MBWI 06

Chapter – 06

The man sitting next to her right now, CEO Joo Seokjin, was someone who had ranked number one for several years as the young CEO most loved by female college students.

On top of that, he was as popular as celebrities and sports stars as one of the most desirable men to marry.

“I believe it’s only proper to at least treat you to a meal after receiving your help.”

“Because of that ‘proper thing,’ an innocent frog might get stoned to death. I’ll pass.”

Gaeun raised both her palms toward Seokjin, making her refusal very clear.

“But I’m still very grateful.”

“Well, if it really bothers you, you could just give me some generous interest instead.”

“……If that is what you want, then I’ll do that.”

Did I refuse too harshly?

But she couldn’t help it.

Joo Seokjin was far too important a man to casually share a meal with.

If she got involved with him, she would probably be reduced to nothing and be labeled as someone suspicious who approached him with ulterior motives.

“What’s your first plan after we arrive?”

“I’m going to eat tom yum goong.”

“Was that your original plan?”

“No. It changed because of the in-flight meal. Originally I was going to get a massage.”

At the word massage, Seokjin pressed his lips together.

Seeing that, Gaeun realized that massage was his weak point.

It was like a magic word that triggered his guilt toward her.

I should use that when I’m at a disadvantage.

Gaeun decided internally that she would use the word massage as her ultimate weapon.

* * *

While talking about the rest of their schedules, they soon arrived in Bangkok.

“May I take that?”

Seokjin pointed at the duty-free shopping bag in Gaeun’s hand as they got off the plane.

“It’s okay. This is light enough for me to carry.”

“Please think of it as a gesture of thanks.”

As he took the bag from her, he spoke calmly.

Since refusing further would look strange, Gaeun handed it over.

If she had arrived alone at Bangkok’s large and complicated airport, she probably would have gotten lost. Fortunately, having Seokjin around gave her an unexpected sense of security.

“To think I’m using the president of Jooshin Retail as a porter… life sure is long, huh?”

“Life is unpredictable. You never know what might happen.”

“That’s true. Anyway, this feels nice, Mr. Joo.”

Gaeun patted his shoulder with an arrogant expression.

Seokjin turned to her with a slightly bewildered face.

“Mr. Joo?”

“Come on, we’re a creditor and debtor now, let’s keep it casual. You call me Miss Oh and I’ll call you Mr. Joo. Sounds friendly, right?”

“My name is Joo Seokjin.”

“I know. CEO Joo Seokjin. But you do realize that without me right now, you’d become an international lost child, right?”

“…….”

Seeing him just walking forward without replying made her feel slightly uneasy.

What if he gets annoyed and calls his secretary…

Feeling she might have pushed too far teasing someone drunk on power, she decided to restrain herself.

“See you later then.”

Handing the shopping bag back to her, Seokjin nodded lightly and greeted her.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be going through a private gate.”

“Wow, a private gate. We’re both Korean citizens but someone gets a private gate while someone else waits in line for immigration… how unfair.”

“This isn’t Korea. It’s Thailand.”

“In Thailand… well…”

She remembered hearing in the news that Jooshin Retail had invested a huge amount of money in Thailand.

Since he was a major investor in their country, it made sense he would receive special treatment.

Even so, she felt strangely uncomfortable.

“Oh dear, honorable Mr. Joo, please go ahead. A lowly person like me will just wait in line.”

Standing in the shortest immigration line, she showed her discomfort openly.

“Miss Oh Gaeun.”

She turned around when he called her name.

So he gave up the private gate out of conscience?

“When choosing a line, a tip is to stand where there are many Asians. Especially where there are many Koreans.”

He pointed to a line that looked full of Korean tourists.

“Thanks.”

She moved to that line.

Then she turned around to see if he would stand behind her.

“Wow… no loyalty at all.”

After giving her the tip, Seokjin was already walking calmly toward the private gate.

“I’ll get my revenge. Just wait.”

Gaeun decided she would make him run around while they were in Bangkok.

After all, how often would she get the chance to have one of the top ten chaebol heirs in Korea in the palm of her hand?

“What if I get revenge and he retaliates? Would I have to feed him while walking on eggshells?”

She decided to think simply.

Life only comes once.

She would enjoy this rare opportunity like winning the lottery.

Besides, on her phone she had the recording of him asking to borrow money.

