CH 2

Woo Seung-joon initially met On Ji-an three years ago in a home-style restaurant in Malta.

At that time, Ji-an was doing a photoshoot for a sportswear brand, which was one of TK Group’s affiliates. Having been in his prime as an advertising model, he may have a suspicion. Needless to say, the photoshoot was a schedule that didn’t feel like ‘work’.

Despite the fact that Malta is a beautiful island with 300 days of sunny weather each year, the cost-effectiveness of sportswear brand advertising has decreased. The schedule of four nights and five days was excessive. When Ji-an arrived in Malta on the second day, the photoshoot concluded early in the afternoon.

The day after Ji-an’s photoshoot wrapped, Seung-joon landed in Malta. As soon as he stepped onto the Mediterranean Sea, Seung-joon began looking for Ji-an. Ji-an was on the terrace of a home-style restaurant and he was staring blankly at the sunset.

Ji-an appeared to have decided to relax on the suspicious schedule that resembled a vacation more than work. Seung-joon wondered how many times Ji-an had had such a break since he went to Seoul alone at the age of fifteen and put his life into the entertainment industry.

“On Ji-an-ssi?”

Ji-an turned to Seung-joon as he heard the voice calling out to him, his expression elegant and soft. It was a face made up of curves that were not delicate but elegant, like a masterpiece created with a sharp brush. Ji-an’s appearance gave him a warm feeling and a gentle touch.

Ji-an was dressed in a basic pattern with vibrant red and yellow floral motifs on a black background, which he had obviously purchased locally on impulse.

“I’m the representative of the brand you are advertising.”

Ji-an’s soft expression instantly turned cold in response to Seung-joon’s greeting. Seung-joon admired his clever reaction. Ji-an realized the truth of this suspicious schedule as soon as Seung-joon revealed his identity.

As Ji-an saw it at a glance, this position was given with Seung-joon’s wealth.

Before Seung-joon took the title of managing director, the loyal customers of the sportswear brand he was managing as president were mainly in their 40s and 50s. Ji-an was expensive for a model that couldn’t appeal to the majority of consumers. Seung-joon signed a contract with Ji-an only to become his employer. As a result, they had to hire more models in the hopes of converting more sales.

The photoshoot was held in Malta because Ji-an stated in an interview that if given a vacation, he would like to visit the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the fact that the expense of an overseas site for the director and crew was considerable, Seung-joon spent a significant amount of money for having a photoshoot schedule that surpassed the contract restrictions by 5 days and 4 nights. The biggest expense above all else was Seung-joon’s time traveling to Malta.

So that day, the dinner served at that simple home-style restaurant in Malta was the most expensive meal Seung-joon had ever eaten. That was unusual for Seung-joon.

Because Seung-joon was starving after a 14-hour flight, he grabbed the tableware as soon as the food he ordered arrived. He spoke to Ji-an, who was silently watching him.

“People have a hard time seeing me, but Ji-an-ssi isn’t easy either. Please note that what I’m eating right now is the most expensive stew in the world.”

There were good reasons why Seung-joon had to do that. This was due to the fact that three or four attempts to meet Ji-an had previously failed.

Seung-joon’s request to meet with him face to face had no particular meaning. He simply wanted to see for himself whether the model in the billboard that appeared out of nowhere one day was a real person. And Seung-joon had never asked the question ‘why?’ to his desires. Seung-joon didn’t have time to question his desire. He always seemed to get what he desired right away.

‘This is how the person looks in real life,’ Seung-jun would have stated if Ji-an had answered Seung-first joon’s call. He may have stopped at the thought, ‘It’s worth raising my interest,’ if he had accepted it the second time. However, an error occurred when the rejection was repeated for the third time. That was the beginning of all of this money.

Despite numerous objections, Seung-joon chose Ji-an as an advertisement model at the cost of his pride. After that, Ji-an continued to irritate Seung-joon, possibly his most important advertiser.

Ji-an, who had been watching him eat, abruptly turned his sight to the scenery beyond the terrace railing and spoke.

“It must have been Director Woo Seung-joon’s arrangement.”

It was a pleasant voice. Somewhat calm and moderately low. His pronunciation was perfect in units of syllables, so he seemed to have received professional vocal training. The words that came out of his mouth felt firm. Ji-an added a hazy explanation in a tone that suggested he had only spoken in a neat manner throughout his life.

