Ryu Seo-ha.
She was in the depths of a once-in-a-lifetime dilemma.
“The editor was a woman…?”
Sitting on her bed after watching Cosmo’s broadcast for the first time, she was fidgeting in a pose reminiscent of Rodin’s “The Thinker.”
Could it be that the editor Cosmo decided to hire was a woman? This was an unforeseen variable she hadn’t considered.
Of course, it was merely a business relationship, but life rarely plays out so simply.
They could meet alone, and starting off under the guise of work could lead to a romantic entanglement—such is the nature of relationships between men and women.
In that sense, as a woman harboring unrequited feelings for a man, her true desire was for whoever would be working closely with him to be male.
However, the sordid nature of her true feelings would be ridiculous if she were to reveal them when her only connection to Kang Woo-joo was as a streamer and a fan.
That fact tormented Seo-ha.
“Yeah, whether Cosmo works with a woman or not, I have no grounds to interfere.”
She had to accept it boldly.
She couldn’t even guarantee that there was any spark between him and the woman who would be working as an editor. At this point, all she could do was throw a tantrum, making her appear possessive and crass.
“Ugh…!”
Tossing and turning. Tossing and turning.
But can human emotions ever be dictated?
Lying flat on the bed, she continued to contemplate, rolling around on the queen-sized mattress like it was a playground. A low whine escaped her lips, as if she were sick with fever.
“It felt like they were pretty close.”
While others might not have noticed, when he mentioned the prospective editor during the broadcast, she felt a strange sense of intimacy. He had even said they were acquaintances.
That meant there was a higher chance they would treat each other more comfortably compared to the usual employer-employee interactions. This would likely lead to the possibility of a deeper relationship.
“Sigh…”
The more she unpacked each thought, the more troubled she felt.
How on earth did they come to know each other? Close friends? If so, how did this other person perceive Kang Woo-joo? Perhaps they were rivals, each secretly nurturing feelings in their hearts.
As her imagination spiraled out of control, she could no longer stay put and leaped up from her place.
After much contemplation, the conclusion she reached was astonishingly simple.
“I want to know.”
At the very least, she wanted to understand the nature of their relationship and the potential for it to develop into something romantic.
The problem was finding a way to discover this. Would she ask Cosmo himself? That was impossible.
He was a big shot running a colossal corporation named Changseong Corporation. So, he undoubtedly had the objective ability to assess how actions appear to a third party.
Thus, she could already guess how he would react to such a question.
Inside, he’d surely think, “Why does this meddlesome woman care about something so insignificant?”
No, considering his nice nature, he might not go that far, but she would definitely fall into the category of “a burdensome person.” That outcome would be the worst possible for her.
“Is there no way, no option?”
If only there were a method to observe their relationship and conversations without seeming intrusive.
In that moment, as she was reviving brain cells that had been dormant during her managerial tasks, a word flashed through her mind.
“Daon…that was it?”
Indeed.
That was definitely the name of the beef restaurant he recommended during today’s broadcast.
At first, she passed it off without a second thought, but it seemed like a great opportunity to set up the situation she desired.
“Okay, this isn’t about spying.”
She merely wanted to know what kind of person the editor, who would be working alongside her beloved streamer for the first time, was, and if they were decent.
Having rationalized it, she picked up her smartphone, determined to act, and immediately made a call.
The ringing didn’t last long when the other party quickly answered, which was her primary reason for trusting this person.
“Ah, Secretary Kim. Are you available right now? Yes, it’s just that….”
After a brief call, she wore a satisfied smile as if she had accomplished something.
It was one night’s event.
*
Daon.
A beef restaurant located along a road in the Hanseong district is known for its pricey but generous service and high-quality meat.
The owner of this establishment, Park Seong-tae, a 45-year-old middle-aged man, was today watching the outside scenery while personally manning the counter.
Being too early in the day, the kitchen was still preparing, and with no guests around, he finished his cleaning early, simply enjoying watching the clouds pass.
Suddenly,
“…Hmm?”
A luxurious sedan stopped in front of his shop, and a man in his mid-to-late 30s got out of the driver’s seat, approaching the store.
He seemed to be carrying a briefcase that looked like it belonged in a crime drama.
Creak.
At that moment, the sliding door of the shop opened, and the man he had just seen confidently walked in. The aura exuded from his all-black suit was impressive.
“Ah, excuse me, sir. Unfortunately, we’re not open yet…”
However, he remained unfazed, putting on his service-minded demeanor and approaching the man with a friendly smile.
The stranger, without saying much, stared at him quietly and, after whispering something into his earpiece, finally spoke.
“Pardon me. Is the owner currently unavailable?”
“I’m the owner. What can I do for you…?”
Caught off guard by the sudden quest for the owner, Park Seong-tae hesitated for a moment.
Could it be that a former customer had come back to complain about something?
A wave of anxiety washed over him, but before he could ask for the circumstances, the man continued.
“I wish to acquire this establishment. I have no interest in the management rights, so could you hand this place over to our director?”
“Excuse me? What on earth….”
This was more than just odd; it felt downright insane with how out of the blue this was. Why on earth would anyone suddenly want to buy his store?
Sure, while it’s not uncommon for people in the restaurant business to sell their place after some success to start anew, if you’re going to talk business, at least show a business card first. This was utterly against common sense.
“Is he a con artist?”
No, even con artists usually have some semblance of a plan to deceive more convincingly, creating plausible situations.
If this was part of some elaborate scheme, one might need to dissect the mastermind’s brain to understand it.
“He looks quite young too.”
He quickly scanned the man before him, who seemed younger than himself and was about to say something.
Click.
With a light sound, the lock on the briefcase the well-dressed man was carrying clicked open, leaving Park Seong-tae looking utterly astounded.
“I assure you, the compensation will be more than adequate.”
“……”
Of course, because inside was a pile of 50,000 won bills stacked neatly.
Caught in this surreal situation, he found his head spinning, struggling to figure out if this was really happening.
“What is this? Is this some sort of hidden camera prank?”
Perhaps this cash was fake? Unless he accepted that this bizarre reality was true, he couldn’t come to terms with it.
“It’s all cash. If you have any lingering doubts, I’d gladly accompany you to the bank for verification.”
Yet, despite such an offer, Park Seong-tae momentarily dazedly shifted his gaze between the bundles of cash and the man before him.
He felt like a madman had appeared out of nowhere, and now he looked positively radiant.
Is this what they called a halo effect?
“I apologize for making you stand out here. Please come inside, and let’s discuss matters.”
Regaining his bearings and processing the reality, he quickly wiped his hands on his trousers and offered his hand politely.
The money was just too substantial to refuse.
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