A Dazzling Encounter
The moment Yoon Seo-ha passed through JK Hotel's gleaming glass doors, her steps grew heavy. Her reflection in the polished floor looked shabby. The black dress she'd bought on sale online years ago looked even more pathetic surrounded by the designer outfits filling the lobby.
'Maybe I shouldn't have come...'
Seo-ha pulled out the invitation to check it again. Min-ji's wedding. They'd been close in college, but after graduation their lives had diverged completely. Min-ji had studied abroad, then landed a job at a major corporation, while Seo-ha...
A text on her phone caught her eye.
[Mr. Yoon, if payment is not received by tomorrow, we will have no choice but to pursue legal action.]
Seo-ha took a deep breath and lifted her head. Now wasn't the time to feel anxious. She needed to find an opportunity. That's why she'd come.
"Right this way, please. Are you with the groom's party or the bride's?"
A hotel employee in formal attire asked politely.
"The bride's," Seo-ha's voice came out small.
"This way, please."
Walking beneath the glittering chandeliers, Seo-ha felt like the sound of her cheap shoes echoed across the marble floor.
"Seo-ha! Over here!"
A familiar voice called from the entrance to the wedding hall. It was Yu-jin, a classmate from college. Several other alumni stood clustered around her.
"Wow, Seo-ha! It's been forever. I didn't think you'd make it to Min-ji's wedding," Yu-jin said, pulling Seo-ha into a hug.
"Yeah, I got the invitation..." Seo-ha forced a smile.
"We're at the same table. Come on."
Seo-ha sat at an elaborately decorated round table. Five classmates were already seated, all dressed in designer clothes and wearing the latest luxury bags and accessories.
"Seo-ha, are you still at that small company? My company's hiring right now—want to apply?" Ji-su asked, tilting her champagne glass.
"Thanks, but I like where I am." Seo-ha replied with a strained smile. Until yesterday, that had been true. She'd been a respected marketing specialist at a stable company. But now... She shook off the thought.
"Can you believe Min-ji? Marrying Woo Sung-jun from JK Group. And having the wedding here at JK Hotel. I heard the hotel CEO is the groom's cousin—that famous Kang Do-yoon..." Hyun-ah said excitedly.
Seo-ha quietly surveyed her surroundings. The wedding hall was truly opulent. Light from the ceiling chandeliers reflected off crystal decorations on the tables, making everything sparkle. Fresh floral arrangements at each table filled the air with fragrance.
"Everyone! Thanks so much for coming."
Min-ji's sudden appearance made everyone stand. In her wedding dress, Min-ji looked like a princess.
"Seo-ha, you made it. I thought you'd be too busy." Min-ji took Seo-ha's hand.
"Congratulations, Min-ji. You look beautiful." Seo-ha said sincerely.
"Thanks. You were always the most honest one." Min-ji smiled. "Oh, wait—there's someone I want to introduce you to. My fiancé's cousin, the CEO of JK Hotel. If you get a chance later, you should definitely say hello. He might be able to help you."
At Min-ji's words, Seo-ha's heart began to race. This was it. The real reason she'd come.
"Really? Thanks, Min-ji."
"Of course! I've got to go now. See you later!" Min-ji headed off to another table.
During the ceremony, Seo-ha moved away from her friends to a corner seat. Their conversation was all about overseas trips, promotions, and investments—a world completely foreign to Seo-ha.
She quietly pulled out her phone to check her messages.
[Mr. Yoon, please be advised that if payment is not received by tomorrow, we will have no choice but to take legal action.]
[Seo-ha, don't worry too much. Dad will figure something out.] - Dad
Tears welled up in Seo-ha's eyes as she read the messages. Her father, always so strong. The man who'd built his business while making sure his employees got paid, now...
'I have to find a way somehow...'
Laughter and celebration filled the space around her, but Seo-ha's heart felt heavy. The gap between this lavish wedding and her reality seemed impossibly wide.
As the ceremony continued, Seo-ha felt increasingly suffocated. The laughter, the music, everything seemed to press down on her.
"Excuse me, I need the restroom..."
Seo-ha got up and headed for the hallway. Walking down the corridor, she breathed deeply.
"Get it together, Yoon Seo-ha. What you need right now is an opportunity. Just one chance..." she whispered to herself.
