Chapter 4
“Kkot-nim, the manager is calling you.”
“Yes, I’ll go.”
A sound mind in a healthy body.
A quote by the Roman philosopher Juvenal, later used by Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympics. It was also Kkot-nim’s personal motto—she had lived her life for her siblings, her sport, and her job.
Hmph. Just wait.
She was going to show that arrogant gambler what real life was like.
She would completely tear apart that dull, hazy mindset of someone who sat day and night at a roulette table, staring blankly at a spinning white ball.
“Kkot-nim…? Maybe relax your eyes a bit? You look kind of scary…”
“What are you talking about? I’m perfectly calm.”
Whether he endured or not would depend entirely on him.
Kkot-nim was about to give him a taste of housekeeping hell—and make him realize with his whole body that sweat, not luck, was the true light of life.
***
“This is Ms. Eun Kkot-nim, a veteran room maid in our housekeeping department.”
As the manager introduced her, Ji-hwan carefully looked her over.
Something felt off.
From the moment she entered the office, she had been glaring at him with sharp, hostile eyes.
“So… this person is my direct supervisor?”
“That’s right. Ms. Eun Kkot-nim is highly skilled and also works as an inspector, so she will be your trainer and direct superior.”
Not very tall, fierce eyes, trembling lips—Kkot-nim looked like she might pounce on him at any moment.
Seeing her, Ji-hwan was reminded of the female lead from the old movie Misery.
“Alright then, you two may begin work.”
“Understood.”
As soon as the manager dismissed them, Kkot-nim jerked her chin, signaling Ji-hwan to follow.
Is this how workplaces still operate in Korea? With this kind of hazing and hierarchy?
To Ji-hwan, she looked exactly like a gangster.
What is with this woman?
Even in a hotel uniform—a maid outfit—the way she walked ahead of him felt intimidating.
Her body…
It wasn’t the physique of a room maid, but more like a boxer or wrestler.
How could someone in housekeeping have such a solid build? Her broad shoulders and the calves visible under her A-line skirt looked like forged steel pillars.
What is she?
Is the job so physically demanding that it builds your body like that? Or is she actually an athlete… or some kind of human weapon?
“Hey!”
Kkot-nim suddenly turned around.
“Aren’t you going to keep up?”
“I-I am following.”
It felt like laser beams might shoot out of her eyes.
Her bare face revealed a thick jawline and a sturdy neck, almost blending into one line. Tight lips, low nose bridge, strong eye area—
Ji-hwan instinctively understood one thing:
If I mess with her, I’m dead.
I should never get close to her. She’s just a coworker… a senior, nothing more.
For the sake of survival—and to adapt quickly—he made up his mind.
Before long, they reached the room maids’ locker room.
The door creaked loudly as it opened.
“This is the room maid locker room. There’s no men’s changing room yet, so change in that storage room over there.”
“…Alright.”
Ji-hwan looked around the locker room with a bewildered expression, as if wondering how anyone could change in a place like this.
“What are you doing? Don’t tell me you don’t know what ‘change’ means.”
“No… you’re saying I should go into that storage room and change?”
“Or do you plan to clean floors, bathtubs, toilets, and sinks in that suit?”
“Well, this Zegna suit isn’t ideal for that kind of work, but I don’t mind. I’m used to moving around in suits.”
Wow… this guy isn’t just crazy—he’s completely insane.
A thick vein popped out on Kkot-nim’s temple.
She wanted to grab this arrogant, crazy gambler by the collar—but as a disciplined athlete, she held back her anger.
“J-just… go change… while I’m still being nice.”
Her voice trembled slightly as she pointed at the storage room.
When Kkot-nim started stuttering like that, it meant her anger was reaching its peak.
“…Understood.”
Sensing danger, Ji-hwan obediently went into the storage room.
Inside, a navy-blue work uniform hung on a cabinet.
“What is this… you expect me to wear this?”
The dark blue pants and dull-colored top were completely unacceptable to him.
Especially the short-collared top—it was neither a shirt nor a jacket.
For someone devoted to British dandyism, this was unbearable.
“Excuse me.”
“What now?”
Ji-hwan opened the door again, still holding the uniform, not yet changed.
The vein on Kkot-nim’s forehead bulged even more.
“Is there another style of uniform besides this?”
“…What did you say?”
In her seven years working at the hotel, she had never heard anyone complain about the style of a uniform.
But he kept going.
“This uniform is too outdated. Usually, luxury hotel uniforms are designed by famous designers. The Trinity Hotel in England, for example—”
He went on about designers, London, and who-knows-what.
A gambling addict who probably lost everything at a casino was now talking nonsense about fashion.
Kkot-nim’s anger shot straight to maximum.
“The uniform designer needs to be replaced immediately. I can’t wear this. I prefer a flexible uniform based on British dandyism.”
“…Ha.”
Holding the uniform he handed her, she barely resisted the urge to throw it in his face.
“You don’t want to work, do you?”
“W-what do you mean? And why are you speaking informally?”
“…Informally.”
Kkot-nim took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
Then she stepped closer, glaring at him like she might devour him.
“If you want the uniform changed, go tell the general manager—or better yet, the Chairwoman yourself.”
Up close, she had to tilt her head back to look at him.
Feeling oddly small, she took a step back.
“What’s wrong? You said you’re ‘affiliated’ with the hotel. Don’t you have the courage to go to the general manager or Chairwoman?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You don’t need to understand! Either change into that uniform or get out of here right now!”
Ji-hwan had no desire to see his mother anytime soon.
He didn’t even want to go near the family home.
After renting a place, he only had 10 million won left. Once he bought furniture, even that would disappear quickly.
Now, his salary was essential for survival.
“Get out! Right now! What, ‘British dandy style’? Your mindset is rotten. We don’t need someone like you—leave!”
“Why are you yelling? And it’s ‘dandy,’ not ‘dandi’—”
“Enough! Just leave! I’ll explain to the manager myself, so pack your things and go!”
For the first time in his life, Ji-hwan was being chewed out like this.
He felt dizzy.
Just three years ago, the vineyards and olive farms he bought in Italy had tripled in value. Every stock he invested in had hit the upper limit.
If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have reported it to Mother…
He deeply regretted not keeping something hidden.
But it was too late.
His survival now depended entirely on Chairwoman Kim Young-sook.
If he wanted to live, he had to work.
“…I’ll change. I’ll change, alright?”
“Then hurry up! Do you know how much time you’ve wasted already?!”
“Could you please stop shouting? I can hear you just fine.”
Even during university and military service, he had never encountered a senior like her.
The way she yelled and glared—it genuinely felt like she might kill him.
His hands trembled as he held the uniform.
