What Each Other Needs
“Thanks for the meal!”
“Thanks for the meal.
Only a few minutes after they ordered, a large earthenware bowl filled to the brim with sundae soup was set down in front of them.
Bora’s movements—scooping generous spoonfuls of perilla seed powder and Cheongyang chili peppers into the bubbling broth—looked practiced, almost instinctive.
Before the steam had even fully dissipated, Kangyoon watched Bora take a quick sip of the soup. Then he lifted his own spoon and spoke.
“This must really be your regular spot.”
“I’ve been coming here with my dad since I was little. The owner—the grandma—ran this place for nearly forty years. She finally handed it over to her daughter-in-law last year. Turns out the secret to the flavor got passed down too.”
“I see.”
Contrary to what she’d expected, Bora glanced at Kangyoon as he dipped his spoon into the bowl, noticing that he didn’t look uncomfortable at all.
“But still… places like this might be uncomfortable for you, right?”
“Not really.”
As if to prove his point, Kangyoon dumped a generous pile of bright red chive salad into his soup. Bora’s eyes widened.
“You’ve eaten sundae soup before, haven’t you?”
“You probably assumed otherwise since I showed up in a clean suit, but I’m the CEO of Kangsan Construction. My actual job is going around construction sites, checking things myself in clouds of dust.”
“Wow. I thought CEOs mostly just did paperwork.”
“Maybe in other industries. In construction, it’s different. If I counted all the bowls of gukbap I’ve had while inspecting sites and drinking soju with contractors, it’d be in the thousands.”
“Huh. That’s kind of surprising.”
Thinking he was very different from what she’d imagined, Bora blew on the hot soup and took a sip.
“Mmm. It’s good, right?”
“It is. Clean, but rich.”
They focused on eating in silence.
Just then, the owner—having spotted Bora—came out of the kitchen and casually set a plate of complimentary sundae on their table.
“What’s this? You brought a man with you today?”
“Oh! Auntie! Is this on the house?”
“Well, if a pretty girl brings a handsome guy, I should give you something.”
“Thank you. We’ll enjoy it.”
“So? Is he your boyfriend?”
“Ah—no. He’s not my boyfriend… not yet… I mean, he’s not right now, but there could be potential in the future, or maybe not…?”
At Bora’s flustered rambling, the owner laughed and turned her gaze to Kangyoon.
“Well, he’s not her boyfriend yet, but he’s a good-looking young man either way. Bora’s loved our sundae since she was little. Come by often. I’ll give you plenty.”
“Ah… yes.”
Kangyoon nodded without thinking, spoon still in his mouth, responding naturally to her warmth.
After scraping up the very last drop of soup, Bora tapped her spotless bowl proudly. Then she poured water into two cups from a plastic bottle with a soju label and placed one in front of Kangyoon.
“Since you came all the way here, I’ll pay for the meal.”
After taking a sip of water, Bora smiled brightly and stood up.
Kangyoon watched from behind as she pulled out cash and paid at the counter.
What a strange woman.
He’d never had a blind date—or any introduction—that involved a meal like this.
Usually it was hotel restaurants or high-end Japanese places, and he always paid without question.
So even though this was just twenty thousand won for two bowls of soup, seeing Bora insist on paying was both amusing and oddly cute.
“The weather’s nice. Want to grab coffee while we walk through the park?”
She said she’d worn low shoes on purpose, expecting to walk a lot today, and showed him her spotless white sneakers. Her face looked clear and bright.
“Sure. I’ll buy the coffee.”
“Then I’ll have an iced Americano. That café over there is cheap but uses really good beans. And I need to get my stamp.”
Grinning, Bora headed to a small independent café nearby.
“Hi! Two iced Americanos, please. And don’t forget to stamp my card!”
She beamed as she handed over a coupon card already stamped eight times.
“You’ve collected all ten stamps now. Next time, you can get a free Americano.”
Bora accepted the card with a proud smile, then glanced quietly at Kangyoon’s large hand as he paid with his card.
“But actually,” she whispered, as if sharing a secret, “I have another fully stamped card too.”
Her soft voice tickled his ears.
“Next time you’re craving sundae soup, come back. I’ll treat you to coffee then.”
Kangyoon’s expression softened as he looked down at Bora, smiling brightly as if she were making a big deal out of two coupon cards.
“Alright.”
They took their iced Americanos and headed to a nearby park.
“So… I thought about it a lot last night.”
Walking slowly to match her pace, Kangyoon glanced down at Bora.
“I wasn’t an amazing student, but people always said I was perceptive.”
Wondering where she was going with this, Kangyoon sipped his coffee and waited.
“I kept thinking about what you said yesterday. About persuading some old man. Why I needed to win over an elder’s heart.”
Their steps naturally aligned as they walked side by side.
Kangyoon found himself thinking that Bora’s small white sneakers—much smaller than his own shoes—were cute.
“As I said before, I—and my family—really need financial help.”
“I looked into it a bit. You need about three billion won immediately. Thirty billion total.”
Bora swallowed hard at how casually he said thirty billion without a flicker of emotion.
“That’s… accurate. If it were just three billion, I could figure something out. But thirty billion is…”
She shrugged, though her eyes wavered slightly.
“Still, I was genuinely grateful when you said you’d be my investor yesterday.”
“…And?”
That sounds like something people say before turning you down.
Kangyoon met her gaze, tense.
“So what I’m saying is—”
She slurped the last bit of coffee through her straw, her cheek hollowing slightly.
Kangyoon realized he couldn’t remember the last time he’d focused this intently on someone’s words.
“I’ll repay the thirty billion. The investment—and the interest. I promise.”
“Ha…”
The tension drained from him, and Kangyoon let out a hollow laugh.
She’s really good at this push and pull.
“But no matter how much I think about it, I still don’t understand why you said that. About an illegitimate son, a second son… why you said that to me. I thought about it all night.”
After walking for a while, they came across a bench.
Bora quickly sat down, and Kangyoon took the seat beside her.
“I don’t know much about the business world, but Kangsan Group is famous enough to feel intimidating. I never thought I’d be set up with someone like you. I’m not from some impressive family, like you said.”
“If that bothered you, I’m sorry.”
“No—it’s not that. I think the same thing. And like I said yesterday, even though I knew Kangmoon first…”
She trailed off, rubbing her thumb over the condensation on her now-empty cup.
“At least compared to Kangmoon, I think you suit the role of Kangsan Group’s owner much better.”
“……”
“And somehow, I feel like you think so too. If the person I need to persuade is someone essential to fulfilling your ambition… I’ll do my best. No matter what.”
“…So you’ll be my queen?”
“If that’s what you want,” she said lightly. “Gladly.”
Understanding him instantly, Bora smiled, the corners of her lips lifting.
“The queen who protects the king until the end of the chessboard. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you keep your place as king—so that no other piece can touch you. I’ll make sure the thirty billion isn’t wasted.”
No matter how great the outcome, thirty billion could never truly be considered trivial.
But Kangyoon was certain that no other woman would understand his intentions as clearly—or be as resolute—as Bora.
In families that ran major businesses, love marriages were rare anyway.
Marriages were always strategic, driven by mutual needs and benefits.
Jin Hyunsook had chosen Bora to separate Kangmoon from her influence and attach a powerless in-law family to Kangyoon—but perhaps this was an opportunity instead.
Kangyoon looked steadily at Bora’s tense face as she waited for his answer.
“Alright. I’ll expect some hefty interest, then. Looks like this won’t be a losing marriage for either of us.”
At his agreement, a deep dimple appeared in Bora’s soft cheek.
Sunlight shimmered between their gazes, breaking into dazzling fragments.
