One plus One Delivery Service

Still, it didn’t seem like he intended to provoke. It felt more like he was being cautious, avoiding trouble that might arise if he revealed he owned a company. Han Jooan decided to play along with the man’s approach.“Yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Gi Myunghoon. Would you like help placing an order?”“Hmm, yes, what’s good here? I haven’t had dinner yet, so something filling would be nice.”“The oxtail stew and seafood soft tofu soup are delicious.”“Then I’ll have those, please.”Han Jooan slid open the door with a whoosh and called out.

“Boss, one oxtail stew and one seafood soft tofu soup here!”“Got it!”Seeing the boss respond with such gusto, Han Jooan chuckled lightly before sliding the door shut again.“The food here is good, isn’t it?”At Han Jooan’s question, Gi Myunghoon smiled gently.“Yes, it’s quite good.”“I’ve delivered to a lot of places, and just by the smell, this place seems to have the best food.”“Oh, now that you mention it, I was surprised to see you delivering in such heavy rain. You didn’t catch a cold, did you?”“I’m fine.”“I kept worrying about it. Honestly, I didn’t realize it was raining that much when I placed the order. That’s why I asked the owner if I could meet the delivery person. I thought they’d think I was strange, but they readily set up a meeting. Did you perhaps mention me to the boss beforehand?”A perceptive person.Typically, even if someone called saying they wanted to meet a delivery rider, most people would avoid getting involved in such a hassle.For the owner to personally arrange a meeting between a customer and a delivery person was far from ordinary.Not only had he pieced together the situation, but he also deduced that the effort must have been due to the identity of the customer in unit 2104 being confirmed.Realizing there was no point in trying to deceive someone so sharp, and feeling no need to hide anything, Han Jooan answered honestly.“Right after you placed your order, a group order came in from the security staff.”“I didn’t know that. So that’s what happened.”“Yes. While talking about that with the owner, your face appeared on the news. Once I realized who you were, I was flustered for a while.”“The news? Ah….”As Gi Myunghoon understood the context, his expression relaxed noticeably.The stiff and uncomfortable demeanor melted away, and the atmosphere softened.“So that’s why you’ve been so tense. I suppose it makes sense—having someone you just met suddenly ask you to eat together and then seeing them on the news would be confusing.”Han Jooan had been about to ask why he had done such a thing when—whoosh!—the sliding door opened.“Oxtail stew and seafood soft tofu soup are ready.”Kwon Seongtae placed a portable burner on the table and set down a bubbling pot of tofu soup in an earthenware bowl.Next to it, he placed a plate of oxtail stew piled so high with chopped green onions that the meat was barely visible.Finally, he brought out a bottle of soju and two glasses, which hadn’t even been ordered, and set them down on either side.“Enjoy your meal!” he said cheerfully before closing the door with a click.The rich aroma of the oxtail stew and the bubbling sound of the soup filled the room, breaking the silence between them.Gi Myunghoon reached for the soju bottle first.As Han Jooan watched him unscrew the cap, a strange thought crossed his mind.He’s the president of Gwanghwa Corporation, but he drinks soju? He looks like the type to only drink whiskey or high-end liquors.Noticing Han Jooan’s vacant stare, Gi Myunghoon pointed at the empty glass.“Aren’t you going to take it?”Startled, Han Jooan quickly picked up his glass as instructed.Having never met a company president before, he had no idea how to act around one. To make matters worse, Gi Myunghoon seemed like someone who concealed his true feelings, making the interaction even more awkward. The weight of his profession, wealth, and age added to the pressure, leaving Han Jooan unsure of how to respond.He wasn’t the type to lighten the mood with casual jokes.If he could, he might have laughed and said, “So you’re the president of Gwanghwa Corporation? Wow, can I take a picture with you?”But instead, Han Jooan simply held his glass awkwardly. Watching him, Gi Myunghoon chuckled.“Aren’t you going to pour me a drink?”Han Jooan put down his glass and picked up the soju bottle.As the bottle exchanged hands, Gi Myunghoon’s fingertips brushed lightly against his—soft, like someone who had never done a hard day’s work in his life.Clink.The light sound of their soju glasses meeting rang clearly.Han Jooan turned his head and emptied his glass in one go.Gi Myunghoon also took his drink in a smooth motion, then placed a piece of oxtail stew onto Han Jooan’s plate.