Chapter 33

"When are you going on that blind date?"

"!"

Bo Bae, who was about to leave, froze in her tracks. Ho Rang’s startled gaze shifted towards her. Her trembling eyes seemed to speak volumes about the state of her heart.

"Secretary Na. You may leave now."

Ho Rang spoke firmly, yet he didn't forget to maintain a warm look in his eyes. Bo Bae bowed her head slightly and exited the office.

Do Yoon watched the silent exchange between the two and let out a scoff.

Secretary, my foot.

Do Yoon had been certain from the moment he first saw them that they weren't just in a "normal" relationship. After synthesizing the information reported by Secretary Yoon, it was clear the two were quite close.

The way Bo Bae stopped dead at the mention of a blind date, and the way Ho Rang looked at her with such pity and concern after seeing her shaken expression...

This was turning out to be quite an interesting, albeit unpleasant, development.

"Are you bored? Or do you think I have nothing to do? Why do you keep barging in here whenever you feel like it?"

"I told you. My concept for today is 'the intruder'."

Ho Rang let out a sigh and leaned deep into the sofa, crossing his arms.

"Tell Secretary Na to bring me a cup of tea. What kind of hospitality is this for a guest?"

"I don't have any tea for you. Just get to the point."

"So prickly."

Do Yoon chuckled and crossed his long legs.

While Ho Rang projected a neat and cold image, Do Yoon had a strong "playboy" vibe. He was swaggering, sly, and rebellious, yet he possessed a certain vulnerability that triggered a protective maternal instinct in women.

Of course, both were physically flawless. Standing over 180cm tall with handsome faces, it was simply a matter of personal preference.

"Are you going to marry Seol Hee?"

Ho Rang frowned at the blunt question. Although his grandfather had ordered him to meet her with the intention of marriage, they hadn't even properly met yet. To bring up marriage already was premature.

"This isn't the Joseon Dynasty. I have no interest in a bride whose face I don't even know."

"Is that so? I don't think the Chairman shares that sentiment."

At the mention of the Chairman, Ho Rang fell into thought for a moment.

Given his grandfather’s persistence in pairing him with Seol Hee despite Mi Kyung’s opposition, there was clearly a reason behind it. He had heard rumors that HB Cosmetics held a significant stake in Tae Seong, and it seemed those rumors were true. Between the talk of retirement and the push for this marriage, it was certain the Chairman intended to hand over the Tae Seong Group to him.

Perhaps if it had been the Ho Rang of a few weeks ago, he would have obediently followed Chairman Baek’s orders. He would have gone on the blind date with Seol Hee and eventually married her as expected. Even without love, he would have maintained a dry marriage, finding solace in wealth, just like most chaebol families.

But now, he had no intention of living like that. Because now, he had Bo Bae.

"When it comes to marriage, I'm doing it my way."

"Oh. I thought you were the Chairman's puppet, but look at you rebelling. Is it perhaps because of that woman? Secretary Na? No, Na Bo Bae, was it?"

Do Yoon spoke mockingly, but Ho Rang remained unfazed. In fact, he felt like thanking Do Yoon. His mind, which had been cluttered for days, had been cleared by that single comment.

"As I said before, mind your own business."

"Do you hate me that much?"

"Your interest gives me the creeps."

"Fine then. I'll stop being interested in you and give my attention to someone else. There are plenty of people dying for my attention anyway."

As if his business was finished, Do Yoon stood up without lingering. As he headed for the door, he stopped and turned back to Ho Rang.

"Ah, my father was asking about you."

At the mention of "father," Ho Rang’s eyebrows twitched.

Do Yoon knew well that Ho Rang hated and despised Tae Siik just as much as he did. That was why he often provoked Ho Rang by making things up.

"He suggested having dinner together sometime. Said he had something to 'repay' you."

"!"

"But what is it? It's not like my father would owe you a debt."

