CHAPTER 36 – You’re Eating Well (Part 2)

“CEO, ah, I mean Vice President. It’s been a while.”

“Manager, it has indeed been a while.”

The manager greeted Dojun happily. He also greeted Secretary Kang and the entourage, counted the number of people, and said to Dojun.

“If you could wait a moment, I’ll guide you to the bamboo room.”

Dojun nodded. CEO Choi Hyuntae, or his maternal uncle, had called Chairman Hwang after crying about the duty-free business selection. Chairman Hwang had asked Dojun to go and help him get things in order, as he seemed burdened. 

It was a fortunate coincidence. He could take the opportunity to tour the hotel. He thought it might be nice to stop by the Heritage store to see if Yoon Seoyeon was doing well. Seeing her handle things smoothly might turn his insides upside down, but he still wanted to see her face.

“The seats are ready. Please follow me inside.”

Dojun strode ahead. He could see Seoyeon sitting in the center of the hall. Without turning her head, she maintained eye contact only with the female staff accompanying her, which made his insides burn, but he didn’t show it and continued walking.

The door to the bamboo room opened and his entourage took their seats. It was common for them to have a quick bowl of jjajangmyeon or jjamppong at the nearby Cheongyeon when they couldn’t have a proper dinner due to meetings, so Secretary Kang confidently ordered.

“Three jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and two jjampong. What would you like, Vice President?”

Secretary Kang handed the menu to Dojun.

“I’ll have the jajangmyeon.”

While waiting for their meal, Dojun wiped his hands with a warm towel. Seoyeon’s figure, standing at the entrance, overlapped with the table. She seemed to have lost some weight and looked somewhat weary.

As he ate a few almonds, the meal was served promptly. Everyone seemed hungry as they hurriedly ate the jjajangmyeon and jjamppong. Dojun also silently placed the noodles in his mouth.

“This is the taste, you know. The flavor of a late-night jajangmyeon bowl. You can’t get this taste at the department store.”

Secretary Kang said, lifting the noodles high. He took a big mouthful, and the other assistants also laughed and said it tasted even better after such a long time.

It didn’t take them more than 10 minutes to finish their meal. Everyone put down their chopsticks with satisfied expressions. As Dojun prepared to leave, he said,

“Let’s split up after the meal. Thank you for your hard work today.”

Secretary Kang stood up and said to Dojun,

“If you’re leaving right away, I’ll call Driver Kim.”

“That won’t be necessary. You can go home first.”

Dojun walked out into the corridor. He caught sight of Seoyeon’s profile beyond the partition. She took a piece of sweet and sour pork into her mouth and chewed slowly. Throughout Dojun’s approach, Seoyeon didn’t lift her eyes once.

“Manager Yoon Seoyeon.”

At Dojun’s words, the female employee lifted her head before Seoyeon. Seoyeon slowly lifted her eyes. Her brown eyes, forcibly raised, finally met Dojun’s gaze.

It was Seoyeon’s eyes, ones he hadn’t seen in a long time. Her clear eyes held a light weariness and a touch of resignation. Looking into those eyes, Dojun’s back tingled as he smiled lightly. He turned to the female employee, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

“Have you finished your meal?”

“Ah, yes. Yes, I’ve finished.”

“Then could you please step aside for a moment? I’d like to have a word with Manager Yoon…”

Before Dojun could finish his sentence, Sohee stood up and said.

“Yes, yes. Manager Yoon, I’ll get up first.”

“I’ll pay the bill, so you can just go.”

“Ah, okay. Then please talk.”

Sohee backed away with a bow. Dojun pulled the chair, which was askew due to Sohee’s movement, and sat down. For a moment, there was silence between them.

“It’s been a while.”

Dojun broke the silence.

“You won’t even greet me, Seoyeon-ssi?”

Seoyeon quietly looked at Dojun, who was smiling at her.

Dojun raised his hand and asked the server to bring a new plate and utensils. The server brought a fresh cup of jasmine tea and walked away. Seoyeon watched the whole process in silence.

