The name of my blind date partner this time was Park Wonyoung. He was an Alpha, thirty years old, five years my senior.
He had graduated from a university in America, and his family owned a leading mid-sized enterprise in the food industry. Shinil Foods. I’d never heard of it.
Park Wonyoung was a handsome man with a neat and tidy vibe, wearing thin, round glasses. Using Han Jinheon as the standard, I couldn’t say he was quite as distinguished, but he was handsomely warm above the average, which was satisfying enough.
Strange. Men with glasses aren’t usually my type, but this guy looks pretty good. To compare him to Secretary Song, his entire impression was different.
While the secretary was the sensitive, intellectual type, this man’s eyes in his photo looked incredibly gentle. He had a friendly, affable air about him.
“It’s troubling if he’s this decent.”
It’s just bitter to think that even this man will probably throw water on me and leave.
The date was set for 6 p.m. at the same place as before: the Paradis Hotel. Am I going to get doused in the lounge cafe again?
Contrary to my worries, the venue this time was the restaurant, but I wasn’t overjoyed. I just figured this time I’d get water thrown on me before the meal and then eat alone.
So I didn't bother dressing up much. What was the point of wearing the nice clothes in Han Sol’s closet if my date wasn't even going to be there? What was the point of styling my hair if it was just going to get soaked?
I was almost completely dominated by the thought that what happened once would happen again. I simply chose some warm clothes to guard against the colder weather, ran a comb through my hair, and left.
Call it self-praise, but this striking face does all the work. I’m just trusting my face to carry me.
"Secretary Jeong, Good mor… oh, not morning, evening.”
The person who greeted me as I stepped out the main gate was Secretary Jeong Seongwoo. I offered my greetings with a terribly apologetic expression.
My blind date was scheduled for 6 PM. I should have left by 5 PM at the latest, but that was other people’s quitting time. When Han Jinheon said he’d assign Secretary Jeong to me, I vehemently refused, considering the secretary's work hours, but it didn't make a dent.
Assigning a secretary to me was part of the secretary team's duties under the Executive Director. If there was any comfort, it was that the secretaries assigned to me seemed to receive a special bonus.
On the way to the blind date, I checked my face in the mirror attached to the back of my phone case and straightened my clothes, adjusting my appearance.
I felt uneasy, wondering if I hadn't prepared enough. Finally, unable to bear the lingering discomfort, I asked Secretary Jeong.
“Secretary Jeong.”
"Yes?”
“How do I look today? Am I okay? Am I pretty?”
Secretary Jeong didn’t know where to look. He needed to watch the road while driving, but he felt he had to look back since I was asking.
Even when I apologized for my thoughtlessness and told him to focus on driving, he was at a loss, only turning to look at me when the car stopped at a red light.
His face was as red as a fully ripened apple. He hesitated, his lips parting and closing, and only when the light turned green did he hastily speak. It was almost a declamation.
“You are pretty. You are truly pretty!”
I smiled and thanked him, but inwardly, I cursed myself with self-loathing. I really am crafty. Shamelessly asking someone who is so obviously conscious of me if I’m pretty.
How nice would it be if my date was as simple-hearted as Secretary Jeong? Or as perfectly my type as Han Jinheon?
…I just wished my date was Han Jinheon.
***
As I entered the familiar hotel lobby—a place I’d been once before—a message came from Lee Geumyoung. I chuckled as soon as I read it.
Mom
[I have a good feeling about this date, so do your best. He was very interested in you.]
[Still, if he throws water on you, you throw it right back. Don’t lose.] 5:50 PM
It was strange how much comfort this gave me, and I recalled my recent messages with Han Jinheon. Aside from telling me to eat lunch and that he'd be home late today, there was nothing special.
He wasn't asking about the blind date. Even if I was being self-conscious, was Han Jinheon deliberately not asking?
Maybe I should take a picture and send it to him if I get drenched in water again. Like, "Look, it happened again…" No. There's no need for that. What was the point of even coming on this blind date? Let's not think about Han Jinheon. At least for now, not recalling him and focusing on the blind date would help with my future thoughts.
There were ten minutes until the appointment. I must be the first one here. I was thinking this idly as I approached the staff member who greeted me, about to give the reservation name.
“Han Sol-ssi?”
Someone standing beside me called my name.
Startled by the unexpected call, I glanced to my side and saw a man who was a stranger, yet familiar. Knowing it was rude, I stared intently at his face. I studied him, my eyes narrowed in concentration, until I realized.
It was my date. The affable Alpha with the distinctive glasses, Park Wonyoung.
“I was worried I might be late. Seeing you here really puts my mind at ease.”
Park Wonyoung offered his hand for a handshake with a gentle smile. I took it.
“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Park Wonyoung.”
