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Chapter : 16
“Why shopping addiction, of all things?”
“Think about when we break up later. I can handle getting cursed at as long as I have money, but you’re a businessman, President Joo. You need a good image.”
When the black card was placed in her hand, Gaeun had already made up her mind.
Her reason for divorce would be a reckless and wasteful lifestyle.
“How perfect is it? The Cinderella wife loses her mind over her husband’s wealth, spends money like crazy, and in the end, the husband can’t take it anymore and chooses divorce!”
Even she thought it was a perfect scenario.
In that ending, Gaeun would take a large compensation as the one who “sacrificed,” and Seokjin wouldn’t suffer any damage to his image. A win-win situation.
“So, you like being criticized as long as you get money?”
“Of course. Money you earn while being cursed at is the best kind.”
When Gaeun raised both thumbs confidently, Seokjin’s neat expression quickly hardened.
“I don’t like jokes.”
“I’m not joking…”
“No matter how this started, Miss Oh Gaeun, from now on, you are my wife. I don’t like people pointing fingers at my wife, calling her a shopping addict or anything like that.”
It was a cool line, but Gaeun couldn’t understand him at all.
Wasn’t a businessman supposed to calculate profit and loss quickly?
“President Joo.”
Gaeun called his name calmly. Instead of answering, he just looked at her with his handsome eyes.
“I have no intention of living as your wife for the rest of my life.”
“You said you were preparing for the civil service exam, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why were you preparing for that?”
“Because it’s stable, and there’s not much overtime…”
“My wife’s position is like that. Ah, of course, there’s no overtime between us.”
Is this man even sane?
He was basically asking her to live as Joo Seokjin’s wife forever—in this way.
She needed to stay sharp.
If she showed even a little weakness, he might push this as a lifelong job.
Gaeun made up her mind to save money and retire early no matter what.
“Hello, President.”
Manager Kim Hyeryeong, who was pushing a rack full of similar-looking clothes, greeted Seokjin when she saw him sitting next to Gaeun.
“Hello.”
“You said you wanted something neat and elegant, so I prepared designs like that. First, I’d personally like to recommend this.”
She picked up a white dress and a cream-white tweed jacket from the front.
“With a unified white tone, it gives a clean feeling, and the black ribbon along the neckline adds a point. It prevents the look from being too plain and makes it neat and sophisticated.”
“Nice.”
“Oh, I don’t really like that style…”
Gaeun lightly tapped Seokjin’s thigh as she spoke.
If this were a normal meeting, she would have chosen that outfit. But considering where she was going tonight, that style wasn’t right.
Gaeun quickly stood up, walked to the rack, and picked out a dress.
“I like this kind of style.”
“Ah, madam…”
Manager Kim forced an awkward smile and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
The dress Gaeun chose was a black dress with see-through lace on the chest and arms.
It was tight and clearly designed to highlight the body.
“I find those kinds of clothes a bit suffocating. Isn’t this prettier?”
“It is pretty, but…”
Manager Kim couldn’t openly say no, so she trailed off awkwardly.
“What do you think?”
Gaeun smiled brightly at Seokjin, sending him a look that clearly said: This will make them lower their evaluation of me.
Seokjin stood up without expression and walked toward her.
Then, his stiff lips slowly relaxed into a gentle smile.
Why is he suddenly coming over with that kind of soft expression?
Gaeun tightened her grip on the hanger, feeling nervous.
Huh?
When his hand overlapped hers, her eyes trembled slightly.
“This is your style. But I’d like it if you only wear something like this in front of me.”
“….”
Gaeun stared at him desperately, as if saying, What are you doing? This isn’t the plan. Get a grip.
“Manager Kim, could you set this aside separately?”
Seokjin handed over the black dress while wrapping his arm around Gaeun’s shoulders.
“I think what Manager Kim recommended is pretty. What do you think, Gaeun?”
Gaeun…
The moment she heard her name from his mouth, goosebumps ran down her body.
She never knew her own name could sound so chilling.
And she wasn’t the only one.
Secretary Tak, who was standing to the side, turned his head away and shook it.
“…Fine. I’ll try it on.”
“Thank you.”
At Gaeun’s tone, as if she was granting a favor, Seokjin smiled naturally again.
“This is my first time personally assisting you, President. You’re very affectionate.”
“I’m only like this to her.”
“You must be very happy, madam. I’ll help you change.”
