JGA CH45
Chapter 45: Wait for Me
The next morning.
Yoon Nam-hyuk was woken up by the doorbell. He glanced at the still-sleeping Qi Huai and gently freed himself from his embrace.
Their bodies were so tightly intertwined that even the slightest movement was amplified. Qi Huai’s eyelashes fluttered and his eyes squinted open, just in time to see Yoon Nam-hyuk’s back as he left the room.
Everything that had happened last night—from the impulsive, passionate kiss in the car to the wild, chaotic affair in the living room—all the memories came flooding back like a tide.
Qi Huai rubbed his slightly aching forehead. “I think I went too far…”
The System was so anxious it was chewing on its handkerchief.
Last night, the two of them had been kissing so intensely in the car, especially Yoon Nam-hyuk, who had even launched a sneak attack while Host Oppa was asleep. The System was too embarrassed to watch closely and had briefly gone offline. When it came back online, it was right in the middle of a passionate kiss in the hallway!
Host Oppa was so cruel. Before it could even get its “omo” out, it was quickly blocked by him.
So it was resentful.
It was too embarrassed to watch one person play, but when two people were playing, it wanted to watch with a magnifying glass!
How dare you block me?
The System resentfully he tui’d.
[Host Oppa, you have such a terrible mouth! Such a crazy kiss! You even know to block the System when you’re drunk! What happened later! Tell me! This bed is so big! Your pants are still lying on the floor! Did you two go ‘puchi puchi’ making bubbles last night? Or did you go ‘huala huala’ and soak the carpet? Tell me quickly!]
This was the uncensored version!
And I missed it!
Qi Huai: “…Be quiet.”
[Ha!] The System’s eyes lit up. [You’re telling me to be quiet! Why don’t you just say you didn’t sleep together! You’re feeling guilty! You’re changing the subject! I see right through you, Host Oppa. You have a big, big, restless thermos flask! The protagonist shou is nothing but earwax in your eyes. Love Interest #1 is your real prize! Hehehe—]
Qi Huai blocked the System again.
He was extremely thirsty after a night of drinking. Qi Huai ruffled his messy hair and planned to go to the kitchen for a glass of water, and also to talk to Yoon Nam-hyuk about last night.
He hadn’t meant for it to happen last night, but in the end, those were things he wanted to do. Alcohol doesn’t create things out of thin air; it only magnifies his desires, his wicked nature.
In the world Qi Huai came from, every task-doer was a child created by the Mastermind using human genes, drifting aimlessly with the Mastermind in a universe where humans had long gone extinct.
「The happiness of those with human genes comes first.」
This was the first sentence they learned to read.
For task-doers, they entered worlds created by human imagination as consciousness. The ultimate goal of all tasks was to find happiness. Task-doers could choose to stay in a world they liked. To save resources, the bodies of task-doers who made a choice would be destroyed. Therefore, everyone had only one chance.
The past Qi Huai, as the System said, was like a wanderer, going around, completing tasks, but never finding a world or a person he liked.
But now, although Qi Huai still had no particular preference for this world, he seemed to have finally met someone he liked at first sight. Perhaps he and Yoon Nam-hyuk could…
“…Whose woman is it this time?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk was leaning against the door in his pajamas. To prevent Assistant Yoo from seeing the mess on the floor, he hadn’t let him in, but instead blocked the doorway, leaving Qi Huai with a view of his cold back.
Assistant Yoo’s eyes were lowered, his gaze avoiding the bite marks and hickeys on Yoon Nam-hyuk’s chest. “I heard it’s a friend from the Chairman’s church. Ms. Kim Nam-joo studied fashion design in France and opened her own studio after returning to Korea. Her father is an architect, and her mother is a very famous artist. The Chairman said if you don’t like traditional women from prosecutor families, a liberal-minded and intelligent woman like this might be to your taste, so…”
“…Shibal.”
Yoon Nam-hyuk frowned. “I know. You can arrange a time for this afternoon. Is the information I asked for last time ready?”
Assistant Yoo nodded. “It’s already in your email… Excuse me, is Actor Qi still here?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk paused. “What’s wrong?”
“RC Entertainment and the film crew sent an email, saying they’d like to meet with Actor Qi at the RC company this afternoon to chat. Director Baek Se-won wants the actors to get familiar with each other in advance and has requested that Actor Qi be Actor Kim’s assistant for a few days to enhance their understanding of each other.”
“Assistant?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk’s expression soured. He didn’t want Qi Huai to do servant’s work, but the director’s arrangement was not to be questioned. If Qi Huai didn’t bring it up himself, Yoon Nam-hyuk could only endure it.
Indeed, actors have to make sacrifices for their roles. Even if there are kissing scenes, bed scenes in the future…
Ah—shibal!
What’s so good about being an actor anyway!
Yoon Nam-hyuk’s face grew darker and darker.
