Chapter 3.3

<“I’m okay. Stella is brave.”> 

<“A gift?”> 

<“Wow, it’s candy!”>

In-wook remembered vividly the sight of Henry’s daughter interacting with Hae-soo during lunch. 

The child’s gaze toward Hae-soo was filled with admiration and goodwill. He had once heard that children’s perspectives were the most accurate and impartial. 

It was clear that Hae-soo appeared quite beautiful in the child’s eyes. Otherwise, the pure sparkle of admiration in the child’s eyes wouldn’t have been so evident. 

That’s why he desperately needed Hae-soo’s help. His goal was to secure a meeting with Henry, and he believed that winning over Henry’s daughter would be the fastest and most effective way to achieve that. 

“As you’ve noticed, Henry is incredibly generous and flexible when it comes to his family. That’s why I need your help.” 

In-wook calmly conveyed his intentions. Yet, Hae-soo still looked as though she couldn’t understand. 

He took a short breath, carefully choosing his words. He approached the situation as though he were preparing for an important presentation, taking every precaution. 

It wasn’t a matter of great significance, but he had already faced Henry directly. For In-wook, it was as if the results of months of effort were now within reach. 

Therefore, he had to secure Hae-soo’s agreement, no matter what. 

“To get straight to the point, we’re in a critical period where meaningful results are extremely important. To achieve that, we’re aiming to have Arno enter Taeseon Department Store.” 

“Arno’s entry??” 

Hae-soo responded as though she had just heard something absurd. 

Her reaction wasn’t hard to understand. Arno had always been notoriously difficult to deal with in the Asian market. 

But precisely because of that, if they succeeded, the results would outshine any other project. 

“It might sound like an outlandish goal, but I’m determined to make Arno’s entry into Taeseon—the first in Asia—a reality. I’m willing to do whatever it takes.” 

“I’m not trying to pour cold water on your passion, but…” 

Trailing off, Hae-soo’s eyes were filled with distrust. Her voice soon followed, carrying the same sentiment. 

“Isn’t that too unrealistic a goal? It’s Arno we’re talking about, not some other brand.” 

“One meeting will be enough. That’s why I flew all the way here.” 

In-wook looked at Hae-soo with eyes brimming with confidence. His gaze alone made it seem like he could achieve anything. 

Momentarily swayed by his determination, Hae-soo still couldn’t shake her hesitation. Baek In-wook was undoubtedly a capable man. Based on his accomplishments reported in the media, there was no doubt about his abilities. 

But the opponents were Arno and Henry Price. Even if the goal was nearly impossible, his passionate approach was admirable. Yet, she couldn’t help but worry. 

If things went according to his plan, there would be no problem. But if it didn’t, the disappointment he would face would be as intense as the passion he had poured into this endeavor. 

Could she really push him toward such slim odds by agreeing to help? 

“I understand what you’re saying, but will pretending to be your secretary really help?”

Hae-soo let out a deep sigh, trailing off with a troubled expression.

From the moment he returned home, he had been unusually serious and earnest. But no moment compared to now.

If she hadn’t known how desperate he was, it would be one thing, but after seeing it so clearly in his eyes, she couldn’t pretend not to understand his feelings.

“So, what exactly do you need me to help with?”

Hae-soo pursed her lips. Somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had gotten entangled in a troublesome matter. Even so, she lacked the courage to refuse the sincere request. 

Thus, even if the chances of success seemed slim, Hae-soo had no choice but to comply. 

A sigh of resignation escaped through Hae-soo’s lips once again. 

* * * 

The pitch-black night passed, and a vibrant new morning arrived in Hallstatt. 

Hae-soo staggered out of bed and sat in front of the vanity. The face reflected in the mirror looked haggard. 

A long yawn escaped. Hae-soo felt indescribably exhausted. She was already someone who struggled to wake up in the mornings, and last night, she hadn’t been able to sleep at all. 

“Get close to Henry’s daughter.” 

Just as Hae-soo was about to drift into a hard-earned sleep, In-wook’s words kept resurfacing in their mind. 

“No matter how much I think about it, the key point of this matter seems to be Henry’s daughter. As a CEO, he may be cold, but as a father, he seems endlessly gentle.” 

“……” 

“If we can at least close the distance with Henry through his daughter, I believe we can create enough opportunities for a meeting.”

