ASPM 09

Chapter 09

Dong. Something struck Seo Taeju in the head.

“…What did you just say?”

Seo Taeju stopped in his tracks, and Yeo Jaegyeong looked up at him as she answered.

“I said I left it behind on purpose. That accounting ledger. To make an excuse to see you again.”

Crack.

Seo Taeju felt the smile he’d been wearing until now split apart.

Before he could even show his confusion, Yeo Jaegyeong lightly tapped the arm he had draped over her shoulder.

“And could you move this arm? You’re more muscular than you look. I guess you work out a lot.”

…The shock of realizing that the steering wheel you thought you held was actually in the passenger seat.

Instinctively, Seo Taeju realized he had overlooked something.

Yeo Jaegyeong wasn’t an ordinary woman.

Taking control in whatever game this was between them might turn out to be much harder than he expected.

He cleared his throat awkwardly and lowered his arm.

“Was it heavy? You should’ve said something sooner.”

“It wasn’t unbearable. Still, if we’re already putting arms around shoulders on the first day, doesn’t that mean the physical-contact progression is moving a bit too fast?”

“Physical… contact… progression…”

Even at Seo Taeju’s hollow muttering, Yeo Jaegyeong’s expression didn’t change.

For someone who’d just said something outrageous, she looked perfectly calm.

Still.

That accounting ledger—she’d really left it behind on purpose?

Dumbfounded, Seo Taeju called after her as she kept walking.

“What are you, Cinderella? Who leaves behind an accounting ledger like it’s a glass slipper?”

“Cinderella?”

Yeo Jaegyeong whipped around as if she’d just heard an insult.

“Are you comparing me to some woman desperate to marry for a rise in social status?”

Her expression practically said:

I’m the only daughter of Hanrim.

“Ah, my mistake.”

Seo Taeju raised an eyebrow as if admitting he’d misspoken.

“I forgot. Your family’s pretty rich too.”

“That’s not the issue, Seo Taeju.”

“Right. You’re correct. Cinderella also had to be an orphan with a stepmother and two stepsisters. I guess you fail the qualifications.”

You think anyone can be Cinderella?

You already don’t meet the requirements.

Yeo Jaegyeong rolled her eyes at his absurd remark.

“But why an accounting ledger, of all things?”

“What do you mean?”

Seo Taeju laughed incredulously.

“I mean, there are plenty of other things, right? Like a handkerchief sprayed with perfume. Or a bookmark made from pressed flowers. Out of all the items that could stimulate a man’s senses, you chose a smelly old accounting ledger.”

“What’s wrong with our club’s ledger?”

“Oh, plenty. It has no romance. Even Cinderella sacrificed a pretty glass slipper.”

“Seo Taeju. Are you disrespecting accounting ledgers? Thanks to this thing, our club members regularly have pork belly dinners with soju-beer mixes, pay membership fees, and even cover karaoke costs. Though I can’t attend often.”

Pork belly and somaek… karaoke…

Seo Taeju paused at the familiar words entering his ears.

“And these days, instead of handkerchiefs, people use wet wipes. Instead of bookmarks, e-books. The functionality is way better.”

“……”

Mood ruined. Completely.

This woman definitely had an image problem—people overestimated how mature and quiet she was.

Though that just makes her more interesting.

A grin kept tugging at Seo Taeju’s lips.

“So, Yeo Jaegyeong, you’re not a pure-and-fragile Cinderella but a practical princess riding a white horse?”

A princess on a white horse?

Yeo Jaegyeong frowned slightly at the description.

Did I mess up?

Maybe she should’ve projected a more feminine image.

She knew nothing about romance.

The only thing Yeo Jaegyeong knew was that Chairwoman Yeo Baekhwa intended to marry her off to the man standing before her.

And she probably wouldn’t be able to avoid marrying Seo Taeju.

In this situation, what I can do is…

She looked at him.

The nation’s representative troublemaker—tall, handsome, staring at her like she was unbelievable.

…Use this marriage with him to my advantage.

“Whether I’m Cinderella or a princess on a white horse, Seo Taeju.”

Hands on her hips, she spoke as though giving an order.

“I plan to continue receiving compensation for returning my accounting ledger. Unlike Cinderella, I don’t fall for someone just because they returned a glass slipper. Even rock-paper-scissors is best out of three. Shouldn’t we go on at least three dates before I know what kind of man you are?”

Of course, that didn’t mean she had even the slightest intention of lowering her head first.

The more dangerous the situation, the more confidently she faced it.

That was her principle.

Seo Taeju stared blankly at her before muttering,

“You… really have no brakes, huh?”

Yeo Jaegyeong frowned.

“Brakes?”

Apparently she didn’t know the slang.

