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Chapter : 15
Before Ga-eun could even contact him, Seok-jin sent her an email with detailed profiles of his family.
It was material to prepare for the “Seok-jin Family Interview” scheduled for the evening.
As expected from a chaebol family, the resumes of his family members were truly impressive.
Seok-jin’s father, Chairman Ju Se-ho, had been thoroughly trained as the successor of the Ju-shin Group from a young age. His mother, Jung Hee-kyung, head of Ju-shin Gallery, grew up in a wealthy family without lacking anything.
“What’s the point of working hard? Privilege just gets passed down like this.”
Ga-eun zoomed in and out on the smiling faces of Seok-jin’s parents on her phone screen.
“Third son, one daughter… there’s no way he feels like the youngest.”
She couldn’t believe Seok-jin was the youngest of four siblings. Standing next to him, he gave off the aura of the eldest rather than the youngest—it was surprising that he was the youngest.
The eldest son of the Ju-shin Group, Ju Tae-jin, managed the group’s core in construction and heavy industries. He had studied in the U.S., and during his time abroad, met his wife, building a happy family.
But what interested Ga-eun more was the note by the person presumed to be Secretary Tak about the couple’s real life.
“What? The couple has separate lovers? Is this… the American style?”
Reading the confidential section, Ga-eun stuck out her tongue.
Truly, the world of the super-rich was beyond what she had imagined.
Seok-jin’s second brother, Ju Kyung-jin, was extraordinary from the start. He had graduated early from a science high school and college, a brilliant talent. His wife, Kang Yoon-na, was head of dermatology at Ju-shin Hospital, also someone who had always aimed to be first in life.
Reading about Seok-jin’s two older brothers made Ga-eun feel deflated.
“Why is everyone so perfect… I’ll lose all confidence as soon as I meet them…”
She put down her phone and reviewed her own profile in her mind.
With her simple and average achievements, she had nothing truly impressive to boast about. She wasn’t outstanding in studies, nor exceptionally artistic—just an average person in South Korea.
“Average? No, I’m below average.”
Even before stepping into Seok-jin’s house, she felt lucky if she wasn’t immediately rejected.
“I’ll probably get rejected so thoroughly… Mr. Ju won’t even need to worry.”
Staring at the empty ceiling, Ga-eun sighed deeply. She had been proud of her hard work, but facing their profiles, she felt like a deflated doll.
“What? It’s already three o’clock?”
Startled, Ga-eun jumped up and headed straight for the bathroom. She showered quickly and began carefully applying makeup.
Although she considered going to a local salon, Ga-eun was confident in her makeup skills and decided to do it herself.
When Secretary Tak called to say he had arrived, she went out as she was, in her current clothes. She didn’t want the hassle of changing just because a personal shopper was coming.
“Your outfit…”
Seeing Ga-eun’s casual outfit, Secretary Tak was startled as he opened the car’s rear door.
“I’ll buy new ones anyway. I’ll throw this one away. I don’t like holding things in my hands.”
“Ah, good idea. No need to keep the old clothes when buying new ones.”
“Do you have a separate budget for shopping today?”
“Why do you ask…?”
Seeing Ga-eun deep in thought, Secretary Tak trailed off. Seok-jin had only told Manager Kim Hye-ryung to select neat clothes, without mentioning a budget.
“Do you have a preferred brand?”
Ga-eun answered, “No, but I was thinking of buying expensive ones anyway.”
“That’s fine. The boss didn’t say there’s a budget limit.”
“Yes, thank you. Did you bring the card?”
“Yes, here it is.”
Secretary Tak handed her an all-black card—the legendary black card.
Ga-eun wondered if Seok-jin would get a text for every use of it.
“Secretary Tak, stop briefly up ahead.”
Ga-eun entered a nearby convenience store and picked up a coffee from the two-plus-one offer, heading straight to the counter.
“3,200 won.”
She paid with the card and returned to the car, handing a coffee to Secretary Tak.
“Here, have this.”
“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”
“Enjoy. It’s not from my money anyway.”
Feeling pleased, Ga-eun watched the street for her next stop.
[GU Convenience Store 3,200 won]
As soon as Seok-jin saw the card usage text, the card company immediately called:
“Hello, did you lose your card?”
“No.”
“Understood.”
The card company thought it was lost because the amount was unusually low for Seok-jin’s spending habits—and it happened at a competitor’s GU store. Clearly, Ga-eun had done it on purpose.
Putting down his phone, Seok-jin returned to the previous month’s sales report. But within five minutes, another message came, making him laugh.
[Da-is-uh 58,000 won installment 10 months]
She had bought items totaling 58,000 won at Da-is-uh, usually a 1,000-won store, and chose a 10-month installment.
“Installments… let’s see how far she goes, Ga-eun.”
Seok-jin closed his report and focused on the phone, curious about where and how much she would spend next.
[H Cosmetics 10,900 won]
He wondered what cosmetics she had bought. Thinking of calling her would be weird, so he checked the site, searching for the items at her purchase price.
There were too many options for 10,900 won.
“Is this another strategy? She’s deliberately teasing my curiosity. Brilliant.”
[Delicious Hotdog 5,000 won]
Seeing the snack purchase made him chuckle. He put on his jacket and decided a department store visit would be better.
“If she avoids expensive clothes and picks cheap ones, I’ll have to stop her myself.”
He had never done this before—shopping with a woman—and headed to the department store.
“It’s been so long since I had a hotdog.”
Secretary Tak, eating a hotdog, smiled.
“Tastes better when someone else buys it.”
“Exactly.”
“Buying a hotdog with a black card…”
“Was it the boss’s money?”
Secretary Tak was shocked.
“Of course.”
“The boss’s card…?”
“Secretary Tak, don’t worry. If he gave me the card, it’s to use freely. And it’s less than 100,000 won in total.”
“But that card isn’t meant for this… The boss hates money used for the wrong purpose.”
“I’ll handle everything, Secretary Tak. Don’t worry.”
Even though Ga-eun spoke confidently, Secretary Tak remained tense.
At the personal shopper section, Secretary Tak fiddled with his phone and sighed heavily. Ga-eun felt sorry for him.
“Hello, madam.”
“Ah… yes.”
Ga-eun responded with an awkward smile.
“I’m Manager Kim Hye-ryung, here to assist your shopping.”
She greeted in a polite voice, hair neatly above the shoulders. Ga-eun bowed slightly.
“First, I picked a few items. I’ll bring your tea. What would you like?”
“Just a cup of warm water, please.”
Soon after, Seok-jin arrived.
Secretary Tak turned pale, worried that Seok-jin would scold him for letting Ga-eun use the card freely.
“Oh? I didn’t expect you to come.”
“I couldn’t skip this, dressing is important.”
“Don’t worry, she’ll choose well…”
Ga-eun sat deliberately crossing her legs.
“All recommended clothes here are high-end. Don’t refuse them because they’re expensive.”
Seok-jin sat beside her, speaking in a low voice.
“Refuse?”
“Yes.”
“Why refuse? I plan to buy the most expensive ones anyway.”
Ga-eun had expected they’d recommend only costly clothes. Since it was essential for the interview, she had no reason to be intimidated by the price. She planned to choose clothes that would make people gasp.
“…Good, that’s a relief.”
“Ah! Were you worried because I’ve spent so little until now?”
Ga-eun whispered into Seok-jin’s ear.
“This is just the start. I’ll start small and spend more over time.”
“Do as you like. But is it necessary to say it this close?”
“Listen carefully.”
She whispered again, one hand near his ear:
“I’ll live as a shopping addict while being Mr. Ju’s wife.”
