Knock knock.
“Come in.”
Ji-yeon heard Tae-hoon’s voice from inside, opened the CEO’s office door, and stepped in. Then she approached Tae-hoon, held out the approval folder, and spoke.
“CEO, do you happen to know CEO Kang from Next well?” “Hmm? Why?”
A question mark appeared on Tae-hoon’s face.
“Honestly, Ha-neul isn’t exactly a top-tier celebrity, but the terms they offered are so good.” “That’s true.” “Exactly. Doesn’t something seem a little strange?” “Even if it is strange, what are you going to do about it? The contract worked out, and all we have to do is film according to the schedule. Once we get paid, it’s over. Right?” “Well, yes.” “You’re worried there might be something going on between the two of them?”
Of course. Lee Tae-hoon was the best in the industry when it came to seeing right through people. He had read her feelings perfectly. Ji-yeon answered, doing her best to hide her surprise.
“You never know with a man and a woman. The fact that CEO Kang specifically singled out Ha-neul is a little…” “That’s not going to happen, so don’t worry about it.” “What do you mean?”
At Tae-hoon’s blunt response, Ji-yeon stared at him with a puzzled expression.
“Manager Kim, you didn’t know? CEO Kang from Next is the only son of Chairwoman Seo Min-hee of Sewon Construction.” “What? That Sewon Construction?”
That explained it. No wonder he looked rich from head to toe. For a moment, she wondered if there was no such thing as a self-made success in this country anymore.
“And soon …”
As Tae-hoon continued, Ji-yeon nodded and murmured in understanding.
At that same time, Ha-neul checked the text message she had received from Ho-su on her way home.
─ The company should have sent you the contract. Did you check it?
Was he trying to talk business? Ha-neul immediately texted him back.
─ Yes. I just heard about it at the office. ─ Are the terms okay? Is there anything you want to negotiate? ─ There wasn’t anything like that. The company checked it right away and sent it over. ─ Are you busy? If you’re free, I’d like to see you today.
“Haah …”
Ha-neul sighed as she looked at his text. The thought crossed her mind that this might have been the real reason he had messaged her.
‘What does he want to talk about this time?’
And if they visited another hot spot like last time, they were bound to attract attention. It wasn’t just Ha-neul. As Ho-su’s company had grown famous, interest in the man named Kang Ho-su had risen sharply as well.
She worried about how a meeting between the two of them would look to other people in that situation.
There was no way it would look good. And soon, she would be filming a new commercial for his company.
People’s interest might die down quickly after a day or two, but she didn’t even want to be the subject of gossip during those one or two days.
Because whatever people said about her would never be anything good.
After thinking for a moment, she sent him a reply.
At the same time, when Ha-neul didn’t answer his text, Ho-su turned toward the kitchen.
“No answer …”
Just then, his phone on the living room table lit up as Ha-neul’s message arrived.
─ Okay. But today, I’d like to meet somewhere quiet.
It was late in the evening, long past quitting time. Ha-neul stood in front of a luxury high-rise mixed-use building.
The text Ho-su had sent told her to come to the address he provided.
She had agonized over it for a long time after receiving the message, but in the end, she had come here.
His text also included the password for the shared entrance on the first floor. Ha-neul entered the numbers on the intercom screen, and a moment later, the door opened.
She took the elevator to the seventy-first floor, pressed the button, and smoothed her clothes.
She hadn’t expected Ho-su to tell her to come to his home when she said she wanted to meet somewhere quiet. She had simply imagined an upscale wine bar with a private room, but his home?
‘It can’t be … right?’
Ha-neul hadn’t accepted his offer yet. But this time, she was meeting him at his home.
In a space where it was just the two of them, it seemed as though nothing that happened between them would be strange.
Ha-neul squeezed her eyes shut and touched her neck. Her throat grew parched. She could have refused him, but she had come here on her own two feet. Some of the feelings she’d had ten years ago still remained in her heart.
A little while later. She stood in front of the door to the place he had told her about and pressed the bell. The roughly one minute it took Ho-su to open the door felt like an hour to Ha-neul.
“Come on in.” “Hello.”
Ho-su greeted her warmly. Ha-neul offered him a light greeting, then lifted her head to look at him.
He looked quite different from the way he had at their meal last time. Maybe this was how he dressed at home—he was wearing a simple T-shirt and cotton pants.
Had he just gotten out of the shower? Ho-su’s hair was still damp.