Holding the outfit, Manager Kim pointed toward the fitting room.
Inside, Gaeun put on the dress first and came out.
Manager Kim, who had been waiting, helped her put on the jacket comfortably.
“Madam, was the air conditioning too strong?”
“No.”
“You have goosebumps on your arms…”
The goosebumps from earlier still hadn’t gone away.
“It’s because the clothes are so pretty, my body got surprised.”
With a bright smile, Gaeun finished putting on the jacket and looked at herself in the mirror.
A gasp escaped her naturally.
They say clothes make the person—and now she really looked like a high-class Cheongdam-dong daughter-in-law.
Ah… I’m really becoming one, aren’t I?
No matter what, Gaeun decided to do her best.
A job where she gets a steady salary, and even gets incentives just for enduring strange in-laws.
If she worked hard for 2–3 years, she could earn a huge amount of money.
Joo Seokjin might think of this as a lifelong position, but Gaeun had no intention of maintaining this marriage for long.
“I think a pearl necklace would suit you.”
“Let’s do that.”
Manager Kim placed a glossy pearl necklace around her neck and looked satisfied.
Seeing her expression, Gaeun realized how proud she was of her job.
Would she ever find something she truly wanted to do like that?
She had never really thought about what she wanted in life, so she still didn’t know.
“I think the President is waiting.”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Gaeun slowly walked out to where Seokjin was waiting.
“How is it?”
“…You look pretty.”
“Don’t you like it?”
Seeing his lukewarm reaction, Gaeun pouted and stepped closer.
“You’re pretty. Should we look at something else?”
“We should go. It’s time.”
“Shoes.”
Gaeun looked down at her feet.
Old canvas sneakers.
What kind of mismatch is this?
In the mirror, she looked like a woman wearing rubber shoes with a dress—completely ridiculous.
“I think these will work.”
Manager Kim brought beige pumps, and suddenly—
Seokjin knelt down.
“Your foot.”
“….”
He took off her sneakers and personally put the heels on her.
It was perfect acting.
Anyone watching would think he was deeply in love with Oh Gaeun—like a prince from an old drama.
Since he was acting like this, it was her duty to play along.
Gaeun calmly entrusted her foot to him as if this was normal.
After getting into the car, Gaeun let out a long sigh.
Even though she told herself it was just work, acting affectionately without emotions took more energy than she expected.
“Secretary Tak.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Was it natural?”
“Of course. It was so natural that I briefly thought you could debut as an actor.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Then we’ll depart.”
Within minutes, Seokjin’s tone became cold again.
Just like Secretary Tak said, he really was an excellent actor.
“Our reservation details—were they leaked properly?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean, leaked?”
Gaeun asked, sensing something strange in their conversation.
Were they planning to make another article?
She was already planning to make sure her face would never be exposed again.
“Ah, Miss Oh Gaeun. Remember this.”
“What?”
“The manager you saw earlier—Kim Hyeryeong. She’s one of Madam Jung’s people.”
“Madam Jung… your mother?”
“…She probably reported everything to Madam Jung as soon as we left.”
It was strange how he didn’t call her “mother,” but Gaeun didn’t think deeply about it.
Maybe that was just how things worked in their world.
“Don’t forget that Manager Kim is on Madam Jung’s side. Be careful.”
“Why is this relationship chart so complicated… It’s worse than the political factions in the Joseon era.”
“That might be true.”
“You can laugh? My head feels like it’s going to explode right now.”
Gaeun complained, and Seokjin stopped smiling and apologized.
“I’m sorry. By the way, what exactly did you buy today?”
At his question, Gaeun felt cold sweat run down her back.
“Well, I bought things worth buying.”
“This?”
Seokjin pointed at the large bag near her feet.
“Want to see?”
Excited to show off, Gaeun placed the bag on her lap.
“Here, a party wig. And this is a fish-shaped pencil case. And this—when you press it, it makes a sound—a chicken doll.”
When she pressed it—
SQUEAK!
The loud noise filled the car.
Seokjin slightly frowned.
“You bought this for 58,000 won in 10-month installments?”
“President Joo, you’re more small-minded than I thought.”
“I’m just asking. No other intention.”
“Is 58,000 won that precious?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You’re acting like it is. I can tell from your eyes.”
“Absolutely not. What I’m curious about is why you chose 10-month installments.”
