One plus One Delivery Service

For Han Jooan, today was a day where nothing seemed to go right.Flash!As midnight approached, an unexpected storm not mentioned in the weather forecast rolled in.Boom!Each time lightning sliced sharply through the dark clouds, the pitch-black sky lit up momentarily.Crash!As if someone had installed a flickering fluorescent light in the sky, bursts of blinding light illuminated the ground repeatedly, only to vanish again. When the light show in the heavens ceased, thunder roared like gods firing cannons, leaving ears ringing. Watching the torrential rain pour down, Han Jooan cursed inwardly.“Damn it, I must be crazy.”If he had known it would be like this, he wouldn’t have taken on any more delivery calls.“Just one last one and I’ll be done.”Thinking that, he adjusted his helmet—a mistake.“Here’s the bulgogi rice bowl.”The owner of “Soso Restaurant,” someone Han Jooan had become friendly with through his delivery job, handed him a plastic bag containing the food.“But can you even make the delivery in this weather?”Han Jooan muttered as if to himself, “If I take the bike, I’ll probably die, right?”“Straight to the afterlife.”“Sigh… Should I walk then?”“Not a bad idea. Think of it as a twenty-minute workout.”“So, walking is better than dying, huh?”“Who can you blame? You’re the one who barely does deliveries these days but decided to show up today, of all days, to suffer.”“How could I have known the weather would be this bad when even the meteorologists didn’t predict it?”“Don’t you have other part-time jobs, like working at the logistics center or modeling?”“My logistics job tomorrow got canceled.”“Ah, so you figured you’d do some deliveries tonight since you had time until tomorrow morning.”“Can’t afford to take time off, can I?”“You’re oddly diligent for someone your age.”The restaurant owner stared at Han Jooan.His expression, despairing over the weather, was pitiful, but his face didn’t exactly evoke sympathy.Compared to the countless other delivery riders who came by the restaurant, Han Jooan’s face was almost aristocratic.His well-defined, sharp eyes were striking, his skin was pale, and his jawline was smooth.Even his own daughter was crazy about guys with a face like that.Wouldn’t life be easier if he didn’t do such grueling work and just dated a rich woman who’d take care of him?He was tall, too, and the fact that he did modeling on the side made it seem like he didn’t need to go through such misery at this hour.The restaurant owner couldn’t understand Han Jooan’s mindset, wasting such good natural resources. Still, telling him to stop struggling and live more comfortably would just earn him the label of a meddlesome old man, so he kept quiet.“Leave the bike here. It’s not like it’s going to disappear if you leave it in front of the restaurant.”Just then, the window lit up bright white, followed by a thunderous crack.Flash! Boom!Startled, Han Jooan turned to look outside. It was like a typhoon was raging. Amidst the pouring rain, the sound of ambulance sirens occasionally pierced through. The sewage was overflowing, and the roads were submerged ankle-deep in water. The scene looked like a war zone. The restaurant owner gestured with his chin.“Or you could just cancel the delivery and take the food home with you instead.”Han Jooan picked up the food with a look of despair.“They must’ve waited an hour for this. I’ll just deliver it.”“Really? Is now the time to be thinking about others?”“If I walk, the delivery will take longer. What if they leave a bad review about your shop?”“If someone complains about a delay in weather like this after ordering delivery, I’ll handle them in the comments. Don’t worry about that, just go.”“Alright, just a moment.”Han Jooan went to his parked bike outside and grabbed his backpack. He placed the food inside, swapped his helmet for a black cap, and tapped on his phone encased in a waterproof pouch.The destination was Central Racyc, a luxury apartment complex where the largest units reportedly sold for over ten billion won. Ordering something as simple as “bulgogi rice bowl” at this hour past midnight from such a place didn’t make any sense. There was a large grocery store in the building’s basement where they could’ve bought better food faster. Rich people’s logic was beyond comprehension, thought Han Jooan as he pulled on his raincoat.“Take care!”He gave the owner a nod in response to his farewell.“Yeah, I’ll try to come back alive.”As soon as he opened the door, the wind howled like a ghost’s whistle and hit him fiercely.Wheeeeee!Even with the cap, his bangs flew up in the gust. This time, a curse escaped him before he could swallow it.