“……”
Feeling deflated, Yeonrok looked down briefly at the short-sleeved pajamas that could have easily lasted another three years, but had no choice but to let them go. Returning to the indoor garden with a sullen heart and looking around, one plant was wilting and dying. Perhaps because it happened to be where the fire broke out, he felt guilty again, while also thinking this:
‘Should I try raising a plant?’
Even if he couldn’t raise a puppy, raising a small potted plant shouldn’t be difficult. Wanting to go out for the first time in a while, Yeonrok came out wearing just a cap pulled low. As soon as he opened the front door, two bodyguards approached smoothly from somewhere. Then they asked politely.
“Where are you headed?”
Sometimes it felt like surveillance rather than security.
“I’m going to buy some plants.”
“Then how about traveling by vehicle? It’s very cold outside.”
After thinking briefly, Yeonrok nodded. A private car would certainly be more comfortable than the subway or bus. He awkwardly boarded the vehicle driven by a chauffeur. It felt strange. He really felt like some kind of young master.
Arriving at the flower market, Yeonrok first headed to the ATM. Merchants usually welcomed cash or bank transfer payments, and he didn’t have cash on hand, so he intended to withdraw some money for emergencies. So Yeonrok inserted his card into the ATM and entered the withdrawal amount. But the sound of cash being counted went ta-da-da-da, then suddenly stopped.
“…What?”
Yeonrok waited for now. However, the money showed no sign of coming out. The card didn’t come out either. Soon, bold letters saying “An error has occurred” appeared on the screen.
“No! My card! My money!”
Yeonrok got irritated. Since this wasn’t the first time an ATM had eaten his card or money, Yeonrok called the chauffeur first. He said he’d come quickly since he was nearby, but he was late. When he called again, he said traffic was backed up. So Yeonrok waited a full hour in the cold to get his card and money back.
He couldn’t go anywhere since the repairman kept repeating he’d come soon. Then, thirsty, he put a bill into a vending machine to buy a drink. This time too, the machine deliciously ate his money.
“Right, I’m the fool for putting money in when I knew this would happen…”
Since it wasn’t much money anyway, he gave up and turned around, then bumped into someone moving a heavy pot. He clearly got bruised from bumping into the cart, but the other person pulled the cart away without even apologizing. The bodyguard who’d been watching Yeonrok from a little distance saw this, his face hardened, and he hurried over.
“There are many people, so I’ll stay nearby.”
It was a voice full of vigilance. Yeonrok obediently nodded his head too.
“…Yes, please do.”
Although the bodyguards were in plain clothes, they inevitably drew attention because of their build and stiff atmosphere. It was burdensome, but it couldn’t be helped.
On the way to buy plants, Yeonrok stepped in muddy water three times, had his foot stepped on once by a passerby, and somehow got caught on a tree branch so his clothes were torn with a rip. A pot he didn’t even touch suddenly tipped over and broke right as he was passing by, so he unfairly had to pay for it, and the plants he’d researched to raise were either nowhere to be found, sold out, or too expensive.
After wandering around exhausted, he just settled the payment for a pothos that was supposedly suitable for beginners at what seemed like a rip-off price, and the bodyguards kept glancing at him with looks that said ‘What exactly is wrong with this person?’
‘What’s going on? Why am I so unlucky today in particular?’
Although he was originally unlucky, today was an especially unlucky day even for Yeonrok. No, to be precise, it felt like he’d been damn unlucky ever since the indoor garden fire incident. Embarrassingly falling on top of Choi Hwan, having his clothes torn by Moon Gyeonwoo.
At times like this, it was better not to wander outside, so he got in the car to hurry home. But before departing, the bodyguard checked a text message on his phone and said in a polite voice.
“Lee Yeonrok-nim, Yeom Cheonho-nim just proposed spending this afternoon’s schedule together.”
“…Today?”
Of all times, on an unlucky day like this?
“Yes, if your schedule is alright, shall we move right away?”
His schedule was fine either way, but of all times, right now when he’d dressed so carelessly…? However, knowing that Yeom Cheonho was truly busy, and needing to make contact with him to recover his condition somewhat, Yeonrok ended up nodding.
