Chapter 23
Everywhere she looked, there were fit people.
To the leftāmuscular.
To the rightāmuscular.
No matter where she turned, there wasn’t an ounce of excess fat to be found. Sweat poured off bodies that looked as though they’d been sculpted.
As if competing with one another, no one seemed willing to get off the exercise machines.
Woohyun and Su-il followed a trainer as he gave them a tour of the gym.
“Our gym has a ton of celebrities. Ninety percent of the actors who reinvented their image and became huge hits last year trained under me. Oh, maybe you’ve seen me before? I pop up on variety shows every now and then.”
The owner flashed a dazzling smile, proudly boasting about both himself and his clients.
It was the kind of smile you’d expect to see on the cover of a fitness magazine.
“Our customer here already has an incredible physique, but if we broaden those shoulders and build up those thighs a little more, you’d put fitness models to shame. You should do a profile shoot. You’ve got an amazing face, too. Seriously… why don’t you trust me on this?”
Woohyun answered with a calm smile before pointing toward someone who had caught his attention.
“Don’t tell me… Moon Taekyung works out here too?”
“You recognized him?” the owner chuckled. “I wasn’t going to brag, but I built that body too. You know how he caused such a sensation after showing off his upper body on that variety show? He used to be ridiculously skinny. Once he bulked up, his face looked even smaller. Doesn’t he look incredible?”
Just as the owner said, even from another man’s perspective, Moon Taekyung had an impressive physique.
While Woohyun looked him over from head to toe, Su-il returned after checking out the Pilates section.
“If you’re getting a membership here, let me join too. Damn, this place is insane. My salary couldn’t possibly cover it. Huh…? Wait… isn’t that Moon Taekyung?”
Sure enough, Su-il spotted Taekyung as well and instinctively covered his mouth.
Watching Taekyung lift dumbbells, Woohyun quietly pulled a card from his wallet.
The gym owner’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the platinum black cardāa card issued only to the top 0.5% of customers by a major Korean credit card company.
Woohyun then handed him a business card as well.
“My name and phone number are on there. Pay for my friend’s membership too. Manager Yoon will fill out the paperwork.”
The owner’s attitude instantly became much more respectful.
“Muyeong Group… Yes, sir! We’ll assign you a personal trainer as soon as everything is ready.”
Having made his decision, Woohyun left Su-il to complete the paperwork and changed into gym clothes.
Ventilation fans and air blowers ran nonstop, mocking the smell of sweat.
Regardless of the weather outside, heat filled the gym.
Meanwhile, having apparently finished his weight training, Moon Taekyung was walking on a treadmill while looking at his phone.
Woohyun casually stepped onto the treadmill beside him.
Taekyung glanced sideways.
His face gradually turned pale.
Woohyun calmly increased the treadmill’s speed.
“…Are you… the building owner?”
So he recognized me.
Woohyun gave a small nod.
“Seo Woohyun.”
At those words, Taekyung quickly looked around before lowering his voice excitedly.
“Seriously? Wow… I knew my eyes weren’t wrong.”
“You recognized me. You’ve got sharp eyes.”
“Byul told me who you were. But you work out here too? I was shocked when I heard M&P bought that building. Wow…”
It bothered him that Taekyung said he’d heard about him from Byul.
Still, at least she hadn’t been stupid enough not to look him up at all.
Smiling faintly, Woohyun replied,
“I had no idea you were the one who brought that sofa into the building.”
“Actually, that was because of Byul too. When you’re depressed, looking at something beautiful helps, right? She was having a hard time back then, so I helped her move it.”
Woohyun didn’t like how casually Taekyung called her Byul.
He didn’t like the fact that he was her male friend.
Nor did he like the fact that people called him a “face genius.”
Besides, even another man had to admit Moon Taekyung was remarkably handsome.
He sincerely hoped Byul had meant it when she’d said she hated the so-called “perfect guys.”
“By the way… have you heard the news?”
“I’d appreciate it if you told me exactly which news you mean.”
“About Byul.”
“Lee Byul?”