If he ever tried to bully her, she could use it as a weapon.

Thinking of that, she smiled.

“The line really is moving fast?”

Just as Seokjin said, the line was moving faster than the others.

After quickly finishing immigration, she retrieved her luggage.

Looking around and not seeing Seokjin, she fell into serious internal conflict.

Should I just leave him and go?

Yeah. Even without her, someone would help him.

Even if he came alone, it wasn’t like he would become a stranded foreigner.

She tried to leave the airport quietly without him.

“Why did you come out so late?”

But Seokjin caught her.

More accurately, he didn’t know anything—he had just called her when he saw her standing there.

“Because of you. You said the Asian line moves fast? I almost died waiting.”

“There are exceptions to every rule. Let’s go.”

It wasn’t wrong, but she still felt oddly cheated.

Watching his back, she clenched her fist.

After taking a taxi from the airport, they arrived at their hotel.

They agreed to meet for breakfast the next morning and went to their separate rooms.

Seokjin was on the 36th floor.

Gaeun was on the 34th.

* * *

The next morning.

Gaeun woke up to loud knocking.

“Who is it this early…”

Rubbing her eyes, she checked the clock and froze.

8:10.

Ten minutes past their meeting time.

“Miss Oh Gaeun!”

Hearing him call, she slightly opened the door and spoke in a small voice.

“I’m sorry. I overslept… I’ll just wash my face and come right out.”

“Alright.”

She quickly washed up, applied skincare, threw on jeans and a T-shirt, and stepped out.

“Miss Oh… our clothes…”

“They’re similar.”

White T-shirts and jeans.

Because his shirt was a V-neck rather than a typical round neck, they didn’t just look similar—they looked almost like matching outfits.

Anyone who didn’t know them might think they were a couple or on their honeymoon.

“Let’s just call it a uniform. Sorry for being late. I won’t be late starting tomorrow.”

“I didn’t wait long.”

“I thought you’d say you waited a long time. You’re saying that to be considerate, right?”

There are people who consider others’ feelings when they speak, and others who just state facts.

From what she had seen, Seokjin belonged to the latter.

So hearing something that sounded considerate made her feel good.

“I really didn’t wait long. I was on the phone next door and since you didn’t answer, I just knocked once.”

If he would just keep his mouth shut, he could leave a good impression…

Adding unnecessary details that erased the points he had just gained—what kind of man was this?

Gaeun sighed internally.

Next door?

He was supposed to be on the 36th floor.

“Weren’t you on the 36th floor?”

“Oh, when I entered the room yesterday, the cleaning wasn’t satisfactory, so I changed rooms. Turns out the new room was next to yours.”

“Too many coincidences, don’t you think?”

She tilted her head suspiciously.

“I suppose so.”

But his indifferent expression while pressing the elevator button made it seem like pure coincidence.

She dropped her suspicion.

The breakfast buffet was crowded as usual.

Fortunately, a table by the window opened up just in time.

“Miss Oh, would you like an omelet?”

“Yes.”

“Any ingredients you want removed?”

“Mushrooms.”

“Understood.”

Watching Seokjin wait in line with two plates for omelets, Gaeun walked around the buffet gathering food.

Since it was morning, she chose light items and brought two guava juices, placing one at his seat.

“He’ll probably drink coffee.”

She was about to ask but seeing the long line behind him, she decided to get coffee too—if he didn’t drink it, she would.

“I’m not someone without loyalty. Even if I’m hungry, I’ll wait.”

Holding her fork, she waited for him.

Finally he returned with the omelets.

“You could’ve started eating. You waited?”

“Well, the elder should lift the fork first. I have manners.”

“You’re already holding a fork.”

She had forgotten that Seokjin didn’t understand jokes.

When she looked at him awkwardly, he gave a small smile and placed the omelet in front of her.

“Enjoy.”

“You too.”

“Thanks for the coffee. And the guava juice.”

“I’m just very thoughtful.”

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes.”

After taking a sip of juice, Gaeun placed some sausage and salad from her plate onto his, since he only had an omelet.

It was a relaxed breakfast they hadn’t enjoyed in a long time.

Click.

Without them knowing, someone was taking their picture.

As Gaeun and Seokjin exchanged food across the table in a very affectionate manner, a man watched with satisfaction and kept pressing the shutter.