"Aish, jerk, made a mess everywhere…"
In the bathroom, Lee Hyori, fuming, tossed her undergarments in the trash.
Buzz~
Her phone rang. Checking the caller, she answered, "Yeoboseyo."
"Nuna, home safe?"
Hearing his voice, fresh from their parting, her embarrassment doubled. "Shibal, you've got nerve…"
"Nuna, I love close, no-barrier contact. Hate walls between us."
"What if something happens?"
"No worries, nuna's got water (meds), right?"
"Yah~"
Furious, she shouted, "You maniac, don't touch me again."
"Ya'll know what this is.
Yeah! It's the Princess Lee Hyori.
She's back~
Yeah!
Hey, girl~"
Hyori cut in, urgent. "What's next?"
"Next? I'll sing it from behind at our next meet."
"Yah~"
She yelled, but the line went dead.
Hanging up, Lee Jin-woo spun the phone.
This little gadget held massive business potential—how could he let it slip?
But it all hinged on one thing.
Money!
[Follow Your Heart: Task completion 79%. Reward calculation in progress.]
[Reward issued: Musical Cells.]
[Musical Cells: Extreme sensitivity and discernment of musical frequencies, perfect pitch.]
Perfect pitch? Am I supposed to mimic that gorilla CEO, stealing my artists' stage?
"Young-joon-a, Young-joon, hurry back!"
Setting the phone down, he missed Jo Young-joon.
"Hyung, oh~ This place is paradise."
Jo Young-joon, panting hard over the phone.
Shibal, did he send him to party?
"Hey, next time, call from somewhere quiet… How many?"
"…Three… five."
"Five?"
Jin-woo was floored. Was this kid suicidal?
"Hyung, I'm still young."
"You punk, watch your health. I don't wanna see a skeleton when you're back. Want your family's nutcase after me?"
"Hyung, I got it." Jo sulked. "Family won't know."
"Even Boo-jin noona knows you're working for me. You think they don't?"
"Uh~" Jo gave up kidding himself.
In this circle, no secret stayed secret.
"Keep an eye on the business. Don't let foreigners scam you."
"Ne, I check daily. Trust me, hyung."
"I bet you're in bed daily, aish…" He hung up.
His good mood, ruined by Jo.
That punk, riding wild in America, five at a time…
Shibal~
Even Jin-woo hadn't played that hard, and Jo was living it up.
"Punk, damn punk."
Grumbling, he hit the kitchen, chugged a beer—glug, glug, glug.
"Ah~" Sighing, he crushed the can and tossed it.
Buzz.
"Yeoboseyo?" Grabbing the phone, his tone was sharp.
"Uh, President Lee? It's Sook Min-soo-ssi."
"Ne, Sook Min-soo-ssi, kamsahamnida. Thought it was… What's up?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Spit it out."
"Just… saw your lights on last night, remembered our deal. Wanna come for lunch?"
"Noon? I'll tidy up and head down, cool?"
"Ne, my husband and I will wait."
Hanging up, Sook Min-soo checked her reflection.
Black lace-trimmed, form-fitting mermaid dress, hugging her curves perfectly.
Even she wanted to touch that flawless silhouette.
'Will he like it?' The thought slipped in, unbidden.
"Coming?" A man in a suit, adjusting cufflinks, approached.
"Oh, he'll tidy up and come."
"Good. Everything ready?"
Fixing his cufflinks, he tugged his collar. "How's it look?"
Sook Min-soo hid her tangled emotions, smiling. "Great."
"Really, it's okay?"
"Oh!"
"Sweet, was worried I had nothing proper."
His joy lifted her mood slightly.
"So serious for a casual neighbor lunch?"
"He's an entertainment president. Those companies rake it in. Maybe he'll be my big client."
Monthly savings and loan targets were steep.
Without rich contacts, how could he hit them?
Even if they didn't deposit, loans were fine.
Money passing through was VIP-worthy.
Buying the penthouse, rarely staying?
Aish~
His parents must be loaded. Born rich, inheriting wealth, elite status, no effort.
Sook Min-soo's smile stiffened. "I'll check the food."
Seeing her face, Yoon Seung-gil realized his blunder. "Min-soo-ya, you know I didn't mean you…"
"It's fine, I'll prep. Come out soon." Patting his shoulder, she smiled, heading out.
Her smile vanished instantly.
Patience erodes with every letdown.
Wasn't he just a proxy thanks to her family's ties?
This house—her dowry.
What right did he have to judge others?
Or was he talking to himself?
Always whining about his roots, spouting childish nonsense, thinking he's hot stuff?
Laughable…
How had she found this cute?
Thought marriage would mature him, make him responsible, build a better life together.
For the future… their kids…
But seeing the hallway lined with anime models, she wanted to smash them, burn them, flush them away.
Her paused steps moved forward, tucking stray hair behind her ear, a bright, sincere smile blooming.
"Ajumma, side dishes ready?"
"All set, all your handiwork. I added some seasoning—tastes amazing."
"Main course?"
"Hanwoo, bought as you instructed."
"Good, I'll handle it."
Sook Min-soo took over the beef. Seeming casual, she cared more about this lunch than her husband.
It was time to choose.
Ding-dong!
The elevator opened. Lee Jin-woo saw Sook Min-soo waiting.
"President Lee, welcome."
"My honor to be invited. A small gift, please accept."
His gift: a pricey Petrus 1989, 10 million won market value.
Ordered via the building's butler from a hotel after her invite.
Taking it, her face showed shock. "Too precious, I can't, President…"
"Lawyer Sook, sending me off?" He feigned leaving. She quickly stopped him.
The costly topic dropped.
"Dear, President Lee's here, come out."
Glancing back, she bowed. "President, please."
Slipping off his shoes, he stepped onto the textured floor in black socks.
Following her inside.
Swaying waist, swaying hips, her stride full of grace.
The mermaid dress's lace-cut sides, angled by their height gap, revealed a glimpse of pale, frosty curves.
Appreciating briefly, he looked ahead, turning left to meet the host, Yoon Seung-gil, in the dining room.
After brief pleasantries and introductions, they sat.
"Dear, President Lee's gift—a Petrus wine, very precious."
Placing it on the table, Sook Min-soo pointed it out to her husband.
"Aigoo, President Lee…"
Yoon Seung-gil said sheepishly, "Just coming is enough, why such a costly gift?"
"It's only right. Friendship needs give-and-take to last. One-sided giving doesn't endure."
"President Lee."
Yoon Seung-gil gave a thumbs-up. "Deep insight on life."
Jin-woo smiled humbly. "Just human nature. Read enough, you pick up something."
"Seems President Lee loves books."
"To succeed, you need a sharp mind, healthy body, right?"
"Haha, well said!"
An awkward air settled. Yoon Seung-gil struggled to continue.
The guy's hobbies sounded so dull, killing his chat vibe.
Life wasn't just about success, worth chasing.
Hobbies that spark joy, living it up—those mattered too, no?
"Ajumma, serve the food."
Sook Min-soo turned, lifting the wine happily. "President Lee, kamsahamnida. Let's drink this today!"
Prime-aged Petrus paired with hanwoo and finely cooked dishes.
The crisp clink of wine glasses echoed over the table.
(End of Chapter)