SUMMARY ⸻ Six years later, you return to Korea. Coming face to face with Sung-Hoon—the love you never forgot—reopens old wounds, broken promises, and a passion neither of you can hide.

Meanwhile, your brother Tae-Moo watches… and begins to suspect.

PAIRING⸻ Cha Sung-Hoon x fem!reader

WARNINGS ⸻ Confrontation, a bit of fluff, suggestive (non-explicit) content, and jealousy. [English is not my first language].

“What’s wrong?”

From the back seat of the car, Tae-Moo glanced up from his iPad just in time to notice how Sung-Hoon was nervously bouncing his right leg. His brow furrowed—subtly, but noticeably.

Sung-Hoon caught his boss—and friend—staring at him through the rearview mirror. The moment their eyes met, he quickly turned his gaze back to the road.

“Aren’t you nervous?” he finally asked, trying to sound casual, though the attempt was unconvincing. “You haven’t seen your sister in six years.”

“Nervous? No. More like annoyed,” Tae-Moo scoffed, using that tone he always used to cover up everything else. “Now that she’s finished her doctorate in Business Management, she’s going to show up wanting to fire everyone.”

Sung-Hoon didn’t answer. The light turned green, and without another word, he gently pressed the gas pedal.

He was nervous.

Very nervous.

The last time he spoke to you was over the phone—three years ago. And even then, the call had been short and distant. The words had felt like a desperate attempt to cover everything that couldn’t be said from afar. Everything you two had lived without permission, without excuses, without consequences.

And without regrets... at least back then.

But now, seeing you again was inevitable.

What if you’d already moved on?

What if you found someone else in Canada?

What if you were someone completely different now?

He wanted to know. And at the same time, he didn’t.

Tae-Moo seemed immersed in his own world, going through reports and emails on his iPad with that unshakable expression that always defined him. It was incredible how calm he could be—so composed, so focused—like he didn’t care that his sister—the one he claimed to protect even from a distance—was about to return to Korea.

Sung-Hoon envied that calm... because with every kilometer they got closer to the airport, he felt like he was losing his breath.

When they arrived, they parked in silence. Tae-Moo was the first to step out. He let out a soft sigh, like he was mentally preparing for just another meeting, and walked firmly toward the international arrivals terminal. Sung-Hoon followed closely, his heart racing for reasons he couldn’t put into words.

They walked through the terminal for a few minutes until they saw you.

There you were.

Tall, elegant, wrapped in a long pearl-gray coat, with a matching suitcase by your side. You were on the phone, brows slightly furrowed, though you didn’t look upset—just focused.

Grown up.

So different from the girl Sung-Hoon once knew.

Then your eyes lifted… and landed on Tae-Moo.

You hung up immediately. A smile spread across your face—soft… happy? Nostalgic? Sung-Hoon wasn’t sure how to read it. All he knew was that it threw him off balance.

You walked straight toward your brother and, without hesitation, cupped his face with both hands.

“Look at you, little brother… You look so different now that you shower every day.”

Tae-Moo brushed your hands away with a serious look and a small huff.

“Good to have you back, sis.”

You both stared at each other, eyes narrowed like two predators sizing each other up. Sung-Hoon tensed, expecting an awkward scene to unfold right there in the airport… but to his surprise, you hugged.

It was a short hug. Firm. The kind of affection only siblings who never stop competing but always miss each other can share.

When you pulled apart, Tae-Moo mumbled something quietly and turned away to check his phone. That’s when you saw him.

Sung-Hoon felt time stop.

You looked straight into his eyes, with that calm face that always hid a wild, unpredictable soul—like a storm on the verge of tearing the sky open. But something was different now. Your features were more refined, your subtle makeup emphasized the strength in your expression. Your hair, elegantly tied back, exposed your long neck and the way you had learned to command your own image.

And yet, the smile was the same.

That slight, restrained curve—no teeth showing—the one you used to give only to him.

Sung-Hoon swallowed hard and instinctively looked away. He didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to start. Didn’t even know if he should.

“It’s good to see you too,” you said quietly.

“Likewise,” he replied, trying to sound calm, though his fingers trembled inside the pockets of his coat.

There was a second of awkward silence between you, until Tae-Moo cleared his throat and turned to face you both.

“Let’s go. Grandpa’s waiting,” he said dryly.

