“It was no trouble at all. I’ll get these sorted out.”
Jang Yu-hwan turned around with a face that looked even more pleased than Seo-in’s. He began gathering the scattered papers and reorganizing them by date.
Tap, tap.
With the report still laid open before him, Seo-in searched the man’s name. Instead of the black-and-white printed face from the document, the monitor filled with the image of a man brimming with vitality. A blond-haired, handsome man.
……Seo-in’s heart thudded as he went through the articles.
It’s not too late yet.
Seo-in had already witnessed with his own eyes how this man’s extraordinary achievements would shake the world. And at this point — the moment Seo-in had returned to — none of that had happened yet.
If only he could bring this person on board……
Seo-in pulled up to the curb, opened the driver’s side door, and stepped out. He had driven to the address Secretary Lee Dae-hyeon had sent him via message. Secretary Lee was already outside waiting at the entrance.
“I’m a little late.”
“Not at all. You’ve arrived right on time.”
Doing his best to put Seo-in at ease, Secretary Lee led the way and Seo-in followed him inside.
“Executive Director Kwon had a prior engagement and wasn’t able to accompany me today.”
Lee Dae-hyeon was offering information that hadn’t been asked for. Seo-in wasn’t blind to what he was trying to do, and he nodded along obligingly.
“He must be very busy.”
“We’re grateful for your understanding.”
Seo-in had never expected Kwon Gi-jeong to be here in the first place.
“Welcome, sir.”
The staff, having been informed of the visit in advance, offered a stream of courteous greetings and precise, fluid gestures. Along one wall, bolts of fabric were displayed, while the opposite cases were lined with completed tuxedos already on display. Bathed in soft, warm lighting, they gave off a clean and restrained elegance.
As Seo-in removed his suit jacket, a staff member stepped forward to receive it. Tailor Won Jae-hun approached and murmured:
“Would you like to remove your necktie as well? It may be uncomfortable during the fitting.”
The middle-aged tailor’s manner of speaking carried a certain crispness, yet he never used a single unnecessary word.
Seo-in had no reason to refuse, and without hesitation he untied the necktie he’d been wearing. He was then guided into the fitting room. Inside, there was a soft, warm floral scent — likely from the roses arranged in a vase — that lent the whole space a gentle, living quality.
To avoid feeling constricted during the measurements, he undid one of the buttons that had been fastened all the way up to his collar.
Won Jae-hun came alongside Seo-in as he stood before the mirror, pulling out a measuring tape.
Shoulder line, chest circumference, waist and arm length, wrist and finger measurements — all taken. Then shoe size as well. Won Jae-hun’s hands moved without a single unnecessary motion.
The overall atmosphere inside was quiet and composed. Seo-in wasn’t particularly tense either. He had been through this once before. The tailor offered no idle conversation.
He had likely dealt with Kwon Gi-jeong prior to this appointment. Which meant, as far as Seo-in was concerned, he could stand there in complete comfort.
“This way, please. The hour seems a bit late for coffee, so we’ve prepared tea instead.”
“Thank you.”
It was easy to see why Lee Dae-hyeon remained at Kwon Gi-jeong’s side. He was an attentive man. Even after Seo-in had married Kwon Gi-jeong, Lee Dae-hyeon would occasionally give him a quiet heads-up about what was keeping Gi-jeong occupied. That had come from a genuine wish for Seo-in not to be left feeling hurt.
Once the measurements were done, Seo-in moved over to the sofa. He refastened the shirt buttons he’d left undone.
Lee Dae-hyeon remained standing beside Seo-in rather than sitting. Again, Won Jae-hun came forward and settled himself in front of Seo-in as though this were his designated role.
He opened the catalogue with care, and laid out the actual fabrics to be used alongside it as he went through his explanations. He covered everything thoroughly — the sheen, the texture, the classic white tuxedo Seo-in would be wearing — leaving nothing lacking.
Seo-in picked up the necktie he had set aside. Won Jae-hun moved with the devotion of someone seeing the job through to the very last detail.
“If you’ll allow me.”
He deftly tied the necktie around Seo-in’s neck, then took the suit jacket from the staff member and helped Seo-in into it as well.
“Thank you for your time, everyone. As for the timeline — please have it ready as quickly as possible before the date that was conveyed to you.”
“Understood.”
Lee Dae-hyeon offered the reminder once more as he stepped forward and led the way out. Seo-in followed him outside.
The surroundings had grown dusky in the time they’d been inside. He had assumed it would be a simple matter, yet it hadn’t left him any less worn down.
Perhaps because everything had been arranged according to Kwon Gi-jeong’s preferences, Seo-in had done nothing more than listen — and yet he felt strangely drained.
Every so often, he thought Kwon Gi-jeong’s nature was simply selfish — and yet oddly, at moments like this, there was something about it that felt almost restful. At least it meant Seo-in didn’t have to trouble himself with unnecessary deliberation.
“I’ll have you driven home.”
Seo-in gestured toward his own car as he said it to Lee Dae-hyeon.
“I drove myself here.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“Not at all. Actually, there’s something I’d like to say to you, Secretary Lee.”
“To me, sir?”
“Yes. It’s a bit difficult to talk out here……”
Lee Dae-hyeon glanced around, then pointed toward a café that looked like it would be easy to talk in.
“Shall we go inside for a cup of tea?”
“I’ve already had far too much. It won’t take long — could we talk in my car?”
Seo-in had already drained several cups of tea during the fitting. Lee Dae-hyeon seemed to weigh it briefly, then walked toward where Seo-in had parked.
Seo-in got into the driver’s seat and gestured to the other side.
“Have a seat in the passenger seat.”
Lee Dae-hyeon moved around and settled into the passenger seat. Being alone with someone in such a confined space felt slightly awkward, but he assumed it would be over quickly — it was probably just a simple question.
He supposed Seo-in might be wondering why things were moving so fast, given that the marriage to Kwon Gi-jeong was confirmed. He had even prepared an appropriate response to deflect around it.
Thud.
The passenger door closed. Lee Dae-hyeon turned his head.
“What was it you wanted to say? If you have any questions about the ceremony arrangements, I can answer them for you right here.”
Seo-in looked straight ahead and parted his lips. His expression hadn’t changed. He was calm, as though he were simply taking in the view outside.
But Seo-in’s words went far beyond anything Lee Dae-hyeon had anticipated. The more he listened, the further Lee Dae-hyeon’s mouth fell open, until it had dropped completely.
“……! Th-that isn’t something I can decide on my own right now.”
“Then call Gi-jeong.”
“Here?”
“Yes. Right now.”
Lee Dae-hyeon reached into his inner pocket. He pulled out his phone. He felt a reflexive resistance to making a call over something like this — but what Seo-in had said wasn’t something Lee Dae-hyeon could judge for himself either.
He even found himself hoping the call wouldn’t be picked up. His gaze drifted naturally to the side profile of Seo-in, who was still looking straight ahead. The fine brows, the delicately assembled features — they had a pristine, unadorned quality. Pale skin set off by the vivid red of his lips. It was a face that drew the eye and held it.
[What is it?]
Kwon Gi-jeong’s low voice came through the phone. For a moment, Lee Dae-hyeon — who had been staring, almost entranced, at Seo-in — spoke as though he’d been struck by lightning.
“Sir, I’m currently with Park Seo-in.”
[And?]
Seo-in’s gaze drifted slowly sideways, landing on Lee Dae-hyeon as he continued.
“The thing is, sir. Regarding the two-year marriage — Park Seo-in also has, conditions.”