Honestly, she showed signs of being a sheltered rich girl in the weirdest ways.

“It’s… never mind.”

Seo Taeju waved a hand while covering part of his face.

His cheeks had turned red.

How was a chaebol heiress raised so delicately…

…this bold and encouraging?

“Then Sunday afternoon. Tteokbokki. I’ll send you the exact time and place.”

Yeo Jaegyeong informed him calmly.

“…Ha.”

Seo Taeju had no choice but to completely surrender to her decision.

Current score: 1–0.

And naturally, the princess on the white horse was winning.

“By the way, are you sure this is really the way?”

Yeo Jaegyeong glanced around uneasily.

Seo Taeju, momentarily overwhelmed by her momentum, came back to his senses.

“Have you been fooled your whole life? I’m serious.”

Soon, a familiar route appeared.

Seo Taeju dramatically stopped her and pointed at a building.

“See? Building A. Yours.”

“Oh. It really is.”

Yeo Jaegyeong’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Not only could she see Building A—they’d reached the entrance almost instantly.

“See? I told you. I wouldn’t make you late.”

As long as you reach the destination, who cares how you got there, miss.

Seo Taeju laughed happily at her surprised expression.

“But how are you getting there?”

“There’s always a way. Our deal was only that you wouldn’t be late, right?”

Which meant…

Yeo Jaegyeong narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“So it doesn’t matter if you end up late?”

Seo Taeju spread both hands dramatically.

“Tsk. Yeo Jaegyeong. Didn’t oppa tell you? There’s always a way.”

Oppa?

Unused to the title, Yeo Jaegyeong frowned.

“When did you secretly eat an extra bowl of rice cake soup and become older? Aren’t we the same age?”

At her provocation, Seo Taeju puffed himself up.

“Same age? Want to compare by birth month instead of year? Let’s see who’s really older.”

College seniors, still young.

Childish pride ruled his entire body.

Lifting his chin, Seo Taeju asked seriously,

“What month were you born?”

“……”

Looking at him like he was ridiculous, Yeo Jaegyeong answered,

“I already checked. You were born in September, I was born in March. If we’re going by months, that makes me older. Are you okay with calling me ‘Noona Yeo Jaegyeong’?”

“…What does birth date matter, Yeo Jaegyeong? What’s important is living your life meaningfully and making good use of the body your parents gave you.”

Life is all about changing your stance quickly.

Seo Taeju immediately retreated.

As expected, her eyes seemed to say.

I’m bigger-handed and broader-shouldered than this woman, so I’ll endure it.

“Well, thanks to you, I learned a pretty good shortcut.”

Yeo Jaegyeong turned sharply toward him.

Without realizing it, Seo Taeju stared.

Thinking about it again, she was remarkably upright and capable-looking. Even the way she spoke was crisp and decisive—definitely his type…

The corners of his mouth kept twitching upward as he looked at her.

Then suddenly, disaster struck.

“Still, I think you need to prove you weren’t late.”

“What?”

A protest burst from Seo Taeju instantly.

One of Yeo Jaegyeong’s eyebrows rose mercilessly.

“You said it yourself. There’s always a way.”

“Well, yeah, but…”

The corner of Seo Taeju’s mouth twitched.

A way?

A man says all kinds of things when he’s trying to charm a girl!

Oblivious, Yeo Jaegyeong smiled.

The prettiest expression he’d seen on her all day.

“I think I like diligent people. The kind who use the body their parents gave them meaningfully and live their lives well.”

Quoting his own words back at him.

Tap.

Yeo Jaegyeong snatched the phone hanging from the front pocket of his shirt. She pressed some numbers and slipped it back in.

“Send me a picture proving you weren’t late to class. Also, Sunday’s meeting time and place will be sent to that number.”

“What? Hey—hey! Yeo Jaegyeong! Aren’t you stopping?”

“See you Sunday. Of course, only if your proof succeeds.”

Her long straight hair swayed proudly as she walked away.

What the…!

…In the middle of all that confusion, she’d gotten his number in an instant.

Seo Taeju muttered blankly,

“What kind of chaebol princess is that imposing? She doesn’t just ride a white horse—at this rate she’ll pull out a sword too.”

Fight dragons, rescue princes.

Do everything herself.

How many times am I getting outplayed today?

Seo Taeju was losing all dignity.

Still…

Glancing down, he checked the time on his phone.

About 1 minute and 30 seconds until his next class.

Far too little time to complete the “proof” Yeo Jaegyeong demanded.

What do I do?

Seo Taeju shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath.

“Haa…”

What do you mean, what do I do?

Then—

His feet slammed against the ground powerfully.

Seo Taeju burst into a full sprint.

His hair whipped wildly in the wind as he ran with everything he had.