27 Can I ask you something too? (1/2)

”I apologize for arriving late,” Ji-Eun started. ”Some VIPs arrived at The Regal and I had to check in with the staff.”

”Ji-Eun,” Hyun-Shik leaned towards her. ”Maybe it's time you drop the honorifics? After all, we are going to be married soon. We should try and be more familiar with each other.”

”I thought I was already being a bit more friendly,” she said thoughtfully.

”You shift from being one to the other from time to time,” he teased. ”You're not used to being friendly with other guys, are you?”

Ji-Eun looked straight at him and said, ”We're not the same age, Mr. Song.”

”What...?” His eyes widened at her words.

At his reaction, Ji-Eun started laughing. ”I'm sorry, but that reaction was everything.”

He continued to stare at her for a few more seconds. This girl...

”That's fine,” Hyun-Shik smiled at her, relaxing on the sofa. ”You were able to finish work, yes?”

”Yes, I got off earlier than expected.”

”Good,” he quieted down for a few seconds, glancing at the bare vanity.

”I'm curious about that,” he pointed at her vanity.

”Hmm? What about it?” Ji-Eun followed his trail of sight. ”Father gave me that as a gift I think about three years ago when I joined the Chung Group.”

”Has it been like that... for three years?”

Ji-Eun tilted her head and glanced at the vanity. ”I'm not following. Does it look ugly? I mean, it doesn't, right? I actually find it kind of pretty...”

Hyun-Shik shook his head disbelievingly. ”I meant to ask if it's been bare for three years.”

”Ah...” Ji-Eun's realization couldn't be more adorable.

”Its being bare and untouched is nothing like I haven't seen before,” he said. ”You know, most girls would have some actual stuff on it. Cosmetics, jewelry, whatever. But your vanity looked like it's just for display.”

Ji-Eun had been looking at the vanity as Hyun-Shik was speaking. There was a flash in her eyes, but it was so subtle that her companion did not notice it.

”I... don't have much to put on there, honestly,” she said.

What? Hyun-Shik was surprised, but did not say anything as he waited for her to continue.

”Most of my stuff is in my bag,” she explained, taking a sip of her coffee. ”Just some powder and stuff. I avoid putting on makeup for no reason, especially at home because I liked to just eat and lounge most of the time. When I really need to, I can just go to the Hotel Salon and have them help me. You know, just let professionals help me with something I can't do on my own.”

”Well...,” Hyun-Shik nodded at her. ”You really are a laid-back one, aren't you?”

She nodded. ”I hear that a lot, so...” she shrugged and continued to sip at her coffee.

”You mentioned earlier that you don't stay here often,” Hyun-Shik continued. ”Why is that?”

”I try to come home as much as I can for Father,” she answered. ”But I can't always do so since The Regal is about an hour and a half away from here. Besides the hotel, I have some other matters that I needed to attend to for the Group and sites that needed to be visited from time to time. So, it's not really that I don't want to go home, but rather it's because I don't have enough time.”