* * *
After carefully settling the pothos he’d embraced preciously in the seat, Yeonrok got out of the car and raised his head with wide eyes. The HM Capital building that Yeom Cheonho managed was a large, tall, and gleaming building. Many people were busily going in and out of the entrance every minute and second, making it easy to guess how large this company’s scale was.
‘Honestly, when they said it was a finance company, I thought it might be a mob front.’
He still couldn’t forget the suited men who’d been lined up and waiting in front of the house, claiming to help with the move…
Still, seeing people coming and going like this, it didn’t seem to be a mob company. Feeling the weight of his Name Partner anew, he looked over his own outfit. Fortunately, he’d worn the clothes he’d purchased in preparation for the last appointment. It would have been nice to have more time, but since Yeom Cheonho was busy, he had no choice but to come right away.
“Lee Yeonrok-nim!”
Kim Jeongseong came toward Yeonrok with a bright face. After the last appointment was unilaterally canceled and rescheduled, his expression showed he was even more pleased.
“I’ll guide you to Yeom Cheonho-nim. Please come this way.”
Yeonrok moved his somewhat stiff limbs and followed Kim Jeongseong. He crossed the well-decorated lobby and rode the golden gleaming elevator up. When the numbers changed to double digits, the nervous Yeonrok swallowed dry saliva. Finally, the door opened. Kim Jeongseong guided Yeonrok to what appeared to be a reception room.
“Please rest here and wait just a moment.”
After carefully setting out beverages and refreshments, he disappeared with busy steps. Yeonrok, who’d been sitting stiffly and only rolling his eyes, relaxed a bit. Although there were plenty of delicious snacks in front of him, he only sipped the beverage once. He was too nervous to reach for the refreshments.
After waiting about 10 minutes like that, when Yeonrok was licking his lips and looking at the now-empty refreshment tray, the reception room door opened. Yeonrok, who’d been waiting anxiously, raised his head sharply.
“Yeonrok-ssi.”
The large man smiled and called his name. Yeonrok-ssi! Yeonrok, who’d never been called in such a ticklish way, screamed inwardly.
“H-hello. President-nim.”
As Yeonrok greeted him stiffly, Yeom Cheonho walked over with large strides. For Yeonrok, some kind of refreshing scent wafted over. A man who wore cologne like this was an extremely unfamiliar type of person to Yeonrok. He was far more familiar with people who moved their bodies until they smelled of sweat. Yeom Cheonho leaned his upper body to quietly look into Yeonrok’s face, then raised the corners of his mouth.
“I heard you set the garden on fire?”
“I didn’t!”
Even while suspecting the fire had occurred because of his bad luck, Yeonrok reflexively denied it. Yeom Cheonho laughed ha-ha refreshingly, then naturally sat beside Yeonrok and answered.
“I’m joking. I heard from Director Kim. It was probably due to faulty equipment. So as an apology, today I’m going to treat Yeonrok-ssi.”
Having someone older than him call him Yeonrok-ssi, Yeonrok-ssi was truly embarrassing beyond words. Because of this, Yeonrok found this person overwhelmingly more difficult to deal with than the celebrity Choi Hwan or Moon Gyeonwoo who constantly ignored him.
Yeonrok shook his head, then soon nodded. Seeing Yeom Cheonho’s smiling face, he quickly realized the apology was just a light excuse for today’s schedule.
“Have you eaten?”
“No, not yet…”
“That’s good. I haven’t had lunch yet either… Let’s eat deliciously and spend some time together. Is that alright?”
At the quite welcome words, Yeonrok was just nodding when—knock knock, a knocking sound was heard and the reception room door opened again. A woman neatly dressed in a suit entered and immediately bowed from the waist in greeting. Yeonrok, who’d turned his head from Yeom Cheonho, froze.
“Hello, I’m Min Soyul, who will be accompanying you both today.”
The woman who was raising her upper body again with a smiling face also froze. Her pupils shook. Yeonrok’s eyes, seeing a familiar face, shook mercilessly too.
Why is my ex-girlfriend coming out here?
She was even Lee Yeonrok’s first love and first lover. Yeonrok’s face, recalling the past he wanted to forget, turned pale then flushed red. His mind went blank at the completely unexpected encounter.
