CHAPTER 10 – Sweet & Sour Pork (Part 2)

Dojun was looking down at the backyard of Hawoljae. Secretary Kang Seungcheol was beside him, explaining the charity event to be held on the 31st of December.

“This year’s auction will be held at Sarangchae. Auctioneer Choi Eun-kyung of Hanra Auctions will be conducting it, and there are a total of 20 items prepared.”

On the last day of the year, a charity event hosted by Hanseong Hotel is held at Hawoljae, a hanok house located separated from the hotel building.

Established figures in the political and entertainment industry associated with the Hanseong Group, as well as famous celebrities and athletes from various fields, are invited to participate in this charity bazaar organized by the Hanseong Hotel. 

Although called a charity bazaar, it was a tradition for participants to buy and sell items such as bags and shoes among themselves before popping the finest champagne at the banquet hall. 

Feeling dissatisfied with the donation amounts compared to the sales, Dojun decided to change the main event of the bazaar to an auction starting from last year. Last year featured paintings by promising young artists, while this year’s focus was on porcelain dishes, ceramics, traditional Korean lacquerware, and trays made by artisans.

“I was thinking of collaborating with Heritage next year, but it seems this year will be the end for me.” 

Dojun said, standing on the stone platform. Secretary Kang asked, contemplating Dojun’s financial acumen.

“Are you disappointed?”

Hanseong Hotel was now flourishing under Dojun’s guidance. With eight business hotels nationwide and duty-free shops extending to international airports abroad, the hotel chain was expanding under his leadership.

“It feels like casting away pearls before swine.”

(“To cast pearls before swine” is an idiom that means to waste time by offering something valuable to someone who won’t appreciate it.)

The hotel was now under the management of his maternal uncle, Choi Hyuntae. He had been promoted from vice president of Hanseong Retail to head of the hotel. While it was fortunate that he wasn’t a relative of Dojun’s father, he wasn’t someone particularly helpful to Dojun either.

“I hope they don’t mess it up. Well, they’ll manage on their own, I suppose.” 

With light steps, Dojun descended from the stone platform. Looking back, he saw the hotel building towering against the backdrop of Namsan Mountain. Its lights shone brightly against the black night sky.

“I’m heading this way. You go home first.”

Dojun said as he turned to the back gate. The back gate of Hawoljae was connected to the hotel’s outdoor garden via a walking path. Passing through the outdoor garden, there was an employee entrance, and beyond that, an elevator connected to the rooms.

“Are you staying overnight at the hotel again today?”

Instead of answering, Dojun raised his hand in farewell.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Secretary Kang’s farewell slowed Dojun in his pace for a moment. Someone came to mind when he heard “See you tomorrow.” He opened his phone as he opened the back gate and walked onto the walking path.

[You can bring the clothes to room 2301 tomorrow.]

The clothes he often wore were also on display in the room. Expecting not to have any reason to go home for a few days, Dojun sent a message to Seo-yeon. As he pressed the send button and stepped onto the stone steps leading to the garden, he heard someone murmuring from above.

“Why do you always do this?” 

He looked up at the familiar voice and saw the back of Yoon Seo-yeon sitting on a bench. He had thought she was having a cozy dinner with Lee Sehyun, but there she was, sitting alone on a bench in the desolate winter garden, holding a steaming cup of coffee.

Wondering who she was talking to, he stopped on the stairs and observed. Seo-yeon sighed and gripped her phone. Then Dojun’s phone vibrated.

[Yes, I understand, what time would be convenient for you?]

Contrary to the disappointed tone, the response was formal and composed. Dojun smiled and replied.

[Around this time is fine.]

Seo-yeon sighed deeply and muttered. 

“Always complicating things.”

Dojun chuckled. Seo-yeon was silent for a moment and then she texted him back on her phone. 

[I’ll have it ready by 7 o’clock then.]

“No, I really don’t want to.”

Her murmuring was audible. She looked up at the sky and sipped her coffee. As Dojun climbed the stairs, he spoke up.

“What is it that you really don’t want to do?”

Surprised, Seo-yeon turned around.

Dojun ascended the stairs with light steps. Seo-yeon’s eyes widened in disbelief. When he reached the top of the stairs, he stood in front of her on the bench and asked her again.

“What is it that you really don’t want to do?”

Seo-yeon blinked at Dojun’s impatient question.

Why did Hwang Dojun of all people suddenly appear here? More importantly, how much did he overhear, and how much did he figure out? 

Her mind was tangled up, and she couldn’t speak for a moment.

He looked at her, who was speechless, and then smiled sheepishly. A chilly breeze swept through the lonely and dark winter garden. Dojun’s hair fluttered in the wind, falling onto his forehead.

Why?

Seo-yeon thought as she looked at Dojun. 

Why do you look at me like that?

As if I’m something, as if I mean something special. Like you’re just interested in me.

“Have you had dinner?”

Dojun asked. She hadn’t eaten dinner, of course, since she had come straight down from the restaurant. Her heart was in turmoil, so she didn’t feel like eating anything, and she wasn’t particularly hungry either, hence she was just sitting there, sipping her coffee in the chilly breeze.

“Yes, I ate.”

Seo-yeon lied instead of refusing, which made Dojun look at his wristwatch. It must be past 8 o’clock by now, and he had no idea how long she’d been sitting in the garden.

“Then let’s eat again.”

“What?”

“Because I haven’t eaten yet.”

“I… “

Just as she was about to say “I ate,” Dojun interrupted her.

“You can just sit with me.”

Seo-yeon looked up in confusion, and Dojun looked down at her as if to ask why she was looking at him like that.

“Why do I have to do that?”

“Because I don’t want to eat alone.”           

The wind picks up again, causing Dojun’s hair to flutter once more. Standing against the orange glow of the streetlamp, Dojun appeared strong and imposing, yet oddly lonely. It’s a funny thought, Seo-yeon muses. To accuse someone who seems like they could casually trample over the loneliness of being overbearing. Seo-yeon looked at Dojun and asked slowly.

“Do you know this is kind of being pushy?”

Dojun smiled and replied.

“It’s just a little push.”

Then he glanced briefly into the distance before looking back at Seo-yeon.

“Let’s call it persuasion.”

But you won’t accept a refusal, will you? 

Seo-yeon thought to herself as she set down her coffee cup. She didn’t have the energy to argue back against either pushiness or persuasion. She picked up her handbag and coffee, rising from her seat.

“Where shall we go?”

With a resigned tone, Seo-yeon asked as Dojun glanced around the hotel building.

“Let’s just have something simple.”

Dojun took a step ahead. Seo-yeon followed behind silently.