Chapter: 3
Yoon Bora
* * *
Bora got up from where she was sitting and, as soon as she got home, wiped off the makeup that had been on her mind all day.
She soaked a cotton pad with remover, pressed it onto her eyelashes, and slowly rubbed. The black mascara came off in clumps.
She carefully removed the tint from her eyebrows and lips, cleansed her whole face, and after finishing her shower, all the tension in her body finally released, leaving her legs trembling.
“Haah…”
Without even drying her hair properly, Bora collapsed onto her bed, her dazed eyes landing on the rabbit doll next to her pillow.
“Rosun… today was really tough.”
Her fingers lazily fiddled with Rosun’s long ears, lacking any strength.
“I was super nervous since I heard he’s supposed to be really scary… but he wasn’t as intimidating as I thought?”
In fact, she had been thrown off by how handsome he was and how good his build was.
The rumors about him having a terrible temper and messing up every arranged meeting he went to—maybe those were just rumors. He spoke bluntly, but he didn’t seem rude or selfish.
And on top of that, his first words were “You’re very pretty.”
“Has he got good taste… or not? Who’s the old man telling him to ‘soften up’ anyway? Probably someone important to Han Kang-yoon, right?”
Bora had agreed to the meeting without thinking much, nodding simply because she felt she had to get Han Kang-yoon’s attention.
Since she was young, Bora had always enjoyed talking with her grandparents, finding comfort in those moments. No matter how grumpy an old person was, a few minutes with her would have them holding her hand and smiling warmly.
Her family’s involvement in the healthcare business also played a big part in shaping her career path.
Bora wanted to create a comfortable space for the growing elderly population, somewhere they could live safely and happily until the end. She had distinguished her senior town from others by supporting self-development for the residents and maintaining social connections so they could have even small jobs in society, which had been well-received.
Plus, with carefully managed diets, clean environments, professional caregivers, and medical staff available for consultation and check-ups at all times, her business had become the top in the industry for over three years.
“Haah… I didn’t mean much by what I said, just spoke my mind.”
Thinking back to the meeting she had been pushed into, Bora remembered Han Kang-yoon’s calm face, unexpectedly receptive to her casually thrown words, even though she had only nodded in the moment to grab his attention.
“Han San Group really is impressive. Didn’t even ask the amount and still said yes.”
As she absentmindedly fiddled with Rosun’s ears, her phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen, saw a number without a name, and assumed it was spam, about to delete it, when the words “Bora” caught her eye.
“Han Kang-yoon…?”
Bora, it was nice to meet you today. I hope we can have lunch tomorrow.
It was a concise message, stripped of any unnecessary words.
“Shouldn’t he have said, ‘If you’re free at this time’ or something?”
Despite thinking that, Bora’s fingers were already tapping the keyboard, sending her reply.
Yes, it was nice to meet you too. What time and where shall we meet tomorrow?
Maybe she should have added an emoji. But her impatient fingers had already sent the message.
I’ll go to the Da Bit main gate at twelve noon. If you have any favorite food, let me know in advance. I eat anything. See you tomorrow at twelve. Good night.
Her neck tingled for no reason.
Bora stared at her silent phone a little longer, then grabbed Rosun into her arms.
“Really… even his follow-up is so straightforward. So blunt.”
But that bluntness had a certain charm. Bora buried her face in Rosun’s soft belly, finding herself amused at her own thoughts.
She was planning how much and in what way to ask for investment.
Knock knock.
“Can I come in?”
Her mother’s voice made Bora sit up from the mattress.
“Yeah.”
Her mother, wearing a high-quality silk robe in cream and light pink, approached with sparkling eyes.
“How was it? When I went out for golf today, everyone was curious when they heard you were meeting someone.”
“Curious about what? Mom, please don’t tell people what I’m doing.”
“Oh, come on. Our golf group isn’t some one- or two-year acquaintances. These are people who have been close since before you were born. They’re like family.”
Family, indeed. Bora knew that because her family’s business was struggling lately, people weren’t including her parents in their gatherings like before. But she kept quiet, not wanting to raise her voice with her mother.
“So? Was he better than Han Kang-moon? Well, at least he’s the second son, the CEO of Kang San Construction. Probably will get some shares later. Did he seem smart? Huh?”
Her mother’s interest was entirely in Han Kang-yoon’s wealth. Bora sighed slightly and nodded vaguely.
“Yeah. Well, his appearance is fine. Not as reckless as people say.”
“See? I told you! You have to meet people yourself. Did he ask you for a follow-up? Huh?”
“I just got a message asking for lunch tomorrow.”
“Of course. You got your looks from me, so no man could dislike you. You should thank me, okay?”
Her mother’s cheerful slap on Bora’s shoulder was bright. Bora knew her mother’s cheerfulness came from money.
Born as the youngest daughter of a mid-sized company CEO, her mother had always gotten whatever she wanted. She had never had to ask for anything in her life. Bora knew her mother probably had no clue about the current state of the Bitchan Group, its debts, or how serious the situation was.
So she had probably heard about her only daughter’s business failing but hadn’t really paid attention.
“I need some rest, Mom.”
“Okay. Oh, do a face pack before bed. Remember? A woman’s beauty is her life. I gave birth to you beautifully; if you don’t use that as a weapon, you’re foolish, okay?”
“Got it. Now leave.”
Bora pushed her mother out and closed the door, sighing, and flopped back onto the bed.
“Mom’s lucky. Even now, she only cares about looking good.”
Even as she said that, Bora opened her vanity drawer and took out a tea tree face mask.
“Well, I should at least show this much effort.”
After applying the mask properly, she turned on her tablet and checked the financial situation of Da Bit over the past few months. Her gaze was serious.
“Goodness…”
After subtracting payroll, management costs, and countless other expenses, there was only a meager revenue left. And this month alone, the interest she had to pay was several tens of thousands of won.
‘At this rate, the business will either close or be sold in a few months.’
Staring blankly at the red-highlighted numbers on the Excel sheet, Bora closed her tablet and shut her eyes.
“Don’t frown. Everything will be fine. I don’t know who that old man is, but I’ll handle it! You can do it, Yoon Bora.”
As she closed her eyes, Han Kang-yoon’s image from earlier that day appeared vividly.
His neat suit, well-groomed hair, thick eyebrows, and handsome face.
But more than his looks, what moved her was his low, firm voice. There was a seriousness that suggested he wouldn’t say nonsense and a reliability that made her trust him.
Of course, she couldn’t fully understand someone from just one meeting, but one thing was certain:
“He’s still ten times better than Han Kang-moon.”
The memory of Han Kang-moon’s high-pitched, cracking voice made Bora frown.
“Then maybe I should find a good restaurant for the investor. I haven’t really explored the area near the town.”
Since she usually had lunch at the senior town cafeteria with employees, she couldn’t think of a place to go with Kang-yoon.
“He looks like the type who only goes to Michelin two-star places… should I surprise him?”
Her mother frowned, but Bora recalled a favorite restaurant from her childhood. Perhaps it would be fun to test if someone who might be her future partner could respect her tastes.
“Hopefully he won’t throw a fit if I bring him somewhere like this.”
Tomorrow’s lunch would be all or nothing. Bora thought Kang-yoon wouldn’t get angry no matter what she chose.
Putting the numbers aside for now, Bora smirked at the thought of Han Kang-yoon’s handsome face.
