15.3

Hand in hand, they walked to the streets of London. As they walked, Chaeyoon briefly explained the luxury stores they passed until they reached the antique shop she had mentioned before.

“This store feels like something out of a Harry Potter movie.”

“Now that you mention it, it does. But have you seen the Harry Potter movies?”

“I’m somewhat of a fanatic. I own the books, DVDs, even the original editions.”

“You should have told me. We could have gone to a cafe that sells Harry Potter merchandise, even if we couldn’t make it to the studio.”

“Maybe another time. Let’s go inside.”

The thought of ‘When will be next time?’ crossed her mind, but she soon forgot about it as she was led inside by Seonho.

***

“You’re really a big spender.”

Exiting the store, Chaeyoon burst into laughter as they got into the car Paul was driving.

Does a manager have a nose for money?

The manager had been much more aggressive in his sales tactics, unlike when he was dealing with Chaeyoon.

While he approached Chaeyoon emotionally by telling her the story of the jewelry, he approached Seonho from a property value perspective by recommending archaeological jewelry, emphasizing its value as an asset.

It was doubtful if this tactic would work, but amusingly, Seonho bought the expensive items without hesitation.

“Why did you buy a cigarette case when you don’t even smoke?”

The cigarette case said to have been used by nobility, was an ornate item with no practical use, featuring a green enamel body inlaid with diamonds and pink turquoise.

“I plan to put it on my desk.”

“That expensive thing? You shouldn’t put it on the office desk. It belongs in your study at home.”

Chaeyoon’s eyes widened.

“At least you’re not telling me to keep it in a safe.”

“Then it’d be too sad for it. Even as a decoration, it should get to shine and live.”

Suddenly, Seonho reached out and stroked Chaeyoon’s hair.

“What?”

“Because your eyes are shining so brightly right now.”

Seonho often makes such remarks. It’s meant to be a compliment, but it feels embarrassing. She doesn’t usually receive compliments like this.

So, it’s quite embarrassing. Even if she has high self-esteem and goes around saying she’s pretty, responding confidently to a comment about her eyes shining isn’t easy.

Seonho frequently makes these unexpected comments.

“Ah, stop it. That’s embarrassing.”

Chaeyoon waved her hands dismissively and blushed, while he laughed heartily.

“Did you even have that word in your dictionary?”

“Of course. Do you think I’m you?”

“I’m what?”

“There are a lot of words missing from your dictionary. Humility, modesty, consideration, and so on.”

“That doesn’t sound like something I’d expect to hear from the person who gets the most of my consideration.”

“That’s not a consideration; that’s being gullible.”

“What?”

While they bantered, the car pulled to a stop. Seonho had reserved dinner at a Chinese restaurant located in The Shard, a rare high-rise building in London.

“They say this place has the best view.”

Chaeyoon marveled as they sat at a reserved seat by the window. Night views often look similar everywhere, but the illuminated cruise ships on the Thames and the London Bridge created a uniquely beautiful nightscape that was distinctly London.

“Have you been here before?”

“Not yet. I was planning to ask my parents to treat me when they visit. My local friends recommended this place as a hotspot.”

“Chinese food in London, that’s kind of funny.”

It was clear that Seonho hadn’t chosen this restaurant.

Thanks Junsu for doing the hard work.

“There are Chinese restaurants everywhere in the world, and it’s more or less suitable for Korean tastes. I thought we could go to the London Eye to see the night view after dinner, but it seems we won’t need to.”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

The image of a “sexy sloth” sighing in relief was hilariously apt.

“People say the Thames looks like muddy water during the day, so it’s much better at night. It really does look amazing at night.”

Chaeyoon remarked while looking out the window.

“Oh, I should take a picture. I should have brought my camera.”

Chaeyoon expressed regret as she pulled out her phone.

“Planning to take photos?”

“Yeah. I like to capture photos of new places I visit.”

Chaeyoon snapped a few shots of the night view and the luxurious interior.

“Want me to take one of you?”

Seonho offered.

“Yes, please.”

Chaeyoon handed her phone to him.

“I’ll take it with mine and send it to you.”

“You always prefer using your own phone.”

“It feels awkward using someone else’s. Look here.”

Chaeyoon naturally struck a pose.

Afterward, the two chatted leisurely as they savored their dishes.

“Looking at your face, studying seems fun.”

“Yeah, it’s like… moving from the world of an amateur to that of a professional?”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, I’ve always been interested in jewelry, and I’ve always looked at books and materials about it. But when I majored in it, the designs I saw were different. No, not the design, but the attitude, the identity of the designer?”

“Why does it sound so grand?”

“Before I took a jewelry class in New York, I had never thought about the ecological impact of jewelry or metals. You don’t ask a jeweler ‘Is this recycled metal?’ when you visit a jewelry store.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever heard of recycled metals.”

“Right? But in America and Europe, they take it very seriously. Designers and consumers alike are very conscious of environmental issues. It was shocking.”

“Looks like we need to think about the ecosystem with jewelry just as much as making cars that emit less pollution.”

“Exactly. I also met an industrial designer who works at a social contribution design institute. He told me that one day, he realized he was making beautiful trash, and that’s how he got into social design.”

“Beautiful trash?”

“It’s like when your company designs cars by changing only the exteriors while keeping the functional components like engines the same. They make it into a design that people want more. So, people end up replacing cars that don’t need to be replaced.”

“Ah, I see what you mean. It’s like buying new things makes the old ones trash, right?”

“Exactly.”

“That’s the way it is in a capitalist society.”

“True. It’s a cycle where the maker earns money only if the goods are sold. From that person’s perspective, jewelry then becomes the most beautiful kind of trash.”

“Even more so than flowers?”

“Flowers rot and die.”

“So? Did you start feeling cynical about creating beautiful, expensive trash?”

“Not really. People say that expensive jewels are a luxury. Yes, a luxury not everyone can enjoy. And sure, we don’t need them to survive. But people can be moved to tears by beautiful things, so when they see a beautiful stone, they might think about processing it and making it into jewelry. That made me even more determined to make something that wouldn’t turn into beautiful trash. Anyway, I’m really enjoying the new world that my major is opening up to me.”

“I’m envious.”

“Envious? Of what? You live in a world where you have nothing to envy.”

“I envy how you’ve found something you love.”

“Isn’t it the same for you?”

“Not really. I never really had something I wanted to do. I just did what I had to do, and luckily I was good at it, so it wasn’t hard.”

“What more could a conglomerate heir want? Having talent is enough. I bet the Honorary Chairman thinks to his descendants, ‘I don’t have to raise you anymore. Just don’t screw it up.’”

“Wow, creepy. How do you know so much about my grandfather without ever meeting him?”

“It’s not just your grandfather. Isn’t that what most founders of conglomerates think? How many companies have disappeared without a trace because the children messed up? It’s tough to keep a business going for 100 years in our country.”

“That’s exactly what worries my grandfather in his old age. But still, isn’t he lucky? If that’s his only worry?”

“Is that really his only worry?”

“No.”

Seonho recalled his parents raising hell over an illegitimate child issue. What was more troubling was his own indifference, as if the matter concerned someone else, not even drawing a sigh from him.