HAN JINWOO'S POV
"Are you sure you're feeling better? You could have rested for a few more days," he said, concern etched on his face. I shook my head, my resolve firm. "No, I've already been cooped up for two whole days. Plus, I can't keep delaying Vivian's briefing."
He sighed, still unconvinced. "Yes, but I'm sure she would understand. I bet she'd be more than willing to postpone." I nodded, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine. Besides, I hate the smell of the hospital. It was only going to make me feel worse."
Leaning back in my seat, I decided to change the subject. "By the way, I'll move into the apartment you suggested last time." His expression shifted to one of disbelief. "Are you sure? It's the same apartment building where you got attacked."
I rolled my eyes, exasperated. "I already told you, I wasn't attacked. I slipped and fell." He shot me a glare, clearly not buying my story. "The doctor explained that your injury was definitely inflicted by something like a log or a bat, not just a fall. I don't know what you're hiding or who you're protecting, but I hope you keep yourself safe and stay away from trouble."
I couldn't help but mock him a little, smirking as I replied, "Yes, Dad." His expression softened, and he let out a chuckle, shaking his head.
When we arrived at the hotel where I was staying, I stepped out of the car. "I'll see you for the meeting tomorrow," I said, turning to walk away, but I noticed he was still right behind me. "What are you doing?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm escorting you in, just in case you get drowsy and dizzy," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. I chuckled softly at his protectiveness, appreciating his concern even if it felt a bit over the top..."I'll be fine... plus, I'm not used to this over-caring side of you, so how about you tone it down a notch?" I added with a playful smirk. "Goodbye..." I said, turning away and heading inside.
Once I settled onto my couch, a deep sigh escaped my lips. Just as I was starting to relax, my phone rang. It was Yifen. I quickly picked up, "Hello."
"Hey, Jinwoo! Have you already left the hospital?" she asked, her voice warm and familiar.
"Yes, I've just arrived at my hotel," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
"I'm really sorry I couldn't stop by to see you... work kept me busy," she said apologetically.
"No, it's okay. You can make it up to me with a wholesome meal," I responded, a smile creeping onto my face.
"Deal! And speaking of a meal, your dad wants you home for dinner this weekend," she said, and I felt a sudden jolt of surprise.
"Suddenly!" I exclaimed, taken aback.
"Yes, he has invited the Sharmas over for dinner," she added, and I couldn't help but scoff.
"Sharmas as in Riga Sharma?" I questioned, already knowing where this was headed.
"Yes..." Yifen confirmed, and I felt a wave of frustration wash over me.
"I told him I wasn't going to do this, but he's going along with it anyway," I said, feeling the irritation bubble up inside me.
"Just come over. I can talk to him after dinner and convince him," she suggested, trying to ease the tension.
"No... this time I'll handle Dad my way. Tell him I'll be home for dinner this weekend," I insisted, my mind set.
"Don't do anything silly, Jinwoo," she warned, but I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Can't promise you I won't. See you this weekend," I said before hanging up, my thoughts swirling.
"Dad, why do you want to make our already strained relationship even worse?" I thought to myself, frustration seeping in as I scoffed at the situation.
*
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BAE JIHO'S POV
"Hey..." I said as I sank into the couch next to Mia. She glanced over with a teasing smile. "Oh look who finally decided to come out of the room... I almost thought you got transmigrated into CEO's OBSESSION." Her playful jab made me chuckle, reminding me of how consumed I had been with that book for the past two days in preparation for my meeting with Vivian Song. "Are you finally done with it?" she added.
I nodded, a hint of melancholy creeping in. "Yes, and now I feel empty."
Mia laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yah, you should have seen me in college after I finished reading it... it was like I had an awakening. A sexual awakening, by the way." We both burst into giggles, the light-heartedness lifting the tension in the air.
"I know, right? It's so good... I'm usually against toxic and obsessive love stories, but I was hooked in a way," I admitted, still feeling the aftereffects of the story's grip on me.
Her expression shifted to seriousness. "Are you nervous for tomorrow?"
