Chapter 26

"Let's go eat before we leave."

At Ho Rang's words, Bo Bae, who had been putting her shopping bags into the car trunk, poked her head out.

"To eat?"

Truthfully, she was feeling hungry after walking around so much to pick out clothes. However, eating in this particular outfit felt a bit...

When she had spotted the staff member practically sweeping half the store's inventory into bags, Bo Bae tried to stop him, insisting she didn't need so many clothes. But, because he had paid so quickly, she ended up leaving the store still wearing the outfit she had tried on in the fitting room.

"Then, could you wait a moment? I'll go change my clothes."

Worried that food might splash onto the expensive garment, Bo Bae tried to head somewhere with her old clothes in hand, but Ho Rang quickly shut the trunk.

"I bought those clothes for you to wear. Why change?"

"Still, how can I eat comfortably in this? It's so tight that every bit of my stomach will show."

"What stomach? You don't have one."

"Excuse me? What did you just say?"

Bo Bae asked back, wondering if she had misheard him, but Ho Rang didn't answer. Instead, he took her hand. Surprised by the unfamiliar sensation of his palm against hers, Bo Bae looked up at him, but Ho Rang simply started walking, looking straight ahead.

"From now on, you have to wear clothes like that to work every day. So, try to get used to it."

"...I suppose so."

Bo Bae muttered softly as she looked down at Ho Rang’s hand, where the veins were clearly visible.

