Chapter 7

It was more surprising than expected...no, than imagined.

A kiss.

She already knew it wasn't just about lips touching lips, but when an unexpected breath rushed in, Bo Bae's mind went completely hazy.

She had held a man's hand for the first time yesterday, and today she was kissing.

The progress was... way too fast.

Ever since she was young, she had been called a prodigy, attending regular schools and even graduating early from university, but she had never experienced progress this rapid. It was like a storm.

The lips of the man, who had finished surgery in the morning, were quite rough, but his breath chasing Bo Bae's lips was as soft and fine as desert sand, making her feel like she was being mindlessly sucked in.

It fluttered like a spring breeze, burned like midsummer sunlight, felt as refreshing as autumn air, and was as heart-fluttering as the first snow.

A kiss was a truly ecstatic and heart-pounding thing.

The feeling of the heart thumping and dropping to the floor, and the whole body becoming ticklish, just as PD Jang had said. This must be that feeling. This kind of feeling...

It was at that moment, as they were breathlessly exchanging breaths between inhalations and exhalations.

["Are you pushing yourself on me physically because your writing isn't working out?"]

["I have absolutely no interest in a pathetic and impoverished body like yours."]

["Stop lusting after my body with your rotten thoughts. It's disgusting."]

["No approaching within 10m!"]

Baek Ho Rang’s set of four verbal abuses flashed through her mind.

In an instant, Bo Bae snapped back to her senses, pushed Ho Rang away, and slapped his cheek.

Slap! A sharp sound echoed through the air.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Bo Bae asked fiercely.

Ho Rang touched his stinging cheek and replied.

"A 'give'."

"What 'give'? What kind of 'give'? Don't tell me you're giving me 'charity' like, 'Here, a kiss!', just because I've never kissed before?"

"Was it your first kiss?"

"Who said it was my first?"

"You just said it was your first."

"Me? Hah! I've done it a lot, okay? I'm a master of kissing. Men melt like candle wax with just one of my kisses."

"It didn't feel like that much."

"What did you say?"

Bo Bae, who was flaring up, suddenly saw Ho Rang's lips in close-up. Seeing his moist, red lips, the sensation from moments ago seemed to vividly come back to life.

Her face flushed instantly, and she hurried to change the subject.

"Ah, anyway, forget that. Why did you kiss me all of a sudden?"

"Didn't you say it's 'give and take'?"

"Ah, that 'give'."

Ho Rang smirked as he watched Bo Bae mutter.

Just a moment ago, she was snapping at him with eyes that looked like they could kill, but once he explained the situation, she became obedient again. He thought she was just an uncontrollable psycho, but she had a surprisingly cute side.

Well, of course, that had nothing to do with him.

"Wasn't a kiss what you wanted from me?"

"No, it wasn't!"

"And here I thought you wanted it because you asked for a kiss the moment we first met."

"That was because of certain circumstances..."

"I don't really want to hear the circumstances. Anyway, the 'give' is done, so is it time for the 'take'?"

Ho Rang spoke confidently, curling up the corners of his mouth as if he had seized the upper hand. However, there was one thing he overlooked. Whether it was a 'give' or 'charity,' Bo Bae held the initiative, and she was not someone who was easy to handle.

"I don't think so."

"Why?"

"Because it’s not what I want!"

"What?"

"I'm rejecting this 'charity'...no, this 'give'!"

"You clung to me asking for it, so I forced myself to do something I didn't want to do, and now you're rejecting it?"

"Who clung to who! And do you think I liked it? It was the worst kiss I've ever had!"

"Didn't you say it was your first kiss?"

"Didn't you hear me say I'm a master of kissing?"

"I thought you were a kiss-psycho?"

"If you keep this up, I might move 10m away from you!"

As Bo Bae took a large stride to get away from him, Ho Rang pulled her IV pole toward himself. Because of that, Bo Bae's hand slightly touched his fingertips, but static electricity still didn't flow.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Didn't you say no approaching within 10m?"

"I take that back."

"Hmph. Everything is always your way."

"There hasn't been much in my life that didn't go my way so far."

"Then shall I show you something that doesn't go your way starting now?"

When Bo Bae started running, dragging her IV pole, Ho Rang followed close behind her so as not to lose her.

When Bo Bae increased her speed, Ho Rang also increased his, and when Bo Bae dodged this way and that, Ho Rang quickly approached her.

The two, running as if playing tag, still didn't know then that Ho Rang's battery, which had been at 9%, had rapidly charged to 40% after the kiss.

Back in the hospital room, the two organized their unfinished conversation.

"So, instead of staying by my side, you want me to help you write your script?"

In exchange for being his 'power bank' for three months, Bo Bae intended to charge him with the romance she needed for her script.

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"Help, huh..."

His gaze, looking down at her with his long legs crossed and his chin slightly tilted, seemed extremely arrogant. While such arrogance would usually be off-putting, for some reason, he looked quite elegant. Every single habit and way of speaking seemed noble and dignified.

That's why Bo Bae needed his help even more. He perfectly matched the image of the male lead she was writing.