At first, In-wook’s suggestion felt uncomfortable to Hae-soo. With every word In-wook added, Stella’s lovely face kept vividly appearing in Hae-soo’s mind. 

Somehow, it felt as though Hae-soo was being asked to approach Stella with impure intentions. However, the explanation that followed soon made Hae-soo quietly nod in understanding. 

“No, I’ll create a meeting with Henry no matter what. Considering how much our employees have struggled with the issue of Arno’s entry, we must succeed this time, no matter what.” 

In-wook renewed his determination, clenching his fist tightly. Recalling the difficult processes they had gone through, In-wook’s resolute expression occasionally darkened with a somber shadow. 

Hae-soo let out a subtle sigh. Thinking of Stella still left her uneasy, but on the other hand, she could understand In-wook’s position. 

A department store wasn’t some corner shop, and with all the employees under his care, he couldn’t help but do his best in everything.

If, as In-wook put it, this Arno entry issue was a project that had to succeed no matter what, there would be even less room for choice. 

Even if that meant creating an opportunity through a child. 

That was why. Though Hae-soo couldn’t shake off the discomfort, she had no choice but to accept the training clothes In-wook had hurriedly procured for her. 

“Henry sits on the terrace every morning at 7 o’clock, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. So, I’ve been jogging every day at that time to match.” 

“Jo…gging?” 

Having barely steeled her resolve, Hae-soo momentarily looked at In-wook with a dubious expression. 

Jogging? Could In-wook really mean the jogging I was thinking of? 

“Yes. They wouldn’t know me over there, but if I can stage a coincidental encounter once or twice, at least that much familiarity could build up.” 

“Do you really need to think so… calculatively?” 

“This isn’t about being calculative; it’s about showing the sincerity I can offer.” 

“Why frame it as a matter of sincerity…?” 

“The other party is Henry Price. They say he doesn’t even glance at Asian countries. Do you think it would be easy to achieve what we want with someone like that? So, putting in this much effort is only right.” 

Hae-soo silently moved her lips. 

Why is this person so rigid all the time? 

Once again, In-wook’s reasoning was too perfect. 

Haa, jogging. 

For someone like Hae-soo, who had lived her entire life avoiding exercise, this was something she absolutely couldn’t do. But she couldn’t bring herself to say she didn’t want to do it. 

Hadn’t Hae-soo just said with her own mouth that she would help with In-wook’s work? She didn’t want to come across as someone with not even a speck of responsibility. Especially in front of In-wook, who had always shown nothing but a sense of duty. 

“Haa.” 

Emerging from her thoughts, Hae-soo let out a sigh. The weight of her sigh was as heavy as her body and mind felt at the prospect of jogging. 

If she had her way, Hae-soo would run back to bed. But her desire not to appear irresponsible hadn’t changed much from yesterday. So, she had no choice but to get up from her seat. 

Hae-soo pursed her lips as she walked toward the hanger. Her reluctant, dragging steps were no different from those of an animal being led to slaughter. 

Her heart wasn’t much different either. 

* * * 

“Huff, huff…” 

Hae-soo’s breath rose to her throat. Her lungs felt as though they were tearing apart, and her legs trembled. Yet, she couldn’t stop. It was because of In-wook, who was running ahead at a steady pace just a few steps away. 

They started at the same time and ran the same distance, so how could In-wook not even shed a single drop of sweat? 

In-wook looked no different from before they started jogging. Unlike Hae-soo, who was drenched in sweat, In-wook looked so fresh that he even seemed comfortable. 

Not only that. In-wook even had the leisure to occasionally glance back and check on Hae-soo’s position. 

In-wook’s checks became more frequent with shorter intervals. Though not a single word of nagging followed, Hae-soo felt as though she was being scolded by In-wook. 

In-wook’s gaze seemed to reproach Hae-soo, as if asking why even the pace they had barely maintained was slowing down. 

That was precisely why Hae-soo couldn’t stop, even with her breath reaching up to her chin. 

“Ha, what kind of person is like that? Is In-wook an AI or something? I’m dying here, and he’s perfectly fine on his own.”

Hae-soo, gasping for breath, poured out complaints. To help him, she had even given up her sweet morning sleep, but now, having to watch for his reaction on top of that, she couldn’t stand the sense of unfairness. 

Even so, she didn’t want to stop just like this. A stubbornness welled up inside her. Even if her pace was slow, she wanted to finish jogging alongside him, just to prove herself.