As Dan Woo stepped out of the main gate, he looked at the sedan with the engine running with curiosity.
Soon, a black SUV slowly approached and stopped, and Tae Yoon got out of the driver’s seat. Approaching Dan Woo, he was the first to speak.
“Was breakfast good?”
“It was good. …Why the car?”
“There’s a structural change so I need to drop by the architectural office, and in the meantime, I’ve got an appointment. The timing is a bit tricky.”
“Then move separately.”
As a representative, Dan Woo’s Play Round planned to open several more branches in Korea.
Following the first branch in Jamsil which was about to open, Jeju was decided as the second branch, but where the next one would be had not yet been determined.
Perhaps because of that, the leading construction industry in the country did not hesitate to come down to Jeju to meet him, the representative.
“We will soon arrive at our destination.”
As the navigation ended, Dan Woo lowered the window to look around. The signboard of a Korean traditional restaurant, the meeting place, was visible.
One could feel the power of brush strokes in the lettering on the signboard.
The employee who guided Dan Woo stopped in front of Room 8 and slid the door to the side.
As he entered, a man rose from the floor seating and bowed. The man extended his right arm, which was placed on his left.
Despite the clear age difference, his action was cautious.
“I am Park Sung Ho, the executive director of Hyun Dong Construction.”
“I am Woo Dan Woo, the representative of Play Korea.”
Dan Woo quickly concluded the greeting by shaking his hand.
Executive Director Park offered Dan Woo a seat first.
“Please sit first.”
The table where the two sat was set with side dishes.
Jeju Island’s dome pork, spicy cod roe seasoned with crushed chili and garlic, and grilled parrotfish were served in sequence.
With the addition of braised cutlassfish and stone pot rice topped with thinly minced abalone as the last course, only Dan Woo and Director Park were left in the room.
“I just dropped by to say hello. Since you happened to be in Jeju. You don’t have to feel burdened.”
“Yes.”
Ever since he became the representative of Play Round, Dan Woo had grown accustomed to dining with strangers.
Considering that this was Korea, it was not surprising. In a country where ‘let’s have a meal together’ is exchanged like a greeting, there was no need to mention that it happened more frequently.
The moment his eyes landed on the braised cutlassfish, Dan Woo thought of Ji An.
During the days when he lived with his mother, it was natural for him to eat food made with seasonal ingredients.
Like mugwort soup with flounder in the spring and fresh oyster soup with oysters.
The pumpkin soup in the summer was also along the same lines.
“Ah!”
Dan Woo belatedly realized why he had been so relaxed with this morning’s pumpkin soup. It seemed to remind him of his mother’s food.
Director Park, who did not miss his short exclamation, asked.
“Is there anything you don’t like?”
“No. …I was just thinking about the food my mother used to make.”
“It seems your mother was a good cook.”
“Yes, she was.”
Director Park naturally continued the conversation with talk about food.
“I grew up without eating my mother’s food. I lived in my uncle’s house.”
“You must have had an unavoidable situation.”
“Do you know the term ‘nunchi rice’?”
“They say it’s hard to remember the taste of rice eaten while paying attention to others.”
Dan Woo responded to Director Park with a similar sentiment.
During the days when he lived with his mother, he too did not understand the true meaning of ‘nunchi rice’.
He first met Woo Sun Ho, who introduced himself as his brother, in the hospital where he was admitted after his house had burned down in a fire.
The hospital food he ate that day was hard to swallow, even with caution. It was because of Woo Sun Ho’s sharp gaze.
Such a situation would be referred to as ‘nunchi rice’.
Compared to that, this situation had little discomfort. On the contrary, they seemed to be watching his every move.
As the meal ended, a sorbet made from ground Hallabong, a type of tangerine, was served as dessert.
Finally, Director Park handed over a document envelope with the logo of Hyundong Construction. He carefully added.
“These are the projects our company has been working on for the past few years. Of course, there will be a bid announcement, but I thought it would be good for you to take a look when you have time.”
“I see.”
“May I ask if the second store has been confirmed for Jeju?”
“There will be an official announcement soon.”
Though it wasn’t a confirmation, Director Park seemed to understand the implications in Dan Woo’s words.
Dan Woo, who had gotten into the driver’s seat, placed the document envelope on the passenger seat and started the car.
After hesitating about his destination, he decided to head towards Dongmun Market.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