For some reason, she felt she could get used to the clothes, but this kind of physical contact didn't seem like it would become familiar so easily. Even though it wasn't their first time touching, the way her heart was racing at every contact suggested as much.

~~~~

The place they arrived at, led by his hand, was a luxury restaurant inside the department store.

Sitting by the window, Bo Bae looked around and felt relieved that she hadn't changed her clothes. Given the atmosphere and the people around her, she felt that her current outfit suited the place much better than those jeans from earlier.

"They do steak well here. The pasta is good, too."

"Hmm. Then I'll have the seafood pasta."

"Do you like seafood?"

"Of course. I can't get enough of it."

"I see."

After muttering those words, Ho Rang called a server and ordered the food. Bo Bae, who had been watching him intently, gave a small smile.

Bo Bae knew very well why he was being so kind to her. From setting the breakfast table for her hangover to buying her expensive clothes under the pretext of her secretarial duties, and now buying her lunch at such a luxurious place. She knew the reason perfectly well.

It was all because of the 'contract.' Just as she had recharged his heart, he was faithfully fulfilling her request to show her the "romantic flex" of a chaebol man.

'I guess stamping that contract does make things convenient'

Bo Bae thought.

While Bo Bae was thinking that, Ho Rang was recalling the events of the previous night.

Last night. Looking at Bo Bae, who had fallen fast asleep right after a deep kiss, Ho Rang felt incredulous. He wanted to complain, asking how she could sleep when he was still so worked up, but seeing her sleeping so peacefully that she was even making little breathing sounds, his rising frustration retreated back down his throat. And then, another thought occurred to him.

Was this woman always this pretty?

During their first meeting, he had dismissed her as a "kissing psycho," and during their second, he had treated her like a writer with no talent who was just throwing herself at him. He hadn't looked at her closely then, but seeing her repeatedly, she was quite a beauty.

After watching her quietly for a while, Ho Rang picked Bo Bae up and moved her to her room. He felt like something truly major might happen if they stayed together any longer.

After laying Bo Bae on the bed, Ho Rang looked around the container. When he had first prepared the container house, it was a desolate place, but now it was filled with a spring flower scent that resembled her.

"Mmm. It's hot."

Perhaps feeling warm, Bo Bae tried to take off her clothes. Seeing this, Ho Rang dashed outside in a hurry.

"Is that woman determined to kill me?"

Once outside, Ho Rang ran around the yard countless times to calm his racing heart, no, his racing core. He had never once run in the yard while living in this house, but thanks to this woman, he had done many "firsts" last night. Yet, he didn't hate it. He couldn't explain why, but it wasn't a bad feeling.

Recalling last night with a smile, Ho Rang quickly stiffened his expression and spoke bluntly as his eyes met Bo Bae's.

"What are you looking at?"

"I'm just grateful."

"Grateful? For what?"

"I thought you were the type to hit and run, Mr. Baek Ho Rang."

"Hit and run?"

"I thought you’d use me as a portable battery and then ignore my requests."

Ho Rang’s brow furrowed slightly at Bo Bae's words.

"Who would have thought you’d be so good at fulfilling a contract?"

Fulfilling a contract... So, in your eyes, this looks like contract fulfillment?

Somehow, Ho Rang felt a bitter taste in his mouth. These weren't actions he took because of a contract. They were actions that came from the heart. He had only used his secretary as an excuse because of his blunt personality, but she called it "contract fulfillment."

"You’re such a good actor that I actually felt like I was in a real relationship."

Acting? Feeling like a real relationship?

Ho Rang felt an inexplicable surge of anger at her words, treating his actions as a mere performance.

Yet, he didn't know why he was so angry. Her words about it being an act weren't technically wrong, but he couldn't understand why he kept feeling this way.

"Your order is served."

The food arrived right then, and Bo Bae wore an expression of pure happiness.

To be that happy over a mere plate of food.

Ho Rang felt as though his efforts had been disregarded. He had run around the yard all night like a madman, dressed himself up since dawn at the thought of meeting her, prepared breakfast, and even came to a department store, a place he loathed, and what? He’s a good actor? She felt like she was in a real relationship?

"Wow. The shrimp is so fresh. Mr. Baek Ho Rang, try some."

As Bo Bae picked up a shrimp from her pasta and tried to move it to Ho Rang’s plate, Ho Rang struck her fork with his own. The impact caused a sharp metallic clang to ring out.

Surprised, Bo Bae looked at Ho Rang, who spoke indifferently.

"I have a shrimp allergy."

"Oh... really? I didn't know."

Bo Bae, startled by his cold behavior, immediately felt guilty upon hearing about his allergy.

"Is it very severe?"

"My whole body swells if I eat it. Especially my throat, which could swell up and kill me."

"I'm sorry. I had no idea."

If he was that allergic, she realized how much of a shock it must have been to have a shrimp shoved at him.

Bo Bae felt she had overstepped. She thought they had become a bit closer and had acted as if they were a real couple, but it seemed she had only ended up upsetting him.

~~~~

Even after finishing the meal, Ho Rang’s mood remained frigid. It seemed he truly detested shrimp. Seeing him that angry over it, Bo Bae resolved never to suggest he eat shrimp again.

They had walked a short distance after stepping off the elevator when a woman approached and blocked their path. Dressed in luxury brands from head to toe, she was a rare beauty.

She had shoulder-length bobbed hair, fair skin, and delicate features that fit perfectly together, finished with a calm, composed smile. She wasn't flashy but gave off an air of elegant refinement.

The woman smiled softly at Ho Rang and bowed her head slightly.

"What a surprise to run into you here, President Baek Ho Rang."

A voice as lovely as her face drifted through her pale pink lips.

Bo Bae’s eyes darted back and forth, wondering what the relationship was between this woman and Ho Rang. Ho Rang's expression upon seeing her was far from pleasant.

"I was passing by and came over just in case. I thought it might be you, President Baek."

When the woman spoke again with delight, Ho Rang had no choice but to acknowledge her.

"It’s been a while, Director Han Seol Hee."

Bo Bae’s mouth hung open slightly at the name Han Seol Hee.

They said beautiful people hang out with beautiful people, and apparently, in this neighborhood, chaebols are surrounded by other chaebols. Even a random encounter turned out to be with a billionaire.

