So, About That...
“Who would've thought I'd run into the author right there.”
In her upscale apartment, Lee Hae-in muttered to herself as she cracked open a can of beer from the fridge.
Zeus the author.
'I was worried he quit because his talent never fully bloomed because of me...'
Truth be told, she harbored a sense of debt toward Shin Jaewoo.
His early work had shown real promise. And before serialization, Shin Jaewoo had always sought her feedback.
Back then, Lee Hae-in was still green as an editor herself. So she'd made mistakes.
'The story fell apart in the middle because of me.'
It had sparkled in the beginning, no doubt. But from the midpoint on, it started wandering like a lie.
All after they'd worked on it together as editor and author.
She'd given it the okay. But the market's response was ice-cold.
Bit by bit, the work turned into something generic, shunned by readers.
Lee Hae-in blamed herself.
“Haa.”
She sighed.
The reason it stuck with her even more? It was the first project she'd handled as an editor.
And after that, Shin Jaewoo never released another new work.
'I thought he'd quit writing because of me, but thank goodness that's not the case. Still, of all companies, he had to end up at that one.'
She'd learned that much from their conversation.
But above all, right before they parted, what Kim Minseo had said while hugging her.
“Hehe. Sorry, sis. I kinda pushed you into it.”
“You know that's rude, right? How could you say that without even asking the author's intentions? And even if I'm the CEO, I can't just hire anyone on the spot.”
Kim Minseo stuck out her tongue and grinned at Lee Hae-in's scolding, playfully smacking her own head with her fist.
That reaction was always adorable.
Kim Minseo knew it, too—that's why she pulled it off so often.
“Sorry, sorry! My bad! I was wrong...”
Then a deep bow from the waist.
“You're incorrigible.”
Lee Hae-in didn't scold her further.
She could read between the lines in Kim Minseo's antics.
'Minseo did it out of care for her oppa.'
Being there had clued her in. Kim Minseo had occasionally mentioned her cousin was Shin Jaewoo.
“...That oppa I told you about after we got close, sis. The one I said worked in the same field as you. Yeah, that was Jaewoo oppa.”
She'd heard it when Kim Minseo first opened up about her job—something about a relative in the same industry.
But she'd never mentioned the company going bankrupt.
Learning that now let her piece it together, even without being told: the company Shin Jaewoo had worked at.
'Of all places.'
It had happened a few months back. A company that tanked because the CEO embezzled funds and skipped town.
'I think they caught him now.'
Lee Hae-in hadn't paid much attention since it wasn't her story.
Still, being in the same industry, word got around.
She mostly handled male-oriented contracts, while that firm was women-focused management, so it wasn't directly relevant.
More like a harsh lesson learned.
“Even when oppa was struggling at that company, he seemed to like the work in his own way.”
That had to be it. Otherwise, he never would've thought to write webnovels.
“Then the boss pulled some shady crap, siphoned off all the company money, and poof—just when things were picking up. But you're not a bad person, sis. Hehe.”
Lee Hae-in smiled at her words.
“You're impossible to hate. What if I turned out to be a bad boss?”
“Nah. Our family's got zero luck with people, but you're definitely a good one!”
Kim Minseo's words brimmed with trust.
Lee Hae-in smiled, recalling how she'd heard that while holding her beer can.
“...Looks like Minseo still doesn't know the full story.”
With that, Lee Hae-in reflected on what she'd seen.
Shin Jaewoo. His claim of coming into big money wasn't a lie.
'Every piece of clothing, that watch—not a single off-brand item.'
Head to toe, all luxury.
Kim Minseo might be clueless, but not Lee Hae-in.
She recognized the brands on him.
Hard to pin exact prices, but the wristwatch? She had a guess.
'Cartier... didn't look fake. Not Patek Philippe level, but that doesn't mean it's cheap.'
Factoring that in—his outfit, shoes, accessories (that watch). Easily north of ten million won. Probably tens of millions at minimum.
“Just how did he make that kind of money?”
As her thoughts reached that point, another face popped into Lee Hae-in's mind.
Lee Sooyoung.
The odd nuance in what that woman had said while eyeing her.
'Like she had some secret she couldn't share with me.'
Shin Jaewoo's words resurfaced.
He'd met her while making bank—a bank employee, he'd said.
“...Not some scam, right?”
Her first suspicion veered illegal.
Shin Jaewoo. He stuck in her memory for a reason.
His looks alone? Not bad at all. Could pass for a male cam model.
Pair that with a bank employee...
'...Marriage fraud or something.'
Approaching women, borrowing cash or getting allowances. And if banks were involved, loans in their names too.
It was a plausible line of thought.
Lee Hae-in shook her head.
“...This is getting pathological. Even if reality's more dramatic than fiction, imagining stuff like this.”
The world wasn't that sloppy.
She shut down the speculation.
'Just assume he got lucky.'
Shin Jaewoo was living well now.
That meant she could ease up on the guilt she owed him.
“Haa. What was I thinking...”
Lee Sooyoung regretted it.
The party earlier that day. Running into Lee Hae-in there.
She could tell. Even if it wasn't deep, Shin Jaewoo harbored some fondness for her.
That must've been why.
'The customer and I aren't like that.'
Today, she'd played the girlfriend role alongside Shin Jaewoo.
Crushing his ex, Kim Hyeju, in the process.
That time together must've gotten to her head. She'd ended up jealous of Lee Hae-in.
'What do I do?'
No awkward vibes from Shin Jaewoo.
But Lee Hae-in had noticed. That she'd been wary of her.
And Lee Hae-in was tight with Shin Jaewoo's family—Kim Minseo.
Whereas she and Shin Jaewoo? Barely a few days acquainted.
'Worse, if the customer was thinking of pursuing something with Lee Hae-in...'
It might look like she'd meddled.
Overstepped her bounds.
That tension gnawed at Lee Sooyoung.
“Oh?”
An exclamation slipped from Shin Jaewoo's lips.
The party had been at Baekje Hotel. So naturally, he'd booked a room here.
The premium luxury suite on the top floor, no less.
One night ran into the millions.
“...Definitely lives up to the price tag, huh?”
Shin Jaewoo marveled aloud.
Until now, he'd never stayed anywhere over a few hundred thousand a night.
At best, under 100,000. A few times over, thanks to Kim Hyeju.
'But I never splurged much...'
Ho-cations. Sales gigs worlds away from her.
Never dreamed she'd be doing one at Baekje Hotel.
Even wilder? This wasn't just for a night.
“As per your request, sir, I've paid for ten nights.”
True to suite form, it wasn't just a bedroom and bath.
A living room like a home, plus two more rooms inside—a study and bedroom.
Lee Sooyoung watched his reaction as she handled the arrangements.
As she'd said, he'd booked it for ten days.
'He bought a place, but it's empty inside...'
Needed interior work.
Hence, pros on the job. All paid for.
Several million down the drain for that alone.
“Spending money's starting to feel good.”
Shin Jaewoo said, sinking into the living room sofa.
'Oh.'
The plush comfort hit the spot.
Plus, hotel services at his fingertips during the stay.
L Tower had chipped at its prestige, but it still ranked among Korea's elite.
“Thanks for joining me at the party today—you worked hard. I owe you one. I'll make it up to you later.”
Shin Jaewoo said, looking at Lee Sooyoung.
Time for her to take the hint and head out.
She read the mood.
And made her decision.
“I had a blast today thanks to you, Jaewoo. So, about that...”