You nodded, grabbed your suitcase, and started walking alongside your brother. Sung-Hoon followed behind, as always, but now with his mind completely elsewhere.

Every step back to the car felt like a countdown.

You were back. After six years.

Stronger. Brighter.

And maybe… more distant.

●●●

Dinner with President Kang felt, to Sung-Hoon, more like a disguised interview than a welcome home gathering. It was like a casting session where a grandfather evaluated whether his granddaughter still lived up to expectations.

And although everything was predictable, the discomfort lingered. It sat tightly in his gut.

You hadn’t spoken a word to him since the airport. No “What have you been up to?” or “How are you?”—nothing that wasn’t directed to the whole table. Every sentence you uttered tonight came as a small surprise. A glimpse of someone he no longer knew.

“I know you’re eager to start working, dear, but you’ve had a long trip. Take the day off tomorrow, stroll around the city,” President Kang said, his voice gentle, almost paternal.

You laughed softly, playing with the rim of your glass.

“I can stroll around Seoul after I visit my new office. I want to look over Tae-Moo’s strategy for this season first, and then…”

“You’re not planning to undo all the work I’ve done so far, are you?” Tae-Moo asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m not here to take your job, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” you replied without raising your voice, but with that smile—the one you wear when you’re about to stick in the knife. “I just want to make sure you’re not using the company for your PowerPoint ‘experiments,’ little brother.”

President Kang burst into hearty laughter. His eyes sparkled with more than just pride—it was pure joy. He was genuinely happy to see you again, so much so that he’d stopped eating just to look at you longer.

“Oh, my dear girl. I’ve missed having you home. These two mummies never want to do anything…”

The two “mummies” gave him the same annoyed look, as if their packed agendas of international meetings and multimillion-won decisions didn’t count as “doing something.” You covered your mouth to hide your laugh and gently stroked your grandfather’s hand.

“I’m back now, Grandpa,” you said with the same certainty you always used when talking about your decisions. “You’ll see—in a few months, I’ll have done more than my brother and…” you glanced briefly at Sung-Hoon, then looked down at your plate, “…and Mr. Cha have in all this time.”

Mr. Cha?

Sung-Hoon blinked. The word hit him like a thorn. “Mr. Cha.” You knew exactly what you were doing.

Was that a message?

He waited for Tae-Moo or the grandfather to say something—some kind of correction—but no one reacted. Tae-Moo stayed focused on his meal. President Kang just laughed even harder.

“You’re so much like your father!” he said between fits of laughter.

Sung-Hoon forced a smile and focused on cutting his meat. His face felt tight, like every muscle was working to suppress an anger he had no right to feel.

The silence didn’t last long. The president lifted his glass and looked at you with a mischievous smile.

“So tell me, dear, how are things going with your love life?”

The table immediately turned to you. You hadn’t even taken the bite of food you were about to eat. You lowered your fork and swallowed. Tae-Moo raised an eyebrow. The president smiled as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb. And Sung-Hoon… Sung-Hoon stared straight at you, unblinking, as if every word out of your mouth could rewrite what was left unfinished between you two.

“Well… I met a couple of the men you recommended when I was in Canada,” you said with a smile that wasn’t exactly warm. “But most of them seemed more interested in my connections than in me. So I ignored them and moved on.”

Sung-Hoon heard Tae-Moo snort mockingly from his seat.

You shot him a glare, while your grandfather frowned in his direction.

“Well, of course. Who could handle a personality like yours?” Tae-Moo teased.

“You shouldn’t laugh so much,” the grandfather jumped in accusingly. “I’ve set you up with triple, quadruple the amount of dates, and they’re the ones who can’t stand you.”

Tae-Moo scoffed and looked away in annoyance. You, on the other hand, let out a genuine laugh for the first time that evening. That’s when the president turned to you again with that look that meant his next comment wasn’t random.

“Well, Minnie, I’ll help you get married now too.”

You tried to keep your composure, but your eyes betrayed you. Horror flickered for a second before you masked it.

“You’re twenty-six now—just about your brother’s age. Work is important, yes, but you already know what’s more important.”

“Family,” you and your brother said in unison, sounding resigned.

“Exactly. I have several friends who’d love for their sons to marry you. You’ll find someone you like, you’ll see…” And then, as if the memory arrived just in time, the president turned his head toward Sung-Hoon. “Sung-Hoon knows exactly how hard it is to arrange these meetings. I don’t choose randomly, right, Sung-Hoon?”