Silent was probably the wrong word because her throat was aching, but she had to remain calm, she couldn’t bring herself to speak up, not wanting to show her wavering in front of Hwang Dojun. Dojun took a sip of his jasmine tea.

I can do this.

Seoyeon thought. 

Just think of him as a fickle customer. If I can get this one right, I’ll never see him again. 

When the teacup clinked against the saucer, Seoyeon finally managed to smile and open her mouth.

“I’m sorry, Vice President. I was a bit startled by your sudden appearance.”

Dojun raised an eyebrow. He stared at Seoyeon for a moment, then let out a light chuckle.

“How have you been, Vice President?”

Seoyeon replied with a composed smile.

“I’ve been busy. Have you been well, Ms. Yoon?”

“Yes. I’ve been good too.”

In response to Seoyeon’s answer, Dojun lifted the serving spoon and started scooping the sweet and sour pork, saying,

“It looks like it.”

Is it good that he seems to be doing well? 

Seoyeon thought as she watched Dojun place the sweet and sour pork on her plate. 

The difficult days I had endured recently now feel unjust. He must have been doing well. Why did I have to suffer?

“It looks like you haven’t finished your meal, so please eat more.”

Dojun picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and put it in his mouth. She had no appetite, so she was only pretending to eat the sweet and sour soup and jajangmyeon with Sohee, but now Dojun was staring at her.

Seoyeon wanted to reassure him that she could eat and live well even without him. She picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of sweet and sour pork into her mouth. She was chewing it without even tasting it when Dojun suddenly said,

“You’re eating well.”

Seoyeon was stunned, but she kept her voice calm.

“It’s delicious.”

“I worried for nothing. You’re doing so well.”

The word “worried” pricked Seoyeon’s heart. 

Why are you worrying about me? 

She wanted to ask, to scrutinize and question. 

Why are you doing this? Isn’t it all over?

“You said you had something to say, may I ask what it is?”

Seoyeon asked again as she picked up another piece of sweet and sour pork. 

Don’t upset me here, if you have something to say, just say it quickly and leave.

“I have to go down to the store soon.”

He glanced at his watch on purpose. Dojun swallowed the sweet and sour pork he was eating and briefly turned his gaze toward the window. Seemingly lost in thought, he looked into the distance for a moment before returning his gaze to Seoyeon. Locking eyes with her, he casually asked.

“Didn’t you miss me?”

For a moment, Seoyeon choked up, something rising within her. After swallowing hard, she calmly replied.

“Why would I?”

Why should I? We weren’t anything to each other. We weren’t even the kind of people who could sit across from each other in this wide-open space. We were just sleeping together, that’s all. Why would I miss you?

“I…”

Dojun slowly looked over at her. From head to toe, as if engraving her into his mind, he finally spoke.

“I’ve missed you a lot.”

Seoyeon bit her lip.

Why is he doing this when I’ve been trying so hard to get by?

Despite her efforts to keep composed, she felt resentful towards Dojun.

The man who casually dropped the bombshell that he missed her continued to eat the sweet and sour pork. When his plate was empty, he got another serving. He also refilled her plate when hers was empty.

Seoyeon just kept eating mechanically. She was aware of Dojun glancing at her every once in a while as she ate, but she avoided eye contact and concentrated on eating the remaining food.

“Are you finished?”

When Seoyeon put down her chopsticks, Dojun asked. The sweet and sour pork was reduced to just the sauce.

“Yes.”

“What about the jajangmyeon?”

Dojun’s gaze fell on the jajangmyeon in front of Seoyeon. She had only taken a few bites after mixing it, then she didn’t touch it again. She shook her head, indicating she didn’t want more.

“I’m full.”

Dojun made a sound like he was clicking his tongue. He reached out and took the bowl. With a few bites, he finished all the remaining black bean noodles. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he said.

“That’s why you’re looking so frail.”

Frail? What does it matter whether I’m frail or not?

Seoyeon had many things she wanted to say, but she held back. She didn’t want to prolong the conversation.

Hwang Dojun’s face, his voice, his gaze – she didn’t want to take in any of that. She just wanted to go back to the store and work. Seoyeon spoke calmly to Dojun.