Looking for the restroom, Seo-ha accidentally opened the wrong door. Before her lay a terrace bar connected to the wedding hall. She hesitated, then decided to sit at the bar and rest for a moment.
"Excuse me, just one glass please," Seo-ha said to the bartender.
"What kind of wine would you like?"
"Any red wine is fine."
The bartender nodded and poured. Seo-ha took the glass and turned to head back to the wedding hall. But as she turned, she collided hard with someone.
"Oh!"
Wine splashed up, spreading red stains across a black suit. Seo-ha looked up, flustered.
"I'm so sorry! I'm really sorry!"
The man standing before her was over 190cm tall with perfectly proportioned features. His expression was cold, but something in the way he looked at her seemed almost... intrigued.
"I'm really sorry! Let me clean that for you." Seo-ha pulled out a handkerchief.
"It's fine. That won't help much." The man's voice was cold but strangely calm.
Eyes from all around turned toward them. Despite her embarrassment and shame over the mistake, Seo-ha tried to handle it quickly.
"This is my fault. I'll cover the dry cleaning costs."
Just then, a waiter hurried over.
"Mr. Kang, I've brought towels. Should I arrange dry cleaning right away?"
Seo-ha's eyes widened. 'Mr. Kang'? Could it be...?
"I have an urgent appointment. Deal with it later," the man told the waiter.
Only then did Seo-ha realize who she'd bumped into. Kang Do-yoon, CEO of JK Hotel. The very person Min-ji had promised to introduce her to.
"You're JK Hotel CEO Kang Do-yoon. I'm truly sorry. This was my mistake. I'll take responsibility for the suit." Though flustered, Seo-ha spoke as confidently as she could.
Kang Do-yoon raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at her. A subtle glimmer of interest flickered in his eyes.
"Compensation won't be necessary. But your name is...?" Kang Do-yoon asked.
"Yoon Seo-ha. I'm Min-ji's college friend."
"Interesting. Min-ji's friends aren't usually this... straightforward." A small smile crossed Kang Do-yoon's lips.
Seo-ha didn't know how to respond. The man before her was heir to JK Group, ranked in the top ten of Korea's business elite. And she'd just spilled wine all over his expensive suit.
"Mr. Kang, your meeting is in ten minutes," his secretary quietly informed him.
"Got it. I'll be right there." Kang Do-yoon replied.
He looked at Seo-ha again and nodded slightly. "Excuse me, Ms. Yoon. Enjoy the rest of your time."
With that, Kang Do-yoon left, and Seo-ha stood frozen in place.
In the wedding hall lobby, Seo-ha retrieved her coat. It was time to go. A meaningless encounter and even more meaningless hope. She gave a self-deprecating laugh at her reckless plan.
"Of course it was too much to hope for. Why would an opportunity like that come to me..." Seo-ha muttered as she took her coat.
Maybe she shouldn't have come to Min-ji's wedding in the first place. The introduction Min-ji had mentioned was now ruined by the wine incident, and she was back to square one. She needed to think from the beginning again about how to help her parents.
Seo-ha walked through the hotel lobby and outside. The cold March wind brushed her cheek. Just as she raised her hand to hail a taxi, someone called her name.
"Ms. Yoon Seo-ha, wait a moment."
Seo-ha turned to see Kang Do-yoon standing at the hotel entrance. The wine-stained suit had been replaced with a fresh one.
"Yes?" Seo-ha asked, looking confused.
Kang Do-yoon walked toward her slowly. His stride was relaxed but confident. Stopping in front of her, he pulled a business card from his pocket.
"This... is my card. I have an interesting proposal for you. If you're interested, please contact me."
Seo-ha took the card with a bewildered expression. On the luxurious card stock was engraved 'JK Hotel CEO Kang Do-yoon.'
"What kind of... proposal?" Seo-ha asked, looking confused.
"Call me and I'll explain in detail," Kang Do-yoon replied with just a smile.
With no further words, he got into a black luxury sedan waiting nearby. As the car pulled away, Seo-ha stared at the card in her hand.
The words 'interesting proposal' echoed in her mind. What kind of proposal? And why her, of all people? Seo-ha stood there in a daze, looking at the card in her hand. In that moment, she had no idea—that this small business card would change the entire course of her life.