“I wanted to meet you to apologize for what I said that day. I must have startled you. I’m sorry.”Han Jooan’s mouth fell open involuntarily.He couldn’t believe the situation.He came all the way here just to apologize to a delivery rider? That doesn’t make sense.Gwanghwa Corporation was one of the country’s leading conglomerates.For someone from such a family to personally seek out a delivery rider to apologize?From what he’d seen and heard on the news, people like that tended to abuse their power rather than humble themselves by wasting their valuable time.Let’s put aside my prejudices and take a closer look at this person, Gi Myunghoon.His deep-set eyes and facial structure leaned more toward sharp, straight lines than softness. His glasses seemed like an attempt to soften his image, but to Han Jooan, he appeared cold and inscrutable. Adding to that was the luxurious suit that looked far too expensive for him to even guess its price.The only men in their forties he had encountered before were teachers during his school days or the sergeant majors in the military.He didn’t interact much with teachers, but whenever a sergeant major appeared, even the junior officers straightened up, making them seem like people to be avoided at all costs.In his relatively short 22 years of life, he’d hardly interacted with men in their forties. And now, here he was, face-to-face with a man from an entirely different world—a conglomerate president—receiving an apology.Fearing he might make a mistake, Han Jooan instinctively said, “You don’t have to apologize. If anything, I should be the one apologizing.”“You have nothing to apologize for, Jooan.”“Oh, uh… sorry about that.”Watching Han Jooan fluster, Gi Myunghoon smiled several times.That reaction only confused Han Jooan further.It seemed like he had a favorable impression of him, but why?Maybe it was just amusement—seeing a timid, inexperienced young man after being surrounded by sharp, socially adept adults all the time.Or maybe he saw him as something less than a person, like a stray cat to be humored.Before his negative thoughts could spiral any further, Gi Myunghoon spoke while cutting into the oxtail stew.“Would you be willing to have a meal with me from time to time?”It was the same request as before.Was he seriously asking to be meal companions?It’s not like I’m completely uninterested in talking to someone so different from anyone I’ve ever met. But can I really accept such a vague offer without knowing his intentions? What if he has some ulterior motive?The president of Gwanghwa Corporation probably didn’t have anything to gain from someone much younger like him, but the ambiguity of his goodwill made it even harder to accept.Yet curiosity crept in.He was extending his hand first, wanting to build a connection. There wasn’t much to lose. If it didn’t feel right, he could just walk away.“Do you often skip meals?”At Han Jooan’s question, Gi Myunghoon answered naturally.“I don’t have much time to eat at restaurants. Other than what my secretary prepares, I don’t eat much.”“Oh, so that’s why you said it was your first time placing an order that day….”“That’s right. Even when I order, I can’t finish it all and end up throwing it away. How about we share meals like this sometimes?”He could always reheat leftovers the next day. Did he not know that?Han Jooan felt overwhelmed, unsure where to begin explaining.At his age, surely he had family or at least employees who looked after him. Was no one ensuring he ate properly?It would be nice if he could eat with friends, though it wasn’t always possible. Then again, he might not have friends because he was always working.It wasn’t like someone his age could use an app to find people to share meals with, either.The fact that he had chosen him, of all people, was still puzzling. But perhaps he just needed someone to eat with occasionally, someone to take his mind off work. Over time, Han Jooan figured, the reason would naturally become clear.“What kind of food do you like?”In a more relaxed tone, Han Jooan asked. Gi Myunghoon responded just as gently.“I like dishes like this, and I’m fond of soups, too.”“So you like Korean food? Or Japanese?”“Yes, I’m not a fan of Western food. Especially creamy pastas.”“Then if you finish work before seven, let me know. I can eat something simple with you before I head to my part-time job.”“Do you work every day?”“Well, almost every day. I do deliveries in the evenings.”“And during the day, you’re broadcasting?”“Broadcasting?”“You have such a striking appearance. I thought you might be in entertainment.”Han Jooan’s expression turned awkward.A compliment, I guess… but he really doesn’t understand how the world works. Why would a celebrity be doing part-time jobs like this?At a loss for words, he eventually spoke in a measured tone.“Sometimes I do modeling work during the day.”“So you’re not an ordinary person, after all. Then do you just do deliveries and modeling?”“I also do sorting work at a logistics center early in the morning.”“…Three jobs?”“Yes.”“That sounds hard on your body.”