"A little, but I'll be fine," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Rather than nervous, I'm more curious about who the male partner is going to be."
Mia leaned in, her eyes narrowing with intrigue. "I can only think of one person, to be honest."
"Who?" I questioned, my curiosity piqued.
"Han Jinwoo," she said, and I couldn't help but exclaim, "What!"
"Come on... you must have felt it too as you read. The male lead Trevor's physical appearance matches Jinwoo's like from head to toe... it's like Vivian was writing about him," she insisted, her tone filled with conviction.
I paused, considering her words. "I mean, I can name a few more actors who could suit the Trevor role," I said, challenging her.
She stared at me, a playful challenge in her gaze. "Okay, mention some?"
I thought hard, my mind racing through names as I prepared to defend my stance...."Uhhmmm..." I started, but before I could finish, Mia burst into laughter. "See, you can't think of anyone else!" she teased.
"Wrong! I actually don't imagine people while I read," I replied, trying to defend myself as she shot me a glare.
"That's weird," she commented, and I nodded, acknowledging the truth in her observation.
"It is..." I admitted.
"Well, when you read it next time, try to picture Han Jinwoo as Trevor. Then you'll get what I mean," she insisted, causing my heart to skip a beat.
"There won't be a next time..." I blurted out quickly, hoping to end the conversation.
"Okay, you need to spill..." she pressed, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"Spill what?" I questioned, feigning innocence.
"Come on, girl! You went from being his hardcore fan in senior year of high school to first year of college, and then suddenly you had his posters ripped off your walls. Something must have happened... spill! I've actually been asking you to spill for years now," she confronted me, her tone half-serious, half-teasing.
"It's nothing serious... I just outgrew that phase," I replied, trying to brush it off.
She sighed dramatically. "Fine, keep it to yourself. Whatever it is, you definitely got your revenge when you hit him on the head."
I scoffed, "Come on..."
Mia chuckled, "May he not be your partner at the CEO'S OBSESSION shoot because you might run him over this time."
I scoffed in disbelief. "Girl, I am joking," she added, but I could feel the sting of her words.
"I know, but it still stings... I didn't do it on purpose, and I hope I and he don't cross paths again after that dreadful encounter..." I confessed, my voice dropping slightly as I recalled the awkwardness of that day....Mia chuckled softly,"What?" I questioned, "You know, every time you say you don't want to see someone again, you end up running into them. It's like the laws of nature," she replied, pulling me back into the reality of our situation.
"Right..." I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her words. "I'll just go catch up on some sleep. I haven't had any in the past two days, and I need to be fresh for my meeting with Vivian Song tomorrow." I stood up, stretching slightly as I prepared to retreat to my room.
"Have a good rest," Mia said, her voice trailing off as I walked away. I couldn't shake the feeling of impending awkwardness, but right now, all I wanted was to escape into the comfort of sleep.
As I drifted off to sleep, the world around me faded away, and suddenly, I found myself standing on a rooftop. The city sprawled beneath me, twinkling like a sea of stars. I was dressed in an elegant all-black dress that flowed around me, and in my hand, I held a glass of deep red wine. I took a sip, savoring the rich flavor, when I suddenly heard footsteps behind me.
I turned to see Han Jinwoo approaching, a smirk playing on his lips. My heart raced at the sight of him. "Amy, you here?" he called, using the name of the character from "CEO's Obsession."
"I already told you, we can't be anything but CEO and secretary," I replied, trying to sound firm as I turned to leave. But before I could take a step, he grabbed my hand, pulling me back towards him.
"And I told you... that I don't just want you; I need you," he whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. The intensity of his words sent shivers down my spine, and just as the tension reached its peak, I jolted awake, my heart pounding in the silence of my room..."What was that?" I questioned, my heart still racing as I scanned the room, trying to shake off the remnants of that vivid dream. Mia's voice echoed in my mind: "Well, when you read it next time, try to picture Han Jinwoo as Trevor." I scoffed, realizing she had gotten into my head. "Great," I thought to myself, pushing the lingering thoughts aside as I made my way to the breakfast table.
