Chapter 10

"Sir, are you leaving for the day already?"

Secretary Yoon had been feeling confused lately. Their workaholic president, who used to treat overtime like a daily meal, had been busy preparing to leave the office by 2 or 3 PM every day since being discharged from the hospital.

Whenever he asked for a reason, he received no answer. To make matters worse, he was given orders to clear out months' worth of afternoon schedules, which was enough to give him a massive headache. It was a literal case of "Our president has gone crazy! He’s completely lost it!"

"I told you beforehand. I'll be leaving early for the next few months."

"I know that, but you really must attend today's meeting."

Unable to simply brush past Secretary Yoon’s troubled expression, Ho Rang stopped in his tracks and asked.

"What meeting is it?"

"You have a dinner appointment with Han Seol Hee, the Department Head of HB Cosmetics. It was set months ago, so it will be difficult to cancel."

Ho Rang was well aware of that meeting. HB Cosmetics was a company with a massive global customer base thanks to the Hallyu wave. They had agreed months ago to meet regarding the main spot on the first floor of the shopping center Ho Rang was preparing to open.

"What time is the meeting?"

"It’s at 4 PM."

Ho Rang rolled up his sleeve and checked his smartwatch.

The current time was 3 PM. The battery remained at 20%.

If he waited until 4 PM and stayed for the meeting, the battery would be completely depleted. And if that happened, he would no longer be of this world.

"Postpone it."

"Excuse me? But sir, the meeting with HB Cosmetics is a crucial appointment that will dictate the shopping center’s revenue………"

"Secretary Yoon."

"Yes, sir."

At Ho Rang’s chilly call, Secretary Yoon’s murmuring voice gradually faded.

"Have you ever seen me say things twice?"

"N-no, sir."

Ho Rang knew the importance of the appointment with HB Cosmetics better than anyone. But, he had to survive first. Only then could he apologize for breaking the promise and reschedule the meeting.

"Don't schedule any important meetings in the afternoon from now on."

"Yes. Understood."

Leaving Secretary Yoon behind, Ho Rang moved quickly. He was out of time. He had been so preoccupied with work that he hadn't realized how low the battery had gotten. He had to go and charge immediately. If he was any later, that woman, Na Bo Bae, wouldn't spare him any of her time.

Getting into his car, Ho Rang started the engine and floored the accelerator.

Three days had passed since his discharge, and Ho Rang had returned to his daily routine. He woke up every morning to exercise, went to work after a light meal, received reports from department heads, and pushed forward with the shopping center’s opening preparations.

He was breakneck busy, but it was a routine just like before. A perfectly organized life with nothing to complain about.

Except for one thing.

"For a chaebol, you sure are meticulous about getting your coupons stamped."

"Being frugal is the way to live well."

"Keep being that frugal and you might actually become rich someday."

"I’m already rich."

"Yes, yes. Of course you are."

Stopping by the café where Bo Bae worked after his early clock out had become Ho Rang’s new routine and his most important hour of the day.

Secretary Yoon was racking his brain trying to cram all the major conferences and meetings into the mornings following Ho Rang's early clock out declaration, but that was a sacrifice that had to be made. If Ho Rang didn't see Bo Bae, he would die.

"I’m using my coupon. I’ve collected all ten stamps."

"How thrifty. You finished it already? The usual, right? Decaf Americano."

"Put in lots of ice. It was too lukewarm yesterday."

Having settled the bill thriftily with his coupon, Ho Rang sat in the seat closest to the counter and fixed his gaze on Bo Bae.

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it felt that sitting in the same spot for three days straight, waiting for Bo Bae to finish her shift, had become his most vital routine.

Furthermore, that woman treated him like a ghost, never even glancing his way. There were probably only a handful of people in all of South Korea who could neglect the great Baek Ho Rang like this. Na Bo Bae was certainly no pushover.

"Oh my god! Unnie, that customer is here again!"

[TL/N : In Korean culture, Unnie (언니) is a friendly term used by a female to address or refer to an older sister or an older female friend.]

