# Chapter 21
“Secretary Han, you’re even good at cooking? You’ve worked hard since morning. I appreciate you thinking of me, but if I eat breakfast, I can’t digest it properly. So I don’t think I can eat it.”
Woojin felt bewildered by Jaehyun’s rejection. Since Jaehyun had approached him first asking for help with the group project, Woojin naturally thought he would at least eat breakfast, but that wasn’t the case.
His expression while refusing was also strange. It was amusing to see him running away like a frightened puppy, as if Woojin might have poisoned the food. The claim about not being able to digest was clearly nothing but a poor lie.
So the next day, Woojin prepared abalone porridge. He cleaned live abalone from early morning and made the porridge with great care. But again, all he got was rejection—a complete waste of effort.
Thinking that perhaps this young master from a wealthy family wouldn’t eat anything unless it was expensive, the following day he prepared premium tenderloin, risotto made with fresh truffles, and a fresh salad sprinkled with gold dust.
“Sorry, I can’t eat breakfast today either.”
But the result was the same. He consistently refused with an unusually smooth attitude that would have been unimaginable from the previous Jaehyun.
Woojin had planned to quit if Jaehyun had thrown a tantrum like before, complaining why he was making such a fuss about not eating. But for some inexplicable reason, Jaehyun’s apologetic expression while continuing to refuse sparked a strange stubbornness in Woojin.
So he gradually increased the quality of the breakfast menu.
“Secretary Han, I’m not going to eat. I’ve been refusing continuously, so why do you keep making breakfast? You don’t have to do it anymore starting tomorrow, so please rest.”
Finally, Jaehyun directly expressed his refusal to him. He wouldn’t eat, so stop making it. Somehow, Jaehyun’s smiling face while firmly asking him to stop making breakfast irritated Woojin for reasons he couldn’t understand.
‘Why should I feel annoyed?’
For a moment, he wondered why he was even doing this.
Why should he feel this tired trying to feed that guy? There would be plenty of opportunities to get closer to Cha Jaehyun while living together. He was annoyed at himself for worrying about feeding someone who didn’t appreciate it.
* * *
It’s my perfect victory. After ignoring breakfast for several days and clearly rejecting it, Han Woojin finally stopped making meals. I missed the peaceful kitchen so much, and it was truly delightful to wake up and see the quiet kitchen in the morning.
It seems Han Woojin is quite skilled at manipulating people. I could tell when he immediately tried to close the distance between us through breakfast just because I approached him a little for the group project. I thought I should keep my distance from now on.
Well, I didn’t want to keep thinking about Han Woojin on a good day like today. Today was the best day. It was our group project presentation day, and I received praise from that strict, crazy professor.
“I thought you were out of your mind since you’ve been skipping classes, but this presentation is unexpected. Not bad.”
After listening to my presentation and asking a few questions, the professor casually threw that comment at the end. Isn’t that the highest praise possible from such a strict and haughty professor? I hadn’t even expected to be praised, so I felt extremely good.
‘I should go have a celebratory drink.’
I couldn’t remember drinking since coming to study abroad. I wanted to have a celebratory drink to mark the successful completion of the group project.
‘Today, I’m going to splurge.’
I headed to the upscale bar downtown that I’d been eyeing for a while. Once inside, I could see the ocean view and city landscape blending together through the glass windows. The sunset and the rippling red waves were quite a sight. The night view would surely be even more magnificent.
“One Blue Hawaii, please.”
When I ordered, the bartender brought out a small bowl with pickled olives. As I reached out to take one, I heard someone say, “Excuse me?”
Wondering if they were talking to me, I turned to see a blonde beauty who looked like she’d stepped out of a movie. Thinking that someone with such unreal, almost CG-like looks couldn’t possibly be calling me, I turned back around.
“May I sit next to you?”
The beauty in front of me had indeed been calling me. When I turned back, she lightly placed her hand on my shoulder and casually asked if she could sit down.
Could there be any man who would reject the woman standing in front of me now? Probably not.
Is this the kind of unrealistic thing that happens in novels? And for such a woman to approach me first and suggest sitting together. In my mind, an endless field of flowers was already blooming.
“Of course!”
I immediately answered affirmatively to her question and quickly offered her the seat beside me.
“I came here after a long time, and it’s so nice to meet someone who seems around my age!”
She quickly sat down, ordered a drink, and continued talking to me. When she spoke, she flashed slight eye-smiles, giving me an indescribably wonderful feeling. Goodness, she was beyond beautiful.
“What’s your name? I’m Olivia!”
“I’m Derek.”
“Derek? That’s a cute name.”
The woman smiled again after hearing my name. Now I understood why there were stories about nine-tailed foxes who could bewitch men and take their livers. Just seeing the woman in front of me made me smile involuntarily, no matter what she said.
“What were you doing before coming to the bar today? I work part-time at the café over there. I stopped by after finishing work.”
“I’m a student at the university nearby.”
“An international student? What are you studying?”
She naturally continued the conversation. She was also good with words.
“Business administration!”
“Oh~ Business? That’s impressive!”
