Beauty and the Beast
It was the day of the event hosted by Jo Gi-tae, Na-bin’s fiancé. Things had been hectic since morning. Na-bin had gone to a salon for her hair and makeup. On the grounds that if Da-yeon stood out too much—when she wasn’t even the fiancée—it would put the host in an awkward position, Da-yeon was not allowed to visit a salon herself. It was almost laughable how Yoon Ju-ha, who had once fussed so diligently over Da-yeon’s appearance whenever she went to a matchmaking meeting, was now offering such a shabby excuse, but Da-yeon chose not to press the point.
Yoon Ju-ha told the young people to go enjoy themselves and declined to accompany them. The driver who had taken Na-bin to the salon returned to the house, picked Da-yeon up as well, and headed for the hotel. The atmosphere between the half-sisters sitting side by side in the back seat could not have been more different.
Da-yeon had stepped out in a clean blouse and slacks. Na-bin, by contrast, wore a slim-fitting mini dress. It was black, but lace ran from her collarbones down over the line of her chest, and the back plunged deep—exactly the sort of outfit one would wear to a party.
“When’s Brother-in-law coming?”
Na-bin spoke first, inspecting her nails.
“He said he has a schedule and will arrive on time.”
Seok-hyeon had mentioned an urgent trip to the provinces, and Da-yeon had not wanted to take any more of his time. Na-bin let out a knowing little laugh.
“Brother-in-law should at least dress up a little. There are faces that are hard to walk around with, you know.”
“…….”
“Gi-tae oppa said he’ll buy dinner. Since it’s the first time meeting Brother-in-law, he wants to treat him properly. Stay and eat with us.”
“…….”
“I can’t sit at the same table with an ugly face. Please, just don’t let him embarrass us.”
Na-bin prattled on alone, as if recalling the photograph that had come with the matchmaking introduction. Da-yeon saw no need to correct her and did not even bother answering. Eventually Na-bin seemed to lose interest as well and spent the rest of the ride chatting with a friend on her phone.
They arrived at a hotel on the outskirts of the city and made their way toward the convention hall. Na-bin strode confidently ahead; Da-yeon walked at her own slower pace.
After a brief identity check at the entrance they stepped inside. Da-yeon had expected a formal presentation; instead she found herself adjusting to a space decorated like a club. Even though it was still daytime, hundreds of people milled about the vast hall with glasses in hand, talking among themselves. It felt far more like an after-party than a business briefing.
Na-bin suddenly broke into a run toward someone.
“Oppa!”
She called out in greeting. From amid the crowd, Gi-tae, who had been speaking with others, raised a hand.
“You’re here?”
He offered a light greeting, then spotted Da-yeon walking slowly behind Na-bin and brightened. Slipping an arm around Na-bin’s shoulders, he came toward Da-yeon with her.
“Kim Da-yeon. It’s been a while.”
“Hello.”
“Having a beauty show up already lifts the mood.”
Na-bin gave Gi-tae’s side a light jab. The man only smirked and pulled her closer against him.
“I mean you, Na-bin. Our beauty.”
Objectively speaking, Na-bin took more after her father, Kim Jung-mo, than Yoon Ju-ha. She had undergone double-eyelid surgery as a child under the pretext that her lashes poked her eyes, and at Ju-ha’s urging she continued regular procedures; yet standing next to Da-yeon, she simply could not compare.
Gi-tae turned Na-bin back toward the surrounding people and introduced her.
“This is my fiancée. You know Kim Jung-mo, right? The famous doctor who’s always on TV. Our Na-bin is his daughter.”
People offered Na-bin polite greetings. In the meantime Gi-tae slipped free and approached Da-yeon, reaching as if to drape an arm casually over her shoulder. Da-yeon stepped away with natural ease, putting distance between them. Gi-tae gave an awkward laugh.
“Kim Da-yeon, I hear you’re getting married.”
“Yes.”
“Shame. Honestly, you’ve got Na-bin beat in face and figure. If it weren’t for that one little flaw of yours, I would’ve taken you first.”
Da-yeon’s eyes flashed. Gi-tae immediately backpedaled with a playful air.
“I mean… the older sister is better. Right, Sister-in-law?”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Da-yeon, do you really have to get married? Being someone’s wife doesn’t suit you as much as just staying elegant in your own place. Even if it’s not a husband, there’s someone right here who can stay by your side.”
“I’ll handle my own affairs.”