“I would’ve agreed with the Director. If only I’d been the pitiful type of person in need of a sponsor.”

Seung-joon opened his mouth as if he’d been struck in the back of the head by a powerful sound.

He hadn’t even considered it. From Ji-an’s perspective, it had to be a gesture that could be misinterpreted.

Then Seung-joon realized why Ji-an had been ignoring his calls to the point where he thought he was being stubborn. Ji-an was irritable, so he continued with surprising words.

“Will this help ease your broken heart? I want you to give up at this point.”

Even if Seung-joon had impure intentions, Ji-an’s courage crossed the line.

What Ji-an had in front of him was the super-class among the men. Seung-joon was too high in the social class to endure such a scoundrel. Seung-joon, who had a furrowed brow, burst out laughing in vain with an angry expression at first.

“Ji-an-ssi, I’ve heard you can be uptight, but you also have a temper. Aren’t you too young to understand the dark world, or do you have a lot of spirits?”

“I would not have become an idol if I had been such a loser.”

Ji-an reached across the table and took a pack of cigarettes. He frowns and puts a cigarette on his lips before pulling out a lighter flint. It was the first time Seung-joon had witnessed someone smoking without his consent. Ji-an used his ring finger with a cigarette to scratch his beautiful brows.

“I must say, you are exceptional. They don’t usually go to such lengths only to meet me once.”

Ji-an knew how to smile by charmingly narrowing the corners of his eyes and spitting venomous words. The ability to hit and fall out of the nickname of the nation’s first love was amazing.

“Of course, there is no such thing as being so handsome.”

Ji-an suddenly asked Seung-joon, saying that he could not understand.

“Why me? If it’s Director Woo, there are plenty of people who are more beautiful and better listeners who would be willing without having to do anything like this, and it would be enough to form a line until it reaches around the island.”

In an instant, Seung-joon felt the humidity of Malta creeping over his body. Sweat trickled down his back as a result of the twenty-five-year-old kid who was eight years younger than him and who had been punctilious with his every word. This development was not intended.

The thought that occupied Seung-joon’s head was ‘I’m ruined.’

“I…”

Actually, it was love at first sight.

The predicate intended to personify the subject that was spat out in a terribly trembling voice was so embarrassing.

The view of Seoul could be seen in great detail from Seung-joon’s penthouse terrace.

Seung-joon’s only break was emptying a can of beer in the evening breeze. It would have been a better break if it hadn’t been for the bright billboard outside that seemed to be put directly in front of him.

One day, after an especially tiring day at work and a desperate need for a cold beer, Seung-joon got the urge to buy the entire building and destroy the damn billboard on his way home. It was because the billboards on the building were so big in size close to pollution.

However, the plan was disrupted because the advertisement content changed on the day of the decision.

The replacement billboard promoted a marriage information company that only handled Alpha and Omega customers, and the primary model was also a well-known dominant Omega actor. The model in the photo was smiling so sweetly that any Alphas would recall their first love.

The billboard displaying On Ji-an’s image was no longer polluting his eyes. Even the blazing light that made Seung-joon’s eyes turn cold seemed bright at times.

Even the marriage information company advertisement with the words ‘We will create a relationship for life’ printed next to Ji-an’s face come up meaningfully. Seung-joon now understood why people who fall in love at first sight compared it to a car accident.

He couldn’t admit it. It was not that he couldn’t admit it, it was that he shouldn’t have done it. Seung-joon was proposing a political marriage for the sake of corporate mergers at the time, which amounted to hundreds of billions won in predicted profits only. Hundreds of billions won was a large amount of wealth that must not be given up, shaken by the emotions of the time, and faith had to be maintained no matter how simple the marriage relationship. That was the bare minimum of dignity that the social leadership class should show to the public.

Still, he wanted to see Ji-an in person at least once. That greed was becoming the mistake of a lifetime.

Ji-an narrowed his clear eyes and stared at Seung-joon, who was unable to respond. He burst out laughing when he found Seung-joon’s hand on the table clenched into a fist tightly. He then dropped Seung-joon to the ground with a simple sentence.

“Do you like me?”