Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: No Interest
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"Hello, Ms. Choi Yeon-bi. I'm Na Da-yeon, handling lounge service this morning. Please let me guide you this way."
'She's pretty.'
Even with her hair tied up, she couldn't hide her looks.
The woman who introduced herself as Na Da-yeon was the third prettiest woman I'd ever seen.
The second was Han A-rang from the front desk yesterday.
The first was my middle school first love.
Old memories flashed by, but I shook my head inwardly and pushed them away.
A wicked girl who toyed with people's hearts. I didn't even want to think about her.
"Please have a seat, and let me know if you need anything at all."
I took the seat she guided me to amid her formal greeting.
A white tablecloth, with a napkin and menu elegantly placed on top.
The cutlery was neatly arranged with a soft clink.
Seeing a scene straight out of a drama or movie with my own eyes felt a bit surreal.
Was this some kind of Truman Show, maybe?
If so, I should blow through the money until the show ends.
With that thought, I opened the menu.
Wasn't this place a buffet, though?
'Who knows.'
The food display in front looked like a buffet, but it seemed you could order main dishes too.
I stared blankly at the food for a moment before turning to the menu.
Suddenly, Na Da-yeon peeked over my shoulder from behind, pointing at the menu with her finger and explaining each item one by one.
"These are the special menu items available only today. They're served as a course, but you can order individual dishes from the course if you'd like."
"Hmm..."
I really had no idea.
This was nothing like the buffet I'd imagined.
'Can I just grab a plate and pile food from over there?'
I scratched my cheek for a second, then decided to ask the staff.
I was a paying guest here.
And she was kindly explaining everything to me—what was there to worry about?
I straightened my shoulders confidently and asked the pretty staff member who'd introduced herself as Na Da-yeon.
"Can I skip the main menu and just take food from the display up front?"
She smiled faintly and nodded at my question.
"Oh, of course. You can pick it out yourself, or we can bring it to you. What would you prefer?"
Ordering food to be brought to my seat at a buffet.
Money really could buy anything.
A movie I'd seen before suddenly came to mind.
It was about humans in the distant future leaving Earth and living lives handed over entirely to robots.
A life where you could do everything from your seat. No wonder everyone in that movie was fat.
People usually picture the rich as fat and greedy, but maybe they got fat not from greed, but just from not moving.
If you didn't even walk short distances like this, it was bound to happen.
'...I've got to exercise for sure.'
Lost in such pointless thoughts, I stood up from my seat.
"I'll go take a look and pick some out."
"Shall I show you the way?"
With that, I slowly followed Da-yeon toward the area brimming with food.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'What's this? She really doesn't know anything?'
That was Na Da-yeon's first thought upon seeing Yeon-bi.
She was genuinely baffled at how clueless she was.
Could someone who booked two nights at a hotel like this really know nothing?
Sure, there were people like that.
Families or couples coming for a hotel vacation—they were pretty common.
But to Da-yeon, Yeon-bi seemed different.
She wasn't with a boyfriend, friends, or family.
And she didn't look like she was here on business nearby.
According to A-rang, she'd arrived with no luggage at all—just herself.
That made it even harder to understand.
There were too many things that didn't add up for her to be here just enjoying a solo hotel stay.
So Da-yeon was even more convinced.
'She must've been scouted somewhere for her looks and figure.'
She clicked her tongue lightly to herself.
Women like Yeon-bi were the type Da-yeon hated most.
Women who coasted through life on their looks and bodies.
Women who thought they could live easy by just hooking up with some guy.
That's why she'd studied hard.
It wasn't a top university, but she'd graduated with honors from a well-regarded hospitality management program and reached her current position.
'Annoying.'
Yeon-bi irked her a little.
Pretty face, model figure.
And apparently, she'd caught someone's eye enough to leisurely hang out in a luxury hotel like this.
Of course, she couldn't treat a guest poorly, so she just kept smiling and followed Yeon-bi around.
"Oh... what's this dish?"
Yeon-bi asked about the food, even though the name was labeled below it—clearly not understanding what it was.
Feeling a slight sense of superiority, Da-yeon answered kindly.
"It's called tagliarini, a traditional pasta from northern Italy."
"Hmm... could you give me some?"
The way she said "give me some" struck Da-yeon as funny, and she stifled a leaking chuckle as she picked up a plate of tagliarini.
"What about this one next to it?"
"That's panini, an Italian-style sandwich. You can consider this whole corner Italian cuisine."
