Legal Disclaimer
This light novel is inspired by the beautiful landscapes and cultures of Bolivia and South Korea. However, the characters, events, and situations portrayed are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is purely coincidental. This content does not intend to represent or reflect the historical, social, or cultural reality of either country. The author disclaims any legal liability arising from the interpretation of these elements.
Chapter 7 – Awkward Reunions
For Ryu, this wedding was more of a treaty than a marriage.
The luxurious black SUV stopped in front of the most exclusive hotel in Santa Cruz. A warm breeze, heavy with the humid scent of vegetation, slipped through the automatic doors of the lobby.
Ryu was the first to step out, his brow furrowed and shoulders tense. The humidity clung to his skin; he loosened the cuff of his sleeve with one hand, more out of habit than heat.
He didn't complain about the weather. The heat could be as uncomfortable as a boardroom full of hostile shareholders, but what truly unsettled him was losing control over every detail. Here, in this unfamiliar country, nothing followed his rules.
Behind him, his mother descended with her usual elegance. Waiting in the lobby, holding a water bottle in one hand and sunglasses hanging from his neck, was Min-jun. Half Greek, half Korean, completely charming… and as expressive as ever.
"Ryu!" he exclaimed. "I thought you were going to make a run for it down the runway."
Ryu barely raised an eyebrow.
"Don't start," he muttered, jaw tightening as he adjusted his watch strap.
"Brother, you look like you're about to sign a nuclear treaty, not get married."
"Don't underestimate it. This marriage is a treaty," Ryu replied dryly.
Still smiling, Min-jun lowered his voice slightly.
"Even if the whole country loses its mind… I'm with you, Ryu."
Ryu took a deep breath.
"Thank you." — He looked at him for a moment longer, and something in his expression softened.
Just then, his older sister, Seo-Yeon, stepped out of the elevator, accompanied by their father, Kang Ji-Ho, head of the Kang empire. She wore a flawless beige outfit, her hair pulled back into a low bun, and the look of someone always three steps ahead.
"Min-jun," she said, without raising her voice. "Try not to embarrass us on your first day."
"Understood," he replied with a theatrical bow, still smiling.
"I'm only asking you to observe before you comment," Seo-Yeon added, casting a subtle glance at her younger brothers.
"And you, Ryu…"
There was a brief pause.
"You're brave. Not everyone would marry out of conviction… and to someone from a culture so different from ours."
She tilted her head slightly, as if testing his reaction.
The murmur of Spanish accents in the lobby, the colorful uniforms of the staff—everything highlighted how far they were from Seoul.
"You did it," Ryu said, his voice calm but with an edge of steel.
"Yes, but not with someone whose worldview was so different from ours," Seo-Yeon replied.
Her lips curved ever so slightly… perhaps a gesture of respect.
He blinked slowly before answering, the silence cushioning a dozen unspoken thoughts.
Then she looked to their mother.
"Have you seen the workshop videos yet?"
"Not yet," the mother replied kindly. "But the girl's father has been more than generous. He gave us a spacious area to work with local stones. Some of them have fascinating potential."
The father watched his wife in silence for a moment.
He gave a slight nod—a gesture that held both agreement and a veiled warning. His gaze then turned to Ryu.
"You've arrived. That's what matters."
"Yes, Father," Ryu replied, bowing his head slightly, though his fingers pressed together behind his back before releasing.
The family headed toward the elevators, moving like a team that knew exactly when to speak… and when to remain silent.
"Wow, Ryu…" Min-jun murmured with a smile.
"You've got that same face you used to make when Mom made you practice piano after taekwondo. You hated it… but you were better at it than anyone."
Ryu's lips moved slightly, but not into a smile. Instead, he exhaled softly through his nose and followed the others toward the elevator.
Bolivia was nothing like they had imagined.
This wedding, even less so.
And Ryu knew: the worst hadn't even begun.