“If you’re done eating, I’ll leave now.”

As Seoyeon pushed her chair back and stood up, Dojun also stood up from his seat. She walked ahead, and he followed behind her. At the reception desk near the entrance, Seoyeon stopped.

“I’ll pay the bill. It was reserved under Chae Sohee’s name…”

As she held out her card to the staff, Dojun interrupted.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“No, I’ll do it.”

Seoyeon pushed her card a little closer to the staff. She didn’t want to owe anything to Hwang Dojun. Seeing this, Dojun grabbed Seoyeon’s wrist with one hand and pulled it down, holding out the card with the other.

“I’ll pay.”

“Oh, okay. Sir.”

The staff awkwardly took Dojun’s card, glancing between them. As Seoyeon tried to pull her wrist away, Dojun lightly tightened his grip. Not enough to hurt, but enough to keep her from pulling away. Whenever she tried to pull away, he would tighten his grip again.

Seoyeon looked up. She looked at Dojun with eyes that said, “Let me go.” Passersby, the staff calculating the bill, and the manager standing beside them, all glanced at Dojun and Seoyeon with curious expressions. Seoyeon said in a low voice to Dojun.

“Let go.”

“No.”

Seoyeon’s face heated up at Dojun’s unmuffled reply. With people’s eyes on them, she couldn’t even confront him and ask why he was doing this. She could only try to suppress the sudden anger welling up inside.

Despite the attention from the people around them, Dojun seemed unfazed. The sound of the card being swiped filled the air, and Dojun calmly took the card handed to him by the staff, slipping it into his pocket rather than his wallet. Throughout this, Seoyeon remained with her wrist held throughout.

“Vice President, see you again next time.”

The manager bid farewell, to which Dojun responded with a light nod. Holding onto Seoyeon’s wrist, Dojun walked out.

In front of the elevator, Dojun released Seoyeon’s wrist. After letting go, he pressed the down button. Seoyeon was burning with anger from head to toe. 

Sitting down, grabbing my wrist rudely, crossing the wide hall, what the hell is he doing?

She was using all her willpower to keep from screaming at him. She remembered the time long ago when Dojun had come to the store. The night he said he was coming to get a file, but then said the file was no longer needed, and made her knot his tie, only to drop it to the floor.

Even then, she bent down and picked it up. 

Let’s not disturb the peace by saying a few words. Let’s not escalate things just because we can’t hold back a few words. 

Seoyeon endured only with that thought in mind.

“Yoon Seoyeon.”

Dojun called out her name. Her eyes fluttered. Still, she kept her mouth tightly shut.

“What’s this? You don’t even answer.”

If he’s going to look at her like that, she should just get angry. She should confront him and ask why he’s doing this. Dojun stared directly into her blazing eyes.

“Why…….”

Seoyeon opened her mouth to say something, but then she bit her lip tightly and shut it. She furrowed her brow as if she didn’t know why he was doing this. She looked at Dojun with frustration and resentment in her eyes and asked.

“What do you want me to do?”

When he didn’t answer, Seoyeon continued.

“Should I stop showing up at the hotel? Quit my job? Or should I just leave Korea altogether?”

Dojun looked at Seoyeon in disbelief. 

“Why would you leave Korea?”

She shouldn’t do anything crazy like that. Who is she trying to drive to madness?

“Then why are you like this, seriously!? Aren’t you arranged for someone?”

Seoyeon asked with a look of disbelief. Dojun laughed. After laughing, he looked at Seoyeon and said.

“I knew it.”

“What…”

“Why are you asking that now? I’m arranged for someone? Is that so hard for you?”

With an incredulous expression, Seoyeon looked at Dojun. He then pushed the elevator button.

“I’m not. I’m not seeing anyone”

The elevator doors opened with a “ding”. Despite Seoyeon’s bewildered expression, Dojun appeared nonchalant. He entered the elevator, leaving Seoyeon behind.

“Then, let’s see each other next time.”

Through the closing doors, Dojun spoke. His smirk was the last thing she saw. Seoyeon glared in disbelief, but only her flushed face was left reflected in the shiny elevator doors.