When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 13

Grandmother gives me a long, unreadable look.

Han Wool clears his throat. “Okay, I—uh—I feel like this is becoming—”

I whip around to face him. “And you,” I say, pointing a finger at his chest. “Why are you not the one being tested?”

Han Wool blinks, looking deeply confused. “Me?”

“Yes, you.” I throw up my hands. “You’re supposed to be the CEO of your family company, yet you let others handle all the work while you ride motorcycles all day, watch stupid tomato cartoons, and drink chocolate milk like a child—”

“Wait—hold on—”

“Honestly,” I continue, gesturing at him dramatically, “a kid is more responsible than you.”

Harin, who had been stiff with tension, suddenly lets out a choked laugh before quickly covering it up with a cough.

Han Wool gapes at me. “Okay, first of all, I do work—”

“Do you?” I ask.

“Yes!”

I tilt my head. “Then why do I only ever see you riding around on that stupid bike and acting like you’re in a Fast and Furious movie?”

His mouth opens, then closes. Then opens again. “That’s—beside the point—”

“No, no,” I say, leaning forward. “I’m genuinely curious. Tell me, oh great CEO, what do you actually do at work?”

Han Wool looks at his mother for help. She immediately looks away.

Then he looks at his grandmother.

She raises an eyebrow.

His shoulders slump. “I—delegate?”

I scoff. “You delegate?”

Han Wool glares at me. “That’s what CEOs do!”

“No, CEOs lead,” I say. “You? You just hand off the work to people who actually know what they’re doing.”

Han Wool makes a strangled noise. “Okay, I’d like to remind you that this conversation wasn’t even about me—”

“Well, now it is,” I say. “If Harin is being judged for her ability to run a household, then you should be judged for your ability to actually handle your own responsibilities.”

Grandmother hums, watching the exchange with clear amusement. “She has a point.”

Han Wool whips his head toward her. “Grandmother—”

She shrugs. “You are rather careless with your duties.”

He looks personally offended. “I am not careless.”

Grandmother hums again, clearly unconvinced.

I lean back, feeling victorious.

Han Wool shoots me a glare. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

I smile sweetly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Unbelievable.”

I look at Grandmother. “If you’re here to test Harin, shouldn’t you also be testing him? He’s the one she’s marrying, after all.”

Grandmother narrows her eyes. “You think I haven’t been testing him his whole life?”

Han Wool groans. “Okay, that’s enough testing for one day, yeah?”

Grandmother ignores him.

Instead, she looks at me.

And really looks at me.

Then she smirks. “You’re interesting.”

I blink. “Uh… thanks?”

Grandmother stands. “I’ve seen enough for today.”

Han Wool practically jumps out of his seat. “Thank God.”

His mother sighs in relief. Harin looks like she wants to disappear.

Grandmother glances at Harin one last time, then turns to me. “It was nice meeting you, Ye Na.”

I nod. “You too.”

Then she starts walking toward the door.

But just before she leaves, she pauses.

And without turning around, she says—

“You would make a much better wife.”

And then she’s gone.

I don’t move.

The room is dead silent.

Harin’s face is frozen in shock.

So this is working. I think I’ve won over his grandmother with today’s performance.