Olivia responded to my words and slightly leaned her head on my shoulder before pulling away. Her hair smelled of fragrant roses.
“Your cocktail is ready.”
“Then shall we make a toast to our first meeting?”
She proposed a toast as soon as she received her drink. All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind as she held up her glass with a smile. Could today be the day I get a girlfriend? All kinds of future plans were already unfolding in my head.
After downing one drink, a pleasant lightheadedness came over me. The sweet and refreshing pineapple scent. Yes, that’s the taste. The pleasant intoxication and the unexpected impromptu encounter. This is happiness.
“Derek, we’re feeling good, shall we have another drink?”
“Why not?”
One drink was certainly not enough. I wanted to spend as much time as possible with Olivia. The second cocktail also arrived quickly, and I happily drank it.
Ring-ring-
Just as I was taking a drink, my phone rang. [Han Woojin] appeared on the screen. This tactless guy, calling at such a timing.
Had Han Woojin ever called me since I came to America? Not even once. Seeing the phone ringing in front of me, I had an ominous feeling that I absolutely had to answer it. I reluctantly asked her for permission.
“Can I take this call for a moment? It’ll only take a minute!”
“Of course! Take your time.”
The kind Olivia willingly let me go, and I hurriedly went outside to answer the call.
“Secretary Han, what’s the matter?”
“Young Master. It’s quite late. I called because you haven’t returned home.”
I felt something odd about Secretary Han’s words. Was Han Woojin the type to care about my curfew? Absolutely not.
Could he be planning another strategy? Thinking there was no need to hide the fact that I was at a bar, I told him the truth.
“I’m at a bar near the university. I’ll be home late, so Secretary Han should go to bed first.”
“Yes, Young Master. I understand.”
It was a brief conversation. As soon as I hung up, I rushed back to where Olivia was sitting. Contrary to my worries, our conversation continued uninterrupted even after I left, and as time passed, the number of empty glasses increased.
“Wow~ You really can drink!”
The intoxication was gradually building, and I felt a dreamy, hazy sensation as if I might black out at any moment.
‘I won’t be able to go home.’
I should stay at a nearby hotel tonight. This is my limit. I need to stop drinking.
“Shall we stop drinking now?”
“Derek, I’m so happy to have met a local friend today! Can’t we have just one more drink? I’ll pay for the last one!”
Olivia clutched my hand with a regretful expression, asking for just one more drink. Seeing her expression, I couldn’t refuse her request. Okay, just one more drink and that’s it.
“Alright~ Why not!”
“That’s the spirit! Let’s have just one drink and then part ways~”
Olivia handed me a red glass. A Bloody Mary? I was curious about the intense color of the drink, but that wasn’t important. The only thought in my mind was to quickly empty the glass in front of me and ask for her contact information.
As I picked up the glass, Olivia looked at me with deep eyes. So this is what they mean by being intoxicated by the atmosphere.
“You, what are you doing?”
Just as I was about to down it in one shot, an unexpected voice spoke. This voice wasn’t unfamiliar. When I turned around, Han Woojin was there. I just told him I was at a bar, but how did he find this place?
Moreover, he was glaring at Olivia and speaking hostilely. This guy, he’s ruining my chances right now.
“Secretary Han, why are you here? And I think there’s a misunderstanding.”
I tried to stop him, but I had drunk too much to move my body freely.
“If you don’t want to go to the police station, it would be best for you to get out of my sight right now.”
This is bad. Han Woojin was hurling insults at Olivia. What’s this about a police station? He wasn’t just ruining my chances; he was pouring oil on the fire.
The guy was trying to take away the opportunity I had finally obtained. Is he trying to irritate me to the point of explosion? Is he hoping I’ll cause a scene so he can report it to Cha Taesan and Cha Taehan? I can’t fall for such a low trick.
“Secretary Han. What are you saying? Stop it now, okay?”
“That’s right. There seems to be a misunderstanding. What are you talking about?”
I restrained my anger and tried to stop Han Woojin. Olivia also seemed quite flustered, her face reddening. But he ignored my words and continued to glare at Olivia.
“Utterly shameless. So you’re going to keep pretending? Fine, let’s see how far you’ll go with your plan.”
“I really don’t understand what you’re saying. You’ve got the wrong person.”
“Oh, really? Alright. Then why don’t you drink this?”
Han Woojin took the glass from my hand and offered it to Olivia.
‘Damn this guy. What the hell is he doing?’
“Ha, this isn’t even funny. I hate mama’s boys too. What a sight!”
Olivia finally seemed unable to contain herself, angrily getting up and leaving.
Ah. I couldn’t even get her contact information. From the continuous breakfast attacks over the past few days to this unbelievable situation now.
Han Woojin. This bastard clearly intended to irritate me. As annoying as he was, to the point I wanted to punch him, I couldn’t give him the satisfaction of getting angry.
‘Think I’ll dance to your tune? Not a chance.’
“Secretary Han, how did you get here? I clearly told you to go to bed first.”
I looked up slightly at Han Woojin and addressed him curtly.