"Good morning," Mia greeted me, her cheerful tone contrasting with the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. I shot her a glare, unable to shake the dream's intensity. "What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"It's nothing... I'll have my breakfast after I shower. Manager Kim will be here to pick me up in a few," I replied, trying to brush off the awkwardness as I stood up and left the room, the strange dream still echoing in my thoughts.
After a quick shower, I finally sat down to breakfast, but my mind was elsewhere. Once I finished, I headed downstairs to meet Manager Kim, who was waiting for me by the car. "Good morning," I said, and he returned the greeting as we slid into the vehicle. The ride was quiet, giving me the space I needed to gather my thoughts, but it wasn't long before we arrived at the company where the meeting would take place.
"You should head in first; I'll pack the car," Manager Kim suggested, and I nodded in agreement. Stepping out of the car, I made my way toward the company building, my mind still drifting back to the dream. Suddenly, a voice pierced through my thoughts. "Ms. Bae Jiho?" I turned to see a lady approaching me.
"Good morning," she said, and I replied in kind. "I am Vivian Song's secretary, Hana. I'll be showing you to the meeting room." Relieved to have someone to guide me, I followed her, eager to focus on the task ahead and shake off the remnants of last night's dream.
"Here we are..." Hana said as I stepped into the meeting room, glancing around and realizing I was the first to arrive. A wave of nerves washed over me as I took in the empty seats. "You may have a seat. Ms. Vivian will be here soon," she added kindly. I slowly made my way to a chair, letting out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of anticipation settle in my stomach.
"May I get you anything? Some tea, coffee, water, juice?" she asked, her tone warm and inviting. I humbly declined, appreciating her hospitality but feeling too anxious to put anything in my stomach right now. As I waited, my phone chimed, breaking the silence. It was a text from Mia: "Good luck with the meeting." A smile crept onto my face as I prepared to reply when suddenly, I heard someone walk in.
"This way, please," a voice instructed, and I instinctively stood up. "Good morning, Jiho. Sorry if we kept you waiting for long," a lady said, and I recognized her immediately as Vivian Song. Just then, another figure entered the room, and my heart skipped a beat. It was him—Han Jinwoo! I couldn't believe my eyes. Our gazes locked, and I could see the surprise mirrored in his expression.
"Have a seat," Vivian said, and I watched as he settled into a chair opposite mine, still processing this unexpected turn of events. "Someone's missing," she noted, prompting me to remember my manager. "It's Manager Kim; he—" I began, but just then, he rushed in, apologizing for his tardiness. Vivian gestured for him to take his seat, and I felt a whirlwind of emotions as the meeting was about to begin.
"Shall we begin?" Vivian asked, her warm smile making the atmosphere a bit lighter. I sat up straighter, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. "I know that we all know each other in a way, but it's only fair we still introduce ourselves," she continued. "I'll start. I am Vivian Song, the author of the book on which this project is based." She gestured for me to go next, and I felt my heart race.
"Uhhmm, I am Bae Jiho," I managed to say, my eyes instinctively darting to Han Jinwoo, who was wearing a smirk that sent a wave of self-consciousness through me. Was he laughing at me? I scoffed internally, trying to shake off the feeling. "Han Jinwoo," he said briefly, and the introductions continued around the room.
"Okay, now that that's done, I'll introduce the project," Vivian said, her voice steady. "As you all know, my book 'CEO's OBSESSION' has only been available online and doesn't have a hard copy. However, due to its recent surge in popularity, I've decided to create a hard copy. And for the book cover, I'd like to feature two real people instead of an AI-generated cover. The two people I've chosen are you, Ms. Bae Jiho, and Mr. Han Jinwoo." I felt a mix of excitement and disbelief wash over me as her words sank in.
"Along with the book cover, you will also be creating a promotional video for the book, and all of this will take approximately two days if everything goes well," she added, maintaining eye contact with us. "I've already discussed the terms and conditions with your managers, and now I'd like to ask if either of you has any questions for me." Her gaze landed on me, and I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "Bae Jiho, any questions for me since we didn't get the chance to meet in person?" she asked...I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment as I finally spoke up. "Well, I actually do have a question..." I said, noticing Vivian's curious gaze fixed on me. "Can I ask why I was chosen?" I continued, and her smile widened, making me feel a bit more at ease.