Sweat beaded on Assistant Yoo’s forehead.
After a long moment, Yoon Nam-hyuk said coldly, “He’s still sleeping. I’ll have him come down in two hours. Please wait in the car.”
Assistant Yoo nodded and quickly fled.
Yoo Ji-hoon had thought Qi Huai would come down much later, but to his surprise, just over ten minutes later, Qi Huai got into the car, his face full of exhaustion.
“Uh, Actor Qi?”
Qi Huai forced a smile. “Mmm, thank you for your trouble, Assistant Yoo. Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Yoo Ji-hoon replied, his eyes quickly scanning him. He was not surprised to find that everything from Qi Huai’s shirt to his jacket to his pants was Yoon Nam-hyuk’s.
Daebak…
The president’s house clearly has a dryer, he thought. Qi Huai’s sweatshirt and jeans from yesterday could have been washed and dried and ready to wear in just a few hours. But he’s wearing the president’s clothes. And with those faint hickeys and bite marks on the president’s collar…
They definitely had a fierce battle all night!
However, what Assistant Yoo didn’t know was that Qi Huai and Yoon Nam-hyuk hadn’t even seen each other just now.
Because there was still time, Yoon Nam-hyuk had gone straight to the bathroom to shower after Yoo Ji-hoon left, completely unaware that Qi Huai was standing behind him, having heard his entire conversation with Assistant Yoo.
Qi Huai, on the other hand, had stood there blankly for a long time. Since his clothes from yesterday were too wrinkled, he had just grabbed a set from Yoon Nam-hyuk’s closet and left quietly, leaving only a note for him before he went.
At this very moment, Yoon Nam-hyuk was holding this note, his face expressionless, reading it word by word.
Yoon Nam-hyuk, I heard you’re going on a blind date.
There might be a misunderstanding here, but even if it is, I’m finding it hard to control my emotions. My temper isn’t as good as you think. I’m a terrible person. Not tolerant, possessive, petty, and I might even do bad things when I’m angry.
Last night’s argument didn’t have a conclusion, and I’m not sure if there needs to be a conclusion between us…
I want you to know that my attitude is firm. I don’t waver, and I don’t accept others wavering, even if the reason is family.
Yoon Nam-hyuk, think about it. Then decide if we should meet. When you’re sure, come find me.
The content of the note seemed cold and heartless, but it was what Qi Huai truly felt. Because as a task-doer, he only had one chance to choose.
He would occasionally wonder what the original comic’s ending was, how things would develop between Yoon Nam-hyuk and Baek Soo-kyung with his personality. If Yoon Nam-hyuk really cared about Baek Soo-kyung, could he tolerate sharing him with others? If he could, was it because he tolerated it out of love, or because he himself had married a woman of equal social standing?
They knew too little about each other.
It was human nature to be attracted to someone’s appearance, but when faced with a long-term choice, it was inevitable to start weighing the pros and cons.
I like you, Qi Huai thought. Do you like me? I don’t care if I have children. Do you? I am a product of the Mastermind’s cultivation, with no family to interfere. What about you? If, in order to maintain our love, I force you to ignore your family, can you accept it with a clear conscience? Won’t you be secretly hurt and caught in a dilemma?
If you hesitate, are troubled, are indecisive, then it’s better not to start. It’s better for both of us.
The opposite of happiness is pain.
In the past, Qi Huai didn’t understand happiness. Now he finally understood a little, but with it came a little pain. This feeling was not pleasant.
The System, which had been blocked for a long time, popped up again. It cautiously observed Qi Huai. [Host Oppa, are you in a bad mood? Did you fight with the president again?]
Qi Huai lowered his eyes and smiled faintly. “No, just thinking about something important.”
[Oh…] The System was clueless. [Where are we going?]
Qi Huai: “RC Entertainment. Director Baek said last night that he wants me to be Kim Min-kyung’s assistant. We’re going there for a meeting.”
At two in the afternoon.
In an extremely luxurious French restaurant, Yoon Nam-hyuk was staring at a note in a daze.
“Excuse me, are you President Yoon?”
The person who had arrived was a lady dressed in a Chanel suit, her makeup exquisite, her demeanor elegant, her eyes twinkling with a cute and cunning light. She said “Bonjour”1 to Yoon Nam-hyuk, waited for the waiter to pull out her chair, and then sat down. “Sorry to keep you waiting. The traffic was terrible. You don’t mind, do you?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk slowly shook his head. “It’s fine.”
Kim Nam-joo covered her mouth and smiled. “President Yoon is very gentlemanly.”
At least he’s not as short-tempered as the rumors say.
Yoon Nam-hyuk smiled back. “So Ms. Kim was deliberately late to test my temper?”
Kim Nam-joo smiled and tossed her fragrant, chestnut-brown long hair. “Mmm, that was part of the idea, but the traffic was indeed bad, so I was even later than expected. Oppa doesn’t mind, right?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk took a sip of champagne, his expression faint. “Of course not. After all, this is the only time we’ll be meeting.”
