MBWI 08

Chapter – 08

Ga-eun and Seok-jin toured the Temple of Dawn early in the morning and then visited several nearby tourist attractions.

Since the royal palace was on the opposite side, it seemed most tourists had gathered there today, so it wasn’t very crowded here.

Thanks to that, Ga-eun and Seok-jin were able to take their time and look around at a relaxed pace.

After sunset, they boarded the dinner cruise they had reserved.

As they sat down, feeling the cool river breeze, Seok-jin leaned slightly toward Ga-eun and whispered:

“Don’t expect too much from the food.”

“Huh? Food is the most important thing to me.”

“In that case… I’ll give you the hotel buffet voucher I mentioned next time as an apology.”

“Oh! If you give it to me, I’ll gladly take it.”

She had heard that even making a reservation for the Jushin Hotel buffet was difficult.

That was why vouchers with pre-reserved tables were such popular gifts.

It seemed like the perfect reward for feeding a broke chaebol.

As Ga-eun imagined dressing up nicely with her mother and enjoying a luxurious meal at the hotel after receiving the voucher from Seok-jin, she naturally began to smile.

Even the bland shrimp suddenly felt rich and juicy thanks to her pleasant imagination.

“Thank you for accepting such an awkward request.”

“It’s more fun traveling together than alone.”

“Is that so?”

“Ah, of course if I were alone, I could’ve eaten everything I wanted and drunk everything I wanted.”

As Ga-eun peeled a slightly chilled lychee and popped it into her mouth, Seok-jin suddenly burst into laughter before covering his mouth.

Is there something on my face?

Without a mirror to check, Ga-eun awkwardly wiped her cheek with her palm.

“Your cheeks look like a squirrel’s.”

Seok-jin pointed at her cheek.

“Oh.”

Ga-eun quickly chewed the lychee and spat the seed into a tissue.

Has he never seen someone eat lychee before? Why is he laughing like that?

“Look, the Temple of Dawn.”

When Ga-eun looked where he pointed, she let out a small gasp.

Illuminated by lights, the temple had a completely different kind of beauty compared to the daytime.

“Thanks for recommending the dinner cruise.”

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

“Yes, of course the food isn’t great though.”

After briefly meeting each other’s eyes, both of them smiled at the same time.

If she had come alone, she might have felt scared and lonely.

Though she felt a bit sorry toward Seok-jin, Ga-eun thought it was fortunate that he had forgotten the money he exchanged and that he had insisted on keeping this trip completely private without contacting his secretary.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gained such a wonderful travel partner.

* * *

After finishing her morning massage, Ga-eun came out of the shop.

Maybe because she was the first customer, the masseuse’s hands had been especially strong, and thanks to that, her body—tired from travel—felt light as if it could fly.

Maybe I should bring President Joo here tomorrow.

Thinking that he might want a massage just as much as she did, Ga-eun generously decided she could spend a little more than planned from her check card.

With that generous mood, she bought two coffees from the café right in front of the massage shop—one for Seok-jin—and returned to the hotel.

“Huh?”

Seok-jin was pacing nervously in the lobby as if waiting for someone.

“Oh Ga-eun.”

It seemed he had been waiting for her.

Why was he waiting?

Ah, he probably needs emergency cash.

Thinking she should have given him some money in advance, Ga-eun blamed her own lack of foresight and approached him, handing him the coffee.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“How much do you need?”

“Pardon?”

“How much money do you need? I was going to give you some.”

Even at her offer, his expression didn’t relax.

Did he break something in the hotel?

Thinking she might have to empty even her emergency funds, Ga-eun felt dizzy.

“Let’s go up to the room first.”

“Okay.”

Seeing his anxious eyes scanning the surroundings, her suspicion that he had damaged hotel property became stronger.

Since he was suggesting going to the room, maybe they could fix it together somehow.

After getting off the elevator, Seok-jin walked quickly ahead.

If even a chaebol is this desperate, how big is the accident?

Did he knock down a wall?

Ga-eun became increasingly afraid.

“Come in.”

“Okay.”

Deciding to first assess the situation, she entered his room.

Huh?

Then she saw a familiar face.

“Hello.”

It was Seok-jin’s secretary, Tak Ji-hoon.