"That's it?" she asked, clearly amused, and I nodded, my curiosity piqued. "Well, you are the closest to Amy in terms of appearance. You and Amy, the female lead in 'CEO's OBSESSION,' share this delicate and soft look. But after seeing you in 'The Hunted,' I noticed you also have a feisty side, just like Amy. That being said, I think you're perfect for this," she explained, and I felt satisfaction wash over me.
"Does that answer your question?" she asked, and I smiled back, grateful for her thoughtful response. "Thank you for the opportunity," I replied, my heart swelling with excitement. Her attention then shifted to Han Jinwoo. "Do you have any questions for me, Mr. Han?" she asked, and he chuckled softly, breaking the tension in the room. "Can I ask about how much I get paid?" he quipped, and laughter erupted around the table. I noticed Vivian lightly slap him on the shoulder, a gesture that hinted at their familiarity.
"Well, Mr. Han, that's something I'm about to discuss with your managers before we sign the contract. If you'll excuse us," she replied, standing up with our managers. As they left the room, a silence settled between Jinwoo and me. "This was definitely a pleasing surprise," he said, breaking the stillness. I nodded, feeling a mix of disbelief and excitement. "I know... you're the last person I expected to see," I murmured under my breath, still processing the unexpected turn of events.
I shifted the conversation, feeling a lingering sense of responsibility for what had happened. "How's your head?" I asked, glancing at him with concern. "Thankfully not broken," he replied, a playful grin spreading across his face. I couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Thankfully," I echoed, my gaze drifting away, still a bit uneasy.
"You know, Vivian is right. You do have a feisty side to you," he said, and I felt a rush of uncertainty. Was that meant to be a compliment? I quickly recalled the moment I hit him on the head. "Thank you," I replied, my confusion evident. "Let's work well together. I mean, we did get off on the wrong foot, but I trust your professionalism. So let's put that dreadful encounter aside and focus on this project." I extended my hand for a handshake, watching as he hesitated for a moment before standing up and taking my hands in his.
"Okay, let's work well together, Bae Jiho," he said, our gazes locking for a heartbeat, an unspoken understanding passing between us. Just then, someone walked in, and we both quickly let go of each other's hands. "I see the two of you are already getting to know each other," Vivian commented, and I felt a nervous smile creep onto my face.
"We're done with our discussions, and now it's time for the two of you to go through your contracts and sign if you agree to the terms," she said, placing the documents in front of us. As I reviewed the papers with my manager, I didn't spot anything concerning, so I confidently signed, and I noticed Han Jinwoo doing the same. It felt like a new beginning, and I couldn't shake off the excitement that bubbled within me.
*
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"Okay, now that we're done, let's take a picture to commemorate this moment," Vivian suggested, her enthusiasm infectious. I glanced over at Han Jinwoo, who looked less than thrilled. "Do we really have to do that?" he asked, earning a sharp glare from Vivian. "Of course," she replied firmly, and we all took our places, standing side by side.
"Take a nice one," Vivian instructed her assistant as we prepared for the shot. I could feel the anticipation in the air. "3, 2, 1... smile!" she counted down, and as I turned to face the camera, my hand accidentally brushed against Han Jinwoo's. A flutter of something unexpected stirred within me, a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"One more!" Vivian added, and I quickly got ready for the next shot. "3, 2, 1..." she counted again, and I flashed a peace sign, trying to shake off the lingering feeling from the first photo.
After the pictures were taken, my manager and I gathered our things, ready to leave. "Thank you again, Ms. Vivian," I said with a slight bow, feeling grateful for her support. As we bid farewell to everyone, my gaze caught Han Jinwoo, who was deep in conversation with Vivian. I couldn't help but glance back at him as we turned to leave, a mix of curiosity and anticipation swirling in my mind.