“A pleasure to meet you, too. I’m Han Sol.”
“To be honest, I recognized you from your profile at a single glance.”
This man said he recognized me at a glance. As he said this, he gave the hand he was still holding a little squeeze.
"Seeing you in person, Han Sol-ssi, I’m filled with regret. I should have arrived first to make a good impression.”
If there was one thing I recognized about this man at a glance, it was that he wasn’t going to be throwing water on me from the get-go. It seemed he was viewing me in a positive light. The way he looked down at me was unusual. More than that, it seemed like he had fallen for me.
The "beauty" keyword's effect was powerful.
Park Wonyoung looked at me with a noticeably flushed face and eyes full of expectation. If I had to find someone to compare him to, it would be Jeong Seongwoo. Except, it felt like the secretary could barely dare to look at me.
“I’m staring at Sol-ssi too much. I apologize if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“Not at all. I’m doing the same.”
Despite the spacious room, this man was looking at me as if I were the only person in the world.
He didn't seem unaware of his direct gaze, strong enough to pierce through his glasses, but there was no need to apologize. As he said, I was doing the same. I kept giving undisguised glances at this man, who looked good in photos but even better in person.
Park Wonyoung and I were immediately escorted to our reserved table. Our table, while not tucked away in a corner, was distanced from other people, allowing for an intimate atmosphere where we could focus on each other.
The night view outside the window was beautiful. I quite liked it. If things got awkward, I could just look out the window to lighten the mood.
But contrary to my thoughts, it seemed unlikely that would be necessary. This very moment, far from being awkward, was starting to feel increasingly exciting, yet I wasn’t nervous either. It felt comfortable.
I wonder if I’m more of a practical person than a theoretical one.
As the blind date seemed to be going smoothly, I figured I could just enjoy a delicious meal with this handsome man and then go home. It would be the first enjoyable time I’d had in months since possessing this body. I inwardly cheered.
“Han Sol-ssi, you’re truly beautiful.”
This was even before we looked at the menu. The compliment, suddenly interjected between us as we sat down, was surprising. I quickly thought about my response, then gently curved my eyes into a smile, playing coy.
“I hear that a lot.”
As if my beauty wasn't just empty flattery, the man's mouth dropped open at my smile. He covered his mouth with his hand, cleared his throat, and then said,
“I hope this meeting today is constructive for both of us.”
“Yes. I hope so too.”
I agreed with the man. Even though it was a shame he was just an Alpha I’d have dinner with and then part ways, since he liked this face, I’d make sure to show it off to him as much as possible before we separated. This kind of reaction was quite enjoyable.
Time passed quite pleasantly. The man, wiping his mouth with a napkin, asked gently,
"Han Sol-ssi, weren’t you going to America?”
“Huh? A-America?”
“The rumor around our circles was that Han Sol-ssi went to America. I thought you were still there until the blind date offer came along…”
“Ah… Yes. I figured if I had to be somewhere, Korea was better than America.”
“Why?”
Park Wonyoung asked with a puzzled look, and I quietly recalled the first day I possessed this body.
If I hadn't possessed this body, the original owner, Han Sol, would have gone to America and died soon after. Even if I hadn’t read the ending of Han Sol's story, the result would have been the same. Just thinking about it sent shivers down my spine.
He wasn’t the type to understand if I told him this, so I’d have to deflect.
“Why, you ask?… Perhaps because I knew we would meet like this today?”
I smiled sweetly, and the man opened his mouth wide, breaking into a big grin. He couldn't hide how utterly smitten he was with my face as time went on. He didn't even seem to try to hide it.
“Perhaps you know why I was going to America…”
I trailed off, asking cautiously.
Suddenly, I became curious. How much did he know about my misdeeds? How widely spread were Han Sol’s wrongdoings? I brazenly asked, and Park Wonyoung nodded as if I didn't need to say any more.
“To be honest, I’m a fan of Han Sol-ssi.”
“A fan?”
“Yes. I liked how actively Han Sol-ssi lived. And while I don’t categorize by caste, there aren’t many Betas around me who are as honest and cheerful as Han Sol-ssi.”
He was strangely peculiar. He claimed to be a fan of Han Sol, whom everyone criticized and pointed fingers at. He even sugarcoated Han Sol’s terrible personality as "honest and cheerful," saving face for him. He wasn't someone with ordinary thoughts.
I scrutinized the man’s face. They say to look into someone’s eyes to see their true feelings, so I focused on the gentle gaze behind his glasses.
The man, perhaps thinking my attempt to read his true intentions was an attempt to make eye contact with him, blushed and shyly met my gaze.
That wasn't all. He gently bit his lower lip with his upper teeth and even wrinkled the bridge of his nose, contemplating saying something, before finally blurting it out.
“Actually, we’ve met once before.”
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