Han Seol Hee, the term 'young and rich' suited her perfectly. She was the only daughter of Chairman Han Jin Ho of HB Cosmetics, a company that had grown beyond Korea to become a global powerhouse.

She held several 'youngest' titles, most notably the youngest Director at HB Cosmetics and the youngest person among Korea’s top 100 wealthiest individuals. Ranked 63rd in domestic assets, she was only twenty-five years old.

However, Seol Hee hadn't become famous to the public solely for her looks or wealth. Her fame took off once she began working in earnest.

While cosmetic companies typically conduct animal testing, Seol Hee, a staunch animal lover, had persuaded her father to cease all animal testing at HB Cosmetics. People praised her, saying her heart was as beautiful as her face. Even now, she held a small, pretty white poodle in her arms.

By the way, what exactly is their relationship?

Bo Bae looked between the two with intense curiosity.

"I wanted to see you before the shopping center opened, but our schedules kept clashing."

Seol Hee said with a gentle smile, to which Ho Rang replied bluntly.

"I had very important appointments in the afternoons, so I was forced to push back our meetings."

The person Ho Rang had been meeting in the afternoons lately was Bo Bae herself. Did he miss meeting this woman because he was busy recharging with me? Feeling like he might have neglected important work because of her, Bo Bae felt a pang of guilt.

"You must have been busy with the shopping center opening. And this person is...?"

When Seol Hee trailed off while looking at Bo Bae, Bo Bae stepped forward.

"Hello. I am Na Bo Bae, the secretary serving President Baek Ho Rang."

At the word 'secretary,' Seol Hee let out a soft "Ah" and offered her hand with a smile.

"It’s nice to meet you. I’m Han Seol Hee. I expect we'll be seeing each other often, so I look forward to working with you."

"Yes. I look forwards to it as well."

Ho Rang scowled slightly as he watched the two women exchange friendly greetings.

He had suspected something was off ever since she kept trying to schedule dinner appointments through Secretary Yoon. If it were strictly business, a daytime meeting would suffice, yet she insisted on dinner. Yesterday, it became clear why she was so intent on seeing him in the evening.

["Marry her. She is the daughter of Chairman Han of HB Cosmetics."]

Han Seol Hee, the only daughter.

If Chairman Baek had told Ho Rang to marry her, Chairman Han had likely told Seol Hee that Ho Rang was his chosen son-in-law.

Ho Rang detested this entire sequence of events. He was displeased with the fact that marriage talks were proceeding regardless of his own will, even if it was his grandfather’s wish.

"We’ll be going now."

As Ho Rang tried to wrap up the encounter abruptly, Seol Hee spoke.

"Let's have dinner together sometime soon."

Her persistence in suggesting dinner seemed to imply, How could we go against the elders' wishes? Let’s just follow the natural order and dance to their tune.

Irritated further by that underlying sentiment, Ho Rang answered stiffly.

"I will contact you through Secretary Yoon. Goodbye."

As Ho Rang started walking ahead, Bo Bae gave Seol Hee a polite nod and followed after him.

Seol Hee, who had given Bo Bae a lovely smile, murmured quietly once they were out of earshot.

"He's gotten even more handsome? Totally my style."

When her father first brought up the arranged marriage, Seol Hee had been horrified. She had even cried, asking how he could push her into the marriage market so soon after she returned from her studies abroad.

She was weeping, asking how he could send his precious daughter to a man she didn't even know, until Chairman Han mentioned the partner was Ho Rang. At that, her tears stopped instantly.

"Coco, what do you think? Mr. Ho Rang is handsome, right?"

When Seol Hee spoke to the poodle in her arms, the dog barked cutely as if it understood.

"I knew it. We must be destiny."

In truth, Ho Rang was Seol Hee's first love. A first love she had held in her heart for a long time. And now, to be in an arranged marriage with that very first love, what could this be if not destiny?

A bright smile played across Seol Hee's untroubled face.