"Oh..."
With that, Yeon-bi let out a short exclamation and started trotting around briskly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'I took too much.'
I hadn't realized while happily piling it on, but once it was on the table, it was way more than I could eat.
If I'd been holding the plate myself, I would've gauged the amount and stopped sooner.
'She kept serving it all up for me, so I couldn't see straight...'
Plus, the portions on the plates were so small that I'd ended up taking more than I thought.
Anyway.
'What do I do? I can't finish it all...'
I alternated glances between the food and Na Da-yeon, who stood beside me beaming.
She'd worked hard serving it all for me—it felt bad to just eat a bit and waste the rest.
And she'd answered every question without a hint of annoyance.
The food was varied but not overly filling.
Even the pasta was just a bite-sized amount that would vanish in one go.
The problem was the bread.
Taking way too much bread had been my biggest mistake.
'But it looked so delicious.'
After a moment's hesitation, I decided to just eat what I could.
You never know—maybe I'd polish it all off.
About 30 minutes later.
'I'm stuffed...'
Maybe because I'd eaten a big dinner last night too, but I couldn't finish it.
I stared troubled at the table, barely half-cleared, when suddenly a tall, handsome man approached my side.
He looked a bit older, but dressed sharply, giving off a mature charm.
Could Choi Min-hoo have aged this well?
No way.
"My, my, you must've been starving, miss."
He spoke casually and plopped down in the seat across from me.
He must be a VIP too—another staff member trailed behind him.
I was a little flustered, and a hiccup escaped me.
"Eating all that alone will give you hiccups. Here, water."
I didn't like the familiar tone from a stranger, but he was older, so I let it slide.
I bowed my head slightly as he poured the water and downed it in one go.
Who the heck was this guy, anyway?
Na Da-yeon beside me and the male staff next to him both looked flustered too.
They regained composure quickly, but I'd definitely seen the troubled expressions.
Just who was this man?
"Do I... know you...?"
He chuckled softly at my question and handed me a business card.
What the—? I snatched it a bit irritably, but I was genuinely shocked when I saw it.
'Harrison Enter?'
Harrison Entertainment.
A famous company where most of the current popular singers, idols, and actors came from.
Rumors about the chairman weren't great, and with all the prosecutor visits, regular folks didn't think highly of it.
But anyone dipping into entertainment wouldn't care about that rep.
'So he's the Harrison Entertainment Section Chief...'
I didn't know exactly what that meant in terms of status.
I'd worked at the company a long time, but it was what it was—I didn't know much about titles.
'Not the same kind of section chief as that one...'
I snickered inwardly at the thought of the "family-like company" section chief.
I'd teased that guy who got chewed out daily, calling him "Choco Tingting."
Nickname from his nearly bald forehead with a few strands plastered across it.
Anyway, handing me this card—did that mean he wanted me in entertainment?
"Ever thought about being an idol or actress? Ah, idol might be tough. Debuting as an adult is rough on you."
He joked like that while casually grabbing and eating a piece of bread from my table.
Others might see it as rude, but I was grateful right now.
'Might as well finish it all off for me.'
But he just slowly chewed the bread in his mouth, waiting for my answer, without taking more.
'Tch.'
I soothed my regret and popped the last piece of bread in front of me into my mouth.
How could I leave all this food, brush off the guy in front of me, and slip out gracefully?
As I pondered, having swallowed the bread, the section chief couldn't wait any longer and spoke first.
"So, how about it? Wanna try acting? No exaggeration—you're the prettiest I've seen. You'd blow up for sure."
I appreciated the compliment, but I had zero interest in appearing on TV.
Too obvious.
The more people knew me, the more trouble I'd be in.
A life where no one knew me and I just had tons of money.
That's what I preferred.
Still, his offer let me breathe a sigh of relief.
I flashed a forced smile at the section chief and shook my head vigorously.
"No, thank you. I must politely decline. Na Da-yeon, I've finished—may I go now?"
"Uh... yes! Of course. Let me guide you out."
And just like that, very naturally, I slipped out of the lounge.
'I'm saved.'
A sigh of relief escaped me.
Wasn't that pretty smooth?
Left the food behind without issue and exited the lounge uneventfully.
Perfect handling, I thought with an inward smile.
Of course, it wouldn't have been possible without that section chief showing up.
Feeling a twinge of gratitude toward him, I quickened my steps.
Anyway, now all that was left was happily going shopping for clothes.