MBWI 16

Chapter – 16

“Why shopping addiction of all things?”

“Think about when we separate later. If it’s just about money, I can take all the insults people throw at me, but you’re a businessman, Mr. Joo. Your image has to stay clean.”

When the black card was placed in her hand, Gaeun made a resolution.

She would make the reason for their divorce her extravagant and reckless spending habits.

“Isn’t it perfect? A Cinderella-like wife who loses herself in her husband’s wealth, spends money like crazy, and in the end the husband can’t take it anymore and chooses divorce!”

Even she thought it was a perfect scenario.

Under that plan, Gaeun would receive a large settlement as compensation for her “sacrifice,” and Seokjin would suffer no damage to his public image. A mutually beneficial ending.

“You like getting insulted as long as you get money?”

“Of course. Money you get while being cursed at is the best kind.”

When Gaeun said this while giving two thumbs up, Seokjin’s neat face quickly hardened.

“I don’t like jokes.”

“I’m not joking though…”

“No matter how this started, Miss Oh Gaeun, you are my wife from now on. I don’t like people pointing fingers at my wife calling her a shopping addict or anything like that.”

It sounded like a cool line, but Gaeun couldn’t understand him at all.

Wasn’t a businessman supposed to calculate gains and losses quickly?

“Mr. Joo.”

Gaeun called his name in a calm voice. Instead of answering, he simply looked at her with his handsome eyes.

“I have no intention of living my whole life as your wife.”

“You were preparing for the civil service exam, right?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you prepare for it?”

“Well… it’s stable and there’s usually not much overtime…”

“My wife’s position is like that. Ah, of course, there won’t be any overtime between us.”

Is this man sane?

Was he seriously asking her to live as his wife forever like that?

She needed to stay alert.

If she showed any weakness, he might try to convince her to stay permanently, calling it a lifetime job.

Gaeun resolved again to save money and retire early from this “job.”

“Good afternoon, sir.”

Manager Kim Hyeryeong, who was pushing a rack of similarly styled clothes, greeted Seokjin when she saw him sitting beside Gaeun.

“Good afternoon.”

“You mentioned something neat and elegant, so I prepared designs along those lines. First, this is what I personally recommend.”

Manager Kim held up a white dress and a cream-white tweed jacket.

“The unified white tone gives a clean impression, and the black ribbon along the neckline adds a refined accent so it doesn’t look plain.”

“Looks nice.”

“Oh, I don’t really like that style…”

Gaeun said while lightly tapping Seokjin’s thigh.

If this were a normal formal meeting, she would have chosen something like that. But considering where she was going tonight, that style wasn’t right.

She stood up from the sofa and walked to the clothing rack, selecting a dress.

“I like something like this.”

“Ah… ma’am…”

Manager Kim smiled awkwardly and wiped sweat from her forehead.

The dress Gaeun chose was a black dress with sheer lace over the chest and arms.

It was tight-fitting and clearly designed to emphasize body lines.

“Those kinds of clothes feel stuffy. Isn’t this prettier?”

“Well… it is pretty, but…”

Manager Kim, who couldn’t openly disagree, trailed off awkwardly.

“What do you think?”

Gaeun smiled brightly at Seokjin.

Her eyes clearly said: If I wear this, they’ll definitely lower their opinion of me.

Seokjin stood up expressionlessly and approached her.

His stiff expression slowly softened into a gentle smile.

Why is he suddenly making that kind face?

Gaeun tightened her grip on the hanger nervously.

Huh?

When Seokjin placed his hand over hers, her eyes trembled slightly.

“This is your style. But I’d prefer if you only wore something like this in front of me.”

“….”

Gaeun stared at him desperately, her eyes saying: What are you doing? This isn’t the plan. Get it together.

“Manager Kim, could you set this aside separately?”

Seokjin handed the black dress to her and at the same time placed his arm around Gaeun’s shoulders.

“I like what you recommended. What do you think, Gaeun?”

Gaeun…

The moment she heard her name from his mouth, goosebumps ran down her spine.

She never knew her own name could sound so chilling.

And she wasn’t the only one.

Secretary Tak, who was standing nearby, also turned away and shook his head slightly.

“…Fine. I’ll try it on.”

“Thank you.”

Seokjin smiled warmly again at her reluctant agreement.

“This is my first time assisting you personally, sir. I didn’t realize you were so affectionate.”

“I’m only like this with her.”