“Ah, damn it.”The roadside trees were all leaning to one side, their leaves stripped and leaving behind only desolate branches. Parked cars along the street looked like they’d been doused with buckets of muddy water, the grime trickling down from their hoods.It looked like a scene from a disaster movie. The absurdity of delivering food in such weather filled him with self-pity and frustration, but he had no choice. Tightening the straps of his backpack, he ran along the deserted sidewalk.Splash, splash!At first, he remained optimistic.“Just deliver this and take a warm shower at home. Think of heaven—it’ll be heavenly. Just endure until then!”But when it took five minutes just to turn a corner, his temper began to sour.“I’ll probably get swept away by the current before I even make it home.”He kept pushing through ankle-deep water, stopping every so often. After what felt like an eternity, he was snarling like a mad dog baring its teeth.“Kill me, just kill me already!”Walking against typhoon-level winds, his raincoat was rendered useless as he ended up completely soaked from head to toe. Wiping the water dripping from the brim of his cap with his palm, he looked up at the building.It was intimidatingly tall—an imposing 40-story skyscraper. Stories circulated that celebrities and big-name CEOs lived here. Delivery riders often complained about the place, saying the security checks for identification and belongings were unnecessarily strict and unpleasant. Han Jooan didn’t want to deliver here either, but now that he’d come this far, sheer stubbornness drove him onward.“Pant, pant, pant…”Drenched in what could’ve been sweat, tears, or rain, he trudged toward the security booth at the entrance like a corpse.“Delivery for unit 2104.”The security guard glanced him over, then leaned in closer.“Where?”“Unit 2104.”“2104?”The guard’s expression twisted ominously.Did something go wrong?“Is there a problem?”The guard didn’t respond and instead picked up the phone.“Excuse me, sir?”Still no reply.The cold-faced guard soon softened his expression to something almost saintly as he spoke into the receiver.“Apologies for the late hour. This is security. A food delivery person is here. Does that sound correct?”The guard cast a sharp glance at Han Jooan, motioning for him to show the food. Taking the hint, Han Jooan quickly removed his raincoat and pulled the plastic bag containing the food from his backpack. The guard’s tone turned sharp.“No, not that. I’m asking for your ID.”Already at the end of his patience, Han Jooan frowned.‘Is he doing this on purpose to pick a fight?’Though he had been ready to snap at anyone, determined to tear into them, he couldn’t bring himself to tussle with the elderly man in his seventies standing before him. Begrudgingly, he pulled out his wallet from his pocket and handed over his ID. The guard compared the ID to Han Jooan’s face a few times before setting it down on the table.“Alright, I’ll send you up.”After hanging up the phone, the guard waved his hand dismissively.“You can go.”‘What a rude building. Like I’d ever come back here,’ Han Jooan grumbled internally as he stuffed the food back into his bag. Bowing slightly in courtesy, he made his way to the elevator. But as he walked, he noticed the guard poking his head out the window.“Hey, delivery guy.”Han Jooan flinched.‘Damn it, what now? Don’t tell me I’m not allowed to use this elevator.’He recalled stories about luxury apartments where delivery riders were barred from using the main lobby elevators and forced to use separate freight elevators instead. Bracing himself, he turned around nervously, but the guard spoke in a slightly softer tone.“What restaurant is that from?”Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Han Jooan blinked a few times. The guard, looking a bit embarrassed, quickly clarified.“Uh, well… It’s just that this is the first time anyone in unit 2104 has ever ordered food. I was just curious about how good it must be.”“Ah, it’s from ‘Soso Restaurant.’”“I thought I smelled beef. What’s the dish?”“Bulgogi rice bowl.”“Alright, thank you.”The guard closed the window, leaving Han Jooan staring at the security booth for a moment.‘What’s so special about unit 2104?’Puzzled, he stood there for a moment before snapping back to reality.“Oh no, I’m running late.”He quickly pressed the elevator button.‘Who on earth ordered this? Why is it such a big deal?’The irritation that had built up earlier began to melt away, replaced by a growing curiosity.‘Could it be a celebrity? A CEO? Wow, it’d be hilarious if it’s someone I know.’His thoughts raced with anticipation as the elevator came to a stop.<21st floor.>As soon as the doors opened, he hurried to unit 2104.The quiet hallway lit up intermittently from flashes of lightning outside, creating an eerie atmosphere. Despite this, Han Jooan, with eyes gleaming in excitement, rang the doorbell energetically.Ding-dong.