Chapter 3

Da Hee wondered what the man would ask. There were many things he could ask: her name, age, and so on, but the most important question was why he was asking.

"Did you find the man you were talking about earlier?"

The man's question was beyond Da Hee's guess.

"What man?"

At Da Hee's question, the man's eyes narrowed. At his peculiar gaze, Da Hee also squinted.

"The man who only needs to shine brightly by your side for just one day."

"You heard that?"

"I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I did hear it. I apologize if I upset you."

"No, that's not it. What I'm more curious about isn't the fact that you heard, but why you're pretending to know. Why are you asking? Are you going to introduce him to me?"

"If possible. What kind of man exactly are you looking for?"

"A man who shines brightly, but isn't tacky."

Da Hee offered a neat smile. The man tilted his head as if asking for more explanation. At the same time, his soft hair gently fell forward.

He was truly a dazzling man.

"It's just as I said. A man who is wonderful, but won't cling to me. A man with no physical or mental disqualifications, and who doesn't believe in love."

The man gazed her intently. Da Hee met his eyes directly and continued speaking.

"A man who doesn't believe in love, or even if he does, doesn't easily get swept away by it. Do you happen to know anyone like that?"

"Yes."

At the man's words, Da Hee's eyes narrowed with interest. The man in front of her perfectly matched her desired physical criteria. It was then she thought that if such a man were to introduce someone, he would be trustworthy.

"It's me."

Da Hee's eyes narrowed at the man's words. It was an unexpected answer. Da Hee was momentarily speechless. The man leaned back in his chair, as if he would wait until Da Hee collected her thoughts. He was the one who made the offer, yet he remained poised throughout. His face looked as if he wouldn't care if he was rejected. That expression provoked Da Hee.

"What's your motivation for applying?"

Da Hee asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Because I am that kind of man."

The man said, tapping his fingertips on the table.

"If I had to add another reason, it's because it sounds interesting."

"I don't have sex with men I don't know."

"I didn't say to. If it happened, I wouldn't refuse, but I also wasn't going to suggest it."

The man's lips curved into an arc. His intentions were unreadable. On a day when heavy rain fell in early summer, their eyes had met for a long time, and then days passed without any conversation. But suddenly, he offered to be the man she was looking for.

"I can't pay a large sum. As you can see, my shop isn't doing well."

At Da Hee's reply, the man leaned forward and chuckled. His low laughter spread across the shop floor. She simultaneously thought his laugh was pleasant and wondered why he was laughing. The man narrowed his eyes and spoke.

"I don't need money."

"Then why on earth would you bother spending your time to become that man?"

"I told you. Because it sounds interesting."

"..."

"And if I had to add one more reason, it's because I need you too."

The man's eyes curved into crescent moons. She hadn't realized it when he was expressionless, but the man's smiling face was as refreshing as early summer. However, there was only softness and coolness, no warmth.

"I'm that kind of man. I like interesting things, and I can pretend to love someone just enough, without actual love."

After listening to the man's words, Da Hee was convinced. The man in front of her was of the same kind as herself, the kind who try their best to love but whose heart never truly warms, the kind whose reason always precedes emotion, and who consequently hurts the people they love.

Da Hee rubbed the rim of her glass with her thumb. Cold water droplets trickled down her finger, chilling it.

What should she do? The man possessed the appearance she sought. His aura, even his voice, was flawlessly perfect.

"What do you need me for?"

Da Hee asked, lifting her head after looking down for a moment.

"Do you like to fight?"

"Physical fighting?"

"No. A battle of wits."

"I don't like it, but I'm good at it."

"I thought so."

"Thanks for the compliment."

At Da Hee's dry reply, the man chuckled softly.

"You just need to get rid of bothersome people for me."

Ah, a woman problem.

Da Hee immediately realized what the man needed. She hesitated for a moment. She didn't like battles of wits or arguments, but she had never lost one. This wouldn't be a problem. However, she wondered what would happen next. Da Hee looked at the man in front of her, recalling her ex-boyfriend's upcoming wedding. The man was waiting for her decision.

If she refused the man, her peaceful life wouldn't change. But, she'd regret it.

"This should be interesting."

Da Hee said, offering a clean smile. At her acceptance, the man took out a business card from his wallet and handed it to her.

[Financial Advisor, Ma Woo Hyun]

Only after seeing the business card did Da Hee understand how the man could be freely out at this hour. His attire, however, remained a question. Typically, financial advisors wore suits and carried briefcases to convey trustworthiness.

'He must be a slightly unusual case.'

Da Hee thought to herself.

"I don't have a business card. My name is Lee Da Hee. I'm thirty years old. How old are you?"

"Thirty-two."

"I'll call you Mr. Ma Woo Hyun from now on."

She drew a clear line, as if telling him not to expect to be called "Oppa." Woo Hyun looked at her and said in a gentle voice.

"Alright. Ms. Lee Da Hee."

[TL/N : Oppa - It's a term used by a female to address an older male.]

~~~~~

After leaving the cafe, Woo Hyun saw Da Hee sitting idly by the window. She was writing something while looking inside the POS system (Point of Sales).

Before he left the cafe, Woo Hyun had asked if she had any questions. Da Hee, with a face that suggested should she have questions, replied, 'No.' She even added, 'If possible, let's not have any curiosity about each other. It's more comfortable for both of us to keep that kind of distance.' It was a personality that matched her neat, sophisticated appearance. And he liked that.

Woo Hyun returned home immediately. About ten minutes from the café was a residential area. Amidst the gigantic, castle-like houses stood a modern, gray box-shaped building. Woo Hyun entered the passcode, and the glass door slid open. No sooner had he walked up to the second floor than Seong Tae stood in front of him.

"Where have you been? Leaving all these tasks behind."

Seong Tae's face had become haggard in just thirty minutes. Seong Tae was Woo Hyun's sole business partner and junior. Woo Hyun walked past Seong Tae and replied indifferently.

"The café."

"You went there again?"

"It's Saturday today, so it doesn't matter."

"You're going again next Monday, aren't you? Right after the market closes, no less! You're not even thinking about OTC (Over-the-Counter) investments!"

"I left the OTC investments to you."

Woo Hyun opened his office door and stepped inside.

"Is disappearing after saying 'good luck' without any explanation leaving it to me? Senior? My role is real estate. Stocks, funds, investment items are all your responsibility."

~~~~~

Miel's Translations