“Ma’am, you’re very fortunate. Let me help you get dressed.”

Manager Kim gestured toward the fitting room.

Inside, Gaeun first put on the dress and came out.

Manager Kim, who had been waiting with the jacket, helped her slide her arm into the sleeve.

“Was the air conditioning too cold, ma’am?”

“No.”

“You have goosebumps on your arms…”

They were still there from earlier.

“It’s because the clothes are so pretty my body got surprised.”

With a pleasant smile, she finished putting on the jacket and examined herself in the mirror.

A natural gasp escaped her.

Clothes really did make the person. Dressed like this, she looked like a wealthy Cheongdam-dong daughter-in-law.

Ah… I really am about to become that, aren’t I?

Whatever the case, she decided to do her best.

A job with a steady salary, plus incentives just for enduring psychological battles with a strange family.

If she endured 2–3 years, she could walk away with an enormous amount of money.

Seokjin might call it a lifetime job, but she had no intention of maintaining this marriage long-term.

“I think a pearl necklace would suit this outfit.”

“Let’s do that.”

As Manager Kim placed a lustrous pearl necklace around her neck, she looked very satisfied.

Seeing her expression, Gaeun realized how much pride she took in her profession.

Would she ever find something she truly wanted to do like that?

She had never lived with a clear dream or learned how to find one, so she still didn’t know what she truly wanted.

“The president seems to have waited long enough.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Gaeun walked slowly toward Seokjin.

“How is it?”

“…Beautiful.”

“Don’t you like it?”

Seeing his lukewarm reaction, she pouted and stepped closer.

“It’s beautiful. Shall we look at something else now?”

“We should go. We’re out of time.”

“Shoes.”

Gaeun looked down at her feet.

Her worn canvas sneakers.

What a mismatch.

In the full-length mirror she looked like someone wearing rubber shoes with a formal dress.

“These should work.”

Manager Kim brought beige pumps. At that moment, Seokjin knelt down.

“Your foot.”

“….”

He removed her canvas shoes and personally put the heels on her feet.

A perfect performance.

Anyone watching would think he was completely in love with her. Like a prince from an old drama.

If he was acting like this, it was her duty to play along.

Gaeun calmly entrusted her foot to him as if this were normal.

* * *

Once inside the car, Gaeun let out a long breath she had been holding.

Even thinking of it as work, pretending affection without real emotion took more energy than she expected.

“Secretary Tak.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Was it natural?”

“Of course. It was so natural I briefly thought you could debut as an actor.”

“That’s good.”

“I’ll depart then.”

Within minutes Seokjin had already returned to his cold, formal tone.

As Secretary Tak said, he really was an excellent actor.

“Did we leak the reservation details properly?”

“Yes.”

“Leak what?”

Their conversation sounded strange, so Gaeun asked.

What reservation were they leaking and to whom?

Surely they weren’t planning another news article?

She planned to insist her face never be exposed again.

“Miss Oh Gaeun, remember this.”

“What?”

“Manager Kim from earlier works for Madam Jung.”

“Madam Jung? Your mother?”

“…She probably reported everything to Madam Jung the moment we left.”

It was strange that he didn’t call his own mother “mother,” but Gaeun didn’t think deeply about it.

Maybe that was just how things worked in their world.

“Don’t forget Manager Kim works for Madam Jung. Behave carefully.”

“Why are the relationships so complicated? This is worse than Joseon-era political factions.”

“That might be true.”

“You find this funny? My head feels like it’s about to explode.”

She complained while he laughed.

He quickly stopped and apologized.

“Sorry. By the way, what exactly did you buy today?”

Though she hadn’t spent much, his question made cold sweat run down her back.

“I bought things worth buying.”

“This?”

He pointed at a large shopping bag by her feet.

“Want to see?”

Gaeun lifted the bag onto her lap to show him.

“This is a party wig. And this is a fish-shaped pencil case. And this chicken doll that makes noise when you press it.”

She squeezed it.

BWAHK!

The loud squeak filled the car.

Seokjin frowned slightly.

“You bought this for 58,000 won on a 10-month installment plan?”

“You seem small-minded for someone like you, Mr. Joo.”

“I’m just asking. No other intention.”

“Is 58,000 won really that precious?”

“I never said that.”

“You’re acting like it is. Your eyes say so.”

“Absolutely not. What I’m curious about is why you put it on a 10-month installment plan.”