‘Even in a fancy apartment, the doorbell sounds the same.’Amused by the trivial similarity, he felt a strange sense of familiarity. Then, a deep male voice resonated from the intercom.<I’m coming.>‘Huh.’Most deliveries these days were met with instructions like “Just leave it at the door,” especially in high-end apartments like this one. It was rare for someone to meet the delivery person in person.‘And his voice is nice… Could he really be a celebrity?’If he was, Han Jooan knew he should act like he didn’t recognize him. As he steadied himself, the door opened, revealing a man stepping out. Han Jooan’s expression grew complicated.‘Is he a celebrity… or not? I can’t tell.’It was too dark to make out the man’s face. All he could discern from the silhouette was that the man was tall and broad-shouldered. While Han Jooan stared, the recipient’s gaze wasn’t on the food but on Han Jooan himself, who was dripping wet from the rain. Face-to-face handovers were already rare, and even when they happened, they were usually quick exchanges. This prolonged eye contact was unusual. Although Han Jooan had grown accustomed to being stared at during his modeling gigs, having a complete stranger scrutinize him so intently felt entirely new.Lifting the food to eye level, Han Jooan finally broke the moment.“Sorry for the delay. Here’s your order.”Even when he held it out, the man didn’t take it. He just kept staring. Now, instead of just looking into his eyes, his gaze moved to the dripping wet cap, the utterly exhausted face, and the waterlogged, wrinkled fingers. Finally, the man spoke for the first time.“Would you like to come in?”Han Jooan froze on the spot, still holding the food.‘Huh? What’s this? Does he know me? Did he maybe see me while I was modeling?’Unable to make sense of the situation, Han Jooan asked hesitantly, his voice filled with confusion.“Um… do you know me?”The man replied, neither with an excuse nor an explanation, but in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.“It’s my first time ordering delivery. I had to meet the minimum amount, but it’s too much food. If you haven’t eaten, you can join me.”Looking at the man making such an odd offer, Han Jooan thought simply:‘He must be crazy.’If not that, then…‘Is he a human trafficker? Trying to lure me inside to kidnap me and sell my organs?’But those thoughts felt far-fetched.‘No way someone out of their mind would live in such a nice place….’Just like the man had been scrutinizing him, Han Jooan carefully studied the man. Perhaps it was the dim lighting in the hallway and entryway, but it was hard to determine his exact age.Still, upon closer inspection, he seemed to be in his late 30s. At most, early 40s if he was older than he looked.‘Or maybe his demeanor is so refined that he seems older than he actually is.’Judging by his height, which surpassed Han Jooan’s own, and his well-built physique that suggested regular exercise, one might believe he was in his 20s. For someone living in a place like this, he was probably a highly successful person in some field. Yet, ordering delivery at midnight and then inviting a delivery rider to eat with him seemed inexplicable.Han Jooan came to a simple conclusion.‘Don’t get involved. He seems like trouble.’His response was firm.“I’m fine, thank you.”He thrust the food into the man’s hands and immediately turned around. As he waited for the elevator, the man’s gaze lingering on him felt unusually long. Only after stepping inside the elevator and taking off his damp cap did Han Jooan let out a sigh.“Phew, what a lunatic.”Shaking out his rain-soaked, flattened hair, he muttered to himself. The bad weather had already made the day difficult, and it seemed his final customer had been the icing on the cake.When he reached the first floor, Han Jooan knocked on the security booth window. The guard slid it open, and Han Jooan spoke.“I’d like my ID back.”Without a word, the guard returned his ID. Adjusting his bag, Han Jooan looked up at the sky.Rumble.The growl of thunder sounded like a beast’s roar.Flash!Occasional bursts of light illuminated the sky.Whoosh!And the relentless downpour showed no sign of stopping.A sigh escaped him.“Ah… I just need to get home, shower, and sleep.”While the night’s events had been odd, they weren’t worth dwelling on. Getting through the storm and returning home was more pressing than thinking about the strange man in the odd apartment.“Ugh, damn it…!”Dragging his exhausted body into the shower, Han Jooan barely managed to clean up before collapsing onto his bed.The moment his face hit the pillow, he blacked out as if someone had flipped a switch.The next morning, a text arrived from the owner of Soso Restaurant.