’
Had it started when they talked about it over dinner? Seo I-heum, who had been quietly listening, suddenly declared it.
Anyone would think you weren’t even getting married, the way he was acting.
“Exactly. Telling me to sit in the seat meant for the father of the groom.”
Seo Do-gyeom gave a hollow laugh of disbelief. Considering that he had no mother and only Seo I-heum would occupy the parents’ seats, the situation was even more absurd.
The real problem was that Seo I-heum seemed completely serious and stubbornly insistent, leaving them speechless.
“Sometimes I wonder if I should have been adopted as a daughter after all. It really seems like he wanted a daughter.”
“…I-hae.”
“Only half joking.”
At the half-serious implication, Seo Do-gyeom hurriedly replied,
“He’s just a rich old man with nothing else to offer.”
He said it with such a straight face. Did he even realize how much he resembled Seo I-heum when he scowled like that?
‘He sees his own family every day, so he probably has no idea how striking they all are. I hope he never finds out.’
In any case, no matter how much Seo I-heum insisted, common sense made it impossible. They had thought the matter settled with Seo Do-gyeom escorting her—until Old Man Oh, who had been listening, cautiously suggested he could stand in instead. The other organization members, suddenly interested in the role, protested the unfairness and demanded rock-paper-scissors.
“Somehow the Baek faction heard about it too, and now their guys are demanding to be included in the pool.”
“Just walk in with me. You’re my bride—who gave anyone else permission to hold your hand first?”
Seo Do-gyeom, who had recently begun restraining his jealousy toward Ye Eun-seol, finally ground his teeth, unable to contain his possessiveness over Baek I-hae.
Finding the sight endearing, she soothed him.
“What does it matter? They all genuinely want to celebrate with us. It’s kind of fun, so let’s leave it be. I’ll tell them to decide fairly with rock-paper-scissors.”
“…Baek Yeong isn’t participating, right?”
“No. Oppa hates being the center of attention—he was just looking at the Baek faction guys like they were pathetic.”
Only then did Seo Do-gyeom’s expression soften with visible relief. It was so obvious he was wary of Baek Yeong that Baek I-hae let out a small laugh.
‘He doesn’t even like me calling Baek Yeong “oppa,” yet he hasn’t told me to stop. He’s really grown up.’
Should she call it admirable, or adorable?
Compared to the original Seo Do-gyeom from the game, the change was astonishing.
‘The game.’
These days, the player never spoke first, no new quests appeared, and even the little status window that used to show Seo Do-gyeom’s mood no longer popped up.
Was everything truly over?
In the past, she might have felt anxious for no reason, but something felt different now. Instinctively, she sensed that the player would no longer interfere.
‘It’s bittersweet. If I ever met the player in person, I’d have punched them right in the chest. Whoever they were, they put me through hell.’
Yet she couldn’t deny that those trials and chaotic events had brought her closer to Seo Do-gyeom and everyone around them.
“As long as it’s not Father or Baek Yeong, I don’t care.”
“You’re so dramatic. Though… if those two actually competed to walk me down the aisle, I might get a little excited.”
The image of Seo I-heum and Baek Yeong vying to hold her hand and escort her—Baek I-hae couldn’t hide her grin.
She felt his gaze.
“…”
It was a look of unease she had never seen on Seo Do-gyeom before.
Worried he might misunderstand, she hurriedly added,
“Don’t get the wrong idea—this one really is a joke.”
At that, for the first time, Seo Do-gyeom’s face fell into a genuine pout.
‘So cute. He still hasn’t figured out I tease him on purpose just to see reactions like this.’
He had such an innocently pure side, Baek I-hae thought, smiling to herself.
But she had no idea then.
That the lighthearted words she’d tossed out to tease Seo Do-gyeom would one day become reality…!
