2 So glad you could make it! (1/2)

He stood rooted on the spot at the entrance of the VIP Lounge.

Did he just say President? President Chung...?

As he looked blankly at the wide ballroom-type lounge in front of him, a bright laughter somewhere from inside shook him out of his reverie.

”Please,” the waitperson bowed to him again, gesturing for him to enter.

He blinked and went inside. He felt the slight whoosh of air as the doors closed behind him. The familiar painted ceiling, the comfy neutral-colored chairs, and the warm, woody, citrus scent of the lounge all greeted him naturally. This lounge was one of his favorite places, almost beating his own villa by a slim percentage. Now... he's not so sure he liked it. After all, it became the place where his very own arranged marriage talk happened.

He felt cold all over.

He scanned the lounge for the people he's supposed to meet with. And his eyes landed on a woman sitting near the window on the far right. The woman was facing his direction, so he got a full view of her face. She wasn't looking at his direction, but was listening intently and smiling to the elder beside her.

That is... Chung Ji-Eun? He began walking towards their table.

The said 'woman' looked very young, with shoulder-length brown hair, clear brown eyes, and thin lips. Her face was lightly made-up, no unnatural blush, no thick liners, making her look more like a fresh student than anything else. The sun's ray indirectly hitting her face made her features somewhat dreamlike that he momentarily stared at her.

She really owns this place?

As he got near, the elder seating beside her turned to look at his direction and smiled.

”Hyun-Shik,” the elder stood. ”So glad you could make it! Come sit, my boy.”

”President,” he bowed to the elder and addressed the 'girl' beside him. ”Ms. Chung.”

He felt that it was more appropriate to think about 'Lady Chung' as a girl than a woman. After all, she looked very young compared to him. As she stood to receive him, he noticed her smiling at him. No reservation, no awkwardness, no shyness. It made him do a double take. She wore a simple white and yellow sun dress that accentuated her young features and as she bowed to him, that dress moved gracefully with her body.

”Please call me Ji-Eun, Mr. Song,” she said. ”I'm younger than you by five years anyway.”

Five years? That would mean she's only twenty-three.

He smiled at the father-daughter tandem and waited until they sat back down.

The elder looked at him encouragingly and said, ”I had thought you'd be with your parents, but meeting you like this is fine as well.”

He just smiled back at the elder.

”They were very busy with the company, President. My parents sends their apologies.”

”Oh, no need! No need!” The elder laughed, his dark eyes twinkling. ”I kind of know...”

”Please sit,” her voice reached his ears and he nodded back.

From what he's seeing and hearing at the table, it seemed that the elder's words were genuine. He listened and observed them carefully as they began to order lunch. While the elder chose his greens, his daughter ordered a hefty meal. Surprised, his eyebrows raised a little as he watched her.

The elder, noticing his reaction, laughed, ”My Ji-Eun doesn't like to pretend she hates food.”