"The script."

When Ho Rang held out his hand and spoke, Bo Bae looked at him with puzzled eyes.

"Why the script?"

"I have to check what level it's at."

Ho Rang had learned something thoroughly since he was young. Nothing in the world is free, and you don't just sign your name anywhere.

This woman's vague words about helping her write a script could change at any time and end up holding him back. So, it was better to be clear about everything.

If the level of the script was too low, he planned to suggest a different deal. It would be a headache if she clung to him later, claiming she hadn't received any help.

"Why do you need to check the script..."

Bo Bae pouted and pulled out her phone.

"I don't have my laptop because I was brought here in an ambulance. I have it saved on my phone, so look at it here."

Ho Rang took the phone Bo Bae handed him and began to read the script.

Over the years of providing sponsorships for dramas, he had reviewed over hundreds of scripts.

Since he hated wasting money, he checked every single script very meticulously, and as a result, his eye for scripts was above average, enough to guess what the viewership ratings would be.

But this... he couldn't quite grasp it. The script was as unique as the woman herself.

After looking at the script for a long time, Ho Rang asked.

"What's the genre of this?"

"Romance. Romantic comedy."

When Bo Bae answered, Ho Rang shifted his gaze back to the script.

Bo Bae was inwardly nervous. Showing her writing to someone was both exciting and very nerve-wracking. As she waited for Ho Rang's reaction with half-anticipation and half-trembling...

"It's not a romantic comedy but just a comedy."

A desperate evaluation burst from his mouth.

"This is a script that should be sent to the variety department, not the drama department."

Bo Bae frowned, but Ho Rang continued regardless.

"How can a romance genre have no heart fluttering moments, no push and pull, and no sweetness? It's not easy to be like this, but it's not heart fluttering at all. The characters' emotions are as consistently robot-like as can be. This is the worst script I've ever seen in my life."

At the stinging evaluation, Bo Bae's face turned red as if it were about to explode.

Even PD Jang would at least start by saying it was interesting before criticizing it, but this man just starts bashing it without any preamble.

"What's the age rating for this?"

Bo Bae, who didn't take his question kindly, clenched her teeth and answered.

"Eighteen!"

[TL/N: Here, the way Bo Bae says 'R-18' (십세/십팔 세) sounds like (십세/씨팔- ssip-sal/ssip-pal) which are root words for F***. She is venting her frustration in a subtle way.]

Ho Rang frowned at her sharp pronunciation.

"Somehow it sounds like there's emotion loaded into that pronunciation?"

"Ah. It's not F-word, it's eighteen! Eighteen!"

When Bo Bae pronounced the words sharply and repeatedly, Ho Rang shook his head. Then again, she wasn't the type of woman to stay quiet after receiving such an evaluation.

"But, are you really a writer? Have you even debuted?"

"I am a writer! And I have debuted!"

"Is that so? Then why is this the best you can do? The premise is good and the dialogue is fine, but I don't understand the emotional lines of the protagonists. Have you never been in a relationship? Oh, right, you called yourself a 'master of kissing.' But how did you even debut with a script like this? Hey, what’s the title of your debut work? I need to look it up."

Ho Rang asked while still staring at the phone, but there was no answer. Wondering why she was so quiet, he looked up only to find Bo Bae packing her things.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going home."

"What?"

"I'm taking back my offer to help."

Having packed everything, Bo Bae snatched the phone from Ho Rang's hand and walked towards the door. The moment she pulled the handle, Ho Rang reached past her and slammed the door shut.

When Bo Bae spun around, her face almost brushed against his as he stood right behind her.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"I can't stand being in the same room as you feeling like this."

Bo Bae snapped and tried to open the door again, but Ho Rang raised his other hand to keep it shut.

Consequently, Bo Bae found herself completely trapped between the solid wall and Ho Rang's two arms.

As Ho Rang leaned down slightly, they became close enough for their lips to touch. His breath brushed against Bo Bae’s neck before dissipating.

"You can't leave like this."

"Whether I leave or not is for me to decide."

"No, you can't. Absolutely not."

Bo Bae looked up sharply at his firm tone.

"Why not?"

When Bo Bae asked, Ho Rang tilted his head slightly and leaned in closer to her.

Suddenly, his lips filled Bo Bae’s vision. His tinged red lips were moist, and through the slight gap, she could see his tongue.

In that instant, the kiss they shared on the rooftop flashed through her mind.

She felt as if she could vividly recall the soft texture of his lips and the breath that had entwined with hers until she felt dizzy.

The explosive power of the emotions created by physical touch was greater than she had imagined. Seeing Bo Bae’s sharp defenses gradually softening, he spoke.

"Because..."

As Bo Bae bit her lip slightly and looked up at him, Ho Rang’s languid voice settled in her ear.

"You have to fart before you go."

"..."

"You said you had an appendectomy."

"...!"

In an instant, Bo Bae’s face flushed bright red. Watching him smirk and step back, her two fists trembled.