Kim Nam-joo was stunned at his words. “Because I was late?”
“No, the problem isn’t you, Ms. Kim Nam-joo,” Yoon Nam-hyuk said. “My father has arranged many blind dates for me, but I have never been to any of them. You should have heard about this. It’s not that these ladies are not good, but due to my personal reasons, I’m not suitable for them. I only chose to be honest with you after I had investigated your background. You can understand, right?”
“You mean…” Kim Nam-joo took a moment to process. “You’re not interested in women?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk nodded.
Kim Nam-joo’s face was dazed. “Then why did you agree to meet me?”
“I’ve investigated your background, miss. I know you are a kind person. You frequently sponsor poverty projects in Africa and have set up a charity fund for stray animals. At the same time, you are also very career-oriented.”
Yoon Nam-hyuk took a document from the folder beside him and handed it to Kim Nam-joo, then continued, “I am very interested in your new business. Rather than a romantic relationship, I would prefer to have a cooperative relationship with you.”
Kim Nam-joo opened the file skeptically. The more she read, the brighter her eyes became. “You’re willing to sponsor my eco-friendly clothing project, and even have Woosan Entertainment’s top artists post outfit photos on IG? And the fee is this low for a two-year collaboration?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk smiled and nodded. “I modified this document from a general template. We can discuss the specific details at any time, but the amount will absolutely not change, you can rest assured. Ms. Kim Nam-joo, I know you come from a very prestigious family. Your father is an architect, and your mother is an artist. But your parents mainly reside in France, so they don’t know many of the influential people in Korea, right? You want to bring the concept of eco-friendly clothing to the Korean market. This is a very good project. Besides me, I’m afraid you’ll have a hard time finding a second partner who can help you save on huge marketing costs.”
Kim Nam-joo was incredibly tempted, but she still had doubts. “What’s the condition for the collaboration? To have me pretend to be your girlfriend? Or a fake engagement?”
She frowned, looking troubled. “If the condition is too unreasonable, I may not agree.”
At most, she could agree to a fake engagement. A fake marriage would be a bit difficult…
“Please say you don’t like me, Ms. Nam-joo.”
Kim Nam-joo was stunned. “What?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk said softly, “Just say you don’t like me, but I seem to have fallen for you at first sight. In the future, complain to your parents a lot about me pestering and pursuing you. I’ll tell my family the same.”
Kim Nam-joo’s eyes darted, and she immediately understood his meaning. “If we say we’re in love and dating, your father will rush you to get married, right? But if I’m the one who disagrees, it will buy you time?”
Yoon Nam-hyuk nodded.
His sudden pursuit of a woman was too big of a change. It would definitely make his father and brother suspicious. But it didn’t matter. He could just say he was annoyed by his father’s constant nagging about blind dates and had decided to find a woman to have children with as soon as possible.
The girl introduced by a friend from church, her family were all influential people. His father would never dare to force Kim Nam-joo to do anything.
As long as Kim Nam-joo kept refusing, and he insisted that he only wanted her, even if his father thought he was lying out of spite, he would inevitably be at a loss for a while.
He had to seize this time to continue following the clues and find his mother’s memento.
“If possible, please don’t date anyone for at least the two years of our collaboration,” Yoon Nam-hyuk said.
Kim Nam-joo readily agreed. “Okay, I agree.”
And so, Yoon Tae-min’s long-planned blind date arrangement came to an end. It wasn’t hard to come up with a countermeasure. The hardest part was finding a woman who was willing to cooperate with Yoon Nam-hyuk.
If Yoon Nam-hyuk found someone himself, his father wouldn’t trust her, and it might even endanger the woman’s safety.
So the woman had to be someone his father provided. The matchmaker had to be influential, and the woman’s family couldn’t be too deeply connected to the upper echelons of Korean society. Those chaebol families and families with political status were not his targets.
Luckily, Kim Nam-joo appeared. She was very suitable.
Kim Nam-joo left happily with the document Yoon Nam-hyuk had given her. Yoon Nam-hyuk sat at the table and once again took out the note from his pocket, rubbing it gently.
Qi Huai, he thought, I will do my best to give you an explanation. I just have something I must do. So I’m sorry, please wait for me a little longer.
On the other side.
Qi Huai arrived at the RC Entertainment building at the agreed time.
The System looked up at the tall building and let out a “wow.” [What flamboyant taste. It’s completely different from the president’s taste. Whose taste do you think is better, Host Oppa? Hehe.]
Qi Huai said flatly, “What do you really want to ask?”
The System hehehe’d: [Guess, is that Eun Chul-woo who wants to hit on you here?]
Qi Huai: “…”
- ¹Bonjour: French for “Hello” or “Good day.” ↩︎