Crazy Match, Crazy Guy - CHAPTER 6 - Part 3

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Before leaving the office, Tae Jin gathered together Bang Yoon Kyung, the Managing Director, and Son Chang Seop, the Program Director, to discuss the launch of the brand in collaboration with Vasell Shoes.

“Vasel is currently holding a design competition, so we plan to focus our consultations primarily on the designs that come out of the competition. If there aren’t suitable designs from the competition, I can personally work with designers to create products as well.”

“Understood. Mr. Bang, please concentrate on this matter for the time being. I hope you will assist the Vasel representatives a lot to ensure the success of this project.”

“Yes, CEO. PD, if you’re available tomorrow, would you come with me to Vasel?”

“I have a broadcast scheduled in the morning, so we can go after that.”

“Sounds good.”

Knock knock. There was a knock on the door and the secretary walked in.

“CEO, Vice President Ahn is here.”

Ahn Soo Jin, the Vice President, was the driving force behind transforming Geo Home Shopping into the number one fashion company in the industry. She was exceptionally talented, to the point where giving her a high salary wasn’t a waste.

Soo Jin walked in and smiled brightly at Yoon Kyung and Chang Seop.

“I’m not interrupting a meeting, am I?”

“Not at all. Please have a seat.”

Tae Jin gestured the sofa, and Soo Jin took a seat next to Yoon Kyung.

“I heard you’re collaborating with Vasel. Is that what this meeting is about?”

Yoon Kyung nodded.

“Yes, Vice President.”

“It must be a lot of work. Planning for new products is no small task.”

“Still, it’s rewarding.”

“Having that kind of mindset is great.”

Soo Jin’s gaze shifted towards Tae Jin.

“If the meeting is over, how about having dinner together? I’ll treat you tonight.”

As Tae Jin stood up from his seat, he spoke.

“I have a prior engagement.”

“Oh, that’s a pity. Yoon Kyung and PD, you don’t happen to have prior engagements, do you?”

“No.”

“A free dinner is always good.”

“Then how about we go to the new Korean beef restaurant that just opened right in front of here?”

“Vice President Soo Jin, you have great suggestions!”

Chang Seop gave a thumbs-up, and Soo Jin chuckled.

“Go ahead and order with Yoon Kyung. I have something to discuss with the CEO.”

Yoon Kyung and Chang Seop bowed to Tae Jin and then disappeared from the office.

As Tae Jin retrieved his jacket from the hanger, he asked.

“What is it that you want to discuss?”

“CEO, if you don’t mind, can I introduce someone to you if you’re not currently in a relationship?”

Tae Jin’s thick eyebrows twitched and furrowed.

“She’s my niece and she’s coming to Korea this time.”

“No, thank you.”

“Don’t be so quick to decide… Just meet her once.”

“I have someone.”

A sigh escaped from Soo Jin’s lips. The disappointment was evident on her face.

“Oh! You have someone.”

“Well then, please leave now.”

“I apologize for the intrusion. I’ll be on my way.”

With a nod from Tae Jin, Soo Jin left the office.

Putting on his jacket and leaving the office, Tae Jin sent his secretary home and headed down to the parking lot himself. It was 6:00 when he got into his car and started the engine. Tae Jin pulled out of the parking lot, thinking he had to hurry.

After driving for about five minutes, raindrops start to fall on the front window. Tae Jin wonders if he got an umbrella in the car or if he needs to buy one at a nearby convenience store, as he arrived at Vasell’s headquarters, and decided to give her a call.

No, he hangs up and puts his phone back down when he sees the familiar sight of Wooyoung walking out the front door. As he got out of the car, raindrops fell on his head.

He walked towards her quickly, but as he was about to reach her, a man blocked his path faster than he did. The way he staggered, he looked like he was drunk.

“Hey, Song Wooyoung, fuck you!”

Wooyoung stumbled backwards to avoid Sang-hoon spitting on the sidewalk.

“What, what?”

“You leave me like this and take the team leader’s position? You think I’ll let you go… Aaargh! What, what, what is this?”

