CEB - 3

Chapter 3: A One-Night Stand?

The next day, Dan-jung had already finished her morning shift at the front desk.

“Should I really go?”

Still unable to believe what had happened, Dan-jung lingered nervously in front of the elevator leading to the president’s office. After staring blankly at the button for a while, she abruptly turned and headed toward the restroom instead.

<I heard our hotel president wants to marry me.> 

Unable to handle the situation alone, Dan-jung sent a desperate text to Jin-hee for advice.

<What nonsense is this?>

Jin-hee replied dismissively to Dan-jung’s sudden message.

<It’s not nonsense. The president said he wants to talk about marriage and asked me to come to his office. What should I do?>

<What?! Seriously?! You mean *your* president proposed to you?>

<Yes, exactly.>

<Is he trying to sleep with you or something?>

Like Dan-jung, Jin-hee found it hard to process this information. Marriage? It sounded absurd.

<What kind of talk is that?>

<Aren’t chaebols known for using such tactics to seduce women easily?>

Was that really it? Did they think she was so easy that they could just propose like this?

Even though Jin-hee’s judgment was premature, Dan-jung couldn’t help but feel crushed by self-doubt.

<Should I not go to the president’s office then?>

<Go first. Hear him out. Just make sure to record everything, just in case.>

<Okay, got it.>

Awakening from her sweet dream, Dan-jung trudged back to the elevator leading to the president’s office.

Seriously, why would someone as impressive as the president want to marry a low-level employee like me?

Snap out of it, Choi Dan-jung! But… what if he really does want a one-night stand?

Despite being labeled an “easy woman,” Dan-jung had no sexual experience. It wasn’t that she was deliberately preserving her virginity—it was simply the result of never dating anyone for more than three months. These days, many people slept together before officially dating, but Dan-jung wanted to wait until after at least a hundred days of courtship. She’d repeatedly asked her boyfriends to be patient.

But inevitably, after a month or two, they all ended things without fail.

According to Jin-hee, men broke up because they couldn’t have sex, but Dan-jung didn’t want to give herself to someone who couldn’t even last a hundred days. At least, if there was love, they should endure that long—after all, even bears waited a hundred days to become human.

With these principles in mind, Dan-jung had unintentionally become a woman who wasn’t easy when it came to physical intimacy.

“What happens if I refuse? Will I get fired?”

Dan-jung muttered aloud as she hesitated in front of the elevator button.

Finding another job with such high pay wouldn’t be easy… She worried about losing her position.

“Are you planning to decline?”

“Aah! You startled me!”

Dan-jung jumped at Min-hyuk’s voice behind her.

“I’m sorry. Did I scare you?”

Min-hyuk apologized in his usual monotone.

His voice carried absolutely no remorse… Confirming this, Dan-jung looked up at his face. As expected, his expression remained completely blank.

<Still, looking at him again, his features are truly stunning. If it’s someone like him, wouldn’t a one-night stand be okay?>

As Dan-jung gazed absentmindedly at Min-hyuk, a flicker of carnal desire stirred within her for the first time.

“Dinner might be better than discussing this in my office. How about Japanese cuisine?”

Though Min-hyuk had instructed Dan-jung to visit his office after work, he decided it would be wiser to discuss marriage—a private matter—outside the workplace. Thus, coincidentally timing his arrival with her shift end, he came to escort her.

“Huh? Where are we going?”

Recalling Jin-hee’s warning, Dan-jung wondered if Min-hyuk intended to take advantage of her. While her mind churned with lust, her rational side held firm.

“What do you prefer, Miss Choi? Korean food? Japanese? Chinese?”

Min-hyuk glanced at his wristwatch, double-checking the dinner timing.

Though it was still early, it seemed like a suitable moment to discuss marriage.

“I like Japanese food.”

“Let’s go then.”

“Huh? Where…?”

As Min-hyuk escorted her out of the hotel, his secretary, Mr. Im, awaited them beside Min-hyuk’s luxury sedan. Meanwhile, the afternoon shift employees at the front desk began whispering upon witnessing the scene.

“Oh my, isn’t that the newly appointed president? Why is Miss Choi getting into the president’s car?”

“I knew it. Flirting around with every man… She’s finally done it.”

“So those rumors about Miss Choi’s extensive dating history are true?”

“She says yes to anyone who asks her out… That says it all, doesn’t it?”

Passing by, the hotel manager Kang Hyun overheard their gossip and frowned.

“No idle chatter during working hours!”

“Sorry!”

Chastised, the employees stopped badmouthing Dan-jung and returned to their duties. However, Kang Hyun’s gaze lingered on her entering Min-hyuk’s car.

“Wow, what a flashy car!”

Sitting beside Min-hyuk, Dan-jung marveled at the interior of the luxurious sedan.

“Take us to Imperial Hotel.”

“Yes, sir.”

<Huh?! Why are we going to a hotel?>

Startled by Min-hyuk’s instructions, Dan-jung tensed up.

