Chapter 5.5

The Korean restaurant he had chosen had no other customers. As soon as they sat down, the staff brought out the food.  

Famished from her continuous practice, Moonkyeong first quenched her thirst before starting her meal.  

The gentle music playing in the background and Seojun’s ever-cool gaze didn’t bother her much.  

It had been a long time since she’d had soybean paste stew with soft tofu bubbling away. The savory aroma tickled her nose, and she couldn’t resist taking more.  

Even in Seongbuk-dong, Hyeran never cooked at home. Disliking the smell of food lingering in the house, Moonkyeong had never even been able to cook a simple instant noodle dish.  

Instead, they received fresh side dishes and soup daily from a place called Jangwonjang. While Hyeran insisted on Western cuisine, Seo Jaewoo only ate Korean food, so Moonkyeong had at least been able to eat soybean paste stew to her heart’s content as a child.  

Halfway through her meal, Moonkyeong looked up, realizing she had been too focused on eating, recalling Seojun’s comment about wanting a refined spouse.  

Oh no. Had I been too quiet and just eaten? 

She shifted her gaze to him.  

“This is the best soybean paste stew I’ve ever had.”  

“That’s good to hear.”  

The Seo Moonkyeong who used to find meal settings uncomfortable seemed to have vanished, leaving him feeling slightly awkward.  

Her compliment wasn’t a lie. From the neatly arranged side dishes to the stew that seemed to have been touched by the hands of a master chef, everything was truly delicious.  

As her pace slowed, Seojun brought up the topic of The Brown Black Label gathering.  

It was to be Seojun’s official debut, and he planned to introduce Moonkyeong to Assembly Member Jeon Taepyeong there.  

While the engagement ceremony had been a family-centered event, Jeon Taepyeong had been overseas and unavailable.  

As someone particularly curious about her, Seojun wanted to show Moonkyeong to him.  

Seojun kept his explanations concise, showing her the faces of the key figures she would need to greet at the gathering.  

It felt like the beginning of their life as a show-window couple, and a bitter smile crept onto her face.  

“Are you listening?”  

“Yes, please continue.”  

Sitting across from her, he gestured with his hand.  

“Come here.”  

Reluctantly, she moved to the seat next to him and pulled out a chair. Seojun began briefing her on the key figures she needed to remember, searching for their faces on his phone.  

“Jason Lee. Owner of Taken Company in the U.S. He plans to build a factory in Korea to produce MEMS chips, a core component for digital X-rays, and is currently scouting potential locations.”  

Though she couldn’t understand half of it, Moonkyeong listened intently. Soon, the list of people she needed to memorize grew exponentially.  

For Moonkyeong, who had never attended a social gathering since returning to Korea, it was an unbearably tedious and dull time.

Continuing her relationship with Seojun meant meeting people she didn’t care about, smiling, and making small talk.  

The thought of those situations felt so wretched that a rusty laugh escaped her lips.  

Seojun, who had been speaking, turned his head toward Moonkyeong, who had let out a deflated laugh.  

Sitting side by side, they were already close, but when he turned his head, their noses almost touched.  

She thought she should quickly turn her head, but for some reason, she froze, overwhelmed by his presence.  

“Uh, well…”  

Like a schoolgirl caught daydreaming, her cheeks flushed. Seojun’s hand rose leisurely and cupped her cheek.  

Her already blushing face grew even hotter as soon as he touched her. When Moonkyeong habitually bit her lip, he withdrew his hand and finally turned his head away.  

“Is this boring?”  

Moonkyeong smiled faintly.  

“It couldn’t possibly be fun.”  

He immediately turned off his phone screen.  

“Got it. Just stay by my side. I’ll handle the conversations.”  

Seeing his disappointed expression as he drank water, she found him unexpectedly endearing. She hadn’t known Kim Seojun could show such a variety of expressions. Taking advantage of the moment, Moonkyeong asked him softly,  

“Would it be okay if I had just one bottle of soju? I’ll listen while eating.”  

He nodded and got up from his seat.  

“Let’s move somewhere else to eat.”  

“Pardon?”  

He took her to a bar he frequented.  

He planned to let Seo Moonkyeong drink to her heart’s content.

The place Seojun brought her to turned out to be his luxurious villa in Samseong-dong.  

The minimalist interior, styled like a hotel, and the panoramic view of the Han River through the large windows captivated Moonkyeong.  

Seojun’s villa was on the highest royal floor among the few units in the building. From this vantage point, one could even see the construction site of Leehan Group’s Global Future Strategy Center.  

“It’ll take another three years to complete.”  

Though she hadn’t asked, Seojun explained kindly, and Moonkyeong nodded. She recalled hearing about it from Hyeran.  

Years ago, Leehan had started purchasing land in Samseong-dong to push forward new business ventures and innovative developments.  

The building, set to become the tallest in the country, would serve as Leehan Group’s control tower upon completion.  

Hyeran’s words echoed in her mind: 

[Your husband will sit at the top of that tower, so watch closely.]  

“Sit down.”  

Seojun’s voice, almost a whisper, brought Moonkyeong back to the present. She stepped away from the window and walked over.  

Between the living room and the kitchen was a long, wide home bar.  

The black and silver-toned marble table gave the late-night atmosphere of a cozy bar.  

Though it seemed he enjoyed wine—given the wine fridge—what Seojun pulled out of the refrigerator was the soju Moonkyeong had wanted.  

“What about snacks?”  

“Anything is fine.”  

As soon as she spoke, something sailed through the air toward her in an arc.  

She instinctively reached out, but the jerky missed her hand and landed in her lap.  