“I’m young, so it’s fine.”Han Jooan flinched as he realized what he’d said. Worried it might come off as an arrogant jab—unlike you, an older guy—he quickly added,“It’s fine for older people, too. I mean, you’re in great shape yourself.”He glanced at Gi Myunghoon nervously, wondering if he’d taken offense, but he couldn’t read his expression through the lenses of his glasses.The level of their interpersonal skills was worlds apart.From Gi Myunghoon’s gaze, expressions, tone, and even the content of his words, Han Jooan felt like he only understood half of what was going on.It was as if Gi Myunghoon was wearing multiple layers of masks, hiding much of himself.Sensing the conversation might get awkward, Gi Myunghoon broke the silence before it could. His timing suggested he’d anticipated and calculated when Han Jooan might start feeling uncomfortable.“Are you going to keep calling me ‘that person’?”Han Jooan hesitated.“Should I call you President?”“Why would you call me that? You’re not my employee.”“Oh, uh… then is it okay to call you Gi Myunghoon-ssi?”“You can just call me whatever feels comfortable. Like ‘ajusshi’ or something.”Ajusshi?Han Jooan couldn’t imagine calling the man in front of him ajusshi.“Then, um, I’ll just call you Myunghoon hyung.”“I’d feel too guilty being called ‘hyung.’ Just call me ajusshi.”“That’s….”“I was starting college when you were born. I’m definitely an ajusshi.”After much deliberation, Han Jooan finally made a suggestion of his own.“Then, Ajusshi, don’t call me Jooan-ssi either—just use my name.”The awkward term “Ajusshi” escaped his lips as he took a bite of the oxtail stew Gi Myunghoon had offered.As he chewed the tender, perfectly cooked meat, Gi Myunghoon’s low, deep voice resonated in his ears.“Alright, Jooan-ah.”Thump. It felt like his heart had dropped.It wasn’t because he liked it or disliked it.It was simply an overwhelming sensation he couldn’t explain—a dangerous feeling that came when an unfathomable presence seemed to delve deep into his very being.He instinctively wanted to run away but resolutely continued chewing the oxtail stew.The yellow glow of the lights reflected off Gi Myunghoon’s glasses, obscuring his gaze and making it impossible to read his emotions.As if hiding his flushed face, Han Jooan focused on eating, while Gi Myunghoon watched him with a subtle, enigmatic smile.✴︎˚On the bus ride home after finishing his early morning shift, Han Jooan stared at his phone.When he searched Gi Myunghoon’s name on a portal site, a well-organized page of his official information appeared.Age: 44Birthplace: Yongsan-gu, SeoulNationality: South KoreaResidence: Seocho-gu, SeoulOccupation: BusinessmanCurrent Position: President of Gwanghwa Corporation (Architecture Division)Spouse: None (Divorced)Children: NoneHeight: 187 cmReligion: NoneThe page also detailed Gwanghwa Corporation’s value and the stock performance of Gwanghwa Architecture.But Han Jooan wasn’t interested in employee numbers or revenue.His attention and fingers halted on [Spouse: None (Divorced)] and [Children: None].He clicked the footnote attached to the word “Divorced.”Divorce 1): After two years of marriage to Park Jungyoon, an executive director and third daughter of the Junjong Group chairman, the couple separated amicably. It was a mutual divorce with no blame assigned to either party, and the division of assets proceeded smoothly.The marriage was reportedly a strategic union between major corporations, raising expectations for a potential merger between Gwanghwa and Junjong or collaborative projects between their subsidiaries. During the two years of marriage, the stock prices of both groups rose steadily, reflecting positive outcomes.However, after the divorce, the atmosphere changed dramatically.Due to owner-related risks, stock prices fluctuated sharply for several weeks.To stabilize the situation, Gi Myunghoon reportedly worked tirelessly day and night, and his name and photos frequently appeared in financial and societal news coverage.That effort seemed to be ongoing.Even through news articles, his determination to manage the aftermath of his actions was evident.Han Jooan murmured to himself.“So that’s why he couldn’t even take care of his meals or order delivery before….”At first, he’d thought it was ridiculous to skip meals instead of just cooking something for himself. But now, he felt a bit sorry for him. Though he couldn’t know what the marriage had been like, it seemed that after the divorce, work had consumed so much of Gi Myunghoon’s life that he barely had time for basic needs.He looked at the phone screen again, where Gi Myunghoon’s face was displayed. The relaxed atmosphere of him casually sipping soju at the “SoSo Restaurant” was nowhere to be found in the photo.Gi Myunghoon wasn’t smiling. His sharp gaze at the reporters revealed nothing of his true emotions.It was a flawless poker face. Staring at the image, Han Jooan murmured again.