“Yeah, her. She came to Seoul. I talked to her this morning, and she’ll probably be here all day. We’re meeting tomorrow. Did she tell you?”
For a split second, Woohyun almost lost his footing.
She came to Seoul?
Really?
Then… that appointment she mentioned… was it in Seoul?
“I didn’t know.”
“Am I supposed to know every detail of Miss Lee Byul’s personal life?”
“No, of course not… I just thought you two seemed close.”
Close?
Is that what it looks like?
Not like a man and a woman caught in the middle of a passionate romance?
While jealousy quietly burned inside him, Su-il approached in his workout clothes.
Almost as if to show off, Woohyun gradually increased the treadmill’s speed.
Seeing Woohyun standing beside Taekyung, Su-il awkwardly swallowed and wisely backed away.
“Eight’s a little slow.”
Taekyung’s casual comment made Woohyun’s breathing falter ever so slightly.
“What speed do you usually run at, Mr. Moon?”
“Ten.”
Apparently satisfied by the tiny reaction he’d gotten, Taekyung smirked before matching his own treadmill speed.
Not to be outdone, Woohyun discreetly increased his speed as well.
“What kind of luck do I have… exercising with these lunatics?”
“Looks like neither of them has suffered enough muscle soreness yet.”
Su-il didn’t dare join them.
Two men over six feet tall were running like maniacs.
Unless he’d been shot in the head, there was no way he was squeezing himself between them only to become an insignificant squid by comparison.
He’d rather cheer from the sidelines.
Judging by the fact that nobody else dared approach the two men, his decision was the correct one.
Stretching with his fingers interlocked above his head, Su-il turned to the trainer assigned to him.
“Could we start with some basic stretching first? When my blood pressure goes up, my arms get a little numb. And if you could teach me some breathing exercises that improve circulation too, I’d appreciate it.”
Byul couldn’t hide her amazement as she looked around the spacious guesthouse.
It was nearly seven hundred square feet.
Along with her amazement came a growing sense of pressure.
The living room, bedroom, and kitchen all flowed together in an open-plan layout.
The bathroom was the only separate room, and even one wall of it was made of frosted glass.
“I heard you live in Samcheok.”
“That’s awfully far away.”
“How can anyone expect conversations to fit neatly into a schedule? Once people start talking, they lose track of time.”
“Anyway, whenever you’re here, unpack your things and stay.”
“You can sleep here if you want.”
“You could even live here while you’re working.”
“There’s a laptop, drinks, everything you need.”
“You’ll be perfectly comfortable.”
“Should I only write the manuscript here?”
“I don’t want any copies stored on other devices.”
“I want the only record to exist on this computer.”
“So all the writing stays here.”
“Take breaks whenever you need.”
“This guesthouse was built for visitors, so don’t feel burdened.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s… incredible.”
This is supposed to be a guesthouse?
Even the speakers were luxury-brand products.
After she accepted, Jeongsik called in his secretary to bring the contract.
“Since we’ve met today, let’s have dinner together.”
“I’ll have someone drive you back to Samcheok tomorrow.”
“Better yet, spend the night here.”
“It’ll put my mind at ease.”
Byul agreed.
After seeing Jeongsik out, she sat down on the soft sofa and turned on the laptop.
It was astonishingly fast.
Even considering it was Muyeong Electronics’ newest model, the processing speed was exceptional.
As she explored it, she called President Choi.
She couldn’t shake the suspicion that she’d been the intended candidate from the beginning.
It would be better to confirm it.
“How did the interview go? It’s been a long time, Byul.”
Choi Seunghee answered with the same cheerful voice as always.
It almost felt like old times.
That day, at the funeral, President Choi had pushed her away without hesitation.
She understood why.
He’d wanted to stop things from escalating.
But it still hurt that he’d refused to let her attend even the funeral procession.
“So what happened?”
“I completely messed up, but they said I passed.”
“What?”
“You passed, and you’re asking me what happened?”
“…Didn’t you already choose me before the interview?”
“What? Is that why you called after all this time?”
“You think I’d get anything out of slipping you into that position?”
“Pre-selected? Please.”
