TIN 21

Regardless, he spoke softly, smiling at me. The way he gestured toward the entrance with one hand was almost overly courteous, like a true gentleman. He hadn’t been excessively polite before, but there was something especially excessive about the way he was acting now.

Joo Do-hwa’s peculiar behavior continued even as we passed through the department store entrance. He didn’t even acknowledge the greetings from the employees, focusing all his attention solely on me. Not only did he hold the door, but he also checked the ground in front of me and placed a hand on my back.

It was an uncomfortable act, but I couldn’t directly point out that he was making me feel awkward. The moment we stepped inside, a subtle sense of unease suddenly welled up within me.

“…Why is there no one here?”

The spacious interior, where it seemed like space was being wasted, had only the two of us as customers. Except for when I was very young, I knew this place wasn’t normally this empty. It was strange to see uniformed employees waiting at the entrance of every store when there were so few customers walking around.

“I cleared it out. Didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable with strangers around.”

Joo Do-hwa answered nonchalantly as if it was nothing. Seeing me hesitate at his words, he curled his lips into an easygoing smile.

“You don’t like strangers, right? Like a house cat.”

“…”

If anyone’s a house cat, it’s you. I never said I disliked strangers in the first place.

“Did you clear out the entire place?”

“Yes, the whole thing.”

Joo Do-hwa answered obediently, smiling cheerfully. His crinkled eyes looked almost sickeningly benevolent. Of course, the words coming out of that mouth were anything but benevolent.

“Is there anything I can’t do?”

The status of the 4HAE Group in our country was almost god-like. After all, it was the 4HAE Group that had risen to lift the crumbling South Korea out of the ashes.

When the sea was about to dry up, South Korea had experienced a severe shortage of resources. The greed of the ruling regime had led to the collapse of the national economy, and the disastrous foreign relations had only weakened the country’s power.

If it had ended there, South Korea might have been wiped clean off the map by now. It’s a fact that’s now only found in records, but around that time, there were even rumors that the government had been on the verge of being dominated by foreign powers.

It was none other than the 4HAE Group that came to the rescue and reversed the situation. They expanded their business with newly developed technologies and eventually absorbed a part of Chinese territory, creating the current South Korea it was today. In return, they gained the monopoly rights over the sea routes, but no one dared to voice any complaints about a private company, rather than the government, owning such power.

The 4HAE Group becoming the de facto ruler of South Korea was also partly due to the incompetent policies of past presidents. They recklessly started accepting refugees, and the influx of people of ambiguous nationality eventually led to a breakdown of the legal system. As a result, owning the most capital eventually became the key to wielding power in the land.

It was for this reason that there were occasional extremists who were devoted to the 4HAE Group. A kind of cult-like worship, if you would allow it. The coexistence of resentment for monopolizing everything and gratitude for overcoming the crisis.  If there had been a monarchy across the sea, Joo Do-hwa would probably have been a prince.

“For your sake, I’d do this much.”

And this Joo Do-hwa claims to have cleared out the entire department store for me. I wasn’t sure if he was being sincere or not, but it was certainly an odd thing to do. Not to mention, he spoke so sweetly, as if he was fully prepared to give me everything.

“Now, tell me what you’d like to have.”

Was he going to buy it for me if I said something? I thought people might get the wrong idea if they overheard, but to my surprise, Joo Do-hwa readily added, “I’ll buy you anything you want from here.”

“…”

Why would you? Before I could even ask, a sense of déjà vu struck me. I felt like I had heard this conversation before somewhere…

Fortunately, I didn’t need to ponder deeply, as the memory quickly surfaced.

‘Is there anything you want?’

It was what the child had said to me, gazing at me intently in the seaside villa. With their shimmering golden eyes full of expectation, the child had boldly declared, ‘I’ll buy you anything.’

Back then, I had thought this little one couldn’t possibly buy me anything. But now I see it wasn’t just an empty promise. Of course, my response, then and now, was already set.

“There’s nothing I want.”

Even if I got luxury items, they would be useless, and the necessities were already abundant in Joo Do-hwa’s home. Having more possessions would only make it harder to move around, so there was no reason for me to be happy about receiving anything.

“Then what about something to eat?”