“He doesn’t seem like someone you’d call Ajusshi… Hmm….”Suddenly, his phone vibrated. A new, unfamiliar number appeared over Gi Myunghoon’s photo.Thinking it might be related to his modeling work, he answered immediately.“Yes, this is Han Jooan.”On the other end of the line, a calm male voice spoke.<Hello, this is Yoon Min, secretary to Gi Myunghoon. May I have a moment of your time?>Han Jooan’s eyes widened in surprise.“A secretary? What now?”Though the other person couldn’t see him, he adjusted his posture and replied politely.“Ah, yes, I can talk.”<Thank you. I was informed that you have a dinner appointment with the president today. Would you be available after 8 p.m.?>A dinner appointment today? That was the first he’d heard of it.“I don’t recall making such plans,” he thought.He almost corrected the misunderstanding but stopped himself.The story he had just read about Gi Myunghoon’s divorce kept replaying in his mind.Was it pity? Sympathy? He couldn’t tell.He wondered what kind of mental state a 44-year-old ajusshi must be in to ask a 22-year-old stranger to have a meal with him.Having dinner after 8 p.m. would mean skipping his evening delivery job, which would affect his part-time work schedule.But suggesting another time wasn’t feasible either—he wouldn’t finish his shifts until midnight, and that would be far too late to ask.Sensing his hesitation, the secretary, Yoon Min, quickly asked again.<Is the timing inconvenient for you?>“Well, uh, it’s a bit tricky,” he replied hesitantly.<The president’s work typically ends at 10 p.m., but he made an effort to finish earlier today. Adjusting to an earlier time isn’t possible.>Hearing that Gi Myunghoon had rearranged his schedule just to have dinner with him made it impossible for Han Jooan to say, “Sorry, I can’t because of my part-time job.”Feeling conflicted, he let out a silent sigh, his eyes darting around nervously.If they were going to share meals in the future, this seemed like a good chance to meet and discuss schedules.“Understood. Where should I go to meet him?”<We’ll send a car for you.>“That’s unnecessary. I can make my own way there.”<For security reasons, that won’t be possible. We’ll come to you instead. Please let us know a location where we can pick you up around 7 p.m.>“Security, even for a meal?”The more he thought about it, the more impressive Gi Myunghoon seemed.This was something he’d have to adapt to.“Then, please come to the subway station nearby.”He provided the station near his apartment.The secretary responded smoothly.<We’ll meet you at Exit 1 of that station at 7 p.m.>After the call ended, Han Jooan let out the sigh he had been holding in.“This is so overwhelming….”He wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing.He felt like he had gotten himself tangled in something unnecessarily burdensome.If Gi Myunghoon hadn’t shown up in person at the SoSo Restaurant to talk, maybe it wouldn’t feel this uncomfortable.Or was it his fault for looking him up and prying into his personal life, leaving himself feeling uneasy?He couldn’t even figure out his own feelings.Leaning back against the chair, he tilted his head and closed his eyes.The fatigue was building up.His body wasn’t tired, but his mind was on edge.“Still, the guy’s the president of Gwanghwa Corporation. It wouldn’t hurt to know someone like that. He’s way more important than a part-time job. For my future, it’s better to handle this well.”After weighing the pros and cons, he found himself incredulous.“This is making me so calculating. I’m analyzing costs and benefits. If everyone he meets acts like me, no wonder he’d feel annoyed and drained.”He decided not to overthink it.“Maybe he reached out to someone young and clueless like me to avoid any messy situations.”In a problematic relationship, Gi Myunghoon stood to lose much more than he did.All Han Jooan could do was make the most of the opportunity he was given.Yes, this was an opportunity.✴︎˚Han Jooan hesitated for a long time in front of his wardrobe.The clothes…“…Why is everything street fashion…?”It was all because of the free clothes he had received during his modeling gigs, which had piled up over time.He had nothing suitable for a formal meeting.Gi Myunghoon would be coming straight from work, likely in a suit, so he needed to at least match that level of formality.But there wasn’t a single suit in his wardrobe.And he couldn’t just wear his usual black jeans and black round-neck t-shirt.“Should I buy a cheap suit or something…”As he debated, his eyes landed on a pair of wide pants and a sky-blue button-up shirt.It was something he had received for free during a modeling shoot.There weren’t many options.That was the only clean and neat outfit he had.After buttoning up the shirt and tucking it into the pants, he stood in front of the mirror by the front door and turned this way and that.The shirt, being fitted, revealed his physique quite clearly.Would it be okay to wear this?Maybe not?As he agonized over it, the time for his meeting with Yoon Min, the secretary, approached.Han Jooan stopped worrying, put on black sneakers, and ran out to the meeting spot.At Exit 1 of the subway station, a sleek black luxury sedan, completely out of place in the neighborhood, was parked with its hazard lights on.