SELA - Extra 1

“What is it this time?”

“They say they’ve already gotten divorced.”

Inside the elevator with a clear view of the nightscape, Sa-hee, who was neatly adjusting Ji-hyuk’s tie, raised her head.

“Who? Us?”

“Yeah. Us.”

Ji-hyuk, taking his eyes off his phone screen, looked down at her. The two, their eyes meeting, burst into laughter at the same time. It was absurd.

“Don’t they ever get tired of this? It’s not just for a day or two, how can they do this every time?”

“They have to make a living too, you know. Isn’t the purpose of spewing out trashy articles that aren’t even like writing obvious?”

On his phone screen, there was a tabloid article with a black silhouette picture and cliché titles like ‘Mr. A and his wife, Ms. B’. It wasn’t the first or second time, but Ji-hyuk’s friend Jun-young had kindly sent him the link, saying, ‘Look at this, another story about you,’ so he had checked it again.

“Still, it’s mean. Making up stories like they’re true.”

Sa-hee, narrowing her brow, stopped adjusting his tie and stood up straight. Ji-hyuk, putting his phone in his pocket, leaned sideways and turned to look at her.

“Does it bother you?”

“No.”

“It seems like it does.”

“You know it doesn’t.”

“I don’t know. How would I know?”

Ji-hyuk’s voice, picking at her words, was laced with amusement. The tabloid article was nothing to be bothered about, but the fact that Sa-hee was displeased with those trying to tarnish their marriage quite intrigued him. It was an emotion that couldn’t be felt if their relationship wasn’t precious.

Sa-hee narrowed her eyes and looked at Ji-hyuk before turning her head away. She recognized his playfulness and was drawing a line in advance.

“If you don’t know, then forget it.”

“Why? Tell me. I want to know.”

Whether he said so or not, Ji-hyuk, without trying to hide his snorting laughter, pulled Sa-hee towards him.

“What are you doing? What if people get on?”

“What? Am I going to strip you naked? Am I going to make out with you? It’s just an embrace.”

“Oh, really!”

Even if there were only the two of them in the elevator, it was still a public place. And there were CCTVs too.

Sa-hee didn’t want to do anything embarrassing, so she stiffened her body and resisted. But she was pulled into his arms in an instant. A deep perfume scent, reminiscent of a deep blue sea, wafted around her.

“......You’ve hugged me, so that’s enough. Let go of me now.”

“No. Not yet.”

“We’ll arrive soon.”

“So what.”

This guy, really. In the end, it was Ji-hyuk who made Sa-hee struggle in his arms. But even that was just a cute stimulation for him.

Soon, an announcement that they had arrived at the 17th floor played, and only then did the strength in Ji-hyuk’s arms loosen. Sa-hee quickly broke free from his embrace and lightly hit his chest. She didn’t forget to give him a playful glare.

“Do you have a reservation?”

“Shin Ji-hyuk.”

“Yes, confirmed. Please follow me.”

Following the lead of the staff member, the two also moved.

“What time was the appointment?”

“7:30 PM. It’s still 20 minutes before, so we’ll probably be the first.”

Ji-hyuk, checking the time on his wrist, replied. Sa-hee nodded as if she understood and readjusted her bag on her shoulder.

Passing through a hall area with a few tables, a corridor with rooms lined up on both sides appeared. The staff member guided Ji-hyuk and Sa-hee to the VIP room located at the very end. It was a pre-booked space.

“Please enjoy your time.”

The two stepped inside, passing the staff member who held the door open for them and then left.

“Ah, you’re here! Hello.”

“You’ve already arrived.”

It was an unexpected voice, but Ji-hyuk quickly smiled. He had expected to arrive first since it was earlier than the appointment time. It seemed the other party was one step ahead.

“You’re early.”

“Of course. I prepared in advance, worried about being late, so I ended up arriving this early.”

Hahahaha. The other party, smiling affably, was a portly man with a kind face.

Sa-hee, standing beside Ji-hyuk, looked at the other man’s face and tilted her head slightly. Strangely, he looked familiar.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Yes, let’s. You sit down too.”

“Yes? Yes.”

Sa-hee, sitting down on the chair Ji-hyuk pulled out for her, placed her bag below and quietly looked at the other man. Beside the portly man, a woman with a kind face was also sitting. Since it was a meeting between families, they must be a married couple. The woman, presumably his wife, also looked familiar.

