MBWI 04

Chapter – 04

Cold sweat ran down her back.

Seokjin’s expression looked as if he were toying with someone who had fallen into his test.

So what if an important man wanted to interview a potential bride? Why was he staring at her so viciously just because she mentioned it?

Damn it. If I knew this would happen, I should’ve worn high heels even if they were uncomfortable.

Gaeun quickly searched her mind for something she could use as a weapon.

Ah. Her phone.

Worried it might get damaged, she had never removed the bumper case since buying it—but now her hands moved faster than ever as she pulled it off.

“I didn’t mean to do that…”

She raised her phone high, intending to smash it into his head and run away.

But before the corner of the phone could hit Seokjin’s head, he grabbed her wrist.

“Were you just trying to hit me?”

Honest as always, Gaeun nodded.

“Why?”

“…Because if I didn’t, President Joo would probably get rid of me.”

“Why would I get rid of you, Ms. Oh Gaeun?”

“You were fishing for information earlier. Talking about bride interviews and all that.”

“Wasn’t it you who started talking without me saying anything?”

Now that she thought about it, he was right.

He hadn’t said anything, and she had just blurted everything out herself.

Gaeun regretted her decision less than ten minutes after sitting in business class. If she had known Joo Seokjin would be here, she never would have taken a business class seat she couldn’t normally afford.

First, she needed to convince him she could keep a secret.

“I really didn’t tell anyone except you.”

“I’ll believe you.”

“I’ll take this secret to my grave, so please just leave me alone.”

“Who said anyone was going to touch you?”

“You’re going to watch me in case I spread rumors and then get rid of me if I do something suspicious, right?”

Seokjin frowned slightly, looking puzzled.

“Ms. Oh, you seem to enjoy wild fantasies.”

“Fantasies?”

“I’m not that free to entertain your imagination.”

“Well… if that’s true, then thank you.”

Embarrassed, Gaeun scratched her neck and avoided his gaze.

When she looked back later, he was already reading his newspaper again.

The plane had taken off. There was nowhere to run now. She had to sit next to him for a very long time.

It was an afternoon flight, so she wasn’t sleepy. More than anything, the excitement of being in business class kept her eyes sparkling.

She tried to ignore him, but boredom kept drawing her gaze back.

He must be going to Bangkok for a business trip.

Then I win since I’m going on vacation.

She suppressed giggles at her pointless sense of victory.

Seokjin noticed and turned his head.

“Ah… I just felt like laughing. Looks like you’re going on a business trip.”

“I’m on vacation.”

Ah. A tie.

President Joo was on vacation too.

“Me too.”

Well… she had technically been on vacation ever since she met him.

Just as the conversation died into awkward silence, a flight attendant approached.

From the words beef and seafood meal, it seemed they were choosing their in-flight meals.

Gaeun lightly tapped Seokjin’s arm.

“What are you choosing?”

“I’ll have the seafood.”

“Then could you tell them I want the beef?”

“I’ll take two beef meals.”

At his words, Gaeun hurriedly raised her hand.

“Excuse me! Seafood meal please!”

The flight attendant smiled and said yes. Gaeun relaxed.

“I thought you said beef.”

“I only said that because you chose seafood. If you had picked beef, I would’ve chosen fish.”

“Why?”

“Because this is business class!”

“And?”

He really didn’t get it.

Since she was in business class, she wanted to try everything—food and drinks alike.

She especially wanted to photograph the different meals and keep the pictures.

So she could look at them later when she felt depressed.

“You might not know this, but this is my first time ever flying business class. So I want to see, enjoy, and taste everything they offer.”

“Go ahead.”

“I have limits alone… so help me out a bit.”

“Why should I?”

“….”

She had no answer.

He had no reason to help her.

Then she remembered what happened at the hotel lounge.

“As payment for keeping your secret.”

“You said you’d keep it.”