“Uh…”

Food would be better than material goods, but unfortunately, I had just had a meal with Joo Do-hwa before coming here to the department store. Perhaps because of that, I couldn’t think of any particular dishes I craved.

“I’m fine for now.”

At my response, Joo Do-hwa glanced at me sideways. A faint smile lingered in his slowly blinking eyes. He spoke in a flat tone, the corners of his lips slightly curled up.

“You’re so picky, aren’t you? And so pretty.”

It wasn’t a reproaching tone. Just matter-of-fact, like when he had told the staff to discard everything.

“I can’t stand affection, but you don’t seem like that type…”

As he said this, Joo Do-hwa carefully scrutinized me from head to toe. By this point, his observing had become almost a daily habit, and his confident manner didn’t make it feel unpleasant at all.

“Shall we take a look around first?”

He began strolling through the department store. The sparsely arranged shops, with security personnel stationed at the entrances, already hinted at their high-end nature.

“I’m sure you’ll find something you want as we browse.”

Without waiting for my response, he strode in the direction of the nearest store. I couldn’t call him back now, and even if I tried to hold him back, I doubt he’d let himself be held.

I decided I would just follow along and tell him I was ready to go home when we were done looking around. With that thought, I trailed after Joo Do-hwa.

* * *

Apparently, when Joo Do-hwa said he would “take a look around,” he meant going through every single store in the department store. He brought me into every shop we came across, briefly examining every item and immediately trying to make a purchase if I glanced at something for a moment too long.

To make matters worse, he continued his overbearing escort even as we browsed. He would open the fitting room door before me, hold the clothes I took off, or even put the shoes on my feet himself.

“…”

How strange this must look to outsiders. The heir of the 4HAE Group, bringing in some unknown vagrant and doting on them like this.

Yet, the department store employees greeted us with not so much as a change in expression. They even maintained a deferential attitude, as if I was a cherished customer. Such treatment was making me feel uneasy.

“Nothing here catching your eye?”

Around the time we had covered about half the department store, Joo Do-hwa handed a shirt to an employee, asking. The employee had pushed it toward me, saying it would suit me, but put it back when I showed no particular interest.

“That’s troublesome.”

Contrary to his words, Joo Do-hwa didn’t look troubled at all. Rather, he seemed to be enjoying this situation as if it were a game.

I suppose this shopping trip wouldn’t end until he brought something. With that thought, I carelessly pointed in some direction without even looking.

“That.”

Joo Do-hwa turned his head. It was exactly the direction I had indicated.

“I like that.”

“Wow, I hate liars, you know.”

His immediate retort caught me off guard, not because he had caught me in a lie, but because of his unexpected reaction. Honestly, I had thought he would just obediently buy whatever I pointed to.

“What would you even do with that, when you can’t even swim?”

“…”

Swim? I clamped my mouth shut before I could ask further. The area I had pointed to was filled with beachwear. Most people couldn’t even afford to go to the beach, so it must have looked like I had picked an extravagant item after initially declining everything else.

“Shall I buy you a float too?”

Joo Do-hwa asked in a playful tone, clearly teasing me. What would you even do with that, you can’t swim. That’s exactly what he was thinking.

“Or, can you actually swim?”

“…”

This time it was also a jest, but I couldn’t respond immediately, my eyes twitching. I should have simply said no, but I was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Hm?”

Noticing my hesitation, Joo Do-hwa tilted his head to the side quizzically. Gradually, a frown formed on his brow. Staring at me intently, his lips moved slowly.

“Really?”

“…Well.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond.

While I hadn’t actually tried swimming since my childhood, the body usually remembered physical activities. I used to do it daily back then, and even a few times at his villa.

“I can swim, but not very well.”

It wasn’t that strange to be able to swim, really. Some of the Oceans staff could swim as well. They would occasionally be taught by guests who liked to show off at resorts.

Of course, most of those guests were just perverts using the swimming lessons as an excuse for underwater sex.

“I’m not good at it, just…”

But for some reason, a hint of displeasure seemed to have crossed Joo Do-hwa’s face, if only momentarily. Before I could even discern his true intent, he smiled cheerfully, his tone light as if he had never frowned.

“Then how about you try on a swimsuit and we go out for a swim?”