*
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HAN JINWOO'S POV
"Why didn't we just order and have it delivered to the office instead of coming to a restaurant?" I asked Vivian, who was sitting across from me, looking quite comfortable.
"You know I treat meals as though they are rituals that need to be performed in the right places," she replied, her tone serious yet playful. "Plus, I had already booked a reservation, and it could have gone to waste if we hadn't come. And they have the best stewed fish here—it's your favorite, isn't it?" I nodded in agreement, realizing she had a point.
"You don't have to worry about the public eye; we're in a private room," she added, which made me chuckle. "Wow, you're still pretty much a planner," I remarked, impressed.
"I just like to have control over things," she said with a hint of pride. "Shall we order?" she suggested as we both reached for the menu.
"I'll have some vegetable rice, stewed fish, and salads... plus wine," she ordered, then turned her gaze to me expectantly. "I'll have the same, but replace the wine with some juice," I replied. Her eyes narrowed as she shot me a glare.
"There is no way in hell I'm letting you drink alone! It's a large bottle to celebrate our collaboration," she complained, clearly not pleased with my choice.
"You'll have to drink on my behalf too; I'm refraining from any wine, beer, and so on," I insisted, trying to stand my ground. A smile broke across her face.
"Oh, look at you being a good boy," she teased in a baby voice, and I couldn't help but cringe a little. "Stop it!" I shot back, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement.
"Fine... I'll drink for the both of us," she said, and we settled into a comfortable silence as we waited for our order. I noticed her glancing at her phone, a smile creeping onto her face, "Look at this," Vivian said, handing me her phone. She had a playful smirk on her face. "She looks so flustered standing next to you." I glanced at the picture we took earlier, and a smile crept onto my face. "Cute!" Vivian added, clearly enjoying the moment.
"You find her cute as well, don't you?" she questioned, her tone teasing. I was taken aback. "What!" I exclaimed, trying to play it cool. "Don't act surprised. You were staring at her and smiling in this photo," she said, showing me the evidence.
"I wasn't necessarily smiling at her," I replied, feeling a bit defensive. "Okay, no need to be so defensive," she shot back, and I glared at her. "I am not being defensive," I insisted, but before she could respond, our food arrived.
"Thank you," we both said in unison as we started digging into our meals. The conversation shifted to the food, and I enjoyed the moment, even as I felt the earlier tension linger in the background. After we finished eating, Vivian had to head back to work, so I walked her to the parking lot. We said our goodbyes, and I headed back to the hotel.
Once I settled back on the couch, my phone rang. It was Junho. "Hey," I said, stretching to sit up.
"Hey... is it true?" he asked, his tone serious.
"What?" I replied, suddenly alert.
"That you're going to get married," he added, and I felt a jolt of surprise.
"What!" I exclaimed again, my mind racing.
"I heard Dad telling Mom that everything at the dinner needs to go well because he and the Sharmas will be discussing your marriage to their daughter," he explained.
I scoffed at the thought. "So that's why..." I muttered to myself, realizing the implications of what Junho had just said...."Look, Junho, I don't care what Dad says. I'm not getting married. I guess I definitely need to come to that dinner to set him straight and hopefully save him from his own delusions," I replied firmly.
"Well then, I guess we shall be having another memorable family dinner," he shot back, a hint of amusement in his voice. I couldn't help but chuckle softly. "I guess we will," I agreed, but as I sat there, I realized that Dad wasn't going to let this go until I did something impactful—something that would bruise his ego.
We had just parted a few hours ago, and I quickly dialed Vivian's number. "Are you really missing me that much?" she teased as she picked up.
"You wish. I was just wondering if you could help me out with Bae Jiho's telephone number," I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.
"Wait, Bae Jiho? Why?" she questioned, sounding curious.
"I just want her to join me on a chemistry-building project in preparation for your cover shoot next week," I explained, hoping that would satisfy her curiosity.
"Chemistry building? What's that about?" she pressed on..."It's nothing..do you have her number? " I questioned
"Yes.. I'll send it to you via text," she replied.. and I thanked her, relieved. After I got Bae Jiho's number, I dialed her up, eager to set things in motion.