Normally, a reaction like this was the standard.

"He’s still as handsome as ever today."

As Na Yeon spoke with hearts in her eyes after finishing tidying the tables, Bo Bae answered with a listless expression.

"Raise your standards for men a bit. What's so handsome about him?"

"If that customer isn't handsome, then what kind of man in this world is? Tell me."

Bo Bae couldn't answer Na Yeon’s question.

With a refreshing appearance that could cool down a premature heatwave, a tall and striking stature, and a deep, soulful gaze. Come to think of it, whenever Ho Rang appeared, everyone in the café, from children to adults, turned their eyes toward him.

"You can't answer, right?"

"Fine. I admit he’s handsome."

It was a face she had no choice but to acknowledge.

"But why are there so many customers lately?"

Usually, it got crowded after lunch and then quieted down around this time. Lately, however, the crowd peaked at this exact hour.

"You don't know why?"

"Do you?"

When Bo Bae looked at Na Yeon with a confused gaze, Na Yeon jerked her chin toward Ho Rang.

"They're coming to see that customer."

"What? No way."

"What do you mean 'no way'? Unnie, you leave right when your shift ends so you wouldn't know, but the moment you and that customer walk out together? The café empties out instantly. It's completely dead once he leaves."

Now that she mentioned it, the customers were almost entirely women. And some were even shooting sharp glares at her. To think that man, Baek Ho Rang, would have such a profound impact on the store's sales.

"Unnie. But really, what's your relationship with him?"

"Relationship?"

"He comes here every day to see you. And you leave together when you’re done."

"Um, well. Ah! We study together. You know I'm studying drama writing."

Bo Bae made up a vague excuse since she couldn't explain the nitty-gritty details, but Na Yeon wasn't buying it.

"I don't think so."

"What do you mean? How would you know?"

"Just look at his gaze. Honey is practically dripping from his eyes when he looks at you."

"Honey?"

At the mention of 'dripping honey,' Bo Bae turned her head. Her eyes met his. He was staring intently at her. Just as Na Yeon said, he hadn't taken his eyes off her. No matter where she moved, his gaze was fixed solely on her.

But honey?

To Na Yeon, it might have looked like honey was dripping from Ho Rang’s eyes, but to Bo Bae, it didn't look like that at all. He just looked desperate to charge his battery.

"He’s been looking only at you with those eyes for three days straight without missing a single day, and you're saying there's nothing between you?"

Bo Bae wanted to give Na Yeon who was looking at her with expectant eyes some pink-colored dreams and hope, but she had nothing to tell her. The reality was gray, not pink.

"Right? You guys are a thing?"

"I said no. Oh, look at the time. I’m heading out!"

"Go on, Unnie. Have a nice date."

"What date? See you tomorrow."

As Bo Bae finished up and stepped outside, Ho Rang approached her as if he had been waiting. At that moment, the eyes of Na Yeon and all the female customers in the café were pinned on them.

"Are you finished?"

"Why were you so late today?"

"The meeting ran long, I couldn't help it. You're going home, right? I'll drop you off."

"No thanks."

"I’m dropping you off."

"Let me have some time to myself, too. I haven't been able to write anything lately because of you, Mr. Baek Ho Rang."

"Then what am I supposed to do? I need to see you to stay alive!"

Because of his fairly loud voice or perhaps because of the unexpectedly romantic words the eyes of the people watching them grew wide. Bo Bae was even met with some unpleasant glares that scanned her from head to toe. The looks could be translated as 'Who do you think you are to reject a man like that?', 'He’s too good for her...', and 'Is she rich? She doesn't seem it though.'

Embarrassed by the attention, Bo Bae led Ho Rang away.

"How could you say something like that there? People will get the wrong idea."

"Why? Did I say something wrong? It’s true I’ll die without you."

Ugh! This man, seriously!

To outsiders, they might look like a couple or at least two people in a "certain kind of" relationship, but the reality was anything but that.

