CHAPTER 11 – Enough With The Explanation (Part 1)

The winter morning resembled dawn. Gazing at the faintly brightening edge of the sky, Seo-yeon slowly drove her car along the high villa walls.

Despite being in the middle of Seoul, the surroundings of the villa complex were quiet and peaceful. Seo-yeon briefly stopped her car in front of the guardhouse at the entrance and rolled down her window.

“I’m here to see Mr. Hwang Dojun, Room 101, Building 111. I’m Yoon Seo-yeon.”

Seo-yeon’s breath dispersed into the air as a white mist. Even though it might have been discussed in advance with Dojun’s secretary, the security guard still pressed the intercom separately for confirmation. After a brief wait, the barrier lifted with a slight sound.

Seo-yeon drove her car slowly along the gentle slope. The low density of buildings and expansive gardens made it feel like a resort rather than a residential area.

She checked the buildings standing sparsely and followed the signposts. At the highest point, Building 111 appeared as she reached the end of the road.

After parking in the underground parking lot, Seo-yeon opened the trunk. Inside the large box were neatly folded five sets of suits, five pairs of shoes, as well as separately prepared accessories such as ties, belts, cuffs, and watches. She double-checked each item before lifting the box.

“Phew.”

A sigh escaped her as the large box felt heavy. Seo-yeon checked the elevator’s location and then walked with determination.

Although it could have been divided into several trips, she packed everything into one box to finish it in one go, wanting to spend as little time as possible with Dojun and exerting as little effort as possible.

With a somewhat strained appearance, she moved her belongings to the elevator entrance and pressed the button for Unit 101 after placing them near the underground entrance to the elevator.

The black button-like camera lit up, a signal tone similar to a call sounded, and the doors opened without another word. Once inside, Seo-yeon set the box down and pressed the lift button.

‘I’ll see you at home then.’

In her moment of carelessness, his composed expression and indifferent gaze played vividly in her mind. That nonchalant expression that said giving her a hard time was nothing. She should have known since he told her to eat sweet and sour pork twice for dinner. The sweet and sour pork was so delicious that her mind became somewhat distracted.

What a thoughtless mistake.

Nothing seemed right when she thought about it. 

Just keep going.

Seo-yeon took a deep breath again before exhaling and calming her mind.

Just two months. Just endure for two months.

Seo-yeon steeled herself. Eight times, once a week. She would only go to his home to set up his outfits during daylight time, so after today, her first day, there would be almost no chance of running into him again for this week.

Just come and go, eight times. Then, two months will fly by. Once Dojun goes to the department store or wherever, there will be no need to pay any more attention to him.

The elevator moved. There was only one button to press in the building, which had only one floor. After pressing the button, it didn’t take long for the elevator to arrive. Seo-yeon put down her luggage and pressed the bell, and the sound of the door opening was heard along with the alert tone.

“Good morning, sir. Did you sleep well?”

Seo-yeon offered a polite greeting with a neat smile to Dojun inside.

The high-ceilinged duplex house had a hotel-like atmosphere. If you took away the crystal chandeliers and stripped away the glamour, it would look like this.

High-end finishes, lighting, furniture, and artwork. The space was harmoniously arranged by an interior designer.

The only thing that was a little different from the hotel was the high, large windows that started from the ceiling, offering a picturesque view of the hillside below.

The green garden, other villa buildings down the hill, the increasingly busy Gangbyeonbuk Road, and the Han River flowing parallel to the road. The airy openness was refreshing to the eyes.

“Please, take a seat.”

Dojun, who was standing in the kitchen, glanced at Seo-yeon and spoke. His hair was still wet from the shower, and he was wearing a casual T-shirt and comfortable pants.

“Let me get ready first. Which way is the dressing room?”

Seo-yeon asked as she set the box down next to the sofa. The dressing room would have the mobile hangers that her predecessor, designer Jihoon Choi, had used.

“Go straight in and it’s on the left.”

After nodding politely, Seo-yeon moved toward the direction indicated by Dojun. When she turned left at the end of the corridor, instead of the dressing room, she found the master bedroom.

A large bed, rumpled sheets. For some reason, she couldn’t look at it straight, so she quickened her pace and went inside. She opened the sliding door and saw a large walk-in closet connected to the master with a bathroom in the middle.

Pulling the hanger from one corner, she returned to the living room. Glancing briefly at Seo-yeon, Dojun asked casually,

“Coffee?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

Seo-yeon declined and picked up a suit wrapped in a cover from the box. Dojun placed a mug on the coffee machine’s spout and pressed the button. The sound of grinding beans filled the air, and the smell of coffee began to spread.

While waiting for the coffee to be ready, Dojun looked at Seo-yeon inquisitively. Seo-yeon continued to set up her clothes methodically without turning her eyes away. Unzipping, taking out the suit, hanging it up. Seo-yeon’s movements, repeating simple actions, were as smooth as flowing water.

“How many suits are there in all?”

Taking a sip of the hot coffee, Dojun asked Seo-yeon. She answered while taking out the shoes one by one and placing them under the hanger.

“There are five new outfits in total.”

Seo-yeon said as she took out the shoes by hand. It was customary to recommend about five outfits and add them to the purchase list if there were no objections.

Seo-yeon’s task was to visit his house once a week and match a mix of last season’s clothes, new season’s clothes, and the representative’s own collection.

“Starting next week, I’ll proceed the same way as designer Choi Jihoon did. I’ll visit on Friday afternoons around 4 o’clock to set up five outfits and tag them by day of the week, so you won’t have to worry about anything.”

Dojun nodded slightly. He’d just asked the question. He already knew that she would come in once a week and leave five suits set up.

“Sir.”

“Yes.”

Seo-yeon called out, and Dojun responded. Seo-yeon pulled a cuff out of a small box and asked, her voice soft, not looking his way.

“The new clothes I brought are according to your previous size, but do you need to change your size?”

When Dojun didn’t respond, Seo-yeon turned around and asked a little more kindly.

“Have you ever felt uncomfortable or felt that the clothes didn’t fit from the ones you wore before?”

Her neat smile was infinitely polite. It was similar to the smile of a flight attendant in an airline advertisement. It’s smooth and impeccable, the kind of smile that makes you feel like you’re surrounded by a wall of steel.

“Well, I’m not sure. Sometimes the waist feels a bit uncomfortable, and sometimes not.”

Dojun grinned. He liked it when Seo-yeon’s gaze wavered like it did now, but there was no need for a size change. The way she cursed with her eyes and smiled with her mouth was quite a sight to behold.

“Usually, when there’s a change in responsibility, you’re supposed to take new measurements, right? Miss Yoon Seo-yeon, you seem to be taking it quite easily, aren’t you?”

Dojun observed Seo-yeon beyond his coffee cup. She seemed composed, hiding her fiery expression, but he could tell she was clenching her jaw inside her closed mouth.

“I apologize. I didn’t expect there to be any changes in your physique.”

“Well, I understand.”

As Dojun spoke casually, Seo-yeon’s gaze hardened. She didn’t want to be called professionally sloppy, that’s for sure. Dojun placed his coffee cup on the coaster. Seo-yeon set down the shoes and slowly stood up, saying,

“Then, sir, I’ll take new measurements for you, even though it may be bothersome.”

“Of course, go ahead.”