At his greeting, Ga-eun was so happy to see him she almost shouted in relief.

If even the secretary had come, it must be a huge incident—but it also meant it was no longer her responsibility.

She could just hand President Joo over to his secretary and continue enjoying her own trip.

“Yes, hello.”

“Please have a seat first, both of you.”

“Me too?”

Ga-eun asked in surprise.

She genuinely didn’t understand why she should sit.

From now on, she and Seok-jin weren’t even on the same team anymore—they were basically strangers.

Ah!

Maybe the secretary was going to settle the money Seok-jin had borrowed.

In that case, of course she should sit.

“I’ve already reported to the president. Miss Oh Ga-eun, you should take a look at this first.”

Secretary Tak handed her a file.

“What is this? …!”

Ga-eun’s eyes widened instantly when she saw the printed article.

[Modern Cinderella – Who is President Joo Seok-jin’s fiancée?]

Below the cringeworthy headline were photos of her and Seok-jin entering the hotel together, eating breakfast, and sightseeing.

The cleverly angled photos made them look like a couple.

“According to airline staff, the two sat next to each other on the same flight and openly showed affection… placing food on each other’s plates… looking at each other with honey-dripping eyes like a loving couple?”

She was dumbfounded.

That look was just because he gave her tasteless papaya.

And then—

“According to insiders, President Joo enjoys simple dates to be considerate of his non-celebrity girlfriend…? Who is this insider spreading lies?”

While reading, Ga-eun looked at Seok-jin in disbelief.

He had his eyes tightly shut and lips pressed together, deep in thought.

“There was a Korean reporter staying at the same hotel on vacation. Since there hasn’t been much news lately, it seems they targeted the president,” said Secretary Tak.

“In dramas they call the press and get articles taken down. They removed it, right?”

“It was uploaded suddenly around midnight, so we couldn’t respond in time. I’m sorry.”

“Then just publish a correction saying it’s a misunderstanding.”

It seemed simple enough.

But Secretary Tak handed her another article.

[President Joo Seok-jin to Marry This September]

“The wedding hall reservation seems to have leaked from a hotel employee,” he explained.

“It was a mistake reserving it under my name,” Seok-jin muttered.

“I told you we should’ve used my name… never mind.”

He fell silent under Seok-jin’s sharp gaze.

“Oh, so you’re getting married. Then I’ll explain everything to your fiancée and clear up the misunderstanding!”

It seemed he had found someone he liked after those bride interviews.

Since he had reserved a wedding hall for September, he must have been in a hurry to marry.

Maybe the bride was so important that they needed Ga-eun’s explanation.

“There’s one serious problem.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll personally explain everything to your bride.”

“Miss Oh… actually our president—”

“There is no bride.”

“What?”

What kind of nonsense is that?

How could someone reserve a wedding hall and set a date without a bride?

“Secretary Tak, explain.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seok-jin stood by the window, arms folded.

“Do you remember what happened at the hotel?”

“…Yes.”

Of course she did.

How could she forget that bizarre bride interview?

“Due to internal circumstances, our president must get married within this year. That’s why he was interviewing potential brides.”

“Then find that candidate again—”

“She suddenly went to Paris to be with her boyfriend, so that fell through.”

“Then you should’ve canceled the reservation!”

At that moment Seok-jin turned and said seriously:

“I planned to find another candidate soon.”

“Then find someone suitable, get married, and live happily. Just publish that we’re strangers.”

Ga-eun clapped her hands and stood up.

Why were they making this so complicated?

But Secretary Tak showed her public comments.

<If he doesn’t marry her, I’m boycotting Jushin Retail.>

<They say he set the date first because the chairman opposed it. That’s why people admire him.>

<If they break up, I hope Jushin collapses.>

<Having Joo Seok-jin as a husband is better than passing the civil service exam three times.>

Most comments hoped they would marry.

Some even said if he didn’t marry her, he was heartless toward ordinary people.

“And the chairman is furious that you traveled without informing him,” the secretary added.

“No! We didn’t travel together—we just happened to be on the same flight and ended up traveling together for unavoidable reasons!”

Ga-eun explained desperately.

Then Seok-jin looked at her and spoke carefully:

“Miss Oh Ga-eun… may I make a serious proposal?”