“No, sir,” he said, chewing slowly while the president chuckled to himself.

And then he felt it. The stare. That one. The one he knew better than anyone else. He looked up—and there you were.

“So… how are things going for you in the dating department, Sung-Hoon?” you asked, your tone friendly, but with something else underneath it.

He frowned slightly. Not enough to be rude, but enough to signal a shift.

Not “Mr. Cha” anymore?

“Well…”

“He’s worse than your brother,” the president interrupted with a laugh. “I offer him dozens of dates, and he turns them all down.”

Sung-Hoon shut his mouth with a small grimace. He licked his lips, uncomfortable. Just nodded, as if there was nothing more to say.

“Any particular reason for that? Is work really that demanding?” you asked, this time looking straight at him.

And this time, he didn’t look away.

Not now.

Is she doing this on purpose? he thought. Or did she really forget our promise? Probably. She went on dates. She tried. She… moved on.

“Yes,” he said after a pause, voice steady. “Work is exhausting. I’d rather focus on that than on marriage.”

Tae-Moo stopped checking his watch.

Now he was looking at him.

He knew perfectly well that work had nothing to do with it. That there were weekends, free evenings, chances. And that Sung-Hoon had turned them all down.

Sung-Hoon didn’t say more. He didn’t need to.

Under the table, his fingers clutched the cloth napkin tightly, as if crumpling it could somehow control the storm inside his chest. The fabric was already wrinkled in his grip, but he didn’t even notice. All he could feel was the tremble in his fingers.

“I see,” you replied, gracefully turning your eyes back to your plate. “Balancing work and personal life is difficult, isn’t it? Though… some people manage it better than others.”

It sounded casual, almost like a simple observation—but Sung-Hoon didn’t believe it for a second.

He kept his eyes down, stirring his fork aimlessly through what was left on his plate, not taking another bite. The silence stretched a few seconds longer than usual—just enough to make it awkward.

“I imagine it’s the same for you,” he finally said, voice soft but firm.

You looked up.

This time, there was no smile.

Your eyes, always expressive, were calm—but there was something in your gaze. Something expectant. As if you were waiting for a specific reaction. A sign.

Sung-Hoon met your eyes for just a second, until the clink of silverware and your grandfather’s muttering made him look away. His chest rose and fell faster than it should have.

“Let’s stop talking about dating,” Tae-Moo interjected, cutting the tension with an exasperated sigh. “I’m going to lose my appetite.”

“You’ll have to pick it back up tomorrow,” President Kang replied with his usual teasing tone, “or I will make you vomit daily, boy.”

The table burst into laughter—everyone except Sung-Hoon. He forced a polite smile, eyes lowered. While the grandfather launched into another round of playful complaints about stubborn grandchildren staying single, Sung-Hoon glanced up again.

And that’s when he saw you.

You were looking at him.

But this time, it wasn’t like the rest of the evening. It wasn’t casual, or polite, or even awkward.

You were studying him.

Openly.

Your eyes traced every line of his face—from the shape of his jaw to the slight furrow in his brow—as if searching for something you couldn’t quite find. As if… you were finally seeing him again.

Sung-Hoon held your gaze for a moment longer, but had to look away. He picked up his glass, took a sip of water, and steadied his trembling hands by pressing them flat on the table.

●●●

The three of you had agreed to sleep in your old bedrooms—by direct order of President Kang. Well… more accurately, Tae-Moo and Sung-Hoon agreed out of politeness; the first with resignation, the second with quiet discomfort.

You, on the other hand, had no choice. You had just returned, and your grandfather didn’t give you room to argue. You simply nodded while he laid out his conditions in that firm voice of his, as if the rooms in the east wing were still sacred to the family.

And yet, despite all the time that had passed, the house still smelled the same: of old wood, of routine, of memories.

Sung-Hoon felt out of place.

Not because of the luxury of the mansion or the comfort of the mattress, but because of something deeper. That house, that room, brought back memories he had spent years trying to bury. And every one of them—without exception—was tied to you.

Now, that same woman—you—were just on the other side of the wall.

He stepped out of the bathroom, damp hair dripping onto his shoulders. The towel hung loosely around his neck, and his bare chest was still traced by slow, warm drops of water.