[Hey, did something happen when you delivered the bulgogi rice bowl last night?]But Han Jooan, still sound asleep, didn’t see the mysterious message.The storm clouds hadn’t yet cleared from the skies that day.✴︎˚A loud ringtone blared.Sitting in the very back seat of a bus, Han Jooan had been staring blankly out the window. The sudden sound of a noisy ringtone replaced the music in his earphones, snapping him out of his thoughts.The phone screen in his hand displayed the name [Manager Park Mihyun].She was the scheduling manager at his modeling agency.“Yes, this is Han Jooan.”As he answered, the cheerful and lively voice of Manager Park came through.<Jooan, your voice sounds so lifeless.>“Ugh, my whole body aches.”<Why? Did you work out yesterday?>Would it count as working out?He’d never done delivery work as dynamically as he had yesterday.If he told her the truth, she’d probably start nagging, “Oh my! A model should take better care of his body. Why are you acting so unprofessional?”For his own peace of mind, a little white lie was necessary.“Yes, I did the big three yesterday.”After coming home and venting his frustrations on a shampoo bottle, towel, and bar of soap, technically, he had done three.<Oh ho, our Jooan is going to get buff! I’ll have to book you for more topless shoots in the future!>Worried his fib might backfire, Han Jooan quickly shifted the topic.“Anyway, what’s the matter?”<I’m calling to update you on a schedule. There’s a location shoot for an online shopping mall on Friday. It’s a lookbook shoot, so there will be a lot of outfits to try on. Even with three models, it’ll take several hours. You’ll need to keep the whole day free—will that work?>Han Jooan checked his calendar on his phone. Friday was only four days away.‘That means I’ll have to skip my logistics and delivery work on Friday. Actually, I should skip deliveries the day before, too. Guess I’ll need to work extra hard over the weekend.’After mentally organizing his schedule, Han Jooan replied.“Yes, I’m available.”<Great. I’ll send a car to your place by 9 a.m. on Friday.>“I can just take a taxi.”<Nah, that’ll take more time. You’ll get your makeup done at the location, so just wash your hair and be ready. I’ll call you again Wednesday morning.>The call ended as soon as she finished saying what she needed to.Once again, he was reminded of Manager Park’s sharp and to-the-point personality.‘Even the first time we met, she cut straight to the chase. Some things never change.’Han Jooan thought back to the day he first met Manager Park. She had approached him while he was waiting for a friend in a busy street.‘Sorry to startle you, but I’m Park Mihyun, the operations manager at a creator agency. You’re an influencer, right? Can I get your SNS?’She was speaking Korean, but to Han Jooan, it felt like a string of foreign words.Creator, agency, influencer, SNS.None of it had any connection to his life.Caught off guard, he responded like a broken robot.‘I don’t have SNS.’Park Mihyun looked genuinely shocked by his response.‘What?! How is that even possible? Why?’‘…Did I do something wrong?’‘You’re wasting your potential!’He had no idea what she was talking about.Thinking she might be a recruiter for some sketchy cult, Han Jooan tried to back away. But she blocked his path.‘Hold on a second!’After looking him up and down again, she pulled out a business card.‘Let’s talk! Can you come by my office? How about lunch tomorrow?’‘I don’t follow any religions.’‘Just think of it as a great part-time opportunity. Come on!’‘I don’t believe in multi-level marketing schemes targeting college students, either.’‘Oh, for goodness’ sake! Just come! I’m busy, so I’ll leave it at that. Be there, okay?’Han Jooan took the business card and spent a few days pondering. He looked up the address written on it online and even searched anonymous sites for information about the company. Based on what he found, it didn’t seem like a scam. Still, the whole influencer thing felt like a world far removed from his own, and it seemed so unfamiliar that he ended up not calling.After about a week, the lingering doubt and nagging thoughts finally got to him, and he reluctantly decided to call and decline. But Manager Park practically breathed fire when she answered.‘I gave you my card and told you to call, and you didn’t even bother to contact me? That’s too much!’‘I’m not inter—’‘I’m at the café near where we met. Come over here, okay?’With her pushing that hard, what excuse could possibly work?Deciding it was best to deal with the hassle quickly, he headed to the café where she was waiting.Once again, Manager Park didn’t give him a chance to escape and launched straight into her pitch.