Chapter 11
Saturday morning.
Yujin showed up to pick up Seung-ah much earlier than the time he had told her.
“If you’re up, let’s go.”
“Already?”
“There’s somewhere I need to stop by.”
Luckily, Seung-ah had already done her face mask and makeup. Maybe because she was looking forward to the party, she hadn’t overslept—even though it was Saturday, she had woken up earlier than usual.
Thanks to that, she finished getting ready at lightning speed and came out of her room.
The car carrying Yujin and Seung-ah passed along Garosu-gil. Seung-ah, who had been quietly staring out the window, finally spoke.
“So where are we going?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
He seemed to have no intention of telling her their destination. A surprise event wasn’t bad, but she was still curious…
“Is it because you think I’ll say I don’t want to go?”
“No, it’s not that… You’ve got an eyebrow stuck here.”
Yujin pointed at her cheek with his index finger. Seung-ah quickly pulled down the sun visor and checked her reflection in the mirror.
The blush she had carefully applied was showing a pretty shade.
“There’s no eyebrow.”
“Oh, did I see wrong?”
“……”
What was that?
“Were you just trying to change the subject?”
Yujin wriggled his eyebrows and grinned.
“Yep.”
He didn’t even deny it. What a brazen man.
“Fine! I’ll go quietly, I will! Mouth shut tight!”
Which was, of course, the same as declaring that she would not stop talking.
Seung-ah chattered nonstop until they arrived. She just wanted to sulk a little, but Yujin seemed to find that all the more amusing, grinning the whole way.
Meanwhile, the car turned into Cheongdam-dong—a street lined with luxury brand shops.
“Why here?”
“To buy my girlfriend a dress.”
“Me…?”
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’m insulting what you’re wearing. Just think of it as the desire to dress up a pretty person in something even prettier.”
As always, his shameless manner was annoying, but his handsome face backed it up. Every time she wanted to snap back, the words died in her throat.
Well, if he was offering, why refuse? Maybe she’d even get a recommendation for something that would suit the party better. Yujin had plenty of money, so she might as well take this chance to be impressed by his wealth.
But that thought lasted only until she saw the store they stopped at.
As she stepped out of the car, the luxury boutique towered over her with intimidating grandeur. Her eyes went wide.
“Oh! R-right. This level of place is only fitting for clothes that suit me!”
She puffed up and said it brazenly, hiding her nerves, and Yujin slipped an arm around her waist.
Inside, they reached a private room where the boutique owner greeted them warmly.
“Yujin!”
“Been well, sunbae?”
The owner was a glamorous woman. She spread her arms and hurried over to give Yujin a light hug.
“When did you get back to Korea?”
“Not long ago. Business going well?”
“So-so. I’ve got a steady clientele. And this lady with you?”
Her heavily shadowed eyes turned to Seung-ah.
“Who else? A customer here to buy clothes.”
Ignoring Yujin’s curt introduction, the woman extended her hand.
“I’m Kang Hyeryeon. Yujin and I were senior and junior in college.”
“I’m Choi Seung-ah.”
One of Hyeryeon’s eyebrows twitched.
“Yujin always used to come here with a seventy-something old man. This is the first time I’ve seen him with a young lady like you.”
“The old man… Chairman Geum Il-bong?”
“Yes! He always said, ‘You should be coming to places like this with a young girl!’ Hah, what a character. Whenever I chatted with him, Yujin’s expression was priceless.”
Sensing her chatter would drag on, Yujin cut in.
“Recommend a few outfits that’ll suit my friend. There’s an important gathering tonight.”
“Oh-ho, is that so? Got it. I already have just the thing in mind. Give me a moment.”
When Hyeryeon stepped out, Yujin spoke again.
“Stay here with her and try things on. I have an errand.”
“Alone? I’ll just pick the most expensive one, you know.”
“Go ahead.”
And with that, Yujin left too, leaving Seung-ah alone.
Only then did she take a proper look around. This was not a place people with light wallets ever stepped into.
If it weren’t for Yujin, she probably would never have even set foot in here her entire life.
She didn’t have an eye for picking expensive, high-quality things anyway. They’d probably only bring out a handful of outfits.
But not long after, the door opened—and staff started bringing in racks of dresses.
When the first rack was wheeled in, Seung-ah thought, Huh, that’s more than I expected.
When the second rack came in, she barely stopped herself from blurting out, Uh… isn’t this too much?
By the time shoe stands and shelves of handbags rolled in behind them like a train, she gave up thinking altogether.
Seung-ah gazed at the sparkling items like they were a mirage. Hyeryeon fluttered over.
“Girlfriend? I’ll make you the most beautiful woman in the world today.”
Girlfriend? I never said that…
But Hyeryeon already seemed convinced she and Yujin were dating. She looked delighted as she held up a dress against Seung-ah.
“How about this one?”
“It’s pretty. The fabric feels nice too.”
“But it doesn’t suit your skin tone. What about this?”
“That’s nice too—”
“Ah, this doesn’t show off your figure. Hey, bring me that one, the ivory!”
She was so quick, her hands were a blur.
Is all this really necessary?
Seung-ah glanced down at the dress she had worn in. She had bought it after much thought from a store popular with office workers. She had timed it with a sale, used the gift vouchers she got for the holidays, and even cashed in all her department store points.
It had been such a hard-earned purchase… but compared to the pieces before her, it was nothing.
She quietly picked up one of the dresses Hyeryeon had rejected earlier. Even discarded, it shone brilliantly.
Out of habit, she checked the price tag…
Gasp! How many zeroes is that? Ten million won?
Even if it wasn’t her money, still—several months’ salary?
Whoa, whoa, whoa! What if I accept this and then Yujin uses it to hold something over me? Like, “I spent all that money, so now you owe me!”
Her fingertips trembled at the unimaginable sum. Noticing her shock, Hyeryeon casually commented:
“These are pieces of which only a handful are imported to Korea. They’re pricier than you’d think, right?”
“I guess Yujin really is determined to tie me down.”
“Maybe! You didn’t know, did you? He even set a minimum budget.”
“A… minimum?”
“He told me to prepare at least one dress. Just one wouldn’t do.”
As she spoke, Hyeryeon held up the eighteenth dress—only for it to be immediately discarded as the eighteenth rejection. Playing the role of the good mannequin, Seung-ah asked:
“Isn’t it more normal to set a maximum when spending money?”
“Don’t worry. You’re Yujin’s partner, right? He just wants to gift you something that matches the level of people you’ll be meeting at the party.”
Yujin’s standards were on a completely different level from hers. Of course they were. Look at the family he came from.
Up until now, she had only understood that in her head. Living in the same house with him, she hadn’t felt it.
But with these expensive clothes brushing her skin, the reality finally sank in.
“This’ll be my first time at a party like that. I’m a bit nervous.”
“You’re so pretty, even in something casual you’d look fine. But it’d be good to learn one thing. You’re so tense, your body’s shrinking in.”
The constant “girlfriend” address was a little annoying, but Seung-ah obediently listened to her advice.
“Straighten your shoulders. Keep your back straight.”
Hyeryeon demonstrated, standing tall and elegant, like she was gazing down from on high.
“L-like this?”
“Keep your chin up. Like this! Imagine Yujin pulling you upward by the crown of your head.”
Yujin?
When she pictured him standing behind her, her posture naturally straightened.
“Perfect! Just like that. You were cursing Yujin in your head, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s the posture you go into the party with. Like you’re going to battle! And repeat something confident in your mind. What would be good?”
“Do you know who’s backing me? Han Yujin.”
Hyeryeon laughed heartily, satisfied.