He turned on the nightstand lamp. A soft light illuminated half the room, casting long shadows across the marble floor. He walked toward the bed, pulled back the sheets with one hand, and while raking his other hand through his hair, leaned forward to switch off the light—

The door burst open.

The sound cracked through the room like a gunshot.

A second later, it slammed shut again with the same force, like someone had tried to cut the air in the hallway clean in half.

Sung-Hoon turned immediately, startled.

“…y/n?” he asked, stunned.

You were standing with your back to the door, both palms flat against the wood as if afraid someone might follow you. You were breathing heavily, shoulders rising and falling fast. You wore a simple set of pajamas—a gray t-shirt that reached mid-thigh, and underneath, a pair of shorts so small they barely peeked out. You were barefoot, hair slightly messy, like you'd run out of your room in a rush.

“What the hell are you doing?” he repeated, quieter this time, but even more confused.

You turned slowly.

Your eyes met his in the dim light. That single moment undid time. It was the two of you again. Teenagers who had once dared to confess in secret. The ones who used to hide behind garden columns. The ones who made a promise neither of you ever fully kept.

“I had to talk to you. Alone. Finally.”

He scoffed and turned his back to you.

“For what?” he asked bitterly. “I thought you weren’t talking to me because of that stupid promise, but now I see you had other reasons.”

“Sung-Hoon, it’s not like that,” you said, stepping farther into the room.

“You haven’t changed at all,” he muttered, still not looking at you. “Now you’re back to calling me ‘Mr. Cha’ instead of my name?”

Your eyes dropped, involuntarily trailing to his chest.

“Sung-Hoon…”

“Just like before. You used to say my name in public—but not that stupid, cheesy nickname you made up.”

You pressed your lips together.

“I lied at dinner,” you admitted at last. “Yes, my grandfather arranged those blind dates. But I never went to a single one. I only said it to keep him happy. To make sure he wouldn’t object to me joining you both at the company tomorrow.”

Sung-Hoon narrowed his eyes but said nothing. You stepped closer, slowly.

“The truth is I was scared of what I might find when I came back,” you said quietly. “My brother barely talks to me about you. And I… didn’t want to ask too much either.”

“You were afraid I’d moved on?”

You nodded. He scoffed again, more visibly frustrated now.

“Afraid I was with someone else?” he repeated, incredulous. “I was the one who asked you to make that promise. I was the one who said we shouldn’t date anyone until we saw each other again. I was the one who believed in it until the very last damn day. And now you show up talking to me like we’re strangers. Like saying my name is some kind of sin.”

You were already much closer.

“I was scared!” you burst out in a shaky whisper. “When I got to the airport, I was trembling. I had to call a friend in Canada just to keep from running away. There wasn’t a single day there when I didn’t think about you… but when I saw you, all of our fears came rushing back.”

“Saying my name wasn’t going to give us away. No one would’ve noticed.”

“To me, it would’ve.” You interrupted him. “It was hard not to shove my brother aside at the airport and just run into your arms. All I’ve wanted for the past six years… is to be standing in front of you.”

Sung-Hoon looked straight at you. You were right in front of him now.

“So what changes now?” he asked in a softer voice. “Now that you’re in front of me. Now that you said all this. Now that you said my name… What changes?”

You didn’t answer with words.

You leaned in and kissed him. No hesitation. No doubt. Just urgency.

Your hands pressed firmly against his chest, still dotted with drops of water. He didn’t respond immediately, but he had been waiting for this moment just as much. His body remembered the way. He grabbed your arms first, then slid his hands around your back and pulled you in.

When you started to pull away, he kissed you again—deeper.

Time collapsed between you.

The towel hit the floor with a soft whisper.

“I’m sorry about dinner,” you gasped against his lips. “I was terrified I’d lose control the moment I saw you…”

He trailed kisses down your neck.

“Next time, maybe a warning text?” he murmured, still holding you. You smiled—breathless.

“There won’t be a next time. We’re not hiding anymore. Not like before.”

You kissed him again, this time with desperate conviction. He gripped your thighs, lifted you effortlessly, pulling a broken laugh from your lips that blended with the kiss.

He laid you down gently on the bed. His lips found your collarbone, ravenous but careful, while your fingers wove through his wet hair.

You were rediscovering each other—not as the teenagers you once were,

but as two adults marked by absence,

finally ready to stop denying what had always been there.

