Page 44 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘His grandmother put her foot down so he’d be allowed to study management instead of law and then to start his own business. The company desperately needs to break even, Timira-ssi. If it doesn’t, Daepyonim will probably have to shut shop and either assist his father with his campaign or work for Chairman Ri,’ Mr Choi continues.
I probably shouldn’t ask this, but I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t. And sleep is important. How else will I have more dreams of Haneul?
‘But I still don’t understand why Haneul-ssi had to accept funding from this, this Chairman Ri?’ Timira lets her exasperation be known and almost yells at Mr Choi.
‘You see, Timira-ssi, nobody had a clue it was him. He refused help from his grandmother, insisting on doing it the right way. He has always been an idealist and his conscience wouldn’t have allowed him to take his family’s help.’
Timira’s eyes light up and she has to try very hard to hide from Mr Choi how impressed she is.
Chhappan inch ki ho rahi hai meri chhaati. Haaye, so proud of Haneul!
‘He, Chairman Ri, invested through a paper company in the US. Immediately after the company’s listing, the company wasrevealed to be a subsidiary of Chairman Ri’s business. They transferred all their shares directly to him. It was too late for Baek Daepyo to do anything.’
Timira gapes in disbelief.Crazy Rich Koreans!
‘So, Timira-ssi, Rodrigo is a huge celebrity and our best bet right now to make sure we break even.’
Ah, so this is it. This is what it really is. Haneul needs Rodrigo more than he hates him.
Poor, poor Haneul.
Quickly gathering her wits, Timira chimes in enthusiastically.
‘If we need him, then we’ll put him to good use, Bujangnim. Let’s do this!’
She bumps fists with Mr Choi but is unable to bring herself to smile.
* * *
Just what is going on between them? Am I imagining this, or have I missed something?
‘What are you two up to? Is there some kind of inside matter that only you both are privy to?’ Unable to hold her curiosity and mild envy any longer, after having seen them exchange knowing glances since the meeting, Timira blurts out hurriedly.
Hanee shifts uncomfortably in her seat. She had tried to appear unaffected and nonchalant around both Timira and Haneul, but the latter, with his mischievous smiles and knowing eyes, had made the task entirely impossible for her.
Haneul had just passed them by, seemingly ignoring Timira andlavishing attention, Timira thought, on Hanee. It was only a nod of the head in her direction and just the slightest hint of a wicked smile.
They are at the Seoul World Cup Stadium watching a charity game between Seoul Stealers FC and Ulsan HD FC. Timira hadtried her best to duck out of it, but she found herself dragging her feet behind the others, under the spell of Mr Choi’s pleading eyes and the lure of keeping an eye on the Haneul–Hanee mystery.
‘Seonbae, I’m sorry you had to be here. It can’t be easy for you to sit here, with Rodrigo out there.’
Screw Rod, uff. I want to know why Haneul has been smiling at you!
‘You seem happy to be here, though!’
‘It’s nice to be out of the office, eating unhealthy snacks andgeunyang,just watching a game,’ Hanee, unable to catch the sarcasm in Timira’s words, answers innocently.And I get to hang with you.
‘Really? Is that why you’ve been looking over my shoulder since we took our seats? Is that why you’ve been turning red every time Haneul-ssi smiles at you?’
Timira has no patience anymore and launches a full-blown attack.
Hanee, smarting from it and embarrassed, can only mumble incoherently.
‘What? Why have you gone quiet?’
‘Seonbae, you have it all wrong.’
‘Do I now? Well, then, pray correct me!’