‘I manage personal broadcasters and influencers. I respect their areas of activity and help them collaborate with other media. For example, if a broadcasting company is planning a dating reality show and asks for a clean-cut, popular civilian, I make the connection. That’s what my company does.’She seemed very proud of her work.‘Jooan, you’ve got such a great physique. Why not start building experience as a model? After doing that for a while, if you develop an interest in broadcasting, you can prepare for YouTube or OTT platforms. Even if you quit because it’s not for you, it’d still look good as a unique experience on your resume when you apply for jobs later. It’s not a bad idea.’What intrigued him more than her fluent explanation was the standard contract she provided.‘Huh? The commission isn’t as exploitative as what I read about online. It’s pretty reasonable… and the contract term isn’t too binding either.’It was renewable annually, and if he needed to terminate it mid-term, there was no penalty fee.Compared to anxiously waiting for calls from part-time job apps or interviewing with random bosses, this seemed much simpler.As she claimed, it looked like a unique part-time job with its own value. He could try it for a year, and if it didn’t suit him, he could quit. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to have something unconventional to add to his resume later.Since he was on military leave and needed more money before returning to school next spring, he weighed his options and signed the official contract.After that, Han Jooan worked as a model once or twice a week.Most of the gigs were for online shopping malls.The pay wasn’t great, so he couldn’t make a living off modeling alone. To make ends meet, he worked at a logistics center in the early mornings and did delivery riding at night.Initially, the physical toll made him want to give it all up.But as someone once said, humans are creatures of adaptation.He eventually got used to the grueling schedule, and day by day, it didn’t seem so bad anymore.However, since modeling was a public-facing job, he had to maintain his diet and body shape. This naturally led to him eating less, leaving him without much energy when not working. As a result, he developed a bad habit of falling asleep or collapsing onto any surface he could find, like now on public transportation.Beep!The sound of someone pressing the stop bell woke him up.His body was tired, but his mind was cluttered with unnecessary thoughts, making it hard to rest properly. He stumbled off the bus, dragging his fatigued body.He was heading to “Soso Diner.”[What happened yesterday when you delivered the bulgogi rice bowl?]That text was what he came to clear up.✴︎˚The moment the diner’s door opened, a cheerful voice greeted him.“Sorry, we’re not open right now—oh, Jooan.”Kwon Seongtae, the owner of “Soso Diner,” came rushing out with a short haircut and a headscarf.Having studied in Japan until his twenties, he returned to Korea and opened a Korean-style Japanese diner.His specialty was rice bowls—beef rice bowls, eggplant rice bowls, soy-marinated salmon rice bowls, and the like.Known for his clean presentation and highly rated reviews, the diner was famous in the neighborhood.Proud of his cooking, Kwon Seongtae always looked out for Han Jooan.Despite his striking appearance, which even another man would admit was noticeable, Jooan’s reserved, almost timid personality and quiet diligence while working left a favorable impression.Of course, if Jooan heard this assessment, he’d grimace and reply:‘I swear a lot, and I’ve got a terrible personality.’Even the bravado was something Kwon Seongtae hadn’t imagined he’d find cute.“Come here. It’s cool in front of the air conditioner.”Han Jooan sat in the spot where Kwon Seongtae had even prepared a glass of cold water. Sitting across from him, Kwon Seongtae cautiously observed him and subtly probed.“Remember the place you delivered to past midnight yesterday?”Han Jooan replied immediately.“Central Lasik, unit 2104.”“Yeah, that place. Did something happen there?”The careful tone suggested something unusual. Han Jooan frowned slightly and asked back.“Did the customer give a one-star rating and write a complaint?”“Huh? No, no, not at all!”Waving both hands in denial, Kwon Seongtae hurriedly added, “There’s no problem with the reviews or ratings. Everything’s as usual! It’s just that the security team from the building suddenly started contacting us in a group, asking when the next order would be delivered. It wasn’t just one or two people, but several of them calling all at once, so I was wondering if something happened.”Relieved that he hadn’t tarnished the restaurant’s reputation, Han Jooan relaxed slightly. However, he couldn’t completely shake off the tension and asked nervously, “Did I do something wrong?”