*
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BAE JIHO'S POV
"Here you go," Han Jinwoo said as he handed me a cup of coffee.
"Thank you," I replied, eager to hear what he wanted to discuss. It was already surprising that he called me, and I wasn't even sure why I came, but here I was. I took a sip and glanced around the abandoned park we were in. "This is definitely a grey place to meet up."
"This is the safest place I could think of," he replied. "You know, away from the press and entertainment reporters and people." I nodded, understanding his reasoning.
"Okay then, why did you ask to meet up?" I asked, curious about where this conversation was heading.
"Are you free this weekend?" he questioned.
"Yes," I answered, a bit taken aback by the sudden invitation.
"Would you like to go somewhere with me?" he added, and I felt a flutter of uncertainty. Were we really close enough to go somewhere together, regardless of where that somewhere was?
"Can I ask where and why?" I replied, trying to keep my composure.
"For a chemistry-building project," he explained.
"What's that?" I questioned, genuinely confused.
"You and I have to build chemistry for the cover shoot next week. It's critical, so I would like us to do that this weekend," he elaborated, making a solid point about building chemistry, but I still didn't understand why it had to happen somewhere outside.
"Okay, I'll make this simple," he said, pausing for a moment as I waited for clarity.
"Would you like to act out something with me?" he added, but that didn't feel simple at all. In fact, it just made things more complicated.
"Act out what?" I questioned, my curiosity piqued even further..."A short play," he replied, and I couldn't help but chuckle softly at the unexpectedness of it all. "And what's this play about?" I asked, intrigued.
"It's about me taking you home for a family dinner and introducing you to my family, my supposed-to-be in-laws, and future wife as my girlfriend..." he explained. My jaw almost dropped at how complicated that sounded.
"So, in short, you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend at a family dinner," I said, trying to wrap my head around the idea. He nodded, affirming my summary.
"Yes, that's pretty much it," he replied.
"Why me?" I questioned, feeling a bit uneasy. "I don't think we're close enough to be making such requests of each other."
"I think we're pretty close," he said with a straight face.
"Are we?" I shot back, skeptical.
"Close enough to keep each other's secrets," he added, and I smirked, curious about what he meant.
"What secrets exactly?" I probed.
"You know... the fact that you almost killed me with a hit to the head," he replied, and I scoffed at the absurdity of it.
"We already moved past that," I said defensively.
"Did we?" he questioned, a grin spreading across his face.
"Are you threatening me?" I asked, giving him a glare.
"Should I?" he replied, but before I could respond, he broke into laughter. "Hey, I was joking. I'm actually asking, not threatening," he clarified.
"Well, okay, but why me? Don't you have other female friends?" I pressed, genuinely curious.
"You could ask Vivian; the two of you seem close," I added, reading his expressions for any hint of what he was really thinking..."Vivian? I don't think her fiancé would be okay with me introducing her as my girlfriend... plus, it might not seem like it, but I don't have that many female friends," he said, a hint of frustration in his voice.
"So what do you think?" he asked, and I took a moment to consider my options. "What do I gain from this?" I replied, genuinely curious about what I would get out of this arrangement.
"What do you want?" he questioned, and honestly, I wasn't sure at that moment.
"I'll do this, but I'm going to consider it an acting challenge, and in return, you owe me one," I said confidently, feeling like I had some control over the situation.
"Okay... anything," he replied, a bit too eager for my liking.
"Don't be so quick to agree. I might ask for something you can't give me in return," I warned, a smirk creeping onto my face.
"Oh really? Like what... my life?" he asked, returning my smirk.
"Maybe..." I teased, and he chuckled softly.
"It's okay; it's not like you didn't almost take it," he shot back, and I rolled my eyes, sighing in disbelief.
"You really do hold a grudge," I remarked, trying to keep the mood light.
"Kind of," he admitted, and I scoffed, shaking my head.
As I watched him sip his coffee, I couldn't help but wonder how I was getting so involved with him despite my earlier reluctance. It felt like I was stepping into a world I had tried to avoid, yet here I was, drawn in deeper than I intended.
*
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