●●●

The sunlight streamed softly through the car windows, bathing the seats in a warm glow as you drove through the streets of downtown Seoul. The avenues were slowly coming to life—people rushing by with coffee in hand, shopkeepers opening up, taxis honking impatiently. But inside the car, the atmosphere felt detached from all that noise.

Tae-Moo sat in the back seat, “focused” on his phone. His fingers moved quickly over the screen, but from the corner of his eye, he was watching the two people in the front seats. Something didn’t add up.

Sung-Hoon, who usually commented on traffic, complained about billboards, or asked if he should grab coffee, was far too quiet. Yet when Tae-Moo glanced at him in the rearview mirror, he noticed a faint smile on his lips. One he hadn’t seen in days—maybe even weeks. It was subtle, but it was there. Persistent. Calm. Happy.

Then he looked at you. You were pressed to the window, eyes shining as you watched every building, every street, every corner like it was your first time in Seoul. Your smile was even wider than Sung-Hoon’s.

Tae-Moo narrowed his eyes.

"Did I miss something last night?"

Sung-Hoon glanced at him quickly through the mirror, his hands steady on the wheel. You, on the other hand, didn’t take your eyes off the view.

"I haven’t seen Seoul in six years. Is it weird that I’m happy?"

"No. I get that." Tae-Moo paused, his tone dropping slightly. "But... is Sung-Hoon also happy just to see Seoul?"

You finally turned your head. You looked at Sung-Hoon’s profile and noticed how he swallowed, subtly but noticeably.

"I—"

"Does seeing people smile bother you, brother?"

Tae-Moo scoffed, crossing one leg over the other like he was preparing for a conversation he didn’t want to have.

"I guess it has nothing to do with the noises I heard last night."

The car stopped abruptly—but luckily the traffic light ahead had turned red. Sung-Hoon turned slightly to glance at him. You covered your mouth, stifling a laugh.

This wasn’t how you had planned to tell him.

"You know, I don’t even know what bothers me more..." Tae-Moo continued in a lower voice, "...finding out what I’ve always suspected, or the fact that you did it right next to my room."

"Tae-Moo, we—"

"How long has this been going on, huh? Since when do you two think you can play me for a fool?"

Sung-Hoon fell silent, but you were quicker. You ran a hand through your hair and answered without hesitation.

"Twelve years."

Sung-Hoon’s head snapped toward you, eyes wide in disbelief. You just shrugged. You meant it when you said you’d tell everyone the first chance you got.

Tae-Moo let out a long sigh, leaning his head back against the seat with resignation.

"Listen," Sung-Hoon jumped in, still stunned by your bluntness. "We dated when we were teenagers. When she left for Canada, we ended it. And during these six years... we didn’t talk. At all."

A heavy silence fell.

"But last night—"

"Okay, okay! Don’t talk about last night." Tae-Moo raised a hand, cutting him off with a look of exasperation. You patted his shoulder playfully. He ignored you. "Just keep driving, for God’s sake," he muttered, waving vaguely forward.

Sung-Hoon nodded and resumed driving. The traffic was starting to move again, but an awkward silence settled in the car.

Minutes passed. Only the sound of the engine and the city filtered through. Then Tae-Moo looked at you again. This time, you were already looking back—serious now.

"And you..." he said in a quieter voice, "...don’t you dare hurt Sung-Hoon or else—"

"I’m your sister!" you cut in, offended, but with a disbelieving smile.

Sung-Hoon frowned slightly, but in the rearview mirror, there was a spark of amusement in his eyes.

"Exactly. Which is why I know what I’m saying," Tae-Moo muttered. "So you two better tell Grandpa soon."

"Is that your way of giving us your blessing?" Sung-Hoon asked, glancing at him.

"It just means I care enough to want you both to do this right after all these years," Tae-Moo sighed, letting just a hint of reluctant fondness slip through.

"And besides," he added with a bitter edge, "I really hope Grandpa gets busy planning a wedding that isn’t mine."

You let out a muffled laugh. Sung-Hoon finally smiled—this time without hiding it. For a few seconds, the tension lifted.

After that, you continued on your way. The traffic grew heavier, but the silence inside the car was no longer uncomfortable—it was a temporary truce. Outside, the city kept moving, unaware that inside that car, a story had just been rewritten.

Business Proposal ❤

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