“I originally asked for 100,000 won, but you and your secretary only had 5,000. So if you help me try different meals and drinks, I’ll forgive the remaining 95,000.”

“…If you want something, just call the flight attendant.”

“How can I keep asking? That’s embarrassing.”

“No need. I’ll just give you the 95,000.”

Seokjin sighed and reached for his wallet.

“…I left it.”

He muttered and reached into his bag instead.

Just to avoid ordering a few different drinks for her, he was trying to pay her off.

“Oh?”

As he searched his bag, his face grew troubled.

“Please give me the 95,000.”

Gaeun held out both hands.

Since he offered, there was no reason to refuse.

Especially since she was unemployed now—every bit of money mattered.

“…I’ll help you.”

“If you’d said that earlier, we wouldn’t have had this awkwardness. I’ll order Chang beer, so you order Tiger beer.”

She nudged his side excitedly.

Surprisingly, Seokjin obediently called the flight attendant and ordered the beers.

Gaeun cracked open her can and took a refreshing sip.

“Ahh! Aren’t you drinking?”

“I don’t really like alcohol.”

“Ah, people like you probably drink wine. If I drink all this I’ll get drunk. Is it okay if I just sip a little?”

“Do as you wish.”

His face was cold, as if he didn’t want to talk to an unemployed nobody like her.

“I’m just asking since it’s my first time in business class. You must fly like this often. Or do you only fly first class?”

“Just drink as much as you want.”

“Ah yes. Thank you for your valuable guidance.”

She nodded awkwardly and picked up the other beer in front of him.

“Wait.”

Seokjin suddenly took the can, wrapped the top with his handkerchief, and opened it.

Gaeun looked at him suspiciously.

“Go ahead.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“…Just because I felt like it.”

He placed the opened can on her table.

She stared at it, swallowing nervously.

For some reason, it didn’t feel like just beer anymore.

“I don’t usually take things from other people.”

She pushed it back toward him.

Seeing his surprised reaction only strengthened her suspicion.

That handkerchief must have had something on it.

“Didn’t you just ask for my help?”

“Oh no, you don’t need to. I realized I was being very rude to a stranger.”

“We’re not strangers.”

“Let’s just mind our own business. I don’t think we belong in the same space.”

“May I ask why your attitude changed so drastically in under a minute?”

Why?

Because you’re suspicious.

Maybe I watch too many movies, but better safe than sorry.

“I’m just very fickle.”

“This is troublesome.”

At his words, her imagination spiraled further.

Was he saying it would’ve been easier if she had passed out from the beer?

“My mind is too clear. Maybe I should spar at a Muay Thai gym after so long.”

“You practice Muay Thai?”

“Ah… just as a hobby.”

Muay Thai, my foot.

She realized survival made lying surprisingly easy.

“I’m actually going for a test to see if I can become a Muay Thai fighter.”

“That’s strange.”

“What is?”

“I was told you don’t exercise at all.”

“What?! You investigated me? Jushin Retail is really something…”

“I needed to be sure you’d keep the secret. It can’t get out that I held interviews to find a wife.”

“Then why do something you shouldn’t and put me in this situation?”

She really didn’t understand.

What could possibly be lacking in a man with his looks and wealth that he needed to interview women for marriage?

Unless…

Her eyes drifted toward his lap.

“There are circumstances.”

“…Must be something you can’t talk about. I understand. If you meet someone you truly love, even that defect can be overcome.”

“Defect?”

“Maybe you should rely on medical science…”

“Ms. Oh Gaeun.”

His cold voice made her flinch.

She realized she had crossed a line.

Should she apologize quickly?

“That place you mentioned at the airport earlier… wherever it is… is very large.”

Very large?

Regardless of money, male pride was truly something else.

Wait… that means he overheard her at the airport.

Did he follow her from there?

Was this planned?

Strangely, there were no other business class passengers besides them.

“….”

“So, may I ask you for a favor?”