“No, not at all! Actually, they’re probably grateful. How did you deliver the food for the customers to start calling en masse, asking about orders?”He recalled passing by the security office on the first floor, where a security guard had asked about the restaurant and menu. But that was it. He hadn’t done anything memorable enough to spark such a reaction.‘Huh? No, wait. There was something odd.’Suddenly, he remembered the security guard’s embarrassed question.“Um, well, you see… it’s just that unit 2104 has never ordered food before. We’re curious how good it is.”The security guard seemed to treat unit 2104 as something special. That attitude even led Han Jooan to mistakenly think, “Are they a celebrity?”He quietly pictured the owner of unit 2104.When the front door opened, a man in his late 30s or early 40s, who appeared quite composed, had stepped out. His face was shadowed and not particularly memorable. The only clear details he remembered were that the man had a solid build, a low voice, and an intellectual impression—likely because of his thin silver-rimmed glasses.‘At that age, living in that kind of apartment, he’s not your average wealthy person. He must be a golden spoon. As for his job, no way he’s a regular office worker. A professor? A researcher? Could someone with that kind of job even amass a fortune worth billions?’Frankly, he couldn’t guess the man’s profession at all, but one thing he remembered clearly was his offer.“Would you like to come in?”At that moment, only one thought crossed his mind.‘This guy’s nuts.’While Jooan froze at the absurdity, the man tried to justify himself with a ridiculous excuse.“It’s my first time ordering delivery. The amount was too much for the minimum order, so if you haven’t eaten, feel free to join me.”‘Yeah, he’s definitely nuts.’Concluding so, Han Jooan had turned away immediately. No matter how he thought about it, he hadn’t done anything to benefit the restaurant’s sales.“The customer was a bit… unusual, though.”“In what way?”Kwon Seongtae leaned in eagerly, but behind him, the restaurant’s TV screen caught Jooan’s eye.The news channel was covering a story about “Gwanghwa Corporation.”The company, renowned as the largest in the domestic construction equipment industry, was reportedly planning to build a massive apartment complex in one of Seoul’s most coveted areas. On the screen, a man in glasses was stepping out of a building. He was in a suit, his neatly combed-back hair giving him a polished appearance, as reporters’ camera flashes went off.‘Huh?’Why was that man on the news?Raising a finger, Han Jooan pointed at the screen.“That’s him.”When Kwon Seongtae turned to look at the screen, his face turned pale.“What…?”He was at a loss for words, his mouth opening and closing silently.On the screen, reporters’ voices could be heard.<How did you manage to win the bidding competition with your rival? Can you share your strategy?><The project alone is worth several hundred billion won. How do you plan to prepare?><What kind of impact do you foresee on real estate prices?>The reporters bombarded him with questions, but the man remained mostly silent, walking calmly with the protection of several men, presumably either employees or security personnel.Kwon Seongtae, his face blank with shock, asked, “That guy is the one who ordered from unit 2104?”“Uh… yes. I only just realized who he was myself.”“Why would someone like him order from our restaurant?”“I don’t know… I have no idea.”“But he called earlier, didn’t he?”“What? Him?”“Yeah, he said he wants to eat our food again tonight. Asked if he could dine in at the restaurant.”“Himself?”“Yeah…”“…Does the president of Gwanghwa Corporation not have work to do? Does he have that much free time? Why?”“I don’t know. How would I know?”“….”“Hey, could you cover a shift for me today?”“….”“I’ll pay you double the daily rate. I’m scared. What if he posts something bad about our food on social media? Our restaurant could go under.”“…Ha.”“You’ll do it, right? Please, I’m begging you.”For a moment, Han Jooan and Kwon Seongtae just looked at each other in silence.It felt surreal, like some bizarre, out-of-touch event had just taken place.✴︎˚Ding-ding.The familiar sound of the door chime rang out above the restaurant entrance.Han Jooan, tying an apron around his waist and clearing the empty dishes left by other customers, turned his head.