“Aren’t you a little too confident?”
“So… I wasn’t?”
“No.”
“In fact, I expected you’d fail the interview, call me crying, and sob your eyes out.”
“But somehow…”
“I had a feeling you’d get it.”
“Do your best.”
“You never know.”
“Maybe the flower garden of your life is finally about to bloom.”
President Choi had a gift for dressing up the truth.
Lying, however, was another matter.
Leaning back comfortably in the chair, Byul discovered that it even reclined.
It even had a light massage function.
“I don’t think I’ll last very long, but I’ll do my best.”
“Think of it positively.”
“You probably heard it from Reporter Shin already, but this is an opportunity.”
“Treat it as a warm-up.”
“And when you’re finished, come back to our newspaper.”
“Understood?”
“What if I cause trouble again?”
“I’ll think about coming back.”
“That wasn’t even trouble.”
“Anyway, do your best.”
“That old man is actually a pretty decent person.”
“Talk to you later.”
The conversation ended as routinely as if they were reading from a script.
Resting her chin on the windowsill, Byul admired the flower buds blooming outside.
Bang Jeongsik…
She glanced toward the laptop.
A search bar sat on the screen like a gateway to everything.
But the laptop wasn’t connected to the internet.
He’d said he didn’t want anything leaking outside.
There probably wasn’t even Wi-Fi in this building.
After memorizing the passcode the chief secretary had given her, Byul grabbed only her phone and stepped outside.
Three enormous buildings…
On land as valuable as Pyeongchang-dong.
Feeling like a tourist, she wandered through what was practically a botanical garden.
Then her eyes met those of a woman vigorously spinning a hula hoop inside a glass greenhouse.
The woman had her hair tied tightly into a ponytail.
She was probably the owner of the Spanish-tiled house.
Out of courtesy, Byul bowed politely.
The woman froze.
The hula hoop dropped to the ground unnoticed.
Staring at Byul as though she’d seen a ghost, she rubbed her eyes several times.
Then her face lit up, and she hurried outside.
“Well, look who it is!”
Byul wanted to ask if the woman knew her.
But she had no memory of ever meeting her.
Standing with the greenhouse door wide open, the woman asked,
“Would you like to come in?”
We just met…
“Ah, no.”
“I’m Lee Byul.”
“I’m Mr. Bang Jeongsik’s ghostwriter.”
“Hello.”
After Byul introduced herself with an awkward wave, the woman smiled curiously.
“What a pretty name.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’m the homeowner.”
“Bang Sumi.”
“Hello.”
“I think we’ll be seeing each other often.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Are you just looking around the house?”
“You’re not leaving yet, are you?”
“Pardon?”
“My father told me a little while ago.”
“He said he’d hired a former reporter.”
“If you have time, have dinner with us.”
“Or spend the night.”
Exactly the same invitation Jeongsik had given her.
Why did it sound less like a suggestion…
and more like a decision?
Byul found herself pondering it.
Their atmosphere.
Their tone of voice.
Their personalities…
Something felt strangely familiar.
“My father suggested the same thing…”
At that, Bang Sumi clapped happily like a seal and unscrewed her bottle of water.
“Come on.”
“At least have a drink with us.”
“You won’t get many chances like this.”
“You’re writing my father’s autobiography.”
“You’ll have to make a good impression if you want to write nice things about him.”
It must run in the family.
They’re all this straightforward.
“So this personality type is actually pretty common…? Even someone like Seo Woohyun?”
Having reached the entirely wrong conclusion, Byul smiled as naturally as she could and accepted the invitation.
If she stayed for dinner, she’d miss the last bus home.
But she couldn’t keep refusing their kindness forever.
The more complicated things became, the more she decided to keep them simple.
If everyone’s enjoying themselves, isn’t that enough?
It was certainly far better than being treated like an unwelcome guest.
No…
Far better than that.
“Come over there by six-thirty.”
“Whenever we all eat together, we sometimes set the table there.”
“Oh, by the way…”
“How old are you, miss?”
Thus began a rather peculiar interrogation about her personal background.