“It’s so conspicuous! Could it really be that car?!”He was startled and approached cautiously. Someone got out of the driver’s seat.“Are you Han Jooan?”It was the voice of Yoon Min, the person he had spoken to on the phone.Han Jooan gave a small bow.“Hello.”“Yes, please get in.”When Han Jooan moved to open the front passenger door, Yoon Min quickly interjected.“No, please sit in the back.”As he spoke, the rear door smoothly opened.Someone was already seated inside.It was Gi Myunghoon himself.“Get in, Jooan.”Hearing the low, soft voice he had heard at the restaurant, Han Jooan froze for a moment.He hadn’t been told they would be traveling together.Flustered, he glanced at the secretary, but Yoon Min simply got back into the driver’s seat and fastened his seatbelt without a word.Gi Myunghoon gestured with his head.“If we keep standing here, we’ll get a parking ticket for illegal stopping.”Startled, Han Jooan quickly ducked into the car.“Oh, sorry. Hello, sir.”With the same smile he had shown at the SoSo Restaurant, not the one from the news articles, Gi Myunghoon replied.“You said you wouldn’t call me ‘sir.'”“But, well…”Han Jooan glanced at the secretary for guidance, but Yoon Min simply announced, “We’ll head to the reserved restaurant now.”As the car began to move smoothly, Gi Myunghoon’s gaze stayed fixed on Han Jooan.The faint musk scent in the car and the heavy atmosphere made it hard for him to adjust.Being naturally shy, Han Jooan kept opening his mouth as if to speak but couldn’t bring himself to say anything.Sensing his discomfort, Gi Myunghoon spoke first.“Are you feeling really uncomfortable?”“That, um, it was too flashy a car for our neighborhood.”“It’s just a normal sedan.”“Next time, just let me know the meeting location, and I’ll come to you.”“I didn’t think it’d make you this uncomfortable.”“Oh, well, um…”‘Would you want to ride in a foreign car worth millions that draws every student’s eyes in the exam village?’He desperately wanted to argue but held it in.Gi Myunghoon turned his whole body to directly face Han Jooan.“At this rate, you’ll get indigestion while eating. Are you okay?”Han Jooan swallowed hard before replying.“I’ll… adjust.”“Haha!”Yoon Min, who was driving, glanced at Gi Myunghoon through the rearview mirror, amused by his laughter.He found Gi Myunghoon’s behavior quite different from the demeanor he’d observed in his role as an executive secretary. Though he felt a bit unfamiliar with it, he kept driving without showing his thoughts.Gi Myunghoon, paying no mind to his secretary, focused entirely on Han Jooan and asked,

“Did you look me up on the internet or something?”Running a business must require sharp intuition. Without him saying much, it felt like he had everything figured out.Feeling like Gi Myunghoon had him completely read, Han Jooan didn’t dare lie and answered honestly.“Yes.”“And your impression?”“I thought… you’re such an amazing person that I don’t understand why you’re acting like this toward me.”“Really? Do I seem strange?”It wasn’t a situation that made logical sense.Watching Han Jooan close his mouth as if he wanted to say something but didn’t, Gi Myunghoon smiled through the lenses of his glasses.“Jooan, you’re so guarded and worried. But you can’t hide what you’re thinking; it’s all written on your face.”Startled by his words, Han Jooan ran his hand over his face.Gi Myunghoon merely smiled at the small gesture, interpreting it however he wished.Just then, Yoon Min’s voice cut into their exchange.“Sir, the secretary team says there’s been a change in tomorrow’s schedule. Could you confirm?”Gi Myunghoon picked up the tablet PC tucked into the car door.“Jooan, hold on a moment.”The blue light from the tablet screen reflected off Gi Myunghoon’s glasses.The smile he’d worn earlier was now replaced by an entirely dissatisfied expression.“Why are they conducting a field investigation now? The internal review isn’t even finished yet.”“The government officials requested it. They want to meet and discuss it by tomorrow.”“Postpone it to next week.”“If it’s pushed to the end of the month, they might get even stricter about it.”“They always act like everything has to match their schedule.”Gi Myunghoon turned off the tablet screen and placed it back into the car door compartment.“Proceed with the revised schedule.”“Understood.”Gi Myunghoon’s gaze fell on Han Jooan, who met his eyes with a bright, curious expression.One thought came to mind: ‘He really can’t hide his emotions. Is it because he’s innocent or just inexperienced?’Lack of experience and awkwardness.But there was also a refreshing purity to it, which made Gi Myunghoon smile.His voice lightened.“Fascinated?”Han Jooan nodded.