Chapter 5 – Mutual Needs
“Let’s eat!”
“Let’s eat.”
Not even a few minutes after ordering, a large hot stone bowl filled with sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) arrived.
Bora scooped generous amounts of crushed sesame seeds and Cheongyang chili peppers into the boiling soup with a practiced ease.
Watching her, Kang Yoon quickly lifted his spoon before the steam had even disappeared and took a sip, eyes fixed on Bora. Then he spoke.
“This must be a regular spot for you.”
“I used to come here often with my dad when I was little. The owner has been running this place for over 40 years, but last year, she passed it on to her daughter-in-law. The secret recipe that even the daughter-in-law didn’t know has finally been passed down.”
“I see.”
Bora glanced at Kang Yoon, surprised that he didn’t look annoyed at all, contrary to her expectations.
“But… I guess a place like this isn’t exactly comfortable for you, right?”
“Not really.”
Bora’s eyes widened slightly when she saw him adding a heap of bright red chives to his bowl.
“You’ve had sundae before?”
“Maybe you assumed I’m all proper and well-dressed, but I’m Kang San Construction’s CEO. My main job is to check construction sites, going through dust and pits on-site.”
“I thought CEOs mostly deal with paperwork rather than visiting sites.”
“Maybe in other industries, but not in construction. Counting all the bowls of gukbap I’ve had while inspecting sites and drinking with contractors, it must be in the thousands.”
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
Bora thought Kang Yoon was very different from what she had expected as she blew on her hot soup and took a careful bite.
“Mm, delicious. Right?”
“Yes, the broth is rich yet clean.”
They focused quietly on eating the sundae soup. The owner’s wife, noticing Bora had arrived, came out of the kitchen and discreetly placed some complimentary sundae on the table.
“Bringing a guy today, huh?”
“Oh, auntie! Is this a freebie?”
“Since a pretty girl brought a stylish guy, you deserve a little extra.”
“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”
“Is he your boyfriend?”
“Oh, no. Not a boyfriend… not yet. There’s potential, but not yet… maybe?”
Bora’s rambling made the owner laugh as she turned to Kang Yoon.
“Alright. Not a boyfriend yet, but a handsome young man nonetheless. Pretty girl’s loved our sundae since she was little. Come by often, and I’ll give you plenty of sundae.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Kang Yoon nodded unconsciously while scooping a spoonful.
Bora finished every last drop of the broth, proudly tapped the empty bowl, then poured water into cups from a plastic bottle labeled with a soju ad for herself and Kang Yoon.
“Since you came all this way, the meal’s on me.”
After taking a sip, Bora smiled and got up. Kang Yoon watched from behind as she went to the counter and took out cash to pay.
She’s really funny.
He had never had a first meeting or blind date like this before. Usually, it was fancy hotel restaurants or high-end Japanese places, and he would always pay.
Even if this sundae meal cost just 20,000 won for two bowls, it was amusing and cute that Bora insisted on paying.
“The weather’s nice; should we get coffee while walking in the park?”
Bora showed off her white sneakers, saying she wore low shoes because she knew they’d walk a lot in the sunlight. Her bright face was radiant.
“Sure. I’ll get the coffee.”
“I’ll have an iced Americano. There’s a café nearby that uses good beans at a low price. And we have to stamp the coupon too.”
Bora smiled and headed to a small café not far from the sundae restaurant.
“Hello, two iced Americanos, please. And stamp our coupon!”
Bora’s eyes sparkled as she proudly showed the card with eight stamps already.
“You’ve collected all ten stamps. Next time you come, you can get one Americano free.”
Bora took the coupon with a satisfied look, staring quietly at Kang Yoon’s large hand holding a card.
“Actually… I have one more fully stamped coupon left.”
Bora whispered as if sharing a secret, her voice tickling Kang Yoon.
“Next time you crave sundae soup, come again. I’ll treat you to coffee then.”
Bora’s innocent smile, like she was showing off with two coupons, made Kang Yoon’s expression soften slightly.
They picked up their iced Americanos and headed to a nearby park.
“Mm… I thought about what you said yesterday.”
Kang Yoon matched his pace to Bora, slightly slowing his steps, glancing down at her.
“I wasn’t exceptionally good at studying, but I’ve often been told I’m perceptive since I was young.”
He waited for her to continue, sipping his coffee through a straw.
“I thought long about what you said yesterday. What kind of elder did you mean to… persuade? And why was it necessary to win over an elder’s heart?”
Their strides aligned as they walked through the park. Kang Yoon thought Bora’s small white sneakers were cute compared to his own feet.
“As I mentioned, I, and my family… need financial support.”
“I checked too. It seems your family currently needs about 3 billion won immediately.”
Bora’s eyes went dry at Kang Yoon’s calm statement of 3 billion.
“You calculated it exactly. Even 300 million would’ve been enough, but 3 billion is….”
Bora shrugged, but her steady gaze flickered slightly.
“I’m truly grateful that you offered to be my investor yesterday.”
“…So?”
Grateful? That’s something you say when refusing an offer, right? Kang Yoon met Bora’s tense gaze.
“So what I mean is…”
Bora sucked up the last bit of her coffee, dimpling her cheeks. Kang Yoon focused on her like he hadn’t done for anyone in a long time.
“I’ll repay the 3 billion. I’ll repay it with interest, too.”
“Ha…”
Kang Yoon suddenly let out a nervous laugh.
She really knows how to play hard to get.
“But even after thinking it over, I can’t understand why you said what you did yesterday—about a mistress’s son, a second son, an illegitimate child. I thought about it all night.”
They found a bench after walking a while. Bora immediately sat, and Kang Yoon subtly sat next to her.
“I don’t know much about the business world, but Kang San Group is so famous, it’s a little overwhelming. I never thought a blind date would come my way. I’m not from a particularly prestigious family.”
“If that bothered you, I apologize.”
“No, it’s not that. I just… agree with you. And as I said yesterday, I met Han Kangmun first…”
Bora trailed off, rubbing the condensation on the empty cups with her thumb.
“But personally, I think Han Kang Yoon is more suitable to be Kang San Group’s owner than Han Kangmun.”
“……”
“And somehow, I feel Kang Yoon shares the same sentiment. If the elder you mentioned is someone necessary for Kang Yoon to achieve his ambitions, I’ll do my best to help. Somehow.”
“…So, Bora will be my queen?”
Bora smiled brightly, understanding Kang Yoon’s meaning instantly.
“The queen who protects the king on the chessboard to the very end. I’ll make sure no other piece can touch him and that Kang Yoon keeps his king’s position. I’ll do my best. The 3 billion won won’t be wasted.”
No matter what she accomplished, 3 billion is a lot of money, but Kang Yoon was sure no other woman could grasp his intentions or show such decisiveness as Bora.
After all, children from large business families rarely marry for love. Marriages are mostly arranged for mutual needs and benefits.
Jin Hyun-sook had chosen Bora to distract Kangmun’s attention and attached her to Kang Yoon with a powerless family—but for Kang Yoon, this might actually be an opportunity.
Kang Yoon looked at Bora’s anxious face as she waited for his response.
“Good. I expect a high interest rate. Then it won’t be a marriage where either of us loses out.”
Hearing his “good,” Bora’s soft dimples appeared on her cheeks. The sunlight shattered brilliantly between their gazes.
