The Chat That Started It All

The workday came to an end.

In the elevator, Kim Chirok ran into Jeong Chan-young, who worked in Team 1. The sight of him made Chirok flinch.

Once, he would have at least offered a smile and asked how the work was treating him. But ever since he'd learned that Jeong Chan-young had feelings for Bang Mihee, those words simply would not come.

Jeong Chan-young grinned.

"Heading home? Why'd you jump when you saw me?"

"Jump? I did no such thing."

"Since we're both off, how about a cold beer?"

"Ah, no. I've got academy class."

"Academy?"

"I'm picking up Japanese as a second language."

"Is that so? You were always a bookworm back in school. Guess some things never change."

Chirok let his gaze travel slowly over Jeong Chan-young in the cramped elevator. The son of a wealthy family, he had the look of money about him — even his hair seemed cut in the latest style.

Jeong Chan-young probably doesn't dump his paycheck into savings like I do, stretching every last won.

Jeong Chan-young was the son of a rich household. He wouldn't be scraping and clawing to put money away the way Chirok did. For a moment, Chirok thought he could almost see Bang Mihee standing there beside him.

Doesn't Bang Mihee actually suit Jeong Chan-young better than she does me?

If Bang Mihee hadn't had those blemishes on her record, Director Jang and President Jeong-hee probably never would have introduced her to Chirok at all. They would have tried to match her with Jeong Chan-young, the son of an affiliate company president. They wouldn't have given a second glance to someone like Chirok — a product of the Near-Poverty Class who couldn't even produce a property tax assessment certificate.

Chirok was no longer Near-Poverty Class, not since landing a job at a major conglomerate. Before that, though, his household had fallen below the median income, and the classification had applied in full.

Neither Chirok nor Jeong Chan-young yet knew of the chilling scheme being hatched by President Jeong-hee and Director Jang.

After Japanese class ended, during a brief break, the instructor approached Chirok. She spoke with a shy smile.

"You must be exhausted — working at the company all day and then studying in the evening."

"No, I'm fine."

"I've heard that work at a major conglomerate is quite heavy..."

"There's a lot of work, but not enough to call it exhausting."

"I saw online today that H Group's average annual salary exceeds a hundred million won. I'm envious."

"I'm only a staff employee, so I don't make anywhere near that."

"In my university department, nobody landed a job at a major conglomerate. Though I do have a friend who passed the Grade 9 civil service exam."

"By the way, Instructor, I wanted to ask you something. What does kouta mean in Japanese?"

Chirok asked because he'd heard that Hirosue Yoshiko was skilled at singing kouta.

"Kouta?"

The instructor didn't answer right away.

"It's written with the characters for 'small song,' I believe? The character for 'small,' plus the character for 'shell' beside 'mouth.'"

"Ah! Kouta! That's a traditional Japanese popular song. Folk songs that ordinary people used to sing."

"Is that so?"

"It was popular during the Meiji and Taisho periods, and people who appreciate the old ways still sing it today."

Hmm. So it's like Korean folk songs. They say Hirosue Yoshiko sings these well — I wonder if there are any videos of her online?

"Instructor, you really are well-versed in Japanese culture."

"I only know a little."

"You studied comparative literature at Tsuru Bunka University in Japan, didn't you? So you must read Japanese novels in the original. I'm envious."

"Hehe. I'm far more envious of you, Mr. Kim, working at such a fine company."

And with that, the instructor laughed, a little shyly.

By the time he got home it was past ten, and Chirok sat down to a late dinner. His mother edged in close and asked,

"Your aunt in Gwangmyeong wants to set you up on a blind date. Want to meet her?"

"Not interested."

"There's a time for everything when it comes to marriage. She's a middle school teacher in Gwangmyeong. Won't you at least take a look?"

"How can I, given our family's situation? We're living in a rental. How am I supposed to get married? Honestly, you and Dad have no plan at all."

"Aigoo, back in the old days people started with nothing but a single pot and still lived well..."

"You and Dad started with a single pot. Did you live well after that?"

His mother had no answer. Her face immediately fell.

He felt sorry for speaking so harshly. He considered telling her he was trying to date the Chairman's secretary, then thought better of it.

The next day, Chirok gathered his courage and sent Bang Mihee a text. Jeong Chan-young's advances had been weighing on him, so he decided to make the first move.

The moment he sent it, his stomach tightened. It was the first time in his life he had ever texted a woman first.

Bang Mihee was a haughty woman — what if she said she was too busy? Or worse, what if she didn't reply at all? She might simply leave his message on read. She made good money, she had a figure to match, and the Group's male employees were supposedly lining up for her. It wouldn't have been surprising.

But a reply came.

The truth was, Chirok didn't have all that much to say. Even so, he texted her right back.

Another reply arrived.

Sharosu-gil was a distance Chirok could cover at a leisurely walk. It was a dining strip as well, packed with restaurants and cafes.