At that moment, the woman’s eyes met Sa-hee’s. Then, she immediately leaned towards her husband as if to whisper something to him.

“Is it just the two of you who came?”

“No, our son came with us too. He said he was just going to the restroom.”

“I see. Allow me to offer my business card first. I am Shin Ji-hyuk.”

Ji-hyuk stood up and handed his business card to the man. The man looked at him with a grateful expression and accepted the card with a smile.

“Oh my, who in this industry wouldn’t know Managing Director Shin?”

Ji-hyuk replied with a smile and sat down again. This time, the man politely offered his own business card. Ji-hyuk, accepting it with courtesy, glanced at it. Sa-hee also peeked at the business card from the side.

‘…Lee Gun-tae, President of Moolsan.’

Seeing the name, the purpose of today’s meeting finally came to mind. The incident from two months ago.

Two months ago, at a charity gala hosted by Taesung Group, a dinner with President Shin Tae-won was put up for auction. The rather fierce auction was won by President Lee Gun-tae, who hadn’t given up until the end, continuously bidding one more on top of the previous price. Rumor had it that he had cheered loudly as soon as he won the bid.

The dinner appointment was quickly set by mutual agreement. However, unfortunately, President Shin Tae-won’s health had recently deteriorated rapidly, so the appointment had to be postponed twice.

Although unintentional, with the consecutive cancellations, President Shin Tae-won sent his son to the dinner in his place as a sign of apology. It was a promise he would keep no matter what, and he was showing his valuable card by having his son attend first.

“Please have a light meal with me this time, and I will arrange a time with the president again as soon as his condition allows.”

That was what today’s meeting was about.

“There’s no need to rush. I heard his health isn’t good, so how can I ask you to consider only my situation?”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“For me, it’s lucky to be able to have a meal with the Managing Director like this.”

“Today’s on me, so please feel free to enjoy yourself.”

“Ah, yes. I was planning to do just that, hahaha.”

It would have been awkward if he had shown any displeasure, but fortunately, President Lee Gun-tae was as open-hearted as his sturdy build suggested. Smiling pleasantly, he looked at Ji-hyuk, introducing his wife. He seemed to want Ji-hyuk to introduce Sa-hee as well.

“Oh, right, I’m late with the introduction. This is my wife.”

“Hello. I’m Yoon Sa-hee.”

As soon as Sa-hee finished her greeting, the expressions of President Lee Gun-tae and his wife subtly changed. Thanks to that, Sa-hee’s eyes also widened. Why? Why are they making such faces...?

Just as doubt was taking root, the door slid open with a creak. Sa-hee was still preoccupied with President Lee and his wife, so she hadn’t even looked that way.

A moment of silence passed.

“Why are you so late? Come and sit down quickly.”

It was President Lee Gun-tae who broke the silence. Someone who hadn’t answered walked over and sat down opposite Sa-hee with heavy footsteps.

Finally, as footsteps approached nearby, Sa-hee barely turned her head to face him.

“Huh?”

The sound escaped her involuntarily.

“Lee Seo-won?”

At the name that flowed out on its own, Seo-won’s eyes, sitting opposite her, wavered. But he quickly composed himself and gave a soft smile.

“You haven’t forgotten my name?”

“How are you here...?”

“Are you acquainted with my son?”

Startled, Sa-hee was about to keep her eyes on Seo-won when President Lee Gun-tae suddenly asked a question. Only then did Sa-hee, realizing where she was and what she was doing, blink.

“Ah, yes.”

“Actually, I’ve wanted to ask since earlier, were you perhaps...?”

“Yes?”

“There was a student who used to tutor this kid.”

He seemed to want to ask if she was that Yoon Sa-hee who used to tutor Seo-won when he was young. Sa-hee looked back at Ji-hyuk. For some reason, she found herself observing his expression.

He slowly closed and opened his eyes, nodding. It meant she could do as she pleased.

“Yes. That’s me.”

“Oh my! I thought so! You still have the same face!”

This time, the woman who must be Seo-won’s mother clapped her hands and smiled brightly. She looked as happy as someone who had found a lost friend.

“You’re our son’s savior, so we can’t forget you even if we wanted to.”

“Of course. We can’t forget you.”

“Seo-won, you said you didn’t want to come today, but aren’t you glad you did? You even got to meet your teacher again like this.”