Momentarily dazed, she snapped out of it and asked Seojun,  

“I thought you said this was a bar you frequented?”  

Pouring himself a glass of red wine, Seojun gestured around the space with his sharp chin.  

“I don’t like crowded places.”  

It sounded like he usually drank alone here. So, technically, this was a place he frequented, and it wasn’t a lie.  

Moonkyeong opened the jerky packaging and glanced around.  

She knew that they had already decided to start their married life not in Do Hyowon but in this villa in Samseong-dong.  

Through Hyeran, she had heard that she could redecorate the furniture and interior to her liking.  

Lately, Hyeran had been spending her free time shopping for furniture. The thought of this place being decorated to her mother’s taste rather than her own left Moonkyeong feeling bitter.  

She had told them repeatedly that she didn’t want this marriage, yet here she was, having gone through an engagement ceremony and now standing in this villa.  

Unable to do anything as she pleased, Moonkyeong felt a deep sense of helplessness.  

She poured herself a glass of soju and downed it in one go. Seojun, sitting beside her, sipped his wine slowly.  

Moonkyeong laughed. 

“We’re so different, yet we’re really getting married?”  

She thought to herself, 

I’m still thinking about running away. The only reason I hesitate is because I’m afraid my mother will scold me for being ungrateful.

Moonkyeong poured herself another drink. Even though Seojun was sitting beside her, filling the empty seat, she felt even more hollow.  

She simply stared ahead.  

“Managing Director.”  

“Yes?”  

“What will you do if I run away on our wedding day?”  

With a calm expression, he refilled her empty glass.  

When the glass was about to overflow, he drank from it instead.  

“Then I’ll have to come and find you.”  

As he refilled her glass again, he handed it back to her. Their eyes met, but Moonkyeong, unfazed, drank it all in one go.  

As their pace quickened, the bottle of soju was soon emptied. Seojun fetched another bottle from the refrigerator.  

They took turns drinking—one time him, the next her.  

Moonkyeong wanted to ask why he was drinking her soju when he had expensive wine, but she didn’t. It felt like such a childish complaint that even a kindergartener wouldn’t make.  

She drained another glass that he had poured. This time, it was definitely his turn to drink, but Seojun didn’t lift his glass.  

Though she felt the alcohol taking effect, Moonkyeong stared directly at him and didn’t ask why.  

Since he didn’t drink, Moonkyeong drank again. The silence between them only heightened her thirst.  

When she got tipsy, she started laughing for no reason, her innocent smile spreading across her face.  

“Managing Director, do you enjoy life?”  

“No.”  

“Wow.”  

“What? Did you think I’d say yes?”  

“No, not really. It’s just that your answer was so quick. It makes you seem like someone who genuinely doesn’t enjoy life.”  

“I don’t enjoy it.”  

“Should I make it fun for you?”  

The moment the words left her mouth, it was Moonkyeong who was most surprised.  

Borrowing courage from the alcohol, she had blurted it out and immediately regretted it.  

For the first time, his gaze, which had been fixed ahead, shifted to her.  

Her cheeks hollowed, and her lips trembled slightly. Even the smallest reaction from him made her heart race as if it were about to burst.  

The thought of having to play a pretend marriage with this man, without loving him, suddenly felt unbearably sad.  

Moonkyeong ran her palm over her neck and covered the cheek he had been staring at.  

Slowly, she parted her lips again.  

“If you keep looking at me like that, I might misunderstand.”  

“Seo Moonkyeong.”

“…What?”  

“Do you want to stay over?”  

There was a long pause between Seo Moonkyeong and the words “stay over.” His tone, usually imposing and firm, was surprisingly soft.  

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but there was an odd atmosphere even in his kind words. Afraid she might fall for him again, just like in Moscow, Moonkyeong felt a sudden pang of fear.  

She replayed his words in her head. Maybe he simply meant it the way Kim Seouk had—testing physical compatibility before marriage.  

Kim Seojun couldn’t possibly want her, so she decided to think rationally.  

Reading his perpetually ambiguous expression was as difficult as uncovering someone else’s secrets. But she could always ask what he meant.  

“Managing Director, do you know something? You’re a very attractive person.”  

“…”  

“You drive people crazy sometimes, you know that?”  

“And so?”  

“So don’t make me misunderstand.”  

His lips curled into a crooked smile, as if he found her impertinent. It was always like this. Being with Kim Seojun made her emotions swing wildly.  

Things had been fine just moments ago, but his mocking smile suddenly made her angry.  

It was probably her inferiority complex. She felt pitiful and insignificant, trapped in a subordinate position in their dynamic, which made her want to give up on everything.  

She had already told him she didn’t want anything to do with him. She had warned him not to provoke her, but he had never intended to listen in the first place.  

Moonkyeong stood up.  

“I should get going.”  

She bowed slightly toward him, then straightened her back. But as she did, the alcohol hit her, and she staggered.  

If this continued, it was only a matter of time before she embarrassed herself by falling in front of him.  

Before she could topple over, he caught her with both arms.  

“Oh, oh.”  

The way she flailed was utterly ridiculous. Perhaps it would’ve been better to just fall on her own.  

Regaining her balance, Moonkyeong let out two short sighs instead of thanking him and brushed her disheveled hair back.  

She felt mortified and ashamed, knowing she had revealed her drunken state.  

Quickly stepping away from him, she felt a strange tingling in her feet.  

“I’m not drunk.”  

She thought she saw him smirk faintly.  

“I didn’t ask.”  

“What? Oh, right, of course.”  

Just as she decided to turn and leave before saying something even stranger, Seojun grabbed her wrist.  

At the same time, his damp lips descended upon her.