“Then I’ll come in.”
She stepped inside Ho-su’s home. Her heart was still pounding, and her gaze trembled.
The inside of the house reflected his tastes perfectly.
The living room looked larger than Ha-neul’s home, but all she could see was a large sofa and a single table. When she turned her gaze, a massive screen filled one wall. Above it, a chandelier hung from a ceiling much higher than the one in her home, looking down at her.
There wasn’t a single plant anywhere, giving the place a stark, desolate feel. It looked as though the only living thing in the house was Kang Ho-su.
“It’s not dinner time yet, is it? Is there anything you want to eat?” “I’m not sure. What about you, senior?” “I don’t know either. I hardly ever eat at home.”
Ho-su led her toward the kitchen.
It was modest compared to the size of the house, but the kitchen itself was by no means small. It was so immaculate that it could have passed for a drama set. Clearly, someone had cleaned it, and it was also obvious that the owner of the house didn’t actually cook for himself.
Leaning lightly against the large kitchen island, Ha-neul said,
“Do you have anything to drink? I think I’m a little thirsty.” “You are? Hold on.”
Ho-su opened the metallic-colored refrigerator. Ha-neul turned her head to look inside, and her brow furrowed slightly. She walked over to Ho-su, who was standing beside the refrigerator, and said,
“Someone might think this was a hotel refrigerator.” “I told you. I don’t really eat at home.” “Even so, this is a little much.”
Inside, only bottled water and fruit juice sat in neat rows, labels facing forward with military precision.
Ho-su took out a bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and handed it to her.
“You said you were thirsty. Is this okay?” “Thank you.” “I just order something whenever I eat at home, too. You didn’t think I’d actually cook here, did you?”
That was true. Ha-neul couldn’t picture Ho-su cooking and doing the dishes in the kitchen.
“Doesn’t your family worry about you?” “…Who?” “No, never mind.”
Ho-su gave a quiet laugh as he watched Ha-neul change the subject. Was she under the impression that he was just an ordinary guy from an ordinary family?
Back in college, it had been common knowledge among the students what kind of family he came from. But there was a good chance Ha-neul had never heard about it.
Ha-neul had hardly ever attended gatherings where her entire department came together, and she was rarely seen hanging out with friends. She disappeared somewhere as soon as class ended, and even when people asked her juniors, hardly anyone knew where she was.
He had later heard that Ha-neul worked part-time as soon as her lectures ended throughout her entire time at school. Ho-su had been surprised to learn that she supported herself with a certain amount of scholarship money and what she earned from her part-time job.
“Let’s decide what to eat for dinner.”
Ho-su took Ha-neul by the wrist and led her into the living room. He handed her something resembling a menu that had been placed on the table.
“What’s this?” “Pick something. They’ll bring it right over once you order. Think of it as room service.” “Really?”
Room service at home. Just how successful was this man?
Ho-su, sitting across from her, seemed impressive to Ha-neul all over again.
Ha-neul ordered pasta and steak. She twirled cream pasta around her fork and put it into her mouth. The refined flavor, worthy of a top-tier restaurant, lingered on her tongue.
“It’s delicious.” “I’m glad.”
Ho-su cut off a piece of the steak he’d ordered for the first time and brought it to his mouth. It was far more delicious than he’d expected.
Normally, when Ho-su ordered food while staying at home, it was something simple like a salad or a sandwich. If not for Ha-neul, he never would have ordered this kind of food.
“Did you drive here?” “No.” “Then would you like some wine?”
At his words, Ha-neul’s body trembled before she could stop it. Her heart was beating just as fast as it had when she first stood outside his door. Why did an offer to have a drink feel like such a big deal?
“…Okay.”
Perhaps satisfied with her answer, Ho-su smiled, his eyes curving into round crescents. She smiled back at him, but the tension on her face was unmistakable.
He rose from his seat and walked over to the wine cellar in the kitchen, while Ha-neul closed her eyes and drew a deep breath.
‘…It’s just a glass of wine. Why am I so nervous? Get a grip.’
“Why are you so nervous?” “I’m not. I’m not nervous.”
At some point, Ho-su had come up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. As he moved closer, his scent stimulated Ha-neul’s senses.
She had expected him to wear a more masculine cologne, but the scent coming from his body was closer to the smell of grass. It was like the light floral fragrance of fresh young leaves.
“Nothing’s going to happen today, so don’t be so nervous.” “……” “At least today, I won’t touch you.”