Ho Rang clenched his fists as the image of the despicably smiling Tae Sik flashed through his mind.

~~~~

After leaving Ho Rang’s office, Bo Bae sat on a sofa in a corner of the secretariat. However, feeling the sharp glares from the passing secretaries, she headed to the building's cafeteria instead.

Ordering an iced americano, she sat down as Do Yoon’s words echoed in her head.

'When are you going on that blind date?'

It seemed Ho Rang was set to go on a blind date. Come to think of it, it would have been stranger if he didn't. It made no sense for a chaebol heir not to have a fiancée, an arranged marriage, or elders constantly pressuring him to wed.

In a way, it was only natural, so why did her heart feel so heavy?

Bo Bae traced the water droplets forming on the plastic cup with her finger, trying to soothe her sinking heart.

'It's okay. We aren't anything. We're just a fake couple for three months. That's all. He can go on blind dates. It makes no sense for Mr. Baek Ho Rang to be unable to marry because of me.'

She tried to console herself with those thoughts, but her mood didn't improve in the slightest.

"What are you doing here?"

Someone suddenly leaned in, and a startled Bo Bae jerked back.

"What the...?"

Do Yoon was already sitting in front of her. She hadn't even heard him approach.

"I asked what you’re doing here looking so miserable."

"It’s none of your business."

"Don't secretaries usually stay in the secretariat?"

"I'm not a 'usual' secretary."

As she spoke sharply and tried to stand up, Do Yoon grabbed her sleeve. Since their skin didn't touch, there was no static shock. Bo Bae couldn't tell if he had grabbed her sleeve on purpose knowing that.

"Why don't you sit for a moment?"

She didn't want to face him, but noticing people’s eyes starting to drift towards them, she sat back down. Being part of the owner’s family made him a natural magnet for attention.

"Aren't you curious?"

"About what?"

"The woman Ho Rang is supposed to meet for the blind date."

"!"

Meeting Bo Bae’s wavering eyes, Do Yoon felt strangely displeased.

He had come here to find Ho Rang’s weakness, and it was clear this woman was it. Everything was going exactly as Do Yoon wanted, so why did he feel so bad?

As Bo Bae’s eyes trembled, Do Yoon’s heart seemed to waver along with them. Still, Do Yoon was someone who played his role faithfully, and women usually called him a "bad boy."

"Want me to tell you? Who Ho Rang is meeting?"

"No. Even if I were curious, I wouldn't want to hear it from you."

Do Yoon couldn't help but laugh at her bold tone, despite the vulnerability in her eyes. He couldn't decide if she was being audacious or cute. Either way, she was a troublesome type.

"It’s best not to overstep. Knowing the Chairman's personality, if he pushes for that bastard Ho Rang's marriage, you’re the one who will end up getting hurt."

"...."

"And don't delude yourself into thinking Baek Ho Rang will protect you. That guy has never disobeyed the Chairman's orders in his life. And he will never give up Tae Seong Group."

Perhaps Do Yoon was right. Since Ho Rang lived by the motto that nothing in life is free, he might choose an arranged marriage to secure Tae Seong Group.

"Now, let me ask you something."

Do Yoon looked into Bo Bae’s shining eyes.

"What exactly is your relationship with Baek Ho Rang?"

"And what if we are something?"

"It would be so much better if you just answered me obediently."

"I'm not the obedient type."

As Bo Bae fired back, Do Yoon shook his head as if she were hopeless.

"But why do you even ask?"

"If you're nothing, I'll let it go..."

"...."

"But if you are something, I'm going to interfere."

Bo Bae scowled at Do Yoon, who was resting his chin on his hand and smiling playfully. He was Ho Rang’s cousin and the Executive Director of Tae Seong Hotel, so he was definitely a chaebol, but why was he so immature? The way he talked was just...

"You're like an elementary schooler."

"What?"

"I'm saying the way you're acting right now is exactly like a kid in elementary school."

An elementary schooler? He had never heard that in his life. Everyone around him was always desperate to get on his good side. It was his first time hearing such a blunt remark.

"Are you interested in me by any chance?"

"Wh-What?"

"I'm asking because you're acting like a little kid who picks on the girl he likes."

Do Yoon scoffed at her absurd comment.

"Have I gone mad? Why would I be interested in someone like you who has nothing to look at?"

"Well, that’s a relief. I had no desire for your interest anyway. I'll be going now."

Bo Bae stood up and picked up her coffee. At that moment, her fingertips lightly brushed against Do Yoon’s hand, which was resting on the table.

"Ah..."

Startled by the faint static shock, Do Yoon stared at Bo Bae. But Bo Bae walked away without even looking back.

"Dammit."

Why did his body react like this whenever he touched that woman? Was it really like she said...?

"Am I... interested in her?"

~~~~

Arriving in front of Ho Rang’s office, Bo Bae hesitated with her hand on the doorknob. She didn't know what kind of face to make when she saw him. She wanted to act casual as usual, but her facial muscles wouldn't cooperate.

"It's okay, it's okay."

Bo Bae stretched her mouth wide and forced a smile. Then, she knocked and entered.

Sunlight was streaming in behind Ho Rang, who was sitting by the window. Perhaps because of that, it felt as though his body was glowing.

He was already handsome enough, being backlit by the sun was just cheating. A man who used the sun as his spotlight.

"You're here?"

Bo Bae nodded slightly instead of answering. Ho Rang stood up and grabbed his suit jacket.

"You can head home first."

"Where are you going?"

"I need to go see the Chairman."

"Ah... I see."

She hadn't expected much, but she had hoped he would say something.

Something like, 'I have to go on a blind date because of the Chairman's nagging,' or 'Nothing will happen during our contract,' or even 'You know how chaebols are. Marriage is like an M&A.' If he had said even that, she wouldn't feel this pathetic.

Bo Bae felt bitter, as if she were someone completely excluded from his life.

As she dejectedly packed her laptop into her bag, Ho Rang called out to her.

"Na Bo Bae."

"....?"

"Don't pay any mind to what Do Yoon said earlier."

'What part? The part about your blind date?' She wanted to ask, but the words wouldn't come out. She was afraid he would just say it had nothing to do with her.

"I don't mind it. I don't even remember what he said."

She stuttered out the lie, forcing a smile.

"I'm not going on a blind date. So don't worry about what that guy says."

"Why? Why aren't you going?"

If even Do Yoon knew about it, it must be a meeting arranged by the elders. Why wasn't he going? Wouldn't it be an important meeting?

At Bo Bae’s question, Ho Rang looked at her as if she were asking the most obvious thing in the world.

"I have a girlfriend. I'm not the kind of bastard who goes on blind dates when I'm seeing someone."

"!"

"Go straight home. Don't wander off."

Ho Rang disappeared with a bright smile.