Chirok was pleased that Bang Mihee had agreed so readily. She clearly had a favorable impression of him. And with President Jeong-hee and Director Jang having recommended him, she seemed all the more inclined.

He pictured Jeong Chan-young's face and smiled.

The truth was, if Jeong Chan-young hadn't taken an interest in Bang Mihee, Chirok never would have come on this strongly. She wasn't his ideal type. But with Jeong Chan-young appearing in the middle of things, a strange competitive urge had welled up in him.

A notification chime sounded. Chirok thought Bang Mihee had texted him again. The message, however, was from someone unexpected — the real estate company employee he'd met at the Japanese academy.

Chirok had no desire to sit down to a meal with someone he'd met once or twice at the academy. Besides, Saturday was already spoken for with Bang Mihee. He sent a reply.

The moment he sent it, his phone rang. It was Jang Min-soo from the real estate company.

Chirok found it bothersome. This wasn't a colleague, and it wasn't a classmate.

"Well, Sunday might not be easy either."

"Sorry to bother you when you're busy. The truth is, I've arranged to meet a Japanese girlfriend this time."

"Oh, is that so?"

"But she said she's bringing a friend along. My Japanese isn't up to snuff, and with two of them coming, I was hoping you and I could meet them together, Mr. Kim. That's why I called."

Meet Japanese women together? Surely she won't be a beauty like Hirosue Yoshiko.

Chirok found himself interested. If things with Bang Mihee fell through, he thought, maybe he ought to try dating a Japanese woman himself. He remembered something this Jang Min-soo had said once.

Back during the Chaekgeori, Jang Min-soo had claimed that if you dated a Japanese woman, you didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even need a house. Korea obsessed over housing, he'd said, but a Japanese woman ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would start out in a rental if the two of them liked each other. Japanese women didn't care whether you lived in Gangnam or out on the outskirts.

For someone like Chirok, living in a Bongcheon-dong rental, that was the kind of talk that made your ears perk up.

"I'll have to check my schedule."

"How about meeting in Myeongdong for Sunday lunch? I'll cover all the expenses."

"Alright. Send me another text tomorrow."

"I'm counting on you to come."

Saturday arrived.

Chirok went to a hair salon and had his hair done. He was meeting women two days in a row, Saturday and Sunday, and he wanted to look presentable if he was going to bother at all.

As the appointed time with Bang Mihee drew near, he left the house and walked at an easy pace toward Sharosu-gil, by Seoul National University Station in Bongcheon-dong.

Solvej Cafe was easy to find — a small, cozy place. Bang Mihee hadn't arrived yet. A few groups of customers were scattered about, all of them looking to be in their twenties.

Nice atmosphere. Is this Bang Mihee's regular cafe?

Bang Mihee arrived well past six. Beautiful women, it seemed, were not in the habit of being on time.

She came in wearing a beret, her makeup done heavy. Her figure, as ever, was striking. When Bang Mihee swept in wearing that flashy outfit, every twenty-something in the place turned to look.

Chirok welcomed her warmly and showed her to the seat. He smiled, his voice easy.

"Do you come to this cafe often?"

"No. I came once with a friend last time."

Bang Mihee did look stylish. Under the lights, she even looked seductive — it was those red lips.

Chirok smiled and offered a compliment.

"You look even more stunning than usual today, Ms. Bang."

"So you know how to say things like that too, Mr. Kim."

She smiled as she said it. But the smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and the haughty look settled back over her face.

Chirok rubbed his hands together.

"Shall I order tea? Or would you prefer a cocktail?"

"Tea can wait. More importantly — did Director Jang say anything about me?"

"I'll be honest with you. Director Jang asked me what I thought of you."

"Did he?"

"So I told him you seemed far kinder and warmer on the inside than you appear. And truly — the day we came back from the Chairman's villa, didn't you give me a ride all the way here?"

Bang Mihee smiled again. She parted her red lips.

"The Chairman keeps telling me to marry a company employee. Apparently the big companies in Japan encourage office marriages. So Director Jang..."

"Suggested you try going out with me, I take it."

"President Jeong-hee and Director Jang selected three recommended candidates from among the Group's open-recruitment employees."

"Is that so? Was I among them?"

"I have conditions for anyone who'd be my spouse."

"Conditions?"

"First, don't interfere with my work. Second, share the housework. Those sorts of things."

"Those aren't difficult conditions. But my family background isn't great. My parents don't have any assets, either."

"That doesn't matter, because I'll be the one earning. As long as someone understands me and is sincere, that's enough."

Assets don't matter?

Those words gave Chirok hope. If assets didn't matter, then he was in. He didn't particularly care for how haughty she was, but the fact that she didn't look at family wealth — that, he liked.

Chirok smiled and held out the menu.

"Go ahead and order. If you haven't eaten, you can order food as well. Dinner's on me tonight."

"Then how about pepperoni pizza, baked cheese, and a Jim Beam highball?"

And with that, Bang Mihee crossed her legs.