“Na-bin really tore into her brother-in-law. Called it ‘half-penny Beauty and the Beast.’ Said he’s only got money. I feel sorry for our sister-in-law. Still, money’s the best thing, isn’t it? I’m planning to make a proper fortune this time myself.”
She could not stand listening any longer. She tried to ignore him and leave, but Gi-tae caught her arm and steered her deeper inside as if dragging her along. He led her to the bar, took a glass, and pressed it into her hand.
“So when’s your partner arriving?”
“He’ll come once work is finished.”
“I’m curious about the man who’s going to take our Da-yeon away. He’ll need to be as affectionate as I am. That’s the only way he can wrap up our Da-yeon’s heart.”
She could not agree.
“I know you better than Na-bin does. Seeing a woman full of wounds who puts walls up against people… it just makes me feel so sorry for her.”
Gi-tae edged a little closer. Da-yeon drew back. He only watched her the way one might watch a pet, finding the retreat cute.
“Have a drink with me for our success.”
He lightly clinked his glass against hers and drained it in one go. Knowing he would only keep pestering her, Da-yeon brought the rim to her lips as well. The liquor was far too strong for a business presentation. Her brow furrowed.
“Even the way you drink is pretty. Our Da-yeon, so fragile. That’s part of your charm, though.”
Gi-tae’s provocations grated more than usual today. Da-yeon drained the rest of the glass in one swallow, set the empty vessel down, and offered him an untroubled smile.
“Congratulations. I hope the business goes well.”
“Actually, Da-yeon, what I’m launching this time is the Odysseus Project. It’s a Trojan-horse kind of venture that’ll flip the whole board. I’m not even thinking about an exit. I plan to carry it for the rest of my life as my life’s work.”
His chatter barely registered. Her throat burned and her stomach churned. Being around Na-bin was uncomfortable enough; dealing with Na-bin’s partner was even worse. The thought that they would soon become family already felt repulsive.
Gi-tae laid a hand on Da-yeon’s back and whispered,
“So… we’re family now, right? If we do well together, it’s good for you too. If you manage to snag your man and there’s spare capital, think of it as investing in the future…”
“Da-yeon.”
A familiar male voice cut in. Da-yeon turned at once. Seok-hyeon stood there in a suit. The solid frame usually hidden by his coat was on full display, and he wore his usual calm smile.
“So this is where you were. I couldn’t reach you, so I came inside.”
Seok-hyeon’s gaze settled on the place where Gi-tae’s hand still rested against Da-yeon’s back. Sensing the look, Da-yeon immediately slipped free of Gi-tae and moved toward Seok-hyeon. Gi-tae glanced back and forth between them, puzzled.
“You two know each other?”
Seok-hyeon gave Da-yeon a subtle look that seemed to ask whether this was the man who would become his brother-in-law. She nodded. Seok-hyeon extended his hand with polite formality.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Shin Seok-hyeon.”
Something in his quiet presence made Gi-tae accept the handshake. Still failing to make the connection, Gi-tae looked Seok-hyeon up and down with unnecessary swagger.
“Wow, I thought you were a celebrity. Are you a friend of Da-yeon’s…? Only corporate representatives and invited guests are allowed in.”
“I’m her fiancé.”
Gi-tae could only look back and forth between Seok-hyeon’s face and Da-yeon. His expression said he simply could not believe that the man cast as the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast” was the Shin Seok-hyeon standing right in front of him.
In that moment Na-bin came up beside Gi-tae and linked arms with him. Then she caught sight of the man in glasses standing next to Da-yeon and let out a small sound of admiration. The long, clean lines of Seok-hyeon’s body, the solid presence that the suit alone conveyed, the features that were individually sharp yet harmonious enough to look refined and neat—Na-bin finished her appraisal in a single glance and turned to Gi-tae with a smile.
“Who’s that, oppa? Did you invite an actor too?”
While Gi-tae still struggled for words, Da-yeon spoke.
“Na-bin, this is the man I’m going to marry. Seok-hyeon, this is my younger sister, Na-bin.”
As if afraid no one would believe her, she carefully slipped her arm through Seok-hyeon’s. He drew a little closer and offered a beautifully composed smile.
“Hello.”
Na-bin seemed to be comparing the photograph she had seen with the real man in front of her. Cognitive dissonance appeared to strike; she was silent for a moment before she turned on Da-yeon.
“…Unnie, he doesn’t look like the face I knew.”