“Welcome.”The greeting froze on his lips.The man was dressed in a neatly pressed suit, as if he’d come straight from work. There was a faint trace of cologne, almost completely worn off by now. A few strands of his slicked-back hair had fallen forward, brushing against his thin glasses and swaying gently.Behind those glasses were deep eyes that seemed impossible to read, fixed on Han Jooan.It was the president of Gwanghwa Corporation, the same man from Central Lasik, unit 2104—the one he had delivered rice bowls to not long ago.“Hello, do you work here?”The man’s gentle smile and composed demeanor showed no sign of awkwardness.Although it had been too dark to clearly recall his face at the time, the moment he heard the man’s voice, Han Jooan was certain.‘It’s definitely him.’Now it seemed that only he and Kwon Seongtae were nervous and on edge.‘This must be the kind of composure that comes with money.’Even though Kwon Seongtae was skilled at dealing with customers, he seemed completely overwhelmed, as if the man’s presence was akin to witnessing the apex predator of the ecosystem.Han Jooan couldn’t help but feel that this was just the way life was for ordinary people, riding the emotional highs and lows over one customer.Wiping his hands with a dry towel, Han Jooan responded, “I’m helping out with the restaurant today due to some circumstances.”“Do you usually only handle deliveries?”“Oh, I also do other work…”“What kind of work?”He wondered why the man was so curious but got intimidated by his steady gaze and quickly changed the subject.“Will you be taking it to go?”Noticing Han Jooan’s discomfort, the man didn’t press further.“I’ll eat here.”From the kitchen, where he had been peeking out, Kwon Seongtae frantically gestured to Han Jooan.Swish, swoosh, tap, tap!An elaborate series of signals.It was as if he were a baseball coach in the bottom of the ninth inning, signaling a steal attempt from the dugout with a runner on first and no outs.His energetic hand gestures pointed to the inner part of the restaurant, where there was a small private room with sliding doors, among the four tables in the hall.“Make sure to host the important customer over there, Jooan!”His desperate expression tugged at Han Jooan’s heartstrings.A man who would look more at home pouring expensive drinks alongside corporate presidents at a high-end bar had appeared in their humble neighborhood rice bowl shop. It wasn’t much different from disrupting the natural order of the ecosystem.He decided not to consider the fuss over treating the man like a dragon appearing in a swamp to be an exaggeration.“This way, please,” Han Jooan said, taking the lead and opening the sliding door.Click!The man stepped into the narrow space, illuminated by warm yellow lighting, and removed his jacket as he spoke.

“If you don’t mind, how about a dinner partner? I heard that younger people these days have something called ‘meal mates,’ dining companions.”“Younger people these days”? The leader of South Korea’s real estate economy saying such a thing was almost laughable.Was this meant to be self-deprecation, or was he being genuine? While trying to figure it out, Kwon Seongtae sent another dazzling flurry of signals.Flash, flash, flash!The meaning was clear.“For the sake of the restaurant’s survival, you need to sacrifice yourself and have dinner with him!”Honestly, Han Jooan had anticipated this might happen.From the first delivery, when the man kept showing interest and even asked to share a meal, it was only natural he would want to find out more.This was probably why Kwon Seongtae had pushed him into this one-day part-time job in the first place.Han Jooan took off his apron and sat down on a chair.He slid the door shut to stop Kwon Seongtae from peeking in further.Click.At that moment, the man poured water into the empty glass on the table and slid it closer to Han Jooan.“May I ask your name and age?”“My name is Han Jooan. I’m twenty-two.”The man looked quite surprised.“Are you a student?”Was it because he seemed younger than expected? Han Jooan found the reaction a bit puzzling.“No, not yet….”“What do you mean by ‘not yet’?”“I’m currently on a military leave from school. I’ve only registered at university but haven’t actually attended.”“Ah, I see.”Ordinary young men might attend university for a year before completing their military service, but Han Jooan had never even set foot on campus after enrolling.Due to his family’s financial difficulties, he had barely managed to pay the admission fee and then hurriedly enlisted in the military to escape.That was two years ago.Now, he was working any job he could find to save up for the spring semester next year.The man didn’t pry further into Han Jooan’s circumstances and instead introduced himself.“My name is Gi Myunghoon. I work for a small company.”Hearing that, Han Jooan couldn’t help but feel incredulous.“What a shameless liar. The president of Gwanghwa Corporation, calling himself that.”