She felt like he was playing with her, toying with her emotions, and she thought he was unbelievable. But, what was more shocking was her own reaction.

Her heart had fluttered. For that brief moment, she had been swayed by this man’s sudden approach.

'This is why skinship is so important. To think that one’s heart can be shaken enough to lose one’s mind over a single touch.'

'I really need to learn.'

Her pride was wounded, but she had no other choice.

To write a romantic script, this man was her best bet. His personality was foul, but he was a man she could certainly learn from.

In the end, Bo Bae decided to take a step back.

"Fine. I'll be honest."

"Go ahead."

"As you can see from the script, the romance is weak. So, I want you to teach me about romance."

"Romance... Why do you think I can teach you about that?"

"Um, well..."

Bo Bae had asked for help, but she hesitated on how to explain her situation.

She couldn't bring herself to say, 'For some reason, my body conducts electricity whenever I touch a man. That's why I haven't even been near one, let alone kissed anyone, even though I'm thirty. But you're different. So please help me.'

Not after she had introduced herself as a 'master of kissing.'

Just then, a good idea flashed through Bo Bae’s mind.

"Chaebol!"

"Chaebol?"

[TL/N : A chaebol is a large, family-owned South Korean business conglomerate that exerts significant influence over the national economy and politics.]

"As you can see, the male lead is a chaebol. A third-generation heir. But it’s not like I’ve ever met a chaebol or talked to one. I’ve been at a loss every time I write. But you happen to be a chaebol. So, help me."

"Specifically with what?"

"A chaebol’s romance!"

As Ho Rang frowned, Bo Bae corrected herself.

"No, a chaebol’s dating 'flex'!"

"What?"

"Since long ago, the essence of chaebol romance has been wasting money...no, the 'flex.' I want to see that."

As Bo Bae blinked with eyes full of anticipation, Ho Rang turned his head away and answered.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I have to be dating someone to show you a chaebol’s romance, don't I? But I'm single."

"With that face and that background, why are you... Ah. I guess that makes sense..."

Bo Bae, who had found it unexpected given his qualifications, immediately understood once she remembered his personality.

"It makes sense? What makes sense?"

As Ho Rang raised his voice at her reaction, Bo Bae subtly changed the subject.

"It doesn't matter if you're not dating right now. You're engaged, right?"

"No."

"Not yet, then. If so, do you have a partner for an arranged marriage set by your family?"

"I don't."

"Still none? Then what about elders who are rushing you to get married?"

"There are none."

"Then a chaebol daughter who is chasing you around because she likes you?"

"None."

"Argh, what is wrong with you!"

Finally, Bo Bae exploded.

Usually, a chaebol is supposed to have a fiancée for an arranged marriage, or if not, they enter a contract marriage because the family is rushing them, or at the very least, there’s a chaebol woman nearby who wants to marry them. But l, he has none of it!

And who is Baek Ho Rang again? He is the heir to the Tae Seong Group. He is a businessman influential enough to shake the entire nation. Yet, he doesn't even have a typical fiancée.

'As I thought... has the rumor about his foul personality spread that far?'

"I can hear everything."

As Ho Rang glared fiercely, Bo Bae responded with a fake smile.

It was a dilemma. She had intended to learn real chaebol romance by observing his love life, but there was nothing related to romance at all.

As she worried about finding a good idea, Ho Rang spoke as if he were frustrated.

"Just ask for money instead. Write the script on your own."

"I don't need money."

"Why don't you need money? Isn't the reason you write all for money anyway?"

"Why are you turning someone's dream into nothing but money?"

"Isn't it more like you're packaging money as a dream?"

Bo Bae found it irritating how Ho Rang linked everything to money. Perhaps because he had so much of it, he tried to solve everything with it.

But what Bo Bae wanted wasn't money. It wasn't because she was well-off. She was desperate for rent and living expenses for her rooftop room, but that didn't mean she didn't have a dream.

'I may not have money, but it’s not like I don’t have a dream.'

As she muttered that, a brilliant idea flashed through her mind.

"Ah! Right! We can just do that!"

"Do what?"

When Ho Rang asked half-heartedly, Bo Bae looked up at him with sparkling eyes and said.

"A chaebol man’s dating flex...show it to me!"

"What?"

That was a conversation they had already finished.

A chaebol’s dating flex was only possible under the premise that Ho Rang was actually dating. Since he didn't even have a girl he was interested in, let alone a girlfriend, he didn't understand why she kept insisting on something so nonsensical.

"Let’s stop talking about that and just settle this cleanly with money."

"I told you I don't need money."

"Then what do you want me to do? Are you telling me to go invent a girlfriend who doesn't even exist?"

When Ho Rang asked with an irritated voice, Bo Bae said brightly.

"You can just do it with me."

Stunned, Ho Rang asked again, wondering if he had misheard.

"What? Do what with who?"

"Let's do it together. Dating!"

Ho Rang’s eyes widened at Bo Bae’s unexpected words.

The other day she wanted a kiss, and today she wanted to date.

She really was a woman who was unpredictable, someone who made him more curious about tomorrow than today.