"Whatever. How much is it charged?"

"50%."

"That's it? That's why I asked why you were so late."

"Don't look so miserable. It's not like I'm enjoying this either."

"Not as much as I am."

For three days since his discharge, the two had met every day and stayed together until the battery was charged. It didn't matter how many hours it took. Ho Rang only went home once the battery was fully charged, and Bo Bae didn't stop him. She couldn't let him die, but she couldn't kill him herself either.

Since their negotiation for a 'contract relationship' had fallen through, the two had decided to endure these next three months in this awkward, undefined state. It was uncomfortable for both, but they had no other choice.

'Let's just hold on like this for exactly three months.'

'Just three months.'

That was exactly what both Ho Rang and Bo Bae were thinking.

~~~~

"Don't tell me I have to climb those stairs too?"

Ho Rang frowned as he looked at the flight of stairs stretching out before him. He had gallantly offered to take her home, but what kind of house was practically touching the sky? He was starting to suspect that heaven itself might be at the end of this road.

"Then who told you to follow me?"

Bo Bae answered crossly and started walking ahead. Ho Rang let out a short sigh and followed behind her. He had barely walked a few steps, yet sweat was already pouring down his body. It was sweltering even just sitting still, and they had been trekking uphill for over thirty minutes. And now, he had to climb those stairs on top of that.

"Why on earth do you live in a place like this?"

"And what exactly is 'a place like this'?"

Bo Bae's tone was sharp as she shot back, but Ho Rang continued, oblivious.

"Old, dark, shabby... a place where you wonder how a human being could possibly live."

At his words, Bo Bae stopped in her tracks.

She hadn't wanted to bring this man here in the first place. Her home wasn't exactly something she wanted to show off. That was why she had hoped that he would finish charging while she was working at the café.

But the charging wasn't finished, she was exhausted, and she thought he might get some charge on the walk home. So she let him come along, and now, what? Old and shabby? How can a human live here?

"Look here, Mr. Baek Ho Rang. You probably don't know any better because you live in a grand mansion, but for a person like me, as long as there's a place to lay my body....whoa!"

As Bo Bae was fiercely arguing back, she was pulled by the force on her wrist and ended up in Ho Rang's arms.

"What's wrong with you all of a sudden?"

As she looked up, shouting at him, Ho Rang covered her eyes with his large hand and muttered.

"The public safety here is trash, too."

"Huh? Safety?"

Wondering what he was talking about, she pulled his hand down only to see the back of a man running away, exposing his bare legs. It was a flasher, a 'trench coat man' who got off on showing his pathetic 'private parts' to women.

Only after the flasher had completely disappeared did Ho Hang remove his hand from Bo Bae's eyes and let her go.

"Seriously, why do you live in a place like this?"

Unlike before, his eyes were full of worry. It wasn't a jab at living in an old, shabby place anymore, but a tone filled with genuine concern about living in such an unsafe area.

"Can't you live somewhere safer? I heard officetels have great CCTV and security. This place is too isolated. Everyone passing by is a drunkard."

Though he grumbled, Ho Fang craned his neck and glared fiercely down the empty alleyway. He looked as if he would kill the flasher if he dared to return.

Watching Ho Rang act this way, Bo Bae felt strangely reassured. She had been getting the chills lately after hearing rumors about a pervert taking hidden camera footage of women living alone, but with him by her side, her worries seemed to vanish.

"Are you worried about me?"

When she looked up and asked, Ho Rang shifted his gaze from the end of the alley to Bo Bae.

He’ll probably say no, she thought. He’ll ask why he would ever worry about me.

Even if it was a predictable answer, she wanted to hear it. She was curious why he was looking at her with such worried eyes, and if he had said those things out of even a tiny bit of concern for her.

"I asked if you were worrying about me."

When Bo Bae asked again, Ho Rang answered nonchalantly.

"Of course I am."

At his unexpected answer, Bo Bae's eyes wavered with shock.