Tae Jin grabbed Sang-hoon’s wrist as he approached Wooyoung and twisted it, making him wince in pain. In pain and helpless, Sang-hoon tried to kick out, but Tae Jin’s foot caught him, bumping his rear end on the ground.

“Jerk, it hurts.”

Seeing him like that, Tae Jin quickly moved forward to stand in front of Wooyoung.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Let’s go.”

As Tae Jin helped her up and taking her hand, he stepped on Sang-hoon’s ankle. Sang-hoon cried out in pain as his ankle was stepped on.

“Fuck, it hurts, it hurts!”

“If you dare touch Song Wooyoung again, I won’t let you off. Whatever happens, I will make sure you go to jail. If you’re confident, come at me.”

Sang-hoon looked up at Tae Jin, who had taken his foot off his ankle, and as he rubbed his stepped-on ankle, Tae Jin tossed him a check for one million won.

“Buy some ointment and treat it. Don’t ever let me see you again.”

Sang-hoon, who was staring at the check placed before him, looked utterly repulsive with his eyes wide and mouth agape. It was such a waste of time because of a person like him.

Wooyoung shook her head, visibly disturbed, and moved towards Tae Jin’s car. Tae Jin, climbed into the driver’s seat and held out a handkerchief to her.

“Your hair’s wet. Dry it.”

“I think yours is wetter than mine.”

Water droplets were clinging to his neatly combed hair, trickling down in a steady stream. Wooyoung’s hand reached forward as she watched him shake the water off with his hand as if it were no big deal.

A momentary pause.

His gaze turned towards her. Her hand reached out, her fingers brushing his cheek. Her touch made his heart tighten. Their eyes met in midair, and she smiled sheepishly.

“Oh, the water was dripping, so…”

In a snap, her hand was captured by his. The sudden surge of eagerness embarrassed Tae Jin a little, and he felt hot under the collar.

“I’ll lose it.”

What would happen if it grew uncontrollably, regardless of time and place? Why did he lose his composure when he saw her?

His desire swelled up, he felt an urge to rush into her immediately

It was truly an embarrassing situation.

Tae Jin gritted his teeth until his jaw ached. Then, he released her hand and turned his face forward.

In the meantime, the rain grew even stronger.

“Hmm. I’m fine. We’re about to leave, so put on your seatbelt.”

“It’s raining. Should we just head home?”

That was exactly what Tae Jin had wanted. However, when she mentioned she was craving for spicy braised monkfish earlier, he couldn’t immediately agree with it.

“You said you want to have some spicy braised monkfish.”

“Should we just order it for delivery?”

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah. If we order now, the food should arrive around the time we get home. What do you think?”

“If that’s okay with you, let’s do that.”

As he got reached for the wheel, Wooyoung reached for her phone. Opening the delivery app, she scrolled through the food options and cast a sidelong glance at him.

A strange atmosphere filled the car. Unusually tense.

“Hey.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you like seafood?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll add some seafood.”

“It’s up to you. I’m not picky about food.”

“I’m not picky either.”

“That’s good then.”

“Yeah.”

Wooyoung tries to check out, but she keeps getting an error.

Why is this happening?

No matter how many times she tried, the error message kept appearing, and eventually it showed that the service was under maintenance.

“It seems like delivery isn’t working. Well, with the rain pouring like this, I guess it’s understandable that deliveries would be difficult.”

The heavy raindrops hit the car window with force.

“Should we just go to the restaurant now then?”

She didn’t want to inconvenience him, especially with the rain. Of course, she did want to eat spicy braised monkfish, but she couldn’t only think about herself.

“No. Let’s just go home.”

“How about getting it to-go?”

“To-go?”

“Call ahead and place an order, then we’ll pick up the food on our way.”

“Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Type in the address.”

“Sure. The restaurant isn’t too far from here.”

Watching her type in the address, Tae Jin couldn’t help but notice how small her hand looked. He wanted to hold it, but he restrained himself. If he were to touch her, there was no doubt his body would react.

Eager to return home and hold her, Tae Jin started the car. The raindrops were falling forcefully enough that the windshield wipers were moving vigorously, much like his own pent-up desires. Ridiculously so.