CLBC 3

Chapter 3

Yoon Bora

As soon as Bora got home, she stood up from where she had been sitting and immediately removed the makeup that had been bothering her all day.

She soaked a cotton pad with makeup remover, placed it over her eyelashes, and gently rubbed. Thick black mascara came away in clumps.

After carefully wiping the color from her eyebrows and lip tint, cleansing her entire face, and finishing her shower, the tension finally drained from her body, leaving her legs weak.

“Haah…”

Without even properly drying her hair, Bora flopped face-down onto her bed. Her vacant eyes drifted toward the rabbit plush sitting beside her pillow.

“Tosoon, today was really exhausting.”

Her fingers weakly played with Tosoon’s long ears, receiving no answer.

“They said he was a really scary person, so I was incredibly nervous… but he wasn’t actually that scary?”

If anything, she had been more flustered by how handsome he was and how good his physique was.

Had the rumors about his terrible temper and eccentric personality—which supposedly ruined every blind date he went on—been nothing more than rumors?

He spoke bluntly, but he didn’t seem rude or selfish.

And the very first thing he had said was that she was beautiful.

“He does have good taste… no, that’s not the point. Who exactly is this old man who wants me to ‘soften him up’? He must be someone important to Han Kang-yoon.”

She had agreed on impulse, but at the time she had been too overwhelmed and focused solely on securing Han Kang-yoon’s support.

Ever since childhood, Bora had especially enjoyed talking with elderly people and felt comfortable around them.

No matter how grumpy an old person was, after just a few minutes of talking with Bora, they would usually clasp her hand and smile warmly.

Her family’s healthcare business had also played an important role in shaping her career path.

Bora wanted to create a comfortable place for the growing elderly population—a place where they could live safely and happily until the end of their lives.

Unlike the countless retirement communities that sprang up everywhere, hers focused on helping seniors continue self-development and maintain social connections so they could even hold small jobs within society.

The positive response had been tremendous.

Combined with carefully managed diets, spotless facilities, professional caregivers, and resident medical staff available at any time for consultations and examinations, it had remained the industry’s number one facility for over three years.

“Haah… I really said it with an all-or-nothing attitude.”

It had been a blind date she was practically forced into anyway, so she had figured she might as well pursue her own interests.

The image of Han Kang-yoon calmly accepting her unexpected proposal far more readily than she had expected came to mind.

“The Kangsan Group really must be incredible. He didn’t even ask how much money I needed before agreeing.”

Just then, while she was absentmindedly playing with Tosoon’s ears, her phone vibrated.

She glanced at the unfamiliar number and was about to delete it as spam when she noticed the words:

Bora-ssi.

“Han Kang-yoon…?”

Bora-ssi, it was nice meeting you today. I’d like to have lunch with you tomorrow.

It was an extremely concise message—almost too concise.

“Shouldn’t he at least add something like, ‘if your schedule allows it’?”

Though she said that, her fingers were already tapping away on the keyboard.

Yes, it was nice meeting you too. What time and where shall we meet tomorrow?

Maybe she should have added an emoji.

But her impatient fingers had already sent the message.

A reply arrived shortly afterward.

I’ll come to The Bit’s main entrance at twelve noon. If there’s any food you like, please let me know in advance.

I eat just about anything. Then I’ll see you tomorrow at twelve. Sleep well.

For some reason, the back of her neck felt strangely ticklish.

Bora stared at her phone for a little longer after the conversation ended, then suddenly hugged Tosoon tightly.

“Seriously… even his follow-up invitation sounds exactly like him. He’s so stiff.”

But that stiff face was incredibly handsome.

Realizing she was thinking such things, Bora buried her face into Tosoon’s soft belly.

The date itself was one thing, but she also needed to calculate exactly how much investment she should ask for.

Knock knock.

“Can I come in?”

At her mother’s voice, Bora sat up from where she had been lying on the mattress.

“Yeah.”

Her mother approached with sparkling eyes, wearing an expensive silk robe in cream and pale pink.

“So? How was it? I went golfing today, and when I mentioned you were on a blind date, everyone got curious.”

“What is there to be curious about? Mom, please stop telling everyone what I’m doing.”

“Oh, come on. Do you think my golf group is made up of people I met yesterday? We’ve known each other since before you were born. They’re like family.”

