Chapter – 01
Late at night, in a quiet park.
Gaeun lit candles one by one around a small heart shape she had made while waiting for Hankyung.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah! You scared me!”
“I asked what this is.”
Hankyung, with both hands shoved into his pants pockets, pointed at the candles with his chin, wearing an arrogant expression.
“You could at least say you arrived. Congratulations on your first day at work, Jung Hankyung.”
“It’s just a job. Everyone works. What’s the big deal?”
Hankyung had just passed the Level-9 civil service exam and was about to start his first day. His smug attitude slightly hurt her feelings, but Gaeun forced a smile.
She had once prepared for the same exam, so she knew how difficult it was and tried to be understanding.
“…Congratulations. You must have had a hard time studying and doing your training.”
“Gaeun, thanks for the congratulations, but… did you seriously do all this to move me?”
“This?”
“Isn’t this a bit much? Doing something this embarrassing out on the street?”
His face was full of irritation as he called it embarrassing.
Gaeun’s pride was hurt. Like anyone else, she had wanted to take him to an expensive restaurant and celebrate properly.
But she had given up preparing for the civil service exam and started working at an academy front desk a year ago. Her financial situation wasn’t good.
“Embarrassing?”
“What are these cheap candles anyway⊠seriously, I can’t help but compare this to others. And what’s that?”
Hankyung’s eyes lit up when he saw the suit case on the bench.
Instead of spending money on one expensive meal, she thought it would be better to buy him a suit he could wear on his first day at work.
“…A first-day-of-work gift.”
“This is really from that brand?”
“Yeah.”
“Hey, thanks.”
As Hankyung walked over to grab the suit case, his foot kicked the candles, sending them rolling pathetically across the ground.
She hadn’t expected tears of gratitude.
But she had hoped to hear something simple like:
Sorry for being irritable while studying. Let’s go on more dates from now on.
“These kinds of gifts are good, but don’t ever do something like this again. It makes it look like you’re trying to mess with me.”
The few remaining candles flickered and went out in the night breeze.
Gaeun held back the tears that threatened to burst.
Even if she cried later alone, she didn’t want to cry in front of Jung Hankyung.
“You think I did this to mess with you?”
“No, that’s not what I meant⊔
“I did this because I wanted to make you happy. This street? This is where we used to date. I wanted to celebrate with you somewhere meaningful to us. And all you can say is it’s embarrassing? That I’m messing with you?”
“Hey, Oh Gaeun?”
Surprised by her sudden rapid outburst, Hankyung took a small step back.
“No matter what, you shouldn’t treat me like this. If you had thought even once about how much effort I put into this, you could at least say thank you even if you didn’t like it.”
“I am thankful. But my point is why do this in a place like this? You should think about my feelings too.”
“Your feelings? Do you think my feelings have always been good while dating you? Do you think I smile because I like you that much?”
“You like me, so⊔
“There were plenty of times I felt miserable and embarrassed dating you too. Sitting on shabby benches like this drinking canned coffee, eating cheap meals, and every time we went to the movies you just stood there with your hands behind your back until I paid. It felt dirty and pathetic, but I endured it.”
Memories from when they first met at 20 until now at 27 flashed through her mind.
Why were there no happy memories, only pathetic ones?
“There were many times I wanted to say things like you just did. Do you know why I didn’t? Because I was considerate. Because I thought you’d get hurt. But you don’t even think about my position or feelings and talk like that?”
“Then why be considerate? If you don’t like it, just say so. What, you don’t want to break up now that I passed the exam?”
“Don’t want to? I’m not afraid of losing you. I’m upset about the time I stupidly wasted next to you!”
“Then break up.”
Seeing his expressionless face as he said it so easily, Gaeun let out a hollow laugh. She gathered the scattered candles and threw them into the trash.
Then she looked straight into his still arrogant face.
“Let’s break up.”
“Fine. Let’s break up.”
“Give it back.”
“What?”
“The gift. Why would I give you a gift if we’re breaking up? Give it back.”
“You said it was a first-day-of-work gift⊔
Hankyung gripped the suit case tightly and hid it behind his back.
“Why would you give a gift to someone who’s now a stranger?”
“Who takes back a gift?”
“So you won’t give it back?”
“…”
“If you don’t, I’ll report you.”
“Report what?”
“For taking a bribe.”
“What bribe?”
“You’re coming to our district office, right? If a resident gives you an expensive gift, that’s a bribe, isn’t it?”
At the word bribe, Hankyung reluctantly handed the suit case back, his face full of regret.
“You’re petty.”
“Petty? You’re pathetic, you jerk!”
“Pathetic? Hey, Oh Gaeun! Are you done talking?”
“Not even close! I have so many insults I want to throw at you, but I’m holding back because I think it might break your tiny brain. And don’t ever tell people you dated me. It’s embarrassing!”
Gaeun deliberately bumped his shoulder as she walked away.
Why had she spent seven years tolerating someone like that?
“I’ll meet someone way better than you and shove my marriage certificate in your face!”
* * *
Gaeun realized she couldn’t work at the academy forever, so she applied for a job at an online shopping mall company.
It was strange the interview location was a hotel lounge, but she accepted the explanation that the office was under construction. She was too desperate to be picky.
But were hotel lounges usually this empty and quiet?
“Are you alone?”
“Oh, I’m waiting for someone.”
After greeting the employee, Gaeun looked around.
There was only one person sitting there.
The owner of the shopping mall she applied to: Kim Geumbong.
She smoothed her wrinkled skirt and walked toward him.
“Hello, I’m here for the interview todayâ”
“Please sit.”
Despite his cold tone, she couldn’t help smiling.
From the name Kim Geumbong, she expected a man in his 50s with a belly. But the man in front of her was young.
And very handsome.
Gaeun decided she absolutely had to get this job.
“I don’t have much time, so I’ll ask only a few questions.”
“Yes.”
“Do you always smile like that?”
“Sorry?”
“Or is there something on my face?”
She almost said: Because you’re handsome.
Instead she took a breath and answered calmly:
“They say you don’t smile because you’re happy, you’re happy because you smile. I try to think positively.”
“Positive thinking⊠not bad.”
According to the job site, this was a one-person company. The salary wasn’t high, but having such a handsome boss was already a great working condition.
“Are you good at keeping secrets?”
“Ah⊠yes. Very good.”
“I dislike rumors about me. Especially about my private life.”
“I’m not interested in other people’s private lives at all, sir.”
Does he live a playboy lifestyle? she wondered.
His words sounded like a warning to ignore whatever she might see.
That’s easy enough.
“You only need to do your assigned work. I hope you won’t do anything beyond that.”
“Yes, I’m the type who only does what I’m told⊔
Something felt strange.
Don’t bosses usually like employees who go above and beyond?
She glanced at him.
His posture was noble, as if he had been born a CEO. His sharp eyes and firm lips suggested someone who tolerated no mistakes.
But she felt she had seen him somewhere.
“You should fix that habit of staring at people like that.”
His sharp gaze showed he had noticed.
“Yes, I will.”
“That’s enough for today.”
“Will there be more interviews?”
She couldn’t understand why such a tiny company would need multiple interviews.
“Didn’t Secretary Tak explain?”
“Secretary Tak?”
I thought this was a one-person company?
“I’ll have him contact you again. Here’s my personal card.”
He handed her his business card.
She slowly read it.
“Jushin Retail⊠President Joo SeokjinâŠ?”
Gaeun swallowed dryly.
This was the man she had seen on the news.
Jushin Retail was the largest distribution company in the country.
Why was its president interviewing her?
Seeing her shock, Seokjin looked confused.
“It’s a secret that today’s interview was for finding a wife.”
“A wife?”
The president of Jushin Retail holding interviews for a wife instead of going on blind dates?
“Is that a problem?”
At that moment her phone vibrated.
It was Kim Geumbong, the real interview she had scheduled.
“…Hello?”
âAh, I’m sorry. My friend’s daughter will take the position, so the interview is canceled.
“Okay⊔
Gaeun was too shocked by meeting Joo Seokjin to even react.
After hanging up she looked at him.
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
“Aren’t you Yoon Hyejin?”
“I’m Oh Gaeun⊔