“For a private conversation, a room would be ideal.”

“Huh?”

The Imperial Hotel housed a renowned Japanese restaurant with VIP rooms for exclusive guests. Unaware of this, Dan-jung’s heart sank at the mention of “room.”

Am I really that easy? In this day and age… Touch me, and you’ll regret it!

Her thoughts spiraled as she clenched her phone tightly, biting her lip.

________________________________________

Eventually, Min-hyuk’s car arrived at the Imperial Hotel.

“Sir, we’ve arrived.”

“It may take some time, so please have dinner as well.”

“Yes, understood.”

After exiting the vehicle, Mr. Im opened the door for Min-hyuk, then hurried to open Dan-jung’s door. Yet, she remained frozen in her seat, glued to the leather upholstery.

<We’re really at a hotel. What do I do? Should I run away? But what if I get fired? Wait, does something like this even happen nowadays?>

Trembling anxiously, Dan-jung wrestled with indecision. After a prolonged silence, Min-hyuk leaned down to peer at her through the car window.

“Miss Choi?”

“Yes?”

“We’ve arrived. Aren’t you getting out?”

“Why? What do you plan to do?”

Dan-jung’s logical thinking crumbled under chaos.

“Aren’t you having dinner? The Japanese restaurant here is excellent.”

“Huh? Dinner?”

Oh right, hotels aren’t just for guest rooms—they have restaurants too!

Regaining her composure, Dan-jung finally stepped out of the car.

“I’m not an easy woman, you know.”

To preempt any potential mishaps, Dan-jung calmly yet firmly stated her stance.

“May I ask what you mean?”

Momentarily taken aback, Min-hyuk sought clarification.

“If you’re planning to take advantage of me, give up now.”

“I’m considering you as a potential marriage partner, Miss Choi. If you’re unwilling, I won’t force anything further.”

“Not a one-night stand?”

“No.”

“So… you genuinely want to marry me?”

“Yes.”

“But why me?”

Perplexed, Dan-jung tilted her head.

“This discussion might be better suited indoors.”

“Oh…”

“Shall we go in?”

Min-hyuk extended his arm, and Dan-jung reluctantly followed, each step heavy with uncertainty.

________________________________________

They arrived at “Hanabi,” an elegantly decorated Japanese restaurant exuding traditional charm.

“This way, please.”

A staff member familiar with Min-hyuk guided them to a VIP room deep inside the restaurant.

<So this is the “room” he meant.>

Embarrassed by her earlier wild imagination, Dan-jung sat down quietly.

“I’ll order two servings of Course A, arriving in 30 minutes.”

Without consulting her, Min-hyuk placed the order.

<Such poor manners…>

“The Course A here is the best.”

“Ah… okay.”

Following his suggestion, Dan-jung scanned the menu. Her eyes widened in shock.

Is this price real?! Course A was the most expensive option on the menu.

One meal costing this much… Well, he is the president of Le Soleil Hotel.

Dan-jung stole another glance at Min-hyuk. Bathed in soft lighting, his face seemed almost unreal, like the extravagant dish he ordered. Outside the hotel, he could easily pass for a model or actor.

Thump-thump. Her heart raced uncontrollably at the sight of him.

“Here.”

Min-hyuk handed her his business card—”Lee Min-hyuk, President of Le Soleil Hotel.” It was his habit to exchange cards upon meeting someone.

Accepting it respectfully with both hands, Dan-jung stared intently at the card.

“Let me get straight to the point. I wish to marry you within ten days.”

“Huh? Ten days?”

Dan-jung visibly tensed, shocked by his unexpected declaration.

“And once married, divorce is absolutely impossible.”

“What if you cheat?”

At this point, Dan-jung suspected he might intend to keep her as a legal wife while maintaining mistresses on the side.

“Such a scenario won’t occur.”

“But people can change, right?”

“Even so, divorce remains impossible.”

“Haa…”

A weary laugh escaped Dan-jung’s lips. His conditions felt overwhelmingly unreasonable, even for a chaebol heir.

“Allow me to clarify. According to my late father’s will, I must marry within three months or forfeit management rights. Additionally, divorcing means donating all my shares to society.”

“What?”

Dan-jung echoed, struggling to comprehend.

“It’s exactly as I said. Eighty days have passed since Father’s will, leaving me ten days to marry—and divorce is permanently off the table.”

“But why me…?”

Unaware of Min-hyuk’s condition, Dan-jung couldn’t fathom why someone of his wealth and looks would choose her.

“With your resources and appearance, you could easily marry into another chaebol family or even a celebrity.”

“Yesterday, I overheard you at the front desk saying you’d marry anyone as long as divorce wasn’t involved.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that correct?”

Dan-jung recalled her words from the previous day:

[If divorce isn’t an option, why not? I’ll marry!]

Ah! So that’s why. She finally understood his reasoning.

Their desires oddly aligned.