Family, my foot.

Bora knew people didn’t include her parents in gatherings as much as they used to because the family business was struggling.

But she didn’t want to start another argument with her mother, so she kept quiet.

“Anyway, how was he? He might not be Han Kang-moon, but he’s still the second son and the CEO of Kangsan Construction. He’ll probably inherit more shares eventually. Did he seem smart? Hmm?”

Her mother’s interest was focused entirely on Han Kang-yoon’s wealth.

Bora let out a small sigh and nodded vaguely.

“Yeah. Well… physically, he’s very impressive. And he wasn’t nearly as much of a troublemaker as I’d expected.”

“See? What did I tell you? You have to meet people in person. Did he ask for a second date? Hmm?”

“He just texted me asking to have lunch tomorrow.”

“I knew it. You’re beautiful because you take after me. Men can’t help but like you. You should be grateful to your mother, okay?”

Her mother’s face was bright with delight as she lightly slapped Bora’s shoulder.

Bora knew perfectly well that her mother’s cheerfulness existed because of money.

Her mother had been born the youngest daughter of a mid-sized company president and had spent her entire life getting whatever she wanted.

After marrying Bora’s father, she had lived as a wealthy socialite and had never once needed to humble herself before anyone.

Most likely, her mother had no idea what kind of situation Bitchan Group was truly in—how much debt they carried or how severe their financial problems were.

That was why even the collapse of her only daughter’s business went in one ear and out the other.

“I want to rest now, Mom.”

“Okay. Oh, and put on a face mask before bed, all right? No matter what, a woman’s beauty is her greatest asset. I gave birth to you looking this pretty. If you don’t use it to your advantage, you’re a fool. Understand?”

“Okay, okay. Now please leave.”

Bora pushed her mother toward the door and closed it behind her.

Then she sighed and collapsed onto the bed again.

“Mom has it easy. Even in a situation like this, the only thing she worries about is maintaining her looks.”

Despite saying that, Bora opened her vanity drawer and pulled out a tea tree facial mask.

“Well, I should at least make some effort.”

After carefully applying the mask to her face, she turned on her tablet and reviewed several months of financial records for The Bit.

Her expression became serious.

“Oh my God…”

After subtracting labor costs, maintenance expenses, and countless other expenditures, the remaining revenue was enough to make anyone sigh.

And this month’s interest payments alone amounted to tens of millions of won.

At this rate, we’ll either shut down or be forced to sell within a few months.

Bora stared blankly at the sea of red numbers covering the spreadsheet.

Then she closed the tablet and shut her eyes.

“Let’s not frown. Everything will work out. I don’t know who that old man is, but I’ll do my best to win him over! You can do this, Yoon Bora.”

As soon as she closed her eyes, Kang-yoon’s image from earlier that day appeared vividly in her mind.

His neatly tailored suit.

His carefully groomed hair.

His dark eyebrows that looked almost painted.

His handsome face.

Yet more than his appearance, what had moved her was his low, steady voice.

There was a seriousness to him that suggested he wouldn’t speak carelessly.

And a reliability that made her feel he wouldn’t casually repeat other people’s words.

Of course, it was impossible to fully understand someone after only one meeting.

But one thing was certain.

“Still, he seems ten times better than Han Kang-moon.”

The memory of Han Kang-moon’s shrill, cracking voice suddenly surfaced, causing her brow to furrow.

“Maybe I should look up a good restaurant for our investor. I haven’t really explored the area around the town.”

She normally ate lunch with her employees in the retirement community cafeteria, so no suitable place came to mind.

“He looks like the type who only eats at Michelin two-star restaurants… maybe I should surprise him?”

Her mother would probably disapprove, but Bora thought of a favorite local restaurant she had often visited with her father since childhood.

If this was someone who might someday share her future, it could be fun to test whether he respected her tastes.

“He’s not going to grab me by the collar and ask why I brought him somewhere like that… right?”

Tomorrow’s lunch would be all or nothing.

Still, she doubted Kang-yoon would get angry over one more unexpected move.

Setting aside the headache-inducing numbers for the moment, Bora found herself thinking about Kang